Radionuclides in plankton from the South Pacific Basin (open access)

Radionuclides in plankton from the South Pacific Basin

We have initiated an investigation of the utility of marine plankton as bioconcentrating samplers of low-level marine radioactivity in the southern hemisphere. A literature review has shown that both freshwater and marine plankton have trace element and radionuclide concentration factors (relative to water) of up to 10/sup 4/. We participated in Operations Deepfreeze 1981 and 1982, collecting a total of 48 plankton samples from the USCGC Glacier on its Antarctic cruises. Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories sampled air, water, rain, and fallout. We were able to measure concentrations in plankton of the naturally-occurring radionuclides /sup 7/Be, /sup 40/K, and the U and Th series, and we believe that we have detected low levels of /sup 144/Ce and /sup 95/Nb in seven samples ranging as far south as 68/sup 0/. Biological identification of the plankton suggests a possible correlation between radionuclide concentration and the protozoa content of the samples. 7 references, 5 figures.
Date: March 23, 1984
Creator: Marsh, K.V. & Buddemeier, R.W.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Heat transfer research and power cycle transient modeling (open access)

Heat transfer research and power cycle transient modeling

Fine axial flutes enhance heat transfer in vertical shell-and-tube exchangers with water inside the tubes and ammonia evaporating or condensing in layer flow on the shell side. Single-tube experiments with R-11 and ammonia indicate local shell-side coefficients 3 to 5 times those for corresponding smooth tubes. Single-tube experiments with water indicate that at moderate velocities the tube-side coefficients are enhanced by a factor equal to the ratio of fluted-to-smooth surface areas while the fluid friction is similarly increased. The experimental data are transformed into mean individual coefficients for ammonia and water. Overall coefficients for a particular case are presented to illustrate the efficacy of enhancement by flutes on one or both sides of the heat transfer surface. Means are described for using emerging data to predict the static and dynamic behavior of the power cycle and the interactions of components throughout the complete power plant.
Date: March 23, 1977
Creator: Rothfus, R.R. & Neuman, C.P.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Evaluation of extraction chromatography for americium recovery (open access)

Evaluation of extraction chromatography for americium recovery

Extraction, or reverse-phase partition chromatography, as used mostly for analytical separations, employs an organic solvent extractant as a stationary phase on an inert support material. This technique, which has the advantage of utilizing the versatility of solvent extraction systems with the less expensive operation of ion exchange equipment, was evaluated for a process to recover low level concentrations of americium from acidic process waste streams at Rocky Flats. The bidentate organophosphorous extractant DHDECMP (dihexyl-N, N-diethylcarbamylmethylene phosphonate) was used as the stationary phase since it was shown to effectively scavenge americium from acidic waste streams without significantly extracting impurity ions. Over 30 support materials were evaluated for DHDECMP capacity and for their ability to retain the extractant. Of the supports tested, the Amberlite XAD macroreticular sorbents were found to have the highest DHDECMP capacity. Amberlite XAD-4 beads retained the extractant significantly better than the other supports evaluated. Thus, this solvent was tested for americium breakthrough capacity and compared to the theoretical capacity.
Date: March 23, 1977
Creator: Alford, C. E. & Navratil, J. D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Calculation of Doppler Coefficient and Other Safety Parameters for a Large Fast Oxide Reactor (open access)

Calculation of Doppler Coefficient and Other Safety Parameters for a Large Fast Oxide Reactor

Several safety parameters are calculated for a large, fast, Na-cooled, oxide-fueled reactor. The Doppler coefficient is studied as regards its effect on the reactivity during a power excursion, and its dependence on the neutron spectrum, on the concentrations of U/sup 238/, Pu /sup 239/ , a nd Pu/sup 240/, on spatial temperature and power distributions, and on temperature. Other parameters studied include the Na temperature coefficient of reactivity, and the reactivity insertion caused by total Na loss; reactivity coefficients caused by thermal expansion of fuel and steel cladding; the excess operating reactivity; and the reactivity caused by a fuel slump. The effects of a Be reflector on neutron lifetimes are determined. The safety aspects are balanced against economic considerations. (T.F.H.)
Date: March 23, 1961
Creator: Greebler, P.; Hutchins, B. A. & Sueoka, J. R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Transistorized Pulse Height Analyzer for Gamma Spectroscopy (open access)

A Transistorized Pulse Height Analyzer for Gamma Spectroscopy

From abstract: "A scintillation detector has a pulse height output which is a linear function of the energy of impinging gamma radiation. A pulse height analyzer system determines the amplitude distribution of this train of pulses. The system also displays this information graphically in a form which is convenient for further analysis."
Date: March 23, 1959
Creator: Graveson, R. T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Economic Development: Observations Regarding the Economic Development Administration's May 1998 Final Report on Its Public Works Program (open access)

Economic Development: Observations Regarding the Economic Development Administration's May 1998 Final Report on Its Public Works Program

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) May 1998 report on its public works program, which created jobs in economically distressed communities, focusing on whether: (1) the report's results would be similar if additional variables that directly took into account the prior level of a county's employment or population were included in the analyses; (2) the report's job creation estimates include only new jobs or jobs relocated from another area; and (3) other technical issues might affect the reliability of the cost estimates presented."
Date: March 23, 1999
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Briefing on the Results of GAO's Audit of the Fiscal Years 2009 and 2008 U.S. Government's Consolidated Financial Statements (open access)

Briefing on the Results of GAO's Audit of the Fiscal Years 2009 and 2008 U.S. Government's Consolidated Financial Statements

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This letter highlights the results of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the U.S. Government (CFS) for fiscal years 2009 and 2008. GAO is required by the Government Management Reform Act of 1994 to perform an annual audit of the CFS."
Date: March 23, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
IT Supply Chain: National Security-Related Agencies Need to Better Address Risks (open access)

IT Supply Chain: National Security-Related Agencies Need to Better Address Risks

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Reliance on a global supply chain introduces multiple risks to federal information systems. These risks include threats posed by actors—such as foreign intelligence services or counterfeiters—who may exploit vulnerabilities in the supply chain and thus compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an end system and the information it contains. This in turn can adversely affect an agency’s ability to effectively carry out its mission. Each of the key threats could create an unacceptable risk to federal agencies."
Date: March 23, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nursing Homes: CMS Needs Milestones and Timelines to Ensure Goals for the Five-Star Quality Rating System Are Met (open access)

Nursing Homes: CMS Needs Milestones and Timelines to Ensure Goals for the Five-Star Quality Rating System Are Met

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "CMS developed and implemented the Five-Star System largely during an 8-month period in 2008 with input from long-term care stakeholders, CMS’s Five-Star System contractor, and members of a technical expert panel—a panel composed of nine individuals that CMS identified as experts in long-term care research. CMS made numerous methodological decisions during the development of the Five-Star System, including three key methodological decisions. GAO defines key methodological decisions as those that at least six technical expert panel members—of the nine that GAO contacted—recalled as eliciting the most intense review and discussion during the development of the Five-Star System. One key methodological decision was how to combine the component ratings to create an overall rating. The other two key methodological decisions pertained to how to create ratings that account for variation in the type of care provided across nursing homes."
Date: March 23, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Defense: Further Actions Needed to Establish and Implement a Framework for Successful Financial and Business Management Transformation (open access)

Department of Defense: Further Actions Needed to Establish and Implement a Framework for Successful Financial and Business Management Transformation

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "In March 2002, GAO testified on the Department of Defense's (DOD) financial management problems and key elements necessary for successful reform. Although the underlying conditions remain fundamentally unchanged, within the past 2 years DOD has begun a number of initiatives intended to address previously reported problems and transform its business operations. The Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Senate Committee on Armed Services, asked GAO to provide a current status report on DOD's progress to date and suggestions for improvement. Specifically, GAO was asked to provide (1) an overview of the impact of financial and related business weaknesses on DOD operations, (2) the underlying causes of DOD business transformation challenges, and (3) the status of DOD reform efforts. In addition, GAO reiterates the key elements to successful reform: (1) an integrated business transformation strategy, (2) sustained leadership and resource control, (3) clear lines of responsibility and accountability, (4) results-oriented performance, (5) appropriate incentives and consequences, (6) an enterprise architecture to guide reform efforts, and (7) effective monitoring and oversight. GAO also offers two suggestions for legislative consideration which are intended to improve the likelihood of meaningful, broad-based financial …
Date: March 23, 2004
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Budget Process: Long-term Focus Is Critical (open access)

Budget Process: Long-term Focus Is Critical

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The structure of the budget process can help ensure that budget decision makers are presented with the information and choices for timely and informed decisionmaking. GAO's long-term budget simulations show that, absent substantive entitlement reform and/or dramatic changes in tax and spending policies, we will face large, escalating, and persistent deficits. A budget process incorporating new metrics and mechanisms that better signal the long-term commitments and promises made by the government will help concentrate decision makers' efforts on long-term sustainability."
Date: March 23, 2004
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOE Nuclear Waste: Better Information Needed on Waste Storage at DOE Sites as a Result of Yucca Mountain Shutdown (open access)

DOE Nuclear Waste: Better Information Needed on Waste Storage at DOE Sites as a Result of Yucca Mountain Shutdown

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) is responsible for storing and managing a total of about 13,000 metric tons of nuclear waste--spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste--at five DOE sites in Colorado, Idaho, New York, South Carolina, and Washington. Also, a joint DOE-Navy program stores spent nuclear fuel from warships at DOE's Idaho site. DOE and the Navy intended to permanently dispose of this nuclear waste at a repository planned for Yucca Mountain in Nevada. However, that plan is now in question because of actions taken to terminate the site. This report assesses (1) agreements DOE and the Navy have with states at the five sites and the effects a termination of the Yucca Mountain repository would have on their ability to fulfill these agreements; (2) the effects a termination would have on DOE's and the Navy's operations and costs for storing the waste; and (3) DOE's and the Navy's plans to mitigate these potential effects. GAO reviewed state agreements and DOE plans, visited waste facilities, and interviewed federal and state officials."
Date: March 23, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
End-Stage Renal Disease: CMS Should Assess Adequacy of Payment When Certain Oral Drugs Are Included and Ensure Availability of Quality Monitoring Data (open access)

End-Stage Renal Disease: CMS Should Assess Adequacy of Payment When Certain Oral Drugs Are Included and Ensure Availability of Quality Monitoring Data

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "For most individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), Medicare purchases a bundle of dialysis-related services using a single payment. In 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to include in this bundled payment "oral-only" ESRD drugs used to treat mineral and bone disorder. Currently, Medicare generally pays for these drugs only if the beneficiary has Part D prescription drug coverage. This report (1) describes the rationales for including oral-only ESRD drugs in the bundled payment, (2) examines dialysis organizations' recent experience providing oral-only ESRD drugs and their future ability to provide these drugs, (3) examines the data sources that CMS could use to account for oral-only ESRD drugs in the bundled payment, and (4) examines CMS's ability to monitor treatment of mineral and bone disorder. GAO interviewed CMS officials, experts in mineral and bone disorder, and representatives of 4 large and 16 small dialysis organizations. GAO also reviewed ESRD payment regulations, related reports, clinical guidelines, and state pharmacy licensure requirements in 10 selected states."
Date: March 23, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
To Date, DISH Network Is Cooperating with the Court-Appointed Special Master's Examination of Its Compliance with the Section 119 Statutory License (open access)

To Date, DISH Network Is Cooperating with the Court-Appointed Special Master's Examination of Its Compliance with the Section 119 Statutory License

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "DISH is cooperating with the Special Master’s examination, which consists of examining DISH’s compliance with the royalty payment and household eligibility requirements of the license under Section 119. Since beginning his examination, the Special Master has been holding regular meetings with representatives of DISH and NAB, which represents the four major networks and their affiliates. The Special Master requested, and DISH provided, information on DISH’s royalty calculations and payments to the Copyright Office. The Special Master told us that he is satisfied with the information provided by DISH to date and is currently in the process of reviewing the methodology DISH used for its royalty payments. To determine whether any problems exist with DISH’s services to eligible subscribers, and whether a more detailed examination of DISH’s records may be needed, DISH and NAB are collaborating on a survey of all major network-affiliated television broadcast stations nationwide. According to the parties, the survey is to be distributed twice: once in February 2012 and again in May 2012, to ensure that affiliated stations are not having issues with DISH’s services. The Special Master has been kept apprised of the development …
Date: March 23, 2012
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOD and VA Health Care: Federal Recovery Coordination Program Continues to Expand but Faces Significant Challenges (open access)

DOD and VA Health Care: Federal Recovery Coordination Program Continues to Expand but Faces Significant Challenges

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2007, following reports of poor case management for outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) jointly developed the Federal Recovery Coordination Program (FRCP) to coordinate the clinical and nonclinical services needed by severely wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers and veterans. The FRCP, which continues to expand, is administered by VA, and the care coordinators, called Federal Recovery Coordinators (FRC), are VA employees. This report examines (1) whether servicemembers and veterans who need FRCP services are being identified and enrolled in the program, (2) staffing challenges confronting the FRCP, and (3) challenges facing the FRCP in its efforts to coordinate care for enrollees. GAO reviewed FRCP policies and procedures and conducted over 170 interviews of FRCP officials, FRCs, headquarters officials and staff of DOD and VA case management programs, and staff at medical facilities where FRCs are located."
Date: March 23, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Veterans Health Care: VA's Medical Support Role in Emergency Preparedness (open access)

Veterans Health Care: VA's Medical Support Role in Emergency Preparedness

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has increased its efforts to plan for and respond to national emergencies, including acts of terrorism and natural disasters. Additionally, in August 2004, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security announced that military and VA medical facilities were potential terrorist targets. In light of military casualties from conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and continued threats of terrorist incidents, Congress asked us to review VA's medical support role in emergency preparedness. Specifically, we agreed to provide information on the following questions: (1) What is VA's role in providing medical support within the U.S. to military personnel in wartime and during national emergencies? (2) What actions has VA taken to improve its internal emergency preparedness to ensure that it is ready to maintain continuity of operations and provision of medical services to veterans? (3) What is VA's role in participating in emergency medical response measures with other federal, state, and local agencies?"
Date: March 23, 2005
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
District of Columbia: National Museum of American Music (open access)

District of Columbia: National Museum of American Music

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO reviewed the non-profit and non-partisan Federal City Council's (FCC) proposal to use the current site of the Washington Convention Center for the National Museum of American Music (NMAM). The FCC proposal which is now in the conceptual stage anticipates that NMAM will be located at the existing Convention Center site and that it will be part of a major mixed-use complex that includes retail, entertainment, and performance venues. The total estimated cost for FCC's mixed-use proposal is $1.1 billion, with $172.5 million attributed to the music museum. The proposal estimates that the District would receive annual land rent of $13 million, equivalent to a seven-percent return on the estimated land value of $183 million. FCC spent $300,000 in federal appropriations on the project management services provided by the Smithsonian Institution. The District of Columbia has not yet considered any proposals for the use of the Convention Center site. The Mayor has established a task force to study the possible uses for the site, and it is developing a process to both solicit and evaluate independently generated proposals for the site."
Date: March 23, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness Programs: Evolution of Performance Measurement Systems to Measure Progress (open access)

Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness Programs: Evolution of Performance Measurement Systems to Measure Progress

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the anthrax incidents during the fall of 2001, Hurricane Katrina, and concerns about the possibility of an influenza pandemic have raised public awareness and concerns about the nation's public health and medical systems' ability to respond to bioterrorist events and other public health emergencies. From 2002 to 2006, the Congress appropriated about $6.1 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support activities to strengthen state and local governments' emergency preparedness capabilities under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Preparedness and Response Act). HHS has distributed funds annually to 62 recipients, including all 50 states and 4 large municipalities, through cooperative agreements under two programs--the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, and the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program. The common goal of CDC's and HRSA's preparedness programs is to improve state and local preparedness to respond to bioterrorism and other large-scale public health emergencies, such as natural disasters or outbreaks of infectious disease. Annually, both CDC and HRSA develop and issue …
Date: March 23, 2007
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Education: Resolving Discrimination Complaints Has Improved With New Processing System (open access)

Department of Education: Resolving Discrimination Complaints Has Improved With New Processing System

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), focusing on changes: (1) the OCR has made in its complaint resolution process since fiscal year (FY) 1993; and (2) in the timeliness and efficiency in resolving complaints between FY 1993 and FY 1997."
Date: March 23, 1999
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Human Capital: Observations on EPA's Efforts to Implement a Workforce Planning Strategy (open access)

Human Capital: Observations on EPA's Efforts to Implement a Workforce Planning Strategy

A statement of record issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed its observations on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) efforts to determine the workforce it needs to meet its strategic goals and objectives, focusing on: (1) how EPA determines the number of employees and competencies needed to carry out its strategic goals and objectives; and (2) what actions, if any, EPA is taking to improve its workforce planning activities."
Date: March 23, 2000
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Information Security: Securities and Exchange Commission Needs to Address Weak Controls over Financial and Sensitive Data (open access)

Information Security: Securities and Exchange Commission Needs to Address Weak Controls over Financial and Sensitive Data

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relies extensively on computerized systems to support its financial and mission-related operations. As part of the audit of SEC's fiscal year 2004 financial statements, GAO assessed the effectiveness of the commission's information system controls in protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of its financial and sensitive information."
Date: March 23, 2005
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Comparison of Voting Age Population to Registered Voters in the 40 Largest U.S. Counties (open access)

Comparison of Voting Age Population to Registered Voters in the 40 Largest U.S. Counties

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This report compares data on the number of registered voters for the 40 largest counties in the United States with estimates of voting age populations for those jurisdictions. GAO found that none of the counties have voter registration numbers that exceed the number of eligible voting age residents."
Date: March 23, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Information Security: Continued Progress Needed to Strengthen Controls at the Internal Revenue Service (open access)

Information Security: Continued Progress Needed to Strengthen Controls at the Internal Revenue Service

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a demanding responsibility in collecting taxes, processing tax returns, and enforcing the nation's tax laws. It relies extensively on computerized systems to support its financial and mission-related operations. Effective information security controls are essential for ensuring that information is adequately protected from inadvertent or deliberate misuse, disruption, or destruction. As part of its audit of IRS's fiscal year 2005 financial statements, GAO assessed (1) the status of IRS's actions to correct or mitigate previously reported information security weaknesses at two sites and (2) whether controls over key financial and tax processing systems located at the facilities are effective in ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of financial and sensitive taxpayer data."
Date: March 23, 2006
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Inspectors General: Activities of the Department of State Office of Inspector General (open access)

Inspectors General: Activities of the Department of State Office of Inspector General

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO was asked to review the Department of State Office of Inspector General (State IG) including its (1) organization, budget levels, and accomplishments; (2) audit and inspection coverage of the department; (3) role of inspections in the oversight of the department; (4) quality assurance process including assurance of independence; and (5) coordination of State IG investigations with the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. GAO obtained information from State IG reports, interviews, and documentation for a sample of inspections."
Date: March 23, 2007
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library