Cluster operating system support for parallel autonomic computing

The aim of this paper is to show a general design of autonomic elements and initial implementation of a cluster operating system that moves parallel processing on clusters to the computing mainstream using the autonomic computing vision. The significance of this solution is as follows. Autonomic Computing was identified by IBM as one of computing's Grand Challenges. The human body was used to illustrate an Autonomic Computing system that possesses self-knowledge, self-configuration, self optimization, self-healing, and self-protection, knowledge of its environment and user friendliness properties. One of the areas that could benefit from the comprehensive approach created by the autonomic computing vision is parallel processing on non-dedicated clusters. Many researchers and research groups have responded positively to the challenge by initiating research around one or two of the characteristics identified by IBM as the requirements for autonomic computing. We demonstrate here that it is possible to satisfy all Autonomic Computing characteristics.

Dispositional and maturational development through a competency based training intervention : getting to the heart of the matter

Presents a formative perspective on vocational learning that proposes that vocational competence is dependent upon dispositional development, which in turn results in moves towards maturation. Further, that dispositional and maturational outcomes occur as a result of a lifetime goal-setting intervention employed prior to training Reports qualitative and quantitative research with unemployed adults engaging in vocational education that resulted in four findings. Firstly, that while Training Packages describe assessable outcomes in competency-referenced terms, trainees describe learning outcomes in non-competency referenced terms. Secondly, that vocational trainees describe their learning in terms of dispositional outcomes, that is, in terms of values, interests and attitudes. Thirdly, that dispositions can be categorised in terms of maturational concepts. Fourthly, in support of incremental theory, that trainees made moves towards maturation as a result of a lifetime goal-setting intervention employed prior to training.

Student-engineered 'space to think'

The nature of creative and insightful thinking of Year 8 students in mathematics classes was studied through simultaneous examination of post-lesson video stimulated interviews and lesson video. One case is used to illustrate these findings. The concept of Space to Think emerged as a space manoeuvred by each of the five (out of eighty-six) students from Australia and the USA who creatively developed new knowledge. This Space to Think illuminates pedagogical moves that provide opportunities for creative thinking.

Dymanic mechanical analysis of polyvinylalcohol/silica nanocomposite

Polyvinylalcohol/Silica (PVA/SiO₂) nanocomposites with different SiO₂ contents are synthesized by employing a novel self-assembly monolayer (SAM) technique. The influence of the silica on dynamic mechanical properties of the nanocomposites is investigated by conducting dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and quasi-thermal mechanical analysis (Q-TMA). It is found that the storage modulus (E′), loss factor (tga), glass transition temperature (T_g), and activation energy (E_a) of prepared nanocomposites all show a strong dependence on the SiO₂ content. The Q-TMA results indicate that under a constant force, the elasticity of nanocomposites decreases with SiO₂ content, and the softening temperature moves to a higher temperature when more SiO₂ is added.

Enforcement of arbitral awards where the seat of the arbitration is Australia, how the Eisenwerk decision might still be a sleeping assassin

This article examines the enforcement of foreign awards in Australia. It identifies and explains the difference between a “foreign award” and “international arbitration award,” observing it is a somewhat surprising but potentially significant distinction. The article then moves to consider the consequences of the distinction with particular reference to the Australian arbitral landscape. Australia has dual arbitration regimes operating at the state and federal level. Particular attention is given to the still controversial Queensland Supreme Court of Appeal decision in Australian Granites Ltd. v. Eisenwerk Hensel Bayreyth Dipl-Ing Burkhardt GmbH. The article concludes by promoting a line of interpretation that will effectively allow subsequent courts to avoid the potentially disastrous effects the Eisenwerk decision may yet still wreak.

Global eT@axation : competing visions

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) places the issue of taxation of cross-border e-commerce transaction as one of its top four projects for investigation. In January 2001, some member countries agreed to a series of guidelines on how to apply existing tax treaties to Web transactions. After discussing potential threats and challenges facing etax administrators and possible solutions, the researchers report on the global momentum towards Extranets for collaborative knowledge management. Previous research indicated a need for a global etaxation Extranet for knowledge management based on the principles of the Cochrane Collaboration in the health sciences. These preliminary findings have been strengthened by parallel moves by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in setting up a global Extranet. The global imperative for harmonization of Internet commerce tax initiatives is reflected in contemporary interest in Europe in the redefinition of business requirements and processes related to corporate tax obligations.

Auditor independence and the nexus with corporate governance-quo vadis?

"Where were the auditors?" Yet again, the independence of the auditor has come under close, critical scrutiny with ongoing collapses of large listed companies, which have global implications for the proper functioning of investment markets. The most recent collapse being that of ENRON in the United States of America, (USA).

"Who are the auditors?" The nexus of auditor independence with corporate governance is examined drawing on Foucault's notion of the relationships between power I knowledge and ethics in the construction of ethical identity. In the face of declining public confidence and demands for more stringent regulation, the tensions between greater self-regulation of auditors by the accounting profession and moves by governments to impose more stringent legislation I regulation, including the creation of public oversight bodies is apparent. This paper presents a comparative analysis of recent developments internationally, with particular reference to South Africa and Australia, intended to more rigorously enforce auditor independence and improve corporate governance. Five key areas identified by various Commissions and regulatory bodies that are regarded as posing significant threats to auditor independence are highlighted. Recommendations for changes to independence requirements in professional codes of ethics and corporate legislation, intended to safeguard auditor independence and to enhance investor protection, are critically examined. It is argued that the "new" independence recommendations while providing more detailed guidance for dealing with the independence threats fail to introduce any new concepts and may be found as ineffective as the plethora of earlier regulations. (This paper represents work in progress, which is intended to spark debate, and accordingly, the authors invite comment from readers to develop further aspects of research into this critical area).

Positioning the case to tell the story: developing the narrative or presentational account

This paper is drawn from a doctoral study (in its final stages) about the use and adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance the face-to-face teaching by six academic staff, who represent different disciplines and different campus locations, in a large, regional university in Australia. A collective case study was adopted as the framework for the study, and field data comprised semi-structured interviews, curriculum guides, teaching and learning resources, websites, and included results of a Teaching Practices Inventory completed by each of the research participants.

Case study is a popular choice of qualitative researchers. There are numerous examples in the literature of case study as the vehicle for examining issues concerning teachers' use of new technologies in teaching and learning. This paper situates the research study in the qualitative, interpretative research paradigm, and matches the choice of case as the research strategy to accepted characteristics of good case studies. The focus of the paper then moves to the practical, yet difficult problem faced by the researcher of ways of presenting the case, seeking a balance between the demands of prescribed, social scientific writing for an academic audience, and the need to create texts that are interesting, vital and that “make a difference”(Richardson, 2003). Using a sample case from the study, the paper examines approaches to constructing meaning from the field data to create the narrative or presentational account and, ultimately, the research text.

The Politics of Indonesia

"Completely revised and updated, this new edition of The Politics of Indonesia is an engaging and accessible account of the main political issues and challenges confronting Indonesia as it moves forward into the twenty-first century. Since the forced resignation of Suharto as president in 1998, Indonesia has seemingly lurched from one crisis to the next: the country's first democratically elected president, Abdurrahman Wahid was ejected from government; the army has become politically active again; and militant Islamic politics and a chauvinistic nationalism have emerged as significant forces on the political landscape. Now, with the ascension of Megawati Sukarnoputri to the presidency, Damien Kingsbury looks in detail at her style of government and the fundamental issues and concerns facing Indonesia.
The biggest question facing this heterogeneous nation seems to be whether the Republic of Indonesia will be able to hold together or whether this unitary state was just a brief moment in post-colonial history." "This book is a valuable resource for students of Asian studies, politics, and related disciplines. Likewise, it remains essential reading for those wishing to travel or do business in Indonesia and for anyone living in the strategic shadow of this important, diverse, and fragile country."

Dispositional and maturational development through competency-based training

Presents a perspective on vocational learning that proposes that vocational competence is dependent upon dispositional development, which in turn, results in moves towards maturation. Reports research with unemployed adults engaging in vocational training and resulting in four findings. First, while training packages describe assessable outcomes in competency-referenced terms, trainees describe learning outcomes in non-competency referenced terms. Second, vocational trainees describe their learning in terms of dispositional outcomes; that is, in terms of values, interests and attitudes. Third, dispositions can be categorised in terms of maturational concepts. Fourth, trainees made moves towards maturation as a result of CBT/NEIS training over the six-week period of the course. The findings have important ramifications for all future VET/CBT trainees since it is the researcher's formative theory that maturation is a subset of competence in every vocational skill domain.

Mathematics in microworlds: showing the flag!

This article presents an overview of how to use Logo programming to draw national flags. This activity moves away from overt geometry to implicit geometry.

Beyond compliance: ACE and the disability standards for education in 2005.

The Disability Standards for Education 2005 make it unlawful for an education authority to discriminate against a person on the grounds of the person's disability, and providers of adult and community education (ACE) are specifically noted as education authorities in the Standards. Most ACE providers, working as they do from a community development basis, would consider themselves to be non-discriminatory. The devil, nevertheless, is in the detail, and it is one particular detail of the Standards that this article considers – Part 7: Standards for student support services. Research has indicated that this is an area with which ACE providers are likely to have problems. This article looks firstly at the place of people with a disability in ACE, and then at some of the provisions of the Standards as they relate to student support. Evidence to support the discussion is taken from three research projects into ACE provision for people with a disability. These studies are outlined before the author moves on to some of the issues indicated in the research. Further, some suggestions are made for compliance, and the need for ACE providers to go beyond compliance and consider advocacy to support the inclusion of people with a disability into ACE.

The regulation of non-local tertiary courses in Hong Kong

This paper reports on some research from an ARC project conducted by the authors into the ways in which Australian universities establish colaborations with partners in Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea to offer courses in those countries. One feature of such collaborations in Hong Kong is the way in which, since 1997, the local Special Administrative region government regulates the provision on 'non-local courses' by mean of an ordinance. The paper describes and analyses the impact of the ordinance on both local and overseas stakeholders. This impact represents a particular enactment of matters of globalisation and localisation in education. The paper reports on the issues, which have emerged which, are leading to current moves to modify the ordinance's provisions.

Community development today : taking stock

This paper examines some of the practices and assessments of community development today. It begins with two tales, one recounting the apparent unfulfilled policy promises for community development, the other recounting a situation where there is no community development policy agenda and no community development rhetoric, but where real grass roots community development is apparent. These two tales lead us to consideration of the nature of community development and the issue regarding the match between the discourses of community development with the practices. The paper moves to a discussion of reasons to celebrate community development in 2005. This discussion is followed by consideration of current contextual factors constraining the practices of community development. In the context of the arguments for optimism it is also important to recognise and reflect on the orthodoxies of community development. Six orthodoxies are discussed. The paper concludes with three practical suggestions for community development activities that could begin immediately.

Regional people more content : wellbeing index

Are you feeling happier, safer and are more connected to your community? You should be, if you're living in rural and regional Australia, according to the latest research from Deakin University. Nine of the top ten happiest electorates are in rural Australia, and all of them report feeling safer and having a stronger sense of belonging to their communities, compared to their city counterparts. Rural Social researcher from Charles Sturt University in Wagga, Margaret Alston, says even bad events like drought and bushfires tend to bring people together. "I'd have to agree that there are certain factors that actually lead to people in the country being on average happier than those in cities. The community where I live, we're just recovering from quite a significant bushfire. People have come forward and offered adjistment for stock for the affected farmers, there's been community drives to support the people who've lost their houses, some real moves from the community to make sure the incident didn't scar people unnecessarily." Deakin University researcher, Liz Eckerman, says when it comes to feeling connected to your community, rural and regional people come out on top. She also agrees difficult circumstances like drought often bring out the best sense of community.