37 research outputs found
Assessment of musculoskeletal stress marker development in the hand
No full textThe analysis of musculoskeletal stress marker (MSM) development is a commonly employed tool in osteological surveys and is used to infer patterns of occupational activity and societal organisation in archaeological populations. Although the majority of research into upper limb MSMs has focused on the bones of the arm, the bones of the hand have been conspicuous by their absence. This is likely to be due to methodological issues surrounding the study of hand bones and a presumed lack of variation in MSM development in this area. To date, there have been no systematic studies investigating the presence and variation in MSM morphology for the muscles of the human hand. To address this issue, a presence/absence scoring system was developed for twelve sites of muscle origin and insertion in the metacarpals and phalanges, which was used to determine bilateral asymmetry in the hands of 31 individuals from the Naval Hospital Cemetery site in Greenwich, London. Analysis found observable variation in MSM development between and within the hands, which could be used to determine patterns of asymmetry within the sample. Comparisons with MSM scores from the humeri of these individuals indicate a differentiation in MSM development and asymmetry between these anatomical regions. Levels of asymmetry in the hands and humeri were generally low, with only the dorsal interossei displaying statistically significant asymmetry. Subsequent upper limb MSM research will benefit from the inclusion of data from the hands. These results do not support the continued use of the humerus as a proxy for MSM expression across the upper limb as a whole and suggest that important information regarding behavioural asymmetry in the hands is being lost because of the continual exclusion of this anatomical unit from MSM research
The expression of bilateral asymmetry in the hands and humeri: a methodological comparison
No full textThe population-level preference for the use of the right hand is one of the defining characteristics of Homo sapiens and as such, its evolutionary origins within the human genus remain a topic of interest. Identifying hand preference in extinct hominin species is complicated by the difficulty in distinguishing markers of laterality in the bones of the upper limb. These difficulties are further compounded by the range of osteological methods available to study asymmetry and the under-representation of the bones of the hand in such studies.To better understand the evolution of handedness within the hominin lineage, the effect of methodology on asymmetry expression must first be clarified, as this in turn influences our notions of handedness in individuals and groups. The current study took an inclusive approach to the measurement of upper limb asymmetry in both modern human and non-human primate samples. To assess the contribution that the bones of the hand can make to asymmetry research, data from the metacarpals and phalanges were compared with that from the humerus, a more commonly-studied region of the upper limb. Both metric and musculoskeletal stress marker (MSM) data were collected and compared in order to assess the comparability of asymmetry profiles generated by contrasting methodological approaches. Asymmetry was determined for a sample of modern human skeletons and a non-human primate sample comprising Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii and Gorilla gorilla gorilla.Two key findings emerge from these analyses: 1) The expression of asymmetry differs, in terms of both direction and magnitude, between the bones of the hand and the humerus. Differences are also apparent between the metacarpals and phalanges. 2) Metric and MSM methods differ in the asymmetry profiles they generate, with the MSM method generally underestimating the magnitude of asymmetry present in a sample, relative to that identified by a metric approach. In addition, the various skeletal samples studied exhibit variation in their relative asymmetry profiles which can be attributed to potential differences in functional recruitment patterns in the upper limbs of these individuals.Together, these findings clearly highlight the care that must be taken in analyses of asymmetry, due to the level of methodological variation present in currently inter-changeable approaches. The relatively neglected region of the hand has an important contribution to make to our understanding of asymmetry in the upper limb. The results of this study recommend the adoption of a more inclusive approach to the study of upper limb bilateral asymmetry, particular when inferences are to be made regarding handedness. By combining methodological approaches and incorporating data from across the upper limb, a more accurate picture of asymmetry expression will emerge and allow us to better understand the evolutionary development of this trait in our hominin ancestors
The expression of asymmetry in hand bones from the medieval cemetery at Écija, Spain
No full textThe unique nature of ‘handedness’ in modern humans poses questions about the development of this trait in both extinct hominid species and archaeological populations. An examination of the expression of hand preference in skeletal material is required to answer such questions. The main focus of previous research on asymmetry and hand preference has been on the bones of the upper limb, rather than those of the hand. This study addresses this issue by exploring the expression of asymmetry in the metacarpals and phalanges in 65 adult skeletons from the Medieval Muslim cemetery in Écija, Spain. From comparisons of metric properties of the bones and muscle marker development, varying patterns of asymmetry distribution were found. Sex was found to have a highly significant effect on metric properties, but not on asymmetry scores or muscle development. Age was not found to be significant in any of the analyses. These results suggest that the expression of hand preference varies throughout the hand, and is influenced by the method with which it is assessed. The bones of the hand have an important contribution to make to handedness research, as long as care is paid to associated methodological issue
Martin Scorsese's America
No full textFor over four decades, Martin Scorsese has been the chronicler of an obsessive society, where material possessions and physical comfort are valued, where the pursuit of individual improvement is rewarded and where male prerogative is respected and preserved.
Scorsese has often described his films as sociology and he has a point: his storytelling condenses complex information into comprehensible narratives about society. In this sense, he has been a guide through a dark world of nineteenth century crypto-fascism to a fetishistic twentieth century in which goods, fame, money and power are held to have magical power.
Author of Tyson: Nurture of the Beast and Beckham, Ellis Cashmore turns his attention to arguably the most influential living film- maker to explore how Scorsese envisions America. Greed, manhood, the city and romantic love feature on Scorsese's landscape of secular materialism. They are among the themes Cashmore argues have driven and inform Scorsese's work. This is America, as seen through the eyes of Martin Scorsese and it is a deeply unpleasant place.
Cashmore's book discloses how, collectively, Scorsese's films present an image of America. It's an image assembled from the perspectives of obsessive people, whether burned-out paramedics, compulsive entrepreneurs, tortured lovers, or celebrity-fixated comedians. It's collected from pool halls, taxicabs, boxing rings and jazz clubs. It's an image that's specific, yet ubiquitous. It is Martin Scorsese's America
"They did not believe me” Responding to child sexual abuse by Church personnel in Australia
No full textChild sexual abuse (CSA) by Church personnel has been subject to study internationally. Such studies have often held a specific focus on the Roman Catholic Church in nations such as Ireland, Belgium and the United States of America (USA). This paper discusses the findings of a study conducted by the author which considers the perspectives of 81 survivors of child sexual abuse by Church personnel in Australia. Participants in this study completed an online survey and then nominated to undertake an in depth interview. The majority of respondents to the survey (66 - 69%) reported experiencing CSA in a Roman Catholic Church, school or children’s home. This paper explores the voices of survivors and recognises the complex and dynamic ways in which they continue to construct and manage their experiences of CSA by Church personnel. In particular, this study considers survivors’ perspectives of the ways in which Churches have responded to their informal disclosures and official complaints of CSA by Church personnel. Similarly to other locations across the world, participants in this study reported feeling re-victimised by Church processes. Participants reported high levels of dissatisfaction with Church policy and procedure in managing child protection issues, as well as high levels of dissatisfaction with the outcome of their complaints
Utility of newer technologies for the diagnosis of active and latent tuberculosis
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 91-109).Since the 1800s the tuberculin skin test (TST) has been the only available test for latent tuberculosis (LTBI). Recently, interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have been developed which are based upon the responses of peripheral blood effector cells to M.tb-specific antigens [early secretory antigenic target -6 (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein (CFP10)]. Discordance between the TST and IGRAs has been well documented but remains largely unexplained
Out of care, into university: raising higher education access and achievement of care leavers
No full textAround 40,000 children are estimated to require out-of-home care in Australia and this number has risen every year over the past decade (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014a). Young people up to 18 years who are unable to live with their birth families are placed in different forms of out-of-home care, including kinship care, foster care, residential care, family group homes, and independent living. People who spent time in out-of-home care before the age of 18 are subsequently referred to as care leavers when they transition out of the system.
Care leavers rarely transition to higher education. They are largely excluded from the level of education that brings the highest wage premiums and lifetime rewards. Despite their extremely low university participation rates, there is no national agenda for improvement. This research project was conducted by La Trobe University and funded through an external research grant provided by the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) at Curtin University. This report aims to provide the basis for such an agenda by highlighting the nature and extent of the problem, and suggesting practical solutions within both the education and community service sectors. Our research adopted a mixed methods approach and included: a literature review; an examination of national data sets; an online survey of public universities in Australia; and interviews with senior representatives from major out-of-home care service providers. We provide recommendations targeted to the Australian Government, state and territory governments, higher education institutions, and community service organisations.
Three reforms are required to improve the access and achievement of care leavers in higher education:
The collection of nationally consistent data on higher education access and outcomes for care leavers.
Policy reform within the education and community service sectors including greater recognition of this under-represented student cohort and support for the transition of young people from out-of-home care to adulthood.
An over-arching need for cultural change that challenges the often low expectations for care leavers
