82 research outputs found
Rewarding Innovation: Improving Federal Tax Support for Business R&D in Canada
No full textBusiness innovation is viewed by many as a solution to Canada’s ailing productivity performance. One of the more troubling aspects of Canada’s innovation track record is that businesses spend relatively little on research and development (R&D) despite having access to some of the world’s most generous R&D tax incentives. Canada’s low levels of business R&D have called into question the effectiveness of Canada’s generous R&D tax incentives, particularly the flagship federal Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program. A deeper analysis, however, reveals that tax incentives are effective in stimulating more R&D – that is, Canada would have lower levels of business R&D in the absence of these inducements. Instead, the root cause of Canada’s business R&D deficit appears to stem from structural aspects of the economy and, more importantly, a lack of demand-related pressure to pursue innovation.Fiscal and Tax Competitiveness, Canada, research and development (R&D) incentives, Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program
Thinking about Medicaid buy in enrollment projections for Ohio; Report to the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council
No full textTitle from cover of PDF (viewed on Aug. 13, 2008).; "August 2004."; Harvested from the web on 8/13/0
Repatriation: furthering the research agenda through the lens of commitment, uncertainty reduction and social cognitive career theories
No full textPhilosophy for children: Fostering communities of philosophical enquiry and reflection in primary and secondary schools
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The publications in these two volumes reflect the author's work over the past ten
years in the development of teaching thinking through philosophical enquiry in
primary and secondary schools.
Philosophy as an essential aspect of education for all young people was first
considered in the US by Professor Lipman in the early 1970s, and is now established
in more than thirty countries around the world. The publications presented here
represent key documents in the author's involvement in the development of a
curriculum for teaching thinking through philosophical enquiry in UK schools.
The publications are organised under two themes relating to teaching thinking and
philosophical enquiry which are seen as vital elements of children's learning, and are
presented as a contribution to curriculum development in schools, including the
developing of pedagogic methods and teaching materials, and as a contribution to the
professional development of teachers. Fifteen sole-author publications are included,
comprising two books, excerpts from four books, and nine published papers.
In addition to the publications this volume contains the author's commentary which
provides an introduction to the publications and an assessment of their significance
Investigating the relationship between "effective" teachers and theoretical notions of effective teaching: An analysis of whole-group discussions
No full textThe literature base on teacher effectiveness has rapidly expanded in the past decade. Once dominated by social scientists, the literature is now heavily influenced by economists. Utilizing value-added modeling, economists have mainstreamed attempts to isolate the effect that a teacher has on student achievement. Findings from these attempts, however, confuse an improvement in measuring teachers with an improvement in measuring teaching. The field of education is still missing transparent, debatable measures of teaching practices. This study proposes a new measure, the adjusted whole-group discussion score, for one teaching practice—conducting whole-group discussions. It then uses that measure on a purposefully sampled group of teachers, and investigates its relationship to statistically derived measures of teacher effectiveness—that is, value-added estimates. This study is one of the first to go inside the classrooms of teachers being labeled effective through value-added modeling and to shed light on their classroom practices. In so doing, the study highlights different aspects of good teaching, which include being accountable to facts and procedures and being accountable to authentic discourse. Moreover, it articulates specific classroom discussion moves that can be used in targeted interventions. Findings illustrate that teachers with similar value-added scores can have markedly different teaching practices and that high value-added estimates do not necessarily reflect a full range of classroom teaching practices. The main policy implication of these findings is that, similar to students who need individualized instruction, teachers need individualized intervention
Evolution of the genera Vitex (Lamiaceae) and Zygogynum (Winteraceae) on New Caledonia
No full textThe New Caledonia archipelago is home to a richly diverse flora including a disproportionate number of lineages whose heritage can be traced to ancient Gondwana. Much of this species richness is owed to the complex geologic history, including an extensive period of submersion, of the region which actively shaped the flora over millennia. Given such complexity there is always unknowns both with regards to the circumscription of such a diverse flora and to understanding aspects of the archipelagos geologic past, which in many cases prove extremely difficult to resolve. This thesis investigates two aspects of this notion using modern day molecular techniques.
The first aspect that we investigate is the question of species circumscription with regards to Vitex (Lamiaceae). Here we scrutinize the monophyly of the morphologically variable species Vitex collina, as described by Mabberley (1990), previously suggested by Mabberley to comprise a minimum of three distinct morphotypes. Additionally we consider the genetic uniqueness of a recently discovered species, tentatively named Vitex sp. “unifolia”, from currently accepted New Caledonian Vitex collina s.l. Maximum likelihood (ML) analyses using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genetic loci revealed that New Caledonian Vitex collina is paraphyletic with New Zealand V. lucens and Australian V. lignum-vitae nested within a well-supported V. collina s.l. clade. Our results suggest a minimum of two genetically distinct entities within V. collina, though the new species Vitex sp. “unifolia” was not distinguished genetically from Vitex cf. “collina”. The additional morphological analysis in light of our molecular analyses revealed further distinction of taxa within our sample group. This revealed a potential for three separate morphological entities within Vitex collina s.l. specimens, with Vitex sp. “unifolia” representing a fourth. Further research will result in the formal recognition of Vitex sp. “unifolia” upon publication, as well as further delimitation of the distinct entities within V. collina s.l. These revisions will have implications for the conservation status of these revised species, especially with regards to the rare Vitex sp. “unifolia”.
The second aspect investigated New Caledonian Winteraceae focussing on two research aims. The first aim scrutinised the New Caledonian Zygogynum s.l. in light of revisions made in Vink (1988; 1993; 2003), where four previously recognised genera (Belliolum, Bubbia, Exospermum, and Zygogynum) were dismantled into a single broadly circumscribed genus. The second aim was to assess any major morphological trends within Zygogynum s.l. and biogeographic patterns within the Winteraceae. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and psbA-trnH genetic loci confirmed the monophyly and position of Takhtajania, Tasmannia, Drimys, and Pseudowintera within the Winteraceae. New Caledonian Zygogynum s.l. was shown to be paraphyletic with Z. schlechteri nested within a distinct Australian Bubbia clade separate from remaining Zygogynum. Our analyses showed no support for the distinction of species previously belonging to Belliolum and Exospermum with all remaining Zygogynum forming a monophyletic clade. The monophyly of species within the Zygogynum were for the most part resolved, with only few species left unresolved or paraphyletic relationships. Further investigation of biogeography within the Winteraceae revealed that Zealandic Winteraceae share their common ancestor with South American taxa, reflecting the Gondwanic roots of this family, with Australian Bubbia having originated from New Caledonian Zygogynum. From this we suggest, upon further investigation, that the retention of Bubbia within Zygogynum s.l. was supported and should be maintained. Alternately, if Bubbia is maintained as distinct from Zygogynum s.l., Z. schlechteri will be revised to Bubbia schlechteri. Further research including specimens of all described taxa will improve the resolution of our analyses, likely identifying further inconsistences that require revision or attention. Our investigation into morphological trends within the Zygogynum uncovered a trend of carpel evolution, in which a single well supported clade of Zygogynum exhibit fused carpels with all others within the family exhibiting unfused gynoecia. The significance of this is that it is a derived trait recognised as a reoccurring trend within the Angiosperm lineage, though this is the first instance where it has been identified occurring within a single genus
Improvement of cost estimating internal practice.
No full textThis thesis is concerned with understanding the internal costing practices employed
by commercial and engineering disciplines of cost estimating for generating
estimates at the conceptual design stage of complex hardware products. It examines
whether there is a formal structure in the interaction between the two groups that
can be represented within a model. The aim is to develop a framework that will
formalise and improve the communication of commercial and engineering
disciplines in cost estimating.
A literature review examines the role of different costing techniques and the
information requirements for generating cost estimates. The review identifies that
there is a lack of research in the information requirements for cost estimating of
specific manufacturing industries, and that the interaction of commercial and
engineering disciplines of cost estimating at conceptual design stage is hindered by
the different focuses of these groups.
By conducting a survey study the author identifies the internal practice in
cost estimating for the automotive industry. The survey establishesth at in order to
improve the internal practice it is essential to establish a data infrastructure that
fortnalises and enables the reuse of the cost estimates and improves the interaction
between the two groups. The author identifies a common cost estimating process
for the automotive industry. This study establishes the required data and
information elements and information sources that need to be collected in order to
have reliable data infrastructure. Using a case study approach, the author also
establishes that it is essential to analyse the product functions in such a way that
will enable the development of a detailed cost estimating model at the conceptual
design stage, which will improve interaction between the commercial and
engineering groups. The function-based cost estimating process becomes the focus
of detailed studies using experts from the automotive industry. This results in a
generic framework that provides a formalised structure to represent functional
requirements in the form of a detailed cost estimating model.
The thesis concludes that product functions need to be captured and
analysedd uring the conceptuald evelopmento f a product and be associatedto cost
estimates. The developed results provide both groups of cost estimating a
structured, consistent approach to developing cost estimates at the conceptual
design stage. The data infrastructure and the function-based cost estimating
framework is validated through case studies and expert evaluation. The approach
contributes towards improvement of the internal cost estimating practice with the
automotive industry
The monitoring of the rights of the child: a child rights-based approach
No full textPhDDue to the lacunae between legal obligations to human rights and the actual situation,
monitoring is an essential component of the international and national human rights system.
Monitoring illuminates the situation of human rights commitments and ensures the relevancy
of instruments. The thesis explores monitoring in relation to the rights of the child and
submits that a child rights-based approach is essential. Monitoring should not only consider
the status and nature of child rights, but a child rights-based approach should also guide
efforts so that they improve as well as reflect and respect children's rights.
The study defines monitoring and describes a child rights-based approach. As a subject of
legal investigation, the thesis then addresses several questions. How do international and
national monitoring efforts respect child rights? How have the supervision of international
conference agreements supported child rights? Furthermore, how do different countries
monitor? National activities are examined through case studies of two Commonwealth
countries: Canada and South Africa. Then, analysis is presented about how actors interpret
and execute monitoring and the significance of different approaches. Lastly, the rationale,
challenges and existing support of a child rights-based approach are discussed. In sum, a
child rights-based approach is not generally utilised and the implications of child rights upon
the monitoring process are not yet realised. Most monitors, whether international, regional
or domestic, inadequately consider the demands of child rights upon the process of
ascertaining the situation of children's rights. Proposed guidelines are appended to support
a child rights-based approach to monitoring
Evaluation and comparison of nine growth and development-based measures of pubertal timing
No full textBACKGROUND: Pubertal timing is heritable, varies between individuals, and has implications for life-course health. There are many different indicators of pubertal timing, and how they relate to each other is unclear. Our aim was to quantitatively compare nine indicators of pubertal timing.METHODS: We used data from questionnaires and height, weight, and bone measurements from ages 7-17 y in a population-based cohort of 4267 females and 4251 males to compare nine growth and development-based indicators of pubertal timing. We summarise age of each indicator, their phenotypic and genetic correlations, and how they relate to established genetic risk score (GRS) for puberty timing, and phenotypic childhood body composition measures.RESULTS: We show that pubic hair in males (mean: 12.6 y) and breasts in females (11.5 y) are early indicators of puberty, and voice breaking (14.2 y) and menarche (12.7 y) are late indicators however, there is substantial variation between individuals in pubertal age. All indicators show evidence of positive phenotypic intercorrelations (e.g., r = 0.49: male genitalia and pubic hair ages), and positive genetic intercorrelations. An age at menarche GRS positively associates with all other pubertal age indicators (e.g., difference in female age at peak height velocity per SD higher GRS: 0.24 y, 95%CI: 0.21 to 0.26), as does an age at voice breaking GRS (e.g., difference in age at male axillary hair: 0.11 y, 0.07 to 0.15). Higher childhood fat mass and lean mass associated with earlier puberty timing.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide insights into the measurements of the timing of pubertal growth and development and illustrate value of various pubertal timing indicators in life-course research.</p
The influence of national competition policy in reshaping human service delivery
No full textThis thesis sets out to look at the influence of Australia’s National Competition Policy reform in reshaping human services. In trying to understand this influence, the research explores the main threads of National Competition Policy – including concepts of contestable markets, Competitive Neutrality and Competitive Tendering and Contracting. It also notes the dominance of neoclassical economics and public choice theories underpinning the framing of this reform.
More specifically, the work tracks down the way in which National Competition Policy is impacting on human service delivery through using particular contractual arrangements with non-government providers in a bid to foster value for money through competition and market choice arrangements. This part of the research rests on two case studies, an employment assistance service (Labour Market Programs) known as Job Network and a crisis accommodation service (Supported Accommodation Assistance Program - SAAP). Through them the thesis explores and locates the parameters and the terms under which federal and state funding is accessed and the new organisational arrangements which regulate the terms of client treatment and the scope of professional practice.
In theoretical terms, the thesis draws on mainly a governmentality literature to illuminate the emerging modes of neo-liberal governance, particular attention is given to patterns of self regulation and the conditions governing distant actors
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