REVIEW: Touching the Web of Southern Novelists

Review of the non-fiction book Touching the Web of Southern Novelists, by David Madden

Sexual Selection and Human Breast Morphology

Human females, uniquely among primates, develop prominent breasts during puberty, well before reproduction occurs. Adipose tissue in breasts forms part of the "gynoid" fat distribution, involving the hips, thighs, buttocks and breasts of women. Breasts are thus characterised as secondary sexual characteristics, and their evolution may be due, at least in part, to the effects of sexual selection. This partial reversal of the usual pattern of male adornment may be related to high paternal care in humans. Breast morphology is complex, so that women vary not only in the size and shape of their breasts, but also in the size, shape and pigmentation of their areolae and nipples. These traits change with reproductive status and age. Breasts are more prone to fluctuating asymmetry than many other features of human anatomy and such asymmetry may be closely related to some measures of reproductive success. This thesis used digitally altered images to investigate the impact of morphological changes on perceptions of attractiveness and other qualities. Study 1 investigated the impact of four breast sizes and three areola colours on the perceptions of two hundred participants. Breast size significantly impacted all ratings. Attractiveness and health ratings were maximised at the intermediate breast size for the lightest and original coloured areola, and at the largest breast size for the darkest areola. Ratings of nurturance, sexual maturity and estimates of age increased stepwise from the images with undeveloped breasts to the images with the largest breasts. Areola colour interacted with breast size. Darker areola were judged less attractive, less healthy and less nurturing when paired with small or intermediate breasts, but increased these ratings when paired with large breasts. There was no strong effect of areola colour on ratings of images with undeveloped breasts or on ratings of sexual maturity and age. Study 2 investigated the effect of breast asymmetry on attractiveness and health ratings using data provided by two hundred participants. Increasing levels of asymmetry, created by modifying one breast to increase the apparent volume (four levels from 102.5% to 110% of the original) or position (four levels from 1%-4% of the length of the image) resulted in progressively lower ratings. The differences in ratings between the images with extreme levels in asymmetry (107.5% vs 110% and 3% vs 4%) were smaller. Images that had been modified in the models left (and so seen on viewer's right side) were given higher ratings than those modified identically but on the other side. This may be an expression of a phenomena known as pseudoneglect, where people appear to attend more to the left. In Study 3, a diverse selection of images, taken from previously published reports on human breast morphology and attractiveness, were compiled as a single questionnaire and shown to 37 participants. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the impact of different image types on ratings of attractiveness and health. Photographic images were rated higher than line drawings or silhouettes. Photographs may be more ecologically valid, as they are more realistic and can be tailored to match the study population. The results presented in this thesis indicate that variations in human breast size, areola colour and breast asymmetry have measurable effects on the perceptions (of both sexes) of attractiveness and health. Breast size also has significant impacts on perceptions of nurturance, reproductive status and age, whereas areola colour has less effect on these ratings. Questionnaire studies employing photographs are likely to be more effective than more stylised images. Morphological changes in the human breast may signal mate value and fertility and therefore may have been subject to sexual selection, as well as natural selection, during human evolution

Trade unions and precariat in Europe: Representative claims

Trade unions have been charged with neglecting labour market ‘outsiders’, while alternative actors have emerged to represent these. In response, unions have stepped up their claim to be representative of all workers, without distinction. We review the theoretical and policy debates on this issue, and argue that representation as such has been under-theorized. We draw on Saward’s concept of ‘representative claims’ to analyse the different grounds for competing assertions of representativeness. We identify four main forms of claims, and illustrate these with empirical examples. We conclude that these different claims are mutually reinforcing in stimulating attention to the outsiders, and in their interaction with institutional settings, they have a performative effect in defining new social actors

Covering the Dead in Later Prehistoric Britain: Elusive Objects and Powerful Technologies of Funerary Performance

This paper examines the containment and covering of people and objects in burials throughout later prehistory in Britain. Recent analyses of grave assemblages with exceptionally well-preserved organic remains have revealed some of the particular roles played by covers in funerary contexts. Beyond these spectacular examples, however, the objects involved in covering and containing have largely been overlooked. Many of the ‘motley crew’ of pots and stones used to wrap, cover, and contain bodies (and objects) were discarded or destroyed by antiquarian investigators in their quest for more immediately dazzling items. Organic containers and covers – bags, coffins, shrouds, blankets – are rarely preserved. Our study brings together the diverse and often elusive objects that played a part in covering and containing prehistoric burials, including items that directly enclosed bodies and objects, and those that potentially pinned together (now mostly absent) organic wraps. Overall, we contend, wrapping, covering, and containing were significantly more prevalent in prehistoric funerary practices than has previously been recognised.AHR

Multi-hazard assessments for disaster risk reduction: lessons from the Philippines and applications for non-govermental organisations

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) should be underpinned by multi-hazard assessments that integrate community and scientific knowledge. Humanitarian and development non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are key implementers of DRR, but there is little guidance for them regarding the requirements of a multi-hazard approach. Using mainly qualitative methods, a conceptual framework for multi-hazards is proposed, which emphasises the interrelations between hazards as well as the need to address more than one hazard. This framework is compared to existing NGO hazard assessment methods at Head Office and in the Philippines (a multi-hazard hotspot), along with a case study of the 2006 Typhoon Reming lahars disaster at Mayon Volcano. Throughout the research, the role of scientific knowledge is explored. Interviewees assume that their community-based assessments ‘toolkits’ capture multi-hazards, but these are constrained by preconceptions related to DRR, the confined temporal and spatial scales of analysis and the emphasis on community knowledge. Particularly amongst Head Office NGOs, the need for science and a more anticipatory approach is driven by climate change adaptation rather than DRR. However, the Reming lahars disaster emphasises that DRR strategies must anticipate, prepare for and respond to simultaneous hazards, whilst accounting for how previous hazards might amplify or alleviate the anticipated event. The disaster emphasises the limits of community knowledge but also those of the available science, along with the need for good communication between scientists, NGOs and communities. The conceptual multi-hazard framework provides NGOs with a multi-hazard ‘lens’ to their analyses, but the findings emphasise that multi-hazard assessments require more than a toolkit. NGOs need the skills to access, understand and evaluate science and engage with scientists. There are numerous ideological and practical barriers to integrating science, which are partly addressed by a set of practical guidelines developed alongside the research. Beyond NGOs, the research has important implications for DRR policy

Influence of climate and regeneration microsites on Pinus contorta invasion into an alpine ecosystem in New Zealand

In many regions, alien conifers have spread widely at lower elevations and are increasingly found colonizing alpine areas. Although studies have addressed conifer invasions at low elevations, little is known about the rates and constraints on spread into higher elevations. Here, we assess the relative importance of climate and the availability of regeneration microsites on the establishment of the alien species <em>Pinus contorta</em> into a high elevation site in New Zealand. Spread has occurred from two stands planted at the elevation of the native treeline (1347–1388 masl) in the 1960s. Most stems established between 1350 and 1450 masl and <em>P. contorta</em> individuals were found up to 270 m above the original plantings. Although the population has increased by 180% in the last 20 years, population growth rate has been declining. Furthermore, comparisons with studies from other mountain ranges around the world and at low elevations in New Zealand suggest this is a relatively limited spread. Our results suggest that climate variation did not have a significant effect on establishment patterns, as opposed to availability of regeneration microsites. Soil and alpine mat microsites favoured establishment of<em> P. contorta</em> and, although these microsites did not appear to be saturated, microsite availability may be an important limiting factor for the spread of <em>P. contorta.</em> Thus management strategies should focus on preventing spread in addition to removing already established stems

The misdiagnosis of epilepsy in people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review

AbstractPurposeEpilepsy is common in people with intellectual disabilities. Epilepsy can be difficult to diagnose and may be misdiagnosed in around 25% of cases. A systematic review was conducted to explore:(i)How common the misdiagnosis of epilepsy is amongst people with intellectual disabilities.(ii)Reasons for misdiagnosis of epilepsy.(iii)Implications of misdiagnosis.(iv)Improving diagnosis.MethodsPrimary studies and systematic reviews published in the English language between 1998 and 2008 were identified from electronic databases, experts, the Internet, grey literature, and citation tracking. Included studies were critically appraised by team members using the appraisal tools produced by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) at the Public Health Resource Unit, Oxford.ResultsEight studies were included in the review and critically appraised: six cohort studies and two case studies. Where data was provided in the cohort studies between 32% and 38% of people with intellectual disabilities were diagnosed as not having epilepsy or as having nonepileptic events. The main reason for misdiagnosis was the misinterpretation of behavioural, physiological, syndrome related, medication related or psychological events by parents, paid carers and health professionals.ConclusionsThose working in epilepsy and intellectual disability services and families must be made more aware of the possibility of misdiagnosis. Future research is needed about the misdiagnosis of epilepsy amongst people with intellectual disabilities and carer knowledge

Invited Perspective: Building sustainable and resilient communities – Recommended actions for natural hazard scientists

Reducing disaster risk is critical to securing the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and natural hazard scientists make a key contribution to achieving this aim. Understanding Earth processes and dynamics underpins hazard analysis, which (alongside analysis of other disaster risk drivers) informs the actions required to manage and reduce disaster risk. Here we suggest how natural hazard research scientists can better contribute to the planning and development of sustainable and resilient communities through improved engagement in disaster risk reduction (DRR). Building on existing good practice, this perspective piece aims to provoke discussion in the natural hazard science community about how we can strengthen our engagement in DRR. We set out seven recommendations for enhancing the integration of natural hazard science into DRR: (i) characterise multi-hazard environments, (ii) prioritise effective, positive, long-term partnerships, (iii) understand and listen to your stakeholders, (iv) embed cultural understanding into natural hazards research, (v) ensure improved and equitable access to hazards information, (vi) champion people-centred DRR (leaving no one behind), and (vii) improve links between DRR and sustainable development. We then proceed to synthesise key actions that natural hazards scientists and research funders should consider taking to improve education, training, and research design, and to strengthen institutional, financial and policy actions. We suggest that these actions should help to strengthen the effective application of natural hazards science to reduce disaster risk. By recognising and taking steps to address the issues raised in these recommendations, we propose that the natural hazard science community can more effectively contribute to the inter/transdisciplinary, integrated work required to improve DR

Thrive: The AFC-Tavistock Model for CAMHS

All ideas in this paper and related to this model are independent of any organisational affiliations, committee membership or other official capacities of any of the authors, other than their roles within the Anna Freud Centre and The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. ..