The Zambra, Tourism and Discourses of Authenticity in Granada’s Flamenco Scene

The zambra is a genre and context of flamenco unique to the Gitano (Gypsy) neighbourhood of Sacromonte (Granada), which throughout its historical development has been closely intertwined with tourism. Framed by recent musical and social change in the zambra, this article examines debates regarding tourism, authenticity, and local heritage in Sacromonte. Previous research has focused on the economic and institutional dimensions of flamenco tourism with little consideration of local discourses. This article interrogates a static notion of “staged authenticity,” instead focusing on the dynamic and contested relationship between music and tourism in the context of local musical practice.This research was made viable through a doctoral studentship at the School of Music. Finally, I would like to thank the Leverhulme Trust for my current fellowship, which has enabled me to write up this research.This is a metadata record relating to an article that cannot be shared due to publisher copyright

Spanish Musical Responses to Moroccan Immigration and the Cultural Memory of al-Andalus

AbstractThe notion of a shared history across the Mediterranean is central to a number of Spanish-Moroccan musical collaborations, which draw on the notion of convivencia: the alleged peaceful coexistence between Christians, Jews, and Muslims in medieval Spain. In this article, I explore the relationship between a ‘musical’ convivencia and Moroccan immigration in Spain, focusing on two prominent case studies: Macama jonda (1983) and Inmigración (2003). Spanning a twenty-year period, I argue that these two productions illustrate shifting responses to Moroccan immigration at distinct historical moments: the post-Franco era and post-9/11. These two productions illustrate the malleability of the convivencia myth, employing it for distinct social and political purposes. I argue that Macama jonda and Inmigración should be read as products of shifting political and cultural relations between Spain and Morocco, and Spain's negotiation of its Muslim past.Leverhulme Trus

Ziryab and Us : Tradition and Collaboration in the Interpretation of an Arab-Andalusian Musical Myth

This research was conducted during my Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2014–2017) and my European Research Council Starting Grant project entitled ‘Past and Present Musical Encounters across the Strait of Gibraltar' [2018–2023, MESG_758221]. For more information, see www.musicalencounters.co.uk. I would like to thank both institutions for their support, which has made this article possible.Peer reviewedPostprin

The Dynamics of Intercultural Music Making in Granada: Everyday Multiculturalism and Moroccan Integration

This article examines musical exchanges between Moroccans and Spaniards, which are often underpinned by the notion of a shared cultural heritage. Such exchanges promote intercultural dialogue and the social integration of Moroccans in Andalusia. Focusing on one individual, I explore the strategies musicians use to integrate socially and musically in Andalusian society. I examine the ways in which Moroccan musicians negotiate their day-to-day musical landscape and the tensions between overt displays of cultural difference, social integration, and musicians’ own artistic aspirations. In so doing, this article puts ethnomusicology into dialogue with scholarship on the policies and everyday realities of multiculturalism and interculturalism.This research was conducted during my Leverhulme Early Career and Fellowship (2014–17) and my European Research Council Starting Grant project entitled ‘Past and Present Musical Encounters across the Strait of Gibraltar’ (2018–23)

Examining the benefit of graduated compression stockings in the prevention of hospital-associated venous thromboembolism in low-risk surgical patients: a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial (PETS trial)

Introduction Hospital-acquired thrombosis (HAT) is defined as any venous thromboembolism (VTE)-related event during a hospital admission or occurring up to 90 days post discharge, and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare-associated costs. Although surgery is an established risk factor for VTE, operations with a short hospital stay (<48 hours) and that permit early ambulation are associated with a low risk of VTE. Many patients undergoing short-stay surgical procedures and who are at low risk of VTE are treated with graduated compression stockings (GCS). However, evidence for the use of GCS in VTE prevention for this cohort is poor. Methods and analysis A multicentre, cluster randomised controlled trial which aims to determine whether GCS are superior in comparison to no GCS in the prevention of VTE for surgical patients undergoing short-stay procedures assessed to be at low risk of VTE. A total of 50 sites (21 472 participants) will be randomised to either intervention (GCS) or control (no GCS). Adult participants (18–59 years) who undergo short-stay surgical procedures and are assessed as low risk of VTE will be included in the study. Participants will provide consent to be contacted for follow-up at 7-days and 90-days postsurgical procedure. The primary outcome is the rate of symptomatic VTE, that is, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism during admission or within 90 days. Secondary outcomes include healthcare costs and changes in quality of life. The main analysis will be according to the intention-to- treat principle and will compare the rates of VTE at 90 days, measured at an individual level, using hierarchical (multilevel) logistic regression.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) NIHR13377

The Musical Bridge—Intercultural Regionalism and the Immigration Challenge in Contemporary Andalusia

The ideals of tolerance and cultural exchange associated with the interfaith past of Muslim Spain (al-Andalus) have become a symbol for Andalusian regionalism and for the integration of Moroccan communities. Nowhere is this more keenly felt than in the context of music. In cities such as Granada, Moroccan and Spanish musicians actively promote the ideals of intercultural dialogue through the performance of repertoires such as flamenco and Arab-Andalusian music that allegedly possess a shared cultural history. In this article, we examine the interrelationship between music and ‘intercultural regionalism’, focusing on how music is used by public institutions to ground social integration in the discourse of regionalism. Against a backdrop of rising Islamophobia and the mobilization of right-wing populist and anti-immigration rhetoric both within Spain and internationally, the authors consider how music can be used to promote social integration, to overcome Islamophobia and to tackle radicalization. We advance two arguments. First, we argue that the musical interculturalism promoted by a variety of institutions needs to be understood within the wider project of Andalusian regionalism. Here, we note that musical integration of Spain’s cultural and historical ‘Other’ (Moroccans) into Andalusian society is promoted as a model for how Europe can overcome the alleged ‘death of multiculturalism’. The preferential way to achieve this objective is through ‘intercultural regionalism’, envisioned as the combination of regional identity-building and intercultural interactions between communities that share a common cultural heritage. Second, we assess some of the criticism of the efficacy of al-Andalus as a model for contemporary intercultural exchange. Combining approaches in political science and ethnomusicology, we focus on one case study, the Fundación Tres Culturas (FTC). Through interviews with figures within the FTC, we examine why this model has become partly insufficient and how it is borne out in the sorts of musical activities programmed by FTC that seek to move beyond the ‘andalusí’ myth. We conclude by recognizing the continuing regional and international importance of this myth but we question its integrating capacity at a time of radical political, economic and environmental upheaval.</jats:p

Towards ubiquitous accessibility: capability-based profiles and adaptations, delivered via the semantic web

The continuing proliferation of mobile devices, content and applications presents barriers to the mainstreaming of Assistive Technologies (ATs), despite their potential utility for users in demanding situations or with minor-to-moderate impairments. We have previously proposed that user profiling based on human rather than machine-oriented capabilities, coupled with a shift from conspicuous ATs to considering a broader range of adaptations presents opportunities for platform and AT vendors to support many more users. However there has not been a standard, consistent and, most importantly, straightforward way to deliver these benefits. We propose that this delivery gap can be bridged by using the semantic web and related technologies, so the potential benefits of the capability-based approach may be realised

Andalucía flamenca: Music, regionalism and identity in southern Spain

In recent years, flamenco has been consolidated as a prominent symbol of regional identity in Andalusia, the southernmost region of Spain. In the late 1970s, Spain began to decentralise into seventeen autonomous regions. As a result, each region has been encouraged to foreground its own culture vis-à-vis national culture. Although associated with Spain in general, flamenco has fulfilled the role of regional identity building in Andalusia. Increasingly, the Andalusian Government has focused attention on the development of flamenco within and outside of the region. In this thesis, I explore this relationship between flamenco and regional identity in Andalusia. In doing so, I draw upon the theoretical tenets of political geography. Through scholarly exchange, I argue that political geographers and ethnomusicologists can learn much about the relationship between music and regional identity. I use flamenco as a pertinent case study of this relationship in the European context. In particular, I discuss the role that governmental institutions play in the ‘regionalisation’ (Schrijver 2006) of flamenco (that is, the institutional development of flamenco as an ‘official’ symbol of regional identity). However, I argue that at times the regionalisation process can be disputed and subverted. Accordingly, I contend that regionalism (that is, the bottom-up identification with a region) in Andalusia is a fragmented concept. By examining the contexts, the discourses and the styles associated with flamenco, I present alternative readings of regionalism in Andalusia. Drawing upon virtual ethnography and traditional ethnography in Granada, I examine the reception and the production of flamenco at a local level as well as at a regional level. Arguably, some flamenco scholars present a somewhat rigid understanding of the relationship between flamenco and regional identity. By offering different readings of regionalism through flamenco, I reveal the complex and contested relationship between flamenco and identity in southern Spain

The Relationship between the Aging- and Photo-Dependent T414G Mitochondrial DNA Mutation with Cellular Senescence and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Cultured Skin Fibroblasts

Mutations in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) are thought to be one of the causes of age-dependent cellular decline through their detrimental effects on respiration or reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, for many mutations, this link has not been clearly established. This study aimed to further investigate the phenotypic importance of a T414G mutation within the control region of mtDNA, previously shown to accumulate in both chronologically and photoaged human skin. We demonstrate that during dermal skin fibroblast replication in vitro in five separate cultures obtained from elderly individuals, the T414G mutant load can either increase or decrease during progressive cell division, implying the absence of consistent selection against the mutation in this context. In support of this, by utilizing a cell-sorting approach, we demonstrate that the level of the T414G mutation does not directly correlate with increased or decreased mtDNA copy number, or markers of cellular ageing including lipofuscin accumulation or ROS production. By consequence, the mutation can be distributed with a bias towards either the proliferating or senescent cell populations depending on the cell line. In conclusion, we propose that this particular mutation may have little effect on ROS production and the onset of cellular senescence in cultured fibroblasts

Tea, talk and technology: patient and public involvement to improve connected health ‘wearables’ research in dementia

Plain English summary There are a growing number of mobile phones, watches and electronic devices which can be worn on the body to track aspects of health and well-being, such as daily steps, sleep and exercise. Dementia researchers think that these devices could potentially be used as part of future research projects, for example to help spot changes in daily activity that may signal the early symptoms of dementia. We asked a range of older people, including people living with dementia and their carers, to participate in interactive discussions about how future participants might find using these devices as part of research projects. We also invited volunteers to borrow a range of devices to test at home, giving them further insights. Discussions revealed that people were generally supportive of this type of research, provided they gave informed consent and that devices were discreet, comfortable and easy to use. They also valued technical support and regular feedback on study progress to encourage ongoing participation. These findings were used to develop a pool of devices for researchers, with computer software and written guidance to help plan, design and support studies. Our work shows that when given the right opportunities, people who are affected by dementia can provide valuable insights that can enhance the design, delivery and quality of future research. Abstract Background Increasingly, researchers are recognising the potential for connected health devices, including smartphones and smartwatches, to generate high resolution data about patterns of daily activity and health outcomes. One aim of the Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) project is to provide researchers with a secure means to collect, collate and link data generated by such devices, thereby accelerating this type of research in the field of dementia. We aimed to involve members of the public in discussions about the acceptability and feasibility of different devices and research designs to inform the development of a device pool, software platform and written guidance to support future studies. Methods Over 30 people attended a series of interactive workshops, drop-in sessions and meetings in Greater Manchester. This included people living with dementia and cognitive impairments, carers and people without memory problems. Discussions were tailored to suit different audiences and focused on the feasibility and acceptability of a range of different wearable devices and research designs. We also invited volunteers to borrow a device to test at home, enabling further insights from hands-on interactions with devices. Results Discussions revealed that people were supportive of connected health dementia research in principle, provided they gave informed consent and that devices were discreet, comfortable and easy to use. Moreover, they recommended technical support and regular feedback on study progress to encourage ongoing participation. Conclusion By using a range of discussion-based and practical activities, we found it was feasible to involve people affected by dementia and use their insights to shape the development of a software platform and device pool to support future connected health dementia research. We recommend that researchers planning such studies in future pay adequate attention to designing suitable participant information, technical support and mechanisms of providing study progress updates to support sustained engagement from participants