A Mesolithic settlement site at Howick, Northumberland: a preliminary report

Excavations at a coastal site at Howick during 2000 and 2002 have revealed evidence for a substantial Mesolithic settlement and a Bronze Age cist cemetery. Twenty one radiocarbon determinations of the earlier eighth millennium BP (Cal.) indicate that the Mesolithic site is one of the earliest known in northern Britain. An 8m core of sediment was recovered from stream deposits adjacent to the archaeological site which provides information on local environmental conditions. Howick offers a unique opportunity to understand aspects of hunter-gatherer colonisation and settlement during a period of rapid palaeogeographical change around the margins of the North Sea basin, at a time when it was being progressively inundated by the final stages of the postglacial marine transgression. The cist cemetery will add to the picture of Bronze Age occupation of the coastal strip and again reveals a correlation between the location of Bronze Age and Mesolithic sites which has been observed elsewhere in the region

Does gender really matter when we are talking about energy saving attitudes and behaviours?

Some studies indicate that women tend to be more pro-environmental than men, since they buy more green products, play a more active role in the separation of packages for recycling and display behaviour that is more favourable in regard to saving energy resources. With a specific focus on gender differences, this study aims to compare English and Portuguese students’ attitudes and behaviours in relation to energy saving. Three universities participated in this study, one from Portugal (PT) and two from the United Kingdom (UK), with data collected through a questionnaire. The results point to a number of significant differences in relation to gender between the respondents from the two countries, and some consistent trends in gender differences across the whole sample and the sub-samples from the different countries. The key trends identified overall are that female students are significantly more likely to express positive attitudes towards energy saving, and to undertake energy-saving behaviours. Differences between the sub-samples are relatively small compared to the similarities between them, suggesting that gender differences are reasonably consistent across the two countries

Behavioural Approaches in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

The potential of behavioural approaches for improving the lives of people with acquired brain injury is immense. Here that potential is laid out and explored with a thoroughgoing regard for clinical practice and the theoretical frameworks that underpin that practice. This book will prove an invaluable resource for clinical psychologists and the whole range of therapists working with patients suffering from acquired brain damage

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry positioning protocols in assessing body composition: A systematic review of the literature:A systematic review of the literature

OBJECTIVES: To systematically identify and assess methods and protocols used to reduce technical and biological errors in published studies that have investigated reliability of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for assessing body composition. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: Systematic searches of five databases were used to identify studies of DXA reliability. Two independent reviewers used a modified critical appraisal tool to assess their methodological quality. Data was extracted and synthesised using a level of evidence approach. Further analysis was then undertaken of methods used to decrease DXA errors (technical and biological) and so enhance DXA reliability. RESULTS: Twelve studies met eligibility criteria. Four of the articles were deemed high quality. Quality articles considered biological and technical errors when preparing participants for DXA scanning. The Nana positioning protocol was assessed to have a strong level of evidence. The studies providing this evidence indicated very high test–retest reliability (ICC 0.90–1.00 or less than 1% change in mean) of the Nana positioning protocol. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) positioning protocol was deemed to have a moderate level of evidence due to lack of high quality studies. However, the available studies found the NHANES positioning protocol had very high test–retest reliability. Evidence is limited and reported reliability has varied in papers where no specific positioning protocol was used or reported. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the strong level of evidence of excellent test–retest reliability that supports use of the Nana positioning protocol, it is recommended as the first choice for clinicians when using DXA to assess body composition

Evaluating the engagement of universities in capacity building for sustainable development in local communities

Universities have the potential to play a leading role in enabling communities to develop more sustainable ways of living and working however, sustainable communities may only emerge with facilitation, community learning and continual efforts to build their capacities. Elements of programme planning and evaluation on the one hand, and capacity building on the other, are needed. The latter entails approaches and processes that may contribute to community empowerment; universities may either lead such approaches, or be key partners in an endeavour to empower communities to address the challenges posed by the need for sustainable development. Although capacity building and the promotion of sustainable development locally, are on the agenda for universities who take seriously regional engagement, very little is published that illustrates or describes the various forms of activities that take place. Further, there is a paucity of studies that have evaluated the work performed by universities in building capacity for sustainable development at the local level. This paper is an attempt to address this need, and entails an empirical study based on a sample of universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal and Brazil. The paper examines the extent to which capacity building for sustainable development is being undertaken, suggests the forms that this might take and evaluates some of the benefits for local communities. The paper concludes by reinforcing that universities have a critical role to play in community development; that role has to prioritise the sustainability agenda

An analysis of the measurement of the construct “buying behaviour” in green marketing

The process behind people´s decisions to buy green products is a complex one, and the factors that influence purchase behaviours are still not fully understood. This paper is an attempt to contribute to the state of knowledge in this field, by providing an analysis of the measurement of the construct buying behaviour in green marketing. In particular, it reports on the results of a study involving a sample of 1175 university students from four countries using a survey approach to test a green behavioural model. The method of data collection took the form of a self-administered questionnaire. The results gathered in the research have shown that the Straughan and Roberts’ scale of green buying behaviour studied presents a high level of reliability, above other commonly used scales and is a useful measure of green buying behaviour; some of the findings may help to improve the effectiveness of green marketing

Behavioural Approaches in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

The potential of behavioural approaches for improving the lives of people with acquired brain injury is immense. Here that potential is laid out and explored with a thoroughgoing regard for clinical practice and the theoretical frameworks that underpin that practice. This book will prove an invaluable resource for clinical psychologists and the whole range of therapists working with patients suffering from acquired brain damage

Food spoilage in beeswax impregnated cotton cloth wraps compared to standard storage methods

Beeswax food wraps have gained popularity as a sustainable, natural alternative to single use options such as plastic bags, plastic wrap, and wax paper. Despite limited evidence, sellers advertise beeswax wraps as having antimicrobial benefits that help food stay fresh longer. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the ability of beeswax impregnated cotton cloth to inhibit food spoilage relative to traditional methods. We designed a prospective trial in which strawberry, bread, and cheese specimens were wrapped in one of the 3 materials: 1) beeswax impregnated cotton cloth, 2) wax paper, or 3) plastic bags alone and followed for 15 days at 65oF for progression of mold growth and other signs of deterioration. For most specimen/timepoint combinations (87%), we found no differences between storage methods. For the 13% of specimen/timepoint combinations where we did note a significant difference, beeswax wraps fared the worst. While beeswax wraps may be preferred as a natural food storage material, their ability to preserve food is no better than conventional options

A new model for testing green consumer behaviour

Several models of green consumer behaviour have sought to explain the relationship between green attitudes and the behaviours of individuals related to green consumption, based on traditional theories. Nevertheless, it has been difficult to develop an optimum or even a consensual model to predict green consumer behaviour. This paper seeks to examine the links between a set of constructs, in order to propose a model for green consumer behaviour based on a different set of antecedents of buying behaviour: prosocial attitude, the value placed on green, and green communication. Data was gathered through a survey, taking the form of a self-administered questionnaire; analysis took the form of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results show that general prosocial attitudes have a direct influence on green consumption values, and that green advertising seems to positively influence buying behaviour. The relationship between these concepts is important to consider when developing green marketing campaigns and communication to influence further green behaviour