On how leakage can affect the Star Formation Rate estimation using Halpha luminosity

We present observational evidence that leakage of ionising photons from star-forming regions can affect the quantification of the star formation rate (SFR) in galaxies. This effect could partially explain the differences between the SFR estimates using the far ultraviolet (FUV) and the Halpha emission. We find that leakage could decrease the SFR(Ha)/SFR(FUV) ratio by up to a 25 per cent. The evidence is based on the observation that the SFR(Ha)/SFR(FUV) ratio is lower for objects showing a shell Halpha structure than for regions exhibiting a much more compact morphology. The study has been performed on three object samples: low luminosity dwarf galaxies from the Local Volume Legacy survey and star-forming regions in the Large Magellanic Cloud and the nearby Local Group galaxy M33. For the three samples we find differences (1.1-1.4sigma) between the SFR(Ha)/SFR(FUV) for compact and shell objects. Although leakage cannot entirely explain the observed trend of SFR(Ha)/SFR(FUV) ratios for systems with low SFR, we show the mechanism can lead to different SFR estimates when using Halpha and FUV luminosities. Therefore, further study is needed to constrain the contribution of leakage to the low SFR(Ha)/SFR(FUV) ratios observed in dwarf galaxies and its impact on the Halpha flux as a SFR indicator in such objects.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in MNRA

The role of war in deep transitions: exploring mechanisms, imprints and rules in sociotechnical systems

This paper explores in what ways the two world wars influenced the development of sociotechnical systems underpinning the culmination of the first deep transition. The role of war is an underexplored aspect in both the Techno-Economic Paradigms (TEP) approach and the Multi-level perspective (MLP) which form the two key conceptual building blocks of the Deep Transitions (DT) framework. Thus, we develop a conceptual approach tailored to this particular topic which integrates accounts of total war and mechanisms of war from historical studies and imprinting from organisational studies with the DT framework’s attention towards rules and meta-rules. We explore in what ways the three sociotechnical systems of energy, food, and transport were affected by the emergence of new demand pressures and logistical challenges during conditions of total war; how war impacted the directionality of sociotechnical systems; the extent to which new national and international policy capacities emerged during wartime in the energy, food, and transport systems; and the extent to which these systems were influenced by cooperation and shared sacrifice under wartime conditions. We then explore what lasting changes were influenced by the two wars in the energy, food, and transport systems across the transatlantic zone. This paper seeks to open up a hitherto neglected area in analysis on sociotechnical transitions and we discuss the importance of further research that is attentive towards entanglements of warfare and the military particularly in the field of sustainability transitions

Executive coaching: Towards a dynamic alliance of psychotherapy and transformative learning processes

Coaching is emerging as a major professional development and performance enhancement process. There are, however, few professional development programmes aimed at coaches themselves, and no internationally recognised qualification or professional standard. Much of the literature on coaching has been written by those with a human psychology perspective, and particularly psychotherapeutic approaches to support. Yet some psychotherapeutic processes assume longer-term relationships between the coach and the coachee. Many businesses and managers themselves, however, seek focussed solutions to immediate problems. This article offers adult learning theory, and specifically transformative learning, as an alternative or parallel theoretical model for underpinning the coaching processes. All coaches, however, need to be aware that the coaching process may open up deep-seated anxieties, some of which are more appropriately addressed by a psychotherapeutic approach. Hence, a dynamic network model of coaching is proposed, in which psychotherapists and non-therapists collaborate to facilitate their mutual professional coaching development, learning and support

Intertwining of Internet of Things and consumers’ behaviour science: The future promises for Businesses

Destructive changes and breakthrough innovations are embraced in the development of Internet of Things (IoTs). These network-connected smart devices or machine-learning algorithms transfer information on consumers to the Internet by small sensors and computing processors. Companies thus track consumers' behaviour and offer personalised products and services. However, consumers are still sceptical in using these devices due to privacy risks and a dearth of awareness about the technologies' perceived value. Therefore, to overcome these barriers, the research seeks to measure the relationships among the elements that affect customers' willingness and decisions to use IoTs-based products. On the basis of motivation theories, two categories of motivational factors are individuated: extrinsic factors such as entertainment and social interaction and intrinsic factors such as information acquisition, privacy risk, and technology readiness level. They are analysed using a sample of 782 early-adopter customers in Italy. The aim is to offer an explorative, quantitative study on the IoTs to enhance the existing knowledge and support business in the process of engaging more users and creating new personalised products. In line with this, the study's implications, limits, and recommendations for further research are presented