Heideggerian Marxism

An extended review of the English collection of Marcuse's essays and interviews on Heidegger that addresses the philosophical basis of a synthesis of Marx and Heidegger

The Rule of Value and the Communist Alternative: A Response to Peter Hudis’ Marx’s Concept of the Alternative to Capitalism

A discussion of Hudis' Marx's Concept of the Alternative to Capitalism

Higher Education and the Diffusion of Knowledge

Discussion of Picketty's Capital in the 21st Century

A Curiosity About Links Between Adventure Playgrounds, Loose Parts, Playwork Approach, a State of Flow and Children’s Wellbeing

Over the past century there has been a documented rise in childhood anxiety and depression (Gray, 2011; Twenge, 2001). This increase largely correlates to the significant decrease in the amount of time children have to play freely (Gray, 2013). The suggested reason for this is a decrease in free time and play creating a strong external locus of control, the result of which has been shown to cause increases in childhood anxiety and depression (April, Dharani, & Peter, 2012; Gray, 2013). This paper records a practitioner’s musings on the links between aspects of playwork practice and children’s wellbeing. It considers Csikszentmihalyi (2008) concept of a state of flow and the development of an internal locus of control and the opportunities afforded children in an adventure playground wedded to playwork theory and practice

A Playworker’s Musings on the Perceptions and Importance of ’Mess’ in a Play Space.

The aesthetics of any given play environment is often subject to immense scrutiny, often at the behest of adult agendas. This paper will, from a playwork practitioner’s perspective, discuss how aspects of perceptive mess in a play space positively affect play, the physical opportunities for children, their wellbeing, sense of belonging and their ability to create a sense of order as they see it. This will be juxtaposed against the situations in which children find themselves, by adult design, that paradoxically have the opposite effect. The author has drawn heavily from aspects of playwork theory and practice in the development of and discussion of these ideas with the goal of giving motivation to adults to revise their perspectives and perceptions of space and opportunity

Magnetohydrodynamic turbulence: The development of lattice Boltzmann methods for dissipative systems

Computer simulations of complex phenomena have become an invaluable tool for scientists in all disciplines. These simulations serve as a tool both for theorists attempting to test the validity of new theories and for experimentalists wishing to obtain a framework for the design of new experiments. Lattice Boltzmann Methods (LBM) provide a kinetic simulation technique for solving systems governed by non-linear conservation equations. Direct LBMs use the linearized single time relaxation form of the Boltzmann equation to temporally evolve particle distribution functions on a discrete spatial lattice. We will begin with a development of LBMs from basic kinetic theory and will then show how one can construct LBMs to model incompressible resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) conservation laws. We will then present our work in extending existing models to the octagonal lattice, showing that the increased isotropy of the octagonal lattice produces better numerical stability and higher Reynolds numbers in MHD simulations. Finally, we will develop LBMs that use non-uniform grids and apply them to one dimensional MHD systems

Conservation implications of the invasion of southern Africa by alien organisms

Bibliography: pages 792-808.Alien species known to be invading untransformed ecosystems in southern Africa, and, more particularly, those inside nature reserves, were identified. The extent and ecological impacts of these invasions were assessed. Their control within reserves was also evaluated. Research approaches used were; literature review (which included an international review), a detailed questionnaire survey of alien plant invasions in 307 reserves, rapid field surveys of 60 reserves, intensive case studies of four reserves (Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, Pella Fynbos Research Site), international comparison with case-study reserves in other savanna and Mediterranean-type biomes, and field evaluation of control methods for alien plants in the two fynbos reserves. Ecological impacts of alien invasions throughout the subcontinent were determined from historical changes in vertebrate populations, including detailed studies of three native birds (Bostrychia hagedash, Lybius leucomelas, Ploceus velatus) expanding their ranges, partly in response to the spread of invasive alien trees. The results are presented in eight chapters, comprising 26 published (or submitted) papers, an introduction and a concluding summary. One chapter covers contributions to the theoretical understanding of invasion processes, including a prediction of their interaction with rapid global environmental change. The conclusion is reached that alien invasions pose a serious challenge to nature conservation in the region. Mostly this comes from alien woody plants but the importance of herbaceous plants has possibly been underestimated regionally. Introduced mammalian pathogens and predatory fishes have also had important effects. Alien invertebrates have been poorly studied (the ant lridomyrmex humilis poses a significant threat). Alien terrestrial vertebrates have generally had only localized effects. Alien plant invasions affect all biomes, with riparian ecosystems being regionally threatened. Mesic biomes and habitats are usually more invaded by alien plants than xeric equivalents. 281 alien vascular plant species were recorded invading vegetation within nature reserves (an average of 12 species per reserve) with an additional 200 species being possibly present but unrecorded (an average of 18 species per reserve). By 1984, the 54 plant taxa recorded invading reserves most frequently were estimated, on average, to be present in 30% of the 11cm x 11cm grid cells of the reserves they were invading. The average potential future extent of these invasions was estimated to be 51%. Control had, on average, been initiated for two plant species in each reserve and 18% of these operations had already resulted in complete eradication. Reported control costs were particularly high for the woody plants which pose a serious threat to the highly endemic flora of the fynbos biome, on average R48 284/reserve (R1,8/ha = US Dollar 1,2/ha) in 1983. These high costs were validated experimentally. A computerized optimization model, aimed at minimizing the costs of controlling the most intractable shrub invader of fynbos, Acacia saligna, was developed from the results of a field experiment at the Pella site. Practical field- scale control of these invasions was assessed to be feasible, using the results of repeated monitoring of permanent plots in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Control strategies and regional priorities, based on the theoretical and practical insights gained from this study, are proposed. Even though the intensity of invasions is likely to increase in the foreseeable future, in part as a result of rapid man-induced changes in global climate, it is predicted that these invasions can be controlled if the correct approaches are adopted timeously. Failure to control them, will ensure that the extinction rate of native species will markedly increase and that ecosystem functioning will be altered significantly at a local scale and, conceivably also, at a regional scale

Letter from Ian Angus to Hubert Creekmore

Angus writes from London, England, to Creekmore care of John Schaffner in New York City, regarding Creekmore\u27s effort to compile a bibliography of the works of Ezra Pound.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/creekmore/1254/thumbnail.jp