Non-geometric veering triangulations

Recently, Ian Agol introduced a class of "veering" ideal triangulations for mapping tori of pseudo-Anosov homeomorphisms of surfaces punctured along the singular points. These triangulations have very special combinatorial properties, and Agol asked if these are "geometric", i.e. realised in the complete hyperbolic metric with all tetrahedra positively oriented. This paper describes a computer program Veering, building on the program Trains by Toby Hall, for generating these triangulations starting from a description of the homeomorphism as a product of Dehn twists. Using this we obtain the first examples of non-geometric veering triangulations; the smallest example we have found is a triangulation with 13 tetrahedra

Wheel Design and Tension Analysis for the Tethered Axel Rover on Extreme Terrain

As the Mars Exploration rovers have reaffirmed, some of the most interesting sites for scientists to explore on planetary surfaces lie in terrains that are currently inaccessible to state-of-the art rovers. We have been developing the Axel rover as a robotic platform to access steep and challenging terrain. We will summarize the recent mechanical upgrades since we introduced the tethered Axel concept last year

The rationales behind free and proprietary software selection in organisations

The aim of this paper is to critically examine the important assumptions behind the software-selection function in organisations. Software is incorporated in many situations within enterprises due to its unique ability to efficiently and effectively augment business functions and processes. Proprietary software with its inherent advantages and disadvantages remains dominant over "Free and Open-Source Software" (FOSS) in a large number of cases. However, the arrival of cloud-computing almost certainly mandates a heterogeneous software environment. Open standards, upon which most FOSS is based promotes the free exchange of information, a founding requirement of the systems embedded in organisations. Despie evidence to the contrary, the fact that FOSS is also available at low financial cost, combined with the benefits implicit in facilitating inter-process communication supports the view that it would be attractive to organisations.This paper approaches the paradoxical situation by examining the relevant literature in a broad number of disciplines. An important aspect examined is the roles that management, and in particular the executive, play in the software-selection functio. It is on the basis of these findings that the rationales of use for both proprietry and FOSS are discussed in a multi-disciplinary context. Understanding the rationales behind the software-selection function may provide academics and practitioners with insight into what many would consider an ICT-centric problem. However, by abstratcting to the managment context, as opposed to the technical context, the organisational issues surrounding both proprietary software and FOSS adoption are counter-intuitively brought to the forefront

Song is the Secret of of Existence: Fairouz and the Arab Diaspora in London and Doha

Nestling in the hearts and minds of her listeners, the Lebanese singer and performer, Fairouz, travels across land and seas, offering gentle reminders of the past or inspiring hope for the future. With the objective of exploring the role that Fairouz plays in the lives of the Arab diaspora, this project examines possible identity constructions and concepts of belonging, investigating how Fairouz factors in diasporic space and how her music offers opportunities to navigate individual and social positions in such space. Through an ethnographic study, focusing on in-depth interviews, narratives of 59 members of the Arab diaspora living in Doha, Qatar and London, England were heard, understood and categorised thematically, highlighting how music can elucidate and situate experiences of migration, positioning listeners on a fluctuating continuum, which moves beyond standard private and public lines of domesticity, nationalism and religion. The role of affect in drawing and maintaining these lines is explored in depth, especially in its relation to the ways participants position themselves across space and time. Essentially, discussing Fairouz meant discussing diasporic life, bringing to the surface notions of Arabness and authenticity, presence and absence, naturalization and citizenship, and the issue of gender. Importantly, conversations with the research respondents shed light on the idea of iltizam (commitment), in relation to those trajectories, showcasing how members of the Arab diaspora hold on to attributes that they feel define and differentiate them from others. Topics of memory are also discussed, illuminating the ways in which Fairouz allows for reflection on past and present, as well as providing a sense of foretelling the future. Drifting through generations, Fairouz is an inherited artist and icon, allowing musical continuity and harbouring timeless appeal. Fairouz thus paves the way for discussion on everyday practices, contributing to the expanding fields of Arab Cultural studies, Diasporic studies and Fairouz studies

Entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana reduce the survival of Xenopsylla brasiliensis larvae (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae).

Entomopathogenic fungi, particularly those belonging to the genera Metarhizium and Beauveria have shown great promise as arthropod vector control tools. These agents, however, have not been evaluated against flea vectors of plague. A 3-h exposure to the fungi coated paper at a concentration of 2 × 108 conidia m-2 infected >90% of flea larvae cadavers in the treatment groups. The infection reduced the survival of larvae that had been exposed to fungus relative to controls. The daily risk of dying was four- and over three-fold greater in larvae exposed to M. anisopliae (HR = 4, p<0.001) and B. bassiana (HR = 3.5, p<0.001) respectively. Both fungi can successfully infect and kill larvae of X. brasiliensis with a pooled median survival time (MST±SE) of 2±0.31 days post-exposure. These findings justify further research to investigate the bio-control potential of entomopathogenic fungi against fleas.\ud \u

Misconduct resistance: the management of restricted drugs in the Western Australian public health service

We employ institutional theory to develop and present a framework – involving institutional drivers, organisational reactions, and outcomes – to examine and further understand misconduct resistance in public sector organisations. This framework is applied to an examination of efforts in the Western Australian public health service to prevent misconduct in the management of restricted drugs. We begin by clarifying a definition of misconduct resistance and then synthesise the extant literature develop a typology and framework of corruption resistance. The second part of the paper is a study in which the framework is applied to an examination of why and how the Western Australian public health service has endeavoured to prevent misconduct in the management of restricted drugs. Top-down imposition of regulations rather than shifts in individual employee attitudes is found. The paper concludes by outlining the potential contributions to theory and practice in approaches to increasing misconduct resistance in public health care organisations