177 research outputs found

    EU migration management and imperialism: A critique of the 'comprehensive' approach to migration.

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    This thesis constitutes an attempt to examine the constantly developing role of EU migration law within the 'new world order'. This new world order, which some define as globalisation, is analysed through the concept of imperialism in this thesis, reflecting current theoretical debates on this issue. The main argument presented is that EU migration law, as part of an emerging 'global migration management', has become a cornerstone in creating and reproducing unequal global power relations in the current era of capitalist development, thereby helping to secure EU imperialist interests. Based on theoretical discussions on current forms of imperialism, the state and law, this thesis explores the role that treaties and legal provisions regulating migration within and outside the European Union today play with regard to global hegemony. Particular focus is therefore given to the question of how to define imperialism today, how the nation-state is changing with regard to globalisation and finally the role that global migration management plays within these changes. Characteristic of the emerging migration management in the EU is the inclusion of migration clauses in EU external relations, a development which is often termed 'the globalisation of migration control', as well as the rationalisation of immigration control with the intent to negotiate labour and capital relations within the EU. Both policy trends appear to be an attempt to remain competitive in the global economy as well as to control autonomous aspects of international migration that stand in opposition to state interests. These legal developments are outlined and criticised in this thesis and placed in relation to imperialism. Although the basis of this thesis is predominantly theoretical, it also uses examples of the implementation of legal practices from Germany and the UK with regard to migration control so as to underline and illuminate the arguments presented

    Strategically using public housing assets could transform our middle suburbs

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    ‘Greyfields’ in the Australian context have been defined as those ageing but occupied tracts of inner and middle ring suburbia that are physically, technologically and environmentally failing. The research sought to test the potential of an innovative design based approach to create coordinated precincts in these suburbs involving the coordinated redevelopment of multiple, non-contiguous public housing lots (rather than relying on the ‘default’ option of incremental market based development of in-fill housing and piecemeal selling off of public housing properties). Recent public housing investments (under the Social Housing Initiative) were typically planned with job creation in mind rather than innovative housing outcomes, but innovations were still apparent. Innovations were generally simple such as improvements to parking arrangements and interfaces of private dwellings with common areas and public spaces and arrangements for tenancy mix and social diversity. Innovations were often more apparent when governments partnered with Community Housing Organisations who could access alternative land and funding sources, offer design and delivery expertise and facilitate mixed tenancy outcomes. Innovation also was more likely when there was a ‘champion’ for design quality, relaxation of selected planning controls, and project alignment with existing urban renewal strategies. The Department of Human Services (Victorian Government) was found to have existing housing assets in sufficient number (more than 6500 DHS properties) in well-located areas of Melbourne’s middle suburbs that were clustered in ways broadly suitable for coordinated precinct redevelopment. Preliminary investigations suggest the same in Sydney and Brisbane. The coordinated precinct approach could offer an effective model for redeveloping dispersed public housing assets. Integrated redevelopment can achieve substantial increases in dwelling yield—design scenarios developed in this study delivered two to four times the number of dwellings when compared to business-as-usual dual occupancy outcomes. A precinct design approach is potentially more efficient because it allows for non-uniform, flexible siting of higher density buildings, effective program mixes, efficient parking arrangements and a variety of households and tenure types to be accommodated across a neighbourhood. Preliminary discussions with key stakeholders—municipal authorities, community housing organisations and local community members—showed real interest in the benefits of a coordinated precinct-based development approach. - See more at: http://www.ahuri.edu.au/publications/projects/p52012#sthash.wTtz4itu.dpu

    The Fragility of Gender Equality Policies in Spain

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    Within the last decade, Spain has become a model in legislative policies for gender equality at the international level. However, the economic crisis has led to a growth in inequality, which has revealed the weaknesses of the adopted instruments. Despite the large amount of legislation in this area, the social reality has not changed at all, even experiencing a setback over the past few years. This situation was exposed in our country by a report issued in 2015 by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This report showed the negative effects of the economic crisis and austerity policies on women, even in a context necessitating increased efforts towards women’s rights. Therefore, it is imperative that the concept of gender mainstreaming and the adoption of instruments of “hard law” be revisited. The goal should be to achieve gender justice based on three elements—distribution, identity, and representation—and a real parity democracy

    Accurate prediction of kinase-substrate networks using knowledge graphs

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    Phosphorylation of specific substrates by protein kinases is a key control mechanism for vital cell-fate decisions and other cellular processes. However, discovering specific kinase-substrate relationships is time-consuming and often rather serendipitous. Computational predictions alleviate these challenges, but the current approaches suffer from limitations like restricted kinome coverage and inaccuracy. They also typically utilise only local features without reflecting broader interaction context. To address these limitations, we have developed an alternative predictive model. It uses statistical relational learning on top of phosphorylation networks interpreted as knowledge graphs, a simple yet robust model for representing networked knowledge. Compared to a representative selection of six existing systems, our model has the highest kinome coverage and produces biologically valid high-confidence predictions not possible with the other tools. Specifically, we have experimentally validated predictions of previously unknown phosphorylations by the LATS1, AKT1, PKA and MST2 kinases in human. Thus, our tool is useful for focusing phosphoproteomic experiments, and facilitates the discovery of new phosphorylation reactions. Our model can be accessed publicly via an easy-to-use web interface (LinkPhinder).Phosphorylation of specific substrates by protein kinases is a key control mechanism for vital cell-fate decisions and other cellular processes. However, discovering specific kinase-substrate relationships is time-consuming and often rather serendipitous. Computational predictions alleviate these challenges, but the current approaches suffer from limitations like restricted kinome coverage and inaccuracy. They also typically utilise only local features without reflecting broader interaction context. To address these limitations, we have developed an alternative predictive model. It uses statistical relational learning on top of phosphorylation networks interpreted as knowledge graphs, a simple yet robust model for representing networked knowledge. Compared to a representative selection of six existing systems, our model has the highest kinome coverage and produces biologically valid high-confidence predictions not possible with the other tools. Specifically, we have experimentally validated predictions of previously unknown phosphorylations by the LATS1, AKT1, PKA and MST2 kinases in human. Thus, our tool is useful for focusing phosphoproteomic experiments, and facilitates the discovery of new phosphorylation reactions. Our model can be accessed publicly via an easy-to-use web interface (LinkPhinder)

    Comparison of veterinary drugs and veterinary homeopathy: part 1

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    For many years after its invention around 1796, homeopathy was widely used in people and later in animals. Over the intervening period (1796-2016) pharmacology emerged as a science from Materia Medica (medicinal materials) to become the mainstay of veterinary therapeutics. There remains today a much smaller, but significant, use of homeopathy by veterinary surgeons. Homeopathic products are sometimes administered when conventional drug therapies have not succeeded, but are also used as alternatives to scientifically based therapies and licensed products. The principles underlying the veterinary use of drug-based and homeopathic products are polar opposites; this provides the basis for comparison between them. This two-part review compares and contrasts the two treatment forms in respect of history, constituents, methods of preparation, known or postulated mechanisms underlying responses, the legal basis for use and scientific credibility in the 21st century. Part 1 begins with a consideration of why therapeutic products actually work or appear to do so

    Accurate prediction of kinase-substrate networks using knowledge graphs

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    Phosphorylation of specific substrates by protein kinases is a key control mechanism for vital cell-fate decisions and other cellular processes. However, discovering specific kinasesubstrate relationships is time-consuming and often rather serendipitous. Computational predictions alleviate these challenges, but the current approaches suffer from limitations like restricted kinome coverage and inaccuracy. They also typically utilise only local features without reflecting broader interaction context. To address these limitations, we have developed an alternative predictive model. It uses statistical relational learning on top of phosphorylation networks interpreted as knowledge graphs, a simple yet robust model for representing networked knowledge. Compared to a representative selection of six existing systems, our model has the highest kinome coverage and produces biologically valid highconfidence predictions not possible with the other tools. Specifically, we have experimentally validated predictions of previously unknown phosphorylations by the LATS1, AKT1, PKA and MST2 kinases in human. Thus, our tool is useful for focusing phosphoproteomic experiments, and facilitates the discovery of new phosphorylation reactions. Our model can be accessed publicly via an easy-to-use web interface (LinkPhinder).Science Foundation Irelan

    Sternocleidomastoid muscle flap in preventing Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy: A systematic review

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    Background Parotidectomy is a common procedure and Frey's syndrome (gustatory sweating) is a common side effect. The current literature was assessed concerning the effectiveness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) flap to prevent Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy. Methods A bibliography search was conducted for studies published between 1966 and 2010 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies with patients undergoing parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation. The outcome measures of particular interest were the incidence of Frey's syndrome and cosmetic impairment. Results In all, 12 studies were selected (1 meta‐analysis of all interventions to prevent Frey's syndrome, 2 RCTs, and 9 cohort studies). The trials were too heterogeneous to perform a meta‐analysis on the effect of the SCM flap. The results reported by the authors of each study suggest an objective decrease in Frey's syndrome when the SCM flap was used, but there was no difference in the patients' subjective reporting of symptoms. However, this conclusion is prone to the biases inherent in these studies, and thus overall it is impossible to make any recommendation. Conclusion Current reported evidence is inconclusive as to the use of SCM muscle flap as an intervention to prevent Frey's syndrome following parotid surgery. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90266/1/21722_ftp.pd
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