Creation and Divine Providence in Plotinus

In this paper, we argue that Plotinus denies deliberative forethought about the physical cosmos to the demiurge on the basis of certain basic and widely shared Platonic and Aristotelian assumptions about the character of divine thought. We then discuss how Plotinus can nonetheless maintain that the cosmos is «providentially» ordered

Creation and Divine Providence in Plotinus

In this paper, we argue that Plotinus denies deliberative forethought about the physical cosmos to the demiurge on the basis of certain basic and widely shared Platonic and Aristotelian assumptions about the character of divine thought. We then discuss how Plotinus can nonetheless maintain that the cosmos is «providentially» ordered

Community Change within a Caribbean Coral Reef Marine Protected Area following Two Decades of Local Management

Structural change in both the habitat and reef-associated fish assemblages within spatially managed coral reefs can provide key insights into the benefits and limitations of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). While MPA zoning effects on particular target species are well reported, we are yet to fully resolve the various affects of spatial management on the structure of coral reef communities over decadal time scales. Here, we document mixed affects of MPA zoning on fish density, biomass and species richness over the 21 years since establishment of the Saba Marine Park (SMP). Although we found significantly greater biomass and species richness of reef-associated fishes within shallow habitats (5 meters depth) closed to fishing, this did not hold for deeper (15 m) habitats, and there was a widespread decline (38% decrease) in live hard coral cover and a 68% loss of carnivorous reef fishes across all zones of the SMP from the 1990s to 2008. Given the importance of live coral for the maintenance and replenishment of reef fishes, and the likely role of chronic disturbance in driving coral decline across the region, we explore how local spatial management can help protect coral reef ecosystems within the context of large-scale environmental pressures and disturbances outside the purview of local MPA management.Funding was provided by the Saba Conservation Foundation ((SCF), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Australian National University and Australian Research Council. The funders had no role in study design and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Staff of the SCF were involved in data collection

Big data based intelligent decision support system for sustainable regional development

Timely intelligent decision making is increasingly important for modern society. With the availability of big data and advanced artificial intelligence in decision making, more objective and evidence-based quantitative smart decisions can be made in a timely manner. This research proposed a big data based intelligent decision support system (B-IDSS) for sustainable business development. The system can be used by both the government agencies and corporate business (e.g. farms. mining) in advanced planning, collaboration and management. This paper also addresses the performance optimization as bilevel decision-making problem with one leader and multiple followers. An extended Kuhn-Tucker approach is introduced as one of the algorithms that can be adapted in the system

Effect of Greyscale/Print Density on the Properties of High Speed Sintered Nylon 12

High Speed Sintering is an Additive Manufacturing process that creates parts by sintering using inkjet and infra-red lamp technology, rather than the laser systems employed in Laser Sintering. This research investigated the effects of altering the dosage of ink (greyscale/print density) on the properties of parts produced. A clear pattern emerges that shows a ‘sweet spot’ for correct dosage of ink to maximise properties. The work also shows that greyscale allows considerable control of part density that could lead to substantial reductions in part mass beyond those that may be achieved by conventional design optimisation approaches employed today.Mechanical Engineerin

Experimental and numerical techniques for characterising catheter-induced blood vessel damage: towards tools for improvement of intravascular catheter design

Cardiovascular diseases are a significant health risk worldwide, being the largest contributor to deaths in most developed and developing countries. For physical testing of new medical devices, diseased tissue specimens are desirable. However, these are difficult to obtain in quantity. The first phase of the work therefore focused on emulating effects of disease on artery mechanical response, using enzyme and chemical treatment of healthy tissue. Porcine aorta was partially digested by elastase and collagenase treatments to remove constituent proteins, and exposed to low concentration glutaraldehdye to partially cross-link proteins. Uniaxial tension testing and controlled peel testing were then performed in the artery axial and circumferential directions to assess the changes in mechanical and failure behaviour. The treatments successfully altered the wall tensile and peeling response with effects varying by the loading type and direction. Multiphoton microscopy was also performed to allow visualisation of the changes to fibre structure and density. Finally, tensile test results were fitted to the Gasser-Ogden-Holzapfel constitutive model and a continuum damage model, and the fitted curves were best matched with the circumferential direction results. The latter phase of the work focused on development of methods for characterising and simulating catheter-induced dissection processes. An experimental procedure was developed, wherein a catheter was forced between layers of arterial media, propagating a dissection, while reaction force was measured. The various approaches utilised to model this process within FEA are presented and the subsequent difficulties explored. The inherent complexity of the process being modelled resulted in difficulty drawing out the underlying problems. To rectify this, the experiment was simplified such that a metal wedge with a rounded front was used to dissect the tissue. This was successfully modelled and insights from this were considered with regard to numerical difficulties in the catheter dissection model

Feeding efficiency and aggression in juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (L.) under alternative feeding regimes

This thesis is a compilation of three long-term studies of on-demand feeding in Atlantic salmon parr and post-smolts in an aquacultural cage environment. The feeding rhythm studies are concerned with whether fish show a daily rhythm of appetite in cage culture. The feeding regime chapters evaluate the effect of an on-demand feeding regime upon growth performance and production when compared with existing fixed ration regimes. Two studies assess the impact of feeding regime upon social interactions around meal times, examining aggression and competition in relation to food presentation. My aim was to show how feeding systems that preferentially distribute feed in relation to changes in appetite could affect fish production and welfare in a cage rearing facility. The AKVAsmart AQ1 adaptive feeding system is the on-demand feeder used throughout this thesis. It is a system that has been designed principally for cage culture and can manage several feeding programs, depending upon farmers' requirements. Chapter 2 reports on the general configuration of the on-demand feeders for each of cage trials in this thesis, outlining the behavioural and production implications of the parameters chosen. Chapter 3 is split into two parts: 3a reports upon the feeding rhythms of Atlantic salmon post- smolts in sea cages; 3b examines the effect of an on-demand feeding regime upon growth performance and social interactions between conspecifics. Chapter 4 is divided into three sections: 4a provides information on feeding rhythms in freshwater production cages under ambient conditions from autumn until spring; 4b evaluates the effects of an on-demand feeding regime on growth performance and production of parr in comparison with an existing fixed ration regime; and 4c examines how a feeding regime can affect the prevalence of fin damage and behavioural interactions between conspecifics around meal times. The final experimental chapter was split into two segments: 5a investigated the feeding rhythms of cage held Atlantic salmon parr in production cages under an artificial photoperiod (as part of an accelerated smoltification strategy); 5b examines the effect of an on-demand feeding regime on growth and production in comparison with an in-house fixed ration regime. Chapter 6 reviews the main conclusions and findings of the previous chapters, outlining their implications for aquacultural feed management strategies. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)

Place, Space, and Motion

(a) Topics and Goals. The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role of spatial concepts in physical theories in the millennium from Plato (4th century BCE) through Philoponus and Simplicius (6th century CE). In particular, we examine the explicit theoretical views of ancient physicists and philosophers concerning space, the spatial features of bodies, and the existence of isomorphisms among space, change, and time. Projects are devoted to issues in Plato’s Timaeus and Aristotle’s Physics, and to the interwoven reception of these texts in Middle Platonism and Late Platonism. We trace the evolving answers given to such central questions as whether space is metaphysically basic or is rather dependent upon bodies or even non-spatial entities (such as souls); the possibility of empty space; the causal role of space in nature; how spatial structures make certain kinds of change possible or necessary. The group aims to produce a series of essays and commentaries examining key texts of Plato and Aristotle and tracing the reception and transformation of their views in Middle- and Late Platonism. (b) Methods. The group engages in close reading and interpretation of ancient texts, with the aim of constructing a history of engagement with the questions indicated above. The main areas of expertise brought to bear on the relevant texts lie in classical philology, history of ideas, history of science, and systematic philosophy. In a weekly research seminar, individual research projects and results are presented in detail and discussed in the light of these varied disciplines and skill sets. (c) State of Discussion. Relevant texts are interpreted both internally and in the light of their relationships with earlier sources and later readings. In this way a narrative is emerging of development and interrelationship among ancient theories of space – a narrative with some shape and coherence, but without the suppression of details and uncertainties. The group is also beginning to pay more attention to epistemological issues, concerning the sources of theoretical knowledge about space, and the evolving standards of argument, justification, and presentation of such knowledge

Discriminant Function Analysis of Factors affecting Off-farm Diversification among Small-scale Farmers in North Central Nigeria

The study evaluated the factors that affected off-farm diversification among small-scale farmers in North Central region of Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 respondents. The primary data obtained with the aid of standard questionnaire were analysed using discriminant function analysis. The dependent variable, off-farm work typology, comprised three groups namely, agricultural wage employment, non-agricultural wage employment, and self employment. Based on factor loading, the strongest predictor was fund for farm investment (0.654) while the weakest predictor was crop failure (0.359). The canonical correlation of 0.572 implied that 32.72% of the variation in off-farm work typology was explained by the discriminators included in the model. The chi-square statistic (77.89) of Wilk’s lambda was statistically significant (p<0.01), implying that discriminant function was appropriate and significant. Self-employment category had the best classification (88.3%), while agricultural wage had the poorest classification (0.0%). Although, the F-statistic of the Box’s M test (7.07) was significant and the null hypothesis accepted that the covariance matrices were not equivalent, the significance was disregarded on the grounds that the sample size was large and the number of groups in the dependent variable was more than two. It was concluded that small-scale farmers in the study area embarked on enterprise diversification in order to generate funds for farm investment, although there was a gradual drift from the core agricultural production sector to self-employment. Therefore, government should encourage farm investment by subsidising farm input, improving farm produce price and farm credit delivery. This would, among other things, check the adverse impact of dual farm structure on food production. Keywords: Nigeria, small-scale farmers, diversification, off-farm work typology, discriminant function analysis, predictor