A Comparative Study of Conviviality and Family Mealtime Experiences in Spain and the UK

This study explores experiences of conviviality and family mealtimes in 10 Spanish families and 10 families in the UK. Although there has been sociological interest in the concepts of commensality (the act of eating together) and the family meal, there is a paucity of literature that investigates the concept of conviviality (the act of enjoying eating together) in the context of domestic dining. Mealtimes are examined in Spain because rhetoric on regional food culture implies that sociable, enjoyable meals are embedded in family life. The practices of Spanish families are compared with those in the UK where paeans to Mediterranean ways of eating are disseminated through public health models and popular discourse. An ethnographic approach, using multiple methods, is adopted in order to investigate the complexities and contradictions in narratives on mealtimes, whilst creating opportunities for all family members, including children, to voice their ideas. The theoretical framework of the study employs Bourdieu’s conceptual tools of social distinction, habitus and forms of capital. This is the first known empirical study that compares familial conviviality in two cultural settings. The original research contribution lies in a number of key areas. For the first time, conviviality is conceptualised as a symbol of cultural capital and a marker of social distinction. The study emphasizes that social divergence is less apparent in Spain and devises the term cultural habitus to explicate collective, uniform practices. It outlines the tensions involved in creating a convivial meal and identifies the features of a habitus that facilitate this process. It also highlights how cross-cultural differences in children’s mealtime socialisation influence enjoyment for all family members. The study establishes, that in both countries, challenges to conviviality are perpetuated by ideals that are not always culturally accessible or do not reflect the multifaceted nature of family life. These findings make a significant contribution to the sociology of food but are also useful in the development of public health models that promote ways of eating

The interplay between attachment and resilience in adolescents with sebd

A doctoral portfolio submitted to the University of Wolverhampton for the purpose of Practitioner Doctorate: Counselling Psychology.Background: Investigations into young people with Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD), shows an enormous number of these young people, growing up in adverse circumstances, some grow into competent, sociable, productive adults, whilst others do not (Atwool; 2006; Harvey & Deifabbro, 2004). What is not as clear is what individual differences account for the way in which they handle their disadvantages and risks; what makes some young people more resilient than others; and what role (if any) does their attachment have on the way in which they manage their SEBD, when they are at school and in relation to the world in which they reside? Aim: In order to explore these questions further, two studies were designed with the aim of investigating the impact of insecure attachment in relation to the resilience on young people who were experiencing SEBD. Study 1: The twenty five participants in study 1 (the comparison group) were aged 14 to 18 years old, and came from a secondary school in the West Midlands. The comparison group participants completed the Resiliency Scale for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) (Prince-Embury, 2013). Findings: Young people in the target and comparison groups scored in the low bands for the Sense of Mastery (MAS) and Sense of Relatedness (REL) categories, the differences between them were insignificant. The Emotional Reactivity (REA) category, differed somewhat in that the target group scored comparatively higher than the comparison group. Study 2: To expand on the findings of study 1, Study 2 explored the nature of young people’s SEBD in relation to how they manage their close relationships. Study 2 consisted of eight, participants with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, from the same school as the comparison group. Participants were first asked to complete the same resiliency scale, as their peers from the comparison group. Participants then individually, took part in the Attachment Style Interview (ASI) (Biffulco 2010), which explored and captured their experiences. Findings: A detailed account of their relationships showed that the attachment style, which is derived from their ability to make and maintain relationships had an impact on how they managed their SEBD interactions with others. The presence of any insecure style co-occurred with poor support, low self-esteem and childhood adversity. Severe anxiety and anxiety and depression co-occurred with insecurity, whilst less severe anxiety although presented as insecure in attachment showed a milder level of security, when the ability to make and maintain relationships was slightly higher. Anxiety when the ability to make and maintain relationships was much higher showed a clearly secure attachment and was significantly related to positive parental relationships and positive support

Male authors outnumber their female counterparts on international relations course reading lists by more than five to one

Do scholars produce and reproduce a biased representation of the academy when compiling their taught course reading lists? Following a year-long mapping exercise of the university's entire international relations curriculum by a group of PhD students at the LSE, Gustav Meibauer, Kiran Phull and Gökhan Ciflikli found that male authors continue to significantly outnumber their female counterparts, with little discernible progress over the last two decades. Visualisations of the research data have been made available online, and the authors invite the academic community to contribute to discussions on their project, its implications, and the disciplinary and pedagogical questions it provokes

The Mediterranean diet: socio-cultural relevance for contemporary health promotion

In biomedical literature, The Mediterranean Diet describes a healthy eating model, based on epidemiological findings on the predominant eating practices in Crete and Southern Italy in the 1960s. At the time, the level of life expectancy in this region was amongst the highest worldwide and rates of cardiovascular disease were amongst the lowest. Medical research has since given increasing attention to this dietary pattern and its potential health benefits. The various components of The Mediterranean Diet are fast becoming a paradigm for healthier lifestyles as well as potential model for weight loss. In 2010 UNESCO recognised The Mediterranean Diet as an intangible cultural heritage of Italy, Spain, Greece and Morocco and the diet has moved away from a uniquely biomedical model to a cultural representation. This has led to increased recognition of the importance of social and cultural context in the dietary model, particularly the idea of conviviality, the pleasure of shared meals. It has also brought to light the debate over the cultural legitimacy of The Mediterranean Diet and its ability to represent the cultural diversity of the region. This literature review consolidates interdisciplinary perspectives on the cultural context of the Mediterranean Diet. A literature search was conducted using both biomedical and social science databases to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the article. This review explores the relevance o

A Gallium-Doped Cement for the Treatment of Bone Cancers. the Effect of ZnO ↔ Ga2O3substitution of an Ionomeric Glass Series on the Rheological, Mechanical, PH and Ion-Eluting Properties of their Corresponding Glass Polyalkenoate Cements

The primary treatment for patients suffering from bone cancers is resection of the tumor followed by reconstruction of the damaged bone. Despite the administration of post-operative chemotherapy, tumor recurrence continues to present itself as a severe complication leading to re-operation. Attempts to incorporate chemotherapeutic drugs into bone cements elicits local toxic effects on healthy bone, which could compromise implant fixation. Alternatively, the local administration of gallium (Ga) may prove to be more effective. This report considers the development of a Ga ionomeric glass series (0.48SiO2-0.355ZnO-0.06CaO-0.08SrO-0.02P2O5-0.005Ta2O5, with 0.01-0.05 mol% substitution for ZnO). X-ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed the amorphous glass structure and Energy Dispersive x-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) verified the successful addition of Ga into the glass series at the expense of Zinc (Zn). A Ga-GPC series was then formulated by mixing the glass particles with aqueous poly(acrylic) acid (PAA) and trisodium citrate (TSC). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy demonstrated no structural changes to the GPC matrix with the incorporation of Ga. Measurements of the rheological properties demonstrated an exponential increase in setting time with increasing Ga content. Furthermore, the addition of ≥ 3 mol% Ga demonstrated deleterious effects on the GPC\u27s mechanical properties and an analysis of pH confirmed that it decreased with increasing Ga content, suggesting a reduction in glass reactivity and PAA cross-linking. Finally, inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) demonstrated the controlled release of Ga across the GPC series, which will prove beneficial to future in vitro studies

The Role of Porphyromonas gingivalis Lysine Specific Protease, KGP in Hemin Transport and Pigment Accumulation

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium, is implicated as a major etiological agent in the initiation and progression of severe forms of periodontal disease. It has been reported that gingivitis and periodontal disease affect roughly 50.3% and 35% of the adult population, respectively. Therefore, approximately over 85% of the adult population may suffer from some form of gingival disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis, an established periodontopathogen, requires hemin for growth. Although multiple hemin uptake systems appear to be present in this organism, their specific role in hemin uptake and virulence remains unknown. Pigmentation is thought to result from the accumulation of iron protoporphyrin IX (FePPIX) derived from erythrocyte hemoglobin. It has been observed that mutations abolishing activity of the Lys-X specific cysteine protease, Kgp, resulted in loss of black pigmentation of P. gingivalis W83; they were less virulent than their wild-type counterparts. Thus, we have observed that Kgp degradation of fibrinogen deregulates the clotting cascade, thereby minimizing the availability of free erythrocytes. Additionally, Kgp binds erythrocytes and degrades them, releasing hemoglobin. The interference with mechanisms involved in the accumulation of black pigmentation may be significant in controlling the pathogenic potential of P. gingivalis. These results suggest that Lys-gingipain protease is a principal protein involved in acquisition of hemin from hemoglobin as well as a major factor in transport, by affecting the accumulation of FePPIX on the bacterial cell surface. Microarray analysis indicates a change in the expression of key enzymes and proteins required for hemin uptake, iron storage, electron transport and oxidative stress. Therefore, interference with mechanisms involved in accumulation of black pigmentation may be significant in controlling the pathogenic potential of P. gingivalis

Altmetric scores in Political Science are gendered - does it matter?

Altmetrics are generally seen as indicators for online engagement and attention. However, taking the field of political science as an example, Gustav Meibauer, Kiran Phull, Audrey Alejandro & Gokhan Ciflikli use altmetrics to analyse the dynamics of knowledge production in the field. Finding that altmetrics show a highly hierarchical and gendered spread of attention to work in political science, they ask how and why these metrics can be used responsibly

Hunting For: Lessons on Architecture in Cree Territory

Canada’s subarctic region of James Bay, extending from the southeastern rim of the greater Hudson’s Bay, is seated at the interface of diametrically opposed climates, cultures, geologies, and ecologies. With the European settlement of Canada came the division of its land and its First Peoples––both of which were later reassembled in order to access and unearth resource-rich territories. Despite aggressive attempts by foreign newcomers to reshape the land and its stewards, the Cree have gained an unprecedented level of political and economic prowess among all First Nations, though not without sacrifice. In Cree culture, good health and key relationships to the world are forged through the hunt. By exploring animal behaviours, sinews, muscles, and bones, this thesis navigates tensions between North and South in an effort to move toward a more responsible practice of architecture in this subarctic context. A culmination of architectural research, reflections, and actions over the course of a winter season spent residing and working in the Cree Nation of Wemindji is represented. Five hunts are contained in this work, for geese, power, ourselves, moose, and rabbits. Each hunt is an exercise in, and architectural reflection of, self-awareness

An improved wetted-wall bioaerosol sampling cyclone

A modified wetted-wall cyclone using different methods of water injection techniques upstream of the inlet was designed as an improvement to a wetted-wall cyclone developed by White, which uses liquid injection through a port on the wall of the cyclone inlet. The new cyclone has a high aerosol sampling flow rate (1250 L/min) and maintains constant cut-point with the modified White-type cyclone along with greater collection efficiency, lower time response, and reduced pressure drop. The final air-blast atomizer cyclone (AAC2.1a) design considered has an aerosol-tohydrosol collection efficiency cut-point of 1.3 mm with collection efficiencies at 1 and 2 mm of 39.9% and 86%, respectively. The efficiency reported for the modified White-type cyclone for particle sizes of 1 and 2 mm was 40.5% and 76.3%, respectively, under no water bypass conditions. The aerosol-to-aerosol transmission efficiency for the AAC2.1a configuration was found to be approximately 53.7% for 1 mm diameter particles as compared with 67.2% for the modified White-type cyclone. Dry and wet time response tests were performed in which the modified White-type cyclone had an initial response of 2.5 minutes for a wet start and 1 minute for a dry start for a condition where there was no liquid carryover through the cyclone outlet. The rise time for AAC2.1a cyclone under dry and wet start conditions was 0.5 minutes and 1.3 minutes, respectively. The decay response of the modified White-type cyclone was 1.1 minutes for a wet start and 1.2 minutes for a dry start. The corresponding numbers for AAC2.1a cyclone were 1.4 minutes for a dry start and 1 minute for a wet start condition. Off design tests were run at approximately ñ10% air flow rates to see the effect on cyclone performance. It was seen that at a 10% higher flow rate (1350 L/min) the efficiency was 54.3%. At a 10% lower flow rate (1125 L/min) the efficiency was 33.7% as compared with an efficiency of 39.9% at 1250 L/min for 1.0 mm PSL particles. It was found that at a water input of 0.8 mL/min the efficiency reduced to 79.3% as compared to 86% at an input flow rate of 1.6 mL/min for 2 mm size PSL