Digital Commons Network^™

Advances And Challenges Of Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Concise Review, Sanping Jiang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device to directly convert the chemical energy of fuels to electricity. Among all types of fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at intermediate temperatures of 600~800 ^oC offer an attractive option that is much more fuel flexible than low temperature fuel cells such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells, and is suitable for a wide range of applications. However, two main challenges remain towards the commercial viability and acceptance of the SOFC technologies: the cost and durability. Both are critically dependent on the process, fabrication, performance, chemical and microstructural stability …

Treatment Of Coal Seam Gas Produced Water For Beneficial Use In Australia: A Review Of Best Practices, Long Nghiem, Ting Ren, Najdat Aziz, Ian Porter, Gyanendra Regmi

Long D Nghiem

There has been an exponential increase in both the production and exploration of coal seam gas (CSG) in Australia and many other regions in the world. A major issue associated with the production of CSG is the management of produced water. CSG is usually mixed with water in the coal seam, to recover the gas, the water must be first extracted from the coal seam to reduce pressure. This water — known as co-produced water or CSG water — is typically quite saline, large in volume and may contain heavy metals and other trace elements of concern. The management of …

N-Nitrosamine Removal By Reverse Osmosis For Indirect Potable Water Reuse – A Critical Review Based On Observations From Laboratory, Pilot And Full-Scale Studies, Takahiro Fujioka, Stuart J. Khan, Yvan Poussade, Jorg E. Drewes, Long D. Nghiem

Long D Nghiem

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and several other N-nitrosamines have been identified as probable human carcinogens. Here, we review key aspects related to the occurrence and removal of N-nitrosamines by reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in the context of indirect potable water reuse. A comprehensive analysis of the existing data reveals significant variations in the rejection of NDMA by RO membranes reported in the literature, ranging from negligible up to 86%. This review article provides some insight into the reasons for such variations by examining the available data on the effects of operating conditions on NDMA rejection. Amongst several operating parameters investigated so far …

A Review Of Telemedicine In Developing Countries: Introduction And Implementation Issues, Khin Than Win, Nurazean Maarop

Dr Khin Win

No abstract provided.

Reviewing Or Retrieving: What Activity Best Promotes Long-Term Retention?, Paul D. Lindgren

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Research studies repeatedly emphasize the importance of vocabulary capabilities to a large variety of academic activities. This study compared a learning strategy that exclusively involved the visual review of vocabulary word-definition pairs to a strategy that, in addition, prompted participants to attempt free-recall retrieval of words to match specific definitions. This comparison attempted to identify which of the two strategies best produces longer-term attainment of vocabulary knowledge. A group of participants (N = 20) used a web-based system to take a pre-test over 21 relatively difficult SAT-review vocabulary words using a drag and drop graphical user interface. For each participant, …

Motion Capture In Robotics Review, Matthew Field, David A. Stirling, Fazel Naghdy, Zengxi Pan

Dr David Stirling

This survey reviews motion capture technologies and the current challenges associated with their application in robotic systems. Various sensor systems used in current literature are introduced and evaluated based on the relative strengths and weaknesses. Some research problems pursued with these sensors in robotics are reviewed and application areas are discussed. Significant methodologies in analysing the sensor data are discussed and evaluated based on the perceived benefits and limitations. Finally, results from experimentation with an inertial motion capture system are shown based on clustering and segmentation techniques.

Electronic Documentation In Residential Aged Care Facilities - A Review Of The Literature On Organisational Issues And Early Findings On Initial Conditions From A Case Study, Kieren Diment, Ping Yu, Karin H. Garrety

Dr Ping Yu

This paper discusses the theoretical rationale for an empirical study of organisational change arising from introduction of electronic nursing documentation in residential aged care facilities. The study draws on a processual view of organisational change, which is related to the theory of complex adaptive systems. First we review existing literature on electronic nursing documentation with an organisational focus to provide a context to help outline the research aims of the present study. Then we describe a method to explore the hierarchical nature of the work environment based on the sociological theory of Institutional Ethnography. Finally we use this approach to …

Quality Of Nursing Documentation And Approaches To Its Evaluation: A Mixed-Method Systematic Review, Ning Wang, David Hailey, Ping Yu

Dr Ping Yu

AIMS: This paper reports a review that identified and synthesized nursing documentation audit studies, with a focus on exploring audit approaches, identifying audit instruments and describing the quality status of nursing documentation. INTRODUCTION: Quality nursing documentation promotes effective communication between caregivers, which facilitates continuity and individuality of care. The quality of nursing documentation has been measured by using various audit instruments, which reflected variations in the perception of documentation quality among researchers across countries and settings. DATA SOURCES: Searches were made of seven electronic databases. The keywords 'nursing documentation', 'audit', 'evaluation', 'quality', both singly and in combination, were used to …

The Threshold Test Of The Precautionary Principle In Australian Courts And Tribunals: Lessons For Judicial Review. , Warwick Gullett

Warwick Gullett

No abstract provided.

Online Information Values For Recreational Travellers: A Review Of Online Sources In Decision Making For An Unfamiliar Long Haul Destination, Robert Grant

Robert Grant

Acquisition or purchase of travel arrangements involves an exchange of information which is theoretically suited for transfer from offline to online interaction. The ability to digitise material and ease access through searchability based on metatags (Reedy and Schullo, 2004, p 276) make the internet a potentially ideal medium for information gathering and exchange. This paper reviews the value of information sources for consumer decision making for a high involvement experience product with multiple and variable components and points to further research which help our understanding of the value of electronic networks.

Review Of Death Blow To Jim Crow: The National Negro Congress And The Rise Of Militant Civil Rights By Erik S. Gellman, Cynthia Taylor

Cynthia Taylor

Review Of Disturbance Emissions Assessment Techniques, D Arlt, H Bronzeado, R Cai, E De Jaeger, Z Emin, M Halpin, F Klein, I Papic, P Paranavithana, S Perera, H Renner, F Zavoda

Associate Professor Sarath Perera

No abstract provided.

Review Of Flicker Objectives For Lv, Mv And Hv Systems, Detmar Arlt, Herivelto Bronzeado, Rong Cai, Emmanuel De Jaeger, Zia Emin, David Guillot, Mark Halpin, Naoki Kobayashi, Matti Lahtinen, Igor Papic, Francisco Pazos, Sarath Perera, Jeremy Price, Herwig Renner, Xavier Yang, Francisc Zavoda

Associate Professor Sarath Perera

No abstract provided.

Nonprofit Funding Agencies’ Review Of Grant Recipients, Siobain Mcilvain

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

Nonprofits need to be just as responsible as public corporations. Nonprofit funding agencies have the responsibility for evaluating the organizations they fund to make sure that they are operating with high integrity, maintaining strong internal controls, remaining financially stable, and overall being good stewards of the funds received. This paper will explain the criteria that a funding agency should follow in order to affect this process, as well as how a recipient nonprofit will benefit from following the criteria.

Book Review: Protection Of First Nations Cultural Heritage: Laws, Policy And Reform, Luke Mcnamara

Luke McNamara

No abstract provided.

Review Article: Aboriginal Peoples And Canadian Criminal Justice; Aboriginal Perspectives On Criminal Justice, Luke Mcnamara

Luke McNamara

No abstract provided.

Glycemic Index And Pregnancy: A Systematic Literature Review, Jimmy Chun Yu Louie, Jennie C. Brand-Miller, Tania P. Markovic, Glynis P. Ross, Robert G. Moses

Jimmy Chun Yu Louie

Background/Aim. Dietary glycemic index (GI) has received considerable research interest over the past 25 years although its application to pregnancy outcomes is more recent. This paper critically evaluates the current evidence regarding the effect of dietary GI on maternal and fetal nutrition. Methods. A systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and ISI Web of Science, from 1980 through September 2010, was conducted. Results. Eight studies were included in the systematic review. Two interventional studies suggest that a low-GI diet can reduce the risk of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants in healthy pregnancies, but one epidemiological study reported an …

Consumer Response To Healthy Eating, Physical Activity And Weight-Related Recommendations: A Systematic Review, S Boylan, Jimmy Chun Yu Louie, T Gill

Jimmy Chun Yu Louie

Strong evidence linking poor diet and lack of physical activity to risk of obesity and related chronic disease has supported the development and promotion of guidelines to improve population health. Still, obesity continues to escalate as a major health concern, and so the impact of weight-related guidelines on behaviour is unclear. The aim of this review was to examine consumer response to weight-related guidelines. A systematic literature search was performed using Medline, PsycInfo, ProQuest Central and additional searches using Google and reference lists. Of the 1,765 articles identified, 46 relevant titles were included. Most studies examined attitudes towards content, source, …

Assessing Physical Activity Among Hispanics, Charles S. Layne Dr., Sabeen A. Ali, Maria I. Anez, Daniel P. O'Connor Dr., Rebecca E. Lee Dr.

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Title: ASSESSING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG HISPANICS

Authors: Charles S. Layne, PhD1,2, Sabeen A. Ali,1, Maria I. Anez, 2, Daniel P. O’Connor, PhD1,2, Rebecca E. Lee, PhD1,2

Affiliations: 1Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, 2Texas Obesity Research Center

Purpose: The lack of regular physical activity is a contributing factor in the world wide obesity epidemic. However, scientists are challenged to find methods by which to accurately assess physical activity performed by individuals who are either obese or at risk of becoming obese. The purpose of this effort is to provide a comprehensive review of …

Accounting, New Public Management And American Politics: Theoretical Insights Into The National Performance Review, Ann Watkins, Cecil Arrington

Ed Arrington

Borrowing from the work of political theorists Sheldon Wolin and William Connolly, this essay seeks to provide additional rationalization for the expansion of accounting within domains like the public sector. We suggest that such an expansion is intimately linked to social and cultural transitions which have led political theorists to not only question modern political theory but to also recognize the political significance of practices like accounting to political theory. We contend that these same transitions also make possible expansions of accounting through NewPublicManagement (NPM) initiatives like the U.S.'s NationalPerformanceReview (NPR). Seen in this way, accounting theory begins to move …

Book Review: Financial Reporting By Local Authorities In Scotland: Icas And Cipfa - L. Kilgour And I. Lapsley, John Glynn

John J Glynn

This short book reports the results of the first of a two part research investigation - an evaluation of accounting practices by Scottish local authorities. Part II will, in due course, consider what information the users of local authority accounts actually want (as opposed to what they receive).

Australian Federal Financial Control And Accountability - A Review, J Glynn, M Mccrae

John J Glynn

Westminster systems of government are often typified by public sector organisations which act as agents of production and distribution. Their activities may be limited either to the provision of ‘public’ goods in situations of market failure or, as is more popularly the case under Westminster systems of government, they may be required to act as direct instruments for the implementation of the economic and welfare policies of the government of the day, as in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Recent years have seen severe criticism in all these countries of the effectiveness of the financial control and accountability processes …

Book Review: Performance Measurement In The Public Sector And Private Sectors: Icas And Cipfa, John Glynn

John J Glynn

This publication comprises the proceedings of the first joint research conference of the ICAS and CIPFA. The conference was convened with three principal objectives: -Understanding the objectives of performance measurement. -Examining the mechanisms of accountability, both financial and non-financial. -The study of specific cases to illustrate performance measurement in action. The style of this short book is to provide a summary of the nine papers together with a short note of discussion points raised. The contributions to the day’s proceedings were provided by three academics, three public sector representatives, two speakers from private industry, and one politician.

Value For Money Auditing - An International Review And Comparison, J Glynn

John J Glynn

Value for money (VFM) auditing is not new, in many ways the United Kingdom is now only embarking explicitly upon a path that other countries have already followed. This paper reivews developments in six countries. The first country reviewed is the United Kingdom where two recent pieces of legislation have been introduced which have given statutory recognition to VFM auditing. In only a few years important moves have been made with respect to two important aspects of value for money: economy and efficiency. However, the third and most important element, that of effectiveness, appears so far to be only of …

Book Review: Public Sector Accounting And Financial Control: D. Henley, C. Holtman, A. Likierman And J. Perrin, John Glynn

John J Glynn

Since the second edition of this book was published in 1986 the rapid pace of development and change in public sector finance, fmancial control and accounting has continued apace. In the field of central government, the financial initiative has matured and there has been progress in developing improved performance indicators, reporting and individual accountability. The phased privatisation of nationalised industries and utilities continues. In local government the plans to replace domestic rates by the community charge, and new capital controls and possible changes in capital accounting pose new problems and challenges for financial managers. In the National Health Service attempts …

Public Management Failing Accountabilities And Failing Performance Review, John Glynn, Michael Murphy

John J Glynn

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s there have been major reforms with regard to the mode of operation of the public sector. The pervading theme running through these reforms is that of attempting to make the management of public services more accountable for the efficient and effective deployment of public resources. Focuses on how successful the reforms have been in engendering this enhanced accountability. First reviews the meaning of accountability and the different level of accountability in the public sector. Then reviews the principal changes in the accountability processes caused by the reforms of the 1980s and 1990s and questions whether …

A Review Of Localization Systems For Robotic Endoscopic Capsules, Trung Duc Than, Gursel Alici, Hao Zhou, Weihua Li

Gursel Alici

Obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, Crohn disease, Celiac disease, small bower tumors, and other disorders that occur in the GI tract have always been challenging to be diagnosed and treated due to the inevitable difficulty in accessing such a complex environment within the human body. With the invention of wireless capsule endoscope, the next generation of the traditional cabled endoscope, not only a dream has come true for the patients who have experienced a great discomfort and unpleasantness caused by the conventional endoscopic method, but also a new research field has been opened to develop a complete miniature robotic device that …

Controversies Surrounding The Comorbidity Of Depression And Anxiety In Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Literature Review, Antonina Mikocka-Walus, Deborah Turnbull, Nicole Moulding, Ian Wilson, Jane Andrews, Gerald Holtmann

Ian G Wilson

Psychological disorders are highly prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Anxiety and depression are known to independently affect quality of life and may additionally impair quality of life in IBD over and above the IBD itself. Some researchers have further proposed that anxiety and depression may influence the clinical course of IBD. However, despite the potential for anxiety and depression to play an important role in the clinical picture of IBD, there is little prospective well-controlled research in this area. Probably because of this lack of clear data, researchers dispute the actual role of these psychological disorders in …

Asthma And Depression: A Pragmatic Review Of The Literature And Recommendations For Future Research, Melissa Opolski, Ian Wilson

Ian G Wilson

Background: Although the association between asthma and psychosocial factors has long been recognised, it is only in the last decade that the impact of coexisting asthma and depression has become the focus of considerable research interest. However, the findings so far have been confusing and often contradictory. This paper sets out a methodical review and appraisal of the literature to date, including suggestions for future research. Method: PubMed and PsycINFO databases were used to search for English-language articles relating to asthma and depression research. The resulting articles were then reviewed and summarised, creating a report that was used to develop …

Antidepressants And Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review, Antonina A. Mikocka-Walus, Deborah Turnbull, Nicole T. Moulding, Ian G. Wilson, Jane M. Andrews, Gerald J. Holtmann

Ian G Wilson

Background: A number of studies have suggested a link between the patient's psyche and the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although pharmacotherapy with antidepressants has not been widely explored, some investigators have proposed that treating psychological comorbidities with antidepressants may help to control disease activity. To date a systematic analysis of the available studies assessing the efficacy of antidepressants for the control of somatic symptoms in IBD patients has not been performed. Methods: We searched electronic databases, without any language restriction. All relevant papers issued after 1990 were examined. Results: 12 relevant publications were identified. All of them referred …