The pasts and presence of art in South Africa: Technologies, ontologies and agents

In 2015, #RhodesMustFall generated the largest student protests in South Africa since the end of apartheid, subsequently inspiring protests and acts of decolonial iconoclasm across the globe. The performances that emerged in, through and around #RhodesMustFall make it clear how analytically fruitful Alfred Gell’s notion that art is ‘a system of social action, intended to change the world rather than encode symbolic propositions about it’ can be, even when attempting to account for South Africa’s very recent history. What light can this approach shed on the region’s far longer history of artistic practices? Can we use any resulting insights to explore art’s role in the very long history of human life in the land now called South Africa? Can we find a common way of talking about ‘art’ that makes sense across South Africa’s long span of human history, whether considering engraved ochre, painted rock shelters or contemporary performance art? This collection of essays has its origins in a conference with the same title, arranged to mark the opening of the British Museum’s major temporary exhibition South Africa: the art of a nation in October 2016. The volume represents an important step in developing a framework for engaging with South Africa’s artistic traditions that begins to transcend nineteenth-century frameworks associated with colonial power

The relationship of telomere length to baseline corticosterone levels in nestlings of an altricial passerine bird in natural populations.

BackgroundEnvironmental stressors increase the secretion of glucocorticoids that in turn can shorten telomeres via oxidative damage. Modification of telomere length, as a result of adversity faced early in life, can modify an individual's phenotype. Studies in captivity have suggested a relationship between glucocorticoids and telomere length in developing individuals, however less is known about that relationship in natural populations.MethodsIn order to evaluate the effect of early environmental stressors on telomere length in natural populations, we compared baseline corticosterone (CORT) levels and telomere length in nestlings of the same age. We collected blood samples for hormone assay and telomere determination from two geographically distinct populations of the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) that differed in brood size; nestlings body mass and primary productivity. Within each population we used path analysis to evaluate the relationship between brood size, body mass, baseline CORT and telomere length.ResultsWithin each distinct population, path coefficients showed a positive relationship between brood size and baseline CORT and a strong and negative correlation between baseline CORT and telomere length. In general, nestlings that presented higher baseline CORT levels tended to present shorter telomeres. When comparing populations it was the low latitude population that presented higher levels of baseline CORT and shorter telomere length.ConclusionsTaken together our results reveal the importance of the condition experienced early in life in affecting telomere length, and the relevance of integrative studies carried out in natural conditions

Baseline and Stress-Induced Plasma Corticosterone during Long-Distance Migration in the Bar-Tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica

The specific roles of corticosterone in promotion of avian migration remain unclear even though this glucocorticosteroid is elevated in many migrating bird species. In general, glucocorticosteroids promote metabolic homeostasis and may elicit effects on feeding and locomotion. Because the migratory stages of refueling and flight are characterized by distinct behaviors and physiology, the determination of corticosterone levels during each stage should help identify potential processes in which corticosterone is involved. We measured baseline levels of corticosterone in bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica) during two distinct stages of migration: (1) immediately after arrival at a false stopover site just short of theWadden Sea and (2) throughout the subsequent 4-wk refueling period on the Wadden Sea. Plasma corticosterone was higher in arriving than in refueling birds. In addition, corticosterone increased with size-corrected body mass during the refueling phase, suggesting that corticosterone rises as birds prepare to reinitiate flight. Therefore, elevated corticosterone appears associated with migratory flight and may participate in processes characterizing this stage. We also performed a capture stress protocol in all birds and found that corticosterone increased in both arriving and refueling godwits. Therefore, the normal course of migration may be typified by corticosterone concentrations that are lower than those associated with stressful and life-threatening episodes.

A Goal Systemic Analysis of Cognitive Dissonance Phenomena

Cognitive dissonance phenomena were examined from a perspective of goal systems theory (Kruglanski, Shah, Fishbach, Friedman, Chun, & Sleeth-Keppler, 2002). The goal-systemic analysis challenges revisions to Festinger's (1957) original formulation that narrow the scope of dissonance theory by asserting the necessity of cognitive contents specifically related to the self-concept (Aronson, 1992; Cooper & Fazio, 1984; Steele, 1988) for dissonance arousal. The goal-systemic analysis, however, attempts to go beyond the original formulation (Festinger, 1957) in identifying the critical inconsistency in dissonance arousal as occurring between a goal representation and any information that conveys frustration of the goal. Hence, goal activation patterns are assumed to play a critical role in dissonance phenomena. To the extent that one is actively committed to a goal, hindrances arouse dissonance while inhibition of that goal decreases the degree of dissonance arousal. Two experiments were conducted to put these notions to an empirical test. Experiment 1 examined the role of goal activation patterns in cognitive dissonance phenomena through the employment of a priming procedure. In a study conducted within the induced compliance paradigm participants generated counterattitudinal arguments. This experiment demonstrated that priming participants with the goal of honesty increased dissonance induced attitude change, while dissonance effects were attenuated by priming a competing goal (i.e. compliance). Direct evidence was not found, however, that this effect was mediated by the degree of active commitment to the honesty goal. Experiment 2 tested the assumption that the implication of the self-concept and free choice are necessary for dissonance phenomena to occur. In the free choice paradigm dissonance effects were obtained, as evidenced by the spreading of alternatives effect, in the absence of choice when participants were primed with a goal not related to the self-concept. This effect, however, was primarily driven by the upgrading of the received alternative without evidence of the downgrading of the not received alternative. Further implications for cognitive dissonance theory are briefly discussed

Seasonal, Age, and Sex Differences in Weight, Fat Reserves, and Plasma Corticosterone in Western Sandpipers

Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) were followed throughout their annual cycle along the Pacific Coast of North America. Changes in body condition and corticosterone were tracked at two overwintering sites (Ensenada, Mexico, and San Diego, California), four migration stopover sites (Bodega Bay, California, Grays Harbor and False Bay, Washington, and Hartney Bay, Alaska), and a breeding site (Nome, Alaska). Adult males and females had elevated weight and fat scores during spring migration, breeding, and autumn migration relative to lean levels during winter. Although elevated mass and fat reserves may hinder escape from predators and are not necessary at wintering sites with benign conditions, the cost-benefit trade-offs with weight and agility shift during migration and breeding. Extra fat and muscle are necessary for fueling the long flight to and from the breeding grounds and serve as a hedge against unpredictable food and weather conditions on the breeding grounds. First-year birds weighed less and had lower fat reserves at smaller stopover sites than migrants at a large stopover site. Plasma levels of corticosterone revealed seasonal differences in the adrenocortical response to stress, although initial levels were fairly consistent across seasons. The highest stress response of the annual cycle in males was during autumn migration, in contrast to the lowest levels during early spring migration, breeding, and overwintering. Late-spring migrants and autumn premigrants had intermediate stress responses. An emerging pattern from this and other shorebird studies is that migrants with imminent flights of more than 1000 km have elevated corticosterone levels

Defining the Degree of Seasonality and its Significance for Future Research

Seasonality describes cyclic and largely predictable fluctuations in the environment. Such variations in day length, temperature, rainfall, and resource availability are ubiquitous and can exert strong selection pressure on organisms to adapt to seasonal environments. However, seasonal variations exhibit large scale geographical divergences caused by a whole suite of factors such as solar radiation, ocean currents, extent of continents, and topography. Realizing these contributions in driving patterns of overall seasonality may help advance our understanding of the kinds of evolutionary adaptations we should expect at a global scale. Here, we introduce a new concept and provide the data describing the overall degree of seasonality, based on its two major components—amplitude and predictability. Using global terrestrial datasets on temperature, precipitation and primary productivity, we show that these important seasonal factors exhibit strong differences in their spatial patterns with notable asymmetries between the southern and the northern hemisphere. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that seasonality is highly diverse across latitudes as well as longitudinal gradients. This indicates that using a direct measure of seasonality and its components, amplitude and predictability, may yield a better understanding of how organisms are adapted to seasonal environments and provide support for predictions on the consequences of rapid environmental change

USNA Classroom Utilization Study - Final Report - Analysis of Issues Affecting Classroom Utilization at the United States Naval Academy

EMBA Project ReportEXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Demand on Naval Academy facilities has increased due to sustained growth in the Academy’s academic programs in new areas such as cyber studies, language and cultural studies, and increased emphasis on conferring Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) degrees. In addition, the pedagogical requirements of training the Brigade of Midshipmen in all aspects of their mental, moral and physical development has evolved significantly over the years; requiring new types of teaching, learning spaces and processes that have had significant impact on the usage of classrooms and laboratories at the Academy. This pedagogy has been formalized into a series of processes and regimens that we identify as constraints in this study. These constraints act collectively to define the actual utilization of every facility at the Naval Academy. In addition, they form the basis for almost all of the business rules used by the Academic Dean’s office in their mission of facilitating the mental development of the Brigade, and ultimately become the drivers for new facilities requirements. Despite the restrictive nature of these constraints, the Naval Academy has performed above the national average in its utilization of its classrooms, and as of the fall 2010 semester, has achieved a current classroom average utilization rate of 74%. While this is noteworthy, we believe that by making a few minor adjustments which would not represent a significant departure from its cultural norms, the Academy can utilize its existing classrooms at an even higher level. In this study, we present the constraints pertaining to classroom utilization in five categories; Physical, Student Body, Faculty, Traditional and Technology. We briefly examine each constraint and qualitatively explain its impact on facilities utilization. We recognize that constraints are a reality of doing business and that especially in circumstances such as at the Naval Academy they are even highly desired, valued and part of the cultural heart of the institution. However, we present a series of recommendations that encourage new examinations of the constraints in light of the constrained facilities construction budget in the Department of the Navy and in response to the Naval Academy’s sense of urgency in identifying space for the emerging curriculum requirements in Cyber Studies. We wish to highlight several of these recommendations that, in our assessment, appear to be palatable and executable in the near future without significant disruption to the norms at the Academy; _ Reclaim a seventh daily period of instruction by shortening the noon meal period and beginning the afternoon class sessions earlier. _ Adhere more closely to the Academic Dean guidelines on appropriate sizes of classes and strictly limit the number of small classes (fewer than 16 Midshipmen) to specialized instances. _ Schedule and assign classrooms and labs at the Division level vs. independent Department-led academic scheduling. These opportunities, among others that we present in our recommendations, will have real and immediate impact on the utilization of classrooms at the Naval Academy and can be accomplished in incremental steps or in tandem. Delivering future leaders of the Navy to the Fleet on schedule and on budget is no small task and we applaud the Naval Academy leadership in their dedicated efforts. We hope that this study encourages further dialogue on how to maximize all of the academic facilities and associated resources that are currently available to meet these demands.For Mr. Robert C. Parsons, Chief Financial Officer, USNAhttp://archive.org/details/usnaclassroomuti10945706