Masks and metamorphosis

The purpose of this study is to consider the uses of the mask in ritual and theatre, and in particular the reputed influence of the mask over the wearer, and the experiences of 'trance' and 'possession' reported by anthropologists and mask practitioners and performers. The study also examines the role of the maker in creating a powerful tool for ritual and performance, and the comparatively rare phenomenon of the mask-maker who creates a mask which he or she will subsequently wear and the potential paradox of the maker 'possessed' by the object he has made. The first chapter focuses on the mask in its practical and ritualistic contexts in many cultures, and the second considers the concept of mask and transformation in ritual and theatre. The third describes a number of approaches to the use of mask in contemporary drama, in both the creation and performance of theatre. Chapter Four further investigates the effects of the mask on wearer and audience, and attempts to account for some of the experiences described by wearers. The fifth chapter examines the role of the mask maker in ritual and theatre, the relationship between mask and maker, and the maker as wearer. The sixth chapter centres on children as makers and wearers of masks, and focuses on primary school mask making and performance projects. The final chapter explores the relationship of the mask and the self, the assumed and the actual identities of the masquerader. Appendices I-XIV describe the experiences of mask makers and wearers in a variety of contexts, and provide additional evidence of the unusual sensations experienced by wearers. The thesis aims to investigate some of the causes of these phenomena and to consider strategies adopted by practitioners, directors and dramatherapists for utilising these heightened experiences to positive effect in performance

The challenge of learning to read written English for the profoundly pre-lingually deaf adult

Many adults with profound prelingual deafness have difficulties reading and comprehending written English and this problem may originate from English phonological deficits and/or difficulties connecting sign language with written English. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the word coding strategies of profoundly deaf adults with a view to identify to what extent they used speech-based and sign-based strategies to process English text. For the gathering of the data participants completed three tasks: (1) a measure examining the use of speech and sign-based word coding during reading (2) a phoneme awareness task (3) and a task assessing skill in applying grapheme-phoneme correspondences. Data was analysed using tests of difference (t-tests and ANOVA) with the findings showing that while the less proficient readers had significantly greater English phonological deficits they reported only a minimal use of supplementary sign language coding strategies. Surprisingly, some of the proficient readers, with good English phonological skills chose to supplement them with some sign-based strategies. The possible reasons and instructional implications for these findings are discussed

The relationship between HPA regulation and fitness in a free-living population of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia)

In a changing environment, individuals must have the ability to physiologically cope with unpredictable stressors. The endocrine response to stressors is one mechanism vertebrates can use. The corticosterone (CORT)-fitness hypothesis predicts a negative relationship between acute stress induced levels of CORT and fitness. I examined the effectiveness of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation through exogenous hormone stimulation and plasma CORT levels as a predictor for various fitness measures in free-living song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). CORT levels at 30 minutes and in response to dexamethasone injection were predictive of lay date in this population. However, no relationships were observed between HPA regulation and other measures of fitness, including clutch size, proportion of eggs hatched, and adult survival (return rate). Thus, although there was no support for the narrowly defined CORT-fitness hypothesis, this study in combination with prior work suggests that the relationship between HPA-regulation and fitness can vary with life-histoiy stage and between year

Toward an Understanding of Acquired Hearing Loss in a Family: Narrative Play Format as a New Voice in Qualitative Methodology

This study examines how the reality of acquired hearing loss effects one family. Some consideration is given to the medical elements of the condition but the primary concern is with the psychological and social affects of hearing loss. The affects of the loss are revealed, by using systematic introspection in a narrative play format. This writing format is evaluated as the chronology of events, emotions, turning points and coping strategies are revealed

Cytokine Signaling and Hematopoietic Homeostasis Are Disrupted in Lnk-deficient Mice

The adaptor protein Lnk, and the closely related proteins APS and SH2B, form a subfamily of SH2 domain-containing proteins implicated in growth factor, cytokine, and immunoreceptor signaling. To elucidate the physiological function of Lnk, we derived Lnk-deficient mice. Lnk−/− mice are viable, but display marked changes in the hematopoietic compartment, including splenomegaly and abnormal lymphoid and myeloid homeostasis. The in vitro proliferative capacity and absolute numbers of hematopoietic progenitors from Lnk−/− mice are greatly increased, in part due to hypersensitivity to several cytokines. Moreover, an increased synergy between stem cell factor and either interleukin (IL)-3 or IL-7 was observed in Lnk−/− cells. Furthermore, Lnk inactivation causes abnormal modulation of IL-3 and stem cell factor–mediated signaling pathways. Consistent with these results, we also show that Lnk is highly expressed in multipotent cells and committed precursors in the erythroid, megakaryocyte, and myeloid lineages. These data implicate Lnk as playing an important role in hematopoiesis and in the regulation of growth factor and cytokine receptor–mediated signaling

Identification of a Novel Developmental Stage Marking Lineage Commitment of Progenitor Thymocytes

Bipotent progenitors for T and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes are thought to exist among early precursor thymocytes. The identification and functional properties of such a progenitor population remain undefined. We report the identification of a novel developmental stage during fetal thymic ontogeny that delineates a population of T/NK-committed progenitors (NK1.1+/CD117+/CD44+/CD25−). Thymocytes at this stage in development are phenotypically and functionally distinguishable from the pool of multipotent lymphoid-restricted (B, T, and NK) precursor thymocytes. Exposure of multipotent precursor thymocytes or fetal liver– derived hematopoietic progenitors to thymic stroma induces differentiation to the bipotent developmental stage. Continued exposure to a thymic microenvironment results in predominant commitment to the T cell lineage, whereas coculture with a bone marrow–derived stromal cell line results in the generation of mature NK cells. Thus, the restriction point to T and NK lymphocyte destinies from a multipotent progenitor stage is marked by a thymus-induced differentiation step