674 research outputs found
Evidence for variable selective pressures at MC1R
It is widely assumed that genes that influence variation in skin and hair pigmentation are under selection. To date,the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is the only gene identified that explains substantial phenotypic variance inhuman pigmentation. Here we investigate MC1R polymorphism in several populations, for evidence of selection.We conclude that MC1R is under strong functional constraint in Africa, where any diversion from eumelanin production (black pigmentation) appears to be evolutionarily deleterious. Although many of the MC1R amino acid variants observed in non-African populations do affect MC1R function and contribute to high levels of MC1R diversity in Europeans, we found no evidence, in either the magnitude or the patterns of diversity, for its enhancement by selection; rather, our analyses show that levels of MC1R polymorphism simply reflect neutral expectations underrelaxation of strong functional constraint outside Africa
Developing poetry as a research methodology with rarer forms of dementia: Four research protocols
People living with rarer forms of dementia tend to have progressive cognitive symptoms affecting skills other than memory and/ or onset before the age of 65 years. They are often misdiagnosed and due to symptom profile or age of onset, do not usually fit well with care pathways designed for older people with typical Alzheimerâs disease or vascular dementia. Although the arts have been increasingly used as interventions to support people with dementia, there is very little attention given to rarer dementia forms in arts and health research or practice. The objective of the present international study seeks to systematically explore four diverse forms of poetry writing within this population through virtual and in-person small and large group formats. Our approach includes investigating poetic processes as methodology through the lens of an arts-based methodological approach in order to explore how poems construct knowledge and a felt experience. We will also use more traditional qualitative approaches to understand the experience of writing, reading and listening to poetry as an intervention that can be used with different rarer forms of dementia. To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study to explore poetry using multiple research protocols. The results will have implications for methodology development, co-constructed poetic inquiry and multiple opportunities for involving poetry in supporting people with dementia and family members
Choreography, controversy and child sex abuse: Theoretical reflections on a cultural criminological analysis of dance in a pop music video
This article was inspired by the controversy over claims of âpedophilia!!!!â undertones and the âtriggeringâ of memories of childhood sexual abuse in some viewers by the dance performance featured in the music video for Siaâs âElastic Heartâ (2015). The case is presented for acknowledging the hidden and/or overlooked presence of dance in social scientific theory and cultural studies and how these can enhance and advance cultural criminological research. Examples of how these insights have been used within other disciplinary frameworks to analyse and address child sex crime and sexual trauma are provided, and the argument is made that popular cultural texts such as dance in pop music videos should be regarded as significant in analysing and tracing public perceptions and epistemologies of crimes such as child sex abuse
Beyond altruism: British football and charity, 1877-1914
Football charity matches and tournaments played a significant part in the development of the sport in Britain, overlapping the era of friendly games and the advent of competitive leagues. The football community prided itself on its contributions to charity, raising more money than any other sport before 1914, and stakeholders within the game – associations, clubs, players and patrons – gained considerable kudos for this perceived altruism. However, this paper will demonstrate that amounts donated, though welcome, were relatively minor sources of revenue for both institutions and individuals, and that the charity match became less important to clubs in a professional, and increasingly commercial, era
The Future of Our Seas: Marine scientists and creative professionals collaborate for science communication
To increase awareness of the current challenges facing the marine environment,
the Future of Our Seas (FOOS) project brought together the expertise of
scientists, public engagement experts and creatives to train and support a
group of marine scientists in effective science communication and innovative
public engagement. This case study aims to inspire scientists and artists to
use the FOOS approach in training, activity design and development support
(hereafter called the âFOOS programmeâ) to collaboratively deliver novel
and creative engagement activities. The authors reflect on the experiences
of the marine scientists: (1) attending the FOOS communication and
engagement training; (2) creating and delivering public engagement activities;
(3) understanding our audience; and (4) collaborating with artists. The authors
also share what the artists and audiences learned from participating in the
FOOS public engagement activities. These different perspectives provide new
insights for the field with respect to designing collaborative training which
maximizes the impact of the training on participants, creative collaborators and
the public. Long-term benefits of taking part in the FOOS programme, such as
initiating future collaborative engagement activities and positively impacting
the scientistsâ research processes, are also highlighted
The Reform of Employee Compensation in Chinaâs Industrial Enterprises
Although employee compensation reform in Chinese industrial sector has been discussed in the literature, the real changes in compensation system and pay practices have received insufficient attention and warrant further examination. This paper briefly reviews the pre- and post-reform compensation system, and reports the results of a survey of pay practices in the four major types of industrial enterprises in China. The research findings indicate that the type of enterprise ownership has little influence on general compensation practices, adoption of profit-sharing plans, and subsidy and allowance packages. In general, pay is linked more to individual performance and has become an important incentive to Chinese employees. However, differences are found across the enterprise types with regard to performance-related pay. Current pay practices are positively correlated to overall effectiveness of the enterprise
Preparatory planning framework for Created Out of Mind: Shaping perceptions of dementia through art and science [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
Created Out of Mind is an interdisciplinary project, comprised of individuals from arts, social sciences, music, biomedical sciences, humanities and operational disciplines. Collaboratively we are working to shape perceptions of dementias through the arts and sciences, from a position within the Wellcome Collection. The Collection is a public building, above objects and archives, with a porous relationship between research, museum artefacts, and the public. This pre-planning framework will act as an introduction to Created Out of Mind. The framework explains the rationale and aims of the project, outlines our focus for the project, and explores a number of challenges we have encountered by virtue of working in this way
Fermi-LAT Study of Gamma-ray Emission in the Direction of Supernova Remnant W49B
We present an analysis of the gamma-ray data obtained with the Large Area
Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in the direction of
SNR W49B (G43.3-0.2). A bright unresolved gamma-ray source detected at a
significance of 38 sigma is found to coincide with SNR W49B. The energy
spectrum in the 0.2-200 GeV range gradually steepens toward high energies. The
luminosity is estimated to be 1.5x10^{36} (D/8 kpc)^2 erg s^-1 in this energy
range. There is no indication that the gamma-ray emission comes from a pulsar.
Assuming that the SNR shell is the site of gamma-ray production, the observed
spectrum can be explained either by the decay of neutral pi mesons produced
through the proton-proton collisions or by electron bremsstrahlung. The
calculated energy density of relativistic particles responsible for the LAT
flux is estimated to be remarkably large, U_{e,p}>10^4 eV cm^-3, for either
gamma-ray production mechanism.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure
GLAST: Understanding the High Energy Gamma-Ray Sky
We discuss the ability of the GLAST Large Area Telescope (LAT) to identify,
resolve, and study the high energy gamma-ray sky. Compared to previous
instruments the telescope will have greatly improved sensitivity and ability to
localize gamma-ray point sources. The ability to resolve the location and
identity of EGRET unidentified sources is described. We summarize the current
knowledge of the high energy gamma-ray sky and discuss the astrophysics of
known and some prospective classes of gamma-ray emitters. In addition, we also
describe the potential of GLAST to resolve old puzzles and to discover new
classes of sources.Comment: To appear in Cosmic Gamma Ray Sources, Kluwer ASSL Series, Edited by
K.S. Cheng and G.E. Romer
Fermi LAT Search for Photon Lines from 30 to 200 GeV and Dark Matter Implications
Dark matter (DM) particle annihilation or decay can produce monochromatic
-rays readily distinguishable from astrophysical sources. -ray
line limits from 30 GeV to 200 GeV obtained from 11 months of Fermi Large Area
Space Telescope data from 20-300 GeV are presented using a selection based on
requirements for a -ray line analysis, and integrated over most of the
sky. We obtain -ray line flux upper limits in the range , and give corresponding DM annihilation
cross-section and decay lifetime limits. Theoretical implications are briefly
discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication by The Physical Review
Letter
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