Regular finite decomposition complexity

We introduce the notion of regular finite decomposition complexity of a metric family. This generalizes Gromov's finite asymptotic dimension and is motivated by the concept of finite decomposition complexity (FDC) due to Guentner, Tessera and Yu. Regular finite decomposition complexity implies FDC and has all the permanence properties that are known for FDC, as well as a new one called Finite Quotient Permanence. We show that for a collection containing all metric families with finite asymptotic dimension all other permanence properties follow from Fibering Permanence

Industrial Relations in Greenfield Sites

There is a popular stereotype that at greenfield sites managers practice, and sustain over time new forms of human resource management and that in doing so they obtain highly positive performance outcomes. A persisting theme in this stereotype is that greenfield sites are characterised by a highly collaborative form of employee relations and that they are largely strike and conflict free. The aim of this paper is to test the stereotype by reviewing what is known about the subject. Existing research on greenfield sites is places within a broad conceptual framework, key issues are highlighted and gaps in our knowledge identified. The discussion in foreign-owned firms; how well greenfield sites cope with the ageing process; and the industrial relations and human resource outcomes obtained in greenfield sites. The review finds that most research ignores the last two issues. At present it is impossible to conclude with confidence that IR/HR practices adopted in these firms are any more effective than traditional systems. There is also little or no evidence about how greenfield site practices adapt over time. The review provides the point of departures for research being undertaken at the LSE's Centre for Economic Performance; the research agenda is briefly discussed.

Radial excitations of heavy-light mesons from QCD sum rules

QCD sum rules are commonly used to predict the characteristics of ground-state hadrons. We demonstrate that two-point sum rules for the decay constants of charmed ($D^{(*)},D_s^{(*)}$) and bottom ($B^{(*)},B_s^{(*)}$) mesons can also be modified to estimate the decay constants of the first radial excitations, $D^{(*)'},D_s^{(*)'}$ and $B^{(*)'},B_s^{(*)'}$, respectively, provided the masses of these resonances are used as an input. For the radially excited charmed mesons we use available experimental data, whereas the masses of analogous bottom mesons are estimated from the heavy-quark limit. The decay constants predicted for the radial excitations of heavy-light pseudoscalar and vector mesons are systematically smaller than those of the ground states and we comment on the possible origin of this difference. Our results can be used in the sum rule calculations of heavy-to-light form factors and in the factorization approximations for nonleptonic $B$-meson decays where the decay constants of charmed mesons enter as input parameters.Comment: 16 pages, a few comments added, version to appear in EPJ

Dryland pasture and crop conditions as seen by HCMM

The author has identified the following significant results. The soil moisture difference between the flight lines was partly due to water-holding capacity differences of the two soil types. Fields along the east flight line were in clay; while along the west flight line, the soil was sandy loam which holds less moisture. Due to differences in the amount of green material, the pastures were wetter than the wheat fields. Most of the pastures average from 40-80% green material, while wheat averages from 90-100% green material. A large amount of green material transpired more water and depleted the soil water content faster than dead vegetation. Visicorder data found temperature differences between the rangeland and winter wheat fields. Pasture had a larger percentage of dead material with different thermal properties than live vegetation, and surface temperature was primarily dependent on insolation. Dead material transpired less, but warms up faster than wheat fields

Dryland pasture and crop conditions as seen by HCMM

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Reading Too Much into What the Court \u3ci\u3eDoesn\u27t\u3c/i\u3e Write: How Some Federal Courts Have Limited Title VII\u27s Participation Clause\u27s Protections after \u3ci\u3eClark County School District v. Breeden\u3c/i\u3e

In 2001, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Clark County School District v. Breeden, in which it refused to determine what a plaintiff must prove to demonstrate that she engaged in “protected activity” under Title VII’s anti-retaliation provision’s opposition clause. Although the Court declined to answer this question, courts have interpreted Breeden as requiring an opposition-clause plaintiff to prove a good-faith, objectively reasonable belief of an unlawful employment practice. Although Breeden involved Title VII’s opposition clause, some courts are now applying Breeden to cases involving Title VII’s participation clause. This is baffling for two reasons. First, Breeden involved the opposition clause, not the participation clause, and prior to Breeden, federal courts had concluded that the participation clause provided more protection than the opposition clause provided. Second, Breeden never definitively established the standard for opposition-clause cases. Despite this, some courts are now applying Breeden’s objectively reasonable standard to participation-clause cases. This Article argues that courts should not apply Breeden in participation-clause cases and should protect participation-clause plaintiffs even if the plaintiffs’ beliefs about unlawful employment practices are unreasonable. Courts should do this because of (1) the participation clause’s plain language; (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) position on this issue; (3) the canon of statutory construction that requires remedial statutes such as Title VII to be interpreted broadly; and (4) the fact that Breeden neither addressed the participation clause nor provided a definitive standard for opposition-clause cases

The Legality and Practicality of Condominium Conversion Moratoriums

Condominium conversions have been a source of increasing concern among Florida apartment dwellers as the number of available rental units has continued to decline. The author examines the constitutionality of condominium conversion moratoriums enacted or proposed by counties and municipalities. She then asks whether moratoriums are a practical solution to the housing crisis