Between Boston and Berlin: American MNCs and the shifting contours of industrial relations in Ireland

peer-reviewedDrawing on detailed qualitative case studies and utilizing a national business system lens, we explore a largely underrepresented debate in the literature, namely the nature of change in a specific but critical element of business systems, that is the industrial relations (IR) institutions of the State and the impact of MNCs thereon. Given the critical mass of US investment in Ireland, we examine how US MNCs manage IR in their Irish subsidiaries, how the policies and practices they pursue have impacted on the Irish IR system, and more broadly their role in shaping the host institutional environment. Overall, we conclude that there is some evidence of change in the IR system, change that we trace indirectly to the US MNC sector. Further, the US MNC sector displays evidence of elements of the management of IR that is clearly at odds with Irish traditions. Thus, in these firms we point to the emergence of a hybrid system of the management of IR and the establishment of new traditions more reflective of US business system.ACCEPTEDpeer-reviewe

The Origin, Early Evolution and Predictability of Solar Eruptions

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were discovered in the early 1970s when space-borne coronagraphs revealed that eruptions of plasma are ejected from the Sun. Today, it is known that the Sun produces eruptive flares, filament eruptions, coronal mass ejections and failed eruptions; all thought to be due to a release of energy stored in the coronal magnetic field during its drastic reconfiguration. This review discusses the observations and physical mechanisms behind this eruptive activity, with a view to making an assessment of the current capability of forecasting these events for space weather risk and impact mitigation. Whilst a wealth of observations exist, and detailed models have been developed, there still exists a need to draw these approaches together. In particular more realistic models are encouraged in order to asses the full range of complexity of the solar atmosphere and the criteria for which an eruption is formed. From the observational side, a more detailed understanding of the role of photospheric flows and reconnection is needed in order to identify the evolutionary path that ultimately means a magnetic structure will erupt

Road – gate – enclosure : elite securityscapes in London and Mexico City

The demand for security by urban elites has driven the subtle transformation of their neighbourhoods – and the wider city – with a more closed and fragmented public realm, ‘anti-disorder’ design strategies and increasing control. This article explores signature elements of securityscapes in affluent domains of Mexico City and London, two very different cities yet with similarly fragmenting and inhibiting modes of urban design. Extensive immersion, systematic observation and visual matrixes are used to counterpose key design elements and atmospheric qualities of the securityscape: securitization, privacy and fortification, transforming the ‘path-portal-place’ elements of the city into a logic around ‘road-gate-enclosure’

Effects of melengesterol acetate on inflammatory response during Mannheimia haemolytica challenge

Previous trials conducted at Kansas State University demonstrated that melengesterol acetate (MGA) increased growth rates and tended to reduce chronic sickness in heifers naturally challenged with undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease. Our study was conducted to gain further insight into the mode of action of MGA. Crossbred heifers (n=47; 511 lb) were used to evaluate effects of MGA on lung pathology and markers of inflammation in cattle after an intrabronchial Mannheimia haemolytica challenge. On day 0, cattle were assigned to diets (54% concentrate) that provided 0 or 0.5 mg MGA per heifer daily. On day 14 each heifer was intrabronchially inoculated with M. haemolytica. Blood samples were collected from each heifer immediately before inoculation and 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 138 hours after inoculation. Heifers were then euthanized for postmortem examination. After the challenge, heifers fed MGA had greater numbers of neutrophils and white blood cells, as well as greater serum haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations. The incidence of post-challenge lung lesions was greater in heifers fed MGA, and lung lesion scores tended to be more severe in heifers fed MGA, compared with those of controls. These data indicate that MGA does not reduce inflammation in heifers 138 hours after M. haemolytica challenge, suggesting that there are other modes of action for the beneficial effects on growth and reduction of chronicity in feedlot heifers