The Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol: An Update

Studies conducted since the late 1970s have estimated the net energy value (NEV) of corn ethanol. However, variations in data and assumptions used among the studies have resulted in a wide range of estimates. This study identifies the factors causing this wide variation and develops a more consistent estimate. We conclude that the NEV of corn ethanol has been rising over time due to technological advances in ethanol conversion and increased efficiency in farm production. We show that corn ethanol is energy efficient as indicated by an energy output:input ratio of 1.34.ethanol, net energy balance, corn production, energy, Crop Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

BIODIESEL AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PETROLEUM DIESEL IN A STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENT

Policy makers should consider price volatility effects when determining appropriate spending levels for alternative fuel programs.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

BIODIESEL AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PETROLEUM DIESEL IN A STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENT

The objective of the research presented in this paper is the development of a stochastic adoption threshold. The option pricing approach for modeling investment under uncertainty is extended for the case of comparing two stochastic input prices associated with inputs that are perfect substitutes in a production process. Based on this methodology, a threshold decision rule influenced by the drift and volatility of these two input prices is developed. Theoretical results established an empirical link for measuring the tradeoff of a relatively more expensive input (biodiesel) with lower price drift and volatility compared with a lower but more volatile priced input (petroleum diesel).option pricing, production, renewable fuels, technology adoption under uncertainty, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Involvement of Helices at the Dimer Interface in ClC-1 Common Gating

ClC-1 is a dimeric, double-pored chloride channel that is present in skeletal muscle. Mutations of this channel can result in the condition myotonia, a muscle disorder involving increased muscle stiffness. It has been shown that the dominant form of myotonia often results from mutations that affect the so-called slow, or common, gating process of the ClC-1 channel. Mutations causing dominant myotonia are seen to cluster at the interface of the ClC-1 channel monomers. This study has investigated the role of the H, I, P, and Q helices, which lie on this interface, as well as the G helix, which is situated immediately behind the H and I helices, on ClC-1 gating. 11 mutant ClC-1 channels (T268M, C277S, C278S, S289A, T310M, S312A, V321S, T539A, S541A, M559T, and S572V) were produced using site-directed mutagenesis, and gating properties of these channels were investigated using electrophysiological techniques. Six of the seven mutations in G, H, and I, and two of the four mutations in P and Q, caused shifts of the ClC-1 open probability. In the majority of cases this was due to alterations in the common gating process, with only three of the mutants displaying any change in fast gating. Many of the mutant channels also showed alterations in the kinetics of the common gating process, particularly at positive potentials. The changes observed in common gating were caused by changes in the opening rate (e.g. T310M), the closing rate (e.g. C277S), or both rates. These results indicate that mutations in the helices forming the dimer interface are able to alter the ClC-1 common gating process by changing the energy of the open and/or closed channel states, and hence altering transition rates between these states

U.S. Biodiesel Development: New Markets for Conventional and Genetically Modified Agricultural Products

With environmental and energy source concerns on the rise, using agricultural fats and oils as fuel in diesel engines has captured increasing attention. Substituting petroleum diesel with biodiesel may reduce air emissions, increase the domestic supply of fuel, and create new markets for farmers. U.S. agricultural fats and oils could support a large amount of biodiesel, but high production costs and competing uses for biodiesel feedstocks will likely prevent mass adoption of biodiesel fuel. Higher-priced niche markets could develop for biodiesels as a result of environmental regulations. Biodiesel has many environmental advantages relative to petroleum diesel, such as lower CO, CO2, SOx, and particulate matter emissions. Enhancing fuel properties by genetically modifiying oil crops could improve NOx emissions, cold flow, and oxidative stability, which have been identified as potential problems for biodiesel. Research activities need to be directed toward cost reduction, improving fuel properties, and analyzing the economic effects of biodiesel development on U.S. agriculture.biodiesel, biodiesel blends, fatty acid esters, soybean, oil crops, animal fats, plant genetics, diesel engines, alternative fuels, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Clarifying workforce flexibility from a division of labor perspective: A mixed methods study of an emergency department team

Background: The need for greater flexibility is often used to justify reforms that redistribute tasks through the workforce. However, flexibility is never defined or empirically examined. This study explores the nature of flexibility in a team of emergency doctors, nurse practitioners (NPs), and registered nurses (RNs), with the aim of clarifying the concept of workforce flexibility. Taking a holistic perspective on the team\u27s division of labor, it measures task distribution to establish the extent of multiskilling and role overlap, and explores the behaviors and organizational conditions that drive flexibly. Methods: The explanatory sequential mixed methods study was set in the Fast Track area of a metropolitan emergency department (ED) in Sydney, Australia. In phase 1, an observational time study measured the tasks undertaken by each role (151 h), compared as a proportion of time (Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney U), and frequency (Pearson chi-square). The time study was augmented with qualitative field notes. In phase 2, 19 semi-structured interviews sought to explain the phase 1 observations and were analyzed thematically. Results: The roles were occupationally specialized: Assessment and Diagnosis tasks consumed the largest proportion of doctors\u27 (51.1%) and NPs\u27 (38.1%) time, and Organization of Care tasks for RNs (27.6%). However, all three roles were also multiskilled, which created an overlap in the tasks they performed. The team used this role overlap to work flexibly in response to patients\u27 needs and adapt to changing demands. Flexibility was driven by the urgent and unpredictable workload in the ED and enabled by the stability provided by a core group of experienced doctors and nurses. Conclusion: Not every healthcare team requires the type of flexibility found in this study since that was shaped by patient needs and the specific organizational conditions of the ED. The roles, tasks, and teamwork that a team requires to be flexible (i.e., responsive and adaptable) are highly context dependent. Workforce flexibility therefore cannot be defined as a particular type of reform or role; rather, it should be understood as the capacity of a team to respond and adapt to patients\u27 needs within its organizational context. The study\u27s findings suggest that solutions for a more flexible workforce may lay in the organization of healthcare work. © 2020 The Author(s)

Nursing churn and turnover in Australian hospitals:Nurses perceptions and suggestions for supportive strategies

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to reveal nurses’ experiences and perceptions of turnover in Australian hospitals and identify strategies to improve retention, performance and job satisfaction. Nursing turnover is a serious issue that can compromise patient safety, increase health care costs and impact on staff morale. A qualitative design was used to analyze responses from 362 nurses collected from a national survey of nurses from medical and surgical nursing units across 3 Australian States/Territories. METHOD: A qualitative design was used to analyze responses from 362 nurses collected from a national survey of nurses from medical and surgical nursing units across 3 Australian States/Territories. RESULTS: Key factors affecting nursing turnover were limited career opportunities; poor support; a lack of recognition; and negative staff attitudes. The nursing working environment is characterised by inappropriate skill-mix and inadequate patient-staff ratios; a lack of overseas qualified nurses with appropriate skills; low involvement in decision-making processes; and increased patient demands. These issues impacted upon heavy workloads and stress levels with nurses feeling undervalued and disempowered. Nurses described supportive strategies: improving performance appraisals, responsive preceptorship and flexible employment options. CONCLUSION: Nursing turnover is influenced by the experiences of nurses. Positive steps can be made towards improving workplace conditions and ensuring nurse retention. Improving performance management and work design are strategies that nurse managers could harness to reduce turnover

The impact of adding assistants in nursing to acute care hospital ward nurse staffing on adverse patient outcomes: An analysis of administrative health data

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of adding assistants in nursing to acute care hospital ward nurse staffing on adverse patient outcomes using administrative health data. Design: Logistic regression modelling was used with linked administrative health data to examine the association between seven adverse patient outcomes and use of assistants in nursing utilising a pre-test/ post-test design. Outcomes included were in-hospital 30-day mortality, failure to rescue, urinary tract infection, pressure injury, pneumonia, sepsis and falls with injury. Setting: Eleven acute care metropolitan hospitals in Western Australia. Sample: Patients were retained in the dataset if they spent any time on a medical, surgical or rehabilitation ward during their admission and excluded if they only spent time on other ward types, as the outcomes used in this study are only validated for these patient populations. There were 256,302 patient records in the total sample with 125,762 in the pre-test period (2006–2007) and 130,540 in the post-test period (2009–2010). Results: The results showed three significant increases in observed to expected adverse outcomes on the assistant in nursing wards (failure to rescue, urinary tract infection, falls with injury), with one significant decrease (mortality). On the non-assistant in nursing wards there was one significant decrease (pneumonia) in the observed to expected adverse outcomes and one significant increase (falls with injury). Post-test analysis showed that spending time on assistant in nursing wards was a significant predictor for urinary tract infection and pneumonia. For every 10% of extra time patients spent on assistant in nursing wards they had a 1% increase in the odds of developing a urinary tract infection and a 2% increase in the odds of developing pneumonia. Conclusion: The results suggest that the introduction of assistants in nursing into ward staffing in an additive role should be done under a protocol which clearly defines their role, scope of practice, and working relationship with registered nurses, and the impact on patient care should be monitored. ã 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

The district goes global : export vs FDI

Digitised version produced by the EUI Library and made available online in 2020