The Tragedy of Gregory and Sampson: Teaching Romeo and Juliet’s Opening Scene

Romeo and Juliet is as much about hate as it is about love. The tragedy focuses on a kind of toxic masculinity that thrives on aggression and anger and that turns communities into battlefields, men into adversaries, and women into prizes or prey. This short critical commentary zooms in on the conversation between Gregory and Sampson at the beginning of Act I

Earthworms and furrow irrigation infiltration

Infiltration rates into furrows in southcentral Idaho, after decreasing toward a base rate, sometimes increase. The increase is sometimes sufficient to cause tailwater runoff to cease and the furrow stream to recede up the furrow, resulting in poor water distribution. The infiltration increase is caused by earthworms piercing the furrow wetted perimeter during the irrigation allowing water to enter and infiltrate from their extensive burrow system. Low concentrations of aqua ammonia in the irrigation water prevent the infiltration increase, apparently by repelling the worms from the furrows

On the accretion disc properties in eclipsing dwarf nova EM Cyg

In this paper we analyzed the behavior of the unusual dwarf nova EM Cyg using the data obtained in April-October, 2007 in Vyhorlat observatory (Slovak Republic) and in September, 2006 in Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Ukraine). During our observations EM Cyg has shown outbursts in every 15-40 days. Because on the light curves of EM Cyg the partial eclipse of an accretion disc is observed we applied the eclipse mapping technique to reconstruct the temperature distribution in eclipsed parts of the disc. Calculations of the accretion rate in the system were made for the quiescent and the outburst states of activity for different distances.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Earthworms cause furrow infiltration increase

Infiltration rates into furrows in Southern Idaho, after decreasing toward a base rate, often increase. The increase is caused by earthworms piercing the furrow wetted perimeter during the irrigation and water entering and infiltrating from their interconnected burrow systems

Radiative Corrections to One-Photon Decays of Hydrogenic Ions

Radiative corrections to the decay rate of n=2 states of hydrogenic ions are calculated. The transitions considered are the M1 decay of the 2s state to the ground state and the E1(M2) decays of the $2p_{1/2}$ and $2p_{3/2}$ states to the ground state. The radiative corrections start in order $\alpha (Z \alpha)^2$, but the method used sums all orders of $Z\alpha$. The leading $\alpha (Z\alpha)^2$ correction for the E1 decays is calculated and compared with the exact result. The extension of the calculational method to parity nonconserving transitions in neutral atoms is discussed.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figure

Measure for measure: new ways of looking at the long-term performance of firms

The need for sustainable long-term performance is an expectation driving the actions of those at the top of organisations. Yet there are few illusions about just how difficult that is to achieve – nor is it easy to determine precisely what should be measured and how

Outcome of seizures in the general population after 25 years: a prospective follow-up, observational cohort study.

We investigated long-term (to 25 years) seizure prognosis and survival in people with newly diagnosed epilepsy in the community. We explored whether prognosis is different in those with epilepsy (>2 unprovoked seizures) and those with a single seizure at presentation. This is a prospective observational cohort study of people with newly diagnosed seizures. We investigated seizure outcome and survival in people presenting with a single seizure and in those presenting with >2 seizures (epilepsy). 695 people (median follow-up 23.6 years) had unprovoked epileptic seizures. For seizure analysis we excluded 38 people with missing data leaving 657 (309 male, and 249 aged <18 years). Seizures recurred in 67%. The 354 people with epilepsy were only slightly more likely to have further seizure recurrence than the 302 people with a single seizure at presentation (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.59). In 327 people with complete follow-up, 268 (82%, 95% CI 77% to 86%) were in terminal remission; (80%, (95% CI 73% to 85%) in those with epilepsy at presentation). Premature mortality was increased in people with epilepsy (standardised mortality ratio 1.67; 95% CI 1.40 to 1.99) and those with a single seizure at presentation (standardised mortality ratio 2.65; 95% CI 2.23 to 3.15). It is also high in those with early remission. People with epilepsy and with single seizures at presentation in the community generally have good prognosis for seizure control with prolonged follow-up. The risk of premature mortality is significantly increased in both groups