Engineering Change Orders and their Impact on DoD Acquisition Contracts

Cost growth is a problem DoD wide. Cost Estimators attempt to remedy this problem by accounting for uncertainty in the estimates they complete. They use tools such as Engineering Change Orders (ECO’s) to account for the uncertainty, by applying a percentage to the final amount estimated. The following research gives the acquisition community a more precise tool to predict whether a DoD Acquisition Contract will have an Engineering Change Order, which can then be used also during programmatic cost estimating, and also a method for predicting the proper amount of ECO to apply when certain variables are present. The study used both logistic and multiple regression to accomplish this. For both types of regression a stepwise approach was adopted for the response. For the Logistic Regression the Y variable was that an ECO was present and the significant predictor variables were: UAV, \u3e500M (dollars), Navy, Army, Aircraft, Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) and \u3c5M \u3e(dollars). The final model was 85% predictive. The multiple regression modeled the expected ECO percent change (less than 100% of baseline). Predictive variables included

Peak phosphorus: Clarifying the key issues of a vigorous debate about long-term phosphorus security

This paper reviews the latest information and perspectives on global phosphorus scarcity. Phosphorus is essential for food production and modern agriculture currently sources phosphorus fertilizers from finite phosphate rock. The 2008 food and phosphate fertilizer price spikes triggered increased concerns regarding the depletion timeline of phosphate rock reserves. While estimates range from 30 to 300 years and are shrouded by lack of publicly available data and substantial uncertainty, there is a general consensus that the quality and accessibility of remaining reserves are decreasing and costs will increase. This paper clarifies common sources of misunderstandings about phosphorus scarcity and identifies areas of consensus. It then asks, despite some persistent uncertainty, what would it take to achieve global phosphorus security? What would a 'hard-landing' response look like and how could preferred 'soft-landing' responses be achieved?© 2011 by the authors

Securing a sustainable phosphorus future for Australia: implications of global phosphorus scarcity and possible solutions

Food production is fundamentally dependent on inputs of key natural resources, including water, energy and nutrients. Meeting the needs of a growing world population means agricultural fields will need to expand or intensify, either way requiring more fertilisers, including phosphorus (FAO, 2006). Unlike energy and water resources, there is very little discussion, research and policies that addresses long-term availability and accessibility of phosphorus for global food production. Yet the worlds main source of phosphorus phosphate rock is declining in both quantity and quality. Indeed, peak phosphorus is anticipated in the coming decades, after which demand will exceed supp

Review of the National Packaging Covenant

The NSW Nature Conservation Council, with funding from the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, commissioned the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney, to carry out an independent review of the National Packaging Covenant and the National Environmental Protection Measure for Used Packaging Materials (the Covenant systema), in December 2003. This review was intended to evaluate the Covenant system's effectiveness in achieving both its stated objectives and broader environmental and social outcomes, including reduction in generation of packaging waste, specifically reduction in virgin materials used in packaging and a reduction in packaging material disposed to landfill. The National Packaging Covenant (NPC) is a voluntary agreement between industry, the Commonwealth Government, most State Governments and some local governments, to reduce packaging waste. It is supported by a regulatory measure, the National Environmental Protection Measure (NEPM), designed to encourage brand owners to sign the NPC. The NPC came into effect in August 1999 and is due to finish in July 2004. It is currently the subject of three separate reviews, including this one. The principle of a cooperative regulatory framework supported by a regulatory safety net is an appealing one, so there is a strong desire on the part of industry and some government agencies to provide the maximum possible opportunity for the NPC to demonstrate that it has provided benefits. This review has determined that the Covenant system is not an effective instrument for reducing the generation of packaging waste and therefore an alternative policy framework will be needed to achieve this goal. The evaluation is briefly summarised for each of the criteria

Urban water demand forecasting and demand management: Research needs review and recommendations

Urban Water Demand Forecasting and Demand Management - Research Needs Review and Recommendations This study undertook a preliminary investigation of current research into urban water demand. The objective was to conduct a preliminary review of this field, to provide the beginnings of a comprehensive database of industry knowledge in this area and to identify research gaps. It is anticipated that this will lead to a more considered approach to research funding by the Australian water industry and maximise the potential for transparency and collaboratio

Whole -genome survival analysis of 144 286 people from the UK Biobank identifies novel loci associated with blood pressure

\ua9 2024 The Author(s). This study utilized UK Biobank data from 144 286 participants and employed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and time-to-event data over a 12-year follow-up period to identify susceptibility in genetic variants associated with hypertension. Following genotype quality control, 6 319 822 single nucleotide polymorphisms underwent analysis, revealing 31 significant variant-level associations. Among these, 29 were novel - 15 in Fibrillin-2 (FBN2) and 4 in Junctophilin-2 (JPH2). Mendelian randomization utilizing two identified variants (rs17677724 and rs1014754) suggested that a genetically induced decrease in heart FBN2 expression and an increase in adrenal gland JPH2 expression were causally linked to hypertension. Phenome-wide association (PheWAS) analysis using the FinnGen dataset confirmed positive associations of rs17677724 and rs1014754 with hypertension, assessed across 2727 traits in 377 277 individuals. Lastly, rs1014754 positively associated with kallistatin, whereas rs17677724 negatively associated with renin in the Fenland study, suggesting a counterregulatory response to high blood pressure. This study, employing WGS data, identified novel genetic loci and potential therapeutic targets for hypertension

Securing a sustainable phosphorus future for Australia

Australia has developed its agricultural export industry on the foundation of importing phosphorus: from Nauru. and more recently through substituting domestic production [or at least half of all demand for fertiliser. Decreasing ore grades for phosphate rock increasing concerns about the negative impact of run-off from soils, and the likelihood of future price increases all mean that a rethink is needed of the future of phosphorus in Australia, and globally. The current path for phosphorus lise in the world and in Australia is not sustainable. due to the significant levels of inefficiency, to the certainty of peak phosphorus in the coming decades and the vulnerability to potentially volatile markets. Moving towards a sustainable phosphorus future can be achieved by reducing our dependence on imported and domestic rock, by diversifying phosphorus sources through investing in renewable phosphorus fertilisers, increasing the efficiency of use throughout the system (not just in agriculture) and maximising recovery and reuse of phosphorus

Impact of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown on the concentration of non-methane volatile organic compounds in a UK urban atmosphere

The changes in air quality brought about by the COVID-19 lockdowns can provide valuable insight into how longer-term reductions in emissions might affect atmospheric composition. In urban Leicester UK, the 2020 COVID “lockdown” brought about several notable changes in atmospheric composition, including a considerable decrease (20–60%) in concentrations of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). Given their varied emission sources and lifetimes, NMVOC data can give valuable insights into how behavioural change impact atmospheric composition. The total concentration of 48 NMVOCs at roadside (RS) sites decreased from a pre-lockdown (sampled 16th-24th March 2020) concentration of 181.3 ± 41.4 μg/m3 to 82.0 ± 12.8 μg/m3 during lockdown (LD, sampled 18th-21st May 2020), before rebounding to a concentration of 236.3 ± 23.9 μg/m3 post lockdown (post-LD, sampled 14th-17th Sept 2020). A similar pattern was observed at urban background (UB) sites with concentrations reducing during lockdown to 96.8 ± 39.5 μg/m3 from a pre-lockdown (pre-LD) concentration of 123.2 ± 24.6 μg/m3 and then increasing to 168.6 ± 29.1 μg/m3 post-LD. Generally, despite the decrease in NMVOC concentrations during the LD, an increase in O3 level was observed. This was attributed to decreased emissions of NOx and the subsequent repartioning of Ox. This research assessed the quantitative effect of changes in vehicular and related anthropogenic emissions on air quality, providing valuable insights for the formulation of future air pollution controls

The Multiple Usages of Thinking With Algebra

Thinking With Algebra (TWA) is a National Science Foundation Project (DUE 2021414) to develop a post-secondary curriculum for intermediate algebra. TWA focuses on six elements that align with building algebraic fluency with conceptual understanding, a mixed review approach, small-group work, and whole-class discussion (Feikes, et al., 2021). Using an equity lens (Oppland-Cordell et al., 2023), TWA is designed for students, including underrepresented students, who need additional mathematical supports at the college level. Seventeen college math instructors attended a workshop on the lessons and pedagogy in order to use TWA in their college courses. Feedback from instructors participating in the TWA first-year faculty workshop indicated that the curriculum was used in many different ways to help prepare students for college algebra and other STEM courses