Reconfigurable middleware architectures for large scale sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks, in an effort to be energy efficient, typically lack the high-level abstractions of advanced programming languages. Though strong, the dichotomy between these two paradigms can be overcome. The SENSIX software framework, described in this dissertation, uniquely integrates constraint-dominated wireless sensor networks with the flexibility of object-oriented programming models, without violating the principles of either. Though these two computing paradigms are contradictory in many ways, SENSIX bridges them to yield a dynamic middleware abstraction unifying low-level resource-aware task reconfiguration and high-level object recomposition. Through the layered approach of SENSIX, the software developer creates a domain-specific sensing architecture by defining a customized task specification and utilizing object inheritance. In addition, SENSIX performs better at large scales (on the order of 1000 nodes or more) than other sensor network middleware which do not include such unified facilities for vertical integration

Using strontium isotopes to track Pacific salmon migrations in Alaska

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014.Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are an important cultural, ecological, and economic natural resource in Alaska. Not only do salmon maintain an important mechanism of nutrient transport between marine, aquatic, and terrestrial ecosystems, but they also provide a sustainable food and economic resource for human communities. A challenging issue in the management, conservation, and research of Pacific salmon is tracking their responses to perturbations across the multiple scales of population structure that characterize these species. Research has shown how the inherent biodiversity of Pacific salmon imparts resiliency to environmental change, and temporal stability to their overall productivity and the human systems dependent upon such productivity (e.g., fisheries). The vast biodiversity of salmon arises primarily via precise natal homing of adults to their rivers of origin, resulting in locally adapted populations. Thus, there have been considerable efforts to develop methods to effectively manage and monitor Pacific salmon biodiversity. One important example is using genetic differentiation among populations to discern the relative contributions of genetically distinct stocks in mixed stock fishery harvests. In the Bristol Bay region, sockeye salmon (O. nerka) harvests can be discerned at the watershed level (i.e., the nine major watersheds contributing to the fishery). However, tens to hundreds of locally adapted populations exist within each of these watersheds and methods to apportion fishery harvests to this finer scale population structure are lacking. This dissertation presents a new method in Alaska to discern fine-scale population structure (i.e., within watersheds) of Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) harvests using a naturally occurring geochemical tracer in rivers, strontium (Sr) isotopes (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr). To this end, in Chapter 1, I characterize the statewide geographic variation on multiple spatial scales in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of Alaska's rivers and discuss the geochemical and geological controls of observed ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. In Chapter 2, I approach the persistent problem of evaluating site-specific temporal variation, especially in remote Subarctic and Arctic regions, by employing the non-migratory behavioral ecology of slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus). Finally, in Chapter 3, I demonstrate how the development of temporally and spatially robust ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr baseline datasets within the Nushagak River was able to apportion a mixed stock fishery harvest of Chinook salmon conducted in Nushagak Bay back to natal sources at the sub-basin watershed level. Because of the conservative nature of the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio during physical and biological processes, the development of this method is applicable not only to Chinook salmon, but also to other salmon species (e.g., sockeye and coho salmon, O. kisutch). Additionally, the development of baseline ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr information (e.g., waters) and an overall research framework to employ this tracer in provenance studies, have statewide implications for the research and management of other migratory animals

Tele Oncology for Cancer Care in Rural Australia

Rural cancer patients in Australia and other countries with significant rural populations face difficulties with accessing various sub specialist services mainly because of shortage of health care work force and long travel distances to access these services (Underhill et al, 2009). Partly as a result, their survival is lower than their urban counterparts (Campbell et al, 2001; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010; Sabesan and Piliouras, 2009). To improve equity of access and quality of life, clinics and treatment centres should be located closer to homes in rural towns. Currently, there are several models of care exist to address some of the issues as follows (Underhill et al, 2009): (1) medical oncologists travel to larger rural towns and chemotherapy is administered there. Frequency of these visits range between weekly to three monthly intervals; (2) patients travel to larger centres for consultation and return to their home towns to receive their chemotherapy; (3) patient’s travel to major towns to see the specialists and to receive chemotherapy. These models are often inadequate, expensive and cause problems for patients, specialists as well as rural doctors who would ultimately care for these patients

Enteropathogen survival in soil from different land-uses is predominantly regulated by microbial community composition

peer-reviewedMicrobial enteropathogens can enter the environment via landspreading of animal slurries and manures. Biotic interactions with the soil microbial community can contribute to their subsequent decay. This study aimed to determine the relative impact of biotic, specifically microbial community structure, and physico-chemical properties associated with soils derived from 12 contrasting land-uses on enteropathogen survival. Phenotypic profiles of microbial communities (via phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling), and total biomass (by fumigation-extraction), in the soils were determined, as well as a range of physicochemical properties. The persistence of Salmonella Dublin, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli was measured over 110 days within soil microcosms. Physicochemical and biotic data were used in stepwise regression analysis to determine the predominant factor related to pathogen-specific death rates. Phenotypic structure, associated with a diverse range of constituent PLFAs, was identified as the most significant factor in pathogen decay for S. Dublin, L. monocytogenes, non-toxigenic E. coli O157 but not for environmentally-persistent E. coli. This demonstrates the importance of entire community-scale interactions in pathogen suppression, and that such interactions are context-specific

"Crisis of Capital, Crisis of Theory": Conference Program and Videos

This is the first in a conference series organized by the Forum on Capital as Power and sponsored by Routledge and Springer. The present meetings explore the dual crisis of capital and theory. There are 21 scheduled presentations, including keynote addresses by Herman Scwhartz and Randall Germain and guest presentations by George Comninel, Leo Panitch, David McNally and Jonathan Nitzan. The conference closes with a roundtable interrogation of capital, power and the future of political economy. Attendance is free and all are welcome. DATE/TIME/PLACE: October 29-31, 2010 || York Lanes, Rooms 280N & 280A || Keele Campus of York University. VIDEOS: To watch the panels, click the link to the video podcasts above

Local authority liability for flooding: Where should loss fall?

Flooding is New Zealand’s most frequent natural hazard the cost of which is outdone only by the recent Canterbury earthquakes. Local authorities are the bodies primarily tasked with protecting communities against flooding through a range of measures including physical works such as stopbanks. This essay explores the extent to which a local authority can be liable in tort where those physical works fail, causing damage. Direct liability and non-delegable duties are discussed, the latter addressing whether a local authority can nevertheless be liable having outsourced the construction of flood works to independent contractors. Additionally, whether local authorities should be liable for such damage or whether individual property owners ought to protect their own interests through insurance is discussed.This essay recommends that property owners should purchase private insurance, but that local authorities should remain liable at least for their own negligence

COVID-19 profit warnings: Delivering bad news in a time of crisis

Abstract Profit warnings (large negative earnings surprises) are important corporate reporting documents for delivering bad news and a distinctive corporate communication genre. The 2020 COVID-19 exogenous shock provides a unique worldwide crisis context for company disclosure of bad news. The research develops a genre-based typology/analytical framework for assessing COVID-19 profit warnings’ quality comprising: (1) Four profit warning/forecast quality characteristics and (2) Eight profit warning/forecast disclosures. For a sample of 160 profit-warning documents, the research manually analyses their content, culminating in a disclosure quality score/index. The research tests a model of the factors influencing disclosure quality. The research finds companies regress to silence when investors most need guidance and poor-quality disclosure, coy ambiguous language, possibly reflecting minimal regulatory guidance on this form of corporate report. Two variables are significant – Profit warnings disclosed following Financial Reporting Council guidance are of higher quality and quality varies by industry. The paper finds faux disclosure and the performativity of disclosure, which may allow boards of directors to tick-box compliance with market abuse regulations. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers on improvements required to enhance the quality of these highly important corporate documents.publishedVersio

The language of profit warnings: a case of denial, defiance, desperation and defeat

Taking a communication perspective, the paper explores management's rhetoric in profit warnings, whose sole purpose is to disclose unexpected bad news. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a close-reading approach to text analysis, the authors analyse three profit warnings of the now-collapsed Carillion, contrasting the rhetoric with contemporaneous investor conference calls to discuss the profit warnings and board minutes recording boardroom discussions of the case company's precarious financial circumstances. The analysis applies an Aristotelian framework, focussing on logos (appealing to logic and reason), ethos (appealing to authority) and pathos (appealing to emotion) to examine how Carillion's board and management used language to persuade shareholders concerning the company's adverse circumstances. Findings As non-routine communications, the language in profit warnings displays and mimics characteristics of routine communications by appealing primarily to logos (logic and reason). The rhetorical profiles of investor conference calls and board meeting minutes differ from profit warnings, suggesting a different version of the story behind the scenes. The authors frame the three profit warnings as representing three stages of communication as follows: denial, defiance and desperation and, for our case company, ultimately, culminating in defeat. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to the study of profit warnings in one case company. Originality/value The paper views profit warnings as a communication artefact and examines the rhetoric in these corporate documents to elucidate their key features. The paper provides novel insights into the role of profit warnings as a corporate communication vehicle/genre delivering bad news.publishedVersio