Report Of Board Research Articles

IDPC Response to the 2010 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board

IDPC Response to the 2010 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board

Visual modes of governmentality: Traffic lights in a housing association

This study focuses on the use of traffic lights by a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) as a visual representation of self conduct that reflects a way of thinking, acting and constituting a ‘well governed, well managed and viable’ housing association. We show that the visible representation of traffic lights introduced by the regulator as indicators of performance has been used widely by the RSL to reflect two self-imposed principles of continuous improvement and self assessment. In this context the different accounts of governmentality within the RSLs board reports are studied and some significant insights suggested.

Fetal Fibronectin: What Does It Mean?

LIKE MANY STAFF NURSES AND neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs), I work at two different hospitals as part of my full-time job and at a third hospital in a PRN position. Working at several different institutions affords the opportunity for multiple and varied learning experiences. One of the hospitals is a busy center for high-risk labor and delivery. As part of the NNP duties there, I attend board report three times per day. This entails a detailed discussion of all women in labor and delivery, primarily focusing on the high-risk patients. Fetal fibronectin (fFN) is a common topic of discussion during board report. I thought that fFN helped the perinatologist determine whether or not the woman was in labor and in imminent danger of delivery, but that was all I knew. Like other authors of articles in this column, I used my knowledge deficit as the impetus to research this topic. Therefore, this column briefly discusses the burden of preterm delivery and the methods used to identify women at risk for preterm birth. It focuses specifically on fFN: what it is, how it is measured, what the test means, and the predictive value of the test.

Technical Note on Synchronized Approval of Flexible Credit Lines for Multiple Countries

As foreshadowed in the Executive Board Report to the IMFC on the Fund’s Mandate, this technical note sketches the procedures under which synchronized approval of Flexible Credit Line (FCL) arrangements for multiple member countries could be undertaken under the existing FCL Decision and other Fund policies.1 When multiple members face the same shock, synchronized approval of FCL arrangements could strengthen the effectiveness of the response to the common shock and minimize first-mover problems. This technical note neither modifies existing Fund policies, nor establishes a new financing instrument.

The Development and Efficacy of Safety Training for Commercial Fishermen

ABSTRACT Commercial fishing is still the most dangerous occupation in the United States. Efforts to have more stringent safety regulations in this industry beginning in the 1960s, culminated in the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Act of 1988. The purpose of this paper is to provide a short history of the development of safety training in the United States and the current training infrastructure. This paper will also review studies available regarding the effectiveness of safety training in reducing fatalities among fishermen. The lack of familiarity and practice with marine survival equipment such as life rafts, immersion suits, and emergency-locating beacons has been noted in National Transportation Safety Board and US Coast Guard casualty reports as a contributing factor in fatalities. These reports have demonstrated the importance of not just having survival equipment onboard, but training in how to use it effectively in an emergency. There is evidence that safety training has made a measurable impact in surviving an emergency at sea and that recent training (within 5 years) is most effective in saving lives. More recently, studies have been completed to understand how skills may diminish over time since initial training.

REPORT OF EDITORIAL BOARD OF AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, 30th JUNE, 1969

REPORT OF EDITORIAL BOARD OF AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, 30th JUNE, 1969

2010 Annual General Meeting – Executive Board Report

This EB has been in office for a relatively short time. Its election towards the end of last year was somewhat unusual, in the sense that only its Secretary remained on the Board – most of its members are thus new. This has therefore been a period of change, and a learning process for us all. At the same time, the global bioinformatics landscape is also changing. We therefore felt that the 2010 AGM would provide an ideal opportunity to examine those changes, to consider EMBnet’s position within this evolving landscape and to explore its aspirations and motivations, moving forward.

Executive Board Report to the IMFC on Quota and Governance Reforms

Since the IMFC last met in April, the Executive Board has taken up the full range of quota and other governance reforms. While there has been some movement on the many complex issues, discussions have been inconclusive, and no proposal has been able to command broad support. The concluding remarks that sum up these meetings lay out the various positions taken by members of the Board (attached). The debate is continuing, and we hope to make progress on finding the possible elements of a compromise acceptable to the membership.

The Forgotten Ones: Maternal Abusers and their Victims: a Pilot Study

This paper analyses the phenomenon of mothers who sexually abuse their children, most specifically their sons. It defines the term Maternal Abuse, offers a review of the contemporary academic discourse on female sexual abusers, and presents a quantitative study of maternal abuse in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which appears to show that the existing statistics from Health Board and ISPCC reports (SEHB Section 8 Report, 1997; ISPCC National Report, 1997) significantly underestimate it's prevelence. It concludes by suggesting that though Ireland is considerably more aware of the phenomenon of sexual abuse than in the past, but that the incidence of this particular type of abuse is poorly recognised by the child protection and welfare authorities. Introduction. For the purpose of this paper maternal abuse (hereafter referred to as MA) will be defined as: the physical, psychological and emotionally damaging misuse of children for the sexual gratification of their mother. While this definition is certainly broad, it is purposefully so. A definition was required which would encompass all sexual acts which are abusive and damaging to a child.

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute's education and public outreach program: Working toward a global 21st century space exploration society

Space Exploration educators worldwide are confronting challenges and embracing opportunities to prepare students for the global 21st century workforce. The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), established in 1997 through a NASA competition, is a 12-university consortium dedicated to space life science research and education. NSBRI's Education and Public Outreach Program (EPOP) is advancing the Institute's mission by responding to global educational challenges through activities that: provide teacher professional development; develop curricula that teach students to communicate with their peers across the globe; provide women and minority US populations with greater access to, and awareness of science careers; and promote international science education partnerships. A recent National Research Council (NRC) Space Studies Board Report, America's Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Program with National Needs, acknowledges that “a capable workforce for the 21st century is a key strategic objective for the US space program… (and that) US problems requiring best efforts to understand and resolve…are global in nature and must be addressed through mutual worldwide action”. [1] This sentiment has gained new momentum through a recent National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) report, which recommends that the life of the International Space Station be extended beyond the planned 2016 termination. [2] The two principles of globalization and ISS utility have elevated NSBRI EPOP efforts to design and disseminate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational materials that prepare students for full participation in a globalized, high technology society; promote and provide teacher professional development; create research opportunities for women and underserved populations; and build international educational partnerships. This paper describes select EPOP projects and makes the case for using innovative, emerging information technologies to transfer space exploration knowledge to students, engage educators from across the globe in discourse about science curricula, and foster multimedia collaborations that inform citizens about the benefits of space exploration for life on Earth. Special references are made to educational activities conducted at professional meetings in Austria, Canada, France, China, Greece, Italy, Russia, Scotland and Spain.

Response to the 2009 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board

Response to the 2009 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board

Studying decision processes via a knowledge management lens: The Columbia space shuttle case

While the role of knowledge management (KM) for decision support is well acknowledged, there is a gap between existing KM theory and actual KM practice in real-life decision-making. This paper aims to illustrate this gap by studying the report of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, focusing on diagnosed pre-explosion problems in decision-making processes, and prescribed post-explosion recommendations. The paper's research contribution is two-fold: 1) consolidating two KM frameworks to one research tool, to serve as lens for studying decision-making processes and 2) providing convincing evidence regarding the role of the KM perspective in organizational decision-making processes.

Being heard at board level

The Burdett Trust for Nursing’s From Ward to Board report, which was drawn up by The King’s Fund and is highlighted in this month’s issue of Nursing Management (page 6), claims that nurses are not being heard at board level when trying to raise quality issues.

Table of Contents

Abstract Cover Story Create a comprehensive retention plan to protect your revenue stream Protect revenue with a comprehensive retention plan Understand 6 factors that foster student persistence Idea File Encourage entering students to visit your Web site Review College Board report advocating for DREAM Act Form partnerships with industries to train workers they need Provide various credential levels to help students achieve goals sooner Strategies For Success Are you ready to tweet? Take 5 to get started using Twitter Financial Aid Financial aid officials propose overhaul of federal aid system NASFAA proposes comprehensive overhaul of aid delivery Strategic Planning Improve services by learning from data in your system Define problems so that you can solve them Managing Your Office Avoid common problems to improve team effectiveness Establish team guidelines up front Build your team with these steps Lawsuits & Rulings GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES Inadequate grievance procedures spell trouble for health institute FERPA Student cannot force college to recalculate GPA POLICIES University must provide certified transcript to student debtor Leaders & Innovators JOHN BARNHILL, ASSISTANT VP FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Intentional messages help boost access, success Consistent communication helps control fear about budget cuts

Executive Board Report to the IMFC on Reform of Fund Governance

This paper responds to the request in the April 2009 IMFC communiqué for the Executive Board to report on governance reform. The current crisis has shown that the Fund’s decision-making structures can deliver the kind of innovative and rapid responses the membership needs and expects. Even so, there is an undercurrent of doubt about the future, reflecting the perception that much of the recent responsiveness has been driven by outside forces (e.g., the G-20) and that, once the crisis fades, old dissatisfactions with vote, voice and process will resurface to undermine the political backing that has been key to the Fund’s renewal. Hence, the IMFC’s interest in reforms to underpin the institution’s legitimacy and effectiveness is important and timely. This report focuses on five areas: fair quota share; high-level engagement; effective decision-making and representation at the Executive Board; open selection of management (and, more broadly, staff diversity); and updating of the Fund’s mandate.

CHOPS Without Sand

Abstract Heavy oil producers in Canada have adopted the primary production strategy of encouraging sand production in a process commonly know as Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand (CHOPS). While this technique yields economic oil rates, the production of sand introduces many other operating costs and prevents the implementation of technologies, such as gathering lines, that are not compatible with massive sand production. A new concept has been proposed that takes advantage of the reservoir processes of CHOPS but removes most of the extra operating costs and barriers to technology associated with sand production. This paper discusses the new process, how it could benefit heavy oil production operations and the technical challenges that need to be addressed before this concept can be implemented. Introduction The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board reports that Alberta has approximately 260 million cubic metres of remaining established reserves of heavy oil that are accessible by primary production(1). Cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) is currently one of the key production techniques being used to develop these reserves. Heavy oil producers in Western Canada have generally accepted the notion that non-thermal heavy oil production is not economically feasible without allowing, and often promoting, sand production. This operating strategy led to operators producing as much as 500,000 m3 of sand per year(2). Handling and disposal costs for this by-product of oil production normally exceeds C$100/m3. In addition, workovers on producing wells due to sand accumulation in the wellbore and downhole pumps and increased wear due to the presence of sand in the produced fluids routinely accounts for over 25% of heavy oil operating costs (based on information provided by Pengrowth Corporation). Produced sand generally requires special handling facilities, separation equipment and some method of ultimate disposal. Many operators currently dispose of the produced sand in salt caverns. Some of these caverns were initially used for liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon storage, while more recently, some operators and service companies have constructed caverns expressly for produced sand disposal. The current production technique of CHOPS, however, requires the sand to be pumped to the surface, separated in surface tanks, trucked to a central facility, stockpiled and finally injected into the salt cavern. This process is expensive and increases the risks related to safety and environmental mishaps due to increased handling and transportation of sand over potentially long distances and prolonged surface storage. The present method of producing heavy oil uses lease storage tanks for collecting produced fluids from either single or small groups of wells. In most cases, these lease tanks are open to the atmosphere. While significant quantities of solution gas, principally methane, are produced, this gas is generally allowed to vent to the atmosphere. Measurements of the gas vented from heavy oil wells in Western Canada by New Paradigm Engineering(4) indicate that the volume of gas produced is likely on the order of 700 m3/day per well. Reducing this volume of vented 'greenhouse gas' has become one of the more prominent mandates of the oil industry and governments as a whole.

Response to the 2008 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board

Response to the 2008 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board

Informatics and integrated computational materials engineering: Part II

This issue of JOM presents the second in a twopart series on materials informatics. In the previous issue (March 2008), some of the basic concepts of what constitutes informatics were introduced. In this issue, we continue that theme with papers that serve to emphasize the diversity of topics that encompass the fi eld of informatics. The timing of the publication of these JOM topics on materials informatics coincides with the issuing of a report of the National Materials Advisory Board on Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME). This report defi nes that information as including “curated data sets, structure-property models, processing-structure relationships, physical properties and thermodynamic, kinetic and structural information.” It provides a good summary of the needs, status, and challenges Informatics and Integrated Computational Materials Engineering: Part II

Corporate governance and information society

Information and communication technologies are an important cohesive factor in developing global economy and binding up capital markets. Corporate governance has its place in the process of creation of new capital flows. Financial instrument markets are connected in their existence with relevant information and their dissemination, so that information technologies contribute to the efficiency of their organization and functioning. By its nature, technological changes, which influence the market, encourage the change of structure and processes which make the system of corporate governance. Application of new technologies helps easier problem solution regarding numerous corporate governance issues such as: rational apathy of shareholders, principal-agent problem, transparency, information transfer, etc. The application of technology within a public company should help in distribution of corporate power and contribute to balance of numerous divergent interests within a company, which is very important in terms of achieving primary goal – providing long-term well-being of the shareholders and the public company. On the external plan, application of technology can contribute to better quality of relations among the participants on the capital market. New technologies should help public companies to be successful in a long run by providing more efficient functioning of corporate governance by encouraging shareholders to effectively use their rights. Inability, disinterestedness and inertia of the shareholders will open doors to activities which direct company resources towards satisfying other interests (e.g. management interests) but not interests of the shareholders. Application of information technology can contribute significantly to more effective protection of both basic rights of the shareholders and higher level of more complex managerial enterprises (effective shareholders assembly, material distribution, accepting agenda, discussing and exercising voting power of all shareholders, particularly important for cross-border shareholders, voting in absence etc. The Internet and other technologies provide opportunity for everyday interactive communication between the public company and the shareholders. Interactive communication through on-line forums on the Internet provides instantaneous access of great number of shareholders and an opportunity to find answers on questions they are concerned with in a more effective way. The use of new technologies can reduce these costs of communication in a great deal, for it is possible to send piles of documents important for assembly sessions and decision making to an endless number of e-mail addresses (financial reports, auditor’s report, supervisory board report, board of directors report regarding business operations of the company, as well as reports on corporate governance).

ASM Comments on the FDA Science Board Report

ASM concurs with the highly disturbing conclusions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Science Board Report to assess whether FDA science and technology can support current and future regulatory needs. For years, ASM and other scientific and health organizations have been warning of deteriorating scientific research, infrastructure, and personnel resources for the FDA, which is responsible for regulating approximately $1 trillion in consumer products annually. In just the past year, publicized discoveries of contaminated products from toys to pet food have reminded us of the FDA's critical role in safeguarding public health. As the study report emphatically states, the nation is at risk if FDA science is at risk.