Religious segregation and teacher education in Northern Ireland

This paper surveys the extent of religious segregation in teacher education in Northern Ireland and notes that there are elements of separation within a general context of (increasing) common teacher education. With reference to liberal and communitarian theories the case for separate teacher education is considered. It is acknowledged that a case can be made for forms of separate teacher education in a liberal society but that certain limits or expectations should apply. A common teacher education is found to be desirable but it is suggested that in order to justify its dominant status in a plural environment it must be accommodating of religion, encourage dialogical engagement around concepts of shared fate and cultivate a sense of community. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

The Landscape of Differences: Contact and Segregation in the Everyday Encounters

The article examines everyday life in Northern Ireland’s segregated communities and focus on a neglected empirical dimension of ethnic and social segregation developed within the socio-spatial relations between people and their built environment. It shows how the everyday urban encounters are reproduced through negotiating differences and the ways in which living in divided communities lead to social inequality and imbalanced use of space. The article employed qualitative research methods with individuals and community groups from the Fountain estate, a small Protestant enclave in Derry/Londonderry. Their stories were replete with cases of injustice and insights into the daily struggles that have generally occurred within theories of contact and social segregation as a whole. In fact, people in the Fountain presented their own intertextual references on what was more significant for them as a matter of routine survival and belonging, which allowed them to be more constructive about themselves. While segregation has persisted for multiple decades; time is believed to be the factor most likely to change it, as it is hoped that the younger generation will provide lasting change to Northern Ireland and eventual peace between currently segregated communities.

Ethnic Segregation, Moral Panics and Social Class: A Comparative Study of the Experiences and Perspectives of Working Class and Middle Class Children in Belfast

This paper begins by describing the moral panics that have tended to emerge sporadically in Northern Ireland over the last few years with regard to young people’s involvement in sectarian violence in Belfast. Within this, while these young people have been cast in the traditional role of folk devils, the paper will show how younger children also tend to be explicitly identified and named in an ambiguous way through such moral panics; playing a deviant role as participators, and sometimes instigators, of sectarian violence but also carrying the symbolic responsibility of representing Belfast’s future. It will be shown that it is because of this ambiguous position that it is adults rather than the children themselves that tend to be held responsible for their actions; either as rioters using the children as political pawns or as parents guilty of neglect. With this as a starting point the paper then explores the perspectives and experiences of two groups of 10-11 year old children living in Belfast and the impact of these moral panics on them. One group of children, living in affluent middle class areas were found to be appropriating and re-working these broader moral panics into more general discourses of derision that tended to pathologize working class children and communities more generally. For the other group of children, living in economically deprived areas with high levels of sectarian tensions and violence, their experiences of such violence and their participation in it are discussed. It will be shown that for these children, the broader moral panics that exist tend to have the effect of reinforcing the processes that tend to segregate and exclude them.

Coastal upwelling drives intertidal assemblage structure and trophic ecology

ecosystems. Coastal oceanic upwelling, for example, has been associated with elevatedbiomass and abundance patterns of certain functional groups, e.g., corticated macroalgae.In the upwelling system of Northern Chile, we examined measures of intertidal macrobenthiccomposition, structure and trophic ecology across eighteen shores varying in theirproximity to two coastal upwelling centres, in a hierarchical sampling design (spatial scalesof >1 and >10 km). The influence of coastal upwelling on intertidal communities was confirmedby the stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) of consumers, including a dominantsuspension feeder, grazers, and their putative resources of POM, epilithic biofilm, andmacroalgae. We highlight the utility of muscle δ15N from the suspension feeding mussel,Perumytilus purpuratus, as a proxy for upwelling, supported by satellite data and previousstudies. Where possible, we used corrections for broader-scale trends, spatial autocorrelation,ontogenetic dietary shifts and spatial baseline isotopic variation prior to analysis. Ourresults showed macroalgal assemblage composition, and benthic consumer assemblagestructure, varied significantly with the intertidal influence of coastal upwelling, especiallycontrasting bays and coastal headlands. Coastal topography also separated differences inconsumer resource use. This suggested that coastal upwelling, itself driven by coastlinetopography, influences intertidal communities by advecting nearshore phytoplankton populationsoffshore and cooling coastal water temperatures. We recommend the isotopic valuesof benthic organisms, specifically long-lived suspension feeders, as in situ alternativesto offshore measurements of upwelling influence

Not all jellyfish are equal: isotopic evidence for inter- and intraspecific variation in jellyfish trophic ecology

Jellyfish are highly topical within studies of pelagic food-webs and there is a growing realisation that their role is more complex than once thought. Efforts being made to include jellyfish within fisheries and ecosystem models are an important step forward, but our present understanding of their underlying trophic ecology can lead to their oversimplification in these models. Gelatinous zooplankton represent a polyphyletic assemblage spanning >2,000 species that inhabit coastal seas to the deep-ocean and employ a wide variety of foraging strategies. Despite this diversity, many contemporary modelling approaches include jellyfish as a single functional group feeding at one or two trophic levels at most. Recent reviews have drawn attention to this issue and highlighted the need for improved communication between biologists and theoreticians if this problem is to be overcome. We used stable isotopes to investigate the trophic ecology of three co-occurring scyphozoan jellyfish species (Aurelia aurita, Cyanea lamarckii and C. capillata) within a temperate, coastal food-web in the NE Atlantic. Using information on individual size, time of year and ;delta C-13 and delta N-15 stable isotope values, we examined: (1) whether all jellyfish could be considered as a single functional group, or showed distinct inter-specific differences in trophic ecology; (2) Were size-based shifts in trophic position, found previously in A. aurita, a common trait across species?; (3) When considered collectively, did the trophic position of three sympatric species remain constant over time? Differences in delta N-15 (trophic position) were evident between all three species, with size-based and temporal shifts in delta N-15 apparent in A. aurita and C. capillata. The isotopic niche width for all species combined increased throughout the season, reflecting temporal shifts in trophic position and seasonal succession in these gelatinous species. Taken together, these findings support previous assertions that jellyfish require more robust inclusion in marine fisheries or ecosystem models.

Experimental investigation of flow and segregation behaviour of bulk solids in silos under high gravity conditions

Many researchers have investigated the flow and segregation behaviour in model scale experimental silos at normal gravity conditions. However it is known that the stresses experienced by the bulk solid in industrial silos are high when compared to model silos. Therefore it is important to understand the effect of stress level on flow and segregation behaviour and establish the scaling laws governing this behaviour. The objective of this paper is to understand the effect of gravity on the flow and segregation behaviour of bulk solids in a silo centrifuge model. The materials used were two mixtures composed of Polyamide and glass beads. The discharge of two bi-disperse bulk solids in a silo centrifuge model were recorded under accelerations ranging from 1g to 15g. The velocity distribution during discharge was evaluated using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques and the concentration distribution of large and small particles were obtained by imaging processing techniques. The flow and segregation behaviour at high gravities were then quantified and compared with the empirical equations available in the literature.

Moving Out of Conflict: Negotiating Social Identity in Response to Segregation in Northern Ireland

This paper examines the impact of territoriality on young people’s everyday experiences in Northern Ireland’s segregated communities. It shows how urban encounters are reproduced through negotiating differences and the ways in which living in divided communities escalates moods of social inequality and spatial imbalances. The empirical study undertaken in the city of Derry shows how individuals and community groups position and identify themselves under the impact of social segregation. Building on Gordon Allport’s (1954) theories of contact, I explain how people in Derry have established their own sense of belonging, of who they are, based on their group memberships which eventually became an important source of pride and selfesteem. They also presented their own intertextual references as a cause of routine survival and belonging, allowing them to be more constructive about their future. Under deeply rooted segregation in Northern Ireland, the young generations are sought to provide lasting change to foster peace and integration between the two communities.

Residential segregation, dividing walls and mental health: A population-based record linkage study

Background
Neighbourhood segregation has been described as a fundamental determinant of physical health, but literature on its effect on mental health is less clear. Whilst most previous research has relied on conceptualized measures of segregation, Northern Ireland is unique as it contains physical manifestations of segregation in the form of segregation barriers (or “peacelines”) which can be used to accurately identify residential segregation.
Methods
We used population-wide health record data on over 1.3 million individuals, to analyse the effect of residential segregation, measured by both the formal Dissimilarity Index and by proximity to a segregation barrier, on the likelihood of poor mental health.
Results
Using multi-level logistic regression models we found residential segregation measured by the Dissimilarity Index poses no additional risk to the likelihood of poor mental health after adjustment for area-level deprivation. However, residence in an area segregated by a “peaceline” increases the likelihood of antidepressant medication by 19% (OR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.23) and anxiolytic medication by 39% (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.48), even after adjustment for gender, age, conurbation, deprivation and crime.
Conclusions
Living in an area segregated by a ‘peaceline’ is detrimental to mental health suggesting segregated areas characterised by a heightened sense of ‘other’ pose a greater risk to mental health. The difference in results based on segregation measure highlights the importance of choice of measure when studying segregation.

Cadmium phytotoxicity and trophic transfer to isopods

O cádmio (Cd) é um metal não essencial e é considerado um poluente prioritário pela comunidade europeia. Este metal atinge o ambiente no decurso de várias actividades antropogénicas e tende a concentrar-se nos solos e sedimentos, onde está potencialmente disponível para as plantas, sendo posteriormente transferido através da cadeia trófica. Neste contexto, o principal objectivo da presente dissertação foi o estudo dos efeitos da assimilação e da acumulação de Cd em plantas e as suas consequências para animais consumidores. Numa primeira fase, foram estudados os principais efeitos fisiológicos e genotóxicos do Cd em plantas. As plantas de alface (Lactuca sativa L.) expostas a Cd apresentaram um decréscimo na eficiência fotossintética, aumento de peroxidação lipídica e alterações significativas na actividade de enzimas de stress oxidativo. Estas alterações culminaram num decréscimo do crescimento da parte aérea no final da exposição. As respostas obtidas pelos parâmetros bioquímicos sugerem que estes poderão ser utilizados como eventuais biomarcadores em testes ecotoxicológicos com Cd em abordagens integrantes em conjunto com parâmetros clássicos. Os efeitos mutagénicos de Cd foram avaliados através da determinação da instabilidade de microsatélites (IM). Não foi observada IM, nem nas folhas nem nas raízes de plantas de alface com 5 semanas de idade expostas a 100 μM Cd durante 14 dias, no entanto observou-se IM em raízes de alface exposta a 10 μM Cd durante 28 dias desde a germinação. A idade da planta e a maior acumulação de Cd nas raízes poderão explicar os resultados obtidos. A clastogenicidade de Cd foi analisada em três espécies vegetais com diferentes capacidades de destoxificação e acumulação de metais através de citometria de fluxo. Foram detectadas alterações significativas nos parâmetros analisados em raízes alface, mas não nas espécies Thlaspi caerulescens J & C Presl e Thlaspi arvense L. Estes resultados sugerem que o stress provocado pelo Cd originou clastogenicidade como consequência da perda de porções de cromossomas, uma vez que o conteúdo de ADN nuclear diminuiu. A transferência trófica através da cadeia alimentar permanece muito pouco estudada em termos ecotoxicológicos. A distribuição subcellular de metais num organismo pode ser utilizada para compreender a transferência trófica de um metal na cadeia alimentar. Como tal, numa última parte é estudado de que modo a distribuição subcellular do Cd em plantas com perfis de acumulação de Cd distintos afecta a biodisponibilidade e transferência trófica de Cd para isópodes. A distribuição de Cd entre as 4 fracções subcelulares obtidas através de centrifugação diferencial revelou a existência de diferenças significativas entre as espécies de plantas. Estes resultados em conjunto com a avaliação directa da eficiência de assimilação (EA) de Cd individual de cada uma das quatro fracções subcelulares das plantas em estudo, resultou em informação de grande relevância para a explicação das diferenças observadas na EA de Cd por parte de isópodes alimentados com folhas de diferentes espécies de plantas. Com base nos resultados obtidos, o Cd ligado a proteínas estáveis à temperatura (e.g. metaloteoninas e fitoquelatinas) é o menos biodisponível, sendo assim o que menos contribuiu para a transferência trófica, enquanto que o Cd ligado a proteínas desnaturadas pela temperatura foi a fracção mais disponível para transferência trófica de Cd ao isópode. Estes resultados realçam a relevância ecológica da distribuição subcelular de Cd em plantas que tem influência directa na tranferência trófica deste metal para os consumidores e ainda o facto de que alterações na distribuição subcelular de Cd em plantas devido a diferentes mecanismos de destoxificação poderá ter um impacto directo na transferência trófica de Cd para o animal consumidor.

Mercury Bioaccumulation in various trophic compartments : the Ria de Aveiro case studt

Doutoramento em Química

Microphytobenthos vs Hydrobia: trophic coupling in estuarine environment

Os estuários são ambientes complexos, biologicamente diversos e muito importantes no que respeita à produtividade primária. As zonas intertidais destes ecossistemas são ocupadas por organismos que possuem uma elevada capacidade de sobrevivência e adaptação face às variadas e rápidas alterações nos factores ambientais (tais como temperatura, salinidade, conteúdo hídrico, etc.). As cadeias tróficas com origem no ecossistema estuarino bentónico são essencialmente herbívoras, regulando o fluxo de energia desde o fundo sedimentar e através do ecossistema. Nas áreas estuarinas intertidais a produção primária é essencialmente suportada pelo microfitobentos (MPB). Estas comunidades de microalgas bênticas constituem uma importante fonte de matéria orgânica e são por si só a principal fonte alimentar para as populações de Hydrobia. Neste contexto, a interacção MPB - Hydrobia é um modelo-chave na investigação da cadeia trófica estuarina de origem bentónica, actuando como um importante canal de transporte de energia para os níveis tróficos superiores, especialmente se considerarmos que Hydrobia é uma importante presa para peixes, aves e caranguejos. O presente estudo tem por objectivos gerais: i) a investigação do controlo ambiental (particularmente da luz e do teor em água do sedimento) e endógeno na migração vertical do MPB e ii) a identificação e potencial utilização de marcadores tróficos (pigmentos e ácidos gordos) úteis à investigação da interacção MPB – Hydrobia em laboratório e em condições naturais, considerando a existência de uma elevada plasticidade trófica por parte da Hydrobia e a elevada densidade populacional que estes organismos podem apresentar. A primeira fase de investigação resultou na comparação do papel dos estímulos ambientais e do controlo endógeno nos padrões de comportamento migratório vertical do microfitobentos, demonstrando a existência de um controlo essencialmente endógeno na formação e desintegração do biofilme superficial. A regulação e manutenção da biomassa à superfície do sedimento são claramente controladas pela variação dos factores ambientais, em especial da luz, cuja presença é essencial à formação total do biofilme microalgal à superfície do sedimento intertidal. Foi proposta uma nova abordagem metodológica com vista à estimativa nãodestrutiva do teor de água de sedimentos intertidais vasosos , possibilitando o estudo da influência da acção do vento no conteúdo hídrico dos sedimentos e o consequente impacto da dessecação na comunidade microfitobêntica. Observou-se que a dessecação provoca efeitos limitantes não só na biomassa superficial mas também na actividade fotossintética dos biofilmes microfitobênticos, conduzindo à diminuição da produtividade primária. No que respeita à dinâmica trófica da interacção MPB - Hydrobia foi estabelecido o uso do pigmento feoforbide a, quantificado nas partículas fecais da fauna, como marcador trófico que permite estimar a quantidade de biomassa de microalgas (clorofila a) incorporada pelos organismos animais.Para tal foi investigada e comprovada a existência de uma relação significativa entre a concentração de feopigmentos excretados e a concentração de clorofila a ingerida. Estes estudos foram desenvolvidos numa primeira fase à escala diária, considerando os efeitos dos ciclos sazonais, dia-noite e maré, e depois com a validação em condições naturais, numa escala mensal. A taxa de ingestão média de indivíduos de H. ulvae varia ao longo do dia, com o máximo em torno dos períodos diurnos de maré baixa, o que pode estar relacionado com a disponibilidade de MPB. As taxas de ingestão (TI) de H. ulvae variam ainda em função da estação do ano (TI verão > TI primavera) e em função da densidade de indivíduos (> densidade, < ingestão). Verificou-se um efeito negativo na concentração de clorofila disponível após herbívoria independentemente da densidade de indivíduos. Finalmente, a comparação dos perfis de ácidos gordos de H. ulvae provenientes de diferentes habitats com os perfis de potenciais fontes alimentares permitiu demonstrar que os ácidos gordos são ferramentas úteis na identificação do habitat ocupado por estes organismos. No entanto, apesar da ocupação de diferentes habitats e da integração de múltiplas fontes de produção primária na sua dieta foram sempre observados significativos níveis de ácidos gordos específicos de microalgas (em particular diatomáceas), reforçando o papel importante das comunidades de microalgas bênticas na dieta das populações de H. ulvae.

Silver nanoparticles flow in an aquatic trophic chain

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have been produced and applied in a variety of products ranging from personal care products to food package containers, clothing and medicine utilities. The antimicrobial function of AgNP makes it very useful to be applied for such purposes. Silver (Ag) is a non-essential metal for organisms, and it has been historically present in the environment at low concentrations. Those concentrations of silver increased in the last century due to the use of Ag in the photographic industry and lately are expected to increase due to the use of AgNPs in consumer products. The presence of AgNP in the aquatic environment may pose a risk for aquatic species, and the effects can vary from lethal to sublethal effects. Moreover, the contact of aquatic organisms with AgNP may not cause immediately the death of individuals but it can be accumulated inside the animals and consequently transferred within the food chain. Considering this, the objective of this work was to study the transfer of silver nanoparticles in comparison to silver ions, which was used as silver nitrate, within an aquatic food chain model. To achieve this goal, this study was divided into four steps: the toxicity assessment of AgNP and AgNO3 to aquatic test-species, the bioaccumulation assessment of AgNP and AgNO3 by Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Daphnia magna under different exposure scenarios, and finally the evaluation of the trophic transfer of Ag through an experimental design that included the goldfish Carassius auratus in a model trophic chain in which all the species were exposed to the worse-case scenario. We observed that the bioconcentration of Ag by P. subcapitata is mainly driven by ionic silver, and that algae cannot internalize these AgNPs, but it does internalizes dissolved Ag. Daphnia magna was exposed to AgNP and AgNO3 through different exposure routes: water, food and both water and food. The worse-case scenario for Daphnia Ag bioaccumulation was by the joint exposure of contaminated water and food, showing that Ag body burdens were higher for AgNPs than for AgNO3. Finally, by exposing C. auratus for 10 days through contaminated water and food (supplied as D. magna), with another 7 days of depuration phase, it was concluded that the 10 days of exposure were not enough for fish to reach a plateau on Ag internal concentration, and neither the 7 days of elimination were sufficient to cause total depuration of the accumulated Ag. Moreover, a higher concentration of Ag was found in the intestine of fish when compared with other organs, and the elimination rate constant of AgNP in the intestine was very low. Although a potential for trophic transfer of AgNP cannot be suggested based in the data acquired in this study, there is still a potential environmental risk for aquatic species.