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Trains and Brains: Splitting the Self in Sensation Fiction
No full textThis article will study the relationships between mid-nineteenth century developments in the understanding of psychology and the influence of rail networks. It will take a selection of Sensation fiction as its case study, a genre that has already been detailed to have an intimate relationship with the railways. Considered by some cultural commentators to be ‘railway literature’ in itself, this genre depicts what Nicholas Daly calls ‘the modernisation of the senses’. Railway travel, and the rapidity of new modes of modernity, often dictate the movement of Sensation narratives, and this paper aims to explore the psychological effects of such innovation on the psyches of key characters within the chosen texts.
Critical analysis will be mainly focused on three texts, each from a different author in order to show the diverse representation of railway travel’s links with issues of the mind and self. Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Lady Audley’s Secret will be analysed with the mental states of both the titular Lady Audley and her investigator Robert Audley, and their use of rail travel, in mind. Wilkie Collins’s No Name will be examined in terms of the effects that rail travel has on identity, as well as how the technology is used as a plot device within the sensation narrative.
Bolstering the literary analysis will be an examination of the effect of the railway on social and individual psyches, as detailed by both historians and contemporary commentators. The paper draws many ideas from the work of Wolfgang Schivelbusch’s text The Railway Journey: The Industrialization of Time and Space; of particular interest are his Marxist interpretations of the space of the train carriage, and the essential liminality associated with it. As well as this, nineteenth-century psychology will also be addressed, including the influence of industry and networks on Herbert Spencer’s theories of Social Darwinism, and Sigmund Freud’s notion of the fugueur – a figure that emerged through his research and writing on trains and rail travel that subsequently influenced the quintessentially nineteenth-century idea of the flâneur. My paper will attempt to expose the psychological influence of rail travel on the individual self through an analysis of Sensation fiction, and how discourses of the two phenomena (railways and psychology) often seemed to share conceptual frameworks and lexical fields
What makes a ‘good man’? A mixed-methods exploration of UK adolescent attitudes towards masculinity
Get PDFThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Gender Studies on 24/01/2023, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2023.2170337Stereotypes of men (e.g., strong, domineering, assertive) can harm boys’ health and contribute to the normalization of sexual harassment. Yet research on how adolescents view masculinity is limited, particularly for those growing up during the #MeToo movement. Using a mixed-methods approach, we explore beliefs about masculinity in a sample of 16 to 19 year olds growing up in the UK (N = 129). Results from the quantitative analysis show that, compared to girls, boys report feeling more comfortable with media representations of hegemonic masculinity, greater adherence to hegemonic ideology, higher self-esteem, and less engagement with the topic. Results from the qualitative analysis reflected these findings; boys’ descriptions of masculinity were more reliant on hegemonic ideals, and they were less critical of the topic than girls. Despite recent narratives on masculinity’s place in society, this study suggests that boys are complacent about societal expectations to behave in line with gender stereotypes.AAM uploaded to ChesterRep 27/11/202
Evaluating Multicomponent Wellbeing Strategies: Theoretical and Methodological Insights
No full textThe literature on health and wellbeing interventions presents the need to build on the current evaluation frameworks and methodologies. There is a requirement to account for multifaceted nature of health and wellbeing interventions in organisations, operating amidst the dynamics of contextually bounded organisational change. There have also been demands to enhance evaluation of the intervention outcomes, so that they can be implemented in a cost-effective manner. We therefore propose to augment current evaluation approaches in two ways. Firstly, we suggest a shift of the focal point of analysis from single or combinations of a few health and wellbeing interventions to the organisation as a whole. We discuss the value of planned and emergent organisational change, so that we can achieve a more comprehensive understanding of organisational gains in wellbeing by tracing both intended and unintended mechanisms and outcomes. Methodologically, we propose that evaluators consider conducting longitudinal multiple case study designs. Secondly, we advocate cost-effectiveness approaches to evaluation, which in our view offer more than cost-benefit analysis and return on investment approaches, because of their ability to account for health and wellbeing gains in addition to economic costs of interventions
The Short Story in South Africa: Contemporary Trends and Perspectives
Get PDFThis is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in [The short story in South Africa: Contemporary trends and perspectives] on [25/03/2022], available online: http://www.routledge.com/The-Short-Story-in-South-Africa-Contemporary-Trends-and-Perspectives/Fasselt-Sandwith/p/book/9781032129150This chapter begins with a survey of flash fiction in “post-transitional” South Africa, which it relates to the nation’s post-apartheid canon of short stories and short-short stories, to the international rise of flash fiction and “sudden fiction”, and to the historical particularities of South Africa’s “post-transition”. It then undertakes close readings of three flash fictions republished in the article, each less than 450 words: Tony Eprile’s “The interpreter for the tribunal” (2007), which evokes the psychological and ethical complexities, and long-term ramifications, of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Michael Cawood Green’s “Music for a new society” (2008), a carjacking story that invokes discourses about violent crime and the “‘new’ South Africa”; and Stacy Hardy’s “Kisula” (2015), which maps the psychogeography of cross-racial sex and transnational identity-formation in an evolving urban environment. The chapter argues that these exemplary flashes are “hyper-compressions”, in that they compress and develop complex themes with a long literary history and a wide contemporary currency. It therefore contends that flash fiction of South Africa’s post-transition should be recognized as having literary-historical significance, not just as an inherently metonymic form that reflects, and alludes to, a broader literary culture, but as a genre in its own right
Ethnic and minority group differences in engagement with COVID-19 vaccination programmes – at Pandemic Pace; when vaccine confidence in mass rollout meets local vaccine hesitancy?
Get PDFIsrael, the UK, the USA, and some other wealthier countries lead in the implementation of COVID-19 vaccine mass vaccination programmes. Evidence from these countries indicates that their ethnic minorities could be as disproportionately disadvantaged in COVID-19 vaccines roll-out as they were affected by COVID-19-related serious illnesses. Their disadvantage is linked to their lower social status and fewer social goods compared with dominant population groups.
Albeit limited by methodology, early studies attribute lower uptake of COVID-19 amongst ethnic minorities to the wider determinants of vaccine uptake, hesitancy or lack of vaccine confidence, including lower levels of trust and greater concerns about vaccine safety. Early sentinel studies are needed in all early adopter countries.
One emerging theme among those of reproductive age in minority communities concerns a worry regarding COVID-19 vaccine’s potential adverse effect on fertility. Respected professional groups reassure this is not a credible rationale. Drug and vaccine regulators use understandable, cautious and conditional language in emergency licencing of new gene-based vaccines. Technical assessments on whether there is any potential genotoxicity or reproductive toxicity should be more emphatic.
From a public health perspective, sentinel studies should identify such community concerns and act early to produce convincing explanations and evidence. Local public health workforces need to be diverse, multiskilled, and able to engage well with minorities and vulnerable groups. The local Directors of Public Health in the UK are based in each local government area and have a remit and opportunity to stimulate speedy action to increase vaccine uptake.
During the rapid Pandemic Pace of the vaccines roll-out, extra efforts to minimise uptake variations are likely to achieve improvements in the next year or two. We expect variations will not disappear however, given that underlying inequalities persist in less inclusive social systems
Lateglacial to Mid-Holocene Vegetation History in the Eastern Vale of Pickering, Northeast Yorkshire, UK: Pollen Diagrams from Palaeolake Flixton
Get PDFPalaeolake Flixton, in the eastern Vale of Pickering in northeast Yorkshire, UK, existed as open water during the Lateglacial and early to mid-Holocene, until hydroseral succession and gradual terrestrialisation changed it to an area of fen and basin peatland by the later mid-Holocene. The environs of the lake were occupied by Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic people over thousands of years and many Early Mesolithic sites, in particular, have been found located along the ancient lake edge, including the paradigm site for the British Early Mesolithic at Star Carr, where occupation occurred over several centuries. We have analysed eleven sediment cores, distributed in most parts of the palaeolake area, for pollen and stratigraphic data with which to reconstruct lake development and vegetation history. These new diagrams augment earlier pollen studies from the western part of the lake, particularly in the Star Carr area and near other major Mesolithic sites around Seamer Carr. Especially informative are a long core from the deepest part of the lake; cores that document the Lateglacial as well as early Holocene times, and evidence for the later Mesolithic that helps to balance the high density of Late Mesolithic sites known from research in the adjacent uplands of the North York Moors. There are many records of charcoal in the deposits but, especially for the earliest examples, it is not always possible to tie them firmly to either human activity or natural causes. Overall, the new and previously existing diagrams provide evidence for the spatial reconstruction of vegetation history across this important wetland system, including (a) for the progression of natural community successions within the wetland and on the surrounding dryland (b) the influence of climate change in bringing about changes in woodland composition and (c) for discussion of the possibility of human manipulation of the vegetation in the Late Upper Palaeolithic, Early and Late Mesolithic. Results show that climate was the main driver of longer-term vegetation change. Centennial-scale, abrupt climate events caused significant vegetation reversals in the Lateglacial Interstadial. The Lateglacial vegetation was very similar throughout the lake hinterland, although some areas supported some scrubby shrub rather than being completely open. Immigration and spread of Holocene woodland taxa comprised the familiar tree succession common in northern England but the timings of the establishment and the abundance of some individual tree types varied considerably around the lake margins because of edaphic factors and the effects of fire, probably of human origin. Woodland successions away from proximity to the lake were similar to those recorded in the wider landscape of northern England and produced a dense, homogenous forest cover occasionally affected by fire
Blue and grey urban water footprints through citizens’ perception and time series analysis of Brazilian dynamics
Get PDFThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Hydrological Sciences Journal on 4 March 2021, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2021.1879388Predicting future water demands of societies is a major challenge because it involves a holistic understanding of possible changes within socio-hydrological systems. Although recent research has made efforts to translate social dimensions into the analysis of hydrological systems, few studies have involved citizen participation in water footprint analysis. This paper integrates time series with citizens’ perceptions, knowledge and beliefs concerning sanitation elements to account for municipal blue and grey water footprints in São Carlos, Brazil, from 2009 to 2016, and potential water footprints in 2030 and 2050. In this case study, grey footprint potentially exceeds the blue water footprint by up to 35 times, and volunteered information suggested a reduction in water consumption, larger garbage production and greater investment in sanitation infrastructure from authorities. We conclude that public knowledge can be used to delineate possible water footprint scenarios and reveal paradoxes in the coevolution of socio-hydrological systems on an urban scale
Women's alcohol consumption in the early parenting period and influences of socio-demographic and domestic circumstances: A scoping review and narrative synthesis
Get PDFThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Vicario, S., Buykx, P., Peacock, M., Hardie, I., De Freitas, L., Bissell, P., & Meier, P. (2023). Women's alcohol consumption in the early parenting period and influences of socio-demographic and domestic circumstances: A scoping review and narrative synthesis. Drug and Alcohol Review.... This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.Issues: Numerous studies have explored alcohol consumption in pregnancy, but less is known about women’s drinking in the Early Parenting Period (EPP, 0-5 years after childbirth). We synthesise research related to three questions: 1) How are women’s drinking patterns and trajectories associated with socio-demographic and domestic circumstances?, 2) What theoretical approaches are used to explain changes in consumption?,3) What meanings have been given to mothers’ drinking? Approach: Three databases (Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-PsycINFO, CINAHL) were systematically searched. Citation tracking was conducted in Web of Science Citation Index and Google Scholar. Eligible papers explored mothers’ alcohol consumption during the EPP, focusing on general population rather than clinical samples. Studies were critically appraised and their characteristics, methods and key findings extracted. Thematic narrative synthesis of findings was conducted. Key findings: Fourteen quantitative and six qualitative studies were identified. The (sub)samples ranged from n=77,137 to n=21 women. Mothers’ consumption levels were associated with older age, being white and employed, not being in a partnered relationship, higher education and income. Three theoretical approaches were employed to explain these consumption differences: social role, role deprivation, social practice theories. By drinking alcohol, mothers expressed numerous aspects of their identity (e.g., autonomous women and responsible mothers). Implications and conclusion: Alcohol-related interventions and policies should consider demographic and cultural transformations of motherhood (e.g., delayed motherhood, changes in family structures). Mothers’ drinking should be contextualised carefully in relation to socio-economic circumstances and gender inequalities in unpaid labour. The focus on peer-reviewed academic papers in English language may limit the evidence
Void fraction measurement method in gas-liquid two-phase stratified flow
No full textCopyright, 2023. Society of Petroleum Engineers.The void fraction is a basic parameter to characterize the two-phase flow. Accurate measurement of its value is of great significance for industrial production. In this study, an optical correction system combined with software and hardware is developed. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) technology is used to measure the void fraction in gas-liquid two-phase stratified flow. The measurement results are compared with those of two-dimensional particle image velocimetry under the same conditions, and the correction effect appears to be reasonably good. The void fraction value is obtained by the image processing of the corrected image. The accuracy of the measurement results are verified by comparing the experimental liquid phase volumetric flow rate with that measured through a standard flowmeter. Twenty types of void fraction prediction models are evaluated using means absolute relative deviation (MARD), root mean square error (RMSE), and grey correlation analysis methods. The results suggest that the Armand (1946) model has the smallest MARD, RMSE value, the largest correlation degree (Ri) value and the best prediction performance. On this basis, an improved model is proposed by fitting the relationship between void fraction and gas volume holdup
In touch and between: a tactile toolkit for creative practitioners to navigate touch within their creative practice
Get PDFTouch in performance and movement practice is not a new concept, although it tends to inhabit movement therapy, partnering techniques, alignment studies, and ethics. However, this article addresses the importance of touch in creative practice with reference to holistic embodied movement, sense of self, one’s agency and situatedness. Employing a somatic methodology and phenomenological lens, this article presents tactile practice as research carried out from 2019 to 2022 with master’s students and professionals delivered in the space and online as a lecture-workshop at People Dancing UK’s Perspectives on Practice. This overarching framework highlights methods of touch prior to the pandemic demonstrating how one perceives and responds to contact from another body whilst retaining authenticity; shifts in tactile engagement during the pandemic and how it aids solo practice; and opens up conversations on reintroducing touch post pandemic with possible cross-disciplinary practice. The research investigates/investigated tactile stimulations within passive, active and intra-active touch as a listening tool in the solo body and between bodies. Through various case studies, these are examined in relation to creative inquiry and artistic identity. The article aims to challenge power relations and conventional connotations around touch and practice as well as offer new tactile engagements within solo creative practice. It also proposes touch as a collaborative mesh for cohesion and keep us in touch through a practical tactile toolkit. This will resonate with somatic movement practitioners in particular, however its inclusive nature means specific approaches may resonate with practitioners in other creative disciplines
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