A study of stainless steel as a material of construction for a molten salt reactor

The aim of this work was to investigate the corrosion of stainless steel within a molten salt, with the possibility that it could be used as a construction material within a molten salt fuelled nuclear reactor. Four different metal compositions were used; stainless steel 316L, stainless steel 304L, LDX2101 and iron, and these were tested in two different molten salts, LiCl-KCl-NaCl and KCl-NaCl at 600 and 750°C. Stainless steel 316L was tested for one day, one, three, four and six weeks. The samples were analysed using SEM/EDX and XRD. It was found that in general, a lithium containing spinel formed on the surface of the stainless steel, LiCrO2, with a large percentage coverage. As immersion time increased the bulk also showed signs of attack. The three week test showed the formation of five different corrosion products and analysis suggests they are a combination of numerous mixed oxides. The three week test was subsequently repeated and showed the formation of a lithium containing spinel as observed in the one week test. Further testing investigated the role of lithium in the formation of the protective layer, a LiCrO2 layer formed on stainless steel 316L in the presence of a ternary salt, whereas mixed oxides were generally observed in the binary salt. Again an anomalous result was obtained in the three week binary test, where a tabular crystal containing sodium iron and oxide was formed. Finally compositional changes were examined, and the subsequent effect they had on the corrosion layer. It was found that increasing the chromium content does not necessarily increase the surface coverage and it is likely that other elements aid in the formation of the protective layer. From the results obtained in this work it is possible that with extensive research a stainless steel, which has been specifically designed, could be utilised within a molten salt reactor

Building brands and fan relationships through social media : the case of the Grand Slam tennis events : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Social media have become pervasive parts of society and modern consumer culture. However, sports scholars have noted a distinct lack of knowledge and understanding related to their use among sports properties. This thesis, through the novel use of a modified circuit of culture framework (du Gay, Hall, Jones, McKay & Negus, 1997) explores how Facebook and Twitter were utilised by the four Grand Slam tennis events (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and U.S. Open) to build their brands and relationships with fans. A unique multi-perspectival, multi-method approach involving semi-structured interviews, a content analysis of Facebook and Twitter posts, and online surveys provided rich sources of data. The findings reveal that these events are deliberately and proactively using social media. It is apparent that social media aid in two key functions: (1) a facilitator of socialisation and emotional connections, and (2) a cultivator of brand image and brand experience. Furthermore, two unique challenges were identified: (1) providing value and meeting fan expectations, and (2) organisational adaptability. Importantly, this research has significant practical and scholarly implications, providing one of the first empirical examinations into how social media assist sports event brands in brand management efforts. Social media are shown to be sites that provide opportunities for practitioners to create a quasi-virtual brand experience, representing an online substitute for the live event. This particular aspect represents a unique finding and an aspect that is of particular relevance for sports event brands. In addition, this study was one of the first to employ a multi-method approach, framed within the circuit of culture, in sports-related social media research. The use of this approach revealed the need to modify the circuit of culture with a centralised moment of “prosumption” for future social media related studies. It is proposed that this approach would be transferable to other sports contexts, advancing the research agenda of sport management scholars

Social class and learning disabilities: Intersectional effects on college students in New York City

Purpose - Previous quantitative research documents that college students with disabilities do not attain higher education at rates equal to their nondisabled peers. This qualitative study posits that socioeconomic status (SES) is a determinant of this discrepancy, and explores how SES and disability shape the college experience of New York City (NYC) students with learning disabilities (LDs), specifically. Methodology - Research findings from semi-structured interviews with students with LDs (n = 10) at a low-SES and a high-SES colleges are presented against the backdrop of administrative data from NYC baccalaureate-granting colleges (n = 44), disability staff surveys (n = 21), and disability staff interviews (n = 9). Examined through the lens of political economy, qualitative data demonstrate the ways colleges create environments that enable or hinder student success through difference in policy implementation. Findings - Student themes like stress, identity, and entitlement are discussed against the theoretical and empirical exploration of the intersectionality of SES and disability. Socioeconomic differences are linked to variation in students’ college choice, accessing evaluations, requesting accommodations, and receiving supplementary support

Do donor agencies address the question of the empowerment and sustainable development of poor black women?

Abstract Women globally are faced with many challenges and obstacles which include poverty, disease, violence and inequality. Over the years, women through their own initiative, have organised themselves nationally and internationally to have their agendas taken seriously by governments. Donor agencies did not come to supporting women due to their own conscientiousness – rather it was because of the concerted will and commitment of the international women’s movement that brought attention to the need for assistance for women. In South Africa there are many donor agencies that provide funding for programmes and initiatives that address the challenges faced by women of lower socio-economic groupings. The arising question is how effective these initiatives have been in addressing poverty and inequality of women. This pilot study attempted to investigate how select donors and non-governmental organisations have fared in relation to their target group – ‘poor black women’. The study addressed the issues of empowerment and sustainable development of ‘poor black women’ through an analysis of the work of non-governmental organisations supported by donor agencies. The findings were that donors do attempt to address the empowerment and sustainable development of ‘poor black women’ through the funding that they provide

The Spectre of Populist Leadership: QAnon, Emergent Formations, and Digital Community

QAnon is an online conspiracy movement centred on cryptic posts published by an unknown figure referred to as "Q." Its anti-hierarchical framework and deployment of an unknown leader can be understood as a substantial departure from other 21st-century populisms that are sustained by the celebrity relationship between a leader (often aspiring to or gaining political office) and its followers (constituted in community through consumption of the leaders’ social media posts). Reflecting on contemporary debates and insights within cultural studies and digital communication literature, this article investigates some of the ways in which the spectral leadership of Q presents challenges for understanding and apprehending populist movements. In light of QAnon, there is an emerging need to make sense of populisms that are built on mythical or anonymous characters rather than on identifiable human actors in leadership roles. We begin by discussing the role of key practices of contemporary populist leadership and contrast these with justice-based populisms that are community-led without the figure of an identifiable leader. We argue that, as a populist movement, QAnon fits neither of these frameworks and, instead, has drawn on the affordances of digital media and its intersections with postmodern hyperreality to produce a new formation of populist movement today. Arguing that Q is the simulacra of a leader, we theorise the ways in which QAnon fosters affiliation and action from its adherents who, themselves, take on the role of saviour-leader

Examining the Development of a Social Media Strategy for a National Sport Organisation A Case Study of Tennis New Zealand

The application of technology and the rise in social media has not gone unnoticed in sports and has become a vital tool for sport marketers as sport consumers’ media consumption grows. This paper offers an analysis on the development and maintenance of a social media strategy for a National Sport Organisation (NSO) in New Zealand. This initiative, implemented for Tennis New Zealand (TNZ) in 2010, was conducted to provide a minority sport (in terms of mainstream media) with its first online social media presence. This study involved a qualitative and quantitative analysis of Tennis New Zealand’s (TNZ) development and maintenance of a social media strategy through fieldwork, social media metrics data collection and analysis, and evaluation, and highlights a number of issues in the development and effective utilisation of social media for an NSO. In particular applying a ‘one size fits all’ approach to its management despite the uniqueness of the sport product. Creative online strategies using technologies such as Facebook must be employed, monitored and evaluated to ensure they continue to meet the needs and expectations of all stakeholders. Such strategies include the use of promotions, ‘behind-the-scenes’ material, and constant engagement and conversation with fans and followers

Investing in Haiti’s Future: CUNY’s Partnership for Student Success

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Matthew Goldstein recruited CUNY faculty and staff to lead a university-wide effort to support the people and institutions of Haiti. A CUNY-wide Advisory Group was convened and began meeting with Haitian educators and government officials. Partners agreed that CUNY would initially support the development and consolidation of Haiti’s public university network in the regions to emphasize decentralizing higher education, promoting greater access, broadening workforce development opportunities and strengthening regional economies. One facet of this effort would be scholarship support for exemplary students at these public universities in Haiti. The Kennedy Fellow Program at CUNY, established by John F. Kennedy, Jr. in 1989, provided scholarships and career mentoring to frontline workers in the health, education, and human service fields who are attending college. Previously replicated in countries such as Jamaica and Ireland, the Kennedy Fellows program was implemented in post-earthquake Haiti, beginning in 2011. While fidelity to the Kennedy Fellows model was taken into account, consideration of national differences in employment rates and workforce development models contributed to development of localized adaptation. In-country conferences hosted in 2012 and 2013 enabled student-facing dialogue and mixed methods data collection. This chapter provides rich description about the background and internationalization of the program, contextualized implementation in Haiti, programmatic differentiation, and notes from the field for international educators interested in support of higher education models at emerging universities. Analysis of students’ perception of gender, language and academic environment are featured, as well as notes for future work

Applied Strategies for Remote Student Teaching due to COVID-19

City University of New York\u27s pre-service teachers in clinical coursework (fieldwork and student teaching) during AY20-21 will face new and emerging challenges. Developing relationships with cooperating teachers, students and families, some of whom may have experienced significant trauma during the pandemic; teaching content remotely; utilizing new technologies — these are just some examples of the topics included in this brief. Sections are intended for pre-service teacher candidates, clinical supervisors, principals and cooperating teachers. Many resources include links to citations so that readers can explore them in greater depth as they think through planning, enacting and assessing remote learning, whether it’s synchronous or asynchronous, and regardless of one\u27s content area or grade band. The aim of this topic brief on remote student teaching is to equip students in clinical experiences to be able to use and adapt resources to what works for them and their context