Saliency in Context: The Effect of Context on the Diagnosticity of Facial Features

<p>How might faces we have learned be represented in our memory? Researchers believe that our memory for faces is based on building a robust averaged representation comprised of the stable aspects of the face (i.e., eyes, nose, mouth). However, anecdotal evidence suggests this one size fits all approach to face representations may not be correct. A new theory suggests our representation for faces is instead based on a dynamic weighting, wherein what is seen as most diagnostic during learning will be encoded to a greater extent than other features in the face. One factor that may be especially important for a weighted representation is the context in which a face is initially viewed. Dependent on the context of learning, certain features may appear more distinctive than others and therefore be deemed diagnostic and receive representational weight. The current study had participants learn four faces with one manipulated to appear distinctive in the experimental context by having a unique hair colour (Experiment 1), or eye colour (Experiment 2) compared to the other faces. Participants then completed a recognition task where the feature of interest (i.e., hair or eye colour) was either available or unavailable (i.e., bald and eye closed conditions) for recognition. Findings suggested recognition was disrupted when the diagnostic feature was unavailable compared to when that feature was available, across both distinctive and typical faces. Interestingly, Experiment 2 showed a distinctiveness performance advantage compared to Experiment 1, most likely because neighbouring features may be more diagnostic than others during recognition. In addition, further exploratory analysis showed the order of the test could further affect what was encoded.</p>

Saliency in Context: The Effect of Context on the Diagnosticity of Facial Features

<p>How might faces we have learned be represented in our memory? Researchers believe that our memory for faces is based on building a robust averaged representation comprised of the stable aspects of the face (i.e., eyes, nose, mouth). However, anecdotal evidence suggests this one size fits all approach to face representations may not be correct. A new theory suggests our representation for faces is instead based on a dynamic weighting, wherein what is seen as most diagnostic during learning will be encoded to a greater extent than other features in the face. One factor that may be especially important for a weighted representation is the context in which a face is initially viewed. Dependent on the context of learning, certain features may appear more distinctive than others and therefore be deemed diagnostic and receive representational weight. The current study had participants learn four faces with one manipulated to appear distinctive in the experimental context by having a unique hair colour (Experiment 1), or eye colour (Experiment 2) compared to the other faces. Participants then completed a recognition task where the feature of interest (i.e., hair or eye colour) was either available or unavailable (i.e., bald and eye closed conditions) for recognition. Findings suggested recognition was disrupted when the diagnostic feature was unavailable compared to when that feature was available, across both distinctive and typical faces. Interestingly, Experiment 2 showed a distinctiveness performance advantage compared to Experiment 1, most likely because neighbouring features may be more diagnostic than others during recognition. In addition, further exploratory analysis showed the order of the test could further affect what was encoded.</p>

A large Canadian cohort provides insights into the genetic architecture of human hair colour

Hair colour is a polygenic phenotype that results from differences in the amount and ratio of melanins located in the hair bulb. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many loci involved in the pigmentation pathway affecting hair colour. However, most of the associated loci overlap non-protein coding regions and many of the molecular mechanisms underlying pigmentation variation are still not understood. Here, we conduct GWAS meta-analyses of hair colour in a Canadian cohort of 12,741 individuals of European ancestry. By performing fine-mapping analyses we identify candidate causal variants in pigmentation loci associated with blonde, red and brown hair colour. Additionally, we observe colocalization of several GWAS hits with expression and methylation quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of cultured melanocytes. Finally, transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) further nominate the expression of EDNRB and CDK10 as significantly associated with hair colour. Our results provide insights on the mechanisms regulating pigmentation biology in humans.

Redheaded women are more sexually active than other women, but it is probably due to their suitors

Women with red hair colour, i.e., 1–9% of female Europeans, tend to be the subject of various stereotypes about their sexually liberated behaviour. The aim of the present case-control study was to explore whether a connection between red hair colour and sexual behaviour really exists using data from 110 women (34% redheaded) and 93 men (22% redheaded). Redheadedness in women, but not in men, correlated with various traits related to sexual life, namely with higher sexual desire as measured by Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, with higher sexual activity and more sexual partners of the preferred gender over the past year, earlier initiation of sexual life, and higher sexual submissiveness. Structural equation modelling, however, showed that sexual desire of redheaded women meditated neither their higher sexual activity nor most of the variability of having more sexual partners. These results indicate that the apparently more liberated sexual behaviour in redheaded women could be the consequence of frequent attempts of potential mates to have sex with redheaded women. Other hypotheses, based on different physiology, faster life history strategy, or altered self-perception of red-haired women induced by stereotypes about them, were also tested and discussed.

DEVELOPMENT OF A STATISTICAL MODEL FOR THE SYSTEM OF INSTRUMENTAL SORTING OF MINK SKINS BY COLOUR-DIFFERENCE PARAMETERS

The creation of a system of instrumental quantitative assessment of the hair colour of mink skins is a topical and timely task, due to the fact that the methods of visual assessment of the colour of skins during sorting do not meet the current level of scientific and technological progress. The authors used statistical analysis methods to show the possibility of colour separation of mink skins using the colour parameters of the CIE L*a*b*colourimetric system. It is found that the greatest contribution to the overall discrimination, and hence to the colour difference, is made by L*, lightness; the variable b* is second in this process, and the variable a* is characterised by the smallest contribution. The developed classification matrix allows us to summarise the information about the number and percentage of correctly classified cases for each colour type and assess the degree of compliance of the classification results obtained by formal discrimination with the actual distribution of skins. A statistical model of the system of instrumental sorting of mink skins by colour-difference parameters is proposed, which allows evaluating the correctness of assigning mink skins selected by visual expert method to certain colour types.

Bodybuilders as cyborgs: considering the actor-network-theory parallels

As a registered female athlete with the Ontario Physiques Association (OPA), I have first hand knowledge of bodybuilding at the non-competitive level. I have attended various figure, fitness and bodybuilding competitions and continue to participate in an ongoing dialogue with competing female bodybuilders. I believe that my first hand knowledge and experience allows me, as a member of this community, to provide a unique and in-depth analysis of the culture of female bodybuilding more profoundly than those outside of it. Adopting the role of participant-observer, I will explore the connection between the female bodybuilder as a cyborg and ANT. I will present my study as a micro-ethnography with autoethnography elements framed as a kind of case-study that incorporates both primary and secondary research. In conjunction with relevant academic literature, my analysis will be informed by my ongoing journal and an analysis of popular bodybuilding literature. I hope to understand how my own decision-making process as well as that of other female bodybuilders is subsequently enculturated into a cyborg's mindset. This study does not consider the ethics of building a body to unnatural proportions. I will not debate whether the choices made by a female bodybuilder are right or wrong. All persons shape their bodies in some way, through the food they decide to eat, the cigarettes they smoke, the tattoo or piercing they acquire or the hair colour they select for this season. I will focus only on the ways we may regard a female bodybuilder as a cyborg and show how ANT may help us better understand this phenomenon. It is, however, important to first understand the history and culture of bodybuilding.

Bodybuilders as cyborgs: considering the actor-network-theory parallels

As a registered female athlete with the Ontario Physiques Association (OPA), I have first hand knowledge of bodybuilding at the non-competitive level. I have attended various figure, fitness and bodybuilding competitions and continue to participate in an ongoing dialogue with competing female bodybuilders. I believe that my first hand knowledge and experience allows me, as a member of this community, to provide a unique and in-depth analysis of the culture of female bodybuilding more profoundly than those outside of it. Adopting the role of participant-observer, I will explore the connection between the female bodybuilder as a cyborg and ANT. I will present my study as a micro-ethnography with autoethnography elements framed as a kind of case-study that incorporates both primary and secondary research. In conjunction with relevant academic literature, my analysis will be informed by my ongoing journal and an analysis of popular bodybuilding literature. I hope to understand how my own decision-making process as well as that of other female bodybuilders is subsequently enculturated into a cyborg's mindset. This study does not consider the ethics of building a body to unnatural proportions. I will not debate whether the choices made by a female bodybuilder are right or wrong. All persons shape their bodies in some way, through the food they decide to eat, the cigarettes they smoke, the tattoo or piercing they acquire or the hair colour they select for this season. I will focus only on the ways we may regard a female bodybuilder as a cyborg and show how ANT may help us better understand this phenomenon. It is, however, important to first understand the history and culture of bodybuilding.

From hair colour to diagnosis

Hair pigmentation contributes extremely to the visual appearance and human-to-human communication, thus exerting enormous sexual and social impact. Follicular melanogenesis depends on genetic, biochemical and physical phenomena as well as proper epithelial-melanocytic interaction. Shades of grey, yellow, brown, red, and black produced by melanin define the exact determination of hair colour. Versatile clinical conditions depend on genetic melanogenetic changes, pigment transfer to bulb keratinocytes defects and impaired signal transduction pathways. Herein, an update of recent scientific advances on follicular melanogenesis and its pathological-driven compartmental changes reflecting specific disease phenotypes, are presented.

Assessment of the reproductive performances of native sows in Southern Benin

Native sows contribute to a large extent to food security and poverty alleviation in Benin. However, their reproductive performance particularly under extensive systems are poorly characterised. The objective of this study was to fill this knowledge gap by selecting 284 multiparous sows based on hair colour and some reproductive parameters. The results showed that native sows of Southern Benin can be clustered into three groups with group 3 showing the best reproductive performances including highest average litter size (10.31 piglets), live-born piglets (10.31 piglets), number of functional teats (10.94) and shorter average farrowing interval (6 months). The analysis of sows’ performances based on their origin revealed that sows from agro-ecological Zone 8 have the highest number of live-born piglets and the lowest age at first mating and first farrowing. The analysis of sows’ performances based on the hair colour showed that those with black hair have the largest litter size and the highest number of live-born piglets. This study showed that Benin’s native sows have good reproductive ability with enough variation to develop a sustainable pig industry for a better contribution to food security and wealth creation.