Government Laws, Regulations and Policies: Small Fish in a Big Pond

Global development has, in recent years, been shaped by the rise of transnational capital. This has implications for the quality and effectiveness of those national laws, regulations and policies in place to monitor transnational capital, ensure that multi national organisations assume responsibility and hold them accountable should they fail to do so. In balancing these objectives, contrasting issues come to the fore, such as the fear of capital flight; an issue especially profound in small open economies where the balance may tip in the favour of retaining, as opposed to regulating, foreign capital.
This paper can be considered in three parts. First, the paper addresses the shift in global leadership from national governments to multinational corporations (with particular reference to the rise of the Transnational Capitalist Class). This shift will incorporate the connotations of the Third Way. In considering this ideology, it will propose the Third Way as a transition phase to a stage when government is more the “third wheel” than an equal partner in governance structures. Second, the implications of the changing nature of governance on the capacity of nation states to develop effective laws, regulations and policies is discussed which leads on to the third aspect of the paper which identifies the challenges for governments, business and society in reimagining the governance structure pertaining to law, regulation and policy and the need to reconsider existing structures in light of global shifts in power structures.
A new leadership structure, both within the national and international governance system has far reaching implications. Boundary constraints no longer an issue, the potential for equality and global democracy is huge. Instead, a post recessionary world faces new governance challenges in the shape of; legitimacy; accountability and responsibility. Capitalism has invaded government and the primary challenge will be in avoiding the same issues that have dogged our financial markets for the last number of years. The challenge then to laws, regulations and public policy is huge, especially considering that the governments regulating are smaller than those dictating agenda on a global level

The effect of nozzle geometry on the flow characteristics of small water jets

A wide variety of processes make use of plain orifice nozzles. Fuel injectors for internal combustion engines incorporate these nozzles to generate finely atomized sprays. Processes such as jet cutting, jet cleaning, and hydroentanglement, on the other hand, use similar nozzles, but require coherent jets. The spray or jet characteristics depend on the stability of the flow emerging from the orifice. This problem has been extensively researched for nozzles with diameters above 300 μm. Much less is known about the characteristics of jets produced by nozzles with smaller diameters, where viscous effects and small geometric variations due to manufacturing tolerances are likely to play an increasing role. Results are presented of a wide-ranging investigation of geometry effects on the flow parameters and jet characteristics of nozzles with diameters between 120 and 170 μm. Nozzles with circular cross-section and conical, cone-capillary and capillary axial designs were investigated. For conical and cone-capillary nozzles, the effect of cone angle and effects due to interactions between adjacent nozzles in the multi-hole cone-capillary nozzles were studied. For capillary nozzles, the effects of diameter variations and inlet edge roundness for capillary nozzles were considered. Furthermore, the effect of varying the aspect ratio (ratio of major and minor axes) of elliptical nozzles was studied. Flowrate and jet impact force measurements were carried out to determine the discharge coefficient C, velocity coefficient C, and contraction coefficient C of the nozzles for supply pressures between 3 and 12 MPa. Visualizations of the jet flow were carried out in the vicinity of the nozzle exit in order to identify near-nozzle flow regimes and to study jet coherence. The relationship between nozzle geometry, discharge characteristics, and jet coherence is examined. © IMechE 2006.

Characterisation of pavement profile heights using accelerometer readings and a combinatorial optimisation technique

Pavement surface profiles induce dynamic ride responses in vehicles which can potentially be used to classify road surface roughness. A novel method is proposed for the characterisation of pavement roughness through an analysis of vehicle accelerations. A combinatorial optimisation technique is applied to the determination of pavement profile heights based on measured accelerations at and above the vehicle axle. Such an approach, using low-cost inertial sensors, would provide an inexpensive alternative to the costly laser-based profile measurement vehicles. The concept is numerically validated using a half-car roll dynamic model to infer measurements of road profiles in both the left and right wheel paths.

Efficient Network in Player and Partner Heterogeneity Models

This paper characterizes efficient networks in player and partner heterogeneity models for both the one-way flow and the two-way flow models. Player (partner) dependent network formation allows benefits and costs to be player (partner) heterogeneous which is an important extension for modeling social networks in the real world. Employing widely used assumptions, I show that efficient networks in the two way flow model are minimally connected and have star or derivative of star type architectures, whereas efficient networks in the one way flow model have wheel architectures.

Production of porous aluminium and iron sulphated oxyhydroxides using industrial grade coagulants for optimised arsenic removal from groundwater

The optimisation of Fe and Al oxyhydroxide materials produced using industrial grade coagulants is presented in this work. The effects of synthesis pH and post-synthesis washing procedure onto the arsenic adsorption capacity of the materials were investigated. It was shown that the materials produced at higher pH were more efficient in removing As(V), especially after cleaning procedure. The materials produced at lower pH were less efficient in removing As(V) but the higher presence of sulphate groups in the materials produced at lower pH enhanced As(III) adsorption. Most performing materials can remove up to 84.7 mg As(V) g^-1 or 77.9 mg As(III) g^-1.

A new and less destructive laboratory procedure for the physical separation of distal glass tephra shards from sediments

Tephrochronology, a key tool in the correlation of Quaternary sequences, relies on the extraction of tephra shards from sediments for visual identification and high-precision geochemical comparison. A prerequisite for the reliable correlation of tephra layers is that the geochemical composition of glass shards remains unaltered by natural processes (e.g. chemical exchange in the sedimentary environment) and/or by laboratory analytical procedures. However, natural glasses, particularly when in the form of small shards with a high surface to volume ratio, are prone to chemical alteration in both acidic and basic environments. Current techniques for the extraction of distal tephra from sediments involve the ‘cleaning’ of samples in precisely such environments and at elevated temperatures. The acid phase of the ‘cleaning’ process risks alteration of the geochemical signature of the shards, while the basic phase leads to considerable sample loss through dissolution of the silica network. Here, we illustrate the degree of alteration and loss to which distal tephras may be prone, and introduce a less destructive procedure for their extraction. This method is based on stepped heavy liquid flotation and which results in samples of sufficient quality for analysis while preserving their geochemical integrity. In trials, this method out-performed chemical extraction procedures in terms of the number of shards recovered and has resulted in the detection of new tephra layers with low shard concentrations. The implications of this study are highly significant because (i) the current database of distal tephra records and their corresponding geochemical signatures may require refinement and (ii) the record of distal tephras may be incomplete due to sample loss induced by corrosive laboratory procedures. It is therefore vital that less corrosive laboratory procedures are developed to make the detection and classification of distal glass tephra more secure.

Overview of the current ISO tests for photocatalytic materials

The current eight published ISO standards associated with semiconductor photocatalysis are considered. These standards cover: (1) air purification (specifically, the removal of NO, acetaldehyde and toluene), (2) water purification (the photobleaching of methylene blue and oxidation of DMSO) (3) self-cleaning surfaces (the removal of oleic acid and subsequent change in water droplet contact angle), (4) photosterilisation (specifically probing the antibacterial action of semiconductor photocatalyst films) and (5) UV light sources for semiconductor photocatalytic ISO work. For each standard, the background is first considered, followed by a brief discussion of the standard particulars and concluding in a discussion of the pros and cons of the standard, with often recommendations for their improvement. Other possible standards for the future which would either compliment or enhance the current ones are discussed briefly. 

A Numerical Study of Inlet Geometry for a Low Inertia Mixed Flow Turbocharger Turbine

Mixed flow turbines can offer improvements over typical radial turbines used in automotive turbochargers, with regards to transient performance and low velocity ratio efficiency. Turbine rotor mass dominates the rotating inertia of the turbocharger, and any reductions of mass in the outer radii of the wheel, including the rotor back-disk, can significantly reduce this inertia and improve the acceleration of the assembly. Off-design, low velocity ratio conditions are typified by highly tangential flow at the rotor inlet and a non-zero inlet blade angle is preferred for such operating conditions. This is achievable in a Mixed Flow Turbine without increasing bending stresses within the rotor blade, which is beneficial in high speed and high inlet temperature turbine design. A range of mixed flow turbine rotors was designed with varying cone angle and inlet blade angle and each was assessed at a number of operating points. These rotors were based on an existing radial flow turbine, and both the hub and shroud contours and exducer geometry were maintained. The inertia of each rotor was also considered. The results indicated that there was a trade-off between efficiency and inertia for the rotors and certain designs may be beneficial for the transient performance of downsized, turbocharged engines.

Reductive photocatalysis and smart inks

Semiconductor-sensitised photocatalysis is a well-established and growing area of research, innovation and commercialisation; the latter being mostly limited to the use of TiO2 as the semiconductor. Most of the work on semiconductor photocatalytic systems uses oxygen as the electron acceptor and explores a wide range of electron donors; such systems can be considered to be examples of oxidative photocatalysis, OP. OP underpins most current examples of commercial self-cleaning materials, such as: glass, tiles, concrete, paint and fabrics. OP, and its myriad of applications, have been reviewed extensively over the years both in this journal and elsewhere. However, the ability of TiO2, and other semiconductor sensitisers, to promote reductive photocatalysis, RP, especially of dyes, is significant and, although less well-known, is of growing importance. In such systems, the source of the electrons is some easily oxidised species, such as glycerol. One recent, significant example of a RP process is with respect to photocatalyst activity indicator inks. paiis, which provide a measure of the activity of a photocatalytic film under test via the rate of change of colour of the dye in the ink coating due to irreversible RP. In contrast, by incorporating the semiconductor sensitiser in the ink, rather than outside it, it is possible to create an effective UV dosimeter, based on RP, which can be used as a sun-burn warning indicator. In the above examples the dye is reduced irreversibly, but when the photocatalyst in an ink is used to reversibly photoreduce a dye, a novel, colourimetric oxygen-sensitive indicator ink can be created, which has commercial potential in the food packaging industry. Finally, if no dye is present in the ink, and the semiconductor photocatalyst-loaded ink film coats an easily reduced substrate, such as a metal oxide film, then it can be used to reduce the latter and so, for example, clean up tarnished steel. The above are examples of smart inks, i.e. inks that are active and provide either dynamic information (such as UV dose or O2 level) or a useful function (such as tarnish removal), and all work via a RP process and are reviewed here

A numerical study of trailing edge geometry for low inertia automotive mixed flow turbines

Abstract. Mixed flow turbines can offer improvements over typical radial turbines used in automotive turbochargers, with respect to transient performance and low velocity ratio efficiency. Turbine rotor mass dominates the rotating inertia of the turbocharger’s rotating assembly, and any reductions of mass in the outer radii of the wheel, including the rotor back-disk, can significantly reduce this inertia and improve the acceleration of the assembly. Off-design, low velocity ratio conditions are typified by highly tangential flow at the rotor inlet and a non-zero inlet blade angle is desirable for such operating conditions. This is achievable in a Mixed Flow Turbine without increasing bending stresses within the rotor blade, which is beneficial in high speed and high inlet temperature turbine designs.
This study considers the meridional geometry of Mixed Flow Turbines using a multi-disciplinary study to assess both the structural and aerodynamic performance of each rotor, incorporating both CFD and FEA. Variations of rotor trailing edge were investigated at different operating conditions representing both on- and off-design operation within the constraints of existing hardware geometries. In all cases, the performance is benchmarked against an existing state-of-the-art radial turbocharger turbine with consideration of rotor inertia and its benefit for engine transient performance. The results indicate the influence of these parameters and this report details their benefits with respect to turbocharging a downsized, automotive engine.

Suspension plasma sprayed coatings using dilute hydrothermally produced titania feedstocks for photocatalytic applications

Titanium dioxide coatings have potential applications including photocatalysts for solar assisted hydrogen production, solar water disinfection and self-cleaning windows. Herein, we report the use of suspension plasma spraying (SPS) for the deposition of conformal titanium dioxide coatings. The process utilises a nanoparticle slurry of TiO2 (ca. 6 and 12 nm respectively) in water, which is fed into a high temperature plasma jet (ca. 7000-20 000 K). This facilitated the deposition of adherent coatings of nanostructured titanium dioxide with predominantly anatase crystal structure. In this study, suspensions of nano-titanium dioxide, made via continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis (CHFS), were used directly as a feedstock for the SPS process. Coatings were produced by varying the feedstock crystallite size, spray distance and plasma conditions. The coatings produced exhibited ca. 90-100% anatase phase content with the remainder being rutile (demonstrated by XRD). Phase distribution was homogenous throughout the coatings as determined by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The coatings had a granular surface, with a high specific surface area and consisted of densely packed agglomerates interspersed with some melted material. All of the coatings were shown to be photoactive by means of a sacrificial hydrogen evolution test under UV radiation and compared favourably with reported values for CVD coatings and compressed discs of P25.

Weathering tests of photocatalytic facade paints containing ZnO and TiO2.

The photocatalytic properties of self-cleaning acrylic paint containing TiO2 and ZnO were studied using Acid Orange 7 as a model compound. Paints were exposed to simulated weathering tests in a QUV panel. The initial photoactivity of the unweathered paints with ZnO was significantly higher. In the case of paints containing P25 the photocatalytic activity increases with weathering time, due to increasing destruction of the polymer resin and consequent exposure of the photocatalyst pigment to the Acid Orange 7 test solution. In contrast, in the case of paints containing ZnO, a decrease in photocatalytic activity is observed after weathering, due to the loss and/or photocorrosion of ZnO particles during the weathering process.

Photocatalytic activity indicator inks for the probing a wide range of surfaces

Three photocatalyst inks based on the redox dyes, Resazurin (Rz), Basic Blue 66 (BB66) and Acid Violet 7 (AV7), are used to assess the photocatalytic activities of a variety of different materials, such as commercial paint, tiles and glass and laboratory made samples of sol–gel coated glass and paint, which collectively exhibit a wide range of activities that cannot currently be probed by any one of the existing ISO tests. Unlike the ISO tests, the ink tests are fast (typically <10 min), simple to employ and inexpensive. Previous work indicates that the Rz ink test at least correlates linearly with other photocatalytic tests such as the photomineralisation of stearic acid. The average time to bleach 90% of the key RGB colour component of the ink, red for Rz and BB66 inks and green for AV7 ink, is determined, ttb(90), for eight samples of each of the different materials tested. Five laboratories conducted the tests and the results revealed an average repeatability and reproducibility of: ca. 11% and ca 21%, respectively, which compare well with those reported for the current ISO tests. Additional work on commercial self-cleaning glass using an Rz ink showed that the change in the red component of the RGB image of the ink correlated linearly with that of the change of absorbance at 608 nm, as measured using UV/vis spectroscopy, and the change in the a* component of the Lab colour analysis of the ink, as measured using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. As a consequence, all three methods generate the same ttb(90). The advantages of the RGB digital image analysis method are discussed briefly.

A smart ink for the assessment of low activity photocatalytic surfaces

The azo dye, basic blue 66 (BB66) is used in a photocatalyst activity indicator ink (paii) to assess the activity of low activity photocatalytic surfaces, such as commercial photocatalytic tiles and silicone contaminated self-cleaning glass. The BB66 paii is shown to respond much faster than a previously reported, resazurin (Rz) based paii, i.e. the use of a BB66 paii on low activity self-cleaning tiles was found to be >6 times faster than the Rz paii. The BB66 paii is also shown to be effective at assessing the activity of piece of commercial self-cleaning glass contaminated with a coating of silicone, on which the Rz ink, in contrast, failed to show any significant change in colour over the same time period.

Indoor and Outdoor monitoring of photocatalytic activity using a mobile phone app. and a photocatalytic activity indicator ink (paii)

A resazurin (Rz) based photocatalyst activity indicator ink (paii) is used to test the activity of commercial self-cleaning materials. The semiconductor photocatalyst driven colour change of the ink is monitored indoors and outside using a simple mobile phone application that measures the RGB colour components of the digital image of the paii-covered, irradiated sample in real time. The results correlate directly with those generated using a traditional, lab-bound method of analysis (UV–vis spectrophotometry).