The reformation of Hell? Protestant and Catholic infernalisms in England, c. 1560–1640

Despite a recent expansion of interest in the social history of death, there has been little scholarly examination of the impact of the Protestant Reformation on perceptions of and discourses about hell. Scholars who have addressed the issue tend to conclude that Protestant and Catholic hells differed little from each other in the Elizabethan and early Stuart periods. This article undertakes a comparative analysis of printed English-language sources, and finds significant disparities on questions such as the location of hell and the nature of hell-fire. It argues that such divergences were polemically driven, but none the less contributed to the so-called ‘decline of hell’

An exploration of timbral semantics related to the pipe organ

Timbral semantics is the study of adjectives relating to timbre. This thesis takes existing research on timbral adjectives relating to single source sounds and applies it to the pipe organ, a complex multi-source musical instrument. A substantial literature review suggested an analysis/synthesis methodology, and a preliminary experiment suggested that common understanding could be demonstrated for some adjectives. Further listening experiments gathered appropriate adjectives from English-speaking listeners and suggested that those adjectives could vary with age, geographic location and visual stimulus presented. Seven timbral adjectives were selected for further study and used as rating scales in a series of listening experiments using both recorded and synthesised ensembles. Five of those words demonstrated common understanding, and several demonstrated consistent correlation with spectral features derived from acoustic analyses. The spectral and perceptual effect of a reverberant environment was also examined. The hypothesis was proven, and the work was novel in both its scope and contribution to knowledge. Complex ensembles were explored both acoustically and perceptually, and the results have strong applicability outside of the context of the pipe organ

Evaluation of EPIM III: Emerging Insights From the Evaluation So Far

This report sets out some emerging insights from the ongoing evaluation of the European Programme for Integration and Migration (EPIM) 2012-2015 programme. The activities of EPIM and this evaluation lie at the very heart of EPIM's efforts to strengthen the capacity of NGOs active in migration and integration issues, to engage with and influence decision-making at EU and Member state levels, and to do so by drawing on a rigorous evidence base, and through a pragmatic approach. Founded in 2005 as an activity of the Network of European Foundations (NEF) in a unique effort to fund European migration and integration organisations, EPIM's activities include strategic grant-making as well as networking, capacity-building, supporting advocacy and policy work. The Programme has now disbursed over 3m to more than 24 grantee organisations. Drawing on experience and learning from previous phases, EPIM's current three core areas of focus are asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, and equality, integration and social inclusion of vulnerable migrants. Recognising the importance of the role played by civil society, one of EPIM's key goals is to strengthen the advocacy capacities of NGOs at the European level. This goal reflects the fact that over the past decade the EU has become an important actor in the field of immigration and asylum, as well as that the majority of countries face some challenges in this area

Validation of the virtual elevation field test method when assessing the aerodynamics of para-cyclists with a uni-lateral trans-tibial amputation

Lower-limb amputees typically require some form of prosthetic limb to ride a bicycle for recreation or when competing. At elite-level racing speeds, aerodynamic drag can represent the majority of the resistance acting against a cyclists’ forward motion. As a result, the reduction of such resistance is beneficial to an amputee whereby the form and function of the prosthetic limb can be optimized through engineering. To measure the performance of such limbs, field testing provides a cost-effective and context-specific method of aerodynamic drag measurement. However, few methods have been formally validated and none have been applied to amputees with lower-limb amputations. In this paper, an elite level para-cyclist wore two different prosthetic limb designs and had their total aerodynamic drag of a wind tunnel reference method statistically correlated against a velodrome-based virtual elevation field test method. The calculated coefficient of variation was in the range of 0.7–0.9% for the wind tunnel method and 2–3% for the virtual elevation method. A 0.03 m2 difference was identified in the absolute values recorded between the two methods. Ultimately, both methods exhibited high levels of precision, yet relative results to each other. The virtual elevation method is proposed as a suitable technique to assess the aerodynamic drag of amputee para-cyclists. Implications for rehabilitation This assessment method will provide practitioners a reliable means of assessing the impact of changes made to prosthetics design for cyclists with limb absence. The proposed method offers a low cost and geographically accessible solution compared to others proposed in the past. This assessment method has significant potential for impact among prosthetic limb users looking to improve their cycling performance whereas previous attention in this field has been extremely limited

The aerodynamic impact of a range of prostheses designs when cycling with a trans-tibial amputation

Previous studies have proposed that an aerodynamically optimised prosthetic limb could provide performance enhancement for competitive paracyclists. Four different designs of prosthetic limbs were assessed for their impact upon the aerodynamic drag of an elite cyclist with a lower-limb amputation. The pylon area acted as the controlled location for the differences in design between the test prostheses. A validated field test method was used to derive the participant’s total aerodynamic drag when using the prostheses designs. The field test method produced a repeatable experimental process and demonstrated that small changes in form made to the pylon region resulted in measurable differences to the participant’s cycling performance. In addition, statistical significance was obtained between a baseline design and the prostheses prototype with the greatest aspect ratio (p=<0.05). The magnitude of improvements recorded in this study could potentially influence a rider’s finishing time at international sporting events like the Paralympic Games

The payment by results Social Impact Bond pilot at HMP Peterborough: final process evaluation report

This report presents findings from a process evaluation of the Peterborough pilot, 4 How, if at all, did the pilot lead to better outcomes of reduced reoffending (including the role played by voluntary and community sector organisations and partner agencies)? What wider costs and benefits, if any, do stakeholders feel were incurred through the implementation of the SIB? To what extent did stakeholders feel that the SIB led to greater innovation and/or efficiency? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the SIB contractual model as implemented? What key messages can be taken from the Peterborough pilot that offer useful learning points for future payment by results models and SIBs?

“Psycho Bitches”: A Discourse Analysis of the Representation of Mentally Ill Women in Modern Film (2003-2014)

"In past research, it has been found that mental illness is depicted negatively in film and television, and that people often display stigmatising attitudes towards the mentally ill. Additionally, the knowledge that mental illness is often a gendered experience leads the researcher to ask how mentally ill women specifically are depicted in contemporary film (from the past 11 years). This research was done from a social constructionist point of view, using a mixture of discourse analysis, polytextual visual analysis and Foucauldian discourse analysis to analyse the construction of mentally ill women in film. During the process of analysis, it was found that mentally ill women in contemporary film are depicted as crazy, troublemakers, powerless and infantilised. Therefore it was established that negative depictions of this group are still prevailing, albeit in a more insidious and inconspicuous manner than in the past. It is hoped that this research, as well as further research in this area will contribute towards a positive shift in depictions of mentally ill women in film in the future.

Do we need to deceive to achieve within placebo analgesia: How does personality influence open-label placebo and deceptive placebo responding?

Objective: Research has suggested open-label placebos are effective, however, there is a lack of research comparing the effectiveness of an open-label placebo (OLP) with a deceptive placebo (DP), although one study did find an OLP and DP were equally as effective for reducing pain. Furthermore, there is a gap within the literature investigating the influence of personality within OLP responding. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of an OLP to a DP and investigated the role of personality within OLP analgesia. Method: 75 participants were allocated to one of three groups; OLP (n = 25), DP (n = 26) and no-treatment (NT; n = 24). All participants completed a baseline cold pressor test (CPT) and measures of pain tolerance and pain intensity. Participants in the OLP group were informed they were receiving a placebo and participants in the DP group were informed they were receiving a painkiller. Those in the OLP and DP groups then received a placebo nasal spray, with the NT group receiving no placebo. All participants then completed a second CPT and the pain measures. Several personality-related variables were also measured. Results: A one-way ANCOVA revealed no significant differences between groups for pain tolerance, F(2, 71) = 1.903, p = .157. However, significant differences were revealed between groups for self-reported pain intensity, F(2, 71) = 4.838, p = .011, η2 = .120. Planned contrasts revealed that receiving an OLP and a DP significantly decreased pain intensity compared to the NT group, with no significant differences between the effectiveness of the OLP and the DP. Exploratory analysis, using moderated regression analysis, revealed fear of minor pain was positively associated with placebo analgesia within the OLP group. Fear of medical pain was positively associated with pain intensity for those in the OLP group, however, there was a negative association for those in the DP group. There was a positive association between pain intensity and agreeableness for those in the DP group, however, a negative association for those in the OLP group. Conclusion: An OLP and a DP were both effective for reducing subjective pain intensity, although there were no significant differences between OLP and DP effectiveness. This suggests the use of deception within placebo analgesia should be questioned with healthy participants, as placebos given openly remained as effective as placebos given deceptively. This was also the first study to highlight that agreeableness, fear of minor pain, and fear of medical pain moderated OLP analgesia in a differing direction to DP analgesia

Towards the bioproduction of methyl methacrylate: solving the problem of product toxicity

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and its derivatives are currently produced using methods which rely on crude oil resources and natural gas as feedstocks. A novel and sustainable route to the precursor methacrylic acid (MAA), has recently been developed. This method involves the production of MAA from renewable feedstocks via microbial fermentation. Unfortunately, the toxicity of MAA is a significant issue, inhibiting the growth of potential host biocatalysts at concentrations as low as 10mM. This ultimately limits production titres and reduces the economic viability of the process. Therefore, in situ product removal (ISPR) via liquid-liquid extraction has been investigated in order to reduce the concentration of MAA in the aqueous phase, preventing inhibition of the biocatalyst during its production. Twenty-two water-immiscible organic solvents were tested for biocompatibility with Escherichia coli MG1655 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae DSM70449, the majority of which were toxic towards both organisms. Surprisingly, E. coli demonstrated a significantly higher tolerance towards the solvents, particularly when grown in minimal medium. Unfortunately, the biocompatible solvents demonstrated extremely poor extraction efficiencies of between 9 – 50 % MAA, from aqueous systems. Ionic liquids (ILs) were therefore investigated as potential replacement solvents for the ISPR of MAA. Twenty-two ILs were synthesised and tested for biocompatibility with E. coli and S. cerevisiae. Seventeen biocompatible ILs were identified and their physicochemical properties and extraction capabilities were evaluated. The ILs demonstrated extraction efficiencies superior to those of traditional organic solvents, extracting up to 93 % MAA from aqueous systems. Alternatively, the direct bioproduction of alkyl methacrylate esters offers the added benefit of phase separation above a critical concentration, removing the need for an extraction solvent, and therefore their toxicity was assessed. However, the esters were found to have a higher toxicity than MAA towards E. coli and S. cerevisiae. Unexpectedly, an n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) tolerant E. coli mutant was discovered during toxicity measurements. Five BMA resistant strains were isolated and upon whole genome sequence analysis, mutations were found in three genes, soxR, acrR and ybcO. An improved BMA tolerance was found in the mutants containing both the soxR and acrR mutations. These findings offer the potential for the development of these strains to create a sustainable route to BMA