Contradictions in the Representation of Asexuality: Fiction and Reality.

This paper discusses an obscure chapter in the history of sexuality, one that has received precious little attention until quite recently: asexuality. Perhaps because of this dearth of investigative efforts, asexuality has never fully developed as a discursive object and has been notoriously absent from the theoretical discourse on sexuality. Asexuality, for example, is glaringly absent from Karen Horney’s seminal Feminine Psychology (1922–1937) as well as from Michel Foucault’s The History of Sexuality (1976–1984) and Pepper Schwartz and Virginia Rutter’s more recent The Gender of Sexuality (2000). Modern nescience on the subject reflects an age-old unawareness: asexuals have received contradictory and obtuse representations in Western narratives from the earliest glimmers of Western culture. Thus, the discussion of asexuality in this paper will focus on modern-day representations of asexuality while looking back at earlier portrayals in order to provide context for the discussion. It will also touch upon common misconceptions about asexuality in biological and social contexts, such as the idea that it is a malady that can be cured or a phase in an individual’s life that will eventually be overcome, much like pubescent acne. Beyond aesthetic portrayals, one must also touch upon the human cost of such invalidating conceptions: prevalent assumptions put asexuals at physical and emotional risk. Fortunately, the asexual community is now discussing and documenting the inner complexities of this misunderstood “sexuality” quite seriously. This is done particularly via the Asexuality Visibility Education Network (AVEN). One of the main ideas that this community wants to disseminate is that, very simply, a person identifying him or herself as asexual does not experience sexual attraction (e.g. lust) towards other people. And that this in no way makes such a person “abnormal”

Terrestrial Photovoltaic Module Accelerated Test-To-Failure Protocol

This technical report documents a test-to-failure protocol that may be used to obtain quantitative information about the reliability of photovoltaic modules using accelerated testing in environmental temperature-humidity chambers

Monolithic InP/Ga0.47In0.53As tandem solar cells for space

A review is provided of progress made in the development of InP/Ga(0.47)In(0.53)As monolithic tandem solar cells since the last SPRAT conference. Improved one-sun, three terminal tandem designs have resulted in Air Mass Zero (AM0) efficiencies as high as 23.9 pct. at 25 C. Additionally, high efficiency concentrator versions of the three terminal device were developed. The best concentrator tandem has a peak AM0 efficiency of 28.8 pct. under 40.3 suns at 25 C. For the concentrator tandems, the subcell performance parameter temperature coefficients are reported as a function of the concentration ratio. Results from a computer modeling study are presented which provide a clear direction for improving the efficiency of the concentrator tandem. The prospects for fabricating high efficiency, series connected (i.e., two terminal) InP/Ga(0.47)In(0.53)As monolithic tandem cells are also discussed

PV System Performance and Standards

This paper presents a brief overview of the status and accomplishments during fiscal year (FY) 2005 of the Photovoltaic (PV) System Performance and Standards Subtask, which is part of the PV Systems Engineering Project (a joint NREL-Sandia project)

Exploratory Reliability and Performance R&D

This paper presents a brief overview of the status and accomplishments during fiscal year (FY) 2005 of the Photovoltaic (PV) Exploratory Reliability and Performance R&D Subtask, which is part of the PV Module Reliability R&D Project (a joint NREL-Sandia project)

KINEMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RESISTED SLED SPRINTS UNDER DIFFERENT LOADING CONDITIONS

The purpose of this study was to identify the kinematic characteristics of resisted sled sprinting under different loading conditions (0%, 10%, 20% and 30% velocity decrement (Vdec)) and in different sporting populations. Thirty-three healthy athletes (Sprinters n=10; Invasion team sport athletes n=23) were recruited and completed 3 days of testing. Kinematics were captured with high-speed cameras and processed using Dartfish Software. Loads of 20% and 30% Vdec resulted in a significant increase in trunk lean relative to unloaded sprinting, during both acceleration and maximum velocity phases, with no difference between groups (sprint & team sport athletes). This increase in trunk lean with load (20% and 30% Vdec) appeared to prevent athletes transitioning into upright maximum velocity mechanics, and therefore extended the distance of the acceleration phase. The trunk lean increase was related to the heavy loads and athletes were not able to reach mechanics that were truly reflective of maximum velocity (maxV) sprinting. However, heavy loading extended the distance over which it is possible to train acceleration

Outdoor PV Degradation Comparison

As photovoltaic (PV) penetration of the power grid increases, it becomes vital to know how decreased power output may affect cost over time. In order to predict power delivery, the decline or degradation rates must be determined accurately. At the Performance and Energy Rating Testbed (PERT) at the Outdoor Test Facility (OTF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) more than 40 modules from more than 10 different manufacturers were compared for their long-term outdoor stability. Because it can accommodate a large variety of modules in a limited footprint the PERT system is ideally suited to compare modules side-by-side under the same conditions