The Disappearance of Arthur Nestor: Parafiction, Cryptozoology, Curation

This paper considers Beneath the Surface: The Archives of Arthur Nestor, a parafictional exhibition that I curated in 2014 with 16 undergraduate students at Western University, Canada. The exhibition depicted the life of Dr. Arthur Nestor, a professor of Biology who had disappeared from London (ON) in 1975, seemingly without trace. Over the summer of 2014, some of Nestor’s files and artefacts had been discovered during university renovations, and this archive was given to students in Museum Studies to organize and catalogue. As we sorted through the files, it became clear that Dr. Nestor was something of a controversial figure, a man who became an environmental activist in Southwestern Ontario because of his belief that cryptids (lake monsters) lived in Lakes Huron and Erie, and were in need of protection from human-made pollution. As the documents in his file overlapped with our research in the wider sphere, the evidence seemed to suggest that Nestor had left London to join Dr. Roy Mackal, a University of Chicago professor of cryptozoology searching for the Loch Ness Monster. This paper weaves together the tale of Arthur Nestor and the curating of Beneath the Surface with a history of the relationship between natural history museums and cryptozoology, ultimately questioning what parafiction can do in both art galleries and museums

Embedding assessment literacy can enhance graduate attribute development in a Biomedical Sciences curriculum

This paper describes the successful implementation of an assessment literacy strategy within a Biomedical Sciences degree.Teaching was aligned with an assessment literacy framework and aimed to prepare undergraduates for a literature comprehension assessment. Students were introduced to the assessment purpose and an adapted Miller's pyramid model illustrated how the assessment contributed to competency development during their degree. Students read primary research papers and answered questions relating to the publications. They were then introduced to the processes of assessment and collaboratively graded answers of different standards. Finally, student and faculty grades were compared, differences considered, and key characteristics of answers discussed. Most students reported that they understood more about assessment standards than prior to the intervention (139/159 (87.4%)) and felt it had helped prepare them for their exam (138/159 (86.8%)). The majority also reported they had increased confidence in evaluating data (118/ 159 (74%)), communicating their reasoning (113/159 (71%)) and considering what a reader needs to know (127/159 (79.9%)). Students were asked to state the most important thing they had learned from the assessment literacy teaching. Notably, no responses referred to domain-specific knowledge. 129 free text responses were mapped to the University of Edinburgh graduate attribute framework. 93 (72%) statements mapped to the graduate attribute category "Research and Enquiry", 66 (51.16%) mapped to "Communication" and 21 (16.27%) mapped to "Personal and Intellectual Autonomy". To explore any longer-term impact of the assessment literacy teaching, a focus group was held with students from the same cohort, 2 years after the original intervention. Themes from this part of the study included that teaching had provided insights into standards and expectations for the assessment and the benefits of domain specific knowledge. A variety of aspects related to graduate attributes were also identified. Here, assessment literacy as a vehicle for graduate attribute development was an unexpected outcome. We propose that by explicitly engaging students with purpose, process, standards, and expectations, assessment literacy strategies may be used to successfully raise awareness of developmental progression, and enhance skills, aptitudes, and dispositions beneficial to Biomedical Sciences academic achievement and life after university

Loss of heather moorland in the Scottish uplands: the role of red grouse management

Scottish upland moorland dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris is the primary habitat for red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus, and has been declining since the 1940s. At the same time red grouse numbers have also fallen. We compared land cover change on sites managed for grouse shooting (1945-1990), and on sites which were managed for grouse in the 1940s but on which management had stopped by the 1980s. Land cover type for sites (N = 229) containing >10% heather cover in the 1940s were examined during the 1940s, 1970s, and 1980s. Grouse management existed on 49% of sites in the 1940s, a number which had fallen to 20% by the 1980s. In the 1940s there were no significant differences in land cover type between areas that were managed for grouse, and areas that were not. However, differences emerged during the 1970s and 1980s; areas where grouse management had ceased by the 1980s showed an expansion in woodland cover from 6% in the 1940s to 30% in the 1980s, and a reduction in heather cover from 53% to 29%. In areas where active grouse management had been maintained, woodland increased from 3% to 10% and heather decreased from 51% to 41% during the same period. These changes may be, in part, a consequence of government agricultural and forestry policy. When profitable, grouse management reduces the attractiveness of such subsidies and thereby results in a slower loss of heathe

Effects of reducing stereotypy on other behaviors: a systematic review

Researchers have shown that high levels of stereotypy in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders were correlated with more significant impairments in social and adaptive functioning. Reducing stereotypy may thus potentially occasion an increase in appropriate social and adaptive behaviors. Hence, the purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effects of reducing stereotypy on engagement in other behaviors. Following a thorough literature search, we identified 60 studies that both reduced engagement in stereotypy and measured engagement in at least one other behavior. We divided the studies into six broad categories: noncontingent reinforcement, differential reinforcement, punishment-based interventions, multiple contingencies, physical exercise, and other antecedent-based interventions. The results of our analyses suggest that reducing stereotypy produces reallocation toward other behaviors, albeit not necessarily appropriate. As such, clinicians and researchers targeting stereotypy should plan to strengthen an appropriate alternative behavior while targeting all response forms of stereotypy for reduction. Moreover, our review suggests that measuring untargeted behaviors when implementing interventions designed to reduce stereotypy may be essential in clinical and research settings

Drivers of public attitudes towards small wind turbines in the UK

This research was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council Studentship (grant reference NE/J500434/1).Small Wind Turbines (SWTs) are a growing micro-generation industry with over 870,000 installed units worldwide. No research has focussed on public attitudes towards SWTs, despite evidence the perception of such attitudes are key to planning outcomes and can be a barrier to installations. Here we present the results of a UK wide mail survey investigating public attitudes towards SWTs. Just over half of our respondents, who were predominantly older, white males, felt that SWTs were acceptable across a range of settings, with those on road signs being most accepted and least accepted in hedgerows and gardens. Concern about climate change positively influenced how respondents felt about SWTs. Respondent comments highlight visual impacts and perceptions of the efficiency of this technology are particularly important to this sector of the UK public. Taking this into careful consideration, alongside avoiding locating SWTs in contentious settings such as hedgerows and gardens where possible, may help to minimise public opposition to proposed installations.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Human paraoxonase gene cluster polymorphisms as predictors of coronary heart disease risk in the prospective Northwick Park Heart Study II

AbstractThe anti-atherogenic effect of HDL has been suggested to be partly due to the action of HDL-associated paraoxonase (PON). Three distinct enzymes have been identified, encoded by PON1, PON2 and PON3, clustered on chromosome 7q21–q22. Two cSNPs in PON1 (L55M and Q192R) and one in PON2 (S311C) have been implicated as independent risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in some, but not all, studies. A PON3 SNP (A99A) was identified and the effect of these four PON SNPs on HDL levels and CHD risk was examined in the prospective Northwick Park Heart Study II (NPHSII). Genotype frequencies did not differ between cases and controls but the CHD risk associated with smoking was significantly modified by PON1 L55M genotype. Compared to LL non-smokers, LL smokers had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.30 (95% CI 0.81–2.06) while M-allele carriers had a HR of 1.76 (1.17–2.67). When genotypes were analysed in combination, men with the genotype PON1 55 LM/MM+PON2 311 CC, had HR of 3.54 (1.81–6.93) compared to PON1 LL+PON2 SS/SC men (interaction P=0.004). These effects were independent of classical risk factors. These data demonstrate the importance of stratifying by environmental factors and the use of multiple SNPs for genetic analysis

A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of 6-Step vs 3-Step Hand Hygiene Technique in Acute Hospital Care in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the microbiologic effectiveness of the World Health Organization's 6-step and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 3-step hand hygiene techniques using alcohol-based handrub. DESIGN A parallel group randomized controlled trial. SETTING An acute care inner-city teaching hospital (Glasgow). PARTICIPANTS Doctors (n=42) and nurses (n=78) undertaking direct patient care. INTERVENTION Random 1:1 allocation of the 6-step (n=60) or the 3-step (n=60) technique. RESULTS The 6-step technique was microbiologically more effective at reducing the median log10 bacterial count. The 6-step technique reduced the count from 3.28 CFU/mL (95% CI, 3.11-3.38 CFU/mL) to 2.58 CFU/mL (2.08-2.93 CFU/mL), whereas the 3-step reduced it from 3.08 CFU/mL (2.977-3.27 CFU/mL) to 2.88 CFU/mL (-2.58 to 3.15 CFU/mL) (P=.02). However, the 6-step technique did not increase the total hand coverage area (98.8% vs 99.0%, P=.15) and required 15% (95% CI, 6%-24%) more time (42.50 seconds vs 35.0 seconds, P=.002). Total hand coverage was not related to the reduction in bacterial count. CONCLUSIONS Two techniques for hand hygiene using alcohol-based handrub are promoted in international guidance, the 6-step by the World Health Organization and 3-step by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study provides the first evidence in a randomized controlled trial that the 6-step technique is superior, thus these international guidance documents should consider this evidence, as should healthcare organizations using the 3-step technique in practice. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:661-666

Future textile visions: smart textiles for health and wellness.

A report prepared for the Scottish Government on behalf of the Scottish Academy of Fashion, which examines the potential of new textiles solutions for health applications. Following a Sandpit event hosted by the Scottish Academy of Fashion on 13th and 14th January 2011, a number of projects emerged one of which was Molecular Imprinted Textiles (MIT). The interest of this group was to apply nano-technology to extend the value of textiles by making it possible to add or extract information over the lifetime of garments. A workshop was held on 19th October 2011 by the MIT Group at Edinburgh College of Art to explore concepts based on related technologies. An emerging conversation was focused on the potential of technologies that could be incorporated into textiles specifically for medical applications. The Future Textiles Project (FTV) developed as a result of the earlier dialogue, with the aim of exploring the potential for developing new textiles products designed to address specific medical conditions. The report details some of the most prominent areas of medical need and some of the technologies that may be applied. It does not suggest specific concepts, but rather examines the methodologies that could be profitably adopted for developing new concepts in this field based on a cross-disciplinary user-focused approach. The premise for this project is based on the identification of human needs that provide the focus for subsequent technology development. The report focuses on the potential of Scottish businesses, making use of current research across a number of fields in order to develop new products, which have life-changing implications. Smart (or technologically enhanced) textiles have the potential to control temperature, incorporate antimicrobial properties, provide insulation, breathability, compression, re-shaping, moisture absorption, articulation enabling mobility, constrain movement and improve circulation. They can be used as a diagnostic tool to deliver drugs and respond to changing body states. This project considers new methodologies for rapid product development looking for synergies between business and academic research