Ryerson students invent breakthrough brain-controlled prosthetic arm

Physorg.com
March 31, 2011

Two Ryerson University undergraduate biomedical engineering students are changing the world of medical prosthetics with a newly developed prosthetic arm that is controlled by brain signals. The Artificial Muscle-Operated (AMO) Arm not only enables amputees more range of movement as compared to other prosthetic arms but it allows amputees to avoid invasive surgeries and could potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars. The AMO Arm is controlled by the user's brain signals and is powered by 'artificial muscles' - simple pneumatic pumps and valves - to create movements. In contrast, traditional prosthetic limbs – which typically offer more limited movements – rely on intricate and expensive electrical and mechanical components.
To read more click here...

Solving the problem of autonomous refuelling with robots

Science Business
March 31, 2011

Robots will be used to help solve the problem of autonomous engagement for in-flight refuelling. This new research could pave the way for civil or military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights to last days or even weeks.
To read more click here...

Creating green aviation technology

Physorg.com
March 31, 2011

"Green" research has become a burgeoning field at NASA, and Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., is definitely on board. Scientists, engineers and researchers at Ames conduct a variety of green projects in relation to aviation. “Green is not just a buzzword to us,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at Ames' Green Aviation Summit last September.
To read more click here...

Thermoelectric materials: recycling energy

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
March 30, 2011

For some years now, NASA has been using what are called thermoelectric materials to power its space probes. The probes travel such great distances from our sun that solar panels are no longer an efficient source of power. So NASA imbeds a nuclear material in a radioisotope thermal generator, where it decays, producing heat energy. That energy is then converted by thermoelectric materials into the electricity that powers the space probe. The same technology is now being explored for more earthly applications, for example, to capture heat lost in the exhaust of automobiles to produce electricity for the vehicle.
To read more click here...

Microreactors: Small Scale Chemistry Could Lead to Big Improvements for Biodegradable Polymers

NIST
March 30, 2011

Using a small block of aluminum with a tiny groove carved in it, a team of researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Polytechnic Institute of New York University is developing an improved “green chemistry” method for making biodegradable polymers. Their recently published work* is a prime example of the value of microfluidics, a technology more commonly associated with inkjet printers and medical diagnostics, to process modeling and development for industrial chemistry.
To read more click here...

Journal of IOA Focuses on Fairness and Equity

The latest issue of the Journal of the International Ombudsman Association takes up the theme of, “Fairness and Equity.” JIOA Editor David Miller says the idea was sparked by Associate Editor Tom Sebok, who asked, “How do we reconcile Ombudsman neutrality with being ‘advocates for fair and equitably administered processes’”?

Articles in the issue include case studies, think pieces, practice advice, and a book review:

• “The Ombudsman’s Ability to Influence Perceptions of Organizational Fairness: Toward a Multi-Stakeholder Framework” -- Ariel C. Avgar
• “Justice as Basis of Equity and Fairness in Ombudsman Practice” -- Robert L. Shelton
• “The Ombudsman’s Guide to Fairness” -- Gerald R. Papica, Ed.D.
• “I Was Just Thinking About Neutrality” -- Tom Sebok
• “I Was Just Thinking About Fairness” -- Howard Gadlin
• “Fairness and Self-evaluation” -- Christopher Honeyman
• “Conflict Cost Controlling: The Business Case of Conflict Management” -- Helmut Buss
• “Understanding the Research Process: A Guide for Conducting Ombuds Research” -- Alan Jay Lincoln
• “Recovery From Conflict” -- Cynthia M. Joyce
• “Book Review of The Ombudsman Handbook” -- Tom Kosakowski

(JIOA, vol. 4, no. 1.)

Related posts: Journal of IOA Now Available Through EBSCO; Journal of IOA Highlights Bullying Issues.

National Institutes of Health Appoints Deputy and Two Associate Ombuds

The Office of the Ombudsman, Center for Cooperative Resolution at NIH has named David Michael as Deputy Ombudsman and Linda Myers and Lisa Witzler as Associate Ombudsmen. The new appointees join Howard Gadlin, Ombudsman and Director of the Center, and Associate Ombudsmen Linda Brothers, Samantha Levine-Finley, and Kathleen Moore.

David Michael and Linda Myers have extensive workplace conflict management backgrounds. As a former commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Michael designed conflict management systems and provided facilitation, mediation, coaching, and training for several federal agencies. He previously was a consultant in private practice; served as executive director of the Northern Virginia Mediation Service (a non-profit community dispute resolution center); and was director of the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Michael has designed and implemented ADR programs in the federal and non-profit sectors, and consulted on ADR program design issues in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.

Meyers previously served as deputy director of the U.S. Army ADR program in the Office of the Army General Counsel, where she designed and delivered ADR and interest-based negotiation training programs nationwide. Her workplace expertise includes equal employment opportunity, prohibited personnel practices, whistleblower reprisal, and labor-management disputes. Meyer’s experience is also drawn from previous practice with the U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Lisa Witzler began her work at the NIH Office of the Ombudsman as an intern in June 2010 and formally joined the office as an associate ombudsman in March. She is pursuing her PhD in conflict resolution at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL and serves on the IOA’s annual conference planning committee and the communications committee. Previously, Witzler was the Program & Web Coordinator at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. (Courtesy of David Michael; LinkedIn Profiles: Michael, Witzler.)

Smartbird Robot Flies Through The Skies

Festo.com
March 26, 2011

Created by the researchers at Festo, the SmartBird (artificial bird) features innovative technology that has finally deciphered and replicated the mechanics of a bird's flight. It features an ultralight body with the aerodynamic qualities and extreme agility.
To read more click here...

Darpa Creating Cheetah-Bot to Hunt Humans

Wired.com
March 2, 2011

On Friday, Boston Dynamics has announced that the United States Department of Defense's research agency, DARPA, has awarded them a contract to build a new four-legged robot that will be fast enough to chase, evade, and hunt down the fastest human.
To read more click here...

Twitter Hashtag Collects Tweets from IOA 2011 Conference

Twitter users can post and follow updates from the International Ombudsman Association annual conference in Portland, OR from April 1 through 6, with the hashtag #ioa2011.  (Clicking on the link will show tweets even for those without Twitter accounts.)

I'm looking at you, @daspokesman, @LynnConnley, @Ombudsman, @Ont_Ombudsman, @PONLisa, @eljaydubya, @OmbudsAmbasador, @AngryOmbuds, @VTombuds, and @GriffinIV.

Related posts: Follow the IOA Conference on Twitter; Tweets Offers Perspective on 2010 IOA Conference; Follow the USOA 2010 Conference on Twitter.

University of Georgia Report on Sexual Harassment Faults Ombuds Office

A committee appointed to review how UGA handles student and staff harassment complaints says that a flawed Ombuds Office established two years ago is not helping the campus. "By not providing a properly constituted (ombudsman program), UGA is failing to uncover and address the full extent of sexual harassment on campus," said the special committee appointed by UGA's University Council.

Most of the criticism, however, seemed aimed at the UGA Equal Opportunity Office, which supervises the Ombuds Office. (As this blog pointed out in 2008, the UGA Ombuds Office cannot keep sexual harassment cases confidential and is required to report them to the EEO Office.) The committee recommended that the university create a more independent Ombuds Office, following the lead of other Georgia colleges and universities with effective anti-harassment programs. According to the Athens Banner-Herald, the University Council's executive board is scheduled to hear a report from the study committee April 7, and then likely will forward the report on to the next meeting of the full University Council on April 21. The report has not been published by the university.  (Online Athens.)

Related posts: University of Georgia Petitions for Staff Ombuds; UGA Student Newspaper Endorses Ombuds Office Proposal; UGA's New Ombuds Program Fails in Several, Critical Aspects; UGA Professors Question Independence of New Ombuds; University of Georgia to Evaluate Ombuds Program After Two Year Trial.

IOA Updates Election Results to Include One More Board Member

The International Ombudsman Association has announced that Anamaris Cousins has been elected to the Board of Directors. Cousins joins Sara Thacker (Director) and Brian Bloch (Associate Member Representative) who were elected to terms starting in April 2011.

Related posts: Corporate Ombuds Group Meeting Set for October 14-15; IOA Opens Balloting for 2011 Board of Directors; IOA Elects Five to Board for Terms Starting 2011.

George Mason University Ombuds Reports Continued Growth in Caseload

Dolores Gomez-Moran, the Mason Ombudsman, says that her office received 182 visitors during the 2009-10 academic year, a 14% increase from the previous year and a 35% increase from two years ago. The report also marks the adoption of IOA unifirm reporting categories.

Gomez-Moran noted that the busiest times of the year for the office are August, December and April, and that the gender composition of visitors nearly mirrors that of the student population. (Mason Gazette; GMU Ombuds 2010 Report.)

Related posts: Profile of George Mason University Ombuds; George Mason University Ombuds Reports Second Year of Increased Visitor Demand.

Pyrolysis Method Recycles Motor Oil Into Fuel

The Engineer
March 29, 2011

Using microwave heating, UK scientists at Cambridge University have developed a process that can recycle motor oil into fuel.

To read more click here...

Stanford researchers use river water and salty ocean water to generate electricity

Stanford University
March 29, 2011

Stanford researchers have developed a rechargeable battery that uses freshwater and seawater to create electricity. Aided by nanotechnology, the battery employs the difference in salinity between fresh and saltwater to generate a current. A power station might be built wherever a river flows into the ocean.To read more click here...

The Drive Toward Hydrogen Vehicles Just Got Shorter

ScienceDaily 
March 21, 2011

Researchers have revealed a new single-stage method for recharging the hydrogen storage compound ammonia borane. The breakthrough makes hydrogen a more attractive fuel for vehicles and other transportation modes.

In an article appearing recently in the journal Science, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and University of Alabama researchers working within the U.S. Department of Energy's Chemical Hydrogen Storage Center of Excellence describe a significant advance in hydrogen storage science.
To read more click here...

Related Information:

• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Storage Issue Addressed

Global Clean Energy Investment Reached Record 243 Billion Dollars In 2010

Washington DC (SPX) 
March 30, 2011

 

Global clean energy finance and investment grew significantly in 2010 to $243 billion, a 30 percent increase from the previous year. China, Germany, Italy and India were among the nations that most successfully attracted private investments, according to new research released by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
To read more click here...

Using Heat to Cool Buildings

Technology Review
March 30, 2011

It could soon be more practical to cool buildings using solar water heaters and waste heat from generators. That's because of new porous materials developed by researchers from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. These materials can improve a process called adsorption chilling, which can be used for refrigeration and air conditioning.
Adsorption chillers are too big and expensive for many applications, such as use in homes. Peter McGrail, who heads the research effort, predicts that the materials could allow adsorption chillers to be 75 percent smaller and half as expensive. This would make them competitive with conventional, compressor-driven chillers. 
To read more click here...

Solar Module Manufacturers Turn To Innovative Solutions To Enhance Production Processes And Meet Growing Market Demands

Chaineux, Belgium (SPX) 
March 30, 2011

Following a successful year in 2010, Saint-Gobain Solar, a leading manufacturer of sustainable materials and engineered renewable energy solutions, is on track for an even brighter 2011. The group is bringing new levels of production efficiency and cost savings to photovoltaic module manufacturing processes with its innovative SolarBond products.
To read more click here...

Solar Frontier Sets New Efficiency Record In Thin-Film CIS Technology

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) 
March 30, 2011

Solar Frontier announced today that it has achieved 17.2% aperture area efficiency on a 30x30cm CIS-based photovoltaic submodule, according to in-house measurements.

This new world record for thin-film CIS technology was accomplished at Solar Frontier's dedicated research laboratory in Atsugi, Japan, a cornerstone of the company's integrated research and production framework, in cooperation with Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
To read more click here...

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to retire after State polls

“Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud on March 19 spoke of the possibility that he may retire in the near future.  He knows the time will come for him to retire after serving the State for quite a long time already.

Unlike, the Prime Minister and his deputy, who are both still quite young and energetic; I am an old man already, he says when speaking to a huge crowd at the launching of  Sejiwa Senada program in Serian.”

The event was an historic occasion with the presence of the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Patinggi Haji Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak and the Deputy Prime Minister, YAB Tan Sri Haji Mohd. Mahyiddin Haji Mohd. Yassin. 

But he wants his ambition to live as long as possible to benefit the people. There will be changes and he wants the people, who take over must be given the necessary training.

He says today there are only two people who can be considered belonging to older generation in PBB, Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu and him, who are not tired of serving the people and the State.    They want to make sure if they go, the people, who will take over from them, must be able to continue with what they have done to achieve greater progress for the benefits of the people.

During the State-Level Sejiwa Senada Programme - Serian

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib says he will lead the State election on April 16 to make sure that everything is smooth. He will lead the State elections to make sure that new blood can come up. But after that, when he sees all the people, he has groomed, can form a team and work for the people and the State, he will go.

He says this is the aim of Barisan Nasional and not his alone nor those of one Prime Minister and one Chief Minister. It is all the dedication of Barisan Nasional. It is our philosophy and commitment to the people of Malaysia. This is very important for us no matter what happen this is No.1. That is why we say Rakyat is our priority.

For this reason, the people must maintain their solidarity behind the government in the State elections on April 16 to show that they want greater progress, prosperity and comfort in life toward the year 2020 and beyond.  They must preserve their unity, harmony, stability and continuity in the way they do things even though the objective may change with time.

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib says he has been able to groom people to accumulate sufficient experience and understanding of how to serve the rakyat.  They must be able to share the common vision how to further develop the economy with the Prime Minister’s vision to jump into high income economy. The people must support him all out to realize the vision. Even if he is no longer the Chief Minister, he will support the Prime Minister all out. That is the dedication of Barisan Nasional.

The Prime Minister has been to show how versatile he can be to make sure that what ever the government wants to do must reach the target groups. Obviously, his concept of development is people focused and what ever the government wants to do must reach the target groups.

This is the hallmark of the leadership of Barisan Nasional being led by the Prime Minister that will push forward Malaysia and Sarawak to become more progressive and prosperous after the next elections.

He says there are no other parties, whose members, who have dedication to serve the people, state and country. This will be the legacy of Barisan Nasional in the State elections on April 16. Sarawak with lots of initiatives being given supported by the Federal Government will be able to achieve the target of being a developed nation by the year 2020.

Component parties in Barisan Nasional believe in the spirit of compromise that some may give way; they discuss things properly and even offer help to each other.  Some members even offer to help even though they have retired. This is the spirit of dedication of Barisan Nasional. 

The State elections on April 16 will provide the opportunity for the people to show their full support to Datuk Patinggi Haji Mohd. Najib, as the leader of Barisan Nasional and Prime Minister of Malaysia.  He will be able to move the State and country forward towards a brighter future towards the year 2020 and beyond.

 benuasains

 *Photos Source: 

http://www.google.com

IOA Receives Trademark for CO-OP Designation

On March 22, 2011, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registered CO-OP as a trademark owned by the International Ombudsman Association. Consumers are now assured that the mark certifies that the Ombuds has demonstrated competency by meeting certain educational and experiential standards. The legal designation also provides IOA with additional remedies for unauthorized use of the designation. (USPTO Trademark Document Retrieval, US Serial No: 77827746.)

Related posts: IOA Unveils Certification Program for Organizational Ombuds; Number of Certified Ombuds Reaches 53; Ombuds Certification Exam to be Offered in April, Deadlines Approach.

Eaton Ombuds to Present Program on Running a Global Office

On April 14, Ilene Butensky and Sophia Qiao will speak at the American Bar Association's Dispute Resolution Section annual conference in Denver. Along with Chuck Howard, the two Ombuds for Eaton Corporation will discuss, "Implementing a Global Corporate Dispute Resolution Program."

Here's the summary of their concurrent session:

Resolution of workplace disputes can be especially challenging in the global corporate setting, where many workers are no longer traditional employees, where they may work remotely or are connection with others in their organization only electronically, and where the workforce includes people from many different countries and cultural backgrounds. This program will describe how an organizational ombudsman program can be an effective supplement to formal channels such as HR and compliance in helping people raise issues and resolve disputes informally and in a confidential manner. The program will feature the experience of Eaton Corporation, a global manufacturing company, which began its organizational ombudsman program in the United States and has since expanded it to Central and South America, China, India, and the United Kingdom.

Butensky and Howard will both be speaking, in separate sessions, at the IOA conference next week. (ABA DRS Conf. Info., Program Summaries.)

Related posts: Number of Certified Ombuds Reaches 53; Olympic Ombuds to Speak at ABA Dispute Resolution Conference; Chuck Howard on YouTube.

University of Cincinnati Ombuds Co-Sponsor Anti-Violence Campaign

Next week, several UC organizations will a join to support the national campaign to stop violence with a week of activities. A call to action will highlight Wednesday’s agenda on April 6 with a clinic on civility and mediation presented by the University Ombuds, Lillian Santa Maria and Jean Griffin. (RAPP: UC's Social Justice Forum.)

Related posts: University of Cincinnati Ombuds Seeks Closer Ties to Student Leaders; Video Introduces University of Cincinnati Ombuds Office.

Green Cars Could Be Made From Pineapples And Bananas

Anaheim CA (SPX) 
March 29, 2011

Your next new car hopefully won't be a lemon. But it could be a pineapple or a banana. That's because scientists in Brazil have developed a more effective way to use fibers from these and other plants in a new generation of automotive plastics that are stronger, lighter, and more eco-friendly than plastics now in use.
To read more click here...

Related Information:

• Chicken Fat Biofuel: Eco-Friendly Jet Fuel Alternative 

Semiconductor Research And Masdar Institute Host Solar Technology Scientists

Abu Dhabi, UAE (SPX) 
March 29, 2011

 

Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology has announced Abu Dhabi's first world-class gathering of solar experts and university researchers for a forum on photovoltaics (PV). The March 27-28 event is designed to explore the route for development of cost-effective systems capable of achieving 25 percent energy conversion from solar resources in Abu Dhabi by the year 2020.
To read more click here...

Engineered Organisms for Making Cheap Sugar

Technology Review
March 29, 2011

In a bid to make biofuels cheaper, a startup called Proterro, based in Princeton, New Jersey,  is developing a way to cut the cost of making sugar, a basic building block for ethanol. The company is engineering photosynthetic microorganisms to secrete large amounts of sugar, and it is designing a  bioreactor for growing the organisms using small amounts of water.
To read more click here...

China 'to overtake US on science' in two years

BBC
March 28, 2011

China is on course to overtake the US in scientific output possibly as soon as 2013 - far earlier than expected.
That is the conclusion of a major new study by the Royal Society, the UK's national science academy.

The country that invented the compass, gunpowder, paper and printing is set for a globally important comeback.

An analysis of published research - one of the key measures of scientific effort - reveals an "especially striking" rise by Chinese science.
To read more click here...

Related Information:

• China and Iran challenging science "superpowers" of US and Britain
• Emerging world on science fast-track 

EADS unit to buy Canada's Vector Aerospace

Reuters
March 29, 2011

EADS  has ended a three-year acquisition drought in North America with a C$625 million ($640 million) cash bid for Canadian overhaul and repair firm Vector Aerospace.

Europe's largest aerospace company has had its eye on transatlantic expansion for some time to wean itself off the euro, whose strength has been hurting its airplane subsidiary Airbus, and to expand further into defense and aerospace services.

To read more click here...

Private investment in clean energy plunges

The Financial Times
March 29, 2011

Private investment in renewable energy in the UK fell sharply last year, relegating the country from third place to 13th in a table of Group of 20 economies.
The UK attracted $3.3bn in 2010 against $11bn in 2009, falling below every other European nation in the group, China, the US and Canada, according to a report by the Pew Environment Group.
To read more click here...

The solar drinking water now in Haiti

Haiti Libre
March 26, 2011

As we announced it to you on February 11th, 2011, the company BIO-UV specializes in water treatment, developed a drinking water treatment plant (BIO-SUN) that runs on solar energy. Combining a very fine filtration and a disinfection by ultraviolet radiation (UVR), water is purified and freed of all micro-organisms.

Well, this water treatment plant has just arrived in Haiti and is expected to be operational within two weeks, according to an official of the company Lysa, an expert company in management and durable maintenance of water, cooperating with BIO-UV and operator since 2009 and for a period of 15 years of the Société des Eaux de Saint Marc (SESAM) thus ensuring the management of the network of water supply to Saint Marc. Currently the city of Saint Marc has 8 hours of running water per day but in the suburbs the supply is ensured through public fountains or retail outlets collective.

The advantages of this plant are mainly:

• Its low cost, indeed the plant cost about US$4.000 and the cost for 1000 liters is $0.34
  
• Its capacity, this plant can process the equivalent of 500 liters/hour [with 400 J/m2 of sunshine]
  
• Its autonomy, given its photovoltaic power, this plant [in the absence of sun] has a battery life of 3 days, 4 hours use per day [2,000 liters], which allows in this situation to meet the daily requirement of a hundred people.
  

To conclude, "... involve local people in the maintenance of the plant, will also create some economic activity around the facility, " hopes Delphine Benat-Rassat one of the responsible of Lysa.

Solar power photovoltaics (PV) is on the road to becoming a mainstream energy technology

REVE
March 28, 2011

Solar energy photovoltaic (PV) has a critical contribution to the three pillars of the EU's energy policy: competitiveness, energy security of supply and sustainability.
To read more click here...

Daimler puts up €1.75 M to fund PhDs and drive knowledge transfer for electric cars

Science Business
March 23, 2011

The German carmaker is teaming up with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg Launch to launch a PhD research group specialising in electric vehicles.
To read more click here...

Warwick and partners awarded £1.4M in national solar energy program

Science Business
March 28, 2011

The University of Warwick is a key part of a consortium that has just been awarded £1.4 Million by a new national programme designed to develop the next generation of solar energy harvesting technology.
To read more click here...

Stanford engineers put a damper on 'aeroelastic flutter'

Stanford University
March 24, 2011

Anyone who has ever flown knows the feeling: an otherwise smooth flight gets a little choppy. If you are lucky, the plane skips a few times like a rock across a pond and then settles. For the not-so-lucky, the captain has turned on that seatbelt sign for a reason, but even the worst turbulence usually fades.
To read more click here...

ASME Articles of Interest - The Era of Insufficient Plenty, Manufacturing at the Crossroads, Custom Model, Credit to the Bicycle

The Era of Insufficient Plenty

"For more than 100 years, the United States has been the world’s largest industrial power, consuming a plurality of the world’s resources. Outstanding science and engineering have made it possible to extract and process natural resources to make almost any type of product at a reasonable cost and the United States has never confronted a situation in which another country matched our consumption. Today, we face that situation from China and India, nations with enormous populations, very large workforces of educated professionals, fast-growing economies, and voracious appetites for resources."
To read more click here

Manufacturing at the Crossroads

"U.S. manufacturers have taken a beating this past decade. As the economy pulls itself out of the recession, they are approaching a crossroads. What happens as the United States climbs out of the recession? Does production move overseas or return home? Does American manufacturing muscle bulk up or atrophy? Job losses in manufacturing have been staggering. From 17-18 million manufacturing workers for 20 years prior to the 2001 recession, employment has plummeted, down to 12 million workers in 2009."

To read more click here...

Custom Model

"Dell is offered up again and again as the prime example of customized manufacturing done right and done successfully. Shortly after its founding in 1984, Dell began a configure-to-order approach to manufacturing. Customers choose from multiple options for their own computers on the Dell Web site and then the computer is manufactured."

To read more click here...

Credit to the Bicycle

"Today an estimated one billion bicycles are used throughout the world, but they often don’t get the credit they deserve.  The first 90 years of the bicycle made world-changing engineering achievements possible that extended to modern motorized forms of transportation. What’s ahead for the next?"

To read more click here...

Bridgepoint's Ashford University Closes Ombuds Office

The private, for-profit coeducational liberal arts university owned by Bridgepoint Education has announced that it is closing the Ombuds Office it opened three years ago. To replace the Ombuds program, Ashford will open a Student Dispute Resolution Center on April 1, 2011. The new resource will provide, "expedited informal resolutions, confidential facilitated negotiation services and a formal grievance process."

The university says that the current Ombuds (Michael Kilpatrick and Jen Graf Sims) are working to close or refer their cases. The implication is that neither will transition to the new Student Dispute Resolution Center. As Ashford's first Ombuds, Kilpatrick was responsible for revising the formal mandate of the office to bring it within IOA standards. This is the second Ombuds office closure that Graf has endured -- she was previously an Ombuds at the University of Hawaii. (Ashford Student Dispute Resolution Center.)

Related posts: Ashford University Opens Ombuds Office; Bridgepoint Education Hires Associate Ombuds; Job Posting.

New trash-to-treasure process turns landfill nuisance into plastic

American Chemical Society
March 27, 2011

With billions of pounds of meat and bone meal going to waste in landfills after a government ban on its use in cattle feed, scientists today described development of a process for using that so-called meat and bone meal to make partially biodegradable plastic that does not require raw materials made from oil or natural gas. They reported here today at the 241^st National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
To read more click here...

Researchers Close In On Technology For Making Renewable Petroleum

ScienceDaily 
March 23, 2011

University of Minnesota researchers are a key step closer to making renewable petroleum fuels using bacteria, sunlight and dioxide, a goal funded by a $2.2 million United States Department of Energy grant.
To read more click here... 

New Ombuds Office at Ivy Tech Community College

Indiana's community college system, the nation's second-largest community college, has created an Ombudsman for student issues. Anila Din was appointed in early 2010, but the website for her office only went online last week. Din, the former Director of Academic Affairs Support for Ivy Tech, reports to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and serves a student population of more than 165,000.

The website is somewhat misleading because it refers to the 'ombudsman/student advocate.' Elsewhere, however, the site explains that the Ombuds is a neutral party who does not, "have any decision-making authority and cannot tell any staff member, administrator, or faculty member what to do." (Ivy Tech Ombuds; Lawrence Library Log.)

American University in Cairo Plans Ombuds Office

In the wake of the Egyptian Revolution earlier this year, the independent and sectarian American University in Cairo plans several reforms to address concerns about the right of free expression on campus and labor standards. These initiatives include an Ombuds Office.

In a statement released last week, AUC President Lisa Anderson said, in part:

FREE EXPRESSION

AUC upholds the right to freedom of belief, expression and assembly. Apart from language that might incite violence or otherwise represent an immediate danger, all speech is protected. In order to ensure that these rights are clearly and unambiguously expressed in the policies and procedures of the University, we have asked a faculty-student task force to develop a new policy statement on expression on campus, to replace the very restrictive policies of the past. We anticipate that the new policy will be available for comment by the University community by the end of March, and we hope new clear and consistent rights-based policies and procedural guidelines will be in place by mid-April.

We expect that all employees of the University will uphold, indeed celebrate, these rights. We know, however, that there is concern that members of the University administration abused their authority to stifle speech and to intimidate students, faculty and staff in the past, and there is worry that they may do so in the future.

We believe that individuals within the AUC community have both a right to register complaints about abuse of authority and a right to be presumed innocent until they are proven guilty. In order to ensure that both these rights are protected, we plan to establish a permanent Ombuds Office to take confidential complaints and to resolve conflicts. Because this Office will not be operational this semester, however, and because serious accusations have been made about members of the current AUC administration, particularly senior members of the security and student affairs staff, we will be establishing temporary special complaint panels.


These panels, which will begin operation before the end of March, will be tasked with collecting and assessing evidence of improper activity on the part of members of the AUC staff, particularly in monitoring, reporting, informing, interfering, stifling, or otherwise discouraging or preventing the exercise of free speech or assembly on campus. To ensure the absolute fairness of the process and, where necessary, the confidentiality of the complainants, the University will engage external legal counsel to join panels formed by the University’s Legal Advisor and, where appropriate including students and faculty, to hear complaints and draft assessments. The reports will be provided to the University Cabinet (the President, Provost and Vice-Presidents), who will both take appropriate action against those staff who are found to have violated community standards of free speech and will provide a report to the AUC community before the end of the semester both about the complaints and about the actions taken to redress them.

Additional details about the Ombuds Office have not been published. (AUC Student News, emphasis added.)

Related posts: American University of Kuwait Unveils Ombuds Program; African Educator Calls for University Ombuds; American University of Beirut Receives Funding for New Ombuds Office.

Ombuds for U.S. Defense Dept Inspector General Issues Second Annual Report

Scott M. Deyo, the Ombudsman for the Department of Defense IG employees worldwide, says he met with 325 individuals in fiscal year 2010, a 45% increase from the prior year. According to the annual report, issues about the agency's mission, strategy and organization became the top major category of concern.

In addition to the data, which are collected using the IOA uniform reporting categories, Deyo's report also presents a sampling of employee comments and recommendations. (DoD IG Ombuds 2010 Report.)

Related posts: Department of Defense Announces First Ombuds for Inspector General; One Name Added to the List of First Certified Ombuds; Coalition of Federal Ombuds Will Hold Open Meeting.

UK Engineers Develop Bee-Based Security Device

The Engineer
March 28, 2011

Trained sniffer bees are the key components of new technology that could stop terrorists in their tracks.

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Guide to Oregon Ombuds Programs

With IOA holding its annual conference in Portland and the mayor declaring April 3, 2011 to be 'Ombuds Day,' the Ombuds Blog presents this list of regional Ombuds offices:

Organizational Ombuds

• Kidsports
• Lewis & Clark College
• Oregon State University (coming soon?)
• Portland State University (closing soon)

Legislative/Classical Ombuds

• City of Portland Ombudsman
• State of Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman
• State of Oregon Ombudsman for Injured Workers
• State of Oregon Small Business Ombudsman

Groups

• Northwest Ombuds Group

Related posts: Montréal Abounds With Ombuds Offices; Area Around New Orleans Abounds With Ombuds Offices.

ABB to Deliver UHVDC Link for India Transmission Project

The Engineer
March 23, 2011

The Power Grid Corporation of India has selected ABB to deliver an ultra-high-voltage transmission system, worth about $900m (£554m). The link will supply hydropower from north-eastern India to the city of Agra over a distance of 1,728km.

To read more click here...

Addition Information:

• Ultra High Voltage DC Systems

Drama of Formula 1 Receives Technological Boost

New Scientist
March 24, 2011

The return of regenerative braking and the innovation of a drag-destroying rear wing could bring the drama of overtaking back to Formula 1.
 To read more click here...

Solar Concentrator Magnifies to Increase Power Output of Cells

The Engineer
March 25, 2011

California-based Hypersolar is developing a solar concentrator that magnifies the power of the sun to significantly increase the power output of solar cells.
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Neutron Analysis Yields Insight Into Bacteria For Solar Energy

ScienceDaily
March 24, 2011

Structural studies of some of nature's most efficient light-harvesting systems are lighting the way for new generations of biologically inspired solar cell devices.
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Cheap Catalyst Made Easy

Cleveland OH (SPX) 
March 25, 2011

Catalysts made of carbon nanotubes dipped in a polymer solution equal the energy output and otherwise outperform platinum catalysts in fuel cells, a team of Case Western Reserve University engineers has found.
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Innovative Microactuators: Compact 3.5 mm cubic rotary-linear piezoelectric actuator

Physorg.com
March 24, 2011

Microactuators are critical components for industrial applications such as MEMS, micro-medical devices, and microrobotics. However, the fabrication of increasingly sophisticated, millimeter sized microactuators is complicated and proving to be a challenge.
To read more click here... 

A Call for the Safer Handling of Nuclear Waste

Technolgy Review
March 24, 2011

Two weeks after the earthquake and tsunami, Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex continues to spread both radiation and distrust of nuclear power as the plant's situation lurches from hopeful to harrowing and back again. This week, Tokyo Electric Power restored grid power to much of the plant's equipment, bringing instrumentation back to life and, in a few cases, restoring cooling to overheated reactors and spent fuel pools. But on Wednesday, Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency reported that black smoke from Fukushima Daiichi's reactor unit 3 and a spike in radiation around reactor 2 had forced workers to temporarily abandon work to restart the cooling systems.
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Local councils must give tip top facilities to Rakyat

The local councils must works with greater vigor towards to keep facilities in their areas in tip top conditions. In this connection, each of them should start by having a two- year program how to keep their facilities in tip top condition and generally improve their services to the people. 

Local Authorities' Councillors Seminar held at Pullman Hotel

The State government is giving the local councils RM30 million this year for the purpose. Additional allocations for next year will depend on the structure and focus of local councils in their endeavor to improve their services to the people.

Sarawak will celebrate 50 years of Independence in Malaysia in 2013. Perhaps, local authorities should consider it to be appropriate to make necessary preparations to be able to perform its function almost fully by then.  

Besides, the Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud says it is his intention, before he retires, to complete the reorganization of the administrative system of local authorities to enable them to perform their functions almost fully by then. Generally, it is the intention of the State government to make local authorities to be more active not only in physical but also social development of their areas.

The local authorities comprising of City hall, Municipal councils, district councils and rural district councils have been evolved from self-help bodies, very lose in nature and very much dependent on shoe string budget for operations, have become an important arm of the government in maintaining a rapport with  the Rakyat.     

DBKU

The local authorities have also helped to provide a good foundation for the State to further intensify the development of education, which has become more or less compulsory for the people at the grass root level.  Initially, the network of working together between the local councils and community leaders was lose but has increasingly become strong as the Government had to set up more primary schools throughout the State. 

As Sarawak gained Independence through the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the immediate task was to change the structure of local authorities.  Otherwise, a local council could remain status quo, or remain weak as an official entity rather than the grass root organization.  Essentially, local government is people representatives’ organization. 

It is a real challenge to the Government to provide good services to the people.  The State, with a population of only 2.5 million has more than 5,000 settlements comprising of kampong, longhouses, bazaars and towns that are distant a part from each other with the distance of 5 to 30 miles apart. They are scattered over a land surface of 125,000 square KMs.

Admittedly, it is a difficult challenge to overcome.  However, as the government is committed to serve the people from the levels of towns to the ground, continuous   efforts are being made to re-organise the work processes to enable civil servants to work closely with the people.   The services must permeate from cities and towns right down to new growth centres, which have the potentials to become major towns in the next 20 years.  This is the general picture that local councils must be able to visualize for the future. 

 DBKU enforcement officers  checking the validity of advertisement and taking down expired banners.

The State government has started to reorganize the hierarchy of urbanized areas with the primary objective to tackle problems of urbanization and social adjustments.  At one stage, perhaps 10 years from now, the government structure may have to change; it may have to filter down to the structure of local government to cope with the process of urbanization. 

At the moment the State government is still having problems in trying to reach the lowest level of the administration through local authorities. It is still voluntary in nature. However, we should keep it that way in order to remain close to the people.  This is important for us as the biggest state in Malaysia.  

In Semenanjung Malaysia, the local authority either as an area of municipal council or district council, is very easy to administer as it also has the presence of the government.  It can be done as Semenajung Malaysia has a big population.  It started to have areas with big population with Briggs resettlement schemes, which had to be carried as security measures to prevent infiltration and subversion by the communists in the late 40s and 50s. The State government did the same thing in a small way at the Operation Hammer and RASCOM areas.  

The State government, once peace and harmony could be restored and it could earn more revenue, felt that it should spend more money at the people’s level by local authorities.  For this reason, local authorities must make the necessary preparations to be able to perform its function almost fully by the year 2013 as Sarawak celebrates 50 years of Independence in Malaysia.   

MBKS

Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib says it is his intention, before he retires, to complete the reorganization of the administrative system of local authorities to enable them to perform their functions almost fully by then. Generally, it is the intention of the State government to make local authorities to be more active not only in physical but also social development of their areas.  

 The State government, during the last few years, has been giving additional financial assistance to local councils to pay for the upkeep of their organizations.  Some of the local councils do not have sufficient allocation to play for salaries of their staff.   Obviously, their revenue from rate collection cannot even cover the expenses for the upkeep of their organizations.   

It can be anticipated that Local councils should be able to improve their revenue from rate collection from estates, now being developed in their areas, once the estates start to earn some revenue.  However, most of the estates will take time to mature. Meanwhile, the State government must continue to give some assistance as incentives to local councils to make continuous efforts to improve their services; a long wait for revenue from estates may nullify inducement for them to improve their services. 

This practice has been going on for some time.  The State government has already reached 30 years and feels obliged to re-examine ways to help local councils. The State government has decided to give more allocations to local councils, those in rural ones that cannot afford to upgrade their services in particular.  The State Government, after getting the general sanction of the Cabinet has decided to direct local councils to generally upgrade   their services within the next two years. 

 Hopefully, by the year 2013 local councils will be able to raise their rates slightly higher with better support and assistance from the government. Obviously, financial assistances from the Government have helped to alleviate the burden of local councils in discharging their services to the people. However, their administrative structure still needs to be reorganized and strengthened to carry out heavier responsibilities towards the year 2020 and beyond. 

Inspection by MBKS Mayor and MBKS officers

The State Government is setting aside RM25 million for local councils to start restructuring and strengthening their administrative structures.  Of course, municipal councils and city halls do not have problems with the exercise. The problems are being experienced mainly by local councils in rural areas and must be given due consideration to ensure all local councils at district level in rural areas will have good and proper executive teams functioning   by the year 2013. 

The State Secretary has been asked to work out how best to revise salary schemes for secretaries of local councils and perks for councilors, who only get each RM50 meeting allowance for one session. The councilors can be expected to be busier as local councils will be required to shoulder heavier responsibilities in providing better services to the people.  

As councilors may have to sit in various committees, they should be given financial support through a proper scheme of allowances for them. What it will be is up to the local councils to decide; the State government leaves it to them to decide to give daily rather than sitting allowance. 

In this regard, the administrative structure for a local council may be similar to those now being put into operations in Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU), Majlis Bandaran Kuching Selatan(MBKS) and Miri Municipal Council to ensure each of them will have focus in their work.  The work must involve councilors to enable them to have greater appreciation of the need to have facilities including toilets in tip top conditions. 

At one time, the Ministry of Environment and Public Health introduced the grading of public toilets as four, three or two- star toilets; no public toilets should be put as one-star toilets now as they should be at least be three-star category. Besides continuous improvements must be made to keep them clean until all of them become five -star toilets.   The State Government will help local councils to keep public toilet in tip top conditions in the overall efforts to develop eco-tourism. 

The local councils can be expected to carry out their works with greater vigor beginning from this year towards the year 2020 and beyond in order to keep facilities in areas of their jurisdiction in tip top conditions. In this connection, local councils can each do a two- year program how to keep their facilities in tip top condition and generally improve their services to the people. The State government is giving the local councils RM30 million this year for this purpose. Additional allocations for next year will depend on the structure and focus of local councils in their endeavor to improve their services to the people. 

Inspection at Stutong Market

Generally, the people must know that the local councils work with and listen to them on matters that they can see at their levels; the state government does not have to meddle in local administration.  Instead the local councils must build greater empowerment in their jobs. Hopefully, local councils with better maintenance and services can bring better lifestyle to people in rural areas; this is my vision for local authorities.  

It is also hoped that fully all local councils, through the leadership of local councilors, should be able to better services to the people in rural areas after a bit of re-organisation of administrative structures and getting financial grants from the government. Understandably, the people in rural areas are yet to enjoy better amenities and more active involvement of local councils in the maintenance and improvement of their areas. This is the happy picture that all local councils to visualize as the State moves forward to become a developed state towards the year 2020 and beyond.

  

  

  benuasains

 *Photos Source: 

http://www.dbku.gov.my/Eng/eng.html

http://www.mbks.gov.my/