Report on Rest Area Water Systems for Interstate Highways, 1967

Introduction: As part of the roadside development along the Interstate Highway System, the Iowa State Highway Commission has constructed eight pair of rest area facilities. Furthermore, two pair are presently under construction with an additional two pair proposed for letting in 1967. An additional nine and one-half pairs of rest areas are in the planning phase, a grand total of 45 rest Brea buildings. The facilities existing were planned and designed in a relatively short period of time. The rest area facilities are unusual in terms of water use, water demand rates, and the fact that there are no applicable guidelines from previous installations. Such facilities are a pioneering effort to furnish a service -which the travelling public desires and will use. The acceptance and current use of the existing facilities shows that the rest areas do provide a service the public will use and appreciate. The Iowa State Highway Commission is to be congratulated for this· pioneering effort. However there are problems, as should be expected when design of a new type of facility has no past operating experience to use as a guide. Another factor which enters is that a rest area facility is quite different and rather unrelated to engineering in the highway field of practice. Basically, the problems encountered can be resolved into several areas, namely 1) maintenance problems in equipment due to 2) insufficient capacity of several other elements of the water systems, and 3) no provisions for water quality control. This study and report is supposed to essentially cover the review of the rest areas, either existing and under construction or letting. However, the approach used has been somewhat different. Several basic economically feasible water system schemes have been developed which are· adaptable to the different well capacities and different water qualities encountered. These basic designs are used as a guide in recommending modifications to the existing rest area water systems, anticipating that the basic designs will be used for future facilities. The magnitude of the problems involved is shown by the fact that the projected water use and demand variations of each rest area building is equivalent to the water supply for a community of about 100 people. The problems of proper operation and maintenance of an eventual thirty to forty-five such facilities are gigantic. For successful operation the rest area water systems must have a high degree of standardization and interchangeability of all elements of the water systems, even if it means a limited degree of over-design in some rest area facilities.

Inhimillisten virheiden tarkastelu ydinvoimalaitosten käyttökokemusten hyödyntämisessä

Tässä työssä on kuvattu ydinvoimalaitosten käyttökokemusten tutkimusta keskittyen erityisesti inhimillisten toimintojen tarkasteluun. Työssä on kerrottu kansainvälisistä vaatimuksista ja järjestöistä sekä yleisesti käyttökokemusten tutkimuksessa käytössä olevista menetelmistä keskittyen perussyyanalyysimenetelmiin. Suomen osalta työssä on käsitelty lainsäädännön asettamia velvoitteita ja muita vaatimuksia, jotka ydinvoima-alalla koostuvat lähinnä Säteilyturvakeskuksen YVL-ohjeista. Viranomaisena toimivan Säteilyturvakeskuksen, alan tutkimusta suorittavan Valtion teknillisen tutkimuskeskuksen ja Teollisuuden Voima Oy:n käyttökokemusten tutkimiseen liittyvät organisaatiot ja menettelytavat on esitelty. Fortum Power and Heat Oy:n omistaman ja käyttämän Loviisan ydinvoimalaitoksen käyttökokemusten hyödyntäminen on käsitelty tarkemmin. Loviisan voimalaitoksen organisaatio ja käyttökokemusten sekä inhimillisten virheiden käsittelymenetelmiä on esitelty ja analysoitu. Työn alkuvaiheessa Loviisan voimalaitoksella inhimillisistä virheistä kerätystä tiedosta koottu tietokanta järjesteltiin kuntoon. Järjestelyn jälkeen tietoa analysoitiin ja analysoinnin tulokset on esitetty tässä työssä. Sekä järjestelyn että analysoinnin aikana havaitut kehityskohteet kirjattiin muistiin. Pienet toimenpiteet suoritettiin heti ja suuremmat kirjattiin tämän työn toimenpide-ehdotuksiin. Kehittämiskeinoja on ehdotettu virheiden luokittelumenetelmään ja käyttökokemusten käsittelymenetelmiin.

Suurnopeuskompressorin tekninen markkinoilletuonti

Diplomityössä tarkastellaan suurnopeuskompressorin kehityspolkua suurnopeusteknologian lähtökohdista prototyypiksi ja edelleen teolliseksi tuotteeksi. Työssä tarkastelun kohteena on sähköteholtaan 20….250 kW oleva, suurnopeussähkökoneella ja öljyttömillä magneettilaakereilla varustettu keskipainekompressori. Tyypillisesti kompressorin painesuhde on 1,2 … 2,4. Ko. kompressorin käyttökohteina on tarkasteltu mm. pienen kunnallisen jätevedenpuhdistamon käsittelyaltaiden ilmastusta, suuren kaupungin vastaavan puhdistuslaitoksen ilmastuskäyttöä ja teollista käyttöä lasivillatehtaan ns. linkokompressorina. Suurnopeuskompressori soveltuu hyvin rinnankytkentään ns. ryhmäohjaimen avulla, jolloin rinnan voi olla kytkettynä jopa 16 kompressoria, joiden päällä oloa optimoidaan säätöteknisesti niin, että koko laitos on kuin yksi kompressori. Työssä tarkastellaan myös kompressorin em. sovellutuksista yli kahdeksan vuoden ajalta kaupallista kohteista saatuja käyttökokemuksia. Pääsäätöisesti voi sanoa, että jokaisessa uudessa sovellutuksessa ilmenee uusia reunaehtoja ja järjestelmäkohtaisia vaatimuksia, jotka täytyy huomioida kompressorin säädössä ja ominaisparametreissa.

Perussyyanalyysien käyttö ydinvoimalaitosten tapahtumien tutkinnassa

Tämä diplomityö käsittelee perussyyanalyysien käyttöä Loviisan voimalaitoksella tapahtumien tutkinnassa. Diplomityössä käydään läpi erilaisia maailmalla käytössä olevia perussyyanalyysimenetelmiä. Nykyään Loviisan voimalaitoksella ei ole ohjeessa määritelty miten perussyyanalyysit tulee tehdä, joten diplomityön tulosten perusteella on tarkoitus valita Loviisan voimalaitokselle sopiva menetelmä. Diplomityössä tehdään eräs perussyyanalyysi kahdella eri menetelmällä, jotka tuntuivat sopivilta menetelmiltä Loviisan voimalaitoksille. Perussyyanalyysimenetelmät, joita käytetään, ovat Loviisassa käytetty sovellettu HPES-menetelmä ja yhdysvaltalaisten ydinvoimaviranomaisten kehittämä HPIP-menetelmä. Perussyyanalyysien valmistuttua ja tuloksia vertaillessa tultiin siihen lopputulokseen, ettei Loviisan voimalaitoksella ole tarvetta vaihtaa nykyisin käytössä olevaa mutta ohjeistamatonta menetelmää. Loviisan voimalaitokselle tehtävään uuteen perussyyanalyysiohjeeseen liitetään menetelmäkuvaus sovelletusta HPES-menetelmästä. Menetelmäkuvauksessa kuvataan miten HPES-menetelmää käytetään perussyyanalyysien tekoon Loviisan voimalaitoksella.

Tapahtumien tutkinnan systematisointi Loviisan voimalaitoksella

Tämä diplomityö käsittelee tapahtumien tutkinnan systematisointia Loviisan voimalaitoksella. Nykyisin Loviisan voimalaitoksella tutkitaan tapahtumia usealla tavalla eikä raporttien tuloksia pystytä täysin hyödyntämään. Diplomityössä käydään läpi erilaisia tapahtumien tutkintamenetelmiä sekä tutustutaan perussyyanalyysimenetelmiin. Matalan tason tapahtumien tutkintaan kehitettiin kysymyslista, jolla saadaan helposti selville tapahtumien ongelma-alueet. Kysymyslista mahdollisti myös tapahtumien laaja-alaisen luokittelun, jonka avulla tunnistetaan eri tapahtumien kautta ilmenneitä yhteisiä ongelma-alueita. Tapahtumien tutkintaan liittyy myös riskien arviointi. Tässä diplomityössä kehitettiin riskimatriisi tapahtuman vakavuuden ja jatkoselvitystarpeen arvioinnin avuksi. Perussyyanalyysimenetelmistä AcciMap-menetelmä osoittautui käyttökelpoiseksi ja sitä suositellaan kokeiltavaksi seuraavan inhimilliseen toimintaan liittyvän perussyyanalyysin yhteydessä.

Adsorptiojäähdyttimen käytön kannattavuus kaukolämpöjärjestelmässä

Vantaa Energy has decided to find out the district cooling business opportunities in Vantaa. One reason for starting up the cooling business is Vantaa Energy's waste-to-energy power plant which is under construction. In the future, especially in the summer time there is an oversupply of district heating because of the new power plant. The cooling using the district heat could be one way to increase the consumption of district heat in the summer. This thesis examines the use of adsorption cooling profitability. Adsorption refrigerator is a machine which uses heat as the driving energy. At Vantaa Energy's case, district heat produced at cogeneration plants would be used. The literature section of this thesis includes descriptions of district cooling, building cooling demand, as well as different ways to produce cooling energy. A tool for profitability calculations was made. It shows the payback period, internal rate of return and net present value of different projects. Based on the calculations adsorption refrigeration is not profitable. This is primarily due to the high price of the adsorption refrigerator. Payback periods become long even when the used heat energy is free. In addition, the lack of availability of the refrigerators and operating experience could become a partial barrier to the use of technology even if the investment would become profitable.

The influence of experience and training in a group of novice observers: a jackknife alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis

Purpose - The study evaluates the pre- and post-training lesion localisation ability of a group of novice observers. Parallels are drawn with the performance of inexperienced radiographers taking part in preliminary clinical evaluation (PCE) and ‘red-dot’ systems, operating within radiography practice. Materials and methods - Thirty-four novice observers searched 92 images for simulated lesions. Pre-training and post-training evaluations were completed following the free-response the receiver operating characteristic (FROC) method. Training consisted of observer performance methodology, the characteristics of the simulated lesions and information on lesion frequency. Jackknife alternative FROC (JAFROC) and highest rating inferred ROC analyses were performed to evaluate performance difference on lesion-based and case-based decisions. The significance level of the test was set at 0.05 to control the probability of Type I error. Results - JAFROC analysis (F(3,33) = 26.34, p < 0.0001) and highest-rating inferred ROC analysis (F(3,33) = 10.65, p = 0.0026) revealed a statistically significant difference in lesion detection performance. The JAFROC figure-of-merit was 0.563 (95% CI 0.512,0.614) pre-training and 0.677 (95% CI 0.639,0.715) post-training. Highest rating inferred ROC figure-of-merit was 0.728 (95% CI 0.701,0.755) pre-training and 0.772 (95% CI 0.750,0.793) post-training. Conclusions - This study has demonstrated that novice observer performance can improve significantly. This study design may have relevance in the assessment of inexperienced radiographers taking part in PCE or commenting scheme for trauma.

The model T Ford car, its construction, operation and repair; a complete practical treatise explaining the operating principles of all parts of the Ford automobile, with complete instructions for driving and maintenance; includes the most thorough and easily understood illustrated instructions on Ford repairing ever published; based on five years' experience of a Ford operator--invaluable to all Ford owners, dealers, salesmen, drivers and repair men--every phase of the subject treated in a non-technical yet comprehensive manner,

Mode of access: Internet.

The steam engine indicator and its appliances. Being a comprehensive treatise for the use of constructing, erecting and operating engineers, superintendents, master mechanics, and students ... with many illustrations, rules, tables, and examples for obtaining the best results in the economical operation of all classes of steam, gas and ammonia engines ... Its correct use, management and care, derived from the author's practical and professional experience ...

Mode of access: Internet.

Learning about knowledge management for improving environmental impact assessment in a government agency: The Western Australian experience

How does knowledge management (KM) by a government agency responsible for environmental impact assessment (EIA) potentially contribute to better environmental assessment and management practice? Staff members at government agencies in charge of the EIA process are knowledge workers who perform judgement-oriented tasks highly reliant on individual expertise, but also grounded on the agency`s knowledge accumulated over the years. Part of an agency`s knowledge can be codified and stored in an organizational memory, but is subject to decay or loss if not properly managed. The EIA agency operating in Western Australia was used as a case study. Its KM initiatives were reviewed, knowledge repositories were identified and staff surveyed to gauge the utilisation and effectiveness of such repositories in enabling them to perform EIA tasks. Key elements of KM are the preparation of substantive guidance and spatial information management. It was found that treatment of cumulative impacts on the environment is very limited and information derived from project follow-up is not properly captured and stored, thus not used to create new knowledge and to improve practice and effectiveness. Other opportunities for improving organizational learning include the use of after-action reviews. The learning about knowledge management in EIA practice gained from Western Australian experience should be of value to agencies worldwide seeking to understand where best to direct their resources for their own knowledge repositories and environmental management practice. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Post-operating performance of cross-delisted firms from U.S. stock exchanges

We investigate the long-term performance of cross-delisted firms from U.S. stock markets. Using a sample of foreign firms listed and delisted from U.S. stock exchange markets over 2000-2012, we examine the operating performance and the long-run stock returns performance of firms post-cross-delisting. Our results suggest that cross-delisted firms have less growth opportunities than matched cross-listed firms in the long run. Moreover, firms that cross-delist after the passage of Rule 12h-6 of 2007 exhibit a significant decline in operating performance. In contrast, before the adoption of the Rule 12h-6, cross-delisted firms seem to be affected by the cost of a U.S. listing in the precross -delisting period. In addition, we provide evidence that cross-delisted firms underperform their cross-listed peers; cross-delisted firms experience negative average abnormal returns, especially in the post-delisting period.

The real economic effects of cross-delistingfrom the united states: evidence on post-operating performance, financial constraints and stock crash risk

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências Empresariais.

Detection of suspected placental invasion by MRI: Do the results depend on observer' experience?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of previously described MR features used for detecting suspected placental invasion according to observers' experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our population included 25 pregnant women (mean age 35.16) investigated by prenatal MRI (1.5T, T1- and T2-weighted MR-sequences without i.v. contrast), among them 12 with histopathologically proven placental invasion and 13 women (52%) without placental invasion used as control group. Two senior and two junior radiologists blindly and independently reviewed MR-examinations in view of 6 previously defined MR-features indicating presence and degree of placental invasion (placenta increta, accreta or percreta). For each reader the sensibility, specificity, and receiver operating curve (ROC) were calculated. Interobserver agreements between senior and junior readers were determined. Stepwise logistic regression was performed including the 6 MR-features predictive of placental invasion. RESULTS: Demographics between both groups were statistically equivalent. Overall sensitivity and specificity for placental invasion was 90.9% and 75.0% for seniors and 81.8% and 61.8% for juniors, respectively. The best single MR-feature indicating placental invasion was T2-hypointense placental bands (r(2)=0.28), followed by focally interrupted myometrial border, infiltration of pelvic organs and tenting of the bladder (r(2)=0.36). Interobserver agreement for detecting placental invasion was 0.64 for seniors and 0.41 for juniors, thus substantial and moderate, respectively. Seniors detected placental invasion and depth of infiltration with significantly higher diagnostic certitude than juniors (p=0.0002 and p=0.0282, respectively). CONCLUSION: MRI can be a reliable and reproducible tool for the detection of suspected placental invasion, but the diagnostic value significantly depends on observers' experience.

Diagnostic value of MRI for the detection of suspected placental invasion: Does it depend on observers' experience?

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of specific MR features for detection of suspected placental invasion according to observers' experience.Methods and Materials: Our study population included 25 pregnant women (mean age 35.16) investigated by prenatal MRI. In twelve out of them placental invasion was histopathologically proven, the 13 other women (52%) without placental invasion served as control group. Multiplanar T1- and T2-weighted sequences had been performed mostly without IV contrast injection (1.5 T). MR examinations of the two groups were rendered anonymous, mixed, then independently and retrospectively reviewed by two senior and two junior radiologists in view of 8 MR features indicating placentar invasion including the degree. Results were compared with surgical diagnosis (placenta normal/increta/accreta/percreta). Interobserver agrement between senior and junior readers were calculated. Stepwise logistic regression and receiver operating (ROC) curvers were performed.Results: Demographics between the two groups were not statistically different. Overall sensitivity and specificity for detecting placentar invasion was 90.9% and 75.0% for senior readers, and 81.8% and 61.8% for junior readers respectively. The most significant MR features indicating placentar invasion were T2 hypointense placental bands, followed by placenta praevia, focally interrupted myometrial border, posterior placental insertion, and heterogeneous placental signal. For each of the evaluated MR features the interobserver agreement kappa between the two senior readers was superior than that between the junior readers, ranging from bad (<0.4) to good (0.4-0.75).Conclusions: MRI can be a reliable and reproducible tool for detection of suspected placentar invasion, however very variable according to the observers' experience.

Expérience de dix ans de réanimation chirurgicale d'un centre hospitalier universitaire. Détermination d'un critère d'identification des patients à risque de décéder de coagulopathie irréversible [10 years experience in surgical resuscitation at a university hospital center. Determination of a criterion for identifying patients at risk for fatal irreversible coagulopathy]

The authors evaluated ten years of surgical reanimation in the University Centre of Lausanne (CHUV). Irreversible coagulopathy (IC) is the predominant cause of death for the polytraumatized patient. Acidosis, hypothermy, and coagulation troubles are crucial elements of this coagulopathy. The authors looked for a criterion allowing the identification of dying of IC. In a retrospective study, laboratory results of pH, TP, PTT, thrombocyte count and the need for blood transfusion units were checked for each major step of the primary evaluation and treatment of the polytraumatized patients. These results were considered as critical according to criteria of the literature (30). The authors conclude that the apparation of a third critical value may be useful to identify the polytraumatized patient at risk of dying of IC status. This criterion may also guide the trauma team in selecting a damage control surgical approach (DCS). This criterion was then introduced into an algorithm involving the Emergency Department, the operating room and the Intensive Care Unit. This criterion is a new tool to address the patient at the crucial moment to the appropriate hospital structure.