Creating Your Own Symbols: Beginning Algebraic Thinking With Indigenous Students

Because mathematics education devalues Indigenous culture, Indigenous students continue to be the most mathematically disadvantaged group in Australia. Conventional wisdom with regard to Indigenous mathematics education is to utilise practical and visual teaching methods, yet the power of mathematics and the opportunities it brings for advancement lie in symbolic understanding. This paper reports on a Maths as Story Telling (MAST) teaching approach to assist Indigenous students understand algebra through creating and manipulating their own symbols for equations. It discusses effective Indigenous mathematics teaching, describes the MAST approach, analyses it in terms of Ernest’s (2005) semiotic processes, discusses its applications, and draws implications for Indigenous mathematics learning

Derby: engineering the twentieth century

“Derby’s contribution to the national heritage has, appropriately enough, been concerned less with culture than with industrial endeavour and innovation.” R. H. Obsorne. In the early twentieth century Derby town council pursued a policy of attracting new industry with low cost municipal energy. This successfully attracted Rolls Royce, who are today the largest engineering company in Britain, and the only one capable of delivering power for land, sea and air. The company's progress was marked on the western side of the city, with Marble Hall (1912, 1938) and the Rolls Royce Engineering Centre (1961-8, Fry, Drew & Partners). Partly thanks to Rolls Royce, Derby’s growth during the interwar period was considerable, necessitating a significant improvement plan by the Borough Architect C. H. Aslin, (including law courts, police station, council house, swimming pool, gardens, housing), and commercial rebuilding. Derby gained city status in 1977, and The Assembly Rooms (1971-6, Casson, Condor & Partners), and Quad Arts Centre (2004-8, Feilden Clegg Bradley), are reflective of that continued ambition.  Yet Derby has often been conveniently sited for other industries too, in the nineteenth century it was home to the Midland Railway company, which was later submerged into the LMS and British Rail. The LMS Transport School (1937-8, W. H. Hamlyn), and BR Railway Technical Centre (1964, Dr F. C. Curtis with A. H. Cantrell), were billed by their propagators as the biggest and best in the world. Today, despite a relative decline in railway engineering, Derby is currently home to Bombardier, the only place in the UK able to design, manufacture, assemble and test new trains for domestic and export markets. Derby’s central location was also key in the siting of Olivetti’s regional offices (1970-1, Edward Cullianan), recently described by Hugh Pearman as a ‘pioneering building’ with its ‘rakish kit-of-parts plywood superstructure’. In a negative sense the subservience of the town to its industries can be witnessed in its belligerent road engineering and negligent approach to conservation. But this is also an historic county town with a medieval street pattern, and many good buildings from the age of enlightenment onwards. In fact Derby’s contribution to the modern era and scientific thought has been significant, including the works of Erasmus Darwin, John Flamstead, Herbert Spencer and J.A. Hobson. The 1963 modernist art gallery and museum extension (by Borough Architect T. W. East) houses the most extensive collection of paintings by Joseph Wright – a late eighteenth century artist most notable for his depicture of science and industry. Led by local historian Chris Matthews, the tour will conveniently take in all of the above via a morning walk and afternoon bus tour. Internal visits have been arranged for the Art Gallery, law Courts, Olivetti building, and LMS Transport School

Your tenants are gay, get over it!: how housing services discriminate against LGBT+ users

Are public services delivering equality for LGBT+ service users? In a socially progressive society like the UK, the presumption is that probably they are. However, Peter Matthews and Chris Poyner's research suggests some very basic steps are still required to deliver equality. In 2017 gay men and LGBT+* allies in the UK are celebrating 50 years since sex between two men, aged over 21, in private, was decriminalised in England and Wales in the Sexual Offences Act 1967. The 2007 Equality Order then banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and the Equality Act 2010 brought together all equalities legislation in the UK, developing one of the most advanced statutory frameworks for promoting equality. Equal Marriage legislation removed the last legal barrier to equal treatment, except in Northern Ireland

ArchaeologicalSurvey for the Proposed San Antonio Water System W-1 Leon CreekSewer Main Improvement Project,Bexar County, Texas

AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (AECOM) conducted an intensive archaeological survey for the proposed San Antonio Water System (SAWS) W-1 Leon Creek Sewer Main Improvement Project (project). Initially, the project spanned approximately 3.9-miles from State Highway 151 to United States Highway 90, in west San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. In 2017, the project alignment was split into 2 segments: Segment 1 (northern half) and Segment 2 (southern half). Segment 2 of the alignment was re-evaluated in 2018, which resulted in approximately 1.1-miles of alignment which was not previously surveyed. Project construction will include the installation of an 84-inch diameter wastewater sewer main, to be installed parallel to the existing undersized 42-inch wastewater sewer main. The existing sewer main may be abandoned in-place. Construction will be located within or adjacent to an existing 50-foot wide SAWS easement. A proposed construction easement (approximately 100-feet in width) and a temporary construction easement (approximately 25-feet in width) are also included within the project area. Because Section 404 permitting or a Nationwide Permit 12 is required, the project constitutes a federal undertaking requiring compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. In addition, portions of the project are on land owned by the City of San Antonio (CoSA); therefore the project falls within the purview of the Antiquities Code of Texas, which requires review by the Texas Historical Commission. Furthermore, since the project is located within the city limits, the survey was also conducted in compliance with historic preservation provisions of the CoSA’s Unified Development Code. AECOM archaeologists conducted the initial archaeological survey of the project between May 25, 2016, and June 8, 2016, under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7632. The investigation included a pedestrian survey and the excavation of 57 shovel tests, all of which failed to identify any cultural resources sites. Numerous disturbances, particularly from gravel quarrying and previous sewer line installations, were observed, which precluded the presence of any intact sites. Segment 2, which was developed much later over the course of the project, was surveyed on September 26, 2018. Pedestrian survey and the excavation of 10 shovel tests failed to yield cultural materials. Since no artifacts were identified or collected during the survey, only records will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Research, the University of Texas at San Antonio. During the survey, shovel tests, cut bank profiles, and fluvial-morphological observations revealed the Leon Creek floodplain consists of a recently-constructed (historic/ modern) alluvial deposit. The presence of imbricated gravel layers within the loamy floodplain soils, along with reworked sediments, gravel bars, and numerous bedrock scours indicates this portion of the stream is subject to periodic, high-energy flooding, with little potential to contain deeply buried and intact sites. As such, no deep mechanic trenching was warranted. Based on the survey results, it is recommended that construction of the project would have No Effect on any archaeological historic properties, State Antiquities Landmarks, or historic structures. Therefore, no further archaeological investigations are recommended. However, should the project alignment change, additional archaeological investigations may be necessary

Cultural Resources Investigations for the CPS Energy Broadway-Jones Avenue Gas Main Replacement Project, Bexar County, Texas

Raba Kistner Environmental, Inc. (RKEI), was contracted by CPS Energy (CPSE) to conduct cultural resources investigations for the CPSE Broadway-Jones Gas Main Replacement Project in northeastern San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The project involved the excavation of a 630 foot (192 meter [m]) trench for the relocation of a gas main within the 10th Street and Avenue B right-of-ways (ROWs). A cultural resources review conducted by the CPSE Archaeologist determined that the project had the potential to encounter a possible desague, or lateral, of the Acequia Madre. Furthermore, close proximity to the San Antonio River, located 150 feet (46 m) to the northwest, increased the probability of encountering prehistoric cultural deposits. Based on this information, the CPSE Archaeologist determined that cultural resources monitoring would be required for all 630 feet (192 m) of excavations associated with the project. Given that the project took place within a publicly owned ROW and because CPSE is a political subdivision of the State of Texas, the project was subject to review under the jurisdiction of Chapter 35 of the Unified Development Code (UDC) of the City of San Antonio (COSA), as well as the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT). Rhiana D. Ward served as Principal Investigator and Project Manager for the duration of the project, and all field work was conducted by Project Archaeologist Chris Matthews. Cultural resources monitoring investigations for the Broadway-Jones Gas Main Replacement Project were conducted on February 7-8, 19-23, and 25, 2019. Disturbed soils were observed throughout most of the 10th Street ROW, as well as a majority of the Avenue B ROW. However, two features were recorded at the northeastern end of the APE, within the Avenue B ROW. No intact deposits of cultural deposits were observed. Feature 1, recorded as archaeological site 41BX2308, is a limestone feature, approximately 286 feet (87 m) northeast of the 10th Street – Avenue B intersection. A restricted 1852 overlay map provided by the COSA Office of Historic Preservation depicts a possible lateral of the Acequia Madre as intersecting the APE, approximately 20 feet (6 m) southwest of Feature 1. It is possible that Feature 1 represents the remnants of the desague, however, the small section of exposed alignment does not provide enough supporting evidence to definitively associate the feature to the projected lateral ditch. Furthermore, although the limestone material and rough cut construction of the stones suggests an early construction, no cultural materials were observed that would support a temporal age range for the feature. Additional work may be warranted for any future ground disturbing activities anticipated within the vicinity of site 41BX2308 in order to determine the horizontal extent of the feature, and to provide additional information as to the function and temporal affiliation of the site. Based on the current investigations, RKEI recommends site 41BX2308 as eligibility undetermined for designation to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). Feature 2, recorded as archaeological site 41BX2309, likely represents a remnant of the 1887 Texas Transportation Company Railroad rail bed. The feature consisted of two metal I-beam rails set on top of an aggregate concrete slab and capped with a separate layer of angular aggregate that likely represents the dismantling of the Texas Transportation Company Railroad in the early 2000s. No further work is recommended for site 41BX2309, and RKEI recommends the site as not eligible for designation to the NRHP or as a SAL. RKEI made a reasonable and good faith effort to identify cultural resources within the given APE. As such, RKEI recommends no further archaeological investigations for the current APE. However, should additions be made to the APE, additional cultural resources investigations may be required. The project adhered to a temporally diagnostic artifact collection only policy. No artifacts were collected during the course of the investigations, thus, no artifacts will be curated at the completion of the project. All field records generated by this project will be permanently curated at the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio

Achieving equality in progressive contexts: queer(y)ing public administration

In many countries, including the UK, the majority of legal impediments to equality for LGBT+ people have been removed, and legislation actively promotes equality for LGBT+ people. While a great deal of research and activism through public administration remains, rightly, focused on achieving political and legal equality in states where this is the case, we suggest that in progressive contexts research and scholarship now needs to move to “queerying" everyday public administration. Through an empirical study of housing and homelessness services in Scotland, UK, we show that the insights of queer theory, used to unpack the everyday ways in which administrative processes (re)create compulsory heterosexuality, as well as the continued direct and indirect discrimination LGBT+ service users may face, can open-up a new research agenda for public administration where queer theory can be applied more widely

Cultural Resources Monitoring for the San Antonio Water Systems Sewer Line Repair Project, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Raba Kistner, Inc. (RKI) was contracted by K-Friese + Associates (CLIENT), on behalf of San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS) to conduct archaeological monitoring for emergency repairs to a collapsed sewer lateral within West Houston Street in downtown San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The project involved the excavation of the area around the collapsed portion of the sewer lateral and the replacement of the damaged line. The project is located within the boundaries of a Catholic Cemetery and is between Milam Square (41BX991), which is a historic cemetery, and an area of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio where the first City Cemeteries have been documented. As such, the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation (COSA OHP) required the monitoring of the excavation activities. The proposed project is located on lands controlled by the City of San Antonio and work was conducted by SAWS, both entities of the State of Texas. As such, the project falls under the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191). Furthermore, the project was also subject to review under Chapter 35 of the City of San Antonio’s Unified Development Code (UDC) (Article VI, Historic Preservation and Urban Design). All work was conducted in accordance with the Archeological Survey Standards for Texas as set forth by the Council of Texas Archeologists (CTA) and the THC under Texas Antiquities Committee Permit Number 9209. A desktop review was conducted to determine if any previously conducted archaeological investigations or any cultural resources had been documented within the APE. Review of the Texas Archeological Sites Atlas (Atlas), revealed that no previous archaeological surveys have been conducted within the APE and that no previously recorded archaeological sites have been documented within the APE. Cultural resources monitoring investigations for the project were conducted on December 21 and 22, 2019, and January 14, 2020. Antonio Padilla served as Project Manager and Principal Investigator, and all field work was conducted by Lindy Martinez and Susan Sincerbox. The undertaking involved the excavation of an approximately 34-foot-long (10 meter [m]-) north-south, 2.5–to–9-foot-wide east-west (0.5–to–2.74 m-) trench that extended from the sewer main located near the center of West Houston Street to the clean out located under the sidewalk north of West Houston Street. For archaeological purposes the Area of Potential Effects (APE) consisted of approximately 800 square feet or 0.018 acres. The depths of impacts reached a depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) below surface. During the investigations, it was discovered that the entire APE has been heavily impacted by previous construction events and the installation of utilities. Throughout the excavations, construction gravels reaching a depth of 6 feet (1.8 m) below surface were observed within the entire APE, and several utilities were encountered. No intact soils were present within the trench. It appears that previous construction events and installation of utilities have removed all intact soils to the depth reached by the trench. Due to the absence of intact soils, no soils were screened. Additionally, no cultural materials or cultural features were observed during the monitoring of the excavations. RKI has made a reasonable and good faith effort identifying cultural resources within the APE. No significant deposits or features were identified during cultural resource monitoring. As a result, RKI does not recommend further archaeological investigations within the APE. However, should changes be made to the APE, further work may be required. No diagnostic artifacts were collected during the course of the investigations, thus, no artifacts will be curated at the completion of the project. All field records generated during this project will be permanently curated at the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio

A Review on European Union’s Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy and its Impact on Food Safety

In 2018, European Union adopted a European strategy for plastics in a circular economy as a part of theiraction plan for a circular economy. Sustainability is the underlying motivation behind the plasticsstrategy with a goal of addressing how plastics are designed, used and recycled in the EU. One of thestrategies outlined is that by 2030, all plastic packaging placed on the EU market is either reusable or canbe recycled in a cost-effective manner. A large portion of food packaging is multi-layer plastic that is notrecyclable in a cost-effective manner. Given the difficulties associated with recycling today’s complexfood packaging, what impacts will the European Union’s strategies for plastics in a circular economy haveon food safety? This article explores what is being done and what can be done to mitigate the risks tofood safety while adhering to the EU’s plastic strategy. It has been observed that the plastic plays a vitalrole in maintaining food safety, extending shelf-life and minimising food waste. However, it is currentlynot possible to recycle multi-layer plastic packaging which is widely used throughout the food industry,and there are currently no viable alternatives offering the same level of protection. Unless possiblesubstitutes to multi-layer plastics offering the same level of food protection can be developed then therewill be detrimental effects on food quality, safety and shelf-life, which will lead to increased food waste,additional food costs and a reduction in the variety and availability of certain foods