The Downfall of Chivalry: Tudor Disregard for Medieval Courtly Literature

In this thesis, I have examined the notion of the gradual demise of chivalric ideals throughout the late-Middle Ages and culminating in the sixteenth century, analyzing how and why the developments of the sixteenth century both enabled and required the English monarchy and the aristocracy to redefine social identities and values, public responsibilities, political duties, and national and religious power. This thesis addresses why the Tudor monarchs appear to have disregarded the examples of chivalric behavior championed by late-medieval writers like Sir Thomas Malory and Jean Froissart, and instead, relied on new works of literature that were more relevant forms of guidance, and could serve as national propaganda. Unlike late-medieval monarchs such as Edward III or Henry V, who lived in accordance to the social doctrine of chivalry, the Tudor monarchs employed a new variant of chivalry that acted as nothing more than a façade to mask political ambitions and to enhance the image of royal authority and national power. This thesis examines how the transformations of religion, the evolving social identities, and responsibilities of the aristocracy and the monarchy, coupled with developments in European politics and warfare during the Tudor period, exposed the vulnerability and rigidity of late-medieval chivalry, enabled the Tudor monarchs to employ a façade of chivalry to suit the motives of England as a Renaissance state

Thermoelectric performance of multiphase XNiSn (X = Ti, Zr, Hf) half-Heusler alloys

Quantitative X-ray powder diffraction analysis demonstrates that mixing Ti, Zr and Hf on the ionic site in the half-Heusler structure, which is a common strategy to lower the lattice thermal conductivity in this important class of thermoelectric materials, leads to multiphase behaviour. For example, nominal Ti0.5Zr0.5NiSn has a distribution of Ti1−xZrxNiSn compositions between 0.24 ≤ x ≤ 0.70. Similar variations are observed for Zr0.50Hf0.5NiSn and Ti0.5Hf0.5NiSn. Electron microscopy and elemental mapping demonstrate that the main compositional variations occur over micrometre length scales. The thermoelectric power factors of the mixed phase samples are improved compared to the single phase end-members (e.g. S2/ρ = 1.8 mW m−1 K−2 for Ti0.5Zr0.5NiSn, compared to S2/ρ = 1.5 mW m−1 K−2 for TiNiSn), demonstrating that the multiphase behaviour is not detrimental to electronic transport. Thermal conductivity measurements for Ti0.5Zr0.5NiSn0.95 suggest that the dominant reduction comes from Ti/Zr mass and size difference phonon scattering with the multiphase behaviour a secondary effect

Charge asymmetry in high-energy μ+μ−\mu^+\mu^- photoproduction in the electric field of a heavy atom

The charge asymmetry in the differential cross section of high-energy $\mu^+\mu^-$ photoproduction in the electric field of a heavy atom is obtained. This asymmetry arises due to the Coulomb corrections to the amplitude of the process (next-to-leading term with respect to the atomic field). The deviation of the nuclear electric field from the Coulomb field at small distances is crucially important for the charge asymmetry. Though the Coulomb corrections to the total cross section are negligibly small, the charge asymmetry is measurable for selected final states of $\mu^+$ and $\mu^-$. We further discuss the feasibility for experimental observation of this effect.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Metal Distributions, Efficient n-Type Doping, and Evidence for in-Gap States in TiNiM_<i>y</i>Sn (M = Co, Ni, Cu) half-Heusler Nanocomposites

XNi1+ySn nanocomposites consisting of a XNiSn half-Heusler (HH) matrix with segregated XNi2Sn Full Heusler (FH) inclusions promise improvements in thermoelectric efficiencies. We extend recent research by reporting on TiNiMySn (0 ≤ y ≤ 1) nanocomposites with M = Co (3d9), Ni (3d10) and Cu (3d104s1). Neutron powder diffraction reveals that the Ni and Cu series produce a matrix of TiNiSn with nanosegregated TiNi2Sn and TiNi1+dCu1–dSn, respectively. For the Co series, the Co inserts into both phases to obtain a TiNi1–yCoySn matrix with nanosegregated TiNi2–yCoySn. Systematic changes in Seebeck coefficient (S) and electrical resistivity (ρ) are observed in all three series. For M = Ni, changes in S and ρ are attributed to in-gap states arising from the nanosegregation. The M = Co composites show a complex interplay between the hole doped TiNi1–yCoySn matrix and similar in-gap states, where the p- to n-type transition temperature increases but the maximum S remains unchanged at +30 μV K–1. The 4s1 electron for M = Cu is delocalized in the HH matrix, leading to metal-like ρ(T) and up to 100% improved thermoelectric power factors compared to TiNiSn (S2/ρ = 2 mW m–1 K–2 at 600–700 K for y = 0.025). These results broaden the range of segregated FH phases that could be used to enhance HH thermoelectric performance

Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses for visual performance, sleep, and macular health in adults

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess whether blue-light filtering spectacle lenses impart effects on visual function, provide protection to the macula, or both. We will also examine potential effects on the sleep-wake cycle

Nutrition and Eye Health

Diet is a key lifestyle factor that can have long-term effects on ocular health [...]

Inelastic neutron scattering study of crystal field excitations of Nd³⁺ in NdFeAsO

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments were performed to investigate the crystalline electric field (CEF) excitations of Nd3+ (J = 9/2) in the iron pnictide NdFeAsO. The crystal field level structures for both the high-temperature paramagnetic phase and the low-temperature antiferromagnetic phase of NdFeAsO are constructed. The variation of CEF excitations of Nd3+ reflects not only the change of local symmetry but also the change of magnetic ordered state of the Fe sublattice. By analyzing the crystal field interaction with a crystal field Hamiltonian, the crystal field parameters are obtained. It was found that the sign of the fourth and sixth-order crystal field parameters change upon the magnetic phase transition at 140 K, which may be due to the variation of exchange interactions between the 4f and conduction electrons.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

The effect of providing resuscitation training to front-line staff on rates of maternal and trauma mortality in two health districts in Malawi

No Abstract

Hold the Gold Watch for now: delayed retirements

The services industries are always challenging. Any situation where point of delivery is coincidental with point of consumption, requires not only a first class product but also delivery mechanisms which allow for adaptability and improvisation in the face of the unexpected. An integral part of that mechanism is the workforce, and from this perspective the UK, Australia, and many other countries face some likely turbulent periods over the next five years. For example, data from the UK’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) show for the first time there are more than 10 million people aged over 50 in employment. This means that over 50s now make up nearly one third of the entire UK workforce, up from around one in five (21%) in the early 1990s. Looking ahead, by 2034, the estimate is that more than 25% of the population will be over 65 years old. Notwithstanding the advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and predictions from some quarters that ‘we’ll all be replaced by robots’, these statistics, coupled with the World Bank’s 2017 estimate of a likely annual population growth rate in the UK of 0.6% clearly suggest that the makeup of the workforce will have to change

A Critical Appraisal of National and International Clinical Practice Guidelines Reporting Nutritional Recommendations for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Are Recommendations Evidence-Based?

Eye care professionals should have access to high quality clinical practice guidelines that ideally are underpinned by evidence from robust systematic reviews of relevant research. The aim of this study was to identify clinical guidelines with recommendations pertaining to dietary modification and/or nutritional supplementation for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and to evaluate the overall quality of the guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. We also mapped recommendations to existing systematic review evidence. A comprehensive search was undertaken using bibliographic databases and other electronic resources for eligible guidelines. Quality appraisal was undertaken to generate scores for each of the six AGREE II domains, and mapping of extracted nutritional recommendations was performed for systematic reviews published up to March 2017. We identified 13 national and international guidelines, developed or updated between 2004 and 2019. These varied substantially in quality. The lowest scoring AGREE II domains were for 'Rigour of Development', 'Applicability' (which measures implementation strategies to improve uptake of recommendations), and 'Editorial Independence'. Only four guidelines used evidence from systematic reviews to support their nutritional recommendations. In conclusion, there is significant scope for improving current Clinical Practice Guidelines for AMD, and guideline developers should use evidence from existing high quality systematic reviews to inform clinical recommendations