10,840 research outputs found
Stumbling Forward on Trade: The Doha Round, Free Trade Agreements, and Canada
No full textBefore continuing a headlong rush to form free trade agreements with partners around the globe, Ottawa should pause to consider the effects of a web of FTAs. Matthew B. Adler argues that FTAs tend to interfere with multilateral trade negotiations, which potentially would deliver broader benefits.international policy, free trade agreements, Doha Round
Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties on the Agreement Between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine 2009
No full textGeographical indications are defined under the TRIPS Agreement 1994 (US) as “indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a Member, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin”. Geographical indications involve a consideration of intellectual property law, international trade law, and agricultural policy. This submission will consider the intersection between these fields of regulation.\ud
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This submission is a personal response to the Agreement between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine 2009; and a more impersonal effort to give the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties a better appreciation of the rich, detailed, and multi-disciplinary literature, which exists in respect of the contentious issue of geographical indications, intellectual property, and international trade.\ud
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In the submission, I make the following arguments:\ud
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1. The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties should consider the origin and evolution of European geographical indications – and take note of recent efforts to extend the boundaries of the ‘Champagne’ wine region.\ud
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2. The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties should scrutinise the full range of economic, social, political, and cultural justifications for the expanded protection of geographical indications.\ud
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3. It is puzzling that the Australian Government is so keen to enter into a bilateral agreement with the European Community on geographical indications, given the recent history of bitter and contentious disputation over geographical indications at a multilateral level.\ud
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4. There is a need for the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties to conduct a proper evaluation of the European Community-Australia Wine Agreement 1994, before contemplating the adoption of the much more extensive Agreement between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine 2009.\ud
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5. There is a need for a detailed econometric assessment of the Agreement between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine 2009, to evaluate impacts on Australia’s economic well-being; to identify any structural or institutional adjustments that might be required by such an agreement; and to evaluate the social, regulatory, cultural and political impacts of the agreement.\ud
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6. The Australian Government should review the interaction between the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) and geographical indications.\ud
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7. The legal disputes over the boundaries of the geographical indications for Coonawarra and King Valley highlight the need for a review of the provisions of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Act 1980 (Cth), and the Australian Wine and Brand Corporation Regulations 1981 (Cth), dealing with geographical indications.\ud
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8. The Australian Government should resist the expansionist agenda of the European Union to extend the protection of geographical indications to foodstuffs.\ud
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9. It is curious that the Australian Government is signing a 221-page treaty to protect French, German, Spanish and other European traditional expressions, but is yet to support the protection of the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Australians
Hudson Maxim, Matthew Sellers, and Spouses
No full textA photograph of Matthew Sellers and Hudson Maxim, with their spouses, standing in front of the White House, circa. 1920.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/sellers_photographs/1024/thumbnail.jp
Nonlinear modeling of FES-supported standing-up in paraplegia for selection of feedback sensors
No full textThis paper presents analysis of the standing-up manoeuvre in paraplegia considering the body supportive forces as a potential feedback source in functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted standing-up. The analysis investigates the significance of arm, feet, and seat reaction signals to the human body center-of-mass (COM) trajectory reconstruction. The standing-up behavior of eight paraplegic subjects was analyzed, measuring the motion kinematics and reaction forces to provide the data for modeling. Two nonlinear empirical modeling methods are implemented-Gaussian process (GP) priors and multilayer perceptron artificial neural networks (ANN)-and their performance in vertical and horizontal COM component reconstruction is compared. As the input, ten sensory configurations that incorporated different number of sensors were evaluated trading off the modeling performance for variables chosen and ease-of-use in everyday application. For the purpose of evaluation, the root-mean-square difference was calculated between the model output and the kinematics-based COM trajectory. Results show that the force feedback in COM assessment in FES assisted standing-up is comparable alternative to the kinematics measurement systems. It was demonstrated that the GP provided better modeling performance, at higher computational cost. Moreover, on the basis of averaged results, the use of a sensory system incorporating a six-dimensional handle force sensor and an instrumented foot insole is recommended. The configuration is practical for realization and with the GP model achieves an average accuracy of COM estimation 16 /spl plusmn/ 1.8 mm in horizontal and 39 /spl plusmn/ 3.7 mm in vertical direction. Some other configurations analyzed in the study exhibit better modeling accuracy, but are less practical for everyday usage
Matthew’s Emmanuel Messiah: a paradigm of presence for god's people
No full textThe motif of divine presence is a clear phenomenon within the Gospel of Matthew. The modern critical means for assessing the ancient biblical text have multiplied to the point, some claim, of disparity. This study employs both narrative and redaction criticism in an attempt to respond authentically to the structural, historical and theological dimensions of Matthew's Gospel. This study begins with the presumption of the wholeness and integrity of Matthew's narrative, and assumes the gospel story to have an inherently dramatic structure which invites readers to inhabit imaginatively its narrative world and respond to its call. But since we are concerned with the role of both reader and author, this study also assumes a text with an historical author and context. The introduction focuses on the meta-critical dilemma facing New Testament students - what is the text and how do we read it? - and seeks some balance in terms of Krieger's analogy of the text as both window and mirror. Proposed is a narrative reading of Matthew's presence motif alongside a redaction critical assessment of it. In Chapter 2 the elements of narrative theory are introduced and relevant terms defined: the structure of narrative, the function of the narrator, points of view. Chapter 3 becomes an exercise in narrative reading, with Matthew's presence motif providing the focus, and the implied reader’s interaction with the story being predominant in interpretation. Characters, rhetorical devices, and points of view are discussed, to understand the motif's development throughout the story's progress. The thrust of Chapter 4 is thereafter to examine divine presence as a dominant motif within Matthew's most important literary context: the Jewish scriptures. Here the primary paradigms of divine presence provided by the Patriarchs, the Sinai experience, and the Davidic-Zion traditions are assessed. Chapter 5 follows with a more detailed examination of the OT "I am with you/God is with us" formula and its µeo' vµwv/ηuwv language, so strongly connected to Matthew's presence motif. Chapters 6-8 build on these investigations with a closer analysis of the three critical "presence passages" of Mt 1:23. 18:20 and 28:20. The passages and their contexts are probed from a redaction critical perspective, guided by the narrative investigation of Chapter 3, and the background from Chapters 4 and 5.The three major "presence passages" examined in Chapters 6-8 are also complimented by a number of secondary issues: worship, wisdom, the Spirit and the poor in Matthew, and their relation to Jesus' divine presence. These are discussed in Chapter 9. Chapter 10 summarizes and looks briefly at some implications. Matthew' presence motif proves to be an important element of the Gospel’s rhetorical design, redactional strategy and Christology. The presence of Jesus, the Emmanuel Messiah, exhibited in his risen authority, becomes the focus of his people's hopes and experiences in the post-Easter world. What the presence of Yahweh was to his people. Jesus now provides in a new paradigm for his people - his followers, the little ones, the poor and the marginalized, from all nations
A decision theory approach to standing order procurement of NASA reports
No full textExplains various package deal procurement methods including standing order method for library documents. Enumerates different standing order services of NTIS for technical reports. Describes the NASA information system. Discusses and analyses the economy of NASA FS service by applying decision theory approach and considering the various costs as well as saving aspects/advantages. Explains the non-economic factors to be considered in evaluating such a service. Suggests ways of making NASA FS service more beneficial to the library of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC)
At what cost? IT pricing and the Australia tax
No full textThis report finds that, in many cases, the price differences for IT products cannot be explained by the cost of doing business in Australia.ForewordThe importance of IT products to every sector of Australian society can hardly be overstated. IT products are woven into the fabric of our economy and society, and have driven rapid change in the way Australians communicate, the way we work, and the way we live.Australian consumers and businesses, however, must often pay much more for their IT products than their counterparts in comparable economies. In many cases Australians pay 50 to 100 per cent more for the same product.Consumer and business concern over IT price differences prompted the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy, to refer the question of IT pricing in Australia to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications for an inquiry and report.Evidence presented to this inquiry left little doubt about the extent and depth of concern about IT pricing in Australia. Consumers are clearly perplexed, frustrated and angered by the experience of paying higher prices for IT products than consumers in comparable countries.High IT prices make it harder for Australian businesses to compete internationally and can be a significant barrier to access and participation for disadvantaged Australians (in particular Australians with a disability).Based on the evidence received over a 12 month inquiry, the Committee has concluded that in many cases, the price differences for IT products cannot be explained by the cost of doing business in Australia. Particularly when it comes to digitally delivered content, the Committee concluded that many IT products are more expensive in Australia because of regional pricing strategies implemented by major vendors and copyright holders. Consumers often refer to these pricing strategies as the ‘Australia tax’.While the Committee recognises that businesses must remain free to set their own prices in a market economy, it has nonetheless made a range of recommendations that are intended to sharpen competition in Australian IT markets. The Committee hopes that these measures will increase downward pressure on IT prices and improve the access of Australian businesses and consumers to cheaper IT products.Given the ever-increasing importance of IT products to Australian society and the economy – in driving innovation, reducing isolation in regional and rural Australia, or improving the lives of Australians with a disability – it is essential that Australians get a fair deal
King Lear to In the loop : fiction and British politics
No full textOn 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.
In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.
In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, Research Fellow - Matthew Bailey - answers a question posed by Hazel Blears. Could a West Wing-styled drama improve the standing of British politicians?
Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education
Dr Matthew Bailey, Research Fellow, The Centre for British Politics, The University of Nottingham.
Dr Matthew Bailey has published work on a variety of topics regarding British politics, in particular the Conservative Party and Margaret Thatcher’s election as party leader. Between 2005 and 2008 Matthew has also been working on the frontline of British politics – managing the constituency office of one of Hull’s MPs. With that experience behind him he has become poacher turned gamekeeper, assessing the representation of our political masters across a variety of fictional forms.
Recent papers on this subject include: ‘Sympathy for the Devil: must fictional portraits of politicians be so negative?’ (delivered at the 2007 Political Studies Association Conference) and ‘Stranded on the middle ground: reflections on consensus in post-war political film and fiction’ (presented to the 2009 PSA Conference).
The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cb
Matthew Fontaine Maury, ca. 1864 [copy]
No full textStanding pose, studio portrait, Matthew Fontaine Maury. Signed
Matthew Roberts in His Army Uniform
No full textMatthew Roberts in his WWI uniform, standing in his yard
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