State Control of Interstate Air Pollution

Global warming is an unequivocal fact proved by the persistent rise of the average temperature of the earth. IPCC reported that scientists were more than 90 % certain that most of the global warming was caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) produced by human activities. One alternative to combat the GHG is to explore technologies for utilizing CO2 already generated by current energy systems and develop methods to convert CO2 into useful combustible gases. Two-step conversion of CO2 with catalysts is one of the most promising methods. Ceria (CeO2) is chosen as the main catalyst for this conversion in the thesis. It releases O2 when it is reduced in a heating process, and then absorbs O2 from CO2 to produce CO when it is re-oxidized in a cooling process. To make the conversion economic, solar power is employed to drive the conversion system. In this thesis, a flexible system with fluidized bed reactors (FBRs) is introduced. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to examine the performance of ceria during its reduction and oxidation. Subsequently, the exergy analysis was used to evaluate the system’s capability on exporting work. The theoretical fuel to chemical efficiency varied from 4.85 % to 43.2 % for CO2 conversions. To investigate the operation mechanism of the system, a mathematical model was built up for the dynamic simulation of the system. Variables such as temperatures and efficiencies were calculated and recorded for different cases. The optimum working condition was found out to be at 1300 ⁰C for the commercial type of ceria. Finally, an experimental system was set up. The hydrodynamics and heat transfer in the fluidized bed reactor were studied. A CFD model was built up and validated with the experimental trials around 120 ⁰C. The model was then used as a reliable tool for the optimization of the reactor. The entire work in the thesis follows the procedure of developing an engineering system. It forms a solid basis for further improvements of the system to recycle CO2.QC 20141006</p

Luther on revelation: foundation for proclamation and worship

Luther\u27s struggles in the monastery were characterized by his preoccupation with a theology of glory (God Hidden; God in glory and majesty; Christ the King; human attempts to reach God; works righteousness). His evangelical breakthrough led him to a theology of the Cross (God revealed in Christ; the humility of Christ in the Child of Bethlehem and Man of Calvary). His liturgical forms, and those of later Lutherans, reflected this. Recently, a theology of glory has returned (majestic attributes of God; triumphalism; \u27celebration theology\u27 and reenactment of saving acts rather than proclamation and hearing). The distinction of law and gospel provides the corrective

Rocket injector head

A high number of liquid oxygen and gaseous hydrogen orifices per unit area are provided in an injector head designed to give intimate mixing and more thorough combustion. The injector head comprises a main body portion, a cooperating plate member as a flow chamber for one propellant, a cooperating manifold portion for the second propellant, and an annular end plate for enclosing an annular propellant groove formed around the outer edge of the body. All the openings for one propellant are located at the same angle with respect to a radial plane to permit a short combustion chamber

Assessing probabilistic forecasts about particular situations

How useful are probabilistic forecasts of the outcomes of particular situations? Potentially, they contain more information than unequivocal forecasts and, as they allow a more realistic representation of the relative likelihood of different outcomes, they might be more accurate and therefore more useful to decision makers. To test this proposition, I first compared a Squared-Error Skill Score (SESS) based on the Brier score with an Absolute-Error Skill Score (AESS), and found the latter more closely coincided with decision-makers’ interests. I then analysed data obtained in researching the problem of forecasting the decisions people make in conflict situations. In that research, participants were given lists of decisions that might be made and were asked to make a prediction either by choosing one of the decisions or by allocating percentages or relative frequencies to more than one of them. For this study I transformed the percentage and relative frequencies data into probabilistic forecasts. In most cases the participants chose a single decision. To obtain more data, I used a rule to derive probabilistic forecasts from structured analogies data, and transformed multiple singular forecasts for each combination of forecasting method and conflict into probabilistic forecasts. When compared using the AESS, probabilistic forecasts were not more skilful than unequivocal forecasts.accuracy, error measures, evaluation, forecasting methods, prediction

Further evidence on game theory, simulated interaction, and unaided judgement for forecasting decisions in conflicts.

If people in conflicts can more accurately forecast how others will respond, that should help them to make better decisions. Contrary to expert expectations, earlier research found game theorists' forecasts were less accurate than forecasts from simulated interactions using student role players. To assess whether the game theorists had been disadvantaged by the selection of conflicts, I obtained forecasts for three new conflicts (an escalating international confrontation, a takeover battle in the telecommunications industry, and a personal grievance dispute) of types preferred by game theory experts. As before, students were used as role-players, and others provided forecasts using their judgement. When averaged across eight conflicts including five from earlier research, 102 forecasts by 23 game theorists were no more accurate (31% correct predictions) than 357 forecasts by students who used their unaided judgement (32%). Sixty-two percent of 105 simulated-interaction forecasts were accurate, providing an average error reduction of 47% over game-theorist forecasts. Forecasts can sometimes have value without being strictly accurate. Assessing the forecasts using the alternative criterion of usefulness led to the same conclusions about the relative merits of the methods.accuracy, conflict, forecasting, game theory, judgement, methods, role playing, simulated interaction.

East Midlands FRESA targets project

Reviewed employment and skills targets in use by organisations in the East Midlands in order to inform the development of targets for the East Midlands Framework for Employment and Skills action (FRESA). Established target development process later adopted by emda for 2006 RES. Developed criteria for applying to future selection of economic performance monitoring metrics - especially for skills, based on extant best practice, such as the Treasury's 'Green Book'

Are flexible contracts bad for workers? Evidence from job satisfaction data

If workers can choose between permanent and flexible contracts, compensating wage differentials should arise to equalize on-the-job utility in the two types of contracts. Estimating job satisfaction using the British Household Panel Survey shows that agency and casual contracts are associated with routinely lower satisfaction. This results because the low job satisfaction associated with less job security is not offset by higher compensation or other job characteristics. Job security is sufficiently important that holding constant this one facet of satisfaction eliminates the overall gap in job satisfaction between flexible and permanent contracts