262,417 research outputs found
Mending the commons with the ‘Little Mesters’
Full text linkThe subjects of this paper are the ‘Little Mesters’ of Sheffield, UK. The Mesters are self-employed master craftspeople whose day-to-day work is dependent on repairing, recycling, and maintenance, in ways that are intertwined with the urban fabric, flows of goods, and collaborative manufacturing spanning generations. This long-established, yet fragile web of mutuality and reciprocal practices of repair by highly-skilled workers is under threat from enclosure, and yet, I argue, simultaneously offers possibilities for reclaiming the commons. Through collaborative mapping and activist work with a campaign group over eight years, I examine an instance of existential threat to a factory, Portland Works, home to Little Mesters. Through strategies of distributed design prompted by this threat, cultures and practices of repair have been harnessed, and repair has become politicised, dispersed and future-orientated, prefiguring the post-capitalist city. The enclosure of commons is particularly spatial and material, and therefore disruptive of certain more egalitarian forms of relating and organising; politically, economically, pedagogically and ecologically. I argue that practices of repair found in this instance offer possibilities to address such ruptures, through the ethical decisions they prompt, the assemblages they generate, or gestures of care they manifest. Repair is often conceptualised temporally, as an activity that returns something to a former state, yet I wish to assert its spatial and material agencies; as productive of spaces and relations, dependent on them, and potentially restorative of them. In doing so I claim its value to support the reclaiming of ‘common failures’, the amplification of existing instances of commoning, and the development of heterogeneous networks of commoners
Soils of the Mesters Vig District, Northeast Greenland. 1.: The Arctic Brown and Related Soils.
Full text linkPedological investigations conducted in the Mesters Vig district, Northeast Greenland, during the summers of 1961 and 1964, revealed well-drained soils that had previously been reported in Alaska under the name of Arctic Brown and in Siberia as Arctic Sod. The presence of Arctic Brown soil in Greenland is a link between the North American and Eurasian continents and establishes the Arctic Brown as a circumpolar soil. The areal distribution of the Arctic Brown and other well-drained soils is larger at Mesters Vig, because of well-drained conditions, than for some arctic areas of Alaska. It has been estimated that the Arctic Brown soil at Mesters Vig covers about ten percent of the area. The distribution and the properties of the Arctic Brown soil depend on drainage, texture of the substratum, stability of the site, and time. Physical and chemical data for a typical Arctic Brown indicate an accumulation of fines at the surface, an acid reaction, a concentration of organic matter at the surface, and an even distribution of free iron oxides throughout the profile. Podzol-like and Arctic Brown soils coexist in the district. An idealized latitudinal sequence of the zonal soils of the ice-free areas of Greenland should show from south to north the succession from Podzols to Arctic Brown to Polar Desert soils.Pedological investigations conducted in the Mesters Vig district, Northeast Greenland, during the summers of 1961 and 1964, revealed well-drained soils that had previously been reported in Alaska under the name of Arctic Brown and in Siberia as Arctic Sod. The presence of Arctic Brown soil in Greenland is a link between the North American and Eurasian continents and establishes the Arctic Brown as a circumpolar soil. The areal distribution of the Arctic Brown and other well-drained soils is larger at Mesters Vig, because of well-drained conditions, than for some arctic areas of Alaska. It has been estimated that the Arctic Brown soil at Mesters Vig covers about ten percent of the area. The distribution and the properties of the Arctic Brown soil depend on drainage, texture of the substratum, stability of the site, and time. Physical and chemical data for a typical Arctic Brown indicate an accumulation of fines at the surface, an acid reaction, a concentration of organic matter at the surface, and an even distribution of free iron oxides throughout the profile. Podzol-like and Arctic Brown soils coexist in the district. An idealized latitudinal sequence of the zonal soils of the ice-free areas of Greenland should show from south to north the succession from Podzols to Arctic Brown to Polar Desert soils.Pedological investigations conducted in the Mesters Vig district, Northeast Greenland, during the summers of 1961 and 1964, revealed well-drained soils that had previously been reported in Alaska under the name of Arctic Brown and in Siberia as Arctic Sod. The presence of Arctic Brown soil in Greenland is a link between the North American and Eurasian continents and establishes the Arctic Brown as a circumpolar soil. The areal distribution of the Arctic Brown and other well-drained soils is larger at Mesters Vig, because of well-drained conditions, than for some arctic areas of Alaska. It has been estimated that the Arctic Brown soil at Mesters Vig covers about ten percent of the area. The distribution and the properties of the Arctic Brown soil depend on drainage, texture of the substratum, stability of the site, and time. Physical and chemical data for a typical Arctic Brown indicate an accumulation of fines at the surface, an acid reaction, a concentration of organic matter at the surface, and an even distribution of free iron oxides throughout the profile. Podzol-like and Arctic Brown soils coexist in the district. An idealized latitudinal sequence of the zonal soils of the ice-free areas of Greenland should show from south to north the succession from Podzols to Arctic Brown to Polar Desert soils
The Surficial Geology of Skeldal, Mesters Vig Northeast Greenland.
No full textSkeldal is located in the Mesters Vig district, Northeast Greenland {72°15' N. lat., 24°15' W. long.). The surficial deposits were studied and sampled for analysis in the laboratory. Thirteen radiocarbon dates of shell material, and one of peat helped to establish a chronology for glacial retreat since the last glacial (Würm/Wisconsin) maximum. Conclusions: ( 1) The maximum height of the ice surface in Skeldal during the last glaciation is tentatively set at 500 m (Phase I) and probably corresponds to the last glacial maximum. (2) The first period of downwasting from the 500 m level is the result of glacial thinning and retreat (Phase II). {3) A glacial readvance probably occurred (Phase III), followed by general uncovering of the Mesters Vig district during postglacial time (Phase IV). (4) A glacial readvance occurred more recently than 1,500 B.P. (Phase V). (5) The early rate of emergence, 8,000-7,000 B.P., related to delevelling in Skeldal was of the order of 3 m per 100 years, but slowed approximately to 1 m per 100 years between 6,500 and 6,000 B.P. From 6,000 B.P. to the present emergence is tentatively set at 6 to 7 cm per 100 years. (6) The highest peaks rising from Skeldal were nunataks during the last ice maximum, and very probably during the entire Pleistocene. (7) Valley profiles and a slide block in the area suggest multiple glaciation occurred in Skeldal.Skeldal is located in the Mesters Vig district, Northeast Greenland {72°15' N. lat., 24°15' W. long.). The surficial deposits were studied and sampled for analysis in the laboratory. Thirteen radiocarbon dates of shell material, and one of peat helped to establish a chronology for glacial retreat since the last glacial (Würm/Wisconsin) maximum. Conclusions: ( 1) The maximum height of the ice surface in Skeldal during the last glaciation is tentatively set at 500 m (Phase I) and probably corresponds to the last glacial maximum. (2) The first period of downwasting from the 500 m level is the result of glacial thinning and retreat (Phase II). {3) A glacial readvance probably occurred (Phase III), followed by general uncovering of the Mesters Vig district during postglacial time (Phase IV). (4) A glacial readvance occurred more recently than 1,500 B.P. (Phase V). (5) The early rate of emergence, 8,000-7,000 B.P., related to delevelling in Skeldal was of the order of 3 m per 100 years, but slowed approximately to 1 m per 100 years between 6,500 and 6,000 B.P. From 6,000 B.P. to the present emergence is tentatively set at 6 to 7 cm per 100 years. (6) The highest peaks rising from Skeldal were nunataks during the last ice maximum, and very probably during the entire Pleistocene. (7) Valley profiles and a slide block in the area suggest multiple glaciation occurred in Skeldal.Skeldal is located in the Mesters Vig district, Northeast Greenland {72°15' N. lat., 24°15' W. long.). The surficial deposits were studied and sampled for analysis in the laboratory. Thirteen radiocarbon dates of shell material, and one of peat helped to establish a chronology for glacial retreat since the last glacial (Würm/Wisconsin) maximum. Conclusions: ( 1) The maximum height of the ice surface in Skeldal during the last glaciation is tentatively set at 500 m (Phase I) and probably corresponds to the last glacial maximum. (2) The first period of downwasting from the 500 m level is the result of glacial thinning and retreat (Phase II). {3) A glacial readvance probably occurred (Phase III), followed by general uncovering of the Mesters Vig district during postglacial time (Phase IV). (4) A glacial readvance occurred more recently than 1,500 B.P. (Phase V). (5) The early rate of emergence, 8,000-7,000 B.P., related to delevelling in Skeldal was of the order of 3 m per 100 years, but slowed approximately to 1 m per 100 years between 6,500 and 6,000 B.P. From 6,000 B.P. to the present emergence is tentatively set at 6 to 7 cm per 100 years. (6) The highest peaks rising from Skeldal were nunataks during the last ice maximum, and very probably during the entire Pleistocene. (7) Valley profiles and a slide block in the area suggest multiple glaciation occurred in Skeldal
Dietary change, nutrition education and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
No full textDietary change, nutrition education and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Brug J, Schols A, Mesters I. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. [email protected] Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent and serious condition. Nutrition might play a role in COPD prevention and is definitely important in COPD management. There are some indications from epidemiological studies that dietary factors such as ample consumption of fruit and fish may decrease COPD risk. The available evidence is, however, not substantial enough to warrant dietary recommendations for primary prevention of COPD. Substantial evidence does point to the conclusion that, regardless of disease severity, weight loss is related to decreased exercise capacity, health status and mortality as well as to increased morbidity among patients with moderate to severe COPD. Current nutritional support strategies have primarily focussed on treatment of severely underweight and disabled patients. In an in-patient setting or when incorporated in a pulmonary rehabilitation programme, nutritional support has proved effective in inducing weight gain and related functional improvements. However, such interventions are only feasible for a selected group of patients and are very laborious. Therefore, opportunities for dietary and nutrition interventions in COPD management should be explored, aiming at early detection, prevention and early treatment of involuntary weight loss. This means expanding the target group to include COPD out-patients and primary care patients before they have become underweight, and putting more emphasis on dietary change than on medically prescribed supplementation. Successful intervention assumes (voluntary) adjustment of dietary behaviour, and health professionals may play an essential role in encouraging patients to make and maintain these changes. Achieving dietary change among COPD patients may require a combination of diet counselling and self-management. A model for such a combination is presente
Weathering, Frost Action, and Patterned Ground in the Mesters Vig District, Northeast Greenland.
No full textChemical weathering is locally important in the Mesters Vig district as proved by observations on oxidation, on solution and deposition of calcium carbonate, and on desert varnish, case hardening, exfoliation, cavernous weathering, granular disintegration, and development of Arctic Brown soil. Hydration is probably the most widespread and effective of the chemical processes, although its weathering effect involves physical prying. Aside from scattered prying by roots of woody plants such as Betula and Salix at generally low altitudes, frost wedging is probably the only widespread purely physical weathering process operating. That frost wedging breaks up rock more rapidly in the Mesters Vig environment than in more temperate climates having frost action is not demonstrated; the striking prevalance of physical weathering effects may merely reflect a strong dominance of physical over chemical weathering.
Frost action comprises a number of processes. Frost cracking has probably formed certain polygonal features. Frost heaving is widespread and very important; among other phenomena, it accounts for raised joint blocks in bedrock and for upfreezing of stones and other objects in mineral soil. Based in part on data from a number of experimental sites, both the "frost pull" and the "frost push" hypotheses of upfreezing of objects are regarded as valid. Mass displacement-the en-masse local transfer of mobile mineral soil from one place to another within the soil as the result of frost action-is demonstrably an important process but its exact nature is not established; cryostatic pressure may be a factor but changes in density and intergranular pressure are regarded as probably more important. A number of these frost-action processes produce sorting effects. Permafrost is widespread, and pingos are common along some drainages.
Patterned ground is common in moist locations. Both small and large nonsorted and sorted patterns are present but large nonsorted polygons and some large sorted nets are apparently less active than formerly. Based on the review of frost-action processes and on the field evidence, a genetic grouping of the forms is suggested. For specific occurrences at Mesters Vig, the basic processes are probably (1) desiccation cracking for most small nonsorted polygons, some small nonsorted stripes, and, in combination with one or more sorting processes, for small sorted polygons; (2) frost cracking for large nonsorted polygons, large nonsorted stripes, and, in combination with one or more sorting processes, for large sorted polygons; (3) dilation cracking for some small nonsorted polygons; (4) sedimentation for some nonsorted circles and related forms; (5) mass displacement for most nonsorted circles and related forms, debris islands, large sorted nets, some turf hummocks (in part), and, in combination with gelifluction, for most large sorted stripes; (6) rillwork for some small nonsorted stripes and the small sorted stripes; (7) differential mass-wasting for some large sorted stripes; (8) frost wedging (and frost heaving) for some other large sorted stripes. Further research may well modify some of the conclusions, but the Mesters Vig observations strongly support the polygenetic origin of many similar, as well as dissimilar, forms of patterned ground.Chemical weathering is locally important in the Mesters Vig district as proved by observations on oxidation, on solution and deposition of calcium carbonate, and on desert varnish, case hardening, exfoliation, cavernous weathering, granular disintegration, and development of Arctic Brown soil. Hydration is probably the most widespread and effective of the chemical processes, although its weathering effect involves physical prying. Aside from scattered prying by roots of woody plants such as Betula and Salix at generally low altitudes, frost wedging is probably the only widespread purely physical weathering process operating. That frost wedging breaks up rock more rapidly in the Mesters Vig environment than in more temperate climates having frost action is not demonstrated; the striking prevalance of physical weathering effects may merely reflect a strong dominance of physical over chemical weathering.
Frost action comprises a number of processes. Frost cracking has probably formed certain polygonal features. Frost heaving is widespread and very important; among other phenomena, it accounts for raised joint blocks in bedrock and for upfreezing of stones and other objects in mineral soil. Based in part on data from a number of experimental sites, both the "frost pull" and the "frost push" hypotheses of upfreezing of objects are regarded as valid. Mass displacement-the en-masse local transfer of mobile mineral soil from one place to another within the soil as the result of frost action-is demonstrably an important process but its exact nature is not established; cryostatic pressure may be a factor but changes in density and intergranular pressure are regarded as probably more important. A number of these frost-action processes produce sorting effects. Permafrost is widespread, and pingos are common along some drainages.
Patterned ground is common in moist locations. Both small and large nonsorted and sorted patterns are present but large nonsorted polygons and some large sorted nets are apparently less active than formerly. Based on the review of frost-action processes and on the field evidence, a genetic grouping of the forms is suggested. For specific occurrences at Mesters Vig, the basic processes are probably (1) desiccation cracking for most small nonsorted polygons, some small nonsorted stripes, and, in combination with one or more sorting processes, for small sorted polygons; (2) frost cracking for large nonsorted polygons, large nonsorted stripes, and, in combination with one or more sorting processes, for large sorted polygons; (3) dilation cracking for some small nonsorted polygons; (4) sedimentation for some nonsorted circles and related forms; (5) mass displacement for most nonsorted circles and related forms, debris islands, large sorted nets, some turf hummocks (in part), and, in combination with gelifluction, for most large sorted stripes; (6) rillwork for some small nonsorted stripes and the small sorted stripes; (7) differential mass-wasting for some large sorted stripes; (8) frost wedging (and frost heaving) for some other large sorted stripes. Further research may well modify some of the conclusions, but the Mesters Vig observations strongly support the polygenetic origin of many similar, as well as dissimilar, forms of patterned ground.Chemical weathering is locally important in the Mesters Vig district as proved by observations on oxidation, on solution and deposition of calcium carbonate, and on desert varnish, case hardening, exfoliation, cavernous weathering, granular disintegration, and development of Arctic Brown soil. Hydration is probably the most widespread and effective of the chemical processes, although its weathering effect involves physical prying. Aside from scattered prying by roots of woody plants such as Betula and Salix at generally low altitudes, frost wedging is probably the only widespread purely physical weathering process operating. That frost wedging breaks up rock more rapidly in the Mesters Vig environment than in more temperate climates having frost action is not demonstrated; the striking prevalance of physical weathering effects may merely reflect a strong dominance of physical over chemical weathering.
Frost action comprises a number of processes. Frost cracking has probably formed certain polygonal features. Frost heaving is widespread and very important; among other phenomena, it accounts for raised joint blocks in bedrock and for upfreezing of stones and other objects in mineral soil. Based in part on data from a number of experimental sites, both the "frost pull" and the "frost push" hypotheses of upfreezing of objects are regarded as valid. Mass displacement-the en-masse local transfer of mobile mineral soil from one place to another within the soil as the result of frost action-is demonstrably an important process but its exact nature is not established; cryostatic pressure may be a factor but changes in density and intergranular pressure are regarded as probably more important. A number of these frost-action processes produce sorting effects. Permafrost is widespread, and pingos are common along some drainages.
Patterned ground is common in moist locations. Both small and large nonsorted and sorted patterns are present but large nonsorted polygons and some large sorted nets are apparently less active than formerly. Based on the review of frost-action processes and on the field evidence, a genetic grouping of the forms is suggested. For specific occurrences at Mesters Vig, the basic processes are probably (1) desiccation cracking for most small nonsorted polygons, some small nonsorted stripes, and, in combination with one or more sorting processes, for small sorted polygons; (2) frost cracking for large nonsorted polygons, large nonsorted stripes, and, in combination with one or more sorting processes, for large sorted polygons; (3) dilation cracking for some small nonsorted polygons; (4) sedimentation for some nonsorted circles and related forms; (5) mass displacement for most nonsorted circles and related forms, debris islands, large sorted nets, some turf hummocks (in part), and, in combination with gelifluction, for most large sorted stripes; (6) rillwork for some small nonsorted stripes and the small sorted stripes; (7) differential mass-wasting for some large sorted stripes; (8) frost wedging (and frost heaving) for some other large sorted stripes. Further research may well modify some of the conclusions, but the Mesters Vig observations strongly support the polygenetic origin of many similar, as well as dissimilar, forms of patterned ground
Socio-demographic, medical and social-cognitive correlates of physical activity behavior among older adults (45-70 years): A cross-sectional study
Full text linkBackground: Present study aimed to identify socio-demographic, medical and social-cognitive correlates of physical activity among Dutch older individuals. Methods. A systematic random sample of 2,568 Dutch participants aged 45-70 years filled out the validated modified Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire on physical activity. Socio-demographic and social-cognitive correlates were measured with validated instruments; medical correlates were checked by a general practitioner. The study had a cross-sectional design and the data collection ran from March 2005 until August 2006. Linear regression analyses were conducted to identify correlates of PA. We separated the findings for men from those for women to explore potential gender-specific associations. Results: Being female, living in North Limburg or North-Brabant, having a higher educational level, a higher perceived behavioral control, more knowledge about PA advantages, a stronger habitual PA behavior, having more action plans and a stronger intention to engage in PA were significantly associated with higher PA levels. Being older, being a smoker, having a higher body mass index (BMI), having a paid job, observing others being physically active and overestimating one's PA level were associated with being less physically active. Socio-demographic and medical correlates significantly explained 20% of the variance of PA behavior while social-cognitive correlates as attitude explained an additional 4% and intention together with actual control explained another 1% of the variance of PA behavior. Conclusion: There may be stable individual differences that influence PA in view of the fact that several socio-demographic and medical factors were not completely mediated by the socio-cognitive factors. The current study may help to focus PA interventions for individuals aged 45-70 years on influential socio-demographic, medical and social-cognitive correlates. Physical activity was significantly associated with age, gender, education, BMI, work situation, region of residence, smoking, awareness, advantages, descriptive norm, perceived behavioral control, habit, action plans and intention. © 2014 Mesters et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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