3,379 research outputs found
Introduction
No full textBook synopsis: This important new book offers a state-of-the-art examination of political ecology, its evolution as an academic subject, and how environmental knowledge is used in the realm of global international politics. Focusing on the development of environmental knowledge with particular regard to the developing world, the book above all explores the discrepancies between environmental policies implemented by domineering international bodies, and perceptions of issues found in more local contexts.
Split into three sections, the book explores firstly the relationship between science and environmentalism, before moving on to discuss the political ecology of a major area of current concern - water management. The final section provides a well-documented analysis of the often discordant environmental power relations seen at international and local level. Written by a team of international experts, this volume encapsulates the whole range of approaches that currently characterise the burgeoning field of political ecology
P. A. Stott, éd. - Nature and man in South East Asia
No full textFriedberg Claudine. P. A. Stott, éd. - Nature and man in South East Asia. In: Journal d'agriculture traditionnelle et de botanique appliquée, 29ᵉ année, bulletin n°1, Janvier-mars 1982. pp. 103-105
Effects of nutrition during the luteal and follicular phase in gilts
No full textAlso cited as a journal article: Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 2010; 45(S3):82TY Chen, RZ Athorn, EG Bouwman, P Stott, P Langendij
Using a lens of awareness in phenomenographic research: an example from early mathematics education research
No full textThis paper aims to contribute to the advancement of methodological practice for phenomenographic research by introducing the notion of a lens of awareness, as a device that can enable researchers to zoom into the detail of the research process (the parts of the whole) and out again to the related context of a phenomenographic study (the whole). The lens enables researchers to embrace a reflexive stance to bracket prior assumptions, allowing critical inspection of the whole research process and a thorough retrospective and transparent account of the approaches used. We use a lens of awareness to communicate the component parts of a study that examined preschool children’s understandings of the use of numerals in everyday environments. Through an analytical documentation of processes and decisions, we examine challenges, the powerful affordances and application of a phenomenographic approach to research with young children. We discuss four strands of researcher awareness that we argue are important in the application of phenomenography: the nature of the phenomenon; the operationalization of phenomenographic theoretical notions; the researcher’s versus the participant’s experience of the phenomenon and the applied research processes. The paper closes with explorative strategies that may enhance transparency and trustworthiness in phenomenographic research.</p
Fluvial Morphology as a Driver of Lead and Zinc Geochemical Dispersion at a Catchment Scale
No full textMetal-mining exploitation has caused ecosystem degradation worldwide. Legacy wastes are often concentrated around former mines where monitoring and research works are mostly focused. Geochemical and physical weathering can affect metal-enriched sediment locations and their capacity to release metals at a catchment scale. This study investigated how fluvial geomorphology and soil geochemistry drive zinc and lead dispersion along the Nant Cwmnewyddion (Wales, UK). Sediments from different locations were sampled for geochemical and mineralogical investigations (portable X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and electron microprobe analysis). The suspended sediment fluxes in the streamwater were estimated at different streamflows to quantify the metal dispersion. Topographical and slope analysis allowed us to link sediment erosion with the exposure of primary sulphide minerals in the headwater. Zinc and lead entered the streamwater as aqueous phases or as suspended sediments. Secondary sources were localised in depositional stream areas due to topographical obstruction and a decrease in stream gradient. Sediment zinc and lead concentrations were lower in depositional areas and associated with Fe-oxide or phyllosilicates. Streamwater zinc and lead fluxes highlighted their mobility under high-flow conditions. This multi-disciplinary approach stressed the impact of the headwater mining work on the downstream catchment and provided a low-cost strategy to target sediment sampling via geomorphological observations
Causes of atmospheric temperature change 1960-2000: A combined attribution analysis
No full textWe investigate the causes of temperature change over the last four decades, both near the surface and in the free atmosphere, using a coupled atmosphere/ocean general circulation model, HadCM3, which requires no flux correction. We use an 'optimal detection' methodology to examine zonal mean temperatures near the surface and on nine diagnosed pressure levels throughout the atmosphere over the last four decades of the 20th Century. This produces a space-time-multivariable detection analysis which for the first time includes both solar and volcanic forcings in addition to anthropogenic forcings. Our results strengthen the case for an anthropogenic influence on climate. Unlike previous studies we attribute observed decadal-mean temperature changes both to anthropogenic emissions, and changes in stratospheric volcanic aerosols. The temperature response to change in solar irradiance is also detected but with a lower confidence than the other forcings
Police discretion and the role of the ‘spotter’ within football crowd policing: risk assessment, engagement, legitimacy and de-escalation
No full textDiscretion is a key feature of policing, yet its surrounding research has historically been heavily reliant upon exploring interpersonal or dyadic encounters between individual officers and members of the public. More recently, studies have explored how discretionary decisions by police officers impact upon and interact with group-level and organisational processes but few studies have explored the relevance of discretion to debates in the literature on public order policing. Correspondingly, there is to date only a limited body of research exploring the nature and dynamics of dialogue-based football-related public order policing. This study addresses these combined gaps by drawing upon data from interviews with specialist football officers, referred to as ‘spotters’ or Dedicated Football Officers, from five English police forces. Our analysis critiques the idea that these specialist roles revolve merely around the surveillance, categorisation and enforcement of fans who are considered to pose a risk to public order. We highlight how these officers understand their roles in terms of the use of discretion. We argue that in a complex intergroup environment officers utilise discretion to manage perceptions of their legitimacy among supporters. This ‘social capital’ in turn enhances their capacity to de-escalate and avoid disorder through the promotion of self-regulatory behaviour. We discuss the relevance of our study for theoretical approaches to understanding discretion and consider the implications of our analysis for developing a more formal dialogue-focused and discretion-based approach to football crowd policing in and beyond England and Wales.</p
Schematic illustration of parallel neuroeconomic tasks in monkey and rat.
No full text<p>The top panel illustrates the task (A), recording locations (B), and one of the significant results (C) from the study highlighted in this issue of <i>PLOS Biology</i> by Strait and colleagues[<a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002174#pbio.1002174.ref015" target="_blank">15</a>]. The bottom panel illustrates the task (D), recording locations (E), and one of the significant results (F) from the study by Stott and Redish, 2014[<a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002174#pbio.1002174.ref009" target="_blank">9</a>]. <i>Image credit: Karin Odell.</i></p
Hemostatic function and progressing ischemic stroke: D-dimer predicts early clinical progression
No full text<p><b>Background and Purpose:</b> Early clinical progression of ischemic stroke is common and is associated with increased risk of death and dependency. We hypothesized that activation of the coagulation system is an important contributor in some cases of deterioration. We aimed to characterize alterations in circulating hemostatic markers in patients with progressing stroke.</p>
<p><b>Methods:</b> Consecutive acute ischemic stroke admissions were recruited. Progressing stroke was defined by deterioration in components of the Scandinavian Stroke Scale. Hemostatic markers (coagulation factors VIIc, VIIIc, and IXc, prothrombin fragments 1+2 [F1+2], thrombin-antithrombin complexes [TAT], D- dimer, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor [vWF] and tissue plasminogen activator) were measured within 24 hours of symptom recognition.</p>
<p><b>Results:</b> Fifty-four (25%) of the 219 patients met criteria for progressing stroke. F1+2 (median 1.28 versus 1.06 nmol/L, P=0.01), TAT (5.28 versus 4.07 mug/L, P lt 0.01), D-dimer ( 443 versus 194 ng/mL, P lt 0.001) and vWF (216 versus 198 IU/dL, P lt 0.05) levels were higher in these patients than in stable/improving patients. In logistic regression analysis, with all important clinical and laboratory variables included, only natural log D-dimer (odds ratio [OR]: 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38 to 2.54; P=0.0001) and mean arterial blood pressure (OR: 1.26 per 10 mm Hg change; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.51; P=0.01) remained independent predictors of progressing stroke.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions:</b> There is evidence of excess thrombin generation and fibrin turnover in patients with progressing ischemic stroke. Measurement of D-dimer levels can identify patients at high risk for stroke progression. Further research is required to determine whether such patients benefit from acute interventions aimed at modifying hemostatic function.</p>
Marked oestrous cycle-dependent regulation of rat arterial KV 7.4 channels driven by GPER1.
No full textBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Kcnq-encoded KV 7 channels (termed KV 7.1-5) regulate vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contractility at rest and as targets of receptor-mediated responses. However, the current data are mostly derived from males. Considering the known effects of sex, the oestrous cycle and sex hormones on vascular reactivity, here we have characterised the molecular and functional properties of KV 7 channels from renal and mesenteric arteries from female Wistar rats separated into di-oestrus and met-oestrus (F-D/M) and pro-oestrus and oestrus (F-P/E). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: RT-qPCR, immunocytochemistry, proximity ligation assay and wire myography were performed in renal and mesenteric arteries. Circulating sex hormone concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Whole-cell electrophysiology was undertaken on cells expressing KV 7.4 channels in association with G-protein-coupled oestrogen receptor 1 (GPER1). KEY RESULTS: The KV 7.2-5 activators S-1 and ML213 and the pan-KV 7 inhibitor linopirdine were more effective in arteries from F-D/M compared with F-P/E animals. In VSMCs isolated from F-P/E rats, exploratory evidence indicates reduced membrane abundance of KV 7.4 but not KV 7.1, KV 7.5 and Kcne4 when compared with cells from F-D/M. Plasma oestradiol was higher in F-P/E compared with F-D/M, and progesterone showed the converse pattern. Oestradiol/GPER1 agonist G-1 diminished KV 7.4 encoded currents and ML213 relaxations and reduced the membrane abundance of KV 7.4 and interaction between KV 7.4 and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), in arteries from F-D/M but not F-P/E. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: GPER1 signalling decreased KV 7.4 membrane abundance in conjunction with diminished interaction with HSP90, giving rise to a 'pro-contractile state'
- …
