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Welsh is a p-Celtic language spoken mostly in the British Isles. Its consonant inventory features six plosive phonemes, i.e. /p, t, k, b, d, g/. The Welsh plosives exhibit a contrast between the fortis and lenis series marked phonetically by a number of phonetic features, the most important of them being aspiration. A previous study on Welsh plosives conducted by the authors of this paper revealed that, unlike the other plosives, the Welsh /t/ has a strong tendency towards affrication in some contexts. Since affrication of plosives has received some attention in phonetic studies on other languages, it seemed striking that potential affrication of Welsh plosives has not yet been studied phonetically. The present study includes word-initial and word-final realisations of /t/ in Welsh monosyllabic lexemes. The analysis of four key spectral moments; namely, centre of gravity, dispersion, skewness and kurtosis, was conducted to confirm the assumptions regarding allophonic variation of the Welsh /t/ based on a visual inspection of spectrograms. The results suggest that the Welsh /t/ may actually have as many as four allophones, i.e. the aspirated allophone [th ], the affricated allophone [ts], which can also be aspirated in two different ways; namely, aspiration can occur simultaneously with affrication [tsh] or it can follow the affricated section [tsh]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past several decades, Manx Gaelic, the indigenous language of the Isle of Man, a small island in the British Isles, has undergone a profound process of revitalisation and reintegration into the life of the community. At the forefront of this revitalisation process has been a dedicated group of language activists who saved the language following the death of the last native speakers. More recently, however, the Isle of Man government has supported the revitalisation of Manx, mainly through education planning and support for cultural programming. This article examines the Select Committee on the Greater Use of Manx Gaelic, a committee of the island's parliament, Tynwald, the internal and external contexts that shaped its deliberations and recommendations and the role it played in signalling a change in the attitude of the government towards Manx in the mid-1980s. The Select Committee highlights the important connection between the political (governance) and social (identity) dimensions of islandness in the revitalisation of an Indigenous language in a small island context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Antíteses is the property of Universidade Estadual de Londrina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Newly discovered and previously documented Late Neolithic chalk plaques from the Stonehenge locality have been subjected to new, non-invasive techniques which allow access to previously unseen elements of archaeological evidence. The application of these methods – involving Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and Polynomial Texture Mapping (PTM) – has revealed detail of the surface preparation and allowed methods and sequence of the compositions to be unpicked, clarifying their complexities. The results reveal a range of approaches to the compositions, some of which demonstrate planning, order, and intention while others include less systematic, rapidly executed sketches. Investigations of lines and surfaces have been made, supplemented by preliminary studies of replicated test pieces, to examine potential implements used in their creation and remark on plaque biographies and surface attrition following manufacture. Furthermore, detail revealed by RTI provides indications of the orientations in which some of the plaques should be viewed and – in one instance – suggests a 'reflected' element that may not be entirely abstract. Results from improved radiocarbon determinations place the plaques in the early part of the 3rd millennium bc which, together with identification of individual motifs, allows the plaques and the designs to be reconsidered within the corpus of Neolithic art in the British Isles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the result of bat winter censuses in three old mines in southern Sweden from 1980 until present (2017). The Taberg and Kleva mines, each with about 1.5 km of accessible passages, have winter populations of 517 and 132 bats, respectively (maximum counts) belonging to six species, the highest numbers known in underground sites in Sweden. Ädelfors is less extensive and has fewer individuals (maximum 22). The two former sites were protected and gated in the 1980′s while the third site still has no formal protection and is subject to disturbance. Generally Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii and the brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus are common species and the numbers are stable. The whiskered and Brandt's bats M. mystacinus/brandtii and Natterer's bat M. nattereri have increased significantly, while the northern bat Eptesicus nilssonii, which is relatively rare in mines generally, has shown a slight but significant decline. At the species level the population trends conform well to those of the respective species in continental Europe and the British Isles. This suggests that there is a common factor behind the population changes across Europe. Although our data are very limited, the results question some previous explanations for the observed trends, but are in line with theoretical predictions based on global warming scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lactose tolerance and the co-spreading of LCT/MCM6 and the high-risk MS allele, HLA-DRB1*15:01, throughout Europe. • Exposure to dairy-animal pathogen, Clostridium perfringens Epsilon neurotoxin (ETX) • Environmental trigger for multiple sclerosis (MS) On January 10th, 2024, Barrie et al. published a landmark paper identifying the ancestral European origin of the high-risk, multiple sclerosis (MS) allele, HLA-DRB1*15:01. The authors hypothesize that Bronze Age, Yamnaya migration to, and their population of Scandinavia and the British Isles, accounts for the high incidence of MS in these regions, stemming from the geographical spread of HLA-DRB1*15:01 as evidenced by their data. These data further indicate that this immune-related allele likely underwent positive-selection pressures, suggesting that HLA-DRB1*15:01 may have conferred increased immunological resistance to zoonotic pathogens that the Yamnaya would have been exposed to from a lifestyle of sheep, goat, and cattle herding, as well as from the prevalent consumption of dairy products harvested from these animals. We wish to expand the scope of the Barrie et al. hypothesis to include the other gene that emerged in their extensive genomic analysis; the lactase persistence allele, LCT/MCM6, which allows adults to consume milk beyond childhood without adverse physical effects. We propose that, in addition to the Yamnaya spread of HLA-DRB1*15:01, their spread of LCT/MCM6 engendered a cultural propensity for milk consumption that may play a significant role in the present-day, global distribution of MS. Specifically, we hypothesize that lactose tolerance, and the prominent dairy consumption it enables, may expose individuals to the enteric, dairy-animal pathogen, Clostridium perfringens type B/D and its Epsilon neurotoxin that targets the precise brain tissues damaged during each MS relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of avian species threatened by land use and climate change requires a thorough understanding of their site fidelity and dispersive behaviors. Among long-lived colonial seabird species, the behavior of returning to the natal colony to breed, i.e., natal philopatry, may increase the likelihood that adequate resources and mates are available, but it may also increase the potential for inbreeding, competition, and ecological traps. Successful management of seabird populations--using chick translocation to encourage colony establishment to locations having minimal threats--must also be informed by the likelihood that birds will return to the new sites. However, the extent of philopatry, and the traits that dictate variation across seabirds, have yet to be fully summarized. We evaluated whether seabirds returned to their natal colony at rates greater than those predicted by colony size and various dispersal variables, based on data gathered for 36 seabird species nesting in the British Isles and the Hawaiian Archipelago. We compiled long-term banding and census data across 663 colonies. A linear mixed-effects model was employed to determine the relationship between philopatry and colony demographics, wingspan (mobility), and spatial variables. Our results indicate that philopatric rates are higher in the Hawaiian Archipelago than in the British Isles. Additionally, our research suggests that seabird management using chick translocation will have the greatest success with Procellariiformes species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intuitionism had been one of the most prominent ethical approaches over two hundred years, especially on the British Isles. In the first third of the 20th century it started losing its power; however, in the last few years several philosophers have been trying to renew this approach, which has made it one of the most discussed topics of contemporary metaethics. Intuitionism is a foundationalist approach which regards basic moral beliefs, i.e., intuitions, as self-evident. Nonetheless, modern intuitionists have to cope with empirical evidence which shows that intuitions are not as reliable a source of moral knowledge as would be necessary in this case. The aim of the paper is to present and discuss contemporary critique of intuitionism. First, I introduce intuitionism and its basic assumptions, both ontological and epistemological. Second, I focus on the criticism itself, especially on its empirical aspects concerning the role and the reliability of intuitions. As some of the proponents of intuitionism try to react to these objections and create a less flawed version of this approach, in the third part, I describe one of these attempts, i.e., Michael Huemer's revisionary intuitionism. Finally, I try to explain why intuitionism -- despite these efforts -- remains a problematic approach and why ethics might be better off without it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the transmission of the Columbinus prophecy in late medieval Wales. It argues that the Latin text in NLW Peniarth MS 50 is a copy from the lost exemplar on the basis of the analysis of the Welsh translation of the prophecy, the earliest copy of which pre-dates compilation of this codex. The discussion of the extant Welsh and Latin texts known in Britain allows reconstruction of a number of features of the exemplar, and dates it to the 1360s, nearly a century earlier than Peniarth MS 50. This makes the exemplar one of the earliest sources for the circulation of the Latin prophecy in the British Isles. The paper also considers reasons for the inclusion of the prophecy in late medieval manuscripts in Wales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betaretrovirus-induced transmissible respiratory tumors in sheep arise at 2 distinct anatomic locations, either deep in the lung tissue caused by jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) or in the nasal cavity induced by ovine enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV-1). JSRV and ENTV-1 are found in many countries worldwide and have a significant economic and animal health impact. Although JSRV is endemic in sheep in the British Isles, ENTV-1 has not been reported. We report herein a nasal adenocarcinoma in a cull 8-y-old Belclare ewe from Ireland. The gross and microscopic features and immunohistochemistry results were consistent with an ENTV-1–associated tumor. However, differential PCR, using primers specific to regions of divergent sequence between the viruses, was performed on different parts of the adenocarcinoma and produced consistent results: positive for JSRV and negative for ENTV-1. An association of JSRV with nasal adenocarcinoma in sheep has not been reported previously, to our knowledge. Our case shows the necessity of using PCR in combination with immunohistochemistry to reach an accurate etiologic diagnosis, which is of importance in countries currently free of ENTV-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article tracks the formation of the rich and socially complex Nordic Bronze Age (NBA), c. 2000–1500 bc , by applying a scalar methodology and using the entrepôt and early metalworking site of Pile in Scania as its point of departure. By regarding the Bronze Age as an ancient example of globalisation, Island Melanesia at the outskirts of contemporary globalisation is first examined to provide an analogue to the Nordic entrepreneurial and maritime culture into which metallurgy was first adopted. How did this northern margin become 'Bronze Age', and what impact did its inclusion have? Various scales, from local to Bronze-Age-global were found to intersect in the Pile hoard, and in similar sites near and far. By c. 2000 bc , metals and other commodities travelled along well-established local, regional, and super-regional networks, which even incorporated the British Isles and Únětician hubs at the Middle Elbe–Saale. Back in Scandinavia, metal and metal-related culture provided a comparative advantage when navigating local competition for influence and leadership. The transculturally global was strategically appropriated locally, using the reinvention of tradition as a principal strategy. The first metal boom caused friction and slow social change, rather than a social revolution. The real tipping point came in 1600–1500 bc , when the nearly full-blown NBA emerged, through engagement with a considerably expanded world. By this time, large amounts of metal were in circulation. Seen from the non-urban north, this unprecedented expansion of their world brought new opportunities but likely also deep social tensions. Thus, the effects of adopting metallurgy permeated society and connectivity at every level, even at the outskirts of the Bronze Age world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critique of logic, as it was taught on the British Isles, intensified at the beginning of the 19th century. A systematic critique of Aristotelian (syllogistic) logic was undertaken from the standpoint of common sense philosophy chiefly by Scottish philosophers, followers of T. Reid. E. Copleston of Oxford came to logic’s defense. His student, R. Whately, later wrote the textbook Elements of Logic (1826), in which he replied to the objections of Scottish philosophers. The textbook correctly explains that systems of deductive logic need not suffer from the petitio principii fallacy. J. S. Mill at first wrote a positive review of the textbook, but later published his System of Logic. In it, he puts forward the contrary view when evaluating the role of Aristotelian (deductive logic), objecting to the supposedly irredeemable fallacy of petitio principii. The fallacy can be avoided, he argues, in an inductive logic proposed by him. Mill’s objection to the Aristotelian syllogism was based on a misunderstanding of the analytic novelty of the knowledge contained in the conclusion of a valid argument. Mill’s explication of logic is contradictory, based on an associative psychologism and sensualism. The objection against deductive logic is simply mistaken. Mill’s logic and his positions were very critically appraised already by S. Jevons and the standard overviews of the history of logic fail to mention it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The invasive Rhododendron ponticum is considered an emergent threat in W France. • It thrives in woodlands on acidic soils and appears promoted by climate change. • It locally spreads on moister soils via active layering. • Its ability to establish new populations is low due to recruitment limitations. • Management should minimize soil disturbance near established populations. Understanding the population dynamics of invasive species is essential for identifying the key parameters of their success and guiding management actions. European temperate forests of the Atlantic domain are prone to be invaded by the Pontic Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L. subsp. baeticum (Boiss. & Reut.) Hand.-Mazz.), a shade-tolerate evergreen shrub native to the Iberian peninsula. While the invasion has a long history in Ireland and the British Isles, it is an emerging threat in mainland Europe. It is therefore a timely challenge to better understanding the invasive dynamics of this species in this context. We studied the population dynamics of R. ponticum in 27 invaded forests of north-western France, examining population structure, and individuals' growth, fertility and fecundity among contrasted light conditions. All invasive populations were found on acidic soils. Irrespective of light conditions, R. ponticum exhibited a regular radial growth, with a clear increase since the 1990s. The majority of stems were younger than 38 years on average, indicating a recent increase in population density. Light availability strongly impacted R. ponticum 's canopy structure, with higher canopy cover and stem numbers under sun conditions. Despite the production of a huge number of viable seeds, the observed number of seedlings was always very low irrespective of light conditions, indicating recruitment limitation and thus a limited ability to establish new, distant populations. In contrast, vegetative propagation via intense layering at the invasion front wave ensured local population spread from initially planted individuals, especially on moist soils. We conclude that where it has been planted, R. ponticum is able to actively layer, thereby forming dense bushes in the forest understories as long as the soil is acidic and relatively moist. The establishment of new, distant populations appears a rare event since recruitment is limited to particular microhabitats related to forest management-associated disturbances. Such disturbance should thus be avoided in sites where the species has already established, unless a post-disturbance eradication of R. ponticum 's seedling can be implemented the following years. The plantation of R. ponticum in forest must be avoided when the soil is acidic and moist. Because R. ponticum 's growth performances are increasing since the 1990s, as a likely consequence of climate change, monitoring established populations is recommended to detect a possible increasing invasiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of the timing and phasing of abrupt climatic oscillations during the Last Glacial to Interglacial Transition (c. 16-8 ka) in terrestrial sequences is limited by a lack of high-resolution, sensitive proxy records with precise chronological data. Lacustrine carbonate records provide an excellent opportunity to address this issue with frequently high depositional rates, and the ability to extract biological and chemical proxy data related to palaeoclimate variations. However, these archives are also some of the most difficult to date due to associated problems with radiocarbon sample contamination. We present the tephrochronological findings from Crudale Meadow, Orkney, one of the most northerly former marl lakes in the British Isles. Thirteen intervals containing tephra are chemically characterised, of which six may be correlated to known eruptions. The results provide a tephrochronological framework from which it is possible to refine the age estimates of less securely dated cryptotephras, and also provide a basis from which to frame ongoing climate reconstructions using state-of-the-art proxy methods. The results presented here demonstrate that Crudale Meadow is a key record in the development of a regional tephrostratigraphic framework, and an important site in developing a refined network of well-dated high-resolution palaeoclimatic records across northern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that 95 per cent of the UK’s international trade is transported by sea, and as a vital complement to fallible virtual navigational aids such as GPS, rock-mounted lighthouses constructed in the 19 th century have a crucial role to play in safe navigation. However the longevity of these historical structures is threatened by extreme weather so in the UK, the General Lighthouse Authorities comprising Trinity House, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights are supporting three British universities in a program of linked experimental and analytical investigations of full-scale performance under extreme wave loading. The aim is to use structural models calibrated by modal testing to deduce wave loading from response recorded by long-term monitoring. The paper describes the procedures for modal testing, taking into account the constraints on access, logistics, unfamiliar layout and time. The test program sequentially covered Les Hanois, Wolf Rock, Longships and Bishops Rock lighthouses over summer 2016 followed by Fastnet Rock in December 2016. Some conventional techniques of forced and ambient vibration testing were used along with some unusual excitation methods. Results from the measurements and observations on the particular challenges associated with testing two of these iconic structures are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People of African or West Indian descent have been a small but continuing element in the population of the British Isles for centuries.1 Black men, women and children who lived in Britain and who appeared in criminal courts have been studied in the early history of modern Australia for their identities were noted in the registers of transport ships and convict settlements.2 Yet Victorian officialdom seldom noted the ethnicity of people convicted in Britain. Newspaper reports might mention colour whilst the trial records ignore it, so identifications have been made when appearances in court -- as victim, witness or accused -- led to such descriptions.3 Prison files are silent too. Caroline Bressey in her 'Victorian Photography and the Mapping of the Black Presence in Britain'4 reproduced photographs of black men in two albums of pictures taken at London's Pentonville Prison in March -- April 1881. She observes written records ignore the appearance, colour and ethnicity of these men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws on ethnographic research with the Chagos islanders from the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, a case study which offers an exceptional opportunity to interrogate forced displacement, onward migration and prospective return in the context of the long historical legacy and wide geographical arc of British colonialism. The case study generates interconnected arguments relating, first, to the contribution of ethnography to the interdisciplinary study of displacement and migration, and second, to the geographical, thematic and temporal scope of the anthropology of Britain. Long-term ethnographic engagement with a displaced community unsettles typologies of compulsion and choice by revealing the complexities of displaced people’s changing reflections on their own experiences over the course of lifetimes marked by displacement and migration. This history of British colonial and postcolonial displacement, migration and citizenship is a reminder that the anthropology of life in contemporary Britain is not confined geographically to the British Isles or temporally to the twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conifer forestry is expanding rapidly across western parts of the British Isles. This is promoted as good for climate, carbon and biodiversity. However, many spruce plantations are established by draining and disturbing peaty soils, which then release carbon and impair river ecosystems. This 'viewpoint paper' focuses on Scotland, and asks that investors and policy-makers recognise the damage being done by rapid afforestation and restocking. The author focusses on the drainage of peaty soils, and suggests that the incentives driving these changes are corrected in order to favour a better kind of forest. • For spruce plantations on peaty soils, measured carbon emissions are greater than currently predicted. • Despite new guidelines, spruce plantation establishment and restocking continues to disturb and drain peaty soils. • Carbon is flowing out of ditches into rivers, and spruce plantations on peaty soils are contributing to climate change. • The problem is acute in south west Scotland. • Regulations and safeguards for soil carbon and drainage of peaty soils should be further strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Antíteses is the property of Universidade Estadual de Londrina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Between-population variation of changes in numbers can provide insights into factors influencing variation in demography and how population size or density is regulated. Here, spatio-temporal patterns of population change of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. fuscus) and Great Black-backed Gull (L. marinus) in the British Isles are described. The aim of this study was to test for density-dependence and spatial variation in population trends as two possible, but not mutually exclusive, explanations of population changes with important implications for the understanding of these changes. Between 1969 and 2013, the three species showed different population trends with Herring Gulls showing a strong decline, Lesser Black-backed Gulls an increase until 2000 but then a decline since, and Great Black-backed Gulls showing no clear pattern. Population changes in Herring Gulls varied between different regions of the British Isles with decreases in the northern and western parts of the British Isles and no clear trends elsewhere. Population changes were density-dependent in the Herring Gull, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls showed faster population increases at lower Herring Gull densities. Herring Gulls seemed to seek refuge in urban environments, whereas Lesser Black-backed Gulls expanded their range into the urban environment. The large declines in hitherto abundant species create a dilemma for conservation bodies in prioritizing conservation policies. The spatial variation in population changes and the differences between species suggest that there is no single cause for the observed changes, thus requiring region and species-specific conservation management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is predicted to impact the distribution of many marine species. In the North-East Atlantic and elsewhere in the world, studies indicate that climate change is leading to poleward shifts in cetacean distribution. Here, strandings data collected in the British Isles from 1990 to 2020 were used to assess whether there is evidence of a shift in baleen whale distribution. Linear regression models were used to compare the number of strandings over time between six regions of the British Isles and, whilst the results indicate no significant change in the number of strandings in the most southerly region of the British Isles, there have been significant increases in more northern regions. Data related to stranded minke whales is the primary driver of these increases, with a number of potential variables affecting this trend, including observer effort. These variables are discussed and further research to explore this potential association is suggested. • Climate change is predicted to impact the distribution of marine species. • Strandings data are used to assess baleen whale distribution in the British Isles. • The number of strandings from 1990 to 2020 was compared between six regions. • In the most southerly region, the number of strandings remained constant. • In more northern regions, the number of strandings increased significantly. • Population growth and/or a northern distribution shift may explain this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Historia Moderna is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Significant progress has been made on the investigation of Quaternary submerged prehistory in the British Isles. Mainly through collaboration with industry, a considerable knowledge base has been developed on the distribution and nature of preserved palaeolandscapes of the last 1 million years in UK waters. A diverse array of material has been recovered from the seabed including bone and stone artefacts, extinct fauna, peat deposits, submerged forests and other remnants of relict landscapes from around the British Isles. Archaeological sites are rarer but Palaeolithic and Mesolithic examples are providing critical resources to reinterpret early prehistory in association with Quaternary palaeogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calcareous tube of Pomatoceros is one of the most highly studied serpulid dwelling tube-structures. Despite this, there is a lack of consensus regarding the number and types of fabric within the tube structure, and the three-dimensional distribution of the fabrics about the tube. These are here described in Pomatoceros triqueter within the coastal waters of Britain, with lamello-fibrillar, irregularly oriented prismatic and spherulitic-prismatic fabrics noted as the major ultrastructural components. Fabrics are distributed along a chevron-shaped growth lamella structure, passing progressively from lamello-fibrillar fabric on the inner part of the tube, to irregularly oriented prismatic fabric along the outer part. This model can be adequately applied to all previous descriptions of the ultrastructure of Pomatoceros . All analysed samples comprise Mg-calcite, with typically 10–15 mol% MgCO 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Marine Radiocarbon Reservoir Effect (MRE) is a 14 C age offset between contemporaneous marine- and terrestrially-derived carbon. In Northern Hemisphere surface waters it is of the order of 400 years but temporal and spatial deviations, known as ΔR, occur. This study provides a comprehensive dataset of 21 ΔR and MRE values for the east coast of Scotland and 21 recalculated values for the west coast of Scotland and Ireland, for the period c. 3500 BC to 1450 AD. They are presented as mean, site-specific ΔR and MRE values, together with their associated uncertainties, calculated as standard errors for predicted values. The ΔR values range from −320 ± 35 to +150 ± 28 14 C years and show no spatial or temporal trends. The MRE values range from 59 ± 40 to 531 ± 26, show an almost identical distribution pattern to the ΔR values and again show no spatial or temporal trends. Results show that ΔR values calculated for a single site using statistically indistinguishable groups of terrestrial and marine radiocarbon age measurements can produce variability of up to 225 14 C years. ΔR is an important factor in the accurate calibration of samples containing marine-derived carbon for archaeological interpretation but is often also used as an indicator of changes in 14 C specific activity of the oceans, and therefore a proxy for changes in ocean circulation and/or climate. Using the methods outlined in this paper, it is apparent that ΔR values for the northern part of the British Isles have been relatively stable, within our ability to quantify non-random variation in the data. The fact that significant climatic shifts have been recorded during this time, yet these are not visible in the ΔR data, presents a cautionary tale regarding the use of ΔR to infer large-scale oceanographic or climatic changes. Upon the exclusion of 5 outliers from the 42 values, the remaining ΔR values are statistically indistinguishable from one another and range from −142 ± 61 to +40 ± 47 14 C years. 34 of these values are from Scottish archaeological sites and can be combined to produce a mean value for Scotland of −47 ± 52 14 C years for the period 3500 BC to 1450 AD, to be used only in the absence of site- and period-specific data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Flood risk is projected to increase in the British Isles and Central Europe. • Risk will stagnate or decline in many regions of Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. • Urban centers and their surrounding regions are hotspots of flood risk in Europe. • Improved private precautionary measures could reduce flood risk in Europe by 15% Flooding is the most costly natural hazard in Europe. Climatic and socioeconomic change are expected to further increase the amount of loss in the future. To counteract this development, policymaking, and adaptation planning need reliable large-scale risk assessments and an improved understanding of potential risk drivers. In this study, recent datasets for hazard and flood protection standards are combined with high resolution exposure projections and attributes of vulnerability derived from open data sources. The independent and combined influence of exposure change and climate scenarios rcp45 and rcp85 on fluvial flood risk are evaluated for three future periods centered around 2025, 2055 and 2085. Scenarios with improved and neglected private precaution are examined for their influence on flood risk using a probabilistic, multivariable flood loss model — BN-FLEMOps — to estimate fluvial flood losses for residential buildings in Europe. The results on NUTS-3 level reveal that urban centers and their surrounding regions are the hotspots of flood risk in Europe. Flood risk is projected to increase in the British Isles and Central Europe throughout the 21st century, while risk in many regions of Scandinavia and the Mediterranean will stagnate or decline. Under the combined effects of exposure change and climate scenarios rcp45, rcp85, fluvial flood risk in Europe is estimated to increase seven-fold and ten-fold respectively until the end of the century. Our results confirm the dominance of socioeconomic change over climate change on increasing risk. Improved private precautionary measures would reduce flood risk in Europe on an average by 15%. The quantification of future flood risk in Europe by integrating climate, socioeconomic and private precaution scenarios provides an overview of risk drivers, trends, and hotspots. This large-scale comprehensive assessment at a regional level resolution is valuable for multi-scale risk-based adaptation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional view of Neolithic agriculture in the British Isles is that areas of woodland were cleared for cultivation and the grazing of domestic animals. Clearance was not always progressive, the fate of many clearances was abandonment after a couple of hundred years with fresh clearances being made elsewhere. The picture is further complicated because the middle Neolithic saw much more general woodland regeneration and presumably agricultural decline. However, it is argued that part of what is seen in the episodic nature of Neolithic agriculture is the utilisation of 'Vera cycles' as a means of gaining new open areas for agriculture. These cycles also encouraged the abandonment of old areas of grazing. has shown that in modern temperate deciduous woodland in the lowlands of Europe, heavy grazing-pressure prevents succession from leading to the establishment of a stable climax community of woodland. Instead it causes cycles of the invasion of grassland by thorn scrub, the succession of the scrub to shady woodland of trees such as oak and the eventual disintegration of that woodland to return to grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms are traditionally assessed by measuring allele lengths via capillary electrophoresis (CE). Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) reveals differences among alleles of the same length, thus improving discrimination, but also identifying groups of alleles likely related by descent. These may have relatively restricted geographical distributions and thus MPS could detect population structure more effectively than CE-based analysis. We addressed this question by applying an MPS multiplex, the Promega PowerSeq™ Auto/Mito/Y System prototype, to 362 individuals chosen to represent a wide geographical spread from the People of the British Isles (PoBI) cohort, which represents at least three generations of local rural ancestry. As well as 22 autosomal STRs (aSTRs; equivalent to PowerPlex Fusion loci) the system sequences 23 Y-STRs (the PowerPlexY 23 loci) and the control region (CR) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), allowing population structure to be compared across biparentally and uniparentally inherited segments of the genome. For all loci, F ST -based tests of population structure were done based on historical, linguistic, and geographical partitions, and for aSTRs the clustering algorithm STRUCTURE was also applied. STRs were considered using both length and sequence. Sequencing increased aSTR allele diversity by 87.5% compared to CE-based designations, reducing random match probability to 1.25E-30, compared to a CE-based 6.72E-27. Significant population structure was detectable in just one pairwise comparison (Central/South East England compared to the rest), and for sequence-based alleles only. The 362 samples carried 308 distinct mtDNA CR haplotypes corresponding to 13 broad haplogroups, representing a haplotype diversity of 0.9985 (± 0.0005), and a haplotype match probability of 0.0043. No significant population structure was observed. Y-STR haplotypes belonged to ten broad predicted Y-haplogroups. Allele diversity increased by 33% when considered at the sequence rather than length level, although haplotype diversity was unchanged at 0.999969 (± 0.000001); haplotype match probability was 2.79E-03. In contrast to the biparentally and maternally inherited loci, Y-STR haplotypes showed significant population structure at several levels, but most markedly in a comparison of regions subject to Anglo-Saxon influence in the east with the rest of the sample. This was evident for both length- and sequence-based allele designations, with no systematic difference between the two. We conclude that MPS analysis of aSTRs or Y-STRs does not generally reveal stronger population structure than length-based analysis, that UK maternal lineages are not significantly structured, and that Y-STR haplotypes reveal significant population structure that may reflect the Anglo-Saxon migrations to Britain in the 6th century. • Well-characterised population samples from People of the British Isles cohort. • Simultaneous sequence analysis of Y, autosomal and mitochondrial forensic markers. • Increased diversity of STRs via sequencing. • Patrilineal population structure suggests male-biased Anglo-Saxon contribution. • Some autosomal structure at sequence level only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Worldwide demand for energy is growing and predicted to increase by up to three times by 2050. Renewable energy will play a vital role in meeting this demand whilst maintaining global climate change targets. Around the British Isles, development of wind farms has entered Round three, with large, high capacity wind parks being planned to enhance energy security and achieve 2020 renewable energy targets. Such developments place additional pressure on existing sea space and may result in conflicts with other marine activities and users. Co-location of certain activities, marine protected areas, aquaculture and commercial fishing in particular, has therefore been proposed as an option to ease demands on space. Using the UK guided by EU and regional policy, as a case study, following the criteria-based planning system, co-location is legally feasible. Crucially, co-location options will depend on site specific characteristics and site management plans. The biology, ecology and hydrology of the site as well as consideration of important commercial and economic factors will be determining factors of success. For marine protected areas compatibility with conservation objectives for the site will be fundamental. Where possible, it is suggested that activities suitable for co-location will develop in tandem with renewable energy projects. The importance of developing joint projects in this manner is particularly true for aquaculture projects to ensure tenure security and commercial viability. Adaptive management will be a basis for evolution of the concept and practice of co-location. Pilot projects and continued monitoring will be essential in shaping the future of co-location of activities. As the Marine Management Organisation continues the development of marine plans for the English inshore and offshore waters, a study into potential solutions for resolving sea use conflicts is timely. This paper therefore provides a concise overview of the current regulation affecting co-location of key marine activities within wind farm zones and provides suggestions on how co-location projects can be adopted and taken forward, using the UK as a case study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management / Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada is the property of Associacao Portuguesa dos Recursos Hidricos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Iceland was settled, primarily by peoples from Norway and the northern British Isles, in the 9th and 10th centuries. The first settlers brought with them from their homelands an agricultural system based on animal husbandry, of which cereal cultivation was an element and also with inputs from fishing, hunting and gathering of wild plants. There are strong indications that barley was cultivated during the first centuries in some parts of the country and that cultivation was at least attempted in other areas. However, Iceland is near the climatic limits of the barley-growing zone, and it is open to discussion how reliable a food source locally grown barley would have been. This paper discusses a seed assemblage of cultivated barley and archetypical weeds of cereal crops dated to between the 10th and 12th centuries AD obtained during archaeological excavations at the high status farm of Reykholt in western Iceland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Society for Folk Life Studies was founded in 1961 and since 1963 has published its journal Folk Life. This article outlines the origins of the Society and analyses its work and membership over the past fifty years. This is followed by reminiscences and observations on the purpose and activities of the Society by a number of its long-term members. Two appendices list the senior officers of the Society and the locations of its annual conferences since 1961. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tudomanyos es Muszaki Tajekoztatas is the property of BME OMIKK and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents information on the British Isles offshore jurisdictions and constitutional status. It conducts a comparative study of bank deposit protection schemes in Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey. It further discusses the requirement for transferring the subsidiaries' funds to parent groups thus leading into economic crisis due to banking meltdown. It also discusses the problems of liquidation, protected insolvency proceedings and increase in unemployment.

Although linguistic diversity has always been a defining feature of the British Isles, it has assumed new proportions in recent years, a period during which the transnational flow of people has been accompanied by a corresponding flow of languages. This paper charts the changing nature of diversity and the adaptations to which it has given rise on the part of both the host community and speakers of minority languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Managing an outbreak of gastroenteritis (GI) on board a cruise ship while minimising disruption to passengers' on board and shore visit activities is difficult. For this reason it is important to understand the complex patterns of transmission in a closed community. We describe the epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of norovirus during an international cruise. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using information from lists routinely maintained by the travel company, including the passenger manifest, and organised coach tour lists. Information on air-conditioning (AC) systems was used to assess the possible sources of exposures. Findings: Of the 1194 passengers 191 (16%) and 5 crew (<1%) became ill with GI symptoms. The attack rate was higher amongst passengers whose cabin was on the main deck (RR 3.41, 95% CI 1.47-7.94) that houses both passengers' cabins and leisure facilities including shops. Passengers who went on one of the organised coach tours where there were symptomatic passengers were at an increased risk of infection (RR 2.14, CI 1.51-3.03). Analysis of the 56 AC sections on the ship and did not detect an association with infection. Conclusions: Patterns of transmission of norovirus on a cruise ship are complex. Our study suggests infections are more likely among those passengers staying in areas of the ship that are highly transited or used for communal activities and more difficult to clean. Emphasis on the importance of early reporting of symptoms can help minimise transmission. Internationally agreed guidelines on the management of outbreaks on cruise ships are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which analyzes the response of intertidal biodiversity to climate change and the consequences of these biodiversity changes to the ecosystem functioning of rocky shores in British Isles. It states that physical evidence of warming around the Isles was found and sea surface temperatures are at their highest levels. It says that the degree of poleward movement is idiosyncratic on rocky shores and dependent upon dispersal capabilities and habitat requirements. It also mentions that more southern, warm water species are advancing polewards, while northern, cold water species are retreating. Moreover, it mentions the forecasts on the abundance of gastropod gazers and barnacles and on the changes in the balance of secondary consumers and primary producers.

This article discusses marine meteorology and the effects of powerful windstorms that form at sea. Specific attention is given to the presence of this phenomena in North-West Europe. It examines the scientific progress in the prediction of such storms as well as the problems that continue to persist.

Abstract: Rhododendron ponticum is a serious invasive alien plant in the British Isles and is of significant conservation and economic concern. Here, we integrate information on both the demographics and spatial dynamics of this species within an individual-based, spatially-explicit model and investigate the effectiveness of different control strategies. Importantly, we simulate seed movement and dispersal using a mechanistic seed dispersal model. We investigate the effectiveness of initiating control at the edge versus the core of the infestation, with and without returning each year to remove seedlings. We compare these results to an age-dependent strategy whereby the oldest plants are removed each year. Age-dependent control, in which the oldest plants were removed first, was the most effective strategy investigated, both in terms of the probability of successful eradication and the number of years taken to control. We demonstrate that this is because the older (and taller) plants towards the core produce more seeds that, on average, travel further. Indeed, our results suggest that the expansion of the invading front is actually driven as much by seeds that disperse long distances from these larger plants as by the seed rain from recently matured plants located much closer to the front. Finally, we investigate the potential use of ‘quarantine lines’ — corridors of unsuitable habitat that are sufficiently wide to contain an infestation, preventing spread to vulnerable areas. This study has provided generic insights into best practice for management based on the current understanding of the biology and ecology of this pernicious, invasive plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the folk traditions of the British Isles, many musical tunes are said to have been learned from the fairies. The actual pieces vary in character, some being ordinary dance-music and others suggesting more fleeting, ethereal sounds. Although the title of "fairy tune" was sometimes used only to mark a piece's excellence, often it reflected an actual process of composition in which the musician was inspired by running water and other natural sounds. Players may have composed when they were in a meditative trance, for fairies are often associated with such altered states, and time itself takes strange shapes within the fairy hill. Mounds and ancient earthworks are shown as the places where fairy music was heard, reflecting older customs which sought gifts of healing and poetry through encounters with the dwellers in the hills. Traditions of fairy music thus embody archaic themes linking prophecy, poetry, music and the Underworld. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]