technical

Technical Assistance Completion Report Validation Guidelines

This guideline specifies framework for validating technical assistance completion reports (TCRs) to capture lessons learned from completed technical assistance (TA) operations and to improve accountability for achieving results, the quality of completion reports, and the independence of project ratings.




technical

Supporting Technical Education and Skills Development Facility

Approved project 42466-018 in Bangladesh.




technical

3309-TAJ: Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training [MOLME/TVET/NCB-GS07]




technical

Geospatial assessment methods for geotechnical asset management of legacy railway embankments

Most British railway embankments were constructed between 120 and 180 years ago without the benefit of modern design and construction methods. This can result in undesirable load-deformation characteristics and consequent disruption to present-day railway operations, for which there is unprecedented demand. Annual rail passenger kilometres have approximately doubled in the last 20 years and freight has increased by 60% over the same period. Whereas elements such as rails or bridges can be refurbished or replaced to meet increasing demand, the same is not usually feasible for embankments. Development of techniques to assess embankment performance risks posed by operational capacity enhancements is therefore of increasing significance to railway geotechnical asset management. The two case studies presented in this paper demonstrate how geospatial analysis and data management techniques may be applied to this challenge at both strategic (regional or national) and tactical (site-specific) scales for embankments incorporating plastic clay fill. The case studies also demonstrate, in a world of ever more abundant data, the growing need for engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers to augment their traditional knowledge with comprehensive data management and geospatial analysis skills, these being essential for modern infrastructure asset management.

Thematic collection: This article is part of the ‘Ground-related risk to transportation infrastructure’ collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/Ground-related-risk-to-transportation-infrastructure




technical

Strategic geotechnical asset management

Strategic geotechnical asset management considers the whole of an organization's earthworks portfolio and is concerned with setting an overall earthworks asset management policy with long-term objectives related to asset performance, safety and condition, and identifying how those objectives can best be met, now and into the future. A risk-based approach is adopted that requires an understanding of the likelihood that any of the earthworks may fail, combined with a knowledge of the consequences should they fail. Procedures are required to identify those earthworks that are most vulnerable to failure under the influence of triggering events, such as extreme weather. The risks are managed through a mix of interventions to reduce the likelihood of failure and mitigations to reduce the impact of failure. Many of the challenges of implementing a strategic earthworks policy have, or are, being met by the main UK transportation infrastructure organizations.

Thematic collection: This article is part of the Ground-related risk to transportation infrastructure collection available at https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/Ground-related-risk-to-transportation-infrastructure




technical

Pervasive Small RNAs in Cardiometabolic Research: Great Potential Accompanied by Biological and Technical Barriers

Advances in small RNA sequencing have revealed the enormous diversity of small noncoding RNA (sRNA) classes in mammalian cells. At this point, most investigators in diabetes are aware of the success of microRNA (miRNA) research and appreciate the importance of posttranscriptional gene regulation in glycemic control. Nevertheless, miRNAs are just one of multiple classes of sRNAs and likely represent only a minor fraction of sRNA sequences in a given cell. Despite the widespread appreciation of sRNAs, very little research into non-miRNA sRNA function has been completed, likely due to some major barriers that present unique challenges for study. To emphasize the importance of sRNA research in cardiometabolic diseases, we highlight the success of miRNAs and competitive endogenous RNAs in cholesterol and glucose metabolism. Moreover, we argue that sequencing studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are just the tip of the iceberg for sRNAs. We are likely standing at the precipice of immense discovery for novel sRNA-mediated gene regulation in cardiometabolic diseases. To realize this potential, we must first address critical barriers with an open mind and refrain from viewing non-miRNA sRNA function through the lens of miRNAs, as they likely have their own set of distinct regulatory factors and functional mechanisms.




technical

That Black Stuff on the Road? Technically Not Asphalt

If you think asphalt is what hot tar roads are made of, you'd be wrong. Asphalt is only one ingredient in the recipe that makes up our roads. And it has a very long, very interesting history.




technical

'Technical issues' in labs blamed for testing failures

The government has blamed "technical issues" in labs for its failure to reach its coronavirus test target for four consecutive days.




technical

AT&T Technical Services Corp. to Pay U.S. more than $8.2 Million to Settle False Claims Involving the E-Rate Program

AT&T Technical Services Corp. (AT&T-TSCO) has agreed to pay $8,266,414.33 as part of a civil settlement relating to allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act in connection with the Federal Communication Commission's E-Rate program.



  • OPA Press Releases

technical

Justice Department Issues Technical Assistance Document on Enforcement of the Supreme Court Decision in Olmstead v. L.C.

The Department of Justice released a new technical assistance document describing public entities’ obligations and individuals’ rights under the integration mandate of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 1999 landmark Supreme Court decision, Olmstead v. L.C.



  • OPA Press Releases

technical

Department of Justice and Partner Agencies Announce Training and Technical Assistance Award to Build Capacity in Distressed Neighborhoods

The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), together with its partners, the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Education, Health and Human Services and Treasury, today announced the selection of the Center for the Study of Social Policy as the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program (BNCP) Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator.



  • OPA Press Releases

technical

District Court Approves Selection of Arnaldo Claudio as Technical Compliance Advisor to Oversee Critical Reforms of Puerto Rico Police Department

Today, U.S. District Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí approved the selection of Arnaldo Claudio to serve as Technical Compliance Advisor (TCA), overseeing the implementation of sweeping civil rights reforms under the Agreement for Sustainable Reform of the Puerto Rico Police Department.



  • OPA Press Releases

technical

"Yokogawa’s Approach to IT/OT Convergence," Yokogawa Technical Report (Vol.62, No.2), issued




technical

Technical Workshop on National Education Accounts (NEAs)

Event Information

January 25, 2013
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST

The Kresge Room
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036

On January 25, 2013, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings (CUE) and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) hosted a technical workshop on national education accounts (NEAs). Participants discussed experiences and challenges related to developing various tools to track financial expenditures in education, with a focus on national education accounts. After discussing particular experiences with NEAs and the framework underlying them, participants worked to identify priorities for expanding their reach.

Jacques van der Gaag, from the Center for Universal Education opened the workshop by underlining its primary goals—to find out what different groups and individuals have been able to accomplish in relation to comprehensively tracking expenditures, connecting those expenditures with learning outcomes in education systems and collaborating where possible to advance the use of NEAs. Following this introduction, participants gave an overview of their experiences in using financial tracking tools and NEAs in particular. Igor Kheyfets of the World Bank presented BOOST, a tool that the World Bank has used over the past three years to bring together detailed data on public expenditures. Next, Jean Claude Ndabananiye, from UNESCO Pole de Dakar, discussed country status reports, which aggregate and analyze government data on expenditures. Afterward, Elise Legault of UIS described their collection of education statistics, which is completed through annual country questionnaires, of which one in particular has a finance focus. Quentin Wodon of the World Bank described other World Bank efforts aside from BOOST in capturing education finance data, including a cross-sector effort on public expenditure reviews (PERs).

Download the agenda »
Download the full summary »
Download USAID's National Education Accounts presentation »
Download the Estimation of Household Spending on Education Using Household Surveys presentation »
Download From Enrollment to Learning Outcomes: What Does the Shift in the Education Agenda Mean for NEAs? »
Download Thailand's National Education Accounts (NEA) »
Download the BOOST presentation »

Event Materials

      
 
 




technical

Can We Design A Good Technical Fix?


Wouldn’t it be great if complex social problems could be solved by technology? Alvin Weinberg suggested in 1967 that technical engineering could work better than social engineering; the argument advocated quick fixes to the most urgent problems of humanity at least to alleviate pain while more complete solutions were worked out. However controversial was this idea, our reliance on technology has only increased since then. Still, over the same period, we have also come to appreciate better the unanticipated consequences of technological advancement. In light of our experience leaping forward as well as our tripping and tumbling along the way, we should make two considerations in designing a technological fix.

Consideration 1: Serious attention to unwanted consequences

A consideration of first-order is the study of unwanted effects and tradeoffs introduced by the technology. Take for instance nanoparticles—particles in the range of one to a hundred nanometers—that enable new properties in materials in which they are mixed; for instance, maintaining permeability in fine-particle filtration to make available inexpensive water purification devices for vulnerable populations. Once these nano-enabled filters reach the end of their usable life and are discarded, those minuscule particles could be released in the environment and exponentially increase the toxicity of the resulting waste.

No less important than health and environmental effects are social, economic, and cultural consequences. Natural and social sciences are thus partners in the design of this kind of technological solution and transdisciplinary research is needed to improve our understanding of the various dimensions relevant to these projects. What is more, the incremental choices that set a particularly technology along a developmental pathway demand a different kind of knowledge because those choices are not merely technical, they involve values and preferences.

Consideration 2: Stakeholder engagement

But whose values and preferences matter? Surely everyone with a stake in the problem the fix is trying to solve will want to answer that question. If tech fixes are meant to address a specific social problem, those who will live with the consequences must have a say in the development of that solution. This prescription does not imply doing away with the current division of labor in technological development completely. Scientists and engineers need a degree of autonomy to work productively. Yet, input from and participation by stakeholders must occur far in advance of the completion of the development process because along the way a host of questions arise as to what trade-offs are acceptable. Non-experts are perfectly capable of answering questions about their values and preferences.

The market system provides to some extent this kind of check for technologies advancing incrementally. In an ideal market scenario, one of high competition, the stakeholders on the demand side vote with their wallets, and companies refine their products to gain market share. But the development of a technological fix is neither incremental nor distributed in that manner. It is generally concentrated in a few hands and it is, by design, disruptive and revolutionary. That’s why stakeholders must have a say in key developmental decisions so as to calibrate carefully those technologies to the values and preferences of the very people they intend to help.

Translating these considerations into policy

The federal government first funded in 1989 a program for the analysis of Ethical, Legal, Social implications (ELSI) within the Human Genome Project. The influence this program had in the direction and key decisions of the HGP was at best modest; rather, it practically institutionalized a separation between the hard science and the understanding of human and social dimensions of the science.[i]  By the time the National Nanotechnology Initiative was launched in 1999, some ELSI-type programs sought to breach the separation. With grants from the National Science Foundation, two centers for the study of nanotechnology in society were established at the University of California Santa Barbara and Arizona State University. CNS-UCSB and CNS-ASU have become hubs for research on the governance of technological development that integrate the technical, social, and human dimensions. One such effort is a pilot program of real-time technology assessment (RTTA) that achieved a more robust engagement with the various stakeholders of emerging nanotechnologies (see citizens tech-forum) and tested interventions at several points in the research and development of nanotechnologies to integrate concerns from the social sciences and humanities (see socio-technical integration). Building upon those experiences, the future of federal funding of technological fixes must include ELSI analyses more like the aforementioned RTTA program, that contrary to being an addendum to technical programs are fully integrated in the decision structure of research and development efforts.

Whenever emerging technologies such as additive manufacturing, synthetic biology, big data, or climate engineering are considered as the kernel of a technological fix, developers must understand that engineering the artifact itself does not suffice. An effective solution requires also the careful analysis of unwanted effects and a serious effort for stakeholder engagement, lest the solution be worse than the problem.


[i] See the ELSI Research Planning and Evaluation Group (ERPEG) final report published in 2000. ERPEG was created in 1997 by the NIH’s Advisory Council on human genome research (NACHGR) and DOE’s Advisory Committee on biology and environment (BERAC) to evaluate ELSI within the HGP and propose new directions for the 1998 five-year plan. After the final report NIH and DOE ran ELSI programs separately, although with the ostensible intention to coordinate efforts. The separation between the technical and the social/human dimensions of scientific advancement institutionalized by the HGP ELSI program and the radical alternative to it proposed by RTTA within NNI, is elegantly described in Brice Laurent’s The Constitutional Effect of the Ethics of Emerging Technologies (2013, Ethics and Politics XV(1), 251-271).

Image Source: © Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters
     
 
 




technical

Geoengineering is a Technical Fix for a Political Problem

"The stakes are very high and scientists are not the best people to deal with the social, ethical or political issues that geoengineering raises."




technical

Clever technical breakthrough could make LEDs as inexpensive as incandescents

It was only a few years ago that I was testing LED bulbs that cost $100 each...




technical

Cryptocurrency market jumps by over $13 billion driven by bitcoin as major technical event approaches

A rally in bitcoin led the cryptocurrency market higher ahead of a major technical event for the digital coin and as industry participants report an increased interest from institutional investors.




technical

Never mind the pullback, technical analysis shows oil is headed for a rebound

The pullback in oil prices takes place within the environment of a well-established uptrend, writes Daryl Guppy.






technical

Witty and Stupid Jokes that are Technically Right

While we don't always have the intended answers, we can at least be smart asses about things. Technically correct jokes have the benefit of making the teller feel smart while there's not really any new information needed. These silly puns and clever jokes are technically accurate, so you can't say they're completely wrong.




technical

Antonio Marin of Dinamo Zagreb shakes hands with Marco van Basten, FIFA Chief Officer for Technical Development, at the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup 2018

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - MAY 10: Antonio Marin of Dinamo Zagreb speaks with Marco van Basten, FIFA Chief Officer for Technical Development after the Blue Stars FIFA Youth Cup 2018 Final between BSC Young Boys and Dinamo Zagreb at Sportanlage Buchler on May 10, 2018 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




technical

Mumbai: Monorail stalls due to technical glitch, services affected

In a yet another technical snag, the commuters travelling in Monorail had to face problem on Saturday evening after Monorail services were affected due to issue related to brakes. The technical snag developed between Bharat Petroleum and Mysore Colony stations.

Informing the glitch, on its official Twitter account, Mumbai Monorail said, "We are facing technical difficulties. Dear Mumbaikars, we apologize for the inconvenience. Our technical teams have reached the site and are working to restore the services at the earliest".

Following the incident, the monorail was taken to Mysore colony monorail station where passengers were evacuated safely. The authorities plan to take the train to the depot using another train. 

According to authorities, the technical glitches has been attended and full services are expected to be restored in some time.

More details are awaited.

This is the second incident Monorail has faced within a week. On Wednesday, Monorail was stuck mid-way towards Wadala depot affecting its services. After the passengers were evacuated, the monorail was being transported to the depot but it ceased to move mid-way. Another train was then used to push the monorail further. Since other trains could not use the same alignment, services were shut for about an hour.

The second phase of the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle monorail was flagged off in March 2019.

Also Read: Mumbai: Garland wire glitch delays new Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle Monorail services

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates





technical

Hiring for Technical support for TOP MNC's at Banglore

Company: 2COMS Consulting Private Limited
Experience: 0 to 4
location: Bengaluru / Bangalore
Ref: 24827828
Summary: Greetings from 2COMS Consulting Pvt Ltd Job Title: Technical support Exp..0-4 Yrs Salary:- up to 4 LPA Cab + Incentive + Shift Allowance Shift- Day shift Working Days- 5 Days Work Location: Banglore(WFH) ....




technical

Content Writer / Technical Writer/seo

Company: New Global Technologies
Experience: 0 to 5
location: Chennai, Mumbai
Ref: 24043071
Summary: Development of fresh content from scratch for Software User Manuals. Write and edit website content as per the SEO standards. Write Articles, Blogs, Press Releases, and Forum Posts for online software promotion.




technical

Silent technical advancement noteworthy in school management software

Of course, there are different software vendors in the market to manage administration works of different industries. If you think that school software is chiefly to manage records, process payroll and maintain attendance, then you are...




technical

Technical Information Specialist

Company: Flexi Careers India Private Limited
Experience: 3 to 6
location: Pune
Ref: 24828113
Summary: Product Verification and Validation




technical

Technical Support Executive req in CANADA | AUSTRALIA

Company: Pear Visa Immigration Services Private Limited
Experience: 3 to 8
Salary: 38.70 to 72.10
location: Australia, Canada
Ref: 24610721
Summary: Technical Support Executive should be able to relocate CANADA or AUSTRALIA




technical

Technical Recruiter ( US Staffing)

Company: E-IT Professionals India Private Limited
Experience: 1 to 2
location: Chennai
Ref: 24823704
Summary: Looking for Technical Recruiter ( US Staffing).




technical

OECD invites public comments on a discussion draft on technical changes to be included in the next update to the Model Tax Convention

The OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs invites public comments on a discussion draft that includes various technical changes to be included in the next update to the OECD Model Tax Convention.




technical

The OECD publishes the comments received on a discussion draft on technical changes to be included in the next update to the Model Tax Convention

On 15 November 2013, the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs (CFA) invited public comments on a discussion draft on technical changes to be included in the next update to the OECD Model Tax Convention. The OECD has now published the comments received on that discussion draft.




technical

OECD Technical Workshop on Foreign Direct Investment and Global Value Chains

The workshop will discuss the first results of the OECD Secretariat’s work on integrating FDI statistics into the analysis of Global Value Chains (OECD-WTO Trade in Value Added Initiative) to better account for foreign ownership.




technical

OECD Technical Report on Progress on Structural Reform Under the G20 ESRA

This OECD technical report to G-20 Finance Ministers and Governors provides an assessment of progress on structural reform to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth under the G-20 Enhanced Structural Reform Agenda (ESRA) agreed at the Hangzhou summit.




technical

'Even Messi is behind Neymar on technical ability': Brazil legend Cafu makes a bold comparison

The PSG superstar has demonstrated his skillset on countless occasions throughout his career, with the forward having even been lectured by a referee over his showboating this campaign.




technical

Jamie Carragher lauds John Terry as a better version of himself and who was technically underrated 

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and Chelsea centre-back John Terry played together when they were both on international duty for England between 2003 and 2010.




technical

FA line up Tottenham academy guru John McDermott as man to replace Les Reed as technical director

EXCLUSIVE: McDermott was appointed as the FA's assistant technical director last month but Sportsmail has learned it is only a temporary role with a deal agreed for him to replace Reed the Euros in 2021.




technical

Birmingham to promote academy boss Kristjaan Speakman to technical director

EXCLUSIVE BY LAURIE WHITWELL: Birmingham City are set to undergo further change with Kristjaan Speakman expected to step up from his role as academy manager.




technical

Los Zetas hitmen their life sentences OVERTURNED due to legal technicality

Jose Emanuel Garcia Sota, aka 'Zafado,' and Jesus Ivan Quezada Pina, aka 'Loco,' were convicted three years ago in the February 2011 murder of ICE agent Jaime Zapata in Mexico.




technical

We're experiencing technical difficulties...

MailOnline is currently experiencing intermittent technical difficulties that have resulted in readers being unable to submit and read comments.




technical

Jamie Carragher lauds John Terry as a better version of himself and who was technically underrated 

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and Chelsea centre-back John Terry played together when they were both on international duty for England between 2003 and 2010.




technical

Viewers brand GMB 'awkward' after technical errors plague the show 

Viewers were not impressed with ITV's Good Morning Britain's Oscars special from Hollywood. The show was marred with technical errors, and the premature departure of Dame Joan Collins.




technical

Arsenal close to appointing former midfielder Edu as first ever technical director

Arsenal are close to clinching a deal to recruit former midfielder Edu as their first ever technical director. Talks over the Brazilian's return to north London are now at an advanced stage.




technical

Edu closing in on Arsenal technical director job as Brazilian federation replace him with Juninho

Edu is closing in on the technical director job at Arsenal after Brazil appointed Juninho to replace him as their general coordinator.




technical

Sabotage or a technical fault? British Airways 777 and 787 are covered in five tons of foam

The Boeing 777 and 787 will be out of action for months after the incident at London's Heathrow on Sunday, which has led to claims of 'sabotage'. But British Airways have said it is due to a technical fault.




technical

Dancing with the Stars fans fume over a technical error during the grand finale

Channel 10 have apologised for a technical error that saw some Dancing With The Stars fans fuming during Sunday's anticipated grand finale.




technical

Coronavirus eradication is 'technically impossible' and second wave this winter could be MORE severe

Professor Chris Whitty told an online lecture: 'It's not just in Game Of Thrones that winter is always coming ... the winter is always worse than summer, spring and autumn for health.'




technical

BUMBLE AT THE TEST: England's batsmen are technically inferior to New Zealand's

BUMBLE AT THE TEST: That was a sobering start for England's new era. It will be alarming for the management, and for English coaches, that their batsmen are technically inferior to New Zealand's.




technical

Unexpected technical complications to keep NASA's Lunar Gateway from being fully operational by 2024

NASA's plans for a base on the surface of the moon will likely be delayed. The delay is attributed to technical complications with the lunar gateway used to stage construction materials.




technical

What's new in Formula 1 technically?

What's new in Formula 1 technically?