Hannibal Central School District and Hannibal Education Association

In the matter of the fact-finding between the Hannibal Central School District, employer, and the Hannibal Education Association, union. PERB case no. M2012-106. Before: Clifford B. Donn, fact finder

Hannibal Central School District and Hannibal Faculty Association

In the matter of the fact-finding between the Hannibal Central School District, employer, and the Hannibal Faculty Association, union. PERB case no. M2012-372. Before: Clifford B. Donn, fact finder

Distributed Virtual System (DIVIRS) Project

As outlined in our continuation proposal 92-ISI-50R (revised) on contract NCC 2-539, we are (1) developing software, including a system manager and a job manager, that will manage available resources and that will enable programmers to program parallel applications in terms of a virtual configuration of processors, hiding the mapping to physical nodes; (2) developing communications routines that support the abstractions implemented in item one; (3) continuing the development of file and information systems based on the virtual system model; and (4) incorporating appropriate security measures to allow the mechanisms developed in items 1 through 3 to be used on an open network. The goal throughout our work is to provide a uniform model that can be applied to both parallel and distributed systems. We believe that multiprocessor systems should exist in the context of distributed systems, allowing them to be more easily shared by those that need them. Our work provides the mechanisms through which nodes on multiprocessors are allocated to jobs running within the distributed system and the mechanisms through which files needed by those jobs can be located and accessed

Performance of GaAs and silicon concentrator cells under 37 MeV proton irradiation

Gallium arsenide concentrator cells from three sources and silicon concentrator cells from one source were exposed to 37 MeV protons at fluences up to 2.8 x 10 to the 12th protons/sq cm. Performance data were taken after several fluences, at two temperatures (25 and 80 C), and at concentration levels from 1 to about 150 x AMO. Data at one sun and 25 C were taken with an X-25 xenon lamp solar simulator. Data at concentration were taken using a pulsed solar simulator with the assumption of a linear relationship between short circuit current and irradiance. The cells are 5 x 5 mm with a 4-mm diameter illuminated area

Comparison of Wechsler Memory Scale–Fourth Edition (WMS–IV) and Third Edition (WMS–III) dimensional structures: Improved ability to evaluate auditory and visual constructs

Dimensional structures underlying the Wechsler Memory Scale–Fourth Edition (WMS–IV) and Wechsler Memory Scale–Third Edition (WMS–III) were compared to determine whether the revised measure has a more coherent and clinically relevant factor structure. Principal component analyses were conducted in normative samples reported in the respective technical manuals. Empirically supported procedures guided retention of dimensions. An invariant two-dimensional WMS–IV structure reflecting constructs of auditory learning/memory and visual attention/memory (C1 = .97; C2 = .96) is more theoretically coherent than the replicable, heterogeneous WMS–III dimension (C1 = .97). This research suggests that the WMS–IV may have greater utility in identifying lateralized memory dysfunction

British local authority planners, planning reform and everyday practices within the state

Reform of the planning system, and the local authority context in which it operates, has been high on the political agenda for all governments in the United Kingdom in the 21st century, reflecting common broader international trends under New Public Management and neoliberalism. Whilst such reforms have been subject to a great deal of academic attention, much of this work has focused on central government perspectives and understands these reforms based on policy documents and Ministerial statements. Whilst revealing important contextual, ideological and intentional imperatives, such perspectives can overlook the way in which reforms are mediated by frontline professionals as they implement them. Drawing on extensive empirical data with British local authority planners considering their reaction to a host of recent reform initiatives such as changes to plan-making, performance targets, austerity and deregulation of planning controls, this paper outlines the importance of a focus on this everyday scale of governance. Arguing for a decentred approach, understanding the situated agency of professional planners, the paper concludes that policy implementation remains a messy process and that notions of professional identity and narratives about what it means to be a ‘good planner’ remain important in understanding reform specifically and ‘the state’ more generally

Healthy Homes? Thirty Examples of Permitted Development Conversions

This document contains 30 examples of buildings converted to residential use through permitted development rights. 29 of the buildings have been converted from office to residential use, and one is an example of light industrial to residential change of use. The schemes were suggested to the TCPA and the researchers through the TCPA’s Healthy Homes campaign. The 30 buildings reviewed do not provide a comprehensive or systematic review of all the schemes typical in any particular area, but rather have been provided as exemplars of the types of schemes that are possible through permitted development rights. For each suggested building suggested, the UCL research team conducted a site visit to see if the building had indeed been converted to residential use following the submission of a prior notification and any notable features of the building’s location. These were conducted in summer 2019. A detailed desk analysis was then conducted to look at some common measures of residential quality for each scheme: compliance with national space standards, the mixture of unit types, the provision of amenity space, access to daylight, and location in relation to green or open space. None of these issues can be considered through a prior approval process. This document overviews the detailed findings for each building, before an overall summary of findings is provided

Eight walks to encompass Croydon’s boundaries and history

Over the course of lockdown, one intrepid geographer has managed to complete the ‘beating of the bounds’ and discover the fascinating history of our parish and civic boundaries, stretching back to Saxon times. Words, pictures and mapping by Dr BEN CLIFFOR

Charting outsourcing in UK public planning

Working in the Public Interest (WITPI) is a research project involving academics from the University of Sheffield, Newcastle University and UCL investigating the involvement of private companies in carrying out professional spatial planning work for local government, and the broader implications of the changing organisational delivery of planning. The project is funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and has involved some joint work with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). As part of the research project, and particularly to aid the overview of current practice in planning service provision which forms part of ‘Work Package 2’ of the project, an FOI request was sent to all UK local planning authorities. The FOI work was undertaken by Dr Ben Clifford at the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL, and did not directly involve the RTPI. This report summarises the findings from this exercise