Did Ishmael Know the Raven?: Publisher Evert Duyckinck and the Connection Between Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville

Although Poe was a social introvert, he knew and was connected to other early American Romantic writers, including Herman Melville. Examining first editions of works by both authors in the Bentley Rare Book Museum at Kennesaw State University, I discovered a common link between them – the publisher and literary critic Evert Duyckinck. In this presentation, I will use evidence from the first editions and the Poe & Melville Archives at the New York Public Library to investigate the nature of the relationship between Poe, Duyckinck and Melville. I found that Duyckinck was Melville’s close friend, however, he was Poe’s critic and was extremely harsh on him. First editions can tell us a great deal about the circumstances of publication and are an important resource for scholarship

Management of oropharyngeal cancer: a cross-sectional review of institutional practice at a large Canadian referral centre

BACKGROUND: Over the years, the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer has changed; in the past, first-line treatment consisted of surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, today however, primary treatment typically involves concomitant chemoradiation, and reserves surgery for salvage. While chemoradiation is the modality of choice for primary management of oropharyngeal cancer, disease characteristics, institutional bias, and patient preferences influence treatment choice. This has lead to variation in the treatment of OPC, and has generated some uncertainly regarding the ideal therapeutic approach. The objective of this study was to describe the treatment of OPC a large Canadian referral center, highlighting trends in treatment choice and outcome. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional retrospective review of clinical practice at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre (Toronto, ON). This investigation documents type of first-line treatment, rates of treatment failure, rates of surgical salvage, and 5-year disease-free survival. This study also asses the therapeutic impact of free-flap reconstruction on the use of a postoperative tracheostomy and/or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube. RESULTS: The majority of oropharyngeal cancer patients presented with regionally metastatic disease (stage III-IV) and underwent concomitant chemoradiation as first-line treatment. Just over half of patients who failed chemoradiation were eligible for salvage surgery. Forty-six percent of salvage patients recurred at approximately 6 months, and died approximately 12 months following the first sign of disease recurrence. Five-year survival for salvage patients stage II, III, IVA, and IVB was 100%, 54.5%, 53.8%, and 50%, respectively. The incidence of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes and tracheostomies was comparable between patients who underwent free-flap reconstruction and patients who did not. CONCLUSION: The modality of choice for first-line treatment of oropharyngeal cancer is concomitant chemoradiation. The moderate failure rate following chemoradiation and the modest survival rate following salvage surgery could indicate that selected patients may benefit from undergoing surgery as first-line treatment. While this study did not show that functional outcomes were better for free-flap patients, it is highly likely that those who received a free-flap did better then they would have had they not undergone reconstructive surgery. More research regarding the therapeutic effects of free-flaps in OPC survivors is needed

Continuous chlorine detection in drinking water and a review of new detection methods

Chlorination is necessary to prevent epidemics of waterborne disease however excess chlorination is wasteful, produces harmful disinfection byproducts, exacerbates corrosion and causes deterioration in aesthetic qualities, leading to consumer complaints. Residual chlorine must be continuously monitored to prevent both under- and over-chlorination and factors including pH, temperature and fouling must be considered as these also affect the disinfectant strength of residual chlorine. Standard methods used by water utility companies to determine residual chlorine concentration in drinking water distribution systems are appraised and found to be unsuitable for continuous monitoring. A selection of newly developed methods for residual chlorine analysis are evaluated against performance criteria, to direct research towards the development of chlorine sensors that are suitable for use in water systems. It is found that fouling tolerance in particular is generally not well understood for these selected sensor technologies and that long-term trials in real systems is recommended

Comportamiento estomático en frutos y hojas de gulupa (Passiflora edulis Sims) y en frutos y cladodios de pitahaya amarilla [Hylocereus megalanthus (K. Schum. ex Vaupel) Ralf Bauer]

Las plantas C3 y CAM reaccionan fotosintéticamente diferentes, sin embargo, ambas pueden crecer en la misma zona agroecológica en los trópicos. Por esta razón se evaluó el comportamiento de estomas en frutos y hojas de gulupa y en frutos y cladodios de pitahaya amarilla bajo condiciones naturales en los municipios de Granada y Fusagasugá, departamento de Cundinamarca (Colombia). Se hicieron improntas sobre la superficie de las hojas, frutos y cladodios. Se realizaron tres lecturas, cada una duró 72 horas, haciendo impresiones cada 3 horas sobre tres muestras diferentes para luego observarlas en microscopio, haciendo un conteo de estomas abiertos y cerrados en cada especie. En cada muestreo se obtuvieron datos de radiación solar, temperatura y humedad relativa (HR). En gulupa se encontró un comportamiento típico de una planta C3 tanto para las hojas como para los frutos, además de encontrar una correlación positiva entre la apertura estomática y la radiación y temperatura, así como una correlación negativa entre la apertura estomática y la HR. En pitahaya se encontró un comportamiento típico de una planta CAM, observando una correlación negativa entre la apertura estomática y la radiación y temperatura, así como una correlación positiva entre apertura estomática y HR. La radiación, la temperatura y la HR afectaron la apertura estomático en frutos y cladodios. Las densidades estomáticas contrastaron altamente entre las especies y los órganos de la planta. En gulupa fueron encontrados 106,53 estomas/mm2 en la superficie de las hojas, pero solo 12,64 estomas/mm2 en la del fruto; mientras que en pitahaya fueron encontrados 11,28 y 1,43 estomas/mm2 en cladodios y frutos, respectivamente.Plants as C3 and CAM react photosynthetically different but both can grow in the same agroecological zone in the tropics. Therefore we studied the behavior of stomatal opening in fruits and leaves of the purple passion fruit and fruits and cladodes of the yellow pitaya was studied under natural growing conditions in Granada and Fusagasuga, Cundinamarca (Colombia). Imprints were made on the surface of leaves, fruits and cladodes using cosmetic enamel impressions. Three cycles were carried out, each cycle took 72 hours, obtaining three different samples every 3 hours; then the impressions were observed by microscope and the opened and closed stomata were counted in each species. In each sampling, data of solar radiation, temperature and relative humidity (RH) were measured. The purple passion fruit had the typical behavior of a C3 plant in the leaves as well as the fruits, and a positive correlation between the stomatal aperture and radiation and temperature was found, along with a negative correlation between stomatal aperture and RH. The pitaya showed the typical behavior of a CAM plant with a negative correlation between the stomatal opening and radiation and temperature, as well as a positive correlation between stomatal opening and RH. Radiation, temperature and RH affected the stomatal opening in the fruits and cladodes. Stomatal densities differed greatly between the species and plant organs. In the purple passion fruit, 106.53 stomata per mm2 leaf surface were found, but only 12.64 stomata per mm2 fruit surface; whereas in the pitaya, 11.28 and 1.43 stomata per mm2 were found on the cladodes and fruits, respectively

Dispersión del amoníaco proveniente de una granja avícola en Santa Bárbara (Cundinamarca, Colombia) y su valoración cualitativa

Se hizo un análisis de la dispersión del amoníaco proveniente de una granja avícola en la vereda de Santa Bárbara, municipio de Tena (Cundinamarca, Colombia). Se utilizaron cuatro galpones de ambiente no controlado en el que se hicieron mediciones de las concentraciones de amoníaco en el centro de los galpones y cada 250 m siguiendo las orientaciones de acuerdo con las direcciones cardinales (norte, sur, este y oeste). Las mediciones se hicieron durante un ciclo productivo de 50 días, con tres lecturas al día (08:00, 12:00, 18:00). También se hizo una valoración cualitativa de percepciones sociales a las personas que viven en un radio de 1 km de la granja avícola. Se encontró que las emisiones de amoníaco estuvieron relacionadas con el ciclo reproductivo y no con las horas del día. Así mismo, la concentración de amoníaco estuvo relacionada con la temperatura, pero no con la velocidad del viento. La distancia máxima con concentraciones relevantes de amoníaco fue de 361 m, lo cual no representa una amenaza para la población aledaña; sin embargo, la población percibe impactos a la calidad de vida asociados a olores ofensivos provenientes de la granja.An analysis of the dispersion of ammonia from a poultry farm was carried out in the village of Santa Bárbara, municipality of Tena (Cundinamarca, Colombia). Four uncontrolled chicken houses were used in which measurements of ammonia concentrations were made in the centre of the sheds and every 250 m following the orientations according to cardinal directions (north, south, east, west). Measurements were made during a productive cycle of 50 days, with three readings per day (08:00, 12:00, 18:00). A qualitative assessment of social perceptions was also made to people living within a 1 km radius of the poultry farm. It was found that ammonia emissions were related to the reproductive cycle and not to the hours of the day. Also, the concentration of ammonia was related to temperature, but not to wind speed. The maximum distance with relevant concentrations of ammonia was 361 m, which does not represent a threat to the surrounding population; however, the population perceives impacts to the quality of life associated with offensive odours coming from the farm

Development of fluorescent Plasmodium falciparum for in vitro growth inhibition assays

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Plasmodium falciparum </it><it>in vitro </it>growth inhibition assays are widely used to evaluate and quantify the functional activity of acquired and vaccine-induced antibodies and the anti-malarial activity of known drugs and novel compounds. However, several constraints have limited the use of these assays in large-scale population studies, vaccine trials and compound screening for drug discovery and development.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The D10 <it>P. falciparum </it>line was transfected to express green fluorescent protein (GFP). <it>In vitro </it>growth inhibition assays were performed over one or two cycles of <it>P. falciparum </it>asexual replication using inhibitory polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits, an inhibitory monoclonal antibody, human serum samples, and anti-malarials. Parasitaemia was evaluated by microscopy and flow cytometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Transfected parasites expressed GFP throughout all asexual stages and were clearly detectable by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Measurement of parasite growth inhibition was the same when determined by detection of GFP fluorescence or staining with ethidium bromide. There was no difference in the inhibitory activity of samples when tested against the transfected parasites compared to the parental line. The level of fluorescence of GFP-expressing parasites increased throughout the course of asexual development. Among ring-stages, GFP-fluorescent parasites were readily separated from uninfected erythrocytes by flow cytometry, whereas this was less clear using ethidium bromide staining. Inhibition by serum and antibody samples was consistently higher when tested over two cycles of growth compared to one, and when using a 1 in 10 sample dilution compared to 1 in 20, but there was no difference detected when using a different starting parasitaemia to set-up growth assays. Flow cytometry based measurements of parasitaemia proved more reproducible than microscopy counts.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Flow cytometry based assays using GFP-fluorescent parasites proved sensitive and highly reproducible for quantifying the growth-inhibitory activity of antibodies and anti-malarials, with superior reproducibility to light microscopy, and are suitable for high-throughput applications.</p

Using hoops structures for gestation or breeding barns

Dr. Danny Burns, who has operated a veterinary practice the past 23 years, also has been part of a farm partnership for 10 years. He and his partner now have about 650 sows, in addition to a row crop operation. Dean Ekstrom has a 90-sow farrow-tofinish operation in Webster County. He also was named a 1997 Master Pork Producer

Evaluación in vitro de la actividad antihelmíntica de extractosmetanólicos de Guazuma ulmifolia frente anematodos Cyathostominae

The study evaluated the anti-hatching effect of methanolic extracts from the bark and leaf of Guazuma ulmifolia using the in vitro Nematode Egg Hatching Inhibition test. Concentrations of 1000, 500 and 250 µg/ml of each extract, a negative control (Dimethyl sulfoxide) and two positive controls (Fenbendazole and Lugol) were evaluated against nematodes of the Cyathostominae subfamily as a biological model. The three concentrations of the two extracts, as well as the two positive controls showed statistically similar results, but different compared to the negative control. The mean inhibition of egg hatching using bark and leaf was 49.73 and 45.22%, respectively, at the 1000 µg/ml concentration, 61.93 and 59.20% at the 500 µg/ml concentration, and 75.60 and 75.82% at the concentration of 250 µg/ml. The methanolic extracts of the bark and leaf of Guazuma ulmifolia showed an anti-hatching effect against Cyathostominae nematodes at the concentrations testedEl estudio evaluó el efecto anti-eclosión de extractos metanólicos de corteza y hojade Guazuma ulmifolia mediante la prueba in vitro de Inhibición de la Eclosión de huevosde nematodos. Se evaluaron las concentraciones de 1000, 500 y 250 μg/ml de cada extrac-to, un control negativo (Dimetil sulfóxido) y dos controles positivos (Fenbendazol yLugol) contra nematodos de la subfamilia Cyathostominae como modelo biológico. Lastres concentraciones de los dos extractos, así como los dos controles positivos presen-taron resultados estadísticamente similares, pero diferentes frente al control negativo. Lainhibición media de la eclosión de huevos usando corteza y hoja fue de 49.73 y 45.22%,respectivamente, en la concentración de 1000 μg/ml, de 61.93 y 59.20% en la concentra-ción de 500 μg/ml y de 75.60 y 75.82% en la concentración de 250 μg/ml. Los extractosmetanólicos de corteza y hoja de Guazuma ulmifolia mostraron un efecto anti-eclosióncontra nematodos Cyathostominae en las concentraciones evaluadasIncluye referencias bibliográfica

On the Correlation of Torque and Luminosity in GX 1+4

Over five years of daily hard X-ray (>20 keV) monitoring of the 2-min accretion-powered pulsar GX 1+4 with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory/BATSE large-area detectors has found nearly continuous rapid spin-down, interrupted by a bright 200-d spin-up episode. During spin-down, the torque becomes more negative as the luminosity increases (assuming that the 20-60 keV pulsed flux traces bolometric luminosity), the opposite of what is predicted by standard accretion torque theory. No changes in the shape of the 20-100 keV pulsed energy spectrum were detected, so that a very drastic change in the spectrum below 20 keV or the pulsed fraction would be required to make the 20-60 keV pulsed flux a poor luminosity tracer. These are the first observations which flatly contradict standard magnetic disk accretion theory, and they may have important implications for understanding the spin evolution of X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables, and protostars. We briefly discuss the possibility that GX 1+4 may be accreting from a retrograde disk during spin-down, as previously suggested.Comment: 10 pages including 3 PS figures. To appear in ApJ Letter

Confronting an augmented reality

How can educators make use of augmented reality technologies and practices to enhance learning and why would we want to embrace such technologies anyway? How can an augmented reality help a learner confront, interpret and ultimately comprehend reality itself? In this article, we seek to initiate a discussion that focuses on these questions, and suggest that they be used as drivers for research into effective educational applications of augmented reality. We discuss how multi-modal, sensorial augmentation of reality links to existing theories of education and learning, focusing on ideas of cognitive dissonance and the confrontation of new realities implied by exposure to new and varied perspectives. We also discuss connections with broader debates brought on by the social and cultural changes wrought by the increased digitalisation of our lives, especially the concept of the extended mind. Rather than offer a prescription for augmentation, our intention is to throw open debate and to provoke deep thinking about what interacting with and creating an augmented reality might mean for both teacher and learner