Household saving

Household decisions on whether to save or spend play a key role in the outlook for aggregate demand. A range of factors could help to explain the fall in the household saving ratio over the period 1995 to 2007. Declines in long-term real interest rates, looser credit conditions, rising asset values and greater macroeconomic stability are all likely to have reduced the incentive or the need to save. Lower household saving was also offset to some extent by higher corporate saving. Since 2007, the financial crisis and subsequent recession have unwound some of these factors and may continue to lead to a rise in household saving.

Flapping inertia for selected rotor blades

Aerodynamics of helicopter rotor systems cannot be investigated without consideration for the dynamics of the rotor. One of the principal properties of the rotor which affects the rotor dynamics is the inertia of the rotor blade about its root attachment. Previous aerodynamic investigation have been performed on rotor blades with a variety of planforms to determine the performance differences due to blade planform. The blades tested for this investigation have been tested on the U.S. Army 2 meter rotor test system (2MRTS) in the NASA Langley 14 by 22 foot subsonic tunnel for hover performance. This investigation was intended to provide fundamental information on the flapping inertia of five rotor blades with differing planforms. The inertia of the bare cuff and the cuff with a blade extension were also measured for comparison with the inertia of the blades. Inertia was determined using a swing testing technique, using the period of oscillation to determine the effective flapping inertia. The effect of damping in the swing test was measured and described. A comparison of the flapping inertials for rectangular and tapered planform blades of approximately the same mass showed the tapered blades to have a lower inertia, as expected

Modelling the Self-Heating of Steel Stockpiles

Understanding the uncertainty of model parameters is crucial for building predictive models. Within the field of spontaneous ignition a slight variation in the model parameters can cause a significant variation in our ability to determine if ignition occurs. We consider this problem through an application to the steel industry. A byproduct of the steelmaking process is stockpiled where oxidation can induce ignition. The resulting ignition process sinters the filter improving the durability. Understanding this process requires careful modelling and consideration of the uncertainty in the reaction kinetics. We examine some experimental data on the filter cake to determine these reaction kinetics. Due to the complex nature of the filter cake, standard estimation techniques are difficult to apply and the uncertainty in our parameters cannot be an input into the larger stockpiles. We apply a Bayesian framework for parameter estimation that considers a distribution for the parameters rather than a point estimation with an uncertainty. Using this approach we construct a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm to sample this distribution and test this against simulated data; we capture the true values of the reaction kinetics within the target distribution. Our approach uses the experimental data, and we construct meaningful estimates for the reaction kinetics. Once we consider multiple sets of experimental data it highlights some issues with our proposed reaction scheme and methodology. Our Sequential Monte Carlo approach identifies a discrepancy between the estimates for different experiments. We consider multiple different avenues to resolve this discrepancy. The most significant of these methods was to consider a different reaction scheme. In addition to this, the initial reactant concentrations were found to have a significant effect on the posterior distribution of parameter estimates; if we change these values then our distributions would not be overlapping. Additionally, we then consider a different approach to combining the multiple experiments; combining the parameter distributions from the MCMC method, we propose a new prior that contains this information and use this to combine the experimental data. This is effective at generating a new sample, though it does not address any of the issues that may arise from model mis-specification

Homophobia in Registered Nurses

Homophobia plays a significant role in the treatment of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The purpose of this study is to explore the presence of these types of negative attitudes as they present themselves in the nursing workforce. 520 registered nurses were contacted via email to partake in a survey assessing homophobic attitudes and perceptions regarding nursing care of LGBT persons. A total of 27 registered nurses responded and the resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A majority of registered nurses were female (89.3%), greater than 40 years of age (75%), white (75%), heterosexual (96.4%), and Christian (67.9%) with a Bachelor’s degree or less (57.1%). Homophobia scores averaged 27 on a scale from 12-60, higher scores translating to greater homophobia levels. This value is on the lower end of the scale, which interprets to lower levels of homophobia among the participants. While some of these scores did show the existence of negative attitudes toward LGBT individuals among participants, further investigation is needed with a larger, more representative sample. As a result, it is difficult to determine whether LGBT relations are improving with registered nurses

Cessation of dual antiplatelet therapy and cardiovascular events following acute coronary syndrome

Objective: To assess whether cardiovascular events are increased after cessation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to explore predictors for recurrent events after DAPT cessation during long-term follow-up. Methods: We did a retrospective observational cohort study. We included consecutive people with ACS who were discharged from Scottish hospitals between January 2008 and December 2013 and who received DAPT after discharge followed by antiplatelet monotherapy. The rates of cardiovascular events were assessed during each 90-day period of DAPT treatment and 90-day period after stopping DAPT. Cardiovascular events were defined as a composite of death, ACS, transient ischaemic attack or stroke. Cox regression was used to identify predictors of cardiovascular events following DAPT cessation. Results: 1340 patients were included (62% male, mean age 64.9 (13.0) years). Cardiovascular events occurred in 15.7% (n=211) during the DAPT period (mean DAPT duration 175.1 (155.3) days) and in 16.7% (n=188) following DAPT cessation (mean of 2.7 years follow-up). Independent predictors for a cardiovascular event following DAPT cessation were age (HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.08; p<0.001), DAPT duration (HR 0.997; 95% CI 0.995 to 0.998; p<0.001) and having revascularisation therapy during the index admission (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.39 to 0.85; p=0.005). Conclusions: The rate of cardiovascular events was not significantly increased in the early period post-DAPT cessation compared with later periods in this ACS population. Increasing age, DAPT duration and lack of revascularisation therapy were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events during long-term follow-up after DAPT cessation

Confucian Terrorism: Phan Bội Châu and the Imagining of Modern Vietnam

Abstract Confucian Terrorism: Phan Bội Châu and the Imagining of Modern Vietnam by Matthew A BerryDoctor of Philosophy in History University of California, Berkeley Professor Wen-hsin Yeh, Chair This study considers the life and writings of Phan Bội Châu (1867-1940), a prominent Vietnamese revolutionary and nationalist. Most research on Phan Bội Châu is over forty years old and is contaminated by historiographical prejudices of the Vietnam War period. I seek to re-engage Phan Bội Châu’s writings, activities, and connections by closely analyzing and comparing his texts, using statistical and geographical systems techniques (GIS), and reconsidering previous juridical and historiographical judgments. My dissertation explores nationalism, modernity, comparative religion, literature, history, and law through the life and work of a single individual. The theoretical scope of this dissertation is intentionally broad for two reasons. First, to improve upon work already done on Phan Bội Châu it is necessary to draw on a wider array of resources and insights. Second, I hope to challenge Vietnam’s status as a historiographical peculiarity by rendering Phan Bội Châu’s case comparable with other regional and global examples.The dissertation contains five chapters. The first is a critical analysis of Democratic Republic of Vietnam and Western research on Phan Bội Châu. I challenge claims that Phan Bội Châu should be interpreted solely as a ‘transitional figure.’ The second chapter investigates Phan Bội Châu’s near-obsession with martyrdom. In it, I explore how Phan weaves together narrative and symbolic strands from Confucian and Catholic repertoires to justify martyrdom on behalf of the Vietnamese nation. The third and fourth chapters provide a detailed account of the famous trial of Phan Bội Châu by the Criminal Commission of Hanoi in 1925. By evaluating the case against Phan Bội Châu in comparison with the research agendas presented in chapter one, I show that both history and law offer flawed ways of interpreting the legacy of a national hero. The fifth chapter presents Phan Bội Châu’s 760-page commentary to the Book of Changes, a classical Confucian text that Phan Bội Châu re-interprets as a structural framework for understanding time, morality, and the inevitability of revolution

Biochemical and spectroscopic study of the structure and function of higher plant PSI

This thesis reports structural and functional studies of the photosystem I reaction centre of higher plants. The main techniques used were reaction centre preparation by detergent fractionation and modification by chaotrope treatment, optical and pulsed electron spin polarised kinetic spectroscopies at room and at cryogenic temperatures; continuous wave and time - resolved (ns time scale) pulsed electron spin resonance spectroscopies, and electron spin envelope echo modulation spectroscopy. The kinetic behaviour of spinach PSI particles was examined where the iron - sulphur clusters were chemically prereduced at room temperature and at 4 K. A flash - induced electron spin polarised signal was observed in the out - of - phase detection channel using a short microwave pulse sequence, which decayed with a rate constant of 23 [mu]s. Using microwave pulses of longer duration a spin polarised signal was observed in the in - phase channel decaying with the same rate constant as the former and spectrally identical to the spin polarised signal attributed to the P700+A1-- radical pair. It is concluded that at 4 K forward electron transfer from A1, is inhibited and that the observed spin polarised signal decays by a charge recombination and that the phasing of this signal depends on the characteristics of the pulse sequence used in detection. At room temperature the flash - induced out - of - phase spin polarised signal was found to decay with a rate constant of 130 ns +/_ 50 ns and its decay was accompanied by the rise of a second spin polarised signal attributed to the radical pair, P700+FeS-- which in turn decays with a rate constant of 2 [mu]s. When the iron - sulphur clusters, Fe-SAB, were extracted the room temperature kinetic behaviour of the PSI core particles was largely unaltered relative to intact particles. When the iron - sulphur cluster, Fe-Sx, was extracted as well, the decay of the out - of - phase signal was slowed down to give a rate constant of 1.3 [mu]s and the in - phase signal was abolished. This demonstrates that in intact PSI particles at room temperature electron transfer takes place from A1to the next acceptor and establishes unambiguously that this acceptor is the iron - sulphur cluster, Fe-Sx and means that the "200 ns" kinetic widely reported in the literature can be attributed to the reaction A1—FeSx—[greater-than]A1FeSx–.The same measurements were also carried out on PSI reaction centres prepared from the cyanobacterium, Synechocystis, and very similar kinetic behaviour was observed, implying that there is structural and mechanistic conservation between the two species. The spatial arrangement of the redox components of spinach PSI relative to the iron - sulphur cluster, FeSx, was studied using pulsed saturation recovery experiments. The strength of the magnetic interaction between the reduced non-metal radicals and the iron sulphur cluster, Fe-Sx, quantified by measuring the intrinsic and enhanced spin lattice relaxation rates for each radical species. From these measurements we propose a model of PSI which resembles the 6 [angstrom] crystal structure and the photovoltage model, i.e. a branched arrangement of acceptors. Using a mathematical model we estimated the distances separating the electron acceptors of PSI

Hydrodynamic Analysis of the Momentum-Reversal and Lift Tidal Turbine

Tidal energy has the potential to make a valuable contribution to meeting future global energy demands. Converting the energy of tidal streams into useful electricity can be achieved with use of tidal-stream turbines, such as the Momentum-Reversal and Lift (MRL) device. This turbine utilises a blade motion where each blade rotates continuously through 180° about its own axis for every 360° of turbine rotation. The aim of the design is to harness both useful lift and drag forces when rotating at relatively slow speeds. However, no detailed analysis of the time-varying fluid dynamic behaviour of the turbine has been undertaken before this study. The primary aim of this study has been to further understanding of the performance characteristics of the MRL turbine design, focusing on a laboratory- scale device. The study has analysed both the time-averaged and time-varying torque and power output, and the associated fluid-dynamic structure of flow through the turbine. A secondary aim was to generate data that can be used by other researchers who focus on the wake generation of the MRL tidal turbine. This study has used OpenFOAM to develop a time-dependent RANS CFD model and investigate the performance of the MRL turbine. To allow validation of the CFD model, experiments were firstly undertaken in order to measure the cycle-mean torque and power output of the turbine when operating in a laboratory flume. Measurements of the flow velocity at a number of upstream and downstream locations were also taken, in order to allow comparison with the CFD simulation results, where appropriate. Also, in order to allow validation of the CFD approach against time-varying data, the motion of the turbine blades was analysed. This allowed suitable experimental test cases to be identified from the literature and CFD simulation results have been compared to these. A detailed sensitivity analysis of the MRL turbine CFD model was carried out, followed by two-dimensional simulations of the turbine involving a single-blade and three-blades. Three-dimensional simulations were also undertaken, with results compared to the gathered experimental results. Finally, the effect of varying turbine solidity was investigated with the CFD model. Overall it was found that the CFD simulations successfully reproduce the rotational speed at which maximum torque and power are developed. However, the three-dimensional simulations significantly over-predict the magnitude of results in comparison to the gathered experimental results. Regardless, the two- and three-dimensional simulations have allowed detailed analysis of the flow behaviour and structures that are responsible for the development of blade forces and turbine torque.The Kirby Laing Foundatio

Does Delaware\u27s Section 102(b)(7) Protect Reckless Directors from Personal Liability? Only If Delaware Courts Act in Good Faith

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware Corporate Code allows a corporation to amend its certificate of incorporation to exculpate directors from all duty of due care violations. The Delaware General Assembly enacted this law in response to the shrinking pool of qualified directors, which was caused by the Delaware State Supreme Court\u27s decision in Smith v. Van Gorkom that imposed personal liability on directors for gross negligence. Delaware courts have unequivocally stated that section 102(b)(7) protects directors against personal liability arising from gross negligence, but not against liability arising from a lack of good faith. However, Delaware courts have not provided clear guidance as to whether the statute protects directors from personal liability arising from recklessness. If Delaware courts classify reckless conduct as a breach of the duty of due care, then section 102(b)(7) protects directors from liability arising from recklessness. Conversely, if Delaware courts classify reckless conduct as a breach of the duty of good faith, then section 102(b)(7) offers reckless directors no protection. This Comment proposes that section 102(b)(7) protects directors from personal liability arising from reckless decisions for two reasons. First, recklessness is merely a subset of gross negligence in Delaware corporate law. Because section 102(b)(7) unambiguously protects directors from liability arising from gross negligence, it also protects them from liability arising from recklessness. Second, recklessness by definition is conduct that involves no intention to cause harm. Because the Delaware State Supreme Court requires an illicit motive or bad faith state of mind to establish bad faith conduct, a reckless director breaches only the duty of due care and is protected by section 102(b)(7)