Work-time underemployment and financial hardship: class inequalities and recession in the UK

The economic crisis that led to recession in the UK in 2008–9 impacted in multiple ways on work and economic life. This article examines changes to the work-time of employees. The UK stood out for its recessionary expansion of work-time underemployment. Working in a job that provides ‘too few’ hours can have serious ramifications for the economic livelihood of workers. Working-class workers are central here. Drawing on analysis of large-scale survey data, the article identifies that workers in lower level occupations experienced the most substantial post-recessionary growth in the proportions working ‘too few’ hours. Did these work-time changes narrow or widen class inequalities in feelings of financial hardship? The article concludes that although middle-class workers also saw their financial positions damaged, this so-called ‘first middle-class recession’ did not erode class inequalities in financial hardship among UK workers

Multi-scale analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) predicts cervical nodal status in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The study assess multi-scale diffusion parameters (median volumetric nodal region of interest values, inter-voxel histogram distributions, and intra-voxel diffusion heterogeneity as assessed by the stretched exponential model) as classifiers of nodal status in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Low b value (0, 50, 100) derived nodal ADC (perfusion sensitive) was the key parameter facilitating discrimination of metastatic from benign nodes in patients with head and neck SCC. The stretched exponential derived α value together with histogram features of ADC provide an accurate decision tree model for classification of nodal disease

Development and control of microfluidic circuits

A primeira etapa do projeto foi realizar testes para usinagem controlada e otimizada de vidro ótico de borosilicato (BK7) por laser de femtossegundos. Parâmetros como energia, pulsos sobrepostos e a variação da posição focal foram investigados para controle da taxa de remoção do material e extensão da cratera ablacionada. Especial atenção foi dada à condição física e topográfica da superfície resultante da usinagem para torná-la menos rugosa e evitar a retenção de reagentes que possam contaminar e alterar as reações pretendidas. Microcanais, microválvulas, microbombas, misturadores, microrreatores, aquecedores e outros componentes foram desenvolvidos para compor sistemas microfluídicos. Os microcanais construídos sobre a superfície de vidro BK7 vedados por uma lâmina de polidimetilsiloxano (PDMS) são a base dos sistemas microfluídicos. O controle de fluxo de reagentes é feito por miniválvulas pneumáticas controladas por um microcontrolador Arduino através de uma plataforma Labview. Este trabalho mostra os componentes desenvolvidos e dois sistemas microfluídicos criados. O primeiro contém um circuito capaz de replicar ensaios imunoenzimáticos (ELISA) com um custo muito menor de insumos. O segundo é um sistema para a produção de nanocristais fluorescentes de NaYF4 especialmente utilizados como marcadores em imagens de sistemas biológicos.The first stage of the project was to perform tests for controlled and optimized machining of borosilicate optical glass (BK7) by femtosecond laser. Parameters such as energy, number of overlapped pulses, and the focal position variation were investigated for a better extraction of material. Microchannels, microvalves, micropumps, mixers, reactors, heaters and other components were developed to compose applied microfluidic systems. Microchannels built on the surface of BK7 glass sealed by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet form the basis of the microfluidic circuits. The reagents flow control is done by pneumatic mini-valves controlled by an Arduino microcontroller through a Labview platform. This work shows the components developed and two microfluidic systems created. The first contains a microfluidic circuit capable of replicating enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with a much lower cost of materials. The second has a microfluidic circuit for the production of NaYF4 fluorescent nanocrystals specially used as markers in images of biologic systems

Developing a media strategy

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m01/31007 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

2010 W(h)ither financial services?

URN 99/768Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:f99/1829 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Workplace performance: a comparison of subjective and objective measures in the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey

Understanding what determines workplace performance is important for a variety of reasons. In the first place, it can inform the debate about the UK's low productivity growth. It also enables researchers to determine the efficacy of different organisational practices, policies and payment systems. In this article, we examine not the determinants of performance but how it is measured. Specifically, we assess the alternative measures of productivity and profitability that are available in the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS). Previous WERS have been an important source of data in research into workplace performance. However, the subjective nature of the performance measures available in WERS prior to 2004 has attracted criticism. In the 2004 WERS, data were again collected on the subjective measure but, in addition, objective data on profitability and productivity were also collected. This allows a comparison to be made between the two types of measures. A number of validity tests are undertaken and the main conclusion is that subjective and objective measures of performance are weakly equivalent but that differences are also evident. Our findings suggest that it would be prudent to give most weight to results supported by both types of measure

Unpacking the interplay between organisational factors and the economic environment in the creation of consumer vulnerability

Access to credit is a key enabler of modern life. Yet many consumers face factors beyond their control which sometimes render them unable to borrow from mainstream lenders. This paper documents how firm-related factors determine lending thresholds and shape who is, or is not, a creditworthy customer. The impact of the 2008 economic recession on lending decisions is explored, an aspect that has been insufficiently discussed even though recessions are cyclical events. Drawing on semiotics and using multiple case studies, the study captures not only the groups that were excluded but also the reasons for exclusion. Empirical support is offered for the notion of vulnerability as a fluid state and the role of the timing of decisions as a source of vulnerability is described

Organism, minimum inhibitory concentration, and outcome in a fungal corneal ulcer clinical trial.

PurposeTo analyze the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of isolates from fungal keratitis to natamycin and voriconazole and to assess the relationship between organism, MIC, and clinical outcome.MethodsData were collected as part of a randomized, controlled, double-masked clinical trial. Main outcome measures included best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, infiltrate/scar size, time to reepithelialization, and perforation. Speciation and analysis of MIC to natamycin and voriconazole were done according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute standards. The relationship between MIC and organism, organism and outcome measure, and each outcome measure and MIC were assessed.ResultsOf the 120 samples obtained in the trial, 84 isolates had an identifiable organism and were available for further analyses. Fusarium spp and Aspergillus spp were the most commonly isolated organisms. MIC was significantly different across the groups of organisms (P = 0.0001). A higher MIC was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of perforation [odds ratio (OR), 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-4.04; P = 0.04]. There was no significant association between MIC and 3-week visual acuity (OR, 0.058; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.13; P = 0.11), 3-month visual acuity (OR, 0.01; 95% CI,-0.08 to 1.04; P = 0.79), 3-week infiltrate/scar size (OR, 0.12, 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.27; P = 0.10), 3-month infiltrate/scar size (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.25; P = 0.09), or time to reepithelialization (hazards ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.98-1.45; P = 0.08).ConclusionA higher MIC was associated with an increased odds of perforation. The results of this study suggest that resistance to antifungal medication may be associated with worse outcomes in fungal keratitis