A Complexity Science Based Approach to Programme Risk Management

Programme management has rapidly gained acceptance as a vehicle for achieving organisational strategic objectives and as a means of aligning projects with the overall strategy of the organisation. Managing programme risk poses challenges which are different from those in project management. Attempts to modify and apply project risk management techniques to programme risk management have experienced difficulties. The implications of the challenges of programme risk management extend beyond the tools and techniques. Recent research shows that that programme management is neither an extension, nor a scaled up version of project management. Philosophically, a paradigm shift from the predominantly mechanistic and reductionist mindset to a more appropriate paradigm based on complexity science and the theory of complex adaptive systems is required. This leads to the conclusion that the classic event based view of risk is inappropriate in modelling and analysing programme risk which need to be treated as holistic and dynamic

Flexoelectric polarisation effects in nematic liquid crystal phase gratings

Nematic phase gratings have been studied in which a planar nematic layer of thickness 17.2 μm is sandwiched between two glass substrates coated with an alignment polymer. The upper substrate is a continuous earth plane and the lower substrate has a patterned electrode of interdigitated stripes (electrodes and gaps are both 40 μm wide). Reorientation of the nematic liquid crystal occurs in response to d.c. electric fields applied between the interdigitated electrodes. These nematic reorientation regions have been used to investigate the influence of the flexoelectric polarisation in the nematic liquid crystal by observing the resultant (i) movement of tilt fringes in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and (ii) optical diffraction patterns. In the Mach-Zehnder interferometer the periodic variation of the refractive index resulting from the periodic distortion profile is measured directly from the displacement of the tilt fringes. The asymmetry in the response to positive and negative polarities of the d.c. voltage for both measurement techniques is directly related to the sum of the flexoelectric coefficients, e1 + e3

Bromsgrove Aquifer Groundwater Modelling Study : results from Task 1.1 3D visualisation and geological framework of the Bromsgrove Aquifer

The Bromsgrove Sandstone aquifer is over-abstracted. This has resulted in a long-term fall in groundwater levels, the reduction or loss of baseflow and the derogation of surface water features. To support flows in Battlefield Brook (a BAP site and notable amenity feature in Bromsgrove), Bow Brook (BAP site) and water levels in Hewell Grange Lake (SSSI), four alleviation of low-flow (ALF) boreholes are operated (one by the Environment Agency and three by Severn Trent Water). These ALF boreholes were installed as short term measures, prior to the implementation of a long-term solution to reduce the impacts of groundwater abstraction on surface water features which is under discussion between the water company and the Environment Agency. In 2001 an existing groundwater model of the Bromsgrove Sandstone aquifer (developed by Birmingham University in 1990) was adopted and updated as part of the Environment Agency Midlands Region Groundwater Modelling Strategy. However, monitoring data collected since 2002 has shown that this groundwater model does not accurately simulate groundwater flows and levels in critical areas. The Bromsgrove aquifer groundwater modelling project aims to develop a new groundwater model that will be used to determine a more optimal groundwater abstraction regime which benefits the surface water environment, with the minimum of overall groundwater abstraction reduction and affordability. The British Geological Survey (BGS) was contracted to undertake Environment Agency Task 1.1 of the Bromsgrove aquifer groundwater modelling study, namely the production of a three dimensional geological model of the investigation area. The model was specified to cover the outcrop of the Bromsgrove Sandstone Formation, the outcrop of the Clent Formation to the north and the confined Sherwood Sandstone Group to the west. The geographical limits of the area are approximately Droitwich Spa and Astwood Bank in the south (Northing 261550) and Rubery in the north (Northing 279560), Elmley Lovett (Easting 387134) in the west and Redditch (Easting 405456) in the east. The outline of the project area is given in Figure 1. The 3D geological model will be used in a concurrent Task (Task 1.2) to develop the conceptual model of groundwater flow between the principal formations of the Bromsgrove Sandstone aquifer system, as well as providing the geometrical information for building the groundwater model (Task 2). This report outlines the methods used in the BGS 3D geological visualisation work and provides a brief summary of the stratigraphy, facies relationships and structure of the bedrock geology. Much of the information in the report has not been published before, and results from an extensive reinterpretation of existing borehole lithological descriptions and geophysical logs. The model integrates information from BGS 1:50000 geological sheets (E167 Dudley, E168 Birmingham, E182 Droitwich and E183 Redditch), borehole descriptions derived from core or cuttings, geophysical logs and NEXTMap digital terrain data. Published information on the regional geological framework was also incorporated into the model (e.g. Old et al., 1991, Old et al. 1987, Powell et al. 2000)

Small State Discourses in the International Political Economy.

yesThis article supports growing calls to ‘take small states seriously’ in the international political economy but questions prevailing interpretations that ‘smallness’ entails inherent qualities that create unique constraints on, and opportunities for, small states. Instead, we argue that discourses surrounding the ‘inherent vulnerability’ of small states, especially developing and less-developed states, may produce the very outcomes that are attributed to state size itself. By presenting small states as a problem to be solved, vulnerability discourses divert attention away from the existence of unequal power structures that, far from being the natural result of smallness, are in fact contingent and politically contested. The article then explores these themes empirically through discussion of small developing and less-developed states in the Commonwealth and the World Trade Organization (WTO), considering in particular how smallness has variously been articulated in terms of what small states either cannot or will not do

Corporeal Capitalism: The Body in International Political Economy

yesThis themed section takes as its starting point the premise that the body matters in International Political Economy (IPE) and presents four original articles which support and illustrate this ontologically critical and, perhaps, provocative position. Although feminist scholarship has undoubtedly gained a place at the table in IPE, it is curious that one of the most important concerns, and contributions, of feminist IPE – that global capitalism is marked upon, and forged through, bodies – has not emerged as a major preoccupation for the discipline more broadly. In what follows we present what we believe is a strong corrective to that inattention and, in so doing we hope to begin to set out an exploratory agenda for the body to be both foundational and fundamental to contemporary IPE

Biodiversity of nematode assemblages from the region of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, an area of commercial mining interest

BACKGROUND: The possibility for commercial mining of deep-sea manganese nodules is currently under exploration in the abyssal Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone. Nematodes have potential for biomonitoring of the impact of commercial activity but the natural biodiversity is unknown. We investigate the feasibility of nematodes as biomonitoring organisms and give information about their natural biodiversity. RESULTS: The taxonomic composition (at family to genus level) of the nematode fauna in the abyssal Pacific is similar, but not identical to, the North Atlantic. Given the immature state of marine nematode taxonomy, it is not possible to comment on the commonality or otherwise of species between oceans. The between basin differences do not appear to be directly linked to current ecological factors. The abyssal Pacific region (including the Fracture Zone) could be divided into two biodiversity subregions that conform to variations in the linked factors of flux to the benthos and of sedimentary characteristics. Richer biodiversity is associated with areas of known phytodetritus input and higher organic-carbon flux. Despite high reported sample diversity, estimated regional diversity is less than 400 species. CONCLUSION: The estimated regional diversity of the CCFZ is a tractable figure for biomonitoring of commercial activities in this region using marine nematodes, despite the immature taxonomy (i.e. most marine species have not been described) of the group. However, nematode ecology is in dire need of further study

Lead, zinc and copper mineralisation in basal Carboniferous sediments at Westwater, south Scotland

A zioneo f lead, zinc and copperm ineralisatioins developedo ver a minimum I of 4 km of strikeo f basal Carboniferoucse mentstoneg roup sedimentsa nd immediatelyu nderlyingB irrenswarkL avas atwestwater,n ear Laqholm in south Scotland. Grades so far obtained from sparse rock exposures and from shallow boreholes a fissure sulphides are usuallyO .l-O.j%o f combinedm etals over 1-2 m of thickness,bu t vein of higher grade and a relativelyt hick zone of disseminated were also located. Galena, sphalerite,c halcopyritea ndbaryte occur mainly in thin dolomitev eins but disseminationosf galenaa re also presenti n sandstoneu nits. The mineralisatioins of low temperaturet ype I was emplaceda long northeasterlyt rendingn ormal faultsa nd cross faults regardeda s late Carboniferouisn age. and Mineralisatiohna s been controlledb y faulting,r egionalf aciesv aziation and local lithologicalv ariationa s well as by stratigraphipco sition. These controlsa re applicablei n furthere xplorationo f Lower Carboniferourso cks in both south and central Scotland. The heavy mineral fraction of stream sediment is the optimums amplingt ype in reconnaissanceex plorationo f areas of calcareous . rocks such as the Lower Carboniferouso f south Scotlanda nd basal till sampling is the most effectivem ethod of follow-upe xplorationi n those areas where glaciald epositsa re widespreada nd often thick

Investigation of stratiform sulphide mineralisation at Meall Mor, South Knapdale, Argyll

A co-ordinated geochemical-geophysical-geological investigation of copper mineralisation in the Meal1 ?46r area, South Knapdale, Argyll was carried 0th in 1976 and followed by a drilling programme of 3 shallow holes in early 1977. The mineralisation occursin a zone of weak stratiform sulphide mineralisation (the pyrite zone) with a strike length of 1Okm in the Upper &ins Quartz&e of the Middle Dalradian. The geochemical drainage survey showed the existence of a strongly anomalous distribution of Cu and Sb in the Abhainn Srathain draining south from . Meal1 M&- and detailed soil sampling over the pyrite zone outlined a broad area enriched in copper. Deeper soil sampling confirmed the anomalously high copper values and a coincident IP anomaly was found stretching from Meal1 M& south to the old mine workings on Abhainn Srathain, and is probably caused by a local enrichment of pyrite and chalcopyrite within the pyrite zone. Three boreholes were drilled; two on coincident geochemical and geophysical anomalies, and the third beneath the old mines at Abhainn Srathain. Copper values in the first two holes range up to 0.24% Cu over 4.27m, but up to 1.06% Cu over 2.67m in the third and this enrichment may be related to a later remobilisation of the disseminated chalcopyrite. The results of subsequent drilling at two other sites are given in Appendix III

Pro Con debates in clinical medicine Infection prevention and control in cystic fibrosis: one size fits all? The argument against

As awareness of the risks of cross infection has increased, infection prevention and control measures have become more draconian. Infection control measures can have a profound effect of the organisation and delivery of CF services and on the lives of people with CF outside the hospital. However, the consequences of inadequate infection control measures may be the permanent acquisition of a chronic infection which is virtually untreatable. Recommendations for infection prevention and control therefore must protect patients but should also be evidence-based and proportionate. This article will review the literature, juxtaposing evidence and popular practice