The divorce process: a view from the other side of the desk

Drawing on a research project in which forty clients were followed throughout the divorce process, this paper attempts to provide some insights into the perspective of the client. The analysis is focused on two specific issues, firstly the need of clients to receive understandable information and secondly, the overall aims of clients embarking on the divorce process.</p

The role of solicitors in divorce: a note of caution

Drawing on a research project in which 40 clients and their solicitors were followed throughout the divorce process, this article examines certain aspects of the role that is now performed by solicitors. Noting that solicitors appear to have modified and developed their practice, possibly as a result of the emergence and promotion of mediation, this article raises questions about how the most recent developments will meet the needs of the divorcing public.</p

Doing Good and Looking Good in Global Humanitarian Reporting: Is Philanthrojournalism good news?

This chapter investigates if and how a private donor’s apparent motivation to ‘look good’ – or to generate symbolic capital – interacts with a news organization’s ability to ‘do good’ by producing public service content. We address this issue by reporting on the findings of a year-long study of the online humanitarian news organisation – IRIN – as it became primarily funded by a new donor. We argue that whilst it is possible that the Foundation’s pursuit of symbolic capital may have had some effect on how IRIN sought to ‘do good’, it did not appear to affect the extent to which IRIN was either willing or able to ‘do good’. Indeed, our analysis makes clear that the influence of the Foundation only had an effect on IRIN when it combined with other factors, especially journalists’ own values and organizational strategies. Ultimately, this case highlights the limits of generalized claims about the likely influence of a donor’s desire to ‘look good’ on a news organization

CO2 removal by solid amine sorbents. 1: Experimental studies of amine resin IR-45 with regard to spacecraft applications. 2: Computer program for predicting the transient performance of solid amine sorbent systems

The sorbent behavior of solid amine resin IR-45 with regard to potential use in regenerative CO2-removal systems for manned spacecraft is considered. Measurements of equilibrium sorption capacity of IR-45 for water and for CO2 are reported, and the dynamic mass transfer behavior of IR-45 beds is studied under conditions representative of those expected in a manned spacecraft. A digital computer program was written for the transient performance prediction of CO2 removal systems comprised of solid amine beds. Also evaluated are systems employing inorganic molecular-sieve sorbents. Tests show that there is definitely an effect of water loading on the absorption rate

Atomic-phase interference devices based on ring-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates: Two ring case

We theoretically investigate the ground-state properties and quantum dynamics of a pair of adjacent ring-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates that are coupled via tunneling. This device, which is the analogue of a symmetric superconducting quantum interference device, is the simplest version of what we term an Atomic-Phase Interference Device (APHID). The two-ring APHID is shown to be sensitive to rotation.Comment: 8 page

Experimental Observation of Modulation Instability and Optical Spatial Soliton Arrays in Soft Condensed Matter

In this Letter we report observations of optically induced self-organization of colloidal arrays in the presence of un-patterned counter-propagating evanescent waves. The colloidal arrays formed along the laser propagation-axis are shown to be linked to the break-up of the incident field into optical spatial solitons, the lateral spacing of the arrays being related to modulation instability of the soft condensed matter system.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure

Peeling Back the Onion Competitive Advantage Through People: Test of a Causal Model

Proponents of the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm have identified human resource management (HRM) and human capital as organizational resources that can contribute to sustainable competitive success. A number of empirical studies have documented the relationship between systems of human resource policies and practices and firm performance. The mechanisms by which HRM leads to firm performance, however, remain largely unexplored. In this study, we explore the pathways leading from HRM to firm performance. Specifically, we use structural equation modeling to test a model positing a set of causal relationships between high performance work systems (HPWS), employee retention, workforce productivity and firm market value. Within a set of manufacturing firms, results indicate the primary impact of HPWS on productivity and market value is through its influence on employee retention

HRM and Firm Productivity: Does Industry Matter?

Recent years have witnessed burgeoning interest in the degree to which human resource systems contribute to organizational effectiveness. We argue that extant research has not fully considered important contextual conditions which moderate the efficacy of these practices. Specifically, we invoke a contingency perspective in proposing that industry characteristics affect the relative importance and value of high performance work practices (HPWPs). We test this proposition on a sample of non-diversified manufacturing firms. After controlling for the influence of a number of other factors, study findings support the argument that industry characteristics moderate the influence of HPWPs on firm productivity. Specifically, the impact of a system of HPWPs on firm productivity is significantly influenced by the industry conditions of capital intensity, growth and differentiation

Use tax collections

The article reports on a study which investigated the level of compliance with U.S. state use tax laws and the techniques employed by the states in order to enforce use tax. Most states utilize either of two forms of tax reporting and collection. These are: the introduction of a separate use tax form/return; or the use of a separate line on the state income tax return. It was observed that utilizing a separate line item on the state income tax return might cause a rise in the number of taxpayers