Countering the Norm, (Re)authoring Our Lives: The Promise Counterstorytelling Holds as a Research Methodology With LGBTQ Youth and Beyond

Counterstorytelling, a methodology that is rooted in critical race theory, is undergirded by principles that are beneficial to understanding the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified (LGBTQ) young people from an intersectional perspective. Counterstorytelling holds promise as a method that creates opportunities for individual transformation and resistance to dominant narratives among young people facing systemic oppression. This article outlines the design and implementation of a counterstorytelling study with LGBTQ youth and reflects on the value and associated challenges of counterstorytelling as a participatory research method

A unified analysis of executive pay: the case of the banking industry

This study examines executive compensation determinants in the U.S. banking industry. Multiple theories of executive pay are discussed and tested using a relatively homogenous sample. We perform an in-depth look at the corporate governance and ownership structure of the companies selected. We explore the simultaneous relationship between compensation, firm performance, and board strength, exploiting variables unique to the banking industry. Our primary finding is that after controlling for both regulatory oversight and external market discipline, a strong board is associated with higher firm performance and lower levels of executive pay, consistent with such a board of directors providing a strong monitoring function.Executives - Salaries

Development of models for the sodium version of the two-phase three dimensional thermal hydraulics code THERMIT

Several different models and correlations were developed and incorporated in the sodium version of THERMIT, a thermal- hydraulics code written at MIT for the purpose of analyzing transients under LMFBR conditions. This includes: a mechanism for the inclusion of radial heat conduction in the sodium coolant as well as radial heat loss to the structure surrounding the test section. The fuel rod conduction scheme was modified to allow for more flexibility in modelling the gas plenum regions and fuel restructuring. The formulas for mass and momentum exchange between the liquid and vapor phases were improved. The single phase and two phase friction factors were replaced by correlations more appropriate to LMFBR assembly geometry. The models incorporated in THERMIT were tested by running the code to simulate the results of the THORS Bundle 6A experiments performed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The results demonstrate the increased accuracy provided by the inclusion of these effects."Sponsored by U.S Department of Energy, General Electric Co. and Hanford Engineering Development Laboratory.

LRS-II: A Specialized Knowledge System For Launch Resource Scheduling

This research used the Level 5 expert system software to develop a specialized knowledge system called the Launch Resource Scheduling system (LRS-II). LRS-II will be used as a decision aid by USSPACECOM to determine if there is sufficient launch capability to meet future satellite requirements and to quickly assess the impact of contingencies such as launch or on-orbit failures. LRS-II uses multiple knowledge bases to match satellite launch requirements to available launch vehicles, launch pads, and upper stages. Specialized knowledge about resources are stored in dBase III files, specific fields of the satellite record records to schedule the earliest launch requirement. During manifesting, the constraints of satellite and resource availability, site processing time, shuttle mission duration, and satellite on-orbit checkout time are used to insure the selected launch date is accurate

Role of life cycle assessment in sustainable aquaculture

As an alternative food source to wild fisheries, aquaculture shows a great potential to help meet the growing demand for seafood and animal protein. The expansion of aquaculture has been achieved partly by system intensification, which has drawn vast criticisms of aquaculture for its environmental, social and economic sustainability issues. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has become the leading tool for identifying key environmental impacts of seafood production systems. A LCA evaluates the sustainability of diverse aquaculture systems quantitatively from a cradle‐to‐grave perspective. It provides a scientific basis for analysing system improvement and the development of certification and eco‐labelling criteria. Current efforts focus on integrating local ecological and socio‐economic impacts into the LCA framework. A LCA can play an important role in informing decision makers in order to achieve more sustainable seafood production and consumption. This article reviews recent applications of LCA in aquaculture, compares the environmental performance of different aquaculture production systems, explores the potential of including biodiversity issues into LCA analysis and examines the potential of LCA in setting criteria for certification and eco‐labelling.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98772/1/raq1080.pd