NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT

International Journal of Management Reviews, 2019

While performance management (PM) is pervasive across contemporary workplaces, extant research into how performance management affects workers is often indirect or scattered across disciplinary silos. This paper reviews and synthesizes this research, identifies key gaps and explores ‘recognition theory’ as a nascent framework that can further develop this important body of knowledge. The paper develops in three main stages. The first stage reviews ‘mainstream’ human resource management (HRM) research. While this research analyses workers’ reactions to performance management in some depth, its focus on serving organizational goals marginalizes extra-organizational impacts. The second stage reviews more critical HRM research, which interprets performance management as a disciplinary, coercive or inequitable management device. While this literature adds an important focus on organizational power, there is scope to analyse further how PM affects workers’ well-being. To develop this strand of PM research, the third stage turns to the emerging field of recognition theory independently developed by Axel Honneth and Christophe Dejours. The authors focus especially on recognition theory's exploration of how (in)adequate acknowledgement of workers’ contributions can significantly affect their well-being at the level of self-conception. Although recognition theory is inherently critical, the paper argues that it can advance both mainstream and critical performance management research, and also inform broader inquiry into recognition and identity at work

Lava flows of the Gombe Group basalt cover the base of the Omo-Turkana rift in southwestern Ethiopia and northern Kenya. Paleomagnetic study results on these basalts are integrated with previous geochronologic data to better constrain the timing of volcanism and rifting in the area. A total of 80 drilled core samples were collected from nine sites. Experimental methods of Alternating Field (AF) demagnetization, Thermal (TH) demagnetization and Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (IRM) experiments are performed to unravel components of magnetizations. Two components of Natural Remnant Magnetization (NRM) directions are identified; the first one considered as Viscous Remanent Magnetization (VRM) is removed by 5e25 mT AF or a temperature of 120 Ce250 C, the second component isolated after these steps defined a straight-line segment directed towards the origin and is interpreted as the Characteristic Remanent Magnetization (ChRM). In the IRM Acquisition experiment all analyzed samples showed a sharp rise in acquisition and reached to their saturation magnetization by an applied field of 300 mT. This together with the AF demagnetization and TH demagnetization behaviors suggest pseudo single domain titanomagnetite as a dominant magnetic carrier of the remanence. From a total of nine sites, six sites are reversed polarity, two sites are normal polarity and pass the reversal test of McFadden and McElhinny (1990) while one site is of erratic behavior probably due to lightning strike.

2017

Pakistan is one of the most adversely affected countries by climate-related extreme events such as floods owing to its geographical and climatic conditions. Over the last two decades, frequency and severity of flood events has been increased and has adversely affected the livelihood and wellbeing of millions of people in Pakistan. The development of effective mitigation policies requires a clear understanding of the impacts and local responses to extreme events, which is quite limited in Pakistan. This study used a dataset of 600 households collected through face-to-face interviews from two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that were severely affected from 2010 floods. The correlation and probit model methods are used to assess the study objectives. The findings of the study revealed that elevated ground floor, foundation strengthening, cconstruction of houses with reinforced material and precautionary savings were the main adaptation measures adopted at household level. The results from the probit model showed that gender, age, location, monthly income, family size, house ownership, disability, and education influence the households’ choices of mitigation strategies. The study further indicated that adoption of mitigation strategies at household level are constrained by several factors i.e. financial constraint, lack of early warning system, lack of land use planning and inadequate resources. Further mitigation strategies also varied across different groups of households based on education, age, and income. Additionally, the study discovered that the local policies on disaster management need to be improved to address the barriers to the adoption of advanced level adaptation measures at the household level such as advanced level early warning system, flood forecasting and dissemination of updated information and support, house building codes, infrastructure building practices and adequate spatial planning.

Tectonophysics, 2020

As subduction zones and their related processes are often studied in 2D, or cylindrical 3D sections, the dynamic effects of trench curvature and its evolution through time remain under-explored. Whereas temporal variations in trench trend may be estimated through restoring upper plate deformation, we investigate the forearc deformation history of the strongly curved northern Lesser Antilles trench, connecting the near-orthogonal Lesser Antilles subduction zone with the Motagua-Cayman transform plate boundary. Our new paleomagnetic dataset consists of 310 cores from Eo-Oligocene magmatic rocks and limestones from St. Barthélemy Island. The limestones yielded a post-folding magnetization containing a similar magnetic direction to those stored in magmatic rocks that intrude the folded carbonates, both indicating a post-Oligocene~15°, and perhaps up to 25°c ounterclockwise rotation of the island. Our results highlight that the present-day trench curvature formed progressively during the Cenozoic, allowing us to discuss different tectonic scenarios explaining NE Caribbean plate deformation, and to identify key targets for future research on tectonic architecture and the potential present-day activity of intra-plate deformation that may pose seismic hazards.

International Journal of Biomedical Investigation , 2018

Neuroscreen-1 (NS-1) a sub-clone of pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell is gaining broad acceptance as in vitro neuronal model for biochemical and phenotypic assays due to robust growth and differentiation profiles. However, the molecular characteristics of the cell remains to be documented. In this study, we performed comparative analysis for expression of neuronal marker genes in undifferentiated and nerve growth factor (NGF) differentiated NS-1 and PC12 by qPCR and immunoblot assays. We show that differentiation of NS-1 occurred under low concentrations of NGF relative to PC12. Cell growth also occurred more rapidly in NS-1. Transcriptional analysis of neuronal marker genes showed comparable expression of tyrosine receptor kinases (Ntrk1, Ntrk2, NGFR/p75NTR) and muscarinic acetylcholine (Chrm1, Chrm2, Chrm3, Chrm4) receptors in unspecialized cells. Ntrk2, adenosine receptors (Adora1, Adora2A) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were altered in undifferentiated NS-1. In contrast, Ntrk1, Ntrk2, Chrm2 transcripts were vastly increased in NS-1 with NGF exposure, while Ntrk3, Adora1 and Adora2A transcripts were reduced. In differentiated PC12, Chrm4 and ChAT were markedly upregulated. Our data suggests that differences in morphological and phenotypic characteristics that distinguish NS-1 from PC12 is likely the product of altered gene expression. Furthermore, expression of neuron type genes in NS-1 support its use as an alternative model to PC12.

One of the major challenges in understanding the evolution of our own species is identifying the role climate change has played in the evolution of hominin species. To clarify the influence of climate, we need long and continuous high-resolution paleoclimate records, preferably obtained from homininbearing sediments, that are well-dated by tephro-and magnetostratigraphy and other methods. This is hindered, however, by the fact that fossil-bearing outcrop sediments are often discontinuous, and subject to weathering, which may lead to oxidation and remagnetization. To obtain fresh, unweathered sediments, the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP) collected a~216-meter core (WTK13) in 2013 from Early Pleistocene Paleolake Lorenyang deposits in the western Turkana Basin (Kenya). Here, we present the magnetostratigraphy of the WTK13 core, providing a first age model for upcoming HSPDP paleoclimate and paleoenvrionmental studies on the core sediments. Rock magnetic analyses reveal the presence of iron sulfides carrying the remanent magnetizations. To recover polarity orientation from the near-equatorial WTK13 core drilled at 5 N, we developed and successfully applied two independent drill-core reorientation methods taking advantage of (1) the sedimentary fabric as expressed in the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) and (2) the occurrence of a viscous component oriented in the present day field. The reoriented directions reveal a normal to reversed polarity reversal identified as the top of the Olduvai Subchron. From this excellent record, we find no evidence for the 'Vrica Subchron' previously reported in the area. We suggest that outcrop-based interpretations supporting the presence of the Vrica Subchron have been affected by the oxidation of iron sulfides initially present in the sediments -as evident in the core record-and by subsequent remagnetization. We discuss the implications of the observed geomagnetic record for human evolution studies.

Journal of Palaeogeography, 2019

In this paper, we provide two new Triassic palaeomagnetic poles from Winterswijk, the Netherlands, in the stable interior of the Eurasian plate. They were respectively collected from the Anisian (~ 247-242 Ma) red marly limestones of the sedimentary transition of the Buntsandstein Formation to the dark grey limestones of the basal Muschelkalk Formation, and from the Rhaetian (~ 208-201 Ma) shallow marine claystones that unconformably overlie the Muschelkalk Formation. The magnetization is carried by hematite or magnetite in the Anisian limestones, and iron sulfides and magnetite in the Rhaetian sedimentary rocks, revealing for both a large normal polarity overprint with a recent (geocentric axial dipole field) direction at the present latitude of the locality. Alternating field and thermal demagnetization occasionally reveal a stable magnetization decaying towards the origin, interpreted as the Characteristic Remanent Magnetization. Where we find a pervasive (normal polarity) overprint, we can often still determine well-defined great-circle solutions. Our interpreted palaeomagnetic poles include the great-circle solutions. The Anisian magnetic pole has declination D ± ΔD x = 210.8 ± 3.0°, inclination I ± ΔI x = − 26.7 ± 4.9°, with a latitude, longitude of 45.0°, 142.0° respectively, K = 43.9, A 95 = 2.9°, N = 56. The Rhaetian magnetic pole has declination D ± ΔD x = 32.0 ± 8.7°, inclination I ± ΔI x = 50.9 ± 8.1°, with a latitude, longitude of 60.6°, 123.9° respectively, K = 19.3, A 95 = 7.4°, N = 21. The poles plot close to the predicted location of global apparent polar wander paths (GAPWaPs) in Eurasian coordinates and are feasible for future apparent polar wander path construction. They confirm that the intracontinental, shallow-marine Germanic Basin, in which the Muschelkalk Formation was deposited, existed at a palaeolatitude of 14.1° [11.3, 17.1] N, in a palaeo-environment reminding of the Persian Gulf today. In Rhaetian times, palaeolatitudes of 31.6° [24.8, 39.8] N were reached, on its way to the modern latitude of 52°N.

PLOS ONE, 2019

Archaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic methods are of great value in the identification of archaeological fire, especially in Palaeolithic sites where evidence is usually scarce, ambiguous or poorly preserved. Although taphonomic processes can significantly modify Palaeo-lithic combustion structures, the extent to which such processes affect the magnetic record remains unknown. Here we report the results of an archaeomagnetic study involving five, two-to-five-year-old experimental combustion structures in open-air and cave settings. Some of these combustion structures involved post-combustion human actions such as trampling and relighting. Our results show pseudo-single domain (PSD) magnetite as the main magnetic carrier. Wood ash layers of combustion structures are the most magnetic facies followed by thermally altered sediments constituting the combustion substrates. A decreasing magnetic concentration pattern in depth was observed as a function of temperature. Positive correlation was found between good-quality directional data and macroscop-ically well-preserved combustion structures. Partial thermoremanent magnetization (pTRM) was the main magnetization mechanism identified in the combustion substrate facies. These data coupled with partial thermomagnetic curve experiments show the potential of these methods to estimate maximum temperatures of the last combustion event. Relight-ings show very good directional results, but they cannot be identified because the time between them is not enough to statistically distinguish directional variations of the local Earth´s magnetic field. The substrate sediment of an intensively trampled combustion structure yielded reliable archaeomagnetic directions. The results are discussed in terms of mag-netization preservation potential and the effects of taphonomic processes on the archaeomagnetic record.

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2019

We investigated for magnetostratigraphy the Rio Nigra and Rio Frommer stratigraphic sections from Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm (Dolomites, northern Italy) in order to improve the calibration of the Triassic time scale. Both sections are characterized by ammonoid and conodont associations typical of Longobardian (late Ladinian, Middle Triassic) age. Moreover, the Rio Nigra section is constrained by a U-Pb zircon date of 237.77 ± 0.05 Ma. Building on the recently verified Newark-Hartford astrochronological polarity timescale for the Late Carnian-Rhaetian (plus the Hettangian) and through magnetostratigraphic correlations of an updated inventory of Tethyan marine stratigraphic sections from the literature, some of which are provided with U-Pb zircon age constraints, we propose a revised Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale for the entire Triassic.

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