This book uses text and photographs to highlight a transdisciplinary research project (2018-2022) about artisanal and small-scale gold mining that involved transdisciplinary collaboration between... Show moreThis book uses text and photographs to highlight a transdisciplinary research project (2018-2022) about artisanal and small-scale gold mining that involved transdisciplinary collaboration between academics, artists, and gold miners. With the title Exploring Transformations to Sustainability in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining: Trans-regional and Multi-Actor Perspectives, or Gold Matters for short, the project examined whether and how societal transformations towards sustainable mining futures are possible in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. It brought together a multi-national team to conduct research in Brazil, Suriname, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, and Uganda. Show less
Fisher, E.; Luning, S.; D’Angelo, Lorenzo.; Araujo, C.H.X.; Arnaldi Di Balme, L.; Calvimontes, J.; ... ; Twongyirwe, R. 2021
Growth strategies in mining regions promote gold extraction basedonindustrial mining, associating Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) with persistent informality. Against this background,... Show moreGrowth strategies in mining regions promote gold extraction basedonindustrial mining, associating Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) with persistent informality. Against this background, we consider how to approach transformations to sustainability in ASGM. Acknowledging how problematic this topic is for sustainability debates,given howASGM is associated with a host of environmental and social problems,we argue that a justice lens demands we confront such challenges within the global politics of sustainability. This leads us to review advances inthe study of ASGM, linked to debates on extractivism, resource materialities, and informality. We use the notion of gold lifeways to capture how the matter of mining shapes different worlds of extraction. We argue that consideration of the potential for transformations to sustainability needs to be grounded within the realities of ASGM. This necessitates giving value to miners’ knowledge(s), perspectives and interests, while recognising the plurality of mining futures. Nevertheless, we conclude that between the immediacy of precarious work and the structural barriers to change in ASGM, the challenges for transformation cannot be underestimated. Show less
Fisher, E.; Luning, S.; D’Angelo, L.; Araujo, C.H.; de Balme, L. A.; Calvimontes, J.; ... ; Twongyirwe, R. 2021
Growth strategies in mining regions promote gold extractionbased on industrial mining, associating Artisanal and Small-scaleGold Mining (ASGM) with persistent informality. Against thisbackground,... Show moreGrowth strategies in mining regions promote gold extractionbased on industrial mining, associating Artisanal and Small-scaleGold Mining (ASGM) with persistent informality. Against thisbackground, we consider how to approach transformations tosustainability in ASGM. Acknowledging how problematic thistopic is for sustainability debates, given how ASGM is associatedwith a host of environmental and social problems, we argue that ajustice lens demands we confront such challenges within theglobal politics of sustainability. This leads us to review advancesin the study of ASGM, linked to debates on extractivism, resourcematerialities,andinformality. Weuse thenotionofgoldlifewaystocapture how the matter of mining shapes different worlds ofextraction. We argue that consideration of the potential fortransformations to sustainability needs to be grounded within therealities of ASGM. This necessitates giving value to miners’knowledge(s), perspectives and interests, while recognising theplurality of mining futures. Nevertheless, we conclude thatbetween the immediacy of precarious work and the structuralbarriers to change in ASGM, the challenges for transformationcannot be underestimated. Show less
Pijpers, R.J.; Calvimontes, J.; Camp, E. van de; D'Angelo, L.; Fisher, E.; Lanzano, C.; Massaro, L. 2021
Waist-hip ratio (WHR) is a measure of body fat distribution and a predictor of metabolic consequences independent of overall adiposity. WHR is heritable, but few genetic variants influencing this... Show moreWaist-hip ratio (WHR) is a measure of body fat distribution and a predictor of metabolic consequences independent of overall adiposity. WHR is heritable, but few genetic variants influencing this trait have been identified. We conducted a meta-analysis of 32 genome-wide association studies for WHR adjusted for body mass index (comprising up to 77,167 participants), following up 16 loci in an additional 29 studies (comprising up to 113,636 subjects). We identified 13 new loci in or near RSPO3, VEGFA, TBX15-WARS2, NFE2L3, GRB14, DNM3-PIGC, ITPR2-SSPN, LY86, HOXC13, ADAMTS9, ZNRF3-KREMEN1, NISCH-STAB1 and CPEB4 (P = 1.9 x 10(-9) to P = 1.8 x 10(-40)) and the known signal at LYPLAL1. Seven of these loci exhibited marked sexual dimorphism, all with a stronger effect on WHR in women than men (P for sex difference = 1.9 x 10(-3) to P = 1.2 x 10(-13)). These findings provide evidence for multiple loci that modulate body fat distribution independent of overall adiposity and reveal strong gene-by-sex interactions. Show less
Obesity is globally prevalent and highly heritable, but its underlying genetic factors remain largely elusive. To identify genetic loci for obesity susceptibility, we examined associations between... Show moreObesity is globally prevalent and highly heritable, but its underlying genetic factors remain largely elusive. To identify genetic loci for obesity susceptibility, we examined associations between body mass index and similar to 2.8 million SNPs in up to 123,865 individuals with targeted follow up of 42 SNPs in up to 125,931 additional individuals. We confirmed 14 known obesity susceptibility loci and identified 18 new loci associated with body mass index (P < 5 x 10(-8)), one of which includes a copy number variant near GPRC5B. Some loci (at MC4R, POMC, SH2B1 and BDNF) map near key hypothalamic regulators of energy balance, and one of these loci is near GIPR, an incretin receptor. Furthermore, genes in other newly associated loci may provide new insights into human body weight regulation. Show less
