Successful application of a TBM in a project requires investigating both the ground conditions and the machine and backup system design features. Prediction of the machine performance is very important as it has a big effect on the duration of the project and the costs. In this respect, both penetration rate and advance rate must be estimated. Utilization factor, which depends on the type of op...

Using electric vehicles, in addition to decreasing the environmental concerns, can play an important role in decreasing the peak and filling the off-peaks of the daily load characteristics. In other words, in smart grids' infrastructure, the load characteristics can be improved by scheduling the charge and discharge process of electric vehicles. In smart grids, the customers are instantaneously...

Using electric vehicles, in addition to decreasing the environmental concerns, can play an important role in decreasing the peak and filling the off-peaks of the daily load characteristics. In other words, in smart grids' infrastructure, the load characteristics can be improved by scheduling the charge and discharge process of electric vehicles. In smart grids, the customers are instantaneously...

To describe the study design, procedures and baseline characteristics of the Haemophilia Utilization Group Study - Part Va (HUGS Va), a US multi-center observational study evaluating the cost of care and burden of illness in persons with factor VIII deficiency. Patients with factor VIII level ≤ 30%, age 2-64 years, receiving treatment at one of six federally supported haemophilia treatment cent...

The payment received by a health maintenance organization (HMO) for its Medicare enrollees is proportionate to the average cost of Medicare beneficiaries in that county. However, HMO market share in an area appears to decrease costs in the fee-for-service sector, so that HMOs are paid less. For this and other reasons, alternative payment formulas may be desirable and several are developed in th...

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with a dead-ended anode and cathode can obtain high hydrogen and oxygen utilization by a comparatively simple system. Nevertheless, the accumulation of the water in the anode and cathode channels might cause a local fuel starvation degrading the performance and durability of PEMFCs. In this study, a brand new design for a polymer electrolyte membrane...