Cosmic Evolution and the Theology of Social Solidarity

This essay is concerned with the intersection between theology, social theory, and evolution. In an effort to sketch an ecologically sound theology of social solidarity and a global ethics, the author examines constructive theologies that take cosmic evolution as a central organizing principle. While the inherent utopianism of Washington Gladden \'s social gospel cannot be revived, his theology provides useful insights into the creative use of scientific and religious discourse for a contemporary democratic theology in search of the common good

Neoclassical flows in deuterium-helium plasma density pedestals

In tokamak transport barriers, the radial scale of profile variations can be comparable to a typical ion orbit width, which makes the coupling of the distribution function across flux surfaces important in the collisional dynamics. We use the radially global steady-state neoclassical {\delta}f code Perfect to calculate poloidal and toroidal flows, and radial fluxes, in the pedestal. In particular, we have studied the changes in these quantities as the plasma composition is changed from a deuterium bulk species with a helium impurity to a helium bulk with a deuterium impurity, under specific profile similarity assumptions. The poloidally resolved radial fluxes are not divergence-free in isolation in the presence of sharp radial profile variations, which leads to the appearance of poloidal return-flows. These flows exhibit a complex radial-poloidal structure that extends several orbit widths into the core and is sensitive to abrupt radial changes in the ion temperature gradient. We find that a sizable neoclassical toroidal angular momentum transport can arise in the radially global theory, in contrast to the local.Comment: 14 pages, 19 figure

Light Verse for the Logologist

A wit told a tale Where a whale comes ashore, Being somehow confused by the tide and the fog, Was bagged by a fisherman, Secured aft and fore, And left in the guard of his tail-wagging dog

Impacts of agricultural trade and market liberalization of food security in developing countries: comparative study of Kenya and Zambia

The introduction of agricultural reforms has debatable effects on food security in developing countries. This research investigates how such effects influenced maize supply in two developing countries which were among the first to introduce agricultural reforms. Conclusions from the research suggest that agricultural reforms led to mixed results. This may be attributed to the sometimes stop-go nature of reform implementation. The mixed results are reflected in the weak maize output response to price changes. Overall country economic conditions, state of agricultural development can be attributed to the pace of response, hence effect on agricultural supply. Elasticity of maize output to changes in price and acreage are strongly significant in maize output for the case of Kenya. Both restricted models of maize production suggest that prior to the introduction of reforms acreage, prices and alternative crops were more elastic when simulated with Zambian data than with Kenyan data.food security, agricultural reforms, elasticity of supply, International Relations/Trade,

Collaboration within the UK Farm Industry

This paper addresses the effectiveness of the traditional models of cooperation, and analyses best practices in other commercial sectors in order to identify transferable elements. The Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food (2002) identified a need for farmers to cooperate and collaborate more effectively in their business activities in order to be more competitive. The Plunkett Foundation (1992) suggests that in order to play an important role in the maintenance of the rural economy the Farmer Controlled Business should adopt more imaginative approaches. Using an inductive grounded theory approach and guided interview techniques, experts in the field of business collaboration were selected using a purposive sample approach and interviewed using an iterative Delphi model. Interviewees were leading academics, government officials and managers of the most profitable and/or innovative EU based cooperatives. Having been asked to identify and evaluate the operational characteristics of traditional models of cooperation, respondents were encouraged to identify the ideal characteristics of any replacement business frameworks. A culture of "arm focus"and a lack of "global" understanding were identified as very important factors affecting cooperation. In addition to this, the intrinsic limitations of the traditional model of cooperation were recognized as an important limitation, as well as the personal characteristics and skills of the members were identified as relevant barriers. The paper concludes that addressing the problems of culture and attitude is a long-term process. Therefore the solution could come from models, where the members do not necessarily have the required vision or culture, but they are part of a bigger organization that has the needed consumer and food chain focus. The key factor is to gain recognition of the need to fundamentally address organizational structure.cooperatives, collaboration, supply food chain, organizational structure, farming, Agribusiness, Industrial Organization,

Pseudo-potential treatment of two aligned dipoles under external harmonic confinement

Dipolar Bose and Fermi gases, which are currently being studied extensively experimentally and theoretically, interact through anisotropic, long-range potentials. Here, we replace the long-range potential by a zero-range pseudo-potential that simplifies the theoretical treatment of two dipolar particles in a harmonic trap. Our zero-range pseudo-potential description reproduces the energy spectrum of two dipoles interacting through a shape-dependent potential under external confinement very well, provided that sufficiently many partial waves are included, and readily leads to a classification scheme of the energy spectrum in terms of approximate angular momentum quantum numbers. The results may be directly relevant to the physics of dipolar gases loaded into optical lattices.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Job dissatisfaction and early retirement: a qualitative study of general practitioners in the Northern Deanery

Early retirement has become an important labour market trend for workers in professional occupations. General practitioners (GPs), however, are in short supply, and are being encouraged by the government to stay at work beyond the age of 60. In this study, which followed up a questionnaire survey of all general practitioners over 44 working in the Northern Deanery, 21 GPs took part in semi-structured interviews looking at their plans, reasons for, and feelings about, retirement. Interviews were taped, transcribed, and the text coded using themes from the interview schedule and those derived from the data. Findings are reported using a qualitative distinction between ‘happy’ and ‘unhappy’ doctors and on this basis just over two-fifths of those interviewed were ‘unhappy’, all of whom wanted to take early retirement. The major factor influencing these plans to retire was dissatisfaction with their role and none of this group would be persuaded to change their minds by various incentives such as ‘golden handcuffs’. ‘Happy’ doctors who wanted to stay in practice had found ways of accommodating themselves to change and factors outside of work provided no incentive or ‘pull’. This was not the case for ‘happy’ doctors who wanted to leave: they wanted to pursue hobbies and other interests whilst they were young enough to do so. The paper concludes that change is a major factor producing job dissatisfaction among GPs and that future generations of doctors need to be equipped with the means to cope with it, while governments need to consider the merits of stability and continuity

The effect of prolonged cycling at the conconi-predicted anaerobic threshold on blood lactate concentrations

A study which assessed the validity of the Conconi test to predict the anaerobic threshold (AnT) was undertaken with 20 sport science students. The study involved the subjects undertaking three tests over a one week period. Each test was separated by a period of at least 48 hours which allowed the subjects time to recover. The subjects initially completed a Conconi test which attempted to predict their AnT through plotting heart rate against work intensity. Following the specified recovery, a maximum oxygen uptake test (V02max) was undertaken by all subjects. Following another recovery period those subjects who produced a deflection point in the Conconi test performed a prolonged cycle at the Conconi-predicted AnT. Serial lactate measurements were taken at 5-minute intervals during the prolonged cycle in order to determine whether a steady state lactate response resulted. Thirty five percent of the subjects failed to produce deflections in the Conconi test. Clinical analysis of the lactate data identified that only 25 % of the remaining subjects produced steady state lactate responses during the prolonged cycle. The findings of the clinical analysis were supported by applying a repeated measures ANOVA to those subjects. All other subjects failed to complete the prolonged cycle and to produce steady state lactate responses. Two subgroups were identified from the subjects who produced deflection points in the Conconi test. A t-test revealed that the two identified subgroups were significantly different. One group deflected at exercise intensities under 85 % V02max while the other deflected at over 85 % V02max. Three hypotheses were tested during the study. The first hypothesis stated that the Conconi test would overestimate the anaerobic threshold (AnT), causing blood lactate concentrations to rise continuously in all subjects over the duration of a prolonged cycle at the Conconi-predicted AnT. The second hypothesis stated that each subject\u27s oxygen consumption value measured at the deflection point during the Conconi test would correspond to an intensity greater than 85 % of their VO2max. The final hypothesis stated that all subjects would produce a heart rate deflection during execution of the Conconi test. The three proposed hypotheses were rejected. The results concluded that the Conconi test was an invalid predictor of the AnT. Based on the results of this study the following conclusions were reached: a) the Conconi test will not produce deflection points in all subjects, b) the exercise intensity predicted by the Conconi test will not produce lactate steady state responses in all subjects, and c) the Conconi-Predicted AnT does not correspond to an exercise intensity above 85 % VO2max in all subjects

Performance, carcass characteristics and ultrasonic estimates of changes in muscle and fat of bulls, steers and heifers

Among the major problems of beef producers for many years have been those of increasing growth rate, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of beef animals. Much research has been directed toward the improvement of these traits. The need for more efficient beef production is impelled by the increasing costs of production and competition from other meats. The use of diethylstilbestrol (DES) has resulted in a considerable improvement in growth rate and feed efficiency. The fattening of bulls for the advantage of the naturally produced androgen is a similar practice. The main deterrent to the marketing of bulls has been the lack of consumer and packer acceptance due to the assumption that bull meat is less desirable than steer or heifer meat. Various attempts have been made to estimate carcass merit of live animals, but thus far no highly accurate method has been developed. Ultrasonic estimates have shown the most promise. An accurate_estimate of a muscle, such as the biceps femoris, with high predictive value for carcass muscling would be an invaluable advance in live animal evaluation. These estimates could provide the basis for more rapid genetic improvement in beef animals. The objectives of the research reported herein were; 1. To determine the effect of sex on the growth rate, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of beef animals. 2. To evaluate meat quality among sexes using as criteria mechanical shear scores for tenderness and taste panel scores for tenderness, juiciness and flavor. 3. To develop a reliable method of estimating the carcass muscle of live animals by means of ultrasonics