Shape predicates allow unbounded verification of linearizability using canonical abstraction

Canonical abstraction is a static analysis technique that represents states as 3-valued logical structures, and is able to construct finite representations of systems with infinite statespaces for verification. The granularity of the abstraction can be altered by the definition of instrumentation predicates, which derive their meaning from other predicates. We introduce shape predicates for preserving certain structures of the state during abstraction. We show that shape predicates allow linearizability to be verified for concurrent data structures using canonical abstraction alone, and use the approach to verify a stack and two queue algorithms. This contrasts with previous efforts to verify linearizability with canonical abstraction, which have had to employ other techniques as well

Current educational technology use for digital information acquisition by young New Zealand children

Improving children`s information acquisition using digital documents is an under-studied field. We performed a survey with both teachers and parents to highlight the current use of technology and digital information by young New Zealand children, both in schools and at home. We found that children have access to a range of technologies and information sources both at home and at school. They use a mix of computers, print books and eBooks to access documents. This paper analyses the results of our survey and discusses its implications for further studies and interventions on educational practices for children's information acquisition

Artistic Content Representation and Modelling based on Visual Style Features

This thesis aims to understand visual style in the context of computer science, using traditionally intangible artistic properties to enhance existing content manipulation algorithms and develop new content creation methods. The developed algorithms can be used to apply extracted properties to other drawings automatically; transfer a selected style; categorise images based upon perceived style; build 3D models using style features from concept artwork; and other style-based actions that change our perception of an object without changing our ability to recognise it. The research in this thesis aims to provide the style manipulation abilities that are missing from modern digital art creation pipelines

Outer suburban/interface services and development committee inquiry into liveability options in outer suburban Melbourne

This report presents a range of options for enhancing the liveability of Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Melbourne has an international reputation as one of the world’s most liveable cities. However, many areas within Melbourne’s outer suburbs currently lag behind the rest of Greater Melbourne on a range of liveability measures. On a number of those measures, the gap is growing. This situation is primarily due to the rapid pace at which Melbourne’s outer suburbs have expanded in recent years. There are a range of options for preserving and enhancing the liveability of Melbourne’s outer suburbs, many of which are increasingly being adopted by residents, community groups and local governments. The Government of Victoria has also indicated that preserving and enhancing the liveability of Greater Melbourne will be a major priority for the new Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Strategy

The World of Organic Agriculture - Statistics and Emerging Trends 2011

Organic agricultural land and farms as well as the global market continued to grow during 2009 as documented in the 2011 edition of "The World of Organic Agriculture". Organic land and producers According to the latest FiBL/IFOAM survey on certified organic agriculture worldwide (data as of end of 2009, statistical information on organic agriculture is now available from 160 countries, an increase of six countries since the 2010 survey (data 2008). There are 37.2 million hectares of organic agricultural land (including in-conversion areas). The regions with the largest areas of organic agricultural land are Oceania (12.2 million hectares), Europe (9.3 million hectares), and Latin America (8.6 million hectares). The countries with the most organic agricultural land are Australia, Argentina, and the United States. Currently 0.9 percent of the world’s agricultural land is organic. However, some countries reach far higher shares: Falkland Islands (35.7 percent), Liechtenstein (26.9 percent), and Austria (18.5 percent). Seven countries have more than ten percent organic land. Compared with the previous survey, organic land increased by two million hectares or six percent. Growth was strongest in Europe, where the area increased by almost one million hectares. The countries with the largest increases were Argentina, Turkey, and Spain. Apart from agricultural land, there are further organic areas, most of these being areas for wild collection. These areas constitute 41.9 million hectares and have increased by 10 million hectares since 2008. There were 1.8 million producers in 2009, an increase of 31 percent since 2008, mainly due to a large increase in India. Forty percent of the world’s organic producers are in Asia, followed by Africa (28 percent), and Latin America (16 percent). The countries with the most producers are India (677’257), Uganda (187’893), and Mexico (128’862). Almost two-thirds of the organic agricultural land of 37.2 million hectares in 2009 was grassland/grazing areas (23 million hectares). With a total of at least 5.5 million hectares, arable land constitutes 15 percent of the organic agricultural land. An increase of 13.2 percent compared with 2008 was reported. Most of this category of land is used for cereals including rice (2.5 million hectares), followed by green fodder from arable land (1.8 million hectares), and vegetables (0.22 million hectares). Permanent crops account for approximately six percent of the organic agricultural land, amounting to 2.4 million hectares. Compared with the previous survey, almost half a million hectares more were reported. The most important crops are coffee (with 0.54 million hectares reported, constituting one-fifth of the organic permanent cropland), followed by olives (0.49 million hectares), cocoa (0.26 million hectares), nuts (0.2 million hectares), and grapes (0.19 million hectares). Global market According to Organic Monitor, the global market for organic food and drink is recovering from the repercussions of the economic crisis. Single-digit market growth was observed for the first time in 2009 because of the economic slowdown reducing industry investment and consumer spending power. Organic food and drink sales expanded by roughly five percent to 54.9 billion US dollars in 2009. Global revenues have increased over three-fold from 18 billion US dollars in 2000 and double-digit growth rates were observed each year, except in 2009. Healthy growth rates are envisaged to restart as consumer spending power rises and as more countries come out of economic recession. The countries with the largest markets are the US, Germany, and France; the highest per capita consumption is Denmark, Switzerland, and Austria. ----------------------------------------- Book info The World of Organic Agriculture - Statistics and Emerging Trends 2011 documents recent developments in global organic agriculture. The World of Organic Agriculture 2011 includes contributions from representatives of the organic sector from throughout the world and provides comprehensive organic farming statistics that cover surface area under organic management, numbers of farms and specific information about land use in organic systems. The book also contains information on the global market for organic food, the latest developments in organic certification, standards and regulations and insights into current status and emerging trends for organic agriculture by geographical region (table of contents). The World of Organic Agriculture is edited by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). The project is financially supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Nürnberg Messe, the organisers of the BioFach World Organic Trade Fair

7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21)

Information and communication technologies together with new teaching paradigms are reshaping the learning environment.The International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd) aims to become a forum for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas, experiences,opinions and research results relating to the preparation of students and the organization of educational systems.Doménech I De Soria, J.; Merello Giménez, P.; Poza Plaza, EDL. (2021). 7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD21.2021.13621EDITORIA

Teacher roles during amusement park visits – insights from observations, interviews and questionnaires

Amusement parks offer rich possibilities for physics learning, through observations and experiments that illustrate important physical principles and often involve the whole body. Amusement parks are also among the most popular school excursions, but very often the learning possibilities are underused. In this work we have studied different teacher roles and discuss how universities, parks or event managers can encourage and support teachers and schools in their efforts to make amusement park visits true learning experiences for their students