Social mobility, marriage and kinship among some gentry and yeoman families of Wantage Hundred, c. 1520 - c. 1670

The core of this thesis is the study of 12 gentry and yeoman families resident in Wantage Hundred between 1522 and 1670. Particular attention will be paid to the 4 main strategies of land acquisition, marriage, office-holding and education that could be adopted by each family group for advancement. In conjunction with this the pattern of social mobility within the families will be examined to determine what if any influence such strategies had on social status. The desire for any social elevation will be analysed to examine the notion that all yeoman were actively striving towards a gentry status, and that the gentry themselves were looking towards an aristocratic title. The actual title of `gentleman' and `yeoman' will be examined and their usage in this area analysed, and in particular the way the titles became accepted for merchants and tradesmen. The terms `open' and `closed' originally used to define nineteenth century parishes have been applied to Tudor and Stuart England. This hypothesis has been used to suggest that a resident gentry family could regulate the inflow of new families and could effectively `close' the parish to outside influences and stifle any upward social movement by the local yeoman families. In a parish without a resident gentry family it has been suggested that the opposite is true. New families could freely enter the community, and, more importantly, a yeoman family could control the parish, and, through recognition of local influence gain in social status. This hypothesis and its applicability to Wantage Hundred, will be examined and an assessment made as to whether it had any discernible effect on patterns of social mobility in the area. It can be deduced that throughout the period acquisition and ownership of land through purchase or marriage remained the paramount means of social advancement. Even so all the families used all the suggested strategies of advancement at some time during the period. However, it is apparent that not all families were actively striving for social advancement, particularly as differentiation between yeoman, merchant and gentleman became more blurred in the seventeenth century. In general it appears that yeoman families had greater opportunities for advancement and office-holding in open parishes

Synthèse d'un sulfatoferrate de potassium et son efficacité dans le traitement des eaux

Depuis le milieu du siècle dernier, nous savons que le fer existe à son degré d'oxydation supérieur VI dans l'ion tétraoxoferrate(VI) FeO42-, isostructural de SO42-, CrO42-, MnO42-. Cette espèce mise en solution aqueuse oxyde l'eau en O2, et ce quelque soit le pH de cette solution. La vitesse de cette réaction est très grande en milieu acide, plus lente en milieu alcalin où elle conduit à la précipitation de Fe(OH)3. On peut donc envisager son emploi comme réactif polyfonctionnel : oxydant et floculant, dans le traitement de certaines eaux. La première partie de ce travail décrit une voie originale de synthèse à l'état solide, à la température ambiante, du sel de formule K2(Fe,S)O4, appelé sulfatoferrate de potassium, qui contient l'entité FeO42-. En effet, jusqu'à ce jour seules des synthèses par voie aqueuse, à rendements très faibles, chimiques ou électrochimiques, ont été utilisées pour obtenir FeO42-.Dans une seconde partie, nous avons mesuré les propriétés oxydantes et floculantes du sulfatoferrate de potassium agissant sur deux types d'eaux usées urbaines, chargées (MEST=258 mg.L-1, DCO=549 mg.L-1) et peu chargées (MEST=9 mg.L-1, DCO=37 mg.L- 1). Cette étude effectuée en collaboration avec le Centre International de l'Eau de Nancy (NANC.I.E.) nous a permis de préciser les conditions optimales d'emploi de K2(Fe,S)O4 et de comparer ses performances à celles de FeCl3.6H2O et Al2(SO4)3.18H2O.Sur une eau chargée, l'abattement de la MEST est meilleur avec FeCl3.6H2O et Al2(SO4)3.18H2O, tandis que K2(Fe,S)O4 est plus efficace vis à vis de l'abattement de la DCO.Sur une eau peu chargée, c'est l'effet bactéricide de K2(Fe,S)O4 qui est le plus remarquable; une dose de 10 mg.L-1 en fer (VI) anéantit 99,70% des coliformes totaux et 99,90% des coliformes fécaux.Tetraoxoferrate(VI), FeO42-, possesses properties which make it potentially useful in certain areas of water purification: it is an excellent oxidizing agent, it has a powerful bactericidal action and it spontaneously decomposes over a short period of time. When reduced, the FeO42- ion generates base in solution and a Fe(OH)3 type gel which precipitates and carries down with it other ions (precipitation of hydroxide metal salts). These properties make ferrate(VI) useful in water disinfection and in wastewater treatment because it acts by an oxidation-coagulation-precipitation process. Iron, in its familiar form exists in the (II) and (III) oxidation states; ferrate(VI) ion has long been known, but, due to its instability and difficulty of preparation, it has not been studied extensively and has not been industrially produced. In this paper, we recommend a method of synthesis of alkali ferrate(VI) salts by a dry powder process, which occurs at room temperature and can be easily used for industrial production of Fe(VI). To minimize ferrate(VI) decomposition, we proceed in a strong alkaline medium (presence of a strong base like potash or caustic soda) where oxidation of an iron (bivalent or trivalent) containing salt becomes easier. By such a synthesis process, we produce stabilized ferrate(VI) which enters a solid solution with the formula:M2(Fe,X)O4where M designates Na or K, X is an element whose cation has the electronic structure of a rare gas, e.g. X=S. M2XO4 is an isomorph of K2FeO4 with closed unit cell parameters. The M2(Fe,X)O4 formula has been established by chemical means and by X-ray diffraction; [sup]57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry has been used to monitor the hexavalent iron oxidation state. This paper deals with sulfatoferrate K2(Fe,S)O4 properties for compounds having Fe/S ratios between 1 and 1.5. in aqueous solution, K2(Fe,S)O4 dissolves and gives rise to FeO42- and SO42- anions.In collaboration with NANC.I.E. (Centre International de l'Eau de Nancy), the effectiveness of K2(Fe,S)O4 in wastewater treatment has been studied. The product exhibits a real bactericidal effect on both coliforms and total bacteria. This bactericidal efficiency is reached in a short period of time with iron starting levels as low as 5-10 mg.L-¹. Comparative coagulation jar-tests were carried out on raw wastewater and on secondary effluent using FeCl3·6 H2O, Al2(SO4)3·18 H2O and K2(Fe[inf]0.54,S[inf]0.46)O4. Total suspended solids (TSS) removal on the raw wastewater was better with Al(III) and Fe(III) than with sulfatoferrate. On the secondary effluent, 40% removal was achieved with sulfatoferrate as well as with Fe(III). For removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), better results were reached with Fe(VI) than with either Fe(III) or Al(III). The effectiveness of FeO42- after 30 minutes of contact with the bacterial medium (secondary effluent) has also been studied. At pH=8.5, a dose of 10 mg.L-¹ iron(VI) removes 99.70% of the total coliforms and 99.90% of the fecal coliforms

A Damage Mechanics Approach to Life Prediction for a Salt Structure

Excavated rooms in natural bedded salt formations are being considered for use as repositories for nuclear waste. It is presumed that deformation of the rooms by creep will lead to loss of structural integrity and affect room life history and seal efficiency. At projected repository temperatures, two possible fracture mechanisms in salt are creep-induced microcracking in triaxial compression and cleavage in tension. Thus, an accurate prediction of room life and seal degradation requires a reliable description of the creep and damage processes. While several constitutive models that treat either creep or fracture in salt are available in the literature, very few models have considered creep and damage in a coupled manner. Previously, Munson and Dawson formulated a set of creep equations for salt based on the consideration of dislocation mechanisms in the creep process. This set of creep equations has been generalized to include continuum, isotropic damage as a fully coupled variable in the response equation. The extended model has been referred to as the Multimechanism Deformation Coupled Fracture (MDCF) model. A set of material constants for the creep and damage terms was deduced based on test data for both clean and argillaceous salt. In this paper, the use of the MDCF model for establishing the failure criteria and for analyzing the creep response of a salt structure is demonstrated. The paper is divided into three parts. A summary of the MDCF model is presented first, which is followed by an evaluation of the MDCF model against laboratory data. Finally, finite-element calculations of the creep and damage response of a salt structure are presented and compared against in-situ field measurements

Effect of a 12-Week Mixed Training on Body Quality in People Living with HIV: Does Age and HIV Duration Matter?

peer reviewed[en] BACKGROUND: The impact of HIV duration on exercise adaptations has not yet been studied. Moreover, the age at which subjects living with HIV are the most responsive to exercise is not clear. AIMS: Investigate the effect of a mixed exercise training program on physical performance changes in individuals living with HIV and explore if age or HIV duration influence these adaptations in men. METHODS: In this feasibility study, participants followed a 12-week mixed exercise training program, three times/week, 45 min/session. Physical performance including functional capacities (normal 4-m walking test, 6min walking test), grip strength (hand dynamometer), muscle power, body composition (android and gynoid fat masses, appendicular lean mass) were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. Subgroup analysis according to the median age of the participants (age<50yrs vs. age≥50yrs) and median HIV duration (HIV<20yrs vs. HIV≥20yrs) were performed in men. RESULTS: A total of 27 participants (age: 54.5±6.8yrs, men: 85%; HIV duration: 19.3±7.6yrs) were included. At the end of the intervention, significant increases compared to baseline were seen in grip strength (p=0.017), leg power (p20yrs than those with a shorter infection duration, with change (%) on total (p<0.001), android (p=0.02), and gynoid (p=0.05) fat masses as well as appendicular lean mass index (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Mixed exercise training seems to be an effective intervention to improve physical performance in individuals living with HIV. In addition, this study suggests that neither age nor HIV duration has influence on the effect of mixed training in this population

Is there a role for menopausal hormone therapy in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis?

We provide an evidence base and guidance for the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for the maintenance of skeletal health and prevention of future fractures in recently menopausal women. Despite controversy over associated side effects, which has limited its use in recent decades, the potential role for MHT soon after menopause in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis is increasingly recognized. We present a narrative review of the benefits versus risks of using MHT in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Current literature suggests robust anti-fracture efficacy of MHT in patients unselected for low BMD, regardless of concomitant use with progestogens, but with limited evidence of persisting skeletal benefits following cessation of therapy. Side effects include cardiovascular events, thromboembolic disease, stroke and breast cancer, but the benefit-risk profile differs according to the use of opposed versus unopposed oestrogens, type of oestrogen/progestogen, dose and route of delivery and, for cardiovascular events, timing of MHT use. Overall, the benefit-risk profile supports MHT treatment in women who have recently (< 10 years) become menopausal, who have menopausal symptoms and who are less than 60 years old, with a low baseline risk for adverse events. MHT should be considered as an option for the maintenance of skeletal health in women, specifically as an additional benefit in the context of treatment of menopausal symptoms, when commenced at the menopause, or shortly thereafter, in the context of a personalized benefit-risk evaluation

Interferon β-1a in relapsing multiple sclerosis: four-year extension of the European IFNβ-1a Dose-C omparison Study

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease requiring long-term monitoring of treatment. Objective: To assess the four-year clinical efficacy of intramuscular (IM) IFNb-1a in patients with relapsing MS from the European IFNb-1a Dose-C omparison Study. Methods: Patients who completed 36 months of treatment (Part 1) of the European IFNb-1a Dose-C omparison Study were given the option to continue double-blind treatment with IFNb-1a 30 mcg or 60 mcg IM once weekly (Part 2). Analyses of 48-month data were performed on sustained disability progression, relapses, and neutralizing antibody (NA b) formation. Results: O f 608/802 subjects who completed 36 months of treatment, 493 subjects continued treatment and 446 completed 48 months of treatment and follow-up. IFNb-1a 30 mcg and 60 mcg IM once weekly were equally effective for up to 48 months. There were no significant differences between doses over 48 months on any of the clinical endpoints, including rate of disability progression, cumulative percentage of patients who progressed (48 and 43, respectively), and annual relapse rates; relapses tended to decrease over 48 months. The incidence of patients who were positive for NAbs at any time during the study was low in both treatment groups. Conclusion: C ompared with 60-mcg IM IFNb-1a once weekly, a dose of 30 mcg IM IFNb-1a once weekly maintains the same clinical efficacy over four years

Ecological challenges for the buffer zone management of protected areas of forest-savannah mosaic in West Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, the management of buffer zones around protected areas does not often take into serious account the needs of resource exploitation by the local populations or the conservation needs of these areas. We described the ecological characteristics and management issues affecting the buffer zone around the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park; a 192,000-ha protected area in central-western Togo of utmost conservation importance within the Dahomey Gap region. Within the buffer zone (10 km radius, 334,800 ha), we focussed on four high conservation value areas totalling 65,594 ha (20% of the total buffer zone area). Using 2015 sentinel-2 images we analyzed land cover patterns and described existing ecological zones. We complemented these with field surveys and interviews with 300 people living in 22 villages within the buffer zone to describe the conditions affecting the resident human population. Although over 60% of the total buffer zone area is degraded, we identified four areas of high conservation value (total area = 65,594 ha). Interviewees recognized that slash-and-burn was the most common form of land use, followed by agroforestry practices. Agriculture, charcoal, and firewood production were the main drivers affecting habitats, and land conflicts were recurrent due to the rise in human population. The decline in agriculture, reported by interviewees in some sectors, was attributable to ravages of crops by elephants. Three independent diversity indices showed that, in preserved zones, a greater diversity of animals (with similar utilization frequencies) were hunted than in degraded sites (where grasscutters were the dominant hunted species). There were also significant differences between degraded and preserved zones in terms of plants used for charcoal production and for non-timber forest products. We advocate the development of community-controlled hunting areas to enhance the conservation value of the four well-preserved zones. Instead, promoting sustainable agricultural production systems in the degraded areas can help to further stabilize the agricultural front and reduce land pressure on the park

Correction to: Pre-frail older adults show improved cognition with StayFitLonger computerized home–based training: A randomized controlled trial (GeroScience, (2023), 45, 2, (811-822), 10.1007/s11357-022-00674-5)

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in Table 1. There is an error in the numbers (means and SD)