Stipulations in Performance Contracting M&V: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Performance contractors (PC) often use stipulations for part or all of their measurement & verification (M&V) efforts. The value of stipulations are low cost and easy implementation (good). Disadvantages include uncertain savings estimates (bad) and potential for disputes and lawsuits (ugly). PCs and customers sometimes misuse or abuse stipulations either by stipulating the savings directly or stipulating parameters based on limited or unreliable information. The purpose of M&V is to provide assurance that project savings exist. Improper and excessive reliance on stipulations may effectively nullify savings guarantees and also miss opportunities to assure measure performance by using verification data for feedback. A review of PCs in the federal sector shows significant reliance on stipulations; private-sector PCs are presumed similar. Recognized M&V guidelines such as ASHRAE 14-P, IPMVP, and FEMP discuss the use of stipulations. Recent changes to the IPMVP and FEMP guidelines resulted in diverging attitudes towards stipulations with the IPMVP now requiring some measurements. In response, FEMP is developing guidelines for using stipulations in federal-sector performance contracts that can be applied to privatesector PCs as well. Proper use of stipulations requires balancing costs with savings uncertainty

Torsional instability in the single-chain limit of a transition metal trichalcogenide

We report the synthesis of the quasi-one-dimensional transition metal trichalcogenide NbSe3 in the few chain limit, including the realization of isolated single chains. The chains are encapsulated in protective boron nitride or carbon nanotube sheaths to prevent oxidation and to facilitate characterization. Transmission electron microscopy reveals static and dynamic structural torsional waves not found in bulk NbSe3 crystals. Electronic structure calculations indicate that charge transfer drives the torsional wave instability. Very little covalent bonding is found between the chains and the nanotube sheath, leading to relatively unhindered longitudinal and torsional dynamics for the encapsulated chains.Comment: 27 pages, 12 figure

Pion double charge exchange on 4He

The doubly differential cross sections for the $^4$He$(\pi^+,\pi^-) 4p$ reaction were calculated using both a two-nucleon sequential single charge exchange model and an intranuclear cascade code. Final state interactions between the two final protons which were the initial neutrons were included in both methods. At incident pion energies of 240 and 270 MeV the low-energy peak observed experimentally in the energy spectrum of the final pions can be understood only if the contribution of pion production is included. The calculated cross sections are compared with data.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure

Searching for three-nucleon resonances

We search for three-neutron resonances which were predicted from pion double charge exchange experiments on He-3. All partial waves up to J=5/2 are nonresonant except the J=3/2^+ one, where we find a state at E=14 MeV energy with 13 MeV width. The parameters of the mirror state in the three-proton system are E=15 MeV and Gamma=14 MeV. The possible existence of an excited state in the triton, which was predicted from a H(He-6,alpha) experiment, is also discussed.Comment: LaTex with RevTe

THE OAK ORCHARD SOIL WATER ASSESSMENT TOOL A decision support system for watershed management Part 1: Calibration and Validation

A hydrologic model (SWAT) was developed and calibrated for the Oak Orchard watershed to evaluate sources and sinks of sediment and nutrients. The model included the most important anthropogenic features that impacted water flow and nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. These features included reservoirs at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Waterport and Medina; point sources such as the Erie Canal, US Gypsum, Allen Canning, wastewater treatment plants at Medina, Oakfield and Elba, and tiledrains at the mucklands, an intensely farmed area that was drained to combat malaria in the 19th century. The model included point sources for every subbasin so that the effects of future point sources can be evaluated. The model was calibrated for waterflow and sediment using observed loading data collected by Makarewicz and Lewis (2000, 2009). To achieve the proper water balance observed at the watershed, seasonal inputs of water had to be added from the Erie Canal and the Onondaga escarpment. This water came from outside of the watershed. The resulting calibration had a Nash-Sutcliffe (NS) prediction efficiency of 0.81 for the calibration period (1997-1999). The total cumulative sediment loading was within 2%, of observed and the monthly sediment loads fell within the uncertainty of the observed data (NS=0.31). Cumulative total phosphorous loads were within 2% of observed and the NS prediction efficiency was 0.91. The model validated very poorly in the 2008 time period primarily because of inaccurate precipitation data and incorrect groundwater fluxes from the escarpment. Further research needs to evaluate the timing and amount of groundwater flow from the escarpment because it has a significant impact on monthly flows in this watershed. It is likely that other watersheds that are nestled against the Onondaga escarpment are impacted by spring flows from this geologic feature

MISTIC2: Comprehensive server to study coevolution in protein families

Correlated mutations between residue pairs in evolutionarily related proteins arise from constraints needed to maintain a functional and stable protein. Identifying these inter-related positions narrows down the search for structurally or functionally important sites. MISTIC is a server designed to assist users to calculate covariation in protein families and provide them with an interactive tool to visualize the results. Here, we present MISTIC2, an update to the previous server, that allows to calculate four covariation methods (MIp, mfDCA, plmDCA and gaussianDCA). The results visualization framework has been reworked for improved performance, compatibility and user experience. It includes a circos representation of the information contained in the alignment, an interactive covariation network, a 3D structure viewer and a sequence logo. Others components provide additional information such as residue annotations, a roc curve for assessing contact prediction, data tables and different ways of filtering the data and exporting figures. Comparison of different methods is easily done and scores combination is also possible. A newly implemented web service allows users to access MISTIC2 programmatically using an API to calculate covariation and retrieve results. MISTIC2 is available at: https://mistic2.leloir.org.ar.Fil: Colell, Eloy A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Iserte, Javier Alonso. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Simonetti, Franco Lucio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Marino Buslje, Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Estimating Grizzly and Black Bear Population Abundance and Trend in Banff National Park Using Noninvasive Genetic Sampling

We evaluated the potential of two noninvasive genetic sampling methods, hair traps and bear rub surveys, to estimate population abundance and trend of grizzly (Ursus arctos) and black bear (U. americanus) populations in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Using Huggins closed population mark-recapture models, we obtained the first precise abundance estimates for grizzly bears ( = 73.5, 95% CI = 64–94 in 2006;  = 50.4, 95% CI = 49–59 in 2008) and black bears ( = 62.6, 95% CI = 51–89 in 2006;  = 81.8, 95% CI = 72–102 in 2008) in the Bow Valley. Hair traps had high detection rates for female grizzlies, and male and female black bears, but extremely low detection rates for male grizzlies. Conversely, bear rubs had high detection rates for male and female grizzlies, but low rates for black bears. We estimated realized population growth rates, lambda, for grizzly bear males ( = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.74–1.17) and females ( = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.67–1.20) using Pradel open population models with three years of bear rub data. Lambda estimates are supported by abundance estimates from combined hair trap/bear rub closed population models and are consistent with a system that is likely driven by high levels of human-caused mortality. Our results suggest that bear rub surveys would provide an efficient and powerful means to inventory and monitor grizzly bear populations in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains

Exploring working conditions as determinants of job satisfaction: an empirical test among Catalonia service workers

Job satisfaction is particularly important in the service industry since it involves direct contact with customers and thus has a direct influence on company performance. We analyzed the impact of ten working conditions on job satisfaction by means of structural equation modelling in a representative stratified random sample of 1553 service sector employees in Catalonia (Spain). We found significant effects in social aspects (recognition of a job well done and social support), followed by psychological loads (emotional demands and job insecurity) and by task contents (development & meaning and predictability). These variables explained 50% of the variance in job satisfaction

EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial

More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369