Informal Education as Freedom

IntroductionAusterity policies have failed to recognise and account for the value of youth and community work. Against a backdrop of excessive cuts since the 2008 financial crash, youth services have been disproportionately affected, with a growing emphasis on measurement, outcomes and, ultimately, performativity (de St Croix, 2018, Youdell and McGimpsey, 2015). In their recent research project, Louise Doherty and Tania de St Croix have highlighted tensions in measuring and evaluating youth work, and argue that the way practice is recognised and valued by young people and youth workers is disconnected from the way it is measured, monitored and evaluated. They argue that, rather than seeking to ‘measure’ practice, a grassroots democratic approach to accountability would attempt to create the conditions in which high quality practice can be nurtured and developed' (Doherty, 2019)

The Effects Of Trivalent Arsenicals And Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitors On Selenium Metabolism In Lung Cell Culture Models

Arsenic exposure, through various routes, is associated with the development of cancer of the skin, lung, liver, kidney, and bladder. Treatment of cells in culture with trivalent arsenicals has been shown to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS). In particular, monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII), a trivalent metabolite of arsenite, is highly cytotoxic and possibly carcinogenic. Three trivalent arsenicals; arsenite, arsenic trioxide (ATO), and MMAIII, are also known inhibitors of the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Selenium, an essential micronutrient in mammals, is needed in the form of selenocysteine for activity of this enzyme and other selenoproteins. TrxR is part of a key component of the cell\u27s ability to defend against ROS. It has been speculated that TrxR is also involved directly in selenium metabolism, but this has yet to be demonstrated in vivo. The promoter region of the gene encoding the cytosolic TrxR (TrxR1) also contains an antioxidant responsive element (ARE). The ARE is activated by the transcription factor, Nrf2, which is governed by the Nrf2/Keap1 response, and can be triggered by certain oxidants. ATO and arsenite both inhibited incorporation of selenium into selenoproteins. Auranofin, a gold chemotherapeutic inhibitor of TrxR1, also inhibited selenoprotein synthesis. These results seem to support the hypothesis that TrxR1 is needed for selenoprotein synthesis. However, siRNA mediated reduction of TrxR1 did not block incorporation of selenium into selenoproteins. It is likely that ATO and auranofin are forming As-Se and Au-Se complexes, respectively. We also found that exposure of primary lung fibroblasts (WI-38) to MMAIII led to increased synthesis of TrxR1. This increase was dependent on the activation of transcription of the TrxR1 gene, specifically mediated through the ARE element. These results indicate exposure to MMAIII induces the Nrf2 response. The results obtained in these studies aid in both our understanding of the carcinogenic potential of arsenic as well as give new insight into the mechanism of action of emerging cancer drugs

Species-specific responses to landscape features shaped genomic structure within Alaska galliformes

Aim: Connectivity is vital to the resiliency of populations to environmental change and stochastic events, especially for cold-adapted species as Arctic and alpine tundra habitats retract as the climate warms. We examined the influence of past and current landscapes on genomic connectivity in cold-adapted galliformes as a critical first step to assess the vulnerability of Alaska ptarmigan and grouse to environmental change. We hypothesize that the mosaic of physical features and habitat within Alaska promoted the formation of genetic structure across species. Location: Alaska, United States of America. Taxa: Ptarmigan and Grouse (Galliformes: Tetraoninae). Methods: We collected double digest restriction-site- associated DNA sequence data from six ptarmigan and grouse species (N = 13–145/ species) sampled across multiple ecosystems up to ~10 degrees of latitude. Spatial genomic structure was analysed using methods that reflect different temporal scales: (1) principal components analysis to identify major trends in the distribution of genomic variation; (2) maximum likelihood clustering analyses to test for the presence of multiple genomic groupings; (3) shared co-ancestry analyses to assess contemporary relationships and (4) effective migration surfaces to identify regions that deviate from a null model of isolation by distance. Results: Levels of genomic structure varied across species (ΦST =0.009–0.042). Three general patterns of structure emerged: (1) east-west partition located near the Yukon-Tanana uplands; (2) north-south split coinciding with the Alaska Range and (3) northern group near the Brooks Range. Species-specific patterns were observed; not all landscape features were barriers to gene flow for all ptarmigan and grouse and temporal contrasts were detected at the Brooks Range. Main conclusions: Within Alaska galliformes, patterns of genomic structure coincide with physiographic features and highlight the importance of physical and ecological barriers in shaping how genomic diversity is arrayed across the landscape. Lack of concordance in spatial patterns indicates that species behaviour and habitat affinities play key roles in driving the contrasting patterns of genomic structure

L'hypnose : une nouvelle avenue à considérer pour les professionnels de la réadaptation

"La douleur est un phénomène présent pour un grand nombre de personnes vues en ergothérapie (Hesselstrand, Samuelsson et Liedberg, 2015). Malgré les outils présentement à notre disposition, la gestion de la douleur chronique reste un défi majeur pour les ergothérapeutes et autres professionnels de la santé. Dans d’autres domaines, les professionnels utilisent une modalité de traitement qui est encore peu connue de notre profession. Saviez-vous qu’une méta-analyse a permis de conclure que l’utilisation de l’hypnose est une technique de gestion de la douleur efficace (Montgomery, DuHamel et Redd, 2000)?" [...].

Phylogenomics reveals ancient and contemporary gene flow contributing to the evolutionary history of sea ducks (Tribe Mergini)

Insight into complex evolutionary histories continues to build through broad comparative phylogenomic and population genomic studies. In particular, there is a need to understand the extent and scale that gene flow contributes to standing genomic diversity and the role introgression has played in evolutionary processes such as hybrid speciation. Here, we investigate the evolutionary history of the Mergini tribe (sea ducks) by coupling multi-species comparisons with phylogenomic analyses of thousands of nuclear ddRAD-seq loci, including Z-sex chromosome and autosomal linked loci, and the mitogenome assayed across all extant sea duck species in North America. All sea duck species are strongly structured across all sampled marker types (pair-wise species ΦST \u3e 0.2), with clear genetic assignments of individuals to their respective species, and phylogenetic relationships recapitulate known relationships. Despite strong species integrity, we identify at least 18 putative hybrids; with all but one being late generational backcrosses. Most interesting, we provide the first evidence that an ancestral gene flow event between long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) and true Eiders (Somateria spp.) not only moved genetic material into the former species, but likely generated a novel species — the Steller’s eider (Polysticta stelleri) — via hybrid speciation. Despite generally low contemporary levels of gene flow, we conclude that hybridization has and continues to be an important process that shifts novel genetic variation between species within the tribe Mergini. Finally, we outline methods that permit researchers to contrast genomic patterns of contemporary versus ancestral gene flow when attempting to reconstruct potentially complex evolutionary histories

Squirrel Monkeys’ Response to Inequitable Outcomes Indicates a Behavioural Convergence Within the Primates

Although several primates respond negatively to inequity, it is unknown whether this results from homology or convergent processes. Behaviours shared within a taxonomic group are often assumed to be homologous, yet this distinction is important for a better understanding of the function of the behaviour. Previous hypotheses have linked cooperation and inequity responses. Supporting this, all species in which inequity responses have been documented are cooperative. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by investigating the response to inequity in squirrel monkeys, which share a phylogenetic Family with capuchin monkeys, but do not cooperate extensively. Subjects exchanged tokens to receive food rewards in conditions in which the level of effort required and reward received varied. Squirrel monkeys did not respond negatively to inequity. However, the monkeys were sensitive to the variation present in the task; male subjects showed a contrast effect and, as in previous studies, subjects were more sensitive to differences in reward in the context of a task than when rewards were given for free. Taken with other results, these results support the hypothesis that a negative response to inequity evolved convergently in primates, probably as a mechanism for evaluating outcomes relative to one’s partners in cooperative species

Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) do not Form Expectations Based on Their Partner’s Outcomes

Several primate species form expectations based on other’s outcomes. These individuals respond negatively when their outcomes differ from their partners’. The function and evolutionary pathway of this behavior are unknown, in part because all of the species which have thus far shown the response have similar life history patterns. In particular, all share traits related to a gregarious lifestyle, intelligence, and cooperativeness. The goal of the current paper was to test whether inequity is a homology among primates or a convergence based on some other characteristic by comparing one species known to show social comparisons, the chimpanzee, to another great ape which differs on several of these life history characteristics. Using a protocol identical to one used previously with chimpanzees, we tested whether orangutans, an intelligent but predominantly solitary species with few opportunities to cooperate, responded similarly. To allow for a strong comparison with chimpanzees (and other species), we used socially housed adults of both sexes, tested with members of their social group. We find that orangutans do not respond negatively to inequity, supporting previous findings and indicating that inequity responses in apes are likely a convergence based on either sociality or cooperative tendency. These results in such closely related species highlight the need for additional comparative studies to better understand the function and evolution of social behaviors

Mechanisms Underlying the Response to Inequitable Outcomes in Chimpanzees, Pan Troglodytes

Several species of non-human primates respond negatively to inequitable outcomes, a trait shared with humans. Despite previous research, questions regarding the response to inequity remain. In this study, we replicated the methodology from previous studies to address four questions related to inequity. First, we explored the impact of basic social factors. Second, we addressed whether negative responses to inequity require a task, or exist when rewards are given for ‘free’. Third, we addressed whether differences in the experimental procedure or the level of effort required to obtain a reward affected responses. Finally, we explored the interaction between ‘individual’ expectations (based on one’s own previous experience) and ‘social’ expectations (based on the partner’s experience). These questions were investigated in 16 socially-housed adult chimpanzees using eight conditions that varied across the dimensions of reward, effort, and procedure. Subjects did respond to inequity, but only in the context of a task. Differences in procedure and level of effort required did not cause individuals to change their behavior. Males were more sensitive to social than to individual expectation, while females were more sensitive to individual expectation. Finally, subjects also increased refusals when receiving a better reward than their partner, which has not been seen previously. These results indicate that chimpanzees are more sensitive to reward inequity than procedures, and that there is interaction between social and individual expectations that depends upon social factors

Fat Tax as an alternative Tax in South Africa

South Africa, like many other countries, is struggling with raising levels of obesity and the resultant health problems. Furthermore, as elsewhere in the world, this country is experiencing an ever-increasing need for additional fiscal revenue. These problems force governments all over the world to investigate possible solutions to these issues. The aim of this study was to determine whether fat tax can be used as a tool to decrease the rising rate of obesity in South Africa and thus improve the general health of South Africans and to create additional tax revenue. Available literature was compared and critically analyzed in terms of South African conditions in order to determine whether fat tax should be considered as an alternative tax in South Africa. Cultural beliefs that see obesity as a sign of good health and prosperity, as well as the extreme poverty experienced by a large proportion of the populace are factors that make it difficult to compare the findings of studies conducted in the rest of the world to those of South African research. These are aspects that should be considered for further research. Fat tax has potential as an alternative tax in order to bring about behavioural change and create revenue; however, this should be done with careful consideration as to whether the benefits outweigh the cost of its implementation for the South African taxpayer.http://journals.cluteonline.com/index.php/IBERam2013ff201