Cost Estimating and Forecasting for Highway Work in Kentucky (Study KYSPR-94-158)

Starting 1 July 1992, KRS45.245 granted the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation oversight of the biennial highway plan, including a review of all authorized highway project phases that exceed their estimates by 15%. Estimates developed using current methods were not sufficiently accurate to preclude cost overruns in excess of 15%. Estimates were prepared before design began in order for the project to be included in the six-year plan. These estimates were not revised after a more detailed scope was available. There were 562 overruns \u3e15% at a cost of approximately $265 million during the period 7/1/92-7/1/98. All overruns were approved for the necessary additional funding. The requirement for review of overruns \u3e 15% was canceled by the General Assembly (HB655) effective 1 July 1998. There was a need for better cost estimating and forecasting for highway work in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This research effort studied the causes of the 562 cost overruns \u3e 15% and attempted to improve the conceptual estimating process. A computerized conceptual estimating model, KYEstimate, was developed to assist estimators in preparing and justifying conceptual estimates that must be made prior to detailing seeping of projects. Recommendations and conclusions are presented

Cost Estimating and Forecasting for Highway Work in Kentucky [1995]

There is a need for better cost estimating and forecasting for highway work in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KRS45.245 grants the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation oversight of the biennial highway plan, including a review of all authorized highway project phases that exceed their estimates by 15%. In recent years, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has suffered the loss of many resources necessary to produce good cost estimates. Estimates developed using current methods are not sufficiently accurate to preclude cost overruns in excess of 15%. Since enactment of KRS45.245 (1 July 1992 263 overruns, totaling nearly $117 million, have been submitted to the Committee. All have been approved for additional funding. A cost per mile database and estimating model were developed for preconstruction and construction. A cost per parcel database and model are being developed for estimating right of way. Recommendations for performance measurements to track improvements in cost forecasting ability are presented

Cost Estimating and Forecasting for Highway Work in Kentucky

There is a need for a better cost estimating and forecasting for highway work in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KRS45.245 grants the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation oversight of the biennial highway plan, including a review of all authorized highway project phases that exceed their estimates by 15%. In recent years, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has suffered the loss of many resources necessary to produce good cost estimated. Estimates developed using current methods are not sufficiently accurate to preclude cost overruns in excess of 15%. During the biennium 134 overruns, totaling over $69 million, have been submitted to the Committee. All have been approved for additional funding. Current estimating practices in Kentucky and other states were studied, and the causes for cost overruns greater than 15% during the current biennium were analyzed. Preliminary recommendations, based on the first eight months of this three year study are presented

Cost Estimating and Forecasting for Highway Work in Kentucky [1996]

There is a need for better cost estimating and forecasting for highway work in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KRS45.245 grants the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation oversight of the biennial highway plan, including a review of all authorized highway project phases that exceed their estimates by 15%. In recent years, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has suffered the loss of many resources necessary to produce good cost estimates. Estimates developed using current methods are not sufficiently accurate to preclude cost overruns in excess of 15%. Over the 1992 and 1994 bienniums, 362 overruns totaling $162,487,511 have been submitted to the Committee. All have been approved for additional funding. KYEstimate, a cost-per-mile model, has been developed to improve estimates made in the district offices. This program uses preconstruction and construction data to calculate a unit cost for projects. New projects may then be estimated on past cost of similar projects

Peripheral neuropathy secondary to a ‘domino’ liver transplant: a case report

Background: Peripheral neuropathy caused by amyloidosis is one of the well-recognised sequelae of mutations in the transthyretin gene (TTR).// Case presentation: We describe a case of peripheral neuropathy in a White British 74 year old man with wild-type TTR, 8 years following receipt of a ‘domino’ liver transplant (from a donor with a TTR mutation). The clinical phenotype and neurophysiology, coupled with presence of ATTR amyloid deposits on fat biopsy, established the diagnosis of ATTR amyloid neuropathy, as a consequence of receipt of a variant-TTR secreting liver. A nerve biopsy was not clinically appropriate for this patient. Such cases are rare since recipients of such livers are typically restricted to people whose natural lifespan is unlikely to stretch into the anticipated symptomatic period of ATTR amyloidosis. However, novel “gene silencing” therapeutics are now available which can dramatically alter the course of this disorder, by reducing the proportion of abnormal proteins.// Conclusions: This represents a rare but predictable iatrogenic side effect, and doctors should be aware of this eventuality occurring in a shorter time span than previously anticipated

Comparative Winter Habitat Use and Associations among Herbivores in the High Arctic

We studied winter habitat use and interspecific associations among large- and medium-sized herbivores on southeastern Victoria Island, Arctic Canada, by documenting the deposition of feces in relation to vegetation. Associations between ptarmigan (Lagopus spp.), arctic hares (Lepus arcticus), caribou (Rangifer tarandus), and muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) were assessed using the Jaccard Index (JI) and chi² at two scales, i.e., with 1 m² and 1 ha as sampling units. JI values for species pairs were greater at the larger scale, but chi² revealed significant (positive) associations only at the smaller scale and only between arctic hares and caribou and between arctic hares and ptarmigan. Comparative use of habitats was described with respect to vegetation by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Ptarmigan and muskoxen were most strongly correlated with lowland vegetation and caribou with upland vegetation; arctic hares were intermediate. CCA also indicated rather wide separation in the multivariate space, further suggesting distinct patterns of habitat use. The results imply that these species were segregated in their use of resources in this High Arctic environment.On a étudié l'utilisation de l'habitat hivernal et les associations biotiques parmi les grands et moyens herbivores du sud-est de l'île Victoria située dans l'Arctique canadien, en étudiant l'emplacement des crottes par rapport à la végétation. À l'aide de l'index Jaccard (IJ) et de chi² à deux échelles (c.-à-d. en prenant 1 m² et 1 ha comme unités d'échantillonnage), on a évalué les associations entre le lagopède (Lagopus spp), le lièvre arctique (Lepus arcticus), le caribou (Rangifer tarandus) et le boeuf musqué (Ovibos moschatus). Les valeurs de IJ pour les paires d'espèces étaient plus élevées à grande échelle, mais chi² ne montrait des associations notables (positives) qu'à petite échelle et seulement entre le lièvre arctique et le caribou ainsi qu'entre le lièvre arctique et le lagopède. On a décrit l'utilisation comparative des habitats en rapport avec la végétation par analyse de correspondance canonique (ACC). Le lagopède et le boeuf musqué étaient corrélés le plus fortement avec la végétation des basses-terres et le caribou avec celle des hautes-terres; le lièvre arctique se situait au milieu. L'ACC montrait aussi une séparation relativement importante dans l'espace à plusieurs variables, ce qui laisse suggérer des modèles distincts d'utilisation de l'habitat. Les résultats indiqueraient qu'il existait pour ces espèces une ségrégation dans l'utilisation des ressources au sein de cet environnement extrême-arctique

Peripheral neuropathy secondary to a ‘domino’ liver transplant:a case report

Abstract Background Peripheral neuropathy caused by amyloidosis is one of the well-recognised sequelae of mutations in the transthyretin gene (TTR). Case presentation We describe a case of peripheral neuropathy in a White British 74 year old man with wild-type TTR, 8 years following receipt of a ‘domino’ liver transplant (from a donor with a TTR mutation). The clinical phenotype and neurophysiology, coupled with presence of ATTR amyloid deposits on fat biopsy, established the diagnosis of ATTR amyloid neuropathy, as a consequence of receipt of a variant-TTR secreting liver. A nerve biopsy was not clinically appropriate for this patient. Such cases are rare since recipients of such livers are typically restricted to people whose natural lifespan is unlikely to stretch into the anticipated symptomatic period of ATTR amyloidosis. However, novel “gene silencing” therapeutics are now available which can dramatically alter the course of this disorder, by reducing the proportion of abnormal proteins. Conclusions This represents a rare but predictable iatrogenic side effect, and doctors should be aware of this eventuality occurring in a shorter time span than previously anticipated