The population dynamics and growth of the freshwater crayfish Austvopotamobius pallipes in an aqueduct in Northumbria

Despite the wide distribution and abundance of the freshwater crayfish Austropotcmobius pallipes in Britain, little is known of its population biology. The dynamics and growth of a Northumbrian population of A. pallipes were studied using an intensive-mark- recapture programme. The seasonal timing of moulting and reproduction was found to be predictable and probably related to water temperature. Stomach contents showed crayfish to be omnivorous, with plant material forming the bulk of the diet. Population size, survival and recruitment were estimated from mark- recapture data at frequent intervals. Two principal types of mortality were identified: moult-associated mortality, which was relatively intense and of short (2-3 weeks) duration, and overwinter mortality, which operated at a much lower estimated weekly rate over a period of some 30 weeks. Mortality was shown to be highly variable throughout the year. Population size generally showed a midsummer peak as recruitment into the catchable size classes occurred. Thereafter numbers declined slightly towards the end of the growth season, followed by an overwinter decline of some 50% of total numbers. Longevity was estimated to be at least eleven years. The relationship between size, age and weight was established and males shown to have faster growth rates than females after the size of sexual maturity. Growth increments and moult frequency were shown to differ between the sexes and according to body size. Reproductive females omitted one moult while carrying eggs. Growth rates were depressed by the parasite Thelohania oonteoeani and by the regeneration of a major chela. The fecundity of females and the probability of being reproductive increased with body size. The annual production of the study population was estimated at 196.49 kg ha(^-1) in 1977, 116.80 kg ha(^-1) in 1978 and 87.79 kg ha(^-1) in 1979. Detailed life histories of many marked individuals were collected which support the conclusions drawn at the population level

Dangerous work: The gendered nature of bullying in the context of higher education

This paper discusses results from a research project which set out to investigate gender differences in the nature and experience of bullying within the higher education sector. Gender differences emerged in the form and perception of bullying as well as in target response. Results also indicate that, irrespective of gender, bullies can capture and subvert organizational structures and procedures (official hierarchies, mentoring systems, probationary reviews) to further their abuse of the target and to conceal aggressive intent. These outcomes are discussed in relation to gendered assumptions behind management practices and in relation to the masculinist ethic that underpins many higher education management initiatives. Overall, results indicate that bullying cannot be divorced from gender and that such behaviour needs to be seen in a gendered context

The effects of surface pretreatment on the cyclic-fatigue characteristics of bonded aluminium-alloy joints

Accepted versio

On our own terms : the working conditions of internet-based sex workers in the UK

The sex industry is increasingly operated through online technologies, whether this is selling services online through webcam or advertising, marketing or organising sex work through the Internet and digital technologies. Using data from a survey of 240 internet-based sex workers (members of the National Ugly Mug reporting scheme in the UK), we discuss the working conditions of this type of work. We look at the basic working patterns, trajectories and everyday experiences of doing sex work via an online medium and the impact this has on the lives of sex workers. For instance, we look at levels of control individuals have over their working conditions, prices, clientele and services sold, and discuss how this is mediated online and placed in relation to job satisfaction. The second key finding is the experience of different forms of crimes individuals are exposed to such as harassment and blackmail via the new technologies. We explore the relationship internet-based sex workers have with the police and discuss how current laws in the UK have detrimental effects in terms of safety and access to justice. These findings are placed in the context of the changing landscape of sex markets as the digital turn determines the nature of the majority of commercial sex encounters. These findings contribute significantly to the populist coercion/choice political debates by demonstrating levels and types of agency and autonomy experienced by some sex workers despite working in a criminalized, precarious and sometimes dangerous context

Democratization and the Diffusion of Shari'a Law: Comparative Insights from Indonesia

The democratization of politics has been accompanied by a rise of Islamic laws in many Muslim-majority countries. Despite a growing interest in the phenomenon, the Islamization of politics in democratizing Muslim-majority countries is rarely understood as a process that unfolds across space and time. Based on an original dataset established during years of field research in Indonesia, this article analyzes the spread of shari’a regulations across the world’s largest Muslim-majority democracy since 1998. The article shows that shari’a regulations in Indonesia diffused unevenly across space and time. Explanations put forward in the literature on the diffusion of morality policies in other countries such as geographic proximity, institutions, intergovernmental relations and economic conditions did not explain the patterns in the diffusion of shari’a regulations in Indonesia well. Instead, shari’a regulations in Indonesia were most likely to spread across jurisdictions where local Islamist groups situated outside the party system had an established presence. In short, the Islamization of politics was highly contingent on local conditions. Future research will need to pay more attention to local Islamist activists and networks situated outside formal politics as potential causes for the diffusion of shari’a law in democratizing Muslim-majority countries

Efficient ethane production via SnCl4 Lewis acid-enhanced CO2 electroreduction in a flow cell electrolyser

\ua9 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry. The development of efficient and selective catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) is critical for advancing sustainable energy solutions. Here, we report a unique catalyst system based on SnCl4 Lewis acid-modified Cu2O, demonstrating enhanced performance in CO2 electroreduction to ethane. The SnCl4 modification introduces chloride ions directly onto the Cu2O surface, creating a synergistic interaction between Sn, Cl, and Cu active sites that optimizes the electronic environment for ECR. The SnCl4 catalyst was deposited on Cu2O coated gas diffusion electrode (GDE) and tested in a flow cell electrolyser, integrating a Fumasep bipolar membrane and platinum (Pt) foil anode. This system achieved a peak faradaic efficiency of 34.8% for ethane production at −1.0 V vs. RHE, along with 11.3% efficiency for ethylene. Electrochemical studies revealed that the SnCl4-modified Cu2O exhibits low charge transfer resistance and high stability during prolonged electrolysis, achieving a total current density of 74.8 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 92.3 mV dec−1 at 0.4 V overpotential. Mechanistic investigations, supported by density functional theory, Raman, XRD, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses, highlight the critical role of chloride ions in stabilizing CO intermediates and facilitating C-C bond formation, essential for C2 product generation. Operating in a flow cell configuration, the system demonstrated high energy efficiency and selectivity, establishing the SnCl4-modified Cu2O (CTC) as a promising catalyst for ECR. These findings offer a scalable and economically viable pathway for renewable hydrocarbon production, paving the way for practical applications in carbon-neutral energy cycles

Service planning and delivery outcomes of home adaptations for ageing in the UK

In response to the impact of demographic change on the healthcare system, ‘ageing in place’ was introduced as a national policy to support elderly people living independently in their homes. Housing adaptation is essential for successful independent living and has been given increased political priority. However, adaptation policies and practice vary regionally, reflecting statutory limits, policy choices and local planning. This study investigated the current status of adaptation provision in different regions in the UK and assessed the effectiveness of local service planning and management. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory research strategy was employed. In the first quantitative phase, a questionnaire survey was carried out involving all 378 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales. This was followed by a second qualitative phase involving individual interviews with five professionals and two clients and a focus group meeting with six key stakeholders. The study found that the current number of adaptations was relatively small compared with potential demands in most local areas, as was funding for adaptations. On the operational side, the adaptation process was fragmented, involving different service groups in many local authorities. There were disconnections between these groups, which often caused inefficiencies and poor effectiveness. Moving forward, local authorities need to have a clear vision of the overall need for adaptations and allocate sufficient resources. Practical guidelines are also needed for better integrated working and performance management

Designing Molybdenum Trioxide and Hard Carbon Architecture for Stable Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

\ua9 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Materials Interfaces published by Wiley-VCH GmbH. Molybdenum Trioxide (MoO3) is a promising candidate as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIB), with a theoretical capacity of 1 117 mAhg−1. Nevertheless, MoO3 has inherent lower electronic conductivity and suffers from significant volume expansion during the charge–discharge cycle, which hinders its ability to attain a substantial capacity and cyclability for practical applications. In this study, a novel material design strategy is reported for LIB anodes containing MoO3 and hard carbon (HC) architecture fabricated using a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technique. MoO3/HC as anode materials are evaluated for LIBs, which demonstrate an exceptional performance with a capacity of 953 mAhg−1 at a discharging rate of 0.2 C. Additionally, MoO3/HC anode demonstrated exceptional rate capability during fast charging at 5 C and achieved a capacity of 342 mAhg−1. The MoO3/HC anode demonstrates remarkable cycle life, retaining over > 99% Coulombic efficiency after 3 000 cycles at a rate of 0.2 C. The exceptional performance of MoO3/HC anode can be attributed to the novel material design strategy based on a multi-layered structure where HC provides a barrier against the possible volumetric expansion of LIB anode

Optical Design for Li Beam Zeeman Polarimetry Measurements on Diii-D

Measurements of the magnetic field pitch angle are obtained from the polarization characteristics of the {sigma} component of the Zeeman triplet of Li emission at 670.8 nm. A four element optical system images a horizontal Li beam on an array of 3 x 32, 1 mm diam. optical fibers, providing 32 spatial channels with 5 mm radial resolution in the plasma. Low Verdet constant glass is used for all optical elements near the DIII-D vessel to minimize the effects of Faraday rotation caused by stray magnetic fields. Before entering the fiber optics, the light passes through two crossed (45 degrees) photoelastic modulators (PEM) and a linear polarizer, which convert the various polarization states into an intensity modulated signal at the fundamental and 2nd harmonic of the PEM frequencies. For each spatial channel, light from a three fiber bundle is collimated and passes through a temperature tuned etalon (free spectral range, FSR = 0.3 nm; finesse, F = 5.7) in order to select only one {sigma} line of the triplet. The FSR is large enough to adequately cover the expected Zeeman triplet and small enough to achieve a low bandwidth (0.06 nm) at reasonably low F. A 1.0 nm wide interference filter is used to block all but 4-5 peaks of the etalon. The light is then focused on GaAs photo multiplier detectors. Details of the design and performance are presented