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The Tpeak-end(Tp-e) has not been compared in all 12 ECG leads in healthy adults to determine if the Tp-e varies across leads. If there is variation, it remains uncertain, which lead(s) are preferred for recording in order to capture the maximal Tp-e value.The purpose of the current study was to determine the optimal leads, if any, to capture the maximal Tp-e interval in healthy young adults.In 88 healthy adults (ages 21-38 years), including derivation (n = 21), validation (n = 20), and smoker/vaper (n = 47) cohorts, the Tp-e was measured using commercial computer software (LabChart Pro 8 with ECG module, ADInstruments) in all 12 leads at rest and following a provocative maneuver, abrupt standing. Tp-e was compared to determine which lead(s) most frequently captured the maximal Tp-e interval.In the rest and abrupt standing positions, the Tp-e was not uniform among the 12 leads; the maximal Tp-e was most frequently captured in the precordial leads. At rest, grouping leads V2-V4 resulted in detection of the maximum Tp-e in 85.7% of participants (CI 70.7, 99.9%) versus all other leads (p .001). Upon abrupt standing, grouping leads V2-V6 together, resulted in detection of the maximum Tp-e 85.0% of participants (CI 69.4, 99.9% versus all other leads; p .001). These findings were confirmed in the validation cohort, and extended to the smoking/vaping cohort.If only a subset of ECG leads will be recorded or analyzed for the Tp-e interval, selection of the precordial leads is preferred since these leads are most likely to capture the maximal Tp-e value.

Two patients presented with erythematous papules within larger patches and thin plaques. Following biopsies, each case was initially thought to represent interstitial granulomatous dermatitis (IGD); however, clinicopathological correlation led to a diagnosis of granulomatous mycosis fungoides (GMF). Drawing upon the similarities between these cases, this report explores the clinical and histological manifestations of GMF, features distinguishing GMF from other granulomatous diseases like IGD and the prognostic significance of distinguishing GMF from classic mycosis fungoides. This report also shows that despite the potential for histological overlap between GMF and IGD, the existing literature does not reveal an epidemiological or pathophysiological link between these two conditions.

A museum exhibit that enables direct full-body interactions with living microbes immerses human visitors into the microscopic world and could inform the design of future educational life-science technologies.

Vector‐borne diseases constitute a major global health burden and are increasing in geographic range and prevalence. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that the vector microbiome can impact pathogen dynamics, making the microbiome a focal point in vector‐borne disease ecology. However, efforts to generalize preliminary findings across studies and systems and translate these findings into disease control strategies are hindered by a lack of fundamental understanding of the processes shaping the vector microbiome and the interactions therein. Here, we use 16S rRNA sequencing and apply a community ecology framework to analyze microbiome community assembly and interactions in Ixodes pacificus, the Lyme disease vector in the western United States. We find that vertical transmission routes drive population‐level patterns in I. pacificus microbial diversity and composition, but that microbial function and overall abundance do not vary over time or between clutches. Further, we find that the I. pacificus microbiome is not strongly structured based on competition but assembles nonrandomly, potentially due to vector‐specific filtering processes which largely eliminate all but the dominant endosymbiont, Rickettsia. At the scale of the individual I. pacificus, we find support for a highly limited internal microbial community, and hypothesize that the tick endosymbiont may be the most important component of the vector microbiome in influencing pathogen dynamics.

Introduction: Prolonged Tpeak to Tend (Tp-e) interval, an index of repolarization on the 12-lead ECG, is associated with increased risk for sudden cardiac death. However, there is no current consensus on which of the 12 leads is the most sensitive to measure the longest Tp-e interval. Aim: The aim of this study was to measure all 12 ECG leads and to analyze whether there are leads that are most sensitive to detect prolongation of Tp-e in order to optimize methodology for future investigations. Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers (F/M 6/9; mean age 25 yrs) were included in our study. We recorded the 12-lead ECG for 5-minutes. Tp-e was defined as the interval from the peak of the T wave to the end of the T wave. QT is the interval from QRS complex onset to the end of the T wave. Using commercially available software (AdInstruments), three primary outcomes, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc ratios, and two secondary outcomes, QT, QTc intervals, were determined. Results: The location of maximum value for primary outcomes (Tp-e, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc) were not evenly distributed across the 12 leads, but most frequently was located in leads V2, V3 & V4. The maximum Tp-e was located in one of these three leads 79.7% of the time (CI 69.4, 89.9%) vs other leads (p=0.007, Figure). Conversely, maximum values for the secondary outcomes (QT, QTc) were located in AVL, AVR and III (Figure). Two of the leads, V5 and V6, never had a maximum value for any outcomes. Conclusion: Preliminary findings in our study suggest that investigators should focus on leads V2, V3 & V4 to detect prolongation of Tp-e intervals and leads AVL, AVR & III for prolongation of QT interval when investigating associations with sudden cardiac death.

We examine the process of designing an exhibit to communicate scientific findings from a complex dataset and unfamiliar domain to the public in a science museum. Our exhibit sought to communicate new lessons based on scientific findings from the domain of metagenomics. This multi-user exhibit had three goals: (1) to inform the public about microbial communities and their daily cycles; (2) to link microbes' activity to the concept of gene expression; (3) and to highlight scientists' use of gene expression data to understand the role of microbes. To address these three goals, we derived visualization designs with three corresponding stories, each corresponding to a goal. We present three successive rounds of design and evaluation of our attempts to convey these goals. We could successfully present one story but had limited success with our second and third goals. This work presents a detailed account of an attempt to explain tightly coupled relationships through storytelling and animation in a multi-user, informal learning environment to a public with varying prior knowledge on the domain and identify lessons for future design.

Science museums have made a concerted effort to work with researchers to incorporate current scientific findings and practices into informal learning opportunities for museum visitors. Many of these efforts have focused on creating opportunities and support for researchers to interact face-to-face with the public through, for example, speaker series, community forums, and engineering competitions. However, there are other means by which practicing scientists can find a voice on the museum floor-through the design and development of exhibits. Here we describe how researchers and museum professionals have worked together to create innovative exhibit experiences for an interactive science museum. For each example: scientist as (1) data providers, (2) advisors, and (3) co-developers, we highlight essential components for a successful partnership and pitfalls to avoid when collaborating on museum exhibits. Not many museums prototype and build their own exhibits like the Exploratorium. In those cases, there may be similar opportunities in more mediated offerings such as public demonstrations or lectures or in other formats that allow for direct interactions between scientists and visitors. We believe there are many opportunities for researchers to share natural phenomena, to advise on exhibit development and interpretation, to provide much needed materials, and to otherwise incorporate authentic research into the learning experiences at museums, no matter what the format.

This study describes a detailed analysis of museum visitors' decoding process as they used a visualization designed to support exploration of a large, complex dataset. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that it took, on average, 43 seconds for visitors to decode enough of the visualization to see patterns and relationships in the underlying data represented, and 54 seconds to arrive at their first correct data interpretation. Furthermore, visitors decoded throughout and not only upon initial use of the visualization. The study analyzed think-aloud data to identify issues visitors had mapping the visual representations to their intended referents, examine why they occurred, and consider if and how these decoding issues were resolved. The paper also describes how multiple visual encodings both helped and hindered decoding and concludes with implications on the design and adaptation of visualizations for informal science learning venues., IEEE VIS (InfoVis/VAST/SciVis) 2019 ACM 2012 CCS - Human-centered computing, Visualization, Empirical studies in visualization

In the past decades the field of bioimaging has experienced an explosion of technologies that have revolutionized the study of the microscopic world. Through iterative prototyping and evaluation with museum visitors, we shed light on how these technologies, specifically image recognition techniques, can be incorporated into an interactive museum exhibit to help the visiting public gain insights and make sense of dynamic, live specimens as they use a research-grade microscope. Our work indicates that the technology needs to be carefully positioned as an aid to observation rather than an infallible source of expertise in order to support and sustain visitors' explorations. This paper contributes to our understanding of design considerations in integrating emerging imaging technologies and techniques into museum exhibits to enrich visitors' interactive learning experiences.

Current multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies only partially prevent chronically worsening neurological deficits, which are largely attributable to progressive loss of CNS axons. Prior studies of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in C57BL/6 mice by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55 (MOG peptide), a model of MS, documented continued axon loss for months after acute CNS inflammatory infiltrates had subsided, and massive astroglial induction of CCL2 (MCP-1), a chemokine for CCR2(+) monocytes. We now report that conditional deletion of astroglial CCL2 significantly decreases CNS accumulation of classically activated (M1) monocyte-derived macrophages and microglial expression of M1 markers during the initial CNS inflammatory phase of MOG peptide EAE, reduces the acute and long-term severity of clinical deficits and slows the progression of spinal cord axon loss. In addition, lack of astroglial-derived CCL2 results in increased accumulation of Th17 cells within the CNS in these mice, but also in greater confinement of CD4(+) lymphocytes to CNS perivascular spaces. These findings suggest that therapies designed to inhibit astroglial CCL2-driven trafficking of monocyte-derived macrophages to the CNS during acute MS exacerbations have the potential to significantly reduce CNS axon loss and slow progression of neurological deficits.

We share our challenges and lessons learned in designing our exhibit prototype that encourages museum visitors to learn about marine animal behaviors through interactive visualization and data exploration. Our intent is to have visitors draw comparisons between animal behaviors, similarly to how scientists would, to make insights and discoveries. In our efforts, we have designed a set of visual encodings around the Tagging of Pelagic Predator (TOPP) data set to create the appropriate abstractions of this rich and complex field data. We have incorporated Multiple External Representations (MERs) and tangible user interfaces (TUIs) to provide a complementary representation of the data and promote self-learning. Through the formative evaluation, we can identify a few strengths and weaknesses of our prototype design. Our evaluation results suggest that we are progressing in the right direction — we observed the public making some comparisons and inferences — but still require further design iterations to improve our visualization exhibit.

Self-reflection is critical for visitors to make sense of an exhibit collection in which they are the subject of investigation and may play an important role in any informal learning context. This study examines this construct by listening for self-reflective talk at Mind, an exhibit collection focused on helping visitors explore aspects of themselves rather than external objects or phenomena. It addresses 3 questions: (a) What does self-reflective talk sound like in such a collection? (b) What categories of self-reflective talk are prevalent? (c) What types of exhibits engender what categories of self-reflective talk? Findings indicate that self-reflective talk comes in various forms. Self-monitoring talk, including self-assessments about how visitors are feeling and doing and what they know, is more prevalent than self-connecting talk, comments about visitors’ own lives, values, and their sense of self. Comparisons among different types of exhibits suggest that exhibits designed for multiple us...

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-help behaviour of individuals with eating disorders in an Internet-based self-help programme developed in the Asia-Pacific region and to determine their compliance with the programme. Background. Eating disorders represent a growing health problem affecting both Western and Asian countries. Without timely and adequate treatment, individuals with eating disorders are at risk of premature death. Self-help approaches for treating eating disorders offer therapeutic promise. Design. An open trial design was used. Method. This study, conducted from August 2006–July 2011, included 280 participants recruited from outpatient eating disorder clinics and treatment units and through a university student newspaper and Internet websites. This open trial evaluated an Internet-based self-help programme, which included components on healthy eating, family education, health assessment, motivation enhancement, self-help strategies, and psychological health promotion. The progress of participants was followed up via monthly e-mails. A tracking system was implemented to determine their compliance with the programme. Findings. A small majority of the participants (56·9%) were already undergoing treatment for their eating disorders. About 63% (n = 176) demonstrated self-help behaviour, as manifested by their completion of health assessment questionnaires, involvement in motivation enhancement exercises, or the use of self-help strategies such as monitoring, normalizing eating behaviour, and stress management. Improvements were observed in their eating disorder psychopathology, motivational stage of change and psychological health from baseline to the 1-month follow up. Conclusion. Internet-based self-help programmes for eating disorders are helpful adjuncts to professional treatment.

Accumulations of hypertrophic, intensely glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive (GFAP+) astroglia, which also express immunoreactive nestin and vimentin, are prominent features of multiple sclerosis lesions. The issues of the cellular origin of hypertrophic GFAP+/vimentin+/nestin+“reactive” astroglia and also the plasticities and lineage relationships among three macroglial progenitor populations—oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), astrocytes and ependymal cells—during multiple sclerosis and other CNS diseases remain controversial. We used genetic fate-mappings with a battery of inducible Cre drivers (Olig2-Cre-ERT2, GFAP-Cre-ERT2, FoxJ1-Cre-ERT2and Nestin-Cre-ERT2) to explore these issues in adult mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The proliferative rate of spinal cord OPCs rose fivefold above control levels during EAE, and numbers of oligodendroglia increased as well, but astrogenesis from OPCs was rare. Spinal cord ependymal cells, previously reported to be multipotent, did not augment their low proliferative rate, nor give rise to astroglia or OPCs. Instead, the hypertrophic, vimentin+/nestin+, reactive astroglia that accumulated in spinal cord in this multiple sclerosis model were derived by proliferation and phenotypic transformation of fibrous astroglia in white matter, and solely by phenotypic transformation of protoplasmic astroglia in gray matter. This comprehensive analysis of macroglial plasticity in EAE helps to clarify the origins of astrogliosis in CNS inflammatory demyelinative disorders.

Previous studies have shown that oligodendroglial progenitor cells (OPCs) can give rise to neuronsin vitroand in perinatal cerebral cortexin vivo. We now report that OPCs in adult murine piriform cortex express low levels of doublecortin, a marker for migratory and immature neurons. Additionally, these OPCs express Sox2, a neural stem cell marker, and Pax6, a transcription factor characteristic of progenitors for cortical glutamatergic neurons. Genetic fate-mapping by means of an inducible Cre–LoxP recombination system proved that these OPCs differentiate into pyramidal glutamatergic neurons in piriform cortex. Several lines of evidence indicated that these newly formed neurons became functionally integrated into the cortical neuronal network. Our data suggest that NG2+/PDGFRα+proteolipid protein promoter-expressing progenitors generate pyramidal glutamatergic neurons within normal adult piriform cortex.

Bromophenols are a group of compounds found only in marine organisms. They accumulate and give a sea-like aroma to marine animals. Cultivated fishes generally contain low concentrations of bromophenols compared to wild fishes. Feeding cultivated fishes with bromophenol-containing seaweed could increase their bromophenol content and thus improve their flavor quality. We evaluated the effect of an experimental feed on the bromophenol content of green grouper, Epinephelus coioides, during an 8-week feeding period. Green grouper individuals were divided into two groups and fed with conventional feed or experimental feed containing dried seaweed. Fish were collected biweekly for 8 weeks for proximate analyses and bromophenol content evaluations. Bromophenols were extracted, identified, and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Both moisture and lipid contents were generally higher in the controls; however, total weight and protein content were higher in the experimental group. Only 2,4-dibromophenol and 2,4,6-tribromophenol were detected in the samples. Throughout the 8 weeks, 2,4,6-tribromophenol concentrations were higher in the experimental group (9.20-32.3 ng/g dry wt) than in the control group (7.33-18.79 ng/g dry wt), but no significant difference in 2,4-dibromophenol concentration was detected between the two groups. The total bromophenol content reached a maximum at week 4 for the experimental feed and week 6 for the control. In short, experimental feed that incorporated bromophenol-containing seaweed increased the total bromophenol content in the green grouper.

Interactive visualizations can allow science museum visitors to explore new worlds by seeing and interacting with scientific data. However, designing interactive visualizations for informal learning environments, such as museums, presents several challenges. First, visualizations must engage visitors on a personal level. Second, visitors often lack the background to interpret visualizations of scientific data. Third, visitors have very limited time at individual exhibits in museums. This paper examines these design considerations through the iterative development and evaluation of an interactive exhibit as a visualization tool that gives museumgoers access to scientific data generated and used by researchers. The exhibit prototype, Living Liquid, encourages visitors to ask and answer their own questions while exploring the time-varying global distribution of simulated marine microbes using a touchscreen interface. Iterative development proceeded through three rounds of formative evaluations using think-aloud protocols and interviews, each round informing a key visualization design decision: (1) what to visualize to initiate inquiry, (2) how to link data at the microscopic scale to global patterns, and (3) how to include additional data that allows visitors to pursue their own questions. Data from visitor evaluations suggests that, when designing visualizations for public audiences, one should (1) avoid distracting visitors from data that they should explore, (2) incorporate background information into the visualization, (3) favor understandability over scientific accuracy, and (4) layer data accessibility to structure inquiry. Lessons learned from this case study add to our growing understanding of how to use visualizations to actively engage learners with scientific data.

We describe a study comparing the behavior of museum visitors at an interactive exhibit that used physical versus virtual objects to explore a large scientific dataset. The exhibit visualized the distribution of phytoplankton in the world's oceans on a multi-touch table. In one version, visitors used physical rings to look at the type and proportion of phytoplankton in different areas of the oceans, and in the other version they used virtual rings. The findings suggest that the physical rings better afforded touching and manipulations, which were prerequisites to further exploration, and attracted more groups, thereby providing opportunities for people to talk and share. However, the comparison did not detect any measurable differences in the thoroughness of visitors' interactions, the questions they asked, or on-topic talk with others at the exhibit. These results should help museum professionals and interaction designers better weigh the costs and benefits of tangible user interfaces.

Selected seafood including rabbitfish (Siganus canaliculatus), brown-spotted grouper (Epinephelus areolatus), clam (Tapes philippinarum), oyster (Ostrea rivularis), shrimp (Penaeus japonicus), and crab (Charybdis feriatus), commonly found in the Hong Kong wet market, was monitored for their distribution and seasonal variations of their bromophenol contents. Specifically, 2-bromophenol (1). 4-bromophenol (2). 2,4-dibromophenol (3). 2,6-dibromophenol (4). and 2,4,6-tribromophenol (5). were monitored due to their flavor impact to seafood. All samples of marine origin contained bromophenols throughout a year. Crab had the highest concentration of total bromophenol content throughout the season. Concentrations of compounds 1, 4, and 5 in the local seafood were generally higher than that found in the literature values to provide characteristic flavor, but lower than that required to cause off-flavor. Variations of the flavor impact of bromophenols in seafood during a season could be better shown by their flavor values. Distribution and seasonal variations of bromophenol content in seafood coincided well with the seasonal growth cycle of the bromophenol synthesizing seaweeds, e.g. brown algae, in the region suggesting the abundant source of bromophenols in the environment might have a high impact on the quantity of bromophenols found in seafood.

Distributions and seasonal variations of the key seafood flavor compounds including 2-bromophenol, 4-bromophenol, 2,4-dibromophenol, 2,6-dibromophenol, and 2,4,6-tribromophenol in three species of brown algae (Padina arborescens, Sargassum siliquastrum, and Lobophora variegata) found in Hong Kong waters were investigated. Bromophenols were extracted by simultaneous steam distillation and solvent extraction apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. On a dried weight basis, the total bromophenol content (TBC) determined varied widely with seasons (from 40.9 to 7030 ng/g). The TBCs detected were higher in winter and lower in summer. Except for 2-bromophenol, the rest of the bromophenols were detected in all of the algal samples. The TBC of L. variegata was generally the highest among all of the algae collected. Relatively high concentrations of bromophenols in algae supported the fact that marine algae were major producers of bromophenols in the marine environment.

OBJETIVO: Estudar a variação das taxas de mortalidade neonatal precoce, natimortalidade e de um conjunto de indicadores da rede de hospitais que prestaram atenção obstétrica ao Sistema Único de Saúde, visando o monitoramento das unidades hospitalares a partir do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH/SUS) e do Sistema de Nascidos Vivos (SINASC). MÉTODOS: Em 1997, 135 hospitais do Estado do Rio de Janeiro foram estudados por meio da análise estatística fatorial, pelo método de componentes principais. Estabeleceu-se a distribuição dos escores dos estabelecimentos nos dois primeiros componentes, o que permitiu classificar os hospitais segundo o perfil de risco materno das internações e os resultados da assistência. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que a rede obstétrica do Sistema Único de Saúde no Estado, responsável por cerca de 77,8% dos partos, possui 23% dos hospitais que realizam menos de 100 partos/ano. Entre os hospitais com perfil de internação de extremo risco materno e baixo desempenho encontram-se unidades consideradas referência para gestação de alto risco. Observou-se que 5% dos hospitais possuidores de estruturas de baixa complexidade apresentaram um perfil de risco materno alto e resultados da assistência questionáveis. CONCLUSÕES: O SIH/SUS mostrou ser uma importante fonte de dados para monitorar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal precoce hospitalares e para o planejamento das ações de vigilância das unidades hospitalares obstétricas e neonatais.OBJECTIVE: To analyze variations in early neonatal mortality, stillbirth rates, and a set of indicators collected from obstetric hospitals affiliated to the Brazilian National Unified Health System (SUS) for their monitoring through the Hospital Data System (SIH/SUS) and Live Births Data System (SINASC). METHODS: One-hundred and thirty five hospitals in the state of Rio de Janeiro were assessed in 1997. Factor analysis was conducted using principal components. Score distribution for the first two components were established, which allowed to classify hospitals according to maternal risk profile and care outcomes. RESULTS: Hospitals affiliated to SUS were responsible for 77.8% of all deliveries in the state of Rio de Janeiro and 23% of them performed fewer than 100 deliveries a year. Among hospitals of extreme high maternal risk and low performance, there were several units considered as referral centers for high-risk pregnancy. It was also observed that 5% of hospital units with low complexity infrastructures showed a profile of high maternal risk and questionable care outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The Hospital Information Data System affiliated to the National Unified Health System has proven to be an important information source for monitoring hospital stillbirth and early neonatal mortality rates as well as for planning surveillance actions for health services providing obstetric and/or neonatal care.

OBJETIVO: Estudar a variação das taxas de mortalidade neonatal precoce, natimortalidade e de um conjunto de indicadores da rede de hospitais que prestaram atenção obstétrica ao Sistema Único de Saúde, visando o monitoramento das unidades hospitalares a partir do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH/SUS) e do Sistema de Nascidos Vivos (SINASC). MÉTODOS: Em 1997, 135 hospitais do Estado do Rio de Janeiro foram estudados por meio da análise estatística fatorial, pelo método de componentes principais. Estabeleceu-se a distribuição dos escores dos estabelecimentos nos dois primeiros componentes, o que permitiu classificar os hospitais segundo o perfil de risco materno das internações e os resultados da assistência. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que a rede obstétrica do Sistema Único de Saúde no Estado, responsável por cerca de 77,8% dos partos, possui 23% dos hospitais que realizam menos de 100 partos/ano. Entre os hospitais com perfil de internação de extremo risco materno e baixo desempenho encontram-se unidades consideradas referência para gestação de alto risco. Observou-se que 5% dos hospitais possuidores de estruturas de baixa complexidade apresentaram um perfil de risco materno alto e resultados da assistência questionáveis. CONCLUSÕES: O SIH/SUS mostrou ser uma importante fonte de dados para monitorar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal precoce hospitalares e para o planejamento das ações de vigilância das unidades hospitalares obstétricas e neonatais. OBJECTIVE: To analyze variations in early neonatal mortality, stillbirth rates, and a set of indicators collected from obstetric hospitals affiliated to the Brazilian National Unified Health System (SUS) for their monitoring through the Hospital Data System (SIH/SUS) and Live Births Data System (SINASC). METHODS: One-hundred and thirty five hospitals in the state of Rio de Janeiro were assessed in 1997. Factor analysis was conducted using principal components. Score distribution for the first two components were established, which allowed to classify hospitals according to maternal risk profile and care outcomes. RESULTS: Hospitals affiliated to SUS were responsible for 77.8% of all deliveries in the state of Rio de Janeiro and 23% of them performed fewer than 100 deliveries a year. Among hospitals of extreme high maternal risk and low performance, there were several units considered as referral centers for high-risk pregnancy. It was also observed that 5% of hospital units with low complexity infrastructures showed a profile of high maternal risk and questionable care outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The Hospital Information Data System affiliated to the National Unified Health System has proven to be an important information source for monitoring hospital stillbirth and early neonatal mortality rates as well as for planning surveillance actions for health services providing obstetric and/or neonatal care.

Analysis of the volatile components in two forms (frozen and dried) of scallops Patinopecten yessoensis was carried out. Extracts were prepared by simultaneous steam distillation and extraction (SDE) apparatus and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. One hundred fifty-seven compounds were identified including ketones (31), alcohols (16), aldehydes (22), aromatics (17), miscellaneous compounds (9), naphthalenes (9), phenolic compound (7), sulfur-containing compounds (11), terpenes (8), pyrazines (7), esters (6), alkanes (5), pyridines(4), furans (4) and acids (2). Although the majority of the components identified in both forms of scallops were similar, additional 4 and 18 compounds were found only in the frozen and dried scallops, respectively. Quantitatively, the dried scallops generally contained components with higher levels than that of the frozen ones.

OBJETIVO: Estudar a variação das taxas de mortalidade neonatal precoce, natimortalidade e de um conjunto de indicadores da rede de hospitais que prestaram atenção obstétrica ao Sistema Único de Saúde, visando o monitoramento das unidades hospitalares a partir do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH/SUS) e do Sistema de Nascidos Vivos (SINASC). MÉTODOS: Em 1997, 135 hospitais do Estado do Rio de Janeiro foram estudados por meio da análise estatística fatorial, pelo método de componentes principais. Estabeleceu-se a distribuição dos escores dos estabelecimentos nos dois primeiros componentes, o que permitiu classificar os hospitais segundo o perfil de risco materno das internações e os resultados da assistência. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que a rede obstétrica do Sistema Único de Saúde no Estado, responsável por cerca de 77,8% dos partos, possui 23% dos hospitais que realizam menos de 100 partos/ano. Entre os hospitais com perfil de internação de extremo risco materno e baixo desempenho encontram-se unidades consideradas referência para gestação de alto risco. Observou-se que 5% dos hospitais possuidores de estruturas de baixa complexidade apresentaram um perfil de risco materno alto e resultados da assistência questionáveis. CONCLUSÕES: O SIH/SUS mostrou ser uma importante fonte de dados para monitorar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal precoce hospitalares e para o planejamento das ações de vigilância das unidades hospitalares obstétricas e neonatais.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, demyelination, and axonal degeneration. CXCL10 (IP-10), a chemokine for CXCR3+ T cells, is known to regulate T cell differentiation and migration in the periphery, but effects of CXCL10 produced endogenously in the CNS on immune cell trafficking are unknown. We created floxed cxcl10 mice and crossed them with mice carrying an astrocyte-specific Cre transgene (mGFAPcre) to ablate astroglial CXCL10 synthesis. These mice, and littermate controls, were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55 (MOG peptide) to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In comparison to the control mice, spinal cord CXCL10 mRNA and protein were sharply diminished in the mGFAPcre/CXCL10fl/fl EAE mice, confirming that astroglia are chiefly responsible for EAE-induced CNS CXCL10 synthesis. Astroglial CXCL10 deletion did not significantly alter the overall composition of CD4+ lymphocytes and CD11b+ cells in the acutely inflamed CNS, but did diminish accumulation of CD4+ lymphocytes in the spinal cord perivascular spaces. Furthermore, IBA1+ microglia/macrophage accumulation within the lesions was not affected by CXCL10 deletion. Clinical deficits were milder and acute demyelination was substantially reduced in the astroglial CXCL10-deleted EAE mice, but long-term axon loss was equally severe in the two groups. We concluded that astroglial CXCL10 enhances spinal cord perivascular CD4+ lymphocyte accumulation and acute spinal cord demyelination in MOG peptide EAE, but does not play an important role in progressive axon loss in this MS model.

OBJETIVO: Apesar da reconhecida importância em acompanhar a evolução temporal da mortalidade infantil precoce, a deficiência das estatísticas vitais no Brasil ainda permanece na agenda atual dos problemas que impedem o seu acompanhamento espaço-temporal. Realizou-se estudo com o objetivo de investigar o Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH/SUS) como fonte de informações, para estimar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal. MÉTODOS: Propõe-se um método para estimar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal, o qual foi aplicado para todos os Estados das regiões Nordeste, Sul e Sudeste e para o Pará, no ano de 1995. Para fins comparativos, o Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM/MS) foi utilizado para estimar as taxas sob estudo, após a correção do número de nascidos vivos por um método demográfico. RESULTADOS: O SIH/SUS forneceu mais óbitos fetais e neonatais precoces do que o SIM/MS em grande parte das unidades federadas da região Nordeste. Adicionalmente para os Estados localizados nas regiões Sul e Sudeste, que apresentam, em geral, boa cobertura do registro de óbitos, as taxas calculadas pelos dois sistemas de informação tiveram valores semelhantes. CONCLUSÕES: Considerando a cobertura incompleta das estatísticas vitais no Brasil e a agilidade do SIH/SUS em disponibilizar as informações em meio magnético, conclui-se que o uso do SIH/SUS poderá trazer inúmeras contribuições para análise do comportamento espaço-temporal do componente neonatal da mortalidade infantil no território brasileiro, em anos recentes.OBJECTIVE: Studies on the evolution of infant mortality rate are very relevant. Nevertheless, lack of vital statistics in Brazil limits the temporal and spatial analysis of this indicator. This study aims to investigate the possible use of the Brazilian Hospital Information System as an alternative information source for stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates by age group. METHODS: A new method to estimate the stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates is proposed. It was applied in a set of selected Brazilian states in the year of 1995. For comparative purposes, the Brazilian Death Information System was assessed to estimate the mortality rates under study, after adjusting the registered number of live births by using a demographic tool. RESULTS: By assessing the Hospital Information System a larger number of fetal and early neonatal deaths were observed when compared to data given by the death information system of the Northeastern states. Besides, in the Southern and Southeastern states, where death records are more thorough, the mortality rates calculated using both information sources were very similar. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the proposed methodology could greatly contribute to the analysis of the spatial-time evolution of stillbirth and neonatal death rates in recent years in Brazil, as data on death registration in the majority of the Brazilian states are less thorough than those from the hospital information system.

OBJETIVO: Apesar da reconhecida importância em acompanhar a evolução temporal da mortalidade infantil precoce, a deficiência das estatísticas vitais no Brasil ainda permanece na agenda atual dos problemas que impedem o seu acompanhamento espaço-temporal. Realizou-se estudo com o objetivo de investigar o Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH/SUS) como fonte de informações, para estimar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal. MÉTODOS: Propõe-se um método para estimar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal, o qual foi aplicado para todos os Estados das regiões Nordeste, Sul e Sudeste e para o Pará, no ano de 1995. Para fins comparativos, o Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM/MS) foi utilizado para estimar as taxas sob estudo, após a correção do número de nascidos vivos por um método demográfico. RESULTADOS: O SIH/SUS forneceu mais óbitos fetais e neonatais precoces do que o SIM/MS em grande parte das unidades federadas da região Nordeste. Adicionalmente para os Estados localizados nas regiões Sul e Sudeste, que apresentam, em geral, boa cobertura do registro de óbitos, as taxas calculadas pelos dois sistemas de informação tiveram valores semelhantes. CONCLUSÕES: Considerando a cobertura incompleta das estatísticas vitais no Brasil e a agilidade do SIH/SUS em disponibilizar as informações em meio magnético, conclui-se que o uso do SIH/SUS poderá trazer inúmeras contribuições para análise do comportamento espaço-temporal do componente neonatal da mortalidade infantil no território brasileiro, em anos recentes. OBJECTIVE: Studies on the evolution of infant mortality rate are very relevant. Nevertheless, lack of vital statistics in Brazil limits the temporal and spatial analysis of this indicator. This study aims to investigate the possible use of the Brazilian Hospital Information System as an alternative information source for stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates by age group. METHODS: A new method to estimate the stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates is proposed. It was applied in a set of selected Brazilian states in the year of 1995. For comparative purposes, the Brazilian Death Information System was assessed to estimate the mortality rates under study, after adjusting the registered number of live births by using a demographic tool. RESULTS: By assessing the Hospital Information System a larger number of fetal and early neonatal deaths were observed when compared to data given by the death information system of the Northeastern states. Besides, in the Southern and Southeastern states, where death records are more thorough, the mortality rates calculated using both information sources were very similar. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the proposed methodology could greatly contribute to the analysis of the spatial-time evolution of stillbirth and neonatal death rates in recent years in Brazil, as data on death registration in the majority of the Brazilian states are less thorough than those from the hospital information system.

OBJETIVO: Apesar da reconhecida importância em acompanhar a evolução temporal da mortalidade infantil precoce, a deficiência das estatísticas vitais no Brasil ainda permanece na agenda atual dos problemas que impedem o seu acompanhamento espaço-temporal. Realizou-se estudo com o objetivo de investigar o Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH/SUS) como fonte de informações, para estimar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal. MÉTODOS: Propõe-se um método para estimar a natimortalidade e a mortalidade neonatal, o qual foi aplicado para todos os Estados das regiões Nordeste, Sul e Sudeste e para o Pará, no ano de 1995. Para fins comparativos, o Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM/MS) foi utilizado para estimar as taxas sob estudo, após a correção do número de nascidos vivos por um método demográfico. RESULTADOS: O SIH/SUS forneceu mais óbitos fetais e neonatais precoces do que o SIM/MS em grande parte das unidades federadas da região Nordeste. Adicionalmente para os Estados localizados nas regiões Sul e Sudeste, que apresentam, em geral, boa cobertura do registro de óbitos, as taxas calculadas pelos dois sistemas de informação tiveram valores semelhantes. CONCLUSÕES: Considerando a cobertura incompleta das estatísticas vitais no Brasil e a agilidade do SIH/SUS em disponibilizar as informações em meio magnético, conclui-se que o uso do SIH/SUS poderá trazer inúmeras contribuições para análise do comportamento espaço-temporal do componente neonatal da mortalidade infantil no território brasileiro, em anos recentes.

The TriCounty Area Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Authority in North Carolina has pioneered the use of group therapy in treating offenders charged with Driving While Impaired. While group therapy had been a part of treatment for repeat DWI offenders since 1983, assessment of disability and the provision of group therapy to first offenders identified as disabled began after July 1, 1986. Therefore, it has been possible to assemble a control group of DWI first offenders referred to the Area Authority from January through June of 1986 and an Experimental Group of offenders referred to the Area Authority from January through June of 1987. Since completing treatment, 24% of the Control Group received subsequent DWI convictions, compared to 11.6% of the Experimental Group. This constitutes a difference of 5 1.6%. A review of biographical information (age, race, sex, marital status, employment status, education attainment) and Department of Motor Vehicles records reveals that offe...

The genesis of counseling psychology is located in the early 20th century. This chapter examines the development of counseling psychology from its earliest roots in vocational guidance through its modern incarnation as a health service specialty with core values of inclusiveness and social justice. The development of counseling psychology is inextricably related to the social, political and economic development of America in the 20th century. Consideration is given to contextual factors that have shaped counseling psychology including industrialization, education, war, federal policy, space exploration and civil rights. The distinguishing characteristic of counseling psychology is its ability to adapt to larger social movements and forces in service of human adjustment. Keywords: counseling psychology; history; vocational guidance

Ambivalence to change is a major obstacle to treating people with eating disorders. Enhancing motivation to change can contribute to recovery from the disorders. This study used an Internet-based self-help program developed in the Asia-Pacific region to identify the motivational stages of change in people with eating disorders. It explored their perceptions of the benefits and costs of taking action against their eating disorders, and assessed their involvement in motivational enhancement exercises and their improvement in eating disorder psychopathology. A total of 185 participants, aged 16-50 years (mean age, 26.5) were involved in the open-trial program with a motivational enhancement component and completed the Motivational Stages of Change Questionnaire (MSCARED), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire version 5 (EDE-Q5) and the Eating Disorder Inventory version 3 (EDI-3). The results show that more participants perceived the benefits of taking action against their eating disorders than the costs. Completer analysis shows that they experienced significant improvement in motivational stages of change and eating disorder psychopathology, from a baseline assessment to 1-month and 3-month follow ups. The self-help program has potential benefit for people with eating disorders and its use could be encouraged by health-care professionals to enhance the motivation to change and facilitate recovery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-help behaviour of individuals with eating disorders in an Internet-based self-help programme developed in the Asia-Pacific region and to determine their compliance with the programme.Eating disorders represent a growing health problem affecting both Western and Asian countries. Without timely and adequate treatment, individuals with eating disorders are at risk of premature death. Self-help approaches for treating eating disorders offer therapeutic promise.An open trial design was used.This study, conducted from August 2006-July 2011, included 280 participants recruited from outpatient eating disorder clinics and treatment units and through a university student newspaper and Internet websites. This open trial evaluated an Internet-based self-help programme, which included components on healthy eating, family education, health assessment, motivation enhancement, self-help strategies, and psychological health promotion. The progress of participants was followed up via monthly e-mails. A tracking system was implemented to determine their compliance with the programme.A small majority of the participants (56·9%) were already undergoing treatment for their eating disorders. About 63% (n = 176) demonstrated self-help behaviour, as manifested by their completion of health assessment questionnaires, involvement in motivation enhancement exercises, or the use of self-help strategies such as monitoring, normalizing eating behaviour, and stress management. Improvements were observed in their eating disorder psychopathology, motivational stage of change and psychological health from baseline to the 1-month follow up.Internet-based self-help programmes for eating disorders are helpful adjuncts to professional treatment.

Proteolipid promoter (plp promoter) activity in the newborn mouse CNS is restricted to NG2-expressing oligodendroglial progenitor cells and oligodendrocytes. There are two populations of NG2 progenitors based on their plp promoter expression. Whereas the general population of NG2 progenitors has been shown to be multipotentin vitroand after transplantation, it is not known whether the subpopulation of plp promoter-expressing NG2 progenitors [i.e., plp promoter-expressing NG2 progenitors (PPEPs)] has the potential to generate multilineage cells during normal developmentin vivo. We addressed this issue by fate mapping Plp-Cre-ERT2/Rosa26-EYFP (PCE/R) double-transgenic mice, which carried an inducible Cre gene under the control of the plp promoter. Expression of the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) reporter gene in PPEPs was elicited by administering tamoxifen to postnatal day 7 PCE/R mice. We have demonstrated that early postnatal PPEPs, which had been thought to be restricted to the oligodendroglial lineage, also unexpectedly gave rise to a subset of immature, postmitotic, protoplasmic astrocytes in the gray matter of the spinal cord and ventral forebrain, but not in white matter. Furthermore, these PPEPs also gave rise to small numbers of immature, DCX (doublecortin)-negative neurons in the ventral forebrain, dorsal cerebral cortex, and hippocampus. EYFP-labeled representatives of each of these lineages survived to adulthood. These findings indicate that there are regional differences in the fates of neonatal PPEPs, which are multipotentin vivo, giving rise to oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and neurons.

This paper documents the authors' experience as field supervisors of adult learners, who need a greater degree of self-direction and learning from experience. It looks at the guiding principles for the supervision of adult learners and at how teaching technology can be best used.

The role of stem cells in the origin, growth patterns, and infiltration of glioblastoma multiforme is a subject of intense investigation. One possibility is that glioblastoma may arise from transformed stem cells in the ventricular zone. To explore this hypothesis, we examined the distribution of two stem cell markers, activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) and CD133, in an autopsy brain specimen from an individual with glioblastoma multiforme. A 41-year-old male with a right posterior temporal glioblastoma had undergone surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The brain was harvested within several hours after death. After formalin fixation, sectioning, and mapping of tumor location in the gross specimen, histologic specimens were prepared from tumor-bearing and grossly normal hemispheres. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry and colorimetric staining were performed for ATF5 and CD133. Both markers co-localized to the ependymal and subependymal zones on the side of the tumor, but not in the normal hemisphere or more rostrally in the affected hemisphere. ATF5 staining was especially robust within the diseased hemisphere in histologically normal ependyma. To our knowledge, this is the first in situ demonstration of stem cell markers in whole human brain. These preliminary results support the hypothesis that some glioblastomas may arise from the neurogenic zone of the lateral ventricle. The robust staining for ATF5 and CD133 in histologically normal ventricular zone suggests that an increase in periventricular stem cell activity occurred in this patient on the side of the tumor, either as a localized response to brain injury or as an integral component of oncogenesis and tumor recurrence.

Headspace components from rice and agar with (experimental) and without (control) inoculation with a Monascus spp. were investigated. Kinetics studies were carried out. Using rice as a substrate, 10 and 19 compounds were found for the control and the experimental groups, respectively, at day 14. Experimental group compounds were composed mainly of alcohols, ketones, and esters, whereas control group compounds were composed of aldehydes and ketones. With agar as a substrate, only five and three components were found in the control and experimental groups, respectively. Five alcohols, four esters, two ketones, and one furan with odor activity values (OAV) >1 dominated the overall flavor of the product. With liquid inoculation, the first six components with high OAVs were in the following order: 3-methyl-1-butanol (17) > ethanol (14) > ethyl acetate (10) > 2-methyl-1-propanol (15) > ethyl butanoate (11) > 3-methylbutyl acetate (13). Kinetic studies showed that most compounds reached their maximum concentrations at 10-12 days. Many compounds identified in the model red rice were reported in commercial red sufus, and several appeared to contribute solely by red rice.

CCL2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1) is a potent chemoattractant for immune cells including monocytes and dendritic cells, and is believed to be one of the most important chemokines involved in the pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Perivascular astrocytes within the central nervous system (CNS) are the most common and prominent source of CCL2 in both MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). CCL2 production within the CNS activates CCR2, its predominant functional receptor, leading to the infiltration of CCR2+ monocytes into the CNS. We and others have shown that, CCL2 mRNA levels in the spinal cord of mice with EAE were at least 100 fold higher compared to control mice. Furthermore, mice deficient in CCL2 or its receptor, CCR2, show a significant reduction in CNS macrophage infiltrates, as well as an increased resistance to EAE. Using the Cre/loxP recombination system, where Cre is driven by an astrocyte specific promoter, we tested the central hypothesis that ablating CCL2 expression from astrocytes will reduce myeloid cell trafficking to the CNS during EAE, resulting in less severe disease. Our results show that conditional ablation of CCL2 in astrocytes led to a 0.5-fold reduction in CCL2 mRNA levels in the spinal cord during peak disease (Student’s t -test, P t -test, P P

A social worker member of the gender identity team of a Psychiatry Department is responsible for the social assessment of the transsexual who applies for sex reassignment surgery. This paper synthesizes the dynamics and processes in conducting the social assessment for eight male-to-female transsexuals from 1986 to April 1988. Role theory was used as the underlying theoretical framework for the assessment. Social criteria for the eligibility of the surgery are delineated. Three cases demonstrate how the social worker used these criteria for the assessment, the difficulties in the process and ways of resolving them.

La prima «Rassegna» è interamente dedicata a Genesis (Manuscrits - Recherche - Invention), rivista semestrale, in lingua francese, promossa dall'Institut des textes et manuscrits modernes (ITEM) di Parigi, centro degli studi e delle riflessioni sulla critica genetica, con gruppi di ricerca sul lavoro creativo dei maggiori autori della letteratura francese (ma non solo) del Settecento (da Rousseau a Voltaire), dell’Ottocento (Flaubert, Zola), del Novecento (Proust, Joyce, ma anche Aragon, Barthes, Celan, Valéry), di filosofi (Nietzsche, Sartre). In particolare Genesis — nata nel 1992, e ora pubblicata da PUPS. Presses de l'Université Paris-Sorbonne, sotto la direzione di Daniel Ferrer e Almuth Grésillon — si propone come un luogo di incontro, di scambio, di elaborazione teorica della critica genetica. Trascorsi due anni dalla loro pubblicazione, i numeri di Genesis sono leggibili on line all’indirizzo: http://genesis.revues.org/ Quello che qui si presenta è l’ultimo numero uscito di Genesis, il 44/2017, «Après le texte» (http://genesis.revues.org/1579)., Prassi Ecdotiche della Modernità Letteraria, N. 2 (2017)

La prima «Rassegna» è interamente dedicata a Genesis (Manuscrits - Recherche - Invention), rivista semestrale, in lingua francese, promossa dall'Institut des textes et manuscrits modernes (ITEM) di Parigi, centro degli studi e delle riflessioni sulla critica genetica, con gruppi di ricerca sul lavoro creativo dei maggiori autori della letteratura francese (ma non solo) del Settecento (da Rousseau a Voltaire), dell’Ottocento (Flaubert, Zola), del Novecento (Proust, Joyce, ma anche Aragon, Barthes, Celan, Valéry), di filosofi (Nietzsche, Sartre). In particolare Genesis — nata nel 1992, e ora pubblicata da PUPS. Presses de l'Université Paris-Sorbonne, sotto la direzione di Daniel Ferrer e Almuth Grésillon — si propone come un luogo di incontro, di scambio, di elaborazione teorica della critica genetica.In questa direzione vanno le sezioni della rivista, che per lo più propongono questo schema: Enjeux (dedicata a proporre le grandi questioni teoriche e pratiche del tema oggetto dei singoli numeri e il loro rapporto con la critica genetica); Études (con studi che si occupano direttamente di critica genetica); Entretien (spazio lasciato alla parola degli autori sul proprio lavoro creativo); Inédit (con materiali genetici nuovi portati all’attenzione dei lettori: inedito può essere un testimone non ancora noto di testi già pubblicati); Archives (presentazione di fondi archivistici sul tema preso in esame dalla rivista, con suggerimenti di percorsi di ricerca); Varia (scritti teorici di critica genetica o riflessioni su testi specifici, indipendentemente dal tema cui è dedicato il numero della rivista); Chroniques (informazioni e riflessioni relative a avvenimenti, pubblicazioni, attualità nell’ambito della critica genetica). È infine utile segnalare che, trascorsi due anni dalla loro pubblicazione, i numeri di Genesis sono leggibili on line all’indirizzo: http://genesis.revues.org/Quello che qui si presenta è l’ultimo numero uscito di Genesis, il 41/2015, dedicato alla crerazione a più mani (Créer à plusieurs mains), pubblicato con la curatela di Nicolas Donin e Daniel Ferrer., Genesis (Manuscrits - Recherche - Invention) is a biannual French periodical promoted by the Institut des textes et manuscrits modernes (ITEM) of Paris, the center of researches on genetic criticism, which has many team working on the main authors of French and European Literature of the XVIIth Century (Rousseau, Voltaire), of the XIXth century (Flaubert, Zola), of XXth century (Proust, Joyce, and also Aragon, Barthes, Celan, Valéry), of Philosophy (Nietzsche, Sartre). Genesis was founded in 1992 and is now edited by PUPS. Presses de l'Université Paris-Sorbonne, under the direction of Daniel Ferrer and Almuth Grésillon.The periodical has many sections: Enjeux (papers on a selected theme); Études (with studies on genetic criticism); Entretien (where authors talk about how they work); Inédit (where are published unpublished works); Archives (with studies on archive collections and some suggestion on future researches); Varia (papers); Chroniques (informations and thought on events, conventions, books about genetic criticism. Two years after the prints, issues are available on the periodical’s website: http://genesis.revues.org/This is the last issue of Genesis, 41/2015, focused on hand-in-hand writing process (Créer à plusieurs mains), edited by Nicolas Donin and Daniel Ferrer.

Ad un convegno su James Joyce in una grigia Dublino estiva incontriamo la studiosa Ruth e Toby Doyle, che si reputa l'eminenza grigia degli studi joyciani. In realtà, Toby ha costruito la sua fama sul furto di idee altrui mandando il compare Lachey a trafugare appunti di ricercatori meno noti, e tenta di fare lo stesso con Ruth. Peccato che Ruth non abbia in serbo solo una lettera inedita di sua nonna, che si rivela essere la serva del racconto originale di Joyce, ma anche una sorpresa per smascherare Toby. Parallelamente al racconto del convegno su Joyce si dipana la narrazione di come Lenehan e Corley si presentano a James Joyce, sfidandolo a metterli su carta nella loro paralitica Dublino mentre lui si gode Trieste, la sua luce, il suo vino. Uno spaccato vivacissimo ed estremamente realistico della Dublino e dei convegni joyciani di oggi, e della Dublino in cui si muovono i due galanti dell'originale. Un racconto, tra le altre cose, sul processo creativo, sulla soggettività e sull'originalità dell'opera, su come l'originale (di qualsiasi cosa si tratti) possa “sfuggire di mano” su molteplici livelli - al modello reale, e poi allo scrittore, e poi allo studioso se perde di vista di essere anche un lettore tra gli altri. Sulle relazioni di genere in ambito accademico, sull'utilità o meno degli studi letterari, sulle dinamiche sociali e psicologiche in una cerchia ristretta e altamente coesa come gli studiosi joyciani. Sull'onestà intellettuale e sull'ossessione della bella figura fine a se stessa.