From talking to silence: a confessional journey

This article provides an account of work created by Adrian Howells over the duration of his AHRC Creative Fellowship. Howells provides a creator's perspective; Heddon, a spectator's perspective. Both chart the shift from confessional performances anchored around speech, to the use of silence as a way to engage intimate connections between performer and audience

Getting one step closer to deduction: Introducing an alternative paradigm for transitive inference

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2008 Psychology Press.Transitive inference is claimed to be “deductive”. Yet every group/species ever reported apparently uses it. We asked 58 adults to solve five-term transitive tasks, requiring neither training nor premise learning. A computer-based procedure ensured all premises were continually visible. Response accuracy and RT (non-discriminative nRT) were measured as is typically done. We also measured RT confined to correct responses (cRT). Overall, very few typical transitive phenomena emerged. The symbolic distance effect never extended to premise recall and was not at all evident for nRT; suggesting the use of non-deductive end-anchor strategies. For overall performance, and particularly the critical B?D inference, our findings indicate that deductive transitive inference is far more intellectually challenging than previously thought. Contrasts of our present findings against previous findings suggest at least two distinct transitive inference modes, with most research and most computational models to date targeting an associative mode rather than their desired deductive mode. This conclusion fits well with the growing number of theories embracing a “dual process” conception of reasoning. Finally, our differing findings for nRT versus cRT suggest that researchers should give closer consideration to matching the RT measure they use to the particular conception of transitive inference they pre-held

Benefits of swimming for young children

The Swimming Charter (DfES, 2003) developed a national top-up scheme for children who were struggling to swim 25 metres unaided by the end of primary school. This particular scheme was used for the children within the case school setting who were unable to swim unaided. 25 children (15 girls and 10 boys) undertook 7 consecutive top-up swimming lessons, during one school term, during the Spring. The lessons were taught by the same class teacher and undertaken in the local swimming pool, lasting 45 minutes. The primary school was located in the South East of England and followed the English National Curriculum (DfE 2013). The head teacher and class teacher (who taught the swimming) felt that it was important to offer the top-up national Swimming Charter (DfES 2003) scheme to the children within the school who were not able to swim 25 metres. The children were from two different classes, so the swimming lessons, not only provided the children with a positive learning environment in which children were able to improve their swimming skills and self-esteem, but also interact with peers they would not normally encounter. Within every lesson the children undertook stroke development, life-saving skills and structured play at the end of the lesson, with an emphasis on enjoying being in the water. The class teacher who taught the swimming lessons had specialised in physical education during their training and completed extra swimming teaching ASA module qualifications. It is recognised that not all primary schools have this level of primary physical education specialists as class teachers (Carney and Howells, 2008). The children in the swimming sessions did not normally have lessons together, therefore this gave the class teacher the opportunity to consider the impact of not only the top-up scheme on developing swimming skills, but if there were any other potential benefits from using the scheme. The children completed a questionnaire and the 4 areas presented within this report are the children’s successfulness at being able to swim 25 metres unaided; well-being and safety; learning outside the classroom, and social interaction and self-esteem

Geophysical methods for detecting shallow sulphide mineralization in the Halifax Formation, Nova Scotia: a reconnaissance study

Construction activities have exposed sulphide-bearing slates of the Halifax Formation in southern mainland Nova Scotia. Under atmospheric conditions the sulphides break down and cause acid rock drainage (ARD) which adversely affects local ecosystems. These effects have been a major problem at the Halifax International Airport, causing fish kills and the expenditure of millions of dollars to ameliorate the ARD. A preferable alternative is to locate areas of sulphide mineralization in the construction area prior to excavation. Concentrated zones of sulphide mineralization can then be avoided, or treatment plans can be formulated in advance. Geophysical surveys provide possible means of detecting sulphides in slates of the Halifax Formation. To evaluate various geophysical methods, reconnaissance profiles were carried out in two areas near the Halifax International Airport utilizing ground conductivity, magnetic, VLF EM, spontaneous potential, and induced polarization measurements. The conductivity meter selected was specific to "construction depths" (i.e., its exploration depth limit is 6 m or less). Test pits were dug on one line in each area to sample bedrock coincident with and between conductivity anomalies. Bedrock samples collected in each test pit were analyzed for total sulphur, total carbon, Fe2+ and Fe3+ contents. On the first grid, increased total sulphur content was measured in rock specimens from a test pit coincident with a large ground conductivity anomaly. In contrast, extremely small total sulphur content was measured in rock specimens from a nearby hole which was deliberately situated where there is no conductivity anomaly. Similar results were obtained from the second grid. Magnetic anomalies are coincident with all but one of the sampled conductivity anomalies, indicative of the presence of pyrrhotite. Combined ground conductivity, magnetic and VLF EM surveys appear to be a practicable method for detecting near-surface sulphide mineralization in the Halifax Formation, and such surveys should be included in the Nova Scotia Environment Act. RÉSUMÉ Les activités de construction ont mis à nu des ardoises sulfuriferes de la Formation d'Halifax dans le sud intérieur de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Dans des conditions atmosphériques, les sulfures se décomposent et causent une exhaure de roches acides (ERA) qui a des effets nefastes sur les écosystèmes locaux. Ces effets ont constitué un problème de grande envergure à l'aéroport international d'Halifax, où ils ont causé la mort de poissons et exigé des investissements de plusieurs millions de dollars pour améliorer l'ERA. Une solution de rechange qu'on préfere consiste à délimiter les zones de minéralisation de sulfures à l'intérieur du secteur de construction avant les travaux de creusage. On peut ensuite éviter les zones concentrées de minéralisation de sulfures ou formuler des plans de traitement a l'avance. Les relevés géophysiques peuvent permettre de détecter les sulfures à l'intérieur des ardoises de la Formation d'Halifax. Les chercheurs ont, pour évaluer diverses méethodes géophysiques, dressé des profils de reconnaissance dans deux secteurs situés près de l'aéroport international d'Halifax au moyen d'études de polarisation induite, de diagraphie de polarisation spontanée et de conductivité ainsi que de relevés magnétiques et électromagnetiques. Le conductivimètre choisi était specifique aux " profondeurs de construction " (c.- à-d. que sa limite de profondeur d'exploration est de 6 m ou moins). lis ont creusé des trous d'exploration le long d'une ligne dans chaque secteur pour échantillonner le substrat rocheux correspondant aux anomalies de conductivité de même qu'entre celles-ci. Les chercheurs ont ensuite analysé la teneur en soufre total, en carbone total, en Fe2+ et en Fe3+ des échantillons de substrat rocheux prélevés dans chaque trou d'exploration. Dans le premier quadrillage, les chercheurs ont mesuré la teneur en soufre total des échantillons de roches provenant d'un trou d'exploration correspondant à une anomalie prononcée de conductivité du sol. Par contraste, on a relevé une teneur en soufre total extremement réduite dans les échantillons de roches provenant d'un trou à proximité délibérément creuse à un endroit où aucune anomalie de conductivité n'avait été relevée. On a obtenu des résultats semblables dans le deuxième quadrillage. Les anomalies magnétiques correspondaient à toutes les anomalies de conductivité échantillonnees indiquant la présence de pyrrhotine sauf une. La combinaison des études de conductivité du sol avec des relevés magnétiques et électromagnétiques semble constituer une méthode pratique pour détecter une minéralisation de sulfures à faible profondeur dans la Formation d'Halifax. La Loi sur l'environnement Nouvelle-&#xX9;cosse devrait prévoir la réalisation de ce genre de relevés. Traduit par la rédactio

Accommodation to hyperpolarization of human axons assessed in the frequency domain

Human axonsin vivowere subjected to subthreshold currents with a threshold-"ZAP" profile (Impedance [ Z: ] A: mplitude P: rofile) to allow the use of frequency domain techniques to determine the propensity for resonant behavior, and to clarify the relative contributions of different ion channels to their low-frequency responsiveness. Twenty-four studies were performed on the motor and sensory axons in 6 subjects. The response to oscillatory currents was tested between 'DC' and 16 Hz. A resonant peak at ~2 to 2.5 Hz was found in the response of hyperpolarized axons, but there was only a small broad response in axons at resting membrane potential (RMP). A mathematical model of axonal excitability developed using DC pulses provided a good fit to the frequency response for human axons, and indicated that the hyperpolarization-activated currentIh, and the slow potassium currentIKsare principally responsible for the resonance. However the results indicate that if axons are hyperpolarized more than -60% of resting threshold, the only conductances that are appreciably active areIhand the leak conductance - i.e., that the activity of these conductances can be studiedin vivovirtually in isolation at hyperpolarized membrane potentials. Given that the leak conductance dampens resonance it is suggested that the -60% hyperpolarization used here is optimal forIh As expected differences between the frequency responses of motor and sensory axons were present and best explained by reduced GKs, up-modulation ofIhand increased persistent Na(+)current,INaP(due to depolarization of RMP) in sensory axons

Early childhood educator training: The value of educating educators on movement, play and physical literacy development - A three country case study.

A child's early movement and active play experiences influence their attitudes towards physical activity throughout their childhood and into adulthood (Blair, 1992). Yet, it has been suggested that early childhood educators (ECEs) may not recognize the importance of, or give enough attention to, movement skills and physical development opportunities for young children (Clark, 2014; Whitehead, 2010). The education, or lack thereof, that ECEs receive could be an important factor. International comparisons of overall ECE preparation and training have demonstrated that some countries' ECEs are more highly educated than others (Howells and Sääkslahti, 2019). Using a case study approach, this paper conducts an analysis and comparison of three countries to examine the value and role of physical activity/movement education for ECEs to enable them to support physical literacy development in early childhood educational settings. In addition, lessons learned from creating such educational opportunities in the context of their various locations (Manitoba in Canada, Kent in England, and Escambia County, FL in U.S.A.) are discussed. A purposeful sample was used as these countries have relatively low levels of educational requirements for ECEs, yet children start attending early years’ education from the earliest life points (Howells & Sääkslahti, 2019)

Transport into the troposphere in a tropopause fold/cut-off low system

A tropopause fold developed on the western flank of a trough in the 300 mb flow on 6 Oct. 1990. Radiosonde ascents over western Europe showed very dry stable layers beneath the jet stream in the potential temperature range 310 to 315 K. These were evident on profiles from 12h on 6 Oct. to 00h on 8 Oct. ECMWF model assimilations were examined for this period to determine how well the model represented the radiosonde observations. Humidity fields were found to give better agreement than potential vorticity, probably because the PV is affected by the limited vertical resolution of the model. Isentropic trajectories were calculated for the air in the fold as represented by the ECMWF assimilation at 00h on 7 Oct. Those on the western edge of the fold split from the main flow and transferred to the troposphere, while those on the eastern side ended up in the cut-off low. A lower bound of 1.1 x 10(exp 14) kg is estimated for the amount of stratospheric air transferred into the troposphere by this fold

Connection between total ozone fields and lower stratospheric dynamics

It is expected from theoretical considerations that synoptic-scale variations in total ozone should be correlated with the absolute vorticity field near the tropopause. This paper tests the theory, using TOMS total ozone fields and vorticity derived from ECMWF analyses. A good correlation is found, except during winter - suggesting that other sources of variability in total ozone are active at this time. The correlation with potential vorticity is also investigated. This shows two maxima in the correlation coefficient in winter and spring, one near the tropopause and the other in the region of 420K. A study of the residuals from a linear regression of vorticity with total ozone during January reveals a similar structure to the 450K potential vorticity field

Energy Access and Electricity Planning

As developing countries look for ways to achieve sustainable energy services, which is essential to lift people out of poverty, the big challenge centers around providing access for all while avoiding past pitfalls without creating new ones. The reality is that this can only occur if there is a fundamental transformation of energy systems along the entire set of resource to energy service chains - and that will necessitate greater energy efficiency and a bigger role for renewables in the global energy mix energy. Competitive and private sector dominated energy markets rely on clear and consistent government energy-environment policies to align their investment decisions with sustainable development objectives. This paper tries to shed light on how developing countries can carry out energy planning by reviewing the available methodologies and tools, including their potential to integrate rural energy access and encourage the uptake of renewable energy technologies. It also probes how investment needs and cost-effectiveness are reflected in different analytic and planning tools - with a case study on Ethiopia. And it examines the interaction of energy planning and scenario development and how these are applied to informed policy making. The findings suggest that energy planning is essential and feasible. However, support is required to improve data collection and access, develop open accessible modelling tools, and build sustainable national capacity to undertake plannin