Impact of Advancing Technology on Nuclear Facility Operation

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan K. Corrado ◽  
Ronald M. Sega
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S

Abstract Many unfortunate and unintended adverse industrial incidents occur across the U.S. each year, and the nuclear industry is no exception. Depending on the severity, these incidents can be problematic for people, the facilities, and surrounding environments. These incidents occur for a number of varying reasons, but more often than not, human error is an accomplice. This article explores whether the complexity and changing technologies, which affect the way operators interact within the systems of the nuclear facilities, exacerbate the severity of incidents caused by human error. A review of nuclear incidents in the U.S. from 1955 to 2010 reaching level three or higher on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) scale was conducted. The cost of each incident at facilities that had recently undergone technological changes affecting plant operator's jobs was compared to those facilities which had not undergone changes. A t-test was applied and determined a statistically significant difference between the two groups. This affirmed that technological advances at nuclear facilities that affect how operators interact within the plant system increase the severity of resulting incidents. Next, a follow-on study was conducted to determine the impact from the incorporation of new technologies into nuclear facilities. The data indicated that spending more money on upgrades increased the capacity of the facility as well as the number of incidents reported, but the incident severity was minor.

The impact of regulations on labor markets in the U.S.

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-40
Author(s):  
Souad Adnane
Keyword(s):  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Demand Model ◽  
Lead Teachers ◽  
Associate's Degree ◽  
Childcare Workers ◽  
Educational Requirements ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Women's Labor Force Participation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S

The District of Columbia (DC) Office of the Superintendent of Education (OSSE) issued in December 2016 new educational requirements for childcare workers, according to which, all childcare center directors in the District must earn a bachelor’s degree by December 2022 and all lead teachers an associate’s degree by December 2020 (Institute for Justice, 2018). Moreover, DC has one of the lowest staff-child ratios in the country. How are regulations pertaining to childcare workers’ qualifications and staff-child ratio affecting the childcare market in DC? The present paper is an attempt to answer this question first by analyzing the effects of more stringent regulations on the cost and availability of childcare in the U.S based on existing studies. It also uses the basic supply and demand model to examine the possible impact of the new DC policy on the cost, quality and supply of childcare in the District and how it will affect working parents, especially mothers. Next, the paper discusses the impact of deregulation based on simulations and regressions conducted by studies covering the U.S., and implications for quality. It concludes that more stringent childcare regulations, regarding educational requirements and staff-child ratios, are associated with a reduced number of childcare centers and a higher cost, and eventually affects women’s labor force participation.

scholarly journals An assessment of the mental health of mastectomized women in South India

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-228
Author(s):  
Sukanya B. Menon ◽  
C. Jayan
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

AimThe present study is aimed at understanding the psychiatric morbidity among mastectomized women and in identifying differences in depression, anxiety, psychological impact and well-being based on psychiatric diagnosis.MethodOne hundred and sixty breast cancer patients who had undergone mastectomy and were on either on adjuvant therapies or on waiting list were interviewed. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) - Plus, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Impact of Event Scale and the Psychological General Well-Being Schedule were used.ResultsAround 68% of patients did not meet psychiatric diagnosis, while the remaining 32% patients were found to have psychiatric morbidity. Of these, 15% diagnosed with adjustment disorders, 13% patients with a major depressive disorder, while 4% patients with anxiety disorders. A significant difference in anxiety, depression, psychological impact and well-being was found among mastectomized women who were grouped on the basis of their psychiatric diagnosis.ConclusionPsychiatric morbidity is evident in patients. This study reinforces the need for identifying psychiatric disorders among women who are undergoing mastectomy, in order to provide adequate psychological treatment.

scholarly journals The psychological impact of COVID-19 outbreak on medical staff and the general public

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biao Chen ◽  
Qing-xian Li ◽  
Heng Zhang ◽  
Jia-yong Zhu ◽  
Yu-hang Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
General Public ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Psychosocial Effects ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose: To assess the psychological effects of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on medical staff and the general public.Methods: During the outbreak of COVID-19, an internet-based questionnaire included The Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used to assess the impact of the epidemic situation on the mental health of medical staff and general population in Wuhan and its surrounding areas.Results: The results suggest that the outbreak of COVID-19 has affected individuals significantly, the degree of which is related to age, sex, occupation and mental illness. There was a significant difference in PSS-10 and IES-R scores between the medical staff and the general population. The medical staff showed higher PSS-10 scores (16.813 ± 4.87) and IES-R scores (22.40 ± 12.12) compared to members of the general population PSS-10 (14.80 ± 5.60) and IES-R scores (17.89 ± 13.08). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the SDS scores of medical staff (44.52 ± 12.36) and the general public (43.08 ± 11.42). In terms of the need for psychological assistance, 50.97% of interviewees responded that they needed psychological counseling, of which medical staff accounted for 65.87% and non-medical staff accounted for 45.10%.Conclusion: During the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, great attention should be paid to the mental health of the population, especially medical staff, and measures such as psychological intervention should be actively carried out for reducing the psychosocial effects.

Clearance/Exemption Levels for Slightly Radioactive Materials Arising From Nuclear Decommissioning and Non-Nuclear Industries

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Pescatore ◽  
Lucien Teunckens ◽  
Shankar Menon
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Substantial Fraction ◽  
Radioactive Materials ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Nuclear Decommissioning ◽  
The Cost

Abstract The management of the relatively large volumes of slightly radioactively contaminated material, arising from the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, represents a substantial fraction of the cost of such projects. The recycling of a relevant fraction of this material (or its reuse or disposal) without radiological restrictions, was identified by a Task Group of the OECD/NEA Co-operative Programme on Decommissioning, as a significant means of reducing such costs. The lack of internationally accepted “clearance levels” of radioactivity, at which the material could be utilised without radiological restrictions, seriously limits recycling as a waste management option. The emergence of the NORM/TENORM issue is of great significance for the discussion of clearance regulations. TENORM arisings occur in huge quantities, two to three orders of magnitude larger than those used in European studies on recycling in the nuclear industry, and the activity levels are generally the same as in very low to low-level nuclear waste. The regulation of TENORM is in its early stages. Their occurrence in a large number of industries, as well as their activity levels and quantities, has not been generally appreciated, even by regulatory authorities, until fairly recently. National and international bodies have suggested or are in the process of suggesting regulations for TENORM. The most important development is the publication of the European Commission Directive of May 1996 (ratified in May 2000) laying down basic safety standards for protection against ionising radiation, arising both in the nuclear and non-nuclear industries. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also started looking into this area in connection with the revision of its Safety Series 89 document. Significant to note is that both these bodies suggest release criteria into the general economy that are more relaxed for the radioactive materials from non-nuclear industries than for similarly contaminated material from nuclear industries. This issue is being taken up by several other bodies as well. This paper reviews the current debate and underlines the need for consistency in developing regulations and criteria for exemption and clearance of all radioactive materials regardless of their origin.

The President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board

2010 ◽  
pp. 171-188
Author(s):  
Kenneth M. Absher ◽  
Michael C. Desch ◽  
Roman Popadiuk
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Advisory Board ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Intelligence Community ◽  
Intelligence Analysis ◽  
Intelligence System ◽  
Intelligence Collection ◽  
Foreign Intelligence ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S

In the final year of his presidency, President George W. Bush issued an Executive Order which reorganized and renamed the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB) to President's Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB). The precursor to PFIAB and PIAB, the President's Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities was established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. It aimed to provide the president a nonpartisan evaluation of the role and effectiveness of the U.S. intelligence collection, covert actions operation, counterintelligence, and intelligence analysis. The board has addressed three broad areas over the years. First, it assessed the impact of new technologies and innovative modes of organization to the collection and analysis of intelligence. Second, it analyzed foreign political trends. Third, it provided assessment of crisis management. Despite of the significant activities performed by the board, it remains to be the smallest and the least well-known part of the U.S. intelligence community. This article focuses on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB). It determines why it remains to be the least known part of the intelligence community and how it functions and operates. The article also discusses the evolution of the board from the perspective of the administration of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Clinton, and G. W. Bush. While the PFIAB has been doubted of its relevance, it has remained to play a useful role for both the president and the overall intelligence community. Uniquely positioned, it has a clearance to review all of the most sensitive secrets and it has direct access to the president. It is a powerful and effective tool that supports the president's efforts to implement policies, manage operations of the intelligence community, and change organizations. Although much debate has been directed on the potential and the role of the institution, it has nevertheless made important recommendations such as the establishment of DIA, CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology, and Defense Attaché system; all of which improved the intelligence system.

Supplier Quality Assurance Systems: A Study in the Nuclear Industry

1988 ◽  
Vol 202 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Singer ◽  
G F Churchill ◽  
B G Dale
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Quality System ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stringent Quality

This paper reports the results of a study which investigated the impact of quality assurance on 13 suppliers to the nuclear industry. The purpose of the study was to determine the benefits and problems of applying quality assurance in the supply of high risk plant items and material for nuclear installations. The paper discusses the problems facing the industry including: multiple audits and inspections, the irritation with having to contend with two quality system standards (namely BS 5750 and BS 5882) and the cost effectiveness of the more stringent quality system and quality control surveillance requirements imposed by the nuclear industry. It is also pointed out that companies supplying non-nuclear industrial customers were dissatisfied with the qualifications, experience and professional competence of some auditors and many inspectors.

Optimizing Product Cost with Supply Chain Cost Modeling

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 (1) ◽  
pp. 000012-000017
Author(s):  
Chet Palesko ◽  
Alan Palesko
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cost Modeling ◽  
Cost Models ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Cost Drivers ◽  
Cost Impact ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Demands on the electronics industry for smaller, better, and cheaper packages have made the supply chain more complex. Outsourcing, new technologies, and increasing performance requirements make designing and building the right product for the right price more difficult than ever. We will present a framework for understanding and managing the supply chain through cost modeling. Cost models that accurately reflect the cost impact from technology and design decisions enable a more precise understanding of supply chain behavior. Cost models can show the extra cost of adding a layer, the expected savings from relaxing design rules, or the cost of package on package assembly compared to 3D packaging with through silicon vias (TSVs). The models also provide context to understanding the ″should cost″ of a product and the path to achieving it. Since the guidance from cost models is based on the actual supplier cost drivers and pricing behavior, designer cost reduction efforts will result in higher savings compared to not using the cost models. Without cost models, designers risk missing their suppliers' real cost drivers and, therefore, the opportunity to decrease cost. This cost modeling framework allows the designers to realize the lowest cost product by matching the right design with the right supplier. It is a method for understanding a design decision's cost impact: a design change, a supplier change, or even the impact of new technology.

The Political and Strategic impacts of the U.S. Advantage at Sea 2020 for the Brazilian Maritime Domain

2021 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 01-09
Author(s):  
Bruno Carvalho ◽  
Jéssica Barreto ◽  
Victor Gaspar ◽  
Ana Carolina Farias
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Political ◽  
English Version ◽  
The Third ◽  
Naval Power ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Maritime Strategy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S

This the English version of our latest report on the document "U.S Advantage at Sea: Prevailing with Integrated All-Domain Naval Power (USAS)". Our main goal was to briefly indicate the impact of this document on Brazil, both politically and strategically. We contextualise the U.S strategic maritime documents since the 9/11 attacks, highlight the main concepts of the current USAS and elaborate on the consequences for Brazil. Our key finding was that, from a political standpoint, the USAS brings challenges to Brazil when qualifying enemies such as Russia and China. On the other hand, the focus on interoperability and new technologies might contribute to Brazil’s future maritime strategy. This brief analysis is divided into three parts: the first intends to contextualise the U.S strategic maritime documents since the 9/11 attacks; the second aims to summarize the USAS’ most relevant concepts for Brazil’s Sea Power, and the third part elaborates on the overall consequences for Brazil.

scholarly journals The Impact of Integrated Mobile System on Students' Academic Achievement, Interaction and Satisfaction

TEM Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1395-1403
Author(s):  
Mohammad Musa Al-Momani ◽  
Olga PILLI
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Mobile System ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Learning Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Instructor Interaction ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Face To Face Learning ◽  
The Impact

This study explored the effectiveness of Blended Learning, hereafter (BL) on students’ academic achievement, interaction and satisfaction in higher education. The Integrated M-Learning and ELearning system, (IMELS) was utilized on a sample of students (n = 52) who attended Artificial Intelligent course at a large urban college in Jordan. The pretest/ post-test design was used to investigate the students’ academic achievement, interaction and satisfaction. ANOVA test was conducted to compare the achievement scores between the BL with IMELS group and face-to-face learning group. The post-test revealed a significant difference between the two groups in favour of the treatment group. Findings also showed that interaction types were positively associated with satisfaction of the students exposed to the IMELS in favour of learner-instructor interaction. This study has contributed to a better understanding of new technologies like IMELS in BL environment, which can affect positively the students' academic achievement, interactions and their satisfaction.

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