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The measurement of the operational efficiency of metallurgical processes depends on the accurate determination of the process flows and the concentrations of the refined metals. Unfortunately, the measurement of both flows and concentrations are sparse in these types of processes. A mixture of information has to be gathered and recorded, from continuous to discrete information and from automatic to manually collected data. This significantly hinders the ability to maintain a smart operation. This paper presents new tools and methodologies to increase the operational efficiency of the metallurgical process and reduce metal losses. Among the topics included are the integration of all sections of a metallurgical complex and the implementation of real-time performance management, which uses unifying analysis methods to provide real-time intelligence.

During the second week of September 2013, a seasonally uncharacteristic weather pattern stalled over the Rocky Mountain Front Range region of northern Colorado bringing with it copious amounts of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. This feed of moisture was funneled toward the east-facing mountain slopes through a series of mesoscale circulation features, resulting in several days of unusually widespread heavy rainfall over steep mountainous terrain. Catastrophic flooding ensued within several Front Range river systems that washed away highways, destroyed towns, isolated communities, necessitated days of airborne evacuations, and resulted in eight fatalities. The impacts from heavy rainfall and flooding were felt over a broad region of northern Colorado leading to 18 counties being designated as federal disaster areas and resulting in damages exceeding $2 billion (U.S. dollars). This study explores the meteorological and hydrological ingredients that led to this extreme event. After providing a basic timeline of events, synoptic and mesoscale circulation features of the event are discussed. Particular focus is placed on documenting how circulation features, embedded within the larger synoptic flow, served to funnel moist inflow into the mountain front driving several days of sustained orographic precipitation. Operational and research networks of polarimetric radar and surface instrumentation were used to evaluate the cloud structures and dominant hydrometeor characteristics. The performance of several quantitative precipitation estimates, quantitative precipitation forecasts, and hydrological forecast products are also analyzed with the intention of identifying what monitoring and prediction tools worked and where further improvements are needed.

While working as a nurse/therapist in Sarajevo, I had the opportunity to work in an experimental situation at a center for torture survivors. This was to see if the use of Reiki would have a beneficial effect on this type of patient. It involved a rethink on traditional Reiki hand positions, music, and the general set-up of the room being used. It was a challenge, and one I was delighted to have had. The people I worked with were wonderful, and the changes in them over the period were so positive. The staff at the Center were delighted; I was delighted; but so much more importantly, the patients were delighted. The ground has now been broken and hopefully will be considered in a positive light for other traumatized patients.

To test the short-term feasibility and efficacy of seven nonpharmacologic interventions in persons with high normal diastolic blood pressure.Randomized control multicenter trials.Volunteers recruited from the community, treated and followed up at special clinics.Of 16,821 screenees, 2182 men and women, aged 30 through 54 years, with diastolic blood pressure from 80 through 89 mm Hg were selected. Of these, 50 did not return for follow-up blood pressure measurements.Three life-style change groups (weight reduction, sodium reduction, and stress management) were each compared with unmasked nonintervention controls over 18 months. Four nutritional supplement groups (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fish oil) were each compared singly, in double-blind fashion, with placebo controls over 6 months.Primary: change in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to final follow-up, measured by blinded observers. Secondary: changes in systolic blood pressure and intervention compliance measures.Weight reduction intervention produced weight loss of 3.9 kg (P less than .01), diastolic blood pressure change of -2.3 mm Hg (P less than .01), and systolic blood pressure change of -2.9 mm Hg (P less than .01). Sodium reduction interventions lowered urinary sodium excretion by 44 mmol/24 h (P less than .01), diastolic blood pressure by 0.9 mm Hg (P less than .05), and systolic blood pressure by 1.7 mm Hg (P less than .01). Despite good compliance, neither stress management nor nutritional supplements reduced diastolic blood pressure or systolic blood pressure significantly (P greater than .05).Weight reduction is the most effective of the strategies tested for reducing blood pressure in normotensive persons. Sodium reduction is also effective. The long-term effects of weight reduction and sodium reduction, alone and in combination, require further evaluation.

The five cases that follow were developed with institutions of higher education in mind. The cases have been grounded by actual evaluations with settings, conditions, and constraints that should be recognizable if not typical. As is true of the other cases in the Casebook,these cases are meant to be illustrative and are not meant to serve as a definitive model. In each case, contextual events play an important role in determining evaluation options. The decisions made often are not optional, but reflect the tradeoffs and compromises that characterize evaluation practice in any setting.