770 research outputs found
Protection and maintenance of permanent pastures
peer reviewedAll farmers receiving direct payments are subject to compulsory cross-compliance which includes standards related to the maintenance and protection of permanent pastures. Questionnaire techniques and spatio-temporal analyses demonstrated that the ratio of permanent pasture area to agricultural land provides a simple tool for monitoring and controlling the protection of permanent pastures at the regional to Member State level. Huge variations in the ratio across Europe were related to the importance of permanent pastures, the interpretation of definitions, sources of information used, differences in calculation, and the presence of protective and/or sensitive zones.
Precautionary or complementary measures are in place in most Member States in order to prevent decreases in the ratio. The implementation of GAEC standards related to permanent pastures overlaps with the standard management requirements, national legislation and current agri-environmental programmes. The study advocates the establishment of a comprehensive geo-information platform consisting of a topologically correct inventory of all permanent pasture parcels in a 1:1 geo-referenced relation between IACS and LPIS; ancillary spatially explicit data such as orthophotos, remote sensing images and other thematic geo-databases; and, geodatabases with parcel information compiled for other monitoring purposes such as those within the framework of the Nitrates Directive or 2nd pillar support
South Korea's automotive labour regime, Hyundai Motorsâ global production network and tradeâbased integration with the European Union
This article explores the interrelationship between global production networks(GPNs) and free trade agreements (FTAs) in the South Korean auto industry and its employment relations. It focuses on the production network of the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) â the third biggest automobile manufacturer in the world â and the FTA between the EU and South Korea. This was the first of the EUâs ânew generationâ FTAs, which among other things contained provisions designed to protect and promote labour standards. The articleâs argument is twofold. First, that HMGâs production network and Koreaâs political economy (of which HMG is a crucial part) limited the possibilities for the FTAâs labour provisions to take effect. Second, that the commercial provisions in this same FTA simultaneously eroded HMGâs domestic market and corporate profitability, leading to adverse consequences for auto workers in the more
insecure and low-paid jobs. In making this argument, the article advances a multiscalar conceptualization of the labour regime as an analytical intermediary between GPNs and FTAs. It also provides one of the first empirical studies of the EUâSouth Korea FTA in terms of employment relations, drawing on 105 interviews with trade unions, employer associations, automobile companies and state officials across both parties
Connected by sea, disconnected by tuna? Challenges to regionalism in the Southwest Indian Ocean
Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles are at the center of industrial tuna extraction in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO). In this paper, we show that, while a discourse of regionalism between the three islands is prominent, the possibilities of regionalism face deep challenges in relation to the tuna industry. This is due to three factors. First, local perceptions, especially amongst those working in and on the tuna industry, are in disconnection with an âIndianoceaniaâ vision. Second, the geopolitics between coastal states and distant water fishing nations create various entanglements including through fishing access revenue and foreign aid. Finally, the materiality of tuna can at times create competition as countries seek to individually maximize benefits from the industry. We argue that the active reinforcement of regional identity and collaboration around this resource is necessary to sustain local benefits into the future
A qualitative analysis of the effectiveness of telehealthcare devices (i) are they meeting the needs of end-users?
Background:
There are many telehealthcare devices currently available ranging from personal alarms, automated pill dispensers and fall detectors through to monitoring devices for blood sugar, blood pressure and heart rate. Many devices remain unused once acquired or shortly after a period of initial use.
Methods:
The study used a qualitative design involving focus groups and interviews. End usersâ opinions of telehealthcare devices were examined through focus groups along with the views of market experts and key supply chain players through telephone interviews to ascertain their views on the devices. The data were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.
Results:
Amongst the wide range of user issues associated with telehealthcare devices two themes merited particular attention: design characteristics and the lack of focus on end-user needs. Our findings suggested that few telehealthcare devices appear to be developed based on the principles of user-centred design. Consequently, many were non-intuitive to use, with the majority of the focus group participants not recognising the purpose of the devices from their appearance alone.
Conclusions:
Greater input from real end-users rather than âproxyâ users such as carers, professional users or technologists is required when developing telehealthcare devices or systems. Design should be focussed on intuitive use to enable the user to successfully achieve what is required from the devices. This may require the existing supplierâdriven market focus to be challenged, but could improve the contribution of technology to improving healthcare
The HDAC inhibitor panobinostat (LBH589) inhibits mesothelioma and lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo with particular efficacy for small cell lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the
United States. Current therapies are inadequate. Histone
deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are a recently developed
class of anticancer agents that cause increased acetylation
of core histones and nonhistone proteins leading to
modulation of gene expression and protein activityin -
volved in cancer cell growth and survival pathways.
We examined the efficacyof the HDACi panobinostat
(LBH589) in a wide range of lung cancers and mesotheliomas.
Panobinostat was cytotoxic in almost all 37 cancer
cell lines tested. IC50 and LD50 values were in the
low nmol/L range (4â470 nmol/L; median, 20 nmol/L).
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines were among
the most sensitive lines, with LD50 values consistently
<25 nmol/L. In lung cancer and mesothelioma animal
models, panobinostat significantlyde creased tumor
growth byan average of 62% when compared with vehicle
control. Panobinostat was equallye ffective in
immunocompetent and severe combined immunodeficiencymic
e, indicating that the inhibition of tumor growth by
panobinostat was not due to direct immunologic effects.Panobinostat was, however, particularlyeffective in SCLC
xenografts, and the addition of the chemotherapyag ent
etoposide augmented antitumor effects. Protein analysis
of treated tumor biopsies revealed elevated amounts of cell
cycle regulators such as p21 and proapoptosis factors,
such as caspase 3 and 7 and cleaved poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase,
coupled with decreased levels of antiapoptotic
factors such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. These studies together
suggest that panobinostat maybe a useful adjunct in the
treatment of thoracic malignancies, especiallySCLC
The Paradox of Power in CSR: A Case Study on Implementation
Purpose Although current literature assumes positive outcomes for stakeholders resulting from an increase in power associated with CSR, this research suggests that this increase can lead to conflict within organizations, resulting in almost complete inactivity on CSR.
Methods A single in-depth case study, focusing on power as an embedded concept.
Results Empirical evidence is used to demonstrate how some actors use CSR to improve their own positions within an organization. Resource dependence theory is used to highlight why this may be a more significant concern for CSR.
Conclusions Increasing power for CSR has the potential to offer actors associated with it increased personal power, and thus can attract opportunistic actors with little interest in realizing the benefits of CSR for the company and its stakeholders. Thus power can be an impediment to furthering CSR strategy and activities at the individual and organizational level
Capitalism and the sea: Sovereignty, territory and appropriation in the global ocean
This paper introduces the term âterraqueous territorialityâ to analyse a particular relationship between capitalism as a social formation, and the sea as a natural force. It focuses on three spaces â exclusive economic zones (EEZs), the system of âflags of convenienceâ (FOC), and multilateral counter-piracy initiatives â as instances of capitalist states and firms seeking to transcend the geo-physical difference between firm land and fluid sea. Capital accumulation, it is argued here, seeks to territorialise the sea through forms of sovereignty and modes of appropriation drawn from experiences on land, but in doing so encounters particular tensions thereby generating distinctive spatial effects. By exploring the articulation between sovereignty, territory and appropriation in the organisation of spaces where land meets sea, the article seeks to demonstrate the value of an analytical framework that underlines the terraqueous nature of contemporary capitalism
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