Comparison of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the serum of hypothyroxinemic and euthyroid dogs.

ObjectiveTo determine the profile of 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 23 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in serum of domestic canines and whether this was predictive of thyroid hormone status.SamplesSerum samples were collected from 51 client-owned dogs visiting the University of California Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital during 2012 to 2016 for routine appointments. Fifteen dogs were diagnosed with hypothyroxinemia while 36 were euthyroid.ProceduresConcentrations of PBDEs and PCBs in canine serum samples were measured by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between the presence/absence of canine hypothyroxinemia and the serum concentration of individual PBDE or PCB congeners.ResultsThe median concentrations of total PBDE and PCB congeners in the hypothyroxinemic group were 660 and 1,371 ng/g lipid, respectively, which were higher than concentrations detected in the control group. However, logistic regression analysis determined that current concentrations of PBDEs and PCBs in canines were not significantly associated with hypothyroxinemia. BDE 183 was the only congener showing near significance (p = 0.068).ConclusionsPBDE and PCB congeners were detected in all canine samples confirming ongoing exposure to these pollutants. Because household dogs share the human environment, they may serve as biosentinels of human exposure to these contaminants

至死不休與溫柔敦厚 : 從女性主義看〈霍小玉傳〉和〈鶯鶯傳〉

〈霍小玉傳〉與〈鶯鶯傳〉兩篇唐朝傳奇同樣反映了當時婦女所受的種種如良賤不婚等制度的壓逼，兩人同樣遭遇被拋棄的命運，但二人對感情的態度卻截然不同：小玉的至死不休與鶯鶯的溫柔敦厚是兩個極端。 其實這兩篇小說，如果從女性主義立場而言，顯示了被壓逼（Oppresskm)進而反抗及被壓逼而壓抑（repression)自己的內心意欲的兩個方向

水神、溺籍與歷險 : 論《聊齋誌異‧織成》

《聊齋誌異》三會本卷----《織成》一文，述柳生在洞庭歷險。篇中出現洞庭水神、水將：柳毅、南將軍和毛將軍，鮮見於其他文獻，因而顯得珍貴。有關“溺籍”(溺水而死者)之載亦相當特别，有助了解遇溺及水鬼之謎。至於柳生因洞庭奇遇，娶神婢織成，並獲赠財富，便爲其下第，失意於科舉的欠缺，作出補償

The Room with a View (about itself)

The paper presents a model that objects, activities and emotions are mapped against two major attributes of ‘inspirational’ and ‘familiarity’. The model is used for studying into a number of hotels of different star-ratings selected from around the region. The result of the analysis expressed through an OAE index, helps to identify: What gives a space its value? The conclusion is that creating the right emotion is not so much about how stylish or contemporary the room is; it is more about whether we can create the corner that can evoke the relevant emotion and feeling. The author has developed a new theory – The Ochoko Theory that substantiates the hypothesis of that when the guest is offered to configure the room by selecting object(s) of his/her own choice, the room will end up with a refined attitude which can be interpreted as a view of that particular room of itself

Pedagogy as Ritual: How Teachers use Rituals to foster their Mythical values in the Early Childhood Classrooms?

 Abstract : A lot of literature has been written about education as the transmission of cultural knowledge yet the way in which culture, as ritual action, constitutes and fosters religio-cultural ideological myth remains largely unexplored in the context of ritual pedagogies in school settings. In Hong Kong, the government had initiated an educational reform promoting the play-based child-centred approach to replace the traditional mode of teacher-centred approach aimed at meeting the changing world at the start of 21st century. However, there are great variations when these principles and approaches are implemented in classroom practice. Even though the school voucher scheme1 providing support for parents to choose kindergartens that adopt the approach has been introduced in 2006, there is no significant impact in the field of early childhood education.This study aimed to identify the extent to which how different ritual pedagogies had reflected the mythical values that the teachers held by examining the forms and practices of ritual in two early childhood classroom settings. Data was collected through observational records and interviews to examine how the mythical values of the two teachers concerned had underpinned their ritualistic practises. The findings suggested that teachers using different ritual pedagogies had reflected entirely different mythical values that they held respectively.The implication for this study is that schools should not ignore the mythical values of their teachers if they are to realise their school missions and cultural values that they cherished. The study might give insight to early childhood practitioners and policy makers on how the ritualistic practises of the teachers could make a big difference to the realisation of their ideological goals. On the academic side, light might be shed for an understanding of the puzzled gap between the traditional teaching mode and the recommended approaches

夢的啟示 : 李公佐 :《南柯太守傳》

〈南柯太守傳〉是個借夢境展示人生無常“無以名位，驕於天壤間”的諷刺寓言，淳于棼從夢中出發、經歷考驗，深深體驗人生之盛衰、順逆、變遷之無常，回歸現實世界時，因而能夠了悟人生倏忽及名利虛誕的道理，完成啟悟歷程，而夢境中所展現的螞蟻世界，與真實人生並列，收到低眨效果，從而令主角捨棄意志(Will) “棲心道門，棄絕酒色”，淳于棼的夢可被視為預示性之夢(prospective dream)

怪誕的“錢奴”世界 : 《常言道》

《常言道》藉小人國、大人國，這些虛構異域，來表達諷剌。書中所描寫的人物， 如錢士命、施利仁、化僧、妒斌、軒格蜡娘娘等人，他們溺於物質欲求，表現滑稽、荒 謬及可笑。另一方面，金錢、財富的追求，亦揭示自私、貪狠而殘酷的醜陋人生。滑稽 與恐怖交織成怪誕的不協調（incongruity)，而怪誕的手法，亦有助帶出強烈的諷剌效果。 《常言道》這本小說，可被視為怪誕諷剌的作品