Showing papers by "University of Warwick published in 1986"

Modern techniques of surface science

Abstract: This book describes the physical basis and applications of all of the principal techniques, and most of the lesser techniques, used in surface science today. They are grouped according to the underlying physics and are described in eight chapters. The treatment of each technique is thorough, but an exhaustive survey characteristic of a scientific review is not attempted. The physics underlying each technique is described carefully, together with the kind of instrumentation used. The strengths and limitations of each technique are brought out through discussion of examples of applications and results, chosen mainly from studies of the physics and chemistry (including adsorption, crystallography and catalytic properties) of well-characterised surfaces.

Accounting and the examination: A genealogy of disciplinary power☆

Abstract: Historical elaboration of Foucault’s concept of ‘power-knowledge” can explain both the late-medieval developments in accounting technology and why the near-universal adoption of a discourse of accountancy is delayed until the nineteenth century. It is the disciplinary techniques of elite medieval educational institutions - the new universities and their examinations -that generate new power-knowledge relations. These techniques embody forms of textual rewriting (including the new ‘alphanumeric” system) from which the accounting advances are produced and “control” is formalised. “Double-entry” is an aspect of these rewritings, linked also to the new writing and rewritings of money, especially the bill of exchange. By the eighteenth century accounting technologies are feeding back in a general way into educational practice (e.g. in the deployment of “book-keeping” on pupils) and this culminates in the introduction of the written examination and the mathematical mark. A new regime of “objective” evaluation of total populations, made up of individually “calculable” subjects, is thereby engendered and then extended - apparently tirst in the U.S. railroads - into modern comprehensive management and financial accounting systems (systems of “accountability” embodying Foucault’s “reciprocal hierarchical observation” and “normalising judgement”), while written examinations become used to legitimate the newly autonomous pro. fession of accountancy.

The Practice of Strategic Human Resource Management

Abstract: In the United States in the last few years there has developed a notion of “strategic human resource management” (HRM). As with other high-sounding phrases in the management of people, first reactions are likely to divide between “let's have some of it” to “it won't work here”, with the latter possibly predominating. Where American pragmatism inclines towards trying new things to see if they work, British pragmatism tends to mean sticking with the actual and the evidently possible. Nevertheless, reviewing ideas which run ahead of practice can, on occasion, be useful in suggesting new possibilities. This article will review the implications of “strategic HRM” and ask whether it has any relevance to some of the issues which currently exercise personnel managers in the UK — notably, decentralising the personnel function and increasing workforce flexibility.

The Discipline of the New Democracy: Mrs Thatcher's Domestic Statecraft

Abstract: Interpretations of the first Thatcher Administration can be divided crudely into two groups, those which divine some grand purpose and consistency in its operations, and those sceptical of any such conclusions. The former are concerned primarily with its ideas or ideology, the latter with its policies. This article adopts a different perspective. It stresses the need to examine the activities of party leaders in terms of their statecraft—namely the art of winning elections and, above all, achieving a necessary degree of governing competence in office. It suggests that this Administration aimed to achieve a governing competence by reconstructing traditional Conservative concerns with centre autonomy in matters of ‘high politics’. This statecraft was consistently and successfully pursued, although some of the methods initially employed to buttress that autonomy had to be abandoned quickly.

A new cell division operon in Escherichia coli.

Abstract: At 76 min on theE. coli genetic map there is a cluster of genes affecting essential cellular functions, including the heat shock response and cell division. A combination ofin-vivo andin-vitro genetic analysis of cell division mutants suggests that the cell division genefts E is the second gene in a 3 gene operon. A cold-sensitive mutant, defective in the third gene, is also unable to divide at the restrictive temperature, and we designate this new cell division genefts X. Another cell division gene,fts S, is very close to, but distinct from, the 3 genes of the operon. Thefts E product is a 24.5 Kd polypeptide which shows strong homology with a small group of proteins involved in transport. Both thefts E product and the protein coded by the first gene (fts Y) in the operon have a sequence motif found in a wide range of heterogeneous proteins, including the Ras proteins of yeast. This common domain is indicative of a nucleotide-binding site.

A thylakoid processing protease is required for complete maturation of the lumen protein plastocyanin

Abstract: Plastocyanin, a photosynthetic electron carrier functional in the chloroplast lumen, is synthesized in the cytosol as a precursor (preplastocyanin) with an amino-terminal transit sequence1. This transit peptide contains the information specifying import into and routing within the chloroplasts and is removed in at least two steps2. An intermediate is observed in the stroma after the transport of preplastocyanin through the chloroplast envelope; mature plastocyanin is present in the lumen, after transport over the thylakoid membrane. We show here that the stromal processing protease3 is not responsible for both processing events. It cleaves the precursor protein only to the intermediate size and a novel protease located in the thylakoids processes this intermediate to the mature protein. This second protease recognizes the processing intermediate but not the precursor. Thus plastocyanin import involves cleavage at the intermediate processing site mediated by the stromal protease and then cleavage at the mature processing site mediated by the thylakoid protease.

Ferromagnetism versus aniferromagnetism in face-centered-cubic iron.

Abstract: Using a first-principles disordered-local-moment picture of itinerant-electron magnetism, we calculated the temperature and volume dependence of the magnetic moment and spin-spin correlations for fcc Fe in the paramagnetic state.

Symbolic dynamics for the renormalization map of a quasiperiodic Schrödinger equation

Abstract: A rigorous analysis is given of the dynamics of the renormalization map associated to a discrete Schrodinger operatorH onl 2(ℤ), defined byHψ(n)=ψ(n+1)+ψ(n−1)+Vf(nσ)ψ(n), whereV is a real parameter,f is a certain discontinuous period-1 function, and $$\sigma = {{\left( { - 1 + \sqrt 5 } \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\left( { - 1 + \sqrt 5 } \right)} 2}} \right. \kern- ulldelimiterspace} 2}$$ is the golden mean. The renormalization map forH is a diffeomorphism,T, of ℝ3, preserving a cubic surfaceS V . ForV≧8 we prove that the non-wandering set of the restriction ofT toS v is a hyperbolic set, on whichT is conjugate to a subshift on six symbols. It follows from results in dynamical systems theory that the optimally approximating periodic operators toH have spectra which obey a global scaling law. We also define a set which we call the pseudospectrum” of the operatorH. We prove it to be a Cantor set of measure zero, and obtain bounds on its Hausdorff dimension. It is an open question whether the pseudospectrum coincides with the spectrum ofH.

Defective interfering viruses and infections of animals.

Abstract: Defective interfering (DI) virus particles are generated during the replication of many, possibly all, animal viruses (Huang and Baltimore 1977; Perrault 1981). They characteristically have a genome which contains deletions, often of the majority, of the standard (infectious) virus genome. These deletions mean that DI virus can only replicate in cells co-infected with standard virus. Such co-infection normally results in the enhancement of the DI virus population and a concomitant reduction in standard virus — the phenomenon of interference (Huang and Baltimore 1977; Holland et al. 1980; Perrault 1981). These and other properties of DI viruses are summarised in Table 1. The point that DI virus nucleic acid is encapsidated in the normal complement of coat proteins synthesized by standard virus should be emphasized, since it follows that DI and standard virus are antigenically identical and that they should stimulate and respond to host immune responses in the same way. The intimate biochemical dependence of DI virus on standard virus for its replication as well as encapsidation explains why, for the most part, interference is specific for the homologous standard virus. For an account of the biochemical properties of DI viruses the reader is referred to reviews by Huang and Baltimore (1977), Holland et al. (1980) and Perrault (1981).

A Cultural Theory of Information Bias in Organizations

Abstract: Organizations show an essential cultural pluralism. Taking this into account, we aim at developing a cultural theory of organizations. A central role in this theory is played by information rejection, which can follow any of four different styles: risk absorption, networking, paradigm protection, or expulsion. These can be related to different types of organizational cultures, in particular to markets, hierarchies, and sects. Different kinds of information bias institutionalize different kinds of leadership.

Stability of Water Waves

Abstract: We apply some general results for Hamiltonian systems, depending on the notion of signature of eigenvalues, to determine the circumstances under which collisions of imaginary eigenvalue for the linearized problem about a travelling water wave of permanent form are avoided or lead to loss of stability, up to non-degeneracy assumptions A new superharmonic instability is predicted and verified

Distributed Leadership and Skilled Performance as Successful Organization in Social Movements

Abstract: This paper adopts a social psychological perspective to the study of social organization analyzed in terms of the skills of organizing. The arguments are intended to be general but discussion is grounded in research on womens' centers in Britain. Drawing on Hosking's work on small groups, leadership, and organization, and Brown's doctoral research on womens' centers, we focus on interlocking cognitive and social orders and the manner of their achievement. "Order" is found to be negotiated more or less successfully, the degree of success achieved depending on skilled performance in four main areas. These are outlined and illustrated. In the case of the womens' organization, a core value was found to be that of "distributed" leadership; they are argued to be successful to the degree that this is achieved.

Growth yields of methanotrophs

Abstract: The growth yield ofMethylococcus capsulatus (Bath) on methane was dependent on the availability of copper in the growth medium In nitrate mineral salts medium the carbon conversion efficiency increased by 38%, concomitant with the transition from soluble to particulate methane monooxygenase, after transfer from low to high copper medium An increase in growth efficiency was also observed with ammonia as nitrogen source but not when methanol replaced methane as carbon source The high growth efficiency is attributed to a reduced NADH requirement for methane oxidation This could only arise if methanol dehydrogenase was capable of electron transfer, either directly or indirectly to the particulate methane monooxygenase (MMO) The carbon conversion efficiency from methanol with nitrate as nitrogen source was as high as theoretically predicted It is suggested that the previously low yields of methanotrophs grown on methanol resulted from the use, as nitrogen source, of ammonia which was oxidised by the MMO still present under these growth conditions

Purification and Properties of Ribulosebisphosphate Carboxylase Large Subunit Binding Protein

Abstract: The large subunit binding protein, an abundant plastid protein implicated in the assembly of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (RubisCO), has been highly purified from leaves of Pisum sativum. The 720 kilodaltons purified binding protein is composed of two types of subunits of 60 and 61 kilodaltons. Highly specific polyclonal antibodies have been raised against the binding protein. The antibodies do not cross-react with the large subunit nor do anti-RubisCO antibodies cross-react with the binding protein. A higher molecular weight form of the binding protein is immunoprecipitated from products of P. sativum polysomes translated in a wheat-germ system, indicating that the binding protein is synthesized by cytoplasmic ribosomes. Immunoblotting reveals the presence of binding protein in extracts of tobacco, wheat and barley leaves and castor bean endosperm.The previously reported dissociation of the binding protein-large subunit complex upon addition of ATP in vitro has been confirmed and the fates of the dissociated subunits further investigated. The dissociated binding protein subunits are not phosphorylated or adenylated in vitro by added ATP.

T-points: a codimension two heteroclinic bifurcation

Abstract: The local bifurcation structure of a heteroclinic bifurcation which has been observed in the Lorenz equations is analyzed. The existence of a particular heteroclinic loop at one point in a two-dimensional parameter space (a “T point”) implies the existence of a line of heteroclinic loops and a logarithmic spiral of homoclinic orbits, as well as countably many other topologically more complicatedT points in a small neighborhood in parameter space.

Managing Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Abstract: The Managing Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Conference was held at the University of Warwick in January 1986. The conference theme covered those elements which are part of the total process of management of AMT: manufacturing strategy, technical planning, relations with equipment suppliers, implementation and performance and evaluation. These elements are reviewed here in the context of the background to the conference.

Symmetry and stability in Taylor Couette flow

Abstract: We study the flow of a fluid between concentric rotating cylinders (the Taylor problem) by exploiting the symmetries of the system. The Navier–Stokes equations, linearized about Couette flow, possess two zero and four purely imaginary eigenvalues at a suitable value of the speed of rotation of the outer cylinder. There is thus a reduced bifurcation equation on a six-dimensional space which can be shown to commute with an action of the symmetry group $O(2) \times SO(2)$. We use the group structure to analyze this bifurcation equation in the simplest (nondegenerate) case and to compute the stabilities of solutions. In particular, when the outer cylinder is counterrotated we can obtain transitions which seem to agree with recent experiments of Andereck, Liu, and Swinney [1984]. It is also possible to obtain the “main sequence” in this model. This sequence is normally observed in experiments when the outer cylinder is held fixed.

The structure of binary alkali silicate glasses

Abstract: The role of alkali metal cations in determining the structure of binary silicate glasses has been studied by magic angle spinning NMR of 29Si and 133Cs in Rb2OSiO2 and Cs2OSiO2. Glasses with up to ≈ to mol% alkali metal oxide have been investigated and the results compared with those for Li2OSiO2 and Na2OSiO2. At high concentrations of Rb2O or Cs2O there is a deviation from the formation of solely Qn and Qn−1 species which was found for Na2OSiO2. We suggest that the structure of binary silicates is determined by a balance between the repulsion of non-bridging oxygens on different Q species and the mutual attraction or repulsion of the alkali metal cations.

Breakdown of dimethyl sulphide by mixed cultures and by Thiobacillus thioparus

Abstract: Dimethyl sulphide (DMS) was degraded by acclimatized activated sludge and by a mixed culture of Thiobacillus thioparus TK-1 and Pseudomonas sp. AK-2. While both these organisms persisted in stable co-culture on DMS, it was found that T. thioparus TK-1 and the derived strain TK-m grew in pure culture on DMS, and oxidized DMS with an apparent Km of 4.5 × 10−5 M. During growth, all the DMS-sulphur was oxidized stoichiometrically to sulphate but no methanol was detected in pure cultures of TK-m. DMS-carbon was probably converted to CO2, since the fixation of 14CO2 was progressively diluted during growth of a culture on 14CO2 and DMS. Growth yields were consistent with autotrophic growth, dependent on the oxidation of the methyl residues to CO2 (probably with formaldehyde as a first intermediate) and the sulphide to sulphate. The organism thus appears to exhibit a mixture, from the one substrate, of chemolithotrophic and methylotrophic energy generation supporting autotrophic growth with CO2 fixation.

Japanese Marketing strategies in the UK. - a Comparative Study

Abstract: Hypotheses about Japanese marketing are examined using a matched sample of British companies and their major Japanese competitors. Japanese subsidiaries in Britain are shown to be much more market-oriented, more single-minded in their pursuit of market share and more alert to strategic opportunities than their British counterparts. Organizationally, however, their subsidiaries are more like successful British companies than the Japanese stereotype. Differences in performance between the two groups appear due to marketing skills rather than national cultures.