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Gas chromatographic studies of the relative retention of the sulfur isotopes in carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, and sulfur dioxide (open access)

Gas chromatographic studies of the relative retention of the sulfur isotopes in carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, and sulfur dioxide

A precision gas chromatograph, coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer and an on-line computer, was used to study the fractionation on Porasil A of the /sup 32/S//sup 34/S isotopic pair in a variety of sulfur-containing molecules. Carbonyl sulfide (COS) yielded an average ..cap alpha.. value of 1.00074 +- 0.00017 (standard deviation) for the temperature range 25/sup 0/C to 75/sup 0/C. The carbon disulfide (CS/sub 2/) value was 1.00069 +- 0.00023 for the range 53/sup 0/C to 103/sup 0/C, and that for sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/) was 1.00090 +- 0.00018 for the range 62/sup 0/C to 112/sup 0/C. Differential thermodynamic data have been reported. A Porapak Q column showed no fractionation of this isotopic pair in these three molecules.
Date: January 18, 1980
Creator: Fetzer, J.C. & Rogers, L.B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Analysis of LOFT pressurizer spray and surge nozzles to include a 450/sup 0/F step transient (open access)

Analysis of LOFT pressurizer spray and surge nozzles to include a 450/sup 0/F step transient

This report presents the analysis of the LOFT pressurizer spray and surge nozzles to include a 450/sup 0/F step thermal transient. Previous analysis performed under subcontract by Basic Technology Incorporated was utilized where applicable. The SAASIII finite element computer program was used to determine stress distributions in the nozzles due to the step transient. Computer results were then incorporated in the necessary additional calculations to ascertain that stress limitations were not exceeded. The results of the analysis indicate that both the spray and surge nozzles will be within stress allowables prescribed by subsubarticle NB-3220 of the 1974 edition of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code when subjected to currently known design, normal operating, upset, emergency, and faulted condition loads.
Date: January 18, 1978
Creator: Nitzel, M.E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
NOVA integrated alignment/diagnostic sensors (open access)

NOVA integrated alignment/diagnostic sensors

Under Contract 3772003 to the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Aerojet ElectroSystems Company has investigated a number of alignment system design topics for the NOVA and SHIVA upgrade lasers. Prior reports dealt with the Main Beam Alignment System, and with Multipass Amplifier Alignment Concepts. This report, which completes the contract, examines ways in which the Return Beam Diagnostic (RBD) package and Incident Beam Diagnostic (IBD) packages may be reconfigured to a more integrated package. In particular, the report shows that the RBD optics may be directly integrated in the Pointing Focus and Centering (PFC) sensor, and that the IBD optics may use the same basic common configuration as the PFC/RBD package.
Date: January 18, 1978
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Thermoelastic analysis of waste-container sleeve. Technical memorandum report RSI-0008 (open access)

Thermoelastic analysis of waste-container sleeve. Technical memorandum report RSI-0008

None
Date: January 18, 1974
Creator: Gnirk, P. F.; Callahan, G. D. & Hovland, H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Theoretical approach for enhanced mass transfer effects in-duct flue gas desulfurization processes (open access)

Theoretical approach for enhanced mass transfer effects in-duct flue gas desulfurization processes

Bench-scale and pilot-scale experiments have been conducted to measure the mass transfer and kinetic rates at simulated duct injection conditions. Section 2 describes the tank reactor test results. The stirred tank reactor was used to study absorption of SO{sub 2} into saturated Ca(OH){sub 2} solutions with varied ionic strengths. The results of current experiments were compared with previous tests using saturated Ca(OH){sub 2} solution and 0.1 M CaCl{sub 2}. Section 3 summarizes the status of the Short-Time Differential Reactor (STDR) tests for Task 2.3. The effect of CO{sub 2} on reactivity of Mississippi Ca(OH){sub 2} with SO{sub 2} was investigated. The extent of carbonation was measured for a commercial Mississippi Ca(OH){sub 2} and laboratory-produced sorbents. Section 4 presents pilot plant testing conducted to evaluate various operating conditions and process schemes to support large-scale field testing at Meredosia and Beverly (Task 3). Consistent data were obtained from pilot testing of in-duct dry injection downstream of the humidifier. Section 5 reports differential reactor (Task 4) tests. The differential reactor has been modified to determine the effect of initial water content on the sorbent reactivity. An experimental method has been developed to prepare solid samples containing reproducible, predictable quantities of water. The experiments …
Date: January 18, 1990
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tunisia: Recent Developments and Policy Issues (open access)

Tunisia: Recent Developments and Policy Issues

Report that discusses Tunisia's "Jasmine Revolution," the common term for President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's flight from the country following weeks of mounting anti-government protests. This report discusses how the Jasmine Revolution appears to have added momentum to anti-government sentiment in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and other countries. This report discusses Tunisia's pro-democracy movement; concerns over potential instability in a previously secure, pro-Western area; U.S.-Tunisian relations; and Tunisia's push for for a greater focus on trade.
Date: January 18, 2011
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) and Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team (E-IBCT) Programs: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

The Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) and Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team (E-IBCT) Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

Report that looks at budget requests for the Army's Future Combat System (FCS) program, Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program, and brigade combat teams (BCTs). It ends with a discussion of potential issues for Congress.
Date: January 18, 2011
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOD Business Transformation: Defense Travel System Continues to Face Implementation Challenges (open access)

DOD Business Transformation: Defense Travel System Continues to Face Implementation Challenges

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Defense (DOD) has been working to develop and implement a standard end-to-end travel system for the last 10 years. Over the past several years numerous GAO reports and testimonies have highlighted problems with DOD's travel practices that resulted in wasteful spending of millions of dollars. In response, the department has noted that the Defense Travel System (DTS), in part, will help correct these problems. Because of the widespread congressional interest in DTS, GAO initiated the audit under the statutory authority of the Comptroller General of the United States. The objectives of the audit were to (1) determine if DOD effectively tested key DTS functionality, (2) ascertain if DTS will correct the weaknesses previously identified, (3) identify the challenges that remain, and (4) identify opportunities to streamline DOD's travel process."
Date: January 18, 2006
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bilingual Voting Assistance: Selected Jurisdictions' Strategies for Identifying Needs and Providing Assistance (open access)

Bilingual Voting Assistance: Selected Jurisdictions' Strategies for Identifying Needs and Providing Assistance

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, contains, among other things, provisions designed to protect the voting rights of U.S. citizens of certain ethnic groups whose command of the English language may be limited. The Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces these provisions, and the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) serves as a national clearinghouse for election information and procedures. The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 mandated that GAO study the implementation of bilingual voting under Section 203 of the act. This report discusses (1) the ways that selected jurisdictions covered under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act have provided bilingual voting assistance as of the November 2006 general election and any subsequent elections through June 2007, and the challenges they reportedly faced in providing such assistance; and (2) the perceived usefulness of this bilingual voting assistance, and the extent to which the selected jurisdictions evaluated the usefulness of such assistance to language minority voters. To obtain details about this voting assistance, GAO obtained information from election officials in 14 of the 296 …
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Adverse Drug Events: The Magnitude of Health Risk Is Uncertain Because of Limited Incidence Data (open access)

Adverse Drug Events: The Magnitude of Health Risk Is Uncertain Because of Limited Incidence Data

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO summarized from available research what is known about adverse drug events (ADE), focusing on the: (1) different types and causes of ADEs; (2) evidence on the overall incidence and cost of ADEs in the United States; and (3) measures that have been proposed to reduce the number and severity of ADEs."
Date: January 18, 2000
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Embassy Security: Upgrades Have Enhanced Security, but Site Conditions Prevent Full Adherence to Standards (open access)

Embassy Security: Upgrades Have Enhanced Security, but Site Conditions Prevent Full Adherence to Standards

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Following the 1998 embassy bombings, the Department of State (State) determined that more than 85 percent of diplomatic facilities did not meet security standards and were vulnerable to terrorist attacks. State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has undertaken a program to replace or upgrade the security of these facilities. As of 2007, OBO had constructed more than 50 new embassies and moved nearly 15,000 staff to safer facilities. However, most remaining facilities will not be replaced in the near term. To address these facilities, OBO has obligated about $140 million per year for its Compound Security Upgrade Program (CSUP). GAO was asked to (1) describe the process that OBO follows to prioritize and plan CSUP projects, including stakeholder involvement; (2) determine the extent to which CSUP projects met contracted cost and time frames and whether OBO has procedures to ensure security upgrades are installed; and (3) assess whether State's CSUP efforts have enhanced posts' abilities to comply with State's physical security standards. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed pertinent State documents, met with State officials in Washington, D.C., and overseas, and traveled to 11 posts …
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Renewable Energy: Agencies Have Taken Steps Aimed at Improving the Permitting Process for Development on Federal Lands (open access)

Renewable Energy: Agencies Have Taken Steps Aimed at Improving the Permitting Process for Development on Federal Lands

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), federal land management agencies--primarily the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM)--have received hundreds of applications for utilityscale renewable energy projects and authorized 25 projects: 7 wind, 10 solar, and 8 geothermal projects. Applications for the majority of projects were withdrawn by the applicants or denied by BLM because of insufficient information. Applications for about one-fourth of the projects are still pending with the agencies. Time frames for permitting wind and solar projects ranged from 1.5 to 4 years from receipt of the initial application to approval of the project, with time frames decreasing for applications submitted in later years. For geothermal projects, permitting time frames ranged from 1 to 4 years from receipt of the initial application to approval for construction. In all, for projects applied for since EPAct 2005, BLM has authorized projects with the capacity to generate a total of about 5,450 megawatts of electricity, contributing to the act's goal of approving projects capable of generating 10,000 megawatts of electricity on public lands by 2015."
Date: January 18, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Charitable Choice: Overview of Research Findings on Implementation (open access)

Charitable Choice: Overview of Research Findings on Implementation

A briefing report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Charitable choice provisions require states and localities to allow religious organizations to compete for federal funding on the same basis as other social service providers, without impairing the religious character of such organizations. Congress has been considering legislation to expand charitable choice provisions to other government programs. At least 19 states have contracted with faith-based organizations (FBOs) to provide some welfare services. Moreover, states are using various approaches to implement charitable choice legislation. For example, some states have created state faith-based liaisons to promote greater awareness of charitable choice provisions or removed barriers to contracting with FBOs. Several factors have limited the establishment of collaborations between FBOs and states, including some FBOs' lack of awareness and understanding of charitable choice provisions, their reluctance to partner with government, and the limited financial and administrative capacity of some FBOs. Once collaborations have occurred, some small FBOs have had problems (1) covering ongoing costs while awaiting government reimbursement or (2) managing the performance-based contracts because of limited technological and management systems. GAO found no information with which to assess the effectiveness of FBOs as providers of social services. Although …
Date: January 18, 2002
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Thrift Savings Plan: Customer Service Practices Adopted by Private Sector Plan Managers Should Be Considered (open access)

Federal Thrift Savings Plan: Customer Service Practices Adopted by Private Sector Plan Managers Should Be Considered

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Intended to resemble private sector 401(k) pension plans, the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) held more than $128 billion in retirement assets for over 3 million participants at the end of 2003. Customer service-related difficulties during the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board's (TSP's governing body) record-keeping system conversion in 2003 led the Chairman of a Senate Committee to ask GAO to examine the customer service provided to TSP participants. This review describes (1) customer service provisions within TSP and those offered by private sector managers and (2) customer service practices used by private sector plan managers that could be considered for use in TSP."
Date: January 18, 2005
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Education Research: Education Should Improve Assessments of R&D Centers, Regional Labs, and Comprehensive Centers (open access)

Education Research: Education Should Improve Assessments of R&D Centers, Regional Labs, and Comprehensive Centers

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Research and Development (R&D) Centers, Regional Labs, and Comprehensive Centers support the Department of Education's research agenda to various degrees. Because statutes define different missions and activities for these programs, the amount and focus of the research and other research-based activities they support varies. Education shapes the priorities that guide the research done by the R&D Centers and targets the technical assistance provided by the Comprehensive Centers through requirements in agreements with these entities. However, Education has little control over the activities of the Regional Labs because, unlike most federal education programs, neither federal nor state governments have oversight responsibility for their programs. The R&D Centers, Regional Labs, and Comprehensive Centers reported collaborating and coordinating with each other and Education and cited various factors that have either facilitated or hindered such activities. They said that they were most likely to engage in these activities when they shared a common interest in a specific student population, such as English language learners, or in a specific topic, such as assessment. Current evaluation practices for assessing the R&D Centers, Regional Labs, and Comprehensive Centers have provided only limited information …
Date: January 18, 2002
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Entitlement Reform Process: Other Countries' Experiences Provide Useful Insights for the United States (open access)

Entitlement Reform Process: Other Countries' Experiences Provide Useful Insights for the United States

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Looking to the future, our nation faces large and growing structural deficits and escalating federal debt due primarily to rising health care costs and known demographic trends. Slowing the growth of entitlements is an essential part of the solution to these challenges. GAO was asked to identify useful insights from the entitlement reform processes in other countries. Specifically, GAO was asked to analyze (1) other countries' major efforts to reform entitlement programs, (2) the pressure(s) that led countries to undertake the reforms, (3) how reform proposals were developed, and (4) to what extent enacted reforms built in triggers requiring future actions under certain conditions; and where such trigger mechanisms did not exist, whether some adjustments nonetheless occurred. GAO conducted a literature review focusing on developed, high-income Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries facing similar fiscal challenges. To gain a more in-depth understanding of reform process, GAO selected three efforts for further study: Sweden's pension reform in 1998, Germany's pension reform in 2004, and the Netherlands' disability reform in 2005. For these cases GAO interviewed government officials, reform participants, and experts knowledgeable about the reforms. …
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Employee Benefits Security Administration: Enforcement Improvements Made but Additional Actions Could Further Enhance Pension Plan Oversight (open access)

Employee Benefits Security Administration: Enforcement Improvements Made but Additional Actions Could Further Enhance Pension Plan Oversight

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) enforces the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which sets certain minimum standards for private sector pension plans. On the basis of GAO's prior work, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions asked GAO to review EBSA's enforcement program. Specifically, this report assesses (1) the extent to which EBSA has improved its compliance activities since 2002; (2) how EBSA's enforcement practices compare to those of other agencies; and (3) what obstacles, if any, affect ERISA enforcement. To do this, we reviewed EBSA's enforcement strategy and operations, and interviewed officials at EBSA, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), among others."
Date: January 18, 2007
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
HUD and Treasury Programs: More Information on Leverage Measures' Accuracy and Linkage to Program Goals Is Needed in Assessing Performance (open access)

HUD and Treasury Programs: More Information on Leverage Measures' Accuracy and Linkage to Program Goals Is Needed in Assessing Performance

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This is the second of two reports on the leveraging of federal funds in housing and community and economic development programs. Leveraging involves using a source of funds to attract other funds or combining multiple sources of funds. This report examines (1) the leverage measures and the transparency of the data and methods used to calculate them, and (2) the relevance of such measures in assessing performance that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) reported for six selected programs. To complete this work, GAO reviewed agency policies and reports, interviewed officials, and analyzed agency data."
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Superfund: Status of EPA's Efforts to Improve Its Management and Oversight of Special Accounts (open access)

Superfund: Status of EPA's Efforts to Improve Its Management and Oversight of Special Accounts

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins ""
Date: January 18, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Credit Rating Agencies: Alternative Compensation Models for Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (open access)

Credit Rating Agencies: Alternative Compensation Models for Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "As of January 2012, GAO identified seven alternative models for compensating NRSROs (see table below). These models generally were designed to address the conflict of interest in the issuer-pays model, better align the NRSROs’ interest with users of ratings, or improve incentives NRSROs have to produce reliable and high-quality ratings. However, the amount of detail currently available for each model varies and none has been implemented. According to some of the authors of the models, there is little incentive to continue developing these models because it appears unlikely they will receive attention from regulators or legislators. For example, these authors noted that SEC had not reached out to them to further discuss these models as part of its ongoing study of alternative compensation models for credit rating agencies."
Date: January 18, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Real Estate Appraisals: Appraisal Subcommittee Needs to Improve Monitoring Procedures (open access)

Real Estate Appraisals: Appraisal Subcommittee Needs to Improve Monitoring Procedures

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) has been performing its monitoring role under Title XI, but several weaknesses have potentially limited its effectiveness. For example, Title XI did not originally provide ASC rulemaking and enforcement tools that could be useful in promoting state compliance. In addition, ASC has not reported or clearly defined the criteria it uses to assess states’ overall compliance levels. Title XI charges ASC with monitoring the appraisal requirements of the federal financial institutions regulators, but ASC has not defined the scope of this function—for example, by developing policies and procedures—and its monitoring activities have been limited. ASC also lacks specific policies for determining whether activities of the Appraisal Foundation (a private nonprofit organization that sets criteria for appraisals and appraisers) that are funded by ASC grants are Title XI-related. Not having appropriate policies and procedures is inconsistent with federal internal control standards designed to promote effectiveness and efficiency and limits the accountability and transparency of ASC’s activities."
Date: January 18, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare: Use of Preventive Services Could Be Better Aligned with Clinical Recommendations (open access)

Medicare: Use of Preventive Services Could Be Better Aligned with Clinical Recommendations

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Use of some preventive services--cardiovascular disease screening and cervical cancer screening--by FFS beneficiaries generally aligned with clinical recommendations, but use of other cancer screenings for certain age groups, osteoporosis screening, and immunizations did not. In particular, among women aged 65 to 74, for whom breast cancer screening is recommended biannually by the Task Force, only two out of three received a mammogram in 2008 or 2009. Among beneficiaries aged 65 to 75, about one out of four received any of the Task Force recommended regimens for colorectal cancer screening from 2005 through 2009. Among men aged 75 or older, about two out of five received a Prostate-Specific Antigen test for prostate cancer--a test that required no cost sharing--from 2006 through 2009 even though the Task Force recommended against this service for that age group. Use of osteoporosis screening--for which Medicare coverage is limited--and influenza and pneumococcal immunizations was generally lower than recommended by the Task Force or ACIP. The Department of Health and Human Services has the authority to modify coverage of Medicare preventive services--such as osteoporosis screening--consistent with Task Force recommendations."
Date: January 18, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dodd-Frank Act: Hybrid Capital Instruments and Small Institution Access to Capital (open access)

Dodd-Frank Act: Hybrid Capital Instruments and Small Institution Access to Capital

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Tier 1 hybrid capital instruments, particularly trust preferred securities, have been heavily used by bank holding companies because of their financial advantages, but they are not as effective in absorbing losses as traditional forms of Tier 1 capital, such as common equity. As of December 31, 2010, almost two-thirds of all top-level bank holding companies that were subject to capital requirements included hybrid instruments in their Tier 1 capital, for a total value of $157 billion. Hybrid instruments such as trust preferred securities have offered institutions the benefit of lower-cost capital, largely because of their debt-related features—including tax-deductible dividends. These instruments also are accessible to a broader range of potential investors. However, trust preferred securities do not absorb losses like other Tier 1 instruments because of their obligation to repay principal and dividends. Trust preferred securities may provide limited financial flexibility in times of stress, but they may also hinder efforts to recapitalize troubled banking institutions."
Date: January 18, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Best Practices: Taking a Strategic Approach Could Improve DOD's Acquisition of Services (open access)

Best Practices: Taking a Strategic Approach Could Improve DOD's Acquisition of Services

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO studied several leading companies in the private sector that have made dramatic changes to their process for acquiring services. GAO found that these changes generally began with a corporate decision to pursue a more strategic approach to acquiring services--from developing a better picture of what the company was actually spending on services to developing new ways of doing business. The Defense Department (DOD), the government's largest purchaser of services, already has some elements in place that are essential to such a strategic approach, such as a commitment by top management to adopting best practices. However, DOD has yet to conduct a comprehensive analysis of its spending on services or thoroughly assess it's current structure, processes, and roles. DOD's size, the range and complexity of the services that it acquires, the capacity of its information and financial systems, and the unique requirements of the federal government are among the factors that DOD will need to consider as it tailors a strategic approach to its diverse needs."
Date: January 18, 2002
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library