Technological enhancements in the teaching and learning of reflective and creative practice in dance

This is an electronic version of an article published in Huxley, M., Doughty, S., Francksen, K. and Leach, M. (2008) Technological enhancements in the teaching and learning of reflective and creative practice in dance. Research in Dance Education. 9 (1), pp.129-146.A team of researchers at De Montfort University’s Centre for Excellence in Performance Arts has explored uses of technology in dance education. The wider context of dance and technology pedagogy includes research into dance, technologies, learning and teaching and the relationships between teaching and research. The paper addresses all of these themes. Three pedagogic research projects are reported on. They address dance and technology in terms of: (i) teaching the Alexander Technique for dancers, (ii) improvisation, (iii) interactive practice using the software environment Isadora. Two main themes are highlighted: (1) use of technology as a means of enabling reflection, and (2) technology as a means of both engaging in the creative process and as a creative tool. It is argued that student-centred autonomous learning in dance can be significantly enhanced by an informed application of technologies

Splenic trauma: WSES classification and guidelines for adult and pediatric patients

Spleen injuries are among the most frequent trauma-related injuries. At present, they are classified according to the anatomy of the injury. The optimal treatment strategy, however, should keep into consideration the hemodynamic status, the anatomic derangement, and the associated injuries. The management of splenic trauma patients aims to restore the homeostasis and the normal physiopathology especially considering the modern tools for bleeding management. Thus, the management of splenic trauma should be ultimately multidisciplinary and based on the physiology of the patient, the anatomy of the injury, and the associated lesions. Lastly, as the management of adults and children must be different, children should always be treated in dedicated pediatric trauma centers. In fact, the vast majority of pediatric patients with blunt splenic trauma can be managed non-operatively. This paper presents the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) classification of splenic trauma and the management guidelines

Colonisation of rehabilitated lands by termites (Dictyoptera),\ud Rio Tinto Alcan Gove bauxite mine, Northern Territory, Australia

The pattern of termite colonisation and the production of termite constructs are reported from a 26-year age\ud series of sites rehabilitated after bauxite mining in northern tropical Australia. Initial colonisation probably\ud occurs at the time of profile reconstruction and termites were active within eight months of seeding in wood\ud decomposing on the surface and partially buried in the profile. Termite activity, as determined by consumption of paper baits, was observed at sites rehabilitated for three or more years after seeding and rapidly reached levels approaching that in adjacent unmined native forest ecosystems. Termites colonising rehabilitated sites are predominantly those that feed on decomposing wood or are\ud polyphagous; some litter-feeding species are transitorily present but disappear near the time of canopy closure. Common local species not observed so far in rehabilitated environments included Coptotermes acinaciformis and certain soil (humus)-feeding species. Termite galleries were almost ubiquitous in the developing upper A horizons of sites rehabilitated for eight or more years and had penetrated to 40–50 cm at sites rehabilitated for 16 years. Surface mounds of woodand litter-feeding species were apparent at sites rehabilitated for three or more years. Evidence of termite feeding was universal in dead plant materials although damage to living plants was minimal, sporadic and of little ecological consequence, except at one site rehabilitated after the deposition of red mud. Forest development and the changing availability of food materials had a critical role in enabling colonisation of the rehabilitated environments by key termite groups. Colonisation in turn interplayed with soil development because of the increasingly diverse termite activities occurring in the rehabilitated environments with time. This emphasises the important roles termites play in decomposition and soil formation processes

Mine closure and ecosystem development - Alcan Gove bauxite mine, Northern Territory, Australia

Closure is a critical phase of a mining operation since this is when the environmental effects of mining and\ud rehabilitation works will be most stringently judged. Since the time scales required for biological community\ud development and soil formation are long in comparison to mining operation life cycles - and to human life spans - it is normally only possible to demonstrate the early trajectories of these processes. However, favourable and predictable closure outcomes can usually be achieved by making early decisions on postmining land use, ensuring close integration of mining with incremental rehabilitation works and adequate monitoring. This assumes that a successful system of rehabilitation is available for the materials and environments involved and takes no account of threats or stressors. This paper defines the stages of early post-rehabilitation ecosystem and soil development on highly weathered soil materials at the Alcan Gove Mine using information derived from studies of selected sites from a 26-year chronosequence of sites and local native forest sites. Specifically, we seek to determine the stage at which a high probability of successful ongoing development may be credibly assumed in the absence of further management inputs of energy and materials and in relationship to potential external threats