One Company's Experience with Design∕Build: Labor Cost Risk and Profit Potential

This paper offers the data from one construction company's experiences with design∕build. Specifically, the paper presents an analysis of the company's labor cost risk based on a case study of two similar projects. One project was a typical design∕bid∕build job and the other was a design∕build job. The design∕build project experienced consistently greater fluctuations in the labor cost. These fluctuations seem to indicate that it is very difficult to accurately estimate labor costs for design∕build projects, thus adding to the risk of such projects. The second half of the paper presents an account of this same company's overall profit experience with design∕build work. Profit margins were analyzed using three categories—design∕build versus non-design∕build, client-specific design∕build, and design∕build construction types. The design∕build projects' average profit margin was 3.5 percentage points greater than that for the non-design∕build work.     

Risk for mania and positive emotional responding: Too much of a good thing?

Although positive emotion research has begun to flourish, the extremes of positive emotion remain understudied. The present research used a multimethod approach to examine positive emotional disturbance by comparing participants at high and low risk for episodes of mania, which involves elevations in positive emotionality. Ninety participants were recruited into a high or low mania risk group according to responses on the Hypomanic Personality Scale. Participants' subjective, expressive, and physiological emotional responses were gathered while they watched two positive, two negative, and one neutral film clip. Results suggested that participants at high risk for mania reported elevated positive emotion and irritability and also exhibited elevated cardiac vagal tone across positive, negative, and neutral films. Discussion focuses on the implications these findings have for the diagnosis and prevention of bipolar disorder, as well as for the general study of positive emotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contractors’ Claims Insurance: A Risk Retention Approach

The negative effects of claims and disputes have serious negative impacts on contracting parties, their projects, the construction industry as a whole, and consequently on the nation’s economy. This paper explores a method for mitigating the negative effects associated with contractors’ claims and disputes using a risk retention approach. This method can help contractors in getting early relief from the financial and economic burdens of construction claims. To meet the goals and objectives of this study, the writers have: (1) investigated the feasibility of pricing insurance premiums using the options pricing theory; (2) explored the applicability of modeling the options pricing theory using Monte Carlo simulation; (3) set up the principles required for optimal design of a risk retention group for construction claims; and (4) tested the possible impact of the newly developed risk retention group using historic data of 10,193 construction projects spanning over 12 different California districts. Pursuant to this study, it was verified that construction claims satisfy the required principles for insurance. Also, based on the used testing framework, the developed risk retention group for construction claims has been proved a success from the insured and insurer sides. It is the writers’ hope that this study will lay the basis for a leading risk management technique that could be extended over the nation for the benefit of relieving the negative consequences associated with lengthy claims and disputes resolution in the construction industry.     

Risk stratification in cardiac surgery: is it worthwhile?

Outcome analysis of many surgical procedures has become increasingly important to surgeons, institutions, and the public. Because there may be wide differences in case mix, outcomes must be evaluated in light of the patient's preoperative status. All relevant preoperative conditions must be identified and weighted, so that when risk factor scores are combined in some fashion, they will provide a single preoperative risk estimate for the individual patient, representing the likelihood of dying as a consequence of the operation. Comparing the mean risk adjusted score of a group of patients undergoing the same procedure with the observed mortality rate for the same group yields an index of the quality of care, provided all preoperative risk scores are calculated with reference to the same benchmark. We question the logic and wisdom of surgical outcome analysis because of the infinitely complex nature of biological and pathological processes, as well as the practical problems of reliable data collection. The assumption of true scientific accuracy may be illusory. Even though risk adjusted outcome analysis has merit in studying trends in therapy, it should be regarded with caution when used as a tool for evaluating quality of care. If publicized at all, the results should not be represented as "hard" scientific fact.     

Effects of Contractors’ Risk Attitude on Competition in Construction

Competitive bidding is the major mechanism of competition. Bidding is risky because the actual cost of the job is unknown. Thus, the bid should be high enough to make a profit but low enough to win the bidding. The result of competition depends on the competitor’s risk-taking behaviors, which are affected by the organization’s risk attitudes. A contractor’s risk-taking is an essential element of the construction business. The current study explores the domain of competition at the aggregate market level. An evolutionary simulation model was developed to investigate the effects of risk attitude on a contractor’s success and on the market structure. The analysis accounts for different risk-taking behaviors in competition, different performances by contractors, corresponding organizational changes, and aggregate patterns in the form of the market structure. The study finds that risk attitude is a competitive characteristic of contractors. The results provide new insight on competition in the market place, and explanations are given for a contractor’s competitive success.     

第5次ISO／TMB／WG Risk Management会议报告

第5次ISO／TMB／WG on Risk Management（危机管理工作组）会议于2007年12月3—7日，在中国三亚召开。会议上有来自20个国家的35名代表参加。     

Beryllium Extraction and Utilisation— Prospects and Constraints

Beryllium and beryllium compounds find wide variety of applications in diverse industries. Low density, high strength, and attractive nuclear properties like low neutron absorption cross section and high scattering cross section have created great interest in the metal for space, aeronautical, and nuclear applications. The extraction technology of beryllium is now fairly well established and significant progress has also been made in the powder metallurgy fabrication of the metal. Conventional fabrication methods like rolling, wire drawing, extrusion etc. have not been found quite suitable for beryllium because of its low ductility.

This paper presents an overview of the extraction processes and the fabrication methods presently employed for beryllium metal and alloys. The various applications are described and the prospects and constraints in the large scale utilization of beryllium in industry are analysed.     

Homogenization and RecrystaHization of AI-6Mg Alloys with and without Sc and Zr

Plates of A1-6Mg alloys with and without scandium were prepared by semi-continuous cast, homogenization,hot-rolled, cold-rolled and annealing. Based on studying of effects of temperature and time on hardness and conductivity during homogenization, it was found that homogenization of ingot with Sc and Zr can result in dispersion strengthening.Recrystallization temperature of alloys was studied by hardness method and optical metallographic method. Staring recrystallization temperature of A1-6Mg alloys with Sc and Zr is 375℃, increasing by 150℃ than AI-6Mg alloys without Sc and Zr. Mechanical properties (δb,δ0.2,δ) of hot-rolled alloy with Sc and Zr are 400 MPa, 280 MPa and 18% ; cold-rolled and anneal alloy with Sc and Zr are 420 MPa, 310 MPa and 12% respectively.     

Homogenization and Recrystallization of Al-6Mg Alloys with and without Sc and Zr

ДрицМ .Е .[1,2 ] reportedthatscandium ,com paringwiththeotherrareelements ,isthemosteffec tiveadditiontopromotethestrengthofaluminumal loys .Thestrengthofas extrusionAl 6 5Mgalloyrodcontaining 0 .2 %Screaches 4 0 0MPa (σb)and 2 5 0MPa (σ0 .2 ) ,higherthanAl 6 5Mgalloywithoutscandiumonetime .Willey[3] fromAluminumCompa nyofAmericapatentedthefirstaluminumscandiumalloyin 1971.Since 70′soflastcentury ,theformerSovietUnionengagedcompletelyresearchonthepro ductionandapplicationofalum…     

Parental depression and interparental conflict: Children and adolescents’ self-blame and coping responses.

The present study examined the role of children and adolescents’ perceptions of self-blame specific to interparental conflict and children and adolescents’ coping behaviors in the context of parental depression as predictors of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in a sample of 108 youth (age 9–15 years old) of parents with a history of depression. Higher levels of current depressive symptoms in parents were associated with higher levels of interparental conflict and higher levels of internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents, and interparental conflict was positively associated with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children/adolescents. Consistent across a series of multiple regression models, children and adolescents’ perceptions of self-blame and use of secondary control coping (acceptance, distraction, cognitive restructuring, positive thinking) were significant, independent predictors of both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis and forecast of the supply and demand of electric power and its operation situation

Earlier May, China Electricity Council made forecast to the nationwide power supply and demand for the 2nd quarter of 2007 .     

pH-Potentiometric Study on Rare Earths and Calcium Binary and Ternary Complexes with DL-Malic Acid and L-Hydroxyproline

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China''''s imports and exports of nickel and cobalt by category

~~China's imports and exports of nickel and cobalt by category~~     

The artificial heart and neuromonitoring? Technical and clinical aspects

There is a steady progress in the development of artificial heart and circulatory assist devices. There is also no doubt that further advances in energy systems, materials, and electronics will provide for smaller and more reliable electrically driven blood pumps, but the present engineering design appears to be adequate to provide devices satisfactory for initial clinical use. Due to problems in the availability of suitable donor hearts, the concept of replacing the natural heart with an artificial heart as a "bridge to transplantation" has gained attention in recent years. The present paper shows technical and clinical aspects of multivariable electrophysiologic neuromonitoring in a patient with an artificial heart assist device in the intensive care unit. The data (EEG, 40 Hz brain oscillations, brainstem auditory- and somatosensory evoked potentials) are discussed with respect to the influence of the artificial heart on their quality and reliability. Reasons for artifacts and problems of interpretation are shown.     

Internal Friction and Profile of Property and Structure of PD3 and PD3RE Rail Steels

~~Internal Friction and Profile of Property and Structure of PD_3 and PD_3RE Rail Steels     

Viscosity and Viscosity Estimate Model of Fluoride-free and Titanium-Bearing Mold Fluxes

The relationship between the binary basicity (CaO/SiO2),TiO2,Na2O,Li2O,MgO,MnO,B2O3 and viscosity for fluoride-free and titanium-bearing mold fluxes were systematically researched. The rotating cylinder method was employed in the experiment to measure the viscosity of the slag. The results indicate that Li2O, B2O3 and Na2O play major roles in decreasing viscosity, especially Li2O, which is the most effective flux, while MgO and MnO exert little influence on viscosity. Meanwhile, it can be concluded that with increasing TiO2 content, the viscosity of fluoride-free and titanium-bearing mold fluxes increases at first but then falls when the amount of TiO2 is greater than 6.0%. Based on large amounts of experimental statistics of the viscosity of fluoride-free and titanium-bearing mold fluxes, an available model in literature for predicting the mold-slag viscosity was modified. This modified model can be used to predict the viscosity of fluoride-free and titanium-bearing mold fluxes. In fact, the predicted values approximate the observed values with a ±10.6% average deviation. Compared with the classical models,the average deviation is higher and it was found that the modified model can be used to estimate the viscosity of fluoride-free and titanium-bearing mold fluxes.     

Preparation and Luminescent Properties of BAM Blue Phosphor forPDP and CCFL

The Bax-0.05MgAl10O16 x :Eu0.05^2 (0.88≤ x≤ 1.02) phosphors with different Ba^2 content and the Ba0.85MgAl10O16.94:Eu0.05^2 phosphors with different fluxes (BaF2, MgF2, AlF3, BaCl2, MgCl2, AlCl3, H3BO3)were prepared by high temperature solid-state reaction method and their luminescence characteristics were studied under 254 nm excitation and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation. With the increase of the Ba^2 content, there is an increase in the emission intensity, and when x = 0.94, it reaches a maximum. Then, as the Ba^2 content increases, the emission intensity slowly falls. The fluorides have better flux-effects than chlorides and H3BO3. The possible mechanism in the process of particle growth was discussed when fluorides were used as fluxes. The effect of the activator concentration on this system was also investigated. The quenching concentration is 0.13 mol in per mole host.     

Flutter and Buffeting Analysis.?I: Finite-Element and RPE Solution

A finite-element formulation is developed for analyzing flutter instability and buffeting response of long-span bridges and their interaction. The flutter derivatives, instead of the indicial functions used by previous researchers, are applied in the random parametric excitation (RPE) analysis. This application makes finite-element formulation possible and results in much less computational effort in RPE analysis than those of previous analyses. With the finite-element program developed in the present study, as many modes as desired can be easily included in the flutter and buffeting analyses. Users have the choice of RPE or eigenvalue method for flutter analysis and RPE or spectral method for buffeting analysis.