Art, biology and technology. Interdisciplinary relations in the science lab

Bio art, understood as the convergence of the relations between art, biology and technology, constitutes a useful case study to discuss the meaning of interdisciplinarity in the artistic field. This paper explores different discourses around interdisciplinarity in order to challenge certain generic approaches for their ineffectiveness when assessing artistic practices. It is proposed that the analysis of interdisciplinarity must address the singular connections produced in the artistic practice itself, considering the impossibility of reducing the complexity of interdisciplinary dialogues into generic considerations. Taking bioart as a case study, different kinds of relationships between the artist and the lab are identified and analyzed, ranging from the use of the lab as a true atelier and as a resource for materials and techniques, to the rejection of the lab by proposing amateurism as an alternative. estrategias amateur, pasando por su utilización como fuente de técnicas y materiales.

Imperial Migrations. Colonial Communities and Diaspora in the Portuguese World

This volume explores the role and history of migration and diaspora within the Portuguese empire, investigating what role colonial communities and diaspora have had in shaping the Portuguese empire and its heritage. The book consists of twelve case studies which look at topics such as Portuguese migration to Africa, the Ismaili and the Swiss presence in Mozambique, the Goanese in East Africa, the Chinese in Brazil, and the history of the African presence in Portugal.

'Neo-Latin Writing in the British Isles'

This chapter seeks to identify cultural and generic trends and authorial methodologies that may serve to unify or to differentiate between the histories of neo-Latin literature in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It considers ways in which Latin served to bridge horizontal spaces (both physical and metaphorical) between four British regions, between neo-Latin writers in Britain and their continental predecessors and peers, and between Latin and the respective vernacular(s). It also examines vertical spaces (both chronological and cultural) between the neo-Latin and the classical Latin text, and between the linear demarcations of ‘early modern’, ‘Augustan’ and ‘Romantic’. An assessment of links between nationhood and the neo-Latin text as evinced by anthologies, antiquarian and quasi-historical writing, is followed by examples of generic continuity and metamorphosis in the British neo-Latin pastoral, ode and epigram. The concluding sections offer two generic case-studies (neo-Latin epic and didactic) both of which, it is argued, engendered the birth of specifically British versions of the mock-heroic and mock-didactic.

Anger, aggression, and self-harm in PTSD and complex PTSD

This study examined the contribution of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and symptomatology to the difficulties of anger, aggression, and self-harm in a Northern Ireland clinical community sample. A "current complex PTSD" (CCPTSD) group (n = 11) was compared with a "current PTSD" group (n = 31) on self-report measures of these variables. The CCPTSD group demonstrated significantly higher levels of physical aggression and selfharm than the PTSD group. The complex PTSD symptom of 'alterations in self-perception' was a significant predictor of aggression and history of self-harm, suggesting the potential role of posttraumatic shame and self-loathing in PTSD theoretical models of these destructive behaviors. Social desirability was a notable confounding influence in the assessment of anger, aggression, and self-harm in traumatised individuals.

Trauma typology as a risk factor for aggression and self-harm in a complex PTSD population: The mediating role of alterations in self-perception

This study examined the role of prolonged, repeated traumatic experiences such as childhood and sectarian trauma in the development of posttraumatic aggression and self-harm. Forty-four adult participants attending therapy for complex trauma in Northern Ireland were obtained via convenience sampling. When social desirability was controlled, childhood emotional and physical neglect were significant correlates of posttraumatic hostility and history of self-harm. These relationships were mediated by alterations in self-perception (e.g., shame, guilt). Severity of sectarian-related experiences was not related to self-destructive behaviors. Moreover, none of the trauma factors were related to overt aggressive behavior. The findings have implications for understanding risk factors for posttraumatic aggression and self-harm, as well as their treatment. © 2013 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Reappraisal of the type species of Polysiphonia (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta)

The genus Polysiphonia Greville, nom. cons., has had a long and confused nomenclatural history. At present, Polysiphonia has a wide circumscription, including at least 200 species, but it is heterogeneous in many vegetative and reproductive developmental features. Central to any re-evaluation of the genus is a detailed examination of the type species of Polysiphonia, P. urceolata (Lightfoot ex Dillwyn) Greville, which is conspecific with P. stricta (Dillwyn) Greville. We here report on the vegetative and reproductive morphology of P. stricta, including P, urceolata, based on type and other material from the British Isles. Thalli consist of prostrate and erect ecorticate axes with four pericentral cells, attached by unicellular rhizoids remaining in open connection with pericentral cells. Prostrate axes lack vegetative trichoblasts; trichoblasts occur seasonally on erect axes. Branch initials are cut off from the subapical cell at intervals of four or five segments in dichotomous and alternating pairs rather than being formed horn each axial cell in the spiral pattern typical of most species of Polysiphonia. Spermatangial branch initials, which are trichoblast homologues, are produced directly from each axial cell at the tips of erect branches, not subtended by trichoblasts, and have two- to five-celled sterile tips when mature. The mature carpogonial branch is four-celled with a two-celled first sterile group and a one-celled second sterile group. Following presumed fertilization, direct fusion apparently takes place between carpogonium and auxiliary tell; mature cystocarps are usually urceolate. Tetrasporangia are formed from the third pericentral cell, in straight series, and have two pre-sporangial cover cells. Previous accounts of a third, post-sporangial cover cell could not be substantiated. P. stricta and a small group of other Polysiphonia species differ in several important respects from most members of the genus, which have rhizoids cut off from pericentral cells by a cell division, abundant trichoblasts, spirally arranged tetrasporangia and a post-sporangial cover cell. The branching pattern of P. stricta highlights the difficulties of distinguishing between the tribes Polysiphonieae and Pterosiphonieae.

A Contested Landscape: Monuments, public memory, and post-Soviet Identity in Stavropol’, Russia

Much recent literature in cultural, political and social geography has considered the relationship between identity, memory, and the urban landscape. This paper interrogates such literature through exploring the complex materialisation of memorialisation in post-Soviet Russia. Using the example of the statue of General Alexei Ermolov in Stavropol', an analysis of the cityscape reveals interethnic tensions over differing interpretations of the life and history of the person upon whom the statue is based. The existence of a rich literature on Ermolov and the Russian colonial experience in the North Caucasus helps to explain this. The symbolic cityscape of Stavropol' plays an important role in interethnic relations in the multi-ethnic city; it is both an arena through which Russian identity is communicated with people and produced and reproduced, and an arena through which Russian citizens compete with each other for authority on historical narratives that operate at and between a number of scales. People's readings of the cityscape can reveal much about power and space in contemporary Russia.

Cross-Cultural Intelligence (CQ): its impact on British Expatriates Adjustment in International Construction Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the facets of cultural intelligence (CQ) (cognitive, meta-cognitive, motivational and behavioural) and the dimensions of cross-cultural adjustment (interaction, general and work adjustment).

Design/methodology/approach: Interviews and questionnaire survey were carried out with British expatriates from the architectural, engineering and construction sector. A total of 191 respondents, with experience from 29 different countries, actively participated in this research. Structural equation model was subsequently developed to investigate the relationship between elements of CQ and cross-cultural adjustment.

Findings: Results of structural equation modelling revealed that collectively all the four aspects of CQ have significant influence on general, interaction and work adjustment, particularly motivational and cognitive CQ. Cognitive CQ which empowers the expatriates with in-depth knowledge about different cultures was a significant predictor of interaction and work adjustment, whereas, motivational CQ is a significant predictor for general and work adjustment. However, no support was gathered for meta-cognitive and behavioural aspects of CQ.

Practical implications: Globally, construction companies and projects are entering an era of increased internationalisation which has prompted the migration/promotion of British construction professionals to different parts of the world for their specialised capabilities and skills. Thus, it is of utmost importance that these professionals adjust to their new world of varied culture and still be productive in their work.

Originality/value: An understanding of these essential factors can actually help British construction organisations to select and mentor individuals and to provide necessary training for successful international assignments.