Farming In Transition? An Exploration of Agricultural Experience in the North East of England

Through the lens of complexity theory, this thesis seeks to establish an argument for agriculture to be viewed as a complex system which is based on a representative case study of mixed lowland farming in County Durham. The discussion encompasses an investigation of the notion of crisis within this system and the main factors producing this point of change/ phase shift, be they from within the system (endogenous) or from outside of the system (exogenous). This thesis contends that agricultural systems are complex, combining human and biological elements that link together diverse people, places and processes through multiple product flows and intermediaries. They are characterised by emergent properties and non-linear dynamics, due in part to highly articulated interactions at numerous levels. On occasions small occurrences can produce large effects, but large events can produce complete and massive change and phase shift. This is particularly evident in several recent crises in agriculture. Empirical data is gathered through extensive and in-depth interviewing of a sample, which is representative of this lowland mixed farming community and autoethnography. This was combined with an extensive review of government publications, official statistics, academic writing and media reports to frame the entirety of the issue. This thesis finds that there is much evidence of novel change, and therefore, phase shift within the complex socio-production system of mixed lowland farming. This change emanates from both internal factors (endogenous) such as BSE and foot-and-mouth disease and also from factors external to the system (exogenous) such as reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and investment in agricultural land by those from outside the industry. The lowland mixed family farm is at a time of change; especially vulnerable are those on tenant farms and the next generation wishing to follow their parents into farming

Pengaruh Laba dan Arus Kas terhadap Harga Saham dalam Kaitannya dengan Siklus Hidup Perusahaan pada Perusahaan Manufaktur

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melakukan pengujian ulang atas pengaruh laba dan arus kas terhadap harga saham dalam kaitannya dengan siklus hidup Perusahaan. Variabel yang diteliti adalah laba per lembar saham (EPS), arus kas operasi per lembar saham (CFOPS), arus kas investasi per lembar saham (CFIPS), dan arus kas pendanaan per lembar saham (CFFPS). Peneliti mengubah variabel laba dalam EPS dengan menggunakan net income before extraordinary items dan hanya menggunakan 3 siklus hidup Perusahaan. Peneliti berasumsi bahwa net income before extraordinary items lebih mencerminkan keadaan Perusahaan sebenarnya dan memberikan pengaruh yang lebih positif terhadap harga saham Perusahaan. Sampel yang digunakan berjumlah 78 data sampel Perusahaan manufaktur yang terdaftar di BEI pada tahun 2009-2011. Data akan dibagi ke dalam 3 tahap hidup Perusahaan, sebelum diuji dengan uji asumsi klasik, uji t, uji F dan uji R2 untuk mengetahui besar pengaruh keempat variabel terhadap harga saham pada masing-masing tahap hidup Perusahaan. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa hanya laba per lembar saham (EPS) dan arus kas operasi per lembar saham (CFOPS) yang berpengaruh positif terhadap harga saham pada growth stage. Selain itu, penelitian ini menemukan bahwa pada mature stage, arus kas operasi per lembar saham (CFOPS) berpengaruh positif dan arus kas investasi per lembar saham (CFIPS) berpengaruh negatif terhadap harga saham. Sedangkan pada decline stage, hanya arus kas operasi per lembar saham (CFOPS) yang berpengaruh positif terhadap harga saham. Secara bersama-sama, laba per lembar saham (EPS), arus kas operasi per lembar saham (CFOPS), arus kas investasi per lembar saham (CFIPS), dan arus kas pendanaan per lembar saham (CFFPS) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap harga saham

Challenges in Delivering Cross-Agency Integrated e-Services: The OBLS Project

This case study describes how the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Infocomm Development Authority, as lead agencies, jointly initiated and managed the implementation of a one-stop business licensing portal called OBLS (Online Business Licensing Service, https://licenses.business.gov.sg/) in the Singapore public sector. While the mandate from the top for this strategic cross-agency project was strong, there were many hurdles in the form of people, process and technology that had to be overcome. The case study highlights these issues and challenges, and illustrates how they were successfully overcome for delivering cross-agency integrated e-Service for new business license application

Neoliberalism in the North American University: Toward Integrating Divisions in Agent Orientation Via a Follettian Differentiated Relational Ontology

This paper uses observations from empirical articles and personal experiences of the authors to explore issues associated with the rise of neoliberalism and academic capitalism in the contemporary public university. It frames these issues as stemming from conflicting ontologies between academicians who adhere to the differentiated individual ontology and university administrators who favor the undifferentiated individual ontology. To overcome the disconnect, a differentiated relational ontology that adheres to principles of Mary Parker Follett and Alfred North Whitehead is proposed. The driving force behind this ontology can be highlighted through a communicated crisis, and a specific application of Follett’s differentiated relational ontology is Ensemble Learning Theory (ELT). A potential limitation of this study is generalizability, because the focus is centered on North American public universities and anecdotes are used to characterize a broader educational problem. This evolution is pertinent to academicians and administrators because the ontological impasse experienced in North American public universities threatens their existence as institutions, and has a broader and potentially negative impact on the quality of educational focus and output

Participatory Mapping of Village Potential with Geotagging Data (Case Study: Wedomartani Village, Sleman, Yogyakarta)

Digital spatial data has the highest demand, especially for the needs of analysis in terms of mapping. Mapping is currently the focus of attention of many institutions because real objects in the field in a wide range can be visualized in a precision field with a specif ic scale. Many villages do not have digital spatial data; one ofthem is Wedomartani village. Therefore, an inventory of digital spatial data of important village objects needs to be done. This study aims to map the potential of village using satellite imagery data from Google Earth and Geotagging photographs and determine the zoning potential of the Land Use of Wedomartani village. The method used to map the potential of villages using satellite imagery data is the method of interpretation, then geotagging photo data obtained through surveys utilizing GPS tag technology from smartphones and the participatory role of village communities. The determination of village land-use zoning used the matching method of the potential map with validation of geotagging photo data. The results interpretation of satellite images shows that the potential in the village of Wedomartani in the form of important objects as the potential of the village is public facilities, tourism objects, theme parks, sports facilities, buildings, roads, rivers, and agriculture. The zoning results of the potential land use of the Wedomartani village consist of Trade and Service Zones in the form of micro, small and medium businesses spread along the main road as a sector of economicpotential (212.73 Ha); The Recreation Zone is in the form of Maguwoharjo Football Stadium, Jogja Bay Pirates Adventure Park Family Park, Tambak Boyo Reservoir and Gebang Temple Cultural Heritage Site as a potential tourism sector (23.48 Ha); Agricultural and Plantation Zones in the form of irrigated rice, maize and chili as potential for sustainable agriculture (661.19 Ha)

Worker stress, burnout, and wellbeing before and during the COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom

COVID-19 created a transformational shift in the working environment for much of the labour force, yet its impact on workers is unclear. This study uses longitudinal data to examine the wellbeing of 621 full-time workers assessed before (November 2019–February 2020) and during (May–June 2020) the first lockdown in the United Kingdom. We employ fixed effects analyses to investigate the impact of the restrictions and mandatory homeworking on cognitive, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. Within the sample, the rate of full-time homeworking increased from 2 to 74% between waves. We identify significant changes in 9 of the 15 measures assessed, with a general pattern of improvements in wellbeing during lockdown. Overall levels of stress, self-rated mental health, positive emotions and life and job satisfaction are not adversely affected by the restrictions. There is a reduction in the burnout symptoms of disengagement (−0.13 sd) and exhaustion (−0.20 sd) and in the frequency with which negative emotions are experienced at work (−0.15 sd). Workers feel more autonomous (+0.09 sd), closer to their co-workers (+0.10 sd), and more attached to their organisations (+0.19 sd). However, homelife satisfaction declines (−0.11 sd). These findings highlight the possibility that the COVID-19 pandemic and large-scale transition to homeworking was associated with unchanged or improved worker wellbeing. This study has important implications for governments and employers regarding a global shift to homeworking

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells and regulatory T cells: novel sources and targets of interleukin-4 in immunity to Heligmosomoides polygyrus

Intestinal helminth infections cause a significant global burden due to gaps in our translation of anti-helminth immunity. Immune responses to helminth infections are characterised by a balance between regulatory and effector cells, limiting immune-driven pathology in the host whilst enabling long-term survival of the parasite. Functional immunity to helminths is dependent on the activation of a type-2 immune cascade comprised of immune and non-immune cells that coordinate to promote the mechanistic expulsion of the parasite. The natural murine helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus establishes chronic intestinal infections that can be expelled following secondary infection in drug-cured mice, and provides a good experimental model to test mechanisms of functional immunity. Immunity to H. polygyrus is dependent on the differentiation of IL-4 producing CD4+ T helper 2 cells, however the exact mechanisms required for Th2 differentiation in vivo remain unclear. In this study we have identified two novel mechanisms required for Th2 differentiation in vivo. Firstly, we identified that group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are an important source of IL-4 for the differentiation of Th2 cells in vitro and in vivo during a chronic infection with H. polygyrus. Secondly, we have found that Foxp3+ Treg cells convert to Th2 cells and contribute significantly to memory Th2 responses following a challenge infection with Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Using a fate-reporter mouse, we have deleted IL-4Rα on Foxp3-expressing cells to test whether IL-4 receptor signalling is required for the development of ex-Foxp3 Th2 cells and whether they contribute to functional immune responses. In summary, we have characterised ILC2s and Treg cells as novel sources and targets of IL-4 required for the differentiation of Th2 cells and propose a model whereby ILC2-derived IL-4 provides a source of IL-4 for the reprogramming of Treg cells in the tissue, ultimately supporting the expulsion of H. polygyrus