Pakomio Maori: red-haired, blue-eyed key to Easter Island's prehistoric past

Anyone who spends more than a few days on Easter Island and can converse in Spanish with the islanders soon becomes aware that they are endlessly fascinated by the variations in each others' skin colors. Katherine Scoresby Routledge, the English archaeologist, who spent almost 17 months on the island in 1914-15, was the first to note this peculiarity in print. In her book The Mystery of Easter Island. she said that Roggeveen's description of the islanders as being 'of all shades of colour' was 'still accurate' and that they themselves were 'very conscious of the variations'.</p

The significance of Basque genes in Easter Island prehistory

At the Rapa Nui Rendezvous at Laramie, Wyoming, in August 1993, it was painfully obvious that Easter Island scholars are divided into two main ideological camps: those who believe that Polynesians were the island's only prehistoric inhabitants and those who don't.</p

Further thoughts on the terms hanau eepe and hanau momoko

Mrs Mulloy claimed that the word 'ears' does not appear in Emily Ross Mulloy's article on the meanings of the terms hanau eepe and hanau momoko (RNJ 7:71-72) may well have been greeted with murmurs of approval by those who already agreed with her. But it would have failed to convince the unconverted that those terms should not be translated as 'long ears' and 'short ears' respectively, as they have been for many years. Mrs Mulloy claimed that the word 'ears' does not appear in either expression and that the definitions of them that Father Sebastian Englert (1970:93) recorded should be accepted. Englert defined hanau eepe as 'fat or heavy set people' and hanau momoko as 'thin, slender people'. Mrs Mulloy said Englert was a highly skilled linguist with a knowledge of more than a dozen languages. She implied that if he said that such and such was so, then it was so.</p

HOLOCENE RELATIVE SEA-LEVEL CHANGES IN SOUTH HINNØYA, ARCTIC NORWAY

This study develops techniques for the preparation and counting of testate amoebae for Holocene sea-level reconstructions. In addition, this study provides a ~3000 year relative sea-level reconstruction for south Hinnøya in the Vesterålen islands off mainland Norway, adding new data to a poorly defined period of the Holocene sea-level history of north-western Norway. This is important to quantify rates of glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA), to refine GIA models, and to establish baseline (pre-industrial) rates of relative sea-level change. Surface sediments from two salt marshes (Storosen and Svinøyosen) in south Hinnøya are used to assess the effects of using different preparation procedures and count totals when analysing for testate amoebae. Analytical efficiency can be improved upon by using a mild alkali, chemical disaggregant (5 % KOH) to break up fibrous salt-marsh sediment and concentrate tests prior to counting. A count total of 100 individuals, rather than 150, can be used to make time gains with little or no effects on assemblages. Training sets of salt-marsh surface testate amoebae, foraminifera and elevational data are established for the two field sites. For testate amoebae, species – elevation relationships are constructed using regression modelling and applied to downcore fossil samples using a transfer function to derive estimates of sea level for the past ~100 years. The greater water depths reconstructed between ~3000 and ~100 years ago are not covered by modern foraminiferal training sets and are therefore estimated qualitatively from the fossil foraminiferal assemblages supplemented by information derived from fossil molluscs. Chronology is based on a combination of AMS14C, 210Pb, 137Cs and a suite of geochemical markers. At south Hinnøya, sea level has been falling at a rate of ~0.5 mm yr-1 over the last 3000 years

Developing hypnotic analogues of clinical delusions : Mirrored-self misidentification

Introduction. Despite current research interest in delusional beliefs, there are no viable models for studying delusions in the laboratory. However, hypnosis offers a technique for creating transient delusions that are resistant to challenge. The aim of this study was to develop an hypnotic analogue of one important delusion, mirrored-self misidentification. Methods. Twelve high hypnotisable participants received an hypnotic suggestion to see either a stranger in the mirror, a mirror as a window, or a mirror as a window with a view to a stranger. Participants' deluded beliefs were challenged, and following hypnosis, Sheehan and McConkey's (1982) Experiential Analysis Technique was used to explore participants' phenomenological experience of the delusion. Results. The majority of participants did not recognise their reflection in the mirror, described the person in the mirror as having different physical characteristics to themselves, and maintained their delusion when challenged. Conclusions. The hypnotic suggestion created a credible, compelling delusion with features strikingly similar to clinical cases of mirrored-self misidentification. Our findings suggest that Factor 2 within Langdon and Coltheart's (2000) two-factor framework may involve a lowering of the criteria used to accept or reject delusional hypotheses.PostprintPeer reviewe

Effects of a training program to enhance autonomy supportive behaviors among youth soccer coaches

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and implementation of a training emphasizing the use of autonomy supportive coaching behaviors among youth soccer coaches in game-play situations as well as evaluating its effects on motivational processes among athletes. Participants included youth sport soccer coaches and their intact teams. Coaches received a series of autonomy-supportive coaching training interventions based on successful programs in general and physical education (Reeve, Jang, Carrell, Jeon & Barch, 2004; Cheon, Reeve & Moon, 2012). Athletes completed questionnaires to assess perceived autonomy support, basic need satisfaction, and motivation (Harris & Watson, 2011). Observations indicated coaches were not able to significantly modify their behaviors, yet reflectively reported modest implementation of autonomy supportive behaviors. Coaches believed the training influenced their coaching style/philosophy in regards to the coach-athlete relationship and communication styles, emphasizing choice and rationales. Continued research is needed to enhance use of autonomy supportive behaviors with volunteer coaches in a youth sport environment

In Vitro Reconstitution of Skin: Fibroblasts Facilitate Keratinocyte Growth and Differentiation on Acellular Reticular Dermis

Extensive full-thickness burns require replacement of both epidemis and dermis. We have described a method in which allogeneic dermis from engrafted cryopreserved cadaver skin was combined with cultured autologous keratinocytes. In the present study we combined human keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and acellular human dermis in vitro and transplanted this “reconstituted skin” into athymic mice. Both human papillary dermis in which the basement membrane zone has been retained and human reticular dermis that has been repopulated with human dermal fibroblasts are good substrates for keratinocyte attachment, stratification, growth, and differentiation. Both of these dermal preparations can be lyophilized and stored at room temperature without losing their ability to support keratinocyte growth. In contrast, human papillary dermis that has been treated with trypsin lacks laminin and collagen type IV in the BMZ and supports keratinocyte attachment and differentiation less well

Flipping the Classroom: Effects on Course Experience, Academic Motivation, and Performance in an Undergraduate Exercise Science Research Methods Course

The goal of the study was to determine the effects of the Flipped Classroom Model (FCM) on students’ course experience, basic need satisfaction, motivation, and academic performance in an undergraduate Research Methods course for exercise science majors. One section received instruction in a Traditional Lecture Model (TLM), while the other section received instruction via the FCM. An adapted survey was administered to approximately 175 students, with 83% responding. Significant differences were seen in course experience (learning resources and course organization). Analysis of lecture viewing data revealed that students in the FCM did not adhere to a level of lecture viewing that would ensure success in the course. The FCM was determined to be a viable alternative to TLM, as motivation and general course experiences was high for both formats, however instructors must be aware of the need to reinforce preparation for in-class work