Characteristics of early Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) catches based on otoliths recovered from archaeological excavations at medieval to early modern sites in northern Norway

We compared stock origin, size- and age-distributions, and length growth rates derived from Atlantic cod otoliths from archaeological excavations at two sites in northern Norway: Vágar in Lofoten (68◦12 N, ad 1156–1285) and the Værbukta site (70◦57 N, ad 1450–1680). For comparison, modern otoliths were sampled during 1993–2001 from areas situated close to Vágar and Værbukta. Length-at-age from pre-20th century samples was back-calculated from otolith growth increments. The pre-20th century cod from Vágar was dominated by northeast Arctic cod (NEAC) of age 9–16 years and were much older and larger than the pre-20th century cod from Værbukta, which were dominated by coastal cod of age 2–6 years. Cod from Vágar had smaller increments and a shorter back-calculated length-at-age than modern cod from Lofoten. In contrast, the predominantly coastal cod from Værbukta had similar increments width and length-at-age as in modern samples. Age-distributions and mortality rates of the pre-20th century Vágar cod and NEAC from Lofoten in the 1930s were similar, indicating that both age at maturity and longevity were similar for these time periods. This contrasts with truncated and young age-distributions of spawning NEAC in the 1980s and 1990s following the strong increase in fishing and total mortality rate in the period 1955–2000

Mindfulness in primary school children as a route to enhanced life satisfaction, positive outlook and effective emotion regulation

Background: Mindfulness programmes as a potential avenue of enhancing pupil wellbeing are beginning to show great promise. However, research concerning the effectiveness of mindfulness training for primary aged school children (7-11 years of age) has been neglected. Methods: Building on methodological limitations of prior research, this study employed an active controlled design to assess the longer term wellbeing and emotion regulation outcomes after a 6 week mindfulness programme (Living Mindfully Programme, UK), for a group of school children aged between 9 and 10. The programme was delivered by class teachers as part of their normal curriculum entitlement. One hundred and eight children took part from across three schools in North East of England. Participants formed a treatment group (n=64), active control (n=19) and wait list control (n=25). Self-report measures of wellbeing, mindfulness and emotion regulation were collected at pre and post training as well as at 3 months follow up. Results: Reliable findings, judged by medium to large effect sizes across both post intervention, follow-up and between both controls, demonstrated enhancement in a number of domains. Immediately after training and follow up, when compared with the wait list control, children who received mindfulness training showed significant improvements in mindfulness (d =.76 and.77), Positive Outlook (d =.55 and.64) and Life Satisfaction (d =.65 and 0.72). Even when compared to an active control, the effects remained although diminished reflecting the positive impact of the active control condition. Furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between changes in mindfulness and changes in cognitive reappraisal. Conclusions: Taken together, this study provides preliminary evidence that the Living Mindfully Primary Programme is feasibly delivered by school staff, enjoyed by the children and may significantly improve particular components of wellbeing. Importantly, higher levels of mindfulness as a result of training may be related to effective emotional regulatory and cognitive reappraisal strategies

An Interim Report of a Viking-Age & Medieval Archaeofauna from Undir Junkarinsfløtti, Sandoy, Faroe Islands

Cooperative international excavations at the site of Undir Junkarinsfløtti (27020) in the village of Sandur on the island of Sandoy, Faroe Islands in May 2003 recovered a stratified bone - rich midden deposit extending from the Viking Age to the early medieval period. The animal bone collection contains domestic mammals (cattle, sheep, dog, goat, and pig) and substantial amounts of fish (mainly cod), birds (mainly puffin and guillemot), and shellfish (mainly limpet). While the current collection has the archaeological limitations inherent in column samples, it suggests persistence of substantial pig keeping into the 13th c, and strongly indicates a sustainable exploitation of sea bird colonies as well as some preparation of preserved fish on site. The site has considerable potential for shedding light on early Faroese economy and the environmental impact of the local Viking age settlers

Patterns and repeatability of multi-ecotype assemblages of sympatric salmonids

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Puffins, Pigs, Cod, and Barley: Palaeoeconomy at Undir Junkarinsfløtti, Sandoy, Faroe Islands

This paper reports on the zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical remains from the initial season of excavations at the Norse period site at Undir Junkarinsfløtti in the Faroe islands. These remains represent the first zooarchaeological analysis undertaken for the Faroes and only the third archaeobotanical assemblage published from the islands. The excavated deposits are described and the key findings from the palaeoenvironmental remains highlighted within the context of the wider North Atlantic environmental archaeology of the Norse period

Puffins, Pigs, Cod, and Barley: Palaeoeconomy at Undir Junkarinsfløtti, Sandoy, Faroe Islands

This paper reports on the zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical remains from the initial season of excavations at the Norse period site at Undir Junkarinsfløtti in the Faroe islands. These remains represent the first zooarchaeological analysis undertaken for the Faroes and only the third archaeobotanical assemblage published from the islands. The excavated deposits are described and the key findings from the palaeoenvironmental remains highlighted within the context of the wider North Atlantic environmental archaeology of the Norse period

Study of intercooling for rotating packed bed absorbers in intensified solvent-based CO2 capture process

Rotating packed beds (RPBs) are a compact and potentially more cost-effective alternative to packed beds for application in solvent-based carbon capture process. However, with concentrated monoethanolamine (MEA) (up to 70–80 wt%) as the solvent, there is a question as to whether intercooler is needed for the RPB absorbers and how to design and operate them. This study indicates that the liquid phase temperature could rise significantly and this makes it essential for RPB absorber to have intercoolers. This is further assessed using a validated RPB absorber model implemented in gPROMS ModelBuilder® by evaluating the impact of temperature on absorption performance. Different design options for RPB absorber intercoolers (stationary vs rotary) were introduced and their potential sizes and associated pressure drop were evaluated based on a large scale flue gas benchmark of a 250 MWe Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant. This paper addresses a fundamental question about intercooling in RPB absorber and introduces strategies for the intercooler design