bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role and self-regulation of non-professional interpreters in religious settings
Authors: Hild Adelina
Published: February 2017

This chapter presents the results of an ethnographic study of non-professional church interpreters, exploring how they regulate their behaviour in line with their perceived role in religious settings. The Volunteer Interpreters in Religious Settings (VIRS) project combines observational data (field notes, audio and video recordings) with in-depth interviews in order to address questions concerning the motivational structure of native interpreters, the specific strategies they apply in rendering the performative and linguistic aspects of evangelical preaching, the role of social recognition and the process of effecting emotional homeostasis. On the basis of these findings, the paper compares the self-regulation processes of professional and volunteer interpreters and discusses how church interpreters perceive their role as visible co-constructors of meaning in theological discourse.
Child language brokers’ representations of parent–child relationships
Authors: Cline Tony , Crafter Sarah , de Abreu Guida , O’Dell Lindsay
Published: February 2017

This paper reports the analysis of qualitative data from a broader study of young people’s representations of conflicting roles in child development. Just over a quarter of the group, bilingual students who spoke a variety of first languages had had personal experience of child language brokering (CLB). Employing vignette methodology, they were invited to reflect on the implications of an adolescent boy’s language brokering activities for, among other things, his relationships within his family. In this paper, we will present brief case studies to illustrate different positions that members of the group adopted in relation to developmental scripts emphasizing independence and interdependence between young people and their parents (Dorner et al. 2008). Through an analysis of individual CLB case studies, we illustrate various ways in which individual young people reported the balancing of the demands of autonomy and connectedness in their analysis of relationships between young people and their parents.
Electrochemical behaviour of NiTi alloy coated with TiN using DPF
Authors: Soltanalipour M. , Khalil-Allafi J. , Ghareshabani E. , Khalili V.
Published: February 2017

Dense plasma focus (DPF) nitriding method was used to coat titanium nitride (TiN) on NiTi alloys as bone implant. These coatings were developed to modify the surface properties, such as corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. This method was done with a pressure of 2 mbar and voltage of 8 kV under pure nitrogen gas and mixed gas of nitrogen and argon separately. The electrochemical behaviour of the uncoated and coated samples was assessed by open circuit testing, potentiodynamic scanning and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in Ringer's solution at 37°C. Ni concentration in the Ringer's solution at 37°C was measured via the atomic absorption spectrometry. The TiN-modified surface of the sample with a distance of 7 cm from anode under 100% nitrogen gas during DPF nitriding demonstrates good corrosion resistance and low nickel ion release that could lead to a better biocompatibility.
Patterned cell and matrix dynamics in branching morphogenesis
Authors: Wang Shaohe , Sekiguchi Rei , Daley William P. , Yamada Kenneth M.
Published: February 2017

Many embryonic organs undergo branching morphogenesis to maximize their functional epithelial surface area. Branching morphogenesis requires the coordinated interplay of multiple types of cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM). During branching morphogenesis, new branches form by “budding” or “clefting.” Cell migration, proliferation, rearrangement, deformation, and ECM dynamics have varied roles in driving budding versus clefting in different organs. Elongation of the newly formed branch and final maturation of the tip involve cellular mechanisms that include cell elongation, intercalation, convergent extension, proliferation, and differentiation. New methodologies such as high-resolution live imaging, tension sensors, and force-mapping techniques are providing exciting new opportunities for future research into branching morphogenesis.
What galaxy masses perturb the local cosmic expansion?
Authors: Peñarrubia Jorge , Fattahi Azadeh
Published: February 2017

We use 12 cosmological N-body simulations of Local Group systems (the apostle models) to inspect the relation between the virial mass of the main haloes (Mvir,1 and Mvir,2), the mass derived from the relative motion of the halo pair (Mtim), and that inferred from the local Hubble flow (Mlhf). We show that within the spherical collapse model (SCM), the correspondence between the three mass estimates is exact, i.e. Mlhf = Mtim = Mvir,1 + Mvir,2. However, comparison with apostle simulations reveals that, contrary to what the SCM states, a relatively large fraction of the mass that perturbs the local Hubble flow and drives the relative trajectory of the main galaxies is not contained within Rvir, and that the amount of ‘extravirial’ mass tends to increase in galaxies with a slow accretion rate. In contrast, modelling the peculiar velocities around the Local Group returns an unbiased constraint on the virial mass ratio of the main galaxy pair. Adopting the outer halo profile found in N-body simulations, which scales as ρ ∼ R−4 at R ≳ Rvir, indicates that the galaxy masses perturbing the local Hubble flow roughly correspond to the asymptotically convergent (total) masses of the individual haloes. We show that estimates of Mvir based on the dynamics of tracers at R ≫ Rvir require a priori information on the internal matter distribution and the growth rate of the main galaxies, both of which are typically difficult to quantify.
Graphical Visualization of Polling Results
Authors: Makela Susanna , Si Yajuan , Gelman Andrew
Published: February 2017

This chapter argues that it is wasteful to do a large, expensive poll and then just report a few percentages. Statistical modeling allows researchers to make the most effective use of available data, and graphs make it possible to convey more information more directly, both to general audiences and to specialists. Graphs are an invaluable tool at each step of the modeling process: exploring raw data, building and refining the model, and understanding and communicating the results are all made easier with graphs. In addition, graphical methods can be useful to survey researchers to understand weighting and other aspects of survey construction and analysis. The chapter includes several examples.
Neurotransmitters and Neuropeptides of Invertebrates
Authors: Fieber Lynne A.
Published: February 2017

This chapter introduces working definitions of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters from the perspective of invertebrate physiological processes. Neuropeptides and neurotransmitters are intercellular chemical signaling agents used by all animals. Chemical signaling augments or substitutes for electrical communication in the nervous system. When these agents act as neurotransmitters, they convert electrical signals to chemical signals across the synapse. As hormones, they circulate from a site of release to act at a more distant site in the body of the organism. Neuropeptides and neurotransmitters are classified into these groups mostly on the basis of their molecular size. This article describes several neuropeptide superfamilies and their wide scope of actions in model invertebrates. The article also describes the main neurotransmitters used by invertebrates.
Genetic Analysis of Behavior in Drosophila
Authors: Brembs Björn
Published: February 2017

The main function of brains is to generate adaptive behavior. Far from being the stereotypical, robot-like insect, the fruit fly Drosophila exhibits astounding flexibility and chooses different courses of actions even under identical external circumstances. Due to the power of genetics, we now are beginning to understand the neuronal mechanisms underlying this behavioral flexibility. Interestingly, the evidence from studies of disparate behaviors converges on common organizational principles common to many if not all behaviors, such as modified sensory processing, involvement of biogenic amines in network remodeling, ongoing activity, and modulation by feedback. Seemingly foreseeing these recent insights, the first research fields in Drosophila behavioral neurogenetics reflected this constant negotiation between internal and external demands on the animal as the common mechanism underlying adaptive behavioral choice in Drosophila.
GIS in Rock Art Studies
Authors: Wienhold Michelle L. , Robinson David W.
Published: February 2017

In recent years, geographic information system (GIS) and spatial analysis in rock art studies has become a more prominent means of studying rock art and its association with the Indigenous landscape. Recent approaches integrate theoretical dimensions of GIS analysis with a diverse range of methods, each of which requires comprehensive consideration of its strengths and limitations. Insight into Indigenous peoples’ landscape perceptions through multiscalar, theoretical analyses can be gleaned through the application of GIS within rock art research. A holistic review is presented here to understand the methodologies that have been utilized in rock art research, not only for conservation and preservation, but also to further understand the integration of rock art within the landscape through statistical and spatial interrogation.
The Rock Art of South and East Asia
Authors: Taçon Paul S.C.
Published: February 2017

This chapter discusses the rock art of South and East Asia, with particular emphasis on India, China, and Southeast Asia. It begins with an overview of early research and first discoveries of rock art in China, India, and various parts of Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and Malaysia. It then considers the range of techniques employed in the region, including painting, drawing, stencilling, printing, engraving, and bas-relief, as well as the subject matter and dating attempts. It also examines a number of key rock art–related issues that need to be addressed across India, China, and Southeast Asia, as well as concerns for different regions; these include the problem of regionalism, contact period rock art, and conservation and management. The chapter concludes by assessing the global significance of South, Southeast, and East Asian rock art, especially with respect to human diversity, cultural change, migration, and natural landscapes.
Elinor Ostrom,Governing the Commons
Authors: Brennan Jason
Published: February 2017

Few political theorists have read Elinor Ostrom’s Governing the Commons or incorporated its insights into their work. At first glance, it may seem to be of interest only to social scientists, with little relevance to purely normative political theory. On the contrary, Ostrom’s work in fact shows a kind of presumptuousness in moral theory. It illustrates that theorists tend to assume rather than prove that the central unit of analysis is the modern nation-state. It further shows that theorists may be unable to design solutions to moral problems or problems of justice; they may, at best, only be able to identify such solutions when they appear.
Love and Sex
Authors: Halwani Raja
Published: February 2017

This chapter argues that sex and love are quite different from each other. Sepicifically, it argues that sexual desire is different kind of entity from romantic love, especially when the latter is understood as the settled abiding commitment between long-term partners. It also explores the normative connections (moral permissibility, obligation, and supererogation) between non-romantic forms of love—friendship, familial, and agapic love—and sexual desire, as this is an under-researched area. Furthermore, the essay argues that sexual desire’s goals clash with the goals of many forms of love because the goal of sexual desire is self-interested whereas those of love are not.
Looking for UG in Animals
Authors: Samuels Bridget D. , Hauser Marc , Boeckx Cedric
Published: February 2017

Do animals have Universal Grammar? The short answer must be ‘no.’ Otherwise, why do human children learn language with strikingly little conscious effort, while no other animal has even come close to approximating human language, even with extensive training or exposure to massive linguistic input? However, many of the cognitive capacities which clearly serve our linguistic ability—rich conceptual systems, vocal imitation, categorical perception, and so on—are shared with other species, including some of our closest living relatives. This suggests that the question is more complicated than it might first appear. In the present work, we use phonology as a case study to show what type of cross-species evidence may bear—now and in future work—on the issue of whether animals have various components of UG, which we construe here broadly as the systems that are recruited by language but need not be specific to it.
Third-Factor Explanations and Universal Grammar
Authors: Lohndal Terje , Uriagereka Juan
Published: February 2017

This chapter discusses factors determining the structure of an I-language: genetic endowment, input/exposure to language, and principles not specific to language. The latter have become known as ‘third factors,’ which are argued to be principles that contribute to shaping the structure of grammars but that are not specific to language. Computational efficiency is one example of such a principle that has been suggested. In this chapter, the historical roots of the third factor perspective is traced and discussed. The third factor perspective in linguistics is also compared to a similar perspective in comparative biology outlined by the late Stephen Jay Gould. After a review of a few examples of what plausible third factors may be, the chapter ends with a discussion of the complex task of determining whether a given linguistic condition may be a third factor.
Symmetry Arguments in Probability
Authors: Zabell Sandy
Published: February 2017

The history of the use of symmetry arguments in probability theory is traced. After a brief consideration of why these did not occur in ancient Greece, the use of symmetry in probability, starting in the 17th century, is considered. Some of the contributions of Bernoulli, Bayes, Laplace, W. E. Johnson, and Bruno de Finetti are described. One important thread here is the progressive move from using symmetry to identify a single, unique probability function to using it instead to narrow the possibilities to a family of candidate functions via the qualitative concept of exchangeability. A number of modern developments are then discussed: partial exchangeability, the sampling of species problem, and Jeffrey conditioning. Finally, the use or misuse of seemingly innocent symmetry assumptions is illustrated, using a number of apparent paradoxes that have been widely discussed.
The Propensity Interpretation
Authors: Gillies Donald
Published: February 2017

The propensity interpretation of probability was introduced by Popper in 1957, and the chapter begins with a discussion of Popper’s initial account of propensities and a comparison with Peirce’s related ideas. The original propensity interpretation had a number of strands, some of which could be accepted while others were rejected. This meant that the propensity interpretation could be, and was, developed in different ways by different philosophers of science. One point at issue was whether propensities were objective probabilities of single events. This led to a distinction between (i) single-case propensity theories, and (ii) long-run propensity theories. Another problem concerned the relation between propensities and causes – if propensities had a causal import, because of what is known as the Humphreys’ paradox they might not satisfy the standard axioms of probability. The chapter concludes by discussing how propensities might be connected to observed frequencies via the theory of statistical testing.
Subjectivism
Authors: Zynda Lyle
Published: February 2017

This essay discusses subjective probability—its foundations, justification, and relation to other subjects, such as decision theory and confirmation theory. Various forms of subjectivism (the belief in subjective probability) are described, and distinguished from non-subjectivist approaches. Two broad approaches to justifying the laws of probability on subjectivist grounds are then discussed: (a) pragmatic approaches, based on betting behavior, with associated Dutch book arguments, or (more broadly) pragmatic approaches based on decision and preference theory, with its representation theorems; and (b) non-pragmatic (epistemic) approaches, with arguments based on calibration and gradational accuracy. These various arguments are assessed, and their scope and limitations spelled out in detail. Finally, the relation of subjective probability to the confirmation of scientific theories is discussed, focusing on the problem of old evidence, and its various proposed solutions.
Quantum Probability
Authors: Bacciagaluppi Guido
Published: February 2017

The topic of probability in quantum mechanics is rather vast. In this chapter it is discussed from the perspective of whether and in what sense quantum mechanics requires a generalization of the usual (Kolmogorovian) concept of probability. The focus is on the case of finite-dimensional quantum mechanics (which is analogous to that of discrete probability spaces), partly for simplicity and partly for ease of generalization. While the main emphasis is on formal aspects of quantum probability (in particular the non-existence of joint distributions for incompatible observables), the discussion relates also to notorious issues in the interpretation of quantum mechanics. Indeed, whether quantum probability can or cannot be ultimately reduced to classical probability connects rather nicely to the question of 'hidden variables' in quantum mechanics.
Pre-history of Probability
Authors: Franklin James
Published: February 2017

The history of the evaluation of uncertain evidence before the quantification of probability in 1654 is a mass of examples relevant to current debates. They deal with matters that in general are as unquantified now as ever – the degree to which evidence supports theory, the strength and justification of inductive inferences, the weight of testimony, the combination of pieces of uncertain evidence, the price of risk, the philosophical nature of chance, and the problem of acting in case of doubt. Concepts similar to modern “proof beyond reasonable doubt” were developed especially in the legal theory of evidence. Moral theology discussed “probabilism”, the doctrine that one could follow a probable opinion in ethics even if the opposite was more probable. Philosophers understood the difficult problem of induction. Legal discussion of “aleatory contracts” such as insurance and games of chance developed the framework in which the quantification of probability eventually took place.
Probabilistic Opinion Pooling
Authors: Dietrich Franz , List Christian
Published: February 2017

Suppose several individuals (e.g., experts on a panel) each assign probabilities to some events. How can these individual probability assignments be aggregated into a single collective probability assignment? This chapter is a review of several proposed solutions to this problem, focusing on three salient proposals: linear pooling (the weighted or unweighted linear averaging of probabilities), geometric pooling (the weighted or unweighted geometric averaging of probabilities), and multiplicative pooling (where probabilities are multiplied rather than averaged). Axiomatic characterizations of each class of pooling functions are presented (most characterizations are classic results, but one is new), with the argument that linear pooling can be justified “procedurally” but not “epistemically”, while the other two pooling methods can be justified “epistemically”. The choice between them, in turn, depends on whether the individuals' probability assignments are based on shared information or on private information. In conclusion a number of other pooling methods are mentioned.
The Origins of Modern Statistics
Authors: Aldrich John
Published: February 2017

This chapter charts the origins and consolidation of the English statistical school from the 1860s to the 1930s, with a focus on the school’s chief figures: Francis Galton (1822–1911), Karl Pearson (1857–1936), and Ronald Aylmer Fisher (1890–1962). It begins with a historical overview of the rise of statistics as a study, taking into account the founding of the Statistical Society of London, which became the Royal Statistical Society. It then examines the contributions of Galton, Pearson, and Fisher to the development of modern statistics. It also considers the role played by other figures in the conception of statistics as a branch of applied mathematics in Britain, including Harold Jeffreys. The chapter concludes by discussing the English statistical school’s demise, along with the advance of statistical theory in the United States.
Kolmogorov’s Axiomatization and Its Discontents
Authors: Lyon Aidan
Published: February 2017

Kolmogorov's axiomatization of probability is the standard probability axiom system that most people learn in high school or university. And it is widely considered to be undeniably true—in much the same way that arithmetic seems to be undeniably true. However, over the years, various philosophers, mathematicians, statisticians, and scientists have found potential faults with Kolmogorov's axiom system. In this chapter these potential faults are reviewed and discussed. Among them are the problematic countable additivity, as well as finite additivity. The chapter also includes critical examinations of conditional probability, positive real numbers and sets and algebras as deployed by Kolmogorov.
Public International Law and the Regulation of Emerging Technologies
Authors: Rayfuse Rosemary
Published: February 2017

As scientific and technological research develop in power and capacity to transform humankind and the global environment, public international law is increasingly being called upon to develop new forms of international regulation and governance capable of anticipating, assessing, minimizing, and mitigating the risks posed by emerging or novel technologies, including the risks of their ‘rogue’ deployment by a state or an individual acting unilaterally. This chapter offers an introduction to the possibilities and limitations of international law in responding to these challenges. In particular, it focuses on the role of international law in the regulation of geo- or climate engineering through a case study of the developing international regime for the regulation of ocean fertilization.
Human Rights and Human Tissue
Authors: Goodwin Morag
Published: February 2017

In a 2012 Canadian case, the Supreme Court of British Columbia held that sperm acquired and stored for the purposes of IVF could be considered shared marital property in the event of a separation. This case followed on from similar cases that accepted sperm as capable of being property. This chapter suggests that these cases are indicative of a shift from the legal conceptualization of bodies and body parts as falling within a human dignity frame to accepting individual property rights claims. It explores the nature of the property claims to sperm before the (common law) courts in the context of the rise of human rights within law and technology, and argues that accepting these claims risks corrupting the very thing rights seek to protect.
Crime, Security, and Information Communication Technologies
Authors: Wall David S.
Published: February 2017

Networked digital technologies have transformed crime to a point that ‘cybercrime’ is here to stay. In the future, society will be forced to respond to a broad variety of networked crimes that will increase both the complexity of crime investigation and prevention, whilst also deepening the regulative challenges. As cybercrime has become an inescapable feature of the Internet landscape, constructive management and system development to mitigate cybercrime threats and harms are imperatives. This chapter explores the changing cybersecurity threat landscape and its implications for regulation and policing. It considers how networked and digital technologies have affected society and crime; it identifies how the cybersecurity threat and crime landscape have changed and considers how digital technologies affect our ability to regulate them. It also suggests how we might understand cybercrime before outlining both the technological developments that will drive future cybercrime and also the consequences of failing to respond to those changes.
Solar Climate Engineering, Law, and Regulation
Authors: Reynolds Jesse L.
Published: February 2017

Solar climate engineering—intentional modification of the planet’s reflectivity—is coming under increasing consideration as a means to counter climate change. At present, it offers the possibility of greatly reducing climate risks, but would pose physical and social risks of its own. This chapter offers an introduction to solar climate engineering, and explores its potential, risks, and legal and regulatory challenges. It also contextualizes these proposals with respect to other emerging technologies and the broader socio-political milieu. The chapter discusses the contours of existing and potential regulation, particularly at the international level. These aspects include regulatory rationales, diverse characteristics of proposed regulatory regimes, difficulties in defining the regulatory target, and the management of uncertainty through precaution. The chapter closes with suggested future research directions in the law and regulation of solar climate engineering.
Psychological Factors and Sport-Related Concussion
Authors: Mainwaring Lynda
Published: February 2017

Psychological factors related to sport concussion have been overshadowed by interests in neurocognitive recovery. This chapter begins by examining psychological factors relevant to research and management of sport concussion in the context of a culture where normalizing pain and injury is routine. Among the key components of this chapter is a discussion of emotional disturbance following concussion characterized as the “concussion crevice,” which is represented by high fatigue, low vigor, elevated depression and confusion scores, and high overall emotional distress. This differs from pre-injury “iceberg” profiles of high energy, and low depression, fatigue, and confusion, which is characteristic of mentally healthy athletes. Acute emotional response to concussion is distinguished from response to musculoskeletal injury, mirrors neurocognitive recovery, and appears to correspond with the dynamic neurometabolic restoration pattern described in the literature. Directions for future research are recommended.
Kepler and Newton
Authors: Martens Rhonda
Published: February 2017

Kepler is known today for his three planetary laws and his insistence on constructing astronomy based on physics rather than on geometry alone. This makes Kepler’s work seem like a natural predecessor to Newton’s achievement in the Principia. The Keplerian tradition in England that Newton inherited, however, typically only included parts of Kepler’s physical astronomy. This was an understandable response to the conceptual and computational problems that Kepler’s theory introduced. This article examines those problems, along with the transmission of Kepler’s theory to Newton. Special emphasis will be paid to Thomas Streete’s Astronomia Carolina, a Keplerian astronomy with tables, along with the notes Newton made on Streete’s work in the Questiones notebook between 1664 and 1665.
Newton’s Mathematics and Empiricism
Authors: Domski Mary
Published: February 2017

This article examines Newton’s approach to applying mathematics to natural evidence by attending to the proposals concerning space and mathematical knowledge that are presented in the unpublished pre-1687 manuscript De Gravitatione. In this work, Newton identifies the form of space studied in geometry with the empirically real form of space in which natural bodies are situated, and thereby collapses the classic Platonic divide between the certainty of mathematical knowledge and the uncertainty of empirical knowledge. As a result, the question of whether it is possible to apply mathematics to the empirical realm is not, for Newton, to be answered independently of mathematics. As shown in De Gravitatione, this application is part and parcel of the mathematical enterprise. To highlight the novelty of Newton’s blending of mathematics and empiricism, his views are contrasted with those put forward in Descartes’s Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) and Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690).
Suicide Prevention and Psychological Resilience for Military and Veterans
Authors: Harrison Maryke , Vargo Tracy Lauren , Camit Conrad Joseph , Agrawal Vedant , Gramling Laura , Sanghvi Rayna , Holleran Lori , Bongar Bruce
Published: February 2017

For the past ten years, the prevalence of suicide completions among service members has increased, with rates greatly exceeding those seen within the US civilian population. In response, the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and each branch of the military collaboratively implemented strategic approaches to improving existing suicide prevention programs and invested in the development of innovative programs. These approaches include consolidating suicide event reporting into a central database, reducing the stigma associated with help-seeking behaviors, enhancing resilience among service members, improving aspects impacting service members’ overall quality of life through an expansion of benefits and services, and improving the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being of service members. This article explores the evolution of these suicide risk prevention efforts in consideration of the effectiveness of different strategies used by military branches and veteran programs.
Political Socialization and the Making of Citizens
Authors: Neundorf Anja , Smets Kaat
Published: February 2017

Political socialization describes the process by which citizens crystalize political identities, values and behavior that remain relatively persistent throughout later life. This chapter provides a comprehensive discussion of the scholarly debate on political socialization, posing a number of questions that arise in the study of political socialization and the making of citizens. First, what is it about early life experiences that makes them matter for political attitudes, political engagement, and political behavior? Second, what age is crucial in the development of citizens’ political outlook? Third, who and what influences political orientations and behavior in early life, and how are cohorts colored by the nature of time when they come of age? Fourth, how do political preferences and behavior develop after the impressionable years? The chapter further provides an outlook of the challenges and opportunities for the field of political socialization.
Dynamic Semantics
Authors: Lewis Karen
Published: February 2017

This article focuses on foundational issues in dynamic and static semantics, specifically on what is conceptually at stake between the dynamic framework and the truth-conditional framework, and consequently what kinds of evidence support each framework. The article examines two questions. First, it explores the consequences of taking the proposition as central semantic notion as characteristic of static semantics, and argues that this is not as limiting in accounting for discourse dynamics as many think. Specifically, it explores what it means for a static semantics to incorporate the notion of context change potential in a dynamic pragmatics and denies that this conception of static semantics requires that all updates to the context be eliminative and distributive. Second, it argues that the central difference between the two frameworks is whether semantics or pragmatics accounts for dynamics, and explores what this means for the oft-heard claim that dynamic semantics blurs the semantics/pragmatics distinction.
South African Ecocriticism
Authors: Stanley Brooke , Phillips Walter Dana
Published: February 2017

This essay surveys South African ecocriticism, scaling it alongside African and postcolonial ecocriticisms. The authors praise critics who use local specificities to disrupt the universalization of Euro-American environmental and ecocritical tenets. That disruption generates global relevance. However, the field is still overcoming imbalances toward white literary and critical voices, as well as a disarticulation of “animal-centered” from “people-centered” approaches. Animal studies and landscape have pulled South African ecocritics in two main directions, which this chapter maps. The authors then bolster arguments for reintegrating concerns about animals, land, and people, in the service of unpacking conservation’s links to race, colonialism, apartheid, and post-apartheid inequities. Novelist Zakes Mda stages the need for such reintegration in The Whale Caller, which reframes human-nonhuman relations and exposes the tourism economy’s disenfranchisement of both animals and people. (This article has been commissioned as a supplement to The Oxford Handbook of Ecocriticism, edited by Greg Garrard.)
Religion and Animals
Authors: Gross Aaron S.
Published: February 2017

What do animals have to do with religion? This article answers this broad question with special attention to issues related to animal ethics and animal philosophy. Topics covered include the religious dimension of human-animal relationships; the role of animals in human self-imagination; the formation of religions based on human-animal relationships, especially in responding to the dilemmas and tensions raised by killing animals for food and sacrifice; and central issues in the method and theory of critically studying animals and religion. Working at the intersection of the history of religions and animal studies, this essay provides grounding in the subfield of “animals and religion,” as well as references to a wide range of work on the study of animals. The article also cites studies of the subject in both the religions of traditional peoples, including the Cree, Koyukon, Naxi, Nivkhi, and Tuvan, and the so-called world religions, including Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions; Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions; and Daoist traditions.
Intersectional Understandings of Inequality
Authors: Hurtado Aída
Published: February 2017

To address the increase in social and economic inequalities requires complex paradigms that take into account multiple sources of oppression. This chapter proposes the concept of intersectionality elaborated through social identity theory and borderlands theory as a potential avenue for research and policy to speak to and solve multiple sources of disadvantage. The multiple sources of inequality produce intersectional identities as embodied in the social identities constituted by the master statuses of sexuality, gender, class, race, ethnicity, and physical ableness. By applying intersectionality to inequality one can examine both intersections of disadvantage (e.g., being poor and of Color) or intersections of both of disadvantage and privilege (e.g., being male and of Color). Intersectionality also permits the study of privilege when advantaged social identities are problematized. I conclude with reviewing the possible ways of empirically studying intersectionality and the advantages in applying it to the understanding of social and economic inequalities.
Intergroup Dialogue: Education for Social Justice
Authors: Nagda Biren (Ratnesh) A. , Gurin Patricia , Rodríguez Jaclyn
Published: February 2017

This chapter focuses on intergroup dialogue (IGD), an educational approach that teaches about and for social justice. Intergroup dialogue addresses one of the central concerns in contemporary research on intergroup contact between groups with distinct social statuses: Do identity salience and positive relationships mobilize or sedate collective action on the part of disadvantaged or advantaged groups? We explicate how IGD addresses the concerns through its theoretical and practice model. IGD pedagogy—content, structured interaction, and facilitation—fosters critical-dialogic communication processes that in turn impact cognitive and affective psychological processes. These two kinds of processes then produce outcomes. Results from a longitudinal, multi-site field experiment of randomly assigned (dialogue and control) students (N = 1437) showed significant treatment effects for dialogue students and strong support for the theoretical model and the centrality of the communication processes. These results support our claim that critical-dialogic intergroup dialogue heightens, not mutes, commitment to action.
Influence of Foliar Fungicide Treatment on Lipolytic Enzyme Activity of Whole Wheat
Authors: Poudel Rachana , Bhatta Madhav , Regassa Teshome , Rose Devin J.
Published: February 2017

Lipolytic enzymes play a key role in the deterioration of whole wheat flour upon storage but may also be involved in plant disease and stress tolerance while the crop is in the field. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of foliar fungicide treatment on lipolytic activity in wheat. A significant cultivar × fungicide × year interaction for esterase (p‐nitrophenyl butyrate as substrate [EA‐B]) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities was observed; however, a large portion of the variability was owing to year (environment). Fungicide influenced lipase (olive oil as substrate [LA‐O]), EA‐B, and LOX activities. Lipase (p‐nitrophenyl palmitate as substrate [LA‐P]) showed variation in terms of cultivar and year rather than the application of fungicide. Partial correlation (year as a partial variable) between LA‐P and EA‐B activities was observed (r = 0.78, P < 0.001), although neither was correlated with LA‐O. The influence of foliar fungicide on lipolytic enzyme activities depends mostly on growing conditions but is also affected by disease stress, disease resistance of the varieties tested, and the substrate being used in the assay.
Epidemiological Significance of Crown Rot in the Fruiting Field in Relation to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Infection of Strawberry Nursery Plants
Authors: Rahman Mahfuzur , Louws Frank J.
Published: February 2017

Anthracnose crown rot (ACR), caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is a serious disease of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) in the southeastern United States, and there is a need to determine the link between nursery and fruiting-field disease risk. A 2-year study in 2007, repeated in 2008, was conducted at the North Carolina State University Horticultural Crops Research Station, Clinton, using ‘Chandler’, the most popular cultivar in North Carolina and one that is highly susceptible to ACR. Mother plants in a summer nursery were inoculated midseason with three pathogenic strains of C. gloeosporioides at an incidence level of 0, 5, 10, or 25%. Asymptomatic runner plants were selected at maturity (85 to 88 days after inoculation) from the nursery in early to mid-October from within a 0.5-m (inner) or 0.5- to 1.0-m (outer) radius around inoculated mother plants and planted into a plasticulture fruiting field system, with fruit harvest in April to June the following spring. Plants collected from the 25%-inner treatment had the greatest area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values, with a terminal ACR-related plant mortality of 32 and 20% by the end of fruit harvest and marketable yield losses of 30.5 and 30.2% in 2007–08 (Yr1) and 2008–09 (Yr2) seasons, respectively. All treatments increased AUDPC values compared with noninoculated treatments except the 10%-outer (O) and 5%-O treatments in Yr1 and Yr2, respectively. Marketable yield decreased 291.6 kg/ha for every percent increase in inoculum level (i.e., 0 to 25%, R2 = 0.696, P = 0.001). Levels of quiescent infection (QI) incidence (percentage of sampled leaves) assessed 25 to 28 days before digging runner plants also directly affected yield. For example, yield decreased 131.0 kg/ha for every percent increase in QI incidence in mother plants (R2 = 0.744, P = 0.001). Immersion of plants in fungicide solutions prior to planting decreased AUDPC values and improved plant stand by 7 to 11% but did not affect marketable yield compared with controls. This study provides results that can enable nursery and fruit growers to assess risk and implement mitigation measures to limit nursery plant and fruit yield losses.
A Model for Predicting Onset of Stagonospora nodorum Blotch in Winter Wheat Based on Preplanting and Weather Factors
Authors: Mehra L. K. , Cowger C. , Ojiambo P. S.
Published: February 2017

Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB) caused by Parastagonospora nodorum is a serious disease of wheat worldwide. In the United States, the disease is prevalent on winter wheat in many eastern states, and its management relies mainly on fungicide application after flag leaf emergence. Although SNB can occur prior to flag leaf emergence, the relationship between the time of disease onset and yield has not been determined. Such a relationship is useful in identifying a threshold to facilitate prediction of disease onset in the field. Disease occurred in 390 of 435 disease cases that were recorded across 11 counties in North Carolina from 2012 to 2014. Using cases with disease occurrence, the effect of disease onset on yield was analyzed to identify a disease onset threshold that related time of disease onset to yield. Regression analysis showed that disease onset explained 32% of the variation in yield (P < 0.0001) and from this relationship, day of year (DOY) 102 was identified as the disease onset threshold. Below-average yield occurred in 87% of the disease cases when disease onset occurred before DOY 102 but in only 28% of those cases when onset occurred on or after DOY 102. Subsequently, binary logistic regression models were developed to predict the occurrence and onset of SNB using preplanting factors and cumulative daily infection values (cDIV) starting 1 to 3 weeks prior to DOY 102. Logistic regression showed that previous crop, latitude, and cDIV accumulated 2 weeks prior to DOY 102 (cDIV.2) were significant (P < 0.0001) predictors of disease occurrence, and wheat residue, latitude, longitude, and cDIV.2 were significant (P < 0.0001) predictors of disease onset. The disease onset model had a correct classification rate of 0.94 and specificity and sensitivity rates >0.90. Performance of the disease onset model based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), κ, and the true skill statistic (TSS) was excellent, with prediction accuracy values >0.88. Similarly, internal validation of the disease onset model based on AUC, κ, and TSS indicated good performance, with accuracy values >0.88. This disease onset prediction model could serve as a useful decision support tool to guide fungicide applications to manage SNB in wheat.
Morphologically Constrained and Data Informed Cell Segmentation of Budding Yeast
Authors: Bakker Elco , Swain Peter S. , Crane Matthew M.
Published: February 2017

Motivation

Although high-content image cytometry is becoming increasingly routine, processing the large amount of data acquired during time-lapse experiments remains a challenge. The majority of approaches for automated single-cell segmentation focus on flat, uniform fields of view covered with a single layer of cells. In the increasingly popular microfluidic devices that trap individual cells for long term imaging, these conditions are not met. Consequently, most segmentation techniques perform poorly. Incorporating information about the microfluidic features, media flow and morphology of the cells can substantially improve performance, though it may constrain the generalizability of software.

Results

Here we present DISCO (Data Informed Segmentation of Cell Objects), a framework for using the physical constraints imposed by microfluidic traps, the shape based morphological constraints of budding yeast and temporal information about cell growth and motion, to allow tracking and segmentation of cells in micrflouidic devices. Using manually curated data sets, we demonstrate substantial improvements in both tracking and segmentation for this approach when compared with existing software.

Availability

The MATLAB®code for the algorithm and for measuring performance is available athttps://github.com/pswain/segmentation-software. The test images and the curated ground truth results used for comparing the algorithms are available athttp://swainlab.bio.ed.ac.uk/.
Genomic analysis of family data reveals additional genetic effects on intelligence and personality
Authors: Hill W. David , Arslan Ruben C. , Xia Charley , Luciano Michelle , Amador Carmen , Navarro Pau , Hayward Caroline , Nagy Reka , Porteous David J. , McIntosh Andrew M. , Deary Ian J. , Haley Chris S. , Penke Lars
Published: February 2017

Pedigree-based analyses of intelligence have reported that genetic differences account for 50-80% of the phenotypic variation. For personality traits these effects are smaller, with 34-48% of the variance being explained by genetic differences. However, molecular genetic studies using unrelated individuals typically report a heritability estimate of around 30% for intelligence and between 0% and 15% for personality variables. Pedigree-based estimates and molecular genetic estimates may differ because current genotyping platforms are poor at tagging causal variants, variants with low minor allele frequency, copy number variants, and structural variants. Using ∼20 000 individuals in the Generation Scotland family cohort genotyped for ∼700 000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we exploit the high levels of linkage disequilibrium (LD) found in members of the same family to quantify the total effect of genetic variants that are not tagged in GWASs of unrelated individuals. In our models, genetic variants in low LD with genotyped SNPs explain over half of the genetic variance in intelligence, education, and neuroticism. By capturing these additional genetic effects our models closely approximate the heritability estimates from twin studies for intelligence and education, but not for neuroticism and extraversion. We then replicated our finding using imputed molecular genetic data from unrelated individuals to show that ∼50% of differences in intelligence, and ∼40% of the differences in education, can be explained by genetic effects when a larger number of rare SNPs are included. From an evolutionary genetic perspective, a substantial contribution of rare genetic variants to individual differences in intelligence and education is consistent with mutation-selection balance.
Mapping the unknown: The spatially correlated multi-armed bandit
Authors: Wu Charley M. , Schulz Eric , Speekenbrink Maarten , Nelson Jonathan D. , Meder Björn
Published: February 2017

We introduce thespatially correlated multi-armed banditas a task coupling function learning with the exploration-exploitation trade-off. Participants interacted with bi-variate reward functions on a two-dimensional grid, with the goal of either gaining the largest average score or finding the largest payoff. By providing an opportunity to learn the underlying reward function through spatial correlations, we model to what extent people form beliefs about unexplored payoffs and how that guides search behavior. Participants adapted to assigned payoff conditions, performed better in smooth than in rough environments, and—surprisingly—sometimes performed equally well in short as in long search horizons. Our modeling results indicate a preference for local search options, which when accounted for, still suggests participants were best-described as forming local inferences about unexplored regions, combined with a search strategy that directly traded off between exploiting high expected rewards and exploring to reduce uncertainty about the spatial structure of rewards.