Longinus, On Sublimity 35.1

It is argued that the modern vulgate text of On Sublimity 35.1 (adopting Manutius' conjecture ho Lusias for the transmitted apousias) produces an unacceptable incoherence in Longinus' argument. A very tentative alternative (amousias) is proposed

The universality of poetry in Aristotle’s Poetics

This paper considers three questions arising out of Aristotle's statement that poetry is concerned with the universal. First, what does it mean? Secondly, what constraints does it impose on the construction of (in particular) tragic plots? This question is considered with special reference to the possible role of chance in tragedy. Thirdly, why is poetry concerned with the universal— that is, why is poetry such that these constraints are appropriate? In chapter 9 of the Poetics Aristotle states that poetry is concerned with the universal. In this paper I shall consider three questions arising out of this statement. First, what does it mean? Secondly, what constraints does it impose on the construction of (in particular) tragic plots? I shall consider this question with special reference to the possible role of chance in tragedy. Thirdly, why is poetry concerned with the universal—that is, why is poetry such that these constraints are appropriate

The role of proteolytic processing of the 220kDa polyprotein of African swine fever virus and aggresomes during virion assembly

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large double stranded DNA virus causing a lethal haemorrhagic disease in domestic pigs. The 170kbp genome encodes 150 open reading frames and virions contain more than 50 different proteins. ASFV uses a 220kDa polyprotein (pp220) to produce major structural proteins p150, p37, p34 and p14. This thesis investigates the subcellular distribution and regulation of pp220 processing. Antibodies specific for p150 and p34 were generated and characterised. Western blot analysis showed that approximately 35% of the intracellular pool of pp220 associated with membranes, the remainder was cytosolic. The membrane bound pool was processed via intermediates to p34 and p150. p34 and p150, but not the polyprotein, or the processing intermediates, were enveloped and released in virions. The cytosolic pool was processed incorrectly and failed to produce structural proteins. The correct processing of pp220 occurs at 4 Gly-Gly-X motifs, however the polyprotein contains 19 Gly-Gly-X motifs. It was concluded that membrane association is required for correct processing. In the absence of membrane association the polyprotein maybe cleaved at all 19 Gly-Gly-X motifs. Aggresomes are a major site of proteolysis in cells and their role in ASFV assembly was investigated. Aggresomes are pericentriolar structures enriched for chaperones, proteasomes and ubiquitin. They are enclosed in a vimentin cage surrounded by mitochondria. ASFV assembly occurs in perinuclear structures called viral factories and the possibility that these derive from aggresomes was investigated. Immunofluorescence experiments showed viral factories close to the centriole and surrounded by vimentin cages and mitochondria. Furthermore, inhibitors of aggresome proteolysis and the over expression of misfolded proteins in the cytosol blocked viral replication. It is possible that ASFV uses aspects of the aggresomes to concentrate viral proteins during assembly

Emissions and removals of greenhouse gases from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2012

This report presents a summary of the net emissions and removals of greenhouse gases for 1990-2012 by the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector of the UNFCCC National Inventory for each of the UK Administrations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

High resolution mapping of sediment organic matter from acoustic reflectance data

Spatial mapping of the marine environment is challenging when the properties concerned are difficult to measure except by shore-based analysis of discrete samples of material, usually from sparsely distributed sites. This is the case for many seabed sediment properties. We developed an indirect approach to mapping the organic content of coastal sediments from hydro-acoustic reflectance data. The basis was that both organic matter and acoustic reflectance are related to sediment type and grain size composition. Hence there is a collateral relationship between organic matter content and reflectance properties which can be exploited to enable high resolution mapping. We surveyed an area of seabed off the east coast of Scotland using a vessel mounted single beam echosounder with RoxAnn signal processing. Organic carbon, nitrogen and phytoplankton pigment contents were then measured in material from grab and core samples collected at intervals over a year. Relationships between the organic components and hydroacoustic characteristics were derived by general additive models, and used to construct high resolution maps from the acoustic survey data. Our method is an advance on traditional interpolation techniques sparse spatial data, and represents a generic approach that could be applied to other properties

Quantifying the physical composition of urban morphology throughout Wales based on the time series (1989-2011) analysis of Landsat TM/ETM+ images and supporting GIS data

Knowledge of impervious surface areas (ISA) and on their changes in magnitude, location, geometry and morphology over time is significant for a range of practical applications and research alike from local to global scales. Despite this, use of Earth Observation (EO) technology in mapping ISAs within some European Union (EU) countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK), is to some extent scarce. In the present study, a combination of methods is proposed for mapping ISA based on freely distributed EO imagery from Landsat TM/ETM+ sensors. The proposed technique combines a traditional classifier and a linear spectral mixture analysis (LSMA) with a series of Landsat TM/ETM+ images to extract ISA. Selected sites located in Wales, UK, are used for demonstrating the capability of the proposed method. The Welsh study areas provided a unique setting in detecting largely dispersed urban morphology within an urban-rural frontier context. In addition, an innovative method for detecting clouds and cloud shadow layers for the full area estimation of ISA is also presented herein. The removal and replacement of clouds and cloud shadows, with underlying materials is further explained. Aerial photography with a spatial resolution of 0.4 m, acquired over the summer period in 2005 was used for validation purposes. Validation of the derived products indicated an overall ISA detection accuracy in the order of ~97%. The latter was considered as very satisfactory and at least comparative, if not somehow better, to existing ISA products provided on a national level. The hybrid method for ISA extraction proposed here is important on a local scale in terms of moving forward into a biennial program for the Welsh Government. It offers a much less subjectively static and more objectively dynamic estimation of ISA cover in comparison to existing operational products already available, improving the current estimations of international urbanization and soil sealing. Findings of our study provide important assistance towards the development of relevant EO-based products not only inaugurate to Wales alone, but potentially allowing a cost-effective and consistent long term monitoring of ISA at different scales based on EO technology

Solid-state metathesis reactions under pressure: A rapid route to crystalline gallium nitride

High pressure chemistry has traditionally involved applying pressure and increasing temperature until conditions become thermodynamically favorable for phase transitions or reactions to occur. Here, high pressure alone is used as a starting point for carrying out rapid, self-propagating metathesis reactions. By initiating chemical reactions under pressure, crystalline phases, such as gallium nitride, can be synthesized which are inaccessible when initiated from ambient conditions. The single-phase gallium nitride made by metathesis reactions under pressure displays significant photoluminescence intensity in the blue/ultraviolet region. The absence of size or surface-state effects in the photoluminescence spectra show that the crystallites are of micron dimensions. The narrow lines of the x-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscopy confirm this conclusion. Brightly luminescent thin films can be readily grown using pulsed laser deposition

Projections of emissions and removals from the LULUCF sector to 2050

• The UK is required to report projections for the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector for carbon budgets under the UK Climate Change Act, for the European Union Monitoring Mechanism, and for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. LULUCF activities can result in net emissions or removals of greenhouse gases, and changes in carbon stocks in the pools associated with LULUCF. This report provides projections at the UK and Devolved Administration (DA) level, with separate estimates for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which are summed to give the UK totals. • LULUCF is divided into six land use types: 5A Forest Land, 5B Cropland, 5C Grassland, 5D Wetlands, 5E Settlements, 5F Other Land. The code refers to the IPCC inventory category of LULUCF. There is a separate inventory sector dedicated to other emissions, mainly methane and nitrous oxide, from agricultural activities. Carbon stock changes from Harvested Wood Products are reported in an additional category, 5G Other. • Projections are made for net emissions and removals of greenhouse gases to 2050, arising from LULUCF activities reported in the latest (1990‐2012) greenhouse gas inventory, for the DAs and the UK, which excludes Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. • The LULUCF inventory now uses the CARBINE model for estimating forest carbon stocks, and models all UK forest instead of just the post‐1920 forest. As a consequence of the change in model, and corresponding changes in activity data, the projected sink for forestry is estimated to be much larger than in previous inventories. This has resulted in an increase in the total net sink for UK LULUCF being reported for all scenarios within the projections. • Four scenarios (Business‐As‐Usual (BAU), High emissions, Mid emissions and Low emissions) were constructed initially. The non‐BAU scenarios were later modified to include cropland-grassland rotations (churn ), to take into account land use changes in land that has not reached equilibrium from previous changes in land use. The scenarios were developed by a policy maker stakeholder group from trajectories in the 2050 DECC calculator report and take account of land use policies and aspirations (DECC, 2010). The BAU scenario assumes no new policy intervention. The main results are: 1. At a UK level, the LULUCF sector has been a net sink since 1998 and is predicted to remain so under all scenarios until at least 2050, although at a declining level from around 2030‐2037 onwards (depending on the scenario) mainly due to the number of trees being thinned or reaching maturity and harvested. 2. At a DA level, England will remain a net sink under all scenarios with the exception of the high emissions scenario with churn, which gives a net source from 2013 to 2016 and from 2045 onwards. 3. Scotland is a net sink under all scenarios 4. Wales is a small net sink under the Low scenarios, becomes a net source from 2043 onwards under the Mid scenario, and an increasing source from 2016 onwards under the High emissions scenario 5. Northern Ireland is either a small net sink or small net source depending on whether the churn factor is used. The LULUCF sector in the UK and in each of the DAs is dominated by CO2 emissions and removals, although N2O emissions also make a significant contribution. 6. The Forest Land, Cropland and Grassland land use categories determine the trend in the UK and each DA. The contribution from cropland and grassland to the overall trend is from changes in land use rather than from land management activities as only a few cropland and grassland management activities are currently included in the inventory. 7. The churn scenarios increase overall estimated net emissions for all scenarios for the UK and each DA, as net emissions from land use change to Cropland are maintained, rather than declining over time, as in the original scenarios

Estimating the potential yield of small building-mounted wind turbines

The wind profile in the urban boundary layer is described as following a logarithmic curve above the mean building height and an exponential curve below it. By considering the urban landscape to be an array of cubes, a method is described for calculating the surface roughness length and displacement height of this profile. Firstly, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model employing a k-ϵ turbulence model is used to simulate the flow around a cube. The results of this simulation are compared with wind tunnel measurements in order to validate the code. Then, the CFD model is used to simulate the wind flow around a simple pitched-roof building, using a semi-logarithmic inflow profile. An array of similar pitched-roof houses is modelled using CFD to determine the flow characteristics within an urban area. Mean wind speeds at potential turbine mounting points are studied, and optimum mounting points are identified for different prevailing wind directions. A methodology is proposed for estimating the energy yield of a building-mounted turbine from simple information such as wind atlas wind speed and building density. The energy yield of a small turbine on a hypothetical house in west London is estimated. The energy yield is shown to be very low, particularly if the turbine is mounted below rooftop height. It should be stressed that the complexity of modelling such urban environments using such a computational model has limitations and results can only be considered approximate, but nonetheless, gives an indication of expected yields within the built environment

Projections of emissions and removals from the LULUCF sector to 2050

Summary for policy makers: • The UK reports projections for the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector to inform policy concerning domestic and international climate change commitments. The full projections data are available on the NAEI website (http://naei.defra.gov.uk/reports/reports?report_id=927) • LULUCF activities can result in net annual emissions or removals of greenhouse gases, and changes in carbon stocks in the pools associated with LULUCF. This report provides projections at the UK and Devolved Administration (DA) level, with separate estimates for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which are summed to give the UK totals. The results presented here are based on the reporting conventions of the UNFCCC. They are not presented as potential future accounted emissions and removals under the Kyoto Protocol which are calculated formally at the end of each commitment period. • LULUCF is divided into six land use types: Forest Land (4A), Cropland (4B), Grassland (4C), Wetlands (4D), Settlements (4E), Other Land (4F). Carbon stock changes from Harvested Wood Products are reported in an additional category, Harvested Wood Products (4G). The code refers to the IPCC (2006 Guidelines) inventory category of LULUCF. There is a separate inventory sector – not presented here – dedicated to other emissions, mainly methane and nitrous oxide, from agricultural activities. • Projections are made for net emissions and removals of greenhouse gases to 2050, arising from LULUCF activities reported in the latest (1990-2014) greenhouse gas inventory, for the DAs and the UK excluding Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. • Five scenarios (Baseline 1, Baseline 2, Central, Low and Stretch) have been described. The scenarios were developed by BEIS, Defra and the Forestry Commission and have been updated in 2016 following discussions with all of the UK administrations. The scenarios take account of current land use policies and aspirations. The Baseline scenarios are based on climate change-related and forestry policies extant in July 2009. • The main results are: At a UK level, the LULUCF sector has been a net sink since 1990 and is predicted to remain so under all scenarios until at least 2050, although at a declining level from the mid-2020s onwards (depending on the scenario). At a DA level, England and Scotland remain net sinks under all scenarios Wales is a small net sink under the Stretch scenario, but will become an increasing net source under the other scenarios between 2034 and 2049. Northern Ireland is a small net source (except in 1998 and 1999) under the Baseline and Central scenarios, but will become a small net sink from the late 2030s onwards under the Stretch and Low scenarios. The LULUCF sector in the UK and in each of the DAs is dominated by CO2 emissions and removals, although N2O emissions also make a significant contribution. The Forest Land, Cropland and Grassland categories determine the trend in the UK and DAs. The main changes in the projections since the 1990-2013 projections are: Forestry - a methodological revision of the forest carbon accounting model CARBINE to assign carbon stock changes to the correct reporting year, and the inclusion of the National Forest Inventory data (including, for the first time, small woods between 0.1 and 0.5 hectares in size) increasing tree cover and forest carbon stocks (this differs from the submitted 1990-2014 inventory). Grassland - the revision of the emission factor used for grassland on drained organic soils has reduced the size of the grassland sink