Now the wars are over: The past, present and future of Scottish battlefields

Battlefield archaeology has provided a new way of appreciating historic battlefields. This paper provides a summary of the long history of warfare and conflict in Scotland which has given rise to a large number of battlefield sites. Recent moves to highlight the archaeological importance of these sites, in the form of Historic Scotland’s Battlefields Inventory are discussed, along with some of the problems associated with the preservation and management of these important cultural sites

Writing across curriculum: Evaluating a faculty-centered approach

This paper discusses research on a pilot study for implementing a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program in the College of Business (CoB) at a California Public University. Data analysis focused on faculty and writing assistant satisfaction using interviews, and on student learning as measured by evaluation of progressive writing assignments. Discussion includes: 1) assumptions on which the pilot was based and its goals, 2) overview of how the program was structured and implemented, 3) outcomes of the pilot program, and 4) recommendations for future programs. Results suggest both faculty and student participants were satisfied with the pilot program implementation and student writing improvement

A Temperature-Dependent Development Model for Willow Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Ireland: Simulation of Phenology/Voltinism in Response to Climate Change

Rising fossil fuel prices, energy security and adherence to existing European Union (EU) climate/energy policies means that Ireland must look towards alternative energy sources to meet future demand. Woody biomass in the form of short rotation coppice willow (SRCW) is considered a viable option. SRCW is vulnerable to damage by a range of diseases and pests however. The blue (Phratora vulgatissima) and brown (Galerucella lineola) willow beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are identified economically as two of the most damaging insect pests of SRCW in Ireland. Policies which mandate levels of renewable energy use, to mitigate future climate change, fail to consider adaptation in the energy sector under increased levels of pestilence due to projected changes in the climate system. The effects of abiotic and biotic factors, mainly temperature and photoperiod, but also host plant, on beetle development were investigated. Constant temperature experiments showed that development time for all assessed life-cycle stages decreased as temperature increased. P. vulgatissima oviposition period and total fecundity were influenced by temperature also. Development was not found to vary considerably when P. vulgatissima larvae were reared on different host plant varieties (Tora, Resolution, Tordis and Inger) across a similar range of constant temperatures. A critical daylength (CDL) for P. vulgatissima facultative reproduction was calculated. The relationship between temperature and P. vulgatissima and G. lineola life-cycle stage development was represented by applying criteria satisfying non-linear deterministic and stochastic functions to development rates and development time distributions respectively. A combined phenology/voltinism model was constructed incorporating a Salix. viminalis degree-day budburst model, the temperature-dependent development rate and temperature-independent time distribution functions, and information regarding the reproductive diapause inducing CDL. Using observed temperature and statistically downscaled climate scenarios derived from different global climate models (GCMs) forced with different emission scenarios, model results suggested important spatio-temporal changes in the life cycle and voltinism of P. vulgatissima, including two annual generations for 5% and 50% beetle emergence proportions (E.P) at all observed locations nationally by the 2050s and three annual generations for 5% E.P for a percentage of years at certain inland and south-westerly observed locations by the 2080s. The findings from this research may have implications for regional SRCW production, integrated pest and crop management and climate and energy policy in the future

A Temperature-Dependent Development Model for Willow Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Ireland: Simulation of Phenology/Voltinism in Response to Climate Change

Rising fossil fuel prices, energy security and adherence to existing European Union (EU) climate/energy policies means that Ireland must look towards alternative energy sources to meet future demand. Woody biomass in the form of short rotation coppice willow (SRCW) is considered a viable option. SRCW is vulnerable to damage by a range of diseases and pests however. The blue (Phratora vulgatissima) and brown (Galerucella lineola) willow beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are identified economically as two of the most damaging insect pests of SRCW in Ireland. Policies which mandate levels of renewable energy use, to mitigate future climate change, fail to consider adaptation in the energy sector under increased levels of pestilence due to projected changes in the climate system. The effects of abiotic and biotic factors, mainly temperature and photoperiod, but also host plant, on beetle development were investigated. Constant temperature experiments showed that development time for all assessed life-cycle stages decreased as temperature increased. P. vulgatissima oviposition period and total fecundity were influenced by temperature also. Development was not found to vary considerably when P. vulgatissima larvae were reared on different host plant varieties (Tora, Resolution, Tordis and Inger) across a similar range of constant temperatures. A critical daylength (CDL) for P. vulgatissima facultative reproduction was calculated. The relationship between temperature and P. vulgatissima and G. lineola life-cycle stage development was represented by applying criteria satisfying non-linear deterministic and stochastic functions to development rates and development time distributions respectively. A combined phenology/voltinism model was constructed incorporating a Salix. viminalis degree-day budburst model, the temperature-dependent development rate and temperature-independent time distribution functions, and information regarding the reproductive diapause inducing CDL. Using observed temperature and statistically downscaled climate scenarios derived from different global climate models (GCMs) forced with different emission scenarios, model results suggested important spatio-temporal changes in the life cycle and voltinism of P. vulgatissima, including two annual generations for 5% and 50% beetle emergence proportions (E.P) at all observed locations nationally by the 2050s and three annual generations for 5% E.P for a percentage of years at certain inland and south-westerly observed locations by the 2080s. The findings from this research may have implications for regional SRCW production, integrated pest and crop management and climate and energy policy in the future

Estimating fugitive bioaerosol releases from static compost windrows: feasibility of portable wind tunnel approach

An assessment of the fugitive release of bioaerosols from static compost piles was conducted at a green waste composting facility in South East England; this representing the initial stage of a programme of research into the influence of process parameters on bioaerosol emission flux. Wind tunnel experiments conducted on the surface of static windrows generated specific bioaerosol emission rates (SBER2s) at ground level of between 13 - 22 x10 3 cfu/m 2 /s for mesophilic actinomycetes and between 8 - 11 x10 3 cfu/m 2 /s for Aspergillus fumigatus. Air dispersion modelling of these emissions using the SCREEN3 air dispersion model in area source term mode was used to generate source depletion curves downwind of the facility for comparative purposes

MOBILE and the provision of total joint replacement

Modern joint replacements have been available for 45 years, but we still do not have clear indications for these interventions, and we do not know how to optimize the outcome for patients who agree to have them done. The MOBILE programme has been investigating these issues in relation to primary total hip and knee joint replacements, using mixed methods research

A foundation assessment of the influence of IT management practices on customer relationship management (CRM) in a large Australian federal government agency

There is currently a thrust in Australia to move to whole of e-government. At the centre of this initiative is the need to ensure high quality customer relationship management (CRM). There is a paucity of research into CRM in the public sector and this research breaks new ground by exploring the level of customer relationship management (CRM) implementation in a large Australian Federal Government agency. Using a quantitative survey approach, data were collected through the distribution of an electronic questionnaire to IT heads of 23 departments in one large Australian Federal Government agency. The main finding of the research is that although a few of the departments have implemented CRM at the highest level, the majority of the departments are still in the lower levels of CRM implementation. Differences in IT management practices and their impact on CRM status are also measured and their impact on CRM implementation is discussed. Finally, recommendations for moving to more advanced stages of CRM implementations are made

Golf and upper limb injuries: a summary and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Golf is a popular past time that provides exercise with social interaction. However, as with all sports and activities, injury may occur. Many golf-related injuries occur in the upper limb, yet little research on the potential mechanisms of these injuries has been conducted. OBJECTIVE: To review the current literature on golf-related upper limb injuries and report on potential causes of injury as it relates to the golf swing. DISCUSSION: An overview of the golf swing is described in terms of its potential to cause the frequently noted injuries. Most injuries occur at impact when the golf club hits the ball. This paper concludes that more research into golf-related upper limb injuries is required to develop a thorough understanding of how injuries occur. Types of research include epidemiology studies, kinematic swing analysis and electromyographic studies of the upper limb during golf. By conducting such research, preventative measures maybe developed to reduce golf related injury

Development of dithizone based fibre optic evanescent wave sensor for heavy metal ion detection in aqueous environments.

Detection of highly toxic heavy metal ions requires rapid, simple, sensitive and selective detection methods in the environment. Optical fibre based sensing facilitates the remote, continuous and in-situ detection approaches in the environment. Herein, we report the development of a dithizone based fibre optic sensor with a simple procedure to detect heavy metal ions in the aqueous environment using an evanescent wave sensing approach. The chromogenic ligand dithizone and its spectral specificity with metal ions has been elaborated in this work. Paper presented at Sensors and their Applications XVII, held 16-18 September 2013 at Rixos Libertas, Dubrovnik, Croatia