A multichannel magnetic probe system for analysing magnetic fluctuations in helical axis plasmas

The need to understand the structure of magnetic fluctuations in H-1NF heliac [S. Hamberger et al., Fusion Technol. 17, 123 (1990)] plasmas has motivated the installation of a sixteen former, tri-axis helical magnetic probe Mirnov array (HMA). The new array complements two existing poloidal Mirnov arrays by providing polarisation information, higher frequency response, and improved toroidal resolution. The helical placement is ideal for helical axis plasmas because it positions the array as close as possible to the plasma in regions of varying degrees of favourable curvature in the magnetohydrodynamic sense, but almost constant magnetic angle. This makes phase variation with probe position near linear, greatly simplifying the analysis of the data. Several of the issues involved in the design, installation, data analysis, and calibration of this unique array are presented including probe coil design, frequency response measurements, mode number identification, orientation calculations, and mapping probe coil positions to magnetic coordinates. Details of specially designed digitally programmable pre-amplifiers, which allow gains and filters to be changed as part of the data acquisition initialisation sequence and stored with the probe signals, are also presented. The low shear heliac geometry [R. Jiménez-Gómez et al., Nucl. Fusion 51, 033001 (2011)], flexibility of the H-1NF heliac, and wealth of information provided by the HMA create a unique opportunity for detailed study of Alfvén eigenmodes, which could be a serious issue for future fusion reactors.This work was supported by the Education Investment Fund under the Super Science Initiative of the Australian Government. S.R.H. wishes to thank AINSE Ltd. for providing financial assistance to enable this work on H-1NF to be conducted

Genital system and reproductive cycle of the male grass goby, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Teleostei, Gobiidae), in the Northern Adriatic Sea

The male genital apparatus of the Mediterranean teleost, Zoosterisessor ophiocephalus, consisting of pairs of testes, spermatic ducts and seminal vesicles are described during mature (spawning season) and immature (interspawning season) stages. Seasonal changes in the testes and in male GSI (gonadosomatic index) and SVSI (seminal-vesicel-somatic index) were studied during the course of one year. Thereby it turned out that during early prespawning season the testis and the spermatic duct contain mature spermatozoa already. Environmental factors of the study area and the living space of Z. ophiocephalus are described. The function of the seminal vesicle is discussed

The translation and sedimentation of accounting reforms. A comparison of the UK, Austrian and Italian experiences

Since the late 1980s, there has been a significant and progressive movement away from the traditional Public Administration (PA) systems, in favour of NPM-type accounting tools and ideas inspired by the private sector. More recently, a new focus on governance systems, under the banner Public Governance (PG), has emerged. In this paper it is argued that reforms are not isolated events, but are embedded in more global discourses of modernisation and influenced by the institutional pressures present in a certain field at certain points in time. Using extensive document analysis in three countries with different administrative regimes (the UK, Italy and Austria), we examine public sector accounting and budgeting reforms and the underlying discourses put forward in order to support the change. We investigate the extent to which the actual content of the reforms and the discourses they are embedded within are connected over time; that is, whether, and to what degree, the reform “talk” matches the “decisions”. The research shows that in both the UK and in Italy there is consistency between the debates and the decided changes, although the dominant discourse in each country differs, while in Austria changes are decided gradually, and only after they have been announced well in advance in the political debate. We find that in all three countries the new ideas and concepts layer and sediment above the existing ones, rather than replace them. Although all three countries underwent similar accounting and budgeting reforms and relied on similar institutional discourses, each made its own specific translation of the ideas and concepts and is characterised by a specific formation of sedimentations. In addition, the findings suggest that, at present in the three countries, the PG discourse is used to supplement, rather than supplant, other prevailing discourses

Justifying Public Sector Accounting Change from the Inside: Ex-post Reflections from Three Countries

Looking at accounting reforms in central government, the paper investigates how key actors (senior managers responsible for developing and/or implementing change) account for the related change outcomes subsequent to implementation. Using aggregated data from three countries (the UK, Italy, and Austria), and a mixed-methods approach, the study investigates which rhetorical strategies are used to construct ex-post legitimation or delegitimation of the changes, and how these strategies are associated with different perceived outcomes of change. Building on previous literature, possible strategies for ex-post (de-)legitimation and outcomes of change are identified. The study finds that radical change (leading to new accounting systems bedding down with accompanying new interpretative schemes) is associated with ex-post legitimation based on rationalization. In contrast, incremental change (introducing new accounting tools, but not resulting in changed interpretative schemes) is often connected with narratives criticizing (or delegitimating) the change. The study contributes to the scant body of literature focusing on ex-post legitimation of accounting change. How managers justify change in relation to its outcomes provides useful insights for the current situation when, as a consequence of crisis and austerity, new roles and relevancies for accounting and control systems continue to emerge. It is argued that for change to be substantive, it is not only essential that the actual systems and structures of accounting are adjusted, but it is critical that the way people interpret and make sense of accounting information (and consequently take decisions) is also modified. The particular challenges of achieving this in a period of crisis are highlighted

Justifying public-sector accounting change from the inside: ex-post reflections from three countries

Looking at accounting reforms in central government, the paper investigates how key actors (senior managers responsible for developing and/or implementing change) account for the related change outcomes subsequent to implementation. Using aggregated data from three countries (UK, Italy and Austria), and a mixed-methods approach, the study investigates which rhetorical strategies are used to construct ex-post legitimation or delegitimation of the changes, and how these strategies are associated with different perceived outcomes of change. Building on previous literature, possible strategies for ex-post (de-)legitimation and outcomes of change are identified. The study finds that radical change (leading to new accounting systems bedding down with accompanying new interpretative schemes) is associated with ex-post legitimation based on rationalization. In contrast, incremental change (introducing new accounting tools, but not resulting in changed interpretative schemes) is often connected with narratives criticizing (or delegitimating) the change. The study contributes to the scant body of literature focusing on ex-post legitimation of accounting change. How managers justify change in relation to its outcomes provides useful insights for the current situation when, as a consequence of crisis and austerity, new roles and relevancies for accounting and control systems continue to emerge. It is argued that for change to be substantive, it is not only essential that the actual systems and structures of accounting are adjusted, but it is critical that the way people interpret and make sense of accounting information (and consequently take decisions) is also modified. The particular challenges of achieving this in a period of crisis are highlighted

Solar unterstuetzte Nahwaermeversorgung mit und ohne Langzeit-Waermespeicher (September 1994 bis Oktober 1998)

Within the framework of this project the first three pilot plants for solar-assisted short-distance heat supply with long-term heat storage systems were built and started operation in Friedrichshafen, Hamburg and Neckarsulm. With these plants it could be demonstrated that solar-assisted short-distance heat supply with long-term storage systems comes up to the mark and cuts down energy consumption and related emissions by more than 50 % compared to conventional systems and concepts of heat supply in new residential districts using fossile energy sources. The first years' operating results are within the range of expectations. A measuring concept was developed for the pilot plants which permits scientific measurements to be carried out on systems for solar-assisted short-distance heat supply with long-term heat storage. The measuring data are used to monitor the plants' thermodynamic performance and can help designing and verifying planning tools. With a view to the transfer of knowledge acquired by the research project and its propagation in practice, a BINE information package entitled 'Solar short-distance heat - a manual for practitioners' was compiled. The knowledge gained through this research project has essentially contributed to the further development of large solar heat supplies and long-term thermal energy storage techniques. (orig.)Im Rahmen dieses Forschungsvorhabens wurden unter anderem die ersten drei Pilotanlagen zur solar unterstuetzten Nahwaermeversorgung mit Langzeit-Waermespeicher in Friedrichshafen, Hamburg und Neckarsulm gebaut und in Betrieb genommen. Mit diesen Anlagen konnte demonstriert werden, dass eine solar unterstuetzte Nahwaermeversorgung mit Langzeit-Waermespeicher die in sie gesetzten Erwartungen erfuellt, und, im Vergleich zu einer konventionellen Bauweise und Waermeversorgung der Neubaugebiete, ueber 50% der sonst notwendigen fossilen Energien und der damit verbundenen Emissionen einspart. Die Betriebsergebnisse der ersten Jahre liegen im Rahmen der Erwartungen. Fuer die Pilotanlagen wurde ein Messkonzept entwickelt, mit dem solar unterstuetzte Nahwaermeanlagen mit Langzeit-Waermespeicher wissenschaftlich vermessen werden koennen. Anhand der Messdaten wurde und wird das thermodynamische Verhalten der Anlagen ueberwacht, ausserdem koennen mit ihrer Hilfe Planungswerkzeuge entwickelt und ueberprueft werden. Zum Transfer des durch das Forschungsvorhaben erarbeiteten Wissens und zu dessen Verbreitung in der Praxis wurde ein BINE-Informationspaket 'Solare Nahwaerme - ein Leitfaden fuer die Praxis' geschrieben. Das Forschungsvorhaben hat durch die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse massgeblich zur Weiterentwicklung von solaren Grossanlagen und von Techniken zur Langzeit-Waermespeicherung beigetragen. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F99B1050+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman