Marginal Men: Men with breast cancer negotiating gender

Breast cancer is a global phenomenon and each year charities and organisations encourage people to become involved with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Around 50,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed in the UK each year. This research explores how men experience being a breast cancer patient, and how these are to be understood given the positioning of breast cancer as a disease of women. Breast cancer’s pink ribbon culture is ideal for exploring the relationship between gender and illness, showing the mechanisms through which men are less able to participate in this community. Bury’s concept of biographical disruption is not applicable for men diagnosed with breast cancer, as they enter a world which is fundamentally contradictory. It is appropriate to use Park’s theory of the marginal man, a man in two cultures yet not fully assimilated into either. The marginal man has a double consciousness, occupying a privileged position. This idea of marginality follows throughout the Chicago School. Star develops marginality to include objects and events, showing standards can become rigid and produce exclusion. Marginal men are able to see beyond this rigidity. Three datasets were analysed using a discourse analytical approach. Findings showed breast cancer challenges hegemonic masculinity as men are marginalised. Gendered assumptions regarding the pink ribbon and ideas of masculinity and femininity influenced the extent to which individuals became involved with this community and how this was (not) accepted by others. The split between gender and illness resulted in people seen as their gender identity first rather than their illness identity. The awareness of breast cancer is linked to hegemonic femininity and reinforces hegemonic masculinity, as institutions construct awareness, and charities see awareness as gendered. This reproduces normative assumptions about masculinity and femininity and is firmly linked with breast cancer. Recommendations for broadening this research are suggested

The Topochemical Polymerisation of Radiation-Sensitive 10,12-Pentacosadiynoic Acid as Different Multicomponent Solid Forms

In this work, the relationship between the solid-state photoreactivity of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) and its X-ray structure has been established. The characterisation of PCDA was used to elucidate the structures of the different forms of a lithium salt of PCDA (Li-PCDA) as the single-crystal X-ray structures could not be obtained. Li-PCDA is currently used in radiochromic films due to its impressive colour change from colourless to blue upon irradiation. In addition to Li-PCDA, a lithium salt of 5,7-hexadecadiynoic acid was synthesised and displays greater photoreactivity than Li-PCDA upon UV irradiation. Additionally, a sodium salt of PCDA was crystallised and reveals the salt is outside of the topochemical postulate for reactivity and is, therefore, unreactive. Furthermore, a bismuth complex of PCDA was also synthesised, however, further work is required to fully understand the photoresponsive material. To investigate how PCDA would behave as a cocrystal with organic coformers, model compounds of short-chain n-alkyl carboxylic acids cocrystallised with dipyridyl derivatives and were synthesised in solution and by grinding to give new materials. When PCDA was combined with the same dipyridyl coformers, the resulting cocrystals do not respond to UV irradiation. Additionally, when PCDA is combined with an aliphatic bifunctional compound, similar in structure to the bipyridyl coformers, a PCDA cocrystal salt is formed that is also unreactive to radiation. Further PCDA cocrystal salts are synthesised when combined with aliphatic monofunctional coformers that produce a range of colourful powders before and after UV exposure. The enhanced reactivity of the monofunctional cocrystal salts is reinforced by the X-ray structures which confirm that the structures adhere to the topochemical postulate, further emphasising the importance of the criteria to predict the photopolymerisation of diacetylene systems. These photosensitive materials contribute to the improvement of radiochromic materials, such as dosimetric films

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF USERS OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS INFORMATION: PROCEDURES AND RESULTS

This survey of 100 economic analysts in agriculture, outside of government and academia, assesses the changing public-private balance in information services in agriculture. Its objectives were to: (1)contact front-line private-sector analysts who handle economic issues in agriculture and ask them about the data and information they most value and why, (2) experiment with measurement instruments to segment and describe information attributes that users value; and (3) assess the interest of front-line analysts in the changing public- private balance in information provision. The results provide a list of information services used by analysts, descriptive responses on attributes that contribute to value-added, and statistical analysis relating respondent characteristics to the use of information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

The Art of Community: Creativity at the Crossroads of Immigrant Cultures and Social Services

These are case studies that give credance to the belief that respect for one's own artistic traditions is critical to the acculturation process. The essays contained here offer clear and shining examples of how paying attention to culture and creativity can build self-confidence, nurture a productive and valuable citizenry, and even save a life. Through these stories, we begin to see that encouraging the practice of cultural traditions and participation in arts activities will help newcomers spread their wings and fly

Challenging the Positionality of Western Mainstream English Through the Implementation of Communication Action Statements

Communication is the most powerful tool we have to challenge the plague of invisibility impacting our Indigenous communities. As we continue to challenge the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives touted by our institutions, we need to move beyond mission statements to motion, i.e., action required for meaningful transformation to take place (Qassataq, Iñupiaq, 2022). To call attention to and name the silencing of language and knowledge systems outside of western mainstream english (WME), the present paper proposes the concept of Communication Action Statements (CAS). Based on place and space, CASs recognize, label, and affirm the negative effects of WME, as well as call attention to the silencing associated with the reinforcement of WME as the ideal form of communication. Moreover, CASs normalize other knowledge systems outside of the rigid western model that defines higher education. In conjunction with CASs, to initiate motion, we provide four strategies to take action to move beyond acknowledgment and challenge the Communication discipline to continue working to decenter whiteness

Invisibility as Modern Racism: Redressing the Experience of Indigenous Learners in Higher Education

Indigenous Peoples represent the smallest group of ethnic minorities in the United States, and they are significantly underrepresented in the academy. The tumultuous relationship between institutions of higher learning and First Nation Peoples can be explained in part by the use of education to colonize and force the assimilation of Native Peoples. The end result of centuries of dehumanization and marginalization is invisibility, “the modern form of racism used against Native Americans” (the American Indian College Fund, 2019, p. 5). Educators are challenged to identify institutional inequities and redress barriers to promote social justice through informed and genuine practice, indigenization, and curriculum development that reflects intercultural communication competence

“Is it all just lip service?”:On Instagram and the normalisation of the cosmetic servicescape

Purpose To better understand the uptake of cosmetic procedures in the wake of Instagram, this study aims to unravel how the aesthetic labour of influencers acts as the packaging of the cosmetic servicescape. In doing so, the authors contribute to theorising of aesthetic and emotional labour within the services marketing literature, fleshing out the bodywork of influential others not as employees but endorsers, who act like the “walking billboards” (Zeithaml and Bitner, 2003) for the cosmetic service industry. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a dual qualitative approach to data collection, coupling netnographic material from Instagram posts with 16 in-depth interviews with female Instagram users who have undergone or hope to undergo cosmetic surgery. Using mediated discourse analysis, the authors weave their visual and discursive data together for a richer account of the commoditisation of cosmetic surgery. Findings Adopting a postfeminist neoliberal lens, where women are viewed as aesthetic entrepreneurs who are constantly working on the body and the self, the findings of the study reveal how influencers’ aesthetic and emotional labour help package, propagate and demystify the cosmetic servicescape. Through their visual storytelling, we see how influencers help endorse (local) cosmetic services; commoditise cosmetic procedures through the conspicuous display of their ongoing body projects whilst masking the labour and pain involved; and how face-filters that use augmented reality (AR) technology foster new forms of (digitised) body dysmorphia. Originality/value The authors shed light on the darker side of social media and body-enhancing technologies, where tales of body transformation trivialise cosmetic intervention and AR technology induces a digitised body dysmorphia

Beyond the authenticity bind - Finstagram as an escape from the attention economy

Our study examines ‘Finstagramming’ as a resistance strategy from influencers trying to circumvent the prescriptive nature and restrictive algorithm of Instagram. Without ever leaving the platform, Finstagram acts as an emancipatory outlet that enables influencers to share more intimate, less-conforming and unpolished content without jeopardis-ing the highly curated, monetizable person-brand of their main account. Through a dual-method qualitative approach of netnography and in-depth interviews, we unravel this paradox of embedded escap-ism, where influencers toggle between main and Finsta accounts in their pursuit of authenticity. Our findings reveal the porosity of these multiple digital personae and differentiated digital work taking place on the platform. We argue that Finstagram affords a momentary escape from the digital attention economy whilst remaining tethered to socially mediated authenticity markers

Student experiences of the ‘closed-door’ PhD and doctorate level viva voce:a systematic review of the literature

The closed-door PhD and doctoral viva voce - the approach adopted in the United Kingdom - is esteemed by some as being a valuable aca-demic tradition. However, an increasing body of literature and research has raised concerns about the quality, transparency, reliability and validity of this viva format. This systematic literature review aims to explore the closed-door viva from the candidate perspective. Eight studies, encom-passing 267 participants, were included. Themes which emerged from a narrative synthesis of the data were: emotional response; psychological impact; power; examiner conduct (i.e. questioning techniques and inter-personal style); fairness; and practical and procedural issues. A great deal of variation was found across all accounts. Whilst some were indicative of positive and constructive viva experiences, there were also concerning reports of candidate distress as a result of examiner conduct, behaviour and use of positional power. Implicit and explicit reference was made to the lack of fairness. Given that concerns regarding the closed-door viva are now well-established, results are discussed with reference to recom-mendations for change; ultimately, to ensure best practice in PhD and doctoral assessment in the UK as well as to offer academic providers in other countries valuable insights into this form of vi

Transcription of a 5' extended mRNA isoform directs dynamic chromatin changes and interference of a downstream promoter.

Cell differentiation programs require dynamic regulation of gene expression. During meiotic prophase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expression of the kinetochore complex subunit Ndc80 is downregulated by a 5' extended long undecoded NDC80 transcript isoform. Here we demonstrate a transcriptional interference mechanism that is responsible for inhibiting expression of the coding NDC80 mRNA isoform. Transcription from a distal NDC80 promoter directs Set1-dependent histone H3K4 dimethylation and Set2-dependent H3K36 trimethylation to establish a repressive chromatin state in the downstream canonical NDC80 promoter. As a consequence, NDC80 expression is repressed during meiotic prophase. The transcriptional mechanism described here is rapidly reversible, adaptable to fine-tune gene expression, and relies on Set2 and the Set3 histone deacetylase complex. Thus, expression of a 5' extended mRNA isoform causes transcriptional interference at the downstream promoter. We demonstrate that this is an effective mechanism to promote dynamic changes in gene expression during cell differentiation