Rethinking the digital divide: from philanthropy to isonomia..

The digital divide has been, at least until very recently, a major theme in policy as well as interdisciplinary academic circles across the world, as well as at a collective global level, as attested by the World Summit on the Information Society. Numerous research papers and volumes have attempted to conceptualise the digital divide and to offer reasoned prescriptive and normative responses. What has been lacking in many of these studies, it is submitted, is a rigorous negotiation of moral and political philosophy, the result being a failure to situate the digital divide - or rather, more widely, information imbalances - in a holistic understanding of social structures of power and wealth. In practice, prescriptive offerings have been little more than philanthropic in tendency, whether private or corporate philanthropy. Instead, a theory of distributive justice is required, one that recovers the tradition of emancipatory, democratic struggle. This much has been said before. What is new here, however, is that the paper suggests a specific formula, the Rawls-Tawney theorem, as a solution at the level of analytical moral-political philosophy. Building on the work of John Rawls and R. H. Tawney, this avoids both the Charybdis of Marxism and the Scylla of liberalism. It delineates some of the details of the meaning of social justice in the information age. Promulgating a conception of isonomia, which while egalitarian eschews arithmetic equality (the equality of misery), the paper hopes to contribute to the emerging ideal of communicative justice in the media-saturated, post-industrial epoch.

Conspiraciones civiles y militares en los inicios del Frente Nacional 1958-1961

Esta monografía aborda el tema de las conspiraciones civiles y militares cuyo propósito fundamental era restituirle el poder al General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, y evitar el establecimiento del Frente Nacional, que había sido aprobado mediante plebiscito nacional en 1957. Las conspiraciones que se dieron de 1958 a 1961 fueron planeadas y llevadas a cabo por militares afectos a Rojas Pinilla, con un apoyo importante de algunos políticos destacados de la época.

Parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada na cultura do milho irrigado em sistema plantio direto

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the best time for application of N for an irrigated corn crop in a no-tillage system in the State of Alagoas. Three corn hybrids were used (TORK, FORT and BRS-3003) with four application times (days after sowing - DAS) for fertilizing with nitrogen as top dressing, consisting of the following treatments: 1) 120 kg ha-1 at 15 DAS, 2) 60 kg ha-1 at 15 DAS and 60 kg ha-1 at 30 DAS, 3) 120 kg ha-1 at 30 DAS, 4) 60 kg ha-1 at 30 DAS and 60 kg ha -1 at 45 DAS and 5) control treatment without N fertilization. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replications in a subdivided plot scheme. The components of the production studied were: final population of plants ha-1, numbers of corn ears ha-1 length of corn ears and number of rows of grains of corn and mass of 1000 grains. The productivities of grains obtained did not present significant differences among the treatments that received fertilization with nitrogen, independent of the time of application and number of split applications. It is concluded that in the notillage system in Alagoas spliting the manuring with nitrogen (top dressing) is not necessary.

Hydrodynamical simulations of early-type galaxies: effects of galaxy shape and stellar dynamics on hot coronae

Early-Type galaxies (ETGs) are embedded in hot (10^6-10^7 K), X-ray emitting gaseous haloes, produced mainly by stellar winds and heated by Type Ia supernovae explosions, by the thermalization of stellar motions and occasionally by the central super-massive black hole (SMBH). In particular, the thermalization of the stellar motions is due to the interaction between the stellar and the SNIa ejecta and the hot interstellar medium (ISM) already residing in the ETG. A number of different astrophysical phenomena determine the X-ray properties of the hot ISM, such as stellar population formation and evolution, galaxy structure and internal kinematics, Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) presence, and environmental effects. With the aid of high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations performed on state-of-the-art galaxy models, in this Thesis we focus on the effects of galaxy shape, stellar kinematics and star formation on the evolution of the X-ray coronae of ETGs. Numerical simulations show that the relative importance of flattening and rotation are functions of the galaxy mass: at low galaxy masses, adding flattening and rotation induces a galactic wind, thus lowering the X-ray luminosity; at high galaxy masses the angular momentum conservation keeps the central regions of rotating galaxies at low density, whereas in non-rotating models a denser and brighter atmosphere is formed. The same dependence from the galaxy mass is present in the effects of star formation (SF): in light galaxies SF contributes to increase the spread in Lx, while at high galaxy masses the halo X-ray properties are marginally sensitive to SF effects. In every case, the star formation rate at the present epoch quite agrees with observations, and the massive, cold gaseous discs are partially or completely consumed by SF on a time-scale of few Gyr, excluding the presence of young stellar discs at the present epoch.

The Geology of Lost Creek Canyon with Special Reference to Igneous Activity

This investigation was undertaken primarily as a problem in geologic mapping, coupled with a study of stratigraphy, glaciation, igneous phenomena, and structure. The area is admirably suited to a study of geology and geologic events. Because it is small in extent, the area was studied in some detail during the time which was devoted to field work. The record of igneous activity of past geological ages is re­markably well exposed, since Lost Creek Canyon was carved through the roof of a stock or batholith by the glaciers of the Pleistocene epoch.

Decadal Variability in the Northeast Pacific in a Physical-Ecosystem Model: Role of Mixed Layer Depth and Trophic Interactions

A basin-wide interdecadal change in both the physical state and the ecology of the North Pacific occurred near the end of 1976. Here we use a physical-ecosystem model to examine whether changes in the physical environment associated with the 1976-1977 transition influenced the lower trophic levels of the food web and if so by what means. The physical component is an ocean general circulation model, while the biological component contains 10 compartments: two phytoplankton, two zooplankton, two detritus pools, nitrate, ammonium, silicate, and carbon dioxide. The model is forced with observed atmospheric fields during 1960-1999. During spring, there is a similar to 40% reduction in plankton biomass in all four plankton groups during 1977-1988 relative to 1970-1976 in the central Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The epoch difference in plankton appears to be controlled by the mixed layer depth. Enhanced Ekman pumping after 1976 caused the halocline to shoal, and thus the mixed layer depth, which extends to the top of the halocline in late winter, did not penetrate as deep in the central GOA. As a result, more phytoplankton remained in the euphotic zone, and phytoplankton biomass began to increase earlier in the year after the 1976 transition. Zooplankton biomass also increased, but then grazing pressure led to a strong decrease in phytoplankton by April followed by a drop in zooplankton by May: Essentially, the mean seasonal cycle of plankton biomass was shifted earlier in the year. As the seasonal cycle progressed, the difference in plankton concentrations between epochs reversed sign again, leading to slightly greater zooplankton biomass during summer in the later epoch.

Geochemistry of bulk samples and various minerals of sediment core CRP-1 from the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Thirty-nine medium and fine grained sandstones from between 19,26 and 147,23 mbsf in the Cape Roberts-l core (CRP-1) were analysed for 10 major and 16 trace elements. Using whole-lock compositions, 9 samples were selected for analyses of mineral and glass grains by energy dispersive electron microscope. Laser-Ablation Mass-Spectrometry was used to determine rare earth elements and 14 additional trace elements in glass shards, pyroxenes and feldspars in order to examine their contribution to the bulk rock chemistry. Geochemical data reveal the major contribution played by the Granite Harbour Intrusives to the whole rock composition, even if a significant input is supplied by McMurdo volcanics and Ferrar dolerite pyroxenes McMurdo volcanics were studied in detail; they appeal to derive from a variety of litologies, and a dominant role of wind transpoitation from exposures of volcanic rocks may be inferred from the contemporary occurrence of different compositions at all depths. Only at 116.55 mbsf was a thin layer of tephra found, linked to an explosive eruption McMurdo volcanic rocks exhibit larger abundances at depths above 62 mbsf, in correspondence with the onset of volcanic activity in the McMurdo Sound area. From 62 mbsf to the bottom of the core, McMurdo volcanics are less abundant and probably issued from some centres in the McMurdo Sound region. However, available data do not allow the exclusion of wind transport from some eruptive centres active in north Victoria Land at the beginning of the Miocene Epoch.

La compleja construcción del Estado intervencionista. Lógicas políticas en la conformación de una estructura estatal provincial, 1930-1955

El artículo tiene como finalidad explorar las transformaciones en las estructuras estatales cordobesas entre 1930 y 1955 en el proceso de conformación del Estado intervencionista. Para ello, el trabajo se propone, eludiendo la perspectiva centrada en los cambios y continuidades producidos en las políticas públicas durante esos años, reconocer la existencia dos lógicas diferentes en la construcción estatal. Mientras la dirigencia de los años treinta se caracterizó por promover la multiplicación de las funciones e intervenciones estatales, durante los gobiernos peronistas se propició el crecimiento, complejización y diferenciación de la estructura burocrática provincial. El trabajo se realizó mediante el relevamiento de estadísticas, memorias, documentación administrativa, normativas y debates emanados de los poderes ejecutivos y legislativos cordobeses y de la prensa periódica de la época

La compleja construcción del Estado intervencionista. Lógicas políticas en la conformación de una estructura estatal provincial, 1930-1955

El artículo tiene como finalidad explorar las transformaciones en las estructuras estatales cordobesas entre 1930 y 1955 en el proceso de conformación del Estado intervencionista. Para ello, el trabajo se propone, eludiendo la perspectiva centrada en los cambios y continuidades producidos en las políticas públicas durante esos años, reconocer la existencia dos lógicas diferentes en la construcción estatal. Mientras la dirigencia de los años treinta se caracterizó por promover la multiplicación de las funciones e intervenciones estatales, durante los gobiernos peronistas se propició el crecimiento, complejización y diferenciación de la estructura burocrática provincial. El trabajo se realizó mediante el relevamiento de estadísticas, memorias, documentación administrativa, normativas y debates emanados de los poderes ejecutivos y legislativos cordobeses y de la prensa periódica de la época

La compleja construcción del Estado intervencionista. Lógicas políticas en la conformación de una estructura estatal provincial, 1930-1955

El artículo tiene como finalidad explorar las transformaciones en las estructuras estatales cordobesas entre 1930 y 1955 en el proceso de conformación del Estado intervencionista. Para ello, el trabajo se propone, eludiendo la perspectiva centrada en los cambios y continuidades producidos en las políticas públicas durante esos años, reconocer la existencia dos lógicas diferentes en la construcción estatal. Mientras la dirigencia de los años treinta se caracterizó por promover la multiplicación de las funciones e intervenciones estatales, durante los gobiernos peronistas se propició el crecimiento, complejización y diferenciación de la estructura burocrática provincial. El trabajo se realizó mediante el relevamiento de estadísticas, memorias, documentación administrativa, normativas y debates emanados de los poderes ejecutivos y legislativos cordobeses y de la prensa periódica de la época

Calcareous nannoplankton of DSDP Leg 43 holes

During Leg 43, six holes (Sites 382-387) were drilled in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean; locations of sites are shown in Figure 1. Lower Cretaceous to Quaternary calcareous nannofossils were found in 127 of 189 cores recovered during the leg. The ages and zonal assignments of these fossiliferous cores based upon light-microscopical observation are given in Table 1. An almost continuous succession of nannofossil assemblages of the lower Maestrichtian to upper Paleocene is present at Site 384. A detailed investigation was conducted on samples at this site, and the evolution of approximately 50 species is documented through almost the entire Paleocene epoch.

Sedimentology of the northwestern Weddel Sea continental shelf and slope

Geologie cores on two profiles oriented normaly to the continental shelf and slope, have been investigated to reconstruct the Quaternary sedimentary history of the southeast continental border of South Orkney (NW Weddell Sea). The sediments were described macroscopically and their fabric investigated by use of X-radiographs. Laboratory work comprised detailed grain-size analysis, determination of the watercontent, carbonate, organic carbon and sand fraction.composition. Stable oxygen and carbon isotopes have been measured On planktonic foraminifera. Palaeomagnetism, analysis of 230Th-content and detailed comparison of the lithlogic Parameters with the oxygen isotope stages (Martinson curve) were used for stratigraphic classification of the sediments. The sediment cores from the continental slope comprise a maximum age of 300,000 years B. P.. Bottom currents, ice rafting and biogenic input are the main sources of sediment. Based on lithologic parameters a distinction between glacial and interglacial facies is possible. Silty clays without microfossils and few bioturbation characterise the sediments of the glacial facies. Only small amounts of icerafted debris can be recognized. This type of sediment was accumulated during times of lower sea-level and drastically reduced rate of bottom water production. Based on grain-size distribution, bottom current velocities of 0.01 cmls were calculated. Thick sea-ice coverage reduced biogenic production in the surface water, and as consequence benthic communities were depleted. Because of the reduced benthic life, sediments are only slithly bioturbated. At the beginning of the interglacial Stage, the sea-level rised rapidly, and calving rate of icebergs, combined with input of ice-rafted material, increased considerably. Sediments of this transition facies are silty cliiys with a high proportion of coarse ice-rafted debris, but without microfossils. With the onset of bottom water production in connection with shelf ice water, sediments of interglacial facies were formed. They consist of silty clays to clayey silts with considerable content of sand and gravel. Sediments are strongly bioturbated. Based On the sediment caracteristics, current velocities of the bottom water were calculated to be of 0.96 cmls for interglacials. At the southern slope of a NW/SE-striking ridge, bottom water current is channelized, resulting in a drastic increase of current velocities. Current velocities up to 7.5 cm/s lead to formation of residual sediments. While the continental slope has predominantly fine sediments, the South Orkney shelf are mainly sandy silts and silty sands with a high proportion of gravel. These sediments were formed dominantly by ice-rafting during Brunhes- and Matuyama-Epoch. Currents removed the fine fraction of the sediments. Based on microfossil contents it was not possible to differentiate sediments from glacial to interglacial. In the upper Parts of the cores graded sequences truncated by erosion were observed. These sequences were formed during Brunhes-Epoch by strong currents with velocities decreasing periodically from about 7.5 cm/s to about 1 cm/s. Sediments with a high proportion of siliceous microfossils but barren of foraminifera compose the lower part of the shelf cores. These sediments have formed during the warmer Matuyama-Epoch.

Spectral zero-crossings: localization properties and application to epoch extraction in speech signals

We analyze the spectral zero-crossing rate (SZCR) properties of transient signals and show that SZCR contains accurate localization information about the transient. For a train of pulses containing transient events, the SZCR computed on a sliding window basis is useful in locating the impulse locations accurately. We present the properties of SZCR on standard stylized signal models and then show how it may be used to estimate the epochs in speech signals. We also present comparisons with some state-of-the-art techniques that are based on the group-delay function. Experiments on real speech show that the proposed SZCR technique is better than other group-delay-based epoch detectors. In the presence of noise, a comparison with the zero-frequency filtering technique (ZFF) and Dynamic programming projected Phase-Slope Algorithm (DYPSA) showed that performance of the SZCR technique is better than DYPSA and inferior to that of ZFF. For highpass-filtered speech, where ZFF performance suffers drastically, the identification rates of SZCR are better than those of DYPSA.

The Early Prevention of Obesity in CHildren (EPOCH) collaboration : an individual patient data prospective meta-analysis

Background: Efforts to prevent the development of overweight and obesity have increasingly focused early in the life course as we recognise that both metabolic and behavioural patterns are often established within the first few years of life. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions are even more powerful when, with forethought, they are synthesised into an individual patient data (IPD) prospective meta-analysis (PMA). An IPD PMA is a unique research design where several trials are identified for inclusion in an analysis before any of the individual trial results become known and the data are provided for each randomised patient. This methodology minimises the publication and selection bias often associated with a retrospective meta-analysis by allowing hypotheses, analysis methods and selection criteria to be specified a priori. Methods/Design: The Early Prevention of Obesity in CHildren (EPOCH) Collaboration was formed in 2009. The main objective of the EPOCH Collaboration is to determine if early intervention for childhood obesity impacts on body mass index (BMI) z scores at age 18-24 months. Additional research questions will focus on whether early intervention has an impact on children’s dietary quality, TV viewing time, duration of breastfeeding and parenting styles. This protocol includes the hypotheses, inclusion criteria and outcome measures to be used in the IPD PMA. The sample size of the combined dataset at final outcome assessment (approximately 1800 infants) will allow greater precision when exploring differences in the effect of early intervention with respect to pre-specified participant- and intervention-level characteristics. Discussion: Finalisation of the data collection procedures and analysis plans will be complete by the end of 2010. Data collection and analysis will occur during 2011-2012 and results should be available by 2013. Trial registration number: ACTRN12610000789066

Estimation of cosmological parameters from neutral hydrogen observations of the post-reionization epoch

The emission from neutral hydrogen (HI) clouds in the post-reionization era (z <= 6), too faint to be individually detected, is present as a diffuse background in all low frequency radio observations below 1420MHz. The angular and frequency fluctuations of this radiation (similar to 1 mK) are an important future probe of the large-scale structures in the Universe. We show that such observations are a very effective probe of the background cosmological model and the perturbed Universe. In our study we focus on the possibility of determining the redshift-space distortion parameter beta, coordinate distance r(nu), and its derivative with redshift r(nu)('). Using reasonable estimates for the observational uncertainties and configurations representative of the ongoing and upcoming radio interferometers, we predict parameter estimation at a precision comparable with supernova Ia observations and galaxy redshift surveys, across a wide range in redshift that is only partially accessed by other probes. Future HI observations of the post-reionization era present a new technique, complementing several existing ones, to probe the expansion history and to elucidate the nature of the dark energy.