2,173 research outputs found
Active and passive multispectral scanner for earth resources applications: An advanced applications flight experiment
The development of an experimental airborne multispectral scanner to provide both active (laser illuminated) and passive (solar illuminated) data from a commonly registered surface scene is discussed. The system was constructed according to specifications derived in an initial programs design study. The system was installed in an aircraft and test flown to produce illustrative active and passive multi-spectral imagery. However, data was not collected nor analyzed for any specific application
Exclusionary employment in Britainās broken labour market
There is growing evidence of the problematic nature of the UKās āflexible labour marketā with rising levels of in-work poverty and insecurity. Yet successive Governments have stressed that paid work is the route to inclusion, focussing attention on the divide between employed and unemployed. Past efforts to measure social exclusion have tended to make the same distinction. The aim of this paper is to apply Levitas et alās (2007) framework to assess levels of exclusionary employment, i.e. exclusion arising directly from an individualās labour market situation. Using data from the Poverty and Social Exclusion UK survey, results show that one in three adults in paid work is in poverty, or in insecure or poor quality employment. One third of this group have not seen any progression in their labour market situation in the last five years. The policy focus needs to shift from āBroken Britainā to Britainās broken labour market
Time and Time Functions in Parametrized Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
The ``evolving constants'' method of defining the quantum dynamics of
time-reparametrization-invariant theories is investigated for a particular
implementation of parametrized non-relativistic quantum mechanics (PNRQM). The
wide range of time functions that are available to define evolving constants
raises issues of interpretation, consistency, and the degree to which the
resulting quantum theory coincides with, or generalizes, the usual
non-relativistic theory. The allowed time functions must be restricted for the
predictions of PNRQM to coincide with those of usual quantum theory. They must
be restricted to have a notion of quantum evolution in a time-parameter
connected to spacetime geometry. They must be restricted to prevent the theory
from making inconsistent predictions for the probabilities of histories.
Suitable restrictions can be introduced in PNRQM but these seem unlikely to
apply to a reparametrization invariant theory like general relativity.Comment: 18pages, 1postscript figure in separate file, uses REVTEX 3.
What are the experiences of adults returning to work following recovery from Guillain-BarrƩ syndrome? An interpretative phenomenological analysis
This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2009 Informa UK Ltd.Purpose. Guillain-BarrƩ syndrome (GBS) is a transient inflammatory disorder affecting peripheral nerves, characterised by weakness and numbness in limbs, upper body and face. Residual problems affect a large minority, and complicate return to work. This qualitative study explored the experiences of people who returned to work following their diagnosis of GBS and recovery, to gain insight into factors that facilitated or inhibited this process.
Method. Five people participated in in-depth interviews. Individual and common experiences were explored through interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Findings. Three recurring themes are presented: the perceived value of work; losing and recovering a familiar identity at work; and dilemmas around using support and adaptations at work. Certain individual issues also emerged but are beyond the scope of this article. Participants tended to measure their recovery in terms of returning to work yet continued to experience certain physical and psychosocial difficulties at work related to GBS, which required active coping strategies. Limited public awareness of GBS was perceived as a hindrance when returning to work.
Conclusion. This study provides a rich account of the experiences that people encounter returning to work following GBS. Rehabilitation specialists may offer more effective preparation for this process, drawing upon the issues identified
Transnationalism and Social Work Education
Transnational movements, networks, and relationships are everywhere in this āworld on the moveā (Williams & Graham, 2014, p. i1). Transnational peoples maintain relationships of interdependence and support with families and communities in their places of origin, often returning regularly, while starting new lives and making new connections. Transnationalism is characterized by mobilities and networks, by social integration, and by extended and extensive relationship ties of family, neighborhood, religious faith, or combinations thereof (Valtonen, 2008). While disciplines across the world including sociology, human geography, and cultural anthropology engage with the implications of transnationalism (Baubƶck & Faist, 2010), social work in England and mainland Europe has not achieved similar levels of engagement. As Cox and Geisen state: āthe social world is being transformed by migration and social work is playing catch-upā (2014, p. i162)
Moral Argument and the Justification of Policy:New Labourās Case for Welfare Reform
This article proposes a framework for exploring how politicians use moral arguments to win support for their policies. It proceeds from the premise that the formulation of such arguments is mediated by three factors that constitute a general context of justification - āideology,ā āargumentationā and āhegemonic competition.ā For analytical purposes, the framework reconstructs the process of justification as one in which argumentative strategies are selected, modified and utilised in the light of these factors. The framework is applied to New Labourās case for the New Deals and Flexible New Deal. The analysis reveals that these initiatives and the moral arguments used to promote them are broadly consistent with New Labourās ideology; the arguments are appropriate to the policies; and that New Labour succeeded in setting the agenda on welfare reform
Womenās experiences of menopause at work and performance management
Presenting findings from our global evidence review of menopause transition and economic participation emboldened us to establish a menopause policy at the university where we all worked at the time. Our report was published in July 2017 and the policy was in place by November that year. Our critical reflection on this activism focuses on issues that are not commonly recognized around such interventions, and which we ourselves have only been able to acknowledge through engaged action. Challenges remain in normalizing menopause in organizations, specifically around gendered ageism and performance management. In drawing on Meyerson and Kolbās framework for understanding gender in organizations, we highlight how policies are both vital and yet insufficient in and of themselves in revising the dominant discourse around menopause at work. At the same time, we highlight the importance and shortcomings of academic activism within these processes
Band Crossing and Novel Low-Energy Behaviour in a Mean Field Theory of a Three-Band Model on a Cu--O lattice
We study correlation effects in a three-band extended Hubbard model of Cu --
O planes within the 1/N mean field approach, in the infinite U limit. We
investigate the emerging phase diagram and discuss the low energy scales
associated with each region. With increasing direct overlap between oxygen
orbitals, , the solution displays a band crossing which, for an
extended range of parameters, lies close to the Fermi level. In turn this leads
to the nearly nested character of the Fermi surface and the resulting linear
temperature dependence of the quasi-particle relaxation rate for sufficiently
large T. We also discuss the effect of band crossing on the optical
conductivity and comment on the possible experimental relevance of our
findings.Comment: 12 pages, Latex-Revtex, 6 PostScript figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Moduli stabilization with positive vacuum energy
We study the effect of anomalous U(1) gauge groups in string theory
compactification with fluxes. We find that, in a gauge invariant formulation,
consistent AdS vacua appear breaking spontaneously supergravity. Non vanishing
D-terms from the anomalous symmetry act as an uplifting potential and could
allow for de Sitter vacua. However, we show that in this case the gravitino is
generically (but not always) much heavier than the electroweak scale. We show
that alternative uplifting scheme based on corrections to the Kahler potential
can be compatible with a gravitino mass in the TeV range.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figur
The impact of the direct payment of housing benefit: evidence from Great Britain
In recent years, a number of welfare reforms have been introduced in the UK by Conservative-led governments. The most high profile of these is Universal Credit (UC), which is currently being rolled out across the country. A key feature of UC is a change in the way the income-related housing allowance for social housing tenants (Housing Benefit) is administered, as under UC, it is paid directly to tenants (direct payment), who are responsible for paying their rent. This represents a step change for them as for more than 30 years landlord payment has been the norm in the UK. There has been little research into direct payment. This paper seeks to address this gap in knowledge by presenting the key findings of an initiative designed to trial direct payment. It finds that many tenants experienced difficulties on direct payment. Reflecting this, landlords' arrears rose markedly
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