1,871 research outputs found
Long-term growth in vitro of isolated, fully differentiated neurones from the central nervous system of an adult insect
No full textA method is described for the isolation and growth in vitro of fully differentiated neurones from the thoracic ganglia of adult cockroaches. The presence of insect blood in the culture system is shown to promote growth. The morphology of the growing neurones and the plasticity of the branching processes are described and growth rates are measured. Using a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dye, changes of intracellular calcium levels in the growing neurones in response to K+ depolarization have been measured. The results, indicating the presence of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels on neuronal processes in vitro, show that neurones can be maintained in a functional state for several weeks by this technique. Such preparations could prove useful for studying a variety of physiological and pharmacological properties of neurones, including the mechanisms controlling growth, synapse formation and neuronal interactions with other cell types. <br/
Kansas State University : a pictorial history, the first century, 1863-1963
No full textDuring this period, more than 2,500 students attended the Kansas State Agricultural College, of whom one-third were women. It was estimated that three-fourths of the students came from and returned to farms. Through 1890 there were 232 graduates of whom 73 were women. -- excerpt from Chapter 1Citation: University., Kansas State, and Charles C. Howes. Kansas State University : A Pictorial History, the First Century, 1863-1963. [Manhattan, Kan.]: Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State U, 1962.Call number: LD2668.A5 K3597 196
Toward a Credible Pacifism: Violence and the Possibilities of Politics
No full textAdvocates of pacifism usually stake their position on the moral superiority of nonviolence and have generally been reluctant or unwilling to concede that violence can be an effective means of conducting politics. In this compelling new work, which draws its examples from both everyday experience and the history of Western political thought, author Dustin Ells Howes presents a challenging argument that violence can be an effective and even just form of power in politics. Contrary to its proponents, however, Howes argues that violence is no more reliable than any other means of exercising power. Because of this there is almost always a more responsible alternative. He distinguishes between violent and nonviolent power and demonstrates how the latter can confront physical violence and counter its claims. This brand of pacifism gives up claims to moral superiority but recuperates a political ethic that encourages thoughtfulness about suffering and taking responsibility for our actions.https://repository.lsu.edu/facultybooks/1404/thumbnail.jp
Upgrading California’s Home Care Workforce: the impact of political Action and Unionization
No full textCandace Howes examines the recent history of one of California\u27s rapidly growing occupations: home care. As the author\u27s analysis demonstrates, home care has been extensively transformed in recent years through large-scale unionization and coalition-based political action, which have led to major improvements in wages and benefits. Apart from providing many home care workers with better pay, the upgrading of this occupation has also improved the quality of care that clients receive, since higher wages make for lower turnover. The improved working and living conditions that result benefit caregivers and those they serve alike. The author\u27s empirical analysis has obvious ramifications for low-wage employment generally, particularly in the burgeoning health care and personal services sector
Rethinking disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
No full textAbstractAustralian governments face the twin challenges of dealing with extreme weather-related disasters (such as floods and bushfires) and adapting to the impacts of climate change. These challenges are connected, so any response would benefit from a more integrated approach across and between the different levels of government.This report summarises the findings of an NCCARF-funded project that addresses this problem.The project undertook a three-way comparative case study of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, the 2011 Perth Hills bushfires, and the 2011 Brisbane floods. It collected data from the official inquiry reports into each of these events, and conducted new interviews and workshops with key stakeholders. The findings of this project included recommendations that range from the conceptual to the practical. First, it was argued that a reconceptualization of terms such as ‘community’ and ‘resilience’ was necessary to allow for more tailored responses to varying circumstances. Second, it was suggested that the high level of uncertainty inherent in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation requires a more iterative approach to policymaking and planning. Third, some specific institutional reforms were proposed that included: 1) a new funding mechanism that would encourage collaboration between and across different levels of government, as well as promoting partnerships with business and the community; 2) improving community engagement through new resilience grants run by local councils; 3) embedding climate change researchers within disaster risk management agencies to promote institutional learning; and, 4) creating an inter-agency network that encourages collaboration between organisations.Please cite this report as: Howes, M, Grant-Smith, D, Reis, K, Bosomworth, K, Tangney, P, Heazle, M, McEvoy, D, Burton, P 2013 Rethinking disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 63.Australian governments face the twin challenges of dealing with extreme weather-related disasters (such as floods and bushfires) and adapting to the impacts of climate change. These challenges are connected, so any response would benefit from a more integrated approach across and between the different levels of government.This report summarises the findings of an NCCARF-funded project that addresses this problem.The project undertook a three-way comparative case study of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, the 2011 Perth Hills bushfires, and the 2011 Brisbane floods. It collected data from the official inquiry reports into each of these events, and conducted new interviews and workshops with key stakeholders. The findings of this project included recommendations that range from the conceptual to the practical. First, it was argued that a reconceptualization of terms such as ‘community’ and ‘resilience’ was necessary to allow for more tailored responses to varying circumstances. Second, it was suggested that the high level of uncertainty inherent in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation requires a more iterative approach to policymaking and planning. Third, some specific institutional reforms were proposed that included: 1) a new funding mechanism that would encourage collaboration between and across different levels of government, as well as promoting partnerships with business and the community; 2) improving community engagement through new resilience grants run by local councils; 3) embedding climate change researchers within disaster risk management agencies to promote institutional learning; and, 4) creating an inter-agency network that encourages collaboration between organisations. 
Former distribution and decline of the burbot (Lota lota) in the
No full text1. Species reintroductions are an increasingly fashionable tool among conservation practitioners for restoring locally and nationally extinct populations. For a reintroduction programme to be successful, an understanding of the causes of the decline of a species is required. This, however, proves challenging when baseline data on the distribution and abundance of the species are limited.2. This paper uses evidence from historical literature to map the former distribution of the burbot (Lota lota) within UK rivers before its extinction in the early 1970s. A scoring system was developed to model anecdotal descriptions of burbot abundance from the collected literature.3. The former distribution was divided into four geographical areas based loosely on catchment boundaries. The literature identifies 42 rivers in eastern England in which the burbot was likely to have existed. The status of the species in the Thames catchment is still unclear as information from written sources is contradicted by evidence from the archaeological record.4. The findings indicate that the year of source data was a significant predictor of burbot abundance across the former population as a whole and for three of the four geographical areas (the Trent catchment, the Fenland rivers and the Yorkshire rivers). The timing of the burbot's decline showed differences between the geographical regions, with the Trent catchment exhibiting an earlier decline than the Fenland and Yorkshire areas
Australian aid to Afghanistan: submission to the foreign affairs, defence and trade reference committee
No full textThis submission is written by Professor Stephen Howes, Director of the Development Policy Centre and Mr Jonathan Pryke a researcher at the Centre. Professor Howes has twenty-five years of experience working in and on aid and development in the AsiaPacific region. Formerly Lead Economist for India with the World Bank and Chief Economist with AusAID, he was a lead author of the Core Group Report on Aid Effectiveness (2006), the review of Australian aid to PNG (2010) and the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness (2012). He currently serves on the Board of CARE Australia. Jonathan Pryke graduated from the ANU in 2011 with a Masters in Public Policy and Masters in Diplomacy. Ms Alicia Mollaun also contributed to this submission via the provision of a literature survey. Ms Mollaun is a PhD student at the Crawford School working on American aid to Pakistan. She has worked for the Australian Government with PM&C and DFAT, and is currently on leave from DFAT
Project management control utilising innovative forecasting and computerised data bases
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The prime objective of this thesis is to research and develop a new system of project budgeting, monitoring and forecasting to meet the needs of the Construction Industry. It is intended that this work will facilitate the means for more efficient control of projects from inception to final completion, utilising where possible the latest developments in computer technology.
The initial stage of the work involves an investigation and appraisal of existing methods of formulating project budgets. In particular attention is paid to previous work in the development of mathematical 's' curve models, together with their limitations in use and application. Potential for future development is also identified.
The thesis then focuses on the evolution of an improved modelling philosophy for project budgets and forecasts which overcomes previously known problems. In parallel with this work is the development of a computerised system intended to enable the testing of the model against live project data.
The model finally selected is then tested against the extensive research work previously undertaken by the DHSS and the data collected from sixteen construction projects.
To facilitate the development of a suitable control system to act as a vehicle for the application of the principles developed, a contextual survey is included. This survey is intended to provide an update of previous survey work undertaken by the author in 1977 and to further investigate factors orientated specifically to the objectives of the thesis.
The research then concentrates on the development of an integrated set of sub-systems which contribute to the budgeting, monitoring and prediction of project expenditure. These systems are developed in accordance with the need to establish the financial status of projects both before, during and after they are completed. The overall system is based on the latest computer technology available and is designed to be flexible in its application. Tests documented in the text prove that the system operates both in principle and in practice. A further extension of the research is the use of the various project data bases to provide information for a corporate control system which has been developed in principle.
This thesis provides a significant step forward in computerised project budgeting and control utilisng 's' curve philosophy and provides a basis for further development. Potential exists for future development of the prediction and corporate control systems, together with software developments to improve general application over a wide range of industries and disciplines where project work is undertaken
Asia’s Wicked Environmental Problems
No full textThe developing economies of Asia are confronted by serious environmental problems that threaten to undermine future growth, food security, and regional stability. This study considers four major environmental challenges that policymakers across developing Asia will need to address towards 2030: water management, air pollution, deforestation and land degradation, and climate change. We argue that these challenges, each unique in their own way, all exhibit the characteristics of “wicked problems”. As developed in the planning literature, and now applied much more broadly, wicked problems are dynamic, complex, encompass many issues and stakeholders, and evade straightforward, lasting solutions.asia environmental problems; food security; water management; air pollution; deforestation; land degradation; climate change; wicked problems
The Talk of Maine piece on expert birders, Wendy Howes of Wilton and Wally Sum
No full textThe Talk of Maine piece on expert birders, Wendy Howes of Wilton and Wally Summer of Canaan, who attempted to break the official American Birding Association Big Day record for Maine, set in 1993 by Lysle Brinker from the Belgrade area, and his team. The author accompanied the two birders as they traveled to numerous sites in Maine on a tight, pre-arranged schedule in late spring. They ultimately identified a total of 140 birds by sight and/or sound, falling short of the record, which was 163
- …
