Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The `Procurement Quality Function` is an element of the Body of Knowledge of Quality Engineering, as defined by the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC). This paper describes the Procurement Quality function which has been installed as an integral part of the Quality Engineering group of the Technical and Management Support Services (T&MSS) contractor to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project. Each of the elements of the T&MSS Procurement Quality Engineering (PQE) system is discussed along with the measurements obtained. With the installation and development of the PQE system we have attained more meaningful evaluation of supplier capability, reduction of procurement document review reject ratios from 31% to less than 2% per quarter, more effective ...

CERN Document Server

This paper presents an application of the state of the art and new trends for risk management of safety-related control and monitoring systems, currently applied in the industry. These techniques not only enable to manage safety and reliability issues but they also help in the control of quality and economic factors affected by the availability and maintenance of the system. The method includes an unambiguous definition of the system in terms of functions and a systematic analysis of hazardous situations, undesired events and possible malfunctions. It also includes the identification and quantification of the risk associated to the system. The required risk reduction is specified in terms of safety integrity levels. The safety integrity level results in requirements, preventive measures, possible improvements and recommendations to assure the satisfactory management of the risk.

Environmental Research Database

SummaryIntended Outputs: Identification and evaluation, using participatory approaches, of demand management options:*Technical*Allocative and market based*Impact on target beneficiariesSupporting measures required when introducing water demand management options above:*Extension services & training*Water licences/rights*Institutional changes*Legal measures and regulation*Education*Support in diversifying to less water demanding activities*S [continued...]ObjectivesIdentification of the most appropriate demand management strategies for ground water abstraction, where aquifiers are being over-exploited, ensuring sustainable livelihoods of the vulnerable and poor are safeguarded. Poverty reduction strategies for areas where groundwater is being over-exploited.DescriptionProject Background: Groundwater is the principal source of both irrigation and domestic water supplies in many arid and semi-arid ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

CERN Document Server

The goal of this work is to minimize the energy dissipation of embedded controllers without jeopardizing the quality of control (QoC). Taking advantage of the dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) technology, this paper develops a performance-aware power management scheme for embedded controllers with processors that allow multiple voltage levels. The periods of control tasks are adapted online with respect to the current QoC, thus facilitating additional energy reduction over standard DVS. To avoid the waste of CPU resources as a result of the discrete voltage levels, a resource reclaiming mechanism is employed to maximize the CPU utilization and also to improve the QoC. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme. Compared with the optimal standard DVS scheme, the proposed scheme is shown to be able to save remarkably more energy while maintaining comparable QoC.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text.This study focuses on the management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Lebanon. It addresses the current status of MSW management in Lebanon in terms of collection, transport and disposal, infers the associated impacts of such practices and discusses mitigation measures and finally proposes basic guidelines for a national strategy for solid waste management in the country. The study is based on available previous investigations and on a field survey of 113 villages in four different countries. The study revealed the absence of an effective environmental policy and poor collection and disposal methods throughout the country, except for the Greater Beirut Area (G A), where better solid waste management practices are employed. Although collection of MSW outside GBA was found to be acceptable by local authorities, resources (labor and equipment) were not used efficiently. Furthermore, treatment of ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Quality reporting tools, integrated with ambulatory electronic health records, can help clinicians and administrators understand performance, manage populations, and improve quality. Report Central...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This study was designed to identify the relationship between free time management and quality of life, exploring whether the amount of free time or the way people using their free time relates to their quality of life. Data were collected from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. Of the 500 questionnaires distribute, 403 usable questionnaires were received with an 81% response rate. The result has found a positive relationship between free time management and quality of life. Contrary to this, there was no significant relationship between time allocation and quality of life. Results might indicate that people who manage their free time well lead to better quality of life. Suggestions based on the observed relationship and directions for future researches were d...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundLung volume reduction surgery is effective at improving lung function, quality of life, and mortality in carefully selected individuals with advanced emphysema. Recently,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Proper use of quality assurance will provide the basis for an effective management control system for nuclear waste management programs. Control is essential for achieving successful programs free from costly losses and failures and for assuring the public and regulators that the environment and health and safety are being protected. The essence of quality assurance is the conscientious use of planned and systematic actions, based on selecting and applying appropriate requirements from an established quality assurance standard. Developing a quality assurance program consists of using knowledge of the technical and managerial aspects of a project to identify and evaluate risks of loss and failure and then to select appropriate quality assurance requirements that will minimize the risks. Those requirements are integrated into the project ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The present state of knowledge on the influence of stray radiation on image quality and its physical description and quantification is summarized. Experimental results on the influence of physical parameters on the fraction of scattered radiation and the effect of scatter reduction by air gap technique and secondary radiation grids are committed. Open theoretical and practical problems and the limitations of common methods of scatter reduction are pointed out. (author).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundProvision of consumer information and patient education are considered an essential part of chronic disease management programmes developed for patients with heart failure....Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Westinghouse Electric Corporation is aggressively applying cost-time management to bolster timely, cost-effective cleanup and waste management activities at sites it manages for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Cost-time management is a diagnostic technique which is applicable to virtually any process. It identifies opportunities to reduce cycle-times and costs. When applied to cleanup and waste management at DOE facilities, cost-time profile analysis helps identify actions to improve productivity and quality. Moreover, by reducing cycle-times and costs, it achieves significant savings to taxpayers. (author)

Environmental Research Database

DescriptionIn young pigs the post-weaning period is generally characterised by a marked reduction in voluntary feed intake, poor growth and development, and diarrhoea. The associated reduction in digestive and absorptive capacity of the gastrointestinal tract decreases the overall efficiency of nutrient capture and utilisation, thereby causing an increase in nutrient loading to the environment. The reduction in digestive and absorptive efficiency after weaning has implications for lifetime performance be [continued...

Wastenet

... The colored background is an isopleth map showing change in sulfate concentrations as measured by the CASTNET rural air quality monitoring network , leading to significant improvements in air quality and human health. Wet sulfate deposition decreased 43 percent in the Northeast and 44 percent in the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This document presents the way which the 8th principle of the quality management system 'Process approach' is applied, the principle that is identified and used by international standard ISO 9000. In order to understand the evolution of the management system requirements, as used today in different activities namely, industry, services, and nuclear activities, the authors present an evolution of the quality concept and its traceability to different standards, applicable in time. There are described the requirements of ISO 9001 standard, that represents the most widely spread model for modern organization management and the IAEA concerns related to integration of the above standard requirements into the most recent safety IAEA standard 'The Management System for facilities and activities'. The IAEA Safety Standard GS-R-3 describes a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is committed to providing high quality products that satisfy customer needs and are the associated with this goal, DOE personnel must possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to ensure successful job performance. In addition, there must be recognition that the greatest obstacle to proper project performance is inadequate project definition. Without strong project definition, DOE environmental management efforts are vulnerable to fragmented solutions, duplication of effort, and wastes resources. The primary means of ensuring environmental management projects meet cost and schedule milestones is through a structured and graded approach to project definition, which is the focus of this handbook.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper discusses the clean-up of an Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) site utilized for disposal of transuranic contaminated waste from 1954 until 1970. The author presents requirements of the environmental protection statutes that have generated quality assurance requirements in addition to those historically implemented as a part of facility design, construction and operation. A hierarchy of program guidance quality documentation and procedures is discussed. Data qualification and computer database management are identified as requirements.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The mission of the Waste Management Institute is two-fold: (1) to enhance awareness and understanding of waste problems and their management in our society and, (2) to provide leadership in research, instruction and outreach to improve the quality of life on a global scale and protect the environment.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

US Department of Energy (DOE) Order 5820.2A was promulgated in final form on September 26, 1988. The order requires heads of field organizations to prepare and to submit updates on the waste management plans for all operations under their purview according to the format in Chap. 6, {open_quotes}Waste Management Plan Outline.{close_quotes} These plans are to be submitted by the DOE Oak Ridge Operations Office (DOE-ORO) in December of each year and distributed to the DP-12, ES&H-1, and other appropriate DOE Headquarters (DOE-HQ) organizations for review and comment. This document was prepared in response to this requirement for fiscal year (FY) 1994. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) waste management mission is reduction, collection, storage, treatment, and disposal of DOE wastes, generated primarily in pursuit of ORNL missions, in order to protect human health and safety and the environment. ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Managing service quality is vital to retain customer satisfaction and augment revenues for any business organization. Often it is difficult to assess service quality due to lack of quantifiable measures and limited data. In this paper, we present a hybrid approach based on SERVQUAL and fuzzy TOPSIS for evaluating service quality of urban transportation systems. The proposed approach consists of three steps. The first step involves development of a SERVQUAL based questionnaire to collect data for measuring transportation service quality. The participants provide linguistic assessments to rate the service quality criteria and the alternatives. In step 2, the linguistic ratings are combined through fuzzy TOPSIS to generate an overall performance score for each alternative. The alternative wit...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A new prototype model system named AirGIS has been developed to support local authorities in air quality management for big Danish cities. The system is based on the Danish operational street pollution model (OSPM), technical and cadastral digital maps and Danish national administrative databases on buildings, cadastres and populations. It applies a geographic information system (GIS). AirGIS estimates ambient air pollution levels at high temporal and spatial resolutions. The model system enables mapping of traffic emissions, air quality levels and human exposures at residence addresses, at workplace addresses and in streets. Mapping and scenario results can be compared with air quality limits. Impact assessment of traffic air pollution abatement measures can also be carried out. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Quality Assurance Requirements and Description (QARD) is the principal quality assurance document for the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program (Program). It establishes the minimum requirements for the Quality Assurance Program. The QARD contains regulatory requirements and program commitments necessary for the development of an effective quality assurance program. Quality assurance implementing documents must be based on, and consistent with, QARD requirements. The QARD applies to the following: (1) acceptance of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (2) transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (3) the Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) facility through application for an operating license; (4) Mined Geologic Disposal System (MGDS), including the site characterization activities (exploratory studies facility ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The United State Domestic Research Reactor Infrastructure Program at the Idaho National Laboratory manages and provides project management, technical, quality engineering, quality inspection and nuclear material support for the United States Department of Energy sponsored University Reactor Fuels Program. This program provides fresh, unirradiated nuclear fuel to Domestic University Research Reactor Facilities and is responsible for the return of the DOE-owned, irradiated nuclear fuel over the life of the program. This presentation will introduce the program management team, the universities supported by the program, the status of the program and focus on the return process of irradiated nuclear fuel for long term storage at DOE managed receipt facilities. It will include lessons learned from research reactor facilities that have successfully shipped spent fuel ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The production of atmospheric pollutants in combustion processes depends on plant characteristic, combustion conditions and fuel quality. The influence of fuel quality on the emission of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, dust and carbon dioxide and on the emission of some toxic pollutants, such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, is analysed. The comparison between the emission limits, fixed by the Italian legislation, and the uncontrolled pollutant emissions, produced by fossil fuel combustion in power plants and industrial use, shows that, in order to comply with the limits, a reduction of pollutant emissions is required through the use of abatement systems and cleaner fuels where natural gas has a primary role. The use of cleaner fuels is particularly required in heating plants and appliances for the residential sector, where the development of new gas technologies further increases the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Main results of 15-year SSTC NRS activity in the field of technical support of regulatory authority are presented. The article also described management policy, quality assurance system, personnel training system and international co-operation of SSTC. (author)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Public health activities, especially infectious disease control, depend on effective teamwork. We present the results of a pilot audit questionnaire aimed at assessing the quality of public health services...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To minimize the low and intermediate-level solid radwaste volume, the reduction efforts were persisted in Korean NPPs. As a result, annual average waste volumes were reduced to 194 drums per unit at last year. In this paper we confirmed 250 drums/unit-yr, EPRI URD management goal, and management condition for solid radwaste volume. Also, through the sample assessment of specific Korean NPP opened to the public, we could make sure that the prediction of saturation year for interim storage facility is fully suitable.

CERN Document Server

The amdlib AMBER data reduction software is meant to produce AMBER data products from the raw data files that are sent to the PIs of different proposals or that can be found in the ESO data archive. The way defined by ESO to calibrate the data is to calibrate one science data file with a calibration one, observed as close in time as possible. Therefore, this scheme does not take into account instrumental drifts, atmospheric variations or visibility-loss corrections, in the current AMBER data processing software, amdlib. In this article, we present our approach to complement this default calibration scheme, to perform the final steps of data reduction, and to produce fully calibrated AMBER data products. These additional steps include: an overnight view of the data structure and data quality, the production of night transfer functions from the calibration stars observed during the night, the correction of additional effects ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This quality assurance plan (QAP) is designed ensure that the methodologies and the data used for environmental cleanup and treatment studies at the Nevada Test Site are both usable and defensible. The QAP serves two purposes in this regard: (1) to guide the preparation of procedures for carrying out the tasks of the Basic Environmental compliance and Monitoring program (BECAMP); and (2) to help management track the progress of those tasks.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The IEA has identified energy efficiency as essential to achieving a sustainable energy future. In order to improve energy efficiency in industry one of the priority areas for further action is the promotion of more and higher quality energy management (EM) activity. However, there are significant gaps in the current implementation of EM. One method of bridging these gaps would be the creation of an EM Action NetworK (EMAK) to bring practical support to energy managers, connect energy managers to energy policy makers, and interconnect these networks globally. The paper describes possible aims, activities, scope, structure, timelines and approaches related to EMAK and looks at specific tasks that would be important in the set-up and implementation.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is a key installation for the production and research of nuclear materials for national defense and peace time applications and has been operating a full nuclear fuel cycle since the early 1950s. Wastes generated include high level radioactive, transuranic, low level radioactive, hazardous, mixed, sanitary, and aqueous wastes. Much progress has been made during the last several years to reduce these wastes including management systems, characterization, and technology programs. The reduction of wastes generated and the proper handling of the wastes have always been a part of the Site`s operation. This paper summarizes the current status and future plans with respect to waste reduction to waste reduction and reviews some specific examples of successful activities.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text: Introduction. Children, especially premature infants and neonates, are at a much higher risk to obtain an X ray induced disturbance of life - particularly cancer. On the one hand this is due to their longer life expectancy and on the other hand it is due to their higher cell proliferation rate. The paediatric radiology unit of the Inselspital Bern recently installed some of the most advanced X ray equipment nowadays available. It is based on the two latest digital technologies: double read computed radiography (CR) and direct digital radiography (DR). Only the implementation of these digital radiography systems permits the digital acquisition and additionally the analysis of acquired data. The systematic analysis of large amounts of biometric data and exposition data is the basis for further dose reduction and a systematic quality control (QC). Patients are increasingly critical concerning radiation exposure - especially parents ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this study, we examine research in the field of human resource management (HRM) published in six leading Chinese management journals from 2001 to 2007.First, we show publication patterns of Chinese HRM research by topic and reference discipline. Second, we assess the status of research quality using four raters to independently rate the articles based on type, orientation, design and statistical analyses. Through a systematic approach of analyzing this selection of articles, our study offers an opportunity for international scholars to appreciate the unique contributions of the Chinese language literature to the general HRM research. We conclude with a discussion of opportunities and directions for future research in this area to produce high quality indigenous research and build global...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This document defines the quality assurance program requirements for the US Department of Energy, Richland Field Office, Environmental Restoration program at the Hanford Site. This document integrates quality assurance requirements from US Department of Energy Orders, the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order, and applicable industry standards into a single source document for the development of quality assurance programs applicable to the Environmental Restoration program items and activities. This document has been configured into three parts and fifteen criteria to provide user organizations with a workable document that best facilitates line operations. When developing individual user organization quality assurance programs, the document configuration provides each organization with the Flexibility to incorporate only those parts and criteria that are applicable to their individual ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Before the implementation Water Framework directive, it was usual to forget that a good environment protection of the receiving waters needs a correct and coordinated operation of the subsystems of the water cycle, specially sewerage system, WWTP and receiving waters. This explains that most of the countries have focused their efforts in the treatment of dry weather flows forgetting the management of wet weather flows. Actually the idea that a sewerage system or a WWTP can not be planned or managed independently without considering the effects on the receiving waters is commonly accepted because not only each one of these systems must work correctly but also it is required a minimum impact in the receiving waters of the sewerage and WWTP overflows in dry and wet weather. All these links will affect the management strategy of the sewerage system (storm water detection tanks, gates, pumping stations, etc)., the interceptor, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In a fluoroscopic imaging system, image quality and patient dose are both affected by the optical system linking the image intensifier with the video camera. The effect on patient exposure of increasing the optical iris aperture size over that required for other procedures performed on the same imaging system was investigated for the air-contrast barium enema examination. Using a large-area transmission ionisation chamber to monitor the Roentgen-area-product of entrance exposure, a decrease in fluoroscopic radiation of greater than 50% was clinically documented for a fluoroscopic system utilising kVp and mA variable automatic brightness control. For this iris change, the video image was of acceptable quality for positioning and monitoring the patient, and no deleterious effect was detected in the conduct of the air-contrast exam. The availability of a variable-sized operator-selectable iris diaphragm would permit this ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In production systems where high-resolution harvest data are unavailable there is often a reliance on ancillary information to generate potential management units. In these situations correct identification of relevant sources of data is important to minimize cost to the grower. For three fields in a sweet corn production system in central NSW, Australia, several sets of high-resolution data were obtained using soil and crop canopy sensors. Management units were derived by k-means classification for 2?5 classes using three approaches: (1) with soil data, (2) with crop data and (3) a combination of both soil and crop data. Crop quantity and quality were sampled manually, and the sample data were related to the different management units using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper reported on a life cycle assessment (LCA) study that compared the environmental impacts of business-as-usual manure management with those of a manure management operation incorporating anaerobic digestion with combined heat and power generation. The case study was based on a medium sized dairy farm in northern New York State. The study identified the benefits resulting from the displacement of fossil fuels, and reduction of related emissions. Although anaerobic digestion of dairy manure with energy recovery through biogas combustion is viewed as a positive environmental approach to increase the use of renewable energy, there are potential negative impacts that can counteract the environmental benefits. The negative impacts are associated with emissions of methane and nitrogen species during digestion and after spreading of digester effluent. The environmental impacts and their causes should be evaluated in order ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Efforts in industry concerning pollution abatement up to nowadays were aimed at: solid particles contained in gaseous effluents, SO_2 effluent reduction, nitrogen oxide effluent limitation through combustion technology enhancement. Various CO_2 emission scenarios with different energy production means (same or increased nuclear plant number, energy consumption reduction) show that energy conservation schemes for the developed countries are the best solution to CO_2 control. Different solutions for greenhouse gas abatement from industrial plant are reviewed: effluent processing, burner technological enhancement, heat transfer optimization on industrial processes, computer assisted management for industrial processes, plasma technic for refining, substitution of gas to oil in chemistry, etc.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This document defines the quality assurance requirements for the US Department of Energy-Richland Operations Office Environmental Restoration Remedial Action program at the Hanford Site. The Environmental Restoration Remedial Action program implements significant commitments made by the US Department of Energy in the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order entered into with the Washington State Department of Ecology and the US Environmental Protection Agency. This document combines quality assurance requirements from various source documents into one set of requirements for use by the US Department of Energy-Richland Operations Office and other Environmental Restoration Remedial Action program participants. This document will serve as the basis for developing Quality Assurance Program Plans and implementing procedures by the participants. The requirements of this document will be applied to activities affecting ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The image processing system for the dynamic neutron radiography has been developed. It is based on the hardware subset, composed by the method of the pipe-line and use of algorithm of local statistics. The processing speed per one pixel is shorter than 100 n sec and video-rate processing can be executed on it. Some image processes for improving the quality of the real-time neutron image, noise reduction and contrast stretching would be attempted by the use of this system. (author).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Background ?Guidelines for safe and effective management and use of point of care testing? have been recently launched in Ireland. Aims To survey point of care testing (POCT) services in the Republic of Ireland. Methods A questionnaire covering accreditation status, existence of POCT committees, quality management systems, and staff resources was distributed by the Irish External Quality Assessment Scheme (IEQAS). Results Of those that returned completed questionnaires, 56% had assigned specific POCT responsibilities to designated staff. Most support was for blood gases and glucose analysis. Compared with other published studies, Irish laboratories gave similar support for blood gases, less for glucose and much less for urinalysis. Conclusions This survey demonstrated poor IT support for P...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The present guidelines supplement the 'VGB guidelines for the reduction of noise in thermal power plants' with indications for the ordering and quality assurance of the individual noise-producing machines and equipment of power plant operation. These guides are to simplify the commissioning and delivering for the orderer and deliverer. In addition, these guidelines are to lead to a successful cooperation of all parties in the reduction of the sound radiation. A precondition for this is an explanation of the sound technical demands which must be made on the single machines or mechanical equipment in power plant systems. A protection of the neighbourhood as well as operational personnel against noise according to the state of technology is to be achieved by a clear form of ordering and quality assurance. The ordering and assurance procedure for all aggregates in the region of the grounds of a power plant ...

Science.gov (United States)

Most K-12 schools could save 25% of their energy costs by being smart about energy. Nationwide, the savings potential is $6 billion. While improving energy use in buildings and busses, schools are likely to create better places for teaching and learning, with better lighting, temperature control, acoustics, and air quality. This brochure, targeted to school facilities managers and business officials, describes how schools can become more energy efficient.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Selected papers from the conference are presented under seven sections covering: an overview of the environmental and health implications of low-grade fuel use; fuel resources and recovery; exploitation of peat and wood as a fuel; oil shale resources, processing and use; technological approaches to the reduction of environmental impacts associated with oil shale processing and use; technological approaches to reducing the environmental impacts of low-grade coal use; and environmentally sound technical options for low-grade fuel use.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The study investigates the possibility of enhancing crop water productivity in the parts of Northwest India where groundwater quality is marginal and canal water supply is severely scarce. Soil, Water, Atmosphere and Plant (SWAP) model was calibrated and validated in three farmers' fields with varying canal water availability and groundwater quality in the Kaithal Irrigation Circle of the Bhakra Canal system, Haryana. On the basis of predicted and observed soil water content, pressure heads, salt concentration at 2 week intervals and crop yields, the model was found suitable for use in the region. A few nomographs were prepared to provide a graphical method to predict the effect of different combinations of water quality and depth of water application on crop yield and soil salinity and to...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In designing automatic water quality monitoring networks for a river basin, determination of measurement locations and items is critical to the effectiveness of the total system. In this paper we studied how to decide these two design factors when a monitoring network is designed for the purpose of water quality surveillance and emergency alarm. For measurement locations, candidate sites are chosen based on the intake amount for water supply and the point sources of contamination. Then, detailed locations are decided according to the contaminant flow distance. As for measurement items, characteristics and the accident history of water pollution in the basin must be taken into account. Considering economic aspects, we proposed a two-stage measurement plan: basic components for all locations and selective ones variable for different locations. Proposed methodology is demonstrated through a case study for Nak-dong River Basin. (author). 10 refs., ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The seminal work of Stern and his coauthors on integrated control has had a profound and long-lasting effect on the development of IPM programs in western orchard systems. Management systems based solely on pesticides have proven to be unstable, and the success of IPM systems in western orchards has been driven by conservation of natural enemies to control secondary pests, combined with pesticides and mating disruption to suppress the key lepidopteran pests. However, the legislatively mandated changes in pesticide use patterns prompted by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 have resulted in an increased instability of pest populations in orchards because of natural enemy destruction. The management system changes have made it necessary to focus efforts on enhancing biological control n...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Although nitrogen inputs to agricultural fields are necessary for global food sustainability, they present a major nutrient management challenge, because nitrogen inputs can increase nitrogen losses to the environment, which can negatively impact water quality across key surface and groundwater resources. The need to evaluate the potential risk of nitrogen losses for a given forage type, management scenario, and field quickly and easily can be met with new tools that assist in environmental risk assessment. An example is the Mexico Nitrogen Index: this new tool aims to help its users quickly evaluate the risk of nitrogen loss for a given field under a given set of management practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Mexico Nitrogen Index in ranking the risk...

Science.gov (United States)

National efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care present challenges for medical education and training. Today's doctors need to be skilled communicators who know how to identify, prevent and manage adverse events and near misses, how to use evidence and information, how to work safely in a team, how to practise ethically, and how to be workplace teachers and learners. These competencies (knowledge, skills and attitudes) are set out in the National Patient Safety Education Framework (NPSF) of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care. The NPSF is designed to help medical schools, vocational colleges, health organisations and private practitioners develop curricula to enable health professionals to work safely. The NPSF describes what doctors (depending on their level of knowledge and experience) can do to demonstrate competencies in a range of quality and safety ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report provides information to government and industry to enable decision-making and management of local environmental quality conditions. The need for a summary air quality report has arisen in recent years due to growing concerns about air quality. Increased growth in population and the tourism industry is placing additional pressures on environmental quality. The report summarized meteorological and air quality data collected by the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection in the Sea-to-Sky airshed from 1984 to 2001. The airshed is located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. Air quality monitoring was conducted for various periods at 18 different stations and meteorological monitoring was conducted at 4 locations. A list of both provincial and national air quality objectives and ...

Science.gov (United States)

Recent trends in distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems motivate the development of tactical information management capabilities that ensure the right information is delivered to the right place at the right time to satisfy quality of service (QoS) requirements in heterogeneous environments. A promising approach to building and evolving large-scale and long-lived tactical information management systems are standards-based QoS-enabled publish/subscribe (pub/sub) platforms that enable applications to communicate by publishing information they have and subscribing to information they need in a timely manner. Since there is little existing evaluation of how well these platforms meet the performance needs of tactical information management, this paper provides two contributions: (1) it describes three common architectures for the OMG Data Distribution Service (DDS), which is a QoS-enabled pub/sub ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The needs of large industrial, commercial, and institutional energy consumers are more closely connected with the needs of power utilities and energy services companies, a result of the evolving global energy environment. Consumer choice, competition amongst energy suppliers, and increased demand are brought about in some regions by deregulation. Increasingly, large energy consumers expect high levels of quality and reliability from the energy delivered. As a result, management of the cost and the quality of the energy product and the energy assets that produce, deliver, control and consume it requires different strategies. Three major challenges must be overcome: (1) requirement to support economic and efficient delivery, purchasing and use of energy, (2) requirement to guarantee higher levels of power quality and reliability, and (3) requirement to supply the growing demand for energy while ...

CERN Document Server

An approach to solving the problem of managerial control quality improvement corporate information-calculating networks (CICN) is proposed. The approach is based on the concept of a flexible toolkit. A macro-model, system-science and system-engineering models of an intelligent managerial control system (IMCS) for CICN development are considered as well as its dynamics. The practical opportunity of IMCS implementation is assessed. (5 refs).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To address the potential threat that suspect/counterfeit parts could pose to DOE workers and the public, the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oversight initiated a number of activities beginning in mid-1995. Oversight placed increased emphasis on the field`s quality assurance-suspect/counterfeit parts programs during safety management evaluations, in keeping with the Office of Environment, Safety and Health (EH) oversight responsibilities, which include oversight of the Department`s quality assurance (QA) programs. In addition, Oversight reviewed relevant policy documents and occurrence reports to determine the nature and magnitude of the problem within the Department. The results of that review, contained in an Office of Oversight report, Independent Oversight Analysis of Suspect/Counterfeit Parts Within the Department of Energy (November 1995), indicate a lack of consistency and comprehensiveness in the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report is an appraisal of the state of the European Union`s environment. It was requested by the European Commission as part of the review process of the Fifth Environmental Action Programme `Toward sustainability`. Main sections of the report are headed: societal developments and driving forces; environmental themes and topics; integration economy and environment. Themes covered are: climate change, ozone depletion, acidification, air pollution and quality, waste management, urban-issues, inland water resources, coastal zones and marine waters, risk management, soil quality, and nature and diversity. The main conclusions of this report are that the European Union is making progress towards reducing certain pressures on the environment, though this is not enough to improve the general quality of the environment and represents even less progress towards sustainability. Without ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

First, absorbed dose at entrance surface was measured in routine mammography. Secondly, a possibility of dose reduction after introduction of Fuji computed radiography (FCR) system was examined. In a total of 350 mammographic studies including craniocaudal and medilateral projections, average thickness of compressed breast was less than 4 cm and most frequently recorded absorbed dose was 0.2-0.3 cGy (200-300 mrad). Minimum dose to obtain clinically acceptable mammograms in FCR system was estimated by comparing image quality of routine versus reduced dose studies. It was concluded that absorbed dose could be reduced to 1/4 of routine dose without creating significant drawback in diagnosis. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The IAEA Code of Practice on Quality Assurance for Safety in Nuclear Power Plants and the corresponding Safety Guides are reviewed and compared with quality assurance (QA) practices in the IAEA Member States. The QA requirements stipulated by the Code place on the nuclear power plant owner the responsibility to establish an overall QA programme for the plant. In selecting the QA programme level for specific activities, the Code allows of a flexible approach but does not specify gradation in programme requirements. The Code is placing the burden of quality-achieving and quality-assuring functions on the task-performing organizations, namely the designers, manufacturers, constructors and plant operators. The plant owner provides for the management of the overall QA programme, surveillance of activities and verifications of the effectiveness of the constituent programmes of all project ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The CPCU steam distribution network is supplemented by a return network for the condensation water. The data system installed in 1988 provides, for the real time, management of the function of the two networks and a reduction in production costs. For the steam, data required in the network, the boiler houses and from external sources are processed by local network of five microprocessors and permit: - with time delay: technical and economic production optimizing calculations, or forecasts, for the following day, of the total required output and the procedure necessary for supplying this at the lowest cost; - in real time: on the basis of the forecasts for the previous day, creating the production instructions for the boiler houses and the instructions for the network remote control elements; - in case of an unexpected occurrence: immediate creation of new operating forecasts for the boiler houses for the establishing ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The oil sands industry in Canada was said to be committed to environmentally sustainable economic development, i.e. a development that recognizes the mutual dependence of a healthy environment and a healthy economy. To indicate progress toward this goal, the report pointed out the investment of millions of dollars in environmental research and tens of millions of dollars in plant equipment already made. These infrastructure investments have paid dividends in terms of energy conservation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, land reclamation, air quality monitoring, water conservation, and water quality and biodiversity protection. A number of recommendations governing provincial jurisdictions over regulations were made. Particular concern was expressed over fairness, and overlapping of regulations by different levels of government.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

There is tremendous growth in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Remote Sensing, Satellite Communication, and Modeling & Simulation techniques. These tools and techniques helps significantly in characterizing infrastructure, risk area and disaster zones, planning and implementation of hazards reduction measures etc. Communication satellites becomes vital for providing emergency communication and timely relief measures. Integration of space technology inputs into natural disaster monitoring and mitigation mechanisms is critical for hazard reduction. This paper mainly focused on all the issues described above. Major emphasis had been given to the recent developments in information & communication technology enabled tools and their applications ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Based on wind tunnel experiments, theoretical considerations and measurements the dispersion model CAR (Calculation of Air pollution from Road traffic) has been developed for determining air quality in city streets. CAR International is a simple parameterized model using readily available input data and calculating annual percentile values and average concentrations close to streets (at the kerb side) for non-reactive air pollutants and NO{sub 2}. Originally the model was set up for the Dutch situation (traffic, meteorology) with a system of fixed parameters. In order to extend its application to other countries the program has been made more flexible and user friendly. User defined system data can now be changed interactively, such as emission factors of passenger cars and trucks, fraction of directly emitted NO{sub 2}, city and regional background concentration, and average regional wind speed. The accuracy of the model has proved to be good and is within the ...

CERN Document Server

This paper provides an alternative approach to Duffie and Lando [Econometrica 69 (2001) 633-664] for obtaining a reduced form credit risk model from a structural model. Duffie and Lando obtain a reduced form model by constructing an economy where the market sees the manager's information set plus noise. The noise makes default a surprise to the market. In contrast, we obtain a reduced form model by constructing an economy where the market sees a reduction of the manager's information set. The reduced information makes default a surprise to the market. We provide an explicit formula for the default intensity based on an Azema martingale, and we use excursion theory of Brownian motions to price risky debt.

Science.gov (United States)

The viability of osteocytes can be demonstrated in sawn decalcified sections of bone by their lactate dehydrogenase activity. In the cancellous bone of the femoral head, the proportion of lacunae containing viable osteocytes decreased from 88 +/- 7% (mean +/- SD) at 10-29 years to 58 +/- 12% (P Ultimate compressive strength did not correlate with osteocyte viability. In the femoral head there is gradual, age-related reduction in osteocyte viability that can be more pronounced in hip fracture. Osteocyte death may affect bone quality by impairing repair of fatigue damage. PMID:8275364

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Characterization and performance testing of a prototype DWPF Melter No.2 Dome Heater Bus Bar are described. The prototype bus bar was designed to address the design features of the existing system which may have contributed to water leaks on Melter No.1. Performance testing of the prototype revealed significant improvement over the existing design in reduction of both bus bar and heater connection maximum temperature, while characterization revealed a few minor design and manufacturing flaws in the bar. The prototype is recommended as an improvement over the existing design. Recommendations are also made in the area of quality control to ensure that critical design requirements are met.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This thesis examines the costs and benefits of energy management in office buildings and investigates the relationships between operating costs, space lease contracts, and building value. Energy management be building owners and managers begins with monitoring and analysing building energy, use and continues by reducing energy consumption through operating procedure changes, equipment replacement and control personnel training and continued monitoring. The cost to complete energy management projects in 12 British Columbia office buildings is analyzed. The average before-tax internal rate of return for the 12 energy management programs was 22.1% on total expenditures of Canadian $1.2 million. Nine of the buildings are owned and occupied by the provincial government, and the return on investment directly benefits the public. However, in the three prvately owned and tenant-occupied ...

Science.gov (United States)

This report describes the results of work conducted during February 1982 - January 1983. A literature search was initiated to identify the state-of-the-art of NOx (NO + NO/sub 2/) reduction technologies, including NOx measurement methodologies, air infiltration and ventilation trends, the impact of NOx (NO/sub 2/) emissions on health, and air quality standards. As a result of the literature search NOx (NO/sub 2/) reduction goals were established for the project and technologies to achieve these goals identified. This report also covers the development of a prototype burner which examined flue gas recirculation, burner designs, secondary air baffling and flame inserts as potential technologies to reduce NOx (NO/sub 2/). Because of their potential for NOx (NO/sub 2/) reduction shown by initial experiments, an in-depth analysis of ring insert configurations was conducted. These results, along with other ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Recently, under the de-regulation environment, nuclear industry has attempted various approaches to improve the economics of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). One of these efforts is the Risk Informed/Performance-Based Operation (RIPBO). This approach uses the risk and performance information to manage the resources effectively and efficiently that are used in the operation of NPP. In RIPBO, PSA quality is one of the most important things. The nuclear industry and regulatory body of U.S.A have developed a measure to evaluate the quality of PSA. NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute) has developed a guidance called 'NEI PRA Peer Review Guidance,' and NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Committee) and ASME have developed the 'PRA Standard.' In Korea, several projects are on going now, such as the extension of AOT/STI of RPS/ESFAS, Risk-Informed In-Service Inspection (RI-ISI). However, in Korea, there have been no ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Recently, under the de-regulation environment, nuclear industry has attempted various approaches to improve the economics of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). One of these efforts is the Risk Informed/Performance-Based operation (RIPBO). This approach uses the risk and performance information to manage the resources effectively and efficiently that are used in the operation of NPP. In RIPBO, PSA quality is one of the most important things. The nuclear industry and regulatory body of U.S.A have developed a measure to evaluate the quality of PSA. NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute) has developed a guidance called 'NEI PRA Peer Review Guidance,' and NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Committee) and ASME have developed the 'PRA Standard.' In Korea, several projects are on going now, such as the extension of AOT/STI of RPS/ESFAS, Risk-Informed In-Service Inspection (RI-ISI). However, in Korea, there have been no ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The technology developed here will exploit the ability of microorganisms to remove dissolved metals from aqueous solutions. Microbial sorbents for uranium will be immobilized biosorbents will be deployed ex situ within flow-through reactors for the continuous or semicontinuous treatment of recovered wastewaters. The proposed technology will primarily be applied within a pump-and-treat process using immobilized biosorbents for the large-scale, long-term remediation of uranium-laden surface water or groundwater impoundments (environmental restoration). The technology may be equally useful as an ``end-of-pipe`` treatment of process effluents (waste management). Successful operation of this process will achieve immobilization of the targeted waste and accompanying volume reduction.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) represents about 170 crude oil and natural gas exploration, development and production companies in regulatory hearings and legal proceedings. Its principal role is to enhance the economic well-being and sustainability of the Canadian upstream petroleum industry. This presentation explores the role that information technology (IT) plays in knowledge and information management and how this role relates to meeting Canada`s target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions set by the Kyoto Protocol. Actions such as the Voluntary Challenge Registry (VCR) and emissions reductions trading are re-visited and the information requirements associated with these actions are highlighted. It is shown that among others, emissions databases between jurisdictions (provincial, national, international) have to be integrated, reduction claims must be tracked, verified ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An uncomfortable thermal climate, draft complaints and a bad airquality are often related to the climate installation. To avoid badfunctioning of the system a number of preconditions has to be fulfilledwith regard to design, planning and execution, adjustments, completion,control, maintenance and management of the installations. First threetypes of health problems in buildings are shortly discussed: buildingrelated illness, sick building syndrome and building or installationrelated complaints. Then some functions of the climate installationsare described: air filtration, filter classes and filter quality, aswell as investment costs for better filters. Next the causes for thecomplaints are dealt with: air conditioning, ventilation, air quality,and temperatures. Subsequently health affecting aspects in relation tothe climate systems are discussed: outdoor air pollution,microorganisms, bacteria (legionella pneumophila), ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To mitigate damages caused by agricultural runoff, private lake owners' associations are paying for inlake and instream pollution abatement measures and on land-conservation practices. This phenomenon supports the notion that individuals who benefit from improved water quality should be willing to pay part of the abatement costs. The research suggests that on land-conservation measures can substantially reduce sediment delivery at low cost. The Sediment Economics (SEDEC) model was modified and then used to select and to site management systems that achieved stated sediment goals at least cost. Other resource policies such as T value, no-till, and contouring were compared with the least-cost frontier and shown to be more costly. The noncropland areas substantially reduced sediment delivery to water channels and lowered abatement costs. Further research is needed for long-range watershed-planning models such as SEDEC.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Burrard Thermal Generating Station is located at Port Moody, British Columbia, and burns natural gas to supply steam to six turbine units for generating up to 912 MW of electricity. The Burrard plant accounts for ca 8.7% of the provincial generating capability. Burrard is expected to continue to fill a vital role as a supplier of displaceable firm energy to the British Columbia Hydro system. In parallel with a renewed focus on Burrard from a system planning perspective, there have also been concerns about air pollution from the plant in the context of its possible effect on the region's air quality. To address this and other issues surrounding Burrard's future, B.C. Hydro established a project team to conduct a utilization study. The team's work focused on the role of Burrard in providing a reliable and profitable role in electricity generation, the options for dealing with the air quality issue, and the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

As competition in the service industry grows, delivering high-quality service to meet customers' needs and expectations becomes paramount. In order to achieve a thorough understanding of customers, companies are increasingly adopting Customer Relationship Management (CRM) initiatives. However, CRM does not have the process vision necessary to cope with complex and cross-functional processes. This problem is better handled by Business Process Management (BPM) initiatives, which, by their turn, struggle to built-in customer intelligence in their systems. Based upon systems theory, we discuss the roles of CRM and BPM in an integrated approach to deliver customer fulfillment. As the evolution of service-oriented approaches requires us to consider both customer interactions and experiences as k...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of this study was to provide a framework for land use and resource allocation decisions in the Northeast Coal Block of British Columbia. The area was divided into a number of sites, and information gathered in two main areas, 1) status of the resource base, and 2) resource management/planning/development. A map and physical description of each site is provided as well as such information as - air quality, soils, vegetation, water resources, petroleum and natural gas resources, coal resources, and gravel resources, agricultural resources, timber resources, fisheries and wildlife resources, recreatational and aesthetic (visual) resources. The appendix volume provides a summary of the institutional management framework and approval procedures for all significant resource sectors. Provincial legislation and government acts are identified.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The project was initiated in 1985 with the goal of studying existing federal, state, and local programs for protecting and preserving Cape Cod's sole-source aquifer. To meet this need, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 1 in cooperation with the Cape Cod Planning and Economic and Development Commission and the U.S. Geological Survey initiated a two-year study to determine the adequacy of current ground-water protection programs and to recommend improvements. In the process of gathering and evaluating hydrogeological data from the Towns of Barnstable and Eastham, the CCAMP Aquifer Assessment Committee developed the papers which are the subject of this publication. These studies formed the technical basis for groundwater resource management decision making.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The goal of this project is to develop a bench-scale procedure to produce clean, desulfurized, premium-quality chars from the Illinois basin coals. This goal is achieved by utilizing the effective capabilty of smectites in combination with methane to manipulate the char yields. The major objectives are: to determine the optimum water- ground particle size for the maximum reduction of pyrite and minerals by the selective-bitumen agglomeration process; to evaluate the type of smectite and its interlamellar cation which enhances the premium-quality char yields; to find the mode of dispersion of smectites in clean coal which retards the agglomeration of char during mild gasification; to probe the conditions that maximize the desulfurized clean-char yields under a combination of methane+oxygen or helium+oxygen; to characterize and accomplish a material balance of chars, liquids, and gases produced during mild gasification; to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of this paper is to present and evaluate control strategies for adjustment and preservation of air quality, thermal and visual comfort for buildings' occupants while, simultaneously, energy consumption reduction is achieved. Fuzzy PID, fuzzy PD and adaptive fuzzy PD control methods are applied. The inputs to any controller are: the PMV index affecting thermal comfort, the CO{sub 2} concentration affecting indoor air quality and the illuminance level affecting visual comfort. The adaptive fuzzy PD controller adapts the inputs and outputs scaling factors and is based on a second order reference model. More specifically, the scaling factors are modified according to a sigmoid type function, in such a way that the measured variable to be as closer as possible to the reference model. The adaptive fuzzy PD controller is compared to a non-adaptive fuzzy PD and to an ON-OFF one. The comparison criteria are the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper gives a general view of techniques and systems related to soil less culture developed in the last years (on substrate in beg; NFT; Ebb-Flood, aeroponic,..) taking into account their management and problems (water quality, control of plant nutrition and irrigation; substrates; pathological aspects,..). The evolution, now in progress, of soil less culture from open to closed system as a way to realized an environmental friendly growing system, is considered. When plants are grown with open cycle techniques a large amount of waste solution, with an a high content of nutrients, are discharged in soil and water. Furthermore, they need an extra-utilization of water and fertilizers. Another aspect is the utilization of low cost substrates, which can be reused for more than one cultural cycle without negative effects on yield, and also finally discharged without negative effects on the environment. The development of soil less culture in ...

Environmental Research Database

SummaryIntended Outputs: Documentation demonstrating an improved biophysical understanding of the role of forests on low flows in the arid zone regions of India through the development and outputs from hydrological models such as Hyluc and SWAT.A documented analysis of the impacts on the poor of historical and current water management policies, including the investigation through PRA techniques of people's perceptions and beliefs of land-use/hydrological interactions, and the implications o [continued...]ObjectivesTo establish a better understanding of forest impacts on low flows and the social impact of water resources management in arid zone regions of India, and to develop tools which allow this improved understanding to be disseminated directly to stakeholders.DescriptionProject Background: Reducing river flows and groundwater tables, especially during the dry season, constitutes a major problem causing great hardship to large numbers of ...

Wastenet

... Thermodynamics & Fluid - EA BOOKS About us | My EA Books | Contact us | Authors Home page Currently ...Electronics Environmental Management Mechanical Multi-disciplinary Quality Railways Structural Water CATEGORIES Books Mechanical Thermodynamics & Fluid Thermodynamics & Fluid Display: 10 results ... Display product Add to shopping basket Engineering Thermodynamics: A Computer Approach, 3rd Edition AU$99.09 ex-GST Terms and Conditions A ...textbook for applied or engineering thermodynamics, or as a reference for practicing engineers, the book uses extensive in-text, solved examples and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cement-based composites are widely used in applications which demand long-term service life. One important example is in immobilization matrices for low-level radioactive and other hazardous wastes, which demands long-term retention and durability. The authors describe conductivity measurements of grouts flooded with water and in contact with a sink that consists of pure water. The conductivity measurements were designed and carried out in parallel with present quality verification methods and standard leach tests of the nuclear waste management industry. For the first time, the authors show that the method of replacing intrusive chemical analysis with conductivity measurements of the leaching samples yields equivalent results.

CERN Document Server

The entrepreneur's guide to managing information technology

CERN Document Server

Knowledge management

CERN Document Server

Change management

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Objective: To assess the efficacy, prospects and future of conservative management of beta thalassemia major patients in a developing country. Design: Patients registered at IHBTS were studied over a period of three years. They consented to being managed on moderate transfusion regimen, aiming to maintain a pre-transfusion haemoglobin(Hgb) level of 9.0 plus minus 1.0 g per dL. We studied their transfusion requirements, status for transfusion transmitted infections (TTls), serum ferritin levels and complications developing as a result of iron overload. Subjects: Initially all registered patients were included in this study. Sporadic patients as well as dropouts occurring due to any reason, (patients concurrently seeking treatment at other centres as well, or complying poorly to advised chelation therapy) were excluded from the study. The data presented here conforms to a cohort of 60 regular patients who adhered best to our selection criteria. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Changes facing the electricity supply industry are significant, and the challenges these changes pose are enormous. There are major changes to the business environment of transitional electric utilities. There are also changes in the management of the companies in that nontechnical people are taking over the leadership of traditionally technical companies to deal with the new business scenario. This raises the concern that there may be a lack of familiarity by management of the technical issues involved with the result that the quality of the product may be at risk over the long term. This article deals with the future. It describes a vision for the control center energy management systems (EMS) network security applications as a function of the current and expected changes in the electric supply industry. The objective is to present a conceptual specification. It suggests possible approaches to the ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Introducing intelligence by means of cognition for managing, protecting, processing, and delivering of information in mobile communication systems is the way towards ubiquitous, converged and secure communications. In this context, this paper introduces the concept of quality of information (QoI). QoI means QoS while all the requirements for dependability, security, privacy and trust are satisfied at the highest possible level. This work proposes and describes an approach to network monitoring in a heterogeneous communication environment based on use of cognitive techniques and learning predictive algorithms (e.g., fuzzy logic). These methodologies are used to create an autonomy in the decision making process that is based on the calculation of key performance indicators (KPIs), which in their turn would trigger the needed radio resource management algorithms. The expected output is an improved network performance in terms ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Development of food preservation and processing techniques by radiation was performed. Gamma irradiation at 2-10 kGy is considered to be an effective method to control pathogenic bacteria in species including Escherichia coli O157:H7. Gamma irradiation at 5 kGy completely eliminated pathogenic bacteria in beef. Gamma irradiation at such doses and subsequent storage at less than 4 deg C could ensure hygienic quality and prolong the microbiological shelf-life resulting from the reduction of spoilage microorganisms. Gamma irradiation on pre-rigor beef shortens the aging-period, improves tenderness and enhances the beef quality. And, a new beef processing method using gamma irradiation, such as in the low salt sausage and hygienic beef patty was developed. Safety tests of gamma-irradiated meats(beefs: 0-5 kGy; porks: 0-30 kGy) in areas such as genotoxicity, acute toxicity, four-week oral toxicity, rat hepato carcinogenesis and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text: Pink bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), an introduced pest from Mexico, first occurred in United States cotton production in Texas in 1917. Unacceptable economic losses have occurred. The development of PBW sterile moth release technology, gossyplure sex pheromone behavioral control, cotton plant cultural control to reduce overwintered PBW populations, and the transfer of the insect toxin protein gene into cotton from Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Berliner) have provided an effective integrated pest management (IPM) system with PBW eradication potential. Sterile insect release was considered a potential option for PBW population suppression in the early 1960s. Research on the isolated island of St. Croix, (US Virgin Islands) demonstrated its validity. Reductions of larval infestations in bolls following sterile moth releases began when ratios of released PBW sterile male to native male moths averaged 70:1 in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, Acrigel, a Brazilian polymer, is used in the manufacture of medical supplies sterelizable by ionizing radiation. However, when PMMA is gamma-irradiated it undergoes main chain scissions, which promote molecular degradation causing reduction in its mechanical properties. Therefore, radiolytic of PMMA is important for it to become commercially radiosterizable. In this work some commercial additives, originally used in photo-and thermo-oxidate stabilization of polymers, were tested. Only two additives, type HALS (Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer), denoted Scavenger, showed a good protective quality. The investigation of radiation-induced main scissions was carried out by viscosimetric method. The most effective additive, added to the polymer system at 0.3 w/w%, promotes a great molecular radioprotection of 93%. That means a reduction of G-value (scissions/100 eV) from 0.611 to 0.053. In ...

Science.gov (United States)

Lack of access to basic education leads to diminished individual and national capabilities, therewith furthering cycles of poverty. An equitable education system meeting basic learning needs represents not only a human right, but also a means for reducing poverty, promoting productivity, and sustaining development. The Government of China--the most populous developing nation, the majority of whose citizens live in rural areas--has been committed to universalizing nine-year compulsory education among school-aged children and eliminating illiteracy among youths and adults aged 15-45. This study examines lessons learned from China's efforts in these areas. It also reports on current challenges and trends in a new national initiative for achieving high-quality universal basic education by the year 2007.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Case studies of natural wetlands for treating mine drainage are described. Most of the sites are in northern Canada. The natural wetlands examined suggest that constructed wetlands are a viable option for the passive treatment of mine drainage. Natural wetlands retain many metals, and many species of plants are represented in them. Processes for metal removal include sorption onto organic matter, hydrolysis, and reduction. The results show that wetlands need not be based on cattails to be effective, and that passive mine drainage treatment is feasible in northern regions. Few examples are available of constructed wetlands for treating metal mine drainage. It is concluded that the limitations of constructed wetlands are found not in the wetlands, but in information about them. 37 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In parking areas of large extent, the removal of engine exhaust gases, especially of their CO gas components with ventilation plant is mainly done by transverse ventilation over short paths. By their presence, the ventilation ducts required for this purpose often reduce the value of the parking space by restrictions with a consequent reduction of their acceptance by the users. Longitudinal ventilation without ducts can be a remedy in such cases. Depending on the required room air quality in the zones of highest loading, the volume flows with longitudinal removal are no greater than with conventional transverse ventilation. This article is concerned with the different methods of operation of the two systems. (orig./BWI)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Bimaxillary protrusion is prevalent among Asians and anterior segmental osteotomies are commonly used for its surgical correction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soft tissue changes resulting from anterior segmental osteotomies. The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of knowledge were searched for potentially eligible studies using a set of predetermined keywords. Full texts meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved and their references were manually searched for additional relevant articles. The study details and outcome data of these reports were extracted using spreadsheets for comparison. The methodological quality of each study was assessed. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Lateral cephalometry was used in all studies. A reduction of the lab...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

After having discussed the peculiarities of children in X-ray diagnosis the application of the effective as well as the mean equivalent doses as to the determination of the radiation exposure in children is represented. In using computerized tomograms to determine position and extent of an organ the exposure by repeated X-raying was calculated referring to the entrance dose. Entrance dose measurements for all types of X-ray examination in hospitals and ascertainments of the frequency of radiograms in 20 X-ray departments were used to determine per capita and collective doses, resp., in several age groups. Alltogether, the per capita dose of children in the GDR amounts to 30% of that of adults. Conclusions were drawn as to taking measures to further reduction of radiation exposure: (1) Technical measures, such as positioning of patients, shielding of organs, quality assurance; (2) elaboration of regulations concerning the execution of X-raying ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kawasaki Steel started the construction of an automatic steel strip coil transportation system in the 1980's. Presently, most of the in-plant transportation of hot-rolled or cold-rolled coils are automated. For establishing the automatic transportation, there were developed various technologies, such as, the optimum handling technology using artificial intelligence, the technology of preventing additional piling of coils on existing coils by using an ultrasonic wave and a laser beam. Through the improvements of these technologies, a full-automated transportation system has been achieved and the system has contributed substantially toward product quality assurance and cost reduction. This paper gives the changes in the automation technology of coil transportation in the automation of No. 3 finishing hot rolling mill, now having the latest automatic system, in Chiba Works. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Fermented sausages were produced with 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of their pork back fat content replaced by amorphous cellulose gel. The sausage production was monitored with physical, chemical and microbiological analyses. The final products were submitted to a consumer study, and the volatile compounds of the final products were extracted by solid-phase microextraction and analyzed by GC/MS. The reformulated fermented sausages had significant reductions in fat and cholesterol, and the volatile compounds derived from lipid oxidation were also reduced in the final products. These results suggest that the substitution of up to 50% of the pork back fat content by amorphous cellulose gel can be accomplished without a loss of product quality, enabling the production of fermented sausages with the l...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Digital imaging techniques such as Digital Image Intensifier Radiography and Digital Storage Phosphor (Selenium) Radiography are replacing conventional film-screen radiography more and more. The aim of this development is the extension of diagnostic capabilities and the reduction of side effects such as radiation dose. Conventional film-screen radiography and digital radiography are very different ways of imaging. For digital radiography specific post-processing is the link between imaging conditions and film documentation. Optimisation of the images includes new possibilities of post-processing and a broad range for variation of the dose. Especially in fluoroscopy, dose can be reduced significantly by new technical features like pulsed fluoroscopy. For digital radiography the European guidelines on quality criteria have to be applied to projection radiography, digital subtraction radiography and to fluoroscopy. Further work should lead to a ...

Science.gov (United States)

This report describes the result of work completed during February, 1982 to October 1983. The aim of the work was to develop a low NO(x) emission range top burner. Discussed is the development of a flame insert modification to an existing burner which reduces NO(x) emission by 45 percent and NO2 emission by 25 percent. This relatively simple burner add-on device appears to be an economically viable low NO(x) burner. It was developed in cooperation with a major range manufacturer. The levels of NO(x) (NO2) reduction achieved should significantly reduce the impact of a gas range to indoor quality. The report also discusses the results of a literature search that preceeded the burner development. The search helped to direct the burner development by reviewing the state-of-the-art of low NO(x) burner design and covered factors which affect the indoor impact of range emissions such as air infiltration and ventilation trends, air ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Silver-impregnated wound dressings continue to be routinely used for the management of infected wounds, or wounds that are at risk of becoming infected. The ability of antimicrobials that have been incorporated into wound dressings to kill microorganisms within the dressing requires appropriate evaluation using in vitro models. In vitro models that have been exploited for this purpose have included the corrected zone of inhibition and the log reduction assay. However, these and other related culturable-based assays are purported to have poor correlation with the overall microbicidal barrier activity of an antimicrobial wound dressing. This is because culturable-based methods only retrospectively indicate bacterial cell death and do not take into account viable but nonculturable st...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Regular fuel reduction burning is an important management strategy for reducing the scale and intensity of wildfires in south-west Australian native forests, but the long term effects of this on tree and stand growth are not well understood. Five fire treatments, including application of frequent and infrequent low intensity burns, and 25?years of fire exclusion, were applied to small (4?ha) experimental plots in a low rainfall mixed jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and marri (Corymbia calophylla) forest to investigate the effects of these treatments on tree stem diameter growth, stand basal area increment and tree mortality. Mean tree stem growth measured over 20?years was lowest in the long unburnt treatment compared with the burn treatments, although surface soil nutrient levels were gener...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Looking at kriging problems with huge numbers of estimation points and measurements, computational power and storage capacities often pose heavy limitations to the maximum manageable problem size. In the past, a list of FFT-based algorithms for matrix operations have been developed. They allow extremely fast convolution, superposition and inversion of covariance matrices under certain conditions. If adequately used in kriging problems, these algorithms lead to drastic speedup and reductions in storage requirements without changing the kriging estimator. However, they require second-order stationary covariance functions, estimation on regular grids, and the measurements must also form a regular grid. In this study, we show how to alleviate these rather heavy and many times unrealistic restr...

Science.gov (United States)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Defense (DoD), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are jointly acquiring the next-generation weather and environmental satellite system; the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). NPOESS replaces the current Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) managed by NOAA and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) managed by the DoD. The NPOESS satellites carry a suite of sensors that collect meteorological, oceanographic, climatological, and solar-geophysical observations of the earth, atmosphere, and space. The NPOESS design allows centralized mission management and delivers high quality environmental products to military, civil and scientific users. The ground data processing segment for NPOESS is the Interface Data Processing Segment (IDPS), ...

Science.gov (United States)

Prepared to make housing project managers, maintenance engineering staff, and designers and architects of HUD - assisted and HUD - insured housing projects and mobile home parks aware of their responsibilities under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, this handbook provides technical guidance for the reduction of gas leaks and the handling of gas leak incidents in residential areas. The hazards of natural gas, concern over gas safety in residential areas, applicable codes and standards, and sources of information and help are reviewed, along with maintenance and engineering considerations relating to gas pipe failures, the detection of gas leaks, appliance servicing, and pipe installation, repair, and replacement. Housing management considerations are also examined, with attention to recordkeeping and reporting, emergency contingency planning, tenant education, staff qualifications and training, and the development and use ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The fault detection and diagnosis system for gas engines was developed to improve the reliability of cogeneration systems (CGS). Most of existing fault detection systems monitor the trend of each part condition of engines and diagnose faults based on trend change, resulting in slow detection. Although early detection systems are available, those are complex, expensive and poor in flexibility and applicability. Since CGSs combined with gas engines increased to 1/3 of the whole CGS, engine troubles cause possible serious faults. The fault diagnosis system was thus developed to prevent serious faults which can early detect, in particular, abnormal conditions of parts around a combustion chamber such as ignition plug, intake valve and exhaust valve by monitoring exhaust pressure waveforms in an exhaust collector. Since this system can detect progressive occurrence frequency of abnormal conditions and degradation of engine parts, it can transfer previous time management ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The quality of fuel oils is discussed. The problems that the fuel oil marketer must deal with that relate to the quality of the fuel oil are described.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In 1998 the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) formed the Committee on Nuclear Risk Management (CNRM) and a Project Team to develop a standard on PRAs for use in risk informed applications. This ASME standard is being developed to help provide an adequate level of quality in PRAs that are being used to support ASME initiatives to risk informed in-service inspection (ISI) and in-service testing (IST) of nuclear power plant components. A related need supported by the industry and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is to reduce the level of effort that is being expended in pilot applications of risk informed initiatives to address questions about the sufficiency of quality in the supporting PRA models. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the authors' views on some of the technical issues that were encountered in the effort to develop the ASME PRA standard. Draft 12 of this standard has been issued ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Defense Waste Management Plan has the objective of final disposal for high-level waste (HLW) generated from defense programs. The DOE sites that generate HLW are located at the Savannah River Operations Office in Aiken, South Carolina, the Hanford site in Richland, Washington, and the Idaho Operations Office in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The purpose in the development of a quality assurance (QA) specification for organizations involved in HLW production is to establish uniform requirements that ensure that radioactive waste is converted to a waste form and canistered in such a way that it is acceptable in a federal repository licensed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). A QA specification has been developed that will be applied to those activities important to certification of the product. The basic requirements are defined in national consensus standards and DOE directives. The supplemental requirements ...

CERN Document Server

Heterogeneous base stations (e.g. picocells, microcells, femtocells and distributed antennas) will become increasingly essential for cellular network capacity and coverage. Up until now, little basic research has been done on the fundamentals of managing so much infrastructure -- much of it unplanned -- together with the carefully planned macro-cellular network. Inter-cell coordination is in principle an effective way of ensuring different infrastructure components behave in a way that increases, rather than decreases, the key quality of service (QoS) metrics. The success of such coordination depends heavily on how the overhead is shared, and the rate and delay of the overhead sharing. We develop a novel framework to quantify overhead signaling for inter-cell coordination, which is usually ignored in traditional 1-tier networks, and assumes even more importance in multi-tier heterogeneous cellular networks (HCNs). We derive the overhead ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The procedure and operation-by-operation methods of the quality control of structural and fuel materials, mixed fuel pellets of UO_2-PuO_2, fuel element cans made of the AISI-316 steel and ready fuel elements are described as well as spacer wires (steel AISI-316), cases of fuel assemblies (FA) and completed FAs. The methods are used in manifacturing fuel elements and FAs for the FFTF reactor. The RDT standards that regulate the structure and functioning of the system of fuel element and FA production management are outlined. Destructive analytical methods characterized by sufficient accuracy but low productivity are noted to represent a considerable share of operations. Some specialized means of nondestructive testing are developed, such as the gauge to measure the total plutonium content in a fuel element, neutron radiography deVice and a laser gauge to measure the FA dimensions. The experience gained served as a basis for designing the ...

Science.gov (United States)

Experience in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility has led to an increased understanding of the prominent role male factors play in many couples' inability to conceive. While many forms of male factor infertility are amenable to treatment, for some patients there is no corrective therapy available. For this reason, a great deal of attention has been focused on developing technologies for semen processing and sperm utilization in cases of decreased semen quality. One area of research is the development of more sophisticated methods of assessing sperm function, as well as methods of sperm preparation. Progress is also being made in the application of technologies such as intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization in the treatment of male factor infertility. Such developments have improved prospects for fertility among patients suffering from decreased semen quality, as well as those suffering from such disorders as ejaculatory ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Objective: To explore the feasibility of real-time monitoring exposure dose and image quality by using the data stored in the DICOM image archive of direct digital radiography system. Methods: Model TO. 16 was exposed, the current increased gradually from 0.5 to 125 mAs. The displayed number of model A( diameter 11.1 mm), D (diameter 4.0 mm) and J( diameter 0.7 mm) were recorded, and the detect factors (H_T) was also calculated. Images were sent to workstation before the end of DR examination. An automatic procedure was implemented to extract dose data and exposure parameters from the DICOM header file. Maximum, minimum and 3rd quartile values were preinstalled. Mean values exceeding the threshold trigger alarm signal to guide radiologist to explore the cause. Results: When the current of point A was less than 10 mAs and the current of point D and J were less than 16 mAs, the detect factor (H_T) increased with the rise of current. While point A located within ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An important aspect of water quality modeling is forecasting water quality variables for real-time management and control applications to enhance, maintain and sustain desirable water qualities. The major objective of this research is to develop daily time series models for forecasting river dissolved-oxygen (DO). The modeling approach adopted herein combines deterministic and stochastic concepts for determining properties of the DO process based on time series data and dynamic mechanisms governing the said process. This is accomplished by deriving a general DO stochastic model structure based on a modified Streeter-Phelps DO-BOD dynamic model. Then some types of nonlinear models namely, self-exciting threshold autoregressive-moving average (SETARMA), amplitude-dependent autoregressive (ADAR) and bilinear (BL) models, and the class of linear autoregressive-moving average (ARMA) models are adopted for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report contains the results of the Photovoltaic (PV) Industry Manufacturing Technology Assessment performed by the Automation and Robotics Research Institute (ARRI) of the University of Texas at Arlington for the National Renewable Energy laboratory. ARRI surveyed eleven companies to determine their state-of-manufacturing in the areas of engineering design, operations management, manufacturing technology, equipment maintenance, quality management, and plant conditions. Interviews with company personnel and plant tours at each of the facilities were conducted and the information compiled. The report is divided into two main segments. The first part of the report presents how the industry as a whole conforms to ``World Class`` manufacturing practices. Conclusions are drawn from the results of a survey as to the areas that the PV industry can improve on to become more competitive in the industry and World Class. Appendix ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Comprised of seven persons with extensive experience in the issues of nuclear waste, the Independent Review Committee (IRC) provides independent and objective review of Defense Transuranic Waste Program (DTWP) activities managed by the Joint Integration Office (JIO), formerly the Defense Transuranic Waste Lead Organization (TLO). The Committee is ensured a broad, interdisciplinary perspective since its membership includes representatives from the fields of nuclear engineering, nuclear waste transportation, industrial quality control, systems and environmental engineering and state and local government. The scope of IRC activities includes overall review of specific TLO plans, projects and activities, and technical review of particular research and development projects. The Committee makes specific suggestions and recommendations based upon expertise in the field of TRU Waste Management. The IRC operates as a consulting ...

Science.gov (United States)

GAO's review of the H-Coal and Exxon projects showed inadequacies in DOE's contracting practices and a failure by DOE to properly plan, manage, and monitor, especially the H-Coal project. The initial Government-industry H-Coal agreements regarding the level of investment by private sponsors and the ceilings imposed on sharing in cost growth were imbalanced. Larger investments by private sponsors and sharing of cost growth provides an incentive to private sponsors to control costs and helps to assure that each party is fully committed to the success of the project. DOE started the H-Coal project prematurely before sufficiently detailed designs were available and without adequate project planning for functions such as construction scheduling, materials handling, inventory systems, and quality control. DOE staffing was inadequate at both projects to effectively monitor progress and contribute to timely decisions. Its contracts ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper introduces the radioactive effluent monitoring systems, measurement and quality control methods used in Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station from its commercial operation in 1994. The main work and experiences for the management of effluent release are discussed and analyzed. The radwaste data appear declining trend and are far blow the annual limit approved by the national Environmental Protection Bureau since 1995. The normalized release (unit GBq/GWa) of 9 years is as follows: liquid nuclides (except tritium) 11.1, liquid tritium 1.91 x 10"4, noble gas 2.03 x 10"4, halogen 0.13, aerosol 7.57 x 10"-"3. For "1"1"0"mAg, the average release from 1998 to 2002 has been reduced to 1/7 of the quantity in 1997

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Remote sensing of total suspended solids (TSS) by satellite techniques in estuaries and bays plays an important role in monitoring water quality over a large area. It is valuable to the management of coastal water environment and ecosystems. In this study, remote sensing mapping of TSS was conducted to investigate the effects of rainstorm events on Apalachicola Bay. A rainstorm event (October 7-8, 2008) was selected for a period when wind speeds were weak and the river inflow was almost steady. TSS mapping of MODIS images before and after the rainstorm event showed substantial increase of TSS induced by the rainstorm. Using an image during low river discharge before the rainstorm as a reference, TSS distribution was mapped by an improved regression model using MODIS image after a rainstorm...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Summary Background Current management of egg allergy relies on egg elimination from the diet. It does not protect patients from reactions after accidental ingestion of the food and it has a negative influence on quality of life. To solve these problems, some desensitization protocols have been described that are safe and effective, but only one study of a rush regimen for egg with a small patient sample has been published. Objective To evaluate the safety, efficacy and immunologic effects of an oral rush desensitization protocol for immediate egg allergy. Methods Subjects aged 5 years or older with symptomatic IgE-mediated allergy to hen's egg underwent a 5-day oral tolerance induction regimen and were subsequently maintained on a regular egg intake. The variables studied were the reaction...

Wastenet

... Jillian Kilby is a civil engineer and director of J L Kilby Pty Ltd based between Walgett and Brewarrina in North West NSW. Building an engineering company in rural NSW combines Jillianrsquo;s passions for quality projectengineering services, and rural communities. It is also testament to her determination to build a career no matter where she chose to live. Her company has a strong focus on improving ... Some of Jillianrsquo;s recent projects include involvement in an alternate inland highway feasibility study, a water study at Brewarrina, a multipurpose jetty tender in Wyndham, Western Australia, and project management of the SES yard development in Walgett. Jillian is involved in Engineers Australiarsquo;s Sydney Division. She was the chairman of the Civiland Structural Panel in 2009, is a current board member of the ...

Science.gov (United States)

;Table of Contents: Legal authority; Summary of proposed regulations; Industry definition and waste streams; Industry description; Data and information gathering; Selection of pollutant parameters; Drilling wastes-characterization, control, and treatment technologies; Produced water-characterization, control, and treatment technologies; Miscellaneous waste-characterization, control, and treatment technologies; Cost and pollutant loading determination of drilling fluids and drill cuttings; Compliance cost and pollutant load determination of produced water; Compliance cost and pollutant load determination of well treatment, workover, and completion fluids; Cost and pollutant loading determination of deck drainage; Options selection-rationale and total costs; Pretreatment standards; Non-water quality environmental impacts and other factors; Best Management Practices; and Appendices.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Concerns about groundwater contamination as well as pesticide residues in food and soil have fuelled vigorous debates about the sustainability of chemical-intensive agriculture. Search has been prompted for agronomic strategies with lower environmental hazards. In this multidisciplinary study we compared the characteristics of soils from 20 agricultural farms selected in five geographical areas of Southern Italy with different soil types. In each farm, fields with management regime classified as high-input (HIMR, intensive cultivation under plastic tunnels) or low-input (LIMR, tree orchards) were selected. Soil samples were analyzed for 31 parameters including physical and chemical properties (bulk density, water holding capacity, texture, pH, limestone, electrical conductivity, organic C ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Papers presented at the workshop include: the longterm viability of mined land in Queensland; the determination and achievement of rehabilitation objectives: a state government objective; monitoring native vegetation in regenerated bauxite mines at Weipa: a belt transect method; rehabilitation strategies at the Collinsville open cut coal mine; the alteration of the environment by the construction and operation of the coal export facility at Abbot Point; some aspects of the premining environment at Collinsville; the prospects for long term revegetation of acid coal mine spoil and reject materials; recovery and stability in disturbed and artificially revegetated plant communities: a theoretical viewpoint; revegetation in the arid tropics: Mount Isa Mines' experience; Nabralek and its rehabilitation; rehabilitation and management strategies for acid mine wastes; the purpose and design of water quality monitoring networks at mine sites; ...

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:3413781

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Science.gov (United States)

Not Available

Science.gov (United States)

This final scientific report documents the Industrial Technology Program (ITP) Stage 2 Concept Development effort on Data Center Energy Reduction and Management Through Real-Time Optimal Control (RTOC). Society is becoming increasingly dependent on information technology systems, driving exponential growth in demand for data center processing and an insatiable appetite for energy. David Raths noted, 'A 50,000-square-foot data center uses approximately 4 megawatts of power, or the equivalent of 57 barrels of oil a day1.' The problem has become so severe that in some cases, users are giving up raw performance for a better balance between performance and energy efficiency. Historically, power systems for data centers were crudely sized to meet maximum demand. Since many servers operate at 60%-90% of maximum power while only utilizing an average of 5% to 15% of their capability, there are huge inefficiencies in the consumption and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The environmental problem of ground level ozone is discussed, and the Canadian strategy for dealing with it is explained. Ozone in the troposphere can cause serious health problems in susceptible persons, and is estimated to cause up to $70 million in crop damage per year. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Plan calls for less than 82 ppB by volume of ozone in any one-hour period in all areas of Canada by 2005. Three areas of Canada regularly exceed this value: the Lower Frazer valley in British Columbia, Saint John in New Brunswick, and the Windsor-Quebec corridor along the lower Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Ozone is formed by a photochemical reaction of ammonia gases, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide. Historically, ozone control has concentrated on controlling hydrocarbon emissions, but to little effect. In most locations close to large cities, ozone production is nitrogen oxide-limited, and the most recent models predict that ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Aqueous solutions (mixed waste) generated from various LLNL operations, such as debris washing, sample preparation and analysis, and equipment maintenance and cleanout, were combined for storage in the B695 tank farm. Prior to combination the individual waste streams had different codes depending on the particular generating process and waste characteristics. The largest streams were CWC 132, 791, 134, 792. Several smaller waste streams were also included. This combined waste stream was treated at LLNL's waste treatment facility using a vacuum filtration and cool vapor evaporation process in preparation for discharge to sanitary sewer. Prior to discharge, the treated waste stream was sampled and the results were reviewed by LLNL's water monitoring specialists. The treated solution was discharged following confirmation that it met the discharge criteria. A major source, accounting for 50% for this waste stream, is metal machining, cutting and grinding operations in the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The standard protocol in multislice spiral CT (MSCT) angiography for coronary arteries with fixed tube current-time settings leads to an overexposure and thus to an unnecessary high radiation dose in patients with lower weight when compared to heavier patients. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of reducing the radiation dose by adapting the tube current-time settings individually. Fifty patients underwent retrospectively ECG-gated MSCT of the heart. In 25 patients (group A{sub 1}) a standard protocol with constant tube current-time settings was used (4 x 1-mm collimation, 120 kV, 400 mAs{sub eff}). Subsequently, artificial image noise was added to the data of these patients simulating a directive for weight-adapted tube current-time settings (group A{sub 2}). In the other 25 patients (group B) an alternative protocol with individually weight-adapted tube current-time settings was applied. The data of all groups were evaluated by a regression analysis. The image ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A community greenhouse gas emission and energy inventory is an important tool to help local governments plan, implement and monitor climate change mitigation strategies and sustainable energy systems. Inventories can also facilitate a number of other local priorities such as air quality management; integrated land-use and transportation planning; infrastructure optimization and planning; and community economic development planning. The British Columbia government's community energy and emissions inventory initiative (CEEI) intends to collect and centralize high-quality geocoded data to generate high-value community inventories for the province's 185 local governments. This report presented strategic guidance for a comprehensive community emissions inventory system based on a high level review of international best practices. The report described the project objective and scope; guiding principles; research methodology; and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate time management and workflow for multidetector-row helical CT (MDCT). Time for patient and data handling of at total of 580 patients were evaluated at two different time periods (December 1999, August 2000), each for the following baseline measurements: (a) change of clothes/instruction; (b) patient placement on the CT table/i.v. catheter; (c) CT planning and programming; (d) CT data acquisition; (e) CT data reconstruction; (f) CT data storage/printing. All imaging was performed on a Somatom Volume Zoom (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). Time measurements summarized for different CT protocols revealed the following: (a) 5:01 min (#+-#2.06 min); (b) 4:36 min (#+-#2.43 min); (c) 4:11 min (#+-#2.55 min); (d) 0:43 min (#+-#0.15 min); (e) 6:59 min (#+-#2.39 min); (f) 09:51 min (#+-#3.51 min). Planning and programming was most time-consuming for CT angiography, whereas chest and abdominal CT needed only 3:26 and 3:30 min, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This thesis examines the design of a propulsion system for a series hybrid vehicle and includes the study of an energy storage unit using double-layer capacitors and a lightweight soft-switched converter system, and two new components in series hybrid vehicles. The development of environmentally sustainable vehicles is more urgent now given the fact that pollution levels are ever increasing. No electric vehicle has yet been developed that can compete with a normal vehicle based only on internal combustion engines. The dilemma lies in the difficulty of storing the amount of energy needed and supply it a high power levels. An attractive and viable option to reducing pollution and maintaining good performance may lie in hybrid electric-powered vehicles. The double-layer power capacitors are an interesting option because of their high power density and long lifetime. The devices are new and assembling large energy storage units must be thoroughly examined before using them in actual ...

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:19829557

CERN Document Server

Regulatory Control of Radioactive Waste Management

CERN Document Server

Managing far-flung knowledge

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The European Court of Justice has defined a clear means by which waste utilisation methods can be distinguished from waste disposal methods in a logical, well-understandable manner. With its stringent definition of ''utilisation'' this judgement points the way to quality-oriented waste management practices. We do not share the often voiced fear that this decision will lead to an increased incineration of compound wastes in industrial plants such as cement works. From the fact that, according to the decision by the European Court of Justice, wastes destined for utilisation fulfil a certain purpose and therefore, if not available in sufficient quantity must be replaced by primary raw materials, it follows that these wastes are required to fulfil specific quality criteria. This is rarely the case, if at all, with compound wastes. From the viewpoint of Luxembourg the decision by the European ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The World Bank is analyzing the role of economic policy instruments for the control of air pollution in Poland, in cooperation with Polish and international experts. The first stage, covering Poland as a whole, was recently completed, jointly financed with the U.S. E.P.A. and the Government of the Netherlands. The second stage, now under way, will extend the analysis into a specific regional framework. Stage 2 is financed by the World Bank, the Polish Government, and the U.K. Environment Know-How Fund. Air Pollution in Poland is overwhelmingly caused by energy production and uses, due to the fact that the Polish economy depends heavily on coal and lignite. At present, vehicles contribute less to total emissions than do coal burning and industrial processes, although they account for 25-35% of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and lead; and the concentrated in areas of high population density. The paper shows how economic, technical and meteorological modelling can be used, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Perspectives from industry, academe, and the NRC are brought together in this report and used to develop a logical framework that links management and organization factors and safety in nuclear power plant performance. The framework focuses on intermediate outcomes which can be predicted by organizational and management factors, and which are subsequently linked to safety. The intermediate outcomes are efficiency, compliance, quality, and innovation. The organization and management factors can be classified in terms of environment, context, organizational governance, organizational design, and emergent processes. Initial empirical analyses were conducted on a limited set of hypotheses derived from the framework. One set of hypotheses concerned the relationships between one of the intermediate outcome variables, efficiency, as measured by critical hours and outage rate, and safety, as measured by 5 NRC ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sandia is a national security laboratory operated for the U.S. department of Energy by the Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company. Sandia designs all non-nuclear components for the nation's nuclear weapons, performs a wide variety of energy research and development projects, and works on assignments that respond to national security threats - both military and economic. They encourage and seek partnerships with appropriate U.S. industry and government groups to collaborate on emerging technologies that support their mission. Today, Sandia has two primary facilities, one in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and one in Livermore, California. They employ about 7,600 people and manage about $1.4 billion of work per year. In 1995, a decision was made to move from their in-house developed systems to commercial software. This decision was driven partly by Y2K compliance issues associated with the existing operating system and support environment. Peoplesoft was ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of the paper is to review the role of interventional radiology in the management of hemodialysis vascular access and complications in renal transplantation. The evaluation of patients with hemodialysis vascular access is complex. It includes the radiology/ultrasound (US) evaluation of the peripheral veins of the upper extremities with venous mapping and the evaluation of the central vein prior to the access placement and radiological detection and treatment of the stenosis and thrombosis in misfunctional dialysis fistulas. Preoperative screening enables the identification of a suitable vessel to create a hemodynamically-sound dialysis fistula. Clinical and radiological detection of the hemodynamically significant stenosis or occlusion demands fistulography and endovascular treatment. Endovascular prophylactic dilatation of stenosis greater than 50% with associated clinical abnormalities such as flow-rate reduction is warranted to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One of the most loaded parts of a steam generator of VVER 440 MW type are the bolts and thread holes of the primary collector cover sealing set. The strength calculations and tensometric measurings performed during operation proved the high degree of a load on the bolts. The conditions of the stress limitation are not met in some cases according to the pertinent standards. The untightnesses at nickel rings occurred during putting the units of Jaslovske Bohunice and Dukovany nuclear power stations into operation. With regard to improve the reliability, the producer has taken measures to improve the quality of the rings and users have introduced more strict regulations for bolts tightening. Due to these measures the high reliability of the set has been obtained from point of view of the tightness, but substantial reduction of bolts and holes threads loading have not been obtained. Several years operation experience proved relatively low service ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim was to investigate conditions relating to the substitution of natural gas for part of the amount of cinders previously used as fuel in an existing cupola furnace used in an iron foundry. The process of retrofitting is described. The principle solution is that four gas burners are placed symmetrically around the furnace immediately above the melting zone. They are mounted in separate fire boxes in such a way that they point downwards in order to prevent the fire box being filled with materials from the furnace, which would cause damage to the burners. The burners are continuously controlled to produce an output of 720 - 2620 kW and with 0.5 - 1.5 excess air. This solution was successful although it was found necessary (in order to achieve a satisfactory quality of resulting molten material) to add extra cinders to the furnace resulting in a reduction of only 9% of total cinders used, instead of the hoped-for 15%. The melting temperature ...

Science.gov (United States)

In the recent work [Proc. of SPIE 7801, 7801-2/1-12 (2010), Opt. Eng. 50(5) (2011), in press], we have reported on improvement of the Developmental Long Trace Profiler (DLTP), a slope measuring profiler available at the Advanced Light Source Optical Metrology Laboratory, achieved by replacing the bulk pentaprism with a mirror based pentaprism (MBPP). An original experimental procedure for optimal mutual alignment of the MBPP mirrors has been suggested and verified with numerical ray tracing simulations. It has been experimentally shown that the optimally aligned MBPP allows the elimination of systematic errors introduced by inhomogeneity of the optical material and fabrication imperfections of the bulk pentaprism. In the present article, we provide the analytical derivation and verification of easily executed optimal alignment algorithms for two different designs of mirror based pentaprisms. We also provide an analytical description for the mechanism for reduction ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the nuclear power stations of GDR the rough radioactive waste includes borat-containing evaporator bottoms and spent ion exchanger resins. For its final disposal in deep geological formations (rock salt mines) this waste has to be solidified. The experience of one year lasting operation of a steam heated thin-film evaporator (heating surface 2 m"3) for evaporator bottoms to be solidified with a solid content of 200-250 g/l are reported on. In short time such amount of water is abstracted from the rough waste that due to the borate content a hot high-viscous product passes from evaporator to waste drum and there solidifies like glass to monolith. The product quality depends on the adjustment of the flow-equilibrium in the evaporator. Boric acid is used as matrix for the radioactive residues. The residual water content of the solidified waste product was about 15-20%, the volume reduction was V_f=5...6. In order to be sure to get a solidified ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The increasing diffusion of small-scale energy systems within the distributed generation (DG) paradigm is raising the need for studying the environmental impact due to the different DG solutions in order to assess their sustainability. Addressing the environmental impact calls for building specific models for studying both local and global emissions. In this framework, the adoption of natural gas-fueled DG cogeneration technologies may provide, as a consequence of cogeneration enhanced overall energy efficiency and of natural gas relatively low carbon content, a significant reduction of global impact in terms of CO2 emissions with respect to the separate production of electricity and heat. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the DG alternatives should take into account as well the impact due to the presence of plants spread over the territory that could increase the local pollution, in particular due to CO and NOx, and thus could worsen the local air ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The consequences of converting a facility from brown coal fuel to gas fuel were analyzed by model simulation. Treated were a district heating plant with an output of 700 TJ/yr and minor local heating sources (stoves) at a density of 1 family house per 100 m"2. Emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons before and after the conversion are given for the two types of source. Conversion of a major air pollution source to gas fuel would result in a reduction of the contribution of sulfur dioxide emissions of the order of 10"-"4, of particulate matter and carbon monoxide of the order of 10"-"3, and of hydrocarbons of the order of 10"-"2. The decrease will be lowest for nitrogen oxides, viz. about 40%. Analogous data for local heating sources in towns would be 10"-"5 for sulfur dioxide, 10"-"4 for particulate matter, 10"-"3 for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, and roughly one order of magnitude for nitrogen oxides. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories` Zephyr System provides a showcase for the ways in which emerging technologies can help streamline procurement processes and improve the coordination between participants in engineering projects by allowing collaboration in ways that have not been possible before. The project also shows the success of a highly pragmatic approach that was initiated by the end user community, and that intentionally covered standard situations, rather than aiming at also automating the exceptions. By helping push purchasing responsibilities down to the end user, thereby greatly reducing the involvement of the purchasing department in operational activities, it was possible to streamline the process significantly resulting in time savings of up to 90%, major cost reductions, and improved quality. Left with less day-to- day purchasing operations, the purchasing department has more time for strategic tasks such as selecting ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Selection of the appropriate radiation quality is an important aspect of optimisation for every clinical imaging task in radiology, since it affects both image quality and patient dose. Spreadsheet...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The average American generates four pounds of solid waste per day, yet increasing constraints are being placed on the ability of municipalities to handle waste disposal. Most cities face a scarcity of acceptable landfill sites and conventional incineration and landfill methods have come under strict air, water and soil pollution standards. City administrators are being encouraged to select from a variety of proposed technologies that supplant traditional waste disposal methods, some of which offer the promise of revenues from energy and resource recovery. The problem is to select from available near-term technologies those systems that will fit into a city's long-term solid-waste management program. Broadly, waste-to-energy recovery systems now available to cities may be classified as combustion, pyrolysis, biodegradation, and mechanical front-end systems. It is important to notice that operations used for mechanical front-end systems (i.e., separation, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Objective: To analyze the early response of uveal melanomas in patients treated with ruthenium-106 brachytherapy. Materials And Methods: In the period between April 2002 and July 2003, 20 patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma were submitted to ruthenium-106 brachytherapy. The calculated dose delivered at the apex of the tumor ranged between 55 Gy and 100 Gy. Patients with lesions greater than 5 mm were submitted to transpupillary thermotherapy concomitantly with ophthalmic plaque insertion. Results: As regards the lesions site, 75% of the lesions were located in the choroid, 15% in the iris, and the remainder 10% in the ciliary body. In a median 19-month-follow-up, the progression-free survival for brachytherapy was 69%, and 87% for associated brachytherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy. A significant tumor height reduction was observed after treatment. No patient was submitted to enucleation. Conclusion: Our preliminary results show that ruthenium-106 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Renewable energy systems have been suggested as appropriate technologies for developing countries for many years. But they are less attractive to low-income rural and urban populations for reasons of risk and initial capital outlay, and market penetration is usually small as a result. Technology transfer by outside intervention appears unlikely to deliver to enough people in Africa; only self propagating technologies have managed that to date. Unfortunately target populations in developing countries have little capital and are understandably reluctant to take risks. Outside interests see little likelihood of profit and have already demonstrated reluctance to invest in many developing countries. Benefit from technology relies on continued use after purchase and is rightly associated with reliability and availability. Mean time to repair may be a better measure of appropriateness than mean time between failures. Technology based on the idea of `advanced simplicity` - ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Decommissioning of radiological and nuclear installations is for this century the new challenge. One of the performance criteria is the reduction of total quantities of radioactive materials (liquid or solid) arising from dismantling and decontamination of radiological and nuclear installations. In this work we present a new application of the water soluble polymers used as: - flocculation agents in treatment and conditioning process within the management of radioactive liquid materials; - strippable coatings on solid materials based on the water soluble polymers. The parameters of water soluble polymers made in our Institute by radiation processing have been analysed, namely the molecular average weight, composition, and efficiency of utilization of these polymeric materials as well as the content of ash, additives, decontamination factor, consumption per surfaces/liter, corrosion aspects, compatibility with various surfaces (of metal, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

As part of our ongoing research to provide quality improvements to heating oil, Mobil Oil together with Santa Fuel, Inc., conducted a field trial to investigate the performance of a new premium heating oil. This premium heating oil contains an additive system designed to minimize sludge related problems in the fuel delivery system of residential home heating systems. The additive used was similar to others reported at this and earlier BNL conferences, but was further developed to enhance its performance in oil heat systems. The premium heating oil was bulk additized and delivered to a subset of the customer base. Fuel related, unscheduled service calls were monitored in this test area, as well as in a similar baseline area that did not receive the premium heating oil. Overall, the premium fuel provided a 45% reduction in the occurrence of fuel related, unscheduled service calls as compared to the baseline area. Within this population, there was ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The diverse microenvironments of foods, changing with processing and preservation, might provide conditions that would enhance the growth of microorganisms which are the principal cause of spoilage, off-odor and unpleasant flavor in foods. Radiation is a potential process which may provide a product with far superior microbial quality for food preservation, by reduction of microbial population; elimination of food-borne pathogens; extension of shelf-life; and reduction of spoilage. The aim of irradiation at low dose level is to eliminate certain microorganisms, especially spoilage types and those of public health significance. But, the radurization dose allows the outgrowth of radioresistant bacteria. Certain strains of Moraxella-Acinetobacter (M-A) groups have been recognized as radioresistant bacteria (Welch and Maxcy, 1975), which may have gone unnoticed by food microbiologists, since these bacteria have not been ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper described a newly developed chipper device for mounting on Claas Jaguar chipper harvesters for short rotation forestry harvesting. It was designed by the Agriculture Engineering Research Unit of the Agricultural Research Council in Rome, Italy. The new rotor has a lower number of blades compared to standard rotors and has a different cutting angle and drum insertion. This study evaluated the particle-size distribution of wood chips produced by standard rotors compared to those with the experimental rotor. The objective was to distinguish the particle size distribution of chips produced using the two types of chippers in order to evaluate the influence of wooden species in the chip formation process. Tests were conducted using 860 and 890 Claas Jaguar chipper harvesters, both equipped with standard and CRA-ING rotors. The experiment was conducted on poplar cultivations on biennial shift and on arboreal cultivations. Compared to traditional rotors, CRA-ING rotors provide a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microdamage naturally occurs in bone tissue as a result of cyclic loading placed on the body from normal daily activities. While it is usually repaired through the bone turnover process, accumulation of microdamage may result in reduced bone quality and increased fracture risk. It is unclear whether certain areas of bone are more susceptible to microdamage than others due to compositional differences. This study examines whether areas of microdamaged bone are chemically different than undamaged areas of bone. Bone samples (L3 vertebrae) were harvested from 15 dogs. Samples were stained with basic fuchsin, embedded in poly-methylmethacrylate, and cut into 5-(micro)m-thick sections. Fuchsin staining was used to identify regions of microdamage, and synchrotron infrared microspectroscopic imaging was used to determine the local bone composition. Results showed that microdamaged areas of bone were chemically different than the surrounding undamaged areas. Specifically, ...

Science.gov (United States)

Clean Water Act You are here: Water Laws & Regulations Policy & Guidance Clean Water Act Water Quality and 401 Certification Water Quality and 401 Certification Water Quality...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The publication presents an outline of the subject of energy management and attempts to test the hypotheses that targeted knowledge management may result in new developments and potentials, and if these are at all desirable. On this basis, a knowledge management system will be developed that may effectively promote developments and potentials in the field of energy management. The tools and fundamentals of energy management are looked into, and the given situation and desired goals are identified by means of an enquiry. This is a scientific study that aims at providing empirical information on the situation and views on the subject of energy management. The analysis, which is supported by an enquiry sheet, is to provide a basis for testing the assumed hypothesis. Further, the potential acceptance and utilization potential of decisive knowledge ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Intensification of forest management and harvesting will lead to increased pressures on relatively infertile forest soils with possible reductions in levels of nitrogen and organic matter. It will be necessary for foresters to manage the soils, along with trees, if they wish to maintain site productivity. Nitrogen fixation should be considered as a supplementary or alternative soil amendment method. Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria appear to contribute minor amounts of combined nitrogen to forest soils, but it is possible that this contribution has been underestimated. The nitrogen-fixing symbioses of higher plants with bacteria contribute up to 300 kg year of nitrogen, more than sufficient to replace potential losses of nitrogen in intensive forestry. The nitrogen-fixing process, however, requires sufficient supplies of certain elements and is sensitive to environmental factors. There are numerous examples of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper describes a risk based approach and inspection planning as part of the Pipeline Integrity Management (PIM) system for the 95.5 km long 18'' GASVOL gas pipeline in the South eastern region of Brazil transporting circa 5 000 000 m3 dry gas per day. Pipeline systems can be subject to several degradation mechanisms and inspection and monitoring are used to ensure system integrity. Modern pipeline regulations and codes are normally based on a core safety or risk philosophy. The detailed design requirements presented in design codes are practical interpretations established so as to fulfill these core objectives. A given pipeline, designed, constructed and installed according to a pipeline code is therefore the realization of a structure, which, along its whole length, meets the applicable safety objectives of that code. The main objective of Pipeline Integrity Management (PIM) is to control and document the integrity of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Purpose: calculation of conversion coefficients for the reconstruction of organ doses from entrance doses for abdomen radiographs of 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 30-year-old patients in conventional pediatric radiology for the radiographic settings recommended by the German and European guidelines for quality management in diagnostic radiology. Materials und method: using the commercially available personal computer program PCXMC developed by the Finnish Center for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (Saeteilyturvakeskus STUK), conversion coefficients for conventional abdomen radiographs were calculated performing Monte Carlo simulations in mathematical hermaphrodite phantom models describing patients of different ages. The possible clinical variation of beam collimation was taken into consideration by defining optimal and suboptimal radiation fields on the phantoms' surfaces. Results: conversion coefficients for the reconstruction of organ does in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: To determine the value of MRI in the preoperative evaluation of chronic paranasal sinusitis and to compare the results with CT and intraoperative findings. Method/Materials: 42 patients with clinical signs of chronic paranasal sinusitis underwent MRI after CT evaluation on one day, with subsequent functional endoscopic sinus surgery on the next day. Coronary CT was obtained with 5-mm slices and table-feed in the prone position, while MRI was performed in the supine position with coronary T_2-TSE+pd and coronary and transverse HASTE, each with 5-mm slice thickness. Aquisition time in MRI was less than 8 minutes. Two radiologists reviewed the CT and MRI scans for signs of sinusitis and detection of anatomical landmarks. The results were correlated with the intraoperative findings. Results: MRI offered no artifacts of dental work and showed more often high quality pictures than CT. CT and MRI demonstrated a good correlation in the detection of mucosal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ventilation, cooling and illumination of modern high-rise office buildings with high-quality thermal insulation (average k-value 1.0 W/m12K) and high loads from office machinery (up to 20 W/m12 and beyond) are problematic even for modern facility management systems, with consequences for the building shell, heating system, and window ventilation. [Deutsch] Die Lueftung, Kuehlung und Beleuchtung moderner Buerohochbauten mit extremer Waermedaemmung (mittlerer K-Wert 1,0 W/m{sup 2}K) und hohen Bueromaschinenlasten (bis zu 20 W/m{sup 2} und mehr) verursachen auch heute noch erhebliche Probleme, obwohl die technische Gebaeudeausruestung weiterentwickelt wurde. Dies zeigt sich vor allem bei der Fassadenausbildung der Heizung und Fensterlueftung. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Burner nozzles were often redesigned in order to improve flow design and manufacturing quality. Maintenance intervals, however, are not satisfactory for the operators of such plants. There is no definitive answer as to whether upgraded design allows to lengthen these intervals or whether additional measures are required. Gas turbines may break down for a large number of reasons. This article shows that many of the causes of operational failure and damage are preventable. Damage management will be successful if manufacturers, operators and independent institutions work together.(orig.) [German] Es wurden in der Vergangenheit mehrfach Veraenderungen an den Brennerduesen vorgenommen. Dabei wurden Verbesserungen in der stroemungstechnischen Auslegung und der Fertigungsqualitaet erzielt. Die derzeit noch gueltigen Wartungsintervalle sind fuer den Betreiber unbefriedigend. Inwieweit diese Intervalle mit der modifizierten Ausruestung verlaengert ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Salinisation of freshwater has been identified as a serious environmental issue in Australia and around the world. Protective concentrations (trigger values) for salinity can be used to manage salinity impacts, though require locally relevant salinity tolerance information. 72-h acute salinity tolerance values were determined for 102 macroinvertebrates collected from 11 locations in four biologically distinct freshwater bio-regions in Northeast Australia and compared with sensitivities observed in Southeast Australia. The salinity tolerance of individual taxa was consistent across Northeast Australia and between Northeast and Southeast Australia. However, two distinct communities were identified in Northeast Australia using distributions of the acute tolerance values and a calculated index of salinity sensitivity. Salinity trigger values should therefore be representative of local or regionally relevant communities and may be adequately calculated using sensitivity ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gas Distribution Companies have long paid great attention to improving the quality of gas supply service to the consumer. This has involved them in an on-going attempt to successfully define and establish a clear computer assisted replacement programme which, when drawn up on a reliability basis, may also prove cost effective. The reasons which drive any gas line replacement programme are mainly related to the necessity: to improve the gas network asset so as to face a striking expected growth in gas demand; to refurbish old distribution systems with the purpose not only to increase the reliability and continuity of gas supply but also to reduce the rate of maintenance costs due to frequent repair works; to prevent the possibility of massive replacement works for a progressing ageing of the network. This paper will present the computer assisted procedure being implemented by Italgas. It ranks well defined network areas which urgently need renewal and also have a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper illustrates how the techniques developed by the authors for capital cost targeting of mass exchange networks can be applied to determination of capital investment targets for reduction in effluent for existing systems involving mass exchange. The results is an impact diagram which shows the relationship between effluent reduction and capital investment, indicating a region of limiting return on investment as well as the maximum possible reduction in effluent. (au)

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:6429571

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:21900358

CERN Document Server

The Business Value of IT

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on practical projects such as woodland management, limestone grassland management, cattle management, conflict management and education. ...Cathy Heaton Telephone 01772 892400 Email cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk www.uclan.ac.uk/schoolbne

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Short communication.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

OBJECTIVE: To examine primary care physicians' management of rheumatoid arthritis, ascertain the determinants of management and compare management with that recommended by a current practice panel....Full Text Available

Norwegian Open Research Archives (NORA)

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