Can an Ecdysiast Fag speak the voice of transgender? Phoenix (un)rising and the assumptions in Re Kevin revisited

"Each night the men look so surprised I change my sex before their eyes Tell me if you can What makes a man a man" - Charles Aznavour, ‘What makes a man a man (Comme ils disent)’. In (the few) Western jurisdictions in which marriage remains a forensic artefact constructed on the basis of a man|woman binary, the anatomical and heteronormative assumptions which underlie the construction of marriage remain as artificial constructs which do not map well (if indeed at all) to current social, or even medical, approaches to gender. In Re Kevin (Validity of Marriage of Transsexual) [2001] FamCA 1074, Justice Chisolm sought to recast the forensic ascription of sex against a broader set of criteria, expanding the range of sexually dimorphic anatomy used to determine sex for the purposes of marriage in Australia and incorporating observations of psycho-social gender-differentiation as factors relevant to the ultimate question for the Court — ‘What makes a man a man?’ Yet neither expansion is unproblematic. This article explores this fundamental forensic question against the background of Aznavour’s ‘Comme ils dissent’, in which the persona of un(e) stripteaseuse travesti struggles to answer precisely the same question. It concludes that Re Kevin might offer no more sophisticated an analysis of the lived reality of trans than Aznavour’s ecdysiast fag — not trans, but un travesti: "I shop and cook and sew a bit Though mum does too, I must admit I do it better."

A preliminary analysis of the impact of UN MDGs and RIO+20 on corporate social accountability practices

This chapter explores the impact of UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Rio + 20 in improving Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices. While MDGs and Rio + 20 have suggested additive guidelines for improving CSR practices, they do not provide a strong legislative mandate. We find both MDGs and Rio + 20 have had limited cumulative effect on CSR practices and discourses within the corporate reports. UN bodies should bring a new policy and regulatory framework that addresses limitations in the principles espoused in the MDGs and Rio + 20. An independent monitoring system (a social compliance audit mechanism) can be mandated in an attempt to make incremental substantive change.

Hard Custom, Hard Dance : Social Organisation, (Un)Differentiation and Notions of Power in a Tabiteuean Community, Southern Kiribati

Hard Custom, Hard Dance: Social Organisation, (Un)Differentiation and Notions of Power in a Tabiteuean Community, Southern Kiribati is an ethnographic study of a village community. This work analyses social organisation on the island of Tabiteuea in the Micronesian state of Kiribati, examining the intertwining of hierarchical and egalitarian traits, meanwhile bringing a new perspective to scholarly discussions of social differentiation by introducing the concept of undifferentiation to describe non-hierarchical social forms and practices. Particular attention is paid to local ideas concerning symbolic power, abstractly understood as the potency for social reproduction, but also examined in one of its forms; authority understood as the right to speak. The workings of social differentiation and undifferentiation in the village are specifically studied in two contexts connected by local notions of power: the meetinghouse institution (te maneaba) and traditional dancing (te mwaie). This dissertation is based on 11 months of anthropological fieldwork in 1999‒2000 in Kiribati and Fiji, with an emphasis on participant observation and the collection of oral tradition (narratives and songs). The questions are approached through three distinct but interrelated topics: (i) A key narrative of the community ‒ the story of an ancestor without descendants ‒ is presented and discussed, along with other narratives. (ii) The Kiribati meetinghouse institution, te maneaba, is considered in terms of oral tradition as well as present-day practices and customs. (iii) Kiribati dancing (te mwaie) is examined through a discussion of competing dance groups, followed by an extended case study of four dance events. In the course of this work the community of close to four hundred inhabitants is depicted as constructed primarily of clans and households, but also of churches, work co-operatives and dance groups, but also as a significant and valued social unit in itself, and a part of the wider island district. In these partly cross-cutting and overlapping social matrices, people are alternatingly organised by the distinct values and logic of differentiation and undifferentiation. At different levels of social integration and in different modes of social and discursive practice, there are heightened moments of differentiation, followed by active undifferentiation. The central notions concerning power and authority to emerge are, firstly, that in order to be valued and utilised, power needs to be controlled. Secondly, power is not allowed to centralize in the hands of one person or group for any long period of time. Thirdly, out of the permanent reach of people, power/authority is always, on the one hand, left outside the factual community and, on the other, vested in community, the social whole. Several forms of differentiation and undifferentiation emerge, but these appear to be systematically related. Social differentiation building on typically Austronesian complementary differences (such as male:female, elder:younger, autochtonous:allotochtonous) is valued, even if eventually restricted, whereas differentiation based on non-complementary differences (such as monetary wealth or level of education) is generally resisted, and/or is subsumed by the complementary distinctions. The concomitant forms of undifferentiation are likewise hierarchically organised. On the level of the society as a whole, undifferentiation means circumscribing and ultimately withholding social hierarchy. Potential hierarchy is both based on a combination of valued complementary differences between social groups and individuals, but also limited by virtue of the undoing of these differences; for example, in the dissolution of seniority (elder-younger) and gender (male-female) into sameness. Like the suspension of hierarchy, undifferentiation as transformation requires the recognition of pre-existing difference and does not mean devaluing the difference. This form of undifferentiation is ultimately encompassed by the first one, as the processes of the differentiation, whether transformed or not, are always halted. Finally, undifferentiation can mean the prevention of non-complementary differences between social groups or individuals. This form of undifferentiation, like the differentiation it works on, takes place on a lower level of societal ideology, as both the differences and their prevention are always encompassed by the complementary differences and their undoing. It is concluded that Southern Kiribati society be seen as a combination of a severely limited and decentralised hierarchy (differentiation) and of a tightly conditional and contextual (intra-category) equality (undifferentiation), and that it is distinctly characterised by an enduring tension between these contradicting social forms and cultural notions. With reference to the local notion of hardness used to characterise custom on this particular island as well as dance in general, it is argued in this work that in this Tabiteuean community some forms of differentiation are valued though strictly delimited or even undone, whereas other forms of differentiation are a perceived as a threat to community, necessitating pre-emptive imposition of undifferentiation. Power, though sought after and displayed - particularly in dancing - must always remain controlled.

¿Feminismo indígena? : Un análisis crítico del discurso sobre los textos de la mujer en el movimiento zapatista 1994-2009

This work analyses texts on indigenous women´s participation in the Mexican Zapatista Army, Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional. The EZLN came to public attention after ten years of clandestine organization in 1994 in Chiapas, a southern state of Mexico neighboring Guatemala. Along the invasion of various municipalities in Chiapas, the Zapatista Army published their own Revolutionary Laws, directed to the Mexican government that included a section on women´s own laws. The indigenous women´s participation in a guerrilla movement in the economically poorest area of Mexico raised many questions among Mexican feminists and some of them fiercely criticized the laws for not being liberating or feminist at all. The question is, did the indigenous women want the laws to be feminist? To answer the main research question How is the position of women constructed in the Zapatista discourse? I analyze texts by various actors in the discourse within the theoretical framework of critical discourse analysis and the feminist theories of intersectionality. The connecting point in this interdisciplinary framework is the question of power and hegemony. The actors in the discourse are the women commanders themselves, the men commanders, the Zapatista spokesperson, subcomandante Marcos and the Mexican feminists. The texts analyzed are the letters of the EZLN to the media and discourses in public reunions, first published in Mexican newspapers and international discussion lists on the Internet and after 2005, on the Zapatista´s own webpage. The results show that instead of discussing whether the Zapatista women´s participation is feminist or not, the action itself provoked such wide discussion of the diversity within the feminist movement that it is a contribution itself. The work also shows that the use of language can be one tool in the quite recent paradigm of intersectionality in feminist theories.

The Electronic Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon): An Open Access Journal Using an Un-paid, Volunteer-Based Organization

Introduction This case study is based on the experiences with the Electronic Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), founded in 1995. Development This journal is an example of a particular category of open access journals, which use neither author charges nor subscriptions to finance their operations, but rely largely on unpaid voluntary work in the spirit of the open source movement. The journal has, after some initial struggle, survived its first decade and is now established as one of half-a-dozen peer reviewed journals in its field. Operations The journal publishes articles as they become ready, but creates virtual issues through alerting messages to “subscribers”. It has also started to publish special issues, since this helps in attracting submissions, and also helps in sharing the work-load of review management. From the start the journal adopted a rather traditional layout of the articles. After the first few years the HTML version was dropped and papers are only published in PDF format. Performance The journal has recently been benchmarked against the competing journals in its field. Its acceptance rate of 53% is slightly higher and its average turnaround time of seven months almost a year faster compared to those journals in the sample for which data could be obtained. The server log files for the past three years have also been studied. Conclusions Our overall experience demonstrates that it is possible to publish this type of OA journal, with a yearly publishing volume equal to a quarterly journal and involving the processing of some fifty submissions a year, using a networked volunteer-based organization.

Real-time multipurpose reservoir operation: a case study / Exploitation en temps reacuteel d'un reservoir agrave buts multiples: eacutetude d'un cas

A real-time operational methodology has been developed for multipurpose reservoir operation for irrigation and hydropower generation with application to the Bhadra reservoir system in the state of Karnataka, India. The methodology consists of three phases of computer modelling. In the first phase, the optimal release policy for a given initial storage and inflow is determined using a stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) model. Streamflow forecasting using an adaptive AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model constitutes the second phase. A real-time simulation model is developed in the third phase using the forecast inflows of phase 2 and the operating policy of phase 1. A comparison of the optimal monthly real-time operation with the historical operation demonstrates the relevance, applicability and the relative advantage of the proposed methodology.

Growth of branched carbon nanotubes with doped/un-doped intratubular junctions by one-step co-pyrolysis

Branched CNTs with nitrogen doped/un-doped intratubular junctions have been synthesized by a simple one-step co-pyrolysis of hexamethylenetetramine and benzene. The difference in the vapor pressure and the insolubility of the precursors are the keys for the formation of the branched intratubular junctions. The junctions behave like Schottky diodes with nitrogen-doped portion as metal and un-doped portion as p-type semiconductor. The junctions also behave like p-type field effect transistors with a very large on/off ratio.

Analysis of cracked and un-cracked semicircular rings under symmetric loading

Edge cracked specimens have been widely utilized for fracture testing. Edge cracked semicircular disk (ECSD) specimen has now been well characterized with regard to its form factor and weight function. This paper presents a modified semicircular ring version of this specimen to enhance the form factor in general while retaining other desirable features. The efficacy of the modified design is proved by combining theory of elasticity solutions with finite element results to arrive at the optimum design geometry. New insights emerging from this work are used to theoretically re-examine the arch-tension and the four-point bend specimens. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

"Aplicación de un sistema multimétrico para evaluar la calidad del agua superficial en la microcuenca El Coyote del Rio Estelí, Nicaragua"

En la microcuenca El Coyote localizada en el municipio de Condega, Estelí, se evaluó la calidad del agua superficial de sde febrero del 2010 a febrero del 2011. El propósito fue la identificación de indicadores que faciliten la vigilancia y monitoreo de la calidad del agua . Se integró un sistema multimétrico utilizando las características físicoquímicas y bacteriológicas, macro invertebrados acuáticos, la caracterización morfométrica de la microcuenca y la información resultante a nivel de comunidad (cambios en el uso del suelo). En la determinación de la relación de la calidad del agua con la estructura de la macrofauna acuática (macroinvertebrados) se usó el método Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP/Col ) . La microcuenca tiene 144 afluentes con una forma oval - oblonga - alargada, y su curva hipsométrica refleja un estado de equilibrio relativo de juvenil a madurez. El uso del suelo es inadecuado y su entorno natural fue valorado como subóptimo. Aunque los parámetros fisico químicos indicaron que las aguas son alcalinas, con un nivel aceptable de oxigeno disuelto, categorizadas según el Diagrama de Riverside como aguas aptas par a riego (C2 - S1), y aceptables según valores determinados para DBO 5 y DQO; sin embargo, requieren de un tratamiento de descontaminación previo a su uso doméstico y agropecuario. Además, debido a la presencia de coliformes fecales estas aguas no están aptas para consumo humano . Los macroinvertebrados varían, según la estacionalidad, en riqueza, abundancia y distribución, presentando una disminución en el número de individuos en la época lluviosa (t= 5.21, p<2.18E - 07). E l 6 8 . 91 % de los macroinvertebrados bioin dicadores se distribuyeron en cinco familias : Leptohyphidae , Baetidae , Hydropsychidae , Chironomidae y Physidae , siendo el cariotipo piedra el que present ó mayor diversidad y abundancia . El promedio del BMWP /Col fue de 60.06, indicando una calidad del agua entre dudosa y aceptable , y el índice ASPT de 6.71 señala una contaminación moderada ; estos resultados coincide n con los obtenidos utilizando la batería de indicadores fisicoquímicos y bacteriológicos .

“Dinámica de crecimiento, estructura y composición de la vegetación secundaria en trópico seco de Nandarola, Nicaragua”

El estudio se llevó a cabo en la comarca L a Chipopa del departamento de Granada. El objetivo es analizar la estructura, composición florística y regeneración natural, así como la tasa de mortalidad y reclutamiento de los individuos e n la vegetación fragmentada de un bosque seco tropical que permita tomar decisi ones y emitir recomendaciones para el manejo. Para tal efecto, se realizaron dos mediciones del diámetro de las espec ies arbóreas mayores de cinco centímetros en tres parcelas permanentes de 0.25 hectárea entre el periodo 2006 y 2009. S e identificaron 4 3 especies representadas en 26 familias botánicas , siendo las más representativas Fabáceae, Euphorbeaceae, Hipocrataceae , Mimosaceae, Rubeaceae . El incremento periódico anual promedio fue de 0.58 cm año - 1 , una tasa de mortalidad del 7% donde el 77% es provocada por el hombre y 3% de reclutamiento. El área basal se incrementó en 2 m 2 ha - 1 , la perdida por mortalidad de 1.12 m 2 ha - 1, ganancia por sobrevivencia de 2.5 m 2 ha - 1 y por reclutamiento 0.38 m 2 ha - 1 en 3 años. El 93 % de las especies tienen uso para leña, 5% forrajeras y las m aderables 2%. L a regeneración natural es abundante , con una alta riqueza específica de es pecies , apropiado para el reemplazo de los individuos muertos o aprovechados, pero no se registraron las especies de alto valor comercial . C onforme el tiempo el bosque de Nandarola alcanza una estructura con árboles de todos los tamaños y una mayor compo sición de especies, siendo muy diversificado y dinámico ; sin embargo, se recomienda aplicar tratamientos de raleo y liberación de lianas para favorecer el incremento de las especies, así como, enriquecimiento con especies maderables .

Evaluación del establecimiento de Moringa oleífera Lam. (Marango) en un sistema de cercas viva en la Finca Santa Rosa - UNA, Managua, Nicaragua

Con el objetivo de evaluar el establecimiento de Moringa oleífera en un sistema de cercas viva, se llevo a cabo un experimento, se realizó en la Finca Santa Rosa perteneciente a la Universidad Nacional Agraria. El estudio se realizo entre Octubre del 2012 y Mayo del 2013. Dos distancias de siembra (1.5 y 2 m) plantadas bajo un diseño de Bloques Completos al Azar fueron evaluadas como tratamientos; a los cuales se les determinaron los siguientes variables: número de yemas y rebrotes, longitud de rebrotes y sobrevivencia de la especie. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos, para la sobrevivencia al final del estudio; los valores correspondieron al 25.78% para la distancia 2m y 29.69% para la distancia 1.5m. La producción de yemas en la especie mantuvo una tendencia positiva durante el periodo de estudio. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticas para la variable número de rebrotes; demostrando que la producción de rebrotes en la plantación fue relativamente pobre con valores de 3 rebrotes en promedio. Valores medios de 6.27 cm de crecimiento en la longitud de rebrotes, y no determinándose diferencias significativas entre las distancias comparadas. Se concluye que se pueden utilizar las dos distancias de siembra con M. oleífera como postes vivo en cercas perimetrales de áreas de pastoreo; siempre y cuando el establecimiento coincida con la época lluviosa y el manejo sea eficiente.

Prevalencia del carcinoma escamoso ocular y sus precursores en un hato lechero nicaraguense, relacionado con raza, edad y pigmentación

En el presente trabajo se estudió la prevalencia del Carcinoma escamoso ocular bovino y la relación que tiene esta enfermedad con la pigmentación ocular, la raza y la edad en la Empresa Genética “Roberto Alvarado” (Chiltepe). Para esto se estudiaron 4108 animales de los grupos raciales Holstein Friesian (Canadiense), Holstein Friesian (Criollo), Holstein x Pardo, 75% Holstein y Pardo Suizo. Se determinó que la prevalencia total del cáncer en la población analizada es de 2.6%. Además que existe presencia de lesión únicamente cuando existe pigmentación. Se concluyó que hay claras diferencias entre los grupos raciales estudiados siendo el más afectado el Holstein Friesian(Canadiense), y que hay una tendencia a incrementarse la presencia del cáncer a medida la edad.

Evaluación productiva y reproductiva de un hato criollo lechero (Reyna) en el trópico seco de Nicaragua

El presente trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de estudiar el efecto de distintos factores ambientales (año de parto, época de parto y número de parto) sobre el comportamiento, productivo y reproductivo de un hato criollo lechero Reyna bajo condiciones del trópico seco en la finca "El Pino" Rivas, Nicaragua. Además se cuantificó la repetitividad de las distintas características y se clasificó las vacas en base a la habilidad probable de producción. Se analizaron 31 registros productivos y reproductivos correspondientes al periodo de 1982 a 1989. Las características estudiadas fuero producción de leche total (PLTOT); producción de leche ajustada a 305 días (PL305), largo de lactancia (LARLA) intervalo entre partos (IEP) y edad al primer parto (EPP). En los análisis se utilizó el procedimiento de minimos cuadrados. Mediante análisis de varianza se evaluó el efecto del año de parto, época de parto, número de parto y la interacción año de parto por época de parto, sobre las características PLTOT, PL305, LARLA e IEP, para la EPP se estudió el año de nacimiento de la vaca (ANACV). Este análisis mostró un efecto altamente significativo (P<0.01) del año de parto sobre las características estudiadas, la época de parto resultó no significativa para todas las variables excepto para LARLA, el número de parto resultó altamente significativo (P<0.01) para las características PLTOT, PL305 e IEP y para LARLA resultó no significativo. LaS medias de mínimos cuadrados obtenidas en este estudio fueron de 1377.82±27.79 kg, 1363.20±25.38 Kg, 266.55±3.83 días, 387.74±4.60 días y 1149.15±18.75 días para PLTOT, PL305, LARLA, IEP y EPP respectivamente. Los valores de repetitividad para PLTOT, PL305, LARLA e IEP fueron de 0.18±0.06, 0.17±0.06, 0.09±0.06 y 0.08±0.08 respectivamente. Resultando ser inferiores a los reportados por otros investigadores para el criollo en América Latina.