Wastewater Pipe Condition and Deterioration Modeling for Risk-Based Decision-Making

The dissertation research work described here has four primary objectives: (1) the development of a comprehensive wastewater pipe condition rating model that incorporates a large number of environmental, structural, and hydraulic parameters of the pipe; (2) the development of a wastewater pipe deterioration model used to predict future overall condition states of the pipe, as well as determining the probability of failure at any given age of the pipe; (3) the development of a comprehensive consequence of failure model that assesses the consequence of wastewater pipe failure using economic, social, and environmental cost factors; and (4) the development of a proposed risk-based decisionmaking framework that combines the probability of failure with the consequence of failure to determine the wastewater pipe’s risk of failure for rehabilitation and/or renewal decision-making purposes. The industry-accepted protocol for condition rating of sewer pipes in the U.S. is the Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP) developed by the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO, 2001). The PACP method relies exclusively on visual inspections performed by means of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) where existing structural and operation and maintenance (O&M) defects are observed by certified operators. A limitation of the PACP method is that it does not use pipe characteristics, depth, soil type, surface conditions, pipe criticality and capacity, nor the distribution of structural defects, or history of preventative maintenance to determine the condition rating of the sewer pipe segment. Therefore, this research work addresses this limitation and develops a condition rating model that incorporates information about pipe characteristics, environmental parameters, as well information about structural and O&M defects, and hydraulic factors. Factors such as pipe material, diameter, shape, pipe material’s age, soil type, depth of burial, type of carried waste, seismic zone, loading, groundwater, flow, inflow, and pipe surcharge are used. As part of an asset management program, the ability to predict future sewer pipe conditions and potential failures is vital for capital improvement planning and budgeting. The deterioration model developed herein is unique in that it uses a Continuous Time Markov Chain method, as opposed to the widely used Discrete Time Markov Chain methods in the literature, to determine probabilities of transitioning from a better to a worse condition at any given age of the pipe. To obtain a complete risk-based decision-making framework, the probability of failure is combined with the consequence of failure of the pipe to determine its risk of failure. The developed consequence of failure model incorporates a large number of economic, social, and environmental cost factors to determine the consequence of failure of the asset. Among the factors considered in the assessment of the consequence of failure are the pipe age, diameter, length, depth of burial, access to pipe, distance to critical laterals, soil type, seismic zone, distance to critical laterals, average daily traffic, proximity to other infrastructure, distance to bodies of water, and land use. Combined with the probability of failure, it results in the pipe’ risk of failure. The obtained information is useful for future capital project planning and improvement budgeting

IT TAKES A VILLAGE: INTEGRATING FIREHOUSE HUBS TO ENCOURAGE COOPERATION AMONG POLICE, FIRE, AND THE PUBLIC

Tension and hostility between police officers and society seem to be on the rise, and officers and firefighters alike face violence and other threats on a daily basis. While these agencies strive to protect and serve, they often overlook each other, failing to recognize what a cooperative front might do to improve public relations. This thesis explores the idea of using firehouses as central hubs of collaboration to improve the trust, cooperation, and safety of police officers, firefighters, and the public. The research consisted of focus group discussions obtained from three specific Oklahoma groups: Owasso firefighters, Tulsa police officers, and Tulsa citizens. The research indicates that most participants are in favor of community-centered efforts, including the proposed firehouse hub concept. This study also reveals differing views among the groups regarding the benefits and challenges of such strategies, as well as insight and suggestions for their success. Showcasing Tulsa, Oklahoma, this thesis recommends using existing fire stations as catalysts to encourage police-officer foot patrols and to foster better relationships, cooperation, and safety among all groups. This thesis suggests that better collaboration between police officers and firefighters might significantly influence positive change and improve the relationships and safety of first responders and the public.http://archive.org/details/ittakesavillagei1094560412Outstanding ThesisCivilianApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Inter-annual variability influences the eco-evolutionary dynamics of range-shifting

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Redesigning Gambling Treatment Programs for Success: A Model Based Approach Toward Program Development

Abstract This presentation will describe a program improvement initiative launched by Oregon Problem Gambling Services to assist with the development of its 47 publicly-funded gambling treatment programs. The development approach incorporated best practices as identified by SAMHSA, the gambling disorders literature, and expert review. The resulting Technical Assistance Visit Toolkit & Gambling Treatment Program Capability Index (GTPCI) offer a streamline program improvement protocol for use specifically with gambling treatment programs. The presenters will share their experience in implementing this program development approach, merits of the model, and program results. Implications This presentation will introduce participants to a model and evaluation instrument designed to conceptualize and measure a comprehensive approach toward addressing problem gambling within an agency. Data will demonstrate the tool’s efficacy and the model will aid in developing interventions within behavioral healthcare agencies and increasing gambling treatment enrollments

El babilonio Ubaru y sus documentos de ventas de esclavos de Nineveh

This article edits three Neo-Babylonian slave-sale documents found in Nineveh that form the dossier of Ubāru. The background of this Babylonian individual is uncertain, but we make some educated guesses about his identityEste artículo presenta tres documentos neobabilónicos de venta de esclavos hallados en Nínive, que forman parte del dosier de Ubāru. El trasfondo de este personaje babilonio es incierto, pero podemos hacer algunas conjeturas acerca de su identida

Selecting the ‘Sustainable’ Cow Using a Customized Breeding Index: Case Study on a Commercial UK Dairy Herd

The aim of the current study was to investigate using a customized profit and carbon total merit index to identify sustainable milking cows and herd replacements within a commercial dairy herd. Balancing the economic, social and environmental aspects of milk production has gained interest given the increasing global demand for milk products. Furthermore, a farm-level customized breeding index with farm-derived weightings for biological traits would incorporate the effect of the farm environment. This study used a Markov chain approach to model a commercial dairy herd in the UK between the years 2017 and 2022. Production, financial, genetic and nutritional data for the herd were used as input data. The model derived the economic (GBP per unit) and carbon values (kilograms CO2-eq. emissions per unit) for a single phenotypic increase in milk volume, milk fat yield, milk protein yield, somatic cell count, calving interval and lifespan, which were used in a profit and carbon index. The study proposed a methodology for selecting individual milking cows and herd replacements based on their potential to increase herd profitability and reduce carbon emissions as a means to identify more sustainable animals for a given farm environment. Of the 370 cows and herd replacements studied, 76% were classified as sustainable with a desirable increase in profit and reduction in carbon emissions. Customized breeding indices with trait weightings derived from the farm environment and selecting individual animals on economic and carbon metrics will bring permanent and cumulative improvements to the sustainability of milk production with appropriate nutrition and management. The approach used can be applied to any commercial farm to select animals that are more sustainable

Impacts of land cover data selection and trait parameterisation on dynamic modelling of species' range expansion

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mechanisms of alignment:Shared control, social cognition and metacognition

In dialogue, speakers process a great deal of information, take and give the floor to each other, and plan and adjust their contributions on the fly. Despite the level of coordination and control that it requires, dialogue is the easiest way speakers possess to come to similar conceptualizations of the world. In this paper, we show how speakers align with each other by mutually controlling the flow of the dialogue and constantly monitoring their own and their interlocutors' way of representing information. Through examples of conversation, we introduce the notions of shared control, meta-representations of alignment and commentaries on alignment, and show how they support mutual understanding and the collaborative creation of abstract concepts. Indeed, whereas speakers can share similar representations of concrete concepts just by mutually attending to a tangible referent or by recalling it, they are likely to need more negotiation and mutual monitoring to build similar representations of abstract concepts. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Concepts in interaction: social engagement and inner experiences’