Towards A regional resources strategy consultation

Report produced for emda to inform the agency's input into regional Waste and Resources Strategies. Reviews policy context, available data and views from key stakeholders

Labor Compliance Assessment Executive Summary (Mainland Headwear Holdings Limited (Dongguan))

This document is part of a digital collection provided by the Martin P. Catherwood Library, ILR School, Cornell University, pertaining to the effects of globalization on the workplace worldwide.  Special emphasis is placed on labor rights, working conditions, labor market changes, and union organizing.FLA_Labor_Compliance_Assessment_Dongguan.pdf: 24 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

Review of EU, national and regional innovation drivers

A policy review of innovation drivers in support of the development of the Regional Innovation Strategy

The Recognition of Fires Originating from Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Systems

There has been an observable increase in the fitting of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the roofs of buildings in the UK over the last decade. The origin of some fires in domestic and commercial properties has been attributed to PV systems. This thesis examines the ability of fire examiners to recognise and record details of fires believed to have originated from PV systems, as well as investigating the effect of internal heating in direct current (DC) isolators to the point at which they fail. National fire data was examined along with the methods for collecting and collating these data. This clarified that national fire data cannot identify the specifics of electrical fires. Validity of these data was then tested by identifying the confidence and competence in the recognition of the origin of fire, (especially when associated with PV systems), of some fire staff responsible for collecting fire data. This suggests that some fire scenes examiners are not confident in their own ability to recognise fires originating from PV systems. Evidence for fires occurring in PV systems in Kent between 2009 and 2014 was then examined, including a cold case forensic review of the evidence. This provided an indication that a potential common point of failure, which may lead to fire originating from a PV system, was to be found within the DC section of the PV circuits and probably within the DC isolator switch itself. Experimentation revealed that internal heating of a terminal connection can lead to changes of the phase of the insulating material, causing failure of structural integrity and therefore allowing an arc to be established. Observable post fire indicators associated with this mechanism of failure have been identified as well as hydrocarbons evolved from pyrolysis of isolator insulating material. Finally, areas for further experimental research and training of fire staff are suggested as well as the modification of recording mechanisms and building regulations

Alaska-Canada Rail Link Economic Benefits

Construction of the 1,740 km Alaska-Canada Rail Link (ACRL) between Fort Nelson, BC and Delta Junction, Alaska to join the North American rail system to the Alaska Railroad will result in tremendous economic benefits for Canada and the US. The ACRL will provide valuable additional east-west rail capacity and tidewater access to the Pacific, hugely benefitting not only the Yukon and Eastern Alaska regions, into which it will introduce rail transport for the first time, but throughout both countries. The economic benefits of ACRL construction are consistent with Canadian government’s desire to promote Northern development and comparable in significance to those of Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880’s and the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950’s. Construction of the ACRL alone will bring unprecedented economic stimulus to the region in terms of job creation, wages and income tax revenue over multiple years. Table 7-1 below summarizes the benefits from ACRL construction for the Yukon, BC and Canada as a whole. However, these estimates are conservative as they exclude benefits associated with pre-construction activities, railway operation post-construction, sales taxes and corporate taxes as well as all such benefits that will accrue to Alaska and the US

Corporate Governance, Competition and Firm Performance: Evidence from India.

The aim of this paper is to show the interaction effect of product market competition and corporate governance variables on firm performance. While the linkage between internal governance mechanism and firm performance is well established in several studies, the interaction between internal and external governance mechanism has received scanty attention in emerging market economies. Here we have shown the independent and interaction effect of ownership and competition variable on firm productivity. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we document that competition has in reality become a discernible force in developing economies. The econometric modelling result shows while the standalone effect of ownership variable on productivity is mostly insignificant, there is a strong positive interaction effect with competition variables.

Community Resilience Research: UK Case Studies, Lessons and Recommendations report to the Cabinet Office and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

This report presents four case studies carried out for the Community Resilience project funded by DSTL and supported by the Civil Contingency Secretariat (CCS), Cabinet Office. The work for this project was carried out between September and December 2011. The aim of the Community Resilience project was to develop a better understanding of the role of community resilience in emergency response and recovery situations in order to inform Cabinet Office / Civil Contingencies Secretariat policy on community resilience and to inform the development of future work

SMASHfestUK: Exploring approaches for widening participation and increasing diversity in STEM through the Arts

Recent studies show that there is a known lack of gender, ethnic and socio-economic diversity in STEM education and careers. The Warwick Commission has again highlighted that this imbalance also exists in access to Culture and the Arts. The CASE Campaign for Science and Engineering, ‘Improving Diversity in STEM’ from May 2014 revealed that only “9% of STEM jobs (outside of Medicine) are held by women” and “BME men are 28% less likely to work in STEM than white men”. Many initiatives nominally seek to address this imbalance, but often suffer from institutional centrism, narrow-focus and community disconnectedness. The Warwick Commission states “The role of cultural organisations as partners in the fundamental place shaping role, building and moulding local communities and identities, remains underdeveloped”. SMASHfestUK – www.smashfestuk.com - is a science and arts festival that has recently completed its pilot run. It was conceived to explore new approaches to widening participation and improving diversity in STEM through the Arts. Key principles include: • Participatory authorship • Immersive entertainment • Narrative led • Trans-media delivery • Embedded and delivered in, and by, local communities The paper will discuss the principles, practice and audited impact of this approach. SMASHfestUK was funded by: The Wellcome Trust, The Arts Council, Middlesex University, The Physiological Society and L&Q Housing