Completely reducible SL(2)-homomorphisms

Let K be any field, and let G be a semisimple group over K. Suppose the characteristic of K is positive and is very good for G. We describe all group scheme homomorphisms phi:SL(2) --> G whose image is geometrically G-completely reducible -- or G-cr -- in the sense of Serre; the description resembles that of irreducible modules given by Steinberg's tensor product theorem. In case K is algebraically closed and G is simple, the result proved here was previously obtained by Liebeck and Seitz using different methods. A recent result shows the Lie algebra of the image of phi to be geometrically G-cr; this plays an important role in our proof.Comment: AMS LaTeX 20 page

Principles in Patterns (PiP) : Institutional Approaches to Curriculum Design Institutional Story

The principal outputs of the PiP Project surround the Course and Class Approval (C-CAP) system. This web-based system built on Microsoft SharePoint addresses and resolves many of the issues identified by the project. Generally well received by both academic and support staff, the system provides personalised views, adaptive forms and contextualised support for all phases of the approval process. Although the system deliberately encapsulates and facilitates existing approval processes thus achieving buy-in, it is already achieving significant improvements over the previous processes, not only in reducing the administrative overheads but also in supporting curriculum design and academic quality. The system is now embedded across three faculties and is now considered by the University of Strathclyde to be a "core institutional service". Alongside the C-CAP system the PiP Project also cultivated a suite of approaches: an incremental systems development methodology; a structured and replicable evaluation approach, and; Strathclyde's Lean Approach to Efficiencies in Education Kit (SLEEK) business process improvement methodology Each is based on recognised formal techniques, providing the basis for a rigorous approach. This is contextualised within and adapted to the HE institutional context thus building the foundation not only for the project but ultimately for institution wide process improvement. This "institutional story" report summarises the principal outcomes of the Project

The Impact of Training and Staff Attributions on Staff Practice in Learning Disability Services: A Pilot Study

The present study examines the impact of a training course which has previously been found to significantly increase the knowledge of staff working in learning disability services on staff attributions and practice. No significant changes were found in staff (n = 39) attributional dimensions following training. However, a decrease in the use of the attributional category ‘communication deficit’ was found 8 weeks after training. Staff rated their knowledge levels as higher both immediately following training and 8 weeks later. The subgroup (n = 14) of staff who were examined in relation to staff practice were found to change their practice significantly from baseline to follow-ups 4 and 5 months later. Methodological limitations and implications of the study are discussed

Quality here, there and everywhere: the application of a multi-dimensional learning tool to learning disability health services

The following paper examines the applicability of Maxwell’s (1984) Multi-dimensional Quality Evaluation model to community learning disability health services. The model defines seven dimensions against which the quality of any given service can be measured. Effectiveness, Efficiency, Economy, Equity, Access to Services, Appropriateness and Social Acceptability. A number of examples in relation to community learning disability services are given and discussed

GREEN MANAGEMENT AND THE NATURE OF TECHNICAL INNOVATION

Innovation is a key component of a firm's strategy to improve market competitiveness and operational efficiency as well as to respond effectively to changing consumer preferences and regulations. A firm has the choice of undertaking different types of innovations that differ in the extent to which they involve changes in products, processes or practices and lead to gains in efficiency or brand image. We postulate that the extent and nature of innovation undertaken by a firm depends on its management system which not only influences its organizational structure, but also the incentives for making continual improvement in its technical capabilities, the extent of employee involvement in decision making and the internal communication channels for information sharing. We develop an empirical framework to examine the extent to which a management system promotes innovation and how its effect differs across different types of innovations.Environmental Economics and Policy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Why Do Firms Strive to Be Green? Explaining the Adoption of Total Quality Environmental Management

Many firms are undertaking environmentally friendly organizational change by applying the philosophy of Total Quality Management with its emphasis on reducing waste and increasing efficiency to improve their management of pollution. This paper investigates the factors that lead to total quality environmental management (TQEM) by large firms. We find that internal considerations stemming from a firm's technical capability, size of operations, and volume of past emissions are positively associated with the TQEM adoption decision. The first two factors are proxies for the firm's costs of adopting TQEM while the third factor is related to the benefits from increasing efficiency and waste reduction, and thus proxies for internally generated demand for TQEM. In contrast, external market and regulatory considerations, such as the desire to improve a firm's image with customers and regulators, earning good-will with regulators and the anticipation of future regulations appear not be associated with the adoption of TQEM. All of the external factors are also better thought of as influencing the firm's benefits from (or demand for) TQEM. Thus, the paper's main conclusion is that the adoption of TQEM is driven mostly by supply-side factors, and that to the extent that demand-side factors are important, they too originate internally within the firm rather than externally from the market and government regulation.Firm Organizational Structure, Regulatory and Market Pressures, Toxic Pollution, Environmental Economics and Policy, D23, M11,

The evaluation of a screening tool for children with an intellectual disability: The Child and Adolescent Intellectual Disability Screening Questionnaire

The study outlines the evaluation of an intellectual disability screening tool, the Child and Adolescent Intellectual Disability Screening Questionnaire (CAIDS-Q), with two age groups. A number of aspects of the reliability and validity of the CAIDS-Q were assessed for these two groups, including inter-rater reliability, convergent and discriminative validity. For both age groups, a significant positive relationship was found between full scale IQ and CAIDS-Q score, indicating convergent validity. Significant differences were found in the CAIDS-Q scores between those with and without an intellectual disability, with the former group scoring significantly lower. The sensitivity and specificity of the CAIDS-Q were above 96.7% and 85.5% respectively for the younger group and 90.9% and 94.9% respectively for the older group. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed

Screening with young offenders with an intellectual disability

The research suggests that young offenders with an intellectual disability (ID) may not always be identified within youth justice services. This pilot study assessed some aspects of the validity of a screening tool, the Child and Adolescent Intellectual Disability Screening Questionnaire (CAIDS-Q), in UK forensic settings, using data from 23 individuals. The CAIDS-Q had positive and negative predictive power of 100%. In addition, a significant difference was found in CAIDS-Q scores between those with and without an ID, with the latter group scoring significantly higher, indicating discriminative validity. A significant positive relationship was found between full-scale IQ and CAIDS-Q scores, indicating convergent validity. The pilot study suggested that the CAIDS-Q may represent a valid screening tool to identify those young offenders who are likely to have an ID. Limitations and implications of the pilot are discussed

Institutional Approaches to Curriculum Design Institutional Story : [Principles in Patterns Project - PiP]

The principal outputs of the PiP Project surround the Course and Class Approval (C-CAP) system. This web-based system built on Microsoft SharePoint addresses and resolves many of the issues identified by the project. Generally well received by both academic and support staff, the system provides personalised views, adaptive forms and contextualised support for all phases of the approval process. Although the system deliberately encapsulates and facilitates existing approval processes thus achieving buy-in, it is already achieving significant improvements over the previous processes, not only in reducing the administrative overheads but also in supporting curriculum design and academic quality. The system is now embedded across three faculties and is now considered by the University of Strathclyde to be a "core institutional service". Alongside the C-CAP system the PiP Project also cultivated a suite of approaches: an incremental systems development methodology, a structured and replicable evaluation approach, and Strathclyde's Lean Approach to Efficiencies in Education Kit (SLEEK) business process improvement methodology Each is based on recognised formal techniques, providing the basis for a rigorous approach. This is contextualised within and adapted to the HE institutional context thus building the foundation not only for the project but ultimately for institution wide process improvement