Identifying and Evaluating Equity Provisions in State Health Care Reform

Identifies state policies that promote equitable access to quality health care and analyzes whether reform proposals in five states meet those equity benchmarks. Discusses innovative measures and the need to implement truly universal health insurance

Phase-field-crystal model for fcc ordering

We develop and analyze a two-mode phase-field-crystal model to describe fcc ordering. The model is formulated by coupling two different sets of crystal density waves corresponding to and reciprocal lattice vectors, which are chosen to form triads so as to produce a simple free- energy landscape with coexistence of crystal and liquid phases. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated with numerical examples of polycrystalline and (111) twin growth. We use a two-mode amplitude expansion to characterize analytically the free-energy landscape of the model, identifying parameter ranges where fcc is stable or metastable with respect to bcc. In addition, we derive analytical expressions for the elastic constants for both fcc and bcc. Those expressions show that a non-vanishing amplitude of [200] density waves is essential to obtain mechanically stable fcc crystals with a non-vanishing tetragonal shear modulus (C11 - C12)/2. We determine the model parameters for specific materials by fitting the peak liquid structure factor properties and solid density wave amplitudes following the approach developed for bcc [K.-A. Wu and A. Karma, Phys. Rev. B 76, 184107 (2007)]. This procedure yields reasonable predictions of elastic constants for both bcc Fe and fcc Ni using input parameters from molecular dynamics simulations. The application of the model to two-dimensional square lattices is also briefly examined.Comment: 14 figure

Explaining price differences between physical and derivative freight contracts

Physical time-charters (TC) and Forward Freight Agreements (FFAs) represent two hedging approaches that differ in terms of risks and physical access to transportation. We investigate the determinants of the time-varying TC-FFA freight rate differential in the dry bulk market. We find that TC and FFA prices are co-integrated but TC rates are generally priced higher than FFAs. The differential is explained by the level and slope of the term structure, a measure of economic ‘stress’ as well as vessel specifications and contractual terms. Finally, the TC-FFA differential is related to default risk premium and the potential convenience yield

AUDIT PERUBAHAN PENGGUNAAN LAHAN DIKAWASAN KOTA TANJUNG PINANG DALAM RANGKA MEMPERTAHANKAN KAWASAN PERUNTUKAN RESAPAN AIR

Daerah resapan air adalah daerah masuknya air dari permukaan tanah ke dalam zona jenuh air sehingga membentuk suatu aliran air tanah yang mengalir ke daerah yang lebih rendah. Kebutuhan lahan sebagai ruang dalam proses pembangunan terus bertambah dalam rangka meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat, tetapi dalam eksistingnya pengembangan lahan tidak disertai dengan kesesuaiannya seperti yang telah ditetapkan. Kasus di Kota Tanjungpinang Ada beberapa kawasan yang seharusnya berfungsi sebagai kawasan resapan air namun pada kenyataannya menjadi kawasan terbangun, seperti pemimbunan lahan di daerah resapan air sekitaran Rumah Sakit Umum Provinsi (RSUP) di KM 8, Tanjungpinang. Penelitian ini fokus pada pertanyaan seberapa besar penyimpangan guna lahan khususnya peruntukan Kawasan Resapan Air di Kota Tanjungpinang, dengan sasaran pertama, mengidentifikasi sebaran pengunaan lahan eksisting, selanjutnya analisis perubahan penggunaan lahan kawasan terbangun di Kota Tanjungpinang dalam kurun waktu 15 tahun terakhir, analisis persandingan antara Penggunaan Lahan (kawasan terbangun) dengan Rencana Pola Ruang Berdasarkan RTRW Kota Tanjungpiang terkait dengan peruntukan kawasan resapan air, dan mendapatkan informasi dan memberikan rekomendasi terkait besaran penyimpangan pada lahan peruntukan kawasan resapan air di Kota Tanjungpinang. Dari proses penelitian yang dilakukan, didapatkan temuan bahwa secara keseluruhan penyimpangan resapan air di Kota Tanjungpinang pada tahun 2000 yaitu sebesar 15,49 Ha atau 4,36% (bentuk lahan penyimpangan menjadi permukiman dan perumahan) dari Total Keseluruhan peruntukan Kawasan Resapan Air di Kota Tanjungpinang yaitu 355,66 Ha. Dan pada tahun 2015 yaitu sebesar 70,01 Ha atau 19,68% (bentuk lahan penyimpangan menjadi perdagangan dan jasa, permukiman dan perumahan) dari Total Keseluruhan peruntukan Kawasan Resapan Air di Kota Tanjungpinang yaitu 355,66 Ha. Apabila dirinci perkecamatan maka jumlah dan persentase besaran simpangan perkecamatan maka, besar simpangan Kecamatan Bukit Bestari adalah sebesar 13,53 Ha atau sekitar 14,34 % dari total luas keseluruhan peruntukan resapan air seharusnya di Kecamatan Bukit Bestarsi sebesar 94,32Ha, besar simpangan Kecamatan Tanjungpinang Kota adalah sebesar 3,43 Ha atau sekitar 7,59 % dari total luas keseluruhan peruntukan resapan air seharusnya di Kecamatan Tanjungpinang Kota sebesar 45,22 Ha, dan besar simpangan Kecamatan Tanjungpinang Timur adalah sebesar 53,05 Ha atau sekitar 24,55 % dari total luas keseluruhan peruntukan resapan air seharusnya di Kecamatan Tanjungpinang Timur sebesar 216,12 Ha. Sehingga dari temuan kondisi dan besaran penyimpangan kawasan peruntukan kawasan resapan air Kota Tanjungpinang, maka untuk kedepannya perlu diperhatikan beberapa poin penting untuk mengendalikan pengembangan Kota Tanjungpinang agar sesuai dengan arahan pola ruang, diantaranya ketegasan dalam menindak pelanggaran terkait penggunaan lahan yang tidak sesuai, perlunya regulasi khusus yang mengatur kawasan-kawasan konservasi sehingga meminimalisasi perubahan atau alih fungsi lahan ekologis, dan perlu adanya sosialisasi pada masyarakat sehingga sadar dan paham tentang pentingnya pengembangan lahan yang sesuai dengan arahan pola ruang Kata Kunci: Kawasan Peruntukan Resapan Air, Simpangan lahan, Kota Tanjungpinan

Controlling crystal symmetries in phase-field crystal models

We investigate the possibility to control the symmetry of ordered states in phase-field crystal models by tuning nonlinear resonances. In two dimensions, we find that a state of square symmetry as well as coexistence between squares and hexagons can be easily obtained. In contrast, it is delicate to obtain coexistence of squares and liquid. We develop a general method for constructing free energy functionals that exhibit solid-liquid coexistence with desired crystal symmetries. As an example, we develop a free energy functional for square-liquid coexistence in two dimensions. A systematic analysis for determining the parameters of the necessary nonlinear terms is provided. The implications of our findings for simulations of materials with simple cubic symmetry are discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure

Magnetorheological landing gear: 2. Validation using experimental data

Aircraft landing gears are subjected to a wide range of excitation conditions with conflicting damping requirements. A novel solution to this problem is to implement semi-active damping using magnetorheological (MR) fluids. In part 1 of this contribution, a methodology was developed that enables the geometry of a flow mode MR valve to be optimized within the constraints of an existing passive landing gear. The device was designed to be optimal in terms of its impact performance, which was demonstrated using numerical simulations of the complete landing gear system. To perform the simulations, assumptions were made regarding some of the parameters used in the MR shock strut model. In particular, the MR fluid's yield stress, viscosity, and bulk modulus properties were not known accurately. Therefore, the present contribution aims to validate these parameters experimentally, via the manufacture and testing of an MR shock strut. The gas exponent, which is used to model the shock strut's nonlinear stiffness, is also investigated. In general, it is shown that MR fluid property data at high shear rates are required in order to accurately predict performance prior to device manufacture. Furthermore, the study illustrates how fluid compressibility can have a significant influence on the device time constant, and hence on potential control strategies

Evaluation of the NucliSens EasyQ v2.0 Assay in Comparison with the Roche Amplicor v1.5 and the Roche CAP/CTM HIV-1 Test v2.0 in Quantification of C-Clade HIV-1 in Plasma

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genetic diversity poses a challenge to reliable viral load monitoring. Discrepancies between different testing platforms have been observed, especially for non-clade-B virus. Therefore we compare, in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve South African subjects predominantly infected with HIV-1 clade-C, three commercially available assays: the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test version 2.0 by Roche (CAP/CTM v2.0), the BioMérieux NucliSens Version 2.0 Easy Q/Easy Mag (NucliSens v2.0) and the Roche COBAS Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test Version 1.5 (Amplicor v1.5). Strong linear correlation was observed and Bland-Altman analyses showed overall good agreement between the assays with mean viral load differences of 0.078 log cp/ml (NucliSens v2.0 – Amplicor v1.5), 0.260 log cp/ml (CAP/CTM v2.0 – Amplicor v1.5) and 0.164 log cp/ml (CAP/CTM v2.0 – NucliSens v2.0), indicating lower mean viral load results for the Amplicor v1.5 and higher mean readings for the CAP/CTM v2.0. Consistent with observations following previous comparisons of CAP/CTM v2.0 versus Amplicor v1.5, the CAP/CTM v2.0 assay detected low-level viremia (median 65 cp/ml) in more than one-third of those in whom viremia had been undetectable (<20 cp/ml) in assays using the NucliSens platform. These levels of viremia are of uncertain clinical significance but may be of importance in early detection of ART resistance in those on treatment. Overall the three assays showed good comparability of results but with consistent, albeit relatively small, discrepancies for HIV-1 clade-C samples, especially in the low-viremic range that should be taken into account when interpreting viral load data