On type II_0 E_0-semigroups induced by boundary weight doubles

Powers has shown that each spatial E_0-semigroup can be obtained from the boundary weight map of a CP-flow acting on B(K \otimes L^2(0, \infty)) for some separable Hilbert space K. In this paper, we define boundary weight maps through boundary weight doubles (\phi, \nu), where \phi: M_n(\C) \to M_n(\C) is a q-positive map and \nu is a boundary weight over L^2(0, \infty). These doubles induce CP-flows over K for 1<dim(K)<\infty which then minimally dilate to E_0-semigroups by a theorem of Bhat. Through this construction, we obtain uncountably many mutually non-cocycle conjugate E_0-semigroups for each n>1, n \in \mathbb{N}.Comment: 38 pages; numbering format changed; various typos corrected; journal reference adde

“An Altercation Full of Meaning”: The Duel between Francis B. Cutting and John C. Breckinridge

“A Duel!” In late March of 1854, the northern press burst with the news. A duel had allegedly taken place between two members of the House of Representatives—Francis B. Cutting of New York and John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky. Confusion and anticipation reigned, and a flurry of rumors circulated. Had Breckinridge been shot in the neck? Was he killed or wounded? Did Cutting emerge victorious? Or was the entire affair a mere hoax? The situation became so dramatic that it even appeared in a theatrical advertisement, beckoning people to see a play that promised to be just as exciting as the alleged duel. By early April, it had become clear that despite the conflict between Cutting and Breckinridge, an actual duel had been averted. Although their misunderstanding had been amicably settled, the affair still left many questions unanswered. Why did these two Congressmen feel compelled to resort to arms? And how did Cutting, a northerner, nearly become embroiled in a duel—a violent ritual typically understood by historians today as an archaic institution that was confined to the Old South? These questions can be partially answered by examining the Cutting-Breckinridge affair within the context of nineteenth century dueling culture generally and the increased sectional tensions that emerged during the Kansas-Nebraska debate specifically. However, the near-duel was given meaning and political staying power only through interpretation and manipulation by the northern anti-slavery press, which used the conflict to indict dueling as a product of violent southern slaveholding culture. The Cutting-Breckinridge affair was part of the larger sociopolitical phenomenon of dueling that has been discussed by historians of early and nineteenth century America. In her critical study Affairs of Honor, Joanne B. Freeman explains that duels in early America stemmed from a commitment to “sacrifice one’s life for one’s honor,” or a sense of self-worth tied up with manliness and, in some cases, ability as a political leader. [excerpt

Culturally Relevant Leisure Experiences as Predictors of Intercultural Sensitivity Among Study Abroad Students

Study abroad programs are promoted on the premise that they offer valuable cross-cultural experiences and provide students with desired 21st century skills including global awareness, cross-cultural communications, and intercultural sensitivity (IS); however, simply to send students abroad is not enough to ensure skill development. Rather, there is a need for intentional pedagogy. As Engle and Engle (2004) have suggested regarding IS, the most successful study abroad programs seem to include culturally relevant leisure within the host community. Moreover, the theoretical framework of Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity has suggested the importance of various culturally relevant leisure experiences in assisting students in progressing from the worldview of ethnocentrism to ethnorelativism. The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the relationship between participation in culturally relevant leisure during study abroad and IS. Findings suggest importance of leisure engagement in culturally relevant media during study abroad. Pedagogical implications will be discussed

The RCRs in Sicily

Account given by Major T.M. Powers, second-in-command Royal Canadian Regiment, on 18 August 1943 in battalion rest area near SCORDIA, SICILY

Consulting with Technical Writers

Students in the University of Texas at Austin's Electrical Engineering program sell t-shirts with the slogan “Get a real major” emblazoned on the back. That tshirt means “We do our thing over here, and you do yours over there. You don’t quantify; we do. We can prove that we have the right answer; you’re hard pressed to pull that off. You don’t know what I’m talking about, and I don’t get you either. Please just leave me here safe.” Writing consultants–especially those from humanities backgrounds –run headlong into this sentiment. The simplest and most helpful thing we can do to address it is to adapt a little. Sure, we may not be comfortable handing down The Law about language. But we can give clear guidelines that will keep the "grammar grader" from ticking three more points for mechanics from the writer's paper. We can work within the style and format guides stipulated by the writer’s instructor regardless of how wacky they may appear. We can offer suggestions to make writing as rational as possible– and that is exactly what we ought to do to help writers produce good technical writing.University Writing Cente

Employment Sector Working Paper No. 3, Recognizing ability: The skills and productivity of persons with disabilities, Literature Review.

The ILO will increase its efforts to advocate access to adequate skills development opportunities for disabled persons, in the coming years, as part of the process of implementing these international standards. To provide a solid knowledge base for these activities, a literature review of skills development initiatives targeting persons with disabilities was commissioned, focusing in particular on the contribution of skills development to enhancing the productivity of disabled persons. It is hoped that the review will contribute to opening opportunities for disabled persons to acquire skills which will lead them to obtaining and keeping decent work. Tony Powers of Powers and Associates (Australia) was the author of this working paper. The research was guided by Barbara Murray, Senior Specialist on Disability, Jo-Ann Bakker edited and prepared the manuscript for publication. The research was conducted as part of the preparation of the report for the General Discussion on Skills for improved productivity, employment growth and development at the 97th session of the International Labour Conference (2008). This working paper reviews the available evidence connecting the employment and economic status of disabled persons with their skills and productivity. It examines skills development strategies and their effect on employment, income-generation and productivity in both the formal and informal sectors in developed and developing countries. It also considers the impact of policies and practices designed to assist disabled people to achieve their productivity potential at work, including workplace accommodations and teleworking. It includes a number of illustrative case studies. It concludes with key policy messages which emerge from the literature review

The Current Controversy Regarding TMDLs: Contemporary Perspectives TMDLs and Pollutant Trading

The article first summarizes CWA requirements relevant to TMDLs and outlines elements of an effective trading program. It then examines the program recently established by the State of Connecticut to allow trading of nitrogen credits among sewage treatment plants on Long Island Sound to achieve an established TMDL, and the CWA issues presented. Finally, it gives a brief comparison to the program being designed for the Chesapeake Bay, for which no TMDL has been established. Current brief descriptive summaries of several often cited programs are appended