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System Structure (system + structure)
Selected AbstractsA Strategic Framework for Monitoring Coastal Change in Australia's Wet-dry Tropics , Concepts and ProgressGEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009C. MAX FINLAYSON Abstract A strategic framework for monitoring natural and human-induced change in the coastal plains of the Alligator Rivers Region in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia is presented. The framework also supports refinement of methods used to monitor the vulnerability of coastal areas to change, including human-induced climate change and sea-level rise. The information derived through the framework can be used to assess scenarios, highlight the potential significance and implications of changes, and assist land managers formulate management responses. The framework incorporates several large-scale studies for monitoring atmospheric and hydrodynamic processes as well as mapping and monitoring projects specific to environmental change in the freshwater wetlands and the floodplains of the Region. Monitoring is proposed to address processes influencing the stability and rate of change of the floodplain environments. These include large-scale processes, such as inter-annual variability in weather conditions affecting the morphology of the coastal plains, shoreline and riverbank stabilisation, headward expansion of tidal creeks, and salinisation of freshwater basins. Information management is also addressed, and a Geographic Information System structure proposed for effective data collation, analysis and management. The information management system will facilitate data sharing and participation of multiple agencies and organisations interested in coastal change, especially where a landscape perspective or whole ecosystem approach is advocated. [source] Hydrology and dynamics of a polythermal (mostly cold) High Arctic glacierEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 12 2006Robert G. Bingham Abstract To improve our understanding of the interactions between hydrology and dynamics in mostly cold glaciers (in which water flow is limited by thermal regime), we analyse short-term (every two days) variations in glacier flow in the ablation zone of polythermal John Evans Glacier, High Arctic Canada. We monitor the spatial and temporal propagation of high-velocity events, and examine their impacts upon supraglacial drainage processes and evolving subglacial drainage system structure. Each year, in response to the rapid establishment of supraglacial,subglacial drainage connections in the mid-ablation zone, a ,spring event' of high horizontal surface velocities and high residual vertical motion propagates downglacier over two to four days from the mid-ablation zone to the terminus. Subsequently, horizontal velocities fall relative to the spring event but remain higher than over winter, reflecting channelization of subglacial drainage but continued supraglacial meltwater forcing. Further transient high-velocity events occur later in each melt season in response to melt-induced rising supraglacial meltwater inputs to the glacier bed, but the dynamic response of the glacier contrasts with that recorded during the spring event, with the degree of spatial propagation a function of the degree to which the subglacial drainage system has become channelized. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Structure of Banking Systems in Developed and Transition EconomiesEUROPEAN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2001Dwight Jaffee The paper empirically analyses the determinants of banking system structure (as measured by bank assets, number, branches and employees) for 26 developed OECD countries. The estimated regressions are then applied to 23 transition economies, to obtain benchmarks for the efficient structure of their banking systems. The actual and benchmark measures of banking structure are compared to evaluate the state of banking system development, including the computation of a measure of ,banking system convergence'. The results are objective and replicable multidimensional measures of banking system development for the transition economies. [source] Impaired behavioural flexibility and memory in mice lacking GDNF family receptor ,2EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 1 2004Vootele Vőikar Abstract The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor GFR,2 is the binding receptor for neurturin (NRTN). The main biological responses of GFR,2 are mediated via the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase, although it may also signal independently of Ret via the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM. GFR,2 is expressed in many neurons of both the central and peripheral nervous system. Mice lacking GFR,2 receptors do not exhibit any gross defects in the central nervous system structure. However, they display profound deficits in the parasympathetic and enteric nervous system, accompanied by significant reduction in body weight after weaning. Here we present the results of behavioural analysis of the GFR,2-knockout mice. The knockout mice did not differ from wild-type mice in basic tests of motor and exploratory activity. However, differences were established in several memory tasks. The knockout mice were not impaired in the acquisition of spatial escape strategy. However, the deficit in flexibility in establishing a new strategy was revealed during reversal learning with the platform in the opposite quadrant of the pool. Furthermore, the knockout mice displayed significant impairment in contextual fear conditioning and conditioned taste aversion tests of memory. The results suggest that GFR,2 signalling plays a role in the development or maintenance of cognitive abilities that help in solving complex learning tasks. [source] Regulated competition and citizen participation: lessons from IsraelHEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 2 2000David Chinitz PhD Objective To investigate the relationship between health system structure and citizen participation, in particular whether increased reliance on competition encourages or depresses citizen involvement. Setting The case of Israel's ongoing health reform, based on regulated competition among sick funds, is examined. Design Interviews with government officials and representatives of consumer groups; analysis of policy documents, judicial rulings, public surveys and journalistic accounts. Results The Israeli reform is based in large measure on a regulated competition model, in which citizens have free choice among highly regulated competing sick funds. At the same time, the reform process has been accompanied by legal, institutional and political frameworks, as well as significant interest group activity, all aimed at increasing public input into processes of health policy making and implementation. The Israeli case, it is argued, lends support to the proposition that citizen participation (voice) and individual choice (exit) are complementary, rather than alternative, modes of ensuring citizen influence over health services. The question is whether the development of multiple avenues for citizen involvement represents disarray or a healthy social learning process regarding the running of the health system. Conclusion This paper expresses cautious optimism that citizen participation is a projection of a healthy social learning process, and suggests directions for public policy to encourage this outcome. [source] Subglacial drainage system structure and morphology of Brewster Glacier, New ZealandHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 3 2009Ian Willis Abstract A global positioning system and ground penetrating radar surveys is used to produce digital elevation models of the surface and bed of Brewster Glacier. These are used to derive maps of subglacial hydraulic potential and drainage system structure using three different assumptions about the subglacial water pressure (Pw): (i) Pw = ice overburden; (ii) Pw = half ice overburden; (iii) Pw = atmospheric. Additionally, 16 dye-tracing experiments at 12 locations were performed through a summer melt season. Dye return curve shape, together with calculations of transit velocity, dispersivity and storage, are used to infer the likely morphology of the subglacial drainage system. Taken together, the data indicate that the glacier is underlain by a channelised but hydraulically inefficient drainage system in the early summer in which water pressures are close to ice overburden. By mid-summer, water pressures are closer to half-ice overburden and the channelised drainage system is more hydraulically efficient. Surface streams that enter the glacier close to the location of major subglacial drainage pathways are routed quickly to the channels and then to the glacier snout. Streams that enter the glacier further away from the drainage pathways are routed slowly to the channels and then to the snout because they first flow through a distributed drainage system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] On morphometric properties of basins, scale effects and hydrological responseHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 1 2003Roger Moussa Abstract One of the important problems in hydrology is the quantitative description of river system structure and the identification of relationships between geomorphological properties and hydrological response. Digital elevation models (DEMs) generally are used to delineate the basin's limits and to extract the channel network considering pixels draining an area greater than a threshold area S. In this paper, new catchment shape descriptors, the geometric characteristics of an equivalent ellipse that has the same centre of gravity, the same principal inertia axes, the same area and the same ratio of minimal inertia moment to maximal inertia moment as the basin, are proposed. They are applied in order to compare and classify the structure of seven basins located in southern France. These descriptors were correlated to hydrological properties of the basins' responses such as the lag time and the maximum amplitude of a geomorphological unit hydrograph calculated at the basin outlet by routing an impulse function through the channel network using the diffusive wave model. Then, we analysed the effects of the threshold area S on the topological structure of the channel network and on the evolution of the source catchment's shape. Simple models based on empirical relationships between the threshold S and the morphometric properties were established and new catchment shape indexes, independent of the observation scale S, were defined. This methodology is useful for geomorphologists dealing with the shape of source basins and for hydrologists dealing with the problem of scale effects on basin topology and on relationships between the basin morphometric properties and the hydrological response. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Sensor fault detection and isolation for nonlinear systems based on a sliding mode observerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Issue 8-9 2007Xing-Gang Yan Abstract In this paper, a sensor fault detection and isolation scheme for nonlinear systems is considered. A nonlinear diffeomorphism is introduced to explore the system structure and a simple filter is presented to ,transform' the sensor fault into a pseudo-actuator fault scenario. A sliding mode observer is designed to reconstruct the sensor fault precisely if the system does not experience any uncertainty, and to estimate the sensor fault when uncertainty exists. The reconstruction and estimation signals are based only on available information and thus can be implemented online. Finally, a mass,spring system is used to illustrate the approach. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A comprehensive techno-economic analysis method for power generation systems with CO2 captureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010Gang Xu Abstract A new comprehensive techno-economic analysis method for power generation systems with CO2 capture is proposed in this paper. The correlative relationship between the efficiency penalty, investment increment, and CO2 avoidance cost is established. Through theoretical derivation, typical system analysis, and variation trends investigation, the mutual influence between technical and economic factors and their impacts on the CO2 avoidance cost are studied. At the same time, the important role that system integration plays in CO2 avoidance is investigated based on the analysis of a novel partial gasification CO2 recovery system. The results reveal that for the power generation systems with CO2 capture, the efficiency penalty not only affects the costs on fuel, but the incremental investment cost for CO2 capture (U.S.$,kW,1) as well. Consequently, it will have a decisive impact on the CO2 avoidance cost. Therefore, the added attention should be paid to improve the technical performance in order to reduce the efficiency penalty in energy system with CO2 capture and storage. Additionally, the system integration may not only decrease the efficiency penalty, but also simplify the system structure and keep the investment increment at a low level, and thereby it reduces the CO2 avoidance cost significantly. For example, for the novel partial gasification CO2 recovery system, owing to system integration, its efficiency can reach 42.2%, with 70% of CO2 capture, and its investment cost is only 87$,kW,1 higher than that of the reference IGCC system, thereby the CO2 avoidance cost is only 6.23$,t,1 CO2. The obtained results provide a comprehensive technical,economical analysis method for energy systems with CO2 capture useful for reducing the avoidance costs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Impact of organizational change on the delivery of reproductive services: a review of the literatureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2005Tim Ensor Abstract In order to understand the impact of specific maternal health interventions, it is necessary to understand the likely effect of the health system structure. An important aspect of this structure is the organizational culture. Many systems in low-income countries have been based on a centrally planned and financed system. In recent years a series of organizational changes have been introduced into many systems and these substantially alter the way in which the system operates and impacts on reproductive health care provision. The main changes reviewed in this paper are: (i) decentralization, (ii) privatization and (iii) integration and sector wide approaches. Each of these changes is seen to have important implications for reproductive health. In each case it is clear that the nature of the impact depends crucially on the way it is implemented. Quantifying the impact of these changes remains extremely difficult given the many different ways they can be introduced and the many confounding factors that affect the overall impact. The literature does, however, point to a number of key issues that impinge on the way in which change is likely to affect reproductive health initiatives. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Constructive algorithm for dynamic observer error linearization via integrators: single output caseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROBUST AND NONLINEAR CONTROL, Issue 1 2007Kyung T. Yu Abstract Dynamic observer error linearization which has been introduced recently is a new framework for observer design. Although this approach unifies several existing results on the problem and extends the class of systems that can be transformed into an observable linear system with an injection term of known signals, constructive algorithms to check the applicability are not available yet. In this paper, a constructive algorithm is proposed to solve the problem under some restrictions on the system structure and on the auxiliary dynamics introduced in the problem. The algorithm is constructive in the sense that the components of the transformation can be obtained step-by-step. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Co-ordinated control design of generator excitation and SVC for transient stability and voltage regulation enhancement of multi-machine power systemsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROBUST AND NONLINEAR CONTROL, Issue 9-10 2004L. Cong Abstract This paper presents a co-ordinated control scheme for generator excitation and a static var compensator (SVC) to achieve transient stability, adequate damping and voltage regulation enhancement of multimachine power systems. By using the feedback linearization technique, the nonlinearities of the generator and the SVC model are cancelled. With the help of robust control theory, the interconnection between controllers, the variation of system structure and the parameter uncertainties are taken into consideration in the controller design. Only local measurements are required. Simulation results obtained from a three-machine, one-SVC example system show that the proposed controllers can provide good stability, voltage control and damping over a wide range of operating conditions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Anthropogenic disturbance and the formation of oak savanna in central Kentucky, USAJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2008Ryan W. McEwan Abstract Aim, To deepen understanding of the factors that influenced the formation of oak savanna in central Kentucky, USA. Particular attention was focused on the link between historical disturbance and the formation of savanna ecosystem structure. Location, Central Kentucky, USA. Methods, We used dendrochronological analysis of tree-ring samples to understand the historical growth environment of remnant savanna stems. We used release detection and branch-establishment dates to evaluate changes in tree growth and the establishment of savanna physiognomy. We contrasted our growth chronology with reference chronologies for regional tree growth, climate and human population dynamics. Results, Trees growing in Kentucky Inner Bluegrass Region (IBR) savanna remnants exhibited a period of suppression, extending from the establishment date of the tree to release events that occurred c. 1800. This release resulted in a tripling of the annual radial growth rate from levels typical of oaks suppressed under a forest canopy (< 1 mm year,1) to levels typical of open-grown stems (3 mm year,1). The growth releases in savanna trees coincided with low branch establishment. Over the release period, climatic conditions remained relatively constant and growth in regional forest trees was even; however, the growth increase in savanna stems was strongly correlated with a marked increase in Euro-American population density in the region. Main conclusions, Our data suggest that trees growing in savanna remnants originated in the understorey of a closed canopy forest. We hypothesize that Euro-American land clearing to create pasturelands released these trees from light competition and resulted in the savanna physiognomy that is apparent in remnant stands in the IBR. Although our data suggest that savanna trees originated in a forest understorey, this system structure itself may have been a result of an unprecedented lack of Native American activity in the region due to population loss associated with pandemics brought to North America by Euro-Americans. We present a hypothetical model that links human population dynamics, land-use activities and ecosystem structure. Our model focuses on the following three land-use eras: Native American habitation/utilization; land abandonment; and Euro-American land clearance. Ecological understanding of historical dynamics in other ecosystems of eastern North America may be enhanced through recognition of these eras. [source] Friction and wear effects on a micro/nano-scaleLUBRICATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2001E. Santner Abstract In this paper are described tribological effects which can be found in micro-tribological systems, and in those macro-systems which can be analysed by micro-methods, e.g., by atomic force microscopy (AFM) or related methods. Micro-tribology systems have friction contacts with loads in the micro/nano-newton range and/or dimensions in the micro/nanometre range. Experiments on the micro/nano-scale should be easier to explain by theoretical modelling due to their simpler system structure. An example is discussed of adhesion and friction measurements between AFM tips and clean, flat, solid surfaces in ultra-high vacuum, which shows some of the special aspects of micro/nano-tribology. Surprising friction characteristics on surfaces with an artificial micro-structure can be explained by skilled and careful topographical analysis of the friction path with an AFM. In micro-sensor contacts, ,single wear events' can be detected using AFM analysis of the contact region. For ceramic compounds, different friction levels for the components of the material can be found. The problems, difficulties, and dangers of misinterpretation are also discussed. [source] A general model of heterogeneous system lifetimes and conditions for system burn-inNAVAL RESEARCH LOGISTICS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2003Kyungmee O. Kim Abstract Burn-in is a technique to enhance reliability by eliminating weak items from a population of items having heterogeneous lifetimes. System burn-in can improve system reliability, but the conditions for system burn-in to be performed after component burn-in remain a little understood mathematical challenge. To derive such conditions, we first introduce a general model of heterogeneous system lifetimes, in which the component burn-in information and assembly problems are related to the prediction of system burn-in. Many existing system burn-in models become special cases and two important results are identified. First, heterogeneous system lifetimes can be understood naturally as a consequence of heterogeneous component lifetimes and heterogeneous assembly quality. Second, system burn-in is effective if assembly quality variation in the components and connections which are arranged in series is greater than a threshold, where the threshold depends on the system structure and component failure rates. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 50: 364,380, 2003. [source] Contrasting Functional Performance of Juvenile Salmon Habitat in Recovering Wetlands of the Salmon River Estuary, Oregon, U.S.A.RESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Ayesha Gray Abstract For an estuarine restoration project to be successful it must reverse anthropogenic effects and restore lost ecosystem functions. Restoration projects that aim to rehabilitate endangered species populations make project success even more important, because if misjudged damage to already weakened populations may result. Determining project success depends on our ability to assess the functional state or "performance" and the trajectory of ecosystem development. Mature system structure is often the desired "end point" of restoration and is assumed to provide maximum benefit for target species; however, few studies have measured linkages between structure and function and possible benefits available from early recovery stages. The Salmon River estuary, Oregon, U.S.A., offers a unique opportunity to simultaneously evaluate several estuarine restoration projects and the response of the marsh community while making comparisons with a concurring undiked portion of the estuary. Dikes installed in three locations in the estuary during the early 1960s were removed in 1978, 1987, and 1996, creating a "space-for-time substitution" chronosequence. Analysis of the marsh community responses enables us to use the development state of the three recovering marshes to determine a trajectory of estuarine recovery over 23 years and to make comparisons with a reference marsh. We assessed the rate and pattern of juvenile salmon habitat development in terms of fish density, available prey resources, and diet composition of wild juvenile Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (chinook salmon). Results from the outmigration of 1998 and 1999 show differences in fish densities, prey resources, and diet composition among the four sites. Peaks in chinook salmon densities were greatest in the reference site in 1998 and in the youngest (1996) site in 1999. The 1996 marsh had higher densities of chironomids (insects; average 864/m2) and lower densities of amphipods (crustaceans; average 8/m3) when compared with the other sites. Fauna differences were reflected in the diets of juvenile chinook with those occupying the 1978 and 1996 marshes based on insects (especially chironomids), whereas those from the 1987 and reference marshes were based on crustaceans (especially amphipods). Tracking the development of recovering emergent marsh ecosystems in the Salmon River estuary reveals significant fish and invertebrate response in the first 2 to 3 years after marsh restoration. This pulse of productivity in newly restored systems is part of the trajectory of development and indicates some level of early functionality and the efficacy of restoring estuarine marshes for juvenile salmon habitat. However, to truly know the benefits consumers experience in recovering systems requires further analysis that we will present in forthcoming publications. [source] Bilateral symmetric organization of neural elements in the visual system of a coelenterate, Tripedalia cystophora (Cubozoa)THE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2005Linda Parkefelt Abstract Cubozoans differ from other cnidarians by their body architecture and nervous system structure. In the medusa stage they possess the most advanced visual system within the phylum, located in sophisticated sensory structures, rhopalia. The rhopalium is a club-shaped structure with paired pit-shaped pigment cup eyes, paired slit-shaped pigment cup eyes, and two complex camera-type eyes: one small upper lens eye and one large lower lens eye. The medusa carries four rhopalia and visual processing and locomotor rhythm generation takes place in the rhopalia. We show here a bilaterally symmetric organization of neurons, with commissures connecting the two sides, in the rhopalium of the cubozoan Tripedalia cystophora. The fortuitous observation that a subset of neurons is strongly immunoreactive for a PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen)-like epitope allowed us to analyze the organization of these neurons in detail. Distinct PCNA-immunoreactive (PCNA-ir) nuclei form six bilateral pairs that are associated with the slit eyes, pit eyes, upper lens eye, and the posterior wall of the rhopalium. Three commissures connect the clusters of the two sides and all clusters in the rhopalium have connections to the area around the base of the stalk. This neuronal system provides an anatomical substrate for integration of visual signals from the different eyes. J. Comp. Neurol. 492:251,262, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Controller design based on similar skew-symmetric structure for nonlinear plantsASIAN JOURNAL OF CONTROL, Issue 1 2010Yicheng Liu Abstract This paper proposes a novel controller design approach for nonlinear plants. A class of stable nonlinear systems with a similar skew-symmetric structure is chosen as the objective closed loop system, and two design methods are proposed with backstepping and direct construction. Compared with the conventional backstepping method, the proposed backstepping method need not construct a Lyapunov function step by step, thus the design procedure is simplified. The direct construction method can be applied to some nonlinear plants for which the conventional backstepping is not feasible; and the design can be accomplished in only one step. Furthermore, for some nonlinear plants which have a lower triangular structure with two subsystems, simpler controllers can be derived by the proposed direct construction method than those derived by backstepping design. In addition, the proposed methods are both system structure oriented, therefore their designs are more intuitive than the conventional backstepping design. Two controllers are derived for satellite attitude control by employing the proposed methods; simulation results demonstrate their effectiveness. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society [source] Parvalbumin-, calbindin-, and calretinin-immunoreactive hippocampal interneuron density in autismACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2010Y. A. Lawrence Lawrence YA, Kemper TL, Bauman ML, Blatt GJ. Parvalbumin-, calbindin-, and calretinin-immunoreactive hippocampal interneuron density in autism. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 121: 99,108. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard. Background ,, There has been a long-standing interest in the possible role of the hippocampus in autism and both postmortem brain and neuroimaging studies have documented varying abnormalities in this limbic system structure. Aims ,, This study investigates the density of subsets of hippocampal interneurons, immunostained with the calcium binding proteins, calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) to determine whether specific subpopulations of interneurons are impacted in autism. Materials and methods ,, Unbiased stereological techniques were used to quantify the neuronal density of these immunoreactive subpopulations of gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) interneurons analyzed in the CA and subicular fields in postmortem brain material obtained from five autistic and five age-, gender- and postmortem interval-matched control cases. Results ,, Results indicate a selective increase in the density of CB-immunoreactive interneurons in the dentate gyrus, an increase in CR-immunoreactive interneurons in area CA1, and an increase in PV-immunoreactive interneurons in areas CA1 and CA3 in the hippocampus of individuals with autism when compared with controls. Discussion/conclusions ,, Although our sample size is small, these findings suggest that GABAergic interneurons may represent a vulnerable target in the brains of individuals with autism, potentially impacting upon their key role in learning and information processing. These preliminary findings further suggest the need for future more expanded studies in a larger number of postmortem brain samples from cases of autism and controls. [source] New structures of vector control systems for permanent magnet synchronous motors with core lossELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN JAPAN, Issue 3 2010Shinji Shinnaka Abstract This paper investigates and proposes new system structures for vector control of permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) with core loss. The proposed vector control systems have the following versatile features. (a) The systems employ the structures allowing control of the stator current through control of the load current. (b) The systems employ unique "stator voltage feedback-use" structures in order to accomplish simply the load current control. (c) The produced torque is directly related to the load current, and the precise torque control can be attained through the load current control. (d) The relation between produced torque and the load current is nonlinear for salient-pole PMSMs similar to the case of no core loss, and a variety of the load current commands can be selected from viewpoints of minimum loss and/or wide speed range drives. The system structures add no constraint to the selection of the load current commands. (e) In addition to the torque control, the speed control can be allowed, where linearity between output of the speed controller and produced torque is kept. The validity of versatile features is verified through the numerical experiments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 170(3): 28,39, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20910 [source] Towards a ,Post-Public Era'?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 1-2 2008Australian Higher Education Policy, Shifting Frames in German Higher education in Germany and Australia is being subject to pressures of market forces, internationalisation and financial constraints. This had led to both systems experiencing significant crisis and change over the past 20 years. In this paper, frame analysis is used to compare the changing policies in each nation and examine the extent to which the landscapes of each system have been transformed. It is found that higher education policy in both nations underwent significant change in the late 1980s and again in the early 2000s, impacting on system structures and institutional forms. There is now evidence of further change occurring in both nations that may mark a transition to a ,post-public era' in higher education. This analysis reveals a degree of convergence in the neo-liberal policy trajectories of both nations but differences in the rate and nature of the transitions taking place. [source] Reflective practice in nursing ethics education: international collaborationJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2004Carol J. Leppa PhD RN Background., The Internet provides the opportunity for international comparative study and collaboration when learning about ethics in clinical nursing practice. Aim., This paper aims to discuss Internet links developed between US and UK postregistration nursing students who were reflecting on clinical practice in order to explore how political and organizational structures of the health care system affect ethical decision-making. Discussion., An analysis is presented of the stages in developing an exchange course for students from these countries, which involved various combinations of classroom-based teaching, on-line discussions and international visits by students and teachers during its evolution. The strengths and weaknesses of the different methods are considered, and future developments identified. Conclusion., The Internet collaboration resulted in postregistration nursing students using reflection on practice in the study of ethics in clinical practice and an understanding of how systems structures and procedures affect ethical decision making. Internet-assisted teaching offers opportunities for collaboration, and student participants demonstrate sophisticated critical thinking in ethical decision-making. Issues of access barriers and motivation remain challenges to wider use. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||