scholarly journals An Opportunity to Immobilize 1.6 MT or More of Weapons-Grade Plutonium at the Mayak and Krasnoyarsk-26 Sites

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Jardine ◽  
Georg B. Borisov ◽  
Sergey I. Rovny ◽  
Konstantin G. Kudinov ◽  
Alexander A. Shvedov
Keyword(s):  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Industrial Scale ◽  
Industrial Site ◽  
Mox Fuel ◽  
Fuel Fabrication ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative ◽  
The Government ◽  
Weapons Grade Plutonium

Abstract The Mayak Production Association (PA Mayak), an industrial site in Russia, will be assigned multiple new plutonium disposition missions in order to implement the Agreement Between The Government Of The United States Of America And The Government Of Russian Federation Concerning The Management And Disposition Of Plutonium Designated As No Longer Required For Defense Purposes And Related Cooperation signed September 1, 2000, by Gore and Kasyanov, In addition, the mission of industrial-scale mixed-oxide (MOX) fabrication will be assigned to either the Mining Chemical Combine (MCC) industrial site at Krasnoyarsk-26 (K-26) or PA Mayak. Over the next decades, these new missions will generate radioactive wastes containing weapons-grade plutonium. The existing Mayak and K-26 onsite facilities and infrastructures cannot currently treat and immobilize these Pu-containing wastes for storage and disposal. However, the wastes generated under the Agreement must be properly immobilized, treated, and managed. New waste treatment and immobilization missions at Mayak may include operating facilities for plutonium metal-to-oxide conversion processes, industrial-scale MOX fuel fabrication, BN-600 PAKET hybrid core MOX fuel fabrication, and a plutonium conversion demonstration process. The MCC K-26 site, if assigned the industrial-scale MOX fuel fabrication mission, would also need to add facilities to treat and immobilize the Pu-containing wastes. This paper explores the approach and cost of treatment and immobilization facilities at both Mayak and K-26. The current work to date at Mayak and MCC K-26 indicates that the direct immobilization of 1.6 MT of weapons-grade plutonium is a viable and cost-effective alternative.

Coverage of Non-Metals in the ASME B31.3 Chemical Plant and Petroleum Refinery Piping Code

1992 ◽  
Vol 206 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-72
Author(s):  
W E Short II
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Petroleum Refinery ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chemical Plant ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Plastic Materials ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative ◽  
Dramatic Growth

The chemical and petrochemical industries have decades of experience in specifying metallic piping lined with non-metals as a cost effective alternative to high-priced alloy materials of construction for piping in corrosive service. Early on, application of plastic piping was essentially limited to atmospheric chemical sewage service and to above-ground vents and drains. However, applications and usage of plastic piping continue to increase as engineers become more confident in specifying plastic materials and mechanical contractors gain experience with their installation. Non-metallic materials are being developed that are not only corrosion resistant but also have increasingly higher pressure and temperature capabilities. Plastic double-containment piping has experienced tremendous growth for handling hazards and toxic fluids. In the United States, recent dramatic growth of plastic double-containment piping applications has been, to a large extent, for compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations of the 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Related EPA regulatory efforts were accelerated in 1988 by more stringent amendments to this legislation. Industry in the United States must comply with these EPA regulations by December 1998. Plastic piping and metallic piping lined with non-metals have been covered to some extent by the ASME B31.3 Chemical Plant and Petroleum Refinery Piping Code for several years. The distinctive requirements of non-metallic piping and piping lined with non-metals were incorporated into the 1980 edition as a separate Chapter VII, which is dedicated to this growing area of interest in piping. This paper provides an overview of the present coverage of non-metallic piping lined with non-metals in the ASME B31.3 Chemical Plant and Petroleum Refinery Piping Code (1). Some topics that warrant further investigation are presented as well.

Partnerships in Urban Mobility: Incentive Mechanisms for Improving Public Transit Adoption

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Auyon Siddiq ◽  
Christopher S. Tang ◽  
Jingwei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Public Transit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Public ◽  
Direct Mechanism ◽  
Indirect Mechanism ◽  
Transit Ridership ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Transit Station ◽  
The Government

Problem definition: Because of a prolonged decline in public transit ridership over the last decade, transit agencies across the United States are in financial crisis. To entice commuters to travel by public transit instead of driving personal vehicles, municipal governments must address the “last-mile” problem by providing convenient and affordable transportation between a commuter’s home and a transit station. This challenge raises an important question: Is there a cost-effective mechanism that can improve public transit adoption by solving the last-mile problem? Academic/practical relevance: In this paper, we present and analyze two incentive mechanisms for increasing commuter adoption of public transit. In a direct mechanism, the government provides a subsidy to commuters who adopt a “mixed mode,” which involves combining public transit with hailing rides to/from a transit station. The government funds the subsidy by imposing congestion fees on personal vehicles entering the city center. In an indirect mechanism, instead of levying congestion fees, the government secures funding for the subsidy from the private sector. We examine the implications of both mechanisms on relevant stakeholders. These two mechanisms are especially relevant because several jurisdictions in the United States have begun piloting incentive programs, in which commuters receive subsidies for ride-hailing trips that begin or end at a transit station. Methodology: We present a game-theoretic model to capture the strategic interactions among five self-interested stakeholders (commuters, public transit agency, ride-hailing platform, municipal government, and local private enterprises). Results: By examining equilibrium outcomes, we obtain three key findings. First, we characterize how the optimal interventions associated with the direct or the indirect mechanism depend on: (a) the coverage level of the public transit network; (b) the public transit adoption target; and (c) the relative strength of commuter preferences between driving and taking public transit. Second, we show that the direct mechanism cannot be budget-neutral without undermining commuter welfare. However, when the public transit adoption target is not too aggressive, we find that the indirect mechanism can increase both commuter welfare and sales to the private-sector partner while remaining budget-neutral. Finally, we show that, although the indirect mechanism restricts the scope of government intervention (by eliminating the congestion fee), it can dominate the direct mechanism by leaving all stakeholders better off, especially when the adoption target is modest. Managerial implications: Our findings offer cost-effective prescriptions for improving urban mobility and public transit ridership.

POTENSI PEMBELAJARAN AUDIO DAN RADIO INTERAKTIF DALAM MEMBERIKAN PELAYANAN PENDIDIKAN ANAK USIA DINI DI INDONESIA (SUATU KAJIAN TEORITIS)

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111
Author(s):  
Denny Setiawan
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Kindergarten Children ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
The Government ◽  
Simple Technology

Many challenges must be faced by thr GOI in developing the program, nowadays the Govemment of lndonesia (G01) through Early Childhood Education (ECE) Department has been enhancing early childhood education programs for 0 to 8 year old children. The major challenges are children access to early childhood education services and quality of early childhood education programs. Considering the challenges, The United States Agency for Intemational Development (USAID) in partnership with Indonesia's Ministry of National Education is currently implementing a small scale interactive audio instruction (1AI) pilot program targeting 5-6 year olds and their teachers in seven provinces. The program can simultaneously lead acfivities to kindergarten children and teachers as well as train the teachers, who don't have early childhood education background, and how to create high qualityactivities for children. Because of its' simple technology, the program can be applied in various Indonesia district condition, This paper explores the potential role a simple technology can play in assisting the government meet its early childhood education goals and discusses whether something as commonplace as a CD player or radio, when coupled with a proven education methodology, could present a cost effective way to achieving quality at scale.

Separated Plutonium: Threats and Prospects

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison M. Macfarlane
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mixed Oxide ◽  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
International Security ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mox Fuel ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Weapons Grade Plutonium ◽  
Total Stock

Abstract Nuclear weapons reductions have resulted in 34 metric tons of declared excess weapons-grade plutonium in both the United States and Russia. To deal with this material both countries recently signed an agreement to disposition 68 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium. Stocks of separated plutonium have been growing in the European, Russian, and Japanese nuclear energy complexes due to the failure of the breeder reactor, the high cost of using the material as mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, and political opposition to use of the material. The total stock of separated civilian reactor-grade plutonium is 200 metric tons. Not only does separated plutonium pose a threat to international security, but also over the long run it poses a hazard to the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to select a disposition method that is both proliferation resistant and will perform well over the millennia in a repository.

scholarly journals Telepsychiatry and Medical Insurance: Comparative Perspectives Between India and the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 92S-97S
Author(s):  
P Lakshmi Nirisha ◽  
Srinagesh Mannekote Thippaiah ◽  
Rachel E. Fargason ◽  
Barikar C Malathesh ◽  
Narayana Manjunatha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Private Insurance ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
The United States ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative

Telepsychiatry is a cost-effective alternative to in-person psychiatric consultations. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a sharp spike in the utilization of telepsychiatry due to ongoing restrictions on gatherings and traveling. In recognition of the importance of telemedicine in general, and telepsychiatry specifically, telemedicine practice guidelines and telepsychiatry operational guidelines have been released. Due to the rising trend in telemedicine, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDIA) incorporated teleconsultation health insurance coverage at a level on par with regular in-person consultations. In contrast, in the United States of America, private insurance coverage for telepsychiatry has been in vogue for some time. In this paper we draw comparisons between India and the United States on telepsychiatry and health insurance. We compare the evolving regulatory policies of these two countries in relation to existing insurances plans that are available, the challenges in implementation of new regulations and the possible ways to overcome the challenges to make telepsychiatry affordable to all.

scholarly journals Cost-Effective, Time-Efficient Passenger Rail System for the Eastern United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
James Mathias ◽  
Dal Hyung Kim
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Transportation Network ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Rail System ◽  
The Government ◽  
Ticket Prices

A program was developed using a genetic algorithm and automated lookup features to design an efficient passenger rail system for the eastern-half of the United States connecting large cities, metropolitan populations greater than two million, with overnight rail service. The results of the program predicted a passenger starting at the farthest point of the system boards the train at 16:02 on average and arrives at a different point of the system at 07:57 on average the following day, assuming the train travels an average speed of 70 mph. The design used actual distances by train track where possible. The system was modeled with six trains that meet at a hub and exchange passengers and continue on to their destination. The optimal solution had a total one-way minimum distance of 4334 km (2693 miles). Assuming the same ridership that currently exists on a popular train route, ticket prices would average $62 (USD) for a one-way ticket. For this system to be feasible, the government would need to own or lease one set of tracks for all the routes determined, build a hub for passengers to transfer trains near Charleston, WV, and ensure the trains are unimpeded by other trains. Installing tracks that go around cities that the trains do not stop at would be a great benefit also. With advances in communication, GPS, and train control technology, this article points out the benefits of publically available tracks to form a transportation network similar to that found in road, air, and water traffic.

Investigation into the implementation of chloramination at Sedibeng Water

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 233-238
Author(s):  
N. Basson ◽  
D. Traut ◽  
G. Titus ◽  
C. vd Walt ◽  
J. Haarhoff
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
One Year

The Balkfontein and Virginia plants of Sedibeng Water, situated in the Free State Province of South Africa, treat water for potable purposes. Chlorine is used as disinfectant at both plants. Low levels of free chlorine measured in the water supplied from some reservoirs, logistics and costs, related to the application of chlorination at various points in the distribution system, were the main thrusts for an investigation into the use of chloramination as an alternative means of disinfection. The so-called contact time (CT)-approach from the United States Environmental Protection Agency was applied for the evaluation of disinfection efficiency. The distribution system was modelled by using a hydraulic computer system. Decay rates for both chlorine and monochloramine - a vital parameter for eventual determination of the amount of chlorine and ammonia to be dosed - were determined. The levels of disinfectant in the water at a specific location could be predicted by using the decay values. The main findings of this investigation are that chloramination is an attractive and cost-effective alternative for conventional chlorination for providing quality assurance to all. It is estimated that the capital layout will be recovered within one year of operation of the ammoniation system.

2D Color-Intensity Representation of Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge Measurements

2020 ◽  
pp. 1192-1198
Author(s):  
M.S. Mohammad ◽  
Tibebe Tesfaye ◽  
Kim Ki-Seong
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
The Other ◽  
Thickness Gauge ◽  
Color Intensity ◽  
Digital Readout ◽  
Flat Surfaces ◽  
Video Cameras ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative ◽  
Ultrasonic Thickness

Ultrasonic thickness gauges are easy to operate and reliable, and can be used to measure a wide range of thicknesses and inspect all engineering materials. Supplementing the simple ultrasonic thickness gauges that present results in either a digital readout or as an A-scan with systems that enable correlating the measured values to their positions on the inspected surface to produce a two-dimensional (2D) thickness representation can extend their benefits and provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive advanced C-scan machines. In previous work, the authors introduced a system for the positioning and mapping of the values measured by the ultrasonic thickness gauges and flaw detectors (Tesfaye et al. 2019). The system is an alternative to the systems that use mechanical scanners, encoders, and sophisticated UT machines. It used a camera to record the probe’s movement and a projected laser grid obtained by a laser pattern generator to locate the probe on the inspected surface. In this paper, a novel system is proposed to be applied to flat surfaces, in addition to overcoming the other limitations posed due to the use of the laser projection. The proposed system uses two video cameras, one to monitor the probe’s movement on the inspected surface and the other to capture the corresponding digital readout of the thickness gauge. The acquired images of the probe’s position and thickness gauge readout are processed to plot the measured data in a 2D color-coded map. The system is meant to be simpler and more effective than the previous development.

Verán ustedes las chozas más humildes. El discurso de pobreza en la diplomacia pública cardenista dirigida a Estados Unidos

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-281
Author(s):  
Sylvia Dümmer Scheel
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New Deal ◽  
Public Diplomacy ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Government ◽  
Lazaro Cardenas ◽  
The New Deal

El artículo analiza la diplomacia pública del gobierno de Lázaro Cárdenas centrándose en su opción por publicitar la pobreza nacional en el extranjero, especialmente en Estados Unidos. Se plantea que se trató de una estrategia inédita, que accedió a poner en riesgo el “prestigio nacional” con el fin de justificar ante la opinión pública estadounidense la necesidad de implementar las reformas contenidas en el Plan Sexenal. Aprovechando la inusual empatía hacia los pobres en tiempos del New Deal, se construyó una imagen específica de pobreza que fuera higiénica y redimible. Ésta, sin embargo, no generó consenso entre los mexicanos. This article analyzes the public diplomacy of the government of Lázaro Cárdenas, focusing on the administration’s decision to publicize the nation’s poverty internationally, especially in the United States. This study suggests that this was an unprecedented strategy, putting “national prestige” at risk in order to explain the importance of implementing the reforms contained in the Six Year Plan, in the face of public opinion in the United States. Taking advantage of the increased empathy felt towards the poor during the New Deal, a specific image of hygienic and redeemable poverty was constructed. However, this strategy did not generate agreement among Mexicans.

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