SLIDES: Sources of Electrical Energy for Those Who Are Remote and Poor

Presenter: Dr. Frank Barnes, Distinguished Professor, Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, University of Colorado 24 slide

NASA and the challenge of ISDN: The role of satellites in an ISDN world

To understand what role satellites may play in Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), it is necessary to understand the concept of ISDN, including key organizations involved, the current status of key standards recommendations, and domestic and international progress implementation of ISDN. Each of these areas are explained. A summary of the technical performance criteria for ISDN, current standards for satellites in ISDN, key players in the ISDN environment, and what steps can be taken to encourage application of satellites in ISDN are also covered

Media, racism and public health psychology

A growing literature has established that racism contributes to ill-health of migrants, minority group members and indigenous peoples. Racial discrimination has been shown to act at personal, institutional and societal levels, negatively affecting physical health as evidenced by heart disease and other stress related conditions and generally negating wellbeing, signalled by psychological and psychiatric disorders including depression. In our highly mediatized world, mass communications in diverse forms are decisive for people’s knowledge and understandings of the world and their place in it. From critical studies we know that the media consistently marginalize, denigrate and neglect particular ethnic and cultural groups. Where media do focus on such groups much of the reporting is negative and stereotyping. Achievements are ignored or minimized while representations of those groups as problems for and threats to the dominant are highlighted. In this paper we consider the particular case of media representations of the indigenous Maori of Aotearoa New Zealand. We review extant studies to argue that detailed and systematic study is necessary for the development of critical, local media scholarship. Such scholarship is necessary if the current media impact on Maori health and wellbeing is to be mitigated. While such considerations may not have been traditional concerns of health psychology we, following George Albee (2003), argue for them as affirming the need for critical public health psychology

Safety hazards associated with the charging of lithium/sulfur dioxide cells

A continuing research program to assess the responses of spirally wound, lithium/sulfur dioxide cells to charging as functions of charging current, temperature, and cell condition prior to charging is described. Partially discharged cells that are charged at currents greater than one ampere explode with the time to explosion inversely proportional to the charging current. Cells charged at currents of less than one ampere may fail in one of several modes. The data allows an empirical prediction of when certain cells will fail given a constant charging current

Chemical analysis of charged Li/SO(sub)2 cells

The initial focus of the program was to confirm that charging can indeed result in explosions and constitute a significant safety problem. Results of this initial effort clearly demonstrated that cells do indeed explode on charge and that charging does indeed constitute a real and severe safety problem. The results of the effort to identify the chemical reactions involved in and responsible for the observed behavior are described

Dual Band Electrodes in Generator-Collector Mode: Simultaneous Measurement of Two Species

A computational model for the simulation of a double band collector-generator experiment is applied to the situation where two electrochemical reactions occur concurrently. It is shown that chronoamperometric measurements can be used to take advantage of differences in diffusion coefficients to measure the concentrations of both electroactive species simultaneously, by measuring the time at which the collection efficiency reaches a specific value. The separation of the electrodes is shown to not affect the sensitivity of the method (in terms of percentage changes in the measured time to reach the specified collection efficiency), but wider gaps can provide a greater range of (larger) absolute values of this characteristic time. It is also shown that measuring the time taken to reach smaller collection efficiencies can allow for the detection of smaller amounts of whichever species diffuses faster. The case of a system containing both ascorbic acid and opamine in water is used to exemplify the method, and it is shown that mole fractions of ascorbic acid between 0.055 and 0.96 can, in principle, be accurately measured.Comment: 34 pages, 8 figure

The Labyrinth of International Governance Codes: The Quest for Harmonization

The background to this research is based on the considerable debate as to whether there will ever be one international currency, one “business” language spoken or one set of accounting standards applicable to all businesses listed in various countries stock exchanges. Governance principles are no different! Is it possible to create one set of rules or principles to guide all businesses across borders? This research compares the governance standards and regimes across the globe, from China, to the Nordic region (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland & Finland), Europe, Asia-Pacific (New Zealand, Australia) and the United States of America. Using archival data, governance codes from around the world are compared and contrasted. The findings show that across borders governance codes are very similar, with the opportunity to create a Global Governance Standard (GGS), applicable to any business in any country. The Global Governance Standard (GGS) is a one-size-fits-all regime applicable to businesses listing on stock exchanges. The GGS is not unlike the harmonisation of accounting standards. The “one-size-fits-all” GGS could potentially apply to any large business, listed on any stock exchange, creating efficiencies and ease of comparison for potential stakeholders interested in businesses. The “BOARDSS” model can be used by listed companies, in order to satisfy corporate governance codes from across the globe. Board: to ensure the board are selected carefully. Open: The make sure that the board is transparent and accountable. Auditor Independence: ensure accounts are audited by an independent auditor. Remuneration: the CEO and executive staff are reviewed, and supported by a smaller remuneration committee. Directors are selected for their ability to “add-value” to the strategic direction of the company, and the support of the CEO. Directors’ performance should be reviewed annually. Reducing the labyrinth of governance codes to just one GGS would create a uniform approach to governance, supported by government and stock exchanges around the world. A GGS would be the final evolution in the notion of governance since the codes of conduct of Hammurabi of 1800 BC. Let the borders be gone, and the Global Governance Standard (GGS) left standing as the final chapter in governance evolution

Financial Disclosure by Australian Residential Aged Care Providers: Are They Suffering Dementia?

Australia’s Residential Aged Care (RAC) Sector is significant in terms of its ageing population, which is consistent with most developed countries. It is therefore vital for stakeholders to have access to RAC providers’ financial information to make informed and timely decisions. It is often difficult for stakeholders to accurately compare the financial information of RAC providers due to there being a small timeframe to make decisions with a high emotional content. This research will enable RAC providers and their stakeholders to consider the current level of disclosure required and the level of voluntary disclosures providers in the sector choose to disclose, and whether this level of disclosure is adequate for stakeholders to make informed decisions. Information was gathered from the RAC provider\u27s annual and/or financial reports, to determine their level of financial disclosure, over a three year period. It was found that the RAC providers’ level of financial disclosure could be more consistent and adequate by complying with the Australian Financial Reporting Framework, including an independent Audit Report. Hence, this research provides new insights and a basis for further research to determine whether the Australian RAC Sector have improved their consistency and adequacy of their financial disclosures through the use of the proposed RAC GPFR Framework