Public-private Partnerships for Government Financing, Controlling Risk, and Value-for--money: The UK Experience

Sponsored Report (for Acquisition Research Program)One of the key requirements to a successful Public-private Partnership (PPP) is the transfer of risk from the government to the private sector. This research examines the PPP experience in the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defense to determine if they would be applicable to the US Department of Defense (DoD). PPP agreements have provided the UK increased capabilities. Also, this research provides an in-depth analysis of Private Financed Initiatives (PFI) that Serco Inc. has undertaken. Finally, this research evaluates the increases in value-for-money resulting from the PPP transfer of risk to the private sector. The research concludes that PPPs should be continued and expanded to provide increased real-time capability to the DoD while supporting private industry. Since the government has the lowest cost of borrowing, PPPs agreements may not appear to be cost effective as a means of procurement. However, the benefits from transferring risk to the private sector can more than offset the higher financing cost. PPPs reallocate risk and up-front capital requirements allowing the government to spread program cost over time. Without initial capital outlays, the government can acquire higher priority goods and services with its limited resources. In addition, PPPs provide the government with an increased infrastructure and technological capability than would otherwise not be available.Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research ProgramApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Using public-private partnerships and energy savings contracts to fund DoD mobile assets

The Department of Defense (DoD) has engaged in numerous Public-Private Partnership (PPP) ventures such as outsourcing of services and privatization of military housing. In the past, the activities considered for PPPs have been primarily administrative and support functions. This research explores the possibility of expanding the use of PPPs to enhance the DoD combat and combat-support functions. First, to better understand how PPPs function (the partnership relationships and financing arrangements), we examine Hannon Armstrong's fee for service contract solution to the lack of appropriated funds for establishing a vital fiber-optic link near the Arctic Circle. Next, we explore the history of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and their potential application to re-engining the Air Force's B-52H through PPPs. Historically, this program has only been used for fixed assets, not mobile assets like engines. There is little debate over the success of ESPC contracts in reducing energy consumption, but their use in DoD mobile assets is new. Finally, we conclude that applying ESPCs to mobile assets has the potential to reduce energy consumption, save millions of dollars and increase combat efficiency.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Navy Acquisition via leasing: policy, politics, and polemics with the Maritime Prepositioned Ships

In recent months, leasing has been prominent in the press in connection with the Air Force's ill-fated attempt to obtain the use of Boeing re-fueling tankers without buying them. Gone from memory is the early 1980's controversial Navy leasing program of Maritime Pre-positioned Ships that had a different result. This paper presents an analysis of the various issues and parties to the very creative and innovative financing on behalf of the Navy's Military Sealift Command. Still in existence today, the 1983 contracts for thirteen TAKX ships were valued at approximately $2.6 billion. While the decision is often framed as a lease versus purchase choice, the facts indicate that the option to purchase was not seen as viable at the time. In hindsight, the TAKX leasing program was successful and cost effective, despite the whirlwind of political commentary and intrigue and the dueling quantitative analyses surrounding it. However, as an unintended (or, perhaps, intended) consequence, laws and policies have since been changed so that leasing is no longer viable for financing military assets. The case presented here considers altering existing laws and regulations to once again permit leasing of military resources.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Depositional fluxes and concentrations of \u3csup\u3e7\u3c/sup\u3eBe and \u3csup\u3e210\u3c/sup\u3ePb in bulk precipitation and aerosols at the interface of Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts in Spain

Bulk depositional fluxes of 7Be and 210Pb in precipitation measured over a period of 16 months (April 2009–July 2010) in Huelva, Spain varied between 5.6 and 186 Bq m−2 month−1 (annual mean: 834 Bq m−2 year−1) and 0.8 and 8.1 Bq m−2 month−1 (annual mean: 59 Bq m−2 year−1), respectively, with the lowest depositional fluxes occurring during dry summer months. Quantitative evaluation of the precipitation-normalized seasonal depositional fluxes of 7Be and 210Pb indicates that the enrichment factor in winter is \u3c 1.0 while in 2010 spring, it is significantly higher than 1, possibly indicating input of air from the stratosphere-troposphere exchange (for 7Be). The specific activities of 7Be and 210Pb varied from 0.03 to 7.42 Bq L−1 (mean = 2.5 Bq L−1) and 0.005 to 1.07 BqL−1 (mean = 0.23 Bq L−1), respectively, with the highest values corresponding to the spring season. The spatial and temporal variations of 7Be and 210Pb in aerosols from three stations are evaluated and compared to their monthly depositional fluxes. The mean depositional velocity of aerosols using 7Be and 210Pb are similar, ∼0.5 cm s−1 and are compared to other published values. This is the first time the fractional amounts of 7Be and 210Pb in monthly bulk precipitation are compared to the fractional amount of precipitation and provides insight on how the amount of precipitation plays a key role on the scavenging of these nuclides. The importance of dry fallout is evaluated for the study site which has direct implications for other areas in the Mediterranean Climate Zone

Remagnetización alpina en la Serra del Cadí (Pirineo Oriental)

The eastern Pyrenees, particularly the Cadi Range, displays the less density and quality of paleomagnetic data of the chain. This paper revisited one of the central sections (Pobla de Lillet) where we have resampled Permian, Maastrichtian and Paleocene rocks. Best results were attained in the Permian red sandstones and in the Cretaceous limestones. In the Permian, two components with paleomagnetic meaning were identified. The high temperature component (up to 670 ° C) is similar to that defined in pioneering works, it appears to be primary and does not show significant rotations. The intermediate temperature component (up to 500 ° C), not identified in previous works, seems to be a syntectonic remagnetization with Alpine age. The characterization of rotations and the extension of this remagnetization (as an additional source of kinematics information) should be addressed in Permian rocks in future works since the paleomagnetic signal of Cenozoic rocks is of lower qualityTrabajo financiado con los Proyectos Pmag3Drest-CGL2009-14214 y DR3AM- CGL2014-55118 del MINECO y del 3DR3- PI165/09 del Gobierno de Aragón.Peer Reviewe

Self-Pulsating Semiconductor Lasers: Theory and Experiment

We report detailed measurements of the pump-current dependency of the self-pulsating frequency of semiconductor CD lasers. A distinct kink in this dependence is found and explained using rate-equation model. The kink denotes a transition between a region where the self-pulsations are weakly sustained relaxation oscillations and a region where Q-switching takes place. Simulations show that spontaneous emission noise plays a crucial role for the cross-over.Comment: Revtex, 16 pages, 7 figure

Ordering and finite-size effects in the dynamics of one-dimensional transient patterns

We introduce and analyze a general one-dimensional model for the description of transient patterns which occur in the evolution between two spatially homogeneous states. This phenomenon occurs, for example, during the Freedericksz transition in nematic liquid crystals.The dynamics leads to the emergence of finite domains which are locally periodic and independent of each other. This picture is substantiated by a finite-size scaling law for the structure factor. The mechanism of evolution towards the final homogeneous state is by local roll destruction and associated reduction of local wavenumber. The scaling law breaks down for systems of size comparable to the size of the locally periodic domains. For systems of this size or smaller, an apparent nonlinear selection of a global wavelength holds, giving rise to long lived periodic configurations which do not occur for large systems. We also make explicit the unsuitability of a description of transient pattern dynamics in terms of a few Fourier mode amplitudes, even for small systems with a few linearly unstable modes.Comment: 18 pages (REVTEX) + 10 postscript figures appende

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Self-Guided Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Transdiagnostic Self-Help Intervention

Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions use websites and smartphone apps to deliver ACT exercises and skills. The present meta-analysis provides a comprehensive review of online ACT self-help interventions, characterizing the programs that have been studied (e.g. platform, length, content) and analyzing their efficacy. A transdiagnostic approach was taken, including studies that addressed a range of targeted problems and populations. Multi-level meta-analyses were used to nest multiple measures of a single construct within their respective studies. A total of 53 randomized controlled trials were included (n = 10,730). Online ACT produced significantly greater outcomes than waitlist controls at post-treatment for anxiety, depression, quality of life, psychological flexibility, and all assessed outcomes (i.e. omnibus effect), which were generally maintained at follow-up. However, only psychological flexibility and all assessed outcomes at post-treatment were found to be significantly greater for online ACT when compared to active controls, with no significant follow-up effects. Overall, these results further clarify that ACT can be effectively delivered in an online format to target a wide range of mental health concerns, although it is less clear if and when online ACT is more efficacious than other online interventions

N-methyl pyrrolidone as a potent bone morphogenetic protein enhancer for bone tissue regeneration

In medicine N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) has a long track record as constituent in FDA approved medical devices and thus can be considered as safe and biological inactive small chemical. In the present study we report on the newly discovered pharmaceutical properties of NMP as it enhances bone regeneration in a rabbit calvarial defect model in vivo. At the cellular level, the pharmaceutical effect of NMP was confirmed, in particular, in combination with BMP-2, as NMP increased early and late markers for maturation of preosteoblasts and human bone marrow derived stem cells in vitro. When we used the multipotent cell line C2C12 lacking autologous BMP expression, NMP alone had no effect on alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker for osteogenic transdifferentiation. Nevertheless, in combination with low BMP-2-doses alkaline phosphatase activity was increased more than 8 fold. Thus, the pharmaceutical NMP mode of action is that of an enhancer of BMP activity. The dependency of the effects of NMP on BMP was confirmed in preosteoblasts as noggin, an extracellular BMP-inhibitor, suppressed NMP-induced increase in early markers for osteoblast maturation in vitro. At the molecular level, NMP was shown to have no effect on the binding of BMP-2 to the ectodomain of the high affinity BMP receptor IA. However, NMP further increased the phosphorylation of p38 and Smad1,5,8 induced by BMP-2. Thus, the small chemical NMP enhances BMP activity by increasing the kinase activity of the BMP receptor complex for Smad1,5,8 and p38 and could be employed as a potent drug for bone tissue regeneration and engineering

The role of noise and initial conditions in the asymptotic solution of a bounded confidence, continuous-opinion model

We study a model for continuous-opinion dynamics under bounded confidence. In particular, we analyze the importance of the initial distribution of opinions in determining the asymptotic configuration. Thus, we sketch the structure of attractors of the dynamical system, by means of the numerical computation of the time evolution of the agents density. We show that, for a given bound of confidence, a consensus can be encouraged or prevented by certain initial conditions. Furthermore, a noisy perturbation is added to the system with the purpose of modeling the free will of the agents. As a consequence, the importance of the initial condition is partially replaced by that of the statistical distribution of the noise. Nevertheless, we still find evidence of the influence of the initial state upon the final configuration for a short range of the bound of confidence parameter