Towards a pedagogy for critical security studies: politics of migration in the classroom

International Relations (IR) has increasingly paid attention to critical pedagogy. Feminist, post-colonial and poststructuralist IR scholarship, in particular, have long been advancing the discussions about how to create a pluralist and democratic classroom where ‘the others’ of politics can be heard by the students, who can critically reflect upon complex power relations in global politics. Despite its normative position, Critical Security Studies (CSS) has so far refrained from joining this pedagogical conversation. Deriving from the literatures of postcolonial and feminist pedagogical practices, it is argued that an IR scholar in the area of CSS can contribute to the production of a critical political subject in the 'uncomfortable classroom', who reflects on violent practices of security. Three pedagogical methods will be introduced: engaging with the students’ life worlds, revealing the positionality of security knowledge claims, and opening up the class-room to the choices about how the youth’s agency can be performed beyond the classroom. The argument is illustrated through the case of forced migration with specific reference to IR and Politics students’ perceptions of Syrian refugees in Turkey. The article advances the discussions in critical IR pedagogy and encourages CSS scholarship to focus on teaching in accordance with its normative position

NONTHERMAL EFFECTS OF MOBILE PHONE RADIATIONS ON HUMAN HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND SUGAR LEVEL

Objective: A single-blinded pilot study has been conducted to investigate the effect of cell phone radiation on the human heart. Methods: Experimental work has been conducted in Jalandhar-based hospital under the supervision of a cardiologist. During experimental work, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure (BP) level, and sugar level have been examined before and after cell phone radiation exposure. For ECG analysis, the parameters such as heart rate, rhythm, mechanism, axis, P wave, PR interval, QRS complex, ST segment, T wave, and QT interval have been examined in the study.Results: No significant variations in the results of above-mentioned parameter has been observed before and after acute exposure of cell phones radiations by placing cell phone closer to heart.Conclusion: The result of this study concludes that mobile phone radiations do not interfere with any electrical activity of the human heart, BP, and sugar level in healthy individuals

Criminal sentencing by preferred numbers

Criminal sentencing is a complex cognitive activity often performed by the unaided mind under suboptimal conditions. As such, sentencers may not behave according to policy, guidelines and training. We analyzed the distribution of sentences meted out in one year in two different jurisdictions (i.e., England and Wales, and New South Wales, Australia). We reveal that sentencers prefer certain numbers when meting out sentence lengths (in custody and community service) and amounts (for fines/compensation). These ‘common doses’ accounted for over 90% of sentences in each jurisdiction. The size of these doses increased as sentences became more severe, and doses followed a logarithmic pattern. These findings are compatible with psychological research on preferred numbers and are reminiscent of Weber’s and Fechner’s laws. Our findings run contrary to arguments against efforts to reduce judicial discretion, and potentially undermine the notion of individualized justice, as well as raise questions about the (cost) effectiveness of sentencing

Patterns and predictors of stranger rape locations

This paper examines the spatial, environmental, and temporal patterns of 10,488 stranger rapes committed over a 15-year period in Greater London, UK. We distinguished between two types of stranger rapes according to perpetrator method of approach, i.e. absent/fleeting interaction with victim on approach (S1) or extended interaction with victim on approach (S2). There were a range of locational settings in which perpetrators both encountered their victims and where the offence took place, and these differed by method of approach. The highest number of S1 offences occurred outdoors, with 74% of approaches and 55% of offences located recorded as outside. For S2 rapes, there was more variety in approach locations with only 32% outside. The level of locational correspondence between approach and offence location was 71% for S1 rapes and 28% for S2 rapes. A series of negative binomial regression models identified variables predictive of stranger rape offence location. There were significant associations with transport connections and the night-time economy for both S1 and S2 rapes. Other significant predictors were deprivation score, the percentage of one person properties, and the percentage of private rented properties in a location. The percentage of green space was a significant predictor for S1 rapes only. The current findings challenge the popular narrative that stranger rape occurs in a specific setting (i.e. outside in a secluded location at night) and have implications for place-based crime prevention policy

Comparing Behavioural Models Using Data from Experimental Centipede Games

The centipede game posits one of the most well-known paradoxes of backward induction in the literature of experimental game theory. Given that deviations from the unique subgame perfect Nash equilibrium generates a Pareto improvement, several theoretical models have been employed in order to rationalize this kind of behavior in this social dilemma. The available explanations range from social preferences including fairness, altruism or cooperation motives, errors in playing, inability to perform backward induction or different depths of reasoning. In the present study, we use the Blavatskyy's theoretical contribution, and relax the assumptions of Expected Utility maximization and risk-neutral attitudes, to test an alternative explanation. We compare various probabilistic decision theory models in terms of their descriptive (in-sample) and predictive (out-of-sample fit) performance, using data from experimental centipede games. We find that introducing non-Expected Utility preferences to the Quantal Response Equilibrium model, along with a nonlinear utility function, provides a better explanation compared to alternative specifications such as the Level-k or the Quantal Response Equilibrium model with altruistic motives. (JEL C72, C92, D81, D82)

Endogenous and exogenous progesterone influence body temperature in dairy cows

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of endogenous progesterone (P4) on body temperature comparing lactating, pregnant with lactating, nonpregnant cows, and to study the effect of exogenous P4 administered via a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert on body temperature in lactating dairy cows. Body temperature was measured vaginally and rectally using temperature loggers and a digital thermometer, respectively. In experiment 1, 10 cyclic lactating cows (3 primiparous, 7 multiparous) and 10 lactating, pregnant cows (3 primiparous, 7 multiparous) were included. Vaginal temperatures and serum P4 concentrations were greater in pregnant cows (vaginal: 0.3±0.01°C; P4: 5.5±0.4 ng/mL) compared with nonpregnant cows. In experiment 2, estrous cycles of 14 postpartum healthy, cyclic, lactating cows (10 primiparous, 4 multiparous) were synchronized, and cows were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments (CIDR-P4 or CIDR-blank). A temperature logger was inserted 1 d after ovulation using a P4-free CIDR (CIDR-blank) and a CIDR containing 1.38g of P4 (CIDR-P4) in the control (n=7) and the P4-treated group (n=7), respectively. On d 3 after P4 treatment, vaginal temperature was 0.3±0.03°C greater compared with that on d 1 and d 5. In experiment 3, 9 cyclic multiparous lactating cows were enrolled 1±1 d after confirmed ovulation and a temperature logger inserted. Two days later, a CIDR-P4 was inserted on top of the CIDR-blank. On d 5±1 and d 7±1, respectively, the CIDR-P4 and CIDR-blank with the temperature logger were removed. During the CIDR-P4 treatment (48h), vaginal temperature was 0.2±0.05°C and 0.1±0.05°C greater than during the pre- and post-treatment periods (48h), respectively. Serum P4 concentration peaked during CIDR-P4 treatment (2.2±0.8 ng/mL) and was greater than during the pre-treatment period (0.2±0.2 ng/mL) for 48h. An increase in vaginal temperature could be due to endogenous and exogenous P4. However, a correlation between serum P4 concentrations and body temperature did not exist. Further investigations are warranted to better understand the pathways of the thermogenic effect of P4 on body temperature

Orientation studies of a cell-phone mast to assess electromagnetic radiation exposure level

ABSTRACT Electromagnetic radiation emitted by cellphone towers is a new form of environmental pollution and is a new health hazard. This radiofrequency radiation pollution is an issue of world wide concern due to its undesirable effects on human health, flora and fauna. It is known that radiation levels are higher at a lower distance from the cell-phone tower than at far distances, but only distance measurement from tower cannot be said to be a reliable method to grade a place as safe or unsafe unless the direction is specified as well. The present studies were taken to estimate the radio frequency (RF) pollution by measuring power densities as a function of direction and distance of a cell-phone mast. The measurements were done in 8 different orientations of the cell-phone base station at an interval of angular separation of 45 0 between two directions The cell phone radiations as power densities were measured using a handheld portable power density meter TES 593 in maximum average mode and specific absorption rates (SAR) were estimated at 835 MHz, 915 MHz, 1900 MHZ and 2450 MHZ from the measured values. The findings identified the maximum and minimum exposure zones around a cell-phone mast. The studies show how power densities change with distance for a combination of directional and dish antennas. The peak in power density values was observed at a distance of 40 meters for most of the antenna orientations

Body temperature around induced estrus in dairy cows

The overall objective of this study was to study the influence of induced estrus on body temperature, comparing 5 distinct intervals around induced estrus and to determine the diurnal pattern from 4 ± 1 d before to 4 ± 1 d after induced estrus. Sixteen estrous cycles of 9 postpartum dairy cows were synchronized with 2 injections of PGF(2α), 10 d apart. After the second PGF(2α) injection on d 10, temperature loggers were inserted into the vaginal cavity for a 12 ± 1-d period. Two days later, a third dose of PGF(2α) was injected to induce estrus. After confirmation of a corpus luteum, loggers were removed on d 5 ± 1. Observation of estrus, rectal palpation, and ultrasound scanning to determine ovulation were carried out every 4 ± 1h, beginning at 12h after the third PGF(2α) injection. Blood samples from the vena coccygea mediana were collected twice daily from d 11 to 12 and every 4 ± 1h after the third PGF(2α) injection until ovulation. Vaginal temperature was recorded every 5 min and averaged to hourly means for the following 5 periods: 1) 48 h preceding the third PGF(2α) injection, 2) from the third PGF(2α) injection to first signs of estrus, 3) estrus to ovulation, 4) a 4-h interval in which ovulation occurred, and 5) a 96-h post-ovulation period. High body temperatures (39.0 ± 0.5 °C) and low progesterone (P4) concentrations (<0.5 ng/mL) were observed during estrus, whereas low body temperatures were observed from PGF(2α) injection to estrus (38.6 ± 0.3 °C) and around ovulation (38.5 ± 0.2 °C), respectively. An association between body temperature and serum P4 concentrations did not exist. However, P4 concentrations on d 11 and 12 were high (5.0 ± 1.5 ng/mL) and decreased (0.9 ± 0.2 ng/mL) after ovulation. Diurnal temperature rhythms were similar before and after estrus. Vaginal temperature before estrus (d 11 and 12) was slightly (0.1 °C) higher compared with the post-ovulation period