The Fractured Memory of a Mind’s Eye

The work I create is informed by questioning reality/identity, the fractalizing planes of existence our essence occupies, and the artifacts of memory experience navigating through space time. While existing in this realm of oversaturated media and neon glow, I question the effects of pervasive data systems overloading or programming the mental software we possess. My work includes humor as a means of exploring these conventions while also displaying psychedelic surrealist imagery to help break away from the conscious prison this existence births our concept apparatuses within

CircumArctic Collaboration to Monitor Caribou and Wild Reindeer

 Caribou and wild reindeer (Rangifer) are integral to ecology and Aboriginal lives and culture in circumArctic regions. Since reaching peak size in the 1990s, most herds have been declining, while their ranges are changing as the footprint of people’s activities expands and the climate warms. More than ever, then, people need to share information and experience on Rangifer management and conservation. In recognition of this need for a circumArctic approach to monitoring, the CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment (CARMA) network, a relatively informal group of scientists, community representatives, and management agencies, was established in 2004. CARMA emphasizes collaborating and sharing information on migratory tundra Rangifer and developing tools to deal with the impacts of global changes on these herds.   Le caribou et le renne sauvage (Rangifer) jouent un rôle intégrant dans la vie et la culture autochtones des régions circumarctiques ainsi que dans l’écologie de ces régions. Depuis que la taille des troupeaux a atteint son summum dans les années 1990, la taille de la plupart des troupeaux diminue et leur parcours naturel se modifie en raison de l’expansion des activités humaines et du réchauffement climatique. C’est pourquoi plus que jamais auparavant, il est important de partager information et expérience au sujet de la gestion et de la conservation du Rangifer. Dans cette optique, un réseau de surveillance circumarctique a été établi en 2004, soit le réseau CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment (CARMA), dirigé par un groupe relativement informel de scientifiques, de représentants de la communauté et d’organismes de gestion. Le réseau CARMA met l’accent sur la collaboration et le partage d’information concernant le Rangifer migrateur de la toundra ainsi que sur la mise au point d’outils pouvant faire face aux incidences des changements planétaires qui ont un effet sur ces troupeaux

Is disclosing an autism spectrum disorder in school associated with reduced stigmatization?

This is the final version. Available on open access from SAGE Publications via the DOI in this recordDisclosing an autism diagnosis is associated with reduced stigmatization for autistic adults. However, it is unknown whether this is true for autistic adolescents. We used a vignette-and-questionnaire design to study stigmatizing attitudes with adolescents (aged 11- 12 and 14-16 years, total N=250) in a UK school. We investigated the effect of disclosing that a fictional adolescent was autistic on stigmatizing attitudes of peers by testing the effect of disclosure on the social and emotional distance pupils wanted to maintain from the autistic adolescent and their assessment of the adolescent’s responsibility for their own behaviour. Moderation of effects by gender and age-group were analysed. Disclosing autism made no improvement to the social and emotional distance peers wanted to maintain from the autistic adolescent, but was associated with significant reduction in personal responsibility attributed to the adolescent’s behaviour. Boys attributed more personal responsibility to the autistic adolescent than girls, but this gender effect was reduced when autism was disclosed. These findings suggest that disclosing autism to other pupils may be of limited use in reducing stigmatization by peers in UK schools.Wellcome Trus

Selection bias on intellectual ability in autism research: a cross-sectional review and meta-analysis

This is the final version. Available from BMC via the DOI in this record.Background Current global estimates suggest the proportion of the population with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have intellectual disability (ID) is approximately 50%. Our objective was to ascertain the existence of selection bias due to under-inclusion of populations with ID across all fields of autism research. A sub-goal was to evaluate inconsistencies in reporting of findings. Methods This review covers all original research published in 2016 in autism-specific journals with an impact factor greater than 3. Across 301 included studies, 100,245 participants had ASD. A random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the proportion of participants without ID. Selection bias was defined as where more than 75% of participants did not have ID. Results Meta-analysis estimated 94% of all participants identified as being on the autism spectrum in the studies reviewed did not have ID (95% CI 0.91–0.97). Eight out of ten studies demonstrated selection bias against participants with ID. The reporting of participant characteristics was generally poor: information about participants’ intellectual ability was absent in 38% of studies (n = 114). Where there was selection bias on ID, only 31% of studies mentioned lack of generalisability as a limitation. Conclusions We found selection bias against ID throughout all fields of autism research. We recommend transparent reporting about ID and strategies for inclusion for this much marginalised group.Wellcome Trus

Alterations of mononuclear phagocyte function induced by Lewis lung carcinoma in C57BL mice.

The function of the reticulo-endothelial system in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinomas has been measured by(1) the rate of clearance of carbon particles from the circulation in vivo and calculation of the phagocytic index K; (2) chemotactic locomotion of macrophages in vitro in the presence or absence of serum or tumour supernate. The ability of the bone marrow to develop macrophage colonies in vitro in the presence or absence of sera from tumour-bearing mice has also been tested. A clear depression of macrophage locomotion and macrophage colony formation in vitro was found in the presence of sera or tumour supernates from tumour-bearing mice as early as 24 to 72 h after tumour inoculation. Similarly, tumour-bearing mice showed marked depression of carbon clearance in tests repeated throughout the first 72 h after tumour inoculation. This early depression of macrophage function may be an important step in allowing escape of tumour cells from host resistance

Seasonal concentrations of cesium-137 in rumen content, skeletal muscles and feces of caribou from the Porcupine herd: lichen ingestion rates and implications for human consumption

The Porcupine caribou herd was monitored for cesium-137 during 1987 to address human health concerns over potential meat contamination by radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident, and to determine lichen intake rates based on body burdens of radiocesium. A total of 36 caribou were collected from northwestern Alaska and the Yukon Territories in March, June, September, and November. Mean radiocesium concentrations in skeletal muscle peaked in March at 133 Bq/kg fresh weight. This value should not prove hazardous to human health. Radiocesium concentrations in skeletal muscle (wet weight) ranged from approximately 22 to 50% of radiocesium concentrations in rumen contents (dry weight), and from approximately 15 to 37% of radiocesium concentrations in feces (dry weight). Radioactivity in feces was significantly correlated with radioactivity in rumen contents. Computer simulations relating lichen intake rates to radiocesium body burdens are presented for 3 scenarios: (1) when seasonal intakes were adjusted to provide the optimum fit between simulated and observed radiocesium body burdens (2) when seasonal intakes were based on empirical data, and (3) when seasonal intakes were adjusted to yield a "conventional" radiocesium curve of a slow fall build-up prior to a late winter plateau