Archaeological evaluation : New High School, Matthews Lane, Gorton, Manchester

In February 2017, Salford Archaeology was commissioned by Laing O’Rourke to undertake an archaeological evaluation on land located adjacent to Matthews Lane, Gorton, Manchester (centred on NGR SJ 87861 95024). The Site Area comprises an open space heath land currently undeveloped within the Gorton area of Manchester. The assessment aimed to identify, as far as possible, the nature, extent and significance of the archaeological resource, so as to enable informed recommendations to be made for the future treatment of any surviving remains. Trenches were located to investigate the remains of the late 19th century Yew Tree Farm and the possibility of remains associated with Nico Ditch. Trench 1 was excavated over the site of the farmhouse and was able to uncover limited evidence of structures. Trench 2 was located to investigate the southern farm outbuildings and possible deposits associated with Nico Ditch and uncovered remains of features relating to the farm only. A third was excavated over the site of the main barn but was abandoned due to the removal of archaeological deposits by later landfill. The evaluation was able to confirm that evidence of 19th century structures remains within 15m of the present site boundary but that all other deposits outside this area were removed by later landfill activity. Nevertheless those areas to have escaped the excavation of the clay pit do retain moderately well preserved evidence of earlier occupation

Archaeological evaluation : Victoria Mill, Droylsden, Tameside

In March 2017, Salford Archaeology (SA) was commissioned by the De Trafford EstatesGroup to undertake an archaeological evaluation on land surrounding the former VictoriaMill on Buckley Street, Droylsden (centred on SJ 90061 98064). The programme ofarchaeological evaluation was intended to comprise the excavation of three trenches,aimed to establish the presence, extent and significance of any buried archaeologicalremains on the site, and was required to satisfy a condition that was attached by TamesideMetropolitan Borough Council to planning consent for a proposed development (PlanningRef: 15/00030/OUT).Victoria Mill was built in 1845 by Edmund Buckley for Henry Lees & Brothers ofManchester who specialised in the production of heavy cotton cloth. The mill originallyconsisted of three ranges with a private canal arm to the south, but was extendedthroughout the 19th and 20th centuries to include additional buildings abutting the mainmill structure, a chimney stack and associated buildings to the south and a row of workers’housing to the north. Although cotton production ceased in 1932, the mill was reopenedafter the war and repurposed for the manufacture of other materials before being split inthe later 20thcentury to accommodate a number of smaller businesses.The three evaluation trenches were located to target the remains of the chimney stack, andextension to the main mill block to the south, and the footprint of a row of workers’housing that lies along the northern boundary of the site. Due to the land remaining in useas part of a garage, however, the area that was to be investigated by Trench 1 (the site ofthe mill chimney) was not available for excavation. The other two trenches wereexcavated in June 2017.The trenches revealed that there was reasonable survival of the 19th- and 20th-centuryremains across the site. These remains were exposed at a depth of between 0.30m and2.00m below the modern ground surface, and comprised hand-made brick featuresassociated with the row of workers’ housing fronting onto Manchester Road, and brickand concrete structures relating to the southern extension of the mill, demolished in the1980s.Based on the results obtained from the evaluation, it is concluded that the structuralremains exposed in the excavated trenches are not of sufficient archaeological interest tomerit any further investigation

Native American Children and Their Reports of Hope: Construct Validation of the Children's Hope Scale

Child reports of hope continue to be utilized as predictors of positive adjustment; however, the utilization of the hope construct has not been assessed within the culturally diverse Native American child group. The present study investigated the applicability of the Hope theory among 96 Native American children in the Midwest. Measures included the Children’s Hope Scale and a Hope Interview. Native American children in the current sample appear to conceptualize hope as a way to reach goals as did the children in the normative sample. Results from the factor analysis demonstrate that the factor structure found in the current study was similar to the factor structure found in the standardization sample. Because of the similar Hope theory conceptualization and factor structure, interventions focused on the positive psychology construct of hope may be applicable within a Native American child population

The FIELDS Instrument Suite for Solar Probe Plus: Measuring the Coronal Plasma and Magnetic Field, Plasma Waves and Turbulence, and Radio Signatures of Solar Transients.

NASA's Solar Probe Plus (SPP) mission will make the first in situ measurements of the solar corona and the birthplace of the solar wind. The FIELDS instrument suite on SPP will make direct measurements of electric and magnetic fields, the properties of in situ plasma waves, electron density and temperature profiles, and interplanetary radio emissions, amongst other things. Here, we describe the scientific objectives targeted by the SPP/FIELDS instrument, the instrument design itself, and the instrument concept of operations and planned data products

Survivors of war in the Northern Kosovo (II): baseline clinical and functional assessment and lasting effects on the health of a vulnerable population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study documents torture and injury experience and investigates emotional well-being of victims of massive violence identified during a household survey in Mitrovicë district in Kosovo. Their physical health indicators such as body mass index (BMI), handgrip strength and standing balance were also measured. A further aim is to suggest approaches for developing and monitoring rehabilitation programmes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A detailed assessment was carried out on 63 male and 62 female victims. Interviews and physical examination provided information about traumatic exposure, injuries, and intensity and frequency of pain. Emotional well-being was assessed using the "WHO-5 Well-Being" score. Height, weight, handgrip strength and standing balance performance were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Around 50% of victims had experienced at least two types of torture methods and reported at least two injury locations; 70% had moderate or severe pain and 92% reported constant or periodic pain within the previous two weeks. Only 10% of the victims were in paid employment. Nearly 90% of victims had experienced at least four types of emotional disturbances within the previous two weeks, and many had low scores for emotional well-being. This was found to be associated with severe pain, higher exposure to violence and human rights violations and with a low educational level, unemployment and the absence of political or social involvement.</p> <p>Over two thirds of victims were overweight or obese. They showed marked decline in handgrip strength and only 19 victims managed to maintain standing balance. Those who were employed or had a higher education level, who did not take anti-depressant or anxiety drugs and had better emotional well-being or no pain complaints showed better handgrip strength and standing balance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The victims reported a high prevalence of severe pain and emotional disturbance. They showed high BMI and a reduced level of physical fitness. Education, employment, political and social participation were associated with emotional well-being. Interventions to promote physical activity and social participation are recommended. The results indicate that the rapid assessment procedure used here offers an adequate tool for collecting data for the monitoring of health interventions among the most vulnerable groups of a population exposed to violence.</p

Successful and unsuccessful cannabis quitters: Comparing group characteristics and quitting strategies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In order to improve treatments for cannabis use disorder, a better understanding of factors associated with successful quitting is required.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>This study examined differences between successful (<it>n </it>= 87) and unsuccessful (<it>n </it>= 78) cannabis quitters. Participants completed a questionnaire addressing demographic, mental health, and cannabis-related variables, as well as quitting strategies during their most recent quit attempt.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighteen strategies derived from cognitive behavioral therapy were entered into a principal components analysis. The analysis yielded four components, representing (1) Stimulus Removal, (2) Motivation Enhancement, (3) (lack of) Distraction, and (4) (lack of) Coping. Between groups comparisons showed that unsuccessful quitters scored significantly higher on Motivation Enhancement and (lack of) Coping. This may indicate that unsuccessful quitters focus on the desire to quit, but do not sufficiently plan strategies for coping. Unsuccessful quitters also had significantly more symptoms of depression and stress; less education; lower exposure to formal treatment; higher day-to-day exposure to other cannabis users; and higher cannabis dependence scores.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings suggest that coping, environmental modification, and co-morbid mental health problems may be important factors to emphasize in treatments for cannabis use disorder.</p