Code and standard compliance and the Lapeyre Stair

Issued as Letter report and Final repor

Unions and Technology: A Survey of Union Use of Information Technology

Malgré le nombre croissant de recherches sur l'attitude des syndicats face aux nouvelles technologies, il n'y en a pratiquement pas sur leur utilisation par les syndicats canadiens dans leur administration.Cette enquête vise à circonscrire comment et pour quelles raisons les syndicats ont recours à l'informatique. Plus spécifiquement, l'étude s'intéresse aux questions suivantes : jusqu'à quel point les syndicats canadiens utilisent l'informatique, les sortes de systèmes utilises, la façon dont ils sont implantes, le degré de satisfaction obtenu et les projets d'implantation de nouvelles méthodes pour l'avenir. En conséquence, cette étude vise à obtenir deux sortes d'information : l'usage actuel de l'informatique dans les syndicats et la perception syndicale des attitudes face aux nouvelles technologies chez les syndicats-mêmes et dans les milieux de travail de leurs membres.Un questionnaire fut envoyé à 250 syndicats au Canada incluant des syndicats dont le siège social était au Canada et d'autres aux États-Unis. Les réponses étaient anonymes. Un questionnaire préliminaire avait d'abord été envoyé par courrier à trois syndicats importants. Ceci a permis de le modifier afin de tenir compte de plusieurs améliorations suggérées par ces syndicats.On a adressé les questionnaires définitifs aux présidents de syndicats et aux directeurs des sections locales canadiennes si leur siège social se trouvait aux États-Unis. On a envoyé une traduction française du questionnaire aux syndicats du Québec ainsi qu'aux autres répondants qui le demandaient. On a reçu 127 retours, soit un taux de réponse de 50,8 %. Parmi les répondants, 87,4 % (111) provenaient de syndicats dont le siège social était au Canada et 12,6 % (16) de sections locales affiliées aux syndicats américains. La moyenne des membres du groupe canadien était de 9 583 et la médiane 2 500 alors que la moyenne des membres des syndicats dont le siège social se trouvait aux États-Unis s'établissait à 256 148 et la médiane à 151 000.Environ 73 % (91) des syndicats ont déclare qu'ils regroupaient des membres qui travaillaient dans des entreprises en voie de changements technologiques accélérés. Dans ces 91 syndicats, on estimait que 51 % de l'effectif était touche par ces transformations. 77 % environ (98) des syndicats ont indiqué qu'ils utilisaient l'informatique sous une forme ou une autre et plusieurs recouraient à plus d'une technique. On a demandé aux répondants de scinder l'utilisation qu'ils font de l'informatique en deux groupes distincts : l'administration interne du syndicat et les services de négociations collectives. Aux fins d'administration, la plupart des associations utilisent l'informatique pour simplifier le travail courant de bureau (53 %), assurer la tenue des livres et la comptabilité (39 %), envoyer de l'information aux membres (43 %) et produire des bulletins d'information (39 %). En ce qui a trait aux services relies aux négociations collectives, ils recourent surtout à l'informatique pour renseigner leurs membres. Chose intéressante, alors que 90 % des répondants ont déclaré que l'informatique donnait de bons résultats, 34 % seulement estimaient qu'ils avaient pu réduire leurs dépenses par l'usage de cette méthode de travail. Cependant, 41 % des syndicats espéraient qu'ils pourraient par ce moyen diminuer leurs dépenses dans l'avenir.En ce qui concerne l'emploi futur de l'informatique, 63 associations (64 %) y recourant déjà ont indiqué qu'elles s'engageraient dans l'emploi de nouveaux procédés d'ici les deux prochaines années. Celles qui envisageaient l'implantation de nouvelles technologies espéraient pouvoir le faire dans les secteurs suivants : acheminement du courrier (30 %), comptabilité (22 %), cueillette et emmagasinement de données essentielles (16 %), systèmes de traitement de textes (10 %), programmations nouvelles (8 %), données en prévision des négociations (6 %) et divers (8 %). Il est possible de conclure, à partir des résultats de l'enquête, que les syndicats ont adopté la microtechnologie pour les aider à disposer des tâches routinières de bureau. La plupart de ceux-ci toutefois, n'ont pas encore utilise l'informatique à des fins plus innovatrices telles que les communications avec leurs bureaux régionaux, l'analyse des caractéristiques de leurs effectifs pour prévoir certains changements ou développer des stratégies. De plus, ils utilisent très peu l'informatique dans le domaine de la négociation collective pour, par exemple, faire des analyses de couts ou réécrire les textes des conventions collectives.Selon les résultats obtenus, la majorité des syndicats prennent très au sérieux les conséquences sociales que peut avoir l'introduction de technologies nouvelles et ils y voient l'occasion de démontrer aux employeurs comment il faut agir en matière d'instauration de ces méthodes de travail.On peut conclure, à partir des constatations de cette enquête, que les associations acceptent avec enthousiasme le défi de moderniser leur fonctionnement. C'est là une découverte encourageante, car il est de plus en plus évident, à l'âge de l'informatique, que ce n'est que si les syndicats relèvent ce défi qu'ils pourront être en mesure d'entreprendre de bonnes campagnes de recrutement et des rondes de négociations fructueuses.The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which unions in Canada use information technology, the types of technology used, the way in which the technology is implemented, the general level of satisfaction with the new methods and proposals for the implementation of new methods in the future

Combined Effects of Legumes with Phosphorus Fertilizer on Nutrient Balances and Gross Margins in Maize (Zea mays L.) systems of Kabete sub-County, Kenya

Calculation of soil nutrient balances and gross margins (GM) is imperative in ascertaining effect of innovative technologies on soil fertility and farm profitability. A field experiment to evaluate effect of combined legumes and phosphorus fertilizer on soil N, P and K balances and crop GM in maize (Zea mays L.) systems was set up in Kabete Division, Kenya, in the long and short rainy seasons of 2012. The experimental set up was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split plot arrangement. The main plots comprised cropping systems; (i) monocropping (sole maize), (ii) intercropping [white lupin (Lupinus albus L.)/maize (L/M) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)/maize (CP/M)], and (iii) rotation [white lupin-maize (L-M) and chickpea-maize (CP-M)]. The split plots were phosphorus (P) fertilizers; Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) and triple superphosphate (TSP), and (iii) no P fertilizer applied (CTRL). Soil N, P and K balances and gross margins were analyzed at plot level using NUTrient MONitoring (NUTMON - now known as MonQi) Tool box. Nutrient balances were negative across cropping systems and P sources except for K in M/CP (CTRL and TSP) intercrop. Significantly less negative N balances were obtained in maize monocrop (MPR), CP/M (CTRL) intercrop, CP-M (TSP) rotation, and L/M (MPR) intercrop. L/M (CTRL and TSP) intercrop and L-M (CTRL and TSP) rotation recorded more negative (highest losses) N balances. Across P sources, the maize monocrop, M/L intercrop and L-M rotation had significantly more negative P balances, than CP-M rotation and M/CP intercrop. P balances, across P fertilizers, were significantly less negative in M/CP compared to M/L intercrop. Less negative P balances were recorded in CTRL treatment compared to TSP and MPR across cropping systems. M/L (CTRL and TSP) intercrop system had pronounced negative K balances. In the rotation systems, significantly less negative balances were observed when maize was rotated with chickpea compared to lupin across all P sources. Pronounced GMs were realized in M/L intercrop (TSP) followed by L-M (TSP) and lowest in M/L (TSP and CTRL). The N, P and K nutrient balances in response to P sources and cropping systems exhibited a negative relationship with crop GM. The positive GMs obtained were thus at the expense of soil nutrient mining as treatments with high nutrient losses, case for N and P, had the highest GMs. Considering nutrient balance studies alongside economic analysis has thus demonstrated the hidden environmental costs in the positive crop GMs and by extension the efficiency of such production systems. As a result, increased GMs under introduced technologies are not sustainable unless the same is matched with adequate nutrient replenishments to balance those lost through harvested products and other nutrient loss pathways. Farmers would, actually, go for those technologies that not only maximize yields but also accrue high profits. In the context of this study, and in order of GM (from highest) analysis, M/L intercrop, maize monocrop and L-M rotation with application of TSP are such technologies. In the long-run however these technologies will prove untenable due to nutrient mining. Nonetheless to guarantee efficient production and sustainable maize systems, following application of P fertilizer and legume integration, it is important that profits accrued from farm sales be used to purchase fertilizers and/or support practices geared towards replenishing mined soil nutrients. This way farm profits realized will not be at the expense of nutrient mining. Keywords: Cropping systems; gross margins; Kabete sub-County; MonQi; Nutrient Balances; Rock phosphates

Generalized Centrifugal Force Model for Pedestrian Dynamics

A spatially continuous force-based model for simulating pedestrian dynamics is introduced which includes an elliptical volume exclusion of pedestrians. We discuss the phenomena of oscillations and overlapping which occur for certain choices of the forces. The main intention of this work is the quantitative description of pedestrian movement in several geometries. Measurements of the fundamental diagram in narrow and wide corridors are performed. The results of the proposed model show good agreement with empirical data obtained in controlled experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication as a Regular Article in Physical Review E. This version contains minor change

The minimum energy expenditure shortest path method

This article discusses the addition of an energy parameter to the shortest path execution process; namely, the energy expenditure by a character during execution of the path. Given a simple environment in which a character has the ability to perform actions related to locomotion, such as walking and stair stepping, current techniques execute the shortest path based on the length of the extracted root trajectory. However, actual humans acting in constrained environments do not plan only according to shortest path criterion, they conceptually measure the path that minimizes the amount of energy expenditure. On this basis, it seems that virtual characters should also execute their paths according to the minimization of actual energy expenditure as well. In this article, a simple method that uses a formula for computing vanadium dioxide ($VO_2$) levels, which is a proxy for the energy expenditure by humans during various activities, is presented. The presented solution could be beneficial in any situation requiring a sophisticated perspective of the path-execution process. Moreover, it can be implemented in almost every path-planning method that has the ability to measure stepping actions or other actions of a virtual character

The promise and peril of intensive-site-based ecological research: insights from the Hubbard Brook ecosystem study

Abstract. Ecological research is increasingly concentrated at particular locations or sites. This trend reflects a variety of advantages of intensive, site-based research, but also raises important questions about the nature of such spatially delimited research: how well does site based research represent broader areas, and does it constrain scientific discovery?We provide an overview of these issues with a particular focus on one prominent intensive research site: the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), New Hampshire, USA. Among the key features of intensive sites are: long-term, archived data sets that provide a context for new discoveries and the elucidation of ecological mechanisms; the capacity to constrain inputs and parameters, and to validate models of complex ecological processes; and the intellectual cross-fertilization among disciplines in ecological and environmental sciences. The feasibility of scaling up ecological observations from intensive sites depends upon both the phenomenon of interest and the characteristics of the site. An evaluation of deviation metrics for the HBEF illustrates that, in some respects, including sensitivity and recovery of streams and trees from acid deposition, this site is representative of the Northern Forest region, of which HBEF is a part. However, the mountainous terrain and lack of significant agricultural legacy make the HBEF among the least disturbed sites in the Northern Forest region. Its relatively cool, wet climate contributes to high stream flow compared to other sites. These similarities and differences between the HBEF and the region can profoundly influence ecological patterns and processes and potentially limit the generality of observations at this and other intensive sites. Indeed, the difficulty of scaling up may be greatest for ecological phenomena that are sensitive to historical disturbance and that exhibit the greatest spatiotemporal variation, such as denitrification in soils and the dynamics of bird communities. Our research shows that end member sites for some processes often provide important insights into the behavior of inherently heterogeneous ecological processes. In the current era of rapid environmental and biological change, key ecological responses at intensive sites will reflect both specific local drivers and regional trends

Thermoluminescence of zircon: a kinetic model

The mineral zircon, ZrSiO4, belongs to a class of promising materials for geochronometry by means of thermoluminescence (TL) dating. The development of a reliable and reproducible method for TL dating with zircon requires detailed knowledge of the processes taking place during exposure to ionizing radiation, long-term storage, annealing at moderate temperatures and heating at a constant rate (TL measurements). To understand these processes one needs a kinetic model of TL. This paper is devoted to the construction of such amodel. The goal is to study the qualitative behaviour of the system and to determine the parameters and processes controlling TL phenomena of zircon. The model considers the following processes: (i) Filling of electron and hole traps at the excitation stage as a function of the dose rate and the dose for both (low dose rate) natural and (high dose rate) laboratory irradiation. (ii) Time dependence of TL fading in samples irradiated under laboratory conditions. (iii) Short time annealing at a given temperature. (iv) Heating of the irradiated sample to simulate TL experiments both after laboratory and natural irradiation. The input parameters of the model, such as the types and concentrations of the TL centres and the energy distributions of the hole and electron traps, were obtained by analysing the experimental data on fading of the TL-emission spectra of samples from different geological locations. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data were used to establish the nature of the TL centres. Glow curves and 3D TL emission spectra are simulated and compared with the experimental data on time-dependent TL fading. The saturation and annealing behaviour of filled trap concentrations has been considered in the framework of the proposed kinetic model and comparedwith the EPR data associated with the rare-earth ions Tb3+ and Dy3+, which play a crucial role as hole traps and recombination centres. Inaddition, the behaviour of some of the SiOmn− centres has been compared with simulation results.