Influence of ethnicity, perceived power of appropriator’s ethnic group, and SDO on White observers’ perceptions and reactions towards acts of cultural appropriation

Nous étudions le rôle de l'ethnicité de l’appropriateur sur les perceptions d’observateurs blancs envers l'acte d'appropriation, l’appropriateur et leur engagement dans la prise de décision sociale punitive. Nous explorons le rôle du pouvoir perçu par les participants de l'appropriateur et de leur orientation de dominance sociale (ODS). Des Américains blancs (N = 268) ont rempli un questionnaire préliminaire mesurant leur ODS et leur perception du pouvoir des groupes ethniques dans la société. Ils ont été assignés à l'une des trois conditions dans lesquelles ils ont lu une vignette présentant un individu Noir, Amérindien ou Blanc s'habillant en costume d’Amérindien pour l’Halloween. Les participants ont évalué si le choix du costume est approprié et leurs impressions de l'individu. Ils ont effectué une tâche de punition à la 2e personne (2PP) dans laquelle ils pouvaient punir l'individu. Les participants ont évalué si le choix du costume était une appropriation et appréciation culturelle. Nos résultats démontrent que les observateurs présentés avec l'individu Noir et Blanc percevaient l'acte comme moins approprié, plus appropriatif, moins appréciatif et percevaient l’individu comme moins chaleureux que lorsqu'ils ont lu que l’individu était Amérindien. Nous n'avons pas trouvé une influence significative de l’ethnicité de l’appropriateur sur leur choix de punir. Nos données ne soutiennent pas l’hypothèse exploratoire du rôle du pouvoir perçu sur nos mesures. Nos résultats suggèrent que l’ODS interagit avec l'ethnicité lorsque l'appropriateur est Noir et lorsqu’il est Blanc, inversant les relations trouvées pour l’ethnicité. D'autres recherches sont nécessaires pour clarifier les processus socio-psychologiques de l'appropriation culturelle.We study the role of appropriator ethnicity on White observers’ perceptions towards the i) act of appropriation, ii) the appropriator, and iii) their engagement in punitive social decision-making towards the appropriator. We explore the influence of observers’ perceived power of the appropriator and their Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). White American participants (N = 268) completed a preliminary questionnaire measuring their SDO and their perception various ethnic groups have. They were randomly assigned to one of three conditions in which they read a vignette depicting a Black, Native American, or White individual dressing up for Halloween as a Native American. Participants were asked to rate the appropriateness of the costume, their impressions of the individual, followed by a 2nd Person Punishment (2PP) task wherein they could punish the individual. Participants were asked to rate to what extent the costume choice was cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Participants presented with the Black and White individual perceived the act as less appropriate, more appropriative, less appreciative, and perceived the individual as less warm relative to when presented with a Native American. We failed to find a significant influence of ethnicity on participants’ engagement in punishment. We failed to find evidence supporting the role of perceived power of the appropriator on our measures. However, we found significant evidence that SDO interacts with ethnicity when the appropriator is Black or White, reversing relationships found for ethnicity. While this research provides interesting results, more research is required to clarify the social psychological processes of cultural appropriation

Streaming Audio Using MPEG–7 Audio Spectrum Envelope to Enable Self-similarity within Polyphonic Audio

One method overlooked to date, which can work alongside existing audio compression schemes, is that which takes account of the semantics and natural repetition of music through meta-data tagging. Similarity detection within polyphonic audio has presented problematic challenges within the field of Music Information Retrieval.  This paper presents a method (SoFI) for improving the quality of stored audio being broadcast over any wireless medium through meta-data which has a number of market applications all with market value. Our system works at the content level thus rendering it applicable in existing streaming services. Using the MPEG-7 Audio Spectrum Envelope (ASE) gives features for extraction and combined with k-means clustering enables self-similarity to be performed within polyphonic audio. SoFI uses string matching to identify similarity between large sections of clustered audio. Objective evaluations of SoFI give positive results which show that SoFI is shown to detect high levels of similarity on varying lengths of time within an audio file. In a scale between 0 and 1 with 0 the best, a clear correlation between similarly identified sections of 0.2491 shows successful identification

An examination of tensions in a hybrid collaboration : a longitudinal study of an empty homes project

We analyse the tensions in a hybrid collaboration (specifically, a social alliance comprising three social enterprises and a local council) and how these are mitigated using boundary-spanning community impact, leading to compatibility between distinctive institutional logics. Our qualitative longitudinal study undertaken during 2011–2016 involved reviewing literature and archival data, key informant interviews, workshop and focus groups. We analysed common themes within the data, relating to our two research questions concerning how and why hybrids collaborate, and how resulting tensions are mitigated. The findings suggest a viable model of service delivery termed hybridized collaboration in which the inherent tensions from different institutional logics do not prevent success. Paradoxically, multiple logics are a basis for the partnership’s existence, but the ability to achieve different and occasionally conflicting aims simultaneously (including “value for money” and local community benefit) can be difficult, resulting in tensions. We offer two novel insights. First, we highlight how social enterprise hybrids collaborate locally and in multi-organizational relationships. We found that the initial opportunity to collaborate was catalysed by the existence of shared objectives (to address housing need and unemployment). Pre-existing relationships between organizations, and the existence of synergistic capabilities also influence the choice of partners. Secondly, we identify how tensions arise (from differences in organizational size and available resources; ambitions for growth; and issues related to values and ethics), and are mitigated via several factors including the pre-existing relationships, allowing for regular “spaces of negotiation” between collaborators, the shared social mission, community social impact, the resulting public relations, and shared resources and knowledge

A validation study of the Eurostat harmonised European time use study (HETUS) diary using wearable technology

Background The central aim was to examine the accuracy of the full range of daily activities recorded in self-report time-use diaries against data from two objective passive data collection devices (wearable camera and accelerometer) serving as criterion reference instruments. This enabled systematic checks and comparisons on the timing, sequence and duration of activities recorded from the three data sources. Methods Participants (n = 148) were asked to complete a single-day self-report paper time-use diary designed for use in the Harmonised European Time Use Study (HETUS), while simultaneously wearing a camera that continuously recorded images of their activities, and an accelerometer tracking physical movement. In a reconstruction interview shortly after the data collection period, participants viewed the camera images to help researchers interpret the image sequences. Of the initial 148 recruits (multi-seed snowball sample, 59% women, aged 18–91, 43% > 40) 131 returned usable diary and camera records (of whom 124 also provided a usable whole-day accelerometer record. We compare time allocation estimates from the diary and camera records, and also match the diary and camera records to the simultaneously recorded accelerometer vector magnitudes. Results The data were examined at three analytic levels: aggregate, individual diarist and timeslot. The most important finding is that the estimates of mean daily time devoted to 8 of the 10 main activities differ by < 10% in the camera and diary records. The single case of major divergence (eating) can be explained by a systematic difference between the procedures followed by the self-reporting diarist and the observer coding the camera records. There are more substantial differences at the respondent level, paired t-tests showing significant differences in time spent in the 4/10 categories. 45% of all variation in the accelerometer vector magnitudes in the timeslots is explained by camera and diary records. Detailed activity classifications perform much better than METs as predictors of actigraphy. Conclusions The comparison of the diary with the camera and accelerometer records strongly supports using diary methodology for studying the full range of daily activity, particularly at aggregate levels. Accelerometer data could be combined with diary measures to improve estimation of METs equivalents for various types of active and sedentary behaviour

Scratching the surface: the use of sheepskin parchment to deter textual erasure in early modern legal deeds.

UNLABELLED: Historic legal deeds are one of the most abundant resources in British archives, but also one of the most neglected. Despite the millions that survive, we know remarkably little about their manufacture, including the species of animal on which they were written. Here we present the species identification of 645 sixteenth-twentieth century skins via peptide mass fingerprinting (ZooMS), demonstrating the preferential use of sheepskin parchment. We argue that alongside their abundance and low cost, the use of sheepskins over those of other species was motivated by the increased visibility of fraudulent text erasure and modification afforded by the unique structure of their skin. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40494-021-00503-6

Drug repurposing for Alzheimer's disease based on transcriptional profiling of human iPSC-derived cortical neurons

Alzheimer's disease is a complex disorder encompassing multiple pathological features with associated genetic and molecular culprits. However, target-based therapeutic strategies have so far proved ineffective. The aim of this study is to develop a methodology harnessing the transcriptional changes associated with Alzheimer's disease to develop a high content quantitative disease phenotype that can be used to repurpose existing drugs. Firstly, the Alzheimer's disease gene expression landscape covering severe disease stage, early pathology progression, cognitive decline and animal models of the disease has been defined and used to select a set of 153 drugs tending to oppose disease-associated changes in the context of immortalised human cancer cell lines. The selected compounds have then been assayed in the more biologically relevant setting of iPSC-derived cortical neuron cultures. It is shown that 51 of the drugs drive expression changes consistently opposite to those seen in Alzheimer's disease. It is hoped that the iPSC profiles will serve as a useful resource for drug repositioning within the context of neurodegenerative disease and potentially aid in generating novel multi-targeted therapeutic strategies.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Publisher URL to access it via the publisher's site.This work was funded by the Wellcome foundation: A systematic programme to develop and evaluate the best candidate treatments for repositioning as therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (SMART-AD) reference 102001/Z/13/Z. C.B. reports grants and personal fees from Lundbeck and Acadia and personal fees from Roche, Orion, GSK, Otusaka, Heptares and Lilly outside the submitted work.published version, accepted version, submitted versio

First validation of the gout activity score against gout impact scale in a primary care based gout cohort

Objectives To validate the gout activity score (GAS) against the gout impact scale in a primary care based gout cohort. Methods This was a single-centre cross-sectional study. People with gout who participated in previous research at Academic Rheumatology, University of Nottingham, UK, and consented for participation in future studies were mailed a questionnaire in September 2015. Those returning completed questionnaires were invited to attend for a study visit at which blood was collected and musculoskeletal examination was performed. The Gout Assessment Questionnaire, which contains the gout impact scale (GIS), and short form (SF) 36v2 questionnaires were completed. The GAS3-step-c score was calculated. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated to examine correlation between GAS and SF-36 v2, and GIS. Statistical analyses were performed using PASW v22. Results 102 (93% men) of the 150 participants who were mailed a questionnaire attended the study visit. Their mean (SD) age, BMI, serum uric acid and GAS were 67.94 (9.93) years, 29.96 (4.57) kg/m2, 5.25 (1.75) mg/dl, and 2.99 (0.74) respectively. There was moderate correlation between GAS and gout concern overall, unmet gout treatment need, and gout concern during an attack components of GIS (r= 0.306 to 0.453), but no to poor correlation between GAS and summary scores and scales of SF-36 v2 (r= -0.090 to -0.251). Conclusion This first study to validate GAS against the GIS found moderate correlation. However, this study did not examine the predictive validity of GAS, and prospective studies are needed before GAS can be used widely

A research and evaluation capacity building model in Western Australia

Evaluation of public health programs, services and policies is increasingly required to demonstrate effectiveness. Funding constraints necessitate that existing programs, services and policies be evaluated and their findings disseminated. Evidence-informed practice and policy is also desirable to maximise investments in public health. Partnerships between public health researchers, service providers and policymakers can help address evaluation knowledge and skills gaps. The Western Australian Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN) aims to build research and evaluation capacity in the sexual health and blood-borne virus sector in Western Australia (WA). Partners’ perspectives of the SiREN model after 2 years were explored. Qualitative written responses from service providers, policymakers and researchers about the SiREN model were analysed thematically. Service providers reported that participation in SiREN prompted them to consider evaluation earlier in the planning process and increased their appreciation of the value of evaluation. Policymakers noted benefits of the model in generating local evidence and highlighting local issues of importance for consideration at a national level. Researchers identified challenges communicating the services available through SiREN and the time investment needed to develop effective collaborative partnerships. Stronger engagement between public health researchers, service providers and policymakers through collaborative partnerships has the potential to improve evidence generation and evidence translation. These outcomes require long-term funding and commitment from all partners to develop and maintain partnerships. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation can ensure the partnership remains responsive to the needs of key stakeholders. The findings are applicable to many sectors

Long-term persistence and adherence on urate-lowering treatment can be maintained in primary care-5-year follow-up of a proof-of-concept study

Objectives: To evaluate the persistence and adherence on urate-lowering treatment (ULT) in primary care 5 years after an initial nurse-led treatment of gout. Methods: One hundred gout patients initiated on up-titrated ULT between March and July 2010 were sent a questionnaire that elicited information on current ULT, reasons for discontinuation of ULT if applicable, medication adherence and generic and disease-specific quality-of-life measures in 2015. They were invited for one visit at which height and weight were measured and blood was collected for serum uric acid measurement. Results: Seventy-five patients, mean age 68.13 years ( s . d . 10.07) and disease duration 19.44 years ( s . d . 13), returned completed questionnaires. The 5-year persistence on ULT was 90.7% (95% CI 81.4, 91.6) and 85.3% of responders self-reported taking ULT ⩾6 days/week. Of the 65 patients who attended the study visit, the mean serum uric acid was 292.8 μmol/l ( s . d . 97.2). Conclusion: An initial treatment that includes individualized patient education and involvement in treatment decisions results in excellent adherence and persistence on ULT >4 years after the responsibility of treatment is taken over by the patient's general practitioner, suggesting that this model of gout management should be widely adopted