Constructing the Good Life: Posthuman Musical Identities

This essay proposes posthumanism as an alternative cultural framework for the formation of “the good life”, focusing on issues of identity and virtuality created through irony and hybridity in modern musical cultures. Music by Avalanches and Ibibio Sound Machine will be examined, considering how posthumanist interpretations affect their reception and anticipate the future of music as a method of individual and communal expression

Pride of the South: Risk Analysis for Marine Biosecurity in Fiordland

This paper describes a model used to assess alternative scenarios for managing the marine biosecurity risk to Fiordland from vessel traffic. Scenarios are assessed in terms of risk reduction per dollar spent. To keep the analysis manageable, we focus on vessel risks from hull fouling, as this is considered the primary pathway of vessel-related spread. Our analysis includes evaluation of the costs and benefits of different types of vector treatment as well as the possibility of continued vessel monitoring and control of pest populations in Bluff Harbour to reduce the risk of vector infection.Fiordland, marine biosecurity, risk reduction, benefit cost analysis, management options, Bluff, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Measuring Patient Satisfaction: A Study of Former Nursing Home Residents

It is be becoming more common for patients to be admitted short-term to nursing homes for rehabilitation and recovery, however, little attention is paid to their satisfaction with the services they receive. This study explores how patient satisfaction is related to discharge, using a quantitative survey research design. The survey was mailed to the universal sample of 60 patients discharged back to the community within a six-month time frame from a St. Paul nursing home. Findings indicate a correlation between how former patients rate their satisfaction with nursing home care and their preparedness at the time of their discharge. The significance of this study adds to the lack of research in nursing home patient satisfaction and provides indications for improvement in social work services in the nursing home setting. Implications for social work practice and policy are discussed

Constructing the Good Life: Posthuman Musical Identities

This essay proposes posthumanism as an alternative cultural framework for the formation of “the good life”, focusing on issues of identity and virtuality created through irony and hybridity in modern musical cultures. Music by Avalanches and Ibibio Sound Machine will be examined, considering how posthumanist interpretations affect their reception and anticipate the future of music as a method of individual and communal expression

Theory-based design for promoting positive behaviours in an urban blue space: Pre-and-post observations of a community co-created intervention in Plymouth, United Kingdom

Behaviour observation and mapping are useful planning tools to generate evidence to create people-friendly public spaces. Small-scale interventions are gaining popularity as cost-effective and quick solutions to regenerate degraded urban outdoor environments. Onsite behaviour observation mapping with GIS underpins evidence gathering, analysis, and planning and design decision-making. Using the BlueHealth Behaviour Assessment Tool (BBAT) developed within the EU-funded Horizon 2020 Project “Blue Health”, we carried out pre- and post- intervention observations of visits, activities and visitors' characteristics in a site at Teats Hill, Plymouth, United Kingdom. Pre-post comparison of visits and activities in three target areas the entire site before and the within-site intervention area (a small open-air theatre) and the rest of the site afterwards were examined to analyse the impact of the intervention on socialising and relaxing activities. Behaviour observation data was both spatially and statistically analysed. Key outcomes were sitting, standing, walking, activity with a dog, viewing, using a phone and socialising. Both a logistic regression model and spatial analysis using density maps and hot spot analysis confirmed an increased use of the open-air theatre and its positive impact on the use of the rest of the park (the non-intervention area). Our logit models showed that the intervention promoted positive behaviour for health (i.e. blue space activities, socialisation, and relaxing activities), greater inclusivity and diversity of visitors. We conclude that an evidence-based design approach can increase blue space accessibility, improve place affordances and promote positive behaviour and psychological well-being benefitting local communities

Nuptial pad (“breeding gland”) morphology is related to non-random mating in wild male common frogs (<i>Rana temporaria</i>)

Androgen levels are closely linked with breeding in male amphibians. Development of the nuptial pad is driven by androgens and is believed to have importance for determining mating success in anurans, but this has not been tested in wild populations. We investigated the association between nuptial pad morphology (length, colour) and mating (amplexus) success in wild male common frogs (Rana temporaria) in the UK (Devon in Southern England and central Scotland). Once active breeding had been confirmed, pond water (25 L) was placed in 1–6 replicate mesocosms (66 cm diameter circular, black plastic tubs) in situ. Eight male and two female frogs were placed into each mesocosm, and success observed by identifying the male frog(s) in amplexus. The length of nuptial pads for male frogs observed in amplexus was greater than those that did not achieve amplexus. There was no difference in the absolute dark colour of nuptial pads (determined by red/green/blue analysis, Adobe photoshop©) for male frogs observed in amplexus versus those that did not achieve amplexus. However, within each mesocosm, the nuptial pad was relatively darker for winning male frogs compared to losing male frogs. Overall, 91% of winning male frogs from Devon, and 89% winning male frogs from Scotland, possessed either a longer and/or a darker nuptial pad, compared with frogs that did not achieve amplexus. These data suggest that features of nuptial pad morphology are associated with amplexus (and thus mating) success in male common frogs. Given that nuptial pads have been identified in all anuran amphibian species analysed to date, nuptial pad morphology may contribute to non-random mating strategies across a broad range of species

Rapid Review of Domestic Abuse Policies and Guidance Across UK Universities

This report details a three-phase rapid review conducted to inform an evidence-based domestic abuse policy guidance for use at universities in the UK. Produced by the Honour Abuse Research Matrix (HARM) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), both this rapid review report (Hall, Roberts & Khan, 2021) and the Domestic Abuse Policy Guidance for UK Universities (Khan, 2021), were supported by Research England’s Quality-related Research funding associated with the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (QR-SPF), for research activity that supports evidence-based policy making

Guaranteeing Canadian lamb meat quality using near-infrared spectroscopy on intact rack

Lamb racks from commercial carcasses were scanned using near-infrared spectroscopy. The prediction accuracies (R 2) for meat quality traits were assessed. Prediction accuracy ranged between 0.40 and 0.94. When predicted values were used to classify meat based on quality, 88.7%–95.2% of samples were correctly classified as quality guaranteed