Matters of matter in contemporary art

Does the Anthropocene offer an opportunity to shift ontological assumptions about the material world towards a new materialist way of thinking about matter and processes of materialisation and how can contemporary art contribute to this reconceptualization

Phonon-Metamorphosis in Ferromagnetic Manganite Films: Probing the Evolution of an Inhomogeneous State

The analysis of phonon anomalies provides valuable information about the cooperative dynamics of lattice, spin and charge degrees of freedom. Significant is the anomalous temperature dependence of the external modes observed in La$_{2/3}$Sr$_{1/3}$MnO$_{3}$ (LSMO) films. The two external modes merge close to the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition at $T_C$ and, moreover, two new modes evolve in this temperature range with strong resonances at slightly higher frequencies. We propose that this observed phonon metamorphosis probes the inhomogeneous Jahn-Teller distortion, manifest on the temperature scale $T_C$. The analysis is based on the first observation of all eight phonon modes in the metallic phase of LSMO and on susceptibility measurements which identify a Griffiths-like phase.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Grasses as Biofactories: Scoping out the Opportunities

Key points 1. Plant biopharming is set to dominate commercial recombinant protein expression for specific proteins. 2. The choice of plant species depends on a multitude of factors and is determined on a caseby- case basis. 3. As a leaf based expression system grasses would have to compete predominantly with tobacco and alfalfa. 4. The grass-endophyte symbiosis offers a number of unique possibilities for biopharming

Grasses as Biofactories: Scoping out the Opportunities

Plant biopharming is set to dominate commercial recombinant protein expression for specific proteins. The choice of plant species depends on a multitude of factors and is determined on a case- by-case basis. As a leaf based expression system grasses would have to compete predominantly with tobacco and alfalfa. The grass-endophyte symbiosis offers a number of unique possibilities for biopharming

Polaronic excitations in CMR manganite films

In the colossal magnetoresistance manganites polarons have been proposed as the charge carrier state which localizes across the metal-insulator transition. The character of the polarons is still under debate. We present an assessment of measurements which identify polarons in the metallic state of La{2/3}Sr{1/3}MnO{3} (LSMO) and La{2/3}Ca{1/3}MnO{3} (LCMO) thin films. We focus on optical spectroscopy in these films which displays a pronounced resonance in the mid-infrared. The temperature dependent resonance has been previously assigned to polaron excitations. These polaronic resonances are qualitatively distinct in LSMO and LCMO and we discuss large and small polaron scenarios which have been proposed so far. There is evidence for a large polaron excitation in LSMO and small polarons in LCMO. These scenarios are examined with respect to further experimental probes, specifically charge carrier mobility (Hall-effect measurements) and high-temperature dc-resistivity.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

Outcome and quality of life after surgically treated ankle fractures in patients 65 years or older

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite high incidence of ankle fractures in the elderly, studies evaluating outcome and impact of quality of life in this age group specifically are sparse. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcome and quality of life 6 and 12 months after injury in patients 65 years or older who had been operated on due to an ankle fracture.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty patients 65 years or older were invited to participate in the study. 6 and 12 months after the injury a questionnaire including inquiry to participate, the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), Short-Form 36 (SF-36), Linear Analogue Scale (LAS), Self-rated Ankle Function and some supplementary questions was sent home to the patients. The supplementary questions concerned subjective experience of ankle instability, sporting and physical activity level before injury and recaptured activity level at follow-ups, need of walking aid before injury, state of living before injury and at follow-ups and co-morbidities. After the 12-month follow-up the patients were also called for a radiological examination.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty patients (83%) answered the questionnaire at 6-month and 46 (77%) at the 12-month follow-up. Although, 45 (90%) fractures were low-energy trauma 44 (88%) were bi- or trimalleolar and post-operative reduction results were complete in 23 (46%) ankles. The median OMAS improved from 60 (Interquartile range (IQR) 36) at 6-month to 70 (IQR 35) at 12-month (p = 0.002), but at 12-month still sixty percent or more of the patients reported pain, swelling, problems when stair-climbing and reduced activities of daily life. Twenty (40%) rated their ankle function as 'good' or 'very good' at 6-month and 30 (60%) at 12-month. Forty-one (82%) were physically active before injury but still one year after only 18/41 had returned to their pre-injury physical activity level. According to SF-36 four dimensions differed from the age- and gender matched normative data of the Swedish population, 'physical function', 'role physical' and 'role emotional' were below norms at 6-month for women (p = 0.010, p = 0.024 and 0.031) and 'general health' was above norms at 12-month for men (p = 0.044).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>One year after surgically treated ankle fractures a majority of patients continue to have symptoms and reported functional limitations. However, SF-36 scores indicate that only females had functional status below the age- and gender matched normative data of the Swedish population.</p

Herbicide-Resistant Field Crops

This chapter reviews information about how crop plants resist herbicides and how resistance is selected for in plants and surveys specific herbicide-resistant crops by chemical family. The discussion in the chapter includes HRCs derived from both traditional and biotechnological selection methodologies. Plants avoid the effects of herbicides they encounter by several different mechanisms. These mechanisms can be grouped into two categories: those that exclude the herbicide molecule from the site in the plant where they induce the toxic response and those that render the specific site of herbicide action resistant to the chemical. The chapter presents herbicide-resistant crops by the herbicide chemical family—such as, triazine, acetolactate synthatase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, glyphosate, bromoxynil, phenoxycarboxylic acids, and glufosinate. Resistant crops are listed in the chapter regardless of whether they have been commercialized or were developed for experimental purposes only, and are provided regardless of their “success” as resistant plants

The migration-traffiking nexus : an investigation into the survival strategies of the Philippines' poorest migrants : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of International Development, Massey University, New Zealand

The Philippines’ social and economic complexities limit the life choices of its people and migration has become the only perceived method to achieve upward social and economic mobility. Filipinos are being ‘groomed’ to migrate as a ‘culture of migration’ has become ingrained in the national psyche, creating a desperation to migrate which makes the poorest Filipinos prime targets for human traffickers. The aim of this research project was to investigate the driving factors behind the culture of migration of the Philippines and the implications for trafficking. Underpinned by a qualitative methodology, fieldwork was conducted over five months in Manila and Samar Island in the Philippines. The findings of this study show that poverty and inequality form the context which forces Filipinos to leave their hometown and the factors which make them vulnerable to trafficking are correlated with endemic corruption and the resulting lack of law enforcement. Additionally the findings revealed that recruitment practices which exploit migrants, including the betrayal of neighbours and kin, have become common practices leading to people being trafficked in poor villages. When trafficking survivors are repatriated they often find the same constraints persist. Hence they are left with no choice but to migrate again and risk being re-trafficked. This thesis concludes that the vulnerabilities inherent in poverty are exacerbated by a complex culture of migration which makes poor Filipinos desperate to accept any offer to migrate and, thus, exposes them to human traffickers