How can subnational governments deliver their policy objectives in the age of austerity? Reshaping homelessness policy in Wales

This article explores how a devolved government in a small country, faced with external constraints beyond its immediate control, can deploy policy resources to shape a distinctive approach to public services. We analyse recent homelessness policy in Wales using the NATO (Nodality, Authority, Treasure, Organisation) typology of tools of government proposed by Hood and Margetts, and show how this can be applied usefully to understand the choices that governments must make in conducting relationships with other institutions. We conclude that a combination of Nodality and Authority provide powerful resources for a subnational government which has only limited formal powers and fiscal autonomy

Detecting Deterministic Chaotic Inter-arrival Times in Material Flow Systems

Automated, modular, asynchronous and locally controlled material flow systems promise high routing flexibility in production lines because their conveying modules can be reconfigured without reprogramming PLCs. However, if such material flow systems comprise cycles and different routes, they may exhibit undesirable deterministic chaotic inter-arrival times, which can lead to conveying bottlenecks when approaching maximum capacity. Since existing analytical models have not been practically adopted for planning material flow systems, an approach for detecting deterministic chaotic inter-arrival times during production is proposed. It employs the Hough transform to identify trajectories in inter-arrival time phase space. The approach is tested with a laboratory double belt conveyor system, in which non-deterministic behavior is minimized. Results are compared with a previously published analytical model. It is shown that the proposed approach is able to detect deterministic chaotic inter-arrival times for the test cases. Phase trajectories are only partly identified. Future research should test and compare different line detection algorithms for their influence on the approach’s robustness in practical production environments

Time and location differentiated NOX control in competitive electricity markets using cap-and-trade mechanisms

Due to variations in weather and atmospheric chemistry, the timing and location of nitrogen oxide (NOX) reductions determine their effectiveness in reducing ground-level ozone, which adversely impacts human health. Electric generating plants are the primary stationary sources of NOX in most regions of the United States. In the Eastern U.S. they are subject to a summertime NOX cap and trade program that is not well matched to the time and locational impacts of NOX on ozone formation. We hypothesize that the integration of weather and atmospheric chemistry forecasting, a cap and trade system in which the "exchange rates" for permits can be varied by time and location based on these forecasts, and its application to a competitive wholesale electricity market, can achieve ozone standards more efficiently. To demonstrate the potential for reductions in NOX emissions in the short run, we simulate the magnitude of NOX reductions that can be achieved at various locations and times as a consequence of redispatch of generating units in the "classic" PJM region taking supply-demand balance constraints and network congestion into account. We report simulations using both a zonal model and an optimal power flow model.(cont.) We also estimate the relationship between the level NOX emission prices, competitive market responses to different levels of NOX prices, and the associated reductions in NOx emissions. The estimated maximum potential reductions, which occur at NOX prices of about $125,000/ton, are about 8 tons (20%) hourly in peak electricity demand hours and about 10 tons (50%) in average demand hours. We find that network constraints have little effect on the magnitude of the reductions in NOX emissions.Funding provided jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); as well as the CEEP

Bringing Transportation into a Cap-and-Trade Regime

Abstract in HTML and technical report in PDF available on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change website (http://mit.edu/globalchange/www/).The U.S. may at some point adopt a national cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases, and if and when that happens the system of CAFE regulation of vehicle design very likely could still be in place. Imposed independently these two systems can lead to economic waste. One way to avoid the inefficiency is to integrate the two systems by allowing emissions trading between them. Two possible approaches to potential linkage are explored here, along with a discussion of ways to guard against violation under such a trading regime of vehicle standards that may be justified by non-climate objectives. At a minimum, implementation of a U.S. cap-and-trade system is several years in the future, so we also suggest intermediate measures that would gain some of the advantages of an integrated system and smooth the way to ultimate interconnection.This study received funding from the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, which is supported by a consortium of government, industry and foundation sponsors

Preventing human immunodeficiency virus infection among sexual assault survivors in Cape Town, South Africa: an observational study.

We describe 131 South African sexual assault survivors offered HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). While the median days completed was 27 (IQR 27, 28), 34% stopped PEP or missed doses. Controlling for baseline symptoms, PEP was not associated with symptoms (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 0.66, 2.64). Factors associated with unprotected sex included prior unprotected sex (OR = 6.46, 95% CI = 3.04, 13.74), time since the assault (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.12, 1.57) and age (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.57). Trauma counseling was protective (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.58). Four instances of seroconversion were observed by 6 months (risk = 3.7%, 95% CI = 1.0, 9.1). Proactive follow-up is necessary to increase the likelihood of PEP completion and address the mental health and HIV risk needs of survivors. Adherence interventions and targeted risk reduction counseling should be provided to minimize HIV acquisition