Theorising Exclusion and Difference: Specificity,Structure and Minority Ethnic Housing Issues

This paper explores the balance between experiential diversity on the one hand, and structural factors on the other. Drawing examples primarily from 'race' and housing, the paper indicates that 'difference' is inevitably conceptualised and constructed at more than one level. There is diversification of cultures, preferences and experiences at household level, yet institutions remain crucial at other levels for any discussion of processes of exclusion. The concept of social exclusion developed here includes differential incorporation through a patterned set of processes, in which power and institutional practices are central. This, however, need not invalidate a simultaneous focus on grass-roots agency, and on experiential or cultural differentiation. Thinking in terms of 'difference within difference' offers a starting-point for analysis, both of circumstances and of relationships between exclusion and policy options.     

The application of a fuzzy-rule-based system in an exposition of the antecedents of sedge warbler song flight

Abstract: The utilization of a fuzzy aspect within data analysis attempts to move from a quantitative to a more qualitative investigative environment. As such, this may allow the more non‐quantitative researchers results they can use, based on sets of linguistic terms. In this paper an inductive fuzzy decision tree approach is utilized to construct a fuzzy‐rule‐based system for the first time in a biological setting. The specific biological problem considered attempts to identify the antecedents (conditions in the fuzzy decision rules) which characterize the length of song flight of the male sedge warbler when attempting to attract a mate. Hence, for a non‐quantitative investigator the resultant set of fuzzy rules allows an insight into the linguistic interpretation on the relationship between associated characteristics and the respective song flight duration.     

The expanding indications for clozapine.

Clozapine is increasingly being used for clinical indications in addition to treatment-resistant schizophrenia; this article reviews the relevant literature. The first section reassesses the risks associated with clozapine treatment, particularly agranulocytosis. The next section discusses its use for schizophrenia in patients who are treatment resistant, not treatment resistant, and intolerant of traditional drug treatments. Subsequent sections address its use in mood disorders, neurologic conditions, comorbid substance abuse, aggressive behavior, and childhood schizophrenia. Each includes the initial rationale for the use of clozapine in the disorder, a critical evaluation of the relevant literature, and theories as to why clozapine's unique pharmacodynamic profile may be efficacious for the specific condition. This body of literature suggests clozapine may be an effective treatment for a wide range of disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Online Learning and Adaptation of Autonomous Mobile Robots for Sustainable Agriculture

In this paper we will introduce the application of our newly patented double hierarchical Fuzzy-Genetic system (British patent 99-10539.7) to produce an intelligent autonomous outdoor agricultural mobile robot capable of learning and calibrating its controller online in a short time interval and implementing a life long learning strategy. The online and life long learning strategy allow the outdoor robots to increase their experience and adapt their controllers in the face of the changing and dynamic unstructured outdoor agricultural environments. Such characteristics permit prolonged periods of operation within dynamic agricultural environments, which is an essential feature for the realization of a platform vehicle for use in sustainable agriculture and organic farming.     

A gene for FG syndrome maps in the Xq12-q21.31 region

AIMS: An increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus has been demonstrated in patients with long segments of Barrett's mucosa. The risk of cancer associated with short segments of metaplasia of the oesophagogastric junction is not known. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report a case of early adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus arising on short tongues of Barrett's mucosa associated with an oesophageal cyst. The patient was a 68-year-old man with no previous clinical history of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. The fortuitous discovery of an oesophageal cyst lead to the diagnosis of short tongues of Barrett's mucosa with high-grade dysplasia. On pathological examination of the resected specimen, an early adenocarcinoma had developed in Barrett's mucosa, localized just above the oesophageal cyst. CONCLUSIONS: As oesophageal cysts can cause symptoms suggestive of reflux, we hypothesize that this association may not be fortuitous.     

Quantitative one-dimensional imaging using picosecond dual-broadband pure-rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy

We employ picosecond dual-broadband pure-rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) in a one-dimensional (1D) imaging configuration. Temperature and O(2):N(2) concentration ratios are measured along a 1D line of up to 12 mm in length. The images consist of up to 330 individual rotational CARS (RCARS) spectra, corresponding to 330 spatially resolved volume elements in the probe volume. Signal levels are sufficient for the collection of single-laser-pulse images at temperatures of up to approximately 1200 K and shot-averaged images at flame temperatures, demonstrated at 2100 K. The precision of picosecond pure-rotational 1D imaging CARS is assessed by acquiring a series of 100 single-laser-pulse images in a heated flow of N(2) from 410 K-1200 K and evaluating a single volume element for temperature in each image. Accuracy is demonstrated by comparing temperatures from the evaluated averaged spectra to thermocouple readings in the heated flow. Deviations from the thermocouple of <30 K in the evaluated temperature were found at up to 1205 K. Accuracy and single-shot precision are compared to those reported for single-point nanosecond dual-broadband pure-RCARS and nanosecond 1D vibrational CARS.     

Analysis of the inhibition of food spoilage yeasts by vanillin

The antimicrobial potential of vanillin, the major component of vanilla flavour, was examined against the growth of three yeasts associated with food spoilage, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Zygosaccharomyces bailii and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 21, 20 and 13 mM vanillin were determined for the three yeast strains, respectively. The observed inhibition was found to be biostatic. During fermentation, the bioconversion of sub-MIC levels of vanillin in the culture medium was demonstrated. The major bioconversion product was identified as vanillyl alcohol, however low levels of vanillic acid were also detected. Neither the vanillyl alcohol nor the vanillic acid was found to be antagonistic to yeast cell growth. The results indicate the importance of the aldehyde moiety in the vanillin structure regarding its antimicrobial activity and that the bioconversion of vanillin could be advantageous for the yeasts, but only at levels below MIC. These bioconversion activities, presumably catalysed by non-specific dehydrogenases, were shown to be expressed constitutively. It was observed that increased vanillin concentrations inhibited its own bioconversion suggesting that the activity required intact cells with metabolic capacity.