Introductory remarks

The very first numerical models which were developed more than 20 years ago were drastic simplifications of the real atmosphere and they were mostly restricted to describe adiabatic processes. For prediction of a day or two of the mid tropospheric flow these models often gave reasonable results but the result deteriorated quickly when the prediction was extended further in time. The prediction of the surface flow was unsatisfactory even for short predictions. It was evident that both the energy generating processes as well as the dissipative processes have to be included in numerical models in order to predict the weather patterns in the lower part of the atmosphere and to predict the atmosphere in general beyond a day or two. Present-day computers make it possible to attack the weather forecasting problem in a more comprehensive and complete way and substantial efforts have been made during the last decade in particular to incorporate the non-adiabatic processes in numerical prediction models. The physics of radiational transfer, condensation of moisture, turbulent transfer of heat, momentum and moisture and the dissipation of kinetic energy are the most important processes associated with the formation of energy sources and sinks in the atmosphere and these have to be incorporated in numerical prediction models extended over more than a few days. The mechanisms of these processes are mainly related to small scale disturbances in space and time or even molecular processes. It is therefore one of the basic characteristics of numerical models that these small scale disturbances cannot be included in an explicit way. The reason for this is the discretization of the model's atmosphere by a finite difference grid or the use of a Galerkin or spectral function representation. The second reason why we cannot explicitly introduce these processes into a numerical model is due to the fact that some physical processes necessary to describe them (such as the local buoyance) are a priori eliminated by the constraints of hydrostatic adjustment. Even if this physical constraint can be relaxed by making the models non-hydrostatic the scale problem is virtually impossible to solve and for the foreseeable future we have to try to incorporate the ensemble or gross effect of these physical processes on the large scale synoptic flow. The formulation of the ensemble effect in terms of grid-scale variables (the parameters of the large-scale flow) is called 'parameterization'. For short range prediction of the synoptic flow at middle and high latitudes, very simple parameterization has proven to be rather successful.

Transdifferential and transintegral calculus

The set of transreal numbers is a superset of the real numbers. It totalises real arithmetic by defining division by zero in terms of three def- inite, non-finite numbers: positive infinity, negative infinity and nullity. Elsewhere, in this proceedings, we extended continuity and limits from the real domain to the transreal domain, here we extended the real derivative to the transreal derivative. This continues to demonstrate that transreal analysis contains real analysis and operates at singularities where real analysis fails. Hence computer programs that rely on computing deriva- tives { such as those used in scientific, engineering and financial applica- tions { are extended to operate at singularities where they currently fail. This promises to make software, that computes derivatives, both more competent and more reliable. We also extended the integration of absolutely convergent functions from the real domain to the transreal domain.

Poetry of social conscience, poetry of transition: Ann Hawkshaw's 'Introductory Stanzas' and 'The Mother to her Starving Child'

Through close readings of Ann Hawkshaw's poetry in the context of industrial Manchester in the 1840s, this article highlights the interaction of form and content in poetry that makes use of the idea of the past to question or complicate the politics of the present.

Transreal calculus

Transreal arithmetic totalises real arithmetic by defining division by zero in terms of three definite, non-finite numbers: positive infinity, negative infinity and nullity. We describe the transreal tangent function and extend continuity and limits from the real domain to the transreal domain. With this preparation, we extend the real derivative to the transreal derivative and extend proper integration from the real domain to the transreal domain. Further, we extend improper integration of absolutely convergent functions from the real domain to the transreal domain. This demonstrates that transreal calculus contains real calculus and operates at singularities where real calculus fails.

Understanding consumer evaluations of personalised nutrition services in terms of the privacy calculus: a qualitative study

Background: Personalised nutrition (PN) may provide major health benefits to consumers. A potential barrier to the uptake of PN is consumers’ reluctance to disclose sensitive information upon which PN is based. This study adopts the privacy calculus to explore how PN service attributes contribute to consumers’ privacy risk and personalisation benefit perceptions. Methods: Sixteen focus groups (n = 124) were held in 8 EU countries and discussed 9 PN services that differed in terms of personal information, communication channel, service provider, advice justification, scope, frequency, and customer lock-in. Transcripts were content analysed. Results: The personal information that underpinned PN contributed to both privacy risk perception and personalisation benefit perception. Disclosing information face-to-face mitigated the perception of privacy risk and amplified the perception of personalisation benefit. PN provided by a qualified expert and justified by scientific evidence increased participants’ value perception. Enhancing convenience, offering regular face-to face support, and employing customer lock-in strategies were perceived as beneficial. Conclusion: This study suggests that to encourage consumer adoption, PN has to account for face-to-face communication, expert advice providers, support, a lifestyle-change focus, and customised offers. The results provide an initial insight into service attributes that influence consumer adoption of PN.