Accountant, wat heb je te vertellen?

__Abstract__ Research of the role of the accountant in general shareholders' meetings of Dutch listed companies. See https://www.nba.nl/Actueel/Nieuws/Nieuwsarchief/Accountant-actiever-tijdens-aandeelhoudersvergadering

Solar-Thermochemical Hydrogen Production Using Thin Film Ald Ferrites and Other Metal Oxides

Production of renewable hydrogen is achievable via two-step redox cycles using metal oxide-based intermediates. Concentrated solar energy is capable of decomposing the metal oxide in the first high temperature step, and in the second step water is reacted with the reduced metal oxide to produce H2 and regenerate the starting material. The thermodynamics of relevant ferrite-based water splitting cycles has been investigated using the thermodynamics software package FactSage. The effect of different metal substitutions in MxFe3-xO4, has been explored, and indicates that Co and Ni based ferrites are both superior to Fe3O4. Additionally, it is shown that increasing the inert gas concentrations has a direct effect on the reduction temperature. Increasing the amount of cobalt results in lowering the thermal reduction requirements, but does not necessarily translate to more H2&nbsp;production. For values of x &gt; 1, the amount of reducible iron decreases, and results in less H2&nbsp;production at elevated reduction temperatures. Oxidation of reduced species is shown to be achievable at temperatures greater than when &Delta;Grxn &gt; 0 if large excesses of water are introduced. More H2&nbsp;is expected to be present at equilibrium for ferrite based reactions compared to ceria based water splitting cycles, because the degree of reduction is approximately three times greater. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been used as a means to synthesize thin films of iron oxide, which can be used as reactive intermediates in solar redox cycles. Conformal films of amorphous iron (III) oxide and &alpha;-Fe2O3 have been coated on zirconia nanoparticles (26 nm) in a fluidized bed reactor by atomic layer deposition. Ferrocene and oxygen were alternately dosed into the reactor at temperatures between 367 ᵒC and 534 ᵒC. Self-limiting chemistry was observed via in situ mass spectrometry, and by means of induced coupled plasma &ndash; atomic emission spectroscopy analysis. Film conformality and uniformity were verified by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and the growth rate was determined to be 0.15 &Aring; per cycle. Iron oxide (&gamma;-Fe2O3) and cobalt ferrite (CoxFe3-xO4) thin films have also been synthesized via ALD on high surface area (50 m2/g) m-ZrO2 supports. The oxide films were grown by sequentially depositing iron oxide and cobalt oxide, and adjusting the number of iron oxide cycles relative to cobalt oxide to achieve desired stoichiometry. Samples were chemically reduced in a flow reactor equipped with in situ x-ray diffraction. They were also subjected to chemical reduction and oxidation in a stagnation flow reactor to test activity for use in chemical looping cycles to produce H2&nbsp;via water splitting. &gamma;-Fe2O3&nbsp;films chemically reduced in mixtures of H2, CO, and CO2 at 600 &deg;C formed Fe3O4&nbsp;and FeO phases, and exhibited a trend-wise decrease in H2&nbsp;production rates upon cycling. Co0.85Fe2.15O4 films were successfully cycled without deactivation and produced four times more H2&nbsp;than &gamma;-Fe2O3, principally due to the formation of a CoFe alloy upon reduction. For comparison, a mechanically milled mixture of &alpha;-Fe2O3&nbsp;and ZrO2&nbsp;powders with similar iron loading to the thin films did not maintain high activity to water splitting due to sintering and grain growth. Cobalt ferrites are deposited on Al2O3 substrates via ALD, and the efficacy of using these in a ferrite water splitting redox cycle to produce H2&nbsp;is studied. Experimental results are coupled with thermodynamic modeling, and results indicate that CoFe2O4 deposited on Al2O3&nbsp;is capable of being reduced at lower temperatures than CoFe2O4&nbsp;(200oC-300oC) due to a reaction between the ferrite and substrate to form FeAl2O4. Significant quantities of H2 are produced at reduction temperatures of only 1200oC, whereas, CoFe2O4&nbsp;produced little or no H2&nbsp;until reduction temperatures of 1400oC. CoFe2O4/Al2O3&nbsp;was capable of being cycled at 1200oC reduction/ 1000oC oxidation with no obvious deactivation. Cobalt ferrite (Co0.9Fe2.1O4) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) thin films deposited via ALD on m-ZrO2&nbsp;supports are utilized in a high temperature water splitting redox cycle to produce H2. Both materials were thermally reduced at 1450oC and oxidized with H2O (20-40%) at temperatures between 900oC and 1400oC in a stagnation flow reactor. Oxidation of iron oxide was more rapid than the cobalt ferrite, and the rates of both materials increased with temperature, even up to 1400oC. At elevated oxidation temperatures (T &gt; 1250oC) we observed simultaneous production of H2&nbsp;and O2, due to both thermal reduction and water oxidation operating in equilibrium. A kinetic model was developed for the oxidation of cobalt ferrite from 900oC to 1100oC, in which there was an initial reaction order limited regime, followed by a slower diffusion limited regime characterized well by the parabolic rate law. The activation energy and H2O reaction order during the reaction order regime were 119.76 &plusmn; 8.81 kJ/mole and 0.70 &plusmn; 0.32, respectively, and the activation energy during the diffusion limited regime was 191 &plusmn; 19.8 kJ/mol. The feasibility of using commercially available, un-doped, ceria (CeO2) felts in a thermochemical redox cycle to produce H2&nbsp;has been explored, and a detailed kinetic analysis of the oxidation reaction is discussed. Reduction is achieved at 1450 ᵒC, and the subsequent H2 producing step is studied from 700 to 1200oC and H2O mole fractions of 0.04 to 0.32. The O2&nbsp;and H2&nbsp;equilibrium compositions remain constant for up to 30 redox cycles, and sintering appears to be abated by microscopy analysis. The average amount of H2&nbsp;produced is 280.9 &plusmn; 45.8 &mu;moles/g CeO2. The re-oxidation rates are faster on a per mass basis than similar ferrite based-cycles because the surface area is largely unaffected by thermal cycling. The oxidation reaction is governed by a first order reaction mechanism (1-&alpha;) at low temperatures and conversions, but at higher temperatures the mechanism transitions to a second order reaction (1-&alpha;)2. This is attributed to the onset of the thermodynamically favored reverse reaction at elevated temperatures. The activation energy is calculated between 700 and 900oC from 0.2&lt;&alpha;&lt;0.5, and determined to be 35.5 &plusmn; 13.3 kJ/mol. An Arrhenius expression, coupled with a first order reaction mechanism is used to model the experimentally observed reaction rates where the forward reaction was predominant.</p

Driving the solar thermal reforming of methane via a nonstoichiometric ceria redox cycle

This talk will be focused on a prospective solar driven methane reforming process using a nonstoichiometric ceria-based redox cycle. Compared to the traditional temperature swing process that accompanies solar-thermal redox cycles, the introduction of methane during the reduction step provides the ability to operate the cycle isothermally, or with smaller temperature swings, because the required reduction temperature decreases. As a result, the valuable solar energy that is utilized in the process is used more efficiently because sensible heating requirements are reduced, and the overall solar conversion efficiency is enhanced. Furthermore, compared to typical iron oxide based materials that are often used in similar chemical looping cycles, ceria has inherent kinetic and thermodynamic benefits that render it more suitable for isothermal operation where efficiencies are greater. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Effects of Craniofacial Structures on Mouse Palatal Closure In Vitro

Heads of Swiss-Webster mouse fetuses of four ages spanning days 12-13 of gestation, were partially dissected by removing the brain (B), tongue (T) and mandible (M) alone or in combination (BT, BM, BTM). Preparations were suspended in a gassed, circulating culture system such that palatal closure must take place against gravity. Closure occurred earlier than in vivo and required the posterior half of the mandible be intact and the tongue removed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68249/2/10.1177_00220345780570024401.pd

Code Banken: Op weg naar vertrouwen.

Mede naar aanleiding van de kredietcrisis is de Code Banken gepubliceerd. De Code introduceert principes op het gebied van de versterking van de governancestructuur en het risicomanagement binnen banken, het beloningsbeleid van banken en de positie van de aandeelhouders vanuit het perspectief van de maatschappelijke functie van banken. In de jaarverslagen van banken over 2010 dient voor het eerst verantwoording te worden afgelegd over de naleving van de Code Banken. Uit ons onderzoek volgt dat de meeste banken uitgebreid rapporteren over de naleving van de Code Banken. De mededeling over de naleving van de Code Banken is voor verbetering vatbaar, en dat geldt ook voor de informatieverstrekking over de invulling die gegeven is aan de principes. Om dit te bewerkstellingen doen wij een aantal aanbevelingen en hebben wij ‘best practices’ geïdentificeerd. De banken zijn nu zelf aan zet om hier in de toekomst nog verder invulling aan te geven

3D Air Quality and the Clean Air Interstate Rule: Lagrangian Sampling of CMAQ Model Results to Aid Regional Accountability Metrics

The Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) is expected to reduce transport of air pollutants (e.g. fine sulfate particles) in nonattainment areas in the Eastern United States. CAIR highlights the need for an integrated air quality observational and modeling system to understand sulfate as it moves in multiple dimensions, both spatially and temporally. Here, we demonstrate how results from an air quality model can be combined with a 3d monitoring network to provide decision makers with a tool to help quantify the impact of CAIR reductions in SO2 emissions on regional transport contributions to sulfate concentrations at surface monitors in the Baltimore, MD area, and help improve decision making for strategic implementation plans (SIPs). We sample results from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model using ensemble back trajectories computed with the NASA Langley Research Center trajectory model to provide Lagrangian time series and vertical profile information, that can be compared with NASA satellite (MODIS), EPA surface, and lidar measurements. Results are used to assess the regional transport contribution to surface SO4 measurements in the Baltimore MSA, and to characterize the dominant source regions for low, medium, and high SO4 episodes

Dimensions of Children's Health Beliefs

Health beliefs interviews were conducted with 250 children aged 6-17 years. A factor analysis of the items resulted in six correlated fac tors which were interpreted as 1) specific health concerns, 2)general health concerns, 3) perceived parental concern, 4) perceived general susceptibility, 5) perceived susceptibility to specific conditions, and 6) perceived seriousness of and susceptibility to disease. Factor scores were computed and two-way analyses of variance (by age and sex of child) were conducted on six sets of factor scores. No significant sex differences or sex by age in teraction effects were noted. Younger children scored significantly higher on "specific health concerns"and "perceived general susceptibility,"while older children scored significantly higher on "perceived parental concern. " Tests of differences among variances showed a tendency for the variability to be greater among younger children. The results are interpreted as pro viding partial support for a model of children's health beliefs and as a basis for further operationalization of concepts which are central to an understand ing of motivated health behavior. Implications for practice are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66657/2/10.1177_109019818000700304.pd

Pearls and perils of an implantable defibrillator trial using a common control: implications for the design of future studies

Abstract Aims Implantable defibrillators are considered life-saving therapy in heart failure (CHF) patients. Surprisingly, the recent Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) reached an opposing conclusion from that of numerous other trials about their survival benefit in patients with advanced CHF. A critical analysis of common control trial design may explain this paradoxical finding, with important implications for future studies. Methods and Results Common control trials compare several intervention groups to a single rather than separate control groups. Though potentially requiring fewer patients than trials using separate controls, variation in the common control group will influence all comparisons and creates correlations between findings. During subgroup analyses, this dependency of outcomes may increase belief in the presence of a real subgroup effect when, in fact, it should increase skepticism. For example, a high (r = 0.92), statistically unlikely (p = 0.052) correlation between comparisons was observed across the subgroups reported in SCD-HeFT. Such concordance between amiodarone and a defibrillator across subgroups was unexpected, given how much the effects of these treatments significantly differed from one another in the main study. This suggests the study's subgroup findings (specifically the absence of benefit from defibrillators in advanced CHF) were not necessarily a consequence of treatment; more likely, they resulted from variation in what the treatments were compared against, the common control. Conclusion Common control trials can be more efficient than other designs, but induce dependence between treatment comparisons and require cautious interpretation.</p

The impact of health insurance on cancer care in disadvantaged communities

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136387/1/cncr30431.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136387/2/cncr30431_am.pd