Sensory Substitution and Perceptual Learning

When a user integrates a sensory substitution device into her life, the process involves perceptual learning, that is, ‘relatively long-lasting changes to an organism’s perceptual system that improve its ability to respond to its environment’ (Goldstone 1998: 585). In this paper, I explore ways in which the extensive literature on perceptual learning can be applied to help improve sensory substitution devices. I then use these findings to answer a philosophical question. Much of the philosophical debate surrounding sensory substitution devices concerns what happens after perceptual learning occurs. In particular, should the resultant perceptual experience be classified in the substituted modality (as vision), in the substituting modality (as auditory or tactile), or in a new sense modality? I propose a novel empirical test to help resolve this philosophical debate

Improving economic statistics in the creative industries:Towards multi-regional creative industries satellite accounts

In today’s ever-evolving economic landscape, policymakers are increasingly recognising the potential of creative industries to drive growth, innovation, and export opportunities across various sectors. However, accurately measuring the economic contribution of these industries remains a significant challenge, particularly when it comes to understanding their regional impact.This report, by Matthew Lyons (City-REDI Institute, Birmingham Business School, The University of Birmingham) and Kevin Connolly (The University of Strathclyde) aims to address this gap by proposing a comprehensive approach to capturing the true value of creative industries at a regional level.While the UK has witnessed the emergence of creative clusters across the country, from video game development in Dundee and Leamington Spa to fashion in Leeds and film and TV production in Cardiff and Northern Ireland, the current economic data fails to provide a detailed picture of these regional dynamics. Furthermore, the data often overlooks the intricate relationships and spillover effects between creative industries and other sectors across different regions.To bridge this gap, this report explores the development of Multi-regional Creative Industries Satellite Accounts (MR-CISA). This innovative approach combines regional Creative Industries Satellite Accounts (CISAs) with detailed survey data on inter-industry relationships between creative businesses across regions. By doing so, MR-CISA offers policymakers a more comprehensive understanding of the direct and indirect impacts of creative industries on regional economies.With the UK’s ongoing efforts to address regional inequalities and “Level Up” underperforming areas, accurate economic data on creative industries regional contributions becomes crucial. This report lays the foundation for better-informed policymaking, enabling targeted funding decisions and tailored strategies that unlock the full potential of creative industries across the country.Please reference this paper as:Lyons, S. Connolly, K. (2024) Improving economic statistics in the creative industries: Towards multi-regional creative industries satellite accounts London: Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. Available from: https://pec.ac.uk/research_report_entr/improving-economic-statistics-in-the-creative-industries/Digital Object Identifier (DOB): 10.5281/zenodo.1090768

Improving economic statistics in the creative industries:Towards multi-regional creative industries satellite accounts

In today’s ever-evolving economic landscape, policymakers are increasingly recognising the potential of creative industries to drive growth, innovation, and export opportunities across various sectors. However, accurately measuring the economic contribution of these industries remains a significant challenge, particularly when it comes to understanding their regional impact.This report, by Matthew Lyons (City-REDI Institute, Birmingham Business School, The University of Birmingham) and Kevin Connolly (The University of Strathclyde) aims to address this gap by proposing a comprehensive approach to capturing the true value of creative industries at a regional level.While the UK has witnessed the emergence of creative clusters across the country, from video game development in Dundee and Leamington Spa to fashion in Leeds and film and TV production in Cardiff and Northern Ireland, the current economic data fails to provide a detailed picture of these regional dynamics. Furthermore, the data often overlooks the intricate relationships and spillover effects between creative industries and other sectors across different regions.To bridge this gap, this report explores the development of Multi-regional Creative Industries Satellite Accounts (MR-CISA). This innovative approach combines regional Creative Industries Satellite Accounts (CISAs) with detailed survey data on inter-industry relationships between creative businesses across regions. By doing so, MR-CISA offers policymakers a more comprehensive understanding of the direct and indirect impacts of creative industries on regional economies.With the UK’s ongoing efforts to address regional inequalities and “Level Up” underperforming areas, accurate economic data on creative industries regional contributions becomes crucial. This report lays the foundation for better-informed policymaking, enabling targeted funding decisions and tailored strategies that unlock the full potential of creative industries across the country.Please reference this paper as:Lyons, S. Connolly, K. (2024) Improving economic statistics in the creative industries: Towards multi-regional creative industries satellite accounts London: Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. Available from: https://pec.ac.uk/research_report_entr/improving-economic-statistics-in-the-creative-industries/Digital Object Identifier (DOB): 10.5281/zenodo.1090768

Monitoring of nitrogen leaching on a dairy farm during four drainage seasons

peer-reviewedThe authors acknowledge funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and Teagasc under the 2000–2006 RTDI programme.The effect of four commonly used dairy farm management systems (treatments), on nitrogen leaching to 1 m was studied over a 4-year period from October 2001 to April 2005. The treatments were (i) grazed plots receiving dirty water, (ii) 2-cut silage plots receiving slurry, (iii) grazed plots and (iv) 1-cut silage plots receiving slurry. All plots had fertiliser N applied; the soil was free-draining overlying fissured limestone. Mean 4-year N input (kg/ha) was 319 and mean annual stocking density was ~2.38 LU/ha. The annual average and weekly NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations in drainage water were analysed for all years, using a repeated measures analysis. For the annual NO3-N data, there was an interaction between treatment and year (P < 0.001). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in NO3-N concentrations between the treatments in all years except the third. For the NH4-N data there was no interaction between treatment and year or main effect of treatment but there were differences between years (P < 0.01). Mean weekly concentrations were analysed separately for each year. For NO3-N, in all years but the third, there was an interaction between treatment and week (P < 0.001); this occurred with NH4-N, in all 4 years. Dirty water was significantly higher than grazed-fertiliser only and 1-cut silage in NO3-N concentrations in 2001–02; in 2002–03, dirty water and 2-cut silage were significantly higher than the other treatments; while in 2004–05, dirty water and grazed-fertiliser only were significantly higher than the other two treatments. The overall 4-year mean NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations were 8.2 and 0.297 mg/L, respectively.Environmental Protection Agenc

The Economic Impact of Changes in Alcohol Consumption in the UK

The alcohol industry (both manufacturing and sales) is important to the UK Economy as it supports thousands of jobs (IAS, 2017a; Oxford Economics, 2016). However, there are many well documented adverse effects of high alcohol consumption, most notably on public health. With the UK having one of the highest alcohol consumption rates in the world, recent Government policy has sought to address some of this harm. Changes in policy and social attitudes may result in changes in UK alcohol consumption. The focus of this report is to examine the potential macroeconomic impact from changes in UK alcohol consumption. Previous studies (WTSA, 2013) have investigated the gross impacts resulting from changes in consumption – that is, the impact of the alcohol sector without considering reallocation of spending to other goods and services. This report extends the literature and investigates the net impacts by including the redistribution of both household and government income

Effect of Agricultural Practices on Nitrate Leaching

Teagasc wishes to acknowledge with gratitude funding from the 2000-2006 EPA RTDI programme in financing this research project.End of project reportA farm-scale study, carried out at Teagasc, Moorepark (Curtin’s farm), examined the effect of four managements (treatments) on nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching over the period 2001-`05. Leaching was measured in these treatments: (T1) plots receiving dirty water and N fertilizer which were grazed; (T2) 2-cut silage and grazing plots receiving slurry and fertilizer N; (T3) grazed plots receiving fertilizer N and (T4) 1-cut silage and grazing plots receiving slurry and fertilizer N. The soil is a free-draining sandy loam overlying Karstic fissured limestone. The mean direct N inputs (kg/ha) for T1-T4 in 2001-`04 were 311, 309, 326, 331, respectively, with stocking rates (LU/ha) of 2.12 - ~2.47. Eight ceramic cups per plot, in 3 replicate plots of each treatment, were used to collect water, on a weekly basis, from 1.0 m deep using 50 kPa suction. There were 33, 37, 26 and 24 sampling dates in the 4 years, respectively. The NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations (mg/l) were determined in the water samples. The annual average and weekly concentration of these parameters was statistically analysed for all years, using a repeated measures analysis. The aggregated data were not normally distributed. There was an interaction between treatment and year (p<0.001). Significant differences (p=0.05) in NO3-N concentrations showed between the treatments in years 1, 2, 4 but not in year 3. For the NH4-N data there was no interaction between treatment and year, p=0.12, or main effect of treatment, p=0.54 but there were differences between years, p=0.01. Mean weekly concentrations were analysed separately for each year. For NO3-N, in years 1, 2 and 4 there was an interaction between treatment and week (p<0.001). With NH4-N, there was an interaction between treatment and week in all 4 years. Dirty water was significantly higher than grazed and 1 cut silage in NO3-N concentrations in year 1; in year 2, dirty water and 2 cut silage were significantly higher than the other treatments while in year 4, dirty water and grazed were significantly higher than the other two treatments. The overall four-year weighted mean NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations were 8.2 and 0.297 mg/l. The NCYCLE (UK) model was adapted for Irish conditions as NCYCLE_IRL. The NCYCLE empirical approach proved to be suitable to predict N fluxes from Irish grassland systems in most situations. Experimental data appeared to agree quite well, in most cases, with the outputs from NCYCLE_IRL. The model was not capable of predicting data from some of the leaching experiments, which suggests that the observed leaching phenomena in these experiments could be governed by non-average conditions or other parameters not accounted for in NCYCLE_IRL. An approach that took into account denitrification, leaching and herbage yield would probably explain the differences found. NCYCLE_IRL proved to be a useful tool to analyse N leaching from grazed and cut grassland systems in Ireland.Environmental Protection Agenc

Could a reduction in alcohol consumption be good news for the UK economy?

The UK has one of the highest alcohol consumption rates per capita in the world being ranked 25th according to the latest global World Health Organisation report on alcohol (WHO, 2014). While there are several well documented detrimental effects of alcohol consumption on health, crime and productivity (e.g. Holmes et al, 2016), the sector also contributes positively to the economy through its production and sales activities

The regional economic impacts of offshore wind energy developments in Scotland

The Scottish electricity network is currently in a transition towards becoming 100% renewable. Offshore wind, due to a large natural resource, is expected to be key in this transition. In addition to the anticipated environmental benefits, increasing the share of offshore wind is expected to bring economic benefits to the region. In this study two multi-sectoral modelling methodologies – Input-Output (IO) and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) – are used to measure the potential economic impacts on Scotland arising from both the construction and operation of the planned increase offshore wind capacity between 2018 and 2025, with comparisons made between models and development stages. With the focus on the benefits to the Scottish economy it is important to focus only on expenditures within Scotland. Found using both IO and (forward-looking and myopic) CGE modelling techniques, is increasing offshore wind capacity raises both employment and Gross Value Added (GVA) with the magnitude and timing of this change critically depend on model type and closure. This is the first – to the author's knowledge – of a Scottish specific modelling which helps policy makers understand those elements which could affect the possible economic success of current policy towards offshore wind

Can we constrain interior structure of rocky exoplanets from mass and radius measurements?

We present an inversion method based on Bayesian analysis to constrain the interior structure of terrestrial exoplanets, in the form of chemical composition of the mantle and core size. Specifically, we identify what parts of the interior structure of terrestrial exoplanets can be determined from observations of mass, radius, and stellar elemental abundances. We perform a full probabilistic inverse analysis to formally account for observational and model uncertainties and obtain confidence regions of interior structure models. This enables us to characterize how model variability depends on data and associated uncertainties. We test our method on terrestrial solar system planets and find that our model predictions are consistent with independent estimates. Furthermore, we apply our method to synthetic exoplanets up to 10 Earth masses and up to 1.7 Earth radii as well as to exoplanet Kepler-36b. Importantly, the inversion strategy proposed here provides a framework for understanding the level of precision required to characterize the interior of exoplanets. Our main conclusions are: (1) observations of mass and radius are sufficient to constrain core size; (2) stellar elemental abundances (Fe, Si, Mg) are key constraints to reduce degeneracy in interior structure models and to constrain mantle composition; (3) the inherent degeneracy in determining interior structure from mass and radius observations does not only depend on measurement accuracies but also on the actual size and density of the exoplanet. We argue that precise observations of stellar elemental abundances are central in order to place constraints on planetary bulk composition and to reduce model degeneracy. [...]Comment: 19 pages, 18 figures, accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysics (no changes to previous version