In this paper, we discuss the consensus problem for synchronous distributed systems with orderly crash failures. For a synchronous distributed system of n processes with up to t crash failures and f failures actually occur, first, we present a bivalency argument proof to solve the open problem of proving the lower bound, min (t + 1, f + 2) rounds, for early-stopping synchronous consensus with orderly crash failures, where t < n - 1. Then, we extend the system model with orderly crash failures to a new model in which a process is allowed to send multiple messages to the same destination process in a round and the failing processes still respect the order specified by the protocol in sending messages. For this new model, we present a uniform consensus protocol, in which all non-faulty processes always decide and stop immediately by the end of f + 1 rounds. We prove that the lower bound of early stopping protocols for both consensus and uniform consensus are f + 1 rounds under the new model, and our proposed protocol is optimal. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

No description available.

No description available.

Minion- en ordningsam vän i tvättstugan. Tvättstugan. En samhällstjänst som alla tar för givet eller en arena för dåligt beteende. Vad den än är så är den stället där beteenden som fusk med städning samt stulna tvättider och kläder sker vilket kan mynna ut i riktigt allvarliga bråk som polisanmäls. Att ändra på tvättstugan och hålla ett vakande öga över den kostar pengar och det har inte alla. Under dessa förhållanden kommer problemen som påträffas där, bara att fortsätta att existera tills alla tvättstugor stängs. Forskning har visat att bilder på ögon motarbetar beteenden som orsakar problem i tvättstugan. De skapar en omedveten känsla av övervakning som korrigerar beteenden genom medvetenheten om det dåliga beteendet, eller av rädslan att bli påkommen och bestraffad. När bilder på ögon har en så stor effekt på oss kommer en interaktiv robot försedd med ögon, röst och en snäll personlighet att ha samma effekt samt förstärka känslan av övervakning. Minion är en liten interaktiv robot som håller tvättstugans besökare sällskap och blir dess beskyddare. Minions huvuduppgift är att påminna tvättstugans besökare att de aldrig är ensamma där och därmed motarbeta dåligt beteende som förstärks på avskilda platser. Minion lyckas med det genom att kommunicera, sjunga, dansa, äta ludd från torktumlaren och berätta lite olika saker om världen och sitt eget liv. Till och med i sin tystnad orsakar Minion känslan av övervakning för den som vistas i tvättstugan. Tyvärr är den existerande prototypen bara ett skal och inte en funktionell robot, därför förklarades Minions funktioner muntligt och med hjälp av bilder under användarstudien. Minion mottogs med spänning och godkännande och det visade sig att Minions alla funktioer är relevanta och uppfylls till fullo. Minion skulle kunna vidareutvecklas till andra områden av vardagslivet där en interaktiv robot kan vara användbar, som att förbättra livskvaliteten för människor i behov av en kamrat. / Minion- an orderly friend in the common laundry room The common laundry room. A service to society that everyone takes for granted or an arena for bad behavior. In either case, it is a place where cheating with cleaning up after yourself as well as hijacking appointments and stealing other people’s belongings can lead to really serious fights that are reported to the police. Changing the common laundry room and keeping a waking eye on it, costs a lot of money something that not everyone has access to. Under these circumstances, the problems found there will simply go on existing until all common laundry rooms are shut down.  Research has proven that pictures of eyes can counter act behaviors similar to the ones causing trouble in the common laundry room. These pictures cause an unconscious feeling of being watched that will correct such behaviors either by creating consciousness of the bad behavior or the fear of being caught and then punished. As pictures of eyes have such a severe effect on us, an interactive robot with eyes, a voice and a kind personality will have the same effect as well as reinforce the feeling of being watched. Minion is a small interactive robot that keeps the common laundry room’s visitors company while being its patron. Minion’s main task is to remind the visitors that they are never there alone and can therefore counteract such bad behavior that is reinforced in secluded spaces. Minion succeeds in doing so by having the ability to communicate, sing, dance, eat fluff from the drier and recount facts about the world and its own life. Even while being silent it causes the same feeling of being watched for the ones being in the common laundry room with it. Unfortunately the existing prototype is that only of a shell and not a fully functional robot, as of which Minion’s functions had to be explained through pictures and reenactments during the user study that was made. Minion was embraced with excitement and approval and the case study proved that all of Minion’s functions are relevant as well as completely fulfilled. Minion could be further developed to other areas of daily life where an interactive robot could be of some use, such as in improving the quality of life for people in need of a companion.

Esta pesquisa desenvolveu-se em uma área de estudo localizada em Garopaba, na zona costeira de Santa Catarina. Apesar do histórico de alterações ambientais sofridas, decorrentes da expansão agrícola, a área de estudo têm um caráter natural, na qual ocorrem grande diversidade de ecossistemas costeiros e paisagem com rara beleza. Atualmente, o acelerado processo de urbanização estimulado pela crescente indústria do turismo, representa uma séria ameaça à manutenção da qualidade ambiental na região. O Projeto Ambiental Gaia Village, localizado na área de estudo, objetiva contribuir para o desenvolvimento sustentável da região e vem realizando ações para regeneração e recuperação ambiental desde 1969. O Projeto Ambiental Gaia Village apoiou e deu suporte ao desenvolvimento da presente pesquisa, como mais uma ação em direção ao desenvolvimento sustentável da região. O objetivo geral dessa pesquisa é a sistematização de procedimentos que contribuam para melhor compreensão de questões ambientais relevantes à tomada de decisões, para orientar o ordenamento territorial preliminar de áreas situadas em zonas costeiras, visando a manutenção da qualidade ambiental. A sistematização dos procedimentos propostos, desenvolveu-se a partir da análise de uma área de estudo. Como base teórica, essa pesquisa se fundamentou em revisão de fontes secundárias, cujos tópicos se concentraram em ecossistemas costeiros e ações antrópicas na zona costeira. Como base para a elaboração dos mapas temáticos realizados, foi utilizado uma imagem de satélite com elevada resolução espacial (satélite QuickBird) e informações de fácil acesso. O método para a análise da imagem foi o da interpretação visual. O software de sistemas de informações geográficas utilizado para os mapeamentos, foi o ArcGIS 9.0. Mapas temáticos foram elaborados, sistematizando informações conforme os critérios estabelecidos. A sobreposição dos mapas temáticos levou a definição de novos mapas com informações relevantes à tomada de decisões para ordenamento territorial no contexto em que se encontra a área de estudo, como áreas a conservar e de possível uso, unidades de planejamento ambiental, entre outras. Para as unidades de planejamento ambiental, foram elaboradas diretrizes que visam minimizar o impacto das atividades antrópicas, de acordo as características e fragilidades da mesma. As diretrizes tiveram como base conceitual, a revisão realizada na fase inicial da pesquisa. O presente estudo visa racionalizar e ordenar a ocupação da região, manter os ecossistemas costeiros e a qualidade ambiental ao longo do tempo, buscando um equilíbrio entre desenvolvimento e conservação da natureza. Dentro do conceito de desenvolvimento sustentável, essa pesquisa tem ênfase na dimensão ambiental. / This research is being performed in a study area localized in Garopaba, seashore region of Santa Catarina. Despite the environmental alterations decurrent from the agricultural expansion, the study area has a natural character, where great coastal ecosystem diversity and landscape with rare beauty occur. This area is going through an accelerated process of urbanization motivated by an increasing tourism industry, what represents a serious threat to the maintenance of the environmental quality. The Gaia Village Environmental Project, sited in the studied area, seeks to contribute to a sustainable development of the region and is carrying out several actions to regenerate the environment. The Gaia Village Environmental Project has supported and assisted the present work as one more action towards the sustained development of the region. The main object of the present work is the systematization of procedures to contribute for a better understanding of environmental questions, to order the preliminary land occupation of areas sited in coastal zones, aiming at the maintenance of the environmental quality. The proposed procedures systematization was developed from the analysis of a study area. The theoretical base of this research is a revision of secondary sources, whose topics is concentrated in coastal ecosystems and human actions in coastal zone. Thematic maps were done using, as basis, a high-resolution satellite image (QuickBird satellite) of the selected area and readily access information. To imagem analysis was used the visual interpretation method. For mapping, was used a GIS application ArcGIS version 9.0. Thematic maps has been done, systemizing information according to established criteria. The overlapping of thematic maps has originated new maps, which has relevant information to decisions takings to territorial order for the study area context, as areas for conservation or human use, environment planning units, and others. For environment planning units, recommendations were elaborated to minimize environmental impact of human actions in accordance with the coastal ecosystem particularities. Recommendations were done according to the revision carried through in the initial phase of the research. The present study aims at to rationalize and promote an orderly occupation of the area, preserving the environmental quality and the coastal ecosystems and, thus, a equilibrium between urban development and nature preservation. Within the concept of sustained development, this research has emphasis in the environmental dimension.

Esta pesquisa desenvolveu-se em uma área de estudo localizada em Garopaba, na zona costeira de Santa Catarina. Apesar do histórico de alterações ambientais sofridas, decorrentes da expansão agrícola, a área de estudo têm um caráter natural, na qual ocorrem grande diversidade de ecossistemas costeiros e paisagem com rara beleza. Atualmente, o acelerado processo de urbanização estimulado pela crescente indústria do turismo, representa uma séria ameaça à manutenção da qualidade ambiental na região. O Projeto Ambiental Gaia Village, localizado na área de estudo, objetiva contribuir para o desenvolvimento sustentável da região e vem realizando ações para regeneração e recuperação ambiental desde 1969. O Projeto Ambiental Gaia Village apoiou e deu suporte ao desenvolvimento da presente pesquisa, como mais uma ação em direção ao desenvolvimento sustentável da região. O objetivo geral dessa pesquisa é a sistematização de procedimentos que contribuam para melhor compreensão de questões ambientais relevantes à tomada de decisões, para orientar o ordenamento territorial preliminar de áreas situadas em zonas costeiras, visando a manutenção da qualidade ambiental. A sistematização dos procedimentos propostos, desenvolveu-se a partir da análise de uma área de estudo. Como base teórica, essa pesquisa se fundamentou em revisão de fontes secundárias, cujos tópicos se concentraram em ecossistemas costeiros e ações antrópicas na zona costeira. Como base para a elaboração dos mapas temáticos realizados, foi utilizado uma imagem de satélite com elevada resolução espacial (satélite QuickBird) e informações de fácil acesso. O método para a análise da imagem foi o da interpretação visual. O software de sistemas de informações geográficas utilizado para os mapeamentos, foi o ArcGIS 9.0. Mapas temáticos foram elaborados, sistematizando informações conforme os critérios estabelecidos. A sobreposição dos mapas temáticos levou a definição de novos mapas com informações relevantes à tomada de decisões para ordenamento territorial no contexto em que se encontra a área de estudo, como áreas a conservar e de possível uso, unidades de planejamento ambiental, entre outras. Para as unidades de planejamento ambiental, foram elaboradas diretrizes que visam minimizar o impacto das atividades antrópicas, de acordo as características e fragilidades da mesma. As diretrizes tiveram como base conceitual, a revisão realizada na fase inicial da pesquisa. O presente estudo visa racionalizar e ordenar a ocupação da região, manter os ecossistemas costeiros e a qualidade ambiental ao longo do tempo, buscando um equilíbrio entre desenvolvimento e conservação da natureza. Dentro do conceito de desenvolvimento sustentável, essa pesquisa tem ênfase na dimensão ambiental. / This research is being performed in a study area localized in Garopaba, seashore region of Santa Catarina. Despite the environmental alterations decurrent from the agricultural expansion, the study area has a natural character, where great coastal ecosystem diversity and landscape with rare beauty occur. This area is going through an accelerated process of urbanization motivated by an increasing tourism industry, what represents a serious threat to the maintenance of the environmental quality. The Gaia Village Environmental Project, sited in the studied area, seeks to contribute to a sustainable development of the region and is carrying out several actions to regenerate the environment. The Gaia Village Environmental Project has supported and assisted the present work as one more action towards the sustained development of the region. The main object of the present work is the systematization of procedures to contribute for a better understanding of environmental questions, to order the preliminary land occupation of areas sited in coastal zones, aiming at the maintenance of the environmental quality. The proposed procedures systematization was developed from the analysis of a study area. The theoretical base of this research is a revision of secondary sources, whose topics is concentrated in coastal ecosystems and human actions in coastal zone. Thematic maps were done using, as basis, a high-resolution satellite image (QuickBird satellite) of the selected area and readily access information. To imagem analysis was used the visual interpretation method. For mapping, was used a GIS application ArcGIS version 9.0. Thematic maps has been done, systemizing information according to established criteria. The overlapping of thematic maps has originated new maps, which has relevant information to decisions takings to territorial order for the study area context, as areas for conservation or human use, environment planning units, and others. For environment planning units, recommendations were elaborated to minimize environmental impact of human actions in accordance with the coastal ecosystem particularities. Recommendations were done according to the revision carried through in the initial phase of the research. The present study aims at to rationalize and promote an orderly occupation of the area, preserving the environmental quality and the coastal ecosystems and, thus, a equilibrium between urban development and nature preservation. Within the concept of sustained development, this research has emphasis in the environmental dimension.

Esta pesquisa desenvolveu-se em uma área de estudo localizada em Garopaba, na zona costeira de Santa Catarina. Apesar do histórico de alterações ambientais sofridas, decorrentes da expansão agrícola, a área de estudo têm um caráter natural, na qual ocorrem grande diversidade de ecossistemas costeiros e paisagem com rara beleza. Atualmente, o acelerado processo de urbanização estimulado pela crescente indústria do turismo, representa uma séria ameaça à manutenção da qualidade ambiental na região. O Projeto Ambiental Gaia Village, localizado na área de estudo, objetiva contribuir para o desenvolvimento sustentável da região e vem realizando ações para regeneração e recuperação ambiental desde 1969. O Projeto Ambiental Gaia Village apoiou e deu suporte ao desenvolvimento da presente pesquisa, como mais uma ação em direção ao desenvolvimento sustentável da região. O objetivo geral dessa pesquisa é a sistematização de procedimentos que contribuam para melhor compreensão de questões ambientais relevantes à tomada de decisões, para orientar o ordenamento territorial preliminar de áreas situadas em zonas costeiras, visando a manutenção da qualidade ambiental. A sistematização dos procedimentos propostos, desenvolveu-se a partir da análise de uma área de estudo. Como base teórica, essa pesquisa se fundamentou em revisão de fontes secundárias, cujos tópicos se concentraram em ecossistemas costeiros e ações antrópicas na zona costeira. Como base para a elaboração dos mapas temáticos realizados, foi utilizado uma imagem de satélite com elevada resolução espacial (satélite QuickBird) e informações de fácil acesso. O método para a análise da imagem foi o da interpretação visual. O software de sistemas de informações geográficas utilizado para os mapeamentos, foi o ArcGIS 9.0. Mapas temáticos foram elaborados, sistematizando informações conforme os critérios estabelecidos. A sobreposição dos mapas temáticos levou a definição de novos mapas com informações relevantes à tomada de decisões para ordenamento territorial no contexto em que se encontra a área de estudo, como áreas a conservar e de possível uso, unidades de planejamento ambiental, entre outras. Para as unidades de planejamento ambiental, foram elaboradas diretrizes que visam minimizar o impacto das atividades antrópicas, de acordo as características e fragilidades da mesma. As diretrizes tiveram como base conceitual, a revisão realizada na fase inicial da pesquisa. O presente estudo visa racionalizar e ordenar a ocupação da região, manter os ecossistemas costeiros e a qualidade ambiental ao longo do tempo, buscando um equilíbrio entre desenvolvimento e conservação da natureza. Dentro do conceito de desenvolvimento sustentável, essa pesquisa tem ênfase na dimensão ambiental. / This research is being performed in a study area localized in Garopaba, seashore region of Santa Catarina. Despite the environmental alterations decurrent from the agricultural expansion, the study area has a natural character, where great coastal ecosystem diversity and landscape with rare beauty occur. This area is going through an accelerated process of urbanization motivated by an increasing tourism industry, what represents a serious threat to the maintenance of the environmental quality. The Gaia Village Environmental Project, sited in the studied area, seeks to contribute to a sustainable development of the region and is carrying out several actions to regenerate the environment. The Gaia Village Environmental Project has supported and assisted the present work as one more action towards the sustained development of the region. The main object of the present work is the systematization of procedures to contribute for a better understanding of environmental questions, to order the preliminary land occupation of areas sited in coastal zones, aiming at the maintenance of the environmental quality. The proposed procedures systematization was developed from the analysis of a study area. The theoretical base of this research is a revision of secondary sources, whose topics is concentrated in coastal ecosystems and human actions in coastal zone. Thematic maps were done using, as basis, a high-resolution satellite image (QuickBird satellite) of the selected area and readily access information. To imagem analysis was used the visual interpretation method. For mapping, was used a GIS application ArcGIS version 9.0. Thematic maps has been done, systemizing information according to established criteria. The overlapping of thematic maps has originated new maps, which has relevant information to decisions takings to territorial order for the study area context, as areas for conservation or human use, environment planning units, and others. For environment planning units, recommendations were elaborated to minimize environmental impact of human actions in accordance with the coastal ecosystem particularities. Recommendations were done according to the revision carried through in the initial phase of the research. The present study aims at to rationalize and promote an orderly occupation of the area, preserving the environmental quality and the coastal ecosystems and, thus, a equilibrium between urban development and nature preservation. Within the concept of sustained development, this research has emphasis in the environmental dimension.

This study explored the school climate of adult basic education centres by investigating the extent to which these education centres showed evidence of control, staff cohesiveness, physical resources, and safe and orderly environment. The study was inspired by a lack of school climate studies that focused on adult basic education centres as many school climate studies had concentrated on investigating the school climate of primary and secondary schools. The broad research question which was addressed in the research study was: ‘What is the nature of the school climate of adult basic education centres as perceived by educators?’ The participating educators were randomly selected and a survey – in the form of a questionnaire – was administered. The questionnaire comprised the four scales mentioned above. The items from the four scales were validated through the use of both face and content-related validity procedures. Face validity was ensured through pre-testing. Content validity was achieved through expert review of the items used. The extent to which these items could be included as part of a scale was further explored by means of reliability analysis whose acceptable coefficient alpha was benchmarked at 0.65 and above. Reliability was used to explore the reliability of the questionnaire. The aspect of reliability used for this purpose was analysis of internal consistency. The main purpose was to ascertain whether all the items used in the four scales collectively measured the construct school climate. For example, the reliability analysis for the variable control had 0.79 as its coefficient alpha whilst the reliability analysis for the variable staff cohesiveness, physical resources and safe and orderly environment had 0.76, 0.89, 0.84 as corresponding coefficient alpha respectively. This implied that most items within the four scales measured the construct control, staff cohesiveness, physical resources, safe and orderly environment as part of the construct school climate. Furthermore, the coefficient alphas of these four scales compared well with the overall coefficient alpha of 0.84 for this study, which further implied that each of the scales had an immense contribution in the measurement of the construct school climate. Based on the scale rubric designed for the variable control (high score 28-21: moderate score 20-14; low score 13-0), the results from the analysis indicated that the centres under review had a fair level of control mechanisms in place as in all these centres the mean score varied between 23 and 25. On the basis of the scale rubric devised for staff cohesiveness (high score 32-24; moderate score 23-16; low score 15-0), it was also revealed that the majority of the centres had evidence of staff cohesiveness, as no low score was recorded for in most cases the mean score revolved between 22 and 25. Although, the results further indicated that there was an average degree of physical resources in most centres, it also became clear that not all centres had the same level of physical resources at their disposal as the majority of the centres had a mean score that fluctuated between 18 and 33. The scale rubric for physical resources was: between 40-30 for high score; between 29-20 for moderate score and between 19-0 for low score. Finally, the mean score for the variable safe and orderly environment alternated between the minimum mean score of 17 and the maximum mean score of 21. Based on the latter mean scores, it became clear that the majority of the centres had a safe and orderly environment level that fell within the moderate score category (between 20-14) whilst the remaining two centres had a high score category (between 28-21) and no centre had a low score category (between 13-0). / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

This dissertation examines the role of the United States in the mass expulsion of Germans from East-Central Europe from spring 1945 through 1947. By agreeing to allow Czechoslovakia and Poland to expel their German minority populations in 1943, and again in 1945 under Article XIII of the Potsdam Agreement, the United States permitted approximately 14 million to 16 million Germans to be forcibly relocated into a truncated, war-torn Germany, an incident that is the largest example of ethnic cleansing in world history. Although these expulsions threatened the postwar stability of Europe and were of great concern they were of marginal interest to most people in the United States. Informed discussion of these expulsions occurred among a fairly narrow group of military officials, diplomats, politicians, intellectuals, and immigrants or exiles. In fact there was a dearth of contemporary debate and analysis on all aspects of the United States role in the expulsion of Germans, both within government and in society more generally. Newspaper reports, magazine articles, diplomatic documents, government documents and the personal papers of diplomats and politicians reveal that the expulsion of Germans was a secondary issue to the United States government. Despite considerable media coverage, it seems that most Americans lacked both awareness of and compassion for the plight of the German expellees. These expulsions however, changed the politics and the demographics of Europe forever and made the ethnic cleansing of the minority populations of nations an international legal precedent. Today, the expulsions remain a controversial subject within the region of East-Central Europe where the people of Czechoslovakia, Germany and Poland still debate the expulsions as if they occurred yesterday. In the United States, however, the expulsions have been long forgotten. This dissertation is unique in that examines the involvement of the United States in the planning of the expulsions and the reaction of the American press, intellectuals and policymakers whereas previous literature has focused very sparingly on this aspect of the expulsions.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges currectly facing humanity. Its impacts lead to the displacement of people through sea level rise, desertification, drought, flood and other ecological disaster. The global imbalance of power results in people being unequally affected by climate change. This power imbalance affects the policy-making of intergovernmental institutions and knowledge production in policy processes. This thesis conducts a policy analysis to elaborate colonial continuities that influence knowledge production on migration and climate change. Therefore, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) is examined. The theoretical framework of the thesis draws on knowledge and power, modernity/coloniality, and racial capitalism. Findings suggest that the influences of colonial continuities on knowledge production about climate change and migration are reflected in underlying colonial epistemological and ontological assumptions, power structures and the hegemonic discourse. Alternative knowledges, such as those contributed by civil society actors are side-lined during the process and not included in the final document. The GCM does not consider the link between environmental change and racial capitalism or colonial power imbalance, but looks at only one of the adaptation strategies and presents it as a problem: human migration. Instead of addressing the root of the problem and holding polluting countries accountable for their inaction, the GCM focuses on migration control.