The Evolution of Senses: My Research Journey into the Nervous System of Cnidaria

Our understanding of the evolutionary history of animals is improving, but knowledge of the ancient sensory systems that early animals used to interact with their environments is still largely unknown. Using molecular cloning and in situ hybridization staining procedures, I was able to test the hypothesis that some senses evolved prior to the evolution of animals with bilateral symmetry. My data provides evidence that cnidarians can taste using genes that are closely related to human taste receptors. This finding changes our current understanding of when tasteevolved by hundreds of millions of years. The in situ hybridization results also demonstrated co-localization, or overlap, of the expression of taste and photosensitivity genes, which provides preliminary evidence that cnidarians use a polymodal sensory-motor (PSM) neuron to sense light and chemical cues (“tastes”) to coordinate their feeding behavior. The cDNA constructs I have produced will also provide further biochemical insights into their function. My long-term research projects have taught me about the process of making scientific discoveries, and I hope to continue conducting research throughout my career

We should aim for open refereeing of academic articles in the information age

James Hartley argues that new technology used for submitting papers to academic journals increases the possibilities for gathering data, analysing it and improving the refereeing process

Ten propositions about public leadership

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of some pressing but under-researched aspects of public leadership. Ten propositions about public leadership are set out and these are intended to be thought-provoking and even controversial in order to stimulate researchers to design research which addresses key theoretical and practical questions about leadership in the public sphere. They will also help practitioners navigate an increasingly complex leadership context. Design/methodology/approach – This invited essay uses ten propositions about public leadership, selected from three sources: the leadership literature, the author’s own research and from collaborative research discussions with academics, policy makers and practitioners. Findings – The first proposition argues for distinguishing public leadership from public service leadership given that the former is about leadership of the public sphere. Other propositions concern context; purpose; conflict and contest at the heart of public leadership; leadership with political astuteness; dual leadership; leadership projections; fostering resilience; leadership, authority and legitimacy; and the challenge to researchers to use research designs which reflect the complexity and dynamism of public leadership. Practical implications – While this essay is primarily addressed to researchers, there are many ideas and concepts which practising leaders will find insightful and useful in their work. Originality/value – This essay draws on deep experience in undertaking high-quality academic research about public leadership which draws from and feeds into policy and practice. It utilises organisational psychology, public management and political science to create synergies in order to enhance the understanding of public leadership

John R. Mott and John D. Rockefeller, Jr.: Dimensions of an Unlikely Friendship

This research report is based on research performed at the Rockefeller Archive Center during January 2019. The report explores several dimensions to the friendship and professional relationship of Dr. John R. Mott and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. John R. Mott was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1946 and was one of the most important ecumenical and Christian mission leaders in the first half of the twentieth century. Mott traveled the world to establish student Christian associations in many different countries, and also served in diplomatic missions for the Wilson administration. He refused Woodrow Wilson’s offer to be the U.S. ambassador to China. Rockefeller was a financial supporter of Mott and of Mott’s projects for over four decades. Projects discussed in this paper include aid to soldiers during World War I, the funding of a large survey research project about Christian mission around the world, and support of a Russian Orthodox seminary in Paris after the Bolshevik Revolution. Similarities with regard to theological views of Mott and Rockefeller are also briefly discussed in this report

The food of coarse fish

Remarkably little has been published on the feeding habits of the non-salmonid fishes of British fresh waters. The following report briefly summarizes the results obtained from the examination of the stomach contents of some 2,700 fish, belonging to 19 species, which were obtained during 1939. The results of all examinations of gut contents were analysed, species by species, upon a simple basis of the presence of different types of food. Foodstuffs were divided up into six main categories— fish, molluscs, insects, crustaceans, higher plants together with filamentous algae, and diatoms—and the occurrence of members of any of these categories was recorded for each fish