Lessons from an evolving model to support higher education in countries affected by conflict

This article draws lessons from two programmes designed to support Higher Education (HE) in Iraq and Syria, two countries severely affected by violent conflict. The programmes focus on support to Iraqi and Syrian academics through capacity development and collaborative research, involving international partnerships

Improving regulatory standards for clearing facilities

Clearinghouses (Banking) ; Payment systems

Wave Attenuation Through Submerged Oyster Aquaculture Cages

Coastal erosion presents a growing issue to shorelines around the world and is especially harmful to Maine, a region where sea-level rise is higher than the global average. Green and hybrid coastal defense strategies are being implemented around the country to provide sustainable, habitat-friendly solutions to erosion control. Maine is a hotspot for commercial aquaculture, with an estimated $13.6 million economic impact. This study looks to bridge the gap between Maine aquaculture and the living shorelines initiative, by determining the wave attenuating properties of submerged oyster cages. The project will be able to inform local oyster farmers, resource planners, and engineers on the potential for submerged oyster farms to attenuate wave energy. This study aims to explore the idea of a working waterfront, where coastal resilience and sustainability are tied in with economic opportunity, all while encouraging the protection of habitats and water resources. This study utilizes field observations from several SOFAR Spotter Buoys deployed for 28 days that were positioned before and after a long line of bottom lying oyster cages to measure wave decay in a protected inlet of Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine. These observations were combined with water level data from a HOBO water level logger to assess the effect of tidal fluctuations. A computational fluid dynamic model complemented the field observations, which allowed for the characterization of the longitudinal wave decay along the farm. The wave attenuation mechanism was determined, as well as the wave-induced setup in mean water levels. The CFD model is a cut section of a long line of bottom-lying oysters, using DualSPHysics, a smooth particle hydrodynamic model. Wave decay of up to 80% for ~4 second waves was seen over 30 m of oyster cages, where less-steep waves and shorter waves were attenuated more. Added mass drag dominated wave attenuation compared to friction, supported by KC (Keulegan Carpenter Number) value

Implications of the Changing Nature of Conflict for the Submarine Force

We are in a time of great change. Among naval forces, this change will most affect the U.S. attack submarine (SSN) force

Innovation in preregistration midwifery education: Web based interactive storytelling learning.

BACKGROUND: through a critical description of the implementation of a web based interactive storytelling learning activity introduced into an undergraduate, preregistration midwifery education programme, this paper will explore how low-cost, low-fidelity online storytelling, designed using Moodle, can be used to enhance students' understanding of compassion and empathy in practice. SAMPLE: cross sectional sample of first year undergraduate Midwifery students (n111) METHOD: drawing from both research and audit data collected in an Higher Education Institution in London England, the paper presents the case for using web based technology to create a sustainable model for midwifery education. FINDINGS: initial results indicate that it is both the low cost and positive student evaluations of web based interactive storytelling, which make this approach to preregistration midwifery education which suggests that this approach has significant potential for learning and teaching in midwifery education in diverse settings around the world. Or how about: global relevance

Counselling Psychology and the Internet: A review of the quantitative research into online outcomes and alliances within text based therapy

Purpose: This paper examines the empirical research concerning counselling psychologists who utilise the internet in their practice. More specifically, we summarise the quantitative research of online therapeutic outcomes and alliances reported in text-based therapeutic encounters. Background: Online therapy creates much debate within the therapeutic world. Many question the validity of entering into these relatively uncharted waters, while others have begun working productively in this territory. To date, a small pool of research examining the efficacy of such work has emerged and provides the focus for this paper. Method: A review of the literature has been conducted with a two-fold strategy. Initially a review of 16 quantitative outcome studies investigating this area are presented and discussed – these have been selected from Barak, Hen, Boniel-Nissim and Shapira’s (2008) comprehensive review of the effectiveness of internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions. Following this, the focus is moved to the concept of the online therapeutic alliance. A systematic review of the existing literature outlines five pertinent quantitative studies and these are discussed in relation to key qualitative work in this area. Conclusions: Conclusions are drawn highlighting that work in this medium shows great promise, with both successful outcomes and strong alliances being reported online. Such findings, although limited due to the dearth of the research available, challenge the views of those sceptical of counselling psychologists entering into virtual arenas.© The British Psychological Society – ISSN 0269-697

Changing DoD’s Analysis Paradigm

War gaming and military modeling have a well documented history covering over two centuries, a period that coincides with the inception and evolution of formal professional development for military officers. The term war game used here refers to “a warfare model or simulation that does not involve the operations of actual forces, in which the flow of events affects and is affected by decisions made during the course of those events by players representing opposing sides.