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Challenges to Implementing Environmental-DNA Monitoring in Namibia
Get PDFBy identifying fragments of DNA in the environment, eDNA approaches present a promising tool for monitoring biodiversity in a cost-effective way. This is particularly pertinent for countries where traditional morphological monitoring has been sparse. The first step to realising the potential of eDNA is to develop methodologies that are adapted to local conditions. Here, we test field and laboratory eDNA protocols (aqueous and sediment samples) in a range of semi-arid ecosystems in Namibia. We successfully gathered eDNA data on a broad suite of organisms at multiple trophic levels (including algae, invertebrates and bacteria) but identified two key challenges to the implementation of eDNA methods in the region: 1) high turbidity requires a tailored sampling technique and 2) identification of taxa by eDNA methods is currently constrained by a lack of reference data. We hope this work will guide the deployment of eDNA biomonitoring in the arid ecosystems of Namibia and neighbouring countri
Tomio to Yuriko (based on Romeo and Juliet), directed by Suemitsu Kenichi, Kinokinuya Theatre, Tokyo, 6 May 2022, mid-stalls, centre
Get PDFPositive and negative moods differently affect creative meaning processing in both the native and non-native language
Get PDFJ. P. Harris (1820-1898) and the 'Playful Representations'
No full textErthygl yn bwrw golwg unigryw ar dair agwedd benodol sydd yn arwyddocaol i (i) datblygiad y byd llenyddol a chrefyddol Cymraeg yn America, (ii) twf y ddrama Gymraeg a Chymreig, a (iii) esblygiad y meddwl a'r dychymyg Cymreig.Gweinidog gyda'r Bedyddwyr oedd J. P. Harris a aned yn Abergwaun ond a ymfudodd i'r Unol Daleithiau ac a fwriodd ei wreiddiau yno, gan ddod yn ffigwr cyhoeddus nodedig ac yn ddramodydd crefyddol o bwys. Addasodd amryw straeon beiblaidd ar gyfer y llwyfan gan ennyn sen nifer o Anghydffurfwyr Cymraeg, a chanolbwyntia'r erthygl yma ar feirniadaeth lem William Rowlands, un o hoelion wyth Methodistiaeth Galfinaidd Gymraeg Gogledd America'r 19eg ganrif.This article takes a unique look at three specific aspects that are significant to (i) the development of the Welsh literary and religious landscape of America, (ii) the growth of Welsh and Welsh drama, and (iii) the evolution of the Welsh mind and imagination.J. P. Harris was a Baptist minister who was born in Fishguard but emigrated to the United States and planted his roots there, becoming a notable public figure and an important religious dramatist. He adapted several biblical stories for the stage, rousing a number of Welsh Dissenters to respond, and this article focuses on the harsh criticism of William Rowlands, one of the stalwarts of North American Welsh Calvinist Methodism in the 19th century
The effects of fatigued working memory functions on hypothesis testing during acquisition of a motor skill
Get PDFImplicit motor learning paradigms aim to minimize verbal-analytical engagement in motor performance. Some paradigms do this by decreasing working memory activity during practice, which reduces explicit processes associated with the search for motor solutions (e.g., hypothesis testing). Here we designed a mentally demanding motor task to fatigue working memory prior to motor practice and then tested whether it reduced hypothesis testing. Fifty-nine participants were randomly assigned to complete the mentally demanding motor task (cognitive fatigue group) or to complete an undemanding motor task (nonfatigued control group). Feelings of fatigue, working memory functions, electroencephalography (EEG) Fz power, and vagal control were assessed pre- and posttask to quantify the effect of the mentally demanding motor task on cognitive fatigue. Thereafter, an adapted shuffleboard task was completed to determine the impact on hypothesis testing. Hypothesis testing was assessed by self-report, technique changes, and equipment-use solutions. Additionally, verbal-analytical engagement in motor performance was (indirectly) gauged with EEG T7-Fz connectivity and T7 power measures. Participants in the cognitive fatigue group reported more fatigue and displayed moderated working memory functions and Fz theta power. During practice of the shuffleboard task, participants also displayed more technique changes and higher verbal-analytical engagement in motor planning (EEG T7-Fz connectivity), compared with participants in the control group. The mentally demanding motor task suppressed working memory functions, but resulted in more, rather than less, hypothesis testing during shuffleboard practice. The implications are discussed in the context of implicit motor learning theory. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Estimating the effects of trait knowledge on social perception
Get PDFResearch in social cognition has predominantly investigated perceptual and inferential processes separately; however, real-world social interactions usually involve integration between person inferences (e.g., generous, selfish) and the perception of physical appearance (e.g., thin, tall). Therefore, in the current work, we investigated the integration of different person-relevant signals, by estimating the extent to which bias in one social information processing system influences another. Following an initial stimulus-validation experiment (Experiment 1, N = 55), two further pre-registered experiments (Experiments 2, N = 55 and 3; N = 123) employed a priming paradigm to measure the effects of extraversion-diagnostic information on subsequent health and body-size judgements of a target body. The results were consistent across both priming experiments and supported our predictions: compared to trait-neutral control statements, extraversion-diagnostic statements increased judgements of health and decreased those of body size. As such, we show that trait-based knowledge does not only influence mappings towards similar types of person judgements, such as health judgements. Rather, even a brief re-configuration of trait-space alters mappings towards non-trait judgements, which are based on body size and shape. The results complement prior neuroimaging findings that showed functional interactions between the body-selective brain regions in the ventral visual stream and the theory of mind network when forming impressions of others. Therefore, we provide a functional signature of how distinct information processing units exchange signals and integrate information to form impressions. Overall, the current study underscores the value of behavioural work in complementing neuroscience research when investigating the role and properties of functional integration during impression formation. In addition, it stresses the potential limitations of an over-reliance on studying separate systems in isolation. </p
Dental Attendances to General Medical Practitioners in Wales: a 44 Year Analysis
Get PDFOne-third of the UK population are problem-orientated dental attenders, seeking dental care only when they have acute dental pain or problems. Patients seek urgent dental care from a range of health care professionals, including general medical practitioners. The study aimed to identify trends in dental attendance at Welsh medical practices over a 44-year period, specifically in relation to dental policy change, and factors associated with repeat attendance. A retrospective observational study was completed using the nationwide Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank of visits to general medical practice in Wales (UK). Read codes associated with dental diagnoses were extracted for patients attending their general medical practitioner between 1974 and 2017. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable logistic regression. Over the 44-year period, there were 439,361 dental Read codes, accounting for 288,147 patient attendances. The overall attendance rate was 2.60 attendances per 1000 patient-years (95% CI 2.59-2.61). The attendance rate was negligible through 1987 but increased sharply to 5.0 per 1,000 patient-years in 2006 (95% CI 4.94-5.09) before almost halving to 2.6 per 1,000 patient years in 2017 (95% 2.53-2.63) – a pattern that coincided with changes to dental National Health Service policies. 26,312 patients were repeat attenders, and repeat attenders were associated with living in an area classified as “urban and deprived” (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19-1.25, p<0.0001), or “rural” (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.83-0.85, p<0.0001). Repeat attendance was associated with greater odds having received an antibiotic prescription (OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.50-2.56, p<0.0001), but lower odds of having been referred to another service (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.70-0.81, p<0.0001). Welsh patients’ reliance on medical care for dental problems was influenced by social deprivation and health policy. This indicates that future interventions to discourage dental attendance at medical practitioners should be targeted at those in the most deprived urban areas, or rural areas. In addition, health policy may influence attendance rates both positively and negatively and should be considered in the future when decisions related to policy change are made
Relative performance of judgmental methods for forecasting the success of megaprojects
Get PDFForecasting the success of megaprojects, such as the Olympic Games or space exploration missions, is a very difficult and important task because of the complexity of such projects and the large capital investment they require. Megaproject stakeholders do not typically employ formal forecasting methods, relying instead on Impact Assessments and/or Cost Benefit Analysis; these tools do not necessarily include forecasts, and thus there is no accountability. This study evaluates the effectiveness of judgemental methods towards successfully forecasting the accomplishment of specific megaproject objectives – when the measure of success is the collective accomplishment of such objectives. We compare the performance of three judgemental methods used by a group of 55 semi-experts: Unaided Judgement (UJ), semi-Structured Analogies (s-SA), and Interaction Groups (IG). The empirical evidence reveals that the use of s-SA leads to accuracy improvement compared with UJ. This improvement is amplified further when introducing pooling of analogies through teamwork in IG
Leaders on a mindfulness-based program: Experience, impact, and effect on leadership role.
Get PDFAlthough there is putative evidence that mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) may contribute to leadership skills, little is known about the direct experience of leaders who attend such programs. It is therefore unknown how MBPs delivered in the corporate environment are experienced by leaders, or how MBPs may facilitate leadership development. This qualitative study explored how leaders experienced an MBP, introduced as a part of a wider leadership development program, and the impact of this intervention on their work lives and leadership role. Participants (N = 10) were leaders who worked for a global manufacturing organization and who had attended a three-day mindfulness-based program as part of a leadership development program. They were interviewed and the data was analysed using thematic analysis. Following the MBP, eight participants reported enhanced emotional awareness, and a greater understanding of the impact of work-related stress, which in turn helped their leadership role. Two did not see how mindfulness could enhance their leadership skills although the MBP was well received by most of the participants. Three superordinate themes were identified: (1) The participant journey: Mixed experiences of the MBP; (2) A clash of cultures: The challenge of integrating mindfulness into the workplace, and (3) Impact on leadership. These results may inform future research, program design, and implementation
Welsh Nationalism, Language and Students’ Trust in the UK Police
Get PDFWhere nationality, coupled to minority language, forms a key factor of identities, and there is a history of conflict, it may be difficult for the police to command trust. In north-west Wales, Welsh is the language of the majority. Against the background of historic experiences of exploitation, oppression and perceived neglect by English authorities, many locals have a negative view of the UK police. But what characterises those who are most in opposition? 283 students at Bangor University participated in a questionnaire study. Results show that students who prefer to communicate in Welsh rather than English are more likely to distrust the UK police. While there are deep rooted tensions based on national identity, the police may gain trust from different sources compensating the cultural divide. They include mass media reports and experiences with the police. Overall however, the results support the group position theory applied to relations between people identifying with different nations