Collecting the personal: stories of domestic energy and everyday life at the National Museum of Scotland

Energise is one of ten award-winning new galleries at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Aimed at a family audience, it explores the sources, generation, distribution and use of energy and questions how science and technology may transform how we power our lives in the future. This short case-study account details three objects in Energise around which we adopted a focus on personal stories that tell us about the experiences of users and developers

Dementia Friendly Walking Project: Evaluation Report

The evaluation project explored the second year of the dementia friendly walking project. Paths for All were keen to obtain views of people living with dementia, their carers and other walk attendees regarding their experiences of attending dementia friendly walks. Currently approximately 100 group projects are taking place across Scotland, with 500 walks taking place per week. Currently there are 23 dementia friendly walking group projects taking place across Scotland. The purpose of the evaluation is to evaluate the current progress on the dementia friendly walks aspect of Paths for All, and the experiences and perspectives of people living with dementia in relation to the group walking activities, areas of improvement for walking groups, and in relation to project outcomes set by the Life Changes Trust as the project funder. The goals of the evaluation are; • To explore experiences of attending dementia friendly walks as organised by walking for health groups within the Paths for All programme.  • To explore landscapes where walks are taking place.  • To explore social interactions taking place between attendees.  • To identify benefits, facilitators and challenges regarding attending dementia friendly walks from the perspective of people living with dementia. • Identify gaps and make recommendations for provision of dementia friendly walks in the future.&nbsp

Population Trends of Gulls and Arctic Terns Nesting in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut

Little information exists on the population trends of gulls and terns nesting in the Arctic. In 1997, we surveyed the number of glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus), herring gull (Larus argentatus), and arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) nests on the Belcher Islands (56°00'-57°30'N, 79°30'-80°00'W). We compared our results with the mean number of nests per island counted in the Belcher Islands in the late 1980s using the same survey methods. The mean number of gull nests per island had declined in all five archipelagos surveyed, and the decline was significant in three regions. The number of arctic tern nests had also declined in all three regions where they were originally present, although this decline was significant in only one region. The causes of these apparent declines are unknown. Adult mortality or emigration of gulls from the area may have occurred in response to changes in polynya formation during recent winters, which restricted access to marine food sources. Reproductive success of gulls may also be low in response to the recent 75% decline in common eiders nesting in the Belcher Islands. Eider eggs and ducklings are an important food source for gulls during the breeding season. The decline of nesting arctic terns may reflect either winter mortality of tern populations caused by unknown factors or emigration out of the Belcher Islands in response to regional egging and disturbance by local residents.Il existe peu de renseignements sur les tendances dans les changements de population des mouettes et sternes qui nichent dans l'Arctique. En 1997, on a établi un relevé des nids du goéland bourgmestre (Larus hyperboreus), du goéland argenté (Larus argentatus) et de la sterne arctique (Sterna paradisaea) dans les îles Belcher (56° 00' - 57° 30' de latit. N., 79° 30'- 80° 00' de longit. O.). Nous avons comparé nos résultats avec le nombre moyen de nids par île comptés dans les îles Belcher à la fin des années 1980, en employant les mêmes méthodes de relevés. Le nombre moyen de nids de goélands par île a baissé dans les cinq archipels étudiés, et la baisse s'est révélée importante dans trois régions. Le nombre de nids de sternes arctiques avait également baissé dans les trois régions où elles étaient présentes à l'origine, bien que ce déclin ne fût important que dans une seule région. On ne connaît pas les causes de ces baisses apparentes. La mortalité adulte ou l'émigration des goélands de cette zone aurait pu se produire en réponse aux changements survenus dans la formation de la polynie au cours des derniers hivers - changements qui auraient limité l'accès aux aliments venant de la mer. Le succès de reproduction du goéland pourrait aussi être bas suite au déclin récent de 75 p. cent chez l'eider à duvet qui niche dans les îles Belcher. Les oeufs d'eider et les oisons constituent une importante source alimentaire pour les goélands durant la saison de nidification. Le déclin de la sterne arctique peut être un symptôme soit de la mortalité hivernale des population de sternes dont la cause reste inconnue, soit d'une émigration des îles Belcher en réponse à la collecte des oeufs et à la perturbation dont sont responsables les habitants de la région

Observations of Marine Birds and Mammals Wintering at Polynyas and Ice Edges in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut, Canada

In the Belcher Islands, southeast Hudson Bay, Canada, two types of open water exist during winter: 1) large, wind-driven expanses of water along landfast ice edges and 2) recurring polynyas located between small islands (most <10 ha and <15 m deep). In severe winters, only polynyas persist. In March 1998 and 1999, we recorded the species and numbers of birds and marine mammals present at ten polynyas and along four landfast ice edges around the Belcher Islands. To help interpret our observations, we also collected traditional ecological knowledge from local Inuit. Large flocks of common eiders Somateria mollissima (200-12500 birds) were seen along floe edges, and small groups occurred in some polynyas. King eiders S. spectabilis were also observed at several locations, always associated with common eiders. Oldsquaw ducks Clangula hyemalis were common (flocks of 100-500 birds) and occurred primarily at polynyas. Our observations of king eiders represent a significant northern range expansion for this species in Canada during winter. Ravens Corvus corax and snowy owls Nyctea scandiaca were observed along landfast ice edges. Ravens were feeding on the remains of seals killed by Inuit hunters and polar bears Ursus maritimus, and owls apparently hunted sea ducks that were loitering on ice edges at night. We regularly observed bearded seals Erignathus barbatus and ringed seals Phoca hispida at polynyas and floe edges. One beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas was observed by our Inuit guides along a western landfast ice edge, and three walrus Odobenus rosmarus were observed at a floe edge along the southern margin of the Belcher Islands. Clearly, the small recurring polynyas and ice floe edges around the Belcher Islands are important wintering habitat for oldsquaw and common and king eider ducks.L'hiver, dans les îles Belcher, au sud-est de la baie d'Hudson (Canada), l'eau libre est présente sous deux formes: 1) de vastes étendues d'eau créées par le vent, longeant la lisière de la glace de rive et 2), des polynies récurrentes situées entre de petites îles (dont la plupart ont une superficie < 10 ha et une profondeur < 15 m). Durant les hivers très rigoureux, seules persistent les polynies. En mars 1998 et 1999, nous avons relevé les espèces et le nombre d'oiseaux et de mammifères marins présents à dix polynies et le long de quatre lisières de glace de rive autour des îles Belcher. Afin de nous aider à interpréter nos observations, nous avons aussi procédé à la collecte de savoir écologique traditionnel auprès des Inuit de la région. On a observé de grandes volées d'eider à duvet Somateria mollissima (200 à 12 500 oiseaux) le long de floes, et on en a trouvé de petits groupes dans quelques polynies. On a également observé à plusieurs endroits la présence de l'eider à tête grise S. spectabilis, toujours en association avec l'eider à duvet. On a souvent retrouvé le harelde kakawi Clangula hyemalis (en volées de 100 à 500 oiseaux), et ce, surtout dans les polynies. Nos relevés de l'eider à tête grise révèlent, pour cette espèce, une expansion notable de son territoire septentrional au Canada durant l'hiver. On a observé le grand corbeau Corvus corax et le harfang des neiges Nyctea scandiaca sur la lisière de la glace de rive. Les corbeaux se nourrissaient des restes de phoques tués par les chasseurs inuit et les ours polaires Ursus maritimus, et il semble que les harfangs chassaient le canard de mer qui s'aventurait la nuit sur la lisière de glace. On a vu de façon régulière des phoques barbus Erignathus barbatus et des phoques annelés Phoca hispida dans les polynies et au bord des floes. Un bélouga Delphinapterus leucas a été aperçu par nos guides inuit le long d'une lisière occidentale de glace de rive, et trois morses Odobenus rosmarus ont été observés au bord d'un floe longeant la rive méridionale des îles Belcher. Il est évident que les petites polynies récurrentes et les bords des floes de glace autour des îles Belcher représentent un habitat d'hivernage majeur pour le harelde kakawi ainsi que l'eider à duvet et l'eider à tête grise

Evidence of Population Declines among Common Eiders Breeding in the Belcher Islands, Northwest Territories

Information regarding the status of common eiders, Somateria mollissima, breeding in the Canadian Arctic is sorely lacking. In 1997, we surveyed five island archipelagoes in the Belcher Islands in Hudson Bay (56 00 - 57 30 N, 79 30 - 80 00 W) from 3 to 23 July. Our results were compared with eider surveys of the same islands completed between 1985 and 1989 using a standard protocol. We found 1416 eiders on 431 islands. Most (94.1%) were found while the female was still incubating. In all five island groups surveyed, the number of nesting eiders declined significantly (overall decline of 75.0% from 1985-88 to 1997, range: 62.3-84.0%). In 1997, nesting islands and adjacent waters were free of ice, and eiders nested early and laid large clutches (range: 4.0-4.4±1.0-1.2 SD). These conditions indicate a good nesting season, and we inferred that extensive nonbreeding by female eiders in 1997 did not account for the observed decline. A large reported die-off of eiders during the winter of 1991-92, which occurred when areas of open water froze, was the most likely cause of the decline. Our results raise serious conservation concerns, because eider populations are sensitive to reductions in adult survival and this population is harvested throughout the year by subsistence hunters.On a grandement besoin d'information sur le statut de l'eider à duvet Somateria mollissima qui niche dans l'Arctique canadien. En 1997, du 3 au 23 juillet, on a effectué des relevés dans cinq archipels des îles Belcher situées dans la baie d'Hudson (56°00'-57°30' N., 79°30'-80°00' O.) On a comparé nos résultats suivant un protocole normalisé à des relevés d'eiders effectués dans les mêmes îles entre 1985 et 1989. On a trouvé 1416 eiders dans 431 îles. La plupart (94,1 p. cent) ont été relevés alors que la femelle était encore en train de couver. Dans chacun des cinq groupes d'îles étudiés, le nombre d'eiders nicheurs avait enregistré une baisse importante (déclin global de 75,0 p. cent de 1985 à 1989, fourchette de 62,3 à 84,0 p. cent). En 1997, les îles de nidification et les eaux adjacentes étaient libres de glace; les eiders ont niché tôt et la taille des pontes était importante (fourchette: 4,0 à 4,4 ± écart-type de 1,0 à 1,2). Ces conditions sont révélatrices d'une bonne saison de reproduction, et nous en déduisons que la non-reproduction généralisée par les eiders femelles en 1997 n'explique pas le déclin enregistré. C'est très probablement la mortalité massive d'eiders enregistrée au cours de l'hiver de 1991-92, survenue quand les surfaces d'eau libre ont gelé, qui a été responsable du déclin. Nos résultats soulèvent d'importantes questions en matière de conservation, car les populations d'eiders sont sensibles aux baisses de survie adulte et que, tout au long de l'année, cette population fait l'objet de prélèvements dans le cadre de la chasse de subsistance

BIOMECHANICS OF GOAL-KICKING ACCURACY IN AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL USING AN INERTIAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

Accurate goal-kicking is important to a team’s success in Australian Football (AF). However, it remains a largely unexplored area in sport biomechanics. This study examined technical aspects of goal-kicking accuracy using an inertial measurement system (IMS). Two junior AF players performed 15x20m goal-kicks in the field. Kinematics were measured using the Xsens MVN link IMS (240Hz). Results showed that both players had greater support leg (p\u3c0.04; d\u3e1.0) and kick leg (d\u3e1.0) knee flexion during accurate goal-kicks. Individual differences were reported for footspeed and shank angular velocities for accurate goal-kicks. These individual differences highlight the need to conduct an individual-based analysis in goal-kicking research

A GNSS-based method to define athlete manoeuvrability in field-based team sports

This study presented a method of quantifying the manoeuvrability of two field-based team sport athletes and investigated its relationship with running velocity during competition. Across a season, 10 Hz Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) devices were worn during matches by 62 athletes (Australian Football League [AFL]; n = 36, 17 matches, National Rugby League [NRL]; n = 26, 21 matches). To quantify manoeuvrability, tortuosity was calculated from the X and Y coordinates from match GNSS files (converted from latitude and longitude). Tortuosity was calculated as 100 x natural logarithm of the chord distance (distance travelled between X and Y coordinates), divided by the straight-line distance. The maximal tortuosity was then quantified for each 0.5 m∙s-1 speed increment, ranging from 0 to the highest value for each game file. A quadratic model was fitted for each match file, controlling for the curvilinear relationship between tortuosity and velocity. A comparison of the quadratic coefficients between sports, and within sport between positions was investigated using linear mixed models. Resulting standard deviations (SDs) and mean differences were then assessed to establish standardized effect sizes (ES) and 90% confidence intervals (CI). A curvilinear relationship exists between maximal tortuosity and running speed, reflecting that as speed increases, athletes’ ability to deviate from a linear path is compromised (i.e., run in a more linear path). Compared to AFL, NRL had a greater negative quadratic coefficient (a) (ES = 0.70; 0.47 to 0.93) for the 5 second analysis, meaning that as speed increased, NRL athletes’ manoeuvrability reduced at a faster rate than when compared to AFL. There were no positional differences within each sport. GNSS derived information can be used to provide a measure of manoeuvrability tortuosity during NRL and AFL matches. The curvilinear relationship between tortuosity and speed demonstrated that as speed increased, manoeuvrability was compromised

A Good Life in Later Years: A Co-Produced Research Project

The ‘A Good Life Project’ evolved as a co-production study looking at quality of life in later years. Funded by the Life Changes Trust, and in partnership with Age Scotland, researchers from the University of Stirling worked hand in hand with community researchers all over Scotland to explore what really matters to people as they grow older