A journey through the underworld in Spain and England : Rinconete y Cortadillo and Oliver Twist

En Oliver Twist, Ch. Dickens se explaya en una crítica de las condiciones sociales de la Inglaterra del siglo XIX, cuya dureza había experimentado de niño. El futuro de Oliver, un joven huérfano, se debate entre las garras del hampa y la diáfana vida de la clases acomodadas. En Rinconete y Cortadillo, publicado por Miguel de Cervantes en 1613, creemos ver el punto de partida de la extensa novela de Dickens. Este artículo estudia los puntos de contacto entre ambas obras, lo que obliga a una reflexión sobre las características del género y también una indagación en la influencia de Cervantes en la literatura inglesa.____________________________________ Charles Dickens took it upon himself to criticize the social conditions in 19'h century England, of which he himself as a child had been a potential victim, in the story of Oliver Twist, a young orphan whose future as a delinquent or an upright member of society is the subject of debate and intrigue. Rinconete and Cortadillo, written two centuries earlier by Miguel de Cervantes, would seem to be a starting point for Dicken's Oliver Twist as numerous points of contact can be identified. This leads to the question of the characteristics of genre as well as the influence of Cervantes on English literature

Seeing Battle, Knowing War: Feminist Re-Visioning in Hortensia Papadat-Bengesçu’s “The Man Whose Heart They Could See”

As an exploration of the themes of disillusionment and the failure of language, Romanian writer Hortensia Papadat-Bengesçu’s “The Man Whose Heart They Could See” would seem to share much with better-known men’s writing on the war such as Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms or Henri Barbusse’s Le Feu: Journal d’une Escouade. But a careful reading of the text reveals some crucial differences from these works. Treating the subject of war not in terms of an easily definable “scene of battle” or “war front” but instead as a deeply entrenched cultural logic in which varied aspects of society are both affected and, in an important sense, complicit, “The Man Whose Heart They Could See” mounts a critique of language far more radical and modernist than that found in most war literature, one which explores the extent to which questions of historical memory are inextricably bound up with issues of gender and power

Medical Respite for the Homeless: Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation in The Municipality of Anchorage

By bridging the gap between the discharge of a homeless individual from the hospital to a state of improved health, medical respite (MRs) programs have been shown to contribute to improved health outcomes and decreased healthcare costs. The question does not appear to be whether a MR program would benefit the Anchorage community, rather, what is the perceived need, how can we best implement this intervention, and what form would it take? The purpose of this project therefore was to explore answers to these questions through identification of barriers and facilitators to the implementation of MR services for the homeless in the Municipality of Anchorage. Data was collected through a series of semi-structured interviews with key informants. Reported barriers and facilitators were encompassed by 12 themes and classified according to the framework of Grol and Wensing (2004). The greatest number of barriers were identified within the social context level, while the most facilitators were perceived at the organizational context level. The process of reaching out to community leaders and key informants through the course of this project has contributed to an improved understanding of barriers and facilitators, provided recommendations for implementation, and has engaged key individuals in the MR discussion

EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT, SEED BANK POTENTIAL AND GERMINATION OF THE FEDERALLY ENDANGERED HERB OF PINE SAVANNAS, THALICTRUM

Plant conservation efforts strongly rely on knowledge of species seed biology and viability for further propagation. Virtually nothing is known about the seed biology of the federally endangered Thalictrum cooleyi Ahles (Cooley’s meadowrue, Ranunculaceae). Thalictrum cooleyi is a dioecious wind-pollinated herb with short-stalked, clustered achenes, native to the fire-adapted wet pine savannas of NC, FL, and GA. Congeners have underdeveloped embryos, some of which require cold stratification to germinate. I studied embryo presence and development, the effect of temperature (specifically, high heat and cold) on mean total germination rates, and the potential of T. cooleyi to form a seed bank. Stereo- (SM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are both viable options for embryo evaluation, but SEM more readily identifies underdeveloped embryos and cavities. Half (50%) of 100 seeds had embryos, suggesting low viability. Both methods showed T. cooleyi to have small, linear underdeveloped embryos with peripheral attachment. The point of attachment is at the base of the carpel, suggesting basal placentation of ovules. My results showed that T. cooleyi has simple morphophysiological dormancy and seed biology characteristics similar to that of the rest of the family Ranunculaceae. Seeds were dormant at maturity; longer periods of cold (8 vs. 2 wk) at 1 ºC resulted in higher mean total germination. Moist cold breaks seed dormancy and embryos elongated upon subsequent exposure to germination conditions (25:15 ºC, light:dark, 14:10). Germination studies in the field, including burial of seed, showed that Thalictrum cooleyi can also form a seed bank of at least 1 year and overwintering is required for germination. High heat did not increase germination, but fire is necessary for maintaining an open canopy. Although low germinability remains a challenge for this species, seed propagation in cultivation and in the field hold promise for restoration efforts. Further research is necessary to ascertain long-term natural seed bank potential, but my work confirms the presence and importance of seed banks in pine savannas, offering another tool for conservation efforts

A certain solid ground : the Mary-Martha motif in the fiction of Katherine Anne Porter

She had spent years of strategic warfare trying to beat those people out of her life; then more years trying to ignore them; to forget them; to hate them; and in the end she loved them as she knew well she was meant in simple nature to do, and acknowledged it; it brought her no peace, and yet it put a certain solid ground under her feet. The preceding passage from Katherine Anne Porter \u27s Ship of Fools reveals the rebellious thoughts of a young American artist named Jenny, an almost autobiographical heroine, who inveighs against the pragmatic women in her past who had dedicated themselves to her raising. The willful Jenny suggests as do many of Miss Porter\u27s memorable female protagonists, the author\u27s empathy for the contemporary woman who must confront a complex society which demands that she stand up and be counted in one rank or another. Is she modern or old-fashioned? It is my feeling that Jenny and her idealistic counterparts are forever haunted by the memory of those moral monitors who, like those responsible for Jenny\u27s raising, had stood foursquare for order the only reality in a world without fixed authority or refuge. Katherine Anne Porter, acknowledging the necessity of giving true testimony, presents both poles of modernity and tradition by faithfully re-creating the two familiar prototypes with the dispassionate coolness that is her hallmark

Biometric Monitoring Devices: Modern Solutions to Protecting Athletes’ Data Privacy

Smartwatches like Fitbits provide users with easy access to quantifiable health data. In the sports industry, tracking this biometric information may be particularly beneficial to athletes, whose livelihoods revolve around their health and fitness. Nonetheless, under the current regime, professional and collegiate athletes’ biometric health data are inadequately protected. Data privacy law is still in its infancy, but in the meantime, athletes must consider that motivations to sell or misuse players’ biometric information may outpace legal developments. This Paper will analyze the promise and risk of collecting professional and collegiate athletes’ health and biometric data, particularly through fitness wearables. It will provide a closer look at wearables in professional sports and consider the increased risk posed to college athletes. Finally, this Paper will consider possible solutions to maximize the benefits of newfound technology while simultaneously minimizing risks to players’ health information, privacy, and personal data ownership

The interacting effects of tetraiodothyronine and epinephrine on the activities of Na+ + K+ -dependent adenosine triphosphatase, hexokinase and pyruvate kinase in the cardiac tissue of white rats

The interacting effects of tetraiodothyronine (T4) and epi- nephrine on Na++K+-dependent ATPase, hexokinase, and pyruvate kinase in cardiac tissue of white rats were investigated in an attempt to elucidate the hormonal regulation of heart metabolism. Previous evidence has shown that 90% of the increase in oxygen consumption exhibited by hyperthyroid rats was due to an activation of Na++K+- dependent ATPase. In addition, hypothyroidism in sheep was re­ ported to lower cardiac Na++K+-dependent ATPase activity as well as 8-adrenergic binding sites for epinephrine. As T4 and epinephrine enhance carbohydrate metabolism, hexokinase and pyruvate kinase, two essentially irreversible glycolytic enzymes, were also assayed. All animals were initially made hypothyroid by the addition of propylthiouracil to their drinking water. Hyperthyroidism was achieved through daily injections of T4 and epinephrine action on the heart was blocked by dl-timolol maleate. No significant interacting effects of T4 and epinephrine were demonstrated on the activity of Na++K+-dependent ATPase. However, significant interacting effects of the two hormones were exhibited on hexokinase and pyruvate kinase activities. The simultaneous deficiency of T4 and epinephrine appeared to result in enhanced activities of both hexokinase and pyruvate kinase. The high activities of hexokinase and pyruvate kinase in these epinephrine- blocked hypothyroid rats may be attributed to low blood glucose levels which forced the combustion of lipids and amino acids or stimulated the release of glucocorticoids

A STUDY OF HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS' ABILITY TO IDENTIFY AND CREATE QUESTIONS THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF MATHEMATICS

This study analyzed changes in high school teachers' ability to identify and create questions that support mathematical understanding as they were participating in a professional development program focused on planning, teaching and reflecting on lessons featuring cognitively challenging tasks. The 35 participants were a subset of nearly 100 high school mathematics teachers from a large urban district participating in the professional development program. Data related to questioning abilities was collected via a pre- and post-test that situated questioning within the practice of teaching Algebra. To account for changes in teachers' abilities related to questioning, demographic data describing the participants was collected. In addition, attendance sheets, agendas and materials from the professional development sessions and responses to two prompts at the conclusion of the program were collectedAnalysis of data related to questioning indicated that participants significantly increased their abilities to identify and create questions that promote understanding of mathematics, particularly questions that prompt students to explore mathematical ideas and connections. Asking this type of question has been linked to increased student achievement. However, most teachers rarely, if ever, ask this type of question. An analysis of demographic data showed that the significant changes in teachers' questioning abilities were not associated with years of teaching experience or the high school or sub-district at which the teacher taught. In addition, analysis of data from the professional development program indicated that changes in teachers' questioning abilities were not associated with any one of the four facilitators of the professional development sessions. Participants in the study, as well as teachers not participating in the study but participating in the professional development program, had a high attendance rate for the professional development sessions. During these sessions, teachers had a variety of opportunities to learn about and discuss aspects of questioning, including solving and discussing challenging mathematics tasks; analyzing and discussing episodes of teaching Algebra; analyzing and generating questions for student work from Algebra classrooms; and analyzing and planning lessons related to the Algebra curriculum