Three participatory geographers: reflections on positionality and working with participants in researching religions, spiritualities, and faith

This paper advances the geographies of religion, spirituality and faith's limited attention to positionality by discussing the critical issues raised when using participatory approaches. Reflecting on three cases of participatory research, we foreground the dynamics of being a researcher with faith when working with participants from faith communities. Advocating participatory approaches as valuable methodologies that should be used more extensively to explore beliefs, faith practices, and social justice, we argue that greater attention needs to be given to the positionality of researchers undertaking this sort of research. Our cases raise three themes for discussion. First, the variety of ways in which faith positionalities influence how research is developed, conducted and concluded. Second, the intersections between our faith and other positionalities and how they shape our roles and relationships with research participants. Third, the fluid and multifaceted nature of faith positionalities and how they are changed, emphasized, and softened through the dynamics and entanglements of fieldwork. In doing so, we reflect on the complexities of being a researcher with faith, argue that faith positionality is a helpful dimension of their research rather than a limitation, and that all cultural, social and historical geographical researchers should reflect on their faith positionality

(E, Z)-2, 6-nonadien-1-al and (E)-2-nonen-1-al Present in Crushed Cucumbers are Natural Repellents for the American Cockroach (Periplaneta Americana)

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, Kansas State UniversityThe compounds (E, Z)-2,6-nonadien-l-al and (E)-2-nonen-l-al that are present in crushed cucumbers were found to repel 98% of American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana L., when present at concentrations of 50 ppm in a test chamber

Radio-frequency reflectometry on an undoped AlGaAs/GaAs single electron transistor

Radio frequency reflectometry is demonstrated in a sub-micron undoped AlGaAs/GaAs device. Undoped single electron transistors (SETs) are attractive candidates to study single electron phenomena due to their charge stability and robust electronic properties after thermal cycling. However these devices require a large top-gate which is unsuitable for the fast and sensitive radio frequency reflectometry technique. Here we demonstrate rf reflectometry is possible in an undoped SET.Comment: Four pages, three figures, one supplementary fil

Bergmann's body size rule operates in facultatively endothermic insects: evidence from a complex of cryptic bumblebee species

According to Bergmann’s rule we expect species with larger body size to inhabit locations with a cooler climate, where they may be well adapted to conserve heat and resist starvation. This rule is generally applied to endotherms. In contrast, body size in ectothermic invertebrates has been suggested to follow the reverse ecogeographic trend: these converse Bergmann’s patterns may be driven by the ecological constraints of shorter season length and lower food availability in cooler high latitude locations. Such patterns are particularly common in large insects due to their longer development times. As large and facultatively endothermic insects, bumblebees could thus be expected to follow either trend. In this investigation, we studied body size of three bumblebee species over a large spatial area and investigated whether interspecific trends in body size correspond to differences in their distribution consistent with either Bergmann’s or a converse Bergmann’s rule. We examined the body size of queens, males and workers of the Bombus lucorum complex of cryptic bumblebee species from across the whole of Great Britain. We found interspecific differences in body size corresponding to Bergmann’s rule: queens and males of the more northerly distributed, cool-adapted, species were largest. In contrast, the mean body size of the worker caste did not vary between the three species. These differences in body size may have evolved under selection pressures for thermoregulation or starvation resistance. We suggest that this case study in facultatively endothermic insects may help clarify the selection pressures governing Bergmann rule trends more generally

Malignant Pancreatic Polypeptide Secreting Tumour of Islet Cells: A Case for Aggressive Surgical Palliation

A case of a malignant pancreatic polypeptide secreting tumour is reported. The tumour was metastatic at presentation at which time it was excised. Pancreatic duct obstruction occurred 3 years after excision causing severe pain on eating. Major palliative surgery, in the form of a pancreatico-jejunostomy, cured the severe symptoms. The patient survives, largely symptom free, over six years after original excision. This case illustrates the need for aggressive management of symptoms in tumours in which long term survival is possible despite locally advanced or metastatic disease

Advanced aerodynamic research. Final technical report

A two-dimensional inviscid flow-field code was developed to assess the magnitude and impact of local pressure variations on a curved planar surface. The code uses a unique formation of the governing conservation equations in curvilinear streamtube coordinates which provides automatic grid generation and step control which are transparent to the user. The code is designed for straightforward extension to mixing-coupled condensing flows. This report includes (1) descriptions of the physical model and computer code; (2) example flow-field predictions/comparisons for selected test cases, and (3) a plan for code implementation to address and evaluate the condensation phenomena

Self-gravitating fluid shells and their non-spherical oscillations in Newtonian theory

We summarize the general formalism describing surface flows in three-dimensional space in a form which is suitable for various astrophysical applications. We then apply the formalism to the analysis of non-radial perturbations of self-gravitating spherical fluid shells. Spherically symmetric gravitating shells (or bubbles) have been used in numerous model problems especially in general relativity and cosmology. A radially oscillating shell was recently suggested as a model for a variable cosmic object. Within Newtonian gravity we show that self-gravitating static fluid shells are unstable with respect to linear non-radial perturbations. Only shells (bubbles) with a negative mass (or with a charge the repulsion of which is compensated by a tension) are stable.Comment: 20 pages, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal, typos correcte

On the principal bifurcation branch of a third order nonlinear long-wave equation

We study the principal bifurcation curve of a third order equation which describes the nonlinear evolution of several systems with a long--wavelength instability. We show that the main bifurcation branch can be derived from a variational principle. This allows to obtain a close estimate of the complete branch. In particular, when the bifurcation is subcritical, the large amplitude stable branch can be found in a simple manner.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure