Why leadership matters for micro and small firms in the East Midlands?

This report was produced with data and assistance from East Midlands Chamber of Commerce and is being made available to business organisations in the East Midlands.This report highlights the importance of micro- and small firms in the East Midlands economy and the role of leadership in their development. It explores the adverse and rapidly changing conditions, and explains why business leadership, resilience and competitiveness are vitally important in addressing them. The strengths and vulnerabilities of the micro and small firm sectors in the East Midlands economy are summarised, including concerns over productivity levels and their effects on smaller firm competitiveness. Local Enterprise Partnership strategies for productivity improvement in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire are summarised. It highlights the lack of a single voice for business leadership in the region, and introduces the 'Leading for Growth' pilot programme led by the Small Business Charter with three regional universities

Universities and enterprise education: responding to the challenges of the new era

Purpose The article suggests that the international financial and economic crisis in 2008 produced a new economic era with significant implications for enterprise and entrepreneurship education. It explores: 1. The changing influences on entrepreneurship education and learning; 2. What is the new era in entrepreneurship? The consequences of changing economic, social and cultural movements; 3. How entrepreneurship education and learning can respond to these challenges. Approach The research approach is informed by practitioner-based educational enquiry, reflective practice and research, education and participation with groups of universities, educators, students, entrepreneurs and other groups during the economic crisis. Findings The article proposes that the nature of entrepreneurship is changing in response to social and cultural movements in the new economic era. Ethical and environmental concerns are creating a discourse of responsible entrepreneurship informed by social entrepreneurship. The article conceptualises this as the shift from an ‘old’ to ‘new’ entrepreneurship. Practical implications Implications for the future development of enterprise and entrepreneurial education are presented, referring to the factors shaping change including the social and economic context; learners; learning and teaching; and institutional change. Originality/value The article presents new thinking on the future challenges and directions for entrepreneurship and related education in the context of fundamental economic change

Efficacy in noise of the Starkey Surflink Mobile 2 technology in directional versus omnidirectional microphone mode with experienced adult hearing aid users

The Starkey SurfLink Mobile 2 is a remote microphone accessory. Starkey claims that by placing the SurfLink’s internal microphone in the directional microphone setting, the participant will hear better in noise over the omnidirectional setting. This study aims to test the thisthe claim about the devic

Special Adaptations of Orb Weavers and Prey

Orb weaving spiders have devised both webs and special devices for capturing prey. The prey have also evolved mechanisms for eluding spiders and for living with them. Some of the mechanisms involved are discussed in this paper

Tonic immobility by dogs : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Veterinary Science in Veterinary Ethology at Massey University

Tonic immobility (TI) is a state of relative immobility induced by restraint and presumed to function as a terminal defensive reaction. Although TI has been reported in a wide spectrum of species ranging from invertebrates to mammals, there have been very limited studies on TI by dogs. The aim of this thesis was to determine the susceptibility and characteristics of TI in dogs so that the feasibility of using TI as a humane, quick, easily reversible, non-chemical and safe method of restraint for veterinary procedures could be assessed. In an initial survey, 132 dogs were tested twice. Once by inversion and 30s restraint in the lateral position and once with an additional treatment (stroking, scruffing, blanket over head, cuff around ears or light into eyes) during the 30s restraint. Based on the criterion of remaining in the position restrained, without lifting its head off the test surface, for a minimum of 10s after release from restraint, 10 of the 132 dogs (7.6%) exhibited TI. The characteristics of the dogs during TI were similar to those reported in other species, as the dogs remained very still, with the exception of occasional repositioning of heads and limbs, muscle tremors, twitches and paw movements. Swallowing, lip licking, blinking and occasional periods of eye closure were also observed but dogs had their eyes open throughout most of the TI episodes and appeared to be continually monitoring their environment as eye and ear movements, muscle twitches and changes in respiration rate were observed in response to auditory and other stimuli. Many TI episodes were not terminated by intense stimulation such as loud auditory stimuli or physiological testing that included pinching between the dog's toes and inserting a thermometer into the dog's rectum. Respiration rate, heart rate, withdrawal reflexes and temperature were monitored on these dogs. These physiological parameters were all within normal limits. Susceptibility to TI appeared to be a dog effect rather than a technique effect. Timid dogs or dogs that eliminated during testing were more susceptible to TI, indicating that susceptibility may be related to the dog's temperament or fearfulness. It was also found that proestrous bitches were more susceptible to TI than the other dogs. A potentiation effect with repeated testing was observed when the intertrial interval was between 20-80s. No order or carry-over effect was however found when a 3 min intertrial interval was used. No difference in susceptibility to TI was found between techniques but the cuffing technique resulted in longer TI durations than the others. Results should however, be interpreted with caution due to the small number of dogs exhibiting TI. More extensive investigations of the characteristics and physiological changes during TI and the effect of individual variables on TI susceptibility and durations are also required to determine the safety and extent of procedures that may be conducted while dogs are in TI. The results from this initial study are promising as they show that dogs do exhibit TI. The duration, characteristics and physiological changes observed during TI also indicate the potential for using TI as a quick, non-chemical, easily reversible and safe method of restraint in some dogs, for routine clinical examinations or even veterinary procedures

Everett and the Born Rule

During the last ten years or so, derivations of the Born rule based on decision theory have been proposed and developed, and it is claimed that these are valid in the context of the Everett interpretation. This claim is critically assessed and it is shown that one of its key assumptions, although natural in the context of the Copenhagen interpretation, is not consistent with that of Everett. It is further argued that any interpretation that relates outcome likelihood to the expansion coefficients connecting the wavefunction with the eigenfunctions of the measurement operator must be inconsistent with the Everett interpretation.Comment: 22 pages 1 figur

Constructing the foundations of capacity building: an activity theory analysis of the English in Action baseline studies

This paper offers insights from an activity theory perspective into the English in Action (EiA) project in an attempt to reveal the motivations accompanying the selection of particular areas of focus for the baseline studies. An overview of the background to the project is provided, followed by a review of the individual baseline studies. The paper then provides an activity theory analysis that reviews the attachment of individual study topics to the components of an activity theory framework