Reinforcing Europe’s failed fiscal regulatory state

Fiscal governance in the EU is an exemplary case of the regulatory state; the EU governs member states’ fiscal and public policies through rules rather than expenditure. The weaknesses of the EU fiscal regulatory state were apparent to observers from before the introduction of the Euro, and were exposed in the financial crisis. EU leaders have nonetheless redoubled their commitment, expanding the range of policies subject to the fiscal regulatory stage, its intrusiveness into member state policies, and the penalties for noncompliance. We review and analyze them and conclude that there is a high risk that the EU fiscal governance will further increase the intrusiveness and unpopularity of the EU without disciplining member states or markets.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134505/1/Scott Greer and Holly Jarman_Revised_2.pdfDescription of Scott Greer and Holly Jarman_Revised_2.pdf : Main articl

The application of vernacular Australian environmental design principles in Glenn Murcutt’s architecture

Glenn Murcutt is recognised as one of the most influential architects of the last few decades. His design philosophy, environmental awareness and in-depth understanding of the Australian context and vernacular architecture, have made him one of the leaders of critical regionalism worldwide. His buildings not only provide shelter, but also offer comfort with lower environmental impacts through simple, yet creative design solutions. Although Murcutt’s architecture is well documented, limited evidence-based research has been undertaken to study his approach to design and how this has a direct influence on visual and thermal comfort in his buildings; this paper aims to fill this gap

The new political economy of healthcare in the European Union: The impact of fiscal governance

We argue that the political economy of health care in the European Union is being changed by the creation of a substantial new apparatus of European fiscal governance. A series of treaties and legal changes since 2008 have given the EU new powers and duties to enforce budgetary austerity in the member states, and this apparatus of fiscal governance has already extended to include detailed and sometimes coercive policy recommendations to member states about the governance of their health care systems. We map the structures of this new fiscal governance and the way it purports to affect health care decisionmaking.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/120416/1/New political economy as accepted.pdfDescription of New political economy as accepted.pdf : Main articl

Transformer Oil Passivation and Impact of Corrosive Sulphur

In recent years a significant volume of research has been undertaken in order to understand the recent failures in oil insulated power apparatus due to deposition of copper sulphide on the conductors and in the insulation paper. Dibenzyl Disulfide (DBDS) has been found to be the leading corrosive sulphur compound in the insulation oil [1]. The process of copper sulphide formation and the deposition in the paper is still being investigated, but a recently proposed method seems to be gaining some confidence [1]. This method suggests a two-step process; initially the DBDS and some oil soluble copper complexes are formed. Secondly the copper complexes are absorbed in the paper insulation, where they then decompose into copper sulphide [2]. The most commonly used mitigating technique for corrosive sulphur contaminated oil is passivation, normally using Irgamet 39 or 1, 2, 3-benzotriazole (BTA). The passivator is diluted into the oil to a concentration of around 100ppm, where it then reacts with the copper conductors to form a complex layer around the copper, preventing it from interacting with DBDS compounds and forming copper sulphide. This research project will investigate the electrical properties of HV transformers which have tested positive for corrosive sulphur, and the evolution of those properties as the asset degrades due to sulphur corrosion. Parallel to this the long term properties of transformers with passivated insulation oil will be analysed in order to understand the passivator stability and whether it is necessary to keep adding the passivator to sustain its performance. Condition monitoring techniques under investigation will include dielectric spectroscopy, frequency response analysis, recovery voltage method (aka interfacial polarisation) amongst others. Partial discharge techniques will not be investigated, as the voltage between the coil plates is low and therefore it will not contribute significantly to the overall insulation breakdown, in corrosive oil related faults [3]. The goal of this research is to establish key electrical properties in both passivated and non-passivated power transformers that demonstrate detectable changes as the equipment degrades due to the insulation oil being corrosive

Evaluating the impact of a brief yoga intervention on preadolescents’ body image and mood

Yoga is an embodying activity that promotes body awareness, body connection, body responsiveness, and appreciation of body functionality, and it therefore may be a beneficial school-based intervention for children’s body image. The present study examined the impact of a 4-week yoga intervention on pre-adolescent girls’ and boys’ body image (body appreciation, body esteem, and body surveillance) and mood (positive and negative affect) 1-week post-intervention and at 6-week follow-up. British children (N = 344; 54.4% female) aged 9-11 years were recruited from four schools, two of which were randomly assigned to the yoga intervention and two to a physical education control condition. Unexpectedly, both groups increased body appreciation, body esteem, and positive mood, and decreased body surveillance and negative affect from baseline to post-intervention and/or follow-up. Children in the yoga intervention evaluated the sessions very favourably; the majority desired to participate in more lessons. Potential explanations for these findings are discussed

ENVIROSAT-2000 report: Federal agency satellite requirements

The requirement of Federal agencies, other than NOAA, for the data and services of civil operational environmental satellites (both polar orbiting and geostationary) are summarized. Agency plans for taking advantage of proposed future Earth sensing space systems, domestic and foreign, are cited also. Current data uses and future requirements are addressed as identified by each agency

Ice Patch Archaeology in Alaska: 2000–10

In the past decade, ice patch archaeological research has been initiated in several areas of Alaska, including Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the Amphitheater Mountains, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Denali National Park and Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Chugach National Forest, and Katmai National Park. Although still in its formative stages, this research demonstrates that high-altitude ice patches have been an important part of the annual subsistence cycles of Alaskan people for at least 4000 years. Researchers have found cultural materials at 13 Alaskan ice patches. Most artifacts recovered are related to caribou hunting; however, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that ice patches were the foci for a wide range of subsistence activities, such as hunting birds, harvesting berries, and snaring small mammals. Site interpretations are based on ethnographically documented cultural practices, animal behavior, alpine ecology and geology, and archaeological analyses.Au cours de la dernière décennie, des recherches archéologiques ont été entreprises dans plusieurs névés de l’Alaska, notamment dans les régions suivantes : Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, monts Amphitheater, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Denali National Park and Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Chugach National Forest et Katmai National Park. Bien que ces recherches en soient toujours au stade embryonnaire, elles ont déjà permis de constater que les névés en haute altitude ont joué un rôle important dans les cycles de subsistance annuels des peuples de l’Alaska pendant au moins 4 000 ans. Les chercheurs ont récupéré du matériel culturel dans 13 névés de l’Alaska. La plupart des artefacts qui ont été trouvés se rapportent à la chasse au caribou. Cependant, de plus en plus d’artefacts prouvent que les névés étaient le point de convergence d’une vaste gamme d’activités de subsistance, comme la chasse aux oiseaux, la récolte des petits fruits et le piégeage des petits mammifères. L’interprétation des sites s’appuie sur les pratiques culturelles documentées de manière ethnographique, sur le comportement animal, sur l’écologie et la géologie alpines ainsi que sur les analyses archéologiques