title: Geochemical zones and environmental gradients for soils from the central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica

authors: Diaz, Melisa A.

abstract: Previous studies have established links between biodiversity and soil geochemistry in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, where environmental gradients are important determinants of soil biodiversity. However, these gradients are not well established in the central Transantarctic Mountains, which are thought to represent some of the least hospitable Antarctic soils. We analyzed 220 samples from 11 ice-free areas along the Shackleton Glacier (∼ 85° S), a major outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. We established three zones of distinct geochemical gradients near the head of the glacier (upper), its central part (middle), and at the mouth (lower). The upper zone had the highest water-soluble salt concentrations with total salt concentrations exceeding 80 000 μ g-1, while the lower zone had the lowest water-soluble N:P ratios, suggesting that, in addition to other parameters (such as proximity to water and/or ice), the lower zone likely represents the most favorable ecological habitats. Given the strong dependence of geochemistry on geographic parameters, we developed multiple linear regression and random forest models to predict soil geochemical trends given latitude, longitude, elevation, distance from the coast, distance from the glacier, and soil moisture (variables which can be inferred from remote measurements). Confidence in our random forest model predictions was moderately high with R2 values for total water-soluble salts, water-soluble N:P, ClO-4, and ClO-3 of 0.81, 0.88, 0.78, and 0.74, respectively. These modeling results can be used to predict geochemical gradients and estimate salt concentrations for other Transantarctic Mountain soils, information that can ultimately be used to better predict distributions of soil biota in this remote region.

text: Geochemical zones and environmental gradients for soils from the central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica Previous studies have established links between biodiversity and soil geochemistry in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, where environmental gradients are important determinants of soil biodiversity. However, these gradients are not well established in the central Transantarctic Mountains, which are thought to represent some of the least hospitable Antarctic soils. We analyzed 220 samples from 11 ice-free areas along the Shackleton Glacier (∼ 85° S), a major outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. We established three zones of distinct geochemical gradients near the head of the glacier (upper), its central part (middle), and at the mouth (lower). The upper zone had the highest water-soluble salt concentrations with total salt concentrations exceeding 80 000 μ g-1, while the lower zone had the lowest water-soluble N:P ratios, suggesting that, in addition to other parameters (such as proximity to water and/or ice), the lower zone likely represents the most favorable ecological habitats. Given the strong dependence of geochemistry on geographic parameters, we developed multiple linear regression and random forest models to predict soil geochemical trends given latitude, longitude, elevation, distance from the coast, distance from the glacier, and soil moisture (variables which can be inferred from remote measurements). Confidence in our random forest model predictions was moderately high with R2 values for total water-soluble salts, water-soluble N:P, ClO-4, and ClO-3 of 0.81, 0.88, 0.78, and 0.74, respectively. These modeling results can be used to predict geochemical gradients and estimate salt concentrations for other Transantarctic Mountain soils, information that can ultimately be used to better predict distributions of soil biota in this remote region.

year: 2021

title: Mindfulness-based stress reduction in a correctional facility: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis on the impact of violent behaviour

authors: Edward, Mtakwa

subjects: MBSR

abstract: Criminal behaviours can often lead to a prison sentence, and a prison sentence suggests that justice has been served. It appears that correctional facilities worldwide have been inundated with prisoners serving time for a variety of reasons.  Though a prison sentence serves as punishment for perpetrators, it can often cause psychological harm for both prisoners and their families. As a result of more relevant research being conducted, several intensive rehabilitative programmes are being run in correctional facilities worldwide to address criminal behaviours such as violence. These intensive programmes aim to teach prisoners to understand the relationships between intrusive thought patterns that may or may not be associated with past traumatic events, emotional dysregulation, and poor behaviour leading to violent offending.  The present study examined the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on prisoners' psychological wellbeing in correctional facilities worldwide. It was completed by running a meta-analysis on four studies based in the United States of America (USA), China, and the Netherlands and across various ethnic and cultural groups, which analysed this relationship. The results indicated that MBSR could be an effective treatment modality to run alongside intensive therapies.
Furthermore, the overall effect size suggested a positive but not significant relationship between MBSR and improved psychological wellbeing. It is suggested that further research using experimental designs be explored in this field to allow for further analysis to be examined. The main objective of this review was to answer two questions: 'Is the use of MBSR in correctional facilities effective in helping reduce recidivism rates?' and 'Will the use of MBSR be effective with different cultural and ethnical populations in correctional facilities?' The conclusion of the meta-analysis in the current study suggests that yes, it is possible to reduce recidivism rates through using MBSR as an effective treatment in correctional facilities. Furthermore, it can be successfully implemented across people of different cultures and ethnicities.

text: Mindfulness-based stress reduction in a correctional facility: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis on the impact of violent behaviour Criminal behaviours can often lead to a prison sentence, and a prison sentence suggests that justice has been served. It appears that correctional facilities worldwide have been inundated with prisoners serving time for a variety of reasons.  Though a prison sentence serves as punishment for perpetrators, it can often cause psychological harm for both prisoners and their families. As a result of more relevant research being conducted, several intensive rehabilitative programmes are being run in correctional facilities worldwide to address criminal behaviours such as violence. These intensive programmes aim to teach prisoners to understand the relationships between intrusive thought patterns that may or may not be associated with past traumatic events, emotional dysregulation, and poor behaviour leading to violent offending.  The present study examined the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on prisoners' psychological wellbeing in correctional facilities worldwide. It was completed by running a meta-analysis on four studies based in the United States of America (USA), China, and the Netherlands and across various ethnic and cultural groups, which analysed this relationship. The results indicated that MBSR could be an effective treatment modality to run alongside intensive therapies.
Furthermore, the overall effect size suggested a positive but not significant relationship between MBSR and improved psychological wellbeing. It is suggested that further research using experimental designs be explored in this field to allow for further analysis to be examined. The main objective of this review was to answer two questions: 'Is the use of MBSR in correctional facilities effective in helping reduce recidivism rates?' and 'Will the use of MBSR be effective with different cultural and ethnical populations in correctional facilities?' The conclusion of the meta-analysis in the current study suggests that yes, it is possible to reduce recidivism rates through using MBSR as an effective treatment in correctional facilities. Furthermore, it can be successfully implemented across people of different cultures and ethnicities.

year: 2021

title: Responding to the message: Responsive written feedback in a Maori to English transition context

authors: Glynn, Ted

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: This paper reports on the writing component of a community and
school Maori to English literacy transition programme implemented in a kura
kaupapa Maori (Maori language immersion school. 21 Year 6, 7 and 8
students received responsive written feedback for their writing in English,
over a ten-week period, during their weekly independent writing time.
Students’ stories were mailed to a young Maori woman (the third author) in a
provincial city 100 kilometres from the kura . She was not known to any of the
students prior to the study, but she acted as an interested audience, and
responded in writing by focussing on the content or messages in students’
stories. She did not provide any corrective feedback on students’ writing.
The study employed an intra-subject multiple-baseline research design across
four school terms, with the responsive written feedback being introduced
sequentially to each of three student Year groups. Measures were taken of
total words written, adventurous words written, as well as holistic ratings of
audience impact and language quality. Data demonstrate positive gains in
both the quantity and quality of students’ writing, as well as maintenance of
high levels of writing accuracy for all Year groups.

text: Responding to the message: Responsive written feedback in a Maori to English transition context This paper reports on the writing component of a community and
school Maori to English literacy transition programme implemented in a kura
kaupapa Maori (Maori language immersion school. 21 Year 6, 7 and 8
students received responsive written feedback for their writing in English,
over a ten-week period, during their weekly independent writing time.
Students’ stories were mailed to a young Maori woman (the third author) in a
provincial city 100 kilometres from the kura . She was not known to any of the
students prior to the study, but she acted as an interested audience, and
responded in writing by focussing on the content or messages in students’
stories. She did not provide any corrective feedback on students’ writing.
The study employed an intra-subject multiple-baseline research design across
four school terms, with the responsive written feedback being introduced
sequentially to each of three student Year groups. Measures were taken of
total words written, adventurous words written, as well as holistic ratings of
audience impact and language quality. Data demonstrate positive gains in
both the quantity and quality of students’ writing, as well as maintenance of
high levels of writing accuracy for all Year groups.

year: 2005