The challenges and potential benefits of perennial organic cropping systems-example of organic top fruit

Of all the organic food sectors in the UK, top fruit production is one of the least developed. Despite strong consumer demand and high prices for organic fruit, UK production remains small and 90% of supplies are imported. Current methods of production are unsatisfactory with low yields and erratic quality, with resulting variable economic performance. Pest and disease problems are one of the main reasons for this poor performance, with current varieties being unable to provide sufficient resistance. New varieties and an improved pest and disease management programme, identified as part of a HORTLINK project, offer new hope to the sector. There are now opportunities for the sector to grow and provide greater UK supplies of top fruit, in addition to widening the proven benefits to biodiversity of organic orchards

An assessment of apple varieties for their suitability in organic production systems

Twenty seven varieties of apple were assessed for their susceptibility to apple scab, mildew and rosy apple aphid in a replicated experiment at East Malling Research. The varieties most affected by mildew were Goldrush, DL11, Liberty, Bohemia and Pinova. Ceeval, Discovery, Edward VII, Howgate Wonder, Rajka, Rebella and Topaz had the lowest incidences of mildew. The highest incidence of scab occurred on Pilot and Pinova, but infestation was low throughout the assessment period. In 2006 when aphid populations were high, Liberty, Goldrush and Delorina had no aphid infestations, and low infestations were seen on Edward VII, Resi and Santana

Editor’s Introduction

In this issue of the Engineering Management Journal (EMJ), we are delighted to present eight new articles that address several key areas across the engineering management discipline. The scope of the research studies highlights the application as well as the range of approaches adopted in engineering management [...

Editor’s Introduction

In this issue of the journal we are delighted to present eight articles that cover several key areas across engineering management. The discipline of engineering management [...

Celebrity and Schadenfreude: The cultural economy of fame in freefall

This paper explores the popularity of contemporary expressions of delight in celebrity downfall, or Schadenfreude towards celebrity culture, and questions to what extent they can be understood as cultural critiques of economic inequality. For just as the economy has its own parables, so do ‘cultural’ expressions contain parables of normativity about economic life. We argue that Schadenfreude's relationship to ‘equality’ can be read in terms of social, cultural and economic blockages, and investigate some of the history to this feeling by exploring different arguments over the meaning and status of ‘equality’ in modern and post-modern societies. This survey of its contested meanings highlights the distinctions which have been made and elided between property and identity, the economic and the cultural, and the political and the private. These geneaologies are used to interpret Schadenfreude, and to highlight the tension between two different aspects of contemporary subjectivity: ‘integrity’ and marketability of the self. By drawing on these contested genealogies and theories of equality, we are also arguing that Schadenfreude toward celebrity in its most common contemporary form cannot be seen merely as a superstructural phenomenon of a neo-liberal base but rather as stitched into and as of a piece with this neo-liberal culture. We argue that whilst Schadenfreude is able to be articulated in different directions, it overwhelmingly works to express irritation at inequalities but not to change the wider rules of the current social system, and its political economy often actually entails it fuelling inequalities of wealth. In these terms, Schadenfreude can be perceived as being intimately related to autistic economic culture and as being able to be perpetuated by coasting on its own status as an autistic response

Editor’s Introduction

In this issue of the Engineering Management Journal (EMJ), we are delighted to present seven new articles that address key areas across the field of engineering management. EMJ seeks to provide readers with timely access to the tools, techniques and underpinning knowledge to operate in the increasingly technology-driven world and manage arising complexities [...

Pupil participation in Scottish schools: final report

This research was commissioned by Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) to evaluate the nature of pupil participation in primary and secondary schools across Scotland. The specific objectives of the research were: <p>· To describe what school staff and pupils understand by the term ‘pupil participation’.</p> <p>· To describe the range and usage of pupil participation mechanisms employed in schools.</p> <p>· To describe how school staff respect and respond to pupils’ views and ideas, and those of the wider community.</p> <p>· To identify the characteristics of schools and classrooms that facilitate effective pupil participation.</p> <p>· To identify possible barriers to the development of pupil participation in schools and to make suggestions about how these can be overcome.</p> <p>· To capture examples of effective practice of pupil participation.</p> <p>· To make suggestions about how pupil participation can help support the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.</p&gt

Gyrotron experiments employing a field emission array cathode

The design and operation of a field emission array (FEA) cathode and the subsequent demonstration of the first FEA gyrotron are presented. Up to 10 mA from 30 000 tips was achieved reproducibly from each of ten chips in a gyrotron environment, namely, a vacuum 1 x 10(-8) mbar, -50 kV potential with multiple chip operation, The design parameters of the FEA gun were similar to those of a magnetron injection gun with an achievable electron beam current of 50-100 mA and measured power 720 W cw. Coherent microwave radiation was detected in both TE(02) at 30.1 GHz and TE(03) at 43.6 GHz, with a starting current of 1 mA

Randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation of a chest pain observation unit compared with routine care

Objectives To measure the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of providing care in a chest pain observation unit compared with routine care for patients with acute, undifferentiated chest pain. Design Cluster randomised controlled trial, with 442 days randomised to the chest pain observation unit or routine care, and cost effectiveness analysis from a health service costing perspective. Setting The emergency department at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom. Participants 972 patients with acute, undifferentiated chest pain (479 attending on days when care was delivered in the chest pain observation unit, 493 on days of routine care) followed up until six months after initial attendance. Main outcome measures The proportion of participants admitted to hospital, the proportion with acute coronary syndrome sent home inappropriately, major adverse cardiac events over six months, health utility, hospital reattendance and readmission, and costs per patient to the health service. Results Use of a chest pain observation unit reduced the proportion of patients admitted from 54% to 37% (difference 17%, odds ratio 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.39 to 0.65, P < 0.001) and the proportion discharged with acute coronary syndrome from 14% to 6% (8%, –7% to 23%, P = 0.264). Rates of cardiac event were unchanged. Care in the chest pain observation unit was associated with improved health utility during follow up (0.0137 quality adjusted life years gained, 95% confidence interval 0.0030 to 0.0254, P = 0.022) and a saving of £78 per patient (–£56 to £210, P = 0.252). Conclusions Care in a chest pain observation unit can improve outcomes and may reduce costs to the health service. It seems to be more effective and more cost effective than routine care

Count three for wear able computers

This paper is a postprint of a paper submitted to and accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the IEE Eurowearable 2003 Conference, and is subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. The copy of record is available at the IET Digital Library. A revised version of this paper was also published in Electronics Systems and Software, also subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. The copy of record is also available at the IET Digital Library.A description of 'ubiquitous computer' is presented. Ubiquitous computers imply portable computers embedded into everyday objects, which would replace personal computers. Ubiquitous computers can be mapped into a three-tier scheme, differentiated by processor performance and flexibility of function. The power consumption of mobile devices is one of the most important design considerations. The size of a wearable system is often a design limitation