e-Governance: Supporting pragmatic direct deliberative action through online communities of interest

Authors often report on the limited success of e-Government initiatives in developing nations. Top down, national strategies are developed to target improved government services, but maintain hierarchical, citizen-state conceptions of governance through representative democracy. An alternative conception, direct deliberative democracy, frames the potential role of the internet in governance differently. Web based platforms might support locally animated deliberations, which target pragmatic outcomes, while the resulting social networks afford collective learning through connections across traditional boundaries. This paper presents an investigation of direct deliberative governance as it occurs in online 'communities of interest', and is based on research with such a community in southern Africa. We investigate contributions to the online governance process and develop an action typology distinguishing between degrees of 'agency freedom'. Network analytic techniques are then used to understand how acts of varying degree are expressed in terms of the structure of a social network. The aim, more broadly, is to understand how the environment shapes acts of direct deliberative governance, and, in turn, how the acts shape the evolution and effectiveness of the community. The preliminary results suggest design considerations for online governance communities, and highlight their role to not only provide deliberative space, but to mediate social network connections

Comparison of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance

Conditioning specialists have been incorporating concepts of gravity-resisted core training, both on stable and unstable surfaces, to enhance core endurance despite limited empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance. The experimental group (n=8) followed a gravity-resisted core training intervention while the control group (n=8) followed a gym-based core training intervention incorporating similar exercises over a 6-week period. Pre- and post-testing consisted of an isometric prone bridge endurance test, dominant and non-dominant isometric side flexor endurance tests, an isometric trunk flexor endurance test and an isometric trunk extensor endurance test. Relative to the control group, the experimental group showed a very likely improvement in isometric trunk flexor endurance (33.7±18.3%, 90% Confidence limits), likely improvements in isometric non-dominant side flexor endurance (26.1±18.7%), isometric prone bridge endurance (22.4±13.9%), and isometric dominant side flexor endurance (30.4±27.7%). Using a gravity-resisted core training intervention is likely to produce beneficial gains in core endurance for resistance trained males to a greater extent than a programme of similar exercises conducted conventionally in a gym

Comparison of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance.

Conditioning specialists have been incorporating concepts of gravity-resisted core training, both on stable and unstable surfaces, to enhance core endurance despite limited empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance. The experimental group (n=8) followed a gravity-resisted core training intervention while the control group (n=8) followed a gym-based core training intervention incorporating similar exercises over a 6-week period. Pre- and post-testing consisted of an isometric prone bridge endurance test, dominant and non-dominant isometric side flexor endurance tests, an isometric trunk flexor endurance test and an isometric trunk extensor endurance test. Relative to the control group, the experimental group showed a very likely improvement in isometric trunk flexor endurance (33.7±18.3%, 90% Confidence limits), likely improvements in isometric non-dominant side flexor endurance (26.1±18.7%), isometric prone bridge endurance (22.4±13.9%), and isometric dominant side flexor endurance (30.4±27.7%). Using a gravity-resisted core training intervention is likely to produce beneficial gains in core endurance for resistance trained males to a greater extent than a programme of similar exercises conducted conventionally in a gym

Micro-milling work-holding devices employing adhesive forces

IngenieursweseBedryfsingenieursweseMicro-parts are often very fragile rendering conventional, mechanical work-holding fixtures unsuitable for them since they exert large straining forces. Furthermore, macroworkholding devices occupy a large space which impedes high precision required in micromilling. Although some micro-clamping fixtures exist, they are limited to specific part shapes and in most cases expensive to manufacture. Hence this paper focuses on the application of adhesive forces namely electrostatic, surface tension and van-der-Waals forces; in work-holding strategies for micro-milling operations. An analysis is given as to their applicability with reference to micro-milling cutting forces

Cautioning the careless writer: The importance of accurate and ethical legal writing

Legal professionals are required to write ethically, skilfully and accurately. Growing concerns over the quality of graduated students entering the profession has led to an increased sensitivity about the teaching of writing skills. This article will not consider the how to, but instead focus on the issue of why legal writers should be vigilant in guarding against the proclivity to write in a careless manner. It will be argued that the results of careless legal writing could have devastating consequences for the legal professional’s career as well as his client’s wallet. Legal writing has to be professional and ethical and reflect the writer’s respect for his or her own workmanship as well as for the intended recipient. Careful legal writing aims to avoid misunderstandings and litigation and aids in developing and clarifying legal analysis. It recognises the permanent nature of what is being written and the persuasive potential innate to legal drafting. Responsible legal writers are mindful of the specific legal consequences of their writing and recognise that they have, in their writing, the ability to appeal to the aesthetic sensibilities of the reader

Bruker2nifti: Magnetic Resonance Images converter from Bruker ParaVision to Nifti format

In clinical and pre-clinical research involving medical images, the first step following a Magnetic Resonance Imaging dataset acquisition, usually entails the conversion of image data from the native scanner format to a format suitable for the intended analysis. The proprietary [Bruker ParaVision](https://www.bruker.com/products/mr/preclinical-mri/software/service-support.html) software currently does not provide the tools for conversion of the data to suitable and open formats for research, such as nifti [@cox2004sort], for which most of the available tools for medical image analysis are implemented. For this purpose we have designed and developed [bruker2nifti](https://github.com/SebastianoF/bruker2nifti), a pip-installable Python tool provided with a Graphical User Interface to convert from the native MRI Bruker format to the nifti format, without any intermediate step through the DICOM standard formats [@Mildenberger2002]. Bruker2nifti is intended to be a tool to access the data structure and to parse all parameter files of the Bruker ParaVision format into python dictionaries, to select the relevant information to fill the Nifti header and data volume. Lastly it is meant to be a starting point where to integrate possible future variations in Bruker hardware and ParaVision software future releases

Generalized Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter for Aided Attitude and Heading Reference System

International audienceIn this paper, we propose a “Generalized Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter” (GMEKF) to estimate the position and velocity vectors and the orientation of a flying rigid body, using measurements from lowcost Earth-fixed position and velocity, inertial and magnetic sensors. Thanks to well-chosen state and output errors, the gains and covariance equations converge to constant values on a much bigger set of trajectories than equilibrium points as it is the case for the standard Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter (MEKF). We recover thus the fundamental properties of the Kalman filter in the linear case, especially the convergence and optimality properties, for a large set of trajectories, and it should result in a better convergence of the estimation. We illustrate the good performance and the nice properties of the GMEKF on simulation and on experimental comparisons with a commercial system

Afrika die Onbekende: Die Federasie van Rhodesie Njassaland (I)

Die grondgebied van die Federasie van Rhodesië en Njassaland strek oor 14° 15’ in ’n N.-S.-rigting (vanaf22“ 30’ S. to t 8° 15’ S.) en ongeveervanaf 22° 0 to t 36° 0. Dit verteenwoordig afstande in albei gevalle van tussen 900 en 1000 myl

Christelike Hoër onderwys en die Natuurwetenskappe

Dit is van belang dat met hierdie mylpaal in die geskiedenis van die P.U.K. vir C.H.O. teruggeblik word op die ontwikkelingsgang van die natuurwetenskappe aan genoemde inrigting en verantwoording in verband met toekomsideale gedoen word