A Case for Tolkien as Master of the Sublime

The present article aims to reconcile Tolkien with the Literary Critics through an exploration of Tolkien\u27s use of the sublime. First, an explanation of the sublime is given, with a summary of its evolution over the past two millennia. Subsequently, three key thrusts of the sublime\u27s manifestation in Tolkien\u27s work are identified: his use of depth and incompleteness, his use of vastness and grandeur, and his usage of shadows and death. Investigating Tolkien\u27s usage of these devices in turn illuminates his skill as an artist and as an author

Classifying Simulation-based Studies using the Description, Justification and Clarification Framework: A Review of Simulation Conference Abstracts

Introduction Simulation-based medical education (SBME) is an accepted learning methodology with an ever-expanding evidence base. Concerns have been expressed that research output in SBME lacks explicit links to educational theory. Using the ‘Description, Justification and Clarification’ framework we have investigated the extent to which SBME conference abstracts declare the educational theory underpinning their studies. Methods Abstracts from four major international SBME conferences (for 2014 and 2015) were reviewed. Abstracts were classified using the framework offered by Cook et al who classified studies published in major educational journals. Clarification studies are those which specifically declare and test their underpinning educational approach. Results We reviewed 1398 conference abstracts which we classified as Description 54.4%, Justification 36.3% and Clarification 9.3%. The two most frequently declared educational theories were Cognitive Theories and Experiential Learning. Conclusion The low proportion of Clarification studies found in the SBME conference abstracts reflects previous findings highlighting the lack of medical education studies that establish how and why SBME works. Researchers should be encouraged to declare their underpinning educational theories when presenting their work. Conference organisers play an important role in facilitating this through allowing sufficient word count in their submission criteria

The visualization of flow paths in experimental studies of clay-rich materials

One of the most challenging aspects of understanding the flow of gas and water during testing in clay-rich low-permeability materials is the difficulty in visualizing localized flow. Whilst understanding has been increased using X-ray Computed-tomography (CT) scanning, synchrotron X-ray imaging and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) imaging, real-time testing is problematic under realistic in situ conditions confining pressures, which require steel pressure vessels. These methods tend not to have the nano-metre scale resolution necessary for clay mineral visualization, and are generally not compatible with the long duration necessary to investigate flow in such materials. Therefore other methods are necessary to visualize flow paths during post-mortem analysis of test samples. Several methodologies have been established at the British Geological Survey (BGS), in order to visualize flow paths both directly and indirectly. These include: (1) the injection of fluorescein-stained water or deuterium oxide; (2) the introduction of nano-particles that are transported by carrier gas; (3) the use of radiologically tagged gas; and (4) the development of apparatus for the direct visualization of clay. These methodologies have greatly increased our understanding of the transport of water and gas through intact and fractured clay-rich materials. The body of evidence for gas transport through the formation of dilatant pathways is now considerable. This study presents observations using a new apparatus to directly visualize the flow of gas in a kaolinite paste. The results presented provide an insight into the flow of gas in clay-rich rocks. The flow of gas through dilatant pathways has been shown in a number of argillaceous materials (Angeli et al., 2009; Autio et al., 2006; Cuss et al., 2014; Harrington et al., 2012). These pathways are pressure induced and an increase in gas pressure leads to the dilation of pathways. Once the gas breakthrough occurs, pressure decreases and pathways begin to close. This new approach is providing a unique insight into the complex processes involved during the onset, development and closure of these dilatant gas pathways

Pulmonary artery stiffness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) and emphysema: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) COPD Study

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and particularly emphysema are characterized by stiffness of the aorta, due in part to accelerated elastin degradation in the lungs and aorta. Stiffness of the pulmonary arteries (PAs) may also be increased in COPD and emphysema, but data are lacking. We assessed PA stiffness using MRI in patients with COPD and related these measurements to COPD severity and percent emphysema. Materials and Methods: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) COPD Study recruited 290 participants, age 50–79 years with 10 or more packyears and free of clinical cardiovascular disease. COPD severity were defined on postbronchodilator spirometry by ATS/ERS criteria. Percent emphysema was defined as the percentage of regions of the lung < -950 Hounsfield units on full-lung computed tomography (CT). PA stain was defined by the percent change in cross-sectional PA area between systole and diastole on MRI. Blood flow across the tricuspid and mitral valves was assessed by phase-contrast MRI for determination of the ventricular diastolic dysfunction (E/A ratio). Results: PA strain was reduced in COPD compared with controls (P = 0.002) and was inversely correlated with COPD severity (P = 0.004). PA strain was inversely associated to percent emphysema (P = 0.01). PA strain was also markedly correlated with right ventricular diastolic dysfunction measured by E/A ratios in the fully adjusted mix models (P = 0.02). Conclusion: PA strain is reduced in COPD, related in part to percent emphysema on CT scan, which may have implications for pulmonary small vessel flow and right ventricular function. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage

Variability in concentrations of potentially toxic elements in urban parks from six European cities

Use of a harmonised sampling regime has allowed comparison of concentrations of copper, chromium, nickel, lead and zinc in six urban parks located in different European cities differing markedly in their climate and industrial history. Wide concentrations ranges were found for copper, lead and zinc at most sites, but for chromium and nickel a wide range was only seen in the Italian park, where levels were also considerably greater than in other soils. As might be expected, the soils from older cities with a legacy of heavy manufacturing industry (Glasgow, Torino) were richest in potentially toxic elements (PTEs); soils from Ljubljana, Sevilla and Uppsala had intermediate metal contents, and soils from the most recently established park, in the least industrialised city (Aveiro), displayed lowest concentrations. When principal component analysis was applied to the data, associations were revealed between pH and organic carbon content; and between all five PTEs. When pH and organic carbon content were excluded from the PCA, a distinction became clear between copper, lead and zinc (the "urban" metals) on the one hand, and chromium and nickel on the other. Similar results were obtained for the surface (0-10 cm depth) and sub-surface (10-20 cm depth) samples. Comparisons with target or limit concentrations were limited by the existence of different legislation in different countries and the fact that few guidelines deal specifically with public-access urban soils intended for recreational use

Political differences in free will belief are associated with differences in moralization

In fourteen studies, we tested whether political conservatives’ stronger free will beliefs were linked to stronger and broader tendencies to moralize, and thus a greater motivation to assign blame. In Study 1 (meta-analysis of five studies, n=308,499) we show that conservatives have stronger tendencies to moralize than liberals, even for moralization measures containing zero political content (e.g., moral badness ratings of faces and personality traits). In Study 2, we show that conservatives report higher free will belief, and this is statistically mediated by the belief that people should be held morally responsible for their bad behavior (n=14,707). In Study 3, we show that political conservatism is associated with higher attributions of free will for specific events. Turning to experimental manipulations to test our hypotheses, we show that: when conservatives and liberals see an action as equally wrong there is no difference in free will attributions (Study 4); when conservatives see an action as less wrong than liberals, they attribute less free will (Study 5); and specific perceptions of wrongness account for the relation between political ideology and free will attributions (Study 6a and 6b). Finally, we show that political conservatives and liberals even differentially attribute free will for the same action depending on who performed it (Studies 7a-d). These results are consistent with our theory that political differences in free will belief are at least partly explicable by conservatives’ tendency to moralize, which strengthens motivation to justify blame with stronger belief in free will and personal accountability

Vibrations of a chain of Xe atoms in a groove of carbon nanotube bundle

We present a lattice dynamics study of the vibrations of a linear chain of Xe adsorbates in groove positions of a bundle of carbon nanotubes. The characteristic phonon frequencies are calculated and the adsorbate polarization vectors discussed. Comparison of the present results with the ones previously published shows that the adsorbate vibrations cannot be treated as completely decoupled from the vibrations of carbon nanotubes and that a significant hybridization between the adsorbate and the tube modes occurs for phonons of large wavelengths.Comment: 3 PS figure

Scoping study examining the behaviour of Boom Clay at disposal depths investigated in OPERA

The Onderzoeks Programma Eindberging Radioactief Afval (OPERA) is the third national research programme for the geological disposal of radioactive waste in the Netherlands, operating during the period 2011 to 2017. The rock types to host a geological disposal facility that are currently being considered in the Netherlands are salt and clay. Earlier Dutch work focussed mostly on salt, but the present programme OPERA is focused on a specific clay formation the Boom Clay. Previous studies have primarily focused on examining behaviour at the Belgium reference depth (~220m). The work presented in this study extends this knowledge-base to repository depths of potential interest in the Netherlands (~500m). In this report, results from a scoping study examining the hydromechanical properties of Boom Clay are presented, including investigations on consolidation, swelling, hydraulic, gas and deformation behaviour. These were performed on preserved core material retrieved from the HADES underground research laboratory, Belgium. Sections of core were then consolidated to a depth representative of the Netherlands. Permeability was sensitive to stress state and thermal load, though incremental changes in NaCl concentration had minimal impact. Hysteresis was observed in thermally induced changes in permeability. Gas entry was closely linked to the minimum principal stress component, with mass and volume changes of samples observed as a result of gas migration. Stress, porewater pressure and gas flow were integrally linked with pathways evolving temporally and spatially. A transition from brittle to ductile deformation was noted with increasing stress in both compression and shear. Boom Clay is both complex and anisotropic in its behaviour

Acquisition and retention of Clostridium difficile by Musca domestica larvae and pupae during metamorphosis

Background: Transfer of Clostridium difficile by Musca domestica has been demonstrated, revealing their potential for disseminating infection in the hospital environment. Aim: To determine the ability of M. domestica larvae to acquire and retain C. difficile throughout their metamorphosis into adult flies. Methods: Larvae were exposed to spores of C. difficile in a faecal emulsion and examined externally and internally to determine carriage and internalisation of spores through their development to adults. Findings: Larvae harboured C. difficile externally, with means of 21.56 +/- 5.76 CFUs at day zero, 22.44 +/- 9.90 after two days, decreasing to 0.56 +/- 0.34 at day four, with no C. difficile isolated thereafter. The same larvae harboured C. difficile internally, with means of 587.33 +/- 238.29 CFUs at day zero, decreasing to 297.44 +/- 155.21 after two days, decreasing further to 73.67 +/- 46.74 after four days, with no C. difficile isolated thereafter. The zero recovery of C. difficile coincided with the development of M. domestica larvae into pupae. From day six onwards, all larvae had developed into the pupal stage and no C. difficile was recoverable from any pupae. No C. difficile was recovered from adult flies (emerged on day twelve), or empty puparia. Conclusion: Although C. difficile spores are readily acquired and internalised by larvae during feeding, they are not retained through development to adults. Adult flies therefore acquire C. difficile contamination as adults. The potential antimicrobial action of M. domestica larvae and their extracts against C. difficile spores warrants further investigation

Nonequilibrium wetting

When a nonequilibrium growing interface in the presence of a wall is considered a nonequilibrium wetting transition may take place. This transition can be studied trough Langevin equations or discrete growth models. In the first case, the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation, which defines a very robust universality class for nonequilibrium moving interfaces, with a soft-wall potential is considered. While in the second, microscopic models, in the corresponding universality class, with evaporation and deposition of particles in the presence of hard-wall are studied. Equilibrium wetting is related to a particular case of the problem, it corresponds to the Edwards-Wilkinson equation with a potential in the continuum approach or to the fulfillment of detailed balance in the microscopic models. In this review we present the analytical and numerical methods used to investigate the problem and the very rich behavior that is observed with them.Comment: Review, 36 pages, 16 figure