title: On interpellation: an introduction to specular sociology

authors: Casser, Joan

subjects: Interpellation

abstract: Louis Althusser's theory of interpellation represents certain social phenomena (including, but not limited to: class, state power, philosophy, and art) as being constituted by mirror structures of mis/recognition (cf. Althusser, 2014, 2003, 1971a, 1970). A specular interpretation of socialisation suggests how the academic discipline of sociology could further its epistemic intent by critically studying the specular indices of social structures: hence the prospect of a specular sociology. Therein this thesis applies Althusser's description of structural causality to explain the overdetermined, and therefore contingent, consequences of interpellation upon individual agency in historical (Part I), logical (Part II), and empirical terms (Part III). Each part (I, II & III) is comprised of three chapters with each chapter containing four sections: (§1.1-§9.4). The readability of a given text is frequently abstracted from the material basis of prestructured knowledge for reasons of ostensibly immediate intelligibility, in effect, mediate forms of textuality do not receive sufficient recursive iteration during practices of socialisation (cf. Sollers 1983; Nancy and Lacoue-Labarthe, 1992; Pêcheux, 1982; Angermüller, 2005; Solomon, 2012). To understand the interpellative effects of socially instituted mis/recognition Althusser formulated a general theory of discourse (GT of discourse) that sought to establish a "differential" method for the analysis of discursive "elements" and "constraints" (q.v. Althusser, 2003). Although Althusser's GT of discourse did not find final form his envisaged research program does present a preliminary exposition of interpellative effects in relation to structures of discourse (q.v. Montag, 2015). The linear inception of interpellation is referenced in the historical movement of textuality, due to this, a non-linear reading of social action becomes the interpretive gesture of post-interpellative agency announced by the introduction to specular sociology that is read in the succeeding lines. Interpellative acts are thus conveyed in the linearity of discursive structures which inform the ideal conventions of historically specific enunciative systems (cf. Foucault, 1972; Searle, 1969). The delineation of this discourse defines the incipient field of specular sociology.

text: On interpellation: an introduction to specular sociology Louis Althusser's theory of interpellation represents certain social phenomena (including, but not limited to: class, state power, philosophy, and art) as being constituted by mirror structures of mis/recognition (cf. Althusser, 2014, 2003, 1971a, 1970). A specular interpretation of socialisation suggests how the academic discipline of sociology could further its epistemic intent by critically studying the specular indices of social structures: hence the prospect of a specular sociology. Therein this thesis applies Althusser's description of structural causality to explain the overdetermined, and therefore contingent, consequences of interpellation upon individual agency in historical (Part I), logical (Part II), and empirical terms (Part III). Each part (I, II & III) is comprised of three chapters with each chapter containing four sections: (§1.1-§9.4). The readability of a given text is frequently abstracted from the material basis of prestructured knowledge for reasons of ostensibly immediate intelligibility, in effect, mediate forms of textuality do not receive sufficient recursive iteration during practices of socialisation (cf. Sollers 1983; Nancy and Lacoue-Labarthe, 1992; Pêcheux, 1982; Angermüller, 2005; Solomon, 2012). To understand the interpellative effects of socially instituted mis/recognition Althusser formulated a general theory of discourse (GT of discourse) that sought to establish a "differential" method for the analysis of discursive "elements" and "constraints" (q.v. Althusser, 2003). Although Althusser's GT of discourse did not find final form his envisaged research program does present a preliminary exposition of interpellative effects in relation to structures of discourse (q.v. Montag, 2015). The linear inception of interpellation is referenced in the historical movement of textuality, due to this, a non-linear reading of social action becomes the interpretive gesture of post-interpellative agency announced by the introduction to specular sociology that is read in the succeeding lines. Interpellative acts are thus conveyed in the linearity of discursive structures which inform the ideal conventions of historically specific enunciative systems (cf. Foucault, 1972; Searle, 1969). The delineation of this discourse defines the incipient field of specular sociology.

year: 2020

title: The Breakdown of Skeletal Muscle in Dairy Cows During Peak Lactation

authors: Gray, Tarra Stacee

subjects: dairy cows

abstract: The decline in fertility in dairy cows is of international concern. Since 1950, milk production demands have increased while first service rates of conception have decreased. It is unclear why fertility has decreased, however current dairy management practice requires cows to be kept on a tight yearly calving schedule to ensure maximum milk production over the lifetime of the cow. The current postulate suggests that this regime places a high metabolic burden on the cows, which in turn requires the breakdown of tissues such as fat and muscle to provide substrates to meet the increased energy demands of lactation.

Immediately after calving, dairy cows enter a state of negative energy balance (EB), as they cannot consume enough energy to sustain lactation. During this period of negative EB, fat is mobilised in the form of non-esterified fatty acids to help supply the body with the extra energy it needs, but fat mobilisation decreases after four weeks while cows remain in a state of negative EB for several more weeks. It is unclear whether or not muscle breakdown occurs and plays a role in the restoration of EB in lactating cows during peak lactation. I hypothesized that the breakdown of muscle does occur in cows during peak lactation, and that it occurs to a greater extent in cows producing higher amounts of milk.

Dairy cows from three strains, NZL, NZH and OSH, representing cows with differing milk production abilities (low, intermediate and high, respectively), were studied for 12 weeks postpartum. Blood was drawn at weekly intervals and muscle biopsies taken at -1, 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postpartum.

Analysis of plasma revealed an increase in the abundance of troponin I-fs (a marker of muscle breakdown) over the period of study, suggesting that breakdown of skeletal muscle was occurring. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that expression of the ubiquitin-proteasome (UbP) ligases atrogin-1 (atro1) and muscle ring finger protein 1 (murf1) increased initially, but returned to normal levels by four weeks postpartum. Concentration of mRNA of the lysosomal proteases, cathepsin B, D, H and L, did not change over the period of study. Therefore, the UbP pathway may contribute to the breakdown of muscle detected by troponin I-fs in plasma.

Proteins involved in translation initiation were examined by Western blotting. The ratio of phosphorylated over total eIF2alpha and 4E-BP1 remained unchanged throughout the study, indicating that the breakdown of muscle was not a result of decreased protein synthesis. However, there was a greater ratio of phosphorylated to total eIF2alpha in NZL cows compared with NZH and OSH, suggesting that protein synthesis was less overall in NZL cows than other strains. Measurement of myosin heavy chain composition indicated there was no change in the abundance of type I and type IIx muscle fibres and plasma myostatin levels did not change over the period of study. However, the OSH cows had less myostatin in their plasma than the NZL and NZH cows, suggesting that there may be inhibition of muscle growth occurring in this strain.

The results of this study suggest that breakdown of muscle could be important in restoring the EB in high-producing dairy cows during peak lactation. Upregulation of the UbP pathway during the first four weeks of lactation may contribute to this muscle breakdown. However, it remains unclear what processes then continue to regulate breakdown of skeletal muscle to maintain the elevated abundance of troponin I-fs in plasma from four to 12 weeks postpartum in lactating dairy cows.

text: The Breakdown of Skeletal Muscle in Dairy Cows During Peak Lactation The decline in fertility in dairy cows is of international concern. Since 1950, milk production demands have increased while first service rates of conception have decreased. It is unclear why fertility has decreased, however current dairy management practice requires cows to be kept on a tight yearly calving schedule to ensure maximum milk production over the lifetime of the cow. The current postulate suggests that this regime places a high metabolic burden on the cows, which in turn requires the breakdown of tissues such as fat and muscle to provide substrates to meet the increased energy demands of lactation.

Immediately after calving, dairy cows enter a state of negative energy balance (EB), as they cannot consume enough energy to sustain lactation. During this period of negative EB, fat is mobilised in the form of non-esterified fatty acids to help supply the body with the extra energy it needs, but fat mobilisation decreases after four weeks while cows remain in a state of negative EB for several more weeks. It is unclear whether or not muscle breakdown occurs and plays a role in the restoration of EB in lactating cows during peak lactation. I hypothesized that the breakdown of muscle does occur in cows during peak lactation, and that it occurs to a greater extent in cows producing higher amounts of milk.

Dairy cows from three strains, NZL, NZH and OSH, representing cows with differing milk production abilities (low, intermediate and high, respectively), were studied for 12 weeks postpartum. Blood was drawn at weekly intervals and muscle biopsies taken at -1, 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postpartum.

Analysis of plasma revealed an increase in the abundance of troponin I-fs (a marker of muscle breakdown) over the period of study, suggesting that breakdown of skeletal muscle was occurring. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that expression of the ubiquitin-proteasome (UbP) ligases atrogin-1 (atro1) and muscle ring finger protein 1 (murf1) increased initially, but returned to normal levels by four weeks postpartum. Concentration of mRNA of the lysosomal proteases, cathepsin B, D, H and L, did not change over the period of study. Therefore, the UbP pathway may contribute to the breakdown of muscle detected by troponin I-fs in plasma.

Proteins involved in translation initiation were examined by Western blotting. The ratio of phosphorylated over total eIF2alpha and 4E-BP1 remained unchanged throughout the study, indicating that the breakdown of muscle was not a result of decreased protein synthesis. However, there was a greater ratio of phosphorylated to total eIF2alpha in NZL cows compared with NZH and OSH, suggesting that protein synthesis was less overall in NZL cows than other strains. Measurement of myosin heavy chain composition indicated there was no change in the abundance of type I and type IIx muscle fibres and plasma myostatin levels did not change over the period of study. However, the OSH cows had less myostatin in their plasma than the NZL and NZH cows, suggesting that there may be inhibition of muscle growth occurring in this strain.

The results of this study suggest that breakdown of muscle could be important in restoring the EB in high-producing dairy cows during peak lactation. Upregulation of the UbP pathway during the first four weeks of lactation may contribute to this muscle breakdown. However, it remains unclear what processes then continue to regulate breakdown of skeletal muscle to maintain the elevated abundance of troponin I-fs in plasma from four to 12 weeks postpartum in lactating dairy cows.

year: 2008

title: Angitūtanga o ngā tauira Māori:  Supporting Māori students to succeed in psychology

authors: Martin, Dionne

subjects: Psychology

abstract: Many Māori seek out university degrees to make a meaningful impact on the health of their community. Psychology, is one avenue that attracts Māori to do so. Psychology training has often failed to meet the needs of Māori students, often creating barriers to Māori student success. This thesis will explore barriers and support mechanisms that Māori students experience while attending university in pursuit of psychology degrees. This study will focus on experiences had by those enrolled in The School of Psychology at The Univeristy of Waikato, on the Hamilton campus. Informed by kaupapa Māori guidelines and analysed though the use of pūrākau this thesis highlights some key experiences shared by Māori psychology students. Three key experiences were identified. First, the prominence of Western culture in The School of psychology and the impact that has on Māori sense of belonging and whanaungatanga. Second, support system realities for Māori, identifying key university supports systems and realities associated with ones home environment. Third, the transitional journey to becoming a psychologist and what impact that has on the university journey. With this in mind, some recommendations are made to support Māori student success in psychology. These recommendations advocate for the provision of a more bicultural learning experience, creation of a culturally affirming environment, recruitment and retention of culturally capable staff, appropriate resourcing, funding and training for support services, better support for Māori realities and pathway navigation support.

text: Angitūtanga o ngā tauira Māori:  Supporting Māori students to succeed in psychology Many Māori seek out university degrees to make a meaningful impact on the health of their community. Psychology, is one avenue that attracts Māori to do so. Psychology training has often failed to meet the needs of Māori students, often creating barriers to Māori student success. This thesis will explore barriers and support mechanisms that Māori students experience while attending university in pursuit of psychology degrees. This study will focus on experiences had by those enrolled in The School of Psychology at The Univeristy of Waikato, on the Hamilton campus. Informed by kaupapa Māori guidelines and analysed though the use of pūrākau this thesis highlights some key experiences shared by Māori psychology students. Three key experiences were identified. First, the prominence of Western culture in The School of psychology and the impact that has on Māori sense of belonging and whanaungatanga. Second, support system realities for Māori, identifying key university supports systems and realities associated with ones home environment. Third, the transitional journey to becoming a psychologist and what impact that has on the university journey. With this in mind, some recommendations are made to support Māori student success in psychology. These recommendations advocate for the provision of a more bicultural learning experience, creation of a culturally affirming environment, recruitment and retention of culturally capable staff, appropriate resourcing, funding and training for support services, better support for Māori realities and pathway navigation support.

year: 2025