Howard County Research Articles

Probing hydraulically-fractured wells in unconventional shale reservoirs under cyclic CO2 injection: Variation of thermophysical properties

Despite the recent growth in oil production from unconventional reservoirs, existing hydraulically-fractured horizontal wells face challenges of poor recovery with the rapid production decline over a short life span. Enhanced recovery techniques, such as cyclic CO2 injection can be a solution to this impending problem and lead to energy independence for the foreseeable future. However, mechanisms occurring around the hydraulically fractured wells are far from fully understood. The primary motivation of this study revolves around addressing this limitation. Specifically, we explored the evolution of various thermophysical properties occurring around hydraulically-fractured wells in liquid-rich unconventional reservoirs using a holistic, integrated modeling framework.Available well-logs and other data from Howard County in the Midland Basin formed the basis for constructing representative 3D structural models that capture the Midland Basin stratigraphy. We used a simulator to create multistage hydraulic fractures that allowed integration into numerical reservoir-flow simulation models. Then, both convective and diffusive flow within a multicomponent compositional simulation modeling paradigm is used to examine the role of molecular diffusion in performance under cyclic CO2 injections in hydraulically-fractured well.The simulation results indicate that molecular diffusion yields an incremental oil recovery of 6% compared to models that do not. Our analysis reveals different thermophysical properties transition from near wellbore regions to outer regions into the rock matrix. Changes in total mole fractions of CO2, methane, and hydrocarbons with C7+ fraction, pressure and saturation variation, viscosity reduction and the surface tension over 14 injection-soaking-production cycles are tracked. The analyses of the evolution of these thermophysical properties provide us with means to evaluate the efficiency of the solvent injection process. The simulation results explain how, when, and where CO2 disperses into the reservoir.

Rapid Mapping of Small-Scale River-Floodplain Environments Using UAV SfM Supports Classical Theory

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms have rapidly developed as tools for remote mapping at very high spatial resolutions. They have recently gained in popularity in many application fields owing to the versatility of platforms and sensors, ease of deployment, and a steady increase in computational power. Obtaining highly detailed topography data over very small scales is one of the more typical application domains. Here, we demonstrate this application using Structure from Motion (SfM) processing over a small river floodplain in Howard County (Maryland, USA). Evaluation of the derived bare-earth terrain model with state-of-the art LiDAR shows a trivial bias of 1.6 cm and a root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 39 cm. We then applied this terrain model to extract floodplain and river cross-section geometries of a small stream, important during high-magnitude urban flash flood events, with the aim to assess its value for floodplain inundation mapping and first order characterization of in-channel hydraulics. Initial findings agree with traditional stream and floodplain classification theory and thus show very promising results for this type of UAV usage. We expect this type of application to gain more momentum in the near future with the ever-growing importance of more detailed data in order to increase resilience to flood risk, especially in urban areas.

A new species of Lasalichthys (Actinopterygii, Redfieldiiformes) from the Upper Triassic Dockum Group of Howard County, Texas, with revisions to the genera Lasalichthys and Synorichthys

ABSTRACTA new species of redfieldiiform fishes, Lasalichthys otischalkensis, sp. nov., is described based on new, three-dimensionally preserved specimens from the Upper Triassic Dockum Group of Howard County, western Texas. Lasalichthys otischalkensis is diagnosed by a combination of unique traits found in the skull, including shape of maxilla, shape of preoperculum and associated cheek bones, pattern and articulation of bones in the snout, and patterns of sensory line canals in the dermal skull bones. Specimens of this new species display novel patterns in the sensory line canals of the skull that have never been observed in any other redfieldiiform. Examination and comparison of specimens of Lasalichthys and Synorichthys from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation and Dockum Group indicates that these taxa are only distinguishable at the species level, and Synorichthys is placed into synonymy with Lasalichthys, based on comparison of diagnostic morphological characters. Lasalichthys otischalkensis represents one of the oldest redfieldiiform taxa in North America.

Balanced Scheduling of School Bus Trips using a Perfect Matching Heuristic

In the school bus scheduling problem, the main contributing factor to the cost is the number of buses needed for the operations. However, when subcontracting the pupils’ transportation, unbalanced tours can increase the costs significantly as the lengths of some tours can exceed the daily fixed driving goal and will result in over-hour charges. This paper proposes a mixed integer programming (MIP) model and a matching-based heuristic algorithm to solve the “balanced” school bus scheduling problem with fixed start times in a multi-school setting. The heuristic solution always has the minimum number of buses as it starts with a minimal number of tours and does not alter the number of tours during its balancing stage. The effectiveness of the heuristic is tested by comparing its solutions with results from solving the MIP using commercial solvers whenever solvers could find a good solution. To illustrate the performance of the MIP and the heuristic, 11 problems were examined with different numbers of trips which are all based on two real-world problems: a California case study with 54 trips and the Howard County Public School System with 994 trips. Our numerical results indicate the proposed heuristic algorithm can find reasonable solutions in a significantly shorter time. The balanced solutions of our algorithm can save up to 16% of school bus operation costs compared with the best solution found by solvers from optimizing the MIP model after 40 hours. The balancing stage of the heuristic decreases the standard deviation of the tour durations by up to 47%.

Improving Newborn Safe Sleep

To decrease the number of infants harmed in Howard County, Maryland, by unsafe sleeping conditions. Howard County General Hospital (HCGH) is the only hospital in this community. The maternal–child unit of the hospital wanted to reduce the number of infant deaths that were due to unsafe sleep practices.

The axial skeleton of Poposaurus langstoni (Pseudosuchia: Poposauroidea) and its implications for accessory intervertebral articulation evolution in pseudosuchian archosaurs.

Dinosaurs and their close relatives grew to sizes larger than any other terrestrial animal in the history of life on Earth, and many enormous dinosaurs (e.g., Diplodocus, Spinosaurus, Tyrannosaurus) have accessory intervertebral articulations that have been suggested to support these large body sizes. Some pseudosuchian archosaurs have been reported to have these articulations as well, but few have been characterized in these taxa because of a lower abundance of complete, three-dimensional pseudosuchian vertebral material in relation to dinosaurs. We describe the axial column of the large (∼4–5 m) poposauroid pseudosuchian Poposaurus langstoni from the Upper Triassic of Texas (TMM Locality 31025 of the Otis Chalk localities; Dockum Group, Howard County, TX, USA). P. langstoni was originally named from pelvic girdle elements and vertebrae; here we describe newly discovered and prepared presacral vertebrae and a presacral rib from the original excavation of the holotype in the 1940s. The well-preserved vertebrae have well-defined vertebral laminae and clear hyposphene–hypantrum intervertebral articulations, character states mentioned in pseudosuchians but rarely described. The new material demonstrates variation present in the hyposphene–hypantrum articulation through the vertebral column. We compared these morphologies to other pseudosuchians with and without the hyposphene–hypantrum articulation. Based on these careful comparisons, we provide an explicit definition for the hyposphene–hypantrum articulation applicable across Archosauria. Within Pseudosuchia, we find the hyposphene–hypantrum appeared independently in the clade at least twice, but we also see the loss of these structures in clades that had them ancestrally. Furthermore, we found the presence of large body sizes (femoral lengths >∼300 mm) and the presence of the hyposphene–hypantrum is correlated in most non-crocodylomorph pseudosuchian archosaurs with a few exceptions. This result suggests that the presence of the hyposphene–hypantrum is controlled by the increases and decreases in body size and not strictly inheritance.

PreK–5 Foreign Language Programs: No Longer an Endangered Species?

PreK–5 Foreign Language Programs:No Longer an Endangered Species? Mary Jo Adams Keywords early language learning/aprendizaje de idiomas en escuela primaria, FLES, FLEX, immersion/imersión, teaching and learning/enseñaza y aprendizaje Challenges facing foreign language instruction in the United States are particularly acute in preK–5 programs. However, the rise of dual language immersion programs in this country represents a bright light in regard to elementary foreign language instruction. Dual language programs are being added and expanded across the country at a quick pace. Two years ago, the New York Times reported, "40 dual-language programs for elementary, middle, and high school levels would be created or expanded for the 2015–16 school year" (Harris 2015). In North Carolina, over the past ten years the number of dual-language and immersion programs has grown from programs at seven schools to over 100 programs, many of which start in Kindergarten (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction). Maryland's Howard County Public School System is leading the way in their state by significantly increasing their K–12 language offerings. The state of Utah boasts 138 schools offering dual language immersion programs, 106 of which are in elementary schools (Utah State Board of Education). Despite the growth of these programs, there are very few teacher-training programs that exist to prepare such teachers. With the rapid expansion of dual immersion programs, our profession may be faced with a teacher shortage. Dual immersion and elementary foreign language education require unique skills. Teacher training programs are critical to ensure sound, developmentally appropriate pedagogy. According to the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) report from 2009, "More than one quarter of all elementary school foreign language teachers are not certified at all. The percentage of elementary schools that reported having uncertified language teachers increased from 17% in 1997 to 31% in 2008" (Rhodes and Pufahl 2009: 4). More than ever, teacher training and certification programs will need to be accessible and affordable for new teachers entering the profession and for those that need additional training in order to be qualified to teach in dual immersion programs. A 2011 report on the effect of quality teachers on student achievement concluded, "The year-long and cumulative effects on student achievement of having a qualified teacher can be measured and have been found to be substantial" (Hightower et al. 2011). A Call for Research The need for strong elementary school foreign language programs must be made evident. However, these programs are expensive. To convince parents, school districts, and taxpayers of their value, strong evidence must be provided of their value. In a recent article by Kissau, Adams, and Algozzine (2015), [End Page 163] the researchers call for further research to support early language programs. Research on the motivational and proficiency related benefits of beginning language at an early age must be a priority. There is very little research conducted in the United States on the benefits of learning a language starting at a young age, yet there are plenty of excellent FLEX, FLES, and immersion programs that could offer valuable data and insight to proficiency outcomes in relation to early start programs. A Call for Excellence Public and private schools that offer early language programs (e.g., FLEX, FLES, immersion) need to be models and advocates for early language education. Many elementary school language teachers are responsible for developing curriculum and may not have the resources, training, or funding to guide their efforts in order to ensure program excellence. Therefore, teachers in early language programs must become professionally active in national and state foreign language associations such as the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL), their respective language association, such as the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP), and state organizations such as the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC). If we desire a globally competent United States population, we must raise our students starting at a very young age to be so. We know that advocacy efforts have been in full force for decades, and are shown to be effective and therefore, must continue. Important advocacy events, such as Language...

E&P Notes (August 2017)

E&P Notes Round Two in Mexico: 10 More Offshore Fields Awarded Trent Jacobs, JPT Digital Editor The first tender of the second round of Mexico’s oil and gas licensing auctions issued 10 awarded areas to more than a dozen different oil and gas companies. In addition to Mexico-headquartered companies, other winning firms hail from Russia, Malaysia, US, and the Netherlands. Five locations received no bids, including some that were understood to be gas-rich and therefore a challenging investment due to the relatively low-cost gas imports coming from the US. Growing Number of Projects Go Forward, but the Global Backlog is Still Building Stephen Rassenfoss, JPT Emerging Technology Senior Editor There are recent signs of life in the exploration sector, with as many delayed projects getting funding during the first half of 2017 as in all of 2016. A report from consultancy Rystad Energy tempers that assertion by describing the jump in the number of delayed projects getting a final investment decision (FID) as “apparent positive momentum.” On the upside, it reported 17 delayed international projects have received an FID since it started tracking the many delayed projects in 2015 in the wake of the oil price plunge. The development cost of those projects is expected to be USD 78 billion. H2O Midstream-Encana Deal Highlights Water Management Role in US Shale Joel Parshall, JPT Features Editor H2O Midstream’s recent acquisition of produced-water infrastructure from Encana Oil & Gas (USA) in the Permian Basin highlights the growing importance of efficient water management in United States shale plays. The acquisition, announced on 14 June, was concurrent with the execution of an acreage-dedication-based midstream water services agreement, under which H2O Midstream will gather, dispose, and deliver for reuse produced water for a substantial portion of Encana’s acreage position in Howard County, Texas. By terms of the acquisition, H2O Midstream will now own and operate Encana’s existing produced-water gathering system that consists of more than 100 miles of interconnected pipeline and five saltwater disposal wells with a total permitted disposal capacity of 80,000 BWPD. First Oil From Kraken: Offshore Project To Increase UK Production by 15% Trent Jacobs, JPT Digital Editor UK-based EnQuest achieved the delivery of first production from the Kraken offshore oil field on Friday, 23 June. Average production from the heavy-oil project is expected to reach 20,000 B/D of oil by year’s end. Located almost 80 miles to the east of the Shetland Islands, the Kraken field holds an estimated 128 million bbl of reserves, according to EnQuest. The independent explorer has so far drilled and completed 13 wells, seven producers and six injectors. US Crude Oil and Petroleum Products Exports Doubled Over Past 6 Years Pam Boschee, Senior Editor Following the loosening in December 2015 of US restrictions on exporting domestically produced crude oil, the US exported an average of 520,000 B/D, reaching 1.1 million B/D in February— the highest monthly level on record. Crude oil and petroleum product gross exports more than doubled over the past 6 years, increasing from 2.4 million B/D in 2010 to 5.2 million B/D in 2016, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Association of a Community Campaign for Better Beverage Choices With Beverage Purchases From Supermarkets

Data are needed to evaluate community interventions to reduce consumption of sugary drinks. Supermarket sales data can be used for this purpose. To compare beverage sales in Howard County, Maryland (HC), with sales in comparison stores in a contiguous state before and during a 3-year campaign to reduce consumption of sugary beverages. This observational experiment with a control group included 15 HC supermarkets and 17 comparison supermarkets. Weekly beverage sales data at baseline (January 1 to December 31, 2012) and from campaign years 1 to 3 (January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2015) were analyzed. A difference-in-differences (DID) regression compared the volume sales per product per week in the HC and comparison stores, controlling for mean product price, competitor's product price, product size, weekly local temperature, and manufacturer. The campaign message was to reduce consumption of all sugary drinks. Television advertising, digital marketing, direct mail, outdoor advertising, social media, and earned media during the 3-year period created 17 million impressions. Community partners successfully advocated for public policies to encourage healthy beverage consumption in schools, child care, health care, and government settings. Sales were tracked of sugary drinks highlighted in the campaign, including regular soda, sports drinks, and fruit drinks. Sales of diet soda and 100% juice were also tracked. Sales data are expressed as mean fluid ounces sold per product, per store, per week. Regular soda sales in the 15 HC supermarkets decreased (-19.7%) from 2012 through 2015, whereas sales remained stable (0.8%) in the 17 comparison supermarkets (DID adjusted mean, -369 fl oz; 95% CI, -469 to -269 fl oz; P < .01). Fruit drink sales decreased (-15.3%) in HC stores and remained stable (-0.6%) in comparison stores (DID adjusted mean, -342 fl oz; 95% CI, -466 to -220 fl oz; P < .001). Sales of 100% juice decreased more in HC (-15.0%) than comparison (-2.1%) stores (DID mean, -576 fl oz; 95% CI, -776 to -375 fl oz; P < .001). Sales of sports drinks (-86.3 fl oz; 95% CI, -343.6 to 170.9 fl oz) and diet soda (-17.8 in HC stores vs -11.3 in comparison stores; DID adjusted mean, -78.9 fl oz; 95% CI, -182.1 to 24.4 fl oz) decreased in both communities, but the decreases were not significantly different between groups. A locally designed, multicomponent campaign to reduce consumption of sugary drinks was associated with an accelerated decrease in sales of regular soda, fruit drinks, and 100% juice. This policy-focused campaign provides a road map for other communities to reduce consumption of sugary drinks.

Starting with a product in mind – biosolids management design based on beneficial use goals

Biosolids generators across the United States are beginning to reevaluate their processing and management programs, to consider new technologies and products. As part of this, they are considering new regulatory requirements, more flexible outlets, and the concept of biosolids as a product. Their focus is no longer technology centered, but rather on product quality and the best use for it. As part of their Long-Term Biosolids Master Planning effort, Howard County Department of Public Works fulfilled their goal of selecting a solids processing technology that reduces volume and generates a Class A exceptional quality biosolids product that could be use locally in agricultural or non-agricultural markets. In this case, product quality characteristics were important in entering local markets. Key aspects of the selection process are discussed, including establishing County goals, identifying and surveying local beneficial use markets, selecting a solids management alternative, and ultimately selecting the dryer technology fulfilling the County's objective.

Optimizing School Bus Stop Placement in Howard County, Maryland

In the current system, school bus stops in Howard County, Maryland are manually placed along the school bus routes based on safety, cost-efficiency, and many other variables. With such liberal placement, bus stops are sometimes placed unnecessarily. This issue is prevalent in many school districts and often results in needlessly close bus stop proximity. In this study, the authors implemented a GIS-based heuristic to assist school officials in optimizing their districts bus stop placement. They also estimated the proportion of county-wide bus stops that could be eliminated by this approach. Following the constraints determined by State and local guidelines, the ArcGIS Network Analyst Extension was used to identify unnecessary bus stops across the study area. The initial output was re-evaluated by school officials in order to determine if those bus stops would be eliminated. The results indicate that approximately 30% of the existing bus stops were marked as “candidates for elimination” by the GIS process. After a review of these candidates, it was determined that at least 15% of the total school bus stops could be eliminated. Statistical estimates lent credence to the benefit of a re-evaluation of these bus stops. The method developed in this study can easily be replicated. Hence, it may inspire other school systems to exercise the same approach. Additionally, the results provide a gateway for future studies in examining more efficient school bus routes with less travel time, as well as investigating how much the carbon footprint of school bus fleets can be reduced.

The Efficacy of a Living Wage Increase in Baltimore City and Howard County a Comparative Study

On May 5, 2014 Governor Martin O’ Malley signed into law legislation to raise the minimum in the State of Maryland to $10.10 an hour. The manner in which Baltimore City and Howard County confront, adapt to or take advantage of the new law can only be understood within the context of their governmental structure of home rule. The purpose of this paper is to examine the possibilities that the recent minimum wage offers the jurisdictions of Howard County and Baltimore City in the context of their home rule charters and the parameters set on the efficacy of these charters under Maryland law. In understanding this interface I will examine home rule in the two jurisdictions in the form of what Frug called a “Home Rule” initiative with the collateral benefit of “Home Rule Immunity” protecting the local entities from the interference of the legislature in Annapolis, Maryland. It is my thesis that to understand the delegation and the exercise of home rule in Maryland in any jurisdiction one must understand what home rule is. Its parameters with regard to preemption and by definition how that affects the decisions made in the two jurisdictions covered. Home rule does not occur in a vacuum. The history of a jurisdiction, its economic and political structures must all be considered in understanding its decision making process first and then used as the lens through which to compare it to another local community.

All-Inclusive Attitude

All-Inclusive Attitude

All in the Family

All in the Family

Examining Potential Residential Participation in Financial Incentives to Mitigate Impervious Surface Effects in Howard County, Maryland

Maryland passed legislation to reduce impervious surface effects and stormwater runoff by mandating a remediation fee for ten of its counties. Along with the fee, mandated counties may use funds generated to encourage residents to follow stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs). This study uses Maryland's Howard County as a case study to examine the potential participation of its residents in financial incentives for the BMPs of rain gardens, cisterns, and permeable pavers. A survey was issued to gauge potential participation of homeowners (n=110), and results were then compared to participation numbers in three similar already implemented financial incentive programs. Results revealed low expected participation of Howard County homeowners in the three examined practices. Barriers that prevent homeowners from considering participation in such practices and the catalysts that could drive higher participation in financial incentives for those practices in the future were exposed.

Tanning Industry

Tanning Industry

A Fire Department Community Health Intervention to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Following a Hurricane

Portable generators are commonly used during electrical service interruptions that occur following large storms such as hurricanes. Nearly all portable generators use carbon based fuels and produce deadly carbon monoxide gas. Despite universal warnings to operate these generators outside only, the improper placement of generators makes these devices the leading cause of engine related carbon monoxide deaths in the United States. The medical literature reports many cases of Carbon Monoxide (CO) toxicity associated with generator use following hurricanes and other weather events. This paper describes how Howard County, Maryland Fire and Rescue (HCFR) Services implemented a public education program that focused on prevention of Carbon Monoxide poisoning from portable generator use in the wake of events where electrical service interruptions occurred or had the potential to occur. A major challenge faced was communication with those members of the population who were almost completely dependent upon electronic and wireless technologies and were without redundancies. HCFR utilized several tactics to overcome this challenge including helicopter based surveillance and the use of geocoded information from the electrical service provider to identify outage areas. Once outage areas were identified, HCFR personnel conducted a door-to-door canvasing of effected communities, assessing for hazards and distributing information flyers about the dangers of generator use. This effort represents one of the first reported examples of a community-based endeavor by a fire department to provide proactive interventions designed to prevent carbon monoxide illness.

Financial Impact of Surgical Site Infections on Hospitals

Surgical site infections (SSIs) may increase health care costs, but few studies have conducted an analysis from the perspective of hospital administrators. To determine the change in hospital profit due to SSIs. Retrospective study of data from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2010. The study was performed at 4 of The Johns Hopkins Health System acute care hospitals in Maryland: Johns Hopkins Bayview (560 beds); Howard County General Hospital (238 beds); The Johns Hopkins Hospital (946 beds); and Suburban Hospital (229 beds). Eligible patients for the study included those patients admitted to the 4 hospitals between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2010, with complete data and the correct International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code, as determined by the infection preventionist. Infection preventionists performed complete medical record review using National Healthcare Safety Network definitions to identify SSIs. Patients were stratified using the All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups to estimate the change in hospital profit due to SSIs. Surgical site infections. The outcomes of the study were the difference in daily total charges, length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission rate, and profit for patients with an SSI when compared with patients without an SSI. The hypothesis, formulated prior to data collection, that patients with an SSI have higher daily total costs, a longer LOS, and higher 30-day readmission rates than patients without an SSI, was tested using a nonpaired Mann-Whitney U test, an analysis of covariance, and a Pearson χ2 test. Hospital charges were used as a proxy for hospital cost. RESULTS The daily total charges, mean LOS, and 30-day readmission rate for patients with an SSI compared with patients without an SSI were $7493 vs $7924 (P = .99); 10.56 days vs 5.64 days (P < .001); and 51.94 vs 8.19 readmissions per 100 procedures (P < .001). The change in profit due SSIs was $2 268 589. The data suggest that hospitals have a financial incentive to reduce SSIs, but hospitals should expect to see an increase in both cost and revenue when SSIs are reduced.

Assessing Attitudes toward Spinal Immobilization

BackgroundProspective studies have improved knowledge of prehospital spinal immobilization. The opinion of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers regarding spinal immobilization is unknown, as is their knowledge of recent research advances. Study ObjectivesTo examine the attitudes, knowledge, and comfort of prehospital and Emergency Department (ED) EMS providers regarding spinal immobilization performed under a non-selective protocol. Methods: An online survey was conducted from May to July of 2011. Participants were drawn from the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services and the Howard County General Hospital ED. The survey included multiple choice questions and responses on a modified Likert scale. Correlation analysis and descriptive data were used to analyze results. ResultsComfort using the Kendrick Extrication Device was low among ED providers. Experienced providers were more likely to indicate comfort using this device. Respondents often believed that spinal immobilization is appropriate in the management of penetrating trauma to the chest and abdomen. Reported use of padding decreased along with the frequency with which providers practice and encounter immobilized patients. Respondents often indicated that they perform spinal immobilization due solely to mechanism of injury. Providers who feel as if spinal immobilization is often performed unnecessarily were more likely to agree that immobilization causes an unnecessary delay in patient care. ConclusionsThe results demonstrate the need for improved EMS education in the use of the Kendrick Extrication Device, backboard padding, and spinal immobilization in the management of penetrating trauma. The attitudes highlighted in this study are relevant to the implementation of a selective spinal immobilization protocol.

A Poor Association Between Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Location and Public Automated External Defibrillator Placement

Much attention has been given to the strategic placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation of strategically placed AEDs and the actual location of cardiac arrests. A retrospective review of data maintained by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), specifically, the Maryland Cardiac Arrest Database and the Maryland AED Registry, was conducted. Location types for AEDs were compared with the locations of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Howard County, Maryland. The respective locations were compared using scatter diagrams and r2 statistics. The r2 statistics for AED location compared with witnessed cardiac arrest and total cardiac arrests were 0.054 and 0.051 respectively, indicating a weak relationship between the two variables in each case. No AEDs were registered in the three most frequently occurring locations for cardiac arrests (private homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities) and no cardiac arrests occurred at the locations where AEDs were most commonly placed (community pools, nongovernment public buildings, schools/educational facilities). A poor association exists between the location of cardiac arrests and the location of AEDs.