Nuclear Power An Optimistic Beginning, A Clouded Future

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. McElroy
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Electricity Market ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Public Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
The Us ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Offshore Earthquake

Nuclear power was widely regarded as the Holy Grail for energy supply when first introduced into the US electricity market in the late 1950s and early 1960s— power so cheap that utilities could scarcely afford the cost of the meters needed to monitor its consumption and charge for its use. The first civilian reactor, with a capacity to produce 60 MW of electricity (MWe), went into service in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, in late 1957. By the end of 1974, 55 reactors were in operation in the United States with a combined capacity of about 32 GWe. The largest individual power plant had a capacity of 1.25 GWe: the capacity of reactors constructed since 1970 averaged more than 1 GWe. The industry then went into a state of suspended animation. A series of highly publi¬cized accidents was responsible for this precipitous change in the fortunes of the industry. Only 13 reactors were ordered in the United States after 1975, and all of these orders were subsequently cancelled. Public support for nuclear power effectively disappeared in the United States following events that unfolded at the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1979. It suffered a further setback, not only in the United States but also worldwide, in the wake of the disaster that struck at the Chernobyl nuclear facility in the Ukraine on April 26, 1986. The most recent confidence- sapping development occurred in Japan, at the Fukushima- Daiichi nuclear complex. Floodwaters raised by a tsunami triggered by a major offshore earthquake resulted in a series of self- reinforcing problems in March 2011, culminating in a highly publicized release of radioactivity to the environment that forced the evacuation of more than 300,000 people from the surrounding communities If not a death blow, this most recent accident certainly clouded prospects for the future of nuclear power, not only in Japan but also in many other parts of the world. Notably, Germany elected to close down its nuclear facilities, leading to increased dependence on coal to meet its demand for electricity, seriously complicating its objective to markedly reduce the nation’s overall emissions of CO2.

scholarly journals The comparison of vaccine hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccination in China and the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taoran Liu ◽  
Zonglin He ◽  
Jian Huang ◽  
Ni Yan ◽  
Qian Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Propensity Score ◽  
Propensity Score Matching ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Choice Experiments ◽  
The United States ◽  
Discrete Choice Experiments ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Cost

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the differences in vaccine hesitancy and preference of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines between two countries, viz. China and the United States (US).MethodA cross-national survey was conducted in both China and the US, and discrete choice experiments as well as Likert scales were utilized to assess vaccine preference and the underlying factors contributing to the vaccination acceptance. A propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to enable a direct comparison between the two countries.ResultsA total of 9,077 (5,375 and 3,702, respectively, from China and the US) respondents have completed the survey. After propensity score matching, over 82.0% respondents from China positively accept the COVID-19 vaccination, while 72.2% respondents form the US positively accept it. Specifically, only 31.9% of Chinese respondents were recommended by a doctor to have COVID-19 vaccination, while more than half of the US respondents were recommended by a doctor (50.2%), local health board (59.4%), or friends and families (64.8%). The discrete choice experiments revealed that respondents from the US attached the greatest importance to the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines (44.41%), followed by the cost of vaccination (29.57%), whereas those from China held a different viewpoint that the cost of vaccination covers the largest proportion in their trade-off (30.66%), and efficacy ranked as the second most important attribute (26.34%). Also, respondents from China tend to concerned much more about the adverse effect of vaccination (19.68% vs 6.12%) and have lower perceived severity of being infected with COVID-19.ConclusionWhile the overall acceptance and hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccination in both countries are high, underpinned distinctions between countries are observed. Owing to the differences in COVID-19 incidence rates, cultural backgrounds, and the availability of specific COVID-19 vaccines in two countries, the vaccine rollout strategies should be nation-dependent.

scholarly journals On the ethics of doctors in capitalist countries

1981 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 80-83
Author(s):  
S. Ya. Chikin
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
The United States ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Us Congress ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Cost

In 1977, the US Congress published statistics on the operation of surgical clinics in many cities in the country. These materials cannot be read without a shudder. They once again proved that American doctors are no different from businessmen in their passion for profit. The report's conclusion was very sad. He testified that up to three million unjustified surgeries are performed annually in the United States. Naturally, they are not undertaken for the sake of the patient's health, but in order to present a more weighty bill to the patient, because the cost of the simplest surgical intervention is now estimated at at least $ 1000.

scholarly journals The Ordinary and Extraordinary: Producing Migrant Inclusion and Exclusion in US Sanctuary Movements

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serin D Houston ◽  
Charlotte Morse
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Movements ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Central Americans ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Migration Experiences

This article analyzes the Sanctuary Movement for Central Americans and the New Sanctuary Movement, two United States faith-based social movements, to think through the ways in which these pro-immigrant efforts paradoxically render migrants figuratively mute and often excluded from conceptualizations of the nation and its inhabitants even as they advocate for legal inclusion. We examine this tension of inclusion and exclusion through the frequent representation of migrants’ histories and Christianity as extraordinary in the Sanctuary Movement for Central Americans, and migrants’ lives as ordinary in the New Sanctuary Movement. We identify two key processes by which this framing of migrants as extraordinary or ordinary limits the enactment of full social, political, and economic inclusion: (a) public support is principally granted to certain stories, religions, identities, and experiences; and (b) migrants are consistently positioned, and often celebrated, by sanctuary activists as “others.” The discourses of migrants as extraordinary or ordinary effectively generate broad involvement of faith communities in sanctuary work. Yet, as we argue, this framing comes with the cost of limiting activist support only to particular groups of migrants, flattening the performances of migrant identities, and positioning migrants as perpetually exterior to the US. Reliance on discourses of the extraordinary and ordinary, therefore, can truncate opportunities for making legible a range of migration experiences and extending belonging to all migrants, outcomes that arise in contrast to the purported inclusionary goals of the faith-based sanctuary social movements.

scholarly journals The January 6 Insurrection and America's Standing Abroad: Natural Experimental Evidence from Five Unexpectedly Interrupted Public Opinion Surveys

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam van Noort
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Experimental Test ◽  
Public Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Random Digit Dialing ◽  
Random Digit ◽  
Public Opinion Surveys ◽  
The Us ◽  
Nationally Representative

American geopolitical power partly relies on foreign public support for its leadership. Pundits worry that this support is evaporating now that the United States—which claims to be the world’s beacon of democracy—has itself experienced democratic back- sliding. I provide the first natural experimental test of this hypothesis by exploiting that the January 6 insurrection of the US Capitol unexpectedly occurred while Gallup was conducting nationally-representative surveys in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Romania, and Vietnam. Because Gallup uses random digit dialing I can identify the effect by comparing US leadership approval among respondents that were interviewed just before, and just after, January 6, 2021. I find that the insurrection had no effect on US approval. If even a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election does not affect US approval abroad it is unlikely that any other domestic anti-democratic event will.

scholarly journals Human papillomavirus vaccination for adults aged 30 to 45 years in the United States: A cost-effectiveness analysis

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. e1003534
Author(s):  
Jane J. Kim ◽  
Kate T. Simms ◽  
James Killen ◽  
Megan A. Smith ◽  
Emily A. Burger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Hpv Vaccination ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Us ◽  
Age Limit ◽  
The Cost

Background A nonavalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been licensed for use in women and men up to age 45 years in the United States. The cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination for women and men aged 30 to 45 years in the context of cervical cancer screening practice was evaluated to inform national guidelines. Methods and findings We utilized 2 independent HPV microsimulation models to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of extending the upper age limit of HPV vaccination in women (from age 26 years) and men (from age 21 years) up to age 30, 35, 40, or 45 years. The models were empirically calibrated to reflect the burden of HPV and related cancers in the US population and used standardized inputs regarding historical and future vaccination uptake, vaccine efficacy, cervical cancer screening, and costs. Disease outcomes included cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, vulvar, vaginal, and penile cancers, as well as genital warts. Both models projected higher costs and greater health benefits as the upper age limit of HPV vaccination increased. Strategies of vaccinating females and males up to ages 30, 35, and 40 years were found to be less cost-effective than vaccinating up to age 45 years, which had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) greater than a commonly accepted upper threshold of $200,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. When including all HPV-related outcomes, the ICER for vaccinating up to age 45 years ranged from $315,700 to $440,600 per QALY gained. Assumptions regarding cervical screening compliance, vaccine costs, and the natural history of noncervical HPV-related cancers had major impacts on the cost-effectiveness of the vaccination strategies. Key limitations of the study were related to uncertainties in the data used to inform the models, including the timing of vaccine impact on noncervical cancers and vaccine efficacy at older ages. Conclusions Our results from 2 independent models suggest that HPV vaccination for adult women and men aged 30 to 45 years is unlikely to represent good value for money in the US.

scholarly journals Information Technology vs Environmental Health

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-28
Author(s):  
Shobha S. V.
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Inorganic Compounds ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Labor Laws ◽  
Unique Problem ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Toxic Fumes

Personal computers (PC's), cell phones, fax machines and related electronic equipment, have become a part of modern life in developed and many developing countries. While theses devices have improved our productivity, they also have created a unique problem of disposal of the discarded electronic or e-waste. In the United States, PCs become outdates within an average period of 3-4 years. Continued technological innovations, aided by lower price of the new models, further reduce the useful life of PCs to an even shorter period. It is estimated that in the US alone, during the 10 year period. 1997-2007, an estimated 500 million PCs will become obsolete, awaiting disposal. Owing to the toxic nature of many heavy metals, organic, and inorganic compounds that go into manufacturing the computer and the monitor, their disposal in a landfill or by incineration is not a preferred option. Recyclers attempt to salvage as many of the re-usable materials as possible. However, the labor-intensive process makes computer recycling cost-prohibitive in the United States. This has resulted in shipping the obsolete PCs to countries like Bangladesh, China and India. While this practice enables the domestic recycling companies to reduce the cost, it creates serious health and environmental problems for the workers in developing countries. Generally, environmental and labor laws in such countries are not very specific and even where they are, their enforcement is very lax. Such situations lead top recycling crews working in makeshift factories with hardly any provisions to protect them from exposure to hazardous substances primarily through inhalation of the toxic fumes causing cancer and other serious health problems.

Planning to Fail

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Lebovic
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Breaking Point ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Resource Investment ◽  
The Us ◽  
Human Cost ◽  
American Policy

The US wars in Vietnam (1965–1973), Iraq (2003–2011), and Afghanistan (2001–present) stand out for their endurance, resource investment, human cost, and common decisional failings. Despite its planning, the United States failed to meet its early objectives in every one of these conflicts. A profound myopia at four stages of intervention helps explain why the United States fought; chose to increase, decrease, or end its involvement in the conflicts; encountered a progressively reduced set of options; and ultimately settled for suboptimal results. US leaders were effectively planning to fail, whatever their hopes and thoughts at the time. American decision makers struggled less than they should have when conditions permitted good choices, and then struggled more than could matter when conditions left them with only bad choices. American policy makers allowed these wars to sap available capabilities, push US forces to the breaking point, and exhaust public support. They finally settled for terms of departure that they or their predecessors would have rejected at the start of these conflicts.

The financial impact of fractionation scheme and treatment planning method for rectal cancer in the United States.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6518-6518
Author(s):  
Assaf Moore ◽  
Robert Benjamin Den ◽  
Noa Gordon ◽  
Michal Sarfaty ◽  
Yulia Kundel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rectal Cancer ◽  
Treatment Planning ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
The United States ◽  
Planning Method ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
The Us ◽  
Fractionation Scheme ◽  
The Cost

6518 Background: Preoperative long-course chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and short-course radiotherapy (SCR) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) were found to have equivalent outcomes in three randomized trials. SCR may have lower acute toxicity and the down-staging following CRT is more well-established. At present, SCR is frequently used in Europe but has not been widely adopted in the United States (US). It is standard to deliver radiotherapy by 3D planning, while the use of Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is controversial. In recent years there has been an increasing focus on understanding the cost and value of cancer care. In this study we aimed to assess the economic impact of fractionation scheme and treatment planning method for payers in the US. Methods: We performed a population-based analysis of the total cost of radiotherapy for LARC in the US annually. The national annual target population of patients was calculated using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Treatment costs for various fractionation schemes were based on billing codes and 2018 pricing by Medicare's Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). The cost of chemotherapy was based on the Payment Allowance Limits for Medicare Part B Drugs by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Results: We estimate that 12,945 patients with LARC are treated with radiotherapy annually in the US. The cost of CRT with 3-D or IMRT is US$ 15,881.76 and US$ 23,744.82 per patient, respectively. With 3-D SCR the cost is US$ 5,457 per patient. The use of SCR would lead to 64-77% annual savings of US$ 125,701,387 - US$ 236,727,934 in the US compared with 3-D and IMRT based CRT, respectively. IMRT based planning increases the total cost of CRT by 49% and if adopted widely would lead to an excess cost of US$ 101,787,312 annually. Conclusions: SCR may have the potential to save in the region of US$ 0.12-0.23 billion annually in the US, likely without impacting outcomes. Lack of evidence showing benefit with costly IMRT should limit its use to clinical trials. SCR may also lead to lower personal financial toxicity. It would be reasonable for public and private payers to consider which type of radiation is most suited to reimbursement.

A Comparison of FAC Programs in Japan and the United States

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold M. Crockett ◽  
Naoki Hiranuma ◽  
Masao Honjin ◽  
Jeffrey S. Horowitz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Operating Experience ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
The United States ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
The Us ◽  
Nuclear Station ◽  
Flow Accelerated Corrosion

Dealing with the consequences of flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) has become an important problem for nuclear utilities worldwide. Recent fatal accidents at the Mihama Unit 3 nuclear station in Japan and at the fossil-fired Iatan Power Plant in the US unit have highlighted the importance of this issue. This paper will examine and compare the programmatic approaches taken by the Japanese nuclear power industry and the approach taken in the United States. In both countries, formal FAC programs were initiated, to a large degree, in response to the failure of a condensate elbow at the Surry Unit 2 station in 1986. In spite of this common beginning, different paths were taken. In Japan, JSME established three voluntary consensus standards after the Mihama accident. One standard provides generic requirements and two separate standards for BWRs and PWRs. The two specific standards require a comprehensive inspection program followed by re-inspections at fixed intervals. The areas inspected were defined by the general operating conditions and the system design specifications. After the Surry accident, the United States nuclear utilities developed a consensus based on inspecting a sample of locations, and performing follow-on work based on the results of these inspections. The inspection locations were determined by analysis, operating experience, and engineering judgment. This approach was documented in NSAC-202L.

scholarly journals A study of the United States of America and China’s new cold war conflicts and the flexible survival strategy for Korean security

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-112
Author(s):  
Haesoo Yang
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cold War ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Security Issue ◽  
The North ◽  
The Us

China is challenging the hegemony of the United States through its economic power, creating the so-called New Cold War. The consequent conflict between the US and China can cause selective coercion in South Korea. South Korea is highly dependent on the United States militarily and on China economically. In a conflict, if Korea is asked for selective support, there will be a dilemma in policymaking. Accordingly, I studied the geopolitical dilemma in South Korea resulting from the US–China competition and six security issues . I was able to identify six conflict factors related to Korean security: the North Korean nuclear problem, the role of US forces in South Korea, friction due to protectionism, the battle for the semiconductor market, the formation of the Pacific Coast Council, and the discharge of contaminated water from nuclear power plants in Japan. I examined the flexible survival strategies that Korea could choose for each security issue. I expected policy utility by dividing it into military, economic, and diplomatic fields.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document