How palynology could have been paepalology : the naming of a discipline

For access to archival information, we would like to thank Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales (Hyde papers and correspondence), Nigel Morgan of Cardiff University Library, Maria Asp and the Center for History of Science, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Pia Östensson and the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Erdtman papers), along with those bodies granting permission to use the portrait photographs. We are grateful to Anne Bryan for the photograph of her father (D.A. Williams) and the valuable background information, to Angela Lord for advice on Greek orthography and to Pat Wiltshire for Pitman shorthand interpretation. We are indebted to Richardson’s former colleague, Nick Fisher, for drawing the Starkie autobiography to our attention. The Royal Irish Academy, the Classical Association (Claire Davenport) and Trinity College Dublin (Aisling Lockhart) provided additional information on Richardson. We are appreciative of comments from Ed Schofield and Evan Zimroth on an early draft of the paper, to two referees, and we thank Jim Riding for his encouragement.Peer reviewedPostprin

Continuous extrusion of a commercially pure titanium powder via the Conform process

It is shown for the first time that cold commercially pure titanium powder can be extruded through a standard Conform machine into fully dense wire with a fine recrystallised microstructure. The grain size has been shown to decrease with increasing wheel speed with an associated increase in tensile strength. The macrostructure of the wire extrudate exhibits a characteristic flow pattern with several regions defined by differences in average grain size and distribution. Finite-element modelling of the process shows the formation of the characteristic macrostructure from powder fed Conform. The process is continuous, utilises standard equipment and does not require powder preheating or inert gas shrouding providing a footing for a true cost reduction in longsection titanium mill product

Hydrological response and complex impact pathways of the 2015/2016 El Niño in Eastern and Southern Africa

The 2015/2016 El Niño has been classified as one of the three most severe on record. El Niño teleconnections are commonly associated with droughts in southern Africa and high precipitation in eastern Africa. Despite their relatively frequent occurrence, evidence for their hydrological effects and impacts beyond agriculture is limited. We examine the hydrological response and impact pathways of the 2015/2016 El Niño in eastern and southern Africa, focusing on Botswana, Kenya, and Zambia. We use in situ and remotely sensed time series of precipitation, river flow, and lake levels complemented by qualitative insights from interviews with key organizations in each country about awareness, impacts, and responses. Our results show that drought conditions prevailed in large parts of southern Africa, reducing runoff and contributing to unusually low lake levels in Botswana and Zambia. Key informants characterized this El Niño through record high temperatures and water supply disruption in Botswana and through hydroelectric load shedding in Zambia. Warnings of flood risk in Kenya were pronounced, but the El Niño teleconnection did not materialize as expected in 2015/2016. Extreme precipitation was limited and caused localized impacts. The hydrological impacts in southern Africa were severe and complex, strongly exacerbated by dry antecedent conditions, recent changes in exposure and sensitivity and management decisions. Improved understanding of hydrological responses and the complexity of differing impact pathways can support design of more adaptive, region-specific management strategies

Evolution of national climate adaptation agendas in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia: the role of national leadership and international donors

In this paper, we use an inductive approach and longitudinal analysis to explore political influences on the emergence and evolution of climate change adaptation policy and planning at national level, as well as the institutions within which it is embedded, for three countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia). Data collection involved quantitative and qualitative methods applied over a 6-year period from 2012 to 2017. This included a survey of 103 government staff (20 in Malawi, 29 in Tanzania and 54 in Zambia) and 242 interviews (106 in Malawi, 86 in Tanzania and 50 in Zambia) with a wide range of stakeholders, many of whom were interviewed multiple times over the study period, together with content analysis of relevant policy and programme documents. Whilst the climate adaptation agenda emerged in all three countries around 2007–2009, associated with multilateral funding initiatives, the rate and nature of progress has varied—until roughly 2015 when, for different reasons, momentum slowed. We find differences between the countries in terms of specifics of how they operated, but roles of two factors in common emerge in the evolution of the climate change adaptation agendas: national leadership and allied political priorities, and the role of additional funding provided by donors. These influences lead to changes in the policy and institutional frameworks for addressing climate change, as well as in the emphasis placed on climate change adaptation. By examining the different ways through which ideas, power and resources converge and by learning from the specific configurations in the country examples, we identify opportunities to address existing barriers to action and thus present implications that enable more effective adaptation planning in other countries. We show that more socially just and inclusive national climate adaptation planning requires a critical approach to understanding these configurations of power and politics

Large magnetic anisotropy in Ferrihydrite nanoparticles synthesized from reverse micelles

Six-line ferrihydrite(FH) nanoparticles have been synthesized in the core of reverse micelles, used as nanoreactors to obtain average particle sizes $$ $\approx$ 2 to 4 nm. The blocking temperatures $T_B^m$ extracted from magnetization data increased from $\approx 10$ to 20 K for increasing particle size. Low-temperature \MOS measurements allowed to observe the onset of differentiated contributions from particle core and surface as the particle size increases. The magnetic properties measured in the liquid state of the original emulsion showed that the \FH phase is not present in the liquid precursor, but precipitates in the micelle cores after the free water is freeze-dried. Systematic susceptibility \chi_{ac}(\emph{f},T) measurements showed the dependence of the effective magnetic anisotropy energies $E_{a}$ with particle volume, and yielded an effective anisotropy value of $K_{eff} = 312\pm10$ kJ/m$^3$.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures. Nanotechnology, v17 (Nov. 2006) In pres

Biguanide iridium(III) complexes with potent antimicrobial activity

We have synthesized novel organoiridium(III) antimicrobial complexes containing a chelated biguanide, including the antidiabetic drug metformin. These 16- and 18-electron complexes were characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. Several of these complexes exhibit potent activity against Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria (including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) and high antifungal potency toward C. albicans and C. neoformans, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the nanomolar range. Importantly, the complexes exhibit low cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells, indicating high selectivity. They are highly stable in broth medium, with a low tendency to generate resistance mutations. On coadministration, they can restore the activity of vancomycin against vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). Also the complexes can disrupt and eradicate bacteria in mature biofilms. Investigations of reactions with biomolecules suggest that these organometallic complexes deliver active biguanides into microorganisms, whereas the biguanides themselves are inactive when administered alone

Re-balancing climate services to inform climate-resilient planning: a conceptual framework and illustrations from sub-Saharan Africa

Making climate-resilient planning and adaptation decisions is, in part, contingent on the use of climate information. Growing attention has been paid to the “usability gap” and the need to make information both useful and useable to decision-makers. Less attention has, however, been paid to the factors that determine whether, once created, useful and useable information is then actually used. In this Perspectives piece, we outline a framework that puts together the pieces necessary to close the “usability gap” – highlighting not only what is required to make information useful and useable, but also what is required to ensure that useful and useable information is actually used. Creating useful information is subject to understanding and being able to deliver metrics that address identified needs in a range of decision-making contexts. Creating useable information is contingent upon having legitimate and credible information that is visualised and communicated in ways that are accessible and understandable. Further use of such information requires supportive institutions, appropriate policy frameworks, capacity of individuals and agency to make decisions. The framework further highlights traditionally under-recognized barriers that prevent effective use of the growing availability of useful and useable climate information in decision-making. Whilst this is not enough in itself to effect information use, we argue that greater focus on these barriers can re-balance the activities promoted through climate services and increase the likelihood of successful use. We illustrate the framework with case examples of co-producing climate information for the tea and water sectors in sub-Saharan Africa

B12Hn and B12Fn: planar vs icosahedral structures

Using density functional theory and quantum Monte Carlo calculations, we show that B12Hn and B12Fn (n = 0 to 4) quasi-planar structures are energetically more favorable than the corresponding icosahedral clusters. Moreover, we show that the fully planar B12F6 cluster is more stable than the three-dimensional counterpart. These results open up the possibility of designing larger boron-based nanostructures starting from quasi-planar or fully planar building blocks

Parallel processes:Getting it write?

This paper offers a critical reflection on the processes surrounding the writing of a book aimed at foster carers and residential workers. By utilising the concept of parallel process as well as the four modes of reflection identified by Ruch (2000), we explore the ways in which the wider context of both direct works with children and reflective practice have been impacted by the tensions between relationally based, child-centred practice and wider managerialist imperatives. The paper draws parallels between these practice tensions and those currently in play within the academy. By employing a dialogical and reflective analysis of the process and interactions surrounding the writing of a practitioner-targeted book, the paper demonstrates the ways in which critical and process reflection post-event took place, considering the heretofore unexplored parallel processes between writing for practice, and practice. In so doing, it identifies the ways in which the authors mirrored practitioners in relation to the management of anxiety, a sense of constrained autonomy and confidence, and an avoidance of recognising and challenging structural and political context. Implications for the creation of practice literature and for the academy are considered.Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Onlin

Quench protection for a 2-MJ magnet

A superconducting solenoid with conductive bore tube has been used at energies up to 1.9-MJ to test various methods of quench protection. The methods all involve shifting the main coil current to the conductive bore tube and include (1) allowing the quench to evolve naturally, (2) interrupting the primary circuit while providing a varistor used as a shunt across the coil, and (3) turning the entire magnet normal by dumping a short pulse of current from a capacitor bank through the windings