3,835 research outputs found
Brittany Ferguson Earns Young Leader Scholarship
Get PDFCedarville University and the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association (FBFA) have named Brittany Ferguson as the recipient of this year’s James D. Parker Sr. Young Leader Scholarship
A Computational Investigation into the Authorship of Sister Peg
Get PDFThis article engages with the longstanding debate over the authorship of the Scottish Militia pamphlet Sister Peg (1761). While previous evidence is born out of rigorous historical research, a debate remains between whether Adam Ferguson or David Hume was the author. This article uses computational stylometry to statistically investigate this question, with the aim of complementing existing historical evidence rather than overturning it. In doing this it concludes that the work was not written solely by David Hume and, instead, Adam Ferguson is likely to be the sole author or there was a more complicated history of co-authorship
Ferguson-Smith, Malcolm: transcript of a video interview (06-Jun-2015)
Get PDFInterview with Professor Malcolm Ferguson-Smith, conducted by Ms Emma M. Jones, for the History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group, 06 June 2015, in Glasgow. Transcribed by Mrs Debra Gee, and edited by Professor Tilli Tansey and Mr Alan Yabsley. The project management was undertaken by Mr Adam Wilkinson. Professor Malcolm Ferguson-Smith (b. 1931) is Emeritus Professor of Pathology, University of Cambridge. He graduated in medicine at Glasgow University in 1955 and, while undertaking postgraduate training there in pathology, was introduced to research on sex chromatin under Bernard Lennox. An interest in Klinefelter’s syndrome in 1957 to 1958 led to his appointment as Fellow in Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, in 1959, where he established the first chromosome diagnostic service in the USA, and undertook cytogenetic research into Turner syndrome. Research interests include molecular cytogenetics, karyotype evolution, vertebrate sex determination and comparative genomics. He is joint author of 'Essential Medical Genetics'.The History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group is funded by the Wellcome Trust, which is a registered charity (no. 210183). The current interview has been funded by the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award entitled “Makers of modern biomedicine: testimonies and legacy” (2012-2017; awarded to Professor Tilli Tansey)
Book Review of Confederate Outlaw: Champ Ferguson and the Civil War in Appalachia
No full textReview of: Confederate Outlaw: Champ Ferguson and the Civil War in Appalachia. By Brian D. McKnight. Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War. (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2011. Pp. [xvi], 252. $34.95, ISBN 978-0-8071-3769-7.)
Excerpt:
Civil War scholars have produced a number of noteworthy studies of guerrilla warfare in recent years. These historians have reassessed the origins of guerrilla violence, its impact on local communities, its role in the overall war effort, and some of its notorious figures. In Confederate Outlaw: Champ Ferguson and the Civil War in Appalachia, Brian D. McKnight addresses not only the infamous guerrilla Champ Ferguson but also the larger context of the war in southern Appalachia. The author argues that fluid loyalties, extreme paranoia, and opportunism defined Ferguson\u27s war in the Upper Cumberland region [...
Anabarhynchus neboensis Ferguson, sp. n.
No full textAnabarhynchus neboensis Ferguson sp. n. (Figs 20, 21, 22) Type material. Holotype: Female. AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Scrub Road, Brisbane Forest Park, 27 ° 25 '06"S, 152 ° 50 ' 13 "E. Open Eucalypt forest, 26.IX. 1997, S. Winterton, N. Power, D. White, Malaise Trap 2; (QM_T: 185534) (QM). Condition; ex-alcohol, left fore-leg missing, right hind-leg tarsi missing; pined dorsally through thorax on stainless steel. Paratype; 2 females. AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 2 ♀ Brisbane, C. F. Ashby, (ANIC _ 29:007848) (MEI_ 129397), (ANIC _ 29:007846) (MEI_ 129391), (ANIC). Diagnosis. Frons raised with brownish grey pubescence; frontal pile in two rows with broad bare area medially; scutum brownish grey with indistinct vittae; katepisternum and prosternal furrow without pile; fore femur 4 pd, 6 pv, 3 av; middle femur 2 pd, 5-7 pv, 1 av; hind femur 2–3 av. Fore femur basal ventral half blackish grey, dorsally 2 / 3 apically yellow-brown; middle and hind femora yellow-brown, basoventral surface dark grey. Description. Female. Body length: 11 mm. Wing length: 10 mm. (Figs 20–22). Head. Frons raised, width 3.9 x ocellus width; ocellar tubercle flat; face and lower frons raised; parafacial brownish grey; lateral of antenna is a ventrally tapered grey mark; lower frons brownish grey; mid-frons with a pair of large triangular dark brown pubescent marks; upper frons brown-grey. Frontal pile in 2 rows, upper frons pile sparse and semi-erect; lower frons pile densely arranged over dark brown pubescent mark, 3 / 4 length of scape. Scape length 2.4 × pedicel length; scape and pedicel grey, f 1 black, a few short dark setae dorsally on basal quarter; f 2 & f 3 brown, combined length half-length of f 1. Occiput convex, grey pubescence; with several indistinct rows of black macrosetae, 32–34 setae on each side; postocciput to gena grey pubescence with dense, long, pale, hair-like pile; several short black setae anteriorly on gena. Palp basally grey, apical half yellowish with pale hair-like setae; labellum dark grey; prementum setae black. Thorax. Scutal chaetotaxy black (pairs): np, 4; sa, 2; pa, 1; dc, 2; sc, 2. Scutum overlaid with brownish grey pubescence with indistinct thin brown dorsal vittae within broad grey stripe margined by pale grey, irregular brown marks outlining raised areas pre and post-transverse suture. Postspiracular pile present; anepisternum with pale pile admixed with black dorsocentrally; pleura grey; coxae grey with long pile admixed with black macrosetae; katepisternum and prosternal furrow without pile. Wing. Hyaline with brownish grey infuscate, brown veins, and stigma yellowish brown, costal setae beyond humeral cross-vein biserially arranged. Haltere. Pedicel yellow, knob ventrally dirty white, dorsally blackish grey. Legs. Fore femur 4 pd, 6 pv, 3 av; middle femur 2 pd, 5–7 pv, 1 av medial; hind femur 2–3 av over apical half, 1 pd sub-apically; appressed pale pile on dorsal surfaces admixed with short black setae, ventral pile erect. Fore femur basally half blackish grey extending along dorsal surface, with thin grey pubescence; apical half yellow. Middle and hind femora yellow with the basoventral surface marginally dark grey; all tibiae and tarsi yellow-brown, apically darker. Abdomen. Integument black; tergites 2–3 anterior bands broadly black, narrowing towards posterior, covered with appressed black setae; tergites 2–7 laterally with grey pubescence with erect pale pile on tergites 2–3; tergites 4–7 with sparse erect black pile; tergites 2–6 apical bands greyish white; sternites 2–7 black with thin blackish grey pubescence, apical bands greyish white. Terminalia. Sternite 8 (Fig. 22 A): rounded in shape, darkly sclerotised and with faintly striated surface; lateral margins darkly sclerotised, anterior edge with broad indentation; middle posterior half with thinly sclerotised depressed area; long black setae distributed in two rows either side of mid-line extending to anterior margin of depressed area; posterior margin with bilobed apex. Furca (Fig. 22 B): oval-shaped with slender frame, middle frame with paired internal struts anteriorly directed; anterior beam with pair of broad angular anteroventral lobes that join along anterior margin; anteroventral lobe long extending beyond the lateral frame. Variation. Female, body length 10.0– 10.5 mm; wing length: 9.5–10 mm; frons width 3.6–3.8 × ocellus width; occipital macrosetae 34–37 each side; mid-frons mark of a paler brown; Fore femur with 3–4 pd, 5–6 pv, 1–3 av; middle femur with 1 pd, 4–7 pv, 1–3 av; hind femur 2–3 av. Male. Unknown. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the geographic location ‘Mount Nebo’ Brisbane Forest Park, south-eastern Queensland, near where the type specimen was collected. Comments. Known from three female specimens collected in the Brisbane area in August and September in the years 1939 and 1997. Anabarhynchus neboensis sp. n. keys to A. plumbeus Lyneborg and A. plumbeoides Lyneborg at couplet 86 in Lyneborg (2001). It is readily separated from A. plumbeus which has dark grey femora, while Anabarhynchus neboensis sp. n. has yellow-brown femora except the fore femur that is basally dark grey (similar to A. plumbeoides). Just lateral to the antennal bases Anabarhynchus plumbeoides has grey marking that extend medially but remains in contact with the eye margin, while Anabarhynchus neboensis sp. n. has a triangular-shaped grey mark anterodorsally placed above antenna bases. Anabarhynchus neboensis sp. n. appears to be most closely aligned to species to Lyneborg’s montanus species-group.Published as part of Ferguson, David J., Lambkin, Christine L. & Yeates, David K., 2014, Eight new species of Australian stiletto flies in the genus Anabarhynchus Macquart (Diptera: Therevidae) from South East Queensland, pp. 553-582 in Zootaxa 3802 (4) on pages 575-578, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3802.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/25070
Other endings of Mark as responses to Mark : an ideological-critical investigation into the longer and the shorter ending of Mark's Gospel
Get PDFThe Longer Ending and the Shorter Ending of Mark's Gospel are the ancient Markan readers' responses to Mark's Gospel. This leads us to the question of how the authors of these endings read their Mark's Gospel. These endings reflect the ideologies of their authors. The ideologies are related to the interests of the author or the authorial community (ideological primary group), and are embedded within the text. The Longer and the Shorter Ending were produced within a social context where the matter of apostolic authoritative leadership was a sensitive issue. A potential conflict is found in many contemporary texts from the NT and the extra- canonical texts, especially with regard to the apostolic authority of Mary Magdalene and Peter. Their struggles for apostolic authority are often found in the post-Easter narrative context. The assumed ideological primary community of the Longer Ending is Pro- Magdalene. It acknowledged Mary Magdalene as its authoritative leader who enjoyed apostolic authority especially over Peter. This community was interested in mission, and re-authenticated the mission of the Eleven. The LE provides a certain guideline for the qualification of leadership in the LE's community, which is the visual experience of the resurrected Jesus. The assumed ideological primary community of the Shorter Ending is Pro- Petrine. It was in favour of Peter, and suggested him as holding authoritative apostolic authority. This community wanted to clarify the resurrection of Jesus, and emended the empty tomb narrative of Mark's Gospel. It was also interested in mission, and the authority of disciples, especially that of Peter, in their performing mission tasks is highlighted in the Shorter Ending
Anabarhynchus halmaturinus Ferguson & Glatz & Yeates 2019, sp. nov.
No full textAnabarhynchus halmaturinus Ferguson & Glatz sp. nov. (Figures 5–7) http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ AC28793B-0F3F-4957-A7DF-54E9234C9001 Type material. Holotype: Male. AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Kangaroo Island (south east), Boobook Hill Sanctuary; sweep net; 14 September 2008. R.V. Glatz; (SAMA _29:004693) (SAMA). Paratypes: 3 Females. AUSTRALIA: South Australia: 1♀ Boobook Hill Reserve, SE Kangaroo Is., sweep net; 6 October 2008; 35°50.643’S 137°56.813’E; R.V. Glatz; (RGC _9916)(RGC); 1♀ Boobook Hill Reserve, SE Kangaroo Is., sweep net; 6 October 2008; 35°50.736’S 137°56.741’E; R.V. Glatz; (ANIC _29:029328)(ANIC); 1♀ S. Aust; Boobook Hill Reserve, SE Kangaroo Is., sweep net; 4–Oct–2010 R.V. Glatz, 35°50.669’S 137°57.021’E; (RGC _13302)(RGC). Diagnosis. Frons bulging; male frons 4.9 x anterior ocellus width; with black frontal pile erect broadly distributed and longer than scape; scutum with indistinct grey vitta on brownish grey pubescence; ventral surface of katepisternum with broad, dense patch of pile; prosternal furrow with pile. Femoral setae: fore femur, 2–3 pd, 5–6 p v strong admixed with weak, 3 av; middle femur, 1 pd, 7–8 pv; hind femur 1–2 av. All femora yellow-brown with variable amounts of adpressed black hair-like setae on apical dorsal surfaces Description. Body length (Fig. 5): 10 mm. Wing length: 9.5 mm. Head. Frons (Fig. 6) bulging; frons width 4.9 x the anterior ocellus; frons brownish grey, area lateral of antenna and along the parafacial pale yellowish grey; area lateral of antenna with conspicuous, irregular shaped, dark grey velvet pubescent mark; frontal pile erect, black, broadly distributed and longer than scape. Scape and pedicel grey, scape 2.7 x pedicel length, surface of flagellum velvet blackish grey. Occiput convex, with grey pubescence and 53–55 black macrosetae on each side. Palpus basal half grey, apical half yellowish with white pile distributed along length; labellum dark grey; prementum with black setae. Thorax. Scutal chaetotaxy black (pairs): np, 4–5; sa, 2; pa, 1; dc, 2; sc, 2. Scutum medially with thin dark brown vitta, lateral surfaces with dark grey vittae. Ventral surface of katepisternum with broad, dense patch of pile; prosternal furrow with pile; pleura grey; coxae grey with long white pile admixed with strong black macrosetae. Wing. Hyaline with grey tinge; veins dark brown; stigma pale brown; costal setae beyond humeral cross-vein arranged in 3–4 rows. Haltere. Pedicel: yellow-brown; dorsal surface of knob basally yellow-brown, apically velvet dark grey. Legs. Femoral setae: fore femur, 2–3 pd, 5–6 p v strong admixed with weak, 3 av; middle femur, 1 pd, 7–8 pv; hind femur 1–2 av. Femora yellow-brown with variable amounts of adpressed black hair-like setae on apical dorsal surface. Tibiae: yellow-brown. Abdomen. Anterior bands on tergites 2–4 black, extending to posterior margin, lateral areas yellow-brown; tergites 5–7 posterior margin yellow-brown, progressively widening posteriorly; lateral edge with thin grey pubescence, and sparse erect white hair; sternites orange-brown, 2–4 with sparse white pile, sternites 5–7 white admixed with sparse, erect, black setae. Terminalia. Holotype type (SAMA _29:004693): epandrium (Fig. 7A). 2.5 x wider than length measured along the mid-line; darkly sclerotised with the lateral margin strongly projecting ventrally and curved inwardly; posterior surface distributed with strong elongated, black setae. Gonocoxite (Fig. 7B), anteriorly connected by darkly sclerotised hypandrium and longitudinally by a thin membrane; gonocoxite appear round when viewed ventrally and with strong, black, elongate setae distributed on the posterior surface, weakening medially. The apices of the gonocoxal apodeme are darkly sclerotised, extending to the anterior margin. Inner gonocoxal process robust and with stretched claw-like appearance, of equal length as the gonostylus, the inner subapical surface with a few robust, weakly sclerotised, inwardly directed setae. Gonostylus long and robust, slightly narrowing, with clump of weak setae medially on the dorsal surface, and a clump of longer setae on the ventral inner surface directed inwardly, the apical margin relatively broad, rounded and reflexed dorsally. Ventral lobe posteriorly directed with a narrowly tapered apex. Aedeagus (Fig. 7C, D), distiphallus tapered and curved ventrally; dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath broadly triangular, the lateral margins reflexed dorsally; ventral apodeme anteriorly broad and flat with the apical margins broadly flared and apical margin slightly concave; lateral ejaculatory apodeme broad, band-like; ejaculatory apodeme with long lateral lobes. Variation. Body length in female: 10–11 mm. Wing length in female: 9.5–10 mm. Frons width in female 5.1– 5.3 x anterior ocellus width. Femoral setae: fore femur with 1–3 pd, 1–6 p v weak, 1–3 av macrosetae; middle femur with 1 pd, 2–6 pv, 0–3 av; hind femur 1–2 pv macrosetae. Tergites 4–5 anterior band may have narrow yellow-brown posterior margin. Paratype female (RGC _9916): Sternite 8 (Fig.7F), roundish; anterior medal edge concavely indented; weakly sclerotised with lateral margins darkly sclerotised; medially with a relatively small depressed area, on the anterior margins are conspicuous ‘stump-like’ ventrally directed processes with clusters of robust black setae on the apical and lateral surfaces; posterior and anterolateral margins also with clusters of robust black setae; posterior to this the sclerotised surface abruptly weakens becoming transparent; a ridge of denser sclerites lies along the mid-line that broadened anteriorly supporting a cluster of strong anteriorly directed black setae; the anterior apex with a pair of lobes that support setae of varied strength; flanked either side are densely sclerotised, infolding flaps that lie parallel with the sternites dorsal surface. Furca (Fig. 7E), broadly ‘U’ shaped with slender frame; mid-frame with pair of elongate, anteriorly-directed internal struts; anterior beam slender, arched anteriorly with enlarged ‘earlike’ anterolateral processes; anteroventral lobe lateral extensions narrow and elongate, extending beyond the lateral frame. Etymology. Refers to Kangaroo Island where this species was discovered; the specific epithet ‘ halmaturinus ’ is used for numerous species and subspecies from Kangaroo Island. Comments. Known from four specimens, one male and three females collected in September and October. Anabarhynchus halmaturinus sp. nov. key to couplet 30 in Lyneborg (2001) and is readily separated from A. spinosus Lyneborg by the broad, dense patch of pile on the ventral surface of the katepisternum, and hind femur with 1–2 av macrosetae at the subapical position. Anabarhynchus spinosus does not have pile on the katepisternum, and the hind femur has 3–4 av macrosetae distributed along the apical half. Lyneborg (2001) defines montanus species-group as having a depressed area medially on sternite 8, and the furca has well-developed anterior lobes. Anabarhynchus halmaturinus has these characters and is placed in the montanus species-group. Anabarhynchus halmaturinus is closely related to A. abdominalis Kröber, both have yellow-brown legs with tibia darkened apically, the lateral margins of the tergites are orange-brown, and sternite 8 is roundish in shape, thinly sclerotised and on the anterolateral margins of the depressed area are a pair of elevated processes that support clusters of setae, though these in comparison are inconspicuous, only slightly elevated. Anabarhynchus halmaturinus has thus far only been collected on one property several kilometers inland from the south coast of the Dudley Peninsula (eastern end of KI), although it is very likely more widespread on the island. The habitat where A. halmaturinus was collected is subcoastal mallee woodland on limestone and calcareous sand.Published as part of Ferguson, D. J., Glatz, R. V. & Yeates, D. K., 2019, New stiletto flies in the genus Anabarhynchus Macquart (Diptera: Therevidae) from Kangaroo Island, South Australia, pp. 331-345 in Zootaxa 4646 (2) on pages 337-340, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4646.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/334926
Anabarhynchus ravenshoensis Ferguson, sp. n.
No full textAnabarhynchus ravenshoensis Ferguson sp. n. (Figures 20, 21, 22) Type material. Holotype: Male. AUSTRALIA: North Queensland: 13km W of Ravenshoe, Mt Garnet Rd. N. Qld., 2.v. 1967, D.H. Colless, (ANIC _ 29:017688) (ANIC). Condition: Pinned with micro pinned ventrally to pith block; end of abdomen removed for dissection post photography, good condition. Diagnosis: Lower frons raised upper frons flat with faint rugose-striation. Frons width at anterior ocellus 2.8 x ocellus. Mid frons with dark-brown marks angled towards upper frons near meeting at mid-line; lower frons setae arrange slightly wider than width of antenna base. Scutum grey toned pubescence with indistinct lines. Wing cell m 3 open. Postspiracular pile present; katepisternum and prosternal furrow without pile. Forefemur 1–2 pd, 2 pv, 1 av; mid-femur 1 pd, 1 pv, 1 av; hind femur 1 av; all femora with appressed pale pile, admix with sparse short black setae. Description. Male: Body length: 7.5mm. Wing length: 6mm. Head. Integument black. Frons flat, upper frons rugose-striated; frons width at anterior ocellus 2.8 x ocellus; ocellar tubercle flat; antennal base positioned low on frons, face and lower frons slightly protruding; parafacials and lower frons bright grey when viewed anterior dorsally; irregular squarish mark beside eye appearing brown when viewed anterodorsal, blackish-brown viewed anteriorly, indistinctly meeting along mid-line; frons setae in two rows, lower frons setae arrange slightly wider than width of antenna base; lower frons setae third length of scape. Scape length 1.86 x width; scape and pedicel grey, 1 st segment of flagellum brown with several short dark setae to basal dorsal third, flagellar style brown one third length of flagellum. Occiput convex with grey pubescence, several indistinct rows of black macrosetae 24 each side; postocciput area to gena grey with dense, long, pale, hair-like pile. Palpus pale yellow, sparsely supplies with pale hair like pile; labellum brown-grey, prementum without dark setae. Thorax. Integument black. Scutal chaetotaxy black (pairs): np, 4; sa, 2; pa, 1; dc, 2; sc, 2. Scutum with thin brown dorsal line within broader grey band, margined with indistinct brownish-grey line, beside pale grey line, irregular brownish-grey marks margin laterally raised grey areas pre and post-transverse suture; scutal surface with sparse short black setae. Postspiracular pile present; katepisternum and prosternal furrow without pile; pleuron and coxae with grey pubescence; coxa with elongate pale pile admixed with black macrosetae. Wing. Cell m 3 open; hyaline with brown tint, dark brown veins; stigma with brown infuscate margin; costal setae beyond humeral cross-vein biserially arranged. Haltere. Pedicel yellow-brown; scabellum dorsally yellow-brown, ventrally buff-white. Legs. Forefemur, 1–2 pd, 2 pv weak, 1 av; mid-femur 1 pd, 1 pv, 1 av; hind femur 1 av macrosetae; forefemur dark brown with apically ends pale brown; mid-femur basal half brown, apical end pale brown; hind femora basal two-thirds and dorsally dark brown, apical ventral third pale brown; all femora with appressed pale pile; admix with sparse short black setae; tibiae pale brown apically dark, first tarsomere similar to tibia remaining tarsomeres dark. Abdomen. Integument dark brown and yellow-brown; slightly compressed laterally; anterior bands mottled brown, anteriorly matte brown-grey, with weak appressed dark pile; tergites 2–7 posterolaterally bright grey with appressed pale pile; tergites 2–4 posterior marginal bands when viewed posteriorly are bright white, anteriorly grey; tergites 5–7 with black pile. Terminalia. Epandrium (Fig. 22 a), yellow-brown almost three times as wide as long slightly narrowing posteriorly. Gonocoxite (Fig. 22 b), yellow-brown, semi-spherical slightly wider than long when viewed ventrally; posterior ventral edge with broad narrow flange slightly ventrally directed. Joined along hypandrium. Gonocoxal apodeme long moderately sclerotised. Inner gonocoxal process longer than gonostylus, ventrally directed with several large strong setae mixed with weaker on apical inner ventral edge. Gonostylus dorsally directed with several weak setae on basal dorsal surface and inner middle ventral surface directed inward, apex rounded; ventral lobe absent. Aedeagus (Fig. 22 c, d): distiphallus strongly curved ventrally. Parameral sheath sclerotised. Dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath broadly triangular; inner apical end dorsally directed. Ventral apodeme narrow, apical end flared laterally. Lateral ejaculatory apodeme dorsally broad narrowing ventrally, band-like. Ejaculatory apodeme long, well beyond dorsal apodeme, cylindrical, apical end with lateral flanges. Female. Unknown. Etymology. The specific epithet ‘ ravenshoensis’ is derived from the geographic location Ravenshoe, Queensland near where the type specimen was collected. Comments. Described from a single male specimen collected in May west of Ravenshoe north Queensland. Keys to couplet 82 in Lyneborg (2001) and readily separated from A. gascoyne Lyneborg by having a grey scutum with indistinct lines; the fore femur with pv macrosetae and midfemur with 1 pd, 1 pv and 1 av macrosetae. Can be separated from A. tribulationensis sp. n., by the rouges striation to upper frons, the irregular squarish mark beside eye appearing brown when viewed anterodorsal; blackish-brown when viewed anteriorly and indistinctly meeting along mid-line. The lower frons setae arrange slightly wider than width of antenna base. Forefemur with 1 av and mid-femur with 1 pv. Closely related to both A. ewamin sp. n., and A. tribulationensis sp. n., and placed with the kroeberi speciesgroup. For femoral macrosetae differences within the kroeberi species-group see Table 1.Published as part of Ferguson, David J., Irwin, Michael E. & Yeates, David K., 2013, New species of Anabarhynchus Macquart (Diptera: Therevidae) from arid and monsoon tropical Australia, pp. 55-95 in Zootaxa 3680 (1) on pages 81-84, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3680.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/28403
Songs of Inanimate Objects
No full textResearch Background
This project puts computational creativity and the possibilities of audio technology miniaturization in dialogue with sculptural objects. The aim is to use sound and tactile approaches to the manipulation of sound to encourage participants to handle and explore sculptural objects in a gallery context. Inspiration is drawn from the generative design of complex forms explored in architecture by Micheal Hansemeyer and Mark Burry, in design as described by Peter Walters and Paul Thirkle, and in fine art by Kevin Mack. The overall goal is to offer a playful and interactive experience while querying and commenting upon the often-tacit relationship between form, material and sonic behavior.
Research Contribution
This project revolves around quasi-intelligent sound-generating sculptures for gallery exhibition. Building on a long history of sound-producing sculptures and art machines from Luigi Russolo and onwards, this project extends these practices through the incorporation of digital production techniques including 3D modeling, additive manufacturing, computational creativity and post-digital sound production using ‘handmade’ electronics. The use of digital design/fabrication (3D printing etc) alongside artificial listening and software-driven sound generation imbues each sculpture with unique sonic behavior.
Research Significance
Created with the support of an Arts Education and Law Research Project Grant from Griffith University, the first iteration of this project was documented and distributed online, then presented at The Listening Museum III curated by Clocked Out in association with Urban Art Projects in Brisbane. The second set of iterations have been exhibited at Createworld 2018, which is a peer-reviewed national conference. The project was also featured in a Griffith News Story in 2019 in relation to Curious Music 2019 at Brisbane Powerhouse.No Full Tex
Vitamin D Status: Associations With Chronic Disease Risk Factors And Cognitive Function
Get PDFVitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency is common in US adults and is linked to increased chronic disease risk. With the identification of vitamin D metabolizing enzymes and the vitamin D receptor in many tissues throughout the body, vitamin D may play a critical role in many bodily processes that effect numerous disease states affecting millions of Americans. Older adults are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency due to decreased cutaneous vitamin D synthesis, low sun exposure, high sunscreen use, and low vitamin D content in the food supply. Identifying a low vitamin D status and correcting it could be an easy initial step for many individuals to improve their overall health and reduce their chronic disease risk. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between current vitamin D status and risk factors (components of metabolic syndrome and cognitive function) for numerous chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, diabetes,dementia) in men and women aged 50-70 years. Methods: Seventy-two (72) Caucasian recreationally active older individuals (54 females, 18 males) aged 50-70 years old completed this cross-sectional study. Subjects completed a medical history, food frequency, sun exposure, and international physical activity questionnaire. Subjects had a fasting blood draw taken and lipid panel, glucose, and vitamin D values were measured. The testing visit (~1 hour) included measuring height, weight, waist circumference, peripheral blood pressure, central blood pressure and arterial stiffness (via Pulse Wave Analysis), % body fat (DXA scan), and cognitive function (a specific battery of computerized tests utilizing the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) test system). Two-way ANOVA (Physical Activity, Gender) was used to determine group differences for all outcome measures based on physical activity and gender. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to explore potential relationships between serum 25(OH)D levels and disease risk factors. A one-way ANOVA was used to evaluate potential differences across the three levels of vitamin D status (Deficient, Insufficient, Sufficient) for each risk factor for chronic disease. Vitamin D status was also utilized in multiple Chi-Square analyses (gender, physical activity, ANAM scores, vitamin D synthesis (time of year –ability to synthesize vitamin D from the sun or not)). Statistical significance was set at α=0.05. RESULTS: Exactly 50% (36 out of 72) of the study population were vitamin D deficient (9) or insufficient (27). Deficient and/or insufficient vitamin D status was associated with GLU, TGs, % BF, and A/G Ratio. When evaluating the correlation between circulating vitamin D levels (25(OH)D) and risk factors, males had a stronger correlation vs. females. For males the correlations were moderate as vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with P_SP (r = -0.557; p=0.016), P_MEANP (r = -0.496; p=0.036); C_SP (r = -0.534; p=0.022). For females, the correlations were significant but weak as vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with GLU (r = -0.386; p=0.004), TG (r = -0.296; p=0.030), A/G Ratio (r = -0.425; p=0.001). No significant main effect for gender for dietary vitamin D (p=0.171) or for physical activity for dietary vitamin D (p=0.105) was detected. No significant main effect for gender for supplemental vitamin D (p=0.254) or for physical activity for supplemental vitamin D (p=0.695) was detected. The correlation between dietary vitamin D and circulating levels of vitamin D was low and not significant (r = 0.171; p=0.152) and gender and physical activity had minimal effect on these relationships. All the correlations between circulating levels of vitamin D and cognitive test scores were low and not significant. 70% (7 out of 10) of the subjects in the low physical activity group were vitamin D deficient and/or insufficient vs. 51.5% (17 out of 33) and 41.4% (12 out of 29) for the moderate and high physical activity groups respectively. There is a strong association between vitamin D status and the time of year you get your vitamin D levels measured (p=0.036). The inability to synthesize vitamin D during the winter months significantly affects vitamin D status, as 62.5% of subjects tested from November to February did not have sufficient vitamin D status. CONCLUSION: A high percentage (50%) of this study population was vitamin D deficient and/or insufficient, and it went up to 70% if you were in the low physical activity group. Deficient and/or insufficient vitamin D status is associated with risk factors for chronic disease, as levels for GLU, TGs, % BF, and A/G Ratio all decreased with improved vitamin D status. It is more difficult to maintain a sufficient vitamin D status (> 30ng/ml) during the winter months when most people in the US cannot synthesize vitamin D from the sun. Individuals need to pay attention and be more diligent with their dietary and possibly supplemental vitamin D intake, especially during the winter months, in order to maintain a sufficient vitamin D status and take advantage of all the potential benefits vitamin D has to offer for overall health and reduced chronic disease risk
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