Radiocarbon dating of methane and carbon dioxide evaded from a temperate peatland stream

Streams draining peatlands export large quantities of carbon in different chemical forms and are an important part of the carbon cycle. Radiocarbon (14C) analysis/dating provides unique information on the source and rate that carbon is cycled through ecosystems, as has recently been demonstrated at the air-water interface through analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) lost from peatland streams by evasion (degassing). Peatland streams also have the potential to release large amounts of methane (CH4) and, though 14C analysis of CH4 emitted by ebullition (bubbling) has been previously reported, diffusive emissions have not. We describe methods that enable the 14C analysis of CH4 evaded from peatland streams. Using these methods, we investigated the 14C age and stable carbon isotope composition of both CH4 and CO2 evaded from a small peatland stream draining a temperate raised mire. Methane was aged between 1617-1987 years BP, and was much older than CO2 which had an age range of 303-521 years BP. Isotope mass balance modelling of the results indicated that the CO2 and CH4 evaded from the stream were derived from different source areas, with most evaded CO2 originating from younger layers located nearer the peat surface compared to CH4. The study demonstrates the insight that can be gained into peatland carbon cycling from a methodological development which enables dual isotope (14C and 13C) analysis of both CH4 and CO2 collected at the same time and in the same way

Cyber Security Education and Training: Delivering industry relevant education and skills via Degree Apprenticeships

The rise of Digital Transformation, global pandemics, and AI, have made Cyber skills crucial in today’s world. Organisation flexibility can only be achieved when they have a strong foundation of Cyber professionals that can look after vulnerabilities and protect their systems. A multitude of evidence suggests that the economy is being held back due to a skills gap, particularly in the Cyber Security discipline. In seeking to reduce this gap, the UK government has extended a long established ‘apprenticeship’ programme to include degrees. Higher Education Degree Apprenticeships offer a cost-effective route for employers to upskill their staff and for apprentices to access free education (and a degree) whilst being paid. Each of the Degree Apprenticeships has an associated framework that defines core learning requirements – devised and created by a collaborative effort of industry and academia. How this framework is implemented however is very much up to individual institutions. This paper presents an implementation of the Cyber Security Analyst degree apprenticeship undertaken at a UK Institution. Amongst the first in the UK to operationalise the standard, the approach has pragmatically dealt with a wide range of issues to create an academically rigorous yet commercially viable solution for industry. The paper presents the approach, demonstrates the academic rigor through mapping to industry-accepted standards, and discusses the collaborative role of the employer and University in providing a holistic and complete learning experience. The paper concludes by offering a critical discussion on challenges and opportunities and suggests ways employers and professional bodies can collaborate further with Higher Education in developing Degree Apprenticeships that will only be about skills, but also lifelong learning

Comparison between audio and tactile systems for delivering simple navigational information to visually impaired pedestrians

Many of the current GPS (Global Positioning Systems) navigation aids use an audio method to deliver navigation information to the user. For the visually impaired person this method can be problematic. The visually impaired pedestrian relies heavily on information contained within the ambient sound environment; for location and orientation information, navigation information, and importantly, safety information. In this paper we present the design of an innovative tactile interface and verification of results obtained through experimental trials. This pilot study compared the efficiency of the tactile interface, to an audio method of delivering simple navigational information. The findings indicate that the tactile interface could be used successfully by blind and sighted pedestrians and may offer advantages over auditory interfaces

Super Star Clusters in the Blue Dwarf Galaxy UM 462

I present optical observations of the Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxy UM 462. The images of this galaxy show several bright compact sources. A careful study of these sources has revealed their nature of young Super Star Clusters. The ages determined from the analysis of the stellar continuum and $H\alpha$ are between few and few tens Myr. The total star formation taking place into the clusters is about 0.05 $\mathrm{M_{\odot}/yr}$. The clusters seem to be located at the edges of two large round-like structures, possibly shells originated in a previous episode of star formation. The sizes of the shells compare well with the ages of the clusters. Evidence for the presence of an evolved underlying stellar population is found.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

The DEMS-DOSS study: validating a delirium monitoring tool in hospitalised older adults

Objective: to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and test–retest reliability of the Delirium Early Monitoring System-Delirium Observation Screening Scale (DEMS-DOSS). Design: prospective diagnostic accuracy study of a convenience sample of admitted older adults with DEMS-DOSS and reference standard assessments. Setting: 60-bed aged care precinct at a metropolitan hospital in Sydney, Australia. Participants: 156 patients (aged ≥65 years old) were recruited to participate between April 2018 and March 2020. One hundred participants were included in the analysis. Measurements: Participants were scored on the DEMS-DOSS. Trained senior aged care nurses conducted a standardised clinical interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM)-IV delirium criteria, within two hours of DEMS-DOSS completion. The senior aged care nurse undertaking the DSM-IV interview was blinded to the results of the DEMS-DOSS. Results: Participants’ mean age was 84 (SD ±7.3) years and 39% (n = 39) had a documented diagnosis of dementia. Delirium was detected in 38% (n = 38) according to the reference standard. The DEMS-DOSS had a sensitivity of 76.3% and a specificity of 75.8% for delirium. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for delirium was 0.76. The test–retest reliability of the DEMS-DOSS was found to be high (r = 0.915). Conclusion: DEMS-DOSS is a sensitive and specific tool to assist with monitoring new onset and established delirium in hospitalised older adults. Further studies are required to evaluate the impact of the monitoring tool on health outcomes

The impact of deep-sea fisheries and implementation of the UNGA Resolutions 61/105 and 64/72. Report of an international scientific workshop

The scientific workshop to review fisheries management, held in Lisbon in May 2011, brought together 22 scientists and fisheries experts from around the world to consider the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions on high seas bottom fisheries: what progress has been made and what the outstanding issues are. This report summarises the workshop conclusions, identifying examples of good practice and making recommendations in areas where it was agreed that the current management measures fall short of their target

The future of auroral E-region plasma turbulence research

The heating caused by ionospheric E-region plasma turbulence has documented global implications for the energy transfer from space into the terrestrial atmosphere. Traveling atmospheric disturbances, neutral wind motion, energy deposition rates, and ionospheric conductance have all been shown to be potentially affected by turbulent plasma heating. Therefore it is proposed to enhance and expand existing ionospheric radar capabilities and fund research into E-region plasma turbulence so that it is possible to more accurately quantify the solar-terrestrial energy budget and study phenomena related to E-region plasma turbulence. The proposed research funding includes the development of models to accurately predict and model the E-region plasma turbulence using particle-in-cell analysis, fluid-based analysis, and hybrid combinations of the two. This review provides an expanded and more detailed description of the past, present, and future of auroral E-region plasma turbulence research compared to the summary report submitted to the National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024–2033 (Huyghebaert et al., 2022a)

The future of auroral E-region plasma turbulence research

The heating caused by ionospheric E-region plasma turbulence has documented global implications for the energy transfer from space into the terrestrial atmosphere. Traveling atmospheric disturbances, neutral wind motion, energy deposition rates, and ionospheric conductance have all been shown to be potentially affected by turbulent plasma heating. Therefore it is proposed to enhance and expand existing ionospheric radar capabilities and fund research into E-region plasma turbulence so that it is possible to more accurately quantify the solar-terrestrial energy budget and study phenomena related to E-region plasma turbulence. The proposed research funding includes the development of models to accurately predict and model the E-region plasma turbulence using particle-in-cell analysis, fluidbased analysis, and hybrid combinations of the two. This review provides an expanded and more detailed description of the past, present, and future of auroral E-region plasma turbulence research compared to the summary report submitted to the National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024–2033 (Huyghebaert et al., 2022a)

Formality and informality in the summative assessment of motor vehicle apprentices: a case study

This article explores the interaction of formal and informal attributes of competence‐based assessment. Specifically, it presents evidence from a small qualitative case study of summative assessment practices for competence‐based qualifications within apprenticeships in the motor industry in England. The data are analysed through applying an adaptation of a framework for exploring the interplay of formality and informality in learning. This analysis reveals informal mentoring as a significant element which influences not only the process of assessment, but also its outcomes. We offer different possible interpretations of the data and their analysis, and conclude that, whichever interpretation is adopted, there appears to be a need for greater capacity‐building for assessors at a local level. This could acknowledge a more holistic role for assessors; recognise the importance of assessors’ informal practices in the formal retention and achievement of apprentices; and enhance awareness of inequalities that may be reinforced by both informal and formal attributes of assessment practices

Young Massive Clusters in Non-Interacting Galaxies

Young star clusters with masses well in excess of 100.000 Msun have been observed not only in merger galaxies and large-scale starbursts, but also in fairly normal, undisturbed spiral and irregular galaxies. Here we present virial mass estimates for a sample of 7 such clusters and show that the derived mass-to-light ratios are consistent with "normal" Kroupa-type stellar mass distributions.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in "Starbursts from 30 Doradus to Lyman Break Galaxies'', eds. R. de Grijs, R. M. Gonzalez Delgad