Commercial Confidentiality Research Articles

Simulation modelling of grade variability for iron ore mining, crushing, stockpiling and ship loading operations

Cliffs Natural Resources Pty Ltd (CNR) operates iron ore mines in the Koolyanobbing region of Western Australia, ∼50 km north of the town of Southern Cross. Ore is trucked from three geographically isolated sources to the crusher at Koolyanobbing, where it is blended before and during crushing. Lump and fine products are produced and railed to Esperance for ship loading and export to Asian customers. The CNR is examining alternative processing paths, from mining to ship loading, with the aim of improving efficiency and reducing costs. Modifications to the system must be consistent with potential future expansions and maintain the low intershipment grade variability on which CNR prides itself and has built a strong relationship with its customers. In searching for the optimum process design, many options from mine face to ship loading must be evaluated and compared. Pilot plant studies are infeasible, while complex mineralogical interactions, competing goals and numerous possible system configurations limit the applicability of theoretical analysis. It was therefore concluded that simulation modelling would provide the confidence to take the next step into production trials. This paper describes techniques applied at CNR to simulate grade variability resulting from potential process design changes. The simulation models are easily run Excel based modules, with each module representing a different part of the process. The modules use extensive Visual Basic macros driven by Excel's user friendly interfaces. Presentation of the results is enhanced by Excel's excellent graphical capabilities. The simulation software stores and graphically presents time stamped data from a run, enabling detailed analysis of different process configurations. Final success of a simulation run is measured by intershipment variability (standard deviation and process capability) and in process ore tonnages. Meaningful results from the simulations require that the initial input data contain the same correlations present in the real production environment, between the mineral components, production linkages and across time. The data also have to allow simulation of potential changes to mining method and introduction of new pits into the blend. Mining data from the real operations under study are therefore used, with average grades and variability adjusted to match potential future development proposals. It is also necessary to filter out medium and long term variations from the production data, as this variability is best controlled through the conventional medium to long term mine planning process, not by the process design being studied. The filtering was carried out using a Fourier transform technique, which is described. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, detailed data, costs and quantitative conclusions are not reported in this paper.

Commercial confidentiality: a cloak for policy failure

The Department of Health in England is increasingly putting itself beyond the reach of parliament and public scrutiny when it makes fundamental changes to the NHS. Evaluations of six commuter walk-in centre pilot schemes published in this issue of the BJGP were limited because the researchers, despite being funded by the Department of Health, were denied access to both the contract and patient data. The Department of Health deemed the data commercial in confidence in one study and in the other study — despite having agreed to provide the data — withdrew permission on the same grounds.1,2 Since 2002 the government has argued that complete accountability of publicly-funded programmes will stifle innovation; so which stakeholder interests are being served by this latest exercise in policy secrecy?3 The background to the research is the UK general medical services (GMS) contract of 2003, which heralded the major market-oriented reforms allowing primary care and GP services to be broken up and put out to tender to large multinational corporations and new alternative providers of care [Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003]. Among the new alternative providers of care are six commuter walk-in centres, which are paid for by NHS funds but provided by four private sector companies: Atos Healthcare, Netcare UK, Walk in Health, and Care UK. A seventh centre will be soon be opened in London. The centres, located near rail stations, were intended to provide primary care services …

Beyond Equal: From Same But Different to the Doctrine of Substantial Equivalence

A same-but-different dichotomy has recently been encapsulated within the ill-defined concept of “substantial equivalence”. By invoking this concept the genetically modified organism (GMO) industry has escaped the rigors of safety testing that might otherwise apply. The curious concept of “substantial equivalence” grants a presumption of safety to GMO food. This presumption has yet to be earned, and has been used to constrain labelling of both GMO and non-GMO food. It is an idea that well serves corporatism. It enables the claim of difference to secure patent protection, while upholding the contrary claim of sameness to avoid labelling and safety scrutiny. It offers the best of both worlds for corporate food entrepreneurs, and delivers the worst of both worlds to consumers. The term “substantial equivalence” has established its currency within the GMO discourse. As the opportunities for patenting food technologies expand, the GMO recruitment of this concept will likely be a dress rehearsal for the developing debates on the labelling and testing of other techno-foods - including nano-foods and clone-foods.

A Return to the ‘Big’ Discourse : Interviewing History Documentary-Makers

In looking at the connections between changes in the political economy of the television industry in the UK and the changing form of history documentaries during the 1990s, my starting point was an alleged boom in the production and viewership of history documentaries on terrestrial television during that period. The centrality of documentary to debates regarding quality and public service during a period of marketisation, often evidenced by a decline in ‘serious’ programming, made this alleged growth particularly interesting. 
 
 But due to the 25-year embargo on the BBC written archives, the lack of an accessible Channel 4 written archive and the commercial confidentiality surrounding the archives of independent television producers I had to turn to my industry experience, and to interviews with industry figures, in order to conduct my study. This meant returning to a discourse which I had once been part of, but one which I had seriously questioned throughout my previous career in history documentary production.
 
 This paper looks at how differing working practices, knowledge sets, terminology, and my own shifting sense of identity affected the way in which this research was conducted.

Informed Consent, Confidentiality, and Subject Rights in Clinical Trials

The informed consent process is designed to inform the subject of the risks, rights, and benefits of participation in a clinical research trial. Informed consent, while not always necessary, is a critical component of ethical research involving human subjects. This article includes an overview of two sets of regulations regarding informed consent found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Titles 21 and 45: 21 CFR 50 and 56, the Food and Drug Administration Regulations, and 45 CFR 46, where applicable, the Department of Health and Human Services Regulations. Also included in this discussion are the general requirements of informed consent; challenging issues regarding informed consent; determining and obtaining informed consent in research involving vulnerable subjects (e.g., children, critically ill patients); the use of genetic information; confidentiality and privacy of subject information; and compensation for injury during a research study. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable (exculpatory) informed consent language are also provided as they may pertain to commercial gain, confidentiality, and compensation for injury. The goal of this article is to provide the clinical researcher with an explanation of the legal requirements for informed consent in clinical research. The researcher faces many challenges in implementing effective informed consent beyond the federal regulations.

CORRECTIONAL MANAGEMENT ATTITUDES TO PRIVATE PRISON DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION BRIEFS IN AUSTRALIA

Interviews with private correctional management ('operators') involved in the submission of design and construction tender documents during the 'Request for Proposal' (RFP) stage of private prison projects in Australia highlighted a number of problematic issues. These included (1) the content of design and construction briefs – in which the scant information and 'grey areas' in the briefs created uncertainty, impeded progress and caused operators to feel inadequate and unprepared (2) assembling the design bids – was problematic as operator's wished to challenge and deviate from the brief (3) methods of research - which included revisiting their own schemes, existing State facilities and those of competitors, while simultaneously adding to their body of knowledge, and (4) difficulties faced in the management of the tender bid – such as there being inadequate time to brief architects and contractors, managing personalities, protecting commercial interests in design, defining expectations, and maintaining team momentum. The study found that conflicts between government and private sector stakeholder expectations, commercial confidentiality, motivational issues and misunderstandings, adversely impacted upon the derivation of tender documents and affected the resultant product.

Guard dogs of perception: the corporate takeover of science.

The belief that science is "a driver of growth in the knowledge economy" has led in recent decades to increasing encouragement by government of the involvement of industry and of commerce in the sponsorship and direction of research in universities, and to the increasing influence of industrial representatives on advisory panels associated with the publicly funded scientific research councils. By extending the doctrine of commercial confidentiality into university laboratories, inconvenient findings have been suppressed, and both free endeavour and free speech undermined. This has narrowed our scientific horizons and compromised government advisors. It is argued that scientific freedom is a guarantor of our wider liberties. Science, which tells us who we are and how we can live better, is being distorted so twisting our understanding of the ways in which we might progress, shutting off alternatives to existing models of development. Business now stands as a guard dog at the gates of perception. Only the inquiries which suit its needs are allowed to pass.

An overview of the oceanography and meteorology of the Falkland Islands

1.This paper describes an overview of the oceanography and meteorology of the Patagonian Shelf and Falkland Islands, derived from reference material and a 16 month measurement program carried out on behalf of the Falklands Operators Sharing Agreement (FOSA) between June 1997 and October 1998. It was not intended that the referenced information in this presentation be exhaustive, the bias has been placed on describing the measurement survey. 2.Due to commercial confidentiality, presentations of data measured during the survey have been limited to time series and statistics. However, the confidentiality of the data does not necessarily preclude use of the data for future research purposes. 3.The analysis of current, tide, wave, wind and meteorological data is described and the nature of mechanisms driving the current and wave regime are suggested. 4.Offshore oceanographic measurements were carried out at three locations prior to a drilling programme by the semi-submersible drilling rig Borgny Dolphin and on board whilst drilling. Meteorological measurements were performed at two locations on the Islands and on the Borgny Dolphin. Drifting buoys were deployed and conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) measurements were carried out to determine the position and intra-annual variation of the Falklands Current in the North Falklands Basin. 5.The primary oceanographic current flow features of this area are the Brazil and Falklands Currents, which meet at a confluence off the coasts of Argentina and Uruguay. The position of the front varies between approximately 30 and 40°S, depending on changes in the relative strength of the two current systems. Current flows are stronger on the slope than on the Continental Shelf and are less tidally dominated. Although it is thought that the FOSA mooring locations were influenced by the margins of the Falklands Current, stronger flows have been reported to the north of the measurement location. Typical maximum recorded near-surface currents reached 0.8 ms−1, with near-bed maxima reaching 0.55 ms−1. 6.The wave climate was primarily driven by locally derived storms, resulting in events of short duration. Typical maximum significant wave heights of 8.9 and 9.4 m were recorded to the north and south of the Islands, respectively. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An overview of the oceanography and meteorology of the Falkland Islands

1. This paper describes an overview of the oceanography and meteorology of the Patagonian Shelf and Falkland Islands, derived from reference material and a 16 month measurement program carried out on behalf of the Falklands Operators Sharing Agreement (FOSA) between June 1997 and October 1998. It was not intended that the referenced information in this presentation be exhaustive, the bias has been placed on describing the measurement survey. 2. Due to commercial confidentiality, presentations of data measured during the survey have been limited to time series and statistics. However, the confidentiality of the data does not necessarily preclude use of the data for future research purposes. 3. The analysis of current, tide, wave, wind and meteorological data is described and the nature of mechanisms driving the current and wave regime are suggested. 4. Offshore oceanographic measurements were carried out at three locations prior to a drilling programme by the semi-submersible drilling rig Borgny Dolphin and on board whilst drilling. Meteorological measurements were performed at two locations on the Islands and on the Borgny Dolphin. Drifting buoys were deployed and conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) measurements were carried out to determine the position and intra-annual variation of the Falklands Current in the North Falklands Basin. 5. The primary oceanographic current flow features of this area are the Brazil and Falklands Currents, which meet at a confluence off the coasts of Argentina and Uruguay. The position of the front varies between approximately 30 and 40°S, depending on changes in the relative strength of the two current systems. Current flows are stronger on the slope than on the Continental Shelf and are less tidally dominated. Although it is thought that the FOSA mooring locations were influenced by the margins of the Falklands Current, stronger flows have been reported to the north of the measurement location. Typical maximum recorded near-surface currents reached 0.8 ms−1, with near-bed maxima reaching 0.55 ms−1. 6. The wave climate was primarily driven by locally derived storms, resulting in events of short duration. Typical maximum significant wave heights of 8.9 and 9.4 m were recorded to the north and south of the Islands, respectively. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Figuring out the dome

The New Millennium Experience ‐ an exhibition on the theme of time sited in a fibre‐glass dome on the Greenwich Peninsula adjacent to the Prime Meridian ‐ was the centrepiece of Millennium celebrations in Britain. From its inception in the mid‐1990s ‘the Dome’ had been controversial for several reasons, not least of which was its financial viability were it not to prove very popular with the general public. Within weeks of opening, it emerged that the Dome was financially insecure to the point of possible bankruptcy. Largely funded by the National Lottery in the first place, four extra grants from that source were required in order to keep it open during the year 2000. The Dome was regarded widely as of dubious cultural value and a drain on public resources that might have been better spent elsewhere. This chapter of Cultural Trends does not, strictly speaking, set out to confirm or refute these common criticisms of the Dome. Instead, it aims to establish the facts and figures concerning various aspects of the project as precisely as possible. This in itself is difficult to do since, for instance, the exact value of corporate sponsorship is impossible to ascertain due to commercial confidentiality, although it was quite a small proportion of the actual funding ‐ less than 20 per cent. Further complicating matters is polling evidence of high visitor approval for the Dome which must be set against its general damnation in the media. In effect, the chapter traces a complex process whereby an ambitious cultural project was beset by a series of seemingly intractable problems from beginning to end, including eventual disposal and future use of the site. Whether the Dome is considered an abject failure or an under‐reported success, it certainly did not meet its official targets in terms of visiting, revenue and sponsorship.

Commercial Confidentiality And Public Accountability For The Provision Of Correctional Services

(1999). Commercial Confidentiality And Public Accountability For The Provision Of Correctional Services. Current Issues in Criminal Justice: Vol. 11, Private Prisons, pp. 119-134.

An overview of the hydrocarbon potential of the Spratly Islands archipelago and its implications for regional development

Abstract The hydrocarbon potential of the Spratly Islands archipelago is relatively unknown and can thus only be evaluated via analogues. This area of the South China Sea has been, and remains, a region of many disputes and conflicts which has further confined the availability of hard technical information, in particular seismic and well data, to the confidential vaults of the claimant states. In addition, the authors have been constrained by the area’s political sensitivity and the commercial confidentiality of technical data. The Spratly Islands are claimed, either in whole or in part, by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan), Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia. The archipelago is surrounded by oil-producing areas, i.e. the Nam Con Son (Wan’an Bei) basin of Vietnam, the East and West Natuna basins of Indonesia, the Northwest Palawan (Nansha Trough) basin of the Philippines, the productive Luconia Shelf (Zengmu Shelf) offshore Sarawak and the Brunei/North West Sabah basins which provide regional analogues. This frontier region may yield considerable reserves, the range of which varies from 1–2 billion barrels to 225 billion barrels of oil equivalent. It is anticipated that the Spratly Island archipelago and Dangerous Grounds area of the South China Sea will become the focus of exploration for hydrocarbons over the next decade, once the multi-national boundary disputes are resolved, hopefully by negotiation and peaceful means by the claimant states. This paper presents an overview of the hydrocarbon potential of this area within the context of regional political relationships.

Commercial Confidentiality, Criminal Justice and the Public Interest

(1997). Commercial Confidentiality, Criminal Justice and the Public Interest. Current Issues in Criminal Justice: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 125-152.

Statistical Classification Methods in Consumer Credit Scoring: A Review

Summary Credit scoring is the term used to describe formal statistical methods used for classifying applicants for credit into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ risk classes. Such methods have become increasingly important with the dramatic growth in consumer credit in recent years. A wide range of statistical methods has been applied, though the literature available to the public is limited for reasons of commercial confidentiality. Particular problems arising in the credit scoring context are examined and the statistical methods which have been applied are reviewed.

Private Finance Initiative: Accounting for the Private Finance Initiative

This article examines how the context out of which the PFI emerged has conditioned its implementation. Attention is directed, in particular, towards how public expenditure is scored for the purposes of the national accounts and for public expenditure planning. The Treasury’s decision to substitute accruals for cash accounting across central government has significant implications for the accounting treatment of PFI assets. Certain important distinctions are analysed, notably that between assets which generate revenue streams from third-party payers and those which do not. The authors conclude that disclosure practices must give primacy to transparency about future obligations, over claims to commercial confidentiality.

Applying dynamic matrix control in the process industries

Advanced multivairiable control system designs had little impact in the process industries until the development of model-based predictive control (MBPC) systems. This paper records some aspects of the application of one particular MBPC technique, Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC), to three different plants in the process industries. The paper begins by recalling the essential principles of MBPC systems, by briefly outlining the origins of their use in the process industries, and by recording some of the theoretical issues associated with these systems, that are currently being examined. It proceeds with a particular focus on DMC. Its use in the control of process plants is discussed by reference to a simulated paper machine. Subject to the constraints imposed by commercial confidentiality, studies are then presented of application to a fluidised catalytic cracker in the petrochemical industry and to paper fibre recycle plants in the paper industry. The paper closes with a discussion of the benefit plant-wide optimisation systems can offer whole process plants, once MBPC systems have been implemented on the individual units making up the process.

Converting biomass to electricity on a farm-sized scale using downdraft gasification and a spark-ignition engine

The search for renewable, CO 2-neutral sources of electricity has prompted a surge of interest in ways of converting coppice willow and poplar into electricity. The fall in farm revenues and the rising cost of excess food production make generation of electricity from biomass on a farm-scale attractive. Work has been undertaken to demonstrate that gasification of coppice-grown comminuted wood and the subsequent conversion of the gas into electricity is feasible on a farm-sized scale. This work has been done on an experimental downdraft gasification plant and engine system capable of producing 30 kW electrical (kWe) and 60 kW of heat. The work has shown that gasification of wood-chip on this scale is possible and that it would be feasible to generate and export the electricity produced, although there are still problems to be resolved. No attempt has been made here to address the economic feasibility of the system, since the capital costs of the equipment installed are still subject to commercial confidentiality, and are artificially inflated by the costs of producing individual units. Economics will be a part of later work as firmer data are acquired.

Prisons: Who gains from commercial confidentiality?

(1993). Prisons: Who gains from commercial confidentiality? Public Money & Management: Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 7-8.

All eyes on the armourer

All eyes on the armourer

Review of Some of the Major Engineering Developments in the High-Pressure Polyethylene Process 1933–1983

F. A. Freeth provided the impetus for the research within the Alkali Division of Imperial Chemical Industries which led to the discovery of polyethylene by R. O. Gibson and E. W. Fawcett in March 1933. The importance of engineering in the development of the research equipment was recognized from the beginning by the appointment of Dr A. M. J. F. Michels as consultant on high-pressure techniques and apparatus, and by the later appointment of W. R. D. Manning as the research engineer in the team. They were, with others, responsible for the engineering development of the first chemical plant to operate continuously at pressures associated with those generated in large guns. The paper, which is based on one presented at the Golden Jubilee Conference ‘Polyethylenes 1933–1983’, * reviews the engineering developments of some of the more important components of polyethylene plants during the first fifty years. Commercial confidentiality and lack of space prohibits a discussion of some aspects of design.