Book review: Philosophy for life and other dangeroussituations by Jules Evans

In Philosophy for Life And Other Dangerous Situations, Jules Evans explains how ancient philosophy saved his life, and how we might all use it to become happier, wiser, and more resilient. Jules explores how ancient philosophy can inspire modern communities – Socratic cafes, Stoic armies, Platonic sects, Sceptic summer camps – and even whole nations in their quest for the good life. Jonathan Simmons finds that Evans successfully delivers in his attempt to bring a therapeutic model of philosophy to general readers, but has reservations about the author’s approach

The Formation of a Bubble from a Submerged Orifice

The formation of a single bubble from an orifice in a solid surface, submerged in an in- compressible, viscous Newtonian liquid, is simulated. The finite element method is used to capture the multiscale physics associated with the problem and to track the evolution of the free surface explicitly. The results are compared to a recent experimental analysis and then used to obtain the global characteristics of the process, the formation time and volume of the bubble, for a range of orifice radii; Ohnesorge numbers, which combine the material parameters of the liquid; and volumetric gas flow rates. These benchmark calculations, for the parameter space of interest, are then utilised to validate a selection of scaling laws found in the literature for two regimes of bubble formation, the regimes of low and high gas flow rates.Comment: Accepted for publication in the European Journal of Mechanics B/Fluid

Autonomic Nervous System Response to Repeated Cold Exposure

Recent work suggests repeated cold exposure raises energy expenditure, partly due to sympathetic nervous system stimulation, which indicates repeated cold exposure as a possible strategy to combat obesity without significant behavioral changes. PURPOSE: (1) To examine the acute resting metabolic rate (RMR) response to mild cold exposure of 16° C and the acute autonomic nervous system (ANS) response to two cold exposures of 16° C and 4° C through heart rate variability (HRV) indices; and (2) to examine whether 4 weeks of daily cold exposure would result in adaptations in the metabolic and autonomic responses to acute cold exposure. METHODS: RMR and HRV measurements were used to measure acute cold exposure response at 22° C and prolonged cold exposure response after 90 minutes at 16° C. HRV measurements were also used for acute exposure at 22° C and continuously during 20 minutes of cold exposure at 4° C. RMR and ANS responses to 16° C following 20 sessions (400 minutes) of repeated cold exposure were measured. RMR was measured using a metabolic cart and ANS activity was examined through the measurement of HRV. RESULTS: A significant increase in RMR of 11% (p=0.03) and an increase in Total Power that approached significance (p=0.07) was measured after 90 minutes of exposure to 16° C. Upon exposure to 4° C, significant (p\u3c0.05) increases in Total Power, High Frequency, and RMSSD indices of HRV were measured with Low Frequency approaching significance (p=0.07). No significant findings were measured after repeated cold exposure in comparison to baseline measurements. CONCLUSION: Acute cold exposure of 16° C resulted in a significant increase in RMR of 11% with increased activation of the autonomic nervous system measured at both 16° C and 4° C. Twenty sessions of repeated cold exposure of 4° C did not significantly alter acute responses to cold exposure. There was no evidence of a change in autonomic balance toward a hyper-adrenergic state due to cold exposure. These findings suggest repeated cold exposure may be an effective tool for significantly increasing metabolic rate without changing autonomic balance toward a hyper-adrenergic state

A new methodology for the quantitative visualization of coherent flow structures in alluvial channels using multibeam echo-sounding (MBES)

In order to investigate the interactions between turbulence and suspended sediment transport in natural aqueous environments, we ideally require a technique that allows simultaneous measurement of fluid velocity and sediment concentration for the whole flow field. Here, we report on development of a methodology using the water column acoustic backscatter signal from a multibeam echo sounder to simultaneously quantify flow velocities and sediment concentrations. The application of this new technique is illustrated with reference to flow over the leeside of an alluvial sand dune, which allows, for the first time in a field study, quantitative visualization of large-scale, whole flow field, turbulent coherent flow structures associated with the dune leeside that are responsible for suspending bed sediment. This methodology holds great potential for use in a wide range of aqueous geophysical flows

Higher education in further education: Capturing and promoting HEness

This article discusses the implications of continuing to support the delivery of higher education (HE) in further education (FE) settings. Although a critical mass of students studying HE in Further Education Colleges (FECs) is significant in sustaining the viability of the provision, we argue that the qualitative dimensions to 'capturing HEness' are in need of further critical scrutiny. This is undertaken by highlighting the importance of institutional and individual autonomy in maintaining an HE culture, with specific reference to the curriculum, pedagogy, and research. Throughout, some key similarities and differences between HE and FE organisational practices and cultures are identified, and the various pressures which are simultaneously pulling the two apart, and together, are analysed. The article concludes by arguing that there are some grounds for cautious optimism but we must be mindful that both FE and HE need to retain practices and a culture, without which the essence of HEness could be compromised in both settings. © 2012 Copyright Further Education Research Association

Status of the tiger beetle Cicindela hirticollis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in New York City and on Long Island, New York, USA

Coastal species are under considerable threat from recreational activities and climate change. The tiger beetle Cicindela hirticollis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) was recorded historically from 30 locations along the shores of New York City and Long Island, New York. We conducted surveys for extant populations of this species at 40 sites from 1989 to 2010. Adults of C. hirticollis were found at 13 beaches. Only four sites had 40 or more adults of C. hirticollis active at the time the beach was surveyed. No beetles were detected on the large coastal beaches that were formerly occupied by this species. Many coastal beaches of New York receive heavy human foot and vehicle traffic and are therefore unlikely to provide suitable habitat for C. hirticollis without a shift in beach management that recognizes the potential of some beaches as wilderness systems capable of supporting the full array of beach-dependent species

Sustainability lies in the soil

An experimental system developed in partnership by vegetable growers Produce World Ltd’s Mr Jonathan Tole and Cranfield University’s Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Soil Management, Dr Robert Simmons, is poised to revolutionise the way farmers manage their soils. Together, the researchers are unlocking the potential of soils through the new science of agri-informatics and their innovative, collaborative Soil-for-Life® management system

Classrooms and Minefields

Graduate school is a time of personal and professional challenges and changes. Engaging in personal reflection about your identity and your goals can help you make sense of these changes. Set and enforce your own personal and professional boundaries to protect all the parts of your identity; learn to recognize your own triggers and prioritize your own self-care. Create a set of lifelines—people and resources you can be vulnerable with and can turn to for both personal and professional challenges. You will need different lifelines to help with different problems such as identity whiplash or the many landmines you may hit. Recognize that each lifeline person will offer you a different set of responses

Politics, Individualism, and Atheism: An Examination of the Political Attitudes of Atheist Activists in a Canadian City

Given the growth of atheism in the Western world (including activist organizations), and atheists becoming more political, it is essential to understand the identities and values that motivate atheist activism. One avenue for exploring these identities and values is through an examination of individual political attitudes. Although the scholarship on atheist activists’ political attitudes is limited, some scholars have identified the apparent growth of right-wing sentiments within the US atheist movement (LeDrew 2016). Others have identified a contentious relationship between prominent atheists’ political attitudes and egalitarian views (e.g., anti-sexism and anti-racism) (Amarasingam, Amarnath, and Brewster 2016). Of those scholars who have commented on atheists’ viewpoints, most emphasize the liberalism of the broader population of atheists. The purpose of this article is to examine the political attitudes of atheist activists in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and highlight a core set of political attitudes and values that atheists share despite intra-movement disagreements about the relationship between atheist identity and political ideology. My findings show that some Canadian atheist activists’ share a cluster of liberal and Enlightenment ideals that includes personal liberty, individualism, and an absolutist view of free expression. This article will be of interest to scholars of atheist activism as well as social movement scholars