Managing Environmental, Health, and Safety Risks: A Comparative Assessment of the Minerals Management Service and Other Agencies

This study compares and contrasts regulatory and related practices—in particular, regulatory decisionmaking, risk assessment and planning processes, inspection and compliance, and organization structure, budgets, and training—of the Minerals Management Service (MMS, now the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, or BOEMRE) with those of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Comparing MMS practices with those of other federal agencies that also manage low-probability but high-consequence environmental risks provides a basis for identifying opportunities for enhancing regulatory capacity and safety performance in managing deepwater energy exploration and production. Our research finds important differences in processes for setting standards; peer review contribution to the rulemaking process; establishment of tolerable risk thresholds; and training of key staff. The paper concludes with several recommendations for how various EPA and FAA practices might be modified and used at BOEMRE to strengthen its regulatory and risk management processes.Minerals Management Service, Federal Aviation Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, risk management

Testing Models of Counselor Development With a Measure of Counseling Self-Efficacy

Models of counselor development have become very popular, but empirical research has found differences primarily between beginning graduate students and doctoral interns, in the research described here, a counseling self-efficacy instrument was developed and was used to test hypotheses based on self-efficacy theory and models of counselor development, both of which would make similar predictions about increases in counseling self-efficacy resulting from clinical training and experience. The findings include strong reliability and validity evidence for the instrument and several significantly different groups of participants that correspond roughly to the groups hypothesized in stage models of counselor development

Systems and methods for monitoring solids using mechanical resonator

Multi-phase system monitoringmethods, systems and apparatus aredisclosed. Preferred embodiments comprise one or more mechanical resonator sensing elements. In preferred embodiments a sensor or a sensor subassembly is ported to a fluidized bed vessel such as a fluidized bed polymerization reactor

Regional Trade Agreements and Implications for US Agriculture: The Case of CAFTA-DR

International Relations/Trade,

A comparative analysis on the impact of salinity on the heat generation of OTEC plants to determine the most plausible geographical location

This meta-study aims to analyse how the salinity and temperature gradient of the ocean influences the efficiency of ocean-based power plants utilising Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems to recommend optimal geographical locations. A comparative analysis of relevant and up to date literature was conducted with pooled data collected by other researchers and utilised such that reasonable conclusions were drawn on how the factors above impact the efficiency of the system. Through the comparisons of the different outputs of the various operational OTEC facilities, it was concluded that seawater with a higher salinity has a negative impact on the heat generated by the OTEC system. By decreasing the salinity by 10% the heat generated increased by up to 0.4%. This information conveys that ideal locations for OTEC power generation lie within the tropics, in regions with lower sea-water salinity. These findings could positively impact the power output of future OTEC plants and highlight the potential for new sources of renewable energies for coastal regions

History of Middle Ear Involvement and Speech/Language Development in Late Talkers

Late-talking and normally speaking toddlers with and without histories of middle ear involvement were followed for 2 years to assess speech and expressive language outcomes. Results revealed no differences in expressive language outcome that could be attributed to history of middle ear involvement in either group. There did seem to be differences in outcome on measures of articulation that were associated with history of middle ear involvement. The implications of these findings for treatment of otitis media and for referral of late-talking toddlers for speech and language services are discussed

Airborne Particles in Museums

Presents one in a series of research activities aimed at a better understanding of the origin and fate of air pollution within the built environment

Students\u27 use of personal technology in the classroom: analyzing the perceptions of the digital generation

Faculty frequently express concerns about students’ personal use of information and communication technologies in today’s university classrooms. As a requirement of a graduate research methodology course in a university in Ontario, Canada, the authors conducted qualitative research to gain an in-depth understanding of students’ perceptions of this issue. Their findings reveal students’ complex considerations about the acceptability of technology use. Their analysis of the broader contexts of students’ use reveals that despite a technological revolution, university teaching practices have remained largely the same, resulting in ‘cultural lag’ within the classroom. While faculty are technically ‘in charge’, students wield power through course evaluations, surveillance technologies and Internet postings. Neoliberalism and the corporatisation of the university have engendered an ‘entrepreneurial student’ customer who sees education as a means to a career. Understanding students’ perceptions and their technological, social and political contexts offers insights into the tensions within today’s classrooms

Analyses of Seed and Forage Production Traits in Big Bluestem, Andropogon Gerardii Vitman

Crop Scienc