The Irrelevance of Trade Union Recognition? A Comparison of Two Matched Companies

Two UK business services companies are compared both to each other and to their common state-owned industry background in order to assess the implications of trade union recognition and changed bargaining structure. Union recognition had been abandoned by one company under the agenda of "individualization" and "personal contracts" but retained by the other under the agenda of "partnership". Changes in the level at which employment relationships are regulated occurred at both companies relative to their ancestral public enterprises. The similarity of the companies in terms of products, technologies and institutional history provides an approximation to a natural experiment. The evidence suggests only secondary effects from union presence upon operational attributes and economic performance, but major effects from the decentralization of employment relations, which formed part of a wider and more radical set of changes in the relevant markets, technologies, ownership structures and labour law

Driving safety: enhancing communication between clients, constructors and designers

This paper, which stems from qualitative research undertaken by the CRC for Construction Innovation in the context of the development of a Guide to Best Practice for Safer Construction in the Australian construction industry, investigates the communication relationship between the client, designer and constructor, and identifies the conditions under which effective communication takes place. Previous research has made little headway with respect to putting into practice strategies that have the potential to improve communication between the client, designer and constructor. This paper seeks to address this ongoing problem. From analysis of client, designer and constructor interviews that form part of industry-selected case studies reflecting excellence in OHS, best-practice tools that have the potential to enhance multi-party communication between the client, designer and constructor are presented. This research also informs the development of workable implementation strategies

Are Mortgage Rates Bubbling Up Trouble for Canadas Metropolitan Housing Sector?

This paper determines how mortgage rate and income shocks affect new and resale housing prices, housing starts, and housing sales in Canadas metropolitan areas. We assess the variance decompositions and impulse response results to mortgage rate and income shocks. An additional set of VARs is estimated to document whether the stock price, as an alternative source of investment, reduces the importance of the mortgage rate. Our results show that the importance of the mortgage rate and income varies significantly by metropolitan area and to a lesser degree, by the component of the housing market examined. More precisely, we find that: 1) two of BCs major metropolitan areas housing markets, Vancouver and Victoria, are vulnerable to interest rate bubble;. 2) Mortgage rates, and by extension the Bank of Canada monetary policy, seems to have little direct impact on Albertas major metropolitan housing markets, Calgary and Edmonton, while income can be expected to have a drastic effect; and 3) The housing markets of Ontarios major metropolitan area and Canadas Capital Region are prone to mortgage rate bubbles, but the impact is dampened due to their connectedness to national financial markets. What these results mean in terms of policy-making decision is that close attention needs to be paid to housing markets in Canada that are vulnerable to spikes in mortgage rates as we are coming out of the recession provoked by the housing market meltdown in the United States. Although it is true that Banking regulations in Canada have helped weather the storm, with the massive fiscal stimulus implemented in both Canada and the United States, eventually strong aggregate demand may build up pressure on prices to rise and interest rate will have to increase in order to maintain price stability, thereby causing troubles for mortgagees.Housing Markets, Metropolitan Areas in Canada, Monetary Policy, Stock Prices, Provincial Income, Variance Decomposition

Marius’ Military Reforms and the War Against Jugurtha

Gaius Marius is responsible for developing the Roman Legion into what it is known for today. Not only did his reforms but also his conduct & tactics as a commander paved the way to victory over Jugurtha and future foes. By considering the claims of rival commanders during the war, Q. Caecilius Metellus (ca 160 BC – 91 BC) and L. Cornelius Sulla (c. 138 BC – 78 BC), it can be determined whether or not Marius truly deserved credit for the victory because each one of them played key roles in Jugurtha’s defeat. Marius’ reforms, while they significantly improved the Roman military, they would also cause dissent within the Roman nobility and eventually bring an end to the Republic

Remixing Business Models: Technology and the Future of the Modern Music Industry

The music industry has undergone significant changes over the past decade. The growth of the Internet has caused record labels to reevaluate the ways in which they obtain revenue, market their products, and compensate their artists. However, the industry as a whole has been very slow to adapt to new technology, which has caused widespread industry problems such as music piracy and reduced revenues. In addition, new forums for showcasing new artists, such as YouTube and other social media outlets, have given new artists increasing power to market themselves and achieve success with a reduced reliance on the resources and guidance of record labels. This article will give a brief overview of the scholarly research on the topic, examine the specific ways in which technology is changing the music industry, and provide suggestions as to how record labels can continue to adapt and remain successful for many decades to come

The Effects of State Tax Reform on Tax Revenue Volatility

Recent literature has established that state tax revenues have grown significantly more volatile relative to previous decades. Consequently, this is a growing concern for state policymakers who increasingly need stable revenue sources to meet spending obligations. In this paper, the consequences of comprehensive state tax reforms on subsequent tax revenue volatility are studied using the reforms of Utah (2007) and North Carolina (2013) as case studies. Using a synthetic control methodology, graphical evidence suggests that North Carolina’s tax reform resulted in lower subsequent revenue volatility, but that Utah’s reform likely did not have such an effect on revenue volatility

The role of a monomer/dimer equilibrium and the C-terminal tail in regulating translocation of sphingosine kinase 1 to the plasma membrane of breast cancer cells

Sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) is able to translocate from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane (PM) to catalyse the formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) from sphingosine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is known that both the expression and activity of SK1 is increased in many tumour types leading to a poorer prognostic outcome in terms of disease-specific survival (Heffernan-Stroud et al., 2013). In addition, the translocation/activation of SK1 to the plasma membrane induces oncogenesis. However, the mechanism of translocation requires further investigation in order to identify new targets for potential therapeutic intervention in the treatment of cancer. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to further examine the molecular mechanisms regulating the translocation of SK1 from the cytoplasm to the PM in MCF-7L breast cancer cells. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induced the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent translocation of wild type (WT) mouse green fluorescent protein (GFP)-SK1 (mGFP-SK1) from the cytoplasm to lamellipodia in the PM of MCF-7L breast cancer cells. In addition, carbachol also induced translocation of WTmGFP-SK1 to lamellipodia, albeit in an ERK-independent manner.;In contrast, S1P induced the ERK-independent translocation of WTmGFP-SK1 to filopodia. Treatment of cells with either the phospholipase D (PLD) inhibitor, 5-Fluoro-2-Indolyl des-chlorohalopemide (FIPI), or the Gq inhibitor, YM254890 reduced translocation in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), carbachol or S1P, suggesting that phosphatidic acid (PA) formation and Gq activation are required for phosphorylation-dependent and -independent translocation of SK1 to the PM of breast cancer cells. It has previously been proposed that SK1 might be able to exist as monomer and dimer in equilibrium. The dimeric structure would allow for a contiguous membrane engagement interface consisting of hydrophobic patches on the lipid binding loop (LBL)-1 loop and a cluster of positively charged residues at the dimeric interface. The possibility of a monomer/dimer equilibrium was investigated by generating a constitutively monomeric mGFP-SK1 mutant, mGFP-SK1-K49E by introducing charge opposition in dimer interface.;We also created a stabilized dimer mGFP-SK1 mutant, mGFP-SK1-I51C by engineering a disulphide bond in dimer interface. Carbachol and PMA promotedt he translocation of mGFP-SK1-K49E to lamellipodia, whereas in contrast to WTmGFPSK1, S1P also induced translocation of mGFP-SK1-K49E to lamellipodia. On the other hand, carbachol or PMA promoted the translocation of mGFP-SK1-I51C to filopodia in a manner similar to S1P. These novel findings suggest monomeric and dimeric SK1 translocate to different PM micro-domains and that the position of the monomer/dimer equilibrium is determined by the ligand. We additionally investigated the regulatory role of the C-terminal tail of SK1 by creating mutants of mGFP-SK1, termed T1-T5 in which 5 amino acids were sequentially truncated with the exception of T4 in which 19 amino acids in total were removed. We identified that mGFP-SK1 T1 in which 5 amino acids were removed exhibited markedly reduced translocation in response to carbachol and S1P.;However, further truncation of the C-terminus restored the ability of SK1 to translocate to the PM. These results are consistent with molecular modelling studies in which displacement of the C-terminus 'locking motif' (C-terminal amino acids 6-10) might be achieved by the binding of a putative adapter protein to the 'displacement motif' (C-terminal amino acids 1-5). It is proposed that this displacement of the C-terminal tail enables NTD:CTD twisting around a 'connecting rod' to produce alignment of membrane engagement determinants; namely the positive charge cluster and LBL-1 to promote translocation of SK1. Moreover, molecular modelling studies also suggest that the ERK-catalysed Ser225 phosphorylation might destabilize the auto-inhibitory C-terminal folding independently of the binding of the adapter protein. These findings represent a unified mechanism of SK1 translocation to the PM, involving either ERK-mediated phosphorylation of Ser225 or displacement of the C-terminal tail by a putative adaptor protein. These novel findings provide new information concerning the mechanism of SK1 translocation that might assist in the identification of novel therapeutics aimed at perturbing translocation of this enzyme in cancer and to therefore reduce its oncogenic potential.Sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) is able to translocate from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane (PM) to catalyse the formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) from sphingosine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is known that both the expression and activity of SK1 is increased in many tumour types leading to a poorer prognostic outcome in terms of disease-specific survival (Heffernan-Stroud et al., 2013). In addition, the translocation/activation of SK1 to the plasma membrane induces oncogenesis. However, the mechanism of translocation requires further investigation in order to identify new targets for potential therapeutic intervention in the treatment of cancer. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to further examine the molecular mechanisms regulating the translocation of SK1 from the cytoplasm to the PM in MCF-7L breast cancer cells. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induced the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent translocation of wild type (WT) mouse green fluorescent protein (GFP)-SK1 (mGFP-SK1) from the cytoplasm to lamellipodia in the PM of MCF-7L breast cancer cells. In addition, carbachol also induced translocation of WTmGFP-SK1 to lamellipodia, albeit in an ERK-independent manner.;In contrast, S1P induced the ERK-independent translocation of WTmGFP-SK1 to filopodia. Treatment of cells with either the phospholipase D (PLD) inhibitor, 5-Fluoro-2-Indolyl des-chlorohalopemide (FIPI), or the Gq inhibitor, YM254890 reduced translocation in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), carbachol or S1P, suggesting that phosphatidic acid (PA) formation and Gq activation are required for phosphorylation-dependent and -independent translocation of SK1 to the PM of breast cancer cells. It has previously been proposed that SK1 might be able to exist as monomer and dimer in equilibrium. The dimeric structure would allow for a contiguous membrane engagement interface consisting of hydrophobic patches on the lipid binding loop (LBL)-1 loop and a cluster of positively charged residues at the dimeric interface. The possibility of a monomer/dimer equilibrium was investigated by generating a constitutively monomeric mGFP-SK1 mutant, mGFP-SK1-K49E by introducing charge opposition in dimer interface.;We also created a stabilized dimer mGFP-SK1 mutant, mGFP-SK1-I51C by engineering a disulphide bond in dimer interface. Carbachol and PMA promotedt he translocation of mGFP-SK1-K49E to lamellipodia, whereas in contrast to WTmGFPSK1, S1P also induced translocation of mGFP-SK1-K49E to lamellipodia. On the other hand, carbachol or PMA promoted the translocation of mGFP-SK1-I51C to filopodia in a manner similar to S1P. These novel findings suggest monomeric and dimeric SK1 translocate to different PM micro-domains and that the position of the monomer/dimer equilibrium is determined by the ligand. We additionally investigated the regulatory role of the C-terminal tail of SK1 by creating mutants of mGFP-SK1, termed T1-T5 in which 5 amino acids were sequentially truncated with the exception of T4 in which 19 amino acids in total were removed. We identified that mGFP-SK1 T1 in which 5 amino acids were removed exhibited markedly reduced translocation in response to carbachol and S1P.;However, further truncation of the C-terminus restored the ability of SK1 to translocate to the PM. These results are consistent with molecular modelling studies in which displacement of the C-terminus 'locking motif' (C-terminal amino acids 6-10) might be achieved by the binding of a putative adapter protein to the 'displacement motif' (C-terminal amino acids 1-5). It is proposed that this displacement of the C-terminal tail enables NTD:CTD twisting around a 'connecting rod' to produce alignment of membrane engagement determinants; namely the positive charge cluster and LBL-1 to promote translocation of SK1. Moreover, molecular modelling studies also suggest that the ERK-catalysed Ser225 phosphorylation might destabilize the auto-inhibitory C-terminal folding independently of the binding of the adapter protein. These findings represent a unified mechanism of SK1 translocation to the PM, involving either ERK-mediated phosphorylation of Ser225 or displacement of the C-terminal tail by a putative adaptor protein. These novel findings provide new information concerning the mechanism of SK1 translocation that might assist in the identification of novel therapeutics aimed at perturbing translocation of this enzyme in cancer and to therefore reduce its oncogenic potential

Remixing Business Models: Technology and the Future of the Modern Music Industry

The music industry has undergone significant changes throughout the past few decades. The primary basis of these changes is technology, which has impacted everything from finding artists to distributing music. However, record labels have been slow to adapt to these changes, which has led to serious problems such as illegal music downloading. Illegal downloading, also known as music piracy, has radically changed the entire business and distribution structures within the music industry. Although lawsuits and other strategies have been undertaken to attempt to combat this particular issue, technology will continue to affect the music industry for the foreseeable future. Advances in technology are having a profound and lasting impact on all aspects of the modern music industry. There are five primary aspects to this impact. First, the Internet and social media has radically changed how new artists enter the music industry. Second, the growth of online distribution is a significant opportunity for both record labels and artists. Third, the music piracy problem has been significantly impacted by technology. Fourth, record labels should embrace online distribution to effectively curb piracy behavior. Finally, the music industry must embrace technology in order to continue to grow and prosper in the future

Scrolling Through the Years: Social Media\u27s Effects of Self-Esteem in Younger and Older Adults

The detrimental impact social media has had on self-esteem in younger adults is well documented. However, this same approach to studying social media’s impact has not been applied to older generations, who were already well into adulthood as social media as we know it today began to emerge. Due to this, my project proposes to examine an interaction between the variables of three different social media categories (interactive, image/video, and informational) across younger and older adults. The results of this study could provide further insight into the effects social media has on self-esteem, specifically, the effect of different types of social media. Analyzing these effects across younger and older adults may also provide insight into the mediating effect age may have upon social media’s effect on self-esteem

Risk evaluations and condom use decisions of homeless youth: a multi-level qualitative investigation.

BackgroundHomeless youth are at higher risk for sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy than non-homeless youth. However, little is known about how they evaluate risk within the context of their sexual relationships. It is important to understand homeless youths' condom use decisions in light of their sexual relationships because condom use decisions are influenced by relationship dynamics in addition to individual attitudes and event circumstances. It is also important to understand how relationship level factors, sexual event circumstances, and individual characteristics compare and intersect.MethodsTo explore these issues, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 37 homeless youth in Los Angeles County in 2011 concerning their recent sexual relationships and analyzed the data using systematic methods of team-based qualitative data analysis.ResultsWe identified themes of risk-related evaluations and decisions at the relationship/partner, event, and individual level. We also identified three different risk profiles that emerged from analyzing how different levels of risk intersected across individual respondents. The three profiles included 1) Risk Takers, who consistently engage in risk and have low concern about consequences of risk behavior, 2) Risk Avoiders, who consistently show high concern about protection and consistently avoid risk, and 3) Risk Reactors, those who are inconsistent in their concerns about risk and protection and mainly take risks in reaction to relationship and event circumstances.ConclusionsInterventions targeting homeless youth should reflect multiple levels of risk behavior and evaluation in order to address the diversity of risk profiles. Relationship/partner-, event-, and individual-level factors are all important but have different levels of importance for different homeless youth. Interventions should be tailored to address the most important factor contributing to homeless youth reproductive needs