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Autism Spectrum Disorder and mental health problems: patterns of difficulties and longitudinal trajectories in a population-based twin sample
Get PDFThere is increasing concern regarding additional psychiatric problems that co-occur with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as reflected in recent changes to diagnostic schemes. However, there remains little research with population-based samples across childhood. We report on additional problems, as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, in a population-based sample of 135 twins with ASD, 55 non-ASD co-twins, and 144 comparison twins low in ASD traits. Frequencies, associated demographic factors, and changes in mental health difficulties from age 4 to 13 years are presented. Our data confirm the high rates of additional difficulties reported in previous studies, and suggest that the profile, associated risk factors and longitudinal course of additional difficulties in ASD may differ from those in typically-developing populations
Action enhances predicted touch
Get PDFIt is widely believed that predicted tactile action outcomes are perceptually attenuated. The present
experiments determined whether predictive mechanisms necessarily generate attenuation, or instead can
enhance perception – as typically observed in sensory cognition domains outside of action. We
manipulated probabilistic expectations in a paradigm often used to demonstrate tactile attenuation.
Participants produced actions and subsequently rated the intensity of forces on a static finger. Experiment
1 confirmed previous findings that action outcomes are perceived less intensely than passive stimulation
but demonstrated more intense perception when active finger stimulation was removed. Experiments 2
and 3 manipulated prediction explicitly and found that expected touch during action is perceived more
intensely than unexpected touch. Computational modelling suggested that expectations increase the gain
afforded to expected tactile signals. These findings challenge a central tenet of prominent motor control
theories and demonstrate that sensorimotor predictions do not exhibit a qualitatively distinct influence on
tactile perception
Forensic apophenia: sensing the bioinformation archive
Get PDFThis article draws on intersecting debates on archives, infrastructures and knowledge in anthropology to analyse a ‘bioinformational turn’ in forensic science. Focussing on
transformations in forensic science provision in England and Wales apparent in the history of a forensic archive, the article frames frictions between ways of making knowledge across scientific cultures, law enforcement, and a legal system that aims to create facts and certainty, against forensic scientists’ concern with process and context across disparate realms of practice. Following scientists’ descriptions of the changing
conditions under which forensic science is currently practiced and the erosion of forensic provision as a public service, we argue that forensic practitioners interrogate positivist projections of forensic science by thinking with complexity as they follow evidence through multiple registers, infrastructures and datasets
Determinants of institutional trust: the role of cultural context
Get PDFWe examine the cultural context for individual's trust in public institutions. To shed some light on possible cultural explanations from a more comparative perspective and cover a wider set of cultural aspects, we use indicators of cultural dimensions by Kaasa et al. (2014) based on Hofstede's (1980) approach. Multilevel regression analysis is conducted with individual-level data from two waves of the European Social Survey (2008, 2010) and regional-level data from multiple sources. Confirmatory factor analysis is used to construct the indicators of social and institutional trust and corruption. Our results suggest that individuals tend to trust institutions less in regions with large power distance. Hence, an important key for governments being more successful in achieving their aims seems to be related to improving the sense of participation and civic responsibility
“Better than watching daytime TV”: sickness presenteeism in UK academics
Get PDFSickness presenteeism refers to the practice of continuing to work during illness. Although not always damaging, there is evidence that working while sick can impair employees’ health and job performance. As the causes of presenteeism are multi-faceted and context-specific, insight into the experiences of different occupational groups is required. This study examines the prevalence of sickness presenteeism among academic employees, the occupational, organisational and individual factors that encourage such behaviour and the implications for their wellbeing and performance. Data obtained from 5,209 academics working in UK universities (56% female) were subjected to thematic content analysis. Most respondents (90%) reported working while sick at least sometimes, with more than half (52%) doing so often or always. Seven interlinked themes were identified: workload pressure; non-negotiable deadlines; lack of cover; culture and working conditions; being professional, working strategically and personal choice. Although presenteeism among academics can be therapeutic and functional, it seems to be mainly dysfunctional with serious implications for their continued wellbeing and performance
Changes to lung surfactant monolayers upon exposure to gas phase ozone observed using X-ray and neutron reflectivity
Get PDFExposure to the secondary pollutant ozone in ambient air is associated with adverse health effects when inhaled. In this work we use surface pressure measurements, combined with X-ray and neutron reflection, to observe changes in a layer of lung surfactant at the air water interface when exposed to gas phase ozone. The results demonstrate that the layer reacts with ozone changing its physical characteristics. A slight loss of material, a significant thinning of the layer and increased hydration of the surfactant material is observed. The results support the hypothesis that unsaturated lipids present in lung surfactant are still susceptible to rapid reaction with ozone and the reaction changes the properties of the interfacial layer
The politics of ECB’s economic ideas and its implications for European economic governance: embedding a resilient EMU from the top-down?
No full textBy focusing on ECB’s economic policy thinking and its internal politics of ideas, this research aims to provide two contributions to knowledge. Firstly, it seeks to enhance scholarly understanding of ideational change inside international organisations (IOs). To do so, it asks (a) how ECB’s economic policy thinking has evolved since the outbreak of the euro crisis, and (b) what drives change in ECB’s ideas on the best way to deepen Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in its fiscal and economic realms. To answer these questions, fiscal policy, structural reforms and convergence towards resilient economic structures are used as case studies. The article argues that the interplay between changes in ECB’s leadership and internal policy discussions promoted by ideational entrepreneurs played a pivotal role in enabling new ideas to emerge inside the Bank. Secondly, by interrogating ECB’s ideas on the way to complete EMU, this research reflects on the future of the euro. It shares the view that the construction of cognitive authority within IOs is an ongoing political struggle over the ideas underpinning the everyday practice of global governance. By looking at the politics of ideas within the ECB, this article aims to contribute to the international political economy of EMU deepening
How pesticides, social isolation and other factors raise the risk of stress and mental disorders among farmers – review of scientific evidence
Get PDFThis report helped the United Kingdom’s Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee learn about the current scientific evidence concerning the mental health of farmers in its inquiry into the problem. This report summarises results from past literature involving a systematic review of 167 publications which examined the mental health of farmers, referenced below. The review used a gold standard method called PRISMA (the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) which promotes a high-quality approach in the way that research comprehensively search for, find and extract data from published research. It is an important method in science because it helps readers assess key questions – what research has been published about a topic, what is the quality of that research, and what can be summarised from that research? This report highlights the following as contributors to mental ill health among farmers: exposure to pesticides, prior injury or a physical illness, hazardous or strenuous working conditions, financial difficulties, loneliness, family vs. work role-conflict and climate uncertainty
Fairness, Openness, Access, and Evaluation
No full textA talk at the Business Librarians Association Conferenc
Reflexivity and fragility
Get PDFReflexivity is, roughly, when studying or theorising about a target itself influences that target. Fragility is, roughly, when causal or other relations are hard to predict, holding only intermittently or fleetingly. Which is more important, methodologically? By going systematically through cases that do and do not feature each of them, I conclude that it is fragility that matters, not reflexivity. In this light, I interpret and extend the claims made about reflexivity in a recent paper by Jessica Laimann (2020). I finish by assessing the benefits and costs of focusing on reflexivity
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