Cultural materialism and the teaching of media : The lesson of Raymond Williams

This study seeks to examine Raymond Williams\u27 concern with media education and its relevance to contemporary curriculum in Western Australia. By means of a critical study of specific texts of Williams, it was intended to explore the possibility of refining the Western Australian Media Studies syllabuses from a cultural materialist perspective. Williams\u27 writings lead to the conclusion that media education should be more specifically related to popular culture. The cultural materialist approach enables and encourages a close link between the Western Australian Media Studies syllabuses and students\u27 own cultural experiences. Cultural materialism recognises that culture and society are in a state of constant change and that this should be reflected in the continual reviewing of syllabus practices and content. The lesson of Raymond Williams is that it is time for some change: cultural materialism provides an appropriate theoretical framework to refine and restructure media education in Western Australia

Lamellicolic Anhydride and Other Polyketides of Verticillium lamellicola and Aspergillus nidulans

A number of novel, phenolic 1,8-naphthalic anhydrides have been isolated from a strain of VerticiIlium lamellicola and the major metabolite, lamellicolic anhydride, shown to be 2,4,7-trihydroxy-5-methyl-1,8-naphthalic anhydride. Amongst a number of unusual and characteristic reactions exhibited by this compound was a remarkably facile aminolysis of ether groups in its O,O,O-trimethyl derivative with the formation of amino derivatives. Routes from lamellicolic anhydride have been studied in order to provide an entry into the dimeric scries of compounds typified by duclauxin. Minor metabolites of Y. lamellicola include 2,7-dihydrexy-5-methyl-1,4-naphthaquinone - the in vitro synthesis of this compound from, lamellioolio anhydride has been accomplished - and the monomethyl ester of 3-chlorolameilicolic acid. 4-O-Carbomethoxylamellicolic anhydride-the first natural product reported which contains a methyl carbonate group - co-occurs with lamellicolic anhydride and has been prepared, from it. The biosynthesis of these compounds and the results of some preliminary feeding experiments are discussed. Two phenolic, yellow pigments - arugoxanthones A and B - have been isolated from the spores of the yellow mutant of Aspergillus nidulans and identified as the first reported prenylated fungal xanthones. Model studies have confirmed the feasibility of the unusual chroman-4-ol unit found in arugoxanthone A being derived bdogenetically via a novel intramolecular cyclisation of an O-3,3-dimethylallyl unit and a formyl group. Arugoxanthones A and B have also been isolated from mycelial extract of the yellow mutant along with the closely related compounds isoarugo-xanthone A and arugoxanthones C and D. The two latter compounds contain a substituent previously unrecorded in a natural product - namely the O-3,3-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-l-prcpyl ether group. The known mould metabolite arugosin co-occurs with these xanthones and routes to the latter compounds from it have been explored. In particular, the acid catalysed rearrangement of arugosin has been studied and the products of a novel intramolecular cyclisation reaction identified. The close relationship between arugosin and the xanthones has been demonstrated by the conversion of arugoxanthone B into anhydroarugosin and deisopentenyl-anhydroarugosin, reported as transformation products of arugosin. The methyl ester of isocanadensic acid - a metabolite of Penicillium canadense and possible biogenetic precursor of the antibiotic canadensolide - has been synthesised by a five step route

Footwear choices for painful feet – An observational study exploring footwear and foot problems in women

A high percentage of the population report footwear related foot pain, yet there is limited research on the effect footwear has on the development of this pain. The aim of this study was to establish whether footwear purchased by patients have an association with foot pain and what choices determined a purchase decision. Shape and size measurements of the dominant foot and footwear (length and width) were taken from 67 female participants who routinely received podiatric treatment. Participants were also asked to complete a short questionnaire to rate the shoe characteristics, emotions whilst wearing and reasons for the purchase. Results highlighted a high prevalence of structural foot pathology for those over 61 who preferred slip on shoes. This group also wore shoes that were significantly narrower than their feet with width difference correlating to the presence of Hallux Abductovarus (HAV). In addition, results indicate that individual footwear advice is more important than previously thought, as it is clear that choice of footwear worn to podiatry appointments are not always worn on a daily basis. This study emphasises that the width of the shoe is an important part of fit, highlighting the need for patient specific footwear assessment and education for behaviour changes

The marriage of astrology and AI: A model of alignment with human values and intentions

Astrology research has been using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the understanding of astrological properties and processes. Like the large language models of AI, astrology is also a language model with a similar underlying linguistic structure but with a distinctive layer of lifestyle contexts. Recent research in semantic proximities and planetary dominance models have helped to quantify effective astrological information. As AI learning and intelligence grows, a major concern is with maintaining its alignment with human values and intentions. Astrology has an extensive background and theory on how different values and expressions of intelligence are resolved. As AI learns to interact with improved astrological models backed by evidence, the integration could produce a stable and insightful alignment of the two disciplines

Environmental Cosmology

In answer to the question "why is there something rather than nothing?" this book is not like the cosmological theory you learned in school. It is not that there was a big bang in the beginning that resulted in every property from nothing. Rather, the question is examined as experience and phenomena. The "something" means the properties of the things and places that come to our conscious awareness of what it is like for each of us to observe something from our own microcosmic center of the universe. This necessarily entails a consideration of astrology. In contrast to how astrology is typically described as "influences," this approach uses a hierarchy/equality framework that relates mind to the cosmological order. Axiom-like principles and theories are used to introduce you, as the "astrological native," to your environmental interactions modeled into fundamental properties described in categories of urges, values, intentions, and skills

How do adults with mild learning disabilities experience bereavement and grief? A qualitative exploration.

Background: The vast majority of research into the experiences of people with learning disabilities (LD) in regard to bereavement and grief involves the collection of data from second-hand sources, or via quantitative measures. This qualitative study aimed to explore the lived experiences of bereavement and grief in a group of adults with mild LD. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 13 adults (aged 20-72 years) with mild LD who had experienced bereavement within the last 3 years. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: Qualitative analysis highlighted 4 themes which mediated individuals’ experience of bereavement and grief: (1) Intra- and inter-personal experiences, (2) Core beliefs about life and death, (3) Level of inclusion, and (4) Continuing relationship with the deceased. Participants also showed an ability to evaluate their lived experience in terms of having been helpful or otherwise. Conclusions: Overall, the findings suggest that individuals with mild LD experience bereavement and grief in a manner much like the general population, in that they experience a wide range of oscillating emotions, are subject to the same (if not more) losses, and hold similar values when it comes to maintaining their relationship with the deceased. The study endorses the role of clear and open communication, the facilitation of informed choice, and a culture of inclusion

The photodecomposition of t-butyl bicyclo [7.1.0] decane-2-percarboxylate

This paper describes the synthesis of t-butyl bicyclo[7.1.0] decane-2-percarboxylate and its photolytic decomposition. The title compound was found to undergo simple homolytic cleavage when exposed to light of 2537 A; producing the cyclodecyl radical, carbon dioxide, and t-butoxy radical. The largest percentage of products arose from an intimate radical pair in a solvent cage. One product was postulated from a solvent separated radical pair; the remaining products from non-cage reactions. The short-lived cyclodecyl radical proceeded under thermodynamic control to give a predominance of cis olefin products rather than the expected equal ratio of cis-trans, olefins that would normally be expected from a classical free radical reaction. No evidence for a cyclopropyl carbinyl nonclassical radical was observed

Association of urinary metabolites with radiographic progression of knee osteoarthritis in overweight and obese adults: an exploratory study

Metabolic factors may contribute to osteoarthritis (OA).This study employed metabolomics analyses to determine if differences in metabolite profiles could distinguish people with knee OA who exhibited radiographic progression