Interpreting recent movements in sterling

The sterling effective exchange rate has depreciated significantly since the start of the financial market crisis in August 2007. Movements in sterling affect UK monetary policy via their potential impacts on CPI inflation prospects, where it is important to consider the reasons behind the change in the exchange rate. Sterling’s movements potentially reflect a wide range of factors in the United Kingdom and overseas, in both the real economy and in financial markets. Indicative evidence suggests that sterling’s depreciation reflected a combination of perceived changes to UK relative cyclical prospects, the perceived riskiness of UK assets and the apparent need for the UK economy to rebalance, the effects of which may have been amplified by financial market factors. But there is substantial uncertainty about the precise role of each factor.

Work-related road safety risk assessment: utilisation of self-report surveys to predict organisational risk

Work-related driving safety is an emerging concern for Australian and overseas organisations. Research has shown that road crashes are the most common cause of work-related fatalities, injuries and absences from work. This study's objectives were to identify driver characteristics which pose potential risks to work-related driving safety within the organisation, as well as determining the value of such self-reported data to predict crash involvement and general aberrant driving behaviours. This paper reports on a study examining the predictive utility of predominant self-report questionnaires to identify individuals involved in work-related crashes within an Australian organisational fleet setting (N = 4195). Survey questionnaires included the Manchester Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ), Driver Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ), Safety Climate Questionnaire – Modified for Drivers (SCQ-MD) and Risk Taking. The tools were distributed through the company’s internal mail system to employees who volunteered to participate in the study. An important finding to emerge was that a potential fleet "speeding culture" was identified from univariate analyses. For example, drivers were most likely to report engaging in speeding behaviours and also believed that speeding was more acceptable compared to drink driving, following too closely or engaging in risky overtaking manoeuvres. However, multivariate analysis determining factors associated with self-reported crash involvement revealed that increased work pressure and driving errors were predictive of crash risk, even after controlling for exposure on the road. This paper highlights the major findings of the study and discusses the implications and difficulties associated with utilising driver behaviour measurement tools within contemporary organisational fleet settings

Perceptions of Work-Related Road Safety - Safety Versus Savings

In Douglas Adam’s "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy", published in the 1970s, a computer is confronted with the intriguing question: "What is the meaning of life?" After elaborate and tedious number crunching, the computer returns: "The answer to your question is 42". It is obvious, that the monetary valuation of road safety is not an easy task either. In fact, it implies answering an equally difficult and intriguing question – What is the statistical value of a human life? Although various methods and approaches have been put forward to estimate the statistical cost of a road fatality, some scholars argue that valuing fatal injuries and hence human life is virtually impossible. They maintain that people do not nearly have sufficiently accurate preferences to make a sensible trade-off between road safety and money. The (perceptions of) changes in risk levels are so small that making the trade-off is very difficult, if not impossible (Hauer, 1994). However, other road safety costs can be statistically determined and initiatives developed to reduce the burden to both organisations and individuals. Therefore, the topic of this paper is to determine what factors contribute to work-related road incidents and how economic costs to industry organisations could be reduced

The Influence of Occupational Driver Stress on Work-related Road Safety: An Exploratory Review

Research has identified a number of stressors that could impact on the occupational driver by increasing stress levels and, for some individuals, causing adverse behaviour and effects, for example, aggressive behaviour, fatigue, inattention/distraction, and substance abuse. For safety professionals and employers, one way to reduce the effects of occupational driver stress is to change perceptions so that management and drivers recognise that work-related driving is as important as other work-related tasks. This article explores relevant literature in relation to driver stress and suggests additions to risk management processes and safety procedures/policies, including assigning sufficient basic resources to target occupational stress (particularly occupational driver stress)

Discovering the Data-driven City Breakdown and Literacy in the Installation of the Elm Sensor Network

In this article, we examine the role of environmental big data in the installation of an environmental sensor in a UK city. Taking the installation of the Elm sensor as an empirical case study, we understand the installation as incurring an instance of natural breakdown which reveals the contingent work- ings of the device, and places it in the context of the practices of normalisation and stabilisation of the device. We use this to ask questions about the taken for granted smoothing of outputs and the continual elaboration of use and design, alongside the constructive potential for disruptive digital literacies as a site of intervention. By following, empirically, the installation of the technology, we are led to combine, and re-examine, theoretical lines of reasoning about data competences and relationships, and in turn advocate a form of ‘material politics’

Investigation of Population Structure and Distribution of the Invasive Bryozoan Watersipora Species along the California Coast using Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA

This study combined microsatellite nuclear DNA analysis with cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) mitochondrial DNA analysis to evaluate coastal population structure, environmental factors influencing population distribution, and the potential for hybridization among coexisting Watersipora haplogroups along the California coast. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of the COI gene identified three haplogroups: W. subtorquata clade A, W. subtorquata clade B, and W. new species. Analyses resulted in seven haplotypes for haplogroup clade A, and a single haplotype in each haplogroup clade B and new species. Microsatellite data indicated the greatest source of genetic variation in the two species examined (W. subtorquata and W. new species) was within individuals of the population (53.7% and 69.3%, respectively), compared to among individuals (36.2% and 20.2%, respectively), populations (5.5% and 10.5%, respectively), and regions (4.6% and 0.0%, respectively). Congruence analysis between mitochondrial and nuclear data correctly matched nuclear genotypes with mitochondrial haplogroups. Evidence of hybridization was not detected among the two Watersipora species, notwithstanding one highly variable locus. Points of introduction could not be identified; however, locations in regions with high ship traffic displayed a greater number of total alleles

Modelling employee motivation and performance

This research reviewed the history of motivation and performance modelling, with particular regards to the performance of employees in a work environment. The evolution of motivational theories was discussed before the motivational models arising from these theories were examined and critiqued. The wide range of, often conflicting, studies and theories in this area has led to a situation where no single model has been able to capture all the complexities of the internal and external influences on human motivation and performance. Models have broadly fallen into one of two categories: cognitive, focusing on the individual’s thought processes and social-cognitive, focusing on the influences from social and contextual variables. Bong [1996] suggested that a broader model of motivation may be developed by adopting either an integrative approach, whereby a general model is built that incorporates the wide range of potential motivational variables, or by building several models that focus on each dimension separately. Needs based and process based motivational theories, which will provide the foundation of any model of motivation, were reviewed in Chapter Three. Chapter Four then introduced the two existing models of motivation models that are the main focus of this study, Hackman and Oldham’s Job Characteristics model and Porter and Lawler’s Expectancy model. Each model was reviewed and critiqued before being amended and expanded to more fully explain the social and cognitive motivational processes and satisfy the criticisms identified. Although there are no obvious areas of overlap between the largely social-cognitive Job Characteristics model and the largely cognitive Expectancy model, Chapter Five explains that by changing the terms used to describe the variables in each model the similarities between them may be identified. Identifying the areas of overlap allows the two models to be integrated into one. This new model of motivation expands upon the original models in that it combines both the social-cognitive and cognitive approaches and also incorporates more of the motivational theories discussed in Chapter Three than either of the two original models. The new model of motivation was tested via a data survey in four organisations. In each case, the level of correlation between the levels of the recorded variables, such as satisfaction and motivation, and those predicted by the model were generally high. The results of the data survey and the performance of the model were discussed in Chapter Six. One of the main aims of this thesis was to produce a model of motivation that was of practical use to the management of an organisation. Such a model should go beyond the existing theoretical models and allow those responsible for motivating a workforce to experiment with alternative job design strategies and evaluate their likely effects upon motivation and performance. Chapter Seven describes the spreadsheet-based model that was built in this study

Water and wastewater strategic township plan Warragul, Victoria

In the past, water authorities have been undertaking capital works expenditure on a forward planning window of 18 months. Now under a more regulated State Government regime, water authorities have to prepare more detailed plans showing future capital expenditure over a five year period. These plans are then used to set price tariffs for the business to cover those costs over that period. With this in mind, the main objective of this dissertation was to prepare water and wastewater strategic plans for Warragul, Victoria. These plans would then be adopted by the organisation. Any recommendations from these strategic plans are then forwarded onto Gippsland Water’s asset improvement department to undergo more detailed planning and costing. These plans and costs are then submitted to the regulatory for approval in Gippsland Water’s submission of the water plan. Water Plan No.2 is due for submission by March 2007

Master of Science

thesisUnique constraints are present when shear properties of orthotropic materials are desired, as they typically cannot be derived from tensile material properties like isotropic materials. Specific test specimen geometry, and in some instances specimen layup, are required in order to obtain valid shear property data. The V-Notched Rail Shear Test Method is one such test method developed to provide reliable shear test data for compo-site laminates. However, specimens made from suitably high strength materials will slip prior to failure providing invalid results. Previous work has been performed which im-proves on this test method by altering the specimen dimensions and fixture design in or-der to prevent slipping. Changes made to the fixture introduced another load path into the specimen, which can influence the stress state within the specimen. The current work looks at several aspects of the new Combined Loading Shear test fixture and how they affect the stress and strain state, as well as the measured shear strength. Photoelastic test-ing is performed to validate numerical models and to investigate the strain state in several different specimen layups as a result of the fixture changes. Accurate shear strain measurement is required when determining the shear modu-lus of a material. Bonded strain gauges are often used when strain measurements are re-quired; however, extensometers can provide the same functionality as strain gauges and have the advantage of being reusable. Extensometers are typically application specific and require careful consideration with regards to attachment and the region where exten-sion is measured. The current study proposes a shear extensometer for a V-Notched Rail Shear or Combined Loading Shear test specimen. A mechanics of materials model is used to calculate the shear strain in the specimen based on the relative displacement of a discrete set of points on the specimen face. Numerical simulations were performed to determine the points on the specimen face which would yield the most accurate measure of the in-plane shear modulus. A prototype device is tested using carbon/epoxy, glass/epoxy, and Kevlar/epoxy cross-ply laminates and the data from the extensometer are compared to data from bonded strain gauges to validate the extensometer

Investigations into the pathogenesis and management of hyperthyroidism and thyroid hormone deiodination in the domestic cat

Hyperthyroidism caused by toxic nodular goitre, is the commonest endocrine disease of the domestic cat. Despite this, little is known about feline thyroid physiology, pathophysiology, nor the pathogenesis of the disease. Since L-triiodothyronine (T3) is the hormone responsible for the major clinical manifestations of thyrotoxicosis, investigations are here reported into the hepatic, renal and thyroidal expression of type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase (IDI), the selenoenzyme responsible for conversion of L-thyroxine (T4) to T3 in these tissues. Studies were carried out into the possible role of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins, selenium status and somatic mutations of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) in the pathogenesis of the disease. Finally, data are presented on a previously unreported method of presurgical management of the disease using a combination of potassium iodate and propranolol.While feline liver and kidney were found to express IDI at similar concentrations, and the feline enzyme is able to metabolise T4 at a similar rate to that of rats, feline IDI is unusual in that it has little ability to metabolise reverse triiodothyronine which is the preferred substrate for this enzyme in rats and humans. Additionally, unlike all other carnivores and omnivores studied thus far, cats were not found to express thyroidal IDI.Using feline thyrocytes, Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human TSHR (JP09) and the rat thyrocyte cell line FRTL-5, no populations of immunoglobulins were detectable in the sera of hyperthyroid cats which stimulated cAMP production, displaced TSH binding from its receptor or induced growth compared to euthyroid cats.The plasma selenium status of cats from areas with high (Edinburgh and Sydney) and low (Denmark and Perth) incidences, respectively, of hyperthyroidism was not significantly different from each other. Cats however, have plasma selenium concentrations and red blood cell glutathione peroxidase activities which are approximately 10 times that of selenium replete rats and humans.In 11 hyperthyroid cats, the DNA for the TSHR region between codons 480 and 640 (the most common site for somatic mutations in human toxic nodular goitre) was not found to contain any such mutations