Published Article / To start with, "Corporate Social Responsibility" (CSR) appears a misnomer as it suggests a 'big business only' connotation. Rather, "Business Social Responsibility" (BSR) appears a better alternative because it accommodates all sizes of business. Despite progress in the business / society relationship, SMMEs on the African continent continue being neglected as far as BSR research is concerned. Unlike in the West, there are no frameworks, tools, and instruments to guide those interested in the SMME / BSR nexus in the African context. As it turns out, scholars, researchers, policy makers, and owner / managers interested in the SMME / BSR nexus in Africa have no choice but to rely on frameworks, tools, and metrics designed for European and American contexts. This is in spite of Visser's (2007) caution that the Euro-American frameworks are inappropriate for the African situation. This paper makes a case for the development of an African context specific SMME / BSR framework(s) and measurement instrument(s).

This study was undertaken to investigate mobile salt and its effect on fault structures and gas hydrate occurrence in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Industry 2-D multichannel seismic data were used to investigate the effects of the salt within an area of 7,577 mi^2 (19,825 km^2) on the Texas continental slope in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. The western half of the study area is characterized by a thick sedimentary wedge and isolated salt diapirs whereas the eastern half is characterized by a massive and nearly continuous salt sheet topped by a thin sedimentary section. This difference in salt characteristics marks the edge of the continuous salt sheets of the central Gulf of Mexico and is likely a result of westward decline of original salt volume. Beneath the sedimentary wedge in the western part of the survey, an anomalous sedimentary package was found, that is described here as the diapiric, gassy sediment package (DGSP). The DGSP is highly folded at the top and is marked by tall, diapiric features. It may be either deformed shale or the toe of a complex thrust zone detaching the sedimentary wedge from deeper layers. The dataset was searched for the occurrence of bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs), as they are widely accepted as a geophysical indicator of gas trapped beneath gas hydrate deposits, which are known to occur farther east in the Gulf. Although, many seismic signatures were found that suggest widespread occurrence of gas within the upper sediment column, few BSRs were found. Even considering non-traditional definitions of BSRs, only a few occurrences of patchy and isolated BSRs features were identified. The lack of traditional BSRs is likely the result of geologic conditions that make it difficult to recognize gas hydrate deposits. These factors include: (1) unfavorable layer geometries, (2) flow of warm brines from depth, (3) elevated geotherms due to the thermogenic properties of salt and its varying thickness, and (4) widespread low porosity and permeability sediments within the gas hydrate stability zone.

The Kribi-Campo sub-basin is the northernmost of a series of Aptian basins along the coast of West Africa. These extensional basins developed as a result of the northward progressive rifting of South America from West Africa, initiated c. 130 Ma ago. Post-rift sediments of the Kribi-Campo sub -basin contain several regional unconformities and changes in basin-fill architecture that record regional tectonic events. The tectono-stratigraphic evolution and plumbing system has been investigated using a high-quality 3D seismic reflection dataset acquired to image the deep-water Cretaceous-to-Present-day post-rift sediments. The study area is located c. 40 km offshore Cameroon in 600 to 2000 m present-day water depth, with full 3D seismic coverage of 1500 km2, extending down to 6.5 seconds Two-Way Travel time. In the late Cretaceous the basin developed as a result of tectonism related to movement of the Kribi Fracture Zone (KFZ), which reactivated in the late Albian and early Senonian. This led to inversion of the early syn-rift section overlying the KFZ to the southeast. Two main fault-sets - N30 and N120 - developed in the center and south of the basin. These normal faults propagated from the syn-rift sequences: the N120 faults die out in the early post-rift sequence (Albian time) whilst N30 faults tend to be associated with the development of a number of fault-related folds in the late Cretaceous post-rift sequence, and have a significant control on later deposition. The basin is filled by Upper Cretaceous to Recent sediments that onlap the margin. Seismic facies analysis and correlation to analogue sections suggest the fill is predominantly fine-grained sediments. The interval also contains discrete large scale channels and fans whose location and geometry were controlled by the KFZ and fault-related folds. These are interpreted to contain coarser clastics. Subsequently, during the Cenozoic, the basin experienced several tectonic events caused by reactivation of the KFZ. During the Cenozoic, deposition was characterized by Mass Transport Complexes (MTCs), polygonal faulting, channels, fans and fan-lobes, and aggradational gullies. The main sediment feeder systems were, at various times, from the east, southeast and northeast. The plumbing system shows the effects of an interplay of stratigraphic and structural elements that control fluid flow in the subsurface. Evidence for effective fluid migration includes the occurrence of widespread gas-hydrate-related Bottom Simulating Reflections (BSRs) 104 - 250 m below the seabed (covering an area of c. 350 km2, in water depths of 940 m - 1750 m), pipes and pockmarks. Focused fluid flow pathways have been mapped and observed to root from two fan-lobe systems in the Mid-Miocene and Pliocene stratigraphic intervals. They terminate near, or on, the modern seafloor. It is interpreted that overpressure occurred following hydrocarbon generation, either sourced from biogenic degradation of shallow organic rich mudstone, or from effective migration from a thermally mature source rock at depth. This latter supports the possibility also of hydrocarbon charged reservoirs at depth. Theoretical thermal and pressure conditions for gas hydrate stability provide an opportunity to estimate the shallow geothermal gradient. Variations in the BSR indicate an active plumbing system and local thermal gradient anomalies are detected within gullies and along vertically stacked channels or pipes. The shallow subsurface thermal gradient is calculated to be 0.052 oC m-1. With future drilling planned in the basin, this study also documents potential drilling hazards in the form of shallow gas and possible remobilised sands linked with interconnected and steeply dipping sand bodies.

No description available.

Although it is well-established that animals will self-stimulate electric current to various diverse brain structures, the neural substrate of brain stimulation reward (BSR) has eluded identification since its discovery more than a half-century ago. We show that GABA neurons in the midbrain, hypothalamus and thalamus express connexin-36 (Cx36) gap junctions and couple electrically with dopamine application or by stimulation of the internal capsule (IC), which also supports self-stimulation. The threshold for responding for self-stimulation of the IC is the threshold for coupling between these GABA neurons, the degree of responding for IC ICSS is proportional to the magnitude of electrical coupling between these GABA neurons, and GJ blockers, including the Cx36 blocker mefloquine, increase the threshold for IC self-stimulation without affecting performance. Thus, electrical coupling between this network of GABA neurons fits the prevailing model for the elusive integrator of BSR.

Cette thèse constitue une nouvelle approche pour la prédiction des maladies des plantes dans une plantation par combinaison de fusion de données et modélisation spatio-temporelle. La maladie des plantes est un problème majeur dans le monde de l'agriculture. Par exemple en Malaisie, la maladie de la pourriture de basal de la tige (BSR) causée par le champignon Ganoderma Boninense est la maladie la plus grave pour les plantations de palmiers à huile. Le champignon infecte les palmiers à huile,causant des pertes de rendement et détruisant au final les arbres. Divers facteurs ont été précédemment signalés, qui influencent l'incidence de la BSR, tels que les cultures précédentes, les techniques de replantation, les types de sols et l'âge des arbres. Une gestion efficace et durable des stratégies pour contrôler le BSR se heurte principalement à un manque de compréhension des mécanismes d'établissement de la maladie, de son développement et de sa propagation. La présente recherche est une tentative d'appliquer la technique de fusion de données et la modélisation temporelle en système d'Information géographique (SIG) pour étudier le comportement des maladies des plantes dans un domaine particulier (zone artisanale). Cette recherche portera sur comment les SIG peuvent aider à évaluer la distribution des maladies des plantes dans une plantation de petite échelle. Avec les progrès simultanés dans les systèmes de positionnement global (GPS) et l'utilisation des systèmes d'Information géographique, ces techniques ont fourni de puissants outils d'analyse pour l'agriculture de précision. Les données pour l'analyse proviennent de palmiers à huile des expériences de densité de plantation aux stations de recherche MPOB à Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaisie.Dans le cas de la maladie de la BSR, les résultats de l'émission de modélisation prédictive ont observé une corrélation entre les maladies BSR prédites avec celles visuellement données par le BSR. Il a été constaté que la modélisation prédictive proposée a bien prédit la présence de la maladie de la BSR. Même si au début d'infection des maladies BSR, le modèle n'a pas fixé exactement la distribution de la maladie, la performance du modèle sera améliorée avec la sélection de la source de données. Dans l'ensemble, le modèle a bien prédit la présence de maladies avec une précision allant jusqu'à 98,9 %. / This thesis represents a new approach for predicting plant disease in a plantation through combination of data fusion and spatio-temporal modelling. Plant disease is a major problem in the world of agriculture. Example in Malaysia, basalstem rot disease (BSR) caused by Ganoderma Boinense is the most serious disease for oil palm plantation in Malaysia. The fungus infects oil palm trees, initially causing yield loss and finally killing the trees. Various factors were previously reported to influence incidence of BSR, such as previous crops, techniques for replanting, types of soils and the age of trees. At present effective and sustainable management strategies to control BSR are hampered mainly by a lack of understanding of mechanisms of disease establishment, development and spread. The present research is an attempt to apply data fusion technique and temporal modelling in Geographical Information System (GIS) to investigate the behaviour of plant disease in a specific area (small skill area). This research will focus on how GIS can help to assess the distribution plant disease in a small scale plantation. With concurrent advances in global positioning systems (GPS) and the use of geographical Information Systems(GIS) techniques have provided powerful analysis tools for precision agriculture. Data for analysis were obtained from oil palm planting density experiments at MPOB research stations at Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia. In the case of BSR disease, the results of the predictive modelling show a significance correlation between predicted BSR diseases with visually observed BSR data. It found that the proposed predictive modelling has well predicted the presence of BSR disease. Although at the beginning stage of BSR diseases infection, the model has not fitted exactly the distribution of the disease, we believe that with the proper selection of the source of data, the performance of the model will be improved.Overall, the model has well predicted the presence of diseases with accuracy up to 98.9%.

<p> </p><p>This abstract describes the bachelor degree thesis in computer technology at Växjö University. The company BSR in Växjö has requested an application that can measure a cars performance, with attributes like acceleration times and engine power estimation. The communication between car and computer is via the USB port on the computer and the OBD-II socket on the car with the network protocol CAN, controller area network. Cars from VAG have been the primary focus group and the application has been tested on a Volkswagen Passat CC from 2009. The system is developed in the programming language C# in the environment Visual Studio with the framework .NET. This report describes the network protocol CAN, which is an essential part in understanding how thecommunication works. Also approach, analyze and implementation is described.</p><p> </p> / <p> </p><p>Denna rapport beskriver ett examensarbete för högskoleingenjörsexamen i datorteknik vid Växjö universitet. Företaget BSR i Växjö har önskat ett program som kan mäta en bils prestanda, med attribut som accelerationstider och effektuppskattning. Kommunikationen mellan bil och dator sker via USB-port på datorn och OBD-II-uttag på bilen med protokollet CAN, controller area network. Bilar från VAG har i första hand varit målgruppen och programmet har testats på en Volkswagen Passat CC från 2009. Systemet har utvecklats i programspråket C# och i utvecklingsmiljön Visual Studio med ramverket .NET. Rapporten beskriver nätverksprotokollet CAN, vilket är en väsentlig del i att förstå hur kommunikationen går till. Även tillvägagångssätt, analys och implementering beskrivs.</p><p> </p>

This abstract describes the bachelor degree thesis in computer technology at Växjö University. The company BSR in Växjö has requested an application that can measure a cars performance, with attributes like acceleration times and engine power estimation. The communication between car and computer is via the USB port on the computer and the OBD-II socket on the car with the network protocol CAN, controller area network. Cars from VAG have been the primary focus group and the application has been tested on a Volkswagen Passat CC from 2009. The system is developed in the programming language C# in the environment Visual Studio with the framework .NET. This report describes the network protocol CAN, which is an essential part in understanding how thecommunication works. Also approach, analyze and implementation is described. / Denna rapport beskriver ett examensarbete för högskoleingenjörsexamen i datorteknik vid Växjö universitet. Företaget BSR i Växjö har önskat ett program som kan mäta en bils prestanda, med attribut som accelerationstider och effektuppskattning. Kommunikationen mellan bil och dator sker via USB-port på datorn och OBD-II-uttag på bilen med protokollet CAN, controller area network. Bilar från VAG har i första hand varit målgruppen och programmet har testats på en Volkswagen Passat CC från 2009. Systemet har utvecklats i programspråket C# och i utvecklingsmiljön Visual Studio med ramverket .NET. Rapporten beskriver nätverksprotokollet CAN, vilket är en väsentlig del i att förstå hur kommunikationen går till. Även tillvägagångssätt, analys och implementering beskrivs.

This thesis critically analyzes some measures of masculinity and femininity. Special attention is paid primarily to a BSRI (Bem Sex-Role Inventory), which is the most widespread but completely invalid instrument for measuring gender identity. At the same time, there is presented an alternative approach to the topic of gender identity based on an application of statistical discriminant analysis technique to generally shared stereotypical evaluations of typical men and women. In empirical part, proposed approach is successfully tested in practice by creating an index of masculinity / femininity. Results of analyzes of relations between the determined gender identity and various other components of gender belief system (cognitive gender schematization, an explicit M / F and gender attitudes) suggest the validity of this approach. Between feminity (regardless of sex) and a measure of traditional gender attitudes has been found small but significant negative correlation (rs = -0.3). Keywords: masculinity, feminity, discriminant analysis, critique of BSRI

La marge de Nankai dans la zone Tokai n'a pas subi de rupture lors du dernier épisode sismique de 1944-1946, qui a affectée tout le reste de la marge. Un fort séisme est donc à attendre à cet endroit au cours des prochaines années. Afin de mieux contraindre l'étendue de la zone sismogène, une campagne sismique 3D a été menée en 2000 sur le prisme de Nankai. Cette thèse s'inscrit dans la double thématique méthodologique et géologique de cette campagne. L'aspect méthodologique comprend la prise en compte des specificités de l'imagerie 3D par rapport à l'imagerie 2D classique. Lors de l'acquisition, la géométrie du dispositif source-récepteurs doit être parfaitement connue. Grâce à une méthode mise au point à cet effet, la géométrie a pu être reconstruite avec une excellente précision. Le traitement a également amélioré sensiblement les images obtenues, même si certains objets n'apparaissent pas de manière évidente dans les données. Les images 3D ont cependant permis de beaucoup mieux contraindre la position des failles majeures du prisme (Tokai, Kodaiba) en profondeur, et donc de mieux comprendre la cinématique du prisme. L'aspect géologique a révélé que la déformation de la marge est dominée par les événements Quaternaires, qui ont affecté une couverture du bassin d'avant-arc très calme auparavant. Plusieurs phases de plissement sont visibles, dont une en avant du bassin qui peut chronologiquement être reliée à l'arrivée en subduction d'une ride océanique. L'étude du BSR a également permis indirectement de donner un ordre de grandeur des processus d'érosion et de sédimentation sur la marge. Les larges glissements de terrains observés peuvent être simplement liés à l'activité sismique de la marge, sans intervention de surpression de fluides dans les pores. Enfin, un volcan observé en subduction est peut-être à l'origine de l'inactivation de la faille de Tokai, qui ne présente aucun signe d'activité récente.