The colors of life: an interdisciplinary artist-in-residence project to research fungal pigments as a gateway to empathy and understanding of microbial life

Background Biological pigmentation is one of the most intriguing traits of many fungi. It holds significance to scientists, as a sign of biochemical metabolism and organism-environment interaction, and to artists, as the source of natural colors that capture the beauty of the microbial world. Furthermore, the functional roles and aesthetic appeal of biological pigmentation may be a path to inspiring human empathy for microorganisms, which is key to understanding and preserving microbial biodiversity. A project focused on cross-species empathy was initiated and conducted as part of an artist-in-residence program in 2021. The aim of this residency is to bridge the current divide between science and art through interdisciplinary practice focused on fungi. Results The residency resulted in multiple products that are designed for artistic and scientific audiences with the central theme of biological pigmentation in fungi and other microorganisms. The first product is a video artwork that focuses on Aspergillus niger as a model organism that produces melanin pigment in a biosynthetic process similar to that of humans. The growth and morphology of this commonplace organism are displayed through video, photo, animation, and time-lapse footage, inviting the viewer to examine the likenesses and overlaps between humans and fungi. The second product is The Living Color Database, an online compendium of biological colors for scientists, artists, and designers. It links organisms across the tree of life, focusing on fungi, bacteria, and archaea, and the colors they express through biological pigmentation. Each pigment is represented in terms of its chemistry, its related biosynthesis, and its color expressions according to different indices: HEX, RGB, and Pantone. It is available at color.bio. Conclusions As fungal biotechnology continues to mature into new application areas, it is as important as ever that there is human empathy for these organisms to promote the preservation and appreciation of fungal biodiversity. The products presented here provide paths for artists, scientists, and designers to understand microorganisms through the lens of color, promoting interspecies empathy through research, teaching, and practice.

Legal and linguistic uncertainty of terms and norms of Russian laws

The article presents the results of a study of de jure (modeled) and de facto (real) interpretation of the concept legal and linguistic uncertainty, which is relevant for modern Russian legal discourse, lawmaking, judicial, and expert practice. These features are typical for Russian legal discourse, lawmaking, judicial, expert practice, as well as the scientific sphere of communication. The article is aimed at studying the objective and subjective reasons for legal and linguistic uncertainty of legislative terms and legislative norms; analysing the conditions under which uncertainty is considered as an attribute of law language and a means of legal regulation or a defective formulating legal rules, falsa leclio. Legal and linguistic uncertainty is considered from different points of view: (a) the dichotomy clarity/ uncertainty; (b) the legislative definition; (c) attitude to the system of Russian legislation terms; (d) variability, disambiguate, double-meaning; (e) the basis for procedural decisions (expert assessment, adjustment of the norm of the draft law or the current law, rejection of the draft law). The subjective factors of legal and linguistic uncertainty are analyzed, on the one hand, from the position of professional competencies of law developers and specialists examining laws in different aspects - linguistic, legal, anti-corruption, legal and technical, pedagogical, etc. On the other hand, they are analysed from the point of view of legal and other knowledge of the addressees, those, who interpret the law. The research methodology is traditional for modern Russian studies and legal linguistics: analysis, comparison, deduction, induction, analogy, modeling, as well as contextual, interpretive, systemic, discursive, interdisciplinary, practice-oriented and other approaches. Due to interdisciplinary nature of the research, works on linguistics, jurisprudence, legal linguistics, documents of legislative, judicial, expert practice, texts of Russian (federal) laws, materials from the Dictionary of Terms of Russian Legislation were used. The prospects for the study are outlined: considering legal and linguistic uncertainty in the aspect of creating laws in two or more state languages, orthology, etc.

Joseph T. Freeman Award: Creating Synergy in Interdisciplinary Aging Research and Practice

Over 30 years of interdisciplinary practice stimulated many research questions. Early intervention research in sensory impairment, specifically vision and/or hearing impairment was heavily supported by interdisciplinary colleagues from Geriatric Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry and Audiology. Challenges and opportunities from this research created a growing interest in developing and designing technologies for older adults. Creating the need for partnerships with engineering. My expertise in aging and access to willing research participants made me an ideal research partner. Effectively expanding my focus beyond sensory impairment interventions to designing and testing robots with older adults. Currently we are testing low cost mobile robots in acute care and the community and are developing and testing a soft robot to assist persons out of a chair as well as turn and lift persons up in bed. The synergy of interdisciplinary practice and research is helping us innovate to improve the lives of older adults.

Training in Interdisciplinary, Practice-Oriented Minority Aging Research: Honoring the Work of Dr. James Jackson

Few scientists had the breadth and depth of scholarship, the keen interest in interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, and the commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists as Dr. James Jackson. His passing remains a tremendous loss for the field. This symposium, organized by members of the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR), which was founded by James over 20 years ago, reflects on the impact of transdisciplinary team science, of the importance of research networks and resource sharing, of the need to center research within practice and community, and of the scientific innovation that comes from integrating conceptual models, data sources, and methodological approaches from seemingly disparate fields. The session is co-chaired by Dr. Robert Taylor, longtime faculty member and current PI of MCUAAAR. The talk by session chair Dr. Briana Mezuk will discuss the ways in which the training approach of Analysis Core has inspired new training programs on integrative methods focused on minority health and disparities. The talk by Dr. Tam Perry will describe the innovations of the Community Liaison and Recruitment Core, including how COVID-19 impacted the activities of the Healthier Black Elder Center. The third talk by Dr. Rodlescia Sneed, a MCUAAAR early-career scientist, provides an example of how this Center supports interdisciplinary minority aging research through her project focused on older adults who have a history of incarceration. Finally, Discussant Dr. Roland Thorpe, a member of the MCUAAAR Advisory Board, will reflect on Dr. Jackson’s legacy of mentorship and collaboration.

P.092 Successful implementation of a supported conversation program on an acute stroke unit

Background: Aphasia is a life alerting deficit that affects up to 40% of people living with stroke. Barriers to communication ultimately impacts the care aphasic patients receive, as well as functional recovery. The Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations suggest early and frequent language interventions to improve patients with aphasia quality of life, mood, and social outcomes. Methods: A supported conversation (SC) program (colloquially named The Aphasia Club) was implemented on the Acute Stroke Unit (ASU). The program included aphasia awareness and assessment training, as well as creation of an aphasia tool kit and discipline specific aphasia-friendly resources. Staff were encouraged to complete a 1-hour independent course on SC through the Aphasia Institute. Speech and language pathologists (SLP) offered an additional 30-minute in-person teaching session with interdisciplinary practice professionals. Following SLP assessment, personalized communication profiles were created for patients with aphasia to help staff understand the most useful strategies for communication. Results: More then 50 interprofessional staff members took SC training. Staff reported increased levels of knowledge and confidence when communicating with aphasic patients. Conclusions: A supported communication program was successfully implemented on an ASU. Planning appropriate communication interventions can assist interdisciplinary professionals in their ability to support patients through their stroke journey.

Together in the world! Postfoundationalism re-discovered in Ubuntu

This article investigates two questions: (1) What is the significance of a typical western philosophical concept like postfoundationalism for the African context? (2) Can Ubuntu be the key or the bridge between two seemingly distant philosophical worlds? I have been involved in two major research projects: firstly, the exploration of the postfoundationalist paradigm and the significance of it for practical theology; secondly, a study of Ubuntu and its value for human and social development in Africa.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article is an ethnographic journey in which I revisit and reflect on those two projects and the link between them. The reflection focuses on four concepts: interdisciplinary practice, colonialism and whiteness, fiction and research, and holism.

A Mixed Design Evaluation of an Interdisciplinary Transition Graduate Program

The authors describe the implementation and impact of a graduate-level transition personnel preparation program for transition specialists. This program was based on the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards for transition specialists. Over 200 special educators were prepared in a 2-year part-time graduate program where interdisciplinary, practice-based preparation was provided. Participants completed five courses and one practicum designed to prepare them to meet the standards for transition specialists. Competency ratings significantly improved after program completion. Focus group responses suggested that the program design had features that had major impact on the areas of policy, collaboration, and leadership. Collaboration and interdisciplinary activities emphasizing the roles of transition professionals were described throughout the article, showing how transition specialists, career/technical educators, and rehabilitation counselors are mutually supportive of youth with disabilities achieving postschool goals. The authors recommended further research on how this kind of preparation might be disseminated and replicated.

PAISAGENS CULTURAIS E IMAGINÁRIO COMO RECURSO SIMBÓLICO DA CIDADE PEQUENA: um estudo sobre Triunfo, Sertão de Pernambuco

CULTURAL AND IMAGINARY LANDSCAPES AS A SYMBOLIC RESOURCE OF SMALL CITY: a study on Triunfo, in the Pernambuco BacklandPAISAJES CULTURALES E IMAGINARIOS COMO RECURSO SIMBÓLICO DE CIUDAD PEQUEÑA: un estudio sobre Triunfo, en PernambucoRESUMONesta pesquisa desenvolve-se o argumento de que paisagens culturais e o imaginário constituem recursos simbólicos a serem considerados na inserção da cidade pequena nas distintas redes urbanas do país. Paisagens culturais (incluindo os biomas locais), na amplitude do imaginário local, podem constituir potenciais recursos simbólicos que singularizam a cidade em sua condição genérica. Metodologicamente, adota-se uma perspectiva qualitativa de estudo de caso sobre o município de Triunfo, no sertão do Pajeú, em Pernambuco, por meio da qual buscamos compreender em que medida o imaginário pode atuar de forma a potencializar as paisagens em seu potencial simbólico e socioeconômico. A partir do campo cultural, a pesquisa desenvolve-se em prática interdisciplinar, na interface com geografia cultural, comunicação e antropologia do imaginário, com pesquisa de campo com ênfase em registro fotográfico como elementos constituintes do imaginário estudado.Palavras-chave: Paisagens Culturais; Imaginário; Recurso Simbólico; Cidade Pequena; Triunfo-PE.ABSTRACTThis research develops the argument that cultural landscapes and the imaginary are symbolic resources to be considered in the insertion of the small city in the different urban networks of the country. Cultural landscapes (including local biomes), in the breadth of the local imagination, can constitute potential symbolic resources that make the city unique in its generic condition. Methodologically, a qualitative perspective is adopted, a case study about the municipality of Triunfo, in the Pajeú “sertão” (hinterland), in Pernambuco, through which we seek to understand to what extent the imaginary can act in order to potentiate the landscapes in their symbolic potential and socioeconomic. From the cultural field, the research develops in interdisciplinary practice, in the interface with cultural geography, communication and anthropology of the imaginary, in a qualitative approach, with field research and the with an emphasis on photographic record as constituent elements of the studied imaginary.Keywords: Cultural Landscapes; Imaginary; Symbolic Resource; Small City; Triunfo-PE.RESUMENEsta investigación desarrolla el argumento de que los paisajes culturales y lo imaginario son recursos simbólicos que considerar en la inserción de la pequeña ciudad en las diferentes redes urbanas del país. Los paisajes culturales (incluidos los biomas locales), en la amplitud de la imaginación local, pueden constituir recursos simbólicos potenciales que hacen que la ciudad sea única en su condición genérica. Metodológicamente, se adopta una perspectiva cualitativa, un estudio de caso sobre el municipio de Triunfo, en el “sertão” (interior) de Pajeú, en Pernambuco, a través del cual buscamos comprender en qué medida el imaginario puede actuar para potenciar los paisajes en su potencial simbólico y socioeconómico. Desde el campo cultural, la investigación se desarrolla en la práctica interdisciplinaria, en la interfaz con la geografía cultural, la comunicación y la antropología del imaginario, en un enfoque cualitativo, con la investigación de campo y el con énfasis en el registro fotográfico como elementos constitutivos del imaginario estudiado.Palabras clave: Paisajes Culturales; Imaginario; Recurso Simbólico; Ciudad Pequeña; Triunfo-PE.

Carmen and Salome: the theme of “femme fatale” in the ballets of Mukaram Avakhri

The article deals with the image of the so-called femme fatale in Kazakh choreographic art in the case study of two ballets by Mukaram Avakhri: “Carmen” and “Salome”. The author analyzes the artist’s interpretation of the images of the two title characters as canonical cultural texts in the discourse on the history of female representation. At present, the choreographic theory is at the junction of feminist thought and choreographic interdisciplinary practice that strives to view the dancing female body through alternative means of cognition. The stereotype of femininity in dominant conceptions of the Western culture can be deconstructed through the new experience of female authors that influences the performer and the viewer in a new way. The directing and plastique-based approaches that help the young female Kazakh choreographer to achieve this are of interest to the authors.