A study of the regional economic development impact of a university led entrepreneurship education programme for small business owners

The health and performance of the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector is crucial to regional and national economies of most developed countries (Jones, Macpherson and Thorpe, 2010; Thorpe, Cope, Ram and Pedler, 2009). In recognition of this, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been supported through government policy to provide training programmes for SMEs aimed at developing a higher level of skills that will support small business growth (European Commission, 2003; Lambert Review, 2003; Leitch Review of Skills, 2006; DIUS, 2007, 2008; Zhang and Hamilton, 2010). In this paper we explore the relationship between entrepreneurship education and regional development by examining a programme delivered by a higher education institution for growth-oriented small business owners. We concern ourselves with addressing the overarching questions: What is the impact of HEI and SME engagement on entrepreneurship education? And How does HEI/SME engagement impact on a regional economy? To deal with these questions a qualitative approach to the research was adopted to examine the situations of five SME owner/managers over a five year period. Findings show that entrepreneurship education delivered a range of economic benefits to SMEs and the region. Moreover, through engaging owner/managers have the opportunity to interact with others and this supports the growth and development of the business

Sequential measurement of δ15N, δ13C and δ34S values in archaeological bone collagen at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC): a new analytical frontier

Rationale: The use of multi‐isotopic analysis (δ15N, δ13C and δ34S values) of archaeological bone collagen to assist in the interpretation of diet, movement and mobility of prehistoric populations is gradually increasing, yet many researchers have traditionally avoided investigating sulphur due to its very low concentrations (<0.3%) in mammalian collagen. For this reason, and as a consequence of analytical detection limits, sulphur is usually measured separately from carbon and nitrogen, which leads to longer analytical times and higher costs. Methods: A Thermo ScientificTM EA IsoLinkTM IRMS system, with the ability to rapidly heat a gas‐chromatography (GC) column and concentrate the sample gas online without cryo‐trapping, was used at the Radiocarbon Laboratory at SUERC. Optimisation of the GC temperature and carrier gas flow rate in the elemental analyser resulted in improved signal‐to‐noise ratio and sensitivity for SO2. This allowed for routine sequential N2, CO2 and SO2 measurements on small samples of bone collagen. Results: Improvements in sample gas transfer to the mass spectrometer allows for sequential δ15N, δ13C and δ34S values to be measured in 1–1.5 mg samples of bone collagen. Moreover, the sensitivity and signal‐to‐noise ratio of the sample gas, especially SO2, is improved, resulting in precisions of ±0.15‰ for δ15N values, ±0.1‰ for δ13C values and ±0.3‰ for δ34S values. Previous instrumentation allowed for the analysis of ~30 unknown samples before undertaking maintenance; however, ~150 unknown samples can now be measured, meaning a 5‐fold increase in sample throughput. Conclusions: The ability to sequentially measure δ15N, δ13C and δ34S values rapidly in archaeological bone collagen is an attractive option to researchers who want to build larger, more succinct datasets for their sites of interest, at a much‐reduced analytical cost and without destroying larger quantities of archaeological material

Deciphering diet and monitoring movement: multiple stable isotope analysis of the Viking Age settlement at Hofstaðir, Lake Mývatn, Iceland

Objectives: A previous multi-isotope study of archaeological faunal samples from Skútustaðir, an early Viking age settlement on the southern shores of Lake Mývatn in north-east Iceland, demonstrated that there are clear differences in δ34S stable isotope values between animals deriving their dietary protein from terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reservoirs. The aim of this study was to use this information to more accurately determine the diet of humans excavated from a nearby late Viking age churchyard. Materials and Methods: δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S analyses were undertaken on terrestrial animal (n = 39) and human (n = 46) bone collagen from Hofstaðir, a high-status Viking-period farmstead ∼10 km north-west of Skútustaðir. Results: δ34S values for Hofstaðir herbivores were ∼6‰ higher relative to those from Skútustaðir (δ34S: 11.4 ± 2.3‰ versus 5.6 ± 2.8‰), while human δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values were broad ranging (−20.2‰ to −17.3‰, 7.4‰ to 12.3‰, and 5.5‰ to 14.9‰, respectively). Discussion: Results suggest that the baseline δ34S value for the Mývatn region is higher than previously predicted due to a possible sea-spray effect, but the massive deposition of Tanytarsus gracilentus (midges) (δ34S: −3.9‰) in the soil in the immediate vicinity of the lake is potentially lowering this value. Several terrestrial herbivores displayed higher bone collagen δ34S values than their contemporaries, suggesting trade and/or movement of animals to the region from coastal areas. Broad ranging δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values for humans suggest the population were consuming varied diets, while outliers within the dataset could conceivably have been migrants to the area

Quantitative estimates of velocity sensitivity to surface melt variations at a large Greenland outlet glacier

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "http://www.ingentaconnect.com".The flow speed of Greenland outlet glaciers is governed by several factors, the relative importance of which is poorly understood. The delivery of surface-generated meltwater to the bed of alpine glaciers has been shown to influence glacier flow speed when the volume of water is sufficient to increase basal fluid pressure and hence basal lubrication. While this effect has also been demonstrated on the Greenland ice-sheet margin, little is known about the influence of surface melting on the large, marine-terminating outlet glaciers that drain the ice sheet. We use a validated model of meltwater input and GPS-derived surface velocities to quantify the sensitivity of glacier flow speed to changes in surface melt at Helheim Glacier during two summer seasons (2007–08). Our observations span ∼55 days near the middle of each melt season. We find that relative changes in glacier speed due to meltwater input are small, with variations of ∼45% in melt producing changes in velocity of ∼2–4%. These velocity variations are, however, of similar absolute magnitude to those observed at smaller glaciers and on the ice-sheet margin. We find that the glacier's sensitivity to variations in meltwater input decreases approximately exponentially with distance from the calving front. Sensitivity to melt varies with time, but generally increases as the melt season progresses. We interpret the time-varying sensitivity of glacier flow to meltwater input as resulting from changes in subglacial hydraulic routing caused by the changing volume of meltwater input

III liii III IIIJjI 111 Civil Aircraft Challenges in Engine/Airframe Integration

ABSTRACT The demand for economic and efficient aircraft has focused more attention on the integrated design process. In addition, supersonic flight speeds pose unique design constraints on both propulsion and airframe technologies. This paper addresses some of the key features of engine/airframe integration in both the subsonic and supersonic flight regimes, and addresses both design and test implications

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with Chiari-like malformation and Syringomyelia have increased variability of spatio-temporal gait characteristics

Abstract Background Chiari-like malformation in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a herniation of the cerebellum and brainstem into or through the foramen magnum. This condition predisposes to Syringomyelia; fluid filled syrinxes within the spinal cord. The resulting pathology in spinal cord and cerebellum create neuropathic pain and changes in gait. This study aims to quantify the changes in gait for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with Chiari-like malformation and Syringomyelia. Methods We compared Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with Chiari-like malformation with (n = 9) and without (n = 8) Syringomyelia to Border Terriers (n = 8). Two video cameras and manual tracking was used to quantify gait parameters. Results and conclusions We found a significant increase in coefficient of variation for the spatio-temporal characteristics and ipsilateral distance between paws and a wider base of support in the thoracic limbs but not in the pelvic limbs for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels compared with the border terrier

Polymicrobial oral biofilm models: simplifying the complex

Over the past century, numerous studies have used oral biofilm models to investigate growth kinetics, biofilm formation, structure and composition, antimicrobial susceptibility and host–pathogen interactions. In vivo animal models provide useful models of some oral diseases; however, these are expensive and carry vast ethical implications. Oral biofilms grown or maintained in vitro offer a useful platform for certain studies and have the advantages of being inexpensive to establish and easy to reproduce and manipulate. In addition, a wide range of variables can be monitored and adjusted to mimic the dynamic environmental changes at different sites in the oral cavity, such as pH, temperature, salivary and gingival crevicular fluid flow rates, or microbial composition. This review provides a detailed insight for early-career oral science researchers into how the biofilm models used in oral research have progressed and improved over the years, their advantages and disadvantages, and how such systems have contributed to our current understanding of oral disease pathogenesis and aetiology

Specific heat study of single crystalline Pr0.63_{0.63} Ca0.37_{0.37} MnO3_{3} in presence of a magnetic field

We present the results of a study of specific heat on a single crystal of Pr$_{0.63}$Ca$_{0.37}$MnO$_3$ performed over a temperature range 3K-300K in presence of 0 and 8T magnetic fields. An estimate of the entropy and latent heat in a magnetic field at the first order charge ordering (CO) transition is presented. The total entropy change at the CO transition which is $\approx$ 1.8 J/mol K at 0T, decreases to $\sim$ 1.5 J/mol K in presence of 8T magnetic field. Our measurements enable us to estimate the latent heat $L_{CO}$ $\approx$ 235 J/mol involved in the CO transition. Since the entropy of the ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) state is comparable to that of the charge-ordered insulating (COI) state, a subtle change in entropy stabilises either of these two states. Our low temperature specific heat measurements reveal that the linear term is absent in 0T and surprisingly not seen even in the metallic FMM state.Comment: 8 pages (in RevTEX format), 12 figures (in postscript format) Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Draft genome sequence of isolate Staphylococcus aureus LHSKBClinical, isolated from an infected hip

We report here the genome sequence of a clinical isolate of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> from an orthopedic infection. Phenotypically diverse <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> strains are associated with orthopedic infections and subsequent implant failure, and some are highly resistant to antibiotics. This genome sequence will support further analyses of strains causing orthopedic infections