The influence of 'soft' fair work regulation on union recovery: a case of re-recognition in the Scottish voluntary social care sector

This longitudinal case study contributes to debates concerning how ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ forms of regulation can interact to contribute to the advancement of worker rights. More specifically, the article explores the contribution of Scotland’s ‘soft’ fair work (FW) programme and the UK’s ‘hard’ statutory recognition procedure to union re-recognition in a voluntary sector social care provider. In combination, ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ regulation are found to have added breadth to the pressures for re-recognition exerted by the union, bringing reputational and financial costs associated with derecognition to the employer. Concerns nevertheless arose regarding the depth of impact from this interaction due to union compromises on key issues in the final recognition agreement. Due to the specific public service context of the study, doubts are also expressed regarding the potential for unions in other hard to organise sectors to achieve similar outcomes

Status, Dispersal, and Breeding Biology of the Exotic Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) in Arkansas

The exotic Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) was first sighted in Arkansas at Harrison (Boone Co.) on 25 June 1989. Since this initial sighting the species has grown in numbers and is now present in 42 of 75 counties across the state. In the spring and summer of 2009 and 2010, 20 nests were observed in the urban areas of Fort Smith (Sebastian County). Fifteen of the 20 nests (75%) were located on human-made structures of which 13 (65%) were on an electrical substation and two (10%) were on utility poles. The remaining 5 nests (25%) were in trees. Mean nest height was 7.62 m (n = 20 nests), and the mean width of the nest site support was 40 cm (n = 6 nests). Thirteen of the 20 nests (65%) yielded fledgling(s). Three focal nests were chosen for intense observation. Nest building lasted 1 to 3 days (mean = 2 days); incubation period was 15 days; and fledging occurred 17-18 days after hatching (n = 3 nests). A total of 6 young fledged from these 3 nests

Fuzzy Modeling and Parallel Distributed Compensation for Aircraft Flight Control from Simulated Flight Data

A method is described that combines fuzzy system identification techniques with Parallel Distributed Compensation (PDC) to develop nonlinear control methods for aircraft using minimal a priori knowledge, as part of NASAs Learn-to-Fly initiative. A fuzzy model was generated with simulated flight data, and consisted of a weighted average of multiple linear time invariant state-space cells having parameters estimated using the equation-error approach and a least-squares estimator. A compensator was designed for each subsystem using Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI) to guarantee closed-loop stability and performance requirements. This approach is demonstrated using simulated flight data to automatically develop a fuzzy model and design control laws for a simplified longitudinal approximation of the F-16 nonlinear flight dynamics simulation. Results include a comparison of flight data with the estimated fuzzy models and simulations that illustrate the feasibility and utility of the combined fuzzy modeling and control approach

Supply chain regulation in Scottish social care: facilitators and barriers

Drawing on a study of a Scottish government initiative to ensure the provision of a living wage to social care workers, the paper sheds new light on the value of regulating domestic supply chains to enhance labour standards in supplier organisations, and the factors that facilitate and hinder such regulation. The study confirms that supply chains driven by monopsonistic purchasers tend to drive down employment conditions, while indicating that the studied initiative met with a good deal of success due to a combination of the government generated ‘soft’ regulation and support from care providers that reflected both value and pragmatic considerations. It also highlights the contradictory tensions that can arise between policy aspirations and business objectives and suggests that to be effective, initiatives to enhance labour standards in supply chains need to address adverse market dynamics

Macro, Meso and Micro Perspectives of Technology Transfer

Over the last few decades research into the different aspects of technology transfer has grown significantly that has taken in the main a macro perspective. This research has created a body of knowledge and an evidence base that has contributed original insights in developing the field and also has shaped policymaking and practice. Within the field there is a growing focus on meso and micro aspects of technology transfer and a growing interest in for example role individual actors such as scientists, principal investigators policy makers, TTO actors, supporting institutions and functions such as universities, professional research organizations, technology and knowledge transfer offices. This research is unearthing fine-grained nuances and insights that provide further evidence of how technology transfer activities are shaped and evolve in different geographical and organizational contexts. The purpose of this special issue is to provide a further understanding of macro, meso and micro perspectives of technology transfer and to provide an agenda for further research that blends these multi-level perspectives of technology transfer

The Nature of the Stingray Nebula from Radio Observations

We have analysed the full suite of Australia Telescope Compact Array data for the Stingray planetary nebula. Data were taken in the 4- to 23-GHz range of radio frequencies between 1991 and 2016. The radio flux density of the nebula generally declined during that period, but between 2013 and 2016 it shows signs of halting that decline. We produced the first spatially resolved radio images of the Stingray nebula from data taken in 2005. A ring structure, which appears to be associated with the ring seen in HST images, was visible. In addition, we found a narrow extension to the radio emission towards the eastern and western edges of the nebula. We derived the emission measure of the nebula - this decreased between 1992 and 2011, suggesting that the nebula is undergoing recombination. The radio spectral index is broadly consistent with a free-free emission mechanism, however a single data point hints that a steeper spectral index has possibly emerged since 2013, which could indicate the presence of synchrotron emission. If a non-thermal component component has emerged, such as one associated with a region that is launching a jet or outflow, we predict that it would intensify in the years to come.Comment: Accepted to MNRAS. 9 pages, 6 figure

Targeted disruption of py235ebp-1: Invasion of erythrocytes by Plasmodium yoelii using an alternative Py235 erythrocyte binding protein

Plasmodium yoelii YM asexual blood stage parasites express multiple members of the py235 gene family, part of the super-family of genes including those coding for Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding proteins and Plasmodium falciparum RH proteins. We previously identified a Py235 erythrocyte binding protein (Py235EBP-1, encoded by the PY01365 gene) that is recognized by protective mAb 25.77. Proteins recognized by a second protective mAb 25.37 have been identified by mass spectrometry and are encoded by two genes, PY01185 and PY05995/PY03534. We deleted the PY01365 gene and examined the phenotype. The expression of the members of the py235 family in both the WT and gene deletion parasites was measured by quantitative RT-PCR and RNA-Seq. py235ebp-1 expression was undetectable in the knockout parasite, but transcription of other members of the family was essentially unaffected. The knockout parasites continued to react with mAb 25.77; and the 25.77-binding proteins in these parasites were the PY01185 and PY05995/PY03534 products. The PY01185 product was also identified as erythrocyte binding. There was no clear change in erythrocyte invasion profile suggesting that the PY01185 gene product (designated PY235EBP-2) is able to fulfill the role of EBP-1 by serving as an invasion ligand although the molecular details of its interaction with erythrocytes have not been examined. The PY01365, PY01185, and PY05995/PY03534 genes are part of a distinct subset of the py235 family. In P. falciparum, the RH protein genes are under epigenetic control and expression correlates with binding to distinct erythrocyte receptors and specific invasion pathways, whereas in P. yoelii YM all the genes are expressed and deletion of one does not result in upregulation of another. We propose that simultaneous expression of multiple Py235 ligands enables invasion of a wide range of host erythrocytes even in the presence of antibodies to one or more of the proteins and that this functional redundancy at the protein level gives the parasite phenotypic plasticity in the absence of differences in gene expression

Dense circum-nuclear molecular gas in starburst galaxies

We present results from a study of the dense circum-nuclear molecular gas of starburst galaxies. The study aims to investigate the interplay between starbursts, active galactic nuclei and molecular gas. We characterise the dense gas traced by HCN, HCO$^{+}$ and HNC and examine its kinematics in the circum-nuclear regions of nine starburst galaxies observed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. We detect HCN (1$-$0) and HCO$^{+}$ (1$-$0) in seven of the nine galaxies and HNC (1$-$0) in four. Approximately 7 arcsec resolution maps of the circum-nuclear molecular gas are presented. The velocity integrated intensity ratios, HCO$^{+}$ (1$-$0)/HCN (1$-$0) and HNC (1$-$0)/HCN (1$-$0), are calculated. Using these integrated intensity ratios and spatial intensity ratio maps we identify photon dominated regions (PDRs) in NGC 1097, NGC 1365 and NGC 1808. We find no galaxy which shows the PDR signature in only one part of the observed nuclear region. We also observe unusually strong HNC emission in NGC 5236, but it is not strong enough to be consistent with X-ray dominated region (XDR) chemistry. Rotation curves are derived for five of the galaxies and dynamical mass estimates of the inner regions of three of the galaxies are made.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 22 December 2015. Main manuscript is 13 pages, containing 3 figures. Also has 4 appendices of 13 pages total containing numerous figures and details of calculation

Roles and Responsibilities of Project Coordinators: A Contingency Model for Project Coordinator Effectiveness

Project coordinators fulfil several roles and responsibilities alongside their primary scientific focus. As boundary spanners between science and industry they have an invisible central role in the delivery of innovation from publicly funded science through technology transfer. In this report we review present empirical literature relating to the role and responsibilities of principal coordinators and we propose a contingency model for studying the effectiveness of project coordinators. The roles, responsibilities and activities of the PC are identified. In our contingency model the threshold roles and responsibilities are identified in the PC as: (i) research leader, (ii) research allocator and controller, (iii) innovation facilitator, (iv) boundary spanner, and (v) project coordinator and manager. These are developed into expanded PC role capabilities that include: (i) research strategist, (ii) economic agent, (iii) technology and knowledge transfer enabler, (iv) collaboration and value creation leader, and (v) manager and governor.JRC.B.6-Digital Econom