J. A. Hobson and the machinery question

AbstractThe effects of industrialization on British life were the subject of a broad and intelligible set of debates during the early nineteenth century, often described as the “machinery question.” This question, concerning what today is called “technology,” was framed to include its effects on the whole of human life—an approach rarely seen by the late nineteenth century, a period marked instead by disciplinary specialization. An exception to this trend can be found in the work of the social critic and heterodox economist J. A. Hobson (1858–1940), better known for his critique of imperialism. From the 1890s, Hobson reopened the machinery question by offering anethicalanalysis of mechanization which was both holistic and sustained. In addition to proposing this new lens for viewing Hobson, this article explores the challenges—as well as the opportunities—facing those returning to the machinery question more generally.The research for this article was supported at different times by the AHRC and the Leverhulme Trust.This is the accepted author manuscript. The final published version is available at http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0021937115000088

Unidirectional relationship between heroin self-administration and impulsive decision-making in rats

Rationale: There is growing clinical evidence for a strong relationship between drug addiction and impulsivity. However, it is not fully clear whether impulsivity is a pre-existing trait or a consequence of drug abuse. Recent observations in the animal models show that pre-existing levels of impulsivity predict cocaine and nicotine seeking. Whether such relationships also exist with respect to non-stimulant drugs is largely unknown. Objective: We studied the relationship between impulsive choice and vulnerability to heroin taking and seeking. Materials and methods: Rats were selected in the delayed reward task based on individual differences in impulsive choice. Subsequently, heroin intravenous self-administration behaviour was analysed, including acquisition of heroin intake, motivation, extinction and drug- and cue-induced reinstatement. Throughout the entire experiment, changes in impulsive choice were monitored weekly. Results and discussion: High impulsivity did not predict measures of heroin taking. Moreover, high impulsive rats did not differ from low impulsive rats in extinction rates or heroin- and cue-induced reinstatement. However, both groups became more impulsive as heroin self-administration continued. During abstinence, impulsivity levels returned towards baseline (pre-heroin) levels. Our results indicate that, in contrast to psychostimulants, impulsive choice does not predict vulnerability to heroin seeking and taking. Conclusion: These data implicate that different neural mechanisms may underlie the vulnerability to opiate and psychostimulant dependence. Moreover, our data suggest that elevated impulsivity levels as observed in heroin-dependent subjects are a consequence of heroin intake rather than a pre-existing vulnerability trait. © 2011 The Author(s)

Crystal and melt inclusion timescales reveal the evolution of magma migration before eruption

Volatile element concentrations measured in melt inclusions are a key tool used to understand magma migration and degassing, although their original values may be affected by different re-equilibration processes. Additionally, the inclusion-bearing crystals can have a wide range of origins and ages, further complicating the interpretation of magmatic processes. To clarify some of these issues, here we combined olivine diffusion chronometry and melt inclusion data from the 2008 eruption of Llaima volcano (Chile). We found that magma intrusion occurred about 4 years before the eruption at a minimum depth of approximately 8 km. Magma migration and reaction became shallower with time, and about 6 months before the eruption magma reached 3–4 km depth. This can be linked to reported seismicity and ash emissions. Although some ambiguities of interpretation still remain, crystal zoning and melt inclusion studies allow a more complete understanding of magma ascent, degassing, and volcano monitoring data.NRF (Natl Research Foundation, S’pore)MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Published versio

Parasite stress and pathogen avoidance relate to distinct dimensions of political ideology across 30 nations

People who are more avoidant of pathogens are more politically conservative, as are nations with greater parasite stress. In the current research, we test two prominent hypotheses that have been proposed as explanations for these relationships. The first, which is an intragroup account, holds that these relationships between pathogens and politics are based on motivations to adhere to local norms, which are sometimes shaped by cultural evolution to have pathogenneutralizing properties. The second, which is an intergroup account, holds that these same relationships are based on motivations to avoid contact with outgroups, who might pose greater infectious disease threats than ingroup members. Results from a study surveying 11,501 participants across 30 nations are more consistent with the intragroup account than with the intergroup account. National parasite stress relates to traditionalism (an aspect of conservatism especially related to adherence to group norms) but not to social dominance orientation (SDO; an aspect of conservatism especially related to endorsements of intergroup barriers and negativity toward ethnic and racial outgroups). Further, individual differences in pathogen-avoidance motives (i.e., disgust sensitivity) relate more strongly to traditionalism than to SDO within the 30 nations

Consumptive and non-consumptive values of wild mammals in Britain

1. Wildlife make an important contribution to the rural economy; generating jobs, income and profits from food and sporting enterprises, and contributing in less direct ways by bringing pleasure from viewing and learning. This paper reviews the literature regarding the contribution made by wildlife to the rural economy and to British society more widely. The review focuses on UK studies published in peer-reviewed journals and official web-based sources in the last 20 years. 2. Traditional activities such as deer stalking remain an important source of wealth and employment, but their overall contribution is declining relative to non-consumptive uses such as wildlife tourism. 3. Much of the literature focuses on the negative impacts of mammals on commercial activities such as agriculture and forestry, even though these impacts are relatively insignificant in economic terms at both regional and national levels. 4. Wild meat provides a niche in the contemporary food market, but, although demand is growing, growth is handicapped by a fragmented supply chain and lack of marketing. 5. In comparison with other rural resources such as farming, the contribution made by wild mammals to the rural economy appears small, even in relatively remote regions, but this may partly reflect gaps in the literature regarding their contribution via less formal markets, hobby activities, and in supporting ecosystem equilibrium