Credit and community: working class debt in the UK since 1880

This book examines credit in working class communities since 1880, focusing on forms of borrowing that were dependent on personal relationships and social networks. It provides an extended historical discussion of credit unions, legal and illegal moneylenders (loan sharks), and looks at the concept of ‘financial exclusion’. Initially, the book focuses on the history of tallymen, check traders, and their eventual movement into moneylending following the loss of their more affluent customers, due to increased spending power and an increasingly liberalized credit market. They also faced growing competition from mail order companies operating through networks of female agents, whose success owed much to the reciprocal cultural and economic conventions that lay at the heart of traditional working class credit relationships. Discussion of these forms of credit is related to theoretical debates about cultural aspects of credit exchange that ensured the continuing success of such forms of lending, despite persistent controversies about their use. The book contrasts commercial forms of credit with formal and informal co-operative alternatives, such as the mutuality clubs operated by co-operative retailers and credit unions. It charts the impact of post-war immigration upon credit patterns, particularly in relation to the migrant (Irish and Caribbean) origins of many credit unions and explains the relative lack of success of the credit union movement. The book contributes to anti-debt debates by exploring the historical difficulties of developing legislation in relation to the millions of borrowers who have patronized what has come to be termed the sub-prime sector.

New Circus: the benefits of Circus Training for young people in a residential setting,

Circus 1 to 3 is a circus school, based on the concept of New Circus, for boys resident in St. Patrick's Training School, Northern Ireland. The project is designed, not only to teach Circus skills, but also to foster social and personal skills. This report details an evaluation undertaken to assess die extent to which this programme meets these aims. A study of participants Circus records indicated that significant gains in co-operative behaviour, team-work, attitude and participation, as rated by Circus tutors, were evident over the course of boys involvement. A qualitative study was also conducted. These interviews with Circus 1 to 3 participants indicated that this project enhanced the quality of life for boys resident in St. Patrick's Training School. In addition the project, through the use of positive feedback, provides opportunities for boys to develop their social and personal skills. This evaluation concludes that Circus 1 to 3 is a worthwhile and successful endeavour.

Connective tissue growth factor antagonizes transforming growth factor-beta 1/Smad signalling in renal mesangial cells

The critical involvement of TGF-beta 1 (transforming growth factor-beta 1) in DN (diabetic nephropathy) is well established. However, the role of CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) in regulating the complex interplay of TGF-beta 1 signalling networks is poorly understood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate co-operative signalling between CTGF and TGF-beta 1 and its physiological significance. CTGF was determined to bind directly to the T beta RIII (TGF-beta type III receptor) and antagonize TGF-beta 1-induced Smad phosphorylation and transcriptional responses via its N-terminal half. Furthermore, TGF-beta 1 binding to its receptor was inhibited by CTGF. A consequent shift towards non-canonical TGF-beta 1 signalling and expression of a unique profile of differentially regulated genes was observed in CTGF/TGF-beta 1-treated mesangial cells. Decreased levels of Smad2/3 phosphorylation were evident in STZ (streptozotocin)-induced diabetic mice, concomitant with increased levels of CTGF Knockdown of T beta RIII restored TGF-beta 1-mediated Smad signalling and cell contractility, suggesting that T beta RIII is key for CTGF-mediated regulation of TGF-beta 1. Comparison of gene expression profiles from CTGF/TGF-beta 1-treated mesangial cells and human renal biopsy material with histological diagnosis of DN revealed significant correlation among gene clusters. In summary, mesangial cell responses to TGF-beta 1 are regulated by cross-talk with CTGF, emphasizing the potential utility of targeting CTGF in DN.

Internet banking and Irish credit unions

The purpose of this paper is to examine IT adoption by Irish credit unions. Using probabilistic models, we explore one aspect of IT, that of internet banking technology, and assess the degree to which characteristics specific to the credit union and to its potential membership base influence adoption. Our
analysis suggests that asset size, organisational structure being a member of the Irish League of Credit Unions and the loan to asset ratio are all important credit union specific drivers of internet banking adoption. We also find that characteristics of the area from where the credit union captures its members are important. Factors such as the percentage of the population that is employed, the proportion of the population in the age bracket 35 to 44, the proportion of the population that have access to broadband and the level of familiarity with a local ATM facility are all identified as influencing the probability of adopting internet banking.

Secure D2D Communication in Large-Scale Cognitive Cellular Networks: A Wireless Power Transfer Model

In this paper, we investigate secure device-to-device (D2D) communication in energy harvesting large-scale cognitive cellular networks. The energy constrained D2D transmitter harvests energy from multiantenna equipped power beacons (PBs), and communicates with the corresponding receiver using the spectrum of the primary base stations (BSs). We introduce a power transfer model and an information signal model to enable wireless energy harvesting and secure information transmission. In the power transfer model, three wireless power transfer (WPT) policies are proposed: 1) co-operative power beacons (CPB) power transfer, 2) best power beacon (BPB) power transfer, and 3) nearest power beacon (NPB) power transfer. To characterize the power transfer reliability of the proposed three policies, we derive new expressions for the exact power outage probability. Moreover, the analysis of the power outage probability is extended to the case when PBs are equipped with large antenna arrays. In the information signal model, we present a new comparative framework with two receiver selection schemes: 1) best receiver selection (BRS), where the receiver with the strongest channel is selected; and 2) nearest receiver selection (NRS), where the nearest receiver is selected. To assess the secrecy performance, we derive new analytical expressions for the secrecy outage probability and the secrecy throughput considering the two receiver selection schemes using the proposed WPT policies. We presented Monte carlo simulation results to corroborate our analysis and show: 1) secrecy performance improves with increasing densities of PBs and D2D receivers due to larger multiuser diversity gain; 2) CPB achieves better secrecy performance than BPB and NPB but consumes more power; and 3) BRS achieves better secrecy performance than NRS but demands more instantaneous feedback and overhead. A pivotal conclusion- is reached that with increasing number of antennas at PBs, NPB offers a comparable secrecy performance to that of BPB but with a lower complexity.

A evolução do relato financeiro nas cooperativas ao longo do século XX até à atualidade

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao Instituto de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Contabilidade e Finanças, sob orientação de: Professora Doutora Ana Maria Alves Bandeira Professora Doutora Deolinda Maria Moreira Aparício Meira

Hallintoelinten oikeudenmukainen palkitseminen - toimialavertailu osuustoiminnallisissa organisaatioissa

Työn tarkoituksena oli lähteä tutkimaan palkitsemisen, vaativuuden ja tehtävien eroavaisuuksia kolmen osuustoiminnallisen organisaation hallintoelinten välillä. Tavoitteena oli selvittää, miten palkitsemisen horisontaalista oikeudenmukaisuutta voitaisiin kehittää osuustoiminnallisten organisaatioiden hallintoelimissä. Tutkimus toteutettiin kvantitatiivisena kyselylomaketutkimuksena, ja analysointimenetelmänä käytettiin regressioanalyysiä. Tutkimuksen teoreettinen viitekehys koostui palkitsemisesta ja sen oikeudenmukaisuudesta keskittyen horisontaaliseen ulottuvuuteen, työn vaativuudesta sekä aiempien tutkimusten perusteella palkitsemiseen vaikuttavista tekijöistä muun muassa rakenteen, toimialan ja strategian näkökulmista. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että tilaajaorganisaatiossa X palkkiot olivat vertailuorganisaatiota Y ja Z korkeammat. Erot vaativuuden ja tehtävien osalta eivät olleet yhtä suuria kuin palkkioissa, mutta organisaatiossa X nämäkin olivat pääasiassa korkeammalla tasolla. Regressioanalyysissä kävi ilmi, että työn vaativuus selittää suurimman osan palkitsemisen kertymästä ja muut tilastollisesti merkittävät selittävät muuttujat olivat huomattavasti vähäisempiä. Organisaation X korkeamman palkkiotason voitiin nähdä johtuvan erilaisesta palkkiorakenteesta sekä siitä, että se otti palkitsemisessa organisaation koon huomioon; palkkiot vaihtelivat huomattavasti enemmän alueorganisaatioiden kesken kuin organisaatiossa Y ja Z. Johtopäätöksenä voidaan sanoa, että työn vaativuusarviointi palkkioiden horisontaalista oikeudenmukaisuutta arvioitaessa on merkittävimmässä asemassa. Muiden tarkasteltujen muuttujien osalta tulokset eivät olleet aivan odotetun kaltaisia tai täysin yhdenmukaisia aiempien tutkimusten kanssa, vaikka samansuuntaisiakin havaintoja saatiin. Työn tärkein anti oli kuitenkin työn vaativuusarvioinnin tärkeyden havaitseminen hallintoelintyön palkitsemisen yhteydessä horisontaalisella tasolla.

Preparing students for the transition from college to work /

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived preparedness of college students for the transition from college to full-time employment. The study was concerned with the interest and rationale behind developing a required Exit Course for college students in order to improve the college to work transition. As well, possible content of an Exit Course was evaluated. The importance of addressing college to work transitions is highlighted by two phenomena. First, there are specific employability skills that employers in Canada are seeking in newly hired employees. Second, the provincial government in Ontario is determining college funding based on graduate employment statistics which are measured by graduate satisfaction, graduate employment, and employer satisfaction. The research concentrated on the following stakeholders involved in the transition from college to work: (a) current students, (b) recent graduates, (c) support staff who assist students in college to work transition (Career Educators), and (d) employers. Through qualitative research, including focus groups and interviews, these stakeholder groups participated in the research to determine if the Exit Course was a viable solution to facilitate the transition from college to work. Focus groups were conducted with current students, while one-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted with recent graduates, Career Educators, and employers. Common themes elicited from the participants included the following: (a) although students were perceived by the participants of this study to be technically prepared for employment, they were perceived to have weak job search skills and unrealistic expectations of the world of work unless they had received the benefits of a Co-operative Education experience; (b) an Exit Course was seen as a viable solution to the issues involved in college to work transition; (c) an Exit Course should be comprised of skills necessary to obtain and succeed in a job and the course should be taught by individuals with extensive qualifications in this area; and (d) there is a need to develop college and business partnerships to ensure that students are connected to employers. Educators within post secondary institutions, specifically colleges, can benefit from the information provided within this study to gain a better understanding of the perceived level of preparedness of students for the transition from college to work. Suggestions with regard to how to improve this transition were made, with specific reference to the addition of an Exit Course as one possible solution.

Marketing Brock University in the 1980's: assessing freshman student feedback in strategic planning approach

Universities have entered a period of rapid change and upheaval due to an external environment beyond their control which includes shifting demographic patterns, accelerating technology, funding shortages, and keener competition for students. Strategic planning, a comprehensive vision which challenges universities to take bold and creative measures to meet the threats and opportunities of the future, is an institutional imperative in the 1980's. This paper examines freshman student feedback in an effort to incorporate this important element into a strategic plan for Brock University, a small, predominantly liberal arts university in St. Catharines, Ontario. The study was designed to provide information on the characteristics of the 1985-86 pool of freshman registrants: their attitudes towards Brock's recruitment measures, their general university priorities, and their influences in regard to university selection (along with other demographical and attitudinal data). A survey involving fixed-alternative questions of a subjective and objective nature was administered in two large freshman classes at Brock in which a broad cross-section of academic programs was anticipated. Computer analysis of the data for the 357 respondents included total raw frequencies and rounded percentages, as well as subgroup cross-tabulation by geographic home area of respondent, academic major, and high school graduating average. The four directional hypotheses put forward were all substantiatied by the survey data, indicating that 1) the university's current recruitment program had been a positive influence during their university search 2) parents were the most influential group in the students' decisions related to university 3) respondents viewed institutional reputation as less of a priority than an enjoyable university lifestyle in a personal learning atmosphere 4) students had a decided preference for co-operative study and internship programs. Strategic planning recommendations included a reduction in the faculty/student ratio through faculty hirings to restore the close rapport between professors and students, increased recruitment presentations in Ontario high schools to enlarge the applicant pool, creation of an Office of Co-operative Study and Internship Programs, institutional emphasis on a "customer orientation", and an extension of research into student demographics and attitudinal data.

A crisis of social democracy : organized labour and the NDP in an era of neoliberalism

The NDP was founded out of the ashes of the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation to cooperate with the Canadian Labour Congress to become the 'political arm of organized labour' in Canada. The NDP has long claimed they are the party which represents the policy goals of organized labour in Canada: that the NDP alone will fight for trade union rights, and will fight for Canadian workers. Divergent Paths is an examination of the links between the labour movement and the ND P in an era ofneo-liberalism. Provincial NDP governments have become increasingly neoliberal in their ideological orientation, and have often proved to be no friend to the labour movement when they hold office. The Federal party has never held power, nor have they ever formed the Official Opposition. This thesis charts the progress of the federal NDP as they become more neoliberal from 1988 to 2006, and shows how this trend effects the links between the NDP and labour. Divergent Paths studies each federal election from 1988 to 2006, looking at the interactions between Labour and the NDP during these elections. Elections provide critical junctions to study discourse - party platforms, speeches, and other official documents can be used to examine discourse. Extensive newspaper searches were used to follow campaign events and policy speeches. Studying the party's discourse can be used to determine the ideological orientation of the party itself: the fact that the party's discourse has become neoliberal is a sure sign that the party itself is neoliberal. The NDP continues to drive towards the centre of the political spectrum in an attempt to gain multi-class support. The NDP seems more interested in gaining seats at any cost, rather then promoting the agenda of Labour. As the party attempts to open up to more multi-class support, Labour becomes increasingly marginalised in the party. A rift which arguably started well before the 1988 election was exacerbated during that election; labour encouraged the NDP to campaign solely on the issue of Free Trade, and the NDP did not. The 1993 election saw the rift between the two grow even further as the Federal NDP suffered major blowbacks from the actions of the Ontario NDP. The 1997 and 2000 elections saw the NDP make a deliberate move to the centre of the political spectrum which increasingly marginalised labour. In the 2004 election, Jack Layton made no attempt to move the party back to the left; and in 2006 the link between labour and the NDP was perhaps irreparably damaged when the CAW endorsed the Liberal party in a strategic voting strategy, and the CLC did not endorse the NDP. The NDP is no longer a reliable ally of organized labour. The Canadian labour movement must decide wether the NDP can be 'salvaged' or if the labour movement should end their alliance with the NDP and engage in a new political project.

Gwladys Cunningham fonds, 1933-1934, 1940, 1942-1968, n.d.

Gwladys Cunningham was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Lincoln N.D.P. Ladies Group as well as involved in the CCF [Co-operative Commonwealth Federation] branch in Thorold. Additional Cunningham family members may also have been involved in the activities of the Thorold Branch. The Thorold branch of the Ontario division of The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation held its first meeting on June 15, 1933 at the home of Mark Kriluck. The branch became an official unit of the CCF when it was granted a charter in August of that same year. Officers elected at the annual meeting in October were W.G. Campbell, President, Jane Griffiths, Vice-President, James Logan Secretary and Mark Kriluck Treasurer. In 1960 the CCF voted to officially change their name to The New Democratic Party. The branch later became known as the Lincoln and Welland Riding Association of The New Democratic Party. Rare publications directly related to the CCF and the NDP remain with the fonds. Some publications were removed and placed in the general stack collection. See below for a list of books that were removed from the fonds and placed in the general collection.

L’influence du réseau de chimiokines sur les lymphocytes T dans le contexte de l’infection à virus de l’immunodéficience humaine de type 1 (VIH-1)

Les chimiokines et leurs récepteurs respectifs jouent un rôle important dans l’immunité innée et adaptative. Les récepteurs de chimiokines identifient des cellules T CD4+ avec potentiel de migration dans des tissus spécifiques et à fonctionnalité distincte du point de vue de la spécificité antigénique et de la production de cytokines. L’identité de la population des cellules T CD4+ susceptibles versus résistantes à l’infection par le virus de l’immunodéficience humaine (VIH) reste mal définie. Le recrutement dans les muqueuses intestinales d’un excès de cellules T effectrices (CD8+) comparé aux cellules cibles (CD4+) représente un bon pronostic de l’infection par le virus de l’immunodéficience simienne (VIS), tandis que la déplétion des cellules Th17 dans les tissus lymphoïdes associés au tractus gastro-intestinal (GALT) est un marqueur de la progression de l’infection à VIH. L’effet régulateur des chimiokines sur l’activation de la réplication virale dans différentes sous-populations cellulaires T CD4+ reste peu étudié. Ce projet de maîtrise est divisé en 3 parties: (1) l’identification des récepteurs de chimiokines CCR4, CXCR3 et CCR6 comme marqueurs de surfaces des sous populations T CD4+ avec susceptibilité distincte à l’infection par le VIH; (2) la caractérisation phénotypique et fonctionnelle des cellules T CD4+ et T CD8+ spécifiques au VIH de sujets à progression lente vers le stade sida (LTNP); et (3) les effets des chimiokines ligands de CCR4, CXCR3 et CCR6 sur l’activation cellulaire et la réplication virale in vitro. Nos résultats démontrent que les cellules T CD4+ CCR4+CCR6+ (profile cytokinique Th17) et CXCR3+CCR6+ (profile cytokinique Th1/Th17) sont hautement permissives à l’infection par le VIH. Nous proposons également de nouveaux corrélats de protection immunitaire contre le VIH chez les sujets LTNP: (i) le potentiel de co-localisation dans les muqueuses intestinales des cellules T CD4+ et CD8+ spécifiques au VIH via l’intégrine β7, (ii) le ratio élevé entre les cellules T effectrices (CD8+) versus les cellules cibles (CD4+) spécifiques au VIH, (iii) le profil cytokinique Th17 et (iv) la capacité des cellules T CD4+ et CD8+ spécifiques au VIH à produire des ligands de CCR5 bloquant l’entrée virale. Finalement, nos résultats sur l’effet co-stimulateur des chimiokines sur les cellules T et leurs effets opposés sur la réplication virale démontrent l’implication du réseau des chimiokines dans la régulation de la pathogenèse de l’infection à VIH.

L'effet de l'allongement de la durée des conventions collectives sur les relations du travail locales en entreprise

Cette recherche s’intéresse au phénomène qu’est l’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives. Avant juin 1994, la durée maximale d’une convention collective était fixée à trois ans. La venue de la mondialisation a chamboulé les entreprises qui, elles, pour s’adapter et survivre à cette nouvelle réalité et demeurer compétitives, ont dû procéder à des investissements majeurs, des restructurations, miser sur des relations de partenariat avec les syndicats, etc. (Boivin, 1998). Pour ce faire, elles devaient s’assurer d’obtenir une stabilité et une paix industrielle (Grant et Paquet, 1998). C’est à ce moment que nous avons vu l’apparition d’ententes qui visaient à prolonger la durée maximale des conventions collectives, fixées à trois ans, sans contrevenir aux différentes dispositions du Code du travail (L.R.Q. c.C-27). Ces « contrats sociaux » devaient compter différentes caractéristiques particulières. C’est le 10 mai 1994 que le législateur québécois a déplafonné la durée des conventions collectives (Mayer, 1999). Tel qu’établi, les transformations au niveau de l’environnement ont poussé les acteurs à revoir leurs façons de faire. Cela a mené à une déconflictualisation des relations du travail (Jalette, Bourque et Laroche, 2008). Les acteurs ont adopté des stratégies de négociation de plus en plus coopératives, ils ont eu un recours accru à la concertation, et ont développé une relation de partenariat (Maschino et coll., 2001). Nous observons en parallèle à une tendance à l’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives. Nous nous questionnons à savoir ce qui a principalement motivé autant les syndicats à négocier ce type d’entente et ainsi, renoncer à leur droit de grève, et aussi quels sont les avantages ou inconvénients pour les employeurs de négocier de telles ententes. De manière plus spécifique, notre question de recherche est la suivante : Quels sont les effets de l’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives sur les relations du travail locales en entreprise? Notre analyse vise à vérifier six propositions de recherche : 1- Les relations du travail sont transformées par la durée d’une convention collective de travail, laquelle est influencée par l’environnement. 2- L’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives de travail amène les parties à davantage recourir à des stratégies de négociation intégrative. 3- L’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives de travail contribue à diminuer le nombre de conflits de travail 4- L’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives de travail change la nature des manifestations du conflit sur le marché du travail. 5- L’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives transforme le contenu des conventions collectives de travail par l’intégration de clauses nouvelles. 6- L’allongement de la durée des CCT diminue le rapport de force du syndicat. Dans le but de répondre à ces différents questionnements, nous avons utilisé une méthodologie qualitative de recherche et plus précisément, l’étude de cas. Cette dernière fut conduite en trois étapes : la préparation, la collecte de données et l’interprétation (Merriam, 1998). Les données de notre étude ont été colligées durant l’été et l’automne 2010. Tout d’abord, nous avons effectué des entretiens semi structuré à l’aide d’une grille d’entrevue. Cette grille d’entrevue fut adaptée en fonction des acteurs rencontrés, et surtout de la partie qu’ils représentent. Nous avons interrogé les acteurs tant patronaux que syndicaux, c’est-à-dire : du côté patronal, nous avons rencontré les responsables des relations du travail oeuvrant au siège social ainsi que les conseillers en relations du travail en charge de négocier ou d’appliquer la convention collective des différents établissements couverts par l’étude. Du côté syndical, nous avons rencontré les conseillers syndicaux en charge également de négocier la convention collective et de veiller à son application. Au total, nous avons mené onze entretiens. En guise de comparaison, nous avons aussi procédé à une analyse de contenu de 139 conventions collectives du secteur de l’alimentation. Nous cherchions à savoir si les conventions collectives de longue durée avaient tendance à comporter majoritairement une plus grande présence de clauses en lien avec les 7 caractéristiques des « contrats sociaux » mentionnées par Mayer (1999). Ces caractéristiques sont les suivantes : transparence économique et de gestion, participation à la gestion, programme de qualité totale, formation, flexibilité dans l’organisation du travail, stabilité de l’emploi et mécanismes de gestion de l’entente. Mots clés : allongement, durée, conventions collectives, relations du travail, loi 116, déplafonnement des conventions collectives, NBI et concertation.

Aircraft down-range profiles formed from simulated and compact-range radar backscatter

Compact-range radar backscatter measurements are taken of aircraft scale models. In addition, computer software is used to predict the RCS of the aircraft. Synthetic down-range profiles formed from the two sources of backscatter data are compared and visualized in an innovative manner. Similar discrimination rates between the two aircraft are obtained on data from both source

Isolation and Characterization of Agglutinin in the Hemolymph of Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards

The present study is an attempt to find out the ralation between RNA/DNA ratio, protein,percentage growth rate and specific growth rate of prawn,Penaeus indicus with respect to Nervous system, Eyestalk and Muscle tissues during ontogenesis. We have isolated and purified a natural agglutinin in the hemolymph of P.indicus with antigenecity, agglutinating, hemolytic and antibacterial properties. The influence of growth and environmental parameters on the level of agglutinin in the hemolymph was studied. Agglutinin concentration during normal growth process was compared. The agglutinin concentration in the hemolymph was quantified through developing ELISA, which is useful in health monitoring studies of individual species. Complete amino acid composition of both the subunits of P.indicus agglutinin were analysed. P.indicus agglutinin showed similarity to those proteins having antigenecity,hemolytic and agglutinating properties.Hence, agglutinin was considered as a natural defence protein in the hemolymph of P.indicus responsible for immune surveillance. The humoral defence mechanism of agglutinin was a co-operative effort with hemocytes and complement system. The composition of isolated agglutinin of P.indicus amino acids will be helpful in the synthesis of new antibacterial analogues which can be used against disease causing organisms.