Moral Horizons of Land and Place

ABSTRACT

A recent ‘moral turn’ in anthropology has cast new light on morality as a subject of ethnographic inquiry, and on the making of moral meaning and judgment. This article, and the special issue it prefaces, contribute to this emergent literature through foregrounding and examining the moral dimensions of land and place. Taking up Didier Fassin’s injunction for a critical moral anthropology – rather than an anthropology of morality – we look to land and place as groundings for moral challenges and practices that are nevertheless not place-bound. A critical moral anthropology of land and place should be directed, we argue, to the interplay of mobility and emplacement, to the dynamics of landscape and ‘dwelling’, and to the multiplicities of expectation and meaning that surround the making and exploitation of resources. In contexts of global and local change, land and place offer productive grounds from which to consider the moral horizons – both spatial and temporal – of our world and our discipline.     

Emplacement and Displacement: Perceiving the Landscape Through Aboriginal Australian Acrylic Painting

Aboriginal Australian acrylic paintings have long been considered representations of mythologically invested landscape. This understanding has been made problematic by recent writings on ‘dwelling’. As common usage of the term ‘landscape’ seems to prioritize vision, to suggest that the acrylic paintings are landscapes only strengthens the suspicion that they are artifacts of displacement or distancing, rather than examples of the emplacement emphasized in this ‘dwelling perspective’. However, this paper will demonstrate that the relationship between acrylic painting and the land is more complex than such an interpretation. It will argue that the Aboriginal objectification of their relationship to the land is not inherently a distancing of the land.     

Infection Status of Hydatid Cysts in Humans and Sheep in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is endemic of cystic echinococcosis (CE). In order to estimate endemicity of CE, we collected data from emergency surgery due to CE in 2002-2010 and also investigated the prevalence of hydatid cysts in the liver and lungs of sheep at an abattoir in Uzbekistan from July 2009 to June 2010. In 14 emergency hospitals, 8,014 patients received surgical removal or drainage of CE during 2002-2010, and 2,966 patients were found in 2010. A total of 22,959 sheep were grossly examined of their liver and lungs, and 479 (2.1%) and 340 (1.5%) of them were positive for the cyst in the liver and lungs, respectively. Echinococcus granulosus is actively transmitted both to humans and sheep, and CE is a zoonotic disease of public health priority in Uzbekistan.     

"In the Clique": Popular Culture, Constructions of Place, and the Everyday Lives of Urban Youth

This study focuses on two teens, Tony and Rufus, and how they used key popular texts to construct a sense of place in the small city where this research was conducted. These two teens mobilized these popular texts in very specific ways, both finding specific thematic links between and across them and also using them to index their relationships with biological and extended family in this city and "down South." This study highlights the complex, emergent, and messy relationships many young people have with popular culture.     

广东肇庆七星岩石灰岩的植物群落及其与风景区景观关系的研究

就肇庆七星岩石灰岩的自然环境、植被的主要特征和植物群落１１个类型作了论述，并对石灰岩植被的发展与风景区景观的关系作了探讨，提出加强保护、发展植被的建议     

The Projection of a Test Genome onto a Reference Population and Applications to Humans and Archaic Hominins

We introduce a method for comparing a test genome with numerous genomes from a reference population. Sites in the test genome are given a weight, w, that depends on the allele frequency, x, in the reference population. The projection of the test genome onto the reference population is the average weight for each x, w¯(x). The weight is assigned in such a way that, if the test genome is a random sample from the reference population, then w¯(x)=1. Using analytic theory, numerical analysis, and simulations, we show how the projection depends on the time of population splitting, the history of admixture, and changes in past population size. The projection is sensitive to small amounts of past admixture, the direction of admixture, and admixture from a population not sampled (a ghost population). We compute the projections of several human and two archaic genomes onto three reference populations from the 1000 Genomes project—Europeans, Han Chinese, and Yoruba—and discuss the consistency of our analysis with previously published results for European and Yoruba demographic history. Including higher amounts of admixture between Europeans and Yoruba soon after their separation and low amounts of admixture more recently can resolve discrepancies between the projections and demographic inferences from some previous studies.     

藏绵羊和小尾寒羊雄性生殖器官组织结构比较

通过比较绵羊(Ovis aries)的两个品种,生活于高海拔(4500 m)地区的藏绵羊与相对低海拔(2080m)地区小尾寒羊雄性生殖器官的组织结构特征,以探讨哺乳动物生殖器官适应高原环境的组织结构基础。采集成年藏绵羊与小尾寒羊的睾丸、附睾、输精管,运用大体解剖、石蜡切片及常规H.E,染色方法,比较二者生殖器官的组织结构差异。结果显示,藏绵羊附睾头和附睾体管腔内的纤毛较长,而附睾尾管腔内的纤毛较短,呈清晰的刷状缘结构,输精管平滑肌细胞较多,固有膜和黏膜层粘连紧密,且形成较明显的不规则皱襞。与小尾寒羊相比,藏绵羊曲细精管的横切面直径、面积和生精上皮的厚度均显著降低(P<0.05);精原细胞和初级精母细胞的直径及面积显著降低(P<0.05),且支持细胞数也显著减少(P<0.05);附睾头、附睾体、附睾尾的管腔内径和外径及纤毛长度均显著减小(P<0.05);附睾体的柱状上皮厚度显著增高(P<0.05),而输精管管腔直径、平滑肌厚度均显著降低(P<0.05)。研究认为,藏绵羊在高海拔低氧环境的长期适应过程中,其生殖器官的组织结构发生了--定的适应性改变,可能与其在高原环境下正常繁殖性能的维持有关。     

Impacts of Mercury on Freshwater Fish-Eating Wildlife and Humans

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge of the toxic effects of mercury on fish-eating birds, mammals, and humans associated with freshwater ecosystems, including new information on the relative risk of elevated methyl Hg exposure for fish-eating birds inhabiting aquatic ecosystems impacted by mining/smelting activities and areas characterized by high geological sources of Hg. The influence of various environmental conditions such as lake pH, DOC, and chemical speciation of Hg, on fish-Hg concentrations and Hg exposure in fish-eating wildlife, are discussed. Although a continuing global effort to decrease the release of this nonessential metal into the environment is warranted, Hg methylation and biomagnification may be limited in some environments due to chemical speciation of mercury in soils and sediments (e.g., HgS) and water quality conditions (e.g., high alkalinity and pH) that do not facilitate high methylation rates. We have shown such limitations for a lake where historic Hg mining greatly increased sediment-Hg loadings, yet Hg increases in small fish of various species are currently lower than expected, and top predators (bald eagles), despite having elevated concentrations of Hg in their blood compared with individuals from nearby lakes, exhibit no Hg-related reproductive impairment or other signs of MeHg intoxication. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that fish-eating human populations may be exposed to Hg sufficient to cause significant developmental effects. However, for humans, we conclude that the current USEPA reference dose for MeHg may be too restrictive, particularly for the less sensitive adult. The health status of indigenous peoples relying on the subsistence harvest of wild foods may be negatively affected by such restrictions.     

桂林岩溶石山“风水林”植物群落数量分类与排序

该研究基于群落学调查,应用TWINSPAN和DCCA方法对桂林岩溶石山"风水林"的植物群落类型进行分类与排序,探讨该地区的植物群落分布规律与环境因子的关系。结果表明:(1)"风水林"乔木层优势种主要有青冈栎、小巴豆、鱼骨木、石山樟、粗糠柴、铁榄、圆叶乌桕、山合欢、檵木和扁片海桐等,灌木层优势种主要有龙须藤、紫凌木、红背山麻杆、皱叶雀梅藤、灰毛崖豆藤、亮叶素馨和疏叶崖豆等,草本层优势种主要有三穗苔草、庐山香科科、野鸡尾和阔叶沿阶草等。(2)TWINSPAN分析结果将"风水林"植物群落的29个样方划分为8个群丛类型,DCCA排序与TWINSPAN分类结果相互验证,揭示了"风水林"不同群丛与环境之间的生态关系。(3)DCCA第一排序轴主要反映坡向的变化规律,即从左到右,坡向由阴坡过渡到阳坡,光照、干热增强,海拔逐渐降低;第二排序轴主要反映坡度和坡位的变化,即从下往上,坡度变陡,坡位由下坡转变为上坡,岩石裸露率升高。(4)坡向和坡度为桂林岩溶石山"风水林"群落结构与分布格局异质化的重要因素。     

现代人类的起源和迁移：来自母性遗传的证据

mtDNA具有极少发生重组、进化速度快等特点,能忠实反映群体的母性遗传,作为人类进化研究的一类重要工具,近年来取得了突出的成就,为现代人类的起源、迁移和进化提供了大量的证据。本文拟对这一领域的研究进展作一综述。 Abstract:With special features,no recombination,fast speed of evolution etc.,mtDNA has been used to study origin,evolution and migration of Homo sapiens as a available genetic marker.The results of these researches provide remarkable evidence to human origin and evolution.This paper reviews the progress in these years.     

Road transport of farm animals: effects of journey duration on animal welfare

Transport of farm animals gives rise to concern about their welfare. Specific attention has been given to the duration of animal transport, and maximum journey durations are used in legislation that seek to minimise any negative impact of transport on animal welfare. This paper reviews the relatively few scientific investigations into effects of transport duration on animal welfare in cattle, sheep, horses, pigs and poultry. From the available literature, we attempt to distinguish between aspects, which will impair welfare on journeys of any duration, such as those associated with loading, and those aspects that may be exacerbated by journey time. We identify four aspects of animal transport, which have increasing impact on welfare as transport duration increases. These relate to (i) the physiological and clinical state of the animal before transport; and - during transport - to (ii) feeding and watering; (iii) rest and (iv) thermal environment. It is thus not journey duration per se but these associated negative aspects that are the cause of compromised welfare. We suggest that with a few exceptions, transport of long duration is possible in terms of animal welfare provided that these four issues can be dealt with for the species and the age group of the animals that are transported.     

Effects of Psychological Stress on Innate Immunity and Metabolism in Humans: A Systematic Analysis

Stress is perhaps easiest to conceptualize as a process which allows an organism to accommodate for the demands of its environment such that it can adapt to the prevailing set of conditions. Psychological stress is an important component with the potential to affect physiology adversely as has become evident from various studies in the area. Although these studies have established numerous effects of psychological stress on physiology, a global strategy for the correlation of these effects has yet to begin. Our comparative and systematic analysis of the published literature has unraveled certain interesting molecular mechanisms as clues to account for some of the observed effects of psychological stress on human physiology. In this study, we attempt to understand initial phase of the physiological response to psychological stress by analyzing interactions between innate immunity and metabolism at systems level by analyzing the data available in the literature. In light of our gene association-networks and enrichment analysis we have identified candidate genes and molecular systems which might have some associative role in affecting psychological stress response system or even producing some of the observed terminal effects (such as the associated physiological disorders). In addition to the already accepted role of psychological stress as a perturbation that can disrupt physiological homeostasis, we speculate that it is potentially capable of causing deviation of certain biological processes from their basal level activity after which they can return back to their basal tones once the effects of stress diminish. Based on the derived inferences of our comparative analysis, we have proposed a probabilistic mechanism for how psychological stress could affect physiology such that these adaptive deviations are sometimes not able to bounce back to their original basal tones, and thus increase physiological susceptibility to metabolic and immune imbalance.     

Competition between heather and grasses on Scottish moorlands: Interacting effects of nutrient enrichment and grazing regime

Abstract. Considerable losses and degradation of heathlands (in moorlands and lowlands) have been reported across Europe, with Calluna vulgaris (heather) being replaced by other species, often grasses. Increasing atmospheric nitrogen deposition and overgrazing have been suggested as the driving factors behind this change. This possibility was investigated in a study of the interacting effects of nutrient inputs and grazing on heather and three grass species (Nardus stricta, Deschampsia cespitosa and D. flexuosa) in the field, on a moorland in northeastern Scotland. In addition, the interacting effects of increasing nutrients and Calluna canopy height on N. stricta and D. cespitosa were studied using turves in an outdoor experimental area. In the field, fencing had a larger effect than fertilizer on the growth of all species, except for N. stricta, the species most unpalatable to herbivores. Fencing led to an increase in the height of the Calluna canopy, which may reduce light availability for the grasses. In the turf experiment, the height of the Calluna canopy affected the diameter of the grass tussocks and percentage of green matter (i.e. live leaf material), with plants under the more closed Calluna canopies being smaller. This study suggests that the slow‐growing, evergreen Calluna is a more effective competitor than the faster growing grasses when it has a tall, intact canopy, even at increased levels of nutrient supply. However, overgrazing promotes gap formation in the Calluna canopy, providing an opportunity for grasses to take advantage of increased nutrients. Thus the conservation of heather moorlands requires an understanding of the grazing level which allows Calluna to maintain sufficient canopy structure to outcompete grasses for light.     

Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus Bloodstream Infections in Humans: a Review

Staphylococci are among the most frequent human microbiota components associated with the high level of bloodstream infection (BSI) episodes. In predisposed patients, there is a high risk of transformation of BSI episodes to sepsis. Both bacterial and host factors are crucial for the outcomes of BSI and sepsis. The highest rates of BSI episodes were reported in Africa, where these infections were up to twice as high as the European rates. However, there remains a great need to analyze African data for comprehensive quantification of staphylococcal BSI prevalence. The lowest rates of BSI exist in Australia. Asian, European, and North American data showed similar frequency values. Worldwide analysis indicated that both Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the most frequent BSI agents. In the second group, the most prevalent species was Staphylococcus epidermidis, although CoNS were not identified at the species level in many studies. The lack of a significant worldwide decrease in BSI episodes indicates a great need to implement standardized diagnostic methods and research etiological factors using advanced genetic methods.     

我国蒙古羊系统不同生态型绵羊品种遗传多样性及距离隔离机制的研究

以我国主要地方绵羊品种湖羊、同羊、小尾寒羊、滩羊和洼地绵羊为研究对象,检测位于不同染色体的微卫星位点的基因频率分布,进行比较分析.结果表明 1) 就本研究涉及的微卫星标记而言,湖羊处于Hardy-Weinberg极不平衡状态 (P ＜ 0.01),而其余群体包括同羊、小尾寒羊、滩羊和洼地绵羊却处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡 (P ＜ 0.05).2) 就本研究涉及的微卫星标记而言,平均杂合度、多型信息含量和有效等位基因数三个遗传变异指标的方差分析表明不同群体间杂合度、多型信息含量均不存在显著差异 (P ＞ 0.05),有效等位基因数遗传变异指标在、滩羊、湖羊、同羊和洼地羊相互之间以及洼地羊与小尾寒羊之间亦差异不显著(P ＞ 0.05),但是有效等位基因数在前3个群体与后2个群体之间存在显著差异 (0.01 ＜ P ＜ 0.05).5个绵羊群体的变异水平以小尾寒羊最高,其次为洼地绵羊、同羊和滩羊,最低的是湖羊.3) 本研究涉及的我国蒙古羊系统内5个绵羊群体间的系统发生关系不满足距离隔离模式,绵羊群体间的遗传分化关系的远近与其地理分布并未表现出紧密的线性相关.这与5个绵羊起源于不同时期的蒙古羊始祖群体,同时在品种间存在一定程度的基因交流,并在各自特有的生态环境中经历不同程度的自然选择和人为选择品种培育史实相符.     

Morphodynamic Perspectives on Convergence between the Feet and Limbs of Sauropods and Humans: Two Cases of Hypermorphosis

Only two vertebrate groups, humans and sauropod dinosaurs, have a well-developed entaxonic foot (with the big toe, or digit I, the largest), and both have vertical limbs. Thus, convergence applies not only to the feet but also to the limbs. When viewed in relation to their closest relatives among the hominoids and saurischian dinosaurs, and in the context of known developmental growth patterns in higher vertebrates, both humans and sauropod dinosaurs appear to be excellent examples of peramorphosis (specifically hypermorphosis). Thus, it is essential to understand morphodynamics as a field that is inseparable from the study of heterochrony.

The morphodynamic developmental perspective, while recognized as important in genetics and embryology, has for many generations been overlooked in studies of feet, footprints and limbs (i.e., the marco-morphology of organs). Investigating these dynamics reveals striking recursive (or fractal) patterns of anterior-posterior and proximal distal development, which in turn demonstrate that vertebrate growth proceeds in an organized or “formal” manner. Thus, convergence is not merely, or only, a by-product of functional adaptation to the external environment but also a manifestation of the complex but intelligible internal organization of dynamic organic systems.     

Mitochondrial DNA Diversity of Modern,Ancient and Wild Sheep (Ovis gmelinii anatolica) from Turkey: New Insights on the Evolutionary History of Sheep

In the present study, to contribute to the understanding of the evolutionary history of sheep, the mitochondrial (mt) DNA polymorphisms occurring in modern Turkish native domestic (n = 628), modern wild (Ovis gmelinii anatolica) (n = 30) and ancient domestic sheep from Oylum Höyük in Kilis (n = 33) were examined comparatively with the accumulated data in the literature. The lengths (75 bp/76 bp) of the second and subsequent repeat units of the mtDNA control region (CR) sequences differentiated the five haplogroups (HPGs) observed in the domestic sheep into two genetic clusters as was already implied by other mtDNA markers: the first cluster being composed of HPGs A, B, D and the second cluster harboring HPGs C, E.To manifest genetic relatedness between wild Ovis gmelinii and domestic sheep haplogroups, their partial cytochrome B sequences were examined together on a median-joining network. The two parallel but wider aforementioned clusters were observed also on the network of Ovis gmelenii individuals, within which domestic haplogroups were embedded. The Ovis gmelinii wilds of the present day appeared to be distributed on two partially overlapping geographic areas parallel to the genetic clusters that they belong to (the first cluster being in the western part of the overall distribution). Thus, the analyses suggested that the domestic sheep may be the products of two maternally distinct ancestral Ovis gmelinii populations.Furthermore, Ovis gmelinii anatolica individuals exhibited a haplotype of HPG A (n = 22) and another haplotype (n = 8) from the second cluster which was not observed among the modern domestic sheep. HPG E, with the newly observed members (n = 11), showed signs of expansion. Studies of ancient and modern mtDNA suggest that HPG C frequency increased in the Southeast Anatolia from 6% to 22% some time after the beginning of the Hellenistic period, 500 years Before Common Era (BCE).