Deep Ecology as a framework for student eco-philosophical thinking

Deep ecology is an ecological philosophy that promotes an ecocentric lifestyle to remedy the problems of depleting resources and planetary degradation. An integral part of this ecosophy is the process of forming a metaphysical connection to the earth, referred to as self-realisation; an unfolding of the self out into nature to attain a transcendental, non-egoic state. Findings from our research indicate that secondary school students in environment clubs align with the principles of deep ecology, and show a capacity to become student eco-philosophers, and they report empathy for becoming ecocentric beings. This study explores the capacity for students to engage in environmental philosophy

Animated computer graphics models of space and earth sciences data generated via the massively parallel processor

The capability was developed of rapidly producing visual representations of large, complex, multi-dimensional space and earth sciences data sets via the implementation of computer graphics modeling techniques on the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) by employing techniques recently developed for typically non-scientific applications. Such capabilities can provide a new and valuable tool for the understanding of complex scientific data, and a new application of parallel computing via the MPP. A prototype system with such capabilities was developed and integrated into the National Space Science Data Center's (NSSDC) Pilot Climate Data System (PCDS) data-independent environment for computer graphics data display to provide easy access to users. While developing these capabilities, several problems had to be solved independently of the actual use of the MPP, all of which are outlined

Can environment students in secondary schools embrace a deep ecology philosophy?

This study investigates ecocentrism in secondary schools and challenges the anthropocentric view of conserving natural resources for future humans. It aims to reveal whether sustainability education in schools is driven by a narrow science focus or whether there are deep ecology perspectives also operating to solve environmental problems. This study also seeks to determine the collective thought of the school communities studied regarding the more philosophical aspects of sustainability, as seen through the lens of deep ecology. The study drew upon aspects of grounded theory to organize the data into themes. Strategic coding of the themes led to a coherent model for the socio-cultural responses to the research questions. A deep ecology scale (DES) was devised and used to measure ecocentric inclinations of the respondents. The data showed that students were more aligned to an ecocentric philosophy than the anthropocentric lifestyle

Social forces around a sustainability-focused family: School/home milieu

This study explores the social forces operating within the school-family sustainability milieu, in the context of a family that lives sustainably, and participates in school sustainability projects. We conducted open-ended interviews with two students who attend a state secondary school, their parents, the sustainability coordinator, and the principal of the school. We have created an ontological model from our data that shows the forces and relationships between the individuals, and allows us to offer explanations for the success and limitations of the sustainability community at the school. We also investigate the social relationships surrounding the children, including those with their peers in the environment club (enviroclub), with students outside the enviroclub, their parents, and the sustainability coordinator. Our analysis reveals an intergenerational or reverse vector of influence from child to parent. It also shows the importance of a highly motivated sustainability coordinator to galvanising the parents into becoming a sustainability-focused family

The effects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on swimming interval performance in trained competitive swimmers

The use of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO) supplementation to improve repeated high-intensity performance is recommended; however, most swimming performance studies examine time trial efforts rather than repeated swims with interspersed recovery that are more indicative of training sessions. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of 0.3 g.kg BM NaHCO supplementation on sprint interval swimming (8 × 50 m) in regionally trained swimmers. Fourteen regionally competitive male swimmers (body mass (BM): 73 ± 8 kg) volunteered for this double-blind, randomised, crossover designed study. Each participant was asked to swim 8 × 50 m (front crawl) at a maximum intensity from a diving block, interspersed with 50 m active recovery swimming. After one familiarisation trial, this was repeated on two separate occasions whereby participants ingested either 0.3 g.kg BM NaHCO or 0.05 g.kg BM sodium chloride (placebo) in solution 60 min prior to exercise. Whilst there were no differences in time to complete between sprints 1-4 (p > 0.05), improvements were observed in sprint 5 (p = 0.011; ES = 0.26), 6 (p = 0.014; ES = 0.39), 7 (p = 0.005; ES = 0.60), and 8 (p = 0.004; ES = 0.79). Following NaHCO supplementation, pH was greater at 60 min (p < 0.001; ES = 3.09), whilst HCO was greater at 60 min (p < 0.001; ES = 3.23) and post-exercise (p = 0.016; ES = 0.53) compared to placebo. These findings suggest NaHCO supplementation can improve the latter stages of sprint interval swimming performance, which is likely due to the augmentation of pH and HCO prior to exercise and the subsequent increase in buffering capacity during exercise

Asteroseismic Theory of Rapidly Oscillating Ap Stars

This paper reviews some of the important advances made over the last decade concerning theory of roAp stars.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

The effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation at individual time-to-peak blood bicarbonate on 4-km cycling time trial performance in the heat.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of individualised sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO ) supplementation according to a pre-established individual time-to-peak (TTP) blood bicarbonate (HCO ) on 4-km cycling time trial (TT) performance in the heat. Eleven recreationally trained male cyclists (age: 28 ± 6 years, height: 180 ± 6 cm, body mass: 80.5 ± 8.4 kg) volunteered for this study in a randomised, crossover, triple-blind, placebo-controlled design. An initial visit was conducted to determine TTP HCO following 0.2 g.kg body mass (BM) NaHCO ingestion. Subsequently, on three separate occasions, participants completed a 4-km cycling TT in the heat (30 degrees centigrade; °C) (relative humidity ∼40%) following ingestion of either NaHCO (0.2 g.kg body mass), a sodium chloride placebo (0.2 g.kg BM; PLA) or no supplementation (control; CON) at the predetermined individual TTP HCO . Absolute peak [HCO ] prior to the 4-km cycling TT's was elevated for NaHCO compared to PLA (+2.8 mmol.l ;  = 0.002;  = 2.2) and CON (+2.5 mmol.l ;  < 0.001;  = 2.1). Completion time following NaHCO was 5.6 ± 3.2 s faster than PLA (1.6%; CI: 2.8, 8.3;  = 0.001;  = 0.2) and 4.7 ± 2.8 s faster than CON (1.3%; CI: 2.3, 7.1;  = 0.001;  = 0.2). These results demonstrate that NaHCO ingestion at a pre-established individual TTP HCO improves 4-km cycling TT performance in the heat, likely through enhancing buffering capacity