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Book part
Publication date: 2 July 2015

David Van Hooren

Malta is a small, densely populated, and dominantly Catholic island republic not too far off the North-African coast. Before 2002, Malta never had to deal with many irregular

Abstract

Malta is a small, densely populated, and dominantly Catholic island republic not too far off the North-African coast. Before 2002, Malta never had to deal with many irregular immigrants. Nevertheless, negative stigmas toward “southerners” were pre-existent and seemed to have been around for centuries. This stigmatization was caused by a historical identification of the self of Maltese citizens as Christian Europeans. By 2002, irregular migration patterns changed and thousands of African irregular immigrants started arriving by boat every year. Keeping in mind the smallness of the island, this had a considerable impact on its ethnographic landscape. Pre-existing stigmas strongly persisted, additional stigmas were created, and many supposed inconveniences were fabricated by the Maltese citizenry. The title “outsiders as invaders” is quoted from an interview with a Maltese expert on irregular migration. This brings attention to the fact that stigmatized persons who are living in Malta are still regularly demonized and seen as “the others” by mainstream society. Even today barely any effort is made by Maltese society, institutions, or even its government to support integration and acceptance of non-European outsiders.

Details

Contributions from European Symbolic Interactionists: Conflict and Cooperation
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78441-856-4

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 June 2015

Anett Hodosi

There is a significant body of work dealing with the topic of undeclared work and irregular immigrants. However, relatively little is understood about the British general public’s…

Abstract

Purpose

There is a significant body of work dealing with the topic of undeclared work and irregular immigrants. However, relatively little is understood about the British general public’s perception of irregular immigrants’ participation in undeclared work. The purpose of this paper is to explore the topic from a social trust angle and to compare its findings with the real extent and distribution of the different sub-populations’ participation in undeclared work.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on the 2007 Eurobarometer data set, drawing upon the results of logistic regression analyses.

Findings

The research reveals the extent that socio-demographic, occupational and spatial characteristics influence the perceptions of the general public towards the involvement of irregular immigrants in undeclared work in the UK. These findings are then analysed to show their impact on social trust.

Practical implications

A policy intervention addressing perceptions could be joined by or be part of initiatives aiming to increase social trust as their target audience overlaps with both racial and income differences playing a significant role in both matters. Equal treatment should be an essential feature of such new measures as it could have a significant effect on preventing discrimination as a result of negative perceptions. Also, new policies aiming to reduce undeclared work should consider a general scope targeting all ethnic groups at the same time. Focusing on just one minority community intensifies perceptions of the rest of the society and enhances its weakening effect on extra-community links at the same time impeding interpersonal trust and the emergence of social capital.

Originality/value

Perceptions of the general public towards irregular immigrants’ engagement in undeclared work has not been analysed in detail previously. The findings of the current paper are based on the 2007 Eurobarometer data set. This paper examines the preconceptions and their impact on social trust from the perspective of the general public.

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 35 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

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Book part
Publication date: 27 September 2021

Emily Rigler Gillingham

Since January 1997, the UK has imposed sanctions on employers found to be employing irregular workers. Coercing employers into conducting immigration status checks makes it…

Abstract

Since January 1997, the UK has imposed sanctions on employers found to be employing irregular workers. Coercing employers into conducting immigration status checks makes it increasingly difficult for irregular migrants to secure employment opportunities, thus restricting their ability to sustain a tolerable life in the UK. The deputisation of employers, as well as other private entities, such as landlords, has become a pivotal element of what is commonly known as the ‘hostile environment’, an attempt to make UK life unbearable for irregular migrants. This chapter uses the social science critique of ethnocentrism to explore different forms of bias and discrimination embedded in the deputisation of employers. Dehumanisation and exclusion are the two manifestations of ethnocentrism focussed on: examples of these recurring issues are drawn from the justifications for implementation, and effects of the employer sanctions regime.

Details

Privatisation of Migration Control: Power without Accountability?
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-663-7

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 March 2018

Jianping Huang, Wenyuan Liao and Zhenchun Li

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new finite difference method for solving the seismic wave propagation in fluid-solid media, which can be described by the acoustic and…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new finite difference method for solving the seismic wave propagation in fluid-solid media, which can be described by the acoustic and viscoelastic wave equations for the fluid and solid parts, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors introduced a coordinate transformation method for seismic wave simulation method. In the new method, the irregular fluid–solid interface is transformed into a horizontal interface. Then, a multi-block coordinate transformation method is proposed to mesh every layer to curved grids and transforms every interface to horizontal interface. Meanwhile, a variable grid size is used in different regions according to the shape and the velocity within each region. Finally, a Lebedev-standard staggered coupled grid scheme for curved grids is applied in the multi-block coordinate transformation method to reduce the computational cost.

Findings

The instability in the auxiliary coordinate system caused by the standard staggered grid scheme is resolved using a curved grid viscoelastic wave field separation strategy. Several numerical examples are solved using this new method. It has been shown that the new method is stable, efficient and highly accurate in solving the seismic wave equation defined on domain with irregular fluid–solid interface.

Originality/value

First, the irregular fluid–solid interface is transformed into a horizontal interface by using the coordinate transformation method. The conversion between pressures and stresses is easy to implement and adaptive to different irregular fluid–solid interface models, because the normal stress and shear stress vanish when the normal angle is 90° in the interface. Moreover, in the new method, the strong false artificial boundary reflection and instability caused by ladder-shaped grid discretion are resolved as well.

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2005

Olivier Herrbach

Irregular auditing practices, such as false sign‐off, are evidence that proper implementation of work programmes by audit fieldworkers is not always achieved. That such behaviours…

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Abstract

Purpose

Irregular auditing practices, such as false sign‐off, are evidence that proper implementation of work programmes by audit fieldworkers is not always achieved. That such behaviours have been widely attested in the literature raises important questions about the impact they have on the audit engagement. In order to get further insight into the phenomenon, seeks to adopt a qualitative approach, deemed appropriate to complement the mostly quantitative studies available in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on 15 semi‐directive interviews performed with current and former French audit seniors. The interviews were meant to highlight the role of irregular auditing in view of the individual and organisational strive for legitimacy that characterises the audit profession.

Findings

The research showed that, far from being systematically dysfunctional, irregular auditing plays an important role in audit firms, and that it can only be understood in view of the nested personal (individual auditor), organisational (audit firm) and institutional (auditing as a profession) constraints of the audit environment.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the limited number of interviews and their situated context, the study has an exploratory nature. Its findings are used to provide recommendations for future research into various aspects of auditor performance.

Originality/value

The study of irregular auditing has major consequences for understanding of the professional status of audit fieldworkers. It also provides insights into the recent evolution of auditing methods and of the profession's ideology.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 November 2015

Desh Deepak Sharma and S.N. Singh

This paper aims to detect abnormal energy uses which relate to undetected consumption, thefts, measurement errors, etc. The detection of irregular power consumption, with…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to detect abnormal energy uses which relate to undetected consumption, thefts, measurement errors, etc. The detection of irregular power consumption, with variation in irregularities, helps the electric utilities in planning and making strategies to transfer reliable and efficient electricity from generators to the end-users. Abnormal peak load demand is a kind of aberration that needs to be detected.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a Density-Based Micro Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBMSCAN) clustering algorithm, which is implemented for identification of ranked irregular electricity consumption and occurrence of peak and valley loads. In the proposed algorithm, two parameters, a and ß, are introduced, and, on tuning of these parameters, after setting of global parameters, a varied number of micro-clusters and ranked irregular consumptions, respectively, are obtained. An approach is incorporated with the introduction of a new term Irregularity Variance in the suggested algorithm to find variation in the irregular consumptions according to anomalous behaviors.

Findings

No set of global parameters in DBSCAN is found in clustering of load pattern data of a practical system as the data. The proposed DBMSCAN approach finds clustering results and ranked irregular consumption such as different types of abnormal peak demands, sudden change in the demand, nearly zero demand, etc. with computational ease without any iterative control method.

Originality/value

The DBMSCAN can be applied on any data set to find ranked outliers. It is an unsupervised approach of clustering technique to find the clustering results and ranked irregular consumptions while focusing on the analysis of and variations in anomalous behaviors in electricity consumption.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 9 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

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Article
Publication date: 10 March 2022

Ray C. Chang, Yangnan Lv, Jing Shi and Ningying Chen

The purpose of this paper is to present the irregular deviation examination of flight control surfaces and the potential problem diagnosis of irregular deviations for the jet…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the irregular deviation examination of flight control surfaces and the potential problem diagnosis of irregular deviations for the jet transport aircraft. A four-jet transport aircraft at transonic flight in cruise phase is the study case of the present article.

Design/methodology/approach

The standard lift-to-drag ratio (L/D) and flight dynamic models are established through flight data mining and the fuzzy logic modeling technique based on the flight data of quick access recorder available in the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) program of the airlines. The irregular deviations of flight control surfaces are examined by the standard L/D model-predicted results through sensitivity analysis. The contribution values in L/D deficiency are predicted by the deviations and the L/D derivatives of all influencing variables in Taylor series expansion. The potential problems due to irregular deviations can be excavated by the flight dynamic models through the analysis of in-flight stability and controllability.

Findings

The magnitude of stabilizer angle to the deficiency of L/D is the largest among the four control surfaces and elevator is the second one through the judgment of contribution values in L/D deficiency. The stabilizer has irregular deviations with obvious endplay problems of jackscrew, as found in the present study. The stabilizer is suggested to have the unscheduled maintenance for the flight control rigging.

Research limitations/implications

The specific transport aircraft of the standard L/D model should be the best one in L/D performance among all transport aircraft in the fleet of the airlines. The present method is a new concept to monitor the irregular deviation of flight control surface. The study case of the four-jet transport aircraft at transonic flight in cruise phase is illustrated as the standard L/D mode. The required flight data of monitored flight is requested to eliminate the biases through compatibility checks. The flight data of study case in the present study is also illustrated as monitored flight data.

Practical implications

To diagnose the irregular deviations of flight control surface deflected angles with contributing to the L/D deficiency estimation is an innovation to improve the flight data analysis of FOQA program for airlines. If the irregular deviation problems of control surfaces can be fixed after rigging in maintenance, the goal of flight safety and aviation fuel saving will be achieved.

Social implications

The flight control surface rigging of unscheduled maintenance is not expected to coincide with an airline’s peak season or unavailable space in hangar. The optimal time of unscheduled maintenance for the flight control rigging will be easily decided through the correlations between excessive fuel cost and flight safety.

Originality/value

This method can be used to assist airlines to monitor irregular angular positions of flight control surfaces as a complementary tool for management to improve aviation safety, operation and operational efficiency.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 94 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 27 September 2021

Harriet Parfitt

The ‘hostile environment’ agenda of Government has effectively endorsed the deliberate exploitation of irregular migrants in the agricultural industry. This minor project of…

Abstract

The ‘hostile environment’ agenda of Government has effectively endorsed the deliberate exploitation of irregular migrants in the agricultural industry. This minor project of jurisprudence will provide two arguments in support of this hypothesis. Firstly, the vulnerabilities faced by irregular migrants are reinforced through the xenophobic narrative embodied within the law and the courts. The lack of priority afforded to modern slavery on the UK Policy Agenda has allowed a ‘grey labour market’ (1) to develop. Irregular migrants face a ‘precarity paradox’ and (2) they must avoid the carceral regime of immigration control by entering into unprotected and deliberately exploitative work. Secondly, a lacklustre attempt to remedy the corruption in the horticultural industry proves that the state is preoccupied, capitalising on irregular labour practice in the interests of state capital. Thus, the Government allows the commodification of workers within the supply chain to profit British businesses.

Details

Privatisation of Migration Control: Power without Accountability?
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-663-7

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 19 July 2018

Robbie Eyles

Education is both a human right and an indispensable means of achieving other rights. Provision of education for irregular status migrant children tests the commitment of nation…

Abstract

Education is both a human right and an indispensable means of achieving other rights. Provision of education for irregular status migrant children tests the commitment of nation states to this basic right even as states curb irregular immigration. In the US, the right to go to school was guaranteed to irregular migrant children, by the case of Plyler v. Doe in 1982. This article argues that the right enshrined in that decision faces considerable risk of being eroded in the current political context. The article presents a detailed critical analysis of the rationale in the case, with a full consideration of the shaky constitutional framework on which the decision was based. It also examines the direct legal challenges to the right to education since Plyler, and the potential impact of new political and legal changes in contemporary times.

Details

Studies in Law, Politics, and Society
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78756-208-0

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 August 2020

Tingting Wang, Shimin Dai, Hailong Liao and Haihong Zhu

To fabricate high performance parts, this paper aims to systematically study the pores characteristics and their formation mechanisms in selective laser melting (SLM) AlSi10Mg.

Abstract

Purpose

To fabricate high performance parts, this paper aims to systematically study the pores characteristics and their formation mechanisms in selective laser melting (SLM) AlSi10Mg.

Design/methodology/approach

Cubes of 10 × 10 × 5 mm were manufactured in different laser power, scan speed and scan space. Optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) were used to observe morphology of pores.

Findings

Round or irregular pores were found in SLMed AlSi10Mg parts. All the round pores have smooth inner walls and locate in the melt pool. The formation mechanisms of the round pores are contributed to the evaporation of elements in the melt pool, H2O, high laser energy input and hollow powder. Irregular pores have rough inner walls. Big scan space, unevenness of the upper surface, large layer thickness, spatter and oxide are the main reasons of generating irregular pores which outside the melt pool. Instability of keyhole leads to the irregular pores locate in the bottom of keyhole mode melt pool.

Originality/value

Relationship between pores and melt pool were studied systematically for the first time. Researches of pores characteristics and their formation mechanisms in SLMed AlSi10Mg would be a valuable reference for researchers to obtain an important insight into and control the defect in SLMed Al alloy.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 26 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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1 – 10 of over 10000