MARIA DO MAR CASTRO VERALA, NIKITA DHAWAN, AND ANTKE ENGEL, EDS.: Hegemony and Heteronormativity Revisiting “The Political” in Queer Politics

http://dx.doi.org/10.13185/ST2013.0110

A study of the photoinitiated cure of coatings

This thesis describes an investigation into the photo- initiated cure of epoxide coatings. Diaryliodonium salt photoinitiators were prepared and characterised in the laboratory. The analysis and characterisation of some industrial epoxide resins was also carried out before they were used in the preparation of coatings. A series of lacquers was prepared and exposed to ultra-violet radiation. The cure characteristics of these coatings were investigated by qualitative and quantitative methods. This aspect of the work yielded some interesting results which are discussed in the final chapter

Preserving Our Digital Heritage: Information Systems for Data Management and Preservation

It is essential that we develop effective systems for the management and preservation of digital heritage data. This paper outlines the key issues surrounding access, sharing and curation, and describes current efforts to establish research infrastructures in a number of countries. It aims to provide a detailed overview of the issues involved in the creation, ingest, preservation and dissemination of 3D datasets in particular. The paper incorporates specific examples from past and present Archaeology Data Service (ADS) projects and highlights the recent work undertaken by the ADS and partners to specify standards and workflows in order to aid the preservation and reuse of 3D datasets

Increased vulnerability of older adults to DM and its CVD complications: proposal for assessment, management and monitoring by diagnostic methods

The national institute of health on aging has made research funding calls for basic, clinical and epidemiological studies into the increased vulnerability of older adults to diabetes mellitus and its cardiovascular complications. One of the indicated outcomes is the impact of age on diagnosis and management of the disease co-morbidity, including elucidation of the role of aging mechanisms that underlie the increased vulnerability of older adults. A cursory review of literature reveals that although there is information about aging and oxidative stress, little has been validated for adoption in the context of pathology-based evidence. Therefore, the objective of this hypothesis paper is to revisit the topic of ‘biochemical basis of metabolism’ in aging and diseases. The concepts of ‘aging-induced oxidative stress’ and ‘antioxidant-vitamins’ basis of diabetes progression’ are briefly linked  to propose that increase in oxidative damage is a potential additive outcome underlying increased vulnerability of older adults to diabetes mellitus and its cardiovascular complications. Further, the prospect of oxidative damage indices is re-presented as a hypothesis for validation to provide pathology evidence-based guidance to seek appropriate clinical laboratory criteria. The validation process would delineate reference values in vulnerable older adults relative to young and middle aged groups with a view to enable assessment, management and monitoring by diagnostic methods

Common Vigilance: A Perspective On the Role of the Community in Safeguarding Children

Since the Children Act 2004 (HMG, 2004), it has become commonplace to read that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. No distinction is made, though, between ‘everyone’ individually and ‘everyone’ collectively, with the result that efforts to unpick exactly how everyone is able to respond to children’s safeguarding and protection needs are frustrated. This chapter asks whether or not ‘community’ is a useful concept to help organise these efforts and to prevent the slogan from unhelpfully collapsing the issue of responsibility together. It considers Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) and bio-ecological model (Bronfenbrenner and Ceci, 1994) to understand how community might animate child protection efforts at a level beyond the scope of distinct families but without encompassing statutory responsibility either. Bourdieu’s concept of ‘habitus’ (Shusterman, 1999) is used to examine the social worlds of children in their respective communities to understand the risk and vulnerabilities of children, on the one hand, and the safeguarding responses by concerned adults in the community. Recent analysis of serious case reviews (SCRs) and inquiries relating to child sexual exploitation to understand how the ‘community’ inform the discussion of communitylevel communication regarding common concerns for children’s safety and well-being. The chapter proposes that common vigilance may serve as a more robust concept than does community in efforts to produce social conditions that secure children’s safety from maltreatment. The chapter encourages you to consider your position as a professional who embodies interest in children’s safety from harm as well as compliance with statutory procedures and expectations of competence

High Aspect Ratio-Nanostructured Surfaces as Biological Metamaterials

Materials patterned with high-aspect-ratio nanostructures have features on similar lengthscales to cellular components. These surfaces are an extreme topography on the cellular level and have become useful tools for perturbing and sensing the cellular environment. Motivation comes from the ability of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures to deliver cargoes into cells and tissues, access the intracellular environment, and control cell behavior. These structures directly perturb cells’ ability to sense and respond to external forces, influencing cell fate and enabling new mechanistic studies. Through careful design of their nanoscale structure, these systems act as biological metamaterials, eliciting unusual biological responses. While predominantly used to interface eukaryotic cells, there is growing interest in non-animal and prokaryotic cell interfacing. Both experimental and theoretical studies have attempted to develop a mechanistic understanding for the observed behaviors, predominantly focusing on the cell – nanostructure interface. Here, we consider how high-aspect-ratio nanostructured surfaces are used to both stimulate and sense biological systems and discuss remaining research questions

Rosalind Richards Correspondence

Entries include brief biographical information, a typed biography, typed correspondence to Richards from the Maine State Library concerning her book, and a typed letter of presentation of a gift of books not for sale, written by her father

Preserving our Digital Heritage: Information Systems for data management and preservation

It is essential that we develop effective systems for the management and preservation of digital heritage data. This paper outlines the key issues surrounding access, sharing and curation, and describes current efforts to establish research infrastructures in a number of countries. It aims to provide a detailed overview of the issues involved in the creation, ingest, preservation and dissemination of 3D datasets in particular. The paper incorporates specific examples from past and present Archaeology Data Service (ADS) projects and highlights the recent work undertaken by the ADS and partners to specify standards and workflows in order to aid the preservation and reuse of 3D datasets

Homes became the “everything space” during COVID-19: impact of changes to the home environment on children’s physical activity and sitting

BackgroundDuring the 2020 UK COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, children spent almost all of their time at home, which had a significant influence on their physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour. This study aimed to: 1) determine changes to the social and physical environment at home and children’s home-based sitting, PA, standing and sitting breaks as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions; and 2) examine associations between changes at home and children’s movement behaviours.MethodsOne hundred and two children had their PA and sitting, standing and sitting breaks at home objectively measured pre-COVID-19 and during the first COVID-19 lockdown (June-July 2020). Children’s parents (n = 101) completed an audit of their home physical environment and a survey on the home social environment at both time points. Changes in the home physical and social environment and behavioural outcomes were assessed using Wilcoxon signed ranked tests, paired t-tests, or chi-square. Repeated linear regression analyses examined associations between changes in homes and changes in the home-based behavioural outcomes.ResultsDuring COVID-19, households increased the amount of seated furniture and electronic media equipment at home. The number of books and PA equipment decreased and fewer parents enforced a screen-time rule. Children’s preference for physical activities and socialising at home decreased. Time at home and sitting at home increased during COVID-19, whilst PA, standing and sitting breaks decreased. Both MVPA and TPA were positively associated with child preference for PA, and negatively associated with attending school. Sitting was negatively associated with child preference for PA and child preference for socialising at home. Media equipment was negatively associated with sitting breaks, whilst PA equipment was positively associated with standing.ConclusionThe COVID-19 restrictions forced children to spend almost all their time at home. Children’s PA, standing, and sitting breaks at home declined during the restrictions, while sitting increased. Mostly negative changes occurred in homes, some of which impacted children’s behaviours at home. To avoid the changes persisting post-lockdown, interventions are needed to reset and promote children’s PA and discourage prolonged sitting time