De Waal Research Articles

Frans B. M. de Waal (1948-2024).

Article memorializes Frans B. M. de Waal (1948-2024). Franciscus (Frans) Bernardus Maria de Waal was a Dutch-American primatologist and ethologist who was born on October 29, 1948, in Hertogenbosch, in the southern Netherlands. Frans was taken by stomach cancer in March 2024, at the age of 75. Frans's long and storied career and life touched the lives of so many, all around the world. Through 13 books (in 20 languages), courses, lectures, field visits (to nearly every continent), collaborations, and many abiding friendships, Frans shared his love of animals and the natural world with us all. May we honor his legacy by caring for those around us, large and small. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A personal tribute to Frans De Waal (1948–2024), who inspired the philosophy of animal minds

A personal tribute to Frans De Waal (1948–2024), who inspired the philosophy of animal minds

Frans B. M. de Waal, 1948 to 2024: Primatologist and evolutionary cognition researcher who brought us closer to our nonhuman relatives

Frans B. M. de Waal, 1948 to 2024: Primatologist and evolutionary cognition researcher who brought us closer to our nonhuman relatives

In memory of our mentor: Frans de Waal (1948-2024).

The world lost a towering figure when primatologist Frans de Waal passed away on March 14,2024. Many are aware of his multitude of contributions to the field. His ability to see what animals were actually doing changed how we viewed first primates, then other species. He shared these insights through both traditional scientific outputs, such as journal articlesand scientific presentations, and less common outputs, such as 15 books and two TED talks viewed millions of times. What may be less well known is his impact as a mentor. Here, 25of us who were Frans' graduate students, postdocs, and long-term research assistants share his personal impact on our lives.

Justice and Related Matters in the Legacy of Frans de Waal

Initially, we critically examine the current state of knowledge in the field of Philosophy of Biology pertaining to empathy as a subject of scientific investigation. Subsequently, we delve into the constraints associated with empathy in some primates, including humans, recognizing it as a socially situated and evolved attribute. Additionally, we explore its potential as a political asset among humans. In light of these findings, we reevaluate the dichotomy between perspectives that emphasize altruism and egoism as fundamental principles in the biological and ontological senses. Lastly, we put forth the scientifically defendable idea that significant connections exist between empathy and the concept of justice.

Abstract 3244: EWS-FLI1-driven upregulation of UGT3A2 unlocks drug sensitivity pathway in Ewing sarcoma

Abstract Ewing sarcoma (ES), an aggressive pediatric bone tumor, presents a clinical challenge, particularly for metastatic or relapsed disease. The hallmark genetic alteration involves the fusion of the FET RNA-binding protein, EWSR1, with an ETS transcription factor, typically FLI1, resulting in the EWS-FLI1 fusion oncoprotein. EWS-FLI1 orchestrates a unique epigenetic program, leading to the aberrant expression of genes crucial for cell-cycle regulation, DNA damage response, and cell migration. Targeting the EWS-FLI1 fusion oncoprotein is a daunting task, which has prompted us to pursue other strategies in parallel. Here, we present an innovative approach harnessing the power of phenotypic drug screens to uncover amenable pathways for targeted medicines in ES. Leveraging data from the Broad Institute’s repurposing dataset encompassing 4,518 drug molecules screened across 578 adherent cancer cell lines using the high-throughput multiplexed screening platform known as PRISM, we identified compounds with selective efficacy against ES. The top-ranking compound identified for selective ES toxicity in the screen was R112, an ATP-competitive inhibitor of Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (SYK). In low-throughput evaluation, R112 induced selective ES cell death when compared to other sarcomas. However, the reported target of R112, SYK, is a dependency in ES based on the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) resource. Subsequent validation of compounds identified in the PRISM screen as selectively toxic in ES revealed that while majority of them induced selective ES cell death, their reported targets were diverse and not linked to known dependencies in ES. Notably, one of the emerging compounds, luteolin, a natural compound known for its antioxidative properties, stood out and was selected for further studies alongside R112. Comprehensive genome-wide CRISPR-rescue screens identified UGT3A2, encoding a UDP glycosyltransferase, along with its solute carrier, SLC35B4, as pivotal genes that when deleted rescued both R112 and luteolin-induced cytotoxicity in ES cells. UGT3A2, a direct target gene of EWS-FLI1, demonstrated hyperexpression in EWS-FLI1-positive ES cells and no expression in most cancer and normal cells. While ES cells do not depend on UGT3A2 for survival, this abnormal elevation of UGT3A2 expression emerged as a key determinant driving their hypersensitivity to a subset of additional small molecules identified from the PRISM screen. Despite divergent mechanisms and direct targets, these drugs shared a common phenoxy motif, which UGT3A2 glycosylated. This specific EWS-FLI1-induced UGT3A2 upregulation, thus, unveils a novel biomarker for drug sensitivity,paving the way for precision medicine strategies tailored for Ewing sarcoma. Beyond Ewing sarcoma, this work holds promise in reshaping therapeutic paradigms and offering new avenues for discovering safe and enhanced treatments across a spectrum of cancers. Citation Format: Olasunkanmi Olaoye, Colleen Harrington, Kenneth Ross, Bo Kyung A. Seong, Luk de Waal, Jun Qi, Jennifer Roth, Kimberly Stegmaier. EWS-FLI1-driven upregulation of UGT3A2 unlocks drug sensitivity pathway in Ewing sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3244.

Governing platforms and societies

When we (my co-authors Thomas Poell and Martijn de Waal) published The Platform Society. Public Values in a Connective World in 2018, the field of “platform studies” had just started to emerge. In our book, we tried to explain how platformization had started to affect entire sectors, exemplified by the news industry, urban transport, health care, and education. In the epilogue, we argued that “governing platform societies” requires not just a cross-sectoral approach but calls more profoundly for a transnational discourse of governance issues. Since 2018, we have seen a distinct rise in challenges concerning platforms and societies: the growing impact of Big Tech platforms on digital ecosystems around the globe; the rise of two “superpower” ecosystems which are in many ways interwoven with geopolitical forces; the mounting dependence of state and civil society actors on large digital infrastructures owned and operated by Big Tech; and the lasting impact of platformization not just on labor and business management, but on democratic processes and institutions.

Racial Discrimination in the Short Story Entitled “The Beautiful Thing” by Kit De Waal: A Critical Race Study

This study aims to identify the racism issue and character discrimination portrayed in a short story entitled "The Beautiful Thing" by Kit De Waal. The short story was chosen as the primary data source since it illustrated fairly how the racism issue occurred with black immigrants in England. The data was obtained using the documentation method and a note-taking technique. The note-taking technique used to find a result in the form of sentences and phrases quotations from the short story. Furthermore, the data were analyzed by referring to six basic tenets of critical race theory proposed by Delgado and Stefancic (2001). This study was merely focused on linking the storyline which presents a racism issue with six basic tenets of critical race theory. The analysis showed that the short story presented a comprehensive illustration of racism that occurred specifically to black people in America. The racism encountered including verbal abuse and racial discrimination.

Fairness: from the guts to the brain – a critical examination by Atlantic fellows of the Global Brain Health Institute

In January 2023, the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) at UCSF hosted an online salon to discuss the relationship between fairness and brain health equity. We aimed to address two primary questions: first, how is fairness perceived by the public, and how does it manifest in societal constructs like equity and justice? Second, what are the neurobiological foundations of fairness, and how do they impact brain health? Drawing from interdisciplinary fields such as philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience, the salon served as a platform for participants to share diverse perspectives on fairness. Fairness is a multifaceted concept encompassing equity, justice, empathy, opportunity, non-discrimination, and the Golden Rule, but by delving into its evolutionary origins, we can verify its deep-rooted presence in both human and animal behaviors. Real-world experiments, such as Frans de Waal’s capuchin monkey study, have proven enlightening, elucidating many mechanisms that have shaped our neurobiological responses to fairness. Contemporary cognitive neuroscience research further emphasizes the role of neuroanatomical areas and neurotransmitters in encoding fairness-related processes. We also discussed the critical interconnection between fairness and healthcare equity, particularly its implications for brain health. These values are instrumental in promoting social justice and improving health outcomes. In our polarized social landscape, there are rising concerns about a potential decrease in fairness and prosocial behaviors due to isolated social bubbles. We stress the urgency for interventions that enhance perspective-taking, reasoning, and empathy. Overall, fairness is vital to fostering an equitable society and its subsequent influence on brain health outcomes.

Harmful algal bloom aerosols and human health.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasing across many locations globally. Toxins from HABs can be incorporated into aerosols and transported inland, where subsequent exposure and inhalation can induce adverse health effects. However, the relationship between HAB aerosols and health outcomes remains unclear despite the potential for population-level exposures. In this review, we synthesized the current state of knowledge and identified evidence gaps in the relationship between HAB aerosols and human health. Aerosols from Karenia brevis, Ostreopsis sp., and cyanobacteria were linked with respiratory outcomes. However, most works did not directly measure aerosol or toxin concentrations and instead relied on proxy metrics of exposure, such as cell concentrations in nearby waterbodies. Furthermore, the number of studies with epidemiological designs was limited. Significant uncertainties remain regarding the health effects of other HAB species; threshold dose and the dose-response relationship; effects of concurrent exposures to mixtures of toxins and other aerosol sources, such as microplastics and metals; the impact of long-term exposures; and disparities in exposures and associated health effects across potentially vulnerable subpopulations. Additional studies employing multifaceted exposure assessment methods and leveraging large health databases could address such gaps and improve our understanding of the public health burden of HABs.

Mirror self-recognition in ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata).

Mirror self-recognition has been examined primarily in vertebrate species, largely through the use of a mirror mark test. Recently, however, there has been growing interest in the notion that all animals likely need some form of self-representation to successfully interact with their environment (Kohda et al. in Plos Biol https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001529 , 2022; de Waal in Plos Biol https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000112 , 2019). Our knowledge of this trait in invertebrate species is particularly limited, while there are several species potentially well suited for mirror mark tests. To better understand this trait and its distribution, the current research examines mirror self-recognition in ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata) using a visual mirror mark test. In an initial phase, animals were exposed to a flat oriented mirror for an extended period. In a subsequent testing phase, subjects were either (1) marked (green sticker) or sham marked (clear sticker) and exposed to a mirror, (2) marked and placed in a tank without a mirror, or (3) marked and shown video of a marked conspecific. Results showed that marked, relative to sham marked, animals were significantly more likely to remove marks when exposed to mirrors. Findings also suggests this behavior was not driven by the perception of mirror images as conspecifics, or issues related to mark placement. These data are interpreted in support of a rudimentary form of self-awareness in this species. Discussions highlight potential cognitive mechanisms that facilitate this type of self-representation and the need for additional research that informs about more sophisticated forms of self-awareness.

Abstract 1801: STK-012, an a/b-selective IL-2 activates tumor antigen specific CD25+ CD8 T cells to reject tumors without acute vascular toxicity

Abstract High-dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2) monotherapy induces complete responses in cancer patients but its use is limited by acute vascular toxicities including capillary leak syndrome and severe hypotension 1,2. IL-2 activates lymphocytes and NK-cells through the intermediate-affinity dimeric IL-2 receptor, IL-2Rβ/γ (CD122/CD132), while antigen activated T-cells and regulatory T-cells (Tregs) have increased sensitivity to IL-2 by expressing the high-affinity trimeric IL-2 receptor, IL-2Rα/β/γ (CD25/CD122/CD132)3. CD25-independent IL-2s (“non-α-IL-2s”) aim to increase the therapeutic efficacy of IL2 in cancer patients by avoiding Treg activation through selective binding to IL-2Rβ/γ 4. However, those molecules still are reported to induce fever and hypotension and have limited efficacy as a monotherapy or in combination with anti-PD-1 5,6. Here we show that a novel α/β-IL-2 agonist that was designed to preferentially bind to the IL-2Rα/β/γ receptor highly upregulated on antigen activated T-cells can greatly improve on the efficacy of IL-2 while avoiding the vascular toxicity commonly associated with IL-2 treatment. In syngeneic tumor models, this α/β-IL-2 agonist significantly reduced exhaustion of tumor infiltrating T cells compared to WT-IL-2 or a non-α-IL-2 leading to improved expansion of tumor antigen specific CD25+PD-1+CD8+ T cells systemically and in the tumor microenvironment. This resulted in complete responses and tumor immune memory with α/β-IL-2 monotherapy as well as improved outcomes in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy in PD-1 refractory syngeneic tumors. In contrast, WT-IL-2 reduced T cell exhaustion and drove antigen specific T cell responses to a lesser degree, resulting in reduced combinatorial efficacy with anti-PD-1, while the non-α-IL-2 failed to do either. Furthermore, the α/β-IL-2 agonist reduced intratumoral Tregs compared to treatment with WT-IL-2 or PBS improving the intratumoral CD8 to Treg ratio. In non-human primates and mice, WT-IL-2 and a non-α-IL-2 led to broad extravasation of lymphocytes and NK cells and activation of intra-pulmonal T cells resulting in systemic tissue inflammation and NK cell-mediated lethal capillary leak syndrome whereas the α/β-IL-2 agonist, which avoids binding the dimeric IL-2Rβ/γ expressed on NK cells, avoided systemic lymphocyte activation which facilitated continuous treatment without acute vascular toxicities. Overall, through selective engagement of CD25+ T cells, this α/β-IL-2 agonist demonstrated improved efficacy and tolerability of IL-2 in preclinical tumor models. Clinical trials with STK-012, a human α/β-IL-2 agonist, are in progress.1 Atkins, et al.; JCO 1999, 2 Dutcher, et al.; JITC 2014, 3 Liao, et al.; Immunity 2013, 4 Levin, et al.; Nature 2012, 5 Janku, et al.; Cancer Research 2021; 6 Diab, et al.; Cancer Disc. 2020 Citation Format: Martin Oft, Navneet Ratti, Sandro Vivona, Jan Emmerich, Romina Riener, Ievgen O. Koliesnik, Scott McCauley, Michele Bauer, Marie Semana, Deepti Rokkam, Bhargavi Jayaraman, Rene de Waal Malefyt, Paul-Joseph Aspuria, Michael Totagrande, Anita Mehta-Damani, Patrick J. Lupardus, Rob A. Kastelein. STK-012, an a/b-selective IL-2 activates tumor antigen specific CD25+ CD8 T cells to reject tumors without acute vascular toxicity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1801.

Benedictine Value of Stability and Academic Leadership in times of Pandemic and Crisis

The paper discussed the impact of Covid-19 pandemic to academic leadership. One of the impacts of the pandemic to academic leadership was the ability to deal with unprecedented disruption and high uncertainty that had great effect not only to education and learning but also to mental health and well-being. As a consequece, the pandemic demanded for a change in leadership practice that could deal with disruption and uncertainty. This study posited that the Benedictine value of stability responds to this very specific need. The value of stability demonstrated what an academic leader must do to fulfill his/her leadership role in times of disruption and uncertainty.ReferencesAvidan, Aviva & Yonit Nissim. ‘The Kindergarten-Teachers’ Leadership and Management during the Corona Pandemic (COVID 19): From Uncertainty to Caring.” In Proceedings of IAC in Budapest 2021. ISBN 978-80-88203-24-7.Casey, Michael, OCSO. Strangers to the City: Reflections on the Beliefs and Values of the Rule of Saint Benedict. Massachusetts: Paraclete Press, 2013.Chittister, Joan D., OSB. The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages. New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1993.de Waal, Esther de Waal. The Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict. Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1995.Eckerstorfer, Bernard A., OSB. “Monastic Stabilitas in the World of Today.” In The American Benedictine Review. 69:3. September 2018. ISSN:0002-7650.Harris and Jones. “Leading During a Pandemic – What the Evidence Tells us.” School Leadership & Management. 42:2. 2022. 105-109. DOI:10.1080/13632434.2022.2064626.Harris, Alma & Michelle Jones. “Covid 19 – School Leadership in Disruptive Times.” School Leadership & Management. 40:4. 2020. 243-247. DOI:10.1080/13632434.2020.1811479.Joan, Chittister. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. New York: HarperCollins Publisher, 1990.Kahn and Katz. “Leadership Practices in Relation to Productivity.” In Classic Readings in Organizational Behavior. J. Steven Ott. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1989.Kaufman, Walter. Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1974.Kraemer, Harry Jr. From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011.Lien, Camilla Martine, et al. “School Principals’ Experiences and Learning from the Covid-19 Pandemic in Norway.” Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. 2022. DOI: 10.1080/00313831.2022.2043430.Lowney, C. Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2003.McGregor, Douglas M. “An Analysis of Leadership in J. Steven Ott.” In Classic Readings in Organizational Behavior. Eds. J. Steven Ott. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1989.Polan, Gregory, OSB. “Spiritual Value of the Benedictine Vow of Stability.” The American Benedictine Review. 69:3. September 2018. ISSN:0002-7650.Robinson, Ken and Lou Aronica. Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education. New York: Penguin Books, 2015.Sergiovanni, Thomas J. “Leadership as Cultural Expression.” In Classic Readings in Organizational Behavior. Eds. J. Steven Ott. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1989.The World Bank, et. al. The State of Global Learning Poverty: 2022 Update. Conference Ed. June 23, 2022.Tinsley, Ambrose, OSB. Pax: The Benedictine Way. Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1994.Williams, Avis. Leadership Through Crisis: A Framework for Choosing Joy in Educational Leadership. March 2022.

A stenography of empathy: Toward a consensual model of the empathic process

Empathy has gained popularity in the general population and the scientific world during the past decade. Recently, several researchers found a significant decrease in empathy scores of healthcare students (notably medical students) and recommend promoting empathy skills in several fields of education. The current paper presents a new model of the empathic process: a stenography of empathy compelling scientific data and contemporary conceptions. Indeed, we combined all pioneer researchers’ conceptions of empathy (Davis, Decety, Batson, Preston & de Waal) into an integrative model. This model is centered on the empathizer (i.e., a person observing a target experiencing emotions) and displays how all empathy components are articulated, explaining the individuals’ general functioning and how the process might become dysfunctional. We illustrated applications of the model with three clinical examples (i.e., burnout, psychopathy, and borderline personality disorders) to display how empathy is related to psychopathological symptoms. We believe this new dynamic and sequential model would be helpful in explaining how empathy works, which is of great interest to healthcare students, clinicians, researchers, and academics.

Chosen Peoples: Christianity and Political Imagination in South Sudan

Chosen Peoples: Christianity and Political Imagination in South Sudan

Charles S. Peirce: Selected Writings on Semiotics 1894–1912 Edited by Francesco Bellucci

Reviewed by: Charles S. Peirce: Selected Writings on Semiotics 1894–1912 ed. by Francesco Bellucci Cornelis de Waal Edited by Francesco Bellucci Charles S. Peirce: Selected Writings on Semiotics 1894–1912 Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020; no index. With Francesco Bellucci's Charles S. Peirce: Selected Writings on Semiotics 1894–1912 and the Peirceana series, which Bellucci co-edits with Ahti-Veikko Pietarinen, the center of gravity in Peirce studies has dramatically shifted to Europe. The powerhouses of old, such as the Peirce Edition Project at Indiana University and the Institute for Studies in Pragmaticism at Texas Tech University, appear pretty much dead in the water. And this new center of gravity is by no means limited to secondary literature. Bellucci's edition of Peirce's writings on semiotics and Pietarinen's multi-volume Logic of the Future present us with well-thought-out and responsibly edited volumes of primary literature that will leave their mark on Peirce scholarship for decades to come. And there are other volumes on the way. Bellucci's volume spans almost two decades of Peirce's life—a period during which Peirce had retreated to Milford, Pennsylvania, spending most of his time with his pen on paper. The main purpose of Bellucci's volume is to give us better access to material that has not yet been published—material that is, as Bellucci contends, "essential to understand Peirce's views about signs, their classification, and the relations between semiotics and logical inquiry" (p.1). In line with this, Bellucci starts off where the Writings break off. The last volume of the Writings, which appeared well over a decade ago, ends midway 1892, and Bellucci's volume opens with the sixth chapter of Peirce's 1894 logic book How to Reason, "The Essence of Reasoning." Bellucci thereby skips the second chapter of that same logic book, even though it deals directly with the question "What is a Sign?" He does this on the ground that that chapter is already published in the second [End Page 265] volume of The Essential Peirce (p.3). Bellucci's Selected Writings on Semiotics is thus best considered a professional tool aimed at filling gaps in the literature for Peirce scholars who are already familiar with, or knowledgeable of, what is already out there. Making these texts available is especially important since the manuscripts they are based on are not widely accessible and are in various states of disarray. Each text in Bellucci's volume comes with a (sometimes-extensive) editorial note that is largely bibliographical and, like the Writings, explains which manuscript sheets constitute the text by supplementing the Robin Catalogue designation with the page reference system devised by the Institute for Studies in Pragmaticism. The headnote is followed by explanatory annotations, emendations, and alterations, not unlike the system used for the Writings. In this way the reader can easily ascertain where Bellucci made corrections to the original text and what changes Peirce made himself when he was in the process of writing. Putting the apparatus immediately following each text is a much better choice than hiding everything in the back of the volume, as was done in the Writings. Given the nature of this edition, however, it would have been better to have the editorial note precede the text, as is done, for instance in The Essential Peirce, rather than follow it (or use two notes), as that would have made it easier for the reader to position the text within Peirce's oeuvre before beginning to read it (for instance, by reading "What is a Sign?" before starting "The Essence of Reasoning"). Bellucci's Selected Writings on Semiotics includes eighteen selections in total, each of which is described briefly in the volume's Introduction with a rationale for including it. As with the Writings, titles not given by Peirce are printed in italic square brackets. At times a more forceful editorial hand in establishing the titles themselves would have been helpful. Selection 10, for instance, "The Basis of Pragmaticism," suggests that it would include two pieces already found in The Essential Peirce, namely "The Basis of Pragmaticism in Phaneroscopy," and "The Basis of Pragmaticism in the...

The White Stone: The Art of Letting Go by Esther de Waal (review)

The White Stone: The Art of Letting Go by Esther de Waal (review)

Engineering high-performance cementitious matrices for improved projectile impact resistance with silane, micro fibrillated cellulose and fine calcined bauxite aggregate

This experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of passive and active strategies in improving the projectile impact resistance of cementitious matrices. The principle of the passive approach is to reinforce the matrix by substituting weak Van de Waal's forces between hydration products with covalent bonds which have the orders of magnitude higher dissociation energy. A silane coupling agent (SCA) and micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC) were selected as the vehicles to engineering the bond scheme at the molecular scale by forming a covalently linked organic-inorganic hybrid. The mechanism of the active strategy is to aggravate damage to the projectile and thus leave less energy available for the penetration process. This is achieved by incorporating exceptionally hard calcined bauxite aggregates (CBA). Impact tests were conducted utilizing 8-mm-diameter conical-nosed steel projectiles at a designed velocity of 650 m/s. Damage was quantified by the depth of penetration (DOP) and equivalent crater diameter (ECD). Results indicated that the SCA and MFC modified matrices resulted in a 30% and 20% reduction in DOP, respectively. The crack intensity was decreased tremendously or even absent for the SCA and MFC modified matrices compared with the prominent cracks of the control radiated from the cratering region. Matrices incorporating fine CBA or siliceous aggregates led to a 55% and 38% smaller DOP, respectively. Crushing of aggregates and appreciable deformation, severe scratches, and significant mass loss of retrieved projectiles were observed. Matrices including fine CBA or siliceous aggregate maintained excellent integrity and drastically less severe cracking on the impact surface as well as the interior region compared with the control.

Reduced injury risk links sociality to survival in a group-living primate

Sociality has been linked to a longer lifespan in many mammals, including humans. Yet, how sociality results in survival benefits remains unclear. Using 10 years of data and over 1,000 recorded injuries in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), we tested two injury-related mechanisms by which social status and affiliative partners might influence survival. Injuries increased individual risk of death by 3-fold in this dataset. We found that sociality can affect individuals' survival by reducing their risk of injury but had no effect on the probability of injured individuals dying. Both males and females of high social status (measured as female matrilineal rank and male group tenure) and females with more affiliative partners (estimated using the number of female relatives) experienced fewer injuries and thus were less likely to die. Collectively, our results offer rare insights into one mechanism that can mediate the well-known benefits of sociality on an individual's fitness.

Lebendiges Erinnern: Wie Geschichte in Literatur verwandelt wird by Sabine Scholl

Reviewed by: Lebendiges Erinnern: Wie Geschichte in Literatur verwandelt wird by Sabine Scholl Vincent Kling Sabine Scholl, Lebendiges Erinnern: Wie Geschichte in Literatur verwandelt wird. Vienna: Sonderzahl, 2021. 234 pp. Readers can be daunted by the immense literature that draws on history and by the academic journals devoted to the connections between them, especially when emphases change. In recent decades, writers have traced the experience of second-and third-generation Holocaust survivors, narrators traumatized in the aftermath of genocide and extermination. Novels otherwise as different as Maja Haderlap’s Der Engel des Vergessens and Doron Rabinovici’s Suche nach M. give accounts of devastation long after the immediate horrors, just as Georges Perec’s great autobiography W ou le souvenir d’enfance documents the nightmarish disorientation caused by a child’s loss of his father in war and mother in the camps. These works are grounded in what Sabine Scholl in Lebendiges Erinnern calls “die sogenannte Generationenerzählung, eine [End Page 152] Darstellung der Vergangenheit vermittelt durch Geschehnisse der eigenen Familiengeschichte” (12). The passage of time is erasing the possibility of so immediate an approach; events fade, but not their scars. Scholl links the work of this generation’s writers, mostly women, to Marianne Hirsch’s concept of “postmemory” (The Generation of Postmemory: Writing and Visual Culture after the Holocaust), whereby “Nach-Erinnerung bedeutet keine leibhaftige Verbindung zur Vergangenheit, sondern wird mittels Imagination, Projektion und Kreation hergestellt” (11). “Autorinnen der Nachfolgegeneration bewegen sich frei durchs Material, verfügen darüber wie ein Regisseur” (11). Invention does not require the authority of documentation or depiction from sources; the imagination is a force powerful enough to recreate history as an author may experience it emotionally without personal involvement, as Hilary Mantel’s novels set in Tudor England testify. Accordingly, Scholl provides a “Kompendium,” an inventory of approaches and strategies that document the versatile means with which history is treated in literary contexts (10–11; 217–222). These range much more widely than would a commitment to documentary verifiability, from the relatively objective (“das Historische in Details, wie Farben, Kleidung [ . . . ] sichtbar machen,” 219) to the admittedly subjective (“das Ich des Autors als Ausgangs-und Endpunkt einer sich entwickelnden Geschichte in den Text einbringen,” 220). Clearly, then, Scholl’s operative word is “verwandelt,” accuracy being only one possible aim among a large array of strategies for requisitioning history. “Gerade die Leerstellen des Erinnerns fordern Autorinnen dazu auf, geschichtliche Ereignisse mit fiktionalen Mitteln zu rekonstruieren” (12), writes Scholl, as if this process were a brand-new development. But she might have traced an important continuity by referring to Perec’s book (1975), brilliantly “answered” by Laurent Binet in HHhH (2009). Her more immediate concern, however, is to help break the silence, the persistent, crippling, deliberate amnesia. As children, she and her contemporaries “erlebten vor allem gesammeltes Schweigen, das es erschwerte, Beziehungen zwischen den Generationen aufzunehmen, die Auseinandersetzungen ermöglicht hätten” (9). Hence the need for free invention and imaginatively grounded filling of gaps. This book is mainly the result of a series of conversations and interviews Scholl conducted at Vienna’s Alte Schmiede from October 2020 through September 2021 (230), and she is continuing with this project. The “forerunners” of the authors interviewed are Heimrad Bäcker and Edmund De Waal, among others, whom she discusses in her section “Verfahren und Vorfahren” (17–84) [End Page 153] as examples of authors faithful to history through individually guided, strongly imaginative reordering and focused concentration on one strategy. Bäcker’s approach in nachschrift, for instance, is “Sprache konzentrieren und ausstellen”—words come fully into their own when arranged as calligraphy and objects for display; De Waal draws on “Taktiles Erinnern” for historical truth in his acclaimed memoir Der Hase mit den Bernsteinaugen. The section based on the interviews is titled “Aus der Werkstatt” (85–216). In each chapter, Scholl records her interview with the author and precedes it with a short essay of orientation and commentary. What emerges is admirable for her succinct but clear way of introducing each work and author and a sense that she has gone to the essential questions about form and structure in each case. The range of topics, time...