241 research outputs found
The Myth of Urban Unity. Religion and Social Performance in Late Medieval Braunschweig
No full textArlinghaus F-J. The Myth of Urban Unity. Religion and Social Performance in Late Medieval Braunschweig. In: Goodson C, Lester AE, Symes C, eds. Cities, Texts, and Social Networks, 400-1500: Experiences and Perceptions of Medieval Urban Space. Farnham: Ashgate; 2010: 215-232
Carol Symes. A Common Stage: Theatre and Public Life in Medieval Arras
No full textOperating from the premise that five surviving plays from thirteenth- century Arras are the products of a particular environment and therefore that their meaning is referential and contemporary, Symes argues against the traditionalist approach by which well-known works including Jehan Bodel\u27s Jeu de saint Nicolas and Adam de la Halle\u27s Jeu de Robin et Marion have been interpreted generically as examples of early French literary drama. Since medieval plays constitute the scripted remains of activities (2) that were publicly endorsed and publicly displayed, Symes maintains that they reflect instead the specific performance culture in which and to which they were speaking. Unrivaled in that era, according to the author, the town of Arras constituted a maelstrom of conflicting politics, unprecedented economic opportunities, and unfamiliar types of social mobility. (4) As such it is uniquely qualified as a forum from which to counter previously-held notions of national theaters and their theatrical offerings
Measuring fishing dependency using Occupational Alternative Ratio- an application to Shetland whitefish industry
No full textIn this paper Occupational Alternative Ratios (OAR) are applied to the 2003 employment survey data from Shetland to measure dependency on whitefish in individual communities as an alternative to traditional measures of fishing dependency, such as fishing employment and fisheries contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The OAR measure summarises the potential impact that the size of the whitefish industry has upon the supply of labour for alternative occupations within the local economy. The results of the model indicate that Whalsay is the most whitefish dependent community, followed by Scalloway and Skerries while the least whitefish dependent community is West Mainland. The OAR indices depict a clear distinction between the most and least dependent communities, and historical attachment to demersal fishing support these differences. The use of OARs to measure and rank dependency provides a new way to conceptualise the significance of fishing to communities and their economies. The results of the study also show that the OAR route to measuring fisheries dependency could be useful for policy makers and managers to make informed decisions, formulate appropriate policies on resource use and contribute effectively to wider processes (e.g. international negotiations of fisheries resources).Labor and Human Capital, Livestock Production/Industries,
Author widget: AgScite
No full textIntroduces the author widget developed for AgScite by the University of Waikato developers
A bioelectrochemical approach to characterize extracellular electron transfer by Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
No full textBiophotovoltaic devices employ photosynthetic organisms at the anode of a microbial fuel cell to generate electrical power. Although a range of cyanobacteria and algae have been shown to generate photocurrent in devices of a multitude of architectures, mechanistic understanding of extracellular electron transfer by phototrophs remains minimal. Here we describe a mediatorless bioelectrochemical device to measure the electrogenic output of a planktonically grown cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Light dependent production of current is measured, and its magnitude is shown to scale with microbial cell concentration and light intensity. Bioelectrochemical characterization of a Synechocystis mutant lacking Photosystem II demonstrates conclusively that production of the majority of photocurrent requires a functional water splitting aparatus and electrons are likely ultimately derived from water. This shows the potential of the device to rapidly and quantitatively characterize photocurrent production by genetically modified strains, an approach that can be used in future studies to delineate the mechanisms of cyanobacterial extracellular electron transport
The coupling of perception and action in representation
No full textThis thesis examines how the objects that we visually perceive in the world are coupled to the actions that we make towards them. For example, a whole hand grasp might be coupled with an object like an apple, but not with an object like a pea. It has been claimed that the coupling of what we see and what we do is not simply associative, but is fundamental to the way the brain represents visual objects. More than association, it is thought that when an object is seen (even if there is no intention to interact with it), there is a partial and automatic activation of the networks in the brain that plan actions (such as reaches and grasps). The central aim of this thesis was to investigate how specific these partial action plans might be, and how specific the properties of objects that automatically activate them might be. In acknowledging that perception and action are dynamically intertwining processes (such that in catching a butterfly the eye and the hand cooperate with a fluid and seamless efficiency), it was supposed that these couplings of perception and action in the brain might be loosely constrained. That is, they should not be rigidly prescribed (such that a highly specific action is always and only coupled with a specific object property) but they should instead involve fairly general components of actions that can adapt to different situations. The experimental work examined the automatic coupling of simplistic left and right actions (e.g. key presses) to pictures of oriented objects. Typically a picture of an object was shown and the viewer responded as fast as possible to some object property that was not associated with action (such as its colour). Of interest was how the performance of these left or right responses related to the task irrelevant left or right orientation of the object. The coupling of a particular response to a particular orientation could be demonstrated by the response performance (speed and accuracy). The more tightly coupled a response was to a particular object orientation, the faster and more accurate it was. The results supported the idea of loosely constrained action plans. Thus it appeared that a range of different actions (even foot responses) could be coupled with an object's orientation. These actions were coupled by default to an object's X-Z orientation (e.g. orientation in the depth plane). In further reflecting a loosely constrained perception-action mechanism, these couplings were shown to change in different situations (e.g. when the object moved towards the viewer, or when a key press made the object move in a predictable way). It was concluded that the kinds of components of actions that are automatically activated when viewing an object are not very detailed or fixed, but are initially quite general and can change and become more specific when circumstances demand it.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
An exploration of ways in which Waikato primary school principals address the multiple learning requirements of children with special educational needs
No full textBased on research evidence from New Zealand, England and the USA, it is likely that there could be an increasing number of students with special needs enrolling in New Zealand schools. This trend reinforces the need for an additional aspect to the usual leadership practices in New Zealand primary schools.
This research project focuses on the need for effective leadership that is socially just and equitable in addressing the requirements of learners with special needs. The thesis reports on a small scale research project that explored the responses of a number of primary school principals to the issues inherent in providing viable and equitable learning opportunities for students with special needs. The study identifies seven main themes which could aid school leaders in identifying learners with special needs and providing an equitable education.
These key themes include:
Fluidity of student need and a reluctance to categorise and label students; addressing special needs as a specific element of effective leadership; building capacity for change and development; data collection systems are essential for informing decisions; moral purpose and social justice are key drivers in special education; the best learning environment for student with special needs - withdrawal or full inclusion; and limited resourcing requires focused decision making
‘The Best Place in the World’: Imaging Urban Prisons in Late Medieval Italy
No full textArgues that the imagination of prisons in medieval literature consciously played with the tension between dystopian realities and government's religio-political claims. “‘The Best Place in the World’: Imaging Urban Prisons in Late Medieval Italy,” in Medieval Cities, Texts and Social Networks, 400-1500: Experiences and Perceptions of Medieval Urban Space, ed. Caroline Goodson, Anne E. Lester, and Carol Symes, 263-78. Aldershot: Ashgate, 201
Eating disorders among transgender and gender diverse individuals
No full textSubstantial research documents higher rates of eating disorders (EDs) in transgender and gender diverse (TGD) samples as compared to cisgender samples. The purpose of this literature review is to explore the vulnerability factors that explain poorer mental health outcomes in the TGD community and the resiliency factors that inform prevention and treatment strategies. The vulnerability factors identified include minority stress, particularly for TGD individuals with multiple nonprivileged identities; inadequate access to health care; experiences of trauma and abuse; food insecurity; co-occurring mental health disorders; and body dissatisfaction rooted in gender dysphoria. The resiliency factors identified include access to gender-affirming healthcare, community support, and family support. The implications section integrates the research on vulnerability factors and resilience factors and offers guidance for working with the TGD community in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. These strategies include screening TGD patients for EDs with the goal of early intervention, screening ED patients for gender dysphoria, treating gender dysphoria concurrently with the ED, integrating gender issues in treatment, connecting TGD patients with community resources, supporting the families of TGD patients with EDs, and addressing access to care issues. The limitations of this body of research include the overrepresentation of privileged identities within the TGD community; complications arising from catch-all diagnostic categories; the use of instruments not designed or normed on the TGD community; insufficient statistical power of small sample sizes; discrepancies in the language; and inconsistent adherence to proposed ethical standards for conducting research about the TGD community. The lack of research on eating disorders in the TGD community means significant potential for future research. Future study is needed to determine lifetime prevalence of EDs in the TGD community, introduce or refine an assessment tool that screens for EDs in TGD samples, identify additional resiliency factors, parse out subgroup gender differences, understand intersections of privileged and nonprivileged identities, assess the effectiveness of community level interventions, and develop strategies that address access to care issues
- …
