Charlotte Smith and the Sonnet

This book offers the first full-length study of Charlotte Smith’s Elegiac Sonnets and clarifies its ‘place’ – in multiple ways – in literary history as a work celebrated for ‘making it new’, yet deeply engaged with the literary past. It argues that Smith’s sonnets are constituted by three intertwined concerns: with tradition, place and the sonnet form itself, whereby the subjects of Smith’s sonnets – across birds, rivers, the sea, plants and flowers – are bound up with the literary context in which she wrote. Charlotte Smith and the Sonnet shows that Smith’s verse engages more deeply with tradition than has hitherto been realised and revises our understanding not only of Smith’s career but also of the sonnet in eighteenth-century England. The book also illuminates Smith’s place in posterity, as a popular poet – influencing figures ranging from Wordsworth and Coleridge to Constable – who was subsequently obscured in literary history. It reveals the complex processes underpinning Smith’s reception and paradoxical position from the late eighteenth century to the present day, and shows that the appropriation of place itself was an important way in which aspects of literary tradition have been negotiated and understood by Smith, her predecessors, contemporaries and successors

OVARIAN HORMONES, ADHD, RISK-TAKING, & IMPULSIVITY

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a highly impairing disorder of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that is more frequently diagnosed in males versus females at a ratio of 3:1. However, females with the disorder become highly impaired during adolescence, perhaps due to the onset of cycling ovarian hormones at puberty. The present study empirically assessed the role of the major female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, in the presentation of ADHD symptoms, impulsivity, and associated risk-taking behaviors (e.g., risky sex, substance use and abuse) in a non-clinical sample of young adult women. 32 healthy young adult women who were screened for hormonal conditions and medication use completed an initial laboratory visit during which measures of impulsivity and ADHD symptoms were collected. Each morning for 35 subsequent days, participants’ hormones were measured via passive drool saliva samples, and participants responded to a brief online survey regarding substance use and sexual behaviors for the last 24 hours. Each evening, participants completed online questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms. Results showed that ADHD symptoms were most pronounced when estrogen was low; this association manifested (1) between women, with lower average estrogen across the entire cycle predicting higher ADHD symptoms, and (2) within women, with lower-than-average levels of estrogen during periods of higher-than-average progesterone predicting higher ADHD symptoms two days later, consistent with a post-ovulatory, luteal phase effect of estrogen. Moderation analyses revealed that these within-person effects of ovarian hormones were significant only among women with high negative or positive urgency (emotion-related impulsivity) or high sensation seeking. With regard to alcohol use, within-person results were somewhat different; higher-than-average within-person estrogen was associated with higher likelihood of drinking and binge drinking on the following day, and this was true only during periods of lower-than-average progesterone, consistent with a pre-ovulatory, follicular phase effect of estrogen. These results have implications for the conceptualization of ADHD and associated risk-taking behaviors such as drinking, including personalization of treatment approaches for women

The Structuring Role of Marine Life in Open Ocean Habitat: Importance to International Policy

Areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) lie outside the 200 nautical mile limits of national sovereignty and cover 58% of the ocean surface. Global conservation agreements recognize biodiversity loss in ABNJ and aim to protect ≥10% of oceans in marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2020. However, limited mechanisms to create MPAs in ABNJ currently exist, and existing management is widely regarded as inadequate to safeguard biodiversity. Negotiations are therefore underway for an “internationally legally binding instrument” (ILBI) to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to enable biodiversity conservation beyond national jurisdiction. While this agreement will, hopefully, establish a mechanism to create MPAs in ABNJ, discussions to date highlight a further problem: namely, defining what to protect. We have a good framework for terrestrial and coastal habitats, however habitats in ABNJ, particularly the open ocean, are less understood and poorly defined. Often, predictable broad oceanographic features are used to define open ocean habitats. But what exactly, constitutes the habitat—the water, or the species that live there? Complicating matters, species in the open sea are often highly mobile. Here, we argue that mobile marine organisms provide the structure-forming biomass and constitute “habitat” in the open ocean. For an ABNJ ILBI to offer effective protection to marine biodiversity it must consider habitats a function of their inhabitants and represent all marine life within its scope. Only by enabling strong protection for every element of biodiversity can we hope to be fully successful in conserving it

An exploration of the way in which services support adolescents with eating disorders

This thesis explores the way in which Eating Disorder (ED) services provide and deliver interventions aimed at supporting adolescents with an ED diagnosis. Within the systematic review, a meta-synthesis was conducted exploring eight papers presenting the experiences of parents and carers of family based therapies (FBTs) for people with an ED. Three themes were identified: i) we’re different as a family now; ii) finding strength in interactions with others; and iii) we aren’t all better yet. These results were discussed within the context of existing research, and the implications for services were discussed. The main research paper uses thematic analysis to explore the experiences of 8 adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) or eating disorder not otherwise specified – restrictive subtype (EDNOS-R). Semi-structured interviews were held with participants in order to think about their experiences of services alongside their social identity. Three main themes were identified: i) battling with the identity of being having an eating disorder; ii) the ups and downs of deciding to recover; and iii) I want to be treated like a normal person. These results were discussed within the context of existing literature into social identity and of service provision for EDs. Clinical implications are discussed. Within the critical appraisal, reflections of the research process are considered. The appraisal provides a space to reflect upon the process of conducting a thesis, and draws upon reflections documented throughout the research journey. The process of developing a research idea is discussed, as are methodological and ethical issues and other issues which were salient to the project. Overall, the thesis presents an exploration of the services currently available to young people with EDs and their families and considers the importance of taking a holistic approach to service design and provision

Charlotte Smith and the Sonnet

This thesis considers the place of Charlotte Smith’s Elegiac Sonnets in the eighteenth-century sonnet revival. Smith is often credited with reviving the sonnet form, and has attracted attention as a ‘Romantic’ poet. This thesis seeks to rebalance the existing critical focus by locating Smith’s sonnets in their eighteenth-century context and by considering her engagement with tradition alongside her innovation and influence. It offers a new history and evaluation of the eighteenth-century sonnet, and locates Smith’s sonnets within it. It traces the expansion of Elegiac Sonnets through its multiple editions from 1784 to 1800, charting Smith’s changing approach to – and the interactions between – form, literary tradition and place. Thus, the thesis clarifies Smith’s real significance as a writer and her place in literary history

Outdoor learning: Scottish primary teachers’ perceptions of training and professional development

Outdoor learning has long been an important feature of Scottish education, but the non-prescriptive nature of the curriculum has contributed to wide variations in schools’ provision of outdoor educational experiences (Ross et al., 2007). Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) further encourages the use of the outdoors as a context for learning, but still does not make this mandatory (Beames et al., 2009). However, changes to the Standards for Teacher Registration require all teachers to demonstrate use of the outdoors in their teaching (GTCS, 2012).<p></p> As part of research exploring educational farm visits for primary school children, a survey of teachers in May 2013 included questions on teachers’ perceptions of knowledge and training on outdoor learning. The survey results informed a series of teacher interviews, during which these topics were also discussed.<p></p> The survey results indicate that primary teachers’ perceptions of their own training vary widely, while they tend to feel that probationer teachers are not well informed on outdoor learning. The need for further training and CPD was a clear theme in the qualitative elements of the survey, and early interview findings suggest that learning informally, from colleagues sharing their own experiences, is an important feature of teachers’ professional development.<p></p> Although “prospects for learning outdoors have rarely been better” than under CfE (Thorburn & Allison, 2013), survey findings indicate that previously identified issues around training and CPD (e.g. Nicol et al., 2007) seem to persist. Whether the views of teachers taking part in interviews support these early indications will be known by summer 2014

Climate change mitigation and nature conservation both require higher protected area targets

Nations of the world have, to date, pursued nature protection and climate change mitigation and adaptation policies separately. Both efforts have failed to achieve the scale of action needed to halt biodiversity loss or mitigate climate change. We argue that success can be achieved by aligning targets for biodiversity protection with the habitat protection and restoration necessary to bring down greenhouse gas concentrations and promote natural and societal adaptation to climate change. Success, however, will need much higher targets for environmental protection than the present 10% of sea and 17% of land. A new target of 30% of the sea given high levels of protection from exploitation and harm by 2030 is under consideration and similar targets are being discussed for terrestrial habitats. We make the case here that these higher targets, if achieved, would make the transition to a warmer world slower and less damaging for nature and people

Interactive Effects of Ovarian Steroid Hormones on Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking Across the Menstrual Cycle

Patterns and features of substance use and abuse vary across the menstrual cycle in humans. Yet, little work has systematically examined the within-person relationships between ovarian hormone changes and alcohol use across the menstrual cycle. Our study was the first to examine the roles of within-person levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in relation to daily alcohol use and binge drinking in young women. Participants were 22 naturally cycling women, ages 18-22, recruited through a university subject pool who reported any alcohol use and who completed a screening visit assessing study eligibility, followed by 35 subsequent days of data collection. E2 and P4 were obtained via enzyme immunoassay of saliva samples collected by participants each morning, 30 min after waking. Presence and degree of daily substance use were obtained using an adaptation of the Timeline FollowBack Interview completed daily. Results indicated that elevated E2 in the context of decreased P4 levels were associated with higher risk of drinking and binge drinking. These effects were present only on weekend days. Results are suggestive of a dual risk model in which both ovulatory E2 increases and perimenstrual P4 decreases increase risk for drinking. Differential associations of steroids with drinking across the menstrual cycle may suggest the need for clinical assessment of substance use to take into account hormone dynamics and menstrual cycle phase

Reproductive Steroids and ADHD Symptoms Across the Menstrual Cycle

Although Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder shows (ADHD) male predominance, females are significantly impaired and exhibit additional comorbid disorders during adolescence. However, no empirical work has examined the influence of cyclical fluctuating steroids on ADHD symptoms in women. The present study examined estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and testosterone (T) associations with ADHD symptoms across the menstrual cycle in regularly-cycling young women (N=32), examining trait impulsivity as a moderator. Women completed a baseline measure of trait impulsivity, provided saliva samples each morning, and completed an ADHD symptom checklist every evening for 35 days. Results indicated decreased levels of E2 in the context of increased levels of either P4 or T was associated with higher ADHD symptoms on the following day, particularly for those with high trait impulsivity. Phase analyses suggested both an early follicular and early luteal, or post-ovulatory, increase in ADHD symptoms. Therefore, ADHD symptoms may change across the menstrual cycle in response to endogenous steroid changes

Ecological connectivity across ocean depths : implications for protected area design

Coastal nations have embarked on a rapid program of marine protected area (MPA) establishment, incentivised by the approaching 2020 deadline of United Nations global marine protection targets. Alongside, efforts are underway to extend protection into areas beyond national jurisdiction through a new international legally binding instrument. These developments are welcome but there are risks that in meeting them, nations will still fail to supply adequate protection to marine life. An increasing number of MPAs protect the seabed while the water column remains open to fishing. This is because vulnerable habitats in need of protection are disproportionately perceived to be those on the seabed, while the water column is viewed as much less at risk. The seabed and water column are, however, inextricably linked. Transitions between human-defined vertical ocean zones are blurred, with animals and oceanographic features moving across depths. Here, we explore a rapidly growing literature on ecological and environmental connections through the water column, and between the water column and the seabed, to consider whether vertically stratified management is justified from an ecological standpoint. We find that emerging research increasingly links upper-ocean communities and processes to seabed ecology and biogeochemistry suggesting that exploitation of the water column is likely to have a significant and widely distributed footprint in the deep-sea. We conclude that there is a strong a priori case for surface to seabed protection within MPAs, and that this should be the default, precautionary approach to safeguard intact ecosystems with as near to natural function as possible