Some effects of time usage patterns on the productivity of engineers

The performance of the 1500+ engineers at MSFC is critical to the Center's mission. Worker's performance, however, is a variable affected by ability, motivation, role understanding, and other factors. Managing subordinates' performance is a great challenges to managers. Special challenges confront the managers of engineers because engineers often work with general goals, long deadlines, and considerable autonomy. The productivity of a team or branch is a function of the productivity of each of its members. While many managers have personal theories about how to run their work group, surprisingly little systematic scientific knowledge exerts about the effects of various factors on engineers' productivity. This study is intended to help lay the foundation for such a program of research

National economic impacts of an EU environmental policy: an applied general equilibrium analysis

The objective of this paper is to quantify the economic effects of the introduction of a system of tradable permits in the European Union (EU). For this purpose we use linked applied general equilibrium models (AGE) for eleven EU member countries. This method enables us to measure the change in competitiveness for domestic industries, the impact on growth, employment and inflation in member countries, and the cost and benefits of a cooperative approach to adhere to a EU target of emissions of air pollutants. The results we will present are first results from the SOLVGE/GEM-E3 Projekt. GEM-E3 stands for General Equilibrium Modeling for Energy - Economy - Environment, a joint undertaking of NTUA-Athens (P. Capros, P. Georgakopoulos), CESKULeuven (S. Proost and D. Van Regemorter), Univ. Mannheim and ZEW (K. Conrad and T. Schmidt), GEMME-CEA (N. Ladoux), Univ. Strathclyde (P. MacGregor), CORE-UCL (Y. Smeers), With respect to a policy on greenhouse gases we will quantify the economic impact for the, EU by introducing a EU-wide tradable permit system, free of charge and based on the present energy intensity and energy mix. Under growth there will be a positive market price for permits with demand by countries where the cost of substitution are high and supply by those countries where the cost of substitution are low. We will measure economic performance and trade flows under a noncoordinated CO2 policy where each country limits the emission of CO2 by 10% and will compare the result with a cooperative outcome where the European Union as a decision maker aims at reducing CO2 by 10%. --

The CosmicWatch Desktop Muon Detector: a self-contained, pocket sized particle detector

The CosmicWatch Desktop Muon Detector is a self-contained, hand-held cosmic ray muon detector that is valuable for astro/particle physics research applications and outreach. The material cost of each detector is under $100 and it takes a novice student approximately four hours to build their first detector. The detectors are powered via a USB connection and the data can either be recorded directly to a computer or to a microSD card. Arduino- and Python-based software is provided to operate the detector and an online application to plot the data in real-time. In this paper, we describe the various design features, evaluate the performance, and illustrate the detectors capabilities by providing several example measurements.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Double dividend of climate protection and the role of international policy coordination in the EU: an applied general equilibrium analysis with the GEM-E3 model

While there is some hope that the ongoing climate change negotiations will soon come up with concrete, time scheduled and binding emission reduction commitments, the question of how to achieve these targets is still unsolved. The objective of this paper is to analyse alternative settings of an environmental tax reform and its economic and environmental impacts on the EU. The methodological framework used is based on a multi-country and multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium model for eleven EU-member states. The emphasis of the analysis lies on the institutional setting of a carbon dioxide reduction policy and on the specification of the labour market. The institutional settings analysed are related to the degree of environmental policy coordination. As standard neo-classics neglegt the problem of unvoluntary unemployment, we relax this restriction in the second part of the analysis in order to test alternative (more rigid) labour market specifications. The major findings of the paper can be summarized as follows: 1) There is some potential for a double dividend in the EU. 2) Coordination beats not always unilateral actions. 3) Labour market rigidities play a crucial role to both, the double dividend and the coordination issue. --

Life History and Ecology of the Black-Footed Ferret in the Wild

Twenty-one black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) were observed at six different locations in southwest South Dakota between April 1966, and September 1967. All observations were made on black-tailed prairie-dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns from 15 to 100 acres in size. Because of the proximity of towns inhabited by ferrets, it was possible that individual animals were observed in more than one location. Three litters of ferrets were studied. Young ferrets were most active during early morning and late evening hours. Ferrets remained as a group until early fall when dispersal evidently occurred. Young ferrets accepted live-tethered and dead prairie dogs, mice, cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus), and birds placed near their burrow. A trench-like structure formed by ferrets digging in prairie-dog burrows was a characteristic sign indicating that ferrets were present. Numerous plugged burrows formed by prairie dogs covering holes presently or recently occupied by ferrets may also be a sign. All evidence indicated that prairie dogs were the principal food. Adult ferrets were observed to bring up dead prairie dogs from their burrows and carry them to other burrows. Also, one adult ferret was observed capturing a live prairie dog above ground. A reduction in prairie-dog numbers was noted on towns inhabited by ferrets. Widespread use of sodium monofluoracetate (Compound 1080) presents a threat to ferrets. It has been shown that 1080-poisoned prairie dogs can cause secondary poisoning of domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius). Also, prairie-dog eradication reduces the ferret’s food supply

Analysis and Geometric Optimization of Single Electron Transistors for Read-Out in Solid-State Quantum Computing

The single electron transistor (SET) offers unparalled opportunities as a nano-scale electrometer, capable of measuring sub-electron charge variations. SETs have been proposed for read-out schema in solid-state quantum computing where quantum information processing outcomes depend on the location of a single electron on nearby quantum dots. In this paper we investigate various geometries of a SET in order to maximize the device's sensitivity to charge transfer between quantum dots. Through the use of finite element modeling we model the materials and geometries of an Al/Al2O3 SET measuring the state of quantum dots in the Si substrate beneath. The investigation is motivated by the quest to build a scalable quantum computer, though the methodology used is primarily that of circuit theory. As such we provide useful techniques for any electronic device operating at the classical/quantum interface.Comment: 13 pages, 17 figure

Impact of Prior Healthcare Experience on Self-Reported Confidence and Competency Among Third Year Clinical Nursing Students

There is a long-running debate amongst nurse educators if prior healthcare experience facilitates or encumbers a nursing student’s clinical training and education. Nursing students with prior healthcare experience have often worked as home health aids (HHAs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), patient care technicians (PCTs), emergency medical technicians (EMTs), electrocardiogram technicians (EKG tech), student nurse associates (SNAs), and paramedics. The psychomotor and cognitive nursing skills utilized in these healthcare positions vary and some overlap with nursing skills. All of these positions interact with other healthcare positions to deliver patient care. Some educators feel that inadequate skills and training may be acquired necessitating additional proper training. Other educators feel that the skills and behaviors gained create a more confident and competent student, thus allowing them to focus on higher didactic concepts. To date, there is no analytical data in the literature illuminating this debate. The aim of this project was to explore if nursing students, who have worked in prior healthcare, are more confident and competent in their nursing school career compared to students with no prior healthcare experience. To properly assess the confidence and competence of nursing students at The University of Rhode Island, College of Nursing, an IRB-approved methodological study was constructed. The study was modeled after the Nurse Professional Competency Scale, a validated and published tool measuring confidence and competence of nursing students prior to graduation based off of the World Health Organization professional competencies. The tool had several sections and collected demographics, prior healthcare experience, self-assessment of skills, and a self-reported grade section. After recruitment of subjects among second semester junior nursing students attending a lecture, the electronic tool was distributed via a secure Survey Monkey link. Out of the 110 students registered for the class, 73 were present in the classroom. Sixty-eight volunteered to participate in the survey and 67 completed the survey. The resultant data was statistically analyzed for covariates by performing ANCOVA in SPSS. Our examination showed that there were no correlations between prior healthcare experience, confidence, and competence among the third year clinical students. Additional studies are needed to properly explore the importance of prior healthcare experience in nursing pedagogy