JME 4110: Remote Rail Switch

When a rail line splits into 2 lines going in different directions, a switch must be manually thrown to determine which way the train goes. Our task is to create a device that would attach to the existing switch and be capable of throwing said switch remotely while still allowing for manual throwing if necessary. This document entails concept generation, embodiment, analysis, and a final working prototype that solves this problem

Coordination of Geological and Engineering Research in Support of the Gulf Coast Co-Production Program

Complex and heterogeneous Hackberry reservoirs at Port Arthur field were deposited in a submarine canyon/fan setting. Conventional fieldwide hydrocarbon recovery efficiencies are low, but the potential for secondary gas recovery is high. Free gas remains trapped in uncontacted and untapped compartments at reservoir abandonment. The total fieldwide resource amounts to 13.9 Bcf. The probable and possible resource for a single infill well is 6.5 Bcf in four separate stringers. Three optimum brine-disposal sands and the best brine-disposal site were selected in Northeast Hitchcock field based on sand-body complexity, thickness, depth, and brine-disposal capacity. The equilibrium distribution of inorganic species in different combinations in the produced waters at surface and formation temperatures and pH was estimated from chemical analyses. SOLMNEQ computations suggest carbonate scaling may occur in surface equipment of Miocene disposal sandstones unless inhibitors are used. At Northeast Hitchcock field, well-winnowed sandstones of shallow-marine origin compose the major reservoir sands and act as preferential conduits for fluid migration. Dislodged, abundant authigenic kaolinite in these sands can plug pores during production, suggesting a maximum rate of production will need to be determined to avoid reservoir damage.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Consolidation of Geologic Studies of Geopressured-Geothermal Resources in Texas

Two major structural styles are identified in the Wilcox growth-fault trend of the Texas Gulf Coast. The style in central and southeast Texas is characterized by continuous, closely spaced growth faults that have little associated rollover despite moderate expansion of section and that show little flattening of the fault plane with depth. Where the growth-fault trend crosses the Houston Diapir Province, growth faults are localized by preexisting salt pillows; however, the piercement salt domes formed after the main phase of faulting, so the salt tectonics "overprints" the growth faults. In South Texas (south of Live Oak County), a narrow band of growth faults having high expansion and moderate rollover lies over and downdip of a ridge of deformed, overpressured shale and lies updip of a deep Tertiary-filled basin formed by withdrawal of overpressured shale. Significant antithetic faulting is associated with this band of growth faults. Also in South Texas, the lower Wilcox Lobo trend is deformed by highly listric normal faults beneath an unconformity that is probably related to Laramide tectonic activity. Wilcox sandstone reservoirs are predominantly of high-constructive deltaic (distributary-channel and delta-front) origin. This, together with close spacing of faults and characteristically low permeabilities, limits the size of geopressured reservoirs. The largest reservoirs may be in interfault areas or in salt- or shale-withdrawal basins.Bureau of Economic Geolog

The road to economic self-sufficiency: Job quality and job transition patterns after welfare reform

This paper analyzes the relationships of schooling, the skill content of work experience, and different types of employment patterns withless-skilled women's job quality outcomes. Survey data from employers and longitudinal data from former and current welfare recipientsare used for the period 1997 to early 2002. The analysis of job quality is broadened beyond employment rates and wages measured at a point in time byincluding non-wage attributes of compensation and aspects of jobs that affect future earnings potential. This study shows the extent to whichlack of employment stability, job skills, and occupation-specific experience impedes welfare recipients' abilities to obtain a“good job” or to transition into one from a “bad job.” The business cycle downturn has significantly negatively affected thejob quality and job transition patterns of former and current recipients. © 2003 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis andManagement.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34849/1/10158_ftp.pd

Non-Neoplastic and Neoplastic Pleural Endpoints Following Fiber Exposure

Exposure to asbestos fibers is associated with non-neoplastic pleural diseases including plaques, fibrosis, and benign effusions, as well as with diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. Translocation and retention of fibers are fundamental processes in understanding the interactions between the dose and dimensions of fibers retained at this anatomic site and the subsequent pathological reactions. The initial interaction of fibers with target cells in the pleura has been studied in cellular models in vitro and in experimental studies in vivo. The proposed biological mechanisms responsible for non-neoplastic and neoplastic pleural diseases and the physical and chemical properties of asbestos fibers relevant to these mechanisms are critically reviewed. Understanding mechanisms of asbestos fiber toxicity may help us anticipate the problems from future exposures both to asbestos and to novel fibrous materials such as nanotubes. Gaps in our understanding have been outlined as guides for future research

Screening for glucose intolerance and development of a lifestyle education programme for prevention of Type 2 diabetes in a population with intellectual disabilities

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is believed to be higher among people with intellectual disability (ID) than in the general population. However, research on prevalence and prevention in this population is limited. Objectives: The objectives of this programme of work were to establish a programme of research that would significantly enhance the knowledge and understanding of impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and T2DM in people with ID; to test strategies for the early identification of IGR and T2DM in people with ID; and to develop a lifestyle education programme and educator training protocol to promote behaviour change in a population with ID and IGR (or at a high risk of T2DM/CVD). Setting: Leicestershire, UK. Participants: Adults with ID were recruited from community settings, including residential homes and family homes. Adults with mild to moderate ID who had an elevated body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 25 kg/m2 and/or IGR were invited to take part in the education programme. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome of the screening programme was the prevalence of screen-detected T2DM and IGR. The uptake, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention were assessed. Data sources: Participants were recruited from general practices, specialist ID services and clinics, and through direct contact. Results: A total of 930 people with ID were recruited to the screening programme: 58% were male, 80% were white and 68% were overweight or obese. The mean age of participants was 43.3 years (standard deviation 14.2 years). Bloods were obtained for 675 participants (73%). The prevalence of previously undiagnosed T2DM was 1.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5% to 2%] and of IGR was 5% (95% CI 4% to 7%). Abnormal IGR was more common in those of non-white ethnicity; those with a first-degree family history of diabetes; those with increasing weight, waist circumference, BMI, diastolic blood pressure or triglycerides; and those with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. We developed a lifestyle educational programme for people with ID, informed by findings from qualitative stakeholder interviews (health-care professionals, n = 14; people with ID, n = 7) and evidence reviews. Subsequently, 11 people with ID (and carers) participated in pilot education sessions (two groups) and five people attended education for the feasibility stage (one group). We found that it was feasible to collect primary outcome measures on physical activity and sedentary behaviour using wrist-worn accelerometers. We found that the programme was relatively costly, meaning that large changes in activity or diet (or a reduction in programme costs) would be necessary for the programme to be cost-effective. We also developed a quality development process for assessing intervention fidelity. Limitations: We were able to screen only around 30% of the population and involved only a small number in the piloting and feasibility work. Conclusions: The results from this programme of work have significantly enhanced the existing knowledge and understanding of T2DM and IGR in people with ID. We have developed a lifestyle education programme and educator training protocol to promote behaviour change in this population. Future work: Further work is needed to evaluate the STOP Diabetes intervention to identify cost-effective strategies for its implementation

Consolidation of Geologic Studies of Geopressured-Geothermal Resources in Texas

This is the final report to be submitted to the Department of Energy under the Consolidated Geothermal contract (DE-AC08-79ET21208) with the Bureau of Economic Geology. The report contains two sections. Section I presents the conclusions of work under the "Resource Assessment and Seismic Studies" project topic. It ties together the prospect and study areas described previously with a regional statistical survey of fault compartments. Section II reports the conclusions of the "Synthesis of Data" project topic. New vitrinite reflectance and hydrocarbon data are combined with previous information to yield a revised theory of fluid migration and temperature history in the vicinity of the Pleasant Bayou test-well site. In addition, the project topic of "Environmental Monitoring" has been concluded, under separate subcontractors' reports. Seismic monitoring under subcontract to Teledyne Geotech was completed, and a final report was submitted (Mauk and others, 1984). A variety of significant events were detected, but it is difficult to assign causes to them. At the request of the U.S. Department of Energy, the Bureau subcontracted with the Meyer Group to conduct a first-order releveling of the Pleasant Bayou site to update and replace the 1978 baseline study. The work was performed in the summer of 1984, and a final report prepared in October 1984 was transmitted to the Bureau of Economic Geology and then to the U.S. Department of Energy (Meyer Group, 1984). Interpretation of the results of this study is funded under the current geopressured geothermal research contract, along with new studies of environmental effects such as modeling of subsidence and fault reactivation, and production of liquid hydrocarbons from the geothermal test wells. All other topics of the expired contract, including Sandstone Consolidation, salinity, and Reservoir Continuity, have been fully documented in previous annual reports (Morton and others, 1983; Ewing and others, 1984), as well as Bureau and outside publications.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Consolidation of geologic studies of geopressured geothermal resources in Texas. 1984 annual report

The report contains two sections, the first on a regional statistical survey of fault compartments, and the second on a revised theory of fluid migration and temperature history in the Frio formation. Separate abstracts were prepared for each section. (ACR

Consolidation of geologic studies of geopressured geothermal resources in Texas. 1983 annual report

Separate abstracts were prepared for four papers. (MHR

Restricted Geographic Sampling Yields Low Parasitism Rates but Surprisingly Diverse Host Associations in Avian Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from South Texas

South Texas is a highly variable region encompassing multiple habitat types and harboring a wide diversity of organisms. However, the parasite fauna in this region is poorly known, especially for avian ectoparasites such as lice. To better understand avian louse diversity and host associations in South Texas, we examined a total of 507 birds for chewing lice. Lice were morphologically identified to genus and phylogenetic analysis was performed using one mitochondrial (COI) and two nuclear (18S rRNA and EF-1α) genes. Of the birds examined, 69 (13.5%) were parasitized by lice resulting in a total of 63 host associations across 45 bird species, 29 of which were previously unrecorded. The predominant taxa encountered during this study included two of the most diverse louse genera, Myrsidea and Brueelia. Molecular analyses revealed 21 distinct genetic lineages, 17 of which are associated with novel host associations and may represent new species. This study represents the first extensive examination of avian louse host associations and relationships in Texas and reveals that there is still much to be learned about ectoparasite diversity in the New World