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Teaching across language and identity : the lived experiences of three EMI lecturers in Italy
Get PDFThis paper examines the lived experiences of three Educational Linguistics lecturers navigating English Medium Instruction (EMI) in Italy. Far from a neutral pedagogical shift, EMI emerges as a site of emotional tensions, linguistic self-surveillance, and identity reconfiguration. Using a phenomenological lens, the study explores how these lecturers negotiate their professional selves amid persistent native-speakerist ideologies shaping perceptions of competence and legitimacy. Their narratives reveal a deep entanglement between language and emotion: pride, anxiety, resilience, and doubt surface not as contradictions but as constitutive elements of teaching through English. A central tension lies in the incommensurability between their identities in English and Italian, an unresolved dissonance that becomes a space of learning, discomfort, and transformation. Situated in a field historically aligned with Anglophone norms, these reflections invite a rethinking of Educational Linguistics, foregrounding how linguistic ideologies in EMI are not only taught or resisted, but felt, embodied, and lived.Peer reviewe
Investigating the seasonal behaviour of tidewater glaciers in southeast Greenland
No full textTidewater glaciers in Greenland have experienced considerable fluctuations in terminus position over the past ~25 years, with wintertime advance and summertime retreat cycles that vary considerably between glaciers. Studying these seasonal cycles is
crucial to identifying the environmental forcings that influence glacier sensitivity on interannual timescales. Glaciers exhibiting seasonal retreat in response to submarine melting may be especially vulnerable to sustained retreat under continued climate
warming. This thesis investigates 19 tidewater glaciers in southeast Greenland, analysing seasonal terminus behaviour, terminus morphology, and ice velocity in relation to environmental drivers including meltwater runoff, ice mélange presence, and fjord geometry. The findings reveal substantial variability in terminus behaviour across glaciers, with some glaciers more responsive to meltwater input, while others are modulated by ice mélange dynamics. Terminus morphology is similarly diverse, shaped by factors such as fjord shape and ice dynamics, which play stabilising or destabilising roles depending on glacier-specific settings. Seasonal ice velocity fluctuations, largely influenced by meltwater input, vary significantly across glaciers, likely modulated by responses to
meltwater input and inferred subglacial hydrological systems. This research enhances understanding of the complex, glacier-specific responses to environmental forcings in southeast Greenland and provides insights that can improve future projections of ice
loss and the Greenland Ice Sheet’s contribution to sea level rise
Simultaneous “fix and replace” has non inferior survivorship compared to staged arthroplasty in acetabular fracture management at two year follow up
Get PDFAims: In an increasingly frail population, simultaneous “fix and replace” surgery (fixation of the acetabulum to accommodate a press fit cup and total hip arthroplasty (THA)) is a novel alternative to open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) alone in the management of acetabular fractures. We aimed to determine whether patients managed with “fix and replace” have comparable survivorship to those undergoing staged THA following previous open reduction and internal fixation for acetabular fracture. Methods: All Patients with acetabular fractures surgically managed within our Tertiary centre over a five year period (01/01/2018–30/05/2023) were identified. Thirty-four patients underwent simultaneous “fix and replace” surgery and 133 underwent acetabular ORIF alone. Twenty-one of these patients required staged THA (6 %). Results: Follow up mean was 2.7 years (SD ±1.7) for 'fix and replace' versus 3.3 years (SD ± 1.5) for staged THA. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regards to BMI or sex. The fix and replace group were older (p = 0.001), had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade (p = 0.006) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (p = 0.027), respectively. High energy mechanism of injury accounted for 56 % of the "fix and replace" group compared to 48 % in the ORIF to THA. 74 % of 'fix and replace' were associated/complex fractures (LeTournel) compared to 53 % of staged THA. Mean wait to surgery was 3 days in the 'fix and replace' group compared to 186 days from listing to operation in the staged THA group. Survival analysis demonstrated acceptable results for both groups with greater than 85 % survival at 2 years and no statistical significantly worse survivorship in the 'fix and replace' group (p = 0.13). Complications were comparable in both groups (41 % versus 43 %, p = 0.58). Conclusions: 'Fix and replace' is a good option for the elderly, co-morbid patient. It enables early weight bearing and has acceptable survivorship compared to staged THA following acetabular ORIF.Peer reviewe
Confirmed vocal activity of Mediterranean monk seals in the Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago, Greece
Get PDFFunding: This work was funded by The Monk Seal Alliance.Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) are the world's rarest seal species, with fewer than 1000 individuals remaining across fragmented subpopulations. Monitoring this species is challenging due to their low densities and difficult-to-access habitats. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data can be used to detect small numbers of animals over large areas, but for effective long-term PAM, it is essential to characterize the species' vocalizations throughout its range. This study provides a comprehensive description of the monk seal vocal repertoire in the Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago, Greece, and the first published documentation of the species vocalizing underwater. Acoustic recorders collected continuous data over 16 days during the breeding season in 2021. We identified 3442 calls, 1855 of which were determined to be high-quality and classified into ten call types within three broader categories. Video footage collected in 2019 and 2021 documented the seals producing five common call types, which comprised ∼87% of the recorded calls. Our findings offer insights into the structure of the monk seal vocal repertoire and lay the groundwork for long-term monitoring for this rare species using PAM, which could be an important tool for monitoring monk seals going forwards.Peer reviewe
Low-temperature fabrication of plasmonic titanium nitride thin films by electron beam evaporation
Get PDFFunding: S.A.S. and A.D. acknowledge support from the EPSRC (EP/X018121/1). A.D.F. acknowledge support from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (Grant Agreement No. 819346). Y. N. acknowledges funding through the Leverhulme Trust (Grant No. RPG-2023-256) and EPSRC (Grant No. EP/T023449/1), while A. R. acknowledges EPSRC Grants EP/X015556/1 and EP/R025169/1.Titanium nitride (TiN) is a refractory metal nitride compound with the potential to function as an alternative plasmonic material to gold, especially for high-power linear and nonlinear applications such as materials processing, telecommunications, and laser systems. This paper presents a simple, electron beam evaporation based deposition process to fabricate sub-100 nm TiN thin films at low temperatures. The dependence of optical properties and film thickness on deposition temperature was explored and it was observed that low-temperature annealing during deposition further enhances the plasmonic properties of the films. These results are essential for promoting the utilisation of highly metallic TiN thin films in plasmonic and photonic applications.Peer reviewe
Community food initiatives and sustainable transitions of the food system : learning from practitioners, projects and policy in Berlin
No full textWe urgently need to transform current unsustainable food systems, which exacerbate inequality, accelerate environmental degradation, and contribute nearly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, global frameworks often fail to deliver the systemic changes required for sustainable food systems, highlighting the need for local transformative action. Theoretical frameworks for sustainability transitions include the Multi-Level Perspective (Geels, 2012; Geels, 2019; Kern, 2012) and Social Practice Theory (Hargreaves, Haxeltine, Longhurst, & Seyfang, 2011a; Hargreaves, Longhurst, & Seyfang, 2012; Seyfang, 2007).
This thesis investigates the role of community food initiatives in sustainability transitions within Berlin's food system, focusing on twelve initiatives that challenge the dominant food system through collective action, innovative practices, and political advocacy. The research questions posed were, first, what are the characteristics of community food initiatives in Berlin and how do they challenge the current food system?; second, what are the attributes and motivations of practitioners?; and third, what do these initiatives reveal about sustainability transitions and food policy governance? Sustainability research approaches (Hirsch Hadorn, Bradley, Pohl, Rist, & Wiesmann, 2006; White, 2013) were adopted, using qualitative methods, including participatory action, document analysis, and interviews with 45 grassroots practitioners and three policymakers, to address the research questions. Results illustrated that food systems research is often addressed through technological interventions or attention to systemic functions that neglect the personal and cultural aspects and social practices of food choices. Community food initiatives collectively acted as niche assemblages in supporting food sustainability in Berlin but were both enabled through and influenced policy. Community food practitioners made diverse contributions, modelling different archetypes, values and educational motivations. Local action was constrained by
structural barriers, requiring long-term policy and resource support, an increased emphasis on inclusivity and representation, and higher-level governance. It was concluded that community food initiatives are essential in shaping sustainability transitions in local food systems, but they also illustrate the need to consider culture, identity, sensory experience, and shared endeavour in the pursuit of sustainability across all sectors
A visual missiology : images of Christ in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European Jesuit and Japanese Kirishitan religious visual cultures
No full textThis thesis explores theology and visual art in relation to the concept of God’s mission. The central research question is: How do images of Christ in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European Jesuit and Japanese Kirishitan (Christian) religious visual cultures help to illuminate the relationships between theology, visual art, and intercultural ministry? Chapter 1 defines the key concept of visual missiology, describes research methodology, and provides a critical historical summary of the religious visual cultures pertinent to the following three case studies. Chapter 2 examines Salvator Mundi (Saviour of the World) images and the visual missiological theme of presence, including presence as a dimension of God’s mission and Christ’s presence as a salvific blessing with a global, transcultural scope. Chapter 3 examines hybrid portable altarpieces and the visual missiological theme of pilgrimage, including pilgrimage as a dimension of God’s mission and the humble, vulnerable aspects of journeys. Chapter 4 examines fumi-e (stepping pictures; used in the persecution of Christians) and the visual missiological theme of pain, including pain as a dimension of God’s mission and the dynamics of secrecy and hiddenness in faith. Chapter 5 draws together reflections on visual missiology and the case studies developed in this thesis. In studying God’s mission, mediated through the lens of Salvator Mundi images, portable altarpieces, and fumi-e, the themes of presence, pilgrimage, and pain emerge as central expressions of visual missiology in the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Jesuit-Kirishitan context. Two appendices supplement this thesis: the first considers the ongoing potential of such images from the Meiji era (1868-1912) to the present day, and the second exhibits contemporary mixed media collages made in response to this research project."This work was supported by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (grant number 6269), the John Crump Studentship (British Association for Japanese Studies), the Gilchrist Educational Trust (grant number FW 2350 2428), the St Leonard’s College Postgraduate Travel Award (University of St Andrews), the Russell Trust Award (University of St Andrews), and the Doug Hardy Scholarship Fund (Sunnyside Wesleyan Church)."--Fundin
Hearing voices and imagining the rainforest : why Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot compete with the need for the ‘human touch’ in research analysis
Get PDFFunding: This was drafted with support from Leverhulme Trust: MRF-2022-065: ‘Development futures in a covid, climate challenged world: a decolonial approach’.Women's Voices from the Rainforest . Janet Gabriel Townsend (in collaboration with Ursula Arrevillaga, Jennie Bain, Socorro Cancino, Susan F. Frenk, Silvana Pacheco and Elia Pérez). Routledge, London, UK and New York, USA, 1995, pp. viii + 212. ISBN 978-0-415-10532-3 (pbk).Peer reviewe
Abnormal plasma/serum magnesium, copper and zinc concentrations associate with the future development of cardiovascular diseases
Get PDFFunding: We are grateful to the School of Medicine, University of St Andrews for supporting B.L. as part of a PhD scholarship. Access to the data used in this study was provided by the Health Informatics Centre at the University of Dundee from project funding awarded by NIHR.Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of global mortality. Major adverse cardio-vascular events (MACE)—such as acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure—are critical endpoints in clinical research. Existing research has shown metal ions are important regulators of cardiovascular functioning and defective metal handling may be associated with increased risk of CVD. This study examines association of plasma/serum levels of magnesium, copper and zinc, with MACE incidence and the prevalence of circulatory system diseases, by using electronic health records from a subset of the Scottish population. Methods: We categorised individuals by high, low, or normal plasma/serum metal levels, and calculated the percentage of those who subsequently developed a MACE event, identified using related International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes in hospital admission records. Logistic regression was employed to analyse the association between pre-event metal ion levels and the development of specific circulatory system disease subgroups. Results: The study found abnormal magnesium, high copper and low zinc were associated with a higher risk of developing MACE. Low magnesium, high copper or low zinc were associated with increased risks of various circulatory diseases, with specific variations like low copper heightening venous and lymphatic disease risk. Conclusions: Our findings suggest abnormal plasma metal profiles are associated with the development of MACE and circulatory disease events, underscoring the importance of monitoring plasma metal levels for cardiovascular risk management and prevention.Peer reviewe
Biodiversity change in Neotropical freshwater systems
No full textFreshwater taxa are amongst the most threatened on Earth due to multiple human-induced impacts on inland waters. There is particular concern about the integrity of the freshwater biota in the Neotropical region, which is one of the most biodiverse in the world. Here, I contributed to addressing this knowledge gap by investigating multi-faceted freshwater diversity change in two Neotropical systems: Trinidad’s Northern Range, in the Caribbean, and central Mexico. First, I evaluated the conservation status of the Northern Range taxa by examining a long-term time series of diatom, invertebrate and fish diversity. Using multiple indicators, I detected metacommunity-level stability in the diatoms, alongside mixed patterns for the invertebrates and fish. Next, I investigated the signature of recreational use on these taxa by comparing trends of change in sites popular for recreation and in comparatively unperturbed sites. Contrasting trends for the three groups suggest that different organisms respond differently to river recreation. In central Mexico, I asked how species introductions and extirpations have modified fish diversity using a contemporary survey benchmarked against historical reconstructions of the native fish occurrences in the area. I revealed that indices of trait diversity are particularly sensitive to the compositional changes that have occurred, that different introduction pathways select for different fish traits, and that extirpations might be eroding unique ecological roles performed by native species. My research highlights the complexity of freshwater diversity change and the different stages of degradation exhibited by Neotropical ecosystems. I find more evidence of ecological integrity in Trinidad than in central Mexico. As my work makes clear, examining different facets of diversity in an integrated analysis can provide increasing knowledge about these less studied regions. Moreover, while the multifaceted nature of trends poses challenges for communicating conservation messages, my findings should help prioritise actions to protect these biotas
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