31 research outputs found
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MEASUREMENT OF WIND SPEED FROM COOLING LAKE THERMAL IMAGERY
The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) collected thermal imagery and ground truth data at two commercial power plant cooling lakes to investigate the applicability of laboratory empirical correlations between surface heat flux and wind speed, and statistics derived from thermal imagery. SRNL demonstrated in a previous paper [1] that a linear relationship exists between the standard deviation of image temperature and surface heat flux. In this paper, SRNL will show that the skewness of the temperature distribution derived from cooling lake thermal images correlates with instantaneous wind speed measured at the same location. SRNL collected thermal imagery, surface meteorology and water temperatures from helicopters and boats at the Comanche Peak and H. B. Robinson nuclear power plant cooling lakes. SRNL found that decreasing skewness correlated with increasing wind speed, as was the case for the laboratory experiments. Simple linear and orthogonal regression models both explained about 50% of the variance in the skewness - wind speed plots. A nonlinear (logistic) regression model produced a better fit to the data, apparently because the thermal convection and resulting skewness are related to wind speed in a highly nonlinear way in nearly calm and in windy conditions
Using theories of behaviour to understand transfusion prescribing in three clinical contexts in two countries: Development work for an implementation trial
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blood transfusion is an essential part of healthcare and can improve patient outcomes. However, like most therapies, it is also associated with significant clinical risks. In addition, there is some evidence of overuse. Understanding the potential barriers and enablers to reduced prescribing of blood products will facilitate the selection of intervention components likely to be effective, thereby reducing the number of costly trials evaluating different implementation strategies. Using a theoretical basis to understand behaviours targeted for change will contribute to a 'basic science' relating to determinants of professional behaviour and how these inform the selection of techniques for changing behaviour. However, it is not clear which theories of behaviour are relevant to clinicians' transfusing behaviour. The aim of this study is to use a theoretical domains framework to identify relevant theories, and to use these theories to identify factors that predict the decision to transfuse.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study involves two steps: interview study and questionnaire study. Using a previously identified framework, we will conduct semi-structured interviews with clinicians to elicit their views about which factors are associated with waiting and further monitoring the patient rather than transfusing red blood cells. Interviews will cover the following theoretical domains: knowledge; skills; social/professional role and identity; beliefs about capabilities; beliefs about consequences; motivation and goals; memory, attention, and decision processes; environmental context and resources; social influences; emotion; behavioural regulation; nature of the behaviour. The interviews will take place independently in Canada and the UK and involve two groups of physicians in each country (UK: adult and neonatal intensive care physicians; Canada: intensive care physicians and orthopaedic surgeons). We will: analyse interview transcript content to select relevant theoretical domains; use consensus processes to map these domains on to theories of behaviour; develop questionnaires based on these theories; and mail them to each group of physicians in the two countries. From our previous work, it is likely that the theories will include: theory of planned behaviour, social cognitive theory and the evidence-based strategy, implementation intention. The questionnaire data will measure predictor variables (theoretical constructs) and outcome variables (intention and clinical decision), and will be analysed using multiple regression analysis. We aim to achieve 150 respondents in each of the four groups for each postal survey.</p
Observations of enhanced resistivity in the wave front of a laser-produced plasma interacting with a magnetic field
A laser-produced plasma has been used in a new approach to the problem of investigating
the mechanisms associated with the turbulent energy dissipation is a collisionless
laboratory plasma.Research at the Naval Postgraduate School partially supported by the Naval Air Systems Commands and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research
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Laser-Pulse Method of Determining Thermal Diffusivity and Thermal Conductivity of Graphite Between 300º and 3300ºK.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COYOTE FOOD HABITS ON TWO UTAH DEER HERDS
Volume: 43Start Page: 432End Page: 43
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Cost-effective sampling of ground water monitoring wells
Cost-Effective Sampling (CES) is a method for estimating the lowest-frequency (and, as a result, lowest-cost) sampling schedule for a given groundwater monitoring location which will still provide needed information for regulatory and remedial decision-making. Its initial development was motivated by the preponderance of sampling results showing little changes over time or failing below detection limits at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory`s (LLNL`s) environmental restoration sites. The fact that many locations had never shown, or had ceased for some time to show, any detectable levels or changes in levels of contamination suggested that some of their 700+ groundwater monitoring wells were being sampled more often than necessary. Similar concerns were raised at the Savannah River Site (SRS), where some 10,000 samples are taken per year from 1500+ monitoring wells. The question facing both organizations has been how to reduce sampling costs while still satisfying both regulatory agencies and their own scientists and engineers that sufficient data will be collected for decision-making purposes. The first version of CES was implemented at LLNL`s Livermore site in 1992 and approved by regulators under CERCLA. It is designed to statistically evaluate the sampling results to be able to recommend sampling schedules of groundwater monitoring locations for a common suite of volatile organic compounds, with the goal of reducing frequencies. The table below presents the sampling status of monitoring wells at LLNL`s two restoration sites both before and after the application of CES