Compensating for severe nuclear accidents: An expert elucidation

We present the results of a structured discussion held in London in July 2014 involving a panel of experts drawn from three communities: specialists on aspects of risk and insurance; lawyers concerned with issues of nuclear law; and safety and environmental regulators. The discussions were held on the basis of participant anonymity. The process emphasised three considerations: conceptions of loss arising from a severe nuclear accident; the specifics of the Fukushima-Daiichi accident and what it means for policy and strategy going forward; and the future of liability regimes. We observe some stoicism from those closest to implementation of policies and procedures associated with nuclear risks, but a lower level of certainty and confidence among those concerned with nuclear energy regulation

Migration of Millennials and Seniors in the Mountain West

This Fact Sheet examines trends in intraregional migration of millennials and seniors since the Great Recession, with a focus on the Mountain West. The data presented were originally published in a report by the Brookings Institution, titled “How migration of millennials and seniors has shifted since the Great Recession.

The global nuclear liability regime post Fukushima Daiichi

Nuclear liability regimes are important as they ensure that potential victims will be compensated promptly and efficiently after a nuclear accident. The accident at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan in 2011 prompted a review of the global nuclear liability regime that remains on-going. Progress has been slow, but over the next few years the European Union is set to announce its new proposals. Meanwhile, in 2015, another global nuclear liability regime, the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, has entered into force. This paper aims to move the debate in the literature on nuclear liability and focuses on the four following major issues: (1) reviews third-party nuclear liability regimes currently in operation around the world; (2) analyses the international nuclear liability regime following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi; (3) comparatively assesses the liability regimes for nuclear energy and the non-nuclear energy sector; and (4) presents the future outlook for possible developments in the global nuclear liability regime

Long for death.

Long for Death is an urban fantasy novel centered on dysfunctionality, alienation, and the struggle for recognition. Focused as it is on non-traditional and underrepresented characters, the novel contests the social structures that divide society and leave some individuals entirely elided from media. By employing the fraught ethics of no-win situations and the necessary confrontation with the inevitable, the narrative opposes cynical resignation to the powers-that-be, emphasizing that even a doomed battle is preferable to passive acceptance, whether it be to supernatural menace or social construct

Examination of the World3 Model and the Development of a Novel Model of a Multi-market, Multi-regional Economy Driven by Adaptive Heterogeneous Consumer Agents

Ever since the human race developed consciousness we have battled against the elements to bring about prosperity and health. For millennia we closely observed the natural phenomena that seemed to influence future outcomes, gradually building and refining our conceptions of reality, our mental models. We refined the process of observation and discovery with the scientific method, and from that point on our power to control our environment grew immensely. Now our greatest foe is not only Mother Nature, but ourselves. We still act impulsively, and make decisions which seem irrational. We may guiltily watch hour after hour of Antiques Road Show, instead of spending a mere 30 minutes finishing off the final thesis chapter. The tradition of model development is continued herein, with a focus on holistic socio- ecological models. The first part of this thesis examines the pre-existing Limits to Growth model, originally developed by Meadows et. al. in 1972. Uncertainty analysis was per- formed on this model to develop a better understanding of its reliability. This model is also used to better understand the trade-off relationships between common goals humans wish to achieve in the future. A genetic algorithm was used to determine the Pareto front of the seven examined goals. The final part of the thesis presents a novel model designed to allow many simulated human actors to make purchasing decisions in a self determining fashion, based on the cost of various goods. The new model simulates multi-item market- places, floating prices on goods, and spacial effects on trading and resource extraction. A preliminary version of the model is tested under eight different conditions, and the results are presented and discussed

Benchmarking to trigger and sustain the introduction of cleaner production in small to medium sized enterprises

This thesis investigates benchmarking (and associated capacity building activities) as a trigger for the diffusion and implementation of Cleaner Production. The critical success factors for the environmental benchmarking process are: The identification of gaps in environmental performance in areas important to the long-term future of the businesses; Providing and/or promoting the drivers to close the performance gaps; Ensuring business managers possess the ability and tools to close the performance gap. A program was developed implementing these factors and delivered to the drycleaning industry in Western Australia. This program identified large performance gaps for the different Eco-Efficiency indicators. The participants accepted the benchmarks (which are amended for 'economies of scale' if required) as suitable targets and committed their businesses to achieving these in their action plans. Economic benefits, managing environmental risk and maintaining their licence to operate were found to be important drivers. Participants on average reduced hazardous waste generation by 48%, improved their chemical efficiency by 30% and their energy efficiency by 9%, while individual business manager's levels of Eco-Efficiency improvements varied widely. The businesses with the higher levels of productivity and the greatest experience in the industry obtained the greatest improvements in Eco-Efficiency from the program. Furthermore, the business managers involved in the program had a significantly higher uptake of Cleaner Production in comparison with control groups, both inside the drycleaning sector as well as in 3 other sectors dominated by small to medium-sized enterprises.This research indicates that benchmarking for small businesses needs to be part of an on-going industry specific capacity building program with the opportunity to network in a supportive atmosphere. When this is the case, improved environmental accounting practices and benchmarking can trigger and sustain the uptake of Cleaner Production to improve the Eco-Efficiency of small businesses

An investigation of control strategies on gearbox damage

The impact of control on structural elements such as tower and blades have been thoroughly researched and the validity of analysis methods based on aeroelastic simulations is widely accepted. The implications on gearbox wear for various control strategies is less studied. Using RomaxDesigner for gearbox analysis, MLS and Romax have carried out an investigation where the impact of different control strategies on wear is assessed. The best measures accounting for gearbox damage are described and the different control strategies and their impact on the gearbox are detailed