335 research outputs found
Formation of disclination lines near a free nematic interface
We have studied the nucleation and the physical properties of a -1/2 wedge
disclination line near the free surface of a confined nematic liquid crystal.
The position of the disclination line has been related to the material
parameters (elastic constants, anchoring energy and favored anchoring angle of
the molecules at the free surface). The use of a planar model for the structure
of the director field (whose predictions have been contrasted to those of a
fully three-dimensional model) has allowed us to relate the experimentally
observed position of the disclination line to the relevant properties of the
liquid crystals. In particular, we have been able to observe the collapse of
the disclination line due to a temperature-induced anchoring angle transition,
which has allowed us to rule out the presence of a real disclination line near
the nematic/isotropic front in directional growth experiments.
61.30.Jf,61.30.G
Ordering of droplets and light scattering in polymer dispersed liquid crystal films
We study the effects of droplet ordering in initial optical transmittance
through polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films prepared in the presence
of an electrical field. The experimental data are interpreted by using a
theoretical approach to light scattering in PDLC films that explicitly relates
optical transmittance and the order parameters characterizing both the
orientational structures inside bipolar droplets and orientational distribution
of the droplets. The theory relies on the Rayleigh-Gans approximation and uses
the Percus-Yevick approximation to take into account the effects due to droplet
positional correlations.Comment: revtex4, 18 pages, 8 figure
Constructing Memories of Holmfirth through 'Last of the Summer Wine'
Last of the Summer Wine (BBC, 1973-2010) was filmed in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, UK for 37 years. Its presence in the town has affected collective memories of the space and place of the region. In examining Summer Wineâs continued presence in Holmfirth even after it has ceased production, we investigate how the series as a text, institution and brand serves to spatially inform Holmfirth and construct, embed and inform cultural memory
Unintentional social consequences of disorganised marketing of corporate social responsibility: figurational insights into the oil and gas sector in Africa.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a concept that is widely associated with large transnational corporations (TNCs) and increasingly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The concept is contentious with wide ranging debates about intent and impact, not least from critics who perceive CSR to ostensibly be a marketing tool. Before examining some of the current flaws within CSR, it is important to establish how the concept is being applied
Reflections on the ethics of recruiting foreign-trained human resources for health
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Developed countries' gains in health human resources (HHR) from developing countries with significantly lower ratios of health workers have raised questions about the ethics or fairness of recruitment from such countries. By attracting and/or facilitating migration for foreign-trained HHR, notably those from poorer, less well-resourced nations, recruitment practices and policies may be compromising the ability of developing countries to meet the health care needs of their own populations. Little is known, however, about actual recruitment practices. In this study we focus on Canada (a country with a long reliance on internationally trained HHR) and recruiters working for Canadian health authorities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted interviews with health human resources recruiters employed by Canadian health authorities to describe their recruitment practices and perspectives and to determine whether and how they reflect ethical considerations.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>We describe the methods that recruiters used to recruit foreign-trained health professionals and the systemic challenges and policies that form the working context for recruiters and recruits. HHR recruiters' reflections on the global flow of health workers from poorer to richer countries mirror much of the content of global-level discourse with regard to HHR recruitment. A predominant market discourse related to shortages of HHR outweighed discussions of human rights and ethical approaches to recruitment policy and action that consider global health impacts.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We suggest that the concept of corporate social responsibility may provide a useful approach at the local organizational level for developing policies on ethical recruitment. Such local policies and subsequent practices may inform public debate on the health equity implications of the HHR flows from poorer to richer countries inherent in the global health worker labour market, which in turn could influence political choices at all government and health system levels.</p
Responsible management: Engaging moral reflexive practice through threshold concepts
YesIn this conceptual paper we argue that, to date, principles of responsible management have not impacted practice as anticipated because of a disconnect between knowledge and practice. This disconnect means that an awareness of ethical concerns, by itself, does not help students take personal responsibility for their actions. We suggest that an abstract knowledge of principles has to be supplemented by an engaged understanding of the responsibility of managers and leaders to actively challenge irresponsible practices. We argue that a form of moral reflexive practice drawing on an understanding of threshold concepts is central to responsible management, and provides a gateway to transformative learning. Our conceptual argument leads to implications for management and professional education
Securing accumulation by restoration â exploring spectacular corporate conservation, coal mining and biodiversity compensation in the German Rhineland
German energy giant and coal mine operator RWE makes two products: cheap electricity and âpretty new landscapesâ. These âpretty new landscapesâ are biodiversity offsets to compensate for the destruction of the ancient Hambacher Forest for the worldâs largest opencast lignite coal mine in the German Rhineland. Drawing on in-depth fieldwork including participant observation and interviews in and around the mine and its offset sites, this paper explores the relationship between coal mining, spectacularisation of conservation, the ecotourismâextraction nexus and accumulation by restoration. I illustrate the historic and contemporary importance of restoration activities to the accumulation process and explore the recent engagement of mine operator RWE in the provision of restored nature (in the form of âeco-pointsâ), which constitute new business opportunities. The significance of RWEâs biodiversity work for accumulation by restoration lies not only in its profit opportunities but its productive power: the legitimation of coal mining and the making of new, ordered âecologies of repairâ. This productive power operates through the mobilising function of RWEâs offsetting work, which forms the foundation for corporate partnerships and alliances with conservation groups and volunteers. These lend legitimacy to RWEâs ârepair workâ and form the basis for the ecotourismâextraction nexus by turning the mine and its offsets into âextractive attractionsâ for visitors and ânature loversâ. Its power further manifests in the way it captures imaginations through novel imaginaries and narratives of sustainable coal mining, supposedly creating not only a âbetter natureâ but a âbetter futureâ. Positioning offsetting as social technology of governance, I explore RWEâs spectacular performance of sustainability and the ontological flattening to facilitate claims of commensurability and âoffsettabilityâ of nature. These are integral to the ecotourismâextraction nexus and grounded in the belief in the human/corporate ability to recreate nature, a fascination with huge earth-shifting machinery and a commitment to high-modernist ideologies of control
Modular assembly of proteins on nanoparticles
Generally, the high diversity of protein properties necessitates the development of unique nanoparticle bio-conjugation methods, optimized for each different protein. Here we describe a universal bio-conjugation approach which makes use of a new recombinant fusion protein combining two distinct domains. The N-terminal part is Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) from Schistosoma japonicum, for which we identify and characterize the remarkable ability to bind gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by forming goldâsulfur bonds (AuâS). The C-terminal part of this multi-domain construct is the SpyCatcher from Streptococcus pyogenes, which provides the ability to capture recombinant proteins encoding a SpyTag. Here we show that SpyCatcher can be immobilized covalently on GNPs through GST without the loss of its full functionality. We then show that GST-SpyCatcher activated particles are able to covalently bind a SpyTag modified protein by simple mixing, through the spontaneous formation of an unusual isopeptide bond
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