Union Leadership Development as Driver of Equity and Inclusion

Analysis generated for the research project on Young Workers and the Labor Movement highlighted the need for innovative leadership development if young workers are to be integrated into an increasingly diverse workers’ movement, and unleashed to provide leadership in established institutions that face a radically changing economy and workforce. We examine one successful leadership development program: the New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute. We look at the theoretical underpinnings, development, and outcomes of this multi-union, multi-sector program over the past 17 years, note its impact on the New York regional labor movement, and analyze the key factors accounting for the program’s successful development of innovative-minded young labor leaders. Those factors venturing beyond the traditional “skill-building “ approach of most labor leadership training toward a more transformational model of leadership development; an emphasis on experiential learning, using a variety of learning modes; providing a safe space and what Kurt Lewin describes as “a community of practice” where difficult challenges can be tackled collectively; and using leadership development as a tool to build inclusion and solidarity across many dimensions of difference, including age, race, gender, ethnicity, sector, able-ness, education level, industry, and more

THE EXPLANATORY POWER OF TRUST AND COMMITMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS’ SALIENCE: THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE REVERSE LOGISTICS PROGRAMS PERFORMANCE

There is a growing awareness among practitioners and scholars regarding the importance of Relationship Marketing and its advantages in the supply chain management context. This is particularly appropriate for Reverse Logistics (RL) activities, which are characterized by several relationships between different stakeholders and the firm. Drawing on multiple theoretical approaches, we propose that RL programs result from the combination of external, organizational, and individual factors. We emphasize the role of trust and commitment as key influential elements on the RL systems implementation and their subsequent performance.

A four-lidar view of Cirrus from the FIRE IFO: 27-28 October 1986

The four ground-based lidar systems that participated in the 1986 FIRE IFO were configured in a diamond-shaped array across central and southern Wisconsin. Data were generally collected in the zenith pointing mode, except for the Doppler lidar, which regularly operated in a scanning mode with intermittent zenith observations. As a component of the cirrus case study of 27 and 28 October 1986 selected for initial analysis, data collected by the remote sensor ensemble from 1600 (on the 27th) to 2400 UTC (on the 28th) is described and compared. In general, the cirrus studied on the 27th consisted of intermittent layers of thin and subvisual cirrus clouds. Particularly at Wausau, subvisual cirrus was detected from 11.0 to 11.5 km MSL, just below the tropopause. At lower levels, occasional cirrus clouds between approx. 8.0 to 9.5 km were detected from all ground sites. Preliminary analysis of the four-lidar dataset reveals the passage of surprisingly consistent cloud features across the experiment area. A variety of types and amounts of middle and high level clouds occurred, ranging from subvisual cirrus to deep cloud bands. It is expected that the ground-based lidar measurements from this case study, as well as the airborne observations, will provide an excellent data base for comparison to satellite observations

Cirrus cloud properties derived from coincident GOES and lidar data during the 1986 FIRE Cirrus Intensive Field Observations (IFO)

One of the main difficulties in detecting cirrus clouds and determining their correct altitude using satellite measurements is their nonblackness. In the present algorithm (Rossow et al., 1985) used by the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), the cirrus cloud emissivity is estimated from the derived cloud reflectance using a theoretical model relating visible (VIS, 0.65 micron) optical depth to infrared (IR, 10.5 micron) emissivity. At this time, it is unknown how accurate this approach is or how the derived cloud altitude relates to the physical properties of the cloud. The First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) presents opportunities for determining how the observed radiances depend on the cloud properties. During the FIRE Cirrus Intensive Field Observations (IFO, see Starr, 1987), time series of cloud thickness, height, and relative optical densities were measured from several surface-based lidars. Cloud microphysics and radiances at various wavelengths were also measured simultaneously over these sites from aircraft at specific times during the IFO (October 19 to November 2, 1986). Satellite-observed radiances taken simultaneously can be matched with these data to determine their relationships to the cirrus characteristics. The first step is taken toward relating all of these variables to the satellite observations. Lidar-derived cloud heights are used to determine cloud temperatures which are used to estimate cloud emissivities from the satellite IR radiances. These results are then correlated to the observed VIS reflectances for various solar zenith angles

A bone tissue engineering approach based on the combination of biomimetic scaffolds and flow perfusion culture.

Bone tissue engineering has progressively emerged as a response to the current limited replacement therapies for damaged or lost bone tissue. Ideally, the implanted construct should aid in complete bone regeneration in a reasonably short time, without causing significant inconvenience to the patient. General tissue engineering approaches are based on three different bioactive factors: scaffolding, a cellular component, and a molecular component. These factors are closely conjoined to create successful constructs and fit into a bone tissue engineering paradigm that includes the extraction of a cellular biopsy from a healthy site of the patient. Cells are then expanded in vitro and seeded onto the scaffold. The cell-scaffold construct is cultured under mechanical and/or chemical stimuli for a certain amount of time so as to allow the in vitro secretion of a bone-like extracellular matrix (ECM). This construct, which now possesses an osteoinductive nature due to the secreted ECM, is implanted in the defective site for bone regeneration. The main objective of the present research project was to create an integral tissue engineering approach that combines both mechanical and chemical stimulation by. To fulfill this goal, four major steps were successfully carried out. First, a dynamic scaffold seeding technique based on oscillatory flow perfusion that improved initial cellular distribution throughout the scaffold surface, and cell-matrix interactions was developed. Secondly, a biomimetic poly(L-lactic acid scaffold) with improved cell adhesion using RGD peptides that could additionally allow the evaluation of the effect of different modification levels on cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation was created. Thirdly, the oscillatory flow perfusion seeding of these RGD-modified scaffolds was characterized. And lastly, the effect of the level of RGD scaffold modification on the osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells when cultured under conditions of flow perfusion was evaluated. What makes this approach unique is the combination of mechanical and chemical stimulation of mesenchymal stem cells to direct them towards an osteoblastic path. This combinatorial approach resulted more successful than those based on chemical or mechanical stimulation alone

Analysis of the Process Parameter Influence in Laser Cladding of 316L Stainless Steel

Laser Cladding is one of the leading processes within Additive Manufacturing technologies, which has concentrated a considerable amount of effort on its development. In regard to the latter, the current study aims to summarize the influence of the most relevant process parameters in the laser cladding processing of single and compound volumes (solid forms) made from AISI 316L stainless steel powders and using a coaxial nozzle for their deposition. Process speed, applied laser power and powder flow are considered to be the main variables affecting the laser cladding in single clads, whereas overlap percentage and overlapping strategy also become relevant when dealing with multiple clads. By setting appropriate values for each process parameter, the main goal of this paper is to develop a processing window in which a good metallurgical bond between the delivered powder and the substrate is obtained, trying simultaneously to maintain processing times at their lowest value possible. Conventional metallography techniques were performed on the cross sections of the laser tracks to measure the effective dimensions of clads, height and width, as well as the resulting dilution value. Besides the influence of the overlap between contiguous clads and layers, physical defects such as porosity and cracks were also evaluated. Optimum process parameters to maximize productivity were defined as 13 mm/s, 2500 W, 30% of overlap and a 25 g/min powder feed rat

Anomalous couplings for D-branes and O-planes

We study anomalous Wess-Zumino couplings of D-branes and O-planes in a general background and derive them from a direct string computation by factorizing in the RR channel various one-loop amplitudes. In particular, we find that Op-planes present gravitational anomalous couplings involving the Hirzebruch polynomial L, similarly to the roof genus A encoding Dp-brane anomalous couplings. We determine, in each case, the precise dependence of these couplings on the curvature of the tangent and normal bundles.Comment: 24 pages, LaTex, 5 figure

TEACHING STRATEGIES IN THE MSc PROGRAME IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESTORATION ON DEGRADED LAND

UPM is a leader on landslide assessment and environmental restoration, as well as in waste management. The study of climate change and degraded land requires innovative techniques in teaching that will be analyzed and discussed in the following paper

PREPARATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE MSc PROGRAME IN ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY

Authors proposed an MSc Program related to Environmental Security and Management. This program endeavors to prepare students for the regional and global postgraduate job market