Exploring symbolic violence in the everyday : misrecognition, condescension, consent and complicity

The empirical material for the article was collected during a project funded by FAS (now FORTE), the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare.In this paper, we draw on Pierre Bourdieu's concepts of 'misrecognition', 'condescension' and 'consent and complicity' to demonstrate how domination and violence are reproduced in everyday interactions, social practices, institutional processes and dispositions. Importantly, this constitutes symbolic violence, which removes the victim's agency and voice. Indeed, we argue that as symbolic violence is impervious, insidious and invisible, it also simultaneously legitimises and sustains other forms of violence as well. Understanding symbolic violence together with traditional discourses of violence is important because it provides a richer insight into the 'workings' of violence, and provides new ways of conceptualising violence across a number of social fields and new strategies for intervention. Symbolic violence is a valuable tool for understanding contentious debates on the disclosure of violence, women leaving or staying in abusive relationships or returning to their abusers. While we focus only on violence against women, we recognise that the gendered nature of violence produces its own sets of vulnerabilities against men and marginalised groups, such as LGBT. The paper draws on empirical research conducted in Sweden in 2003. Sweden is an interesting case study because despite its progressive gender equality policies, there has been no marked decrease in violence towards women by men.PostprintPeer reviewe

Blurring the Boundaries: Reflecting on PDS Roles and Responsibilities through Multiple Lenses

It is well documented that successful Professional Development School (PDS) initiatives are contingent on trusting relationships between the university and school districts

Infant feeding practices in Bhaktapur, Nepal: a cross-sectional, health facility based survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Promotion of proper breastfeeding practices for the first six months of life is the most cost-effective intervention for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. However, the adherence to breastfeeding recommendations in many developing countries is not satisfactory. The aims of the study were to determine breastfeeding and infant feeding patterns at nine months of age and to assess factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding practices.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In Bhaktapur, Nepal, we carried out a cross-sectional survey of 325 infants who came for measles vaccination at the age of nine months. Mothers were interviewed on details regarding feeding of their child and health since birth.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three quarters of all mothers reported that they did not receive any information on breastfeeding during the antenatal visit. Two hundred and ninety five (91%) mothers gave colostrum and 185 (57%) initiated breastfeeding within one hour of delivery. The prevalence of exclusively breastfeeding at 1, 3 and 6 months were 240 (74%), 78 (24%) and 29 (9%), and partial feeding was initiated in 49 (15%), 124 (38%) and 257 (79%) babies, respectively. The main reason, according to the mother, for introducing other foods before six months of age was insufficient breast milk. In logistic regression analyses, mother's knowledge on how long child should be given only breast milk and not living in joint families were associated positively with exclusive or predominant breastfeeding for four months or beyond.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Despite the high proportion of mothers who initiated breastfeeding immediately after birth, continuation of exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months was not common. Very few mothers received any information on breastfeeding during the antenatal visit, indicating a need for counseling on exclusive breastfeeding. Possible options for this counseling could be during antenatal visits and at regular clinic visits for vaccination.</p

Conservation of a native dairy cattle breed through terminal crossbreeding with commercial dairy breeds

Farmers play a key role in conserving native livestock breeds, but without economic support, farms with native breeds may not be viable. We hypothesized that terminal crossbreeding can improve herd economy and decrease the economic support needed from society. Three scenarios were simulated using SimHerd Crossbred: a herd of purebred Swedish Polled Cattle, a herd of purebred Swedish Red, and a herd of 75% Swedish Polled Cattle and 25% F1 crossbreds. The results showed annual contribution margin per cow in the herd can be increased by euro181 by crossbreeding compared with pure-breeding with the native breed, giving a 13.6% growth in contribution margin. However, the needed cost in subsidies paid by the government will remain unchanged if the population size of the native breed is to be maintained. Combining a crossbreeding strategy with the marketing of niche products may facilitate the conservation of native cattle

”Tää (työyhteisö) on ainut, joka pitää meijjät tässä, että me jaksetaan tätä tässä arvokkaassa, mutta todella todella uuvuttavassa ja voimia vievässä (työssä)”:opettajien ja rehtorien kertomuksia työyhteisön toimivuudesta ja sen rakentumisesta

Tiivistelmä. Pro gradu -tutkielmassamme tutkimme koulujen työyhteisön toimivuuden rakentumista opettajien ja rehtorien näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksemme taustalla on ajatus koulun työyhteisöstä osana laajempaa yhteisöä, koulua, johon työyhteisö kokonaisvaltaisesti vaikuttaa.  Tämän myötä koulussa työyhteisön toiminta vaikuttaa myös oppilaiden toimintaan ja hyvinvointiin. Muuttuvassa ja haastavassa työympäristössä työyhteisö voi olla myös opettajan työhyvinvoinnin kannattaja. Teoriaosuudessa tarkastelemme tärkeitä työyhteisön toimivuutta taustoittavia elementtejä ja esimerkkejä työyhteisön toimivuuden rakentumisesta. Aikaisemmat työyhteisön toimivuutta koskevat tutkimukset ovat toteutettu muilla kuin opetusaloilla, joten koulun työyhteisön toimivuuden rakentumisesta löytyy niukasti tietoa.  Menetelmänä käytämme narratiivista tutkimusmenetelmää. Aineistonamme on kahden koulun työyhteisöjen haastattelut ja olemme analysoineet aineiston hyödyntämällä laadullista sisällönanalyysia sekä narratiivista analyysia.  Haluamme narratiivisen tutkimuksen periaatteiden mukaisesti tuoda työyhteisön yhteinen ääni esille. Tutkimuksemme tuloksissa korostuivat kahden eri koulun työyhteisöjen toiminnan rakentuminen. Koulujen työyhteisöjen luonteen perusteella nimesimme työyhteisöt Inhimilliseksi työyhteisöksi ja Kehittäjätyöyhteisöksi.  Inhimillisen  työyhteisön toimivuus on rakentunut vuorovaikutuksesta, kollegiaalisuudesta ja yhteistyöstä.  Inhimillisyys näkyy tavassa kohdata työyhteisön ihmiset.  Kehittäjätyöyhteisön toimivuuden rakentuminen on  vielä  kesken suuren työntekijävaihtuvuuden vuoksi.  Vaihtuvuus on arvokas tulos itsessään, sillä se kertoo oman näkökulmansa toimivuudesta. Vahvuuksia tämän yhteisön toimivuuden rakentumisessa ovat avoin vuorovaikutus sekä kehittämisinto.Narratives by teachers and principals about work community functionality and it’s construction. Abstract. In our Master’s Thesis we explore how a well-functioning work community is constructed from the point of view of teachers and principals. Our research is based on the idea that the school’s work community has a pervasive effect on the school itself. Thus, the functioning of the work community also affects the functioning and well-being of students. In a changing and challenging work environment the work community can also support teachers’ well-being. In the Theory section we examine elements that lay the groundwork for a well-functioning work community and examples of how it is constructed. Previous studies have been conducted outside the field of education so there is scant information on work communities in schools. We use the narrative research approach and our material consists of interviews in two schools’ work communities. We have utilized qualitative content analysis as well as narrative analysis. In keeping with the principles of narrative research, we wish to bring out the common voice of the work community. Our results highlighted the differences between how the functioning of the two communities was constructed. Based on the character of the communities we named them the Humane Community and the Developer Community. The functioning of the Humane Community is constructed by interaction, collegiality and cooperation. The humaneness can be seen in the way people are treated when encountered. The Developer Community is still in the middle of constructing its functioning due to high turnover. The turnover rate itself is a valuable result, since it reveals something about the functioning of the community. This community’s strengths are open interaction and eagerness towards development

Personalization of human body models and beyond via image registration

Finite element human body models (HBMs) are becoming increasingly important numerical tools for traffic safety. Developing a validated and reliable HBM from the start requires integrated efforts and continues to be a challenging task. Mesh morphing is an efficient technique to generate personalized HBMs accounting for individual anatomy once a baseline model has been developed. This study presents a new image registration–based mesh morphing method to generate personalized HBMs. The method is demonstrated by morphing four baseline HBMs (SAFER, THUMS, and VIVA+ in both seated and standing postures) into ten subjects with varying heights, body mass indices (BMIs), and sex. The resulting personalized HBMs show comparable element quality to the baseline models. This method enables the comparison of HBMs by morphing them into the same subject, eliminating geometric differences. The method also shows superior geometry correction capabilities, which facilitates converting a seated HBM to a standing one, combined with additional positioning tools. Furthermore, this method can be extended to personalize other models, and the feasibility of morphing vehicle models has been illustrated. In conclusion, this new image registration–based mesh morphing method allows rapid and robust personalization of HBMs, facilitating personalized simulations

Universal platform for quantitative analysis of DNA transposition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Completed genome projects have revealed an astonishing diversity of transposable genetic elements, implying the existence of novel element families yet to be discovered from diverse life forms. Concurrently, several better understood transposon systems have been exploited as efficient tools in molecular biology and genomics applications. Characterization of new mobile elements and improvement of the existing transposition technology platforms warrant easy-to-use assays for the quantitative analysis of DNA transposition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we developed a universal <it>in vivo </it>platform for the analysis of transposition frequency with class II mobile elements, i.e., DNA transposons. For each particular transposon system, cloning of the transposon ends and the cognate transposase gene, in three consecutive steps, generates a multifunctional plasmid, which drives inducible expression of the transposase gene and includes a mobilisable <it>lacZ</it>-containing reporter transposon. The assay scores transposition events as blue microcolonies, papillae, growing within otherwise whitish <it>Escherichia coli </it>colonies on indicator plates. We developed the assay using phage Mu transposition as a test model and validated the platform using various MuA transposase mutants. For further validation and to illustrate universality, we introduced IS<it>903 </it>transposition system components into the assay. The developed assay is adjustable to a desired level of initial transposition via the control of a plasmid-borne <it>E. coli </it>arabinose promoter. In practice, the transposition frequency is modulated by varying the concentration of arabinose or glucose in the growth medium. We show that variable levels of transpositional activity can be analysed, thus enabling straightforward screens for hyper- or hypoactive transposase mutants, regardless of the original wild-type activity level.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The established universal papillation assay platform should be widely applicable to a variety of mobile elements. It can be used for mechanistic studies to dissect transposition and provides a means to screen or scrutinise transposase mutants and genes encoding host factors. In succession, improved versions of transposition systems should yield better tools for molecular biology and offer versatile genome modification vehicles for many types of studies, including gene therapy and stem cell research.</p