Original Members Research Articles

Race, Religion, and the Scottish Empire: St. Andrew’s Kirk, Nassau, ca. 1810-1852

This article examines the relationships between the Scottish diaspora community and the Afro-Caribbean and Anglican populations of New Providence Island during the first half of the 19th century. St. Andrew’s Kirk in Nassau was founded by Scottish emigrants in 1809 to provide them with a Presbyterian place of worship. The original members were, in part, British Loyalists – formerly based in North America – who had accepted Royal land grants on the archipelago in 1783. Many brought enslaved people with them, expecting their fortunes to recover in a new plantation economy. In 1837 William Maclure, a native of Ayrshire in southwest Scotland, became the fifth minister appointed to the Kirk. Unlike the previous ministers, Maclure remained in his Bahamian pulpit for over 25 years. Sources from his tenure at the church provide a window into the social, racial, and theological dynamics of Victorian New Providence. For example, in a letter published in a Scottish newspaper in the late autumn of 1852, Maclure stated somewhat cryptically that “the remains of the curse of slavery are upon us.” This article will offer an answer to the following three questions: First, to what degree have recent studies of the Scottish diaspora communities in the British West Indies underappreciated the Bahamian situation? Second, how did the members and ministers of St. Andrew’s Kirk, Nassau interact with issues of race and slavery from the founding of the church to the era in which Maclure’s letter was published? Lastly, what exactly was William Maclure referring to regarding the “curse of slavery”?

Inhibitory Receptor Trap: A Platform for Discovery of Inhibitory Receptors That Utilize Inositol Lipid and Phosphotyrosine Phosphatase Effectors.

Among the areas of most impactful recent progress in immunology is the discovery of inhibitory receptors and the subsequent translation of this knowledge to the clinic. Although the original and canonical member of this family is FcγRIIB, more recent studies defined PD1 as an inhibitory receptor that constrains T cell immunity to tumors. These studies led to development of “checkpoint blockade” immunotherapies (CBT) for cancers in which PD1 interactions with its ligand are blocked. Unfortunately, although very effective in some patients, only a small proportion respond to this therapy. This suggests that additional as yet undescribed inhibitory receptors exist, which could be exploited. Here, we describe a new platform, termed inhibitory receptor trap (IRT), for discovery of members of this family. The approach takes advantage of the fact that many of the known inhibitory receptors mediate signaling by phospho-immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) mediated recruitment of Src Homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing phosphatases including the SH2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase SHIP1 encoded by the INPP5D gene and the SH2 domain-containing phosphotyrosine phosphatases SHP1 and SHP2 encoded by the PTPN6 and PTPN11 genes respectively. Here, we describe the IRT discovery platform in which the SH2 domains of inhibitory phosphatases are used for affinity-based isolation and subsequent identification of candidate effectors via immunoblotting and high sensitivity liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. These receptors may represent alternative targets that can be exploited for improved CBT. Salient observations from these studies include the following: SH2 domains derived from the respective phosphatases bind distinct sets of candidates from different cell types. Thus, cells of different identity and different activation states express partially distinct repertoires of up and downstream phosphatase effectors. Phosphorylated PD1 binds not only SHP2 but also SHIP1, thus the latter may be important in its inhibitory function. B cell antigen receptor signaling leads predominantly to CD79 mono-phosphorylation as indicated by much greater binding to LynSH2 than Syk(SH2)2. This balance of ITAM mono- versus bi-phosphorylation likely tunes signaling by varying activation of inhibitory (Lyn) and stimulatory (Syk) pathways.

Developing nurse educators’ research capacity in a resource-constrained environment

Despite concerted efforts through policy reforms, research training, and mentorship programmes, nursing research capacity remains low. This is particularly troublesome in resource -restrained environments. We launched an experiential and collaborative research capacity development programme with nurse educators at a university of technology. A Participatory Action Research approach was followed. This communication reports on the first two one-day cycles of the pilot programme at the main campus. Ten participants were divided into three small groups. In the first cycle, participants produced drawings of their research experience and research pathway while the second cycle concentrated on a collaborative data analysis session with a remix of the original team members. The programme had a positive impact on an inter-and intrapersonal level, as well as facilitating the acquisition of research skills of nurse educators. The programme can be enhanced through similar virtual exercises at remote campuses.

Axial-compression mechanical properties of square steel columns strengthened by welding under high load

Steel structures are commonly reinforced through strengthening by welding under a load. However, research on this subject has been conducted primarily under a low preload. In the present study, experiments were performed on five sets of square steel columns strengthened by welding angle steel under a high load, to study the thermal effects of the welding procedure and the axial-compression mechanical properties of square steel columns strengthened by welding. A numerical analysis method that considers the thermal effects was proposed. The analysis results agreed well with the experimental results. According to a validated numerical analysis method and several parametric analyses, the effects of several factors on the residual deformation after welding and the ultimate load capacity of the strengthened steel columns were examined. These factors included the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the members used for reinforcement to that of the original member, the preload magnitudes, and the slenderness ratio. Formulas obtained from the preload ratio and slenderness ratio were used to calculate the ultimate load capacity and predict the residual welding deformation of axially compressed steel columns strengthened by welding, according to the results of the experimental and parametric analyses.

The Crustacean Hyperglycemic Hormone Superfamily: Progress Made in the Past Decade.

Early studies recognizing the importance of the decapod eyestalk in the endocrine regulation of crustacean physiology—molting, metabolism, reproduction, osmotic balance, etc.—helped found the field of crustacean endocrinology. Characterization of putative factors in the eyestalk using distinct functional bioassays ultimately led to the discovery of a group of structurally related and functionally diverse neuropeptides, crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH), molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH), gonad-inhibiting hormone (GIH) or vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone (VIH), and mandibular organ-inhibiting hormone (MOIH). These peptides, along with the first insect member (ion transport peptide, ITP), constitute the original arthropod members of the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) superfamily. The presence of genes encoding the CHH-superfamily peptides across representative ecdysozoan taxa has been established. The objective of this review is to, aside from providing a general framework, highlight the progress made during the past decade or so. The progress includes the widespread identification of the CHH-superfamily peptides, in particular in non-crustaceans, which has reshaped the phylogenetic profile of the superfamily. Novel functions have been attributed to some of the newly identified members, providing exceptional opportunities for understanding the structure-function relationships of these peptides. Functional studies are challenging, especially for the peptides of crustacean and insect species, where they are widely expressed in various tissues and usually pleiotropic. Progress has been made in deciphering the roles of CHH, ITP, and their alternatively spliced counterparts (CHH-L, ITP-L) in the regulation of metabolism and ionic/osmotic hemostasis under (eco)physiological, developmental, or pathological contexts, and of MIH in the stimulation of ovarian maturation, which implicates it as a regulator for coordinating growth (molt) and reproduction. In addition, experimental elucidation of the steric structure and structure-function relationships have given better understanding of the structural basis of the functional diversification and overlapping among these peptides. Finally, an important finding was the first-ever identification of the receptors for this superfamily of peptides, specifically the receptors for ITPs of the silkworm, which will surely give great impetus to the functional study of these peptides for years to come. Studies regarding recent progress are presented and synthesized, and prospective developments remarked upon.

HST Proper Motions of NGC 147 and NGC 185: Orbital Histories and Tests of a Dynamically Coherent Andromeda Satellite Plane

Abstract We present the first proper-motion (PM) measurements for the dwarf elliptical galaxies NGC 147 and NGC 185, two satellite galaxies of M31, using multiepoch Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging data with time baselines of ∼8 yr. For each galaxy, we take an error-weighted average of measurements from HST Advanced Camera for Surveys/WFC and Wide Field Camera 3/UVIS to determine the PMs. Our final results for the PMs are (μ W, μ N)N147 = (−0.0232, 0.0378) ± (0.0143, 0.0146) mas yr−1 for NGC 147 and (μ W, μ N)N185 = (−0.0242, 0.0058) ± (0.0141, 0.0147) mas yr−1 for NGC 185. The 2D direction of motion for NGC 147 about M31 is found to be aligned with its tidal tails. The 3D positions and velocities of both galaxies are transformed into a common M31-centric coordinate system to study the detailed orbital histories of the combined M31+NGC 147+NGC 185 system via numerical orbit integration. We find that NGC 147 (NGC 185) had its closest passage to M31 0.3–0.5 Gyr (≳1.6 Gyr) within the past 6 Gyr at distances of ∼70 kpc (70–260 kpc). The pericentric times of NGC 147/NGC 185 correlate qualitatively well with the presence/absence of tidal tails seen around the galaxies. Our PMs show that the orbital poles of NGC 147, as well as NGC 185, albeit to a lesser degree, agree within the uncertainties with the normal of the Great Plane of Andromeda (GPoA). These are the first measurements of the 3D angular momentum vector of any satellite identified as original GPoA members. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that the GPoA may be a dynamically coherent entity. We revisit previous claims that NGC 147 and NGC 185 are binary galaxies and conclude that it is very unlikely that the two galaxies were ever gravitationally bound to each other.

So alike, yet so different: Comparing fiscal multipliers across EU members and candidates

We estimate, using a Panel Vector Autoregressive approach and data from 2001Q1 to 2017Q1, the fiscal multipliers of the European Union (EU) members and candidates. These countries are grouped according to their stages of integration: original members, new Eurozone members, and candidates for the Eurozone and the EU itself. For each group, we assess the impact of a positive spending shock (expansionary) or a positive tax shock (contractionary) on GDP. Our findings suggest that: (i) rising government spending increases GDP in both the EU and Eurozone candidates (Keynesian multipliers), but slightly decreases it in the Eurozone members (non-Keynesian multipliers); (ii) higher taxes are associated with mixed results in terms of GDP dynamics - both increases and decreases in terms of GDP are found - in the four country groups (suggesting the presence of Keynesian and non-Keynesian multipliers). Overall, these outcomes indicate that spending multipliers are, compared to tax multipliers, more sensitive to European Union or Eurozone membership.

A Call to Arms for Climate Change? How Military Service Member Concern About Climate Change Can Inform Effective Climate Communication

ABSTRACT Military service members are a highly trusted group – especially among ideological conservatives. Consequently, we devised an environmental communication strategy that attributes pro-climate messages to military service members, aimed at convincing conservative climate skeptics to express elevated concern. In a large survey experiment, we show that conservatives are more likely to express concern about climate change when framed as a national security concern and communicated by members of the armed services. Supplementary analyses of an original military service member survey suggest that this approach is externally valid, as many past and current armed forces express concern about the effects of climate change. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of appealing to trusted sources to communicate climate change risks to skeptical audiences, and suggests several promising avenues for future environmental communication research.

Evaluation of Intraoperative Hand-Off Frequency, Duration, and Context: A Mixed Methods Analysis

BackgroundHand-offs in the operating room contribute to poor communication, reduced team function, and may be poorly coordinated with other activities. Conversely, they may represent a missed opportunity for improved communication. We sought to better understand the coordination and impact of intraoperative hand-offs. MethodsWe prospectively audio-video (AV) recorded 10 operations and evaluated intraoperative hand-offs. Data collected included percentage of time team members were absent due to breaks, relationships between hand-offs and intraoperative events (incision, surgical counts), and occurrences of simultaneous hand-offs. We also identified announcement that a hand-off had occurred and anchoring, in which team members not involved in the hand-off participated and provided information. ResultsSpanning 2919 min of audio-video data, there were 74 hand-offs (range, 4-14 per case) totaling 225.2 min, representing 7.7% of time recorded. Thirty-two (45.1%) hand-offs were interrupted or delayed because of competing activities; eight hand-offs occurred during an instrument or laparotomy pad count. Six cases had simultaneous hand-offs; two cases had two episodes of simultaneous hand-offs. Eight hand-offs included an announcement. Seven included anchoring. Evaluating both temporary and permanent hand-offs, one or more original team members was absent for 40.7% of time recorded and >one team member was absent for 20.5% of time recorded. ConclusionsIntraoperative hand-offs are frequent and not well coordinated with intraoperative events including counts and other hand-offs. Anchoring and announced hand-offs occurred in a small proportion of cases. Future work must focus on optimizing timing, content, and participation in intraoperative hand-offs.

Structural Racism in American Psychiatry and APA: Part 1

Structural Racism in American Psychiatry and APA: Part 1

Abstract A11: Neighborhood clustering of bladder cancer incidence in Utah: Analyzing census data linked to cancer records

Abstract Evaluating risk factors across the lifespan (using the life course perspective) is important when considering the role of environment on BCa risk. Spatial cluster detection methods offer unique opportunities to identify shared exposures of individuals with BCa on the local level and formulate hypotheses about the potential role of environmental exposures. This study tests for evidence of spatial clustering of BCa incidence based on neighborhoods defined as 1940 US Census enumeration districts (ED). Data were extracted from the Utah Population Database (UPDB). UPDB holds birth, death, historic US Census, and driver license records that allow tracking of an individual’s location across the lifespan. UPDB is linked to the Utah Cancer Registry, an original member of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Incident BCa cases from 1966 to 2017 were identified in the UCR or by death records and linked to UPDB. We geocoded all 1940 US Census ED centroids in Utah using US Census maps and ArcGIS software. The cohort comprises all individuals age 0–40 years at the time of the 1940 Census (Ncohort=343,521). We excluded individuals with an absence of follow-up information (Nexcluded=82,726). Our final cohort size was 260,795 individuals who contributed 13,816,670 person-years. SatScan software was used to identify spatial clustering of EDs with high rates of BCa. BCa was diagnosed in 2,654 individuals during follow-up (rate=19.2 cases per 100,000 person-years). Approximately 78.4% of cases were male. Average follow-up time was 53 years (range 1-78 years). We identified a circular cluster of 1.54 kilometers in diameter containing 23 ED centroids in an urban area, with a rate of 32.7 cases per 100,000 person-years (relative risk = 1.73, p=0.0023). We found evidence of spatial clustering of BCa incidence in an urban area of Salt Lake City, Utah for individuals in early life (0-40 years) at the time of the 1940 US Census. Individuals residing in this shared space were significantly more likely to develop BCa later in life, with a 73% increase in the incidence rate. Shared space in this context is presumed to be a proxy for environmental exposures. Environmental exposures including arsenic in drinking water and exposure to carcinogenic chemicals are associated with bladder cancer incidence. While this study was hypothesis generating and did not test for contaminants directly, future studies would benefit from the inclusion of contamination data. Additionally, we were limited by the use of residential history at a single time point and lack of data on personal behaviors (e.g., smoking). Strengths of this study include large cohort size, long follow-up time, and ability to expand to an early census. A life course perspective on cancer incidence provides for innovative methods to explore the environmental contexts of disease. Citation Format: Claire L. Leiser, Marissa Taddie, Rebecca Richards-Steed, James A. VanDerslice, Brock O’Neil, Heidi A. Hanson. Neighborhood clustering of bladder cancer incidence in Utah: Analyzing census data linked to cancer records [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Environmental Carcinogenesis: Potential Pathway to Cancer Prevention; 2019 Jun 22-24; Charlotte, NC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2020;13(7 Suppl): Abstract nr A11.

A naturally-occurring mutation in IL-17F reveals a protective role for the IL-17AF heterodimer in oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC)

Abstract IL-17A is the original member of the IL-17 family of cytokines. Among the IL-17 family, IL-17F shares the most homology with IL-17A at the amino acid level. IL-17A and IL-17F exist as homodimers and also form a heterodimer (IL-17AF). All of these cytokine dimers signal through the same IL-17RA:IL-17RC receptor complex, but the ligands exhibit different signaling strengths (IL-17A > IL-17AF > IL-17F). We previously showed that IL-17 signaling is critical for immunity against oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), an opportunistic infection of the oral mucosa caused by the commensal fungus C. albicans. Mice lacking IL-17RA, IL-17RC, or the adaptor ACT1 all have higher oral fungal burdens than wild type (WT) following oral infection with C. albicans. IL-17A deficient mice are also mildly susceptible to C. albicans oral infection, but blockade of IL-17F does not cause disease susceptibility. Furthermore, double blockade of IL-17A and IL-17F during OPC reveals a cooperative antifungal activity of IL-17A and IL-17F. However, the role of the IL-17AF heterodimer still remains poorly understood. Here, we took advantage of a dominant-negative mutation (IL-17F.S65L) that was previously identified in chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis disease (CMCD) patients. This mutation blocks the signals of IL-17F and IL-17AF but not IL-17A. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we created mice with the analogous IL-17F S65L mutation. These IL-17FS65L/S65L mice showed a similar degree of susceptibility as IL-17A−/− mice though less than IL-17RA−/− mice upon C. albicans oral infection. This result suggests that IL-17AF contributes to protection against OPC.

MACROECONOMIC DIVERGENCES AND ASYMMETRIC RESPONSES WITHIN THE EURO ZONE

The paper deals with the nominal and real divergences within the Euro-zone (EZ) as a background for asymmetric European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) monetary transmission. In order to shed more light into these issues, the descriptive analysis of key nominal and real indicators confirms the core-periphery dichotomy within original EZ12 members, as well as the specific position of the emerging EZ19 members. Monetary (interest rate) transmission is explored via estimated Vector Autoregression (VAR) model for the representatives of the core (Germany, France, Belgium), as well as the periphery (Portugal, Spain and Greece), in the period 1999Q1-2018Q4. Observing the transmission of ECB’s interest rate (the shock) to gross domestic product (GDP) growth (the response), the results of variance decompositions and impulse responses indicate that interest rate channel works countercyclical in general. However, while stabilizing (countercyclical) effect is evident for the core (especially Germany), it is almost absent in the case of Greece. The conclusions highlight the vulnerability of the EZ in the sense of heterogeneous membership and, accordingly, asymmetric response to ECB’s monetary impulse. Our findings support the arguments of numerous research papers in emphasizing core-periphery dualism, German dominance hypothesis, and “one size fits some” monetary policy.

Rehabilitation of historical ruined castles based on field study and laboratory analyses: The case of Bigalı Castle in Turkey

The castle structures, which were designed for defense purposes during the period they were built, as a result of the loss of their functions over time, some of them disappear completely, while some of them survive to the present day as a ruin. The rehabilitation of the structures requires a scientific approach and a knowledge of the cultural background to preserve historical identity of the structures. Utilizing these kinds of specific knowledge and the scientific method, the aesthetic and historical values of the structure can be provided. Rehabilitations require an interdisciplinary approach to gain a full understanding of the construction technique and member properties and, also its material characteristics of the structures based on historical documents. In order to restore such structures to their authentic form and prolong their service life, the historical research that started on the date they were built and continued to the present day should be researched, and the material characteristics of the original structural members should be identified. The present study covers the rehabilitation works carried out on a historical ruined castle that was built as a defensive structure in the early 1800s, but has since lost its structural integrity and authentic form. The study is carried out in four stages, beginning with a research of the historical process of the ruined castle, followed by a field study, laboratory analyses and rehabilitation applications. The historical process of the castle was aimed to identify the structural changes that castle has undergone since its construction, while the field study involves a visual examination of the structural defects and the gathering of representative samples from different points of the structure. The laboratory analyses involve mechanical and density tests as well as chemical and mineralogical analyses on the gathered samples. At the last stage, rehabilitation applications were carried out based on the data obtained in the first three stages. In the scope of application works, the joint losses and abrasions to the castle walls was repaired using mixtures formulated through laboratory analyses, and degraded stones was replaced, taking into account their authentic form. Structural cracks were filled following the properties of the original materials. In the completion applications, the abraded and ruptured stones of the castle were completed taking into account the original sizes, types, construction techniques and masonry forms of the stones. As a result of all of the applications, the castle structure was rehabilitated to its authentic situation from ruin, allowing it to survive as an asset of cultural heritage. The study can be deemed important based on its focus on the geometric and material restoration of historical castles that have lost their structural integrity and authentic form, but also in its examination of a defensive structure that was built on the coast of the Aegean Sea in the Dardanelles.

Great Recession and club convergence in Europe: A cross‐country, cross‐region panel analysis (2000–2015)

AbstractThe paper aims at investigating the impact of the Great Recession on per capita GDP convergence process across European regions and countries. Using the time‐varying factor model developed by Phillips and Sul for the period 2000–2015 and two different merging procedures to identify clubs, we provide evidence of the diverging impact of the Great Recession “between” the higher and the lower convergence clubs at both regional and country levels as well as of the strengthening of the convergence process “within” most clubs. In addition, we add further evidence to the common belief of a “multi‐speed” Europe by contrasting Eastern European countries' and regions' behavior vis‐à‐vis original European members' one, and by identifying the factors that affect club membership and resilience to the recent economic downturn. We find that the membership in the higher clubs and resilience to the Great Recession are positively affected by the presence of several local‐specific factors and macroeconomic characteristics.

Catching speciation in the act-act 2: Metschnikowia lacustris sp. nov., a sister species to Metschnikowia dekortorum.

The isolation of a single yeast strain in the clade containing Metschnikowia dekortorum, in the Amazon biome of Brazil, incited us to re-examine the species boundaries within the clade. The strain (UFMG-CM-Y6306) was difficult to position relative to neighbouring species using standard barcode sequences (ITS-D1/D2 rRNA gene region). Mating took place freely with α strains of M. bowlesiae, M. dekortorum, and M. similis, but two-spored asci, indicative of a fertile meiotic progeny, were formed abundantly only with certain strains of M. dekortorum. Accordingly, we examined mating success among every phylotype in the clade and constructed a phylogeny based on a concatenation of 100 of the largest orthologous genes annotated in draft genomes. The analyses confirmed membership of the Amazonian isolate in M. dekortorum, but also indicated that the species should be subdivided into two. As a result, we retain three original members of M. dekortorum in the species, together with the new isolate, and reassign six isolates recovered from Mesoamerican lacustrine habitats to Metschnikowia lacustris sp. nov. The type is UWOPS 12-619.2T (isotype CBS 16250T). MycoBank: MB 833751.

Strengthening of thin curve members by topological modification and estimation by strain energy method

In the world of engineering, mechanical members are subjected to complex loading and the challenges are growing day by day which has led to several innovations. Today the loading members are not just straight but curved with other modifications such as simple curves and deep curves with varied thickness such as for thin members. These thin curved members are available in various topological form such C or L shaped geometry and are seen regularly in our day to day life, such as hooks, angles, handles, etc.In this paper we deal with the strengthening of simple thin curve industrial grade members with least modification in its topology and analyzing the results for increased in Strain Energy by the use of mathematical modeling and FEM software available in ANSYS 2019 R3 CAD version by Ansys Inc. The results showed that with the modifications as done in this research there is about 18.93% increase in the strain energy loading capacity of a member by introducing a straight section in the beam while maintaining the end points same as for the original thin curve member under test.

The English Renaissance and the Far East: Cross-Cultural Encounters by Adele Lee

Reviewed by: The English Renaissance and the Far East: Cross-Cultural Encounters by Adele Lee Miriam Lau (bio) English Renaissance, East Asian Renaissance, China, Japan, Shakespearean adaptations, Chinese Shakespeare, Japanese Shakespeare Review of Adele Lee. The English Renaissance and the Far East: Cross-Cultural Encounters. London: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2018, 185 pages. $95.00 hardcover. $39.99 paperbck. Adele Lee's The English Renaissance and the Far East: Cross-Cultural Encounters is a significant and engaging work that illustrates the transition from the English Renaissance to the East Asian Renaissance in the twenty-first century. The book is neatly divided into two sections. In "Part One: The English Renaissance," Lee painstakingly outlines English encounters with two East Asian powers, China and Japan, in the Renaissance period. She also gives a detailed historical account of the convergences of East and West in the sociopolitical realms. In chapters one and two, respectively, Lee recounts the English imagination of China before setting foot in the "Middle Kingdom" and records their actual encounters with the Chinese after the first Englishmen, Captain Jeremy Weddell, Thomas Robinson, William Bushell, and Peter Mundy, visited China in 1637. Chapter one, "Decrypting Dee's Dreams: An Elizabethan Magus and the Search for Cathay," focuses on the imagination [End Page 119] of "Cathay" (an old Mongolian name for China) by Dr. John Dee who served as the advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. Lee states that there was a widespread opinion in the Renaissance that the "Chinese were Adamite people, that is, original members of the human race" (19). In addition, the Chinese language was regarded as the original lingua humana by Francis Bacon. Chapter two, "'Dumb Shewes of (Dis) Curtesie': England's First Encounter with China," draws a comparison between the English and the Iberians' (Jesuits in particular) early presence in China. Lee argues that, compared to the Iberians, the English had "limited understanding of Chinese culture and the type of men sent on trading missions in this period tended to lack education and refinement" (35). One such example is John Weddell's reckless attempt to secure trading rights in China through force in 1637, which "ruined [England's] chances of direct trading with China for the rest of the seventeenth century" (34). On the other hand, Lee states that Macau, known as the "City of the Name of God," was the "keystone of the Portuguese trade empire" and also a "well-known Jesuit stronghold" (34). Therefore, it was not difficult for the Portuguese to shape local opinion of the English as a "dangerous, quarrelsome race with little to offer in terms of trade" (35), as recorded in Peter Mundy's journal, the earliest, firsthand description of China by an Englishman. In chapter three, "'Naturalized Japanners': 'Samurai William' and the English in Hirado, 1613-1623," Lee continues to explore the Renaissance English's perceptions of another Asian superpower—Japan. She begins by recording the Renaissance English view of Japan as an "island of great wealth" (63) and the perception that Japanese people far exceed all nations lately discovered in terms of wit and virtue. Lee then describes the legacy of William Adams, better known as "Samurai William," the first Englishman to set foot in Japan, in 1600. Adams formed a long-lasting friendship with Tokugawa Ieyasu, who awarded him samurai status, a large estate in Hemi-mura, and the marriage of a Japanese noblewoman. After living in Kyushu for almost two decades, Adams became a "naturalized Japanner," and "spoke Japanese, wore Japanese clothes . . . married a Japanese woman, with whom he fathered two children, despite already having a wife in England" (78). At that time, anxieties stirred in Renaissance England about Englishmen who had "gone native," leaving the interests of their homeland behind. After underscoring the social and political contexts of China and Japan in part one, Lee proceeds to examine Shakespearean adaptations in the two regions in "Part Two: The East Asian Renaissance." The book's recurring [End Page 120] mention of the 2006 Beijing Olympics serves as linkage between parts one and two in which Lee quotes Yiyi Lu that there is a "deep-rooted Chinese desire to always present its best image to foreigners and win admiration...

A Novel Structure for a Multi-Bernoulli Filter without a Cardinality Bias

The original multi-target multi-Bernoulli (MeMBer) filter for multi-target tracking (MTT) is shown analytically to have a significant bias in its cardinality estimation. A novel cardinality balance multi-Bernoulli (CBMeMBer) filter reduces the cardinality bias by calculating the exact cardinality of the posterior probability generating functional (PGFl) without the second assumption of the original MeMBer filter. However, the CBMeMBer filter can only have a good performance under a high detection probability, and retains the first assumption of the MeMBer filter, which requires measurements that are well separated in the surveillance region. An improved MeMBer filter proposed by Baser et al. alleviates the cardinality bias by modifying the legacy tracks. Although the cardinality is balanced, the improved algorithm employs a low clutter density approximation. In this paper, we propose a novel structure for a multi-Bernoulli filter without a cardinality bias, termed as a novel multi-Bernoulli (N-MB) filter. We remove the approximations employed in the original MeMBer filter, and consequently, the N-MB filter performs well in a high clutter intensity and low signal-to-noise environment. Numerical simulations highlight the improved tracking performance of the proposed filter.

Romance «Blacked Night» by O. Tadeush based on Sappho’s poem: dialogue in “large time”

Romance «Blacked Night» by O. Tadeush based on Sappho’s poem: dialogue in “large time”