Affinity Programs and the Real Estate Brokerage Industry

This study surveys active real estate brokers obtaining information on involvement in affinity programs and referral/relocation networks. Some results regarding affinity involvement are: (a) 13% of respondents reported affinity affilliations, 75% reported no affiliations, and 12% indicated plans to become involved within the next year; (b) about half having affinity affiliations were involved with 2-4 groups; (c) affinity relationships were most often with membership organizations, corporations, and professional organizations; (d) the primary affinity benefits provided were commission reductions, special mortgage packages, and discounted closing services; (e) 38% of respondents reported an increase in profitability die tp affinity affiliation while 21% reported a decrease; and (f) 56% reported an increase in agent productivity. An empirical income model shows that affinity affiliation has a positive effect on broker income. The probit models shows that: (a) participation in affinity arrangements is more likely for larger firms and national franchises but is not sensitive to location; and (b) large firms are more likely to participate in a larger number of affinity relationships.

Experiences and choices: A battle of the habitus - working class pupils and positive outcomes

The importance of supporting and acknowledging the potential barriers young people from socially disadvantaged areas face has always been of importance in educational research and policy in Scotland, and the UK; for example through the Scottish Government’s Attainment Challenge and the work of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This research aims to understand young people’s aspirations from the lens of Bourdieu’s Theory of Reproduction, in particular his concept of habitus and its associated dispositions. This research develops the work on aspirations in relation to understanding how factors such as family, school and social class influence young people’s habitus, dispositions and aspirations. A clear link is found between a young person’s primary habitus and the role of the school in transforming this habitus. Furthermore, this research also contributes to literature and knowledge on using Bourdieu’s theory as method, where a unique approach to using Bourdieu’s concepts is developed to give a theoretical, methodological lens with which to analyse data under three high-level themes: dispositions, educational field and doxic, habituated and emergent aspirations. This research finds that it is possible for a young person to move between these types of aspirations and that the school and its associated partners are key in transforming young people’s habitus by using the school’s institutional habitus and opportunities offered by Developing the Young Workforce policy in Scotland. Various example of good practice are identified where this has been successful and key recommendations in relation to supporting youth transitions are made in relation to ways the school can support young people to transform their habitus, should this be appropriate for individual young people. This is demonstrated through one participant whose habitus was transformed in order to achieve his goals. This research is situated within an interpretivist paradigm, focusing on quantitative methods, considering liberal and neoliberal influences on policy and education. The above aims are achieved through one-to-one semi-structured interviews using pre-prepared vignettes, involving young people aged 16-17 years old from a school in Glasgow where over 90% of the pupil population and their families live in the two poorest socio-economic groupings, as highlighted by the Scottish Index of Multiple Depravation. The aspirations of the individual participants are also considered in relation to their intended and actual aspirations and related to doxic, habituated, and emergent aspirations. The research in this dissertation is contextualised within the personal and professional experiences of the researcher and how their background was a catalyst for carrying out this research

Binary open clusters in the Milky Way: photometric and spectroscopic analysis of NGC 5617 and Trumpler 22

Using photometry and high resolution spectroscopy we investigate for the first time the physical connection between the open clusters NGC 5617 and Trumpler 22. Based on new CCD photometry we report their spatial proximity and common age of ~70 Myr. Based on high resolution spectra collected using the HERMES and UCLES spectrographs on the Anglo-Australian telescope, we present radial velocities and abundances for Fe, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca and Ni. The measured radial velocities are -38.63 +/-2.25 km/s for NGC 5617 and -38.46 +/-2.08 km/s for Trumpler 22. The mean metallicity of NGC 5617 was found to be [Fe/H] =-0.18 +/-0.02 and for Trumpler 22 was found to be [Fe/H] = -0.17 +/-0.04. The two clusters share similar abundances across the other elements, indicative of a common chemical enrichment history of these clusters. Together with common motions and ages we confirm that NGC 5617 and Trumpler 22 are a primordial binary cluster pair in the Milky Way.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure, accepted by MNRA

Ultra-high-sensitivity two-dimensional bend sensor

A multicore fibre Fabry-Perot-based strain sensor interrogated with tandem interferometry for bend measurement is described. Curvature in two dimensions is obtained by measuring the difference in strain between three co-located low finesse Fabry-Perot interferometers formed in each core of the fibre by pairs of Bragg gratings. This sensor provides a responsivity enhancement of up to 30 times that of a previously reported fibre Bragg grating based sensor. Strain resolutions of 0.6 n epsilon/Hz(1/2) above 1 Hz are demonstrated, which corresponds to a curvature resolution of similar to 0.012 km(-1)/Hz(1/2)

Mechanical Properties of Hydrocolloid and Rubber Impression Materials

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66633/2/10.1177_00220345670460041401.pd

The mononuclear phagocyte system of the mouse defined by immunohistochemical localization of antigen F4/80. Relationship between macrophages, Langerhans cells, reticular cells, and dendritic cells in lymphoid and hematopoietic organs

The macrophage-specific antigen F4/80 has been localized in mouse lymphoid and hematopoietic tissue and skin using immunoperoxidase staining. The antigen permits identification of early mononuclear phagocyte precursors in the bone marrow, and is present also on larger cells forming the center of hematopoietic islands and lining vascular sinuses. In thymus F4/80+ cells are numerous in both cortex and medulla and are particularly concentrated around the corticomedullary region. In spleen, lymph node, and gut-associated lymphoid areas the major F4/80+ populations are in the red pulp, the medulla and subcapsular sinus, and the adjacent lamina propria, respectively. F4/80+ cells are rarely seen in T-dependent areas of lymph nodes, spleen, or Peyer's patch, but are present in large numbers in these areas during bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-induced inflammation. Macrophage infiltration occurs also in lymph nodes from athymic nu/nu mice and is therefore T cell independent. The interdigitating cell of T-dependent areas is F4/80-, but the Langerhans cell of the epidermis of the skin, which bears some ultrastructural resemblance to the interdigitating cell, is F4/80+. We conclude that the two cell types are probably not related

It\u27s A Grand Old Flag To Fight For

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/2896/thumbnail.jp

The evolution of university-industry linkages-A framework

This qualitative study extends literature on research commercialization by examining the dynamic nature of university-industry linkages (UIL). Thirty in-depth interviews conducted in Australia and Germany/the Netherlands provide evidence of the different phases through which UILs evolve and respective measures of success. Communication, understanding, trust, and people are universal drivers, yet managers must consider the variations in the nature of these factors to ensure successful UILs. This study equips managers involved in technology transfer, innovation, and commercialization with critical insights into developing effective relationships. The proposed conceptual framework also uncovers notable theoretical and managerial implications and offers some key research directions. © 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Carolin Plewa, Nisha Korff, Claire Johnson, Gregory Macpherson, Thomas Baaken, Giselle Camille Rampersa