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Charybdis japonica, a large invasive portunid, has been recorded in New Zealand since its detection in the Waitematā Harbour in 2000. In this study, the distribution, invasion history, abundance and population structure were investigated for C. japonica across the North Island of New Zealand. This was done using various distribution data available, trapping across several sites and interviews with commercial fishermen. Charybdis japonica was detected in the previously uninvaded Tauranga, Ohiwa, Hokianga, Manukau Harbours and Great Barrier Island. The rate of spread for C. japonica is continuous, with harbours or estuaries hundreds of kilometres apart having detections every two to three years. Population abundances reported by commercial fishermen constantly increased, with no signs of stabilisation or decrease. Catches were male-biased, with female abundance varying seasonally. Several possible pathways and vectors may be responsible for this spread, including shipping and aquaculture, on top of dispersal of larvae by currents across the North Island. Further research is required to determine population sources, with findings providing important information for invasive species monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores whether the integration of human rights approaches, in particular, the human right to science in Article 15(1)(b) of the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, offers a basis for improving upon current approaches in international environmental law by widening democratic input and oversight in decisions involving environmental science and its applications. It examines a case study regarding the international regulation of marine geoengineering under an amendment to the 1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter. The analysis focuses on how the harms and benefits of marine geoengineering research are conceived of in the amendment, and the norms and processes adopted to address them. These same issues are then examined under the human right to science, focusing on the recent interpretation of the right by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its General Comment No. 25. It seeks to show in a particular case how international environmental law and international human rights law each bring to bear different objectives, norms, and processes in how they treat issues of environmental science and technology, and explores the benefits of more integrated approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kelp forest and bed of Laminaria ochroleuca were found in October 2023 in Porticello (Scylla -Reggio Calabria, Italy) between 48 and 55 m depth. Samples were collected for future genetic and sedimentological analyses and identification of associated fauna and flora. The aim of the upcoming research campaigns is to update the current knowledge of Laminaria forests in the Messina Strait, estimating the action and consequences of climate change at the local level. The project will involve the community of technical divers in long term monitoring (3–5 years), in order to measure ecosystem services. The information will be used to draft a policy document for the proposal of protected areas of the most extensive forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calciphylaxis is a rare and life-threatening condition in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In this case report, we reported a 72-year-old female who had undergone aortic and mitral mechanical valve replacement 22 years ago due to rheumatic aortic and mitral stenosis. Following the valve replacement, she initiated warfarin treatment. Five years ago, she received a diagnosis of uremia and has since been undergoing regular hemodialysis. Ten months prior to her current admission, she experienced excruciating pain and was diagnosed with calciphylaxis. Additionally, an electrocardiogram revealed atrial fibrillation, while echocardiography indicated that the aortic and mitral mechanical valves were appropriately positioned, with normal perivalvular surroundings and good valve leaflet activity. No noticeable thrombosis was observed in the left atrium or left atrial appendage. Color Doppler imaging showed moderate stenosis in the lower extremity arteries, with no venous thromboembolism present. Extensive eggshell-like calcification within the arterial media was detected. The patient was managed with regular hemodialysis, symptomatic treatments (including anticoagulation and analgesia), and sodium thiosulfate. Unfortunately, symptomatic management provided limited relief, and during the one-month follow-up period, the patient passed away due to septic shock. Currently, there is insufficient conclusive evidence regarding alternative influential anticoagulants or appropriate prosthetic valve selection. For individuals with ESKD receiving maintenance hemodialysis, early identification, diagnosis, and treatment of calciphylaxis are of paramount importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charybdis hellerii is an invasive swimming crab widely disseminated in the western Atlantic. This species became a threat to colonized ecosystems, competing with local species for resources. The extension of distribution and increasing population size of C. hellerii has been associated with the scarcity of indigenous predators and cases of predation report octopuses as the main native predators. In this study, we present the first evidence that native fish can consume C. hellerii. 53 individuals of the goldspotted snake eel, Myrichthys ocellatus, were collected at seagrass and macroalgal beds in Pernambuco State, Brazil, and had their stomach contents analyzed. Three juvenile C. hellerii were found along with native prey. Myrichthys ocellatus feeds mainly on small crabs, thus C. hellerii individuals were consumed before reaching sexual maturity. Oppositely to octopuses and other crab predators, M. ocellatus is of little fishing interest and is commonly found in macroalgae beds, seagrass meadows and sandy areas near reefs. Our results suggest that a higher number of carcinophagous taxa may prey on this invasive crab and we emphasize that the conservation of these species is paramount for controlling C. hellerii populations in invaded areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations were carried out to determine the nutritional profile of Indian Ocean swimming crab Charybdis smithii, which is emerging as an unconventional resource in trawl discards of India. The average protein content was 9.38 g/100 g, fat 0.86 g/100 g, ash 0.34 g/100 g, fiber 0.13 g/100 g, and carbohydrate 1.8 g/100 g. One-way analysis of variance showed no significant variations of constituents except in dry matter and carbohydrate between sexes. Macronutrients, Na (317.1, 327.6/100 g), K (148, 177.40 mg/100 g), Ca (187.90, 285.80 mg/100 g), and Mg (34.31, 41.49 mg/100 g), showed significant variation between sexes. The composition of micronutrients in male and female were Cu (0.28, 0.15 mg/100 g), Fe (0.57, 0.71 mg/100 g), and Zn (1.71, 2.75 mg/100 g). Mineral content showed significant difference between sexes. Amino acid analysis showed that 12.04 and 11.47 g/100 g essential amino acid glycine was present in male and female, respectively, and lysine concentration was 13.96 and 12.65 g/100 g, respectively. The nutritional profile of the species was determined the first time and shows that it is comparable with any other edible crabs and could be exploited as a commercial resource to supplement nutritional demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how some preachers in the loyal border slave states – Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware – endorsed the Union throughout the American Civil War. A comparative analysis of their sermons reveals that they often espoused themes compelled by the region's unique cultural and geopolitical context, a phenomenon that the author terms "rhetorical indigenisation." These "local" leitmotifs de-Northernised Unionism by emphasizing the border's mediating potential, by stressing the transcendent covenantal obligations of all Americans, and by making fidelity a fulfilment of Southern ideals like honour, masculinity, and paternalism. Above all, such sermonic responses displayed an unyielding conservatism that rejected the immoderation of both North and South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the risk of hematoma expansion in patients with acute intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) requiring therapeutic anticoagulation for the treatment of venous thromboembolism. We retrospectively reviewed all patients at our institution between 2014 and 2019 who were therapeutically anticoagulated for venous thromboembolism within 4 weeks after ICH. We included subtypes of traumatic ICH and spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Our main outcome was the incidence of hematoma expansion within 14 days from initiating therapeutic anticoagulation. Hematoma expansion was defined as (1) radiographically proven expansion leading to cessation of therapeutic anticoagulation or (2) death due to hematoma expansion. Secondary outcomes included mortality due to hematoma expansion and characteristics associated with hematoma expansion. Fifty patients met inclusion criteria (mean age: 54 years, 80% male, 76% Caucasian); 24% had undergone a neurosurgical procedure prior to therapeutic anticoagulation. Median time from ICH to therapeutic anticoagulation initiation was 9.5 days (IQR 4–17), 40% received therapeutic anticoagulation in <7 days after ICH. Six patients (12%) developed hematoma expansion, of whom two (4%) died. While not statistically significant, patients with hematoma expansion tended to be older (57.8 vs. 53.5 years), were anticoagulated sooner (4 vs. 10 days), presented with lower GCS (50% vs. 39% with GCS <8), higher hematoma volume (50% vs. 42% >30 cc), and higher SDH diameter (16 mm vs. 8.35 mm). There was a trend towards greater risk of hematoma expansion for patients undergoing endoscopic ICH evacuation (16% vs. 2%, p = 0.09); patients with hematoma expansion were more likely to present with hydrocephalus (67% vs. 16%, p = 0.02). Our study is among the first to explore characteristics associated with hematoma expansion in patients undergoing therapeutic anticoagulation after acute ICH. Larger studies in different ICH subtypes are needed to identify determinants of hematoma expansion in this high-acuity population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charybdis feriatus is a highly prized crab in the local and international markets of East Asian countries. In local markets, crabs are sold live, iced, or refrigerated at 2°C - 4°C. The present study was carried out to determine the shelf life of whole crab stored at 4°C for 192 h using a set of biochemical, microbiological, and sensorial parameters. Biochemical indicators such as the total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) and trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) increased significantly during storage and within an acceptable limit up to 144 h. Regarding the biogenic amines, cadaverine and spermidine increased significantly (p < 0.05) during the storage period. Among them, cadaverine could be proposed as a useful spoilage indicator for this crab species. The mesophilic and psychotropic bacterial count exceeded the limit of acceptance after 144 h of storage. Sensory attributes were gradually diminished with the storage time. Sensory scores were found to correlate well with both mesophiles and psychrotrophs. Based on the results of this study, the meat quality of Charybdis feriatus can be maintained up to 144 h when properly stored at a temperature of 4°C ± 1°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his opening address at a discussion of the book: V. V. Bychkov, N. B. Mankovskaya, and V. V. Ivanov, Trialogue: Living Aesthetics and the Contemporary Philosophy of Art (Moscow, 2012), held on 27 February 2012 at the S. Gerasimov All-Russia State University of Cinematography (VGIK), the author shows that Trialogue came into existence as a result of interpretation, polemical debate, and further development of ideas formulated in his early fundamental work. The Artistic Apocalypse of Culture (in 2 vols, Moscow, 2008). The key idea of both books is V. Bychkov's hypothesis of Culture -post- culture drawn from radical processes that take place in art, aesthetics, and the culture of the last century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afternoon nap is regarded as a potent behavioral strategy minimizing sleepiness and fatigue. The benefits of afternoon naps require the accumulation of, at least, 3 min of stage 2 sleep. However, there are practical disadvantages of nap longer than 10–15 min, such as greater length of time consumed by the nap, appearance of slow wave sleep causing greater sleep inertia right after the nap, and possible detrimental impact of such nap on subsequent nocturnal sleep. We previously found that a binaural beat treatment that is a dichotic presentation of two almost equivalent pure tones with slightly different frequencies led to a reduction of latency to stage 2 sleep. To replicate this result and to examine whether such reduction leads, in turn, to the earlier appearance of slow wave sleep, we asked 23 and 21 healthy volunteers to nap in the afternoon for 30 and 20 min, respectively. Almost half of volunteers showed latency to stage 2 longer than 17 min, but most of them responded to the treatment by its reduction. The following occurrence of slow wave sleep reduced level of alertness self-assessed right after the nap. We concluded that latency to stage 2 sleep might be experimentally challenged by binaural beating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay is a response to Julie Cooper's piece in this volume. In her essay, Cooper insightfully analyzes ways in which the rise of the modern state has imposed "religious" forms of identification on Jews, and she engages a series of early twentieth-century Zionist thinkers who resisted and challenged that problematic imposition. I build on Cooper's analysis, highlighting ways in which even these thinkers may still be caught up in the very paradigm that they sought to challenge. Yet despite their limitations, I suggest that it is precisely by engaging more deeply with such thinkers that theorists today can extend and continue the critique that they initiated. By gaining greater awareness of the ways in which useful critiques of "religionization" can still succumb to problematic "politicization," and vice versa, theorists can better position themselves to draw on past texts and thought in order to challenge the hegemony of dominant "political" and "religious" options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The swimming crabCharybdis longicollis, native to the western Indian Ocean, was first recorded in the Mediterranean in 1954. It is now established from Egypt to Greece, and dominates the sandy-mud bottoms at 25–80 m in the southeastern Mediterranean. The success ofC. longicollisis attributed to its high fecundity, agonistic behaviour and omnivorous diet, as well as the rise in seawater temperature. Since the early 1990s its populations in Israel and Turkey have been heavily parasitized by the alien rhizocephalanHeterosaccus dollfusi, which impacts its host’s behaviour, growth and fecundity, and causes mortality. Yet, 60 years after its first record in the Mediterranean, the population ofC. longicollisseems durable, and has recently spread to the lower shelf and upper slope off Israel, where it is common at 80 m and is found down to 250 m, greatly increasing its spatial spread. The maximal percentage of parasitization was 87.2%, 88.8%, 75.5% and 81.8% at depths of 40, 60, 80, 100 m, respectively, and 50% at 120 and 250 m. Here, we hypothesize on the possible contribution of the depletion of its putative fish predators, mainly rays, to the prevalence ofC. longicollison the lower shelf. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A procedure for improved shoot regeneration from meristematic nodules of Charybdis numidica in a temporary immersion culture system was developed by optimizing immersion frequencies, volume of the nutrient medium, and alternating application of growth regulators. Modified liquid MS medium with 3% sucrose, 20uM BAP and 5uM NAA (shoot induction medium) was used to induce microshoot formation on 15 g of nodules in 1000 ml bottles. Volumes of medium (250 or 500 ml) and immersion frequency (5 min every 12 or 24 h) did not significantly influence shoot regeneration rates. Shoot induction medium additionally supplemented with 5 uM paclobutrazol in most cases led to less shoots but this effect was not significant, either. Microshoots formed under these conditions were severely hyperhydrated. Near complete elimination of hyperhydricity and enhanced formation of properly elongated shoots were achieved by running a shoot induction step with induction medium containing paclobutrazol followed by an elongation step with a medium supplemented only with 5 uM gibberellic acid GA[sub 3]. This two-step procedure yielded about 900 healthy shoots per bottle after a two-month cultivation period. Root induction was performed ex vitro during acclimatization and the plantlets could be established in the greenhouse with good success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larval dispersal may have an important effect on genetic structure of benthic species. However, different species may choose different larval dispersal strategy. To examine the population genetic structure and larval dispersal strategy of portunid crab Charybdis bimaculata, a 658 base pair (bp) fragment of mtDNA COI gene was sequenced in this species. In total, 67 individuals were collected from 5 locations in Yellow Sea and East China, and 24 haplotypes were obtained. Mean haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity for the five populations ranged from 0.2000 ± 0.1541 (Zhoushan) to 0.8333 ± 0.1265 (Nanji island), and from 0.0003 ± 0.0005 (Zhoushan) to 0.0026 ± 0.0019 (Nanji island). Analysis of molecular variance and pairwise FST revealed no significant differentiation between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea in C. bimaculata, supporting high larval dispersal ability in this species, rejecting larval retention. Mismatch distribution revealed that C. bimaculata had undergone population expansion. Larval drift in the ocean currents, and recent range expansion could be the reasons for little genetic structure in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media use around those aged 18–34 will significantly impact the prospects for the public validation of a new constitution in Sri Lanka, especially the planning and conduct of a referendum. This paper examines key developments in the consumption of and perceptions around social media, and how a networked society within a context of democratic deficit and plunging faith in electoral processes can pose a greater risk for public faith in constitutional reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of portunid crab, Charybdis (Charybdis) goaensis sp. nov. is described from Goa, west coast of India. It differs from its closest congener, Charybdis (Charybdis) philippinensis in possessing bluntly triangular median frontal teeth, wide U-shaped notches separating the sub-median and lateral frontal teeth, wide notches separating antero-lateral teeth, and granular tuberosity on cardiac region of carapace. A taxonomic key to 43 species of the sub-genus Charybdis including the newly described species is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portunid crabs of the genus Portunus: P. pelagicus, P. gladiator and P. sanguinolentus and the genus Charybdis: C. natator and C. feriatus are economically important species for many tropical countries. An ongoing problem in the crab industry is involved with food labelling or food fraud in which many food manufacturers may have substituted the cheaper crabmeat for the more expensive ones due to the difficulty of species identification after many steps of food processing. To solve this problem, a convenient and accurate multiplex PCR assay using a species-specific primer set KUGEN_PORTspec was developed based on the nucleotide variation of cytochrome b and 28S ribosomal RNA. The primer set specifically amplified fragments of 286, 348, 418, 124 and 481 bp in P. pelagicus, P. gladiator, P. sanguinolentus, C. natator and C. feriatus, respectively, as well as a 220 bp positive control fragment. Specificity and sensitivity tests showed consistency in product sizes and absence of cross-species amplification with 0.1 ng DNA template limit of detection. Validation of the multiplex PCR assay on crabmeat prepared by steaming, mixing, freezing and canning was done and visualized by either agarose gel electrophoresis or automated capillary electrophoresis. The results indicated that the multiplex PCR assay using KUGEN_PORTspec is an effective tool for portunid species identification from both high- and low-quality DNA obtained from processed food. This newly developed primer set is an effective tool for crabmeat species identification to be used in future food industry and consumer protection programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Democracy as a form of civilian rule must navigate a path between clerical and military powers, both of which are highly engaged in the politics of post-Mubarak Egypt. The authors ask in this article how mass support for democracy changed in Egypt between 2011 and 2014, and how this support is connected with views on religion and the role of the military. This question is important for understanding the prospects for democracy in a major state in the Arab world. It is also of comparative interest because of what change in the social and ideological drivers of mass attitudes may tell us about the nature of democratic support more generally. The authors' analysis is based on nationally representative surveys of Egyptians in 2011 after the country's first post-Mubarak parliamentary elections and in 2014 after the removal of the Islamist President Morsi. The findings indicate that Egyptians in large numbers favour both democracy and unfettered military intervention in politics. The authors also observe important shifts in the social bases of support for democracy away from religion but also from economic aspiration. Negative political experience with democratic procedures in 2011-2013 seems to be the strongest factor behind the observed decrease in democratic support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the view that, on Mumford’s account of the purist, to the degree that the purist adopts an aesthetic perspective, he or she doesn’t watchthe sportin question, and to the degree that he or she does watch the sport, there is a loss of aesthetic appreciation. The idea that spectators oscillate between partisanship and purism means that the purist is unable to avoid either the Scylla of not actually watchingthe sport, or the Charybdis of loss of aesthetic appreciation at any given point. Ultimately there seems to be both a sport-shaped hole and an aesthetic-shaped hole in Mumford’s account of the purist. It is argued that oscillation is incapable of dealing with the problem precisely because it is disjunctive in nature and entails the spectatoreitherwatching sport from an aesthetic perspectiveorfrom a partisan perspective at any given time. An alternative conception of the aesthetic is considered that offersone wayof dissolving the purist’s dilemma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the macroparasite and ectosymbiont fauna of the introduced portunid crab Charybdis japonica and its comparison with sympatric and allopatric populations of the native portunid, Ovalipes catharus in New Zealand. It discusses the collection of 468 crabs from six harbours of the country and presents the comparison on the identity, incidence and prevalence of ectosymbionts and parasites among the different populations.

For many species the population structure varies along latitudinal gradients, especially at the extremes of their distributions. This may apply to invasive species, whose ability to grow, reproduce, feed and compete is hypothesized to be lower at higher latitudes. A population ofCharybdis helleriiwas investigated on a rocky shore at Armação do Itapocoroy (Santa Catarina, 26°40′–26°47′S and 48°36′–48°38′W), Brazil. The study was carried out over two periods to test the hypotheses that: (1) this population differs from other populations that presumably became established earlier and at lower latitudes; (2) the population parameters change over time (number and size of individuals and ovigerous females), progressively showing more indications of establishment; and (3) the diet overlaps with the native crabs. In total, 642 individuals were caught: 544 males, 55 females, and 43 ovigerous females. This population ofC. helleriiis similar to others presumably established earlier and at lower latitudes on the Atlantic coast, with a predominance of larger males and a male-biased sex ratio. The population is reproducing, but the similarity in the population size and frequency of ovigerous females between periods may indicate that this population is encountering difficulty in increasing in size. The generalist diet was composed mainly of crustaceans, molluscs and algae, thus overlapping with other native crab species. Although the direct and indirect impacts of this invasive species were not assessed, the population parameters indicate that this population ofC. helleriiis established and may act as a centre of dispersal to higher latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Respect in morally and culturally critical situations during military missions is complex and loaded with ambiguity. Respect seems a desirable and positive cross-cultural competence. It is assumed and expected that respectful action serves the objectives of the mission and contributes to the perceived legitimacy of the military. However, by respecting ‘the others’ culture’ too much, one can neglect one's own values and sideline one's own ethical point of view. We conducted a qualitative study in which we extracted 121 morally and culturally critical situations from 29 in-depth interviews with Dutch soldiers who have been deployed to, for them, unfamiliar cultural settings. The findings of this study reveal, firstly, that soldiers who refer to ‘culture’ as a reason for their own behaviour in morally and culturally critical situations encountered during deployments are less likely to intervene even though these situations conflict with their own values. This could be considered to be a sort of ethical relativism that might result in ‘moral incapacity’, i.e., not acting when they think they ought to. Secondly, when servicemen describe their actions as respectful, they are more likely to act in agreement with ‘the others’ culture’. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Taking Lorca's much-discussed claim for the realism and reality of La casa de Bernarda Alba as its starting point, this essay muses on Spanish literature's tendency to revisit its allegedly inherent realist tradition. It looks at how this tradition was being seen widely as a weakness and considers how Dámaso Alonso attacked such views as a myth, arguing that Spanish writers lie in fact between the Scylla of realism and a post-realist Charybdis, since they frequently look back to the artistic achievements of the Golden Age. The essay also recalls how Menéndez Pidal identified a special 'Hispanic realism' and revisits his own discussion of the realism of Lorca's play. The essay briefly recalls the post-war current of realist writing, describes the critique offered by novelists and commentators such as Goytisolo and Castellet, and closes on a personal note in describing a robust and more recent defence of a great realist novelist which, bizarrely, involved a critique of a course taught partly by the author. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this reply, the author responds to discussions by Owen Renik and Janine de Peyer of his paper "Reclaiming Desire: Love Is Not Enough." Renik and de Peyer alert us to potential pitfalls in analytic treatment, on the one side of straying too far from lived clinical reality and on the other of failure to anticipate alternative versions of relational configurations. The author contends that the danger, the Scylla and Charybdis, of emphasis on these poles is the potential to overlook a fundamental developmental and treatment trajectory that reflects two sides of human experiencing and of the treatment process, which together enable patients to take full possession of their agency and desire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article claims that Romanian policy on migration is almost entirely driven by adaptation to the European Union acquis communautaire while neglecting other, less pressing, policy issues. Contemporary Romanian migrations are classified into six types (of which circular migration within Schengen is the most important) and existing research and data are summarised. Next, theoretical positions on emigration and skill levels are examined - the 'brain drain' debate - and empirical evidence is adduced to show that, to date, Romania has achieved a 'brain gain' through greater educational participation. The poor data on immigration into Romania are examined, with the tentative conclusion that low levels are increasing and may well be higher than recorded. Finally, the dangers of non-policy (Charybdis) are identified as being within the policy domains of labour market management, potential youth brain drain and relations with the Republic of Moldova. Analogy is made with the Greek historical case concerning return migrants and their non-integration into the labour market, along with likely future immigration issues affecting both economy and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heightened attention is being paid to the Northwest Passage, the waters that flow among the islands of northern Canada and that, in the next decades, may be amenable to commercial navigation. Most debates regarding the Passage's legal status focus on Canada's contention that it is its internal waters and the United States’ contention that it is an international strait. This article proposes that a designation of the Passage as Canada's territorial sea would be as legally robust as the internal waters or international strait designations while satisfying both Canada's and the United States’ political objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the implications of published works in academic institutions. Analogy of academician's dilemma to being caught between Charybdis and Scylla; Trials and tribulations of publishing; Perception of journal reviewing as an adversary process; Peer review as major criteria of scholarship evaluation; Sourcing for creative innovation.

Studies the behavior of the portunid crab, Charybdis longicollis Leene, parasitized by the rhizocephalan, Heterosaccus dollfusi Boschma, along the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Examination of the crab behavior at different stages of infections; Analysis of locomotion, rest, body-, egg- and parasite-grooming, digging, courtship and mating behaviors; Observation of the presence of externae.

Civil servants in international secretariats are exposed to numerous, cross-cutting and, at times, conflicting pressures and expectations. The secretariat of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is no different. This study reveals a fundamental ‘misfit’ between external demands and internal dynamics in the OECD Secretariat. On one hand, the OECD analysts are employed on the basis of merit. Compared to the employees in the central administrations in many OECD member states, the OECD personnel are very competitive in terms of experience and academic skills. Thus, the OECD Secretariat can be seen as a veritable powerhouse of idea generation, data collection and analysis. On the other hand, the OECD member states seem to be reluctant to let the OECD do what it does best: produce bright, challenging and provocative ideas. In many regards, the OECD personnel are, in practice, being reduced to undertaking basic secretariat functions such as organizing meetings, writing summaries and arbitrating between conflicting national interests. Despite having a vast role repertoire of roles at their disposal, this article reveals the paradox when OECD officials play out only two roles: the epistemic role, in which creative thinking and innovation are rewarded, and the bureaucratic role, in which rule following and regularity are rewarded. This paradox is characterized as a role dilemma that is compatible with the idea of the OECD as an international compound bureaucracy. The article concludes by suggesting three scenarios of how the observed dissonance between the internal and external dimensions of the OECD identity can be accommodated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The modern classical guitar is an instrument that has seen a great deal of change and experimentation in recent years with regards to its construction and concomitant sound production. Guitar builders are faced with the significant challenge of having to produce instruments that can adhere to aspects of playability and volume required of the modern instrument. This often results in having to sacrifice in some way the colour and sound so characteristic of the instrument as produced by the 'traditional' construction method consolidated by Spanish guitar builder Antonio de Torres. This uncomfortable position of having to sacrifice in one area in order to gain in another will be interrogated by investigating seven selected South African guitar builders. The manner in which they confront this challenge by adhering, to a greater or lesser degree, to two 'poles' of construction in line with international trends is highlighted. It is argued that this changing voice of the guitar is inherently part of what the essence of the guitar is and should not be seen as representing failed attempts in the quest for the 'perfect' guitar. This lack of consensus is thus part of the appeal of the guitar and will arguably always be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the sources of Chinese foreign policy in a particularly important case—recent policy toward North Korea. It surveys that policy in several areas: the economic backdrop, leading the six party talks, permissive support for United Nations Security Council measures, signals—some rhetorical, others more tangible—warning against future transgressions, and some coercive measures that impose costs on North Korea today. In sum, it finds Beijing has wielded a number of coercive tools aimed a North Korea, while avoiding excesses that might lead to spirals on the peninsula or regionally. Defensive realism best explains this policy, both in the aggregate and in detail in many cases. Offensive realism, strategic culture, and bureaucratic politics approaches do a particularly poor job of explaining outcomes in what shozuld be for each of them a relatively easy case. This has important implications for understanding the sources of Chinese foreign policy in other areas. Further, on North Korea policy, while it is important for American policy makers to recognize that Beijing is not working fundamentally at cross-purposes to Washington's own goals, it is also important to recognize that Beijing has mixed motives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conference paper discussed during the 2005 "Writing Europe" conference is presented. It argues that the imagination of contemporary writers, who are mostly members of the younger generation, are torn between the little homeland and globalization. It is observed that the literary space occupied by young authors are filled with useless, abandoned or unfamiliar objects that point to other cultures, other people and the history of other people.

This article provides a portrait and evaluation of the Portuguese EU policy in the specific domains of security and defence. Based on the negotiation strategy adopted by Lisbon's representatives during the revision process of the successive treaties, it will attempt to illuminate Portugal's commitment to the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) which tends to be conditional upon the respect of four major precepts: the state sovereignty core, the primacy of NATO, the 'petits pas' method and inclusiveness. The central claim is that the Portuguese ESDP policy has been largely typified by ambivalence: while reasons related to state security have hampered governmental elite to embrace an all-encompassing involvement, politico-diplomatic and economic imperatives have pushed it to deepen de facto engagement in order to position the country at the heart of political integration dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the acknowledged gap between research and practice in child psychotherapy, this paper offers an historical perspective on the relation between these two activities, and suggests that qualitative approaches to research may offer new ways of bringing them together. After introducing the fundamental concepts of qualitative analysis, three areas where qualitative forms of research may be useful to child psychotherapists are explored: relevant but non-psychotherapy research; accounts of therapy research; and therapy process research. Examples of all of these types of research are presented, and some of the challenges to incorporating qualitative approaches into child psychotherapy research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how a school in York developed a unique understanding of spiritual development. Such an understanding led the school to construct a series of six avenues through which it believed pupils might have their spirituality developed. These six avenues involved nearly every department in the school and meant that spiritual development was seen as a whole school issue. Once established it was recognised that each avenue reflected or mirrored activities that take place in believers in faith communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key objective of this empirical study was to investigate whether improved education for dancers about nutrition has made a positive change to the body culture of the ballet world and lifestyle of female dancers. The issues were foreshadowed by sociological theories of the body, performance nutrition, and disordered eating. An interpretive, critical research approach was used to maximise the 'insider perspective' of the researcher, with over 20 years experience of the training and professional ballet culture. A small-scale qualitative research project aimed to capture 'thick description' and authentic accounts of the human realities of ballet culture from the inside. Interview and questionnaire responses were gathered from student-dancers, professional dancers, teachers/managers, and medics at a UK vocational ballet school and a company fed, to some extent, from that training school. Findings were collated with experiential observations in the daily workplace, retrospective participant observation through personal diaries and documentation including some biographies and autobiographies of professional dancers. The findings indicated that there is still a gap between the rhetoric of nutritional education and the reality of the ballet world's aesthetic and practices. 'Cult-like', authoritarian behaviour and 'docile' submissive attitudes were apparent and contributed to problems with self-esteem, body image and eating disorders. Whilst dancers in training were better informed, pressures related to the body inside the profession dominated attitudes and behaviour. The recommendations include a re-appraisal of the ballet aesthetic and body culture in the management of the profession and more empowerment of dancers to encourage them to question, critique and improve the culture of their art form rather than merely accept its ideals and demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. Policy-makers in Europe have been concerned with developing and sustaining the competitiveness of their cities. This concern comes from the view that the determing parameter of urban regions is globalisation. By engaging in a process of territorial competition, the economic and social welfare of cities' constituent territories can be maintained. What this paper argues is that there is a danger that territorial competition is as much an abstraction as globalisation and its application to policy-making will bring about distortions in economic development. By examining the specification of globalisation and territorial competition and the relevant literature, a debate may be initiated in which the consequences for the economic environment of European cities are addressed. The discussion is given some context by drawing on the cursory examples, one global and one local, of London and Lille. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on a study which proposed the use of blastocyst transfer method (BTM) for obtaining human embryonic stem cells. Concerns raised against preimplantation genetic diagnosis included in the proposed method; Argument on stem cell therapy; Complexities of the proposed BTM research.

Assesses the influence of self-management of oral anticoagulant treatment in patients with mechanical heart valves. Development of quality assurance programmes for anticoagulant treatment; Use of Internation Normalized Ratio as the measuring unit for prothrombin time values; Benefit in improving the quality of care.

The two-spot swimming crab Charybdis bimaculata (Miers, 1886) is an important decapod species in the benthic ecosystem of Korean waters. In this study, we determined its complete mitochondrial genome by the combination of NGS analysis using MiSeq platform and PCR-based cloning method. The circular mitochondrial genome of C. bimaculata was 15,714 bp in length in which the standard set of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes were encoded. Phylogenic analysis showed that C.bimaculata is most closely related to Charybdis feriata. The complete mitogenome sequence information of C. bimaculata would provide useful data for the conservation of their population in the Pacific ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using public sector employment and corruption perception data for 72 countries across the world, this article demonstrates that despite common notion countries with “smaller” governments do not tend to have lower corruption. Under general assumptions, one can demonstrate that there is an optimal size of public sector employment corresponding to the highest capital intensity. The model has several implications: lower optimal sizes of governments for labor intensive countries and higher sizes for capital intensive ones, possibility to reduce corruption paying a cost of suboptimal output, and a higher “price” of an oversized government for labor intensive countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the complete mitogenome of Charybdis bimaculata was sequenced and annotated. The mitogenome is 15,441 bp in length, containing 37 classical eukaryotic mitochondrial regions (13 typical protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes) and a non-coding control region. Most of the genes are initiated with ATA, ATG, and ATT, though GTG is also used as an initiation codon. Twelve PCGs stop with complete termination codon TAA and TAG, while Cob uses incomplete codon (T-). The phylogenetic relationships based on 13 PCGs show that C. bimaculata clusters closest to C. fariata and C. natator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]