University of Leicester

About: University of Leicester is a education organization based out in Leicester, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 26469 authors who have published 61444 publications receiving 2305724 citations. The organization is also known as: Leicester University.

The gendered nature of apprenticeship : employers' and young people's perspectives

Abstract: Purpose Gender segregation has been a persistent feature of apprenticeship programmes in countries around the world. In the UK, the Modern Apprenticeship was launched ten years ago as the government?s flagship initiative for training new entrants in a range of occupational sectors. One of its priorities was to increase male and female participation in ?non-traditional? occupations, that is, those normally practiced by just one sex. However, recent figures show that the programme has failed to achieve its aim and this has prompted an investigation by the Equal Opportunities Commission. The research reported in this paper is part of this investigation. Methodology/Approach This paper presents quantitative and qualitative evidence on the attitudes of young people (aged 14 and 15) and employers to non-traditional occupational choices. It also explores the factors affecting the decisions of young people to train in a non-traditional occupation and the recruitment decisions of employers from ?traditional sectors?, such as engineering, the construction trades and childcare. Findings The research provides evidence of the deeply entrenched nature of occupational stereotypes and the psychological and social barriers that have to be overcome if a more evenly balanced workforce is to be created. It also reveals that none of the institutions and organisations which act as gatekeepers between young people and employers is, as yet, taking responsibility for challenging their perceptions and decision-making processes. Policy implications The paper concludes by highlighting the implications of the research findings stakeholders and suggesting an holistic approach to tackling gender segregation.

Geometry and style of partitioned deformation within a late Cenozoic transpressional zone in the eastern Gobi Altai Mountains, Mongolia

Abstract: The Gobi Altai is the easternmost extension of the Mongolian Altai and consists of topographically discontinuous E-W-trending ranges with peaks averaging 2000–3000 m in elevation. The region is seismically active and characterized by prominent E-W left-lateral strike-slip faults that localize transpressional deformation and uplift along their lengths and at stepover zones. This report summarizes structural field investigations made in the easternmost Gobi Altai to document the structural geometry and style of late Cenozoic transpressional deformation in the region in order to better understand processes of intracontinental mountain building and the distant intracontinental strain response to the Indo-Eurasian collision. The Artsa Bogd range marks the northeastern terminus of the Gobi Altai and is topographically asymmetric with a high northern margin marked by N-vergent thrust faults and left-lateral oblique-slip faults. The northern side of the range is also bounded by a foreland basin that contains N-vergent thrust faults and folds that deform Quaternary sediments. The southern margin of Artsa Bogd appears tectonically inactive but contains S-vergent thrust faults and left-lateral wrench zones. The range appears to have a flower structure cross-sectional geometry that may reflect transpressional inversion of a Mesozoic basin. The isolated, high and narrow Tsost Uul range south of Artsa Bogd occupies a restraining bend position along the left-lateral Tsost Uul strike-slip fault system. Major faults within the range define a half-flower structure cross-sectional geometry. To the south of the Tsost Uul range, the Gobi Bulag left-lateral strike-slip fault system is marked by small push-up ridges and one major restraining bend mountain where the fault steps to the right near its western end. Throughout the region, Late Cretaceous-Tertiary basalts and Tertiary and Quaternary sediments are deformed by the major fault systems indicating late Cenozoic fault activity. These fault systems and the ranges formed along them occur at fairly regular intervals (approximately 20 km) between the North Gobi Altai fault system and the Gobi Tien Shan fault system, two major left-lateral strike-slip faults that cut across southern Mongolia. Together the faults define a parallel array of discrete linear belts of Cenozoic E-W left-lateral transpressional deformation south of the Hangay Dome. The regular spacing of the fault systems may suggest more uniform distributed left-lateral flow at depth. Eastward-directed lower crustal and lithospheric mantle flow is suggested by existing seismic anisotropy data for the eastern Gobi Altai and is believed to be the driving force for the upper crustal deformation.

High-resolution x-ray spectroscopy of the evolving shock in the 2006 outburst of rs ophiuchi

Abstract: The evolution of the 2006 outburst of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi was followed with 12 X-ray grating observations with Chandra and XMM-Newton. We present detailed spectral analyses using two independent approaches. From the best data set, taken on day 13.8 after outburst, we reconstruct the temperature distribution and derive elemental abundances. We find evidence for at least two distinct temperature components on day 13.8 and a reduction of temperature with time. The X-ray flux decreases as a power law, and the power-law index changes from –5/3 to –8/3 around day 70 after outburst. This can be explained by different decay mechanisms for the hot and cool components. The decay of the hot component and the decrease in temperature are consistent with radiative cooling, while the decay of the cool component can be explained by the expansion of the ejecta. We find overabundances of N and of α elements, which could either represent the composition of the secondary that provides the accreted material or that of the ejecta. The N overabundance indicates CNO-cycled material. From comparisons to abundances for the secondary taken from the literature, we conclude that 20%-40% of the observed nitrogen could originate from the outburst. The overabundance of the α elements is not typical for stars of the spectral type of the secondary in the RS Oph system, and white dwarf material might have been mixed into the ejecta. However, no direct measurements of the α elements in the secondary are available, and the continuous accretion may have changed the observable surface composition.

Dosimetry of iodine 131 metaiodobenzylguanidine for treatment of resistant neuroblastoma: results of a UK study

Abstract: In 1987, the United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) set up a multi-centre study to investigate the toxicity of iodine 131 metaiodobenzyl-guanidine (mIBG) in the treatment of resistant neuroblastoma. Since December 1987, 25 children suffering from neuroblastoma have been treated with131I-mIBG at six UK centres. All centres followed standardised physics and clinical protocols to provide consistent toxicity and dosimetry data. These protocols describe the methods employed for both the tracer study using131I-mIBG and the subsequent therapy. Whole-body dosimetry calculations were performed on data from the tracer study. The activity administered for therapy was the amount predicted to deliver a predefined whole-body dose. Estimates of doses delivered to various organs during treatment are given in Table 1.