The changing nature of labour regulation: the distinctiveness of the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry

The article addresses the changing nature of labour regulation through analysis of the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry, originating in 1981. It shows how multiple spatial regulatory scales, the changing coalitions of actors involved, employer and client engagement and labour agency have been critical to National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry's survival

Quantitative comparison of FBP, EM, and Bayesian reconstruction algorithms, including the impact of accurate system modeling, for the

We quantitatively compare filtered backprojection (FBP), expectation maximization (EM), and Bayesian reconstruction algorithms as applied to the IndyPET scanner, a small to intermediate field of view dedicated research scanner. A key feature of our investigation is the use of an empirical system kernel determined from scans of line source phantoms. Thiskernel isincorporated into the forward operator of EM and the Bayesian reconstruction algorithms. Our results indicate that, particularly when an accurate system kernel is used, Bayesian methods can significantly improve reconstruction quality over FBP and EM.

Integrating marketing and design for commercial benefit

Every organisation invests in design to create and develop distinctive products and services. The development of a coherent design and marketing philosophy is essential to the achievement of a longer-term competitive edge. However the marketing literature hardly refers to design and where it does so there is a great deal of confusion as to what design means. Design is taken to encompass styling, fashion and product development and innovation. Key findings of a major study recently undertaken by the Design Innovation Group (DIG) are reported here. The research investigated the risks and rewards of investment in design by British companies participating in the Department of Trade and Industry/Design Council's Funded Consultancy Scheme and subsequent Support for Design Programme. The study showed that investment in design does pay. But design effort could be more fully exploited if marketing practitioners as well as other managers acquired design management skills