Traits In Culture Research Articles

Creating Value Through Leveraging Gender Norms

This article examines how blending both traditionally masculine and feminine traits in an organizational culture might create value for a company. The article examines workplace defaults and compares and contrasts masculine and feminine traits. Then, the results of an analysis of the research on how masculine defaults create and destroy value in organizations are examined. Next, the article presents the findings from research examining how masculine and feminine traits and behaviours can create and destroy value. Finally, the article examines the impact of hybrid or androgynous traits and behaviours and presents directions for future research.

Speaking of Animals: A Conceptual analysis of Animal Metaphors in Yoruba

Figurative expressions, particularly metaphors, play a pivotal role in shaping our interpretation and comprehension of human discourse within a cultural system. In Yoruba culture, the metaphoric use of animal forms an indispensable component of daily life, manifesting in diverse forms, including proverbs, music, oral literature etc. To this end, previous studies have primarily concentrated on the stylistic use of animal-related metaphors in Yoruba language. This paper diverges by using a conceptual/cognitive approach to explore how specific animal terms and their associated concepts are metaphorically employed to represent various facets of human experiences, behaviors, and attributes. Data collection involved a one-week purposive observation and audio-recording of random discussions among Yoruba speakers in Ibadan, consultation with Yoruba language teachers and elderly family members. Audio-recordings were subsequently transcribed to extract all animal-related metaphoric expressions. These metaphors were then analyzed, organized and categorized according to Lakoff and Johnson’s Idealized Cultural or Cognitive Metaphor (ICM) framework. The study demonstrates the existence of conceptual connections between animal attributes and human traits in Yoruba culture as conveyed in twenty metaphorical expressions analyzed. The study also reveals that through the conceptual process of “mapping” across domains, animals in the source domain are used to depict various human experiences, behaviors, both semantically positive and derogatory to humans in the target domain through metaphorical means. This paper concludes that both domestic and non-domestic animals are employed to communicate intricate concepts and ideas via succinct and vivid imagery based on the sociocultural values, beliefs, and general worldview of the Yoruba people.

Some Aspects of Pashtun Culture

Pashtun culture is a rich and diverse culture that has been shaped by centuries of history and tradition. Often referred to as Pashtunwali, this culture encompasses every aspect of daily life, from social norms and customs to religious practices and cuisine. As an ethnic group, the Pashtun people are primarily located in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are known for their proud and distinctive culture that emphasizes loyalty, hospitality, and respect for the Pashtun code of conduct. A central aspect of Pashtun is the Pashtunwali, which is the traditional code of conduct of the Pashtun people. Derived from the Pashto language, this code emphasizes concepts like courage, honor, and hospitality, and serves as a guide for how Pashtuns should conduct their lives. Hospitality is one of the most valued traits in Pashtun culture, and guests are treated with the utmost respect and care. This tradition dates back to the times of the ancient Silk Road, when traveling merchants of all backgrounds would stop at the Pashtuns' homes and receive food, shelter, and care. Music and dance are also cherished in Pashtun culture, with traditional instruments like the rubab (a lute-like instrument) and tabla (a percussion instrument) used to create melodic and rhythmic pieces. The attan, a traditional dance, is common at weddings, religious festivals, and other celebrations. The Pashtuns are a primarily Muslim community, and religion is deeply ingrained in their culture. Islamic practices like praying five times a day, fasting during Ramadan, and giving to charity are all important parts of life for Pashtuns. However, Pashtunwali also places a strong emphasis on tolerance and respect for other religions, and there is a long history of coexistence between different faiths in the region.

Da li je povezanost između crta mračne tetrade ličnosti i ljubomore posredovana stilovima afektivne vezanosti?

Traits such as psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism are commonly used to describe the dark side of human personality. These traits, collectively known as the dark personality triad (Paulhus, 2014), have been the focus of research by psychologists seeking a more nuanced understanding of negative personality traits. To further explore this subject, researchers have included subclinical sadism, also known as everyday sadism (Buckels et al., 2013), and developed a new classification called the dark tetrad (Međedović & Petrović, 2015). The dark tetrad encompasses various negative traits and characteristics that are associated with personal and social problems, and are considered undesirable (Jonason et al., 2010). The pervasiveness of these personality traits in popular culture and their impact on interpersonal relationships and the workplace (Sedikides et al., 2004) make deeper research into the dark tetrad potentially beneficial for individuals, especially from the perspective of romantic relationships. Previous studies have shown a correlation between dark traits and affective attachment dimensions (Nickisch et al., 2020), as well as between jealousy and affective attachment (Knobloch et al., 2001; Marshall et al., 2013; Karakurt, 2001), supporting the expectation of affective attachment playing a mediating role in this research.

Innocents, psychopaths and the imagination.

This article reflects on the manipulative practices of autocratic populist leaders in North and South America and looks at their speeches, which appeal to followers who desire love and protection, or who seek an outlet for aggressive impulses. Jung's considerations regarding the annihilation of the other, evil and the unconsciousness of the masses - manipulated for purposes of subjugation - are important for understanding the risks that threaten society. The behaviour of unscrupulous leaders seized by power complexes, reinforced by psychopathic traits in clinic and culture, creates an increasing number of victims. A lack of imagination for evil is behind the absence of malice as a defence and the idealization which opens doors to the violence of totalitarian leaders and of dominant figures in social and family relationships. The polarities evil-innocence and dominator-dominated are severely dissociated in contemporary society, endorsing Jung's vision as a warning against destructiveness.

Toponyms as a Gateway to Society

Abstract Abui is a Papuan language spoken in Alor Island, South-East Indonesia. Although there are rich studies on the Abui language and its structure, research on Abui toponymy, which aids the understanding of language, culture, and society, deserves greater attention. This paper analyzes features of Abui society through Abui toponyms collected using Field Linguistics and Language Documentation methods. It finds that, because place names communicate valuable information on peoples and territories, Abui toponyms reflect the agrarian lifestyle of Abui speakers and, more broadly, the close relationship that the people have with their landscape. Furthermore, Abui toponyms express positive traits in the Abui culture like kinship ties and bravery. Notwithstanding, like other pre-literate and indigenous societies, oral stories are commonly used to explain how places are named. This paper augments the existing Abui toponymic studies on the connection between names and the places they name and provides a deeper understanding of the Abui language, culture, and society.

SPIRITUALITAS DAN LANDASAN SPIRITUAL (MODERN AND ISLAMIC VALUES); DEFINISI DAN RELASINYA DENGAN KEPEMIMPINAN PENDIDIKAN

Spirituality is not something foreign to humans, because it is the core (core) of humanity itself. Manpu's spiritual drive brings the material dimension of man to his spiritual dimension (spirit, divinity) by understanding and internalizing His attributes, living life according to His instructions and imitating His Messenger. The goal is to gain His pleasure, to become a "friend" of Allah, "lover" (wali) of Allah. Spiritual leadership is leadership capable of inspiring, arousing, influencing and mobilizing through exemplary, service, compassion and the implementation of values ​​and other divine traits in goals, processes, culture and leadership behavior. The spiritual leadership model is not only influenced by external factors, but is more guided by internal factors, namely the human conscience, but spiritual leadership does not mean anti-intellectual leadership. The leadership implemented by Muhammad SAW. become a role model with its main characteristics, namely siddiq (integrity), trust (trust), fathanah (working smart) and tabligh (openly, human relations) capable of influencing others by inspiring without indoctrinating, awakening without hurting, arousing without forcing and inviting without ordering. Spiritual leadership in schools or madrasas really needs to be applied by the principal, because madrasas are schools or places to study both general science and Islamic religious knowledge, and what characterizes madrasas are very focused on cultivating values. or the science of religion for students where the aim of the madrasa in general is to form a human who understands religion (to be a human being who is faithful and pious). So ideally, a principal, especially at a school with an Islamic background or known as a madrasa, should be able to apply spiritual leadership in carrying out its main duties and functions.

QTL mapping of root traits in wheat under different phosphorus levels using hydroponic culture

BackgroundPhosphorus (P) is an important in ensuring plant morphogenesis and grain quality, therefore an efficient root system is crucial for P-uptake. Identification of useful loci for root morphological and P uptake related traits at seedling stage is important for wheat breeding. The aims of this study were to evaluate phenotypic diversity of Yangmai 16/Zhongmai 895 derived doubled haploid (DH) population for root system architecture (RSA) and biomass related traits (BRT) in different P treatments at seedling stage using hydroponic culture, and to identify QTL using 660 K SNP array based high-density genetic map.ResultsAll traits showed significant variations among the DH lines with high heritabilities (0.76 to 0.91) and high correlations (r = 0.59 to 0.98) among all traits. Inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) identified 34 QTL with 4.64–20.41% of the phenotypic variances individually, and the log of odds (LOD) values ranging from 2.59 to 10.43. Seven QTL clusters (C1 to C7) were mapped on chromosomes 3DL, 4BS, 4DS, 6BL, 7AS, 7AL and 7BL, cluster C5 on chromosome 7AS (AX-109955164 - AX-109445593) with pleiotropic effect played key role in modulating root length (RL), root tips number (RTN) and root surface area (ROSA) under low P condition, with the favorable allele from Zhongmai 895.ConclusionsThis study carried out an imaging pipeline-based rapid phenotyping of RSA and BRT traits in hydroponic culture. It is an efficient approach for screening of large populations under different nutrient conditions. Four QTL on chromosomes 6BL (2) and 7AL (2) identified in low P treatment showed positive additive effects contributed by Zhongmai 895, indicating that Zhongmai 895 could be used as parent for P-deficient breeding. The most stable QTL QRRS.caas-4DS for ratio of root to shoot dry weight (RRS) harbored the stable genetic region with high phenotypic effect, and QTL clusters on 7A might be used for speedy selection of genotypes for P-uptake. SNPs closely linked to QTLs and clusters could be used to improve nutrient-use efficiency.

Fibroblasts direct differentiation of human breast epithelial progenitors

BackgroundBreast cancer arises within specific regions in the human breast referred to as the terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs). These are relatively dynamic structures characterized by sex hormone driven cyclic epithelial turnover. TDLUs consist of unique parenchymal entities embedded within a fibroblast-rich lobular stroma. Here, we established and characterized a new human breast lobular fibroblast cell line against its interlobular counterpart with a view to assessing the role of region-specific stromal cues in the control of TDLU dynamics.MethodsPrimary lobular and interlobular fibroblasts were transduced to express human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Differentiation of the established cell lines along lobular and interlobular pathways was determined by immunocytochemical staining and genome-wide RNA sequencing. Their functional properties were further characterized by analysis of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation repertoire in culture and in vivo. The cells’ physiological relevance for parenchymal differentiation was examined in heterotypic co-culture with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-purified normal breast primary luminal or myoepithelial progenitors. The co-cultures were immunostained for quantitative assessment of epithelial branching morphogenesis, polarization, growth, and luminal epithelial maturation. In extension, myoepithelial progenitors were tested for luminal differentiation capacity in culture and in mouse xenografts. To unravel the significance of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-mediated crosstalk in TDLU-like morphogenesis and differentiation, fibroblasts were incubated with the TGF-β signaling inhibitor, SB431542, prior to heterotypic co-culture with luminal cells.ResultshTERT immortalized fibroblast cell lines retained critical phenotypic traits in culture and linked to primary fibroblasts. Cell culture assays and transplantation to mice showed that the origin of fibroblasts determines TDLU-like and ductal-like differentiation of epithelial progenitors. Whereas lobular fibroblasts supported a high level of branching morphogenesis by luminal cells, interlobular fibroblasts supported ductal-like myoepithelial characteristics. TDLU-like morphogenesis, at least in part, relied on intact TGF-β signaling.ConclusionsThe significance of the most prominent cell type in normal breast stroma, the fibroblast, in directing epithelial differentiation is largely unknown. Through establishment of lobular and interlobular fibroblast cell lines, we here demonstrate that epithelial progenitors are submitted to stromal cues for site-specific differentiation. Our findings lend credence to considering stromal subtleties of crucial importance in the development of normal breast and, in turn, breast cancer.

Biofertilizante orgânico na cultura do feijoeiro comum

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de ativador biológico na produtividade e caracteres agronômicos na cultura do feijoeiro comum, no qual foi realizado na Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul-UEMS, Unidade Universitária de Aquidauana, setor de fitotecnia. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados em esquemas de parcelas subdivididas com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram compostas pelos tratamentos Bokashi, Convencional e testemunha. E as subparcelas, com dimensões de 5X3 m compostas pelas cultivares BRS Pérola, BRS Notável, BRS Campeiro, IAC Milênio e BRS Agreste, proveniente do banco de Germoplasma da Embrapa Arroz e Feijão. As avaliações foram realizadas no período vegetativo específico para cada variável, mensurando, número de vagens por planta, número de grãos/vagens, massa verde de parte aérea e raiz, massa seca de parte aérea e raiz, análise foliar para determinação de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio, densidade e comprimento de raiz, nódulos ativos, número de nódulos por planta e produtividade de grãos. Os dados foram coletados e submetidos a análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Todas as análises foram realizadas com software Rbio (Bhering, 2017). Com isso observamos que a cultivar pérola foi superior nas variáveis densidade de raiz e massa de cem grãos, o tratamento convencional foi superior aos demais para número de ramificação, com relação a pragas, houve maior incidência de cigarrinha na cultivar BRS Campeiro. Foi observado que é possível produzir feijão em sistema orgânico alcançando produtividade semelhante à obtida no sistema convencional.

Empirical structure of DSM-5 and ICD-11 personality disorder traits in Arabic-speaking Algerian culture

Mental health professionals using the DSM-5 and ICD-11 are allowed to describe personality disorders in terms of trait domain qualifiers (i.e., Negative Affectivity, Detachment, Antagonism/Dissociality, Disinhibition, Anankastia, and Psychoticism). The present study sought to evaluate the structural validity of both DSM-5 and ICD-11 traits in Algerian culture. Algerian university students (N = 638; 67.9% women) were administered the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 – Brief Form (PID-5-BF). The expected empirical domain organization of DSM-5 and ICD-11 traits was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) followed by a post hoc confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). As anticipated, the five-factor pattern overall corresponded to the five DSM-5 trait domains, including a domain of Psychoticism. Likewise, the four-factor structure overall aligned with the ICD-11 trait domain qualifiers, including a single factor denoting Disinhibition versus low Anankastia. However, a few items showed less adequate functioning across the two models, possibly due to cultural differences. Findings provided some support for the structural validity of DSM-5 and ICD-11 personality disorder trait models in Algerian culture, and the trait patterns overall resembled international findings on DSM-5 and ICD-11 trait domains. Future research warrants replication in clinical populations, and association with various health outcomes should be explored.

Variations in Nitrogen Metabolism are Closely Linked with Nitrogen Uptake and Utilization Efficiency in Cotton Genotypes under Various Nitrogen Supplies.

Cotton production is highly sensitive to nitrogen (N) fertilization, whose excessive use is responsible for human and environmental problems. Lowering N supply together with the selection of N-efficient genotypes, more able to uptake, utilize, and remobilize the available N, could be a challenge to maintain high cotton production sustainably. The current study aimed to explore the intraspecific variation among four cotton genotypes in response to various N supplies, in order to identify the most distinct N-efficient genotypes and their nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)-related traits in hydroponic culture. On the basis of shoot dry matter, CCRI-69 and XLZ-30 were identified as N-efficient and N-inefficient genotypes, respectively, and these results were confirmed by their contrasting N metabolism, uptake (NUpE), and utilization efficiency (NUtE). Overall, our results indicated the key role of shoot glutamine synthetase (GS) and root total soluble protein in NUtE. Conversely, tissue N concentration and N-metabolizing enzymes were considered as the key traits in conferring high NUpE. The remobilization of N from the shoot to roots by high shoot GS activity may be a strategy to enhance root total soluble protein, which improves root growth for N uptake and NUE. In future, multi-omics studies will be employed to focus on the key genes and pathways involved in N metabolism and their role in improving NUE.

Essentializing Ugandan Indigenous Cultures in Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s Manchester Happened

This paper examines Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga in the light of postcolonial concepts of essentialism and time. This study is motivated by the observation that relationships between the former colonialists and colonized as represented in contemporary diasporic literature are still characterized by rivalry, racism and ideologies about the backwardness of Africans, Caribbeans and Asians. The creation of the Commonwealth of Nations has not served as a platform to eradicate the inauspicious binary matrices that existed in the days of the British Empire. African migrants in England are unable to effectively integrate themselves in the socio-economic sphere since their ‘Otherness’ remains a consideration for rejection. Oppression and marginalization are therefore presented as traits in Western culture whereas the spirit of community, attachment to cultural values and the desire to foster the ideals of the past characterize Ugandan indigenous attitudes as presented in Manchester Happened. From this problematic stance, the following research questions were derived: How is home constructed in Manchester? What is the significance of making journeys back to the homeland? This study is therefore predicated upon the claim that Ugandans in Manchester exhibit trends of their indigenous culture as they seek to assert their cultural identity in the diaspora and back home in Uganda. Globalization and modernity affect some characters that are enamored by Western attitudes. However, Nansubuga presents Ugandans who embody native customs which they practice daily in Manchester, and besides, they regularly travel to Uganda for other communal rites. In these instances, value is ascribed to native customs and the heritage from their ancestral past.

Generation of Multicellular Human Primary Endometrial Organoids.

The human endometrium is one of the most hormonally responsive tissues in the body and is essential for the establishment of pregnancy. This tissue can also become diseased and cause morbidity and even death. Model systems to study human endometrial biology have been limited to in vitro culture systems of single cell types. In addition, the epithelial cells, one of the major cell types of the endometrium, do not propagate well or retain their physiological traits in culture, and thus our understanding of endometrial biology remains limited. We have generated, for the first time, endometrial organoids that consist of both epithelial and stromal cells of the human endometrium. These organoids do not require any exogenous scaffold materials and specifically organize so that epithelial cells encompass the spheroid-like structure and become polarized with stromal cells in the center that produce and secrete collagen. Estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors are expressed in the epithelial and stromal cells and treatment with physiological levels of estrogen and testosterone promote the organization of the organoids. This new model system can be used to study normal endometrial biology and disease in ways that were not possible before.

Genome-wide association mapping of root system architecture traits in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Uncovering the genetic basis and optimization of root system architecture (RSA) traits are crucial for modern wheat breeding. Genome-wide association mapping has become a powerful approach to dissect the genetic architecture of complex quantitative traits. In the present study, RSA traits, viz. total root length (TRL), total root area, average root diameter and number of root tips in a diverse panel of 165 elite wheat cultivars from the Yellow and Huai River Valley Facultative Wheat Region of China were evaluated as seedlings in hydroponic culture and in the field to identify loci significantly associated with those traits. The diverse panel was genotyped using the wheat 90 K and 660 K SNP arrays, and a genome-wide association study using a mixed linear model identified 28 and 4 loci significantly associated with RSA traits in hydroponic culture and in the field, explaining 8.8–15.6% and 8.9–12.6% of phenotypic variances, respectively. Seven loci for RSA traits co-located with known genes or quantitative trait loci (QTL), whereas the other 22 were potentially new. Linear regression between favorable alleles and RSA traits suggested that QTL pyramiding should be effective in optimizing root systems. Two candidate genes for RSA traits were identified, including genes encoding calcium dependent protein kinase and E3-Ubiquitin protein ligase. This study provides novel insights into the genetic architecture of RSA traits.

Genetic characterization of introgression lines with the genetic background of the Indica-type rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar IR 64 under irrigated lowland and upland conditions

We characterized 333 introgression lines (INLs) harboring chromosome segments from new plant type (NTP) and Japonica-type cultivars with the genetic background of the elite Indica-type rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar IR 64, by evaluating yield components and dry matter production under irrigated lowland (IL) and upland (UP) culture in 2011 and 2012; and elucidated the relationships between the traits and chromosome segments introduced from the donors. The panicle weight (PW), PW/total plant weight (PW/TW), number of fertile spikelets (FS), and FS/total number of spikelets per panicle (FS/TS) of the INLs increased, while the culm weight (CW) and panicle number (PN) decreased. Most INLs produced more dry matter in the UP than in the IL culture. The INLs were clustered into three groups (A–C) according to their traits in the UP culture, and four groups (I–IV) according to their traits in the IL culture. They were then sorted into six groups (A-I, A-II, B-II, B-III, C-III, and C-IV) according to the relationships between culture conditions. The INLs of group A-II had increased panicle length (PL), PW, PW/TW, FS, and TS, and these traits were stable in both IL and UP culture. In the other groups, the trait values changed with the conditions and season. Association analyses using trait phenotype and genotype data of SSR markers detected 166 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 10 traits, distributed on all chromosomes except 3 and 10. Of these, 81 QTLs for DH, CL, PL, CW, PW, PW/TW, PN, FS, TS, and FS/TS were newly detected. The INLs were characterized under different conditions, and dramatic trait modifications in IR64 rice were associated with these QTLs, through introgression from the donor cultivars. Thus, these INLs and QTLs will be useful in genetic studies to identify the gene(s) that modified IR64, and as breeding materials for genetic improvement of Indica-type cultivars.

The human complement inhibitor Sushi Domain-Containing Protein 4 (SUSD4) expression in tumor cells and infiltrating T cells is associated with better prognosis of breast cancer patients.

BackgroundThe human Sushi Domain-Containing Protein 4 (SUSD4) was recently shown to function as a novel inhibitor of the complement system, but its role in tumor progression is unknown.MethodsUsing immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR, we investigated SUSD4 expression in breast cancer tissue samples from two cohorts. The effect of SUSD4 expression on cell migration and invasion was studied in vitro using two human breast cancer cell lines overexpressing SUSD4.ResultsTissue stainings revealed that both tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating cells expressed SUSD4. The highest SUSD4 expression was detected in differentiated tumors with decreased rate of metastasis, and SUSD4 expression was associated with improved survival of the patients. Moreover, forced SUSD4 expression in human breast cancer cells attenuated their migratory and invasive traits in culture. SUSD4 expression also inhibited colony formation of human breast cancer cells cultured on carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. Furthermore, large numbers of SUSD4-expressing T cells in the tumor stroma associated with better overall survival of the breast cancer patients.ConclusionOur findings indicate that SUSD4 expression in both breast cancer cells and T cells infiltrating the tumor-associated stroma is useful to predict better prognosis of breast cancer patients.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator as a biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer.

An increased risk of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and carriers of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations has been proposed. However, the role of CFTR in lung cancer remains controversial. In the present study, CFTR expression was assessed in 165 NSCLC tumors and 22 normal lung samples with validation in an independent series of 131 samples. The effect of gain and loss of CFTR on the malignant behavior of NSCLC was examined. The effect of CFTR manipulation on tumor metastasis was examined in a mouse model. Expression of CFTR was downregulated in NSCLC (p=0.041). Low CFTR expression was correlated with advanced stage (p<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.009). Low CFTR expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis (overall survival: 45 vs. 36 months, p<0.0001; progression-free survival: 41 vs. 30 months, p=0.007). Knockdown of CFTR in NSCLC cells enhanced malignant behavior (epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion and migration); in contrast, overexpression of CFTR suppressed cancer progression in vitro and in vivo. The tumor-suppressing effect of CFTR was associated with inhibition of multiple uPA/uPAR-mediated malignant traits in culture. These results show that CFTR plays a role in inhibition of NSCLC metastasis and suggest that CFTR may serve as a novel indicator for predicting adverse prognosis and metastasis in NSCLC patients.

Homologizing Accident: Notes on Warhol’s Car Crashes

This paper focuses on some paintings by Andy Warhol depicting car crashes to demonstrate how he uses them not only to underscore the commodity fetishism of contemporary capitalism but also subversively to undermine such traits in contemporary American culture. It also explores the connection between the ambivalence reflected in the paintings and Warhol’s sexuality. In the process, it connects the paintings to the category Susan Sontag has famously categorized as “Camp” and Warhol’s own facetiousness and love of surfaces and mixed modes as well as gimmick and parody.

Genes and growth performance in crustacean species: a review of relevant genomic studies in crustaceans and other taxa

AbstractGlobal aquaculture has expanded rapidly to address the increasing demand for aquatic protein needs and an uncertain future for wild fisheries. To date, however, most farmed aquatic stocks are essentially wild and little is known about their genomes or the genes that affect important economic traits in culture. Biologists have recognized that recent technological advances including next generation sequencing (NGS) have opened up the possibility of generating genome wide sequence data sets rapidly from non‐model organisms at a reasonable cost. In an era when virtually any study organism can ‘go genomic’, understanding gene function and genetic effects on expressed quantitative trait locus phenotypes will be fundamental to future knowledge development. Many factors can influence the individual growth rate in target species but of particular importance in agriculture and aquaculture will be the identification and characterization of the specific gene loci that contribute important phenotypic variation to growth because the information can be applied to speed up genetic improvement programmes and to increase productivity via marker‐assisted selection (MAS). While currently there is only limited genomic information available for any crustacean species, a number of putative candidate genes have been identified or implicated in growth and muscle development in some species. In an effort to stimulate increased research on the identification of growth‐related genes in crustacean species, here we review the available information on: (i) associations between genes and growth reported in crustaceans, (ii) growth‐related genes involved with moulting, (iii) muscle development and degradation genes involved in moulting and (iv) correlations between DNA sequences that have confirmed growth trait effects in farmed animal species used in terrestrial agriculture and related sequences in crustacean species. The information in concert can provide a foundation for increasing the rate at which knowledge about key genes affecting growth traits in crustacean species is gained.