1.   The condition ‘is equal to’ is a relation on any set of real numbers because, for any x, y in the set, the statement ‘x is equal to y’ is either definitely true or definitely false. This relation is usually denoted by the symbol =. For this relation, each real number in the set is related only to itself!

2.   The condition ‘is less than’ is a relation on any set of real numbers, and we usually]]>

1.   The condition ‘is equal to’ is a relation on any set of real numbers because, for any x, y in the set, the statement ‘x is equal to y’ is either definitely true or definitely false. This relation is usually denoted by the symbol =. For this relation, each real number in the set is related only to itself!

2.   The condition ‘is less than’ is a relation on any set of real numbers, and we usually]]> The following material is Proprietary (see terms and conditions) and is used under licence.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following sources for permission to reproduce material in this unit:

Figures

Figure 1 © UN Photo Library;

Figure 2 Photo: © Co]]> The following material is Proprietary (see terms and conditions) and is used under licence.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following sources for permission to reproduce material in this unit:

Figures

Figure 1 © UN Photo Library;

Figure 2 Photo: © Co]]> After studying this unit you should be able to:

• recognise definitions and applications of each of the terms printed in bold in the text;

• critically evaluate statements about the influence of the genome on behaviour;

• explain the ways in which genetic and environmental factors influence the development of the nervous system;

• provide examples of the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the development of the nervous s]]> After studying this unit you should be able to:

  • recognise definitions and applications of each of the terms printed in bold in the text;

  • critically evaluate statements about the influence of the genome on behaviour;

  • explain the ways in which genetic and environmental factors influence the development of the nervous system;

  • provide examples of the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the development of the nervous s]]> Molecular approaches to the study of hibernation have combined largely non-hypothetical analytical and targeted methods. The analytical approach shows changes in the expression patterns of novel genes, often with unforeseen or unknown functions in hibernation, whilst indicating that the scale of the full range of adaptive genetic changes is small. The targeted approach has confirmed an important role for gene products normally involved in maintaining biological rhythms and energ]]> Molecular approaches to the study of hibernation have combined largely non-hypothetical analytical and targeted methods. The analytical approach shows changes in the expression patterns of novel genes, often with unforeseen or unknown functions in hibernation, whilst indicating that the scale of the full range of adaptive genetic changes is small. The targeted approach has confirmed an important role for gene products normally involved in maintaining biological rhythms and energ]]> Mammals come in a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes and yet all of the 4700 or so species have some characteristics in common. Indeed, it's the existence of these common features that justifies the inclusion of all such diverse types within the single taxonomic group (or class) called the Mammalia.

    This is the first in a series of units about studying mammals. To get the most from these units, you will need access to a copy of The Life of Mammals (2002) by David Attenboroug]]> Mammals come in a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes and yet all of the 4700 or so species have some characteristics in common. Indeed, it's the existence of these common features that justifies the inclusion of all such diverse types within the single taxonomic group (or class) called the Mammalia.

    This is the first in a series of units about studying mammals. To get the most from these units, you will need access to a copy of The Life of Mammals (2002) by David Attenboroug]]> Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see terms and conditions), this content is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Licence

    Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following sources for permission to reproduce material in this unit:

    The content acknowl]]> Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see terms and conditions), this content is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Licence

    Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following sources for permission to reproduce material in this unit:

    The content acknowl]]> Coal formation begins with preservation of waterlogged plant remains to produce peat and then slow compression as the peat is buried. About 10 m of peat will compress down to form about 1 m of coal; clearly large amounts of plant debris must be available for preservation. Even so, for a significant thickness of peat to accumulate there must be a balance between the growth of plants and the decay of underlying dead material to form peat (a process known as humification).

    Su]]> Coal formation begins with preservation of waterlogged plant remains to produce peat and then slow compression as the peat is buried. About 10 m of peat will compress down to form about 1 m of coal; clearly large amounts of plant debris must be available for preservation. Even so, for a significant thickness of peat to accumulate there must be a balance between the growth of plants and the decay of underlying dead material to form peat (a process known as humification).

    Su]]> For most of human history there have been relatively few people in the world. Figure 2 shows that only over the last 50 years have numbers really shot up, and that, at the turn of the century, the population reached over six billion.

    

    For most of human history there have been relatively few people in the world. Figure 2 shows that only over the last 50 years have numbers really shot up, and that, at the turn of the century, the population reached over six billion.

    

    Very palatable foods, especially those high in fat and carbohydrate may be potent stimuli for neural pathways in the brain. Direct evidence for this idea has been found in recent studies of non-human animals. For example, it is known that many types of both natural (i.e. food, sex) and drug (e.g. cocaine or amphetamine, opiates, nicotine) rewards are able to stimulate activity within a brain pathway that innervates the ventral striatum at the base of the forebrain ( So far we have mostly emphasized the way in which different environmental factors may affect body weight and provide a partial explanation of both individual cases of obesity and the increase in average body weight that has been so clearly documented in both North America and Western Europe during the last two decades. There is also marked individual variability in body weight. For example, any weight between about 58 and 78 kg would be regarded as ‘desirable’ for a person of height 1.77 ]]> So far we have mostly emphasized the way in which different environmental factors may affect body weight and provide a partial explanation of both individual cases of obesity and the increase in average body weight that has been so clearly documented in both North America and Western Europe during the last two decades. There is also marked individual variability in body weight. For example, any weight between about 58 and 78 kg would be regarded as ‘desirable’ for a person of height 1.77 ]]> A very impressive demonstration of a small autonomous helicopter performing precise aggressive maneuvers - flips, flight through windows, and quadrotor perching.

    • Robots

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    ]]> A very impressive demonstration of a small autonomous helicopter performing precise aggressive maneuvers - flips, flight through windows, and quadrotor perching.

    • Robots

    read more

    ]]> The known universe as mapped through astronomical observations, from the Himalayas to the moon's orbit, the orbits of the planets, the solar system, the galaxy and beyond.

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    ]]> The known universe as mapped through astronomical observations, from the Himalayas to the moon's orbit, the orbits of the planets, the solar system, the galaxy and beyond.

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    ]]> A 3D model of the Ultra Deep Field, a tiny but very 'deep' image of space captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, showing about 10,000 galaxies. It is the deepest image of the universe ever taken.

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    ]]> A 3D model of the Ultra Deep Field, a tiny but very 'deep' image of space captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, showing about 10,000 galaxies. It is the deepest image of the universe ever taken.

    read more

    ]]> One of the assumptions that is made in order to justify social workers making such life-changing judgements is that some people are vulnerable and therefore need decisions made on their behalf. This assumption is not held by everyone and is often challenged by groups and individuals representing service users and by service users themselves.