William James’s Pragmatism

In his popular lecture “On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings” (1899), William James considers the lack of awareness that we often have toward the insights of other people. “There is no point of view absolutely public and universal,” he says, and “even prisons and sick-rooms have their special revelations.” While every observer “gains a partial superiority of insight from the peculiar position in which he stands,” the stubborn fact, according to James, is that “neither the whole of truth nor..

Suomalaisia, eurooppalaisia, maailmankansalaisia? : Identiteetin rakentuminen nykypäivän ulkosuomalaisten parissa ylirajaisessa maailmassa

This thesis investigates the transnational identities among current-day expatriate Finns around the world. It asks, what is the nature of transnational identity among these individuals who have emigrated from Finland? What is the level of their connectedness to their own Finnishness, on one hand, and to supranational identities such as Europeanness and internationality, on the other? The motivation to investigate the topic rises from the notion that the issues related to Finnish people in various expatriate communities, as well as their potential return migration, appears to have growing interest in Finland. The aim is also to contribute to the existing research literature by adding more contemporary theoretical approaches of migration studies to the investigations of expatriate Finns. The data (n=3195) was collected through a survey carried out in research project titled "The Changing Nature of Being an Expatriate Finn: Survey on Emigration and Expatriate Finns" (The Migration Institute of Finland, 2020-2021). Cluster analysis as an example of the so-called person-centered analyses was chosen as a method. The benefits of cluster analysis go hand in hand with the awareness that the focus group, expatriate Finns, is not a homogenous group but that the motivations of these people to move abroad as well as their lifestyles and circumstances vary greatly. Cluster analyses revealed three clearly different groups of people with respect to their Finnishness, Europeanness and internationality. In the first cluster, the three different identity markers were not seen as exclusionary, and a strong attachment to both the country of origin and the host country was not viewed to be incompatible. These individuals possessed the freedom to maintain and reject different sides of their identities depending on the context. The perspective of privilege was also considered, as their mobility was possible due to their relatively high quality of life and the social and human capital obtained over the years. Individuals in the second cluster gave high regard to Finnish identity which had often activated outside of Finland. Negative feelings, such as home sickness and disappointment in the life abroad, were also reported. These individuals also defined Finnishness in rather stereotypical ways and reduced the concept to a few well-known traits. This way, it was easy for them to emphasize their own belongingness to this homogenous category of Finns. Lastly, the individuals in the third cluster rejected the affiliation to the national identity of Finnishness altogether, their perceptions about Finland and other Finns varying from casual indifference to an apparent hostility. Instead, Europeanness and internationality were embraced as identities more inclusive and less particular

State of the water sector report 2015

The Australian Water Association and Deloitte are pleased to present the State of the Water Sector Report 2015. The Report is the only one of its kind, reporting on the trends and insights of water sector professionals about their own industry. The survey results reveal attitudes and behaviours relating to a range of topics affecting the industry. This year marks the fifth year that the survey has been run and, as such, a summary of trends across the five years has been included in this year’s report. Trends observed over the last five years operational efficiency first emerged as an issue affecting the water sector in 2013, due to growing concerns about the need to control costs and demonstrate value for money, both within the sector itself and for customers. This rose to become the primary issue and area of concern in 2014 as operational costs continued to rise and new capital investment costs were being passed on to customers. In 2015 operational efficiency remains the second biggest issue for the industry, with efficiencies still to be gained through asset management, process improvement and works management and systems improvement. Skills shortages, and talent attraction and retention were of significant concern when the survey commenced five years ago, with the issue of ageing workforces in particular seen by many as a looming threat for the industry. However, in more recent years these concerns have almost halved due to a reduction in demand for additional staff and the greater availability of skilled labour, given construction activity in the mining industry has eased. Unconventional gas came onto the industry’s radar in 2012. last year, 70% of respondents stated that they believed unconventional gas had a significant to moderate effect on the overall management of ground- or surface water. In 2015, 55% of respondents stated that produced water from unconventional gas activities can be treated to a suitable quality for irrigation and other purposes, nevertheless highlighting some concerns in relation to the oil and gas sector impact. Although climate change was identified by 86% of respondents last year as posing a significant or moderate risk to sustainable management of water, sustainability is rated as less important than in previous years, with it being ranked as one of the top issues for the sector in 2011. This may be due to broader changes in community sentiment regarding environmental issues, and more benign weather conditions. While the sector believed security of supply was being managed well, climate change, as well as population growth, is viewed as one of the greatest challenges over the next five years. from a price and regulatory perspective, satisfaction with the role of economic regulators continues to increase slowly, and an increasing proportion of respondents support regulators making deterministic decisions on prices, rather than just monitoring prices. However, a price monitoring role is still favoured by more than three times as many respondents as deterministic pricing. 2015 Key issues The price of water and water regulation Water sector professionals’ perceptions of customer beliefs Sources of water Digital technology Asset management and operational efficiency -- State based reports are also available at AWA\u27s websit

A vortex-based model of velocity and shear stress in a partially vegetated shallow channel

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2008. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Water Resources Research 44 (2008): W01412, doi:10.1029/2006WR005651.This paper presents a method for predicting the distributions of velocity and shear stress in shallow channels with a boundary of emergent vegetation. Experiments in a laboratory channel with model vegetation show that the velocity profile exhibits a distinct two-layer structure, consisting of a rapidly varying shear layer across the vegetation interface and a more gradual boundary layer in the main channel. In addition, coherent vortices are observed which span both layers, and are the dominant contributors to lateral momentum fluxes. From these observations, we propose a model for the vortex-induced exchange and find expressions for the width of momentum penetration into the vegetation, the velocity and shear stress at the vegetation edge, and the width of the boundary layer in the main channel. These variables, along with a momentum balance in the main channel, comprise a modeling framework which accurately reproduces the observed velocity and shear stress distributions. The predictions for the velocity and shear stress can provide a basis for modeling flood conveyance, overbank sediment transport, and scalar residence time in the vegetated layer.This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant 0125056

Gap analysis and economic assessment for protected cropping vegetables in tropical Australia

The project VG16024 aims to increase awareness and information about protected cropping opportunities and technology options for the vegetable industry in the tropics through the identification of gaps in information and potential economic viabilities. Protected cropping of vegetables in Australia (estimated at 1,341 ha) is by large located in temperate climate regions and in proximity to urban areas. In warm climate regions, near and north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the segment of the industry dedicated to producing vegetables using protected cropping technologies is scattered and relatively small (estimated at <80 ha). Vegetable growers in these regions would benefit from technologies that can mitigate risks linked to climate variability and that can help them address current and future market challenges and opportunities. Evidence from overseas, including in tropical regions, and demonstration plots and farmer experiences in the Australian tropics indicate that protective cropping technologies can cost-effectively mitigate the effects of extremes in air temperatures, rainfall, low and high relative humidity, wind, solar radiation, and pests and diseases, all which currently negatively affect yield, quality and consistency of supply. In this report, four regions, two within the tropics (Burdekin dry tropics and Atherton Tablelands) and two located a short distance south of the Tropic of Capricorn (Bundaberg and Carnarvon), are selected as examples of regions where the protected cropping industry is either small or emerging, and has the potential to expand. Vegetable production in these regions is predominantly undertaken outdoors. The establishment of protected cropping enterprises would contribute to an increase in regional production that could service both domestic and export markets. This would be facilitated by the regions’ proximity to road infrastructure, ports and airports but access to some of these market opportunities still need to be developed. In the tropics the availability of medium level, cost-effective protected cropping structures that are effective in removing heat from crops is paramount. In this report, four greenhouse structure designs (high tunnels, passively ventilated greenhouses, retractable roof structures, and net houses) are discussed, and advantages and drawbacks compared. Capsicum, cucumbers, melons, and eggplants are given as examples of vegetable crops suited to warm climates and which can benefit from a protected environment and specific agronomy practices. Possible marketable yields are provided for these crops as well as estimates of production value for a range of size of areas that could potentially establish protected cropping systems. A preliminary economic analysis was carried out for hypothetical production of capsicum crops in different protected cropping scenarios in the tropics. Under the protective structures, management practices, market prices and capsicum yields used in the analysis, preliminary results suggest that protected cropping could be a viable business opportunity for growers in the tropics. Future research investigating the heterogeneity of protected cropping enterprises would serve to further confirm these findings, especially in light of the practical implications of the technology used in a larger number of commercial sites

Shear instability and coherent structures in shallow flow adjacent to a porous layer

Author Posting. © Cambridge University Press, 2007. This article is posted here by permission of Cambridge University Press for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics 593 (2007): 1-32, doi:10.1017/S0022112007008415.Results are presented from an experimental study of shallow flow in a channel partially obstructed by an array of circular cylinders. The cylinder array is a model for emergent vegetation in an open channel, but also represents a simple sparse porous medium. A shear layer with regular vortex structures forms at the edge of the array, evolving downstream to an equilibrium width and vortex size. The vortices induce nearly periodic oscillations with a frequency that matches the most unstable linear mode for a parallel shear flow. The shear layer is asymmetric about the array interface and has a two-layer structure. An inner region of maximum shear near the interface contains a velocity inflection point and establishes the penetration of momentum into the array. An outer region, resembling a boundary layer, forms in the main channel, and establishes the scale of the vortices. The vortex structure, educed by conditional sampling, shows strong crossflows with sweeps from the main channel and ejections from the array, which create significant momentum and mass fluxes across the interface. The sweeps maintain the coherent structures by enhancing shear and energy production at the interface. A linear stability analysis is consistent with the experimental results and demonstrates that the instability is excited by the differential drag between the channel and the array.This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant 0125056

Gap analysis and economic assessment for protected cropping vegetables in tropical Australia

The project VG16024 aims to increase awareness and information about protected cropping opportunities and technology options for the vegetable industry in the tropics through the identification of gaps in information and potential economic viabilities. Protected cropping of vegetables in Australia (estimated at 1,341 ha) is by large located in temperate climate regions and in proximity to urban areas. In warm climate regions, near and north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the segment of the industry dedicated to producing vegetables using protected cropping technologies is scattered and relatively small (estimated at <80 ha). Vegetable growers in these regions would benefit from technologies that can mitigate risks linked to climate variability and that can help them address current and future market challenges and opportunities. Evidence from overseas, including in tropical regions, and demonstration plots and farmer experiences in the Australian tropics indicate that protective cropping technologies can cost-effectively mitigate the effects of extremes in air temperatures, rainfall, low and high relative humidity, wind, solar radiation, and pests and diseases, all which currently negatively affect yield, quality and consistency of supply. In this report, four regions, two within the tropics (Burdekin dry tropics and Atherton Tablelands) and two located a short distance south of the Tropic of Capricorn (Bundaberg and Carnarvon), are selected as examples of regions where the protected cropping industry is either small or emerging, and has the potential to expand. Vegetable production in these regions is predominantly undertaken outdoors. The establishment of protected cropping enterprises would contribute to an increase in regional production that could service both domestic and export markets. This would be facilitated by the regions’ proximity to road infrastructure, ports and airports but access to some of these market opportunities still need to be developed. In the tropics the availability of medium level, cost-effective protected cropping structures that are effective in removing heat from crops is paramount. In this report, four greenhouse structure designs (high tunnels, passively ventilated greenhouses, retractable roof structures, and net houses) are discussed, and advantages and drawbacks compared. Capsicum, cucumbers, melons, and eggplants are given as examples of vegetable crops suited to warm climates and which can benefit from a protected environment and specific agronomy practices. Possible marketable yields are provided for these crops as well as estimates of production value for a range of size of areas that could potentially establish protected cropping systems. A preliminary economic analysis was carried out for hypothetical production of capsicum crops in different protected cropping scenarios in the tropics. Under the protective structures, management practices, market prices and capsicum yields used in the analysis, preliminary results suggest that protected cropping could be a viable business opportunity for growers in the tropics. Future research investigating the heterogeneity of protected cropping enterprises would serve to further confirm these findings, especially in light of the practical implications of the technology used in a larger number of commercial sites

“Assessment of Student Readiness for Clinical Education in Mixed-mode Curriculum Delivery: A Case Study”

Purpose – The purpose of this case study is to describe a simulation-based assessment designed to assure student readiness for a first full-time clinical experience in an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program that transitioned to mixed-mode instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach – A cohort of 40 second-year physical therapy students whose content delivery mode, assessment methods and curricular sequence deviated from the curricular plan participated in a new assessment using standardized patients. The assessment was developed to preferentially address the knowledge, skills, abilities and professional behaviors (KSAs) that were typically assessed with other methods before the pandemic. Findings – The assessment was useful in identifying students who required additional learning experiences to meet expected levels of competence before transition to a first full-time clinical experience. It also identified KSAs that needed to be strengthened within the entire cohort of students. Research limitations/implications – This case study provides an example of feasible implementation of an assessment of student readiness for clinical education that may guide future development of standardized assessments in health profession education (HPE) programs that have or plan to transition to mixed-mode content delivery. Originality/value – This case study highlights the need and process for developing and implementing additional assessments in HPE programs when planned changes or unexpected variations in curriculum delivery occur. This evidence-based assessment preferentially addresses the affective domain of learning and includes competency standards that have recently been developed for physical therapy education in the USA

Strategies for Study of Neuroprotection from Cold-preconditioning

Neurological injury is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality from general anesthesia and related surgical procedures that could be alleviated by development of effective, easy to administer and safe preconditioning treatments. We seek to define the neural immune signaling responsible for cold-preconditioning as means to identify novel targets for therapeutics development to protect brain before injury onset. Low-level pro-inflammatory mediator signaling changes over time are essential for cold-preconditioning neuroprotection. This signaling is consistent with the basic tenets of physiological conditioning hormesis, which require that irritative stimuli reach a threshold magnitude with sufficient time for adaptation to the stimuli for protection to become evident