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Managing masculinity when growing up with a violent father:A qualitative study of boys’ experiences
Get PDFA limited qualitative literature explores children's lived experiences of violence; boys’ relationships with perpetrator fathers remain largely unexplored. Drawing on interviews with 31 boys, this paper explores the accounts of their relationships with their perpetrator fathers, focusing particularly on the implications of boys’ understanding of these relationships for their sense of burgeoning masculinity. Three themes are considered: in (a) relational ambiguity; (b) performing masculinities, managing violence; and (c) envisioning alternative futures and re-visioning the past. Our findings highlight the importance of interventions for boys that facilitate the expression of their often complex and ambivalent feelings and fears about their father's violence, and what it means for them and their future.</p
Embedding Learning as a Practice of Value:Learning from the Experiences of Early Career Social Workers in Scotland
No full textAcross the Global North, professional learning for social workers has become a matter of concern. Efforts to ‘fix’ the problem have focused narrowly on formal methods of learning and show limited connect with recent research. In this article, we report on findings from a mixed-method longitudinal cohort study, which examined early career social workers experiences of learning over the first five years of professional practice. Drawing on a repeat-measure annual online survey, our findings provide an inside-view of how early career social workers in Scotland experience work-based learning over time and how professional learning for social workers can be enhanced. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis and reflexive thematic analysis respectively and integrated using a convergence coding matrix to identify meta-themes. Our findings support an integrative, developmental and ecological approach to professional learning, embedded in a value-led understanding of social work as practice. We invite the profession to embrace and embed learning as a ‘practice of value’, both as an antidote to managerial approaches to practice and learning and as a way of valuing the extraordinary work that social workers do
Specific Procedures for Historic Mortar and Sandstone Analyses—Case Studies of Kelso Abbey and Glenfinnan Viaduct
No full textSandstone was always widespread used in large scale building works in the past centuries, for its abundance and easy carving nature, however this latter also meant lower resistance to the elements and to air pollution with the start of the industrial revolution. Conservation work on historic buildings (stonework, mortar) is often hindered, if not prohibited, by not knowing the composition and sources of the materials used for their construction. Standard test methods are not relevant or not practical in most of the cases simply by not been developed with the peculiarities of historical samples in mind, i.e. these do not consider the difficulties with small sampling sizes, limited chances to repeat a measurement, or the preference of non-destructive assessments. Modern laboratory techniques, however, can be instrumental for providing the required pieces of information, even with minimal or no salvaging of the precious original samples. Adopting such specific assessment methods (CT scanning, X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry etc.) will enable selecting the correct proxy materials, which are identical with the originals and therefore comply with the guidelines of the Venice Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites. Successful application of such sophisticated laboratory characterisation work is presented in case studies involving Kelso abbey and Glenfinnan viaduct in Scotland
Global Patterns of Dental Morphological Variation: Revisiting ASUDAS Trait Frequencies
No full textDental morphological traits provide valuable insights into global human variation and population structure. The Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System (ASUDAS) has long been a cornerstone for documenting crown and root morphology, yet recent discussions have questioned its reliability for characterising population differences. This study aimed to (i) identify the ASUDAS traits most commonly analysed in recent research, and (ii) compare their reported frequencies with those documented in the foundational work of Turner and Scott. A systematic review identified 43 eligible studies comprising 36,919 individuals representing all major subdivisions of humankind. Thirty variants across 27 distinct traits were recorded most frequently, and 29 of these were subjected to meta-analysis using randomeffects models. Nearly all traits showed significant between-group and within-group heterogeneity, indicating strong discriminatory potential but also substantial population-level variability. While broad patterns remain consistent with classic ASUDAS expectations, several traits exhibited expanded regional ranges, reflecting both greater sample diversity and admixture effects. These findings reaffirm the value of ASUDAS traits for describing broadscale morphological patterns while underscoring the need for multi-trait, population-specific, and context-specific approaches when interpreting dental morphology in anthropological research
The electrophilic metabolite of kynurenine, kynurenine-CKA, requires C151 in Keap1 to derepress Nrf2
No full textThe Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 / Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Keap1/Nrf2) system responds to a wide array of structurally diverse small molecules, of both exogenous and endogenous origin, by inducing a robust cytoprotective program that allows adaptation during oxidative, metabolic and inflammatory stress. Here, we report that exposure to the tryptophan metabolite kynurenine and its electrophilic derivative kynurenine-carboxyketoalkene (Kyn-CKA) leads to an increase in the abundance of transcription factor Nrf2 and Induction of Nrf2-target genes, including NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), in murine and human cells. Additionally, both kynurenine and Kyn-CKA activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Using cellular thermal shift assays, we found that Kyn-CKA increases the thermal stability of Keap1-mCherry fusion protein, but not free mCherry, indicating target engagement of Keap1, the principal repressor of Nrf2. Critically, the ability of Kyn-CKA to increase the abundance of Nrf2 and expression of NQO1 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) expressing wild-type Keap1 was greatly diminished in C151S-Keap1 mutant MEFs. Furthermore, Kyn-CKA reacts with Keap1 C151 much faster in vitro than with the small molecule thiol N-acetyl cysteine, suggesting that Kyn-CKA is targeted to C151 by the surrounding active site. Experiments in wild-type, AhR-knockout, and Nrf2- knockout primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages showed that Nrf2 is required for the acute anT-inflammatory activity of Kyn-CKA, whereas AhR is dispensable. Together, these findings demonstrate that Kyn-CKA requires C151 in Keap1 to derepress Nrf2 and reveal that Nrf2, but not AhR, is a main contributor to the anti-inflammatory activity of Kyn-CKA in macrophages
Operation Raptor Rescue:Teacher Resources
No full textWith funding from Maths Week Scotland 2025 the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) have created a set of activities suitable for students in P6-P7 of primary school and in first and second year of high school.A local sparrowhawk has disappeared, and the police suspect that humans are involved. In Operation Raptor Rescue students are challenged to analyse a range of forensic evidence to aid the police in solving the case
Real-scale tests on the cyclic response of trees under toppling loads:experimental investigation and geotechnical interpretative framework
No full textThe collapse of trees, exacerbated by extreme weather events associated to climate change, has become a critical issue, particularly in urban environments where the assessment of tree stability is now an integral component of comprehensive risk management strategies. Standard methodologies for assessing tree stability commonly rely on the interpretation of on-site pulling tests, which provide insights into the mechanical response of trees subjected to lateral forces. In this context, geotechnical engineering can provide a significant contribution to evaluate the overturning resistance of trees, particularly in cases where failure mechanisms are governed by root system uprooting. Indeed, the whole root plate can be conceptualized as a shallow foundation, providing mechanical support to the tree against external loads.This paper presents an experimental campaign of pulling tests conducted on mature trees, at the Botanic Garden of the University of Dundee (Scotland, UK). Mutually orthogonal loading directions, the effects of load relaxation, as well as the response to cyclic loading up to complete uprooting were systematically investigated. The experimental findings are analysed within a geotechnical framework, drawing parallels with foundation engineering principles related to cyclic loading effects on direct foundations subjected to rocking actions. In particular, global mechanical parameters at the macro scale of the trunk collar were derived (e.g. rotational stiffness and damping ratio) and their dependence on the applied loading path systematically compared and critically commented. The results suggest the reliability of the idea of assimilating the root plate to a shallow foundation and provide novel insights into the response of trees subjected to lateral loads, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of their toppling behaviour.<br/
A transcriptomic and proteomic map of primary human cell types
Get PDFMolecular profiling of human primary cell types is essential for understanding human biology. We present a transcriptome and proteome map of 28 primary human cell types. Three major clusters of epithelial, endothelial, and mesenchymal cell types were observed in both the transcriptome and proteome levels along with the discovery of cell type enriched molecules including GRAP and C1orf116. The epithelial cell specific protein C1orf116 was further validated using immunohistochemistry across various human tissues. An exhaustive protein database search considering 39 post-translational modifications (PTMs) revealed novel insights into the PTM landscape including identification of understudied PTMs such as serine O-acetylation and histidine methylation. This also enabled comprehensive characterization of proteins with diverse PTMs. Interestingly, an unexpectedly higher frequency of dioxidation on tryptophan compared to methionine led to the identification of oxidative mitochondria complex subunit proteins. Further, a search strategy accounting for alternative translational start sites, splice junctions and translational readthrough refined genome annotation using proteomic evidence. For example, peptides from translational readthrough including extended sequence of LDHB and MDH1 were detected representing the first peptide-level evidence of these protein readthrough isoforms. Our comprehensive transcriptome and proteome data revealed cell type-specific molecular cues and heterogeneity, offering new insights into disease mechanisms often overlooked by tissue proteomics.</p
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