Category theory applied to a radically new but logically essential description of time and space

McTaggart's ideas on the unreality of time as expressed in "The Nature of Existence" have retained great interest for many years for scholars, academics and other philosophers. In this essay, there is a brief discussion which mentions some of the high points of this philosophical interest, and goes on to apply his ideas to modern physics and neuroscience. It does not discuss McTaggart's C and D series, but does emphasise how the use of derived versions of both his A and B series can be of great virtue in discussing both the abstract physics of time, and the present and future importance of McTaggart's ideas to the subject of time. Indeed an experiment using human volunteers and dynamic systems modelling which was carried out is described, which illustrates this fact. The Many Bubble Interpretation, which also derives from McTaggart's ideas, is discussed and various examples of its use and effectiveness are referred to. The Schrodinger Cat paradox is essentially resolved in principle, the quantum Zeno effect interpretable, Kwiat's recent result referred to, and the newly discovered reverse Stickgold effect described.\u

Experimental philosophy and the MBI\ud

Various facets of the MBI are discussed, and how it can be used in connection with experimental philosophy, experimental psychology and neuroscience. Brief historical references are given. The large implications of the MBI with regards to McTaggart's paradox and the resolution of the difficulties with quantum mechanics is mentioned. Later sections deal with the mereological fallacy, multiple universes, teletransportation, mind cloning and mind splitting. Dreamwork is chosen as a prime example of the use of the MBI and recent work by Tononi and Baars is referred to.\u

An empirical look at citizen co-production in Australia

Co-production – the contribution of time and effort to the delivery of public services by service-users and  citizens, prompted by or in concert with public sector organisations – is attracting increasing attention from governments and communities. The literature identifies numerous initiatives in the United States, Britain, Germany, Indonesia, Sweden and Latin America, with co-production reported in disaster management, social protection, economic affairs and education – among others.  Yet despite this interest in more than a few services, its ‘big society’ appeal, and the substantial scholarly endeavours devoted to it, there is still much to uncover about co-production. Large groups of co-producing clients have not yet been asked about what they actually do. This paper is a contribution to developing some answers. Drawing from a large-sample (1,000) survey of co-production in Australia, it looks at what co-producers do (in what kinds of services, and how often) and what motivates them to co-produce. It is part of a co-published Occasional Paper series from ANZSOG and the Victorian Public Sector Commission. &nbsp

Understanding the roll-on-pilfer-proof process

There is a requirement (within the food packaging industry) for a greater analytical knowledge and more scientific understanding of the ROPP capping process and of the interaction of caps (closures) with the threaded part of the glass container (finish). Threads used within the industry have largely developed empirically from metal thread profiles. An improved understanding is needed so that problems associated with that process can be better understood and solved. Such problems can be manifest in damaged closures, ‘spinners’ and closures that are just too difficult to open. The term ‘spinners’ is used for closures that do not break the pilfer band (a tamper evident safety feature) when twisted. The same term is also used to describe closures that have been turned the wrong way (i.e. clockwise) on opening, stripping the thread whilst not breaking the pilfer band. To combat this problem it is desirable to produce a closure system that has a high torque when twisted in the wrong direction (known as the over torque) whilst maintaining good seal integrity and a low torque for correct opening procedure. A successful feasibility study was carried out to investigate the appropriateness of using finite element techniques to investigate closure systems and gain the required understanding to improve these systems. The follow on project utilised these finite element techniques and experimental testing using a single-head capping machine. The Project focuses on the industry standard glass thread finish called the GF305 that utilises an extra deep, aluminium ROPP closure. The results of this work so far are presented here

Leading with political astuteness: A study of public managers in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom

Combining quantitative survey data from over 1000 middle and senior public managers, as well as qualitative data from 42 in-depth interviews, the study sheds light on how managers understand politics in their work; how they rate their own and their colleagues’ political skills; how they use their political skills; and how these skills were developed. The report also sets forth recommendations to improve the development of managers’ political astuteness at the level of the individual, the organisation, and the professional body/training provider

NEGLIGENCE-LAST CLEAR CHANCE-PLAINTIFF\u27S IGNORANCE OF DANGER WHEN HE IS NOT IGNORANT OF THE INSTRUMENTALITY WHICH CAUSES HIS INJURY

Plaintiff, a boy twelve years of age, was struck by a locomotive of defendant railroad and suffered severe injuries. Defendant engineer, who had noticed plaintiff walking toward the track, could have stopped the train when he first observed plaintiff but did not because he had seen plaintiff look over his shoulder at the approaching train. The train could not be stopped after plaintiff had stepped onto the track. Plaintiff admitted seeing the train when it was 400 feet distant and that he had miscalculated the time necessary to cross in front of it. On appeal from judgment against both defendants, held, affirmed. Application of last clear chance doctrine on ground that plaintiff was oblivious to his danger was proper. Huggans v. Southern Pac. Co., (Cal. App., 1949) 207 P. (2d) 864

Novel Development of a Low-Cost, Micrometer-Scale Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy System

Modern scientific instruments are significant capital investments for universities. These investments can be outside of the funding capabilities of some smaller universities or departments and can be a significant barrier in the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs. This project aims to provide a template for universities or research groups to upgrade, at a reasonable price, an existing Raman spectroscopy system to a Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (TERS) system. This system can serve as a permanent upgrade to an existing system or as a bridge necessary to prove the viability of a research path before significant capital investment in a commercial TERS system. This project explains, in detail, all required components of a TERS system and the rationale of each designed component. The enhancement factor demonstrated using this homebuilt TERS system shows the potential of this system as an alternative to much more expensive commercial systems

Volatile apocarotenoid biosynthesis and carotenoid catabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana

Carotenoids are essential for plant photosynthesis. But, the story doesn’t end there: volatile apocarotenoids, carotenoid oxidative cleavage products, are important plant fragrances and semiochemicals, and some are believed to be so-called ‘apocarotenoid signals’ (ACS), regulating plant processes. From in vitro experiments, apocarotenoids are known to be formed either by carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) or non-enzymatic oxidation. But, in planta mechanisms are in many cases unclear. Are there volatile apocarotenoids yet to be discovered? Are volatile apocarotenoids formed via CCD or non-enzymatic processes in planta? And are some volatile apocarotenoids ACSs? To study volatile apocarotenoid metabolism in planta, a solid phase microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) protocol for analysing volatile apocarotenoids was developed. I also detoured to examine a new MS ionisation technology, cold electron ionisation (cold-EI). This technology improves molecular mass determination via GC/MS. The ability of cold-EI to enhance GC/MS plant volatile identification (via provision of molecular mass data) was evaluated. SPME-GC/MS was then applied to analyse volatile apocarotenoid profiles from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Col-0 (wild-type) and ccd-loss-of-function single and double mutants were analysed, as were the Arabidopsis ccr2 mutant and corresponding ccr2-background ccd mutants. ccr2 accumulates linear carotenoids not typically observed in Arabidopsis, and I’ve found it also emits exotic volatile apocarotenoids. A more-targeted study of volatile apocarotenoids and CCD1 and CCD4 activity during senescence was also performed. This thesis discusses aspects of analytical method development, specifically optimisation and applications of SPME sampling and cold-EI technology. Using untargeted SPME-GC/MS volatile metabolomics, a remarkable breadth of known and putative volatile apocarotenoids was uncovered in Arabidopsis. Evidence suggests CCDs barely contribute to volatile apocarotenoid production, most likely producing non-volatile apocarotenoids instead. Volatile apocarotenoids seem to be formed mainly via carotenoid non-enzymatic oxidation. My results suggest carotenoid turnover in photosynthetic tissues is important: volatile apocarotenoid production often increases markedly when CCD function is lost. Despite previous studies’ results, no new evidences were found for CCD-derived ACS contributing to either the ccr2 phenotype or senescence retardation

WILLS-INTERFERENCE WITH REVOCATION-CONSTRUCTIVE TRUST

The complaint alleged that testatrix who had executed a will leaving her whole estate to defendants attempted to make a new will containing legacies to plaintiffs, but that by means of misrepresentations, undue influence, force, and murder, testatrix was prevented by defendants from signing the new will. On appeal from dismissal of the complaint for insufficiency, held, reversed. If the allegations of the complaint be taken as true, plaintiffs are entitled to a judicial declaration that defendants hold the property under a constructive trust for plaintiffs. Latham v. Father Divine, 299 N.Y. 22, 85 N.E. (2d) 168 (1949)