Techniques of vision: photography, disco and renderings of present perceptions in highland Papua

This article draws on ethnographic and historical materials to interpret several related photographs and ritual images created by Fuyuge-speakers of highland Papua. The images are analysed as techniques of vision. That is, the images are shown to bring forth present perceptions in a timely manner, as evaluated by Fuyuge men and women. It is shown how the representations are informed by distinctive Fuyuge retentions of the past in the present, and extensions of the present in the future. The article suggests that the tendency to 'read' photographic images for their semiotic connotations misses the local perceptions at work in their creation and use. Rather, photographic and ritual images are analogous to the relations of persons that produce them, with their mutually connected temporality.     

Reconstructing the Origins and Migrations of Diasporic Populations: The Case of the European Gypsies

The sociohistorical study of Gypsies/Sinti/Roma has been dominated by the "Gypsy-lorist" paradigm. According to this paradigm, these itinerant people belong to a unitary ethnic group of South Asian origin whose cultural practices have been preserved over the centuries. Recently, this perspective has come under criticism for perpetuating the image of Gypsies as an isolate within the wider context of the development of European societies, and, in particular, for placing too much importance on the external origin of Gypsy cultural and linguistic practices. This article attempts to place the available biological anthropological data for Roma origins and population history (from molecular genetic and clinical studies) in the wider ethnohistorical and linguistic context, and assesses their potential impact for an integrationist approach to Gypsy studies. These data suggest that, while the "Gypsy-lorist" paradigm is problematic, Gypsy populations share a common biological origin, a reality that should not be ignored.     

Imagining the Real: The Photographic Image and Imagination in Knowledge Production

The exploratory discussion in this article starts from the fact that it is the realism of photographic representations which enables them, in an indexical sense, to point back to a reality beyond themselves as images. In the same vein, it is as a metonymic space-time fragment that the photograph can indicate a continuation of reality beyond its own framing of the visible. Or, putting it differently, rather than constituting transparent representations, presence in photographs is evoked through absence of the real. What is not problematized in photographic theory and visual anthropology is that photographs thus depend on imagination for their interpretative connection to reality. My argument sees photographic practice as interference, which pushes the medium past the implicit positivist premise for visual knowledge production in anthropology. Furthermore, when understanding the ability to imagine as movements in reason, the separation between imagination and reason, presumed necessary for the scientific production of knowledge, is also challenged. Concerned with rethinking photography in visual anthropology, imagination’s role in knowledge production will be explored through my photographic art project, Houses/Homes.     

And One Day There Was a Coup d’état: Notes and Insights from a Photographic Experience at the Paine Memorial

This article reflects upon the expectation, the encounter and redefinition of strategies, based on a concrete field experience: the photographic workshop named “Fotografías Vitales, Memorias Biográficas y Álbumes Familiares” (Life photographs, biographic memories and family albums), developed at the end of 2014 at the Memorial of the locality of Paine, Chile, with participation of members of that Memorial who are relatives of “disappeared” people. This work aims to think ethnographically about the particular ways photographic images can become relevant in life history and memories, as well as how sociopolitical events form part of an individual narration with varying strategies, divergences and convergences, with tensions or omissions.     

Estimating the proportion of identifiable individuals and group sizes in photographic identification studies

Simple Bayesian statistical models are introduced to estimate the proportion of identifiable individuals and group sizes in photographic identification, or photo‐ID, studies of animals that are found in groups. The models require a simple random photographic sampling of animals, where the photographic captures are treated as sampling with replacement within each group. The total number of images, including those that cannot be identified, and the number of images that contain identifiable individuals are used to make inference about the proportion of identifiable individuals within each group and as the population when a number of groups are sampled. The numbers of images for individuals within each group are used to make inference about the group size. Based on analyses of simulated and real data, the models perform well with respect to accuracy and precision of posterior distributions of the parameters. Widths of posterior intervals were affected by the number of groups sampled, sampling duration, and the proportion of identifiable individuals in each group that was sampled. The structure of the models can accommodate covariates, which may affect photographic efficiency, defined in this study as the probability of photographically capturing individuals.     

A genetic historical sketch of European Gypsies: The perspective from autosomal markers

In this study, 123 unrelated Portuguese Gypsies were analyzed for 15 highly polymorphic autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs). Average gene diversity across the 15 markers was 76.7%, which is lower than that observed in the non‐Gypsy Portuguese population. Subsets of STRs were used to perform comparisons with other Gypsy and corresponding host populations. Interestingly, diversity reduction in Gypsy groups compared to their non‐Gypsy surrounding populations apparently varied according to an East‐West gradient, which parallels their dispersion in Europe as well as a decrease in complexity of their internal structure. Analysis of genetic distances revealed that the average level of genetic differentiation between Gypsy groups was much larger than that observed between the corresponding non‐Gypsy populations. The high rate of heterogeneity among Gypsies can be explained by strong genetic drift and limited intergroup gene flow. However, when genetic relationships were addressed through principal component analysis, all Gypsy populations clustered together and was clearly distinguished from other populations, a pattern that suggests their common origin. Concerning the putative ancestral genetic component, admixture analysis did not reveal strong Indian ancestry in the current Gypsy gene pools, in contrast to the high admixture estimates for either Europeans or Western Asians. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

What's in a (Big) Name? The Art and Agency of a Bornean Photographic Collection

This article concerns the photographic collection of Paka anak Otor, the Bidayuh owner of a ‘mini-museum’ in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, and how it became entangled in his claims to status within and beyond his village. Superficially, the situation is easily apprehended via two analogous approaches within photographic theory and Southeast Asianist ethnography, which treat objects and images as representations or bearers of power and meaning. Here I suggest that such approaches end up eliding the action-centred nature of Paka's ‘big name’-making ambitions. In response, I approach his photographic collection through an analytical framework deriving from Alfred Gell's seminal theory, Art and Agency (1998), which has hitherto remained marginal to Southeast Asianist anthropology. I argue that, more than merely symbolising or bearing his ‘big name’, Paka's photographs were agentive image-objects that actively instantiated it. I conclude by asking how such an analytical shift might encourage a reconceptualisation of ‘power’ and ‘objecthood’ in Southeast Asianist anthropology.     

Photographing Spirits: Biangai Photography,Ancestors, and the Environment in Morobe Province,Papua New Guinea

In this article, I examine the intertwined meaning of photographs as image, object, and expression of the relationship created between photographer and subject among the Biangai, a people of Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. These relations are highlighted through the method of indigenous photography, in which photographic authority is relinquished and the resulting images are discussed. It is argued that the camera becomes the lens through which the past interrogates the present, and the photograph as object and image circulates in networks for which these ancestral persons remain powerful and emotive.     

REMEMBERING WITHOUT COMMEMORATION: THE MNEMONICS AND POLITICS OF HOLOCAUST MEMORIES AMONG EUROPEAN ROMA

Much has been written in recent years about the ways Gypsies (Roma) relate to their past. One important study of Holocaust memory has used the Roma as a paradigmatic case of a people who forget rather than remember their history. Rather than examining processes of 'obliterating' or downplaying the past, the approach taken here is to consider ways in which, despite Gypsy 'presentist' rhetoric, the past is 'remembered' among Gypsy populations. Following Maurice Bloch's call for greater integration of psychological and anthropological work, this article considers what can be gained from seeing memory as a socially distributed function in which the role of 'implicit' memories, embedded in dealings with others, is significant. This approach enables us better to grasp how Romany communities, which were persecuted by the Nazis and their allies during the Second World War, 'remember' the past even though they may not commemorate it.     

Assessing the capabilities of a 4kx4k CCD camera for electron cryo-microscopy at 300kV

CCD cameras have numerous advantages over photographic film for detecting electrons; however the point spread function of these cameras has not been sufficient for single particle data collection to subnanometer resolution with 300kV microscopes. We have adopted spectral signal to noise ratio (SNR) as a parameter for assessing detector quality for single particle imaging. The robustness of this parameter is confirmed under a variety of experimental conditions. Using this parameter, we demonstrate that the SNR of images of either amorphous carbon film or ice embedded virus particles collected on a new commercially available 4kx4k CCD camera are slightly better than photographic film at low spatial frequency (<1/5 Nyquist frequency), and as good as photographic film out to half of the Nyquist frequency. In addition it is slightly easier to visualize ice embedded particles on this CCD camera than on photographic film. Based on this analysis it is realistic to collect images containing subnanometer resolution data (6-9A) using this CCD camera at an effective magnification of approximately 112000x on a 300kV electron microscope.     

Identification of the 185delAG BRCA1 mutation in a Spanish Gypsy population

The 185delAG BRCA1 deletion occurs with a high frequency in Ashkenazi Jews. We detected this mutation in two Spanish Gypsy women (the only Gypsy participants) in an extensive study of 90 high-risk families and 160 women with early-onset breast cancer. One of these Gypsy women belonged to a high-risk family and the other had had early-onset breast cancer. The mutation was also detected in 1 out of 25 Gypsy samples unrelated to breast cancer. All the samples with the mutation shared the marker alleles present in Jewish samples with 185delAG. This is the first report of this mutation in a non-Jewish well-defined ethnic population. According to these findings the carrier frequency of this mutation in Gypsy individuals could be several times higher than that of the general population, and this should be taken into consideration in genetic screening for cancer in Gypsy populations. Received: 2 August 1998 / Accepted: 9 October 1998     

Novel clades of chromodomain-containing Gypsy LTR retrotransposons from mosses (Bryophyta)

Retrotransposons are the major component of plant genomes. Chromodomain-containing Gypsy long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are widely distributed in eukaryotes. Four distinct clades of chromodomain-containing Gypsy retroelements are known from the vascular plants: Reina, CRM, Galadriel and Tekay. At the same time, almost nothing is known about the repertoire of LTR retrotransposons in bryophyte genomes. We have combined a search of chromodomain-containing Gypsy retroelements in Physcomitrella genomic sequences and an experimental investigation of diverse moss species. The computer-based mining of the chromodomain-containing LTR retrotransposons allowed us to describe four different elements from Physcomitrella. Four novel clades were identified that are evolutionarily distinct from the chromodomain-containing Gypsy LTR retrotransposons of other plants.     

Clastogenic effect of the psychotropic drug thioridazine on human chromosomes in vivo

Summary This paper deals with some other population genetic aspects associated with the incidence of a type of primary congenital glaucoma that occurs very frequently in the Gypsy population of Slovakia. In addition to the decreased fertility of affected individuals of Gypsy origin being determined, the relative reproduction fitness and the selection coefficient against this disease were estimated. An increased number of kinship intermarriages in parents of the patients were recorded, namely in the Gypsy group (45.6%). The average inbreeding coefficient for the Gypsy group (F=0.0091) and the non-Gypsy group (F=0.0030) was calculated. Based on the high frequency of primary congenital glaucoma in a relatively small Gypsy subpopulation and on data about their origin, immigration, and settlements in the territory of Slovakia, the authors consider a special case of gene drift—the founder effect—to be the most plausible explanation of the given fact.     

Characterization of a nucleocapsid-like region and of two distinct primer tRNALys,2 binding sites in the endogenous retrovirus Gypsy

Mobile LTR-retroelements comprising retroviruses and LTR-retrotransposons form a large part of eukaryotic genomes. Their mode of replication and abundance favour the notion that they are major actors in eukaryote evolution. The Gypsy retroelement can spread in the germ line of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster via both env-independent and env-dependent processes. Thus, Gypsy is both an active retrotransposon and an infectious retrovirus resembling the gammaretrovirus MuLV. However, unlike gammaretroviruses, the Gypsy Gag structural precursor is not processed into Matrix, Capsid and Nucleocapsid (NC) proteins. In contrast, it has features in common with Gag of the ancient yeast TY1 retroelement. These characteristics of Gypsy make it a very interesting model to study replication of a retroelement at the frontier between ancient retrotransposons and retroviruses. We investigated Gypsy replication using an in vitro model system and transfection of insect cells. Results show that an unstructured domain of Gypsy Gag has all the properties of a retroviral NC. This NC-like peptide forms ribonucleoparticle-like complexes upon binding Gypsy RNA and directs the annealing of primer tRNA^Lys,2 to two distinct primer binding sites (PBS) at the genome 5′ and 3′ ends. Only the 5′ PBS is indispensable for cDNA synthesis in vitro and in Drosophila cells.     

Mutation history of the roma/gypsies

The 8-10 million European Roma/Gypsies are a founder population of common origins that has subsequently split into multiple socially divergent and geographically dispersed Gypsy groups. Unlike other founder populations, whose genealogy has been extensively documented, the demographic history of the Gypsies is not fully understood and, given the lack of written records, has to be inferred from current genetic data. In this study, we have used five disease loci harboring private Gypsy mutations to examine some missing historical parameters and current structure. We analyzed the frequency distribution of the five mutations in 832-1,363 unrelated controls, representing 14 Gypsy populations, and the diversification of chromosomal haplotypes in 501 members of affected families. Sharing of mutations and high carrier rates supported a strong founder effect, and the identity of the congenital myasthenia 1267delG mutation in Gypsy and Indian/Pakistani chromosomes provided the best evidence yet of the Indian origins of the Gypsies. However, dramatic differences in mutation frequencies and haplotype divergence and very limited haplotype sharing pointed to strong internal differentiation and characterized the Gypsies as a founder population comprising multiple subisolates. Using disease haplotype coalescence times at the different loci, we estimated that the entire Gypsy population was founded approximately 32-40 generations ago, with secondary and tertiary founder events occurring approximately 16-25 generations ago. The existence of multiple subisolates, with endogamy maintained to the present day, suggests a general approach to complex disorders in which initial gene mapping could be performed in large families from a single Gypsy group, whereas fine mapping would rely on the informed sampling of the divergent subisolates and searching for the shared genomic region that displays the strongest linkage disequilibrium with the disease.     

Ethnic mobilization and the state: the Roma in Eastern Europe

The political mobilization of marginalized ethnic groups is a process indispensable for the realization of their political objectives. This article identifies the key criteria and conditions that promote and impede successful ethnic mobilization and analyses the determinants of state policy towards newly mobilizing ethnic minorities. The theoretical arguments receive empirical support from the findings of a comparative study of the Romani (Gypsy) minority in seven East European states.     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics of Nonthermal Irreversible Electroporation in Vegetable Tissue

We introduce and characterize the use of MRI for studying nonthermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) in a vegetative tissue model. NTIRE is a new minimally invasive surgical technique for tissue ablation in which microsecond, high electric-field pulses form nanoscale defects in the cell membrane that lead to cell death. Clinical NTIRE sequences were applied to a potato tuber tissue model. The potato is used for NTIRE studies because cell damage is readily visible with optical means through a natural oxidation process of released intracellular enzymes (polyphenol oxidase) and the formation of brown-black melanins. MRI sequences of the treated area were taken at various times before and after NTIRE and compared with photographic images. A comparison was made between T1W, T2W, FLAIR and STIR MRIs of NTIRE and photographic images. Some MRI sequences show changes in areas treated by irreversible electroporation. T1W and FLAIR produce brighter images of the treated areas. In contrast, the signal was lost from the treated area when a suppression technique, STIR, was used. There was similarity between optical photographic images of the treated tissue and MRIs of the same areas. This is the first study to characterize MRI of NTIRE in vegetative tissue. We find that NTIRE produces changes in vegetative tissue that can be imaged by certain MRI sequences. This could make MRI an effective tool to study the fundamentals of NTIRE in nonanimal tissue.     

LTR-Retrotransposons in R. exoculata and Other Crustaceans: The Outstanding Success of GalEa-Like Copia Elements

Transposable elements are major constituents of eukaryote genomes and have a great impact on genome structure and stability. They can contribute to the genetic diversity and evolution of organisms. Knowledge of their distribution among several genomes is an essential condition to study their dynamics and to better understand their role in species evolution. LTR-retrotransposons have been reported in many diverse eukaryote species, describing a ubiquitous distribution. Given their abundance, diversity and their extended ranges in C-values, environment and life styles, crustaceans are a great taxon to investigate the genomic component of adaptation and its possible relationships with TEs. However, crustaceans have been greatly underrepresented in transposable element studies. Using both degenerate PCR and in silico approaches, we have identified 35 Copia and 46 Gypsy families in 15 and 18 crustacean species, respectively. In particular, we characterized several full-length elements from the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata that is listed as a model organism from hydrothermal vents. Phylogenic analyses show that Copia and Gypsy retrotransposons likely present two opposite dynamics within crustaceans. The Gypsy elements appear relatively frequent and diverse whereas Copia are much more homogeneous, as 29 of them belong to the single GalEa clade, and species- or lineage-dependent. Our results also support the hypothesis of the Copia retrotransposon scarcity in metazoans compared to Gypsy elements. In such a context, the GalEa-like elements present an outstanding wide distribution among eukaryotes, from fishes to red algae, and can be even highly predominant within a large taxon, such as Malacostraca. Their distribution among crustaceans suggests a dynamics that follows a “domino days spreading” branching process in which successive amplifications may interact positively.     

Symmetrical breast reconstruction: is there a role for three-dimensional digital photography?

Clinical applications of three-dimensional digital photography include assessments of breast volume and contour. It was hypothesized that knowledge of preoperative and postoperative breast volumes might facilitate obtaining symmetry after reconstructions with autologous tissue or implants. Breast reconstruction was performed for 382 women during a 4-year period. Of those women, 334 completed all phases of the reconstruction and underwent symmetry analysis. Reconstructive procedures included the use of pedicle transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps, free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps, deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps, superior gluteal artery perforator flaps, or latissimus dorsi flaps or expanders/implants. Three-dimensional digital photographic images were obtained for 33 women, whereas the remaining 301 women were not digitally photographed. The differences in symmetry after the initial reconstruction and after the secondary procedures were compared for all women and for the groups with and without three-dimensional photographic images. For the group with three-dimensional imaging, initial volume symmetry was obtained for 73 percent, initial contour symmetry was obtained for 27 percent, secondary procedures were necessary for 70 percent, final volume symmetry was obtained for 88 percent, and final contour symmetry was obtained for 79 percent. For the group without three-dimensional photographic images, initial volume symmetry was obtained for 57 percent, initial contour symmetry was obtained for 34 percent, secondary procedures were necessary for 50 percent, final volume symmetry was obtained for 80 percent, and final contour symmetry was obtained for 71 percent. The results demonstrated that there was no significant difference in final contour and volume symmetry between women who had or did not have three-dimensional digital photographic images taken. However, the results demonstrated that autologous tissue reconstructions resulted in improved contour and volume symmetry, compared with implant reconstructions.     

Quantitative tales of ethnic differentiation: measuring and using Roma/Gypsy ethnicity in statistical analyses

This paper analyses the use of ethnicity in quantitative models, focusing on Roma/Gypsy ethnic affiliation. Three research models are identified, together with characteristic measurement and model specification issues. A path model is estimated as a methodological example in order to explore the association of Roma/Gypsy ethnic affiliation with church attendance in Romania, using data from two surveys with national and Roma samples. Direct, mediated and moderated relationships involving ethnic affiliation are highlighted and discussed in relation to the processes of ethnic differentiation.