Pianos for the people: the manufacture, marketing and sale of pianos as consumer durables, 1850-1914

During the second half of the nineteenth century, British society experienced a rise in real incomes and a change in its composition, with the expansion of the middle classes. These two factors led to a consumer revolution, with a growing, but still segmented, demand for household goods that could express status and aspiration. At the same time technological changes and new ways of marketing and selling goods made these goods more affordable. This paper analyzes these themes and the process of mediation that took place between producers, retailers, and consumers, by looking at the most culturally symbolic of nineteenth century consumer goods, the piano.

Describing seasonal variability in the distribution of daily effective temperatures for 1985-2009 compared to 1904-1984 for De Bilt, Holland

This paper proposes a method for describing the distribution of observed temperatures on any day of the year such that the distribution and summary statistics of interest derived from the distribution vary smoothly through the year. The method removes the noise inherent in calculating summary statistics directly from the data thus easing comparisons of distributions and summary statistics between different periods. The method is demonstrated using daily effective temperatures (DET) derived from observations of temperature and wind speed at De Bilt, Holland. Distributions and summary statistics are obtained from 1985 to 2009 and compared to the period 1904–1984. A two-stage process first obtains parameters of a theoretical probability distribution, in this case the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution, which describes the distribution of DET on any day of the year. Second, linear models describe seasonal variation in the parameters. Model predictions provide parameters of the GEV distribution, and therefore summary statistics, that vary smoothly through the year. There is evidence of an increasing mean temperature, a decrease in the variability in temperatures mainly in the winter and more positive skew, more warm days, in the summer. In the winter, the 2% point, the value below which 2% of observations are expected to fall, has risen by 1.2 °C, in the summer the 98% point has risen by 0.8 °C. Medians have risen by 1.1 and 0.9 °C in winter and summer, respectively. The method can be used to describe distributions of future climate projections and other climate variables. Further extensions to the methodology are suggested.

Climate and carbon cycle changes from 1850 to 2100 in MPI-ESM simulations for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5

The new Max-Planck-Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM) is used in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) in a series of climate change experiments for either idealized CO2-only forcing or forcings based on observations and the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios. The paper gives an overview of the model configurations, experiments related forcings, and initialization procedures and presents results for the simulated changes in climate and carbon cycle. It is found that the climate feedback depends on the global warming and possibly the forcing history. The global warming from climatological 1850 conditions to 2080–2100 ranges from 1.5°C under the RCP2.6 scenario to 4.4°C under the RCP8.5 scenario. Over this range, the patterns of temperature and precipitation change are nearly independent of the global warming. The model shows a tendency to reduce the ocean heat uptake efficiency toward a warmer climate, and hence acceleration in warming in the later years. The precipitation sensitivity can be as high as 2.5% K−1 if the CO2 concentration is constant, or as small as 1.6% K−1, if the CO2 concentration is increasing. The oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon increases over time in all scenarios, being smallest in the experiment forced by RCP2.6 and largest in that for RCP8.5. The land also serves as a net carbon sink in all scenarios, predominantly in boreal regions. The strong tropical carbon sources found in the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 experiments are almost absent in the RCP4.5 experiment, which can be explained by reforestation in the RCP4.5 scenario.

Glastonbury Abbey: archaeological investigations 1904-79

This volume reports on the results of the Glastonbury Abbey Archaeological Archive Project, a collaboration between the University of Reading and the Trustees of Glastonbury Abbey, funded principally by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The project has reassessed and reinterpreted all known archaeological records from the 1908–79 excavations and made the complete dataset available to the public through a digital archive hosted by the Archaeology Data Service (http://dx.doi.org/10.5284/1022585). The scope of the project has included the full analysis of the archaeological collections of Glastonbury Abbey by thirty-one leading specialists, including chemical and compositional analysis of glass and metal and petrological analysis of pottery and tile, and a comprehensive geophysical survey conducted by GSB Prospection Ltd. For the first time, it has been possible to achieve a framework of independent dating based on reassessment of the finds and radiocarbon dating of surviving organic material from the 1950s excavations. The principal aim of the Glastonbury Abbey Archaeological Project was to set aside previous assumptions based on the historical and legendary traditions and to provide a rigorous reassessment of the archive of antiquarian excavations. This research has revealed that some of the best known archaeological ‘facts’ about Glastonbury are themselves myths perpetuated by the abbey’s excavators.

Small wars and insurgencies in theory and practice, 1500-1850

In early modern times, warfare in Europe took on many diverse and overlapping forms. Our modern notions of ‘regular’ and ‘irregular’ warfare, of ‘major war’ and ‘small war’, have their roots in much greater diversity than such binary notions allow for. While insurgencies go back to time immemorial, they have become conceptually fused with ‘small wars’. This is a term first used to denote special operations, often carried out by military companies formed from special ethnic groups and then recruited into larger armies. In its Spanish form, guerrilla, the term ‘small war’ came to stand for an ideologically-motivated insurgency against the state authorities or occupying forces of another power. There is much overlap between the phenomena of irregular warfare in the sense of special operations alongside regular operations, and irregular warfare of insurgents against the regular forces of a state. This book demonstrates how long the two phenomena were in flux and fed on each other, from the raiding operations of the 16th century to the ‘small wars’ or special operations conducted by special units in the 19th century, which existed alongside and could merge with a popular insurgency. This book is based on a special issue of the journal Small Wars & Insurgencies.

Patterns of oocyte development in natural habitat and captive Salminus hilarii Valenciennes, 1850 (Teleostei: Characidae)

Fecundity and oocyte development in Salminus hilarii female brood stock were analyzed with the aim of investigating the impact of migration impediment on oogenesis. Histological analyses of the ovaries were performed in adult females caught in two different environments-the TietA(a) River (natural) and captivity-and the gonadossomatic index, oocyte diameter and fecundity determined. Five germ cell development stages (oogonium, perinucleolar, cortical alveoli, vitellogenic, ripe) and two other structures (postovulatory follicles and atretic oocytes) were observed in females caught in the river. Captive animals lacked the ripe oocytes and postovulatory follicles and had a relatively higher number of atretic oocytes. Females in captivity are known to produce larger oocytes, and they release fewer eggs in each spawn (absolute fecundity) when compared with animals that are able to migrate. Our results suggest that the TietA(a) River is undergoing alterations which are being reflected in the reproductive performance of S. hilarii, mainly due to the presence of atretic oocytes in females caught in the river. The lack of postovulatory follicles and ripe oocytes in captive animals reveals that migratory impediment negatively impacts final oocyte maturation. However, the stage of maturation reached is adequate for ovulation induction with hormone manipulation.

Baptiströrelsen i Piteå : En studie av baptismens framväxt och utbildning mellan 1850 och 1910

Det övergripande syftet med denna uppsats har varit att undersöka baptismens framväxt, genombrott och utveckling under perioden 1850-1910. I anslutning till detta har jag även studerat baptismens etablering på nationell nivå. De frågeställningar som har utformats i anknytning till syftet har varit; När, varför och genom vilka uppkom baptismen i Piteå? Vilka människor kom att ansluta sig till baptismen i Piteå? Vilka orsaker fanns till baptismens förändring och utveckling på lokal nivå? Den metod som använts för att undersöka dessa aspekter har varit i huvudsak kvalitativ, där studiet av material i form av medlemsmatriklar, församlingsprotokoll, minnes- och årsskrifter samt relevant litteratur och avhandlingar använts. Resultatet av studien visar att den svenska baptiströrelsen har sin bakgrund i Amerika, England och Tyskland, och att den spreds till vårt land därifrån. En orsak till detta var gynnsamma samhällsförhållanden där läsar- och separatiströrelsen skapat en grogrund för baptisternas missionssträvanden under den första hälften av 1800-talet. I Piteå och Norrbotten etableras rörelsen i slutet av 1850-talet. Som förklaring till baptismens utveckling och förändring på lokal nivå har jag funnit att Piteå under perioden till övervägande del varit ett jordbrukssamhälle, vilket skapat en relativt låg grad av social rörlighet bland de unga anhängare som framför allt hämtades ur arbetarklassen. Utifrån tidigare studier av baptismen kan Piteå sägas vara ett exempel på ett samhälle där lojaliteten mot den äldre kyrkliga gemenskapen troligen levde kvar under perioden. Samtidigt hade församlingens idémässiga tankegods som folkrörelse en viktig social och ideologisk betydelse för individen, trots församlingens relativt små numerära framgångar.

Lang Syne (Volume 4 1904)

The Winthrop yearbook was published from 1898 to 2002. It has been known as the Tatler since its inception except for 1904 (Lang Syne) and 1918 (Tatler a la Guerre). No yearbook was published in 1900, 1902, 1903, 1905,1906.

Por uma lógica camponesa : caboclos e imigrantes na formação do agro do planalto rio-grandense - 1850-1900

Este trabalho trata de analisar o modo como aconteceu, no processo de ocupação e povoamento do espaço na região do Planalto do Rio Grande do Sul durante a segunda metade do século XIX, o encontro entre imigrantes europeus e lavradores nacionais, principais agentes envolvidos no processo de povoamento. Para realizar a pesquisa foram utilizados pressupostos teóricos relacionados as questões ligadas à etnicidade, ao campesinato e aos estudos de história agrária. O objetivo foi compreender o encontro entre caboclos e imigrantes, no sentido de especificar aspectos gerais vinculados ao modo de vida de cada grupo, assim como as alterações provocadas nos mesmos a partir do encontro e da inserção do Rio Grande do Sul no processo de constituição do capitalismo.

O Brasil, o Império Otomano e a Sociedade Internacional: contrastes e conexões (1850-1919)

Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar a forma como o Brasil e o buscaram se inserir na sociedade internacional europeia – nos moldes Inglesa de Relações Internacionais a define - no período que vai da a assinatura da Lei Eusébio de Queiroz do lado brasileiro e do tratado de Império Otomano, até a criação da Liga das Nações, em 1919. Estes são como “impérios periféricos” ao centro europeu, integrando o grupo que não eram nem colônias, nem potências no período em tela. Assim, contrastar os esforços feitos por Brasil e Império Otomano em utilizar o internacional e a diplomacia – formal e não-formal –, e as formas de transformações que empreenderam em suas capitais visando serem “civilizados”. Por outro lado, chama-se atenção para as conexões que se entre Brasil e Império Otomano justamente em função dessa maior Europa. Estas conexões são analisadas então em duas fases. Uma tentativas formais de relações diplomáticas, chamada de “relações envolveu inclusive viagens de D. Pedro II a domínios otomanos. A vinda de súditos otomanos – gregos, armênios, judeus e árabes – para o Brasil e de novas relações diplomáticas travadas.

O preço da terra no Estado de São Paulo (1850-1930)

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de aclarar os diferente aspectos característicos dessas questões. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa no 1° Cartório de Notas de Atibaia. Analisa as políticas de terras no Brasil, desde o Instituto das Sesmarias à Lei de Terras. Aborda o problema da expansão da cafeicultura, caracterizando a imigração e a lei de terras neste contexto. Mostra a variação do preço da terra no período 1850-1930, salientando o aspecto do acesso à terra para o imigrante.

Os Programas de Reaparelhamento da Marinha do Brasil na República (1904-2014)

A modernização da Marinha do Brasil se faz necessária em face de fatores relacionados à obsolescência dos meios, incremento tecnológico e outros incentivos de ordem doméstica e internacional. No caso brasileiro, apesar de haverem diversos programas de reaparelhamento desde a proclamação da república, os programas de maior envergadura e que geraram resultados importantes ocorreram em 1910, 1977 e 2007. O Reaparelhamento da Marinha do Brasil responde principalmente a incentivos de ordem sistêmica e doméstica. A sua efetividade é o principal objetivo de um programa de incremento material, e muito mais do que orientação à defesa da pátria, os objetivos expressos na grande estratégia de um país devem preceder a decisão de repotencialização da Força. O trabalho utiliza a metodologia histórico comparativa, por meio do método denominado Process Tracing. Essa incipiente metodologia permite verificar as evidências ao longo de processos e verificar a hierarquização de cada fator por meio de testes empíricos baseados na minuciosa descrição histórica dos casos. As teorias realistas buscam explicações para o comportamento dos países em relação ao Sistema Internacional. O ambiente anárquico em que se encontram os países definem suas preferências, mas o aspecto doméstico responde fortemente a esses incentivos sistêmicos e justifica as diferentes conduções de políticas externas em ambiente similar. A teoria neoclássica considera os fatores domésticos como intervenientes neste processo. Por meio do modelo desenvolvido por Schweller (2006), este trabalho verificou que o aspecto sistêmico é determinante para o reaparelhamento da Marinha, e no âmbito doméstico o consenso e coesão das elites são necessárias, entretanto a coesão social passou de coadjuvante a uma das condições necessárias a partir do início do século XXI no processo de reaparelhamento.