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In Search of Lost Sense: The Aesthetics of Opacity in Anne Carson's Nox
No full textWhen the brother of the poet Anne Carson died she wrote an elegy for him "in the form of an epitaph.'' Her 2010 work Nox is a beguiling and beautiful work, as difficult to characterize as the brother it seeks to commemorate. This article explores the sensory experience of reading Nox, a text, which appeals to an elusive awareness at the edge of memory and imagination. In describing her brother, Carson evokes "a certain fundamental opacity of human being, which likes to show the truth by allowing it to be seen hiding.'' The aim of this paper is to show how this opacity emerges in the encounter with this captivating work, to pursue what it means to let "night'' appear
Investigating determinants of brain drain of health care professionals in developing countries: A review
No full textDeveloping countries continue to lose a significant number of health care professionals to developed countries. Malawi is not an exception. Without health workers, health care cannot be delivered. The study assesses the determinants of brain drain of health care professionals in developing countries, the case of Malawi health sector. Health care professionals in developing countries suffer from low wages, unbearable working and living conditions in their country of origin and seek elsewhere for better salaries, safer working conditions, better living conditions and a better life. This has for several years created a brain drain of skilled labour from where it is most needed, leaving already fragile health systems even more vulnerable. However, the study finds that so far, too little attention has been paid to organizational factors that influence brain drain. This study presents insights on determinants of brain drain among health care professionals from developing countries to developed countries. The paper contributes to the understanding of main factors that influence brain drain in a developing context environment. To this end, the study informs public sector managers and policy makers the need to address these factors if they are to curb brain drain in developing countries
An assessment of the effects of party politics on the implementation of community development projects in Malawi: the case of school development projects in TA Kwataine Ntcheu.
No full textPublic service provision is in most cases handled with loose hands when it comes to the achievement of intended outcomes. This is so because public services are facilitated and or implemented by government departments with the aim of satisfying specific policy demands which are usually not strictly bound by time. Most of such government initiatives are handled as programmes and not projects and their anticipated impact is usually seen beyond a particular government which is in power at that time. These conditions in development implementation have the tendency of giving room to other interested factors that seek promotion to exert influence on development activities. One of the factors that influence development, particularly Community Development is Party politics. The influence of party politics has in recent times emerged as a significant factor in community development since the adoption of multi-party politics in most African countries including Malawi.The influence of party politics in Malawi has drawn the interest of many development conscious Malawians who have at times gone to an extent of comparing development between different regimes belonging to different parties. The main aim of the study was to critically assess the effects of party politics on the implementation of community projects in Malawi with the case reference of school development projects in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kwataine in Ntcheu. School development projects was singled out for the study because it is commonly found in most communities and is one of the development initiatives that most politicians use for campaign promises.Among other findings the study established that most communities believe that government and ruling party business are one and the same thing. This political party influence has resulted in poorly managed community projects which have suffered due to lack of credible community participation, politically motivated project decisions and corrupt practices that are motivated by the desire to achieve political appeasement.Through the use of PESTLE in analysing the findings, this study proposed a range of recommendations that can contribute to the improvement of public community development project implementation in Malawi as well as other African countries. Through this study the author proposes the review of decentralisation efforts through the transformation of all community based development committees
An assessment of the impact of inventory management on customer service - a case of Alliance One Tobacco Malawi Limited
No full textThe main purpose of this research was to assess the impact of inventory management on customer service at Alliance One Tobacco Malawi Limited (AOTML). The research examined the importance of managing Inventory with the aim of reducing costs but also satisfying customers. It dwelled much on the different inventory control techniques, principles and concepts that were used in order to minimise inventory problems at AOTML.With the quest to reduce Inventory at AOTML the study looked at the impact of excess inventory, stock outs and maintaining low levels of inventory. Inventory was referred to as all items that an organisation kept as current assets, and Inventory control was regarded as consisting of all activities and procedures used to ensure that the right amount of each item was held in stock. It was very critical to any processing organisation that emphasised on customer satisfaction to keep substantial levels of inventory so that processes went uninterrupted. It was in line with company objectives to make sure that inventory was well managed so that costs were minimised, customers were satisfied, and operations undisrupted.The researcher understood that a lot of literature had already been generated and reviewed about inventory management and therefore the study was set against the background of inventory management problems at Alliance One Tobacco Malawi Limited (AOTML) in particular where it was indicated that inventory problems were often leading to disruptive operations. This was something that the researcher found very interesting and wanted to assess its impact.By reviewing concepts like JIT, MRP, Vendor Managed Inventory and other theories in inventory management, the study evaluated how AOTML will minimize stock outs and excess inventory to improve service delivery by initiating measures that necessitated accountability to all stakeholders involved in inventory management.The study used an interpretivist philosophy and a collection of qualitative data was used mainly through un-structured interviews with sampled key members of Alliance One Tobacco Malawi Limited.The study used mixed methods as its choice in data collection. where to add on from the qualitative data collection, quantitative data was also collected and used through questionnaires. The research also used an evaluation of secondary data such as reports. The information in the research findings can be used by management of AOTML to initiate changes for better management of inventory.The results of effective and efficient inventory management were numerous and so were the challenges which the research revealed in its findings
The relevance of cybernetics for a positive psychology approach to dyslexia
No full textPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the relevance of the literature of cybernetics for a positive psychology approach to dyslexia.Design/methodology/approach – A selective bibliography is presented, which reflects the exchange of ideas between the authors, two of whom work in the field of psychology, one in educational cybernetics and the other in information systems.Findings – Examination of the literature suggests that there is scope for the application of positive psychology to dyslexia. In the cybernetic literature there is little direct discussion of either positive psychology or dyslexia. However, these areas are linked by the themes of self-steering systems and of levels of learning. Cybernetics identifies systemic constraints and therapeutic approaches which can inform the use of positive psychology techniques with dyslexics.Originality/value – The paper documents the relevance of cybernetic analysis to the self-regulation carried out by dyslexics, and in so doing also enriches discourse on dyslexia in the field of psychology.The paper will be of value to those carrying ou
Social justice, devolution and the city-region: Greater Manchester as a new site of innovation?
No full textIdentifying cis-acting sugar response elements in promoter of genes that facilitate glucose signaling in Arabidopsis.
No full textOver the years, a number of genes involved in juvenility and floral signal transduction, has been found to be transcriptionally, regulated by sugars. However, little is known about the transcriptional mechanisms which underlying these responses. This is due to the capacity of sugars to act as nutrients, osmotic regulators and signalling molecules. Cis-acting sugar regulatory elements are important molecular switches involved in the temporal and spatial expression of a dynamic network of gene activities. This network controls hormone and abiotic stress responses, and developmental events such as juvenility and floral induction. In this study, we have examined expression levels and promoter features of different genes encoding proteins that have been implicated as targets of glucose signal transduction pathways, and might participate in juvenility and floral induction. Identifying the functionally active sugar response elements in the predicted promoter regions of genes that undergo glucose induced transcriptional regulation will lead us closer to understanding these signal transduction mechanisms
Film bulk acoustic resonators integrated on arbitrary substrates using a polymer support layer
No full textThe film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) is a widely-used MEMS device which can be used as a filter, or as a gravimetric sensor for biochemical or physical sensing. Current device architectures require the use of an acoustic mirror or a freestanding membrane and are fabricated as discrete components. A new architecture is demonstrated which permits fabrication and integration of FBARs on arbitrary substrates. Wave confinement is achieved by fabricating the resonator on a polyimide support layer. Results show when the polymer thickness is greater than a critical value, d, the FBARs have similar performance to devices using alternative architectures. For ZnO FBARs operating at 1.3–2.2 GHz, d is ~9 μm, and the devices have a Q-factor of 470, comparable to 493 for the membrane architecture devices. The polymer support makes the resonators insensitive to the underlying substrate. Yields over 95% have been achieved on roughened silicon, copper and glass
Shape memory polymers in medical textiles
No full textThis chapter introduces shape memory materials and discusses the principal differences between shape memory alloys and shape memory polymers (SMP), with much emphasis on the latter to keep within the context of the chapter. It further discusses the synthesis of SMPs and elaborates on the role cross-linkers play in the ultimate properties of such materials. It also gives practical examples of SMP applications and highlights their superiority in terms of their flexibility, ease of processing, and cost-effectiveness. Finally, it provides insights into two emerging examples from research in which specifically designed SMP structures may offer better alternatives to current practises of treating venous leg ulcers and established casting methods of treating broken limbs
‘Employability and the Arts Based Course – a Defence of the Media Production Degree’
No full textThere are chalenges within the delivery of Media Production degree courses that stem from a misalignment of student/employer expectations, and can be summed up thus: Most students attend Media Production courses to improve employment prospects within the industry and believe that this is best achieved by focusing on acquiring technical/practical expertise. As a result they are often reluctant to engage with broader aspects of education associated with critical thinking. Potential employers, however, are not overly concerned with new recruits having expertise of current technologies. Of equal, if not of more importance are ‘transferable’ skills, many of which are developed through critical thinking exercises.As a result, graduates from Media Production courses enter the work place believing they are sufficiently prepared for what is a very competitive industry, but, in reality, they lack the skills employers look for. Inevitably the academic reputation and credibility of these courses is progressively undermined, and graduate dissatisfaction increased.The process of creating media product, however, draws heavily on the same transferable skills most employers seek in new recruits. The proposition, then, is that increasing critical thinking elements within these courses will simultaneously enable students to perform better at subject level AND increase their employability, both within the media industry and beyond. But how might this be achieved if students feel critical thinking contributes little to their employability