Resolving the UK construction skills crisis : a critical perspective on the research and policy agenda

The ongoing skills crisis in the UK construction industry has constrained the productive capacity of the industry. Past research and skills policies have largely failed to develop an understanding of the realities of the skills crisis at the grassroots level. Solutions offered by researchers and policy makers have previously had little demonstrable impact in addressing skills concerns. Much of these policies seems disconnected from the realities experienced by employers and by those working in the industry. A critical perspective on resolving the skills crisis is offered. A set of mutually reinforcing research and policy initiatives are proposed, including the need for researchers and policy makers to move away from the conventionally national approach in addressing the skills problem and to engage in genuine, joined-up thinking that meets the needs of local regions. Furthermore, employers and employees are called to be reflective practitioners in their participation of the skills development agenda. Adopting these recommendations could overcome many shortcomings in research and policy that have hitherto done little to combat the construction skills crisis.Skills shortages, critical perspective, bottom-up approach, labour market, research,

Scaling laws for molecular communication

In this paper, we investigate information-theoretic scaling laws, independent from communication strategies, for point-to-point molecular communication, where it sends/receives information-encoded molecules between nanomachines. Since the Shannon capacity for this is still an open problem, we first derive an asymptotic order in a single coordinate, i.e., i) scaling time with constant number of molecules $m$ and ii) scaling molecules with constant time $t$. For a single coordinate case, we show that the asymptotic scaling is logarithmic in either coordinate, i.e., $\Theta(\log t)$ and $\Theta(\log m)$, respectively. We also study asymptotic behavior of scaling in both time and molecules and show that, if molecules and time are proportional to each other, then the asymptotic scaling is linear, i.e., $\Theta(t)=\Theta(m)$.Comment: Accepted for publication in the 2014 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theor

Estimation of fractal dimension for a class of Non-Gaussian stationary processes and fields

We present the asymptotic distribution theory for a class of increment-based estimators of the fractal dimension of a random field of the form g{X(t)}, where g:R\to R is an unknown smooth function and X(t) is a real-valued stationary Gaussian field on R^d, d=1 or 2, whose covariance function obeys a power law at the origin. The relevant theoretical framework here is ``fixed domain'' (or ``infill'') asymptotics. Surprisingly, the limit theory in this non-Gaussian case is somewhat richer than in the Gaussian case (the latter is recovered when g is affine), in part because estimators of the type considered may have an asymptotic variance which is random in the limit. Broadly, when g is smooth and nonaffine, three types of limit distributions can arise, types (i), (ii) and (iii), say. Each type can be represented as a random integral. More specifically, type (i) can be represented as the integral of a certain random function with respect to Lebesgue measure; type (ii) can be represented as the integral of a second random functio

The diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis.

The syndrome of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) consists of chronic bronchitis (CB), bronchiectasis, emphysema, and reversible airway disease that combine uniquely in an individual patient. Older patients are at risk for COPD and its components--emphysema, CB, and bronchiectasis. Bacterial and viral infections play a role in acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) and in acute exacerbations of CB (AECB) without features of COPD. Older patients are at risk for resistant bacterial organisms during their episodes of AECOPD and AECB. Organisms include the more-common bacteria implicated in AECOPD/AECB such as Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Less-common nonenteric, gram-negative organisms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, gram-positive organisms including Staphylococcus aureus, and strains of nontuberculosis Mycobacteria are more often seen in AECOPD/AECB episodes involving elderly patients with frequent episodes of CB or those with bronchiectasis. Risk-stratified antibiotic treatment guidelines appear useful for purulent episodes of AECOPD and episodes of AECB. These guidelines have not been prospectively validated for the general population and especially not for the elderly population. Using a risk-stratification approach for elderly patients, first-line antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin, ampicillin, pivampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and doxycycline), with a more-limited spectrum of antibacterial coverage, are used in patients who are likely to have a low probability of resistant organisms during AECOPD/AECB. Second-line antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, second- or third-generation cephalosporins, and respiratory fluoroquinolones) with a broader spectrum of coverage are reserved for patients with significant risk factors for resistant organisms and those who have failed initial antibiotic treatment

ON THE COMPRESSION OF DIGITAL HOLOGRAMS

This thesis investigates the compression of computer-generated transmission holograms through lossless schemes such as the Burrows-Wheeler compression scheme (BWCS). Ever since Gabor’s discovery of holography, much research have been done to improve the record­ ing and viewing of holograms into more convenient uses such as video viewing. However, the compression of holograms where recording is performed from virtual scenes has not received much attention. Phase-shift digital holograms, on the other hand, have received more attention due to their practical application in object recognition, imaging, and video sequencing of phys­ ical objects. This study is performed for virtually recorded computer-generated holograms in order to understand compression factors in virtually recorded holograms. We also investigate application of lossless compression schemes to holograms with reduced precision for the in­ tensity and phase values. The overall objective is to explore the factors that affect effective compression of virtual holograms. As a result, this work can be used to assist in the design­ ing of better compression algorithms for applications such as virtual object simulations, video gaming application, and holographic video viewing

An Analytical Model Of Audits In Disclosure Of Pro Forma Earnings

Firms have discretion on financial reporting under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP. The proliferation in recent years of earnings metrics that deviate from GAAP figures confounds investors' ability to compare firm financial performance. Non-GAAP (or pro forma) figures usually do not include certain balance sheet or income statement items that are required under GAAP. Regulators and accounting standard-setting body are concerned that pro forma financial measures have been used by management to mislead investors by overstating or smoothing earnings or to meet Wall Street earnings expectations. On the other hand, management asserts that by excluding certain nonrecurring and noncash items, pro forma earnings are more relevant in measuring firm performance. Indeed, prior empirical studies provide evidence that certain pro forma measures may have incremental information content over GAAP earnings. Pro forma earnings are typically unaudited and the quality of disclosures accompanying such measures varies across firms. This paper develops an analytical (mathematical) model to examine whether firms will exhibit higher credibility through auditor selection when disclosing pro forma earnings. This study extends prior empirical literature by providing an analytical perspective on the importance of attestation performed by auditors regarding pro forma earnings. The model in this study suggests that managers who possess superior information than shareholders in an asymmetric information setting and expect high future earnings are more likely to engage large auditors when disclosing pro forma earnings. As such, the model may explain the voluntary disclosure of accounting information by managers in capital markets