The All China Federation of Trade Unions: the challenge of labour unrest

This thesis sets out to investigate the possibility that the All China Federation of Trade Unions is capable of reform in the face of the development of capitalist employment relations. The thesis is centred on the examination of hitherto under-researched areas of ACFTU activity by researching the motivations, conditions and actors involved in three local-level pilot projects: collective bargaining, a trade union rights centre and enterprise-level trade union elections. The fieldwork is contextualised by historical summaries of the development of China‟s industrial relations and Party and trade union responses to labour unrest in both the state and private sectors since the establishment of the People‟s Republic in 1949. The results of my research demonstrate that it is no longer appropriate to refer to the ACFTU as a monolithic organisation. Furthermore, my argument departs from mainstream views of the organisation by locating the impetus for trade union reform in the challenge of increasingly sophisticated labour militancy from below, rather than reacting to orders from above. I conclude that while the pilot projects studied each have their own merits and qualifications, taken as a whole they prove that the ACFTU is capable of gradual reform from below. In the light of the improved relations between the ACFTU and the International Trade Union Confederation, this thesis speaks to this fact and aims to contribute to future engagements by expanding the knowledge on which dialogue and trade union exchanges must be based if they are to have any chance of success

The All China Federation of Trade Unions : the challenge of labour unrest

This thesis sets out to investigate the possibility that the All China Federation of Trade Unions is capable of reform in the face of the development of capitalist employment relations. The thesis is centred on the examination of hitherto under-researched areas of ACFTU activity by researching the motivations, conditions and actors involved in three local-level pilot projects: collective bargaining, a trade union rights centre and enterprise-level trade union elections. The fieldwork is contextualised by historical summaries of the development of China‟s industrial relations and Party and trade union responses to labour unrest in both the state and private sectors since the establishment of the People‟s Republic in 1949. The results of my research demonstrate that it is no longer appropriate to refer to the ACFTU as a monolithic organisation. Furthermore, my argument departs from mainstream views of the organisation by locating the impetus for trade union reform in the challenge of increasingly sophisticated labour militancy from below, rather than reacting to orders from above. I conclude that while the pilot projects studied each have their own merits and qualifications, taken as a whole they prove that the ACFTU is capable of gradual reform from below. In the light of the improved relations between the ACFTU and the International Trade Union Confederation, this thesis speaks to this fact and aims to contribute to future engagements by expanding the knowledge on which dialogue and trade union exchanges must be based if they are to have any chance of success.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

2-Pyridyl substituents enhance the activity of palladium-phospha-adamantane catalysts for the methoxycarbonylation of phenylacetylene

The pyridyl-N in Pt and Pd complexes of CgP(2-py) can be protonated or can coordinate to form a P,N-chelate; these features are linked with the carbonylation catalysis results.</p

Pars plana vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and synthesis of safety literature

Purpose. To assess the risk and benefit of pars plana vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods. We conducted a systematic literature review using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Database of Controlled Trials until September 2014. The population was patients with DME, intervention vitrectomy, comparator macular laser or observation, and efficacy outcome visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT). Safety outcomes were intra- and postoperative surgical complications. The efficacy meta-analysis included only randomized controlled trials. The safety analysis included prospective, retrospective, controlled and uncontrolled studies. Results. Five studies were eligible for the efficacy meta-analysis (n = 127 eyes) and 40 for the safety analysis (n = 1,562 eyes). Combining follow up intervals from 6 to 12 months, the meta-analysis found a non-significant 2 letter visual acuity difference favoring vitrectomy, and a significant 102 micron greater reduction in CRT favoring vitrectomy, but a post-hoc subgroup analysis found that a 6 month CRT benefit reversed by 12 months. The most frequent complications were retinal break (7.1%), elevated intraocular pressure (5.2%), epiretinal membrane (3.3%), and vitreous hemorrhage (2.4%). Cataract developed in 68.6% of 121 phakic eyes. Conclusions. Vitrectomy produces structural and functional improvements in select eyes with DME, but the visual gains are not significantly better than with laser or observation. No major safety concerns were identified

Osteosarcoma Associated With Diamond-Blackfan Anaemia: A Case of a Child Receiving Growth Hormone Therapy

Purpose: Diamond–Blackfan anaemia (DBA) is a rare pure congenital red cell aplasia, usually presenting in infancy or early childhood. The literature suggests a predisposition to haemopoietic malignancy but in addition solid tumours have been reported, with five cases of osteosarcoma described

Palladium–catalysed alkyne alkoxycarbonylation with P,N chelating ligands revisited : a density functional theory study

Authors thank EaStCHEM and the School of Chemistry for support. The Bristol Chemical Synthesis Centre for Doctoral Training (BCS CDT) funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/G036764/1) and the University of Bristol are thanked for a PhD studentship (to T. A. S.).A revised in situ base mechanism of alkyne alkoxycarbonylation via a Pd catalyst with hemilabile P,N-ligands (PyPPh2, Py = 2-pyridyl) has been fully characterised at the B3PW91-D3/PCM level of density functional theory. Key intermediates on this route are acryloyl (η3-propen-1-oyl) complexes that readily undergo methanolysis. With two hemilabile P,N-ligands and one of them protonated, the overall computed barrier is 24.5 kcal mol-1, which decreases to 20.3 kcal mol-1 upon protonation of the second P,N-ligand. This new mechanism is consistent with all of the experimental data relating to substituent effects on relative reaction rates and branched/linear selectivities, including new results on the methoxycarbonylation of phenylacetylene using (4-NMe2Py)PPh2 and (6-Cl-Py)PPh2 ligand. This ligand is found to decrease catalytic activity over PyPPh2, thus invalidating a formerly characterised in situ base mechanism.PostprintPeer reviewe

Hercules X-1: Empirical Models of UV Emission Lines

The UV emission lines of Hercules X-1, resolved with the HST GHRS and STIS, can be divided into broad (FWHM 750 km/s) and narrow (FWHM 150 km/s) components. The broad lines can be unambiguously identified with emission from an accretion disk which rotates prograde with the orbit. The narrow lines, previously identified with the X-ray illuminated atmosphere of the companion star, are blueshifted at both phi=0.2 and phi=0.8 and the line flux at phi=0.2 is 0.2 of the flux at phi=0.8. Line ratio diagnostics show that the density of the narrow line region is log n=13.4+/-0.2 and the temperature is T=1.0+/-0.2x10^5 K. The symmetry of the eclipse ingress suggests that the line emission on the surface of the disk is left-right symmetric relative to the orbit. Model fits to the O V, Si IV, and He II line profiles agree with this result, but fits to the N V lines suggest that the receding side of the disk is brighter. We note that there are narrow absorption components in the N V lines with blueshifts of 500 km/s.Comment: To be published in the Astrophysical Journa

Acute Care Surgery Patterns in the Current Era: Results of a Qualitative Study

Introduction: Since Acute Care Surgery (ACS) was first conceptualized as a specialty a decade ago, ACS teams have been widely adopted. Little is known about the structure and function of these teams. Methods: We conducted 18 open-ended interviews with ACS leaders (1 interview/center representing geographic [New England, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, West, Midwest] and practice [Public/Charity, Community, University] variations). Two independent reviewers analyzed transcribed interviews using an inductive approach to determine major themes in practice variation (NVivo qualitative analysis software). Results: All respondents described ACS as a specialty treating time sensitive surgical disease including trauma, emergency general surgery (EGS), and surgical critical care (SCC). 11/18 combined trauma and EGS into a single clinical team; 6/18 included elective general surgery. Emergency orthopedics, neurosurgery, and triage for all surgical services were rare (1/18 each). 11/18 had blocked OR time. All had a core group of trauma and SCC surgeons; 8/18 shared EGS due to volume, manpower, or competition for EGS call. Many (12/18) had formal morning signout rounds; few (2/18) had prospective EGS data registries. Streamlined access to EGS, evidence-based EGS protocols, and improved communication were considered strengths of ACS. ACS was described as the last great surgical service reinvigorated to provide timely, cost-effective EGS by experts in resuscitation and critical care and to attract young, talented, eager surgeons to trauma and SCC; however, there was concern that it might become the waste basket for everything that happens at inconvenient times. Conclusion: Despite rapid adoption of ACS, its implementation varies widely. Standardization of scope of practice, continuity of care, and registry development may improve EGS outcomes and allow the specialty to thrive

Direct cost of pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of macular hole, epiretinal membrane and vitreomacular traction: a bottom-up approach

Purpose The direct cost to the National Health Service (NHS) in England of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is unknown since a bottom-up costing exercise has not been undertaken. Healthcare resource group (HRG) costing relies on a top-down approach. We aimed to quantify the direct cost of intermediate complexity PPV. Methods Five NHS vitreoretinal units prospectively recorded all consumables, equipment and staff salaries during PPV undertaken for vitreomacular traction, epiretinal membrane and macular hole. Out-of-surgery costs between admission and discharge were estimated using a representative accounting method. Results The average patient time in theatre for 57 PPVs was 72 min. The average in-surgery cost for staff was £297, consumables £619, and equipment £82 (total £997). The average out-of-surgery costs were £260, including nursing and medical staff, other consumables, eye drops and hospitalisation. The total cost was therefore £1634, including 30 % overheads. This cost estimate was an under-estimate because it did not include out-of-theatre consumables or equipment. The average reimbursed HRG tariff was £1701. Conclusions The cost of undertaking PPV of intermediate complexity is likely to be higher than the reimbursed tariff, except for hospitals with high throughput, where amortisation costs benefit from economies of scale. Although this research was set in England, the methodology may provide a useful template for other countries