Employer and labour provider perspectives on Eastern European migration to the UK

In a relatively short space of time Eastern Europe has become one of the principal source regions of migrants to the UK and citizens from these states now constitute some of the largest foreign-born populations in the country. This paper focuses on these trends from the perspective of UK employers and labour providers. Three main topics are covered; 1. The function served by East European migrant labour in the UK labour market and how this has changed over time. 2. Employers’ motivations for engaging with East European migrant labour. 3. The migration channels that shape how East European labour is sourced by UK employers. The findings demonstrate how the perspectives and practices of employers and recruiters can play an important role in influencing how East European labour migration flows to the UK are represented and produced

Reduced and declining physical function in prevalent dialysis patients – identifying the vulnerable

No abstract available

The evolution of electron density and temperature distributions in the topside ionosphere during magnetic storms

The latitudinal distributions of electron density and temperature during geomagnetic storms in the mid-latitude topside ionosphere are observed to change in a manner than can be related to the evolution of ring current particle populations. The region of auroral precipitation is characterized by correlated increases in electron temperature and density. Equatorwards of this region, there is a broad belt of elevated electron temperatures and depressed electron densities which is usually much broader than any stable auroral red arc distinguishable from the ground, but which is nevertheless the same basic physical phenomenon. The changes of position of this belt can be related to prior bursts of geomagnetic activity and injection of ring current particles into the magnetosphere

Imagining and producing the 'good' migrant: the role of recruitment agencies in shaping bodily goodness

This paper focuses on representations of labour migrants and interrogates how such imaginaries shape migrant recruitment and employment regimes. The recruitment and employment of labour migrants inevitably involves a range of knowledge practices which affect who is recruited, from where and for what purposes. In particular this paper seeks to advance understandings of how images of ‘bodily goodness’ are represented graphically and how perceptions of migrant workers influence the recruitment of workers from Latvia. The analysis results in a schema of the ‘filtering’ processes that are enacted to ‘produce’ the ‘ideal’ migrant worker

Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of Human NODAL

Nodal and related ligands are highly conserved members of the TGF-beta superfamily with well-established and essential roles in the early embryonic development of vertebrates, and in cell fate decisions in human embryonic stem (hES) cells. Aberrant NODAL signaling also generally promotes pro-tumourigenic phenotypes and the progression of a wide array of human cancers. Despite being pursued as a potential therapeutic target, many aspects of NODAL’s molecular biology remain poorly understood. This thesis provides a comprehensive characterization of gene expression from the human NODAL locus at multiple levels. First, an intronic NODAL SNP known as rs2231947 was found to be functional in its modulation of a novel alternatively spliced exon. This exon contributed to a full-length processed NODAL variant transcript. The existence of this genetically regulated NODAL isoform suggests that NODAL biology is more complex than currently appreciated. At the protein level, the alternatively spliced NODAL variant differs in the C-terminal half of the NODAL mature peptide. The NODAL variant was preferentially secreted relative to constitutive NODAL, but displayed similar extracellular stability and processing. Differential N-glycosylation was partially responsible for this increased secretion, and for NODAL secretion in general. The NODAL variant protein is unlikely to adopt a constitutive NODAL-like structure, and did not induce expression of targets of canonical NODAL signaling in the zebrafish embryo. However, the NODAL variant did efficiently complex via inter-chain disulfide bonds, and induced pro-tumourigenic phenotypes to a limited extent relative to constitutive NODAL. In summary, this work demonstrates previously unknown complexity governing human NODAL gene expression and function. These molecular details will help broaden our understanding of NODAL function as well as aid in the continued development of potential targeted therapies to inhibit NODAL signaling in cancer

Forecasting environmental migration to the United Kingdom, 2010 - 2060: an exploration using Bayesian models

Over the next fifty years the potential impact on human livelihoods of environmental change could be considerable. One possible response may be increased levels of human mobility. This paper offers a first quantification of the levels of environmental migration to the United Kingdom that might be expected. The authors apply Bijak and Wi?niowski’s (2010) methodology for forecasting migration using Bayesian models. They seek to advance the conceptual understanding of forecasting in three ways. First, the paper is believed to be the first time that the Bayesian modelling approach has been attempted in relation to environmental mobility. Second, the paper examines the plausibility of Bayesian modelling of UK immigration by cross-checking expert responses to a Delphi survey with the expectations about environmental mobility evident in the recent research literature. Third, the values and assumptions of the expert evidence provided in the Delphi survey are interrogated to illustrate the limited set of conditions under which the forecasts of environmental mobility, as set out in this paper, are likely to hold

Weight changes following lower limb arthroplasty : a prospective observational study

The aim of this study was to assess patterns of weight loss/gain following total hip or knee joint replacement. Four hundred and fifty primary lower limb arthroplasty patients, where the current surgery was the last limiting factor to improved mobility, were selected. Over a one year period 212 gained weight (mean 5.03kg), 92 remained static, and 146 lost weight. The median change was a weight gain of 0.50Kg (p=0.002). All patients had a significant improvement in Oxford outcome scores. Hip arthroplasty patients were statistically more likely to gain weight than knee arthroplasty patients. A successful arthroplasty, restoring a patient's mobility, does not necessarily lead to subsequent weight loss. The majority of patients put on weight with an overall net weight gain. No adverse effect on functional outcome was noted

Bone-cartilage crosstalk: a conversation for understanding osteoarthritis

Although cartilage degradation is the characteristic feature of osteoarthritis (OA), it is now recognized that the whole joint is involved in the progression of OA. In particular, the interaction (crosstalk) between cartilage and subchondral bone is thought to be a central feature of this process. The interface between articular cartilage and bone of articulating long bones is a unique zone, which comprises articular cartilage, below which is the calcified cartilage sitting on and intercalated into the subchondral bone plate. Below the subchondral plate is the trabecular bone at the end of the respective long bones. In OA, there are well-described progressive destructive changes in the articular cartilage, which parallel characteristic changes in the underlying bone. This review examines the evidence that biochemical and biomechanical signaling between these tissue compartments is important in OA disease progression and asks whether such signaling might provide possibilities for therapeutic intervention to halt or slow disease development.David M Findlay and Julia S Kuliwab