The labor market regimes of Denmark and Norway – one Nordic model?

The literature on the Danish and Norwegian labor market systems emphasizes the commonalities of the two systems. We challenge this perception by investigating how employers in multinational companies in Denmark and Norway communicate with employees on staffing changes. We argue that the development of ‘flexicurity’ in Denmark grants Danish employers considerably greater latitude in engaging in staffing changes than its Nordic counterpart, Norway. Institutional theory leads us to suppose that large firms located in the Danish setting will be less likely to engage in employer–employee communication on staffing plans than their Norwegian counterparts. In addition, we argue that in the Danish context indigenous firms will have a better insight into the normative and cognitive aspects to flexicurity than foreign-owned firms, meaning that they are more likely to engage in institutional entrepreneurialism than their foreign owned counterparts. We supplement institutional theory with an actor perspective in order to take into account the role of labor unions. Our analysis is based on a survey of 203 firms in Norway and Denmark which are either indigenous multinational companies or the subsidiaries of foreign multinational companies. The differences we observe cause us to conclude that the notion of a common Nordic model is problematic

Statistical Anisotropy from Anisotropic Inflation

We review an inflationary scenario with the anisotropic expansion rate. An anisotropic inflationary universe can be realized by a vector field coupled with an inflaton, which can be regarded as a counter example to the cosmic no-hair conjecture. We show generality of anisotropic inflation and derive a universal property. We formulate cosmological perturbation theory in anisotropic inflation. Using the formalism, we show anisotropic inflation gives rise to the statistical anisotropy in primordial fluctuations. We also explain a method to test anisotropic inflation using the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB).Comment: 32 pages, 5 figures, invited review for CQG, published versio

Forms of participation – the development and application of a conceptual model of participation in work environment interventions

In the realm of work environment improvements, the Nordic countries have led the way in demonstrating that employee participation is a key requisite for achieving improvements. Despite this there is a lack of precision on what ‘participatory’ in a participatory work environment intervention means. In this study, we present a conceptual model for participation in work environment interventions and apply it to protocols and manuals from 8 participatory interventions to determine the form of participation used in each intervention. We suggest that the conceptual model can be applied in the design and assessment of participatory work environment interventions

Clinical applications of two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Abstract High-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis has been used in our institute to study sera from patients with multiple myelomas; cerebrospinal fluid from patients with different neurological disorders; blister fluid, dermis, and epidermis from patients with skin diseases; and biopsies from brain tumors; and to search for tumor-associated proteins in cancer biopsies and pre-cancer sera. The method differentiates between all main types of immunoglobulins and gives rise to protein patterns for cerebrospinal fluid that may carry diagnostic information. The pattern of proteins in serum and blister fluid is almost identical, confirming that the latter is a filtrate of serum. We also analyzed sera collected from patients several years before it was clinically recognized that they had cancer (JANUS serum bank), in an attempt to find tumor-associated proteins in serum at an early stage of the disease. We encountered difficulties in detecting trace proteins, due to masking effects of such major serum-protein constituents as albumin. A combination of computerized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis is capable of mapping compounds of both low and high molecular mass. Used in combination with pattern-recognition analysis, the complete multicomponent analytical system opens the possibility of diagnosing diseased cells solely on the basis of differences in their biochemical composition.</jats:p

The Marine Gas Turbine Regenerator Material and Fabrication Considerations

Gas turbine heat exchangers of the stationary and rotary types are used to increase power-plant thermal efficiency. Economic justification for the use of regenerative equipment depends on the criteria of initial cost and component life. Materials selection and fabricating techniques must be in accord with cost and life objectives. In this regard, the U. S. Navy Ship Systems Command has sponsored a program to investigate the particular problems associated with marine gas turbine heat exchangers. This paper presents the results of the investigation to date.</jats:p

Two-dimensional electrophoretic patterns of proteins of normal mucosa, polyps, and carcinomas of the large intestine.

Abstract Two-dimensional protein maps of biopsies from normal mucosa, tubular adenomas (polyps), and colonic carcinomas in humans have been studied in order to obtain information on the possible precancerous role of intestinal polyps. The maps are complex and several hundred protein spots are seen after staining with Coomassie Blue. Most of the spots are common to these three tissue types, but there are also differences. Polyps and carcinomas had a strikingly similar protein pattern, different from that of normal mucosa. There were negligible differences in the two-dimensional protein maps of tubular adenomas from patients who also had colonic cancer, as compared with adenomas from persons without carcinomas. The results lend further support to the hypothesis that polyps may be precursors of carcinomas of the large intestine.</jats:p

Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of human leukocyte proteins from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract Human leukocyte proteins from more than 150 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, together with age- and sex-matched controls, were analyzed by use of the ISO-DALT technique in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, psoriatic arthritis, calcium tendinitis, post-infectious arthritis, and asymmetrical seronegative arthritis were also included as positive controls. Synthesis of several proteins, referred to by number as members of the "Rheuma" set, is shown to increase in the leukocyte preparations from patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis. Several of these proteins are specific to monocytes or granulocytes; others are of unknown cellular origin, but appear to be unique to rheumatoid arthritis. The Rheuma proteins appear to be indicators of disease activity, because their increased synthesis can be correlated with sedimentation rate and other clinical indices of rheumatoid disease activity.</jats:p

Net Section Rings for Gas Turbines by Isothermal Rolling

Isothermal rolling is performed with refractory metal rolls and uses electrical resistance to heat a local region of the roll and the workpiece for shaping. Reductions of 90 percent per pass can be achieved by this process using forced feed of the workpiece into the rolls. Ring rolling is performed with a small modification of the equipment, and many of the processes used to roll straight sections have been applied to rings. Isothermal ring rolling starts with readily available barstock that is cold rolled to a circular blank and fusion welded. Isothermal rolling works the weld and produces a net shape of high quality. Very significant savings result from reduced metal consumption and elimination of major machining costs. Two methods of gage control and two methods of diametrical control are discussed. Circumferential control within 0.01 percent has been demonstrated, although subsequent stress relief and sizing by cold expanding are recommended in most cases. Examples of ring rolling in steel, titanium, and superalloys are described.</jats:p