As health care costs continue to increase at rates higher than the general inflation rate, there is increased focus on controlling health care expenditures in the public and private sectors. In particular, there is a compelling need for more creative and informed allocation decisions for limited government public health funds. This thesis suggests several methods for better forecasting the demand for health care and allocating health care resources more efficiently. First, productivity of dental sealant programs is studied and suggestions are made for increased efficiency. Using simulation and data from several states programs, guidelines are offered for optimal programs based on program size, distance to site, and practice act requirements. We find that under most conditions, it is better to carry an extra dental assistant to every program. The cost of satisfying practice act requirements is also quantified. Second, a model for allocating health resources to Community Health Centers (CHCs) is provided. Using the state of Georgia as a prototype, local estimation is used to forecast county insurance types, disease prevalence, and likelihood of using a clinic. Then, the optimal locations and service portfolios to be offered under financial constraints are determined using a developed mixed-integer programming model. Finally, shortcomings in current Markovian modeling of chronic disease are analyzed. Common forecasting techniques can overestimate or underestimate the population in need of care, as illustrated by analytic results and an example with lung cancer data. The chapter presents suggestions for improving such modeling. Each of these issues affect the planning models for scarce resources in health care, and improving those models can positively impact utilization of those services. Through this research, models are presented that can positively impact public health decisions in coming years, particularly those for growing high-risk and low-income groups.

Coarse woody debris (CWD), an essential component of healthy forests, has typically been defined as dead and down, large woody material. Quantification of this resource provides a useful metric for assessing wildlife habitat, fuel loading, and more recently, carbon sequestration. Although many CWD sampling methods exist, accurate estimation is difficult and expensive. Double sampling incorporates auxiliary data that is positively correlated with the attribute of interest as a means of reducing sampling costs and/or increasing estimation precision. The present study investigated double sampling applications to the common CWD sampling technique, line intersect sampling (LIS). We identified aggregate length as a potential auxiliary variable for estimating aggregate volume and abundance of CWD. However, further analysis indicated that the cost difference of the sampling phases, coupled with the correlation of the variables was not sufficient to warrant double sampling in the study area. Further investigation is needed to develop accurate and efficient CWD sampling methods with widespread applicability.

Bailey, Daniel, M.S., December 2012 Resource Conservation COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION OF TAIMEN THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS KHOVSGOL AIMAG MONGOLIA Chair: Dr. Keith Bosak ABSTRACT: Siberian taimen (Hucho taimen) populations in northern Mongolia (the state of Khovsgol aimag) are threatened by illegal poaching, habitat loss, mining and recreational fishing. Taimen are the worlds largest salmonid, historically reaching lengths of 6.5 ft. and weighing as much as 200 lbs This unique species of fish is incredibly slow-growing, long-lived (up to 40 years) and late to reach sexual maturity (5-7 years). These characteristics -- coupled with overuse and habitat loss -- have resulted in a drastic species decline throughout its native range. In Mongolia alone, the taimens historical range has been reduced by nearly twenty per cent (Hogan, Z; Jensen, O; Rand, P; Weiss, S; IUCN Red Listing 2012). Taimen have been listed as endangered under the Mongolian, Russian and Chinese Red Lists. The intent of this project is to address taimen conservation through an educational campaign targeted at foreign and domestic anglers. The Spirit of the River (SOR) project addresses long-term protection of this rare and threatened fish. An education and awareness campaign was implemented in Murun (the provincial capital of Khovsgol aimag), the Murun regional airport and the Chinggis Khan International airport in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. The SOR campaign targets foreign and domestic anglers who come to Khovsgol aimag to fish for taimen.

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As conventional resources are depleted, unconventional gas (UG: gas from tight sands, coal beds, and shale) resources are becoming increasingly important to U.S and world energy supply. The volume of UG resources is generally unknown in most international basins. However, in 25 mature U.S. basins, UG resources have been produced for decades and are well characterized in the petroleum literature. The objective of this work was to develop a method for estimating recoverable UG resources in target, or exploratory, basins. The method was based on quantitative relations between known conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resource types in mature U.S. basins. To develop the methodology to estimate resource volumes, we used data from the U.S. Geological Survey, Potential Gas Committee, Energy Information Administration, National Petroleum Council, and Gas Technology Institute to evaluate relations among hydrocarbon resource types in the Appalachian, Black Warrior, Greater Green River, Illinois, San Juan, Uinta-Piceance, and Wind River basins. We chose these seven basins because they are mature basins for both conventional and unconventional oil and gas production. We assumed that a seven basin study would be sufficient for preliminary gas resource analysis and assessment of the new methodology. We developed a methodology we call PRISE, which uses software that investigates relationships among data published for both conventional and unconventional resources in the seven mature U.S. basins. PRISE was used to predict recoverable UG resources for target basins, on the basis of their known conventional resources. Input data for PRISE were cumulative production, proved reserves, growth, and undiscovered resources. We used published data to compare cumulative technically recoverable resources for each basin. For the seven basins studied, we found that 10% of the recoverable hydrocarbon resources are conventional oil and gas, and 90% are from unconventional resources. PRISE may be used to estimate the volume of hydrocarbon resources in any basin worldwide and, hopefully, assist early economic and development planning. PRISE methodology for estimating UG resources should be further tested in diverse sedimentary basin types.

Animal response to anthropogenic features may be fine scale (e.g. changes in movement behavior) or large scale (e.g. landscape fragmentation). I collected locational data on 24 radio-instrumented grizzly bears in Northwest Montana. I used first order vector-based methods to examine grizzly bear movement and resting patterns around open forest roads and rural structures. I attribute grizzly bear locations with environmental and developmental variables and used logistic regression to model grizzly bear habitat selection. To evaluate local attitudes toward living with wildlife, I developed a mail-based survey to assess baseline resident attitude toward living with wildlife with emphasis to grizzly bears. Movement analysis suggested bears moved at higher velocities and rested less frequently in habitat adjacent to roads and structures. However, bears moved with greater sinuosity in habitats surrounding roads and we detected little difference in resting intervals proximate to roads and structures. Our top habitat selection models indicated good predictive performance. Human development features such as roads and structures had little influence over female or male habitat selection at the study area scale. Where grizzly habitat and human activity overlap, we recommend managers carefully consider access management and development to minimize mortality risk for grizzly bears. Survey respondents reported that their information on wildlife was mainly drawn from personal experience and respondent attitudes were generally favorable toward living with bears. Survey responses were most divided on tolerance of dangerous animals near places where people lived. Based on attitudes toward wildlife in the Seeley-Swan the most productive approach would be small scale projects that incorporate person to person collaboration to create local solutions for decreasing human-bear conflicts.

Thesis (M.S. in International Resource Planning and Management) Naval Postgraduate School, June 1997. / Thesis advisors, Jan S. Breemer, Roger D. Evered. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-78). Also available online.

In this study was in the course of the international enterprise, what Human Resource¡¦s role & responsibility, and whether Human Resource strategy to fit the organization¡¦s development. For example, how to build up the fluently organization¡¦s communication channel or build up the talent pool for global talent recruitment. In this research, qualitative case study approach to research, according to current enterprise¡¦s practice and scholarly research and observation, to analysis this case for international human resource strategy. This case emphasize in international Human Resource management process control from internal and external environment impact. Through the case study todiscuss & find out what effect on Human Resource management by actual practice in global company. After the data integration & analysis, the results of this study case obtained the following conclusions: 1. Integrated organization design is main type of global management in Human Resource. For keep elasticity, maximum benefit when company still expanding. 2. For global talent war. Initiate more channels to get diversify talents. Set up the ¡§Blue Ocean Strategy¡¨ for global. Because no talents, no opportunity for success. 3. Base on "job training" , set up more aggressive training strategy to build up the learning organizations. 4. Build up more effectiveness information system enhance decision-making performance. The information system for Human resources require powerful & faster , to meet complex organizational design. 5.Bulid up an excellent atmosphere in employee relations and corporate culture. All the ways towards company¡¦s success need to smooth internal communication for eliminate misunderstanding within the company. Forming the internal support and cooperation relations, as the driving force to company¡¦s development.

In manufacturing, resource planners are relied on how to allocate in-house production and outsourcing; how to plan the flexibility for customers¡¦ demand fluctuation; how to optimize capacity allocation under customers¡¦ satisfaction. Harvard professor, David McClelland brought up the concept of competence in the early 1970¡¦s. He claimed that the motive power of good performance mostly came from deep, personal motives and character, rather than from IQ. Therefore this research focuses on understanding which competences a good resource planner should have. This research summarized a total of 15 competences that resource planners should have based on literature and case studies. Those 15 competences are achievement-orientation, impact and influence, analytical thinking, initiative, self-confidence, interpersonal relationship, teamwork, conceptual thinking, specialized knowledge, care order and quality, customer-orientation, self-control, information collection, English ability, and the ability to communicate with management team. Among those 15 competences, 7 competences are critical ones to foresee good performance. Those 7 competences are achievement-orientation, impact and influence, initiative, conceptual thinking, care order and quality, customer-orientation, information collection. The others competences, analytical thinking, self-confidence, interpersonal relationship, teamwork, specialized knowledge, self-control, English ability, and the ability to communicate with management team, are threshold competences for resource planners. This research results can be applied to selection in human resource management. It is also valuable for companies, which are in the same industry as the company in case study to use as a reference.

In order to maximize the capacities of resources constraints in the multiple projects environment, it is firstly necessary to make sure where the resources constraints are, and to schedule them. And then, add a set of time buffer to protect the bottle-neck resources. For some purposes, the project schedule is not easy to be altered in enterprises. Instead of adding a set of time buffer, we use others ways to protect resource constraints and to improve capacities. 4 cases are discussed in this research respectively, and the characteristics in this research contain whether the project plan is announced at the year beginning, whether the number of team members is fixed, and whether the project is outsourced or in-house. The main purpose is to investigate how the enterprises arrange the resources in 3 different periods: the projects at the year beginning, new projects joined during a year , and new demands in the existing projects during a year. The research results show: (1) Enterprises usually recruit employees at the beginning of the year, which prevents from the unqualified human resource as the projects going. (2) The teams with fixed member are allocated members in the projects which are the same domain. It¡¦s not easy to support between projects of different domains in the same team, except IT support. It¡¦s also difficult to support between teams, because the relationship of teams is competitive. (3) In the established team in terms of projects, enterprises assign team members in project which are the same domain by the function. It¡¦s easy to support between members with the same domain. It¡¦s not easy to support between members with different domain, except IT support. (4) Carrying out outsourcing projects in the enterprises, complete project in the different period to explore the resource constraints. (5) Carrying out in-house projects in the enterprise, reduce insignificance project scope or to reschedule insignificance project to explore the resource constraints. (6) Carrying outsourcing and in-house projects in the enterprises, reduce insignificance project scope or to reschedule insignificance project to explore the resource constraints.