Preliminary guide to the indentification of the early life history stages of Callionymid fishes of the Western Central Atlantic

Callionymidae, along with the Draconettidae and Gobiesocidae, previously were placed in the order Gobiesociformes (Allen, 1984). Recently, Nelson (1994) placed the Callionymidae and Draconettidae in the percifonn suborder Callionymoidei. The family is represented by three species in the western central North Atlantic Ocean, Diplogrammus pauciradiatus, Paradiplogrammus bairdi and Foetorepus agassizi (Davis, 1966; Robins and Ray, 1986). A detailed review ofthe family including early life history infonnation is given by Houde (1984) and Watson (1996). (PDF contains 11 pages

Assessing the wider implementation of the SHARP principles: increasing physical activity in primary physical education

To assess the wider application of the SHARP (Stretching whilst moving, High repetition of skills, Accessibility, Reducing sitting and standing, and Promotion of physical activity) Principles intervention on children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in physical education (PE), when applied by teachers and coaches. A quasi-experimental intervention was employed in nine primary schools (experimental, n = 6: control, n = 3) including teachers (n = 10), coaches (n = 4), and children (aged 5 to 11 years, n = 84) in the West Midlands, UK. Practitioners applied the SHARP Principles to PE lessons, guided by an innovative behaviour change model. The System for Observing Fitness and Instruction Time (SOFIT) was used to measure children's MVPA in 111 lessons at pre- (n = 60) and post-intervention (n = 51). Seven interviews were conducted post-intervention to explore practitioners' perceptions. Two-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) revealed that teachers increased children's MVPA by 27.7%. No statistically significant change in children's MVPA was observed when taught by the coaches. The qualitative results for teachers were 'children's engagement', a 'pedagogical paradigm shift', and 'relatedness'; and for coaches 'organisational culture' and 'insufficient support and motivation'. The SHARP Principles intervention is the most effective teaching strategy at increasing MVPA in primary PE when taught by school based staff (rather than outsourced coaches), evidencing increases almost double that of any previously published study internationally and demonstrating the capacity to influence educational policy and practice internationally.Published versio

Spin liquid phase in a spatially anisotropic frustrated antiferromagnet

We explore the effect of the third nearest-neighbors on the magnetic properties of the Heisenberg model on an anisotropic triangular lattice. We obtain the phase diagram of the model using Schwinger-boson mean-field theory. Competition between N\'eel, spiral and collinear magnetically ordered phases is found as we vary the on the ratios of the nearest, J1, next-nearest, J2, and third-nearest, J_3, neighbor exchange couplings. A spin liquid phase is stabilized between the spiral and collinear ordered states when J2/J1 < 1.8 for rather small J3/J1 < 0.1. The lowest energy two-spinon dispersions relevant to neutron scattering experiments are analyzed and compared to semiclassical magnon dispersions finding significant differences in the spiral and collinear phases between the two approaches. The results are discussed in the context of the anisotropic triangular materials: Cs2CuCl4 and Cs2CuBr4 and layered organic materials, kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2X and Y[Pd(dmit)2]2.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Spin liquid phase due to competing classical orders in the semiclassical theory of the Heisenberg model with ring exchange on an anisotropic triangular lattice

Linear spin wave theory shows that ring exchange induces a quantum disordered region in the phase diagram of the title model. Spin wave spectra show that this is a direct manifestation of competing classical orders. A spin liquid is found in the `Goldilocks zone' of frustration, where the quantum fluctuations are large enough to cause strong competition between different classical orderings but not strong enough to stabilize spiral order. We note that the spin liquid phases of $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)${_2}X$ and $Y$[Pd(dmit)$_2$]$_2$ are found in this Goldilocks zone.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Assessing the Constraints and Opportunities for Private Sector Participation in Activities Implemented Jointly: Two Case Studies From the U.S. Initiative for Joint Implementation

This paper assesses the constraints and opportunities for private-sector participation in Activities Implemented Jointly under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. After some initial background, the discussion turns to the United States Initiative on Joint Implementation (USIJI)—its objectives, proposal review and evaluation criteria, and a classification of project proposals by project type and stage of development. Two USIJI projects are developed as case studies. One case is an energy end use project that has gained formal acceptance and financing. The other case is an energy production project proposal that has not secured acceptance or financing. In both cases, transaction costs were substantial, and project proponents regarded gaining formal host country acceptance as the principal impediment to project development. The cases illustrate how the host country JI project approval process can become entangled in broader struggles over economic reforms. The cases also suggest that JI project proponents may have divergent perspectives on the speculative value of greenhouse gas (GHG) credits. An enforceable cap on GHG emissions in the project funders’ countries, which is a prerequisite to establishing any market for the credits, is contrary to the position of energy and power suppliers who promote voluntary emissions reductions. For emissions reduction technology firms, however, establishing a value for GHG credits would help generate demand for the firms’ stock in trade. Finally, the study underscores that notwithstanding transaction costs associated with JI proposal development and acceptance, financing remains the ultimate hurdle to project implementation.

Implementing the Clean Development Mechanism: Lessons from U.S. Private-Sector Participation in Activities Implemented Jointly

The "Clean Development Mechanism" (CDM) contained in the December 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change provides, for the first time, the capacity for industrialized countries to claim credits for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions or offsets undertaken in cooperation with host developing countries. However, the Protocol provides no guidance on how these cooperative activities for GHG reduction and sustainable development would be undertaken in practice, including the particularly important issue of the relationship of the private sector vis-à-vis government institutions in designing, financing, and securing approval for jointly implemented GHG abatement projects. The pilot program for "Activities Implemented Jointly" under the Framework Convention provides an opportunity to better understand the practical constraints and opportunities for successful private sector participation in the CDM. This paper highlights some of the lessons for establishing a successful CDM by examining a small number of cases from the United States Initiative on Joint Implementation (USIJI). The authors first review the objectives, proposal review and evaluation criteria of this program, and provide some overall information on project proposals by project type and stage of development. They then develop case studies of two energy-related USIJI projects from the earlier phase of the program. These cases illustrate several potential problems that can arise in establishing CDM transactions. Further investigation of more recent cases sheds some light on the extent to which these problems change over time. To be successful, the CDM must be based on a solid institutional footing, with clear incentives for all parties involved. The cases examined here illustrate how transactions can become entangled in the same kinds of problems that bedevil other transactions in developing and transitional economies. In both early cases, "transaction costs" were substantial. The latter projects indicated that while the nature of transactions costs changed over time, they still remained somewhat substantial. Project proponents regarded gaining USIJI acceptance as one of the principal impediments to JI project development. The cases also illustrate the need for clear and widely understood goals and procedures for investor country approval. In addition, the analysis underscores how attitudes of different project proponents regarding the value of GHG credits can affect their perspective on the transaction. Finally, the study underscores that financing remains the ultimate hurdle to project implementation, and that the expectation of a clear financial return on investment is a prerequisite to a successful project.

An evaluation of Northern Florida Bay as a nursery area for red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, and other juvenile and small resident fishes.

Red drum is one ofthe most popular species sought by anglers in Florida Bay, yet juveniles are rarely encountered. We evaluated Florida Bay as a nursery area for red drum by sampling for recently-settled late larvae in basin areas within the bay with an epi-benthic sled at six stations in November 2000, and at seven stations during December 2000 through February 2001. In November 2000 we surveyed potential sampling sites in quiet backwaters adjacent to mangroves for juvenile red drum. A total of 202 sites were sampled mainly in northern Florida Bay and adjacent waters with a cast net. We collected only one recently-settled red drum larvae and no juveniles. Obviously the sites that we sampled in Florida Bay and adjacent waters are not nursery habitat for this valuable species. Sled collections were dominated by bay anchovy, Anchoa mitchilli, but densities were biased by one collection. Five small resident species were among the dominant species: rainwater killifish, Lucania parva; dusky pipefish, Syngnathus floridae; dwarf seahorse, Hippocampus zosterae; and clown goby, Microgobius gulosus. Three species that spawn outside Florida Bay in the GulfofMexico were common: pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides; pigfish, Orthopristis chrysoptera; and silver perch, Bairdiella chrysoura. Twenty-seven species were collected with the cast net. Hardhead silversides (Atherinomorus stipes), bay anchovy, tidewater mojarra (Eucinostomus harengulus), silver jenny (Eucinostomus gula), and goldspotted killifish (Floridichthys carpio) were the most common in cast net collections. Although only one red drum was collected, we were able to: (1) identify mesohaline waters from our cast net sites to test our preliminary assessment that mesohaline habitat might be limited in Florida Bay, (2) document the distribution and abundance of fishes collected by cast net that should enhance our understanding of ichthyofauna in the Northern Subdivision ofFlorida Bay and adjacent waters, and (3) from epibenthic sled collections, describe the habitats, abundance and distribution of recently settled larvae/small juveniles/small resident fishes during late fall and winter. This information should be useful to managers and future research. (PDF contains 34 pages

Publications by Members

A bibliography of member publications, which includes Academic Dress in the University of Hertfordshire, including the achievement of arms of the University of Herfordshire, by Bruce Christianson & Brian Piggott, University of London Academic Dress, by Philip Goff, and The Academical Dress of Saint David\u27s College, Lampeter (1822-1971), by Nicholas Groves

All Lost In The Supermarket

Anthropologist and retail consultant Michael Powell takes us on a stroll down Aisle #6. What's in the center of the grocery store and why is it causing a crisis in the industry