Seawater Desalination for Municipal Water Production

This paper examines the optimal allocation of several inputs in the context of seawater desalination by reverse osmosis (RO) as a source of municipal (or commercial or industrial) water. A cost-minimization model is developed, a production function is estimated, and sensitivity analyses are conducted using the optimization model to investigate the effect of environmental conditions and economic factors on the optimal input portfolio and the cost of operating a modeled seawater desalination facility. The objectives of this paper are to better understand the effect on the seawater desalination facility’s costs and input portfolio from changes in water quality, membrane lifespan, daily operations schedule, and energy prices. Findings include that lower total facility costs are associated with warm-weather water quality parameters, longer membrane life, and mid-range daily operations schedule (14.265 hours/day). Under most conditions, an interruptible power supply regime reduces facility costs. Exceptions include when the interruptible power supply regime implies significant reductions in operating hours and the associated reduction in energy price is very small.water, production, seawater desalination, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Orthopedic management of the extremities in patients with Morquio A syndrome.

BackgroundMusculoskeletal involvement in Morquio A syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis IVA; MPS IVA) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. While the spinal manifestations of the disorder have received considerable attention in the literature, there have been few reported studies to date to guide the management of the orthopedic problems associated with the lower and upper extremities.PurposeThe objective was to develop recommendations for the management of the extremities in patients with Morquio A syndrome.MethodsA group of specialists in orthopedics, pediatrics and genetics with experience in the management of Morquio A patients convened to review and discuss current clinical practices and to develop preliminary recommendations. Evidence from the literature was retrieved. Recommendations were further refined until consensus was reached.Results and conclusionsThis present article provides a detailed review and discussion of the lower and upper extremity deformities in Morquio A syndrome and presents recommendations for the assessment and treatment of these complications. Key issues, including the importance of early diagnosis and the implications of medical therapy, are also addressed. The recommendations herein represent an attempt to develop a uniform and practical approach to managing patients with Morquio A syndrome and improving their outcomes

Stress analysis of a simplified compression plate fixation system for fractured bones

AbstractA three-dimensional finite element model was generated of a plexiglass tube with an attached six-hole stainless steel compression plate to study the mechanics of internal fixation of fractured long bones. To demonstrate the importance of the plate-bone interface, this interface was represented three different ways in the finite element model. A plated tube with a uniform transverse osteotomy gap was also examined to study the mechanics of plated fractured bones. To validate the model, the results for the intact plated tube were compared to composite beam theory and strain gauge data from an instrumented physical model. Applications of the finite element model data included the prediction of screw failure modes, plate-induced osteopenia, and multi-axial strains in an interfragmentary region. The addition of sliding motion between the plate and tube resulted in a deviation from composite beam theory and improved correspondence with strain gage data when compared to a model having the plate and tube securely bonded. Sliding motion resulted in a much smaller region of bone subjected to reduced axial stress levels, which may decrease the extent of plate-induced osteopenia. The complex nature of induced strains in an osteotomy gap was also demonstrated, along with the tendency for failure of the screws nearest the fracture site

Sum-Based Scoring for Dichotomous and Likert-scale Questions

In this article we investigate how to score a dichotomous scored question when co-mingled with a typically scored set of Likert scale questions. The goal is to find the upper value of the dichotomous response such that no single question is overly weighted when analyzing the summed values of the entire set of questions. Results demonstrate that setting the upper value of the dichotomous value to the max value of the Likert scale question scale is inappropriate. We provide a more appropriate value to use when considering Likert scale questions up to the max value of 10.Comment: 7 pages, 1 Tabl

Nurses\u27 Alumnae Association Bulletin - Volume 6 Number 10

Financial Report Calendar of Events Attention, Class of 1945! Miss Shafer Retires Review of the Alumnae Association Meetings Institutional Staff Nurses\u27 Section Report of Staff Activites - 1948-1949 The Staff Stockings! Stockings! Stockings! Pop-Up Toaster It\u27s Not Too Soon Any White Elephants? Private Duty Section The Jefferson Hospital Private Duty Nurses\u27 Register Report for Barton Memorial Hospital Progress of the Orthopedic Department Just Under the Date Line Pediatrics at Jefferson Controlled Respiration in Anesthesia Anesthesia Progress Physical Advances at Jefferson During the Past Year The White Haven Division The Clara Melville Scholarship Fund The Relief Fund The Busy Year for the Nurses\u27 Home Committee of the Women\u27s Board The Gray Ladies Memories Lost Miscellaneous Items Medical College News Marriages Births Deaths Condolences Prizes District No. 1 Dues Help! Help! Help! Jap Prison School Spurs Nurse to Win University Degree Twenty Ways to Kill an Organization The Bulletin Committee Attention, Alumnae New Addresse

Exploring Performance in Air Force Science and Technology Programs

Science and technology (S&T) programs serve an important function in the defense acquisition process as the initial phase leading to discovery and development of warfighting technology. The results of these programs impact the larger major defense acquisition programs, which integrate the technologies in subsequent phases of the life cycle. Despite this important role, little prior research has examined the performance of S&T programs. In this study, the authors investigate the impact of technological maturation as a critical success factor in Air Force S&T programs. The results suggest that S&T programs with mature technologies are more likely to experience above average cost growth and larger contract values while less likely to experience schedule growth. Additionally, the authors find the partnership method between the government and contractor matters for both technological maturation and schedule growth. Lastly, the nature of the S&T program is important, with aerospace programs more likely to technologically mature than human systems programs

Estimating an Acquisition Program’s Likelihood of Staying within Cost and Schedule Bounds

Program managers use prior experience to spot potential programmatic areas of concern. Augmenting this experience, the authors present an empirical procedure to estimate the likelihood of a program not exceeding two schedule and cost thresholds: (a) 15 percent of the initial total acquisition cost estimate from Milestone (MS) B to Initial Operating Capability (IOC); and (b) 15 percent of the estimated length (in months) between MS B and IOC—the second bound being 25 percent of the cost and schedule estimate. Using logistic regression and odds ratios, the authors analyze 49 Department of Defense programs and generally find that electronic system programs, extremely large programs (exceeding $17.5 billion in Base Year 2017 dollars), programs procuring smaller quantities of units, and programs with shorter schedules (less time from MS A to MS B and projected time from MS B to IOC) experience smaller percentages of cost growth and schedule slippage