1,041 research outputs found
Mending Canada's Employment Insurance Quilt: The Case for Restoring Equity
No full textUnder the current Employment Insurance (EI) system, long-lasting EI benefits are more easily accessed in regions with high unemployment rates than in regions with low unemployment rates where workers face tighter restrictions to access short-lived benefits. This complicated screening procedure, intended to better support the various circumstances facing unemployed workers across the country, creates a number of undesirable consequences: the most glaring being pockets of high, chronic unemployment. The goals and intentions of the EI regime should be simplified to better address the needs of Canada’s unemployed workers.Social Policy, Canada, employment insurance (EI), EI reforms
Jüri Okas’ ‘specific objects’: diverging discourses in Estonian Art in the 1970s.
No full textPreviously in the University eprints HAIRST pilot service at http://eprints.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/00000367/Article 3 of 6 in issue devoted to the visual culture of the Scandinavian and Baltic region.This article will look at the early works of Estonian architect and artist Jüri Okas and will try to work between diverging languages and interpretations, reading works by Okas against the background of Anglo-american conceptualism and minimalism of the same period. The first part of the paper will analyse a print by Jüri Okas that paraphrases works by the American artist Donald Judd and will try to show how Okas’ concept of minimalism differed from the Western one and the reasons behind it. The second part of the paper will focus on a conceptual book by Jüri Okas, consisting of a series of photographs of everyday and banal architectural objects, and compare it to Rober Venturi’s book on Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture. Finally, a comparison will be made with works of Robert Smithson in the context of concepts of waste, excess and the remainders of industrial civilisationPostprin
The correlation of employees involvement (EI) and turnover
No full textPlan BThe purpose of this research project is to study the relationship between applying employee involvement and the retention of employees. The interest is driven primarily from the view that employee involvement (EI) has a positive effect on organizational performance. It is believed that a change of any element in organizational culture can have a significant impact on staff including less absenteeism, less turnover, better decision-making and better problem solving among others. Thus, the above scenario supports the idea of determining if there is a correlation between the applications of certain organizational changes, specifically, employee involvement (EI) and employee turnover. Moreover, this research is important because data revealing the relationship between employee involvement and turnover was found. The methodology applied in this study (review of literature and data collection) resulted in the identification of relevant literature that was finally listed in 12 cases. The variety of employee involvement forms was listed as follows: Formal Participative Decision Making (case 1), Quality Circles (case 2), Qualityof Work Life (case 3), Gainsharing (case 4), Job Redesign or Job Enrichment (case 5), Self-Directed Work Teams (case 6), Employee Ownership (case 7), Representative Participation (case 8), and Managing by Objectives (case 9), in addition to the combination of some of them (case 10, 11, and 12). As results, some forms of employee involvement are directly related with turnover (cases 2, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12), and others are indirectly related (cases 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8). In addition, there was not enough specific data to determine the magnitude of the relationship between employee involvement and turnover. Consequently, the results helped gauge the effectiveness of cultural changes geared toward increasing staff retention based on what is revealed
Anisotropy of fishtail effects in EuBa2Cu3Oy crystal prepared by melt-textured growth method
No full textThe behavior of critical current density in EuBa2Cu3Oy crystal prepared by melt-textured growth method were studied. The fishtail effects were observed for H parallel to C and H perpendicular to C. For H parallel to C the fishtail effects were explained by collective pinning theory, whereas for H perpendicular to C it has been attributed to matching effects.Physics, AppliedSCI(E)EI
Reading in the mobile era
No full textMobile technology can advance literacy and learning in underserved communities around the world.
Summary
Millions of people do not read for one reason: they do not have access to text. But today mobile phones and cellular networks are transforming a scarce resource into an abundant one.
Drawing on the analysis of over 4,000 surveys collected in seven developing countries and corresponding qualitative interviews, this report paints the most detailed picture to date of who reads books and stories on mobile devices and why.
The findings illuminate, for the first time, the habits, beliefs and profiles of mobile readers. This information points to strategies to expand mobile reading and, by extension, the educational, social and economic benefits associated with increased reading.
Mobile technology can advance literacy and learning in underserved communities around the world. This report shows how
Half-Sandwich Imido into related complexes of niobium and tantulum - relative of the zirconocene family
No full textThis thesis describes studies directed towards the preparation of half- sandwich niobium and tantalirai compounds containing imido and phosphino-carbene ligands, with particular emphasis on the relationship of such species with bent metallocene complexes of the Group 4 triad. Chapter 1 highlights areas of transition metal chemistry of relevance to the general theme of this thesis, including reviews of metal imido and zirconocene chemistry. Chapter 2 describes the use of silylated anilines for convenient solution syntheses of half-sandwich imido complexes of niobium and tantalum of the type Cp'M(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))Cl(_2)(Cp' = Cp, Cp*). In addition, the syntheses and reactivities of mono- and bis-alkyl derivatives (methyl, neopentyl, and benzyl) are presented. The bis-neopentyl complexes CpNb(NR)(CH(_2)CMe(_3))(_2) (R = CMe(_3); 2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3)), reveal multiple a-agostic interactions which have been primarily studied via an X-ray crystal structure determination and NMR spectroscopy. Thermolysis of Cp*Nb(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(CH(_2)Ph)(_2) in die presence of PMe(_3) affords die benzylidene complex Cp*Nb(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(η(^1)-CHPh)(PMe3) whose X-ray crystal structure has been determined. Chapter 3 describes the preparation of the niobium and tantalum imido complexes Cp'M(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(L)(PMe(_3)) (M = Nb, L = C(_2)H(_4), C(_3)H(_6), CO, Me(_2)C(_2). Ph(_2)C(_2), C(_6)H(_4), PMe(_3); M = Ta, L = C(_2)H(_4), C(_3)H(_6), CO). Single crystal structure determinations on CpNb(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(η(^2)-C(_3)H(_6))(PMe(_3)) and CpNb(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(η(_2)-C(_6)H(_4))(PMe(_3)) have been undertaken and their relationship to Group 4 metallocenes noted. Treatment of Cp*Ta(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(L)(PMe(_3)) (L = C(_2)H(_4),C(_3)H(_6)) with a-olefins was found to lead to displacement of PMe(_3) and the generation of tantallacycle containing species. Chapter 4 compares the reactivity of tantalum imido and phosphino-carbenederivatives of the form Cp*Ta(E)(H)(X)(PMe(_3)) (E = N-2,6-(^i)Pr2-C(_6)H(_3), η(^2)-CHPMe(_2); X = H, I) with a number of a-olefins. Investigations into die mechanism of catalytic oligomerisation of a-olefins by Cp*Ta(η(^2)-CHPMe(_2))(H)(_2)(PMe(_3)) reveal that pathways involving metallacycle intermediates are most probable, whereas Cp*Ta(N-2,6-(^i);Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(H)(_2)(PMe(_3)) reacts with a-olefins to afford stable tantallacycle complexes. The reactivity of die dihydrido species has been moderated by the preparation of mono- iodide derivatives and their reactivity towards a-olefins studied. Cp*Ta(η(^2)-CHPMe(_2))(H)(I)(PMe(_3)) dimerises ediylene selectively to but-1-ene, while Cp*Ta(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(H)(I)(PMe(_3)) reacts with ethylene to form die stable ethyl species Cp*Ta(N-2,6-(^i)Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(Et)(I). Furtherrmore, studies investigating a variety of niobium and tantalum imido species as possible catalysts for die oligomerisation and polymerisation of a-olefins under industrially relevant conditions have been undertaken in collaboration with B.P. Chemicals Ltd.. Chapter 5 gives experimental details for chapter 2-4
Electroactive polymers from β-substituted thiophenes
No full textThe work reported in this thesis can be broken down into three main areas. The first describes the synthesis of a series of β-substituted thiophenes bearing long, lipophilic chains (either ether, polyether or amido in nature). Cyclic voltammetry studies on the monomers revealed their oxidation potential but did not prove to be a successful method of electropolymerisation. This was achieved using constant current electrolysis and further studies involving FTIR, ESCA and SEM were carried out on the most highly conducting polymer. This polymer was also solution processible in its conducting form. The second area also describes the synthesis of a series of β-substituted thiophenes, but this time the pendant side group consists of bulky phenoxy moieties (liquid crystals, phenol ethers and aminophenol ethers). In this case the cyclic voltammetry studies carried out did appear to provide a successful means of generating polymers. Finally, the synthesis of a series of β-substituted thiophenes bearing pendant macrocyclic substituents (an N-0-5 cycle, an oxo-cyclam and a 14-0-4 cycle) are described. Their cyclic voltammetry behaviour is reported in detail and the results of experiments to determine metal ion selectivity is also described, in the case of the 14-0-4 cycle
The 'true use of reading' : Sarah Fielding and mid eighteenth-century literary strategies.
No full textPhDThe aim of this thesis is to explore, by examining her life and
works, how Sarah Fielding (1710-68) established her identity as an author.
The definition of her role involves her notions of the functions of
writing and reading.
Sarah Fielding attempts to invite readers to form a sense of ties
by tacit understanding of her messages. As she believes that a work
of literature is produced through collaboration between the writer and
the reader, it is an important task in her view to show her attentiveness
toward reading practice. In her consideration of reading, she has two
distinct, even opposite views of her audience: on the one hand a familiar
and limited circle of readers with shared moral and cultural values and
on the other potential readers among the unknown mass of people. The
dual targets direct her to devise various strategies. She tries to
appeal to those who can endorse and appreciate her moral values as well
as her learning. Her writings and letters testify that she is sensitive
to the demands of the literary market, trying to lead the taste of readers
by inventing new forms.
The thesis opens with an overview of Sarah Fielding's career,
followed by a consideration of her critical attention to the roles of
reading. I go on to examine the narrative structures and strategies
she deploys, with a particular emphasis on her use of the epistolary
method. The following chapter deals with her attention to the reading
of the moral message tangibly embodied in her educational writing. It
is followed by an analysis of the activity which earned her a reputation
as a learned woman. Various as the forms of her works are, they invariably
reflect her attempt to balance herself between the two demands of
inventiveness and familiarity
ICT as an Enabler for Innovation Adoption
No full textIn this paper we investigate how two online services (a portal and a digital library) may influence the adoption of an innovation. It is known from prior surveys that the installation services branch of the Dutch building industry has a relatively slow adoption rate for innovations. We examine if these two online services can influence the attitude towards the adoption of innovations. From the academic literature we have derived a list of factors that influence the attitude towards adoption by individuals. We limited this project to a number of factors that are commonly referred to as technological factors. Using an online digital library and a custom-built portal, we conducted a field experiment with a post-test only control group design for one particular innovative product (a gas-analysis device); the test was performed using a survey. Our main finding is that the portal has a significant and positive effect towards the adoption of the innovation by an individual. We did not find a significant impact for the use of the digital library. On the basis of this experiment, we propose that online services that offer a high degree of interaction amongst their users are more likely to induce an increase in the willingness of an individual to adopt an innovation.innovation;adoption;digital library;portal;field experiment.
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