Visual portrayals of fun in the sun in European news outlets misrepresent heatwave risks

This is the author accepted manuscript. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.The ways in which news media communicate about heatwaves can influence how society conceptualises and addresses heatwave risks. We examined visual news coverage of the 2019 heatwaves in France, Germany, the Netherlands and UK, using content and visual critical discourse analyses. Many visuals were positively valenced (in contrast to article texts), framing heatwaves as ‘fun in the sun’. The most prevalent type of images in all countries were photographs of people having fun in or by water. When images did depict the danger of heat extremes, people were largely absent. We conclude that this visual framing of heatwaves is problematic: first, by displacing concerns of vulnerability, it marginalises the experiences of those vulnerable to heatwaves; and second, it excludes opportunities for imagining a more resilient future. We conclude with suggestions to diversify the visual discourse on climate change and heatwaves in the news media.Leverhulme TrustEconomic and Social Research Council (ESRC

Cluster illumination differentially affects growth of fruits along their ontogeny in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.).

Shading highbush blueberry plants generally leads to a delayed fruit development. Experiments have been performed to study the effects of light on fruit growth independently from the rest of the canopy. Clusters were shaded during different fruit growth periods. The equatorial diameter of the fruits as a function of days after full bloom followed a double-sigmoidal growth pattern, being fitted using a Gompertz II nonlinear mixed model, and absolute growth rates were obtained from each fitted model. Both whole-cycle shaded and second-stage shaded fruits showed a delayed peak in absolute growth curves with respect to both first-stage shaded and whole-cycle unshaded controls. Our results suggest that deficiency of light during the last stage of highbush blueberry fruits may lead to a substantial delay (of about 10–16 days) in harvest as compared with well-illuminated fruits. In order to estimate the contribution of intrinsic fruit photosynthesis to its own growth at different stages, clusters were subjected to girdling on their peduncles at different times. Girdling just before the second-stage resulted in fruits gaining between 35 and 40% of dry weight in comparison with the controls. This suggests that fruit photosynthesis may play a relevant role in fruit growth during the second sigmoidal stage, which in turn may contribute to explain the delayed growth observed in shaded fruits

Kaifa Taktub Khothot Taswiqiyyah Najiyah

120 hal.; 24 c

Social support in older transgender and gender diverse communities in the United Kingdom and Australia : a comparative study during Covid-19

While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older people has been recognized, there is limited understanding of its impact on older trans and gender diverse people who often have different experiences of care and support than the general population. This article examines older trans and gender diverse people’s experience of social support during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a comparative mixed method survey administered in Australia and the United Kingdom. Using a non-probability sample of 84 participants who were connected to social media and service organizations in the United Kingdom and Australia, we found some commonalities and differences between experiences in these countries. Some participants were isolated, including almost 1 in 5 participants who said that they did not have someone they could call upon in an emergency. However, participants had rich networks of friends, partners, and family members. Religious organizations and the community also played an important role. Friends were reported as the main emergency contacts and as the main people to whom support is provided. This research supports previous findings that friends of trans and gender diverse people play an important role in well-being