Finance and the technology-trade nexus

This paper sketches the contours of the evolving international/monetary system and examines the various roles of the intemediation mechanisms. Then it examines the extent to which the financial system is independent from the “real economy” and the various ways in which it impacts it. The paper discusses some views in good currency on the dynamics of the technology-trade-finance nexus and shows how the financial system influences organization, location and technology choices in meso-innovation systems. The final section of the paper looks at the policy implications that might be derived from the analysis and suggests some directions for the future research.     

The fluidity of presidential policy choice: the space station, the Russian card, and U.S. foreign policy

This paper examines the general executive policy processes that were in place in 1984. These processes, through which the original space station budget proposal was approved, became so uncontrolled that a severe and publicly embarrassing retrenchment became necessary in 1993 to enable the program to survive for another year. The focus here is on how presidential leadership is exercised in the science and technology policy arena which is normally viewed as peripheral to the president's major policy interests. The survival of the current International Space Station now depends upon it remaining central to the president's foreign policy agenda—which prompts recollections of earlier Apollo Program experiences.     

Progress report on superconductivityApplications de la supraconductivité

High-speed ground transport, ship propulsion, electrical power production, high sensitivity measurements, surgery, fusion reactors, mineral enrichment and pollution control are some of the applications where the use of commercial superconducting materials is now under research.It is now clear that the economical and technical feasibility of some of the developments listed above will only be made possible by the use of superconducting materials which will help to overcome the intrinsic limitations of normally employed techniques.This paper gives data on commercial materials presently available and those which are at the development stage, as well as major applications currently under research. Emphasis is made on the technological problems related to the reliable use of near zero Kelvin temperatures.Some data are also given on large scale undertakings in various nations, with indications of the more mature applications.     

Economic analysis of inventory systems: a clarifying analysis

In a recent study by Gurnani (1983), ‘Economic analysis of inventory systems’, three main conclusions were presented. (1) The inventory models analysed in his paper demonstrate that the inventory policy derived from the discounted (PW) coat differs substantially from that given by the traditional undiscounted inventory analysis. (2) The difference between the two depends upon the discounting rate. The discounting causes the optimum order quantity and correspondingly the period length to vary monotonically with the discounting rate. (3) However, it is not influenced by the inventory system planning horizon. This paper first examines each conclusion and demonstrates why his conclusions are either unfounded or irrelevant to his analysis. Next, some crucial derivational errors in his exposition are demonstrated via corrected formulations. Finally, a net present value maximizing framework that is consistent with modern theory of financial analysis, is suggested for the economic analysis of inventory systems.     

German technology policy,innovation, and national institutional frameworks

This paper examines the patterns of technological innovation in Germany, and compares them with those prevalent in the US and UK economies. The paper argues that the institutional features of the German system of innovation lend it comparative advantage in innovation. The paper discusses these issues in a framework of the economics of organisation in industry; it closes by discussing some of the limitations of the German system in regard to newly emergent technologies.     

Membrane thickness design of implantable bio-MEMS sensors for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">in-situ</Emphasis> monitoring of blood flow

This paper presents some ideas for the membrane thickness design of of implantable bio-micro-electro-mechanical systems (bio-MEMS) for the in situ monitoring of blood flow. The objective is to develop a smart wireless sensing unit for non-invasive early stenosis detection in heart bypass grafts. The design includes considerations of nonlinear material models, multiscale blood flows, and appropriate analyical models for data interpretation, as well as preliminary studies of the pressure and flow sensing concepts. The paper also examines the use of surface coatings for the design on biocompatibility and non-adhesion of blood platelets and constituents. The implications of the results are discussed for in vivo deployment of such sensor systems.     

Utilization of LNG coldUtilisation du froid du GNL

This paper will discuss the utilization of LNG cold in Japan. Discussion is concentrated on the following: temperature conditions of both direct and indirect utilization; restriction in quantity and mode of cryogenic energy utilization; distance from LNG terminals to cold utilization plants; cooling system for LNG cold utilization plants, and emergence of cryogenic energy utilization complexes.     

农业企业社会责任动机对财务绩效的影响

运用扎根理论研究方法,对沪深两市中14家农业企业2008年的社会责任表现数据进行分析,构建农业企业社会责任动机与财务绩效的关系模型并进行检验.得出战略动机有助于提高企业财务绩效,而利他动机对财务绩效的影响以负面为主,但不排除因赢得社会声誉提高财务绩效的可能性;产品创新和过程创新的契合度调节了企业社会责任表现对财务绩效的影响,即产品创新、过程创新与企业社会责任表现的协调一致能够有效提高企业财务绩效.     

Banks and Industrial Finance in the 1990s

This paper examines the role of the banking system in the German model of industrial development. It argues that banks continue to fulfil several of their traditional functions in industrial finance despite dramatic changes in financial regulation and the internationalisation of product and capital markets. The strength of the financial system in fulfilling these traditional functions, however, is at the same time a barrier to the creation of new high-tech industries — a major competitive challenge for Germany.     

A fault analysis for health impact assessment: procurement,competence, expectations,and jurisdictions

This paper describes and analyses failures in the health impact assessment process of five different major international projects owned by various multinational consortia. The objective is to improve the process. The paper examines how the consortia approached the issue of procurement of consultancy services, and the competence with which consultancy companies offering such services respond. It looks at issues of jurisdiction over management and content and the ethics and expectations of baseline studies. Finally, it offers solutions to some of the challenges described.     

Simulation of industrial refrigeration plants under variable load conditionsSimulation d'installations frigorifiques industrielles à des charges variables

A method to simulate industrial refrigeration systems with several independent, time-variable heat loads is described. The method uses a combination of ordinary differential and algebraic equations to describe both the refrigeration plant, and its interaction with the product in each application. Numerical integration of the differential equations with respect to time allows the various processes to be simulated. Models for freezers, chillers, cold stores and controlled atmosphere work areas are discussed. Assumptions made in these models are realistic from a practical viewpoint, so provided accurate data are available close correlation between predictions and measurements would be expected. The simulation could have applications in both refrigeration system and control system design as it will predict the interactions between different parts of a plant when operating under time-variable conditions. When considering system changes or changes to product specifications the suitability of particular alternatives can be assessed by simulating each in turn.     

Developments in structural system reliability assessments of fixed steel offshore platforms

In recent years there have been significant developments in the area of system reliability assessments which are becoming increasingly important given the framework of the ‘goal setting’ regime and other changes that are taking place within the offshore industry. The objective of this paper is to review and critically examine recent developments in system reliability methods for fixed steel offshore platforms specifically and identify areas that need to be examined further to maximise the benefits from the use of these techniques.The paper examines the range of proposed methods for system reliability assessment of fixed steel offshore structures under extreme environmental loading. The associated characteristics of the various methods are examined and the paper concentrates in particular on the treatment of the resistance. The various system effects including both deterministic and probabilistic effects and their relative contribution to the overall system reliability are addressed. Key issues such as the modelling uncertainties and sensitivities, validation and benchmarking of the proposed methods are also examined. The study also highlights a number of technical and philosophical issues which need to be addressed to increase the benefits from system reliability applications in design and re-assessment of fixed platforms.     

Assessment criteria for solar cooling systemsCritères pour l'évaluation des systèmes frigorifiques solaires

Solar cooling systems should be able simultaneously to generate refrigeration and save conventional energy. An assessment of the potential of various cooling systems as refrigerators and energy savers is presented in the paper. For this purpose, a solar cooling system has been considered as a combination of an energy conversion and a refrigeration subsystem. Overall efficiencies of the various solar cooling systems are defined for direct quantitative comparison of different systems.     

Investments in big data analytics and firm performance: an empirical investigation of direct and mediating effects

Big data has recently been recognised as one of the most important areas of future technology. It has attracted the attention of many industries, since it has the potential to provide companies with high business value. This paper examines the forms of business value that companies can create from big data analytics investments, the direct impacts it has on the financial performance of a firm, and the mediating effects of market performance and customer satisfaction. Drawing on the resource-based view theory, this study demonstrates that the business value achieved from investments in big data analytics leads to advantages in terms of the financial performance of a firm. The results offer evidence of the existence of a customer satisfaction mediation effect and of the absence of a market performance mediation effect. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed at the end of the paper.     

In search of design excellence

This paper is based on part of the results of an extensive survey of the role of new product design in international competitiveness. It reviews the literature on design management and highlights some weaknesses in the way in which design is managed in many UK industries, which apparently places the UK at a competitive disadvantage in manufacturing exports when compared with their major foreign competitors. The paper examines ways in which the management of design many be enhanced to improve design quality and achieve greater competitiveness. It was found that to maximize achievements in design, innovators must not only create awareness, but also create a climate in which everyone is committed to design quality throughout the organization. A wide range of functions involved in design management — managerial, marketing, technical, financial, etc. — must also be ‘happily married’ to achieve product excellence and hence market success.     

Rames ferroviaires frigorifiques pour poissons vivantsRefrigerated rail wagons for transporting live fish

In the USSR a substantial quantity of live fish is transported by rail, the wagons being equipped with special refrigerating systems to maintain the fish in satisfactory condition.Complete trains are now in use, with one service wagon providing power to one, two or three wagons, each fitted with two tanks which contain 17 tonnes of fish. The chilled water in the tanks is aerated and agitated and there is special equipment to dispose of the CO₂, foam and waste matter.The paper describes the transport equipment and the results of measurements carried out on some trial runs. The installation can maintain a water temperature of 2°C and control the oxygen level at 4 mg l^?1, even with a full load of fish.     

Science and scientific collaboration in South Africa: apartheid and after

Scientific collaboration is growing in its importance; more so in Asian and African countries. This paper examines the scenario of science and scientific collaboration in South Africa which had passed through the colonial and apartheid regimes before it became a democracy in 1994. South African science under distinct political periods moved through some difficult periods but it did not badly affect the progress and direction of South African science. Science and scientific collaboration continued to grow under its major political phases amidst serious challenges. Despite internal conflict and boycott by the international scientific community, South Africa could move onto a stable and steady path of growth in science and collaboration under apartheid which is being carried on in the new South Africa. Collaborative research is encouraged at various levels of knowledge production and in science. The importance science and scientific development is gaining in today’s South Africa is remarkable.     

Pathways to hydrogen as an energy carrier

When hydrogen is used as an alternative energy carrier, it is very important to understand the pathway from the primary energy source to the final use of the carrier. This involves, for example, the understanding of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of hydrogen and throughout the lifecycle of a given utilization pathway as well as various energy or exergy efficiencies and aspects involved. This paper which is based on a talk given at the Royal Society in London assesses and reviews the various production pathways for hydrogen with emphasis on emissions, energy use and energy efficiency. The paper also views some aspects of the breaking of the water molecule and examines some new emerging physical evidence which could pave the way to a new and more feasible pathway. A special attention will be given to the use of the renewable energy pathway. As an example of a hydrogen society that could be based on renewable primary energy, the paper describes the hydrogen society experiments in Iceland as well as unconventional hydrogen obtained from geothermal gases. In the light of our experience, attempts will be made to shed light upon drivers as well as obstacles in the development of a hydrogen society.     

Hydroelectric power in emissions-constrained electricity generation

The positioning of generating plant in rank (merit) order has been based traditionally on minimised system economic cost. If regulations were introduced to place a financial penalty on gaseous emissions from fossil-fuelled power stations, the result would be an increased economic burden on such generating plant. This paper examines the effect on merit order of the imposition of a tax on carbon dioxide emissions, and looks in particular at the potential role to be played by hydroelectric power     

Measurement of Passive $R$, $L$, and $C$ Components Under Nonsinusoidal Conditions: The Solution of Some Case Studies

This paper deals with the measurement of the R, L, and C parameters of passive components in nonsinusoidal conditions. Since these components usually work with voltage and current waveforms that are different from sinusoidal ones, nonsinusoidal characterization has to be made. The importance of nonsinusoidal characterization of passive components is highlighted through the analysis of two case studies: (1) the influence of distorted waveforms on the line impedance stabilizer network (LISN) passive component behaviors and (2) the influence of voltage and current harmonics on hybrid filter responses. In this paper, the authors propose and describe a measurement method based on linear system identification and model parameter estimation techniques. Then, the two case studies are analyzed and described with the help of some test results.