Modern Dating and Performance:Creative blendings between the mundane and the exceptional

This article explores dating as/in performance, especially regarding the ‘first date’. It shows that modern data-driven Internet/app dating can seem quite mundane and lead to work-like 'burnout', which is most likely why dating-performers such as the infamous 'Tinder Swindler', a male dater who often played the 'role' of an heir to a diamond tycoon on Tinder to defraud women, opted to make the app dating experience more exceptional and 'immersive' – and at the same time dangerous and fraudulent. He thereby arguably responded to a heightened yearning for exceptional, emotional experiences in the face of a growing datafication and rationalization that is in line with current developments in capitalist culture. The article demonstrates that a blended performance of the mundane and the exceptional can work against such extremes of 'burnout' or capitalist exploitation, by giving a voice and agency to those who have not been listened to – or have often been viewed as passive – in the dating process, for instance due to their gender and ethnicity. Theories of the performance of the everyday and of digital everyday performance are employed to enhance the understanding of how such blended pieces work, but it will also be shown that the 'mundane' and the 'exceptional' can take on a multiplicity of meanings in this context, or even resist a fixed meaning altogether at times, in order to counteract simplistic readings or (pre-)conceptions regarding gender and ethnicity. The case studies analysed here – Lían Amaris Sifuentes’ and Luke DuBois' Fashionably Late for the Relationship (2007-8) and Jacob Boehme's Blood on the Dance Floor (2016) – work with feminist and queer-indigenous-HIV-positive dramaturgies to shed light on the dating process, embrace the performance of the mundane, but, as I argue, also work creatively with blendings between the mundane and the exceptional in order to provoke socio-political change

Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills and Ethical Responsibility in UK Higher Education in Times of 'Polycrisis':Two Case Studies from Drama and Theatre Arts

In this uncertain age of “polycrisis,” where various types of crises—such as climate change, the refugee crisis, financial instability, wars—intersect in such intricate ways “that the overall impact far exceeds the sum of each part” (World Economic Forum, Global Risks Report, 2023), it is more important than ever to help students look beyond the university walls and address such complexities. This article argues that combining the enhancement of critical thinking skills, which are often linked to rational distancing, with the promotion of ethical responsibility through an affective closeness towards a topic at hand, is a crucial pedagogical approach in UK higher education today. This is because we live in an age which requires both critical analysis amidst, for instance, the rise of ‘fake news,’ and affective closeness due to, for example, the emotional numbness often caused by the amount and complexity of the crises we are confronted with today. Adding an affective dimension to a more rational approach furthermore has the benefit of encouraging deep learning as opposed to so-called “surface learning” (Race, 2007, p. 36), as an affective encounter/event can bring with it greater attention (Tomkins, 1995) and a longer-term consolidation in one’s (bodily) memory (Shouse, 2005). More sustainable and longer-term thinking in the face of complex and lasting crises is crucial particularly in light of largely short-term, election-focused political (in)action and fast-changing news cycles. To illustrate such an interlinking of distancing strategies with pedagogies of closeness, two particular case studies from Drama and Theatre Arts will be analysed because these can effectively highlight the usefulness of this two-pronged approach through their own combination of artistic nearness to ‘real-life’ socio-political issues as well as artistic distancing

Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills and Ethical Responsibility in UK Higher Education in Times of 'Polycrisis':Two Case Studies from Drama and Theatre Arts

In this uncertain age of “polycrisis,” where various types of crises—such as climate change, the refugee crisis, financial instability, wars—intersect in such intricate ways “that the overall impact far exceeds the sum of each part” (World Economic Forum, Global Risks Report, 2023), it is more important than ever to help students look beyond the university walls and address such complexities. This article argues that combining the enhancement of critical thinking skills, which are often linked to rational distancing, with the promotion of ethical responsibility through an affective closeness towards a topic at hand, is a crucial pedagogical approach in UK higher education today. This is because we live in an age which requires both critical analysis amidst, for instance, the rise of ‘fake news,’ and affective closeness due to, for example, the emotional numbness often caused by the amount and complexity of the crises we are confronted with today. Adding an affective dimension to a more rational approach furthermore has the benefit of encouraging deep learning as opposed to so-called “surface learning” (Race, 2007, p. 36), as an affective encounter/event can bring with it greater attention (Tomkins, 1995) and a longer-term consolidation in one’s (bodily) memory (Shouse, 2005). More sustainable and longer-term thinking in the face of complex and lasting crises is crucial particularly in light of largely short-term, election-focused political (in)action and fast-changing news cycles. To illustrate such an interlinking of distancing strategies with pedagogies of closeness, two particular case studies from Drama and Theatre Arts will be analysed because these can effectively highlight the usefulness of this two-pronged approach through their own combination of artistic nearness to ‘real-life’ socio-political issues as well as artistic distancing

Rare Earth Elements in Agriculture with Emphasis on Animal Husbandry

Calculations performed in consideration of a continuously increasing world population have revealed that animal production needs to be enhanced worldwide by at least 2 % each year so as to provide sufficient feed. Yet, effective growth promoting agents, in terms of in-feed antibiotics, have been completely banned throughout Europe due to the possible development and spread of multiresistance in bacteria. New efficient, safe and inexpensive feed additives are therefore needed in order to maintain or even further improve performance levels in animal husbandry. Based upon this information, rare earth elements have been considered as promising natural feed additive. Thus, this study was designed to bring together the current research on rare earths in order to analyze the data obtained and to facilitate the discussion of its relevance to agricultural utilization. The term rare earth elements comprises the elements scandium (21), yttrium (39), lanthanum (57) and the 14 chemical elements following lanthanum (58 -71) called lanthanoids. Favoring the tripositive oxidation state, rare earths present a high affinity for ionic bonding, thus a large number of both organic and inorganic rare earth salts may be formed. Nevertheless, rare earths may also form complexes especially with chelating oxygen ligands. In nature, rare earths occur in multiple minerals, such as bastnaesite and monazite which are mainly used for industrial production. Today, rare earths are part of several daily used devices such as lighters, television sets and computers. Additionally they are found in medical technology, nuclear engineering, automobile industry, military devices and even in spacecraft. Furthermore, rare earth-containing drugs are used for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in chronic renal failure patients and for burn treatment. Based upon their paramagnetic properties, rare earths, especially gadolinium, have also been arranged as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography. In the future, among other uses, rare earths might be involved in cancer therapy, treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis as well as organ transplantation. In China, rare earths have been successfully used at low concentrations as feed additives and fertilizers for decades. Yet, careful interpretation of Chinese data is recommended due to the fact that Chinese papers are often only available in native language and furthermore not up to standard with Western scientific research reports, hence lacking statistical treatment of data and details of experimental methods. However, in China, both yield increases and quality improvements were achieved in multiple plant species including cereals, fruits and vegetables after rare earth application. Recommended application rates vary with the crop species, the application technique (soil, foliar or seed dressing) as well as the timing. As feed additives, rare earths were shown to improve body weight gain and feed conversion in nearly all categories of farming animals (chickens, pigs, ducks, cattle). Additionally, improvements in milk production in dairy cows, in egg production in laying hens and in output and survival rate of fish and egg hatching of shrimps were noticed. Feed additives used thereby predominantly contain light rare earths (La, Ce, Pr, Nd) but even though both organic (nitrates, chlorides etc.) and inorganic (ascorbates, citrates etc.) rare earth feed additives are commercially available, organic ones are claimed to provide better results. Based on the effects reported in Chinese studies, experiments were initiated under Western conditions in order to investigate the action of rare earths on both plant and animal growth. Several Western feeding trials conducted on animals have been able to demonstrate significant performance enhancing effects after dietary rare earth application, while results obtained from experiments on the effects of rare earths on plant growth have been controversial. In pigs, improvements in body weight gain of up to 19 % and in feed conversion rate of 10 % were observed after their diets were supplemented with low-dosed rare earth chlorides. Even better effects were however noticed after rare earth citrates were added to the feed of pigs. Furthermore, under field conditions, rare earths were shown to increase body weight gain by up to 10 % and improve feed conversion by up to 9 % in pigs. Following these results, rare earth containing feed additives in terms of Lancer® have entered the market in Switzerland, where a temporary permission has been granted for their use in pig production. In addition, in broilers, rare earths were also shown to increase final weights by 7 % and improve feed conversion by up to 3 %. Very recent studies also confirmed performance enhancing effects in broilers with increased body weight gain and feed intake of up to 6.6 % and 6.9 %, respectively. In rats, which were used as a small animal model, improvements in body weight gain and feed conversion of 4 -7 % and 3 -11 %, respectively, followed the application of rare earths. Thus, clear performance enhancing effects were achieved in Western studies on rats, pigs and poultry due to dietary rare earth supplementation. However, there are also studies in which positive effects of rare earths on animal performance were not as obvious or not observed at all. A comparison between the results of these feeding experiments as to the mixture of rare earths, the concentration as well as the compound applied showed that these parameters are involved in the magnitude of performance enhancing effects of rare earths. At present, no definitive statement on optimum composition can be made. However, a dose-dependency was observed in several trials and better effects have been achieved when the mixture of rare earths was applied instead of single lanthanum. Additionally, it seems that organic rare earth compounds have a higher impact on animal performance than inorganic ones. This is probable ascribable to different chemical characteristics, which lead to variations in both absorption and bioavailability. Generally, absorption of orally applied rare earths is very low, with more than 95 % being recovered in the feces of animals. According to minute gastrointestinal absorption of rare earths, oral toxicity is very low and comparable to usual table salt. LD50 values determined in various animal experiments rang from 830 mg/kg to 10 g/kg body weight. None of the feeding trials performed reported any effects on the state of health of the animals, which coincides with low oral toxicity and additionally supports the safe application of rare earth feed additives to animals. In addition, no effects on either meat or carcass quality were observed. Likewise, rare earth concentrations determined in organ samples were very low and similar or even lower than in control animals. This is attributed to the ubiquitous occurrence of rare earths, thus also in plants and soils. As a result they also appear in commercial diets and subsequently in animal and human tissue. It has also been shown that rare earth contents in usual vegetable foodstuff are still higher than those in meat obtained from animals additionally fed with rare earths. Therefore, the application of rare earths as feed additive is also considered to be safe for humans. Furthermore, as to current knowledge, no damage is to be expected on the environment as a consequence of rare earth application to agriculture. In fact, as rare earths can improve feed conversion, they may support the efficient use of natural resources, while additionally reducing environmental loads in terms of animal excrements. Hence, with respect to animal, human and environmental safety, rare earths meet legal recommendations of the European Union for their registration as feed additive. Although the mechanism underlying performance enhancing effects of rare earths is not completely understood, several proposals have been made. According to current research, rare earths might exert their action locally within the gastrointestinal tract, including effects on the bacterial micro-flora as well as on nutrient uptake, digestibility and utilization. Likewise, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects may also contribute to positive effects. Additionally, actions on the intermediate metabolism in terms of effects on cellular functions, growth-and digestibility-related hormones and enzymes or the immune system have also been considered. It might also be possible that rare earths are not yet identified essential elements. Based on the information gained in this study, it has been concluded that rare earths are of high interest as possibly new, safe, inexpensive feed additive in Europe, especially in pig and poultry production

Comparação de amostragens em uma floresta estacional semidecidual no entorno do Parque Nacional do Caparaó MG.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar o método de amostragem de parcelas de área fixa com métodos de amostragem de distância (quadrantes e Prodan) para caracterização florística e fitossociológica da comunidade arbórea do fragmento florestal com aproximadamente 94, 38 ha na fazenda Recanto Verde, localizado no município de Alto Jequitibá entorno do Parque Nacional do Caparaó- MG, Zona da Mata Mineira. Para o método de parcelas de área fixa foram alocadas 17 parcelas 20 x 30m (600 m2). Para localização e marcação no campo, utilizou-se um GPS de navegação tomando-se como referência o ponto central da parcela. Para marcação dos pontos referentes aos métodos de distâncias, foi criada uma malha em um mapa gerado a partir de uma imagem do satélite IKONOS, obtida em agosto de 2004. Foram alocados 104 pontos com distância entre linhas amostrais de 100 metros e distância entre pontos dentro da linha de amostragem igual a 50 metros. Em cada parcela e ponto, foram medidas todas as árvores com DAP (diâmetro à altura do peito a 1,30 m de altura) igual ou superior a 5 cm. As famílias Araliaceae, Burseraceae, Celastraceae, Chrysobalanaceae, Lecythidaceae, Rhamnaceae, Simaroubaceae, Thymeliaceae e Vochysiaceae são observadas apenas no método de parcelas de área fixa, enquanto que as famílias Elaeocarpaceae e Lamiaceae são amostradas apenas nos métodos de quadrantes e Prodan. As espécies com maior VI(%) são: Plathymenia foliolosa método de parcelas de área fixa, Dalbergia nigra método de quadrantes e Mabea fistulifera método de Prodan. A estrutura diamétrica do fragmento florestal estudado segue o padrão geral das florestas ineqüiâneas, em J invertido para os três métodos de amostragem. Considerando-se todas as estimativas para riqueza, diversidade e estruturas horizontal e diamétrica obtidas pelos três métodos de amostragem, além da intensidade amostral e tempo gasto na aplicação de cada método, o método de parcelas de área fixa demonstra ser o mais fidedigno e com melhor desempenho em termos de tempo na proposta de retratar a comunidade arbórea estudada

Alternative tasks for the teaching and the learning of functions: analysis of an intervention in the High School

Neste artigo focalizamos a aplicação de duas tarefas matemáticas alternativas para o ensino e a aprendizagem de funções, junto a alunos do Ensino Médio. Tais tarefas foram elaboradas levando-se em consideração a seguinte abordagem metodológica: (i) resolução de problemas e/ou investigação matemática e (ii) uma proposta pedagógica que defende o desenvolvimento do conhecimento matemático mediante um equilíbrio entre lógica e intuição. Utilizamos uma abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa (caracterizada como estudo de caso) para analisar o potencial didático-pedagógico deste tipo de metodologia no Ensino Médio. Verificamos que tarefas, tais como as que serão apresentadas e discutidas neste artigo, favorecem uma aprendizagem mais significativa aos alunos, permitindo-lhes maior compreensão conceitual, e tornam-se ainda mais potentes quando se considera o contexto sócio-cultural dos alunos