1,485 research outputs found
Social Media Usage: A Comparison of Public Relations/Journalism and Marketing/Management Students
Research indicates that students use social media for more social reasons than professional reasons. To test the assumptions in the literature, this study examined key disciplines having a professional connection to undergraduate studies. The findings focus on the key social media platforms utilized in professions as presently used by students
Early Childhood Stimulation Interventions in Developing Countries: A Comprehensive Literature Review
This report reviews the effectiveness of early childhood stimulation interventions in developing countries. The report aims to answer the questions: What works in terms of early stimulation for young children in developing countries? For whom and under what conditions do these programs work and why do they work. The report is divided into several sections. Firstly, a brief discussion of the importance of early stimulation for young children in developing countries is provided. Secondly, the methods used to identify and characterize studies are provided and a review of randomized or quasi-experimental trials is presented. Thirdly, a review of the evidence for who benefits most from early interventions is presented followed by a review of program characteristics that affect the success of interventions and an examination of potential mechanisms through which interventions achieve their effects. Finally, recommendations for practice and future research are provided.child development, early stimulation, mothers, parenting, developing countries
Population genetic history of the British roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and its implications for diversity and fitness
The first part of this study examined post glacial recolonisation by UK roe. Previous studies established three main roe deer lineages exist across Europe: a western (Iberian Peninsula), an eastern (Balkan region) and a central lineage (which spans across central Europe). It was unknown which group British roe deer populations belonged. Using a 419 bp region of the mt-DNA d-loop (HVR1) amplified from ancient and modern UK samples a direct comparison was made with previously published European data. Results showed that UK populations belong to the central lineage, indicating a post glacial re-colonisation that is likely to have occurred via an eastern route. The estimation of a substitution rate, which was applied to coalescent based methods, detected a signal for divergence of UK roe from continental roe at 5,600 YBP (HPD 3,500 - 11, 200 YBP), not long after the proposed date for the land bridge split (7,500 YBP).
Since post glacial re-colonisation, roe were known to have undergone severe fluctuations in population size. Perhaps the most significant fluctuation began during the medieval period, when roe suffered severe declines (bottlenecking) due to over hunting and deforestation. These declines were so severe that, by the 16th century, roe were believed to have been extirpated (locally extinct) from all southern areas of UK and considered scarce in northern areas. However, by the 19th century roe began to recover. Recovery in the south may have resulted solely from re-introductions (involving both native and non-native stocks) whilst, in the north, recovery resulted from natural re-colonisation from remnant native stocks. The second part of this study investigated the impacts of this more recent history.
This was first investigated using a 750 bp of the mt-DNA d loop region (HVR), 16 microsatellite loci and 18 skull traits from modern roe from across the UK to examine structure and diversity. Results based on both DNA and morphology revealed strong differentiation. Northern roe appeared least impacted by recent events; maintaining patterns of isolation by distance (IBD) and high genetic diversity (compared to southern populations). In contrast, southern roe appeared more strongly impacted by recent events; in particular, IBD was non-significant (although this may have been due to a sample size effect) and genetic diversity was lower (compared to northern populations). The roe re-introduction records indicated that the south western population was native in origin (Perthshire). Genetic data showed that this population was, however, highly differentiated from its proposed source; which could reflect the powerful impact of genetic drift resulting from small founder populations. Alternatively, it may be that the ancestry of the south western population is more complex than previously assumed. For the other southern population (Norfolk), re-introduction records indicate a non-native (German) origin. In line with this, both genetic and morphological data implied that these roe were highly distinct.
The impacts of bottlenecks (including medieval declines and founder events) on roe populations were also examined. Bottleneck analyses examined ‘signatures’ in modern populations based on 16 microsatellites. The strongest evidence of bottlenecking was detected in the Norfolk population, consistent with the small founder group size introduced into this location relatively recently. For the other populations bottleneck signatures tended to be weak and non-significant. Direct comparisons of ancient (pre-bottleneck) and modern (post –bottleneck) populations were made based on 419 bp of mt-DNA d –loop (HVR1). Results showed considerable losses in genetic diversity between time frames consistent with medieval declines. Northern populations were also found to harbour the highest number of ‘native’ haplotypes and southern populations the lowest. The southern population of Norfolk exhibited only one ‘novel’ haplotype confirming its non-native origin.
The impacts of bottlenecks on populations are of concern because they have been shown to reduce population fitness and increase the risk of extinction. Therefore, fitness of roe was examined using fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of 10 skull traits as an indicator of developmental stability. Correlations of FA and genetic diversity indices were examined at the level of individuals within populations, across all populations and among populations. All correlations existed in expected directions; however, correlations tended to be weak and non-significant. Furthermore, among population level FA did not vary significantly across populations providing no indication as to whether fitness has been impacted by past population history
Women war survivors of sexual violence in Liberia: inequalities in health, resilience and justice
Justice and health provision for survivors of sexual violence: A case study of Kitgum, northern Uganda
Never try and face the journey alone: exploring the face-to-face advocacy needs of fuel poor householders in the United Kingdom
Parent's use of harsh punishment and young children's behaviour and achievement: A longitudinal study of Jamaican children with conduct problems
Design and Implementation of the Irie Homes Toolbox: A Violence Prevention, Early Childhood, Parenting Program
Corpus Linguistics and 17th-Century Prostitution
Corpus linguistics has much to offer history, being as both disciplines engage so heavily in analysis of large amounts of textual material.
This book demonstrates the opportunities for exploring corpus linguistics as a method in historiography and the humanities and social sciences more generally. Focusing on the topic of prostitution in 17th-century England, it shows how corpus methods can assist in social research, and can be used to deepen our understanding and comprehension.
McEnery and Baker draw principally on two sources – the newsbook Mercurius Fumigosis and the Early English Books Online Corpus. This scholarship on prostitution and the sex trade offers insight into the social position of women in history
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