Regulatory Taking: A Contract Approach

This Article begins by defining the parameters of the fifth amendment\u27s taking clause. The Article then reviews the various tests used in determining whether governmental action constitutes a taking, and discusses the recent Supreme Court decisions within the framework of case law as it has evolved since the Court\u27s 1922 landmark decision, Pennsylvania Coal Co. v. Mahon. Finally, the Article suggests a formula based on well-established contract principles for analyzing the impact of land use regulation on private property interests

A new, more efficient waterwheel design for very-low-head hydropower schemes

Very-low-head hydropower constitutes a large untapped renewable energy source, estimated at 1 GW in the UK alone. A new type of low-impact waterwheel has been developed and tested at Abertay University in Scotland to improve the economic viability of such schemes. For example, on a 2·5 m high weir in the UK with 5 m3/s mean flow, one waterwheel could produce an annual investment return of 7·5% for over 100 years. This paper describes the evolution of the design and reports on scale-model tests. These show that the new design harnesses significant potential and kinetic energy to generate power and handles over four times as much water per metre width compared to traditional designs

The last digital revolution?

Critical appraisal of the Barbican Centre's Digital Revolution exhibition

The D Word

This piece, in the context of a volume concerned with art in public spaces, frames a discussion on the distinctions between art and design

South Devon Reef Video Baseline Surveys for the Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound & Eddystone cSAC and Surrounding Areas

This report presents the results of a video survey of the Annex 1 reefs of Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone candidate SAC, the Prawle Point to Start Point possible SAC, and of the Torbay portion of the Lyme Bay & Torbay candidate SAC, as undertaken by the University of Plymouth for the benefit of Natural England. The resulting dataset aims to provide a baseline for future monitoring surveys.publishedVersio

Creativity

Creativity, in its countless forms and expressions, is evident in every aspect of life. The title of one who is deemed to be creative is often reserved for those who wield paintbrushes, cameras, or a well-worn pair of ballet slippers. Yet possessing the quality or power of creating that results from original thought and expression is not limited to college art majors and eccentrics. Creativity plays a role in the life of every person around the globe and has been found to have numerous positive effects. The concrete definition of creativity is the state or quality of being creative; creative ability or process (Webster, 1989). The more creative definition might follow along the lines of Peter Koestenbaumas interpretation that creativity is harnessing universality and making it flow through your eyes (Cameron, 1992, p. 3). Throughout this review the term creativity will be used to encompass both concrete and abstract ideas and all of those acts which involve any part of the creative process and expression of thought, not just those belonging to so-called artists. Beginning with the most basic element, creativity affects the individual on several closely related levels. From birth to passing, a person will travel through many phases of life in which they will explore who they are and what their purpose is. Through creativity, people develop stronger senses of self-esteem and self-confidence as well as the ability to express themselves in unique ways. With these kinds of personal skills they are able to continuously grow, develop, and become productive individuals. Creativity allows people to function within the parameters of their communities and greater societies and to have successful relationships with those around them. Creativity brings meaning to life, gives hope to those in need of a brighter outlook, provides the knowledge that there are choices and opportunities available for living, and even assists in the inevitable process of aging. Beyond the individual, society as a whole encompasses its own set of parameters in which we must learn to exist. From the classroom to the workplace to the one wider social circle, creativity plays a role. For instance, the arts in schools have been a long-standing issue of debate. However, since creativity is not limited to arts programs, it can assist with the learning process as a whole by improving an array of skills as well as grades and test scores. In the workplace, the ability to be creative is a draw for potential employers and a skill that is useful in terms of competition in business and industry. In the larger communities in which people live, creativity and creative expression help them to better understand one another, to appreciate different cultures and points of view, and to deal with unforeseen occurrences such as trauma and disaster.The most far-reaching sector of life involves the role of creativity in the world. Encompassed here are several areas including the global market and economy, problem solving, and historical patterns of creativity throughout time as it applies to survival, discovery, invention, innovation, and progress. Creativity has, and will continue to, enhance the world at large and allow every individual to move toward the future

‘It depends on us’: The experiences of fifteen young Burmese migrants living in the border town of Mae Sot, Thailand

The Burmese diaspora in Thailand attracts significant academic attention. However, the voices of migrant Burmese children are largely unexplored and often ignored altogether. On arriving in Thailand young migrants find themselves located within a new cultural, social, and linguistically different geographic space. Underpinned by the recognition that migrant youth actively engage with the world around them, this study challenges the idea that young migrants are passive bearers of circumstance. Rather, as they seek education in Thailand they exercise their agency in unique ways by performing their cultural traditions, creating their ‘own place’, navigating opportunities, voicing critical political opinions, displaying resilience and setting future goals. Using the participatory method of ‘photo-voice’ this research explores the everyday experiences and stories of fifteen Burmese migrant children living in Thailand as they present them through photography. The participants, most of whom crossed the border unaccompanied, have assessed the relative opportunities available to them in Burma and Thailand. They have chosen to endure the hardships associated with living in a marginalised space away from their parents, culture and country in order to gain an education in Thailand. Technically considered ‘illegal’, these young migrants are facing their present challenges, setting life goals and bending the rules in order to receive an education and establish successful futures

The Influence of Data Resolution on Predicted Distribution and Estimates of Extent of Current Protection of Three 'Listed' Deep-Sea Habitats

Modelling approaches have the potential to significantly contribute to the spatial management of the deep-sea ecosystem in a cost effective manner. However, we currently have little understanding of the accuracy of such models, developed using limited data, of varying resolution. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of predictive models constructed using non-simulated (real world) data of different resolution. Predicted distribution maps for three deep-sea habitats were constructed using MaxEnt modelling methods using high resolution multibeam bathymetric data and associated terrain derived variables as predictors. Model performance was evaluated using repeated 75/25 training/test data partitions using AUC and threshold-dependent assessment methods. The overall extent and distribution of each habitat, and the percentage contained within an existing MPA network were quantified and compared to results from low resolution GEBCO models. Predicted spatial extent for scleractinian coral reef and Syringammina fragilissima aggregations decreased with an increase in model resolution, whereas Pheronema carpenteri total suitable area increased. Distinct differences in predicted habitat distribution were observed for all three habitats. Estimates of habitat extent contained within the MPA network all increased when modelled at fine scale. High resolution models performed better than low resolution models according to threshold-dependent evaluation. We recommend the use of high resolution multibeam bathymetry data over low resolution bathymetry data for use in modelling approaches. We do not recommend the use of predictive models to produce absolute values of habitat extent, but likely areas of suitable habitat. Assessments of MPA network effectiveness based on calculations of percentage area protection (policy driven conservation targets) from low resolution models are likely to be fit for purpose