Journal articles on the topic 'Belgian rap'

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to develop a bankruptcy prediction model for the Belgian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the building of a logit model that includes a selection of financial ratios. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of 7,152 Belgian SMEs among which 3,576 were declared bankrupt between 2002 and 2012, the model, which includes control variables such as firm size and age, aims to test the predictive power of ratios reflecting the financial structure, the profitability, the solvency and the liquidity of firms. Findings – The results report a satisfactory prediction accuracy and show that ratios as profitability and liquidity are excellent predictors of bankruptcy for Belgian SMEs. Research limitations/implications – Although the results seem to be conclusive, it could be noted that the healthy sample was not paired with the bankrupt sample. Other studies show that the use of paired samples makes it possible to increase the already good prediction rate. Also, further research could focus on intra-sectorial analysis. Practical implications – Beside its contribution to the academic literature on bankruptcy prediction of Belgian SMEs, this study may be of interest for investors or managers to help them to anticipate bankruptcy risks. It can also be useful for banks and other credit institutions in the assessment of credit risk of firms. Thanks to such models, they could better identify firms with a higher risk of failure in their lending decisions. Social implications – Given the increasing number of SMEs in Belgium, their significant role in the economy, the specific characteristics of the country in terms of political decision making, the institutional differences between regions and the current uncertain economic circumstances, bankruptcy prediction seems to be a necessity for the country. Originality/value – The originality of this paper lies in the fact that Belgian SMEs have been studied. This study may also be of interest to investors or managers because it may help them highlight accounting measures they should closely follow up to avoid bankruptcy.

Dit artikel behandelt enige betekenisvolle episodes uit het leven van de Vlaamse dichter/journalist/strijder Raf Verhulst (1866-1941). Eerst wordt in vogelvlucht een korte schets getekend van diens tot nog toe weinig nagevorst leven: zijn jeugd, zijn prominente rol als Antwerps stadsdichter, zijn collaboratie tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog, zijn daaropvolgende veroordeling door de Belgische Staat en zijn uitwijking naar Duitsland, waar hij benoemd werd tot lector aan de universiteit van Göttingen. Van daaruit, en later vanuit Aken, zette Verhulst zijn scherpe anti-Belgische campagnes verder in pamfletten en in door hem opgerichte tijdschriften.De kern van de bijdrage beschrijft echter hoe deze strijdlustige Duitsgezinde flamingant zich, zowel voor als tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, gewillig liet gebruiken door bepaalde Duitse kringen om de culturele verbondenheid tussen Vlaanderen en Duitsland te benadrukken en te verheerlijken. Het boek Deutsch-Niederländische Symphonie van R.P. Oszwald speelt hierbij een belangrijke rol. Verhaald wordt verder hoe een van Toepfers stichtingen er in 1940 toe kwam Verhulst uit te kiezen als laureaat voor de Rembrandtprijs en hoe de uitreiking van deze prijs in Antwerpen in 1941 en de begrafenis van de dichter in die stad enkele weken later, door de bezetter en de Vlaamse collaborateurs geënsceneerd werden als groots opgezette propagandistische manifestaties.In die zin beschrijft het artikel een niet uitzonderlijk voorbeeld van Vlaams-Duitse collaboratie die, ingezet tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog en voortgezet tijdens het interbellum, tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog haar hoogtepunt bereikte.________The presentation of the Rembrandt prize to Raf Verhulst in 1941: A political event with a prologue and an epilogue. This articles discusses some significant episodes from the life of the Flemish poet/journalist/fighter Raf Verhulst (1866-1941). First, there is a brief overview of his life, which has hardly been researched until the present: his youth, his prominent role as Antwerp city poet, his collaboration during the First World War, his ensuing conviction by the Belgian State and his emigration to Germany where he was appointed as lecturer at the University of Göttingen. From Göttingen and later from Aachen, Verhulst continued his acerbic anti-Belgian campaigns in broadsheets and in the periodicals he had founded. The essence of this contribution, however, describes how this combative pro-German Flemish radical allowed himself to be used by German groups before and during the Second World War in order to emphasize and glorify the cultural connection between Flanders and Germany. The book Deutsch-Niederländische Symphonie by R.P. Oszwald plays a prominent role in this respect. The story tells how one of Toepfers’ foundations decided in 1940 to select Verhulst as the laureate for the Rembrandt prize and how the presentation of this prize in Antwerp in 1941 and the funeral of the poet in that city a few weeks later, were staged by the occupying forces and the Flemish collaborators as spectacularly planned propaganda displays. The article thereby describes a typical example of Flemish-German collaboration: it had started during the First World War, it continued during the interbellum period, and reached its peak during the Second World War.

Henry Ward, the American businessman and trader in natural history specimens, visited Auckland Museum in 1881 and subsequently helped the museum to recruit a preparator. Correspondence between Ward and the museum’s curator, Thomas Cheeseman, shows that the first preparator sent by Ward was the Belgian, Charles De Kempeneer, who had worked previously for about seven years at both the “Royal Museum”, Brussels, and at Ward’s establishment in Rochester, New York State. De Kempeneer started at Auckland Museum in July 1882 for a trial period of about three months until October 1882, the museum having insufficient funds to pay him for longer. He then got work with the Macleay collection in Sydney (Australia) but negotiated with Cheeseman a permanent position at Auckland Museum, whose finances had been improved by the Costley Bequest of 1884. De Kempeneer returned to Auckland to commence work but died on arrival, a tragic loss of a talented young man. By virtue of his short-term engagement, De Kempeneer ranks as one of Auckland Museum earliest employees and the museum’s archival record of the Cheeseman correspondence has enabled a memory of him to be recovered.

This study is explores the problem of cars entry in to subway stations. Cars been driven in to subway stations in many countries including France, Russia, Belarus, Belgium, Italy, etc. Sometimes this results in fatalities or injuries and stoppage of work at the station. In this article, we have systematized statistics on cases of cars entry in to subway stations around the world and suggest a resolution for this problem. The proposed in the study of an anti-ram protective bollard capable of blocking cars driving into stations could serve as such a resolution. Then we develop an method that of determined the optimal location of anti-ram protective bollards. The authors tested the developed methodology on the example of the Prospect Mira station (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line) of the Moscow subway. Equipping territories around subway stations with the developed an bollards will resolve the problem of protecting subway stations against cars entering their territories and will protect people.

Rad iznosi na vidjelo umjetničku formaciju kipara Oscara Nemona u pravcu modernizma te njegovu participaciju u modernističkim kretanjima na likovnoj sceni u Belgiji tijekom djelovanja u Bruxellesu od 1925. do 1936. godine. Nemonova inspiracija konstruktivizmom, postkubizmom i geometrijskom stilizacijom interpretira se u kontekstu suvremenih pravaca, umjetničkih grupa i njihovih nositelja u Bruxellesu 20-ih i 30-ih godina 20. stoljeća. Analiziraju se veze Oscara Nemona s René Magritteom i nadrealizmom. Analiziraju se, stilski determiniraju i valoriziraju do sada neistraženi primjeri modernističke skulpture u Nemonovu briselskom opusu, pri čemu se razmatraju stilske odrednice: kubizam, konstruktivizam, art déco, ekspresionizam.

The aim of this study was the analysis of meat production traits based on pre-slaughter traits (body weight, growth rate, daily gain) and post-slaughter traits (carcass traits, dressing out percentages). Materials were New Zealand White and Belgian Giant Grey crossbred rabbits. Two variants of crossing were used. Variant I – crossbred (F1) unrelated rabbits (RAB = 0) – received non-inbred rabbits (Fx = 0), variant II – crossbred (F1) related rabbits (full siblings RAB = 0.5) – received inbred rabbits (Fx = 0.25). Pre-slaughter traits were analyzed for 106 animals (75♂ : 31♀) while post-slaughter traits for 84 animals (53♂ : 31♀). Inbreeding coefficients were calculated using a CFC program. After weaning at 35 days of age, animals were fed pellets ad libitum. Rabbits were weighed weekly from birth to 12 weeks of age. Slaughter and dissection at 12 weeks of age were performed. The results indicated that inbreeding and sex had a significant effect on meat production traits. During the rearing period inbred animals had a significantly lower body weight. Inbred rabbits also had a significantly higher fat and bone content in the fore part, bone in loin, in hind part and whole carcass and lower meat and fat content in carcass and loin. The males had a significantly higher body weight at birth and 2 and 4 weeks of age, while females were characterized by a significantly higher body weight in the 1st, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th weeks of rearing. Significant differences between males and females in fat content in the fore part and loin were observed.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inbreeding and sex on meat quality traits such as: acidity, colour, chemical composition and texture in New Zealand White and Belgian Giant Grey crossebred rabbits (n=84; 50♂:34♀). Two variants of crossing were used. Variant I - crossbred (F1) unrelated rabbits (RAB = 0) - received non - inbred rabbits (Fx = 0), variant II - crossbred (F1) related rabbits (full siblings RAB = 0.5) - received inbred rabbits (Fx = 0.25). After weaning at 35 days of age, animals were fed pellets ad libitum. Slaughter and dissection at 12 weeks of age were performed. After 45 min of slaughter pH loin (m. longissimus lumborum) and leg (m. biceps femoris), and the colour (L * - lightness, a * - redness, b * - yellowness) were measured. The results indicated that inbreeding had a significant effect on inerease of meat acidity in 45 min and after 24 h. Furthermore, the meat of inbred rabbits was a lightness and had smaller values of the redness and yellowness in 45 minutes and after 24 hours. Meat inbred animals contained less protein and ash, and more fat compared to meat non-inbred animals. Inbreeding did not affect significantly dry matter and water content in the meat. Texture parameters of inbred and non-inbred rabbits were similar. The level of inbreeding equal 25% affected negatively on meat quality traits such as acidity, colour and chemical composition. Sex does not differentiate the quality parameters of meat with the exception of yellowness in the 45th minute after slaughter.

A review of the collective monograph dedicated to various problems related to the study of French-language manuscripts and bilingual culture in Russia, as well as analysis of minor genres and unpublished archived materials. The monograph introduces a number of hitherto unpublished sources from the period of the 18th–20th c., each supplied with a commentary. Several authors and works are recalled from obscurity into the scope of academic research. The book also contains articles concerned with the problems of conquering an ‘alien’ literary market in the early 20th c. (French authors H. Barbusse, A. Malraux, and A. Gide, as well the Belgian F. Hellens, tried to succeed in Soviet Russia, whereas D. Merezhkovsky tried in France). All works in the monograph – a French lexicon and its 18th-c. Russian translation, letters, diaries, political pieces and noble ladies’ autograph books – are published with detailed supplementing articles.

e23197 Background: During the Belgian FIELT II clinical study, two non-small cell lung cancers among 41 were found to harbor a CRAF mutation. One of these mutations (P207S) was previously found in fibrosarcoma and characterized as not activating the ERK pathway at higher levels compared to the wild-type CRAF. The other mutation (P261A) has never been reported in cancer but found in Noonan syndrome. CRAF mutations can be oncogenic thereby activation of the ERK pathway. Serine 259 is a negative regulatory site and its phosphorylation is essential for keeping the CRAF auto-inhibited. P261A CRAF prevents phosphorylation of S259 but its role in cancer and its possible response to small molecule inhibitors has yet to be uncovered. Methods: We generated recombinant CRAF expression vectors by site-directed mutagenesis and investigated the ERK pathway activation status induced by CRAF mutants, in HEK293T cells and BEAS-2B (lung epithelial) cells. We tested the effect of candidate inhibitors at a clinically relevant dose on ERK pathway activity in BEAS-2B cells expressing CRAF mutants. Results: Expression of P261A CRAF in both HEK293T and BEAS-2B cells leads to increased ERK pathway activation compared to wtCRAF, accompanied by decreased phosphorylation of S259. P207S CRAF induces ERK pathway activity at levels comparable to wtCRAF and we observed that co-expression of BRAF with P207S CRAF does not lead to increased ERK activity compared to wtCRAF/BRAF. RAF-inhibitors LY3009120 and AZD-628 suppress ERK pathway activity induced by P261A CRAF in BEAS-2B cells. LY3009120 showed stronger ERK-inhibitory effect compared to AZD-628. In contrast, Dabrafenib (RAF-inhibitor) treatment of mutant or wtCRAF expressing cells leads to paradoxical ERK activation. Combinatorial treatment of LY3009120 with Trametinib (MEK-inhibitor) leads to stronger ERK-inhibitory effects compared to either single agent treatment in cells expressing mutant CRAF. Conclusions: The P261A CRAF mutation is ERK pathway activating and predicts sensitivity to LY3009120 and Trametinib. CRAF inhibition should be clinically explored in lung cancers and perhaps other cancers with sensitizing CRAF mutations.

Over the last few years, European public broadcasters have promoted the concept of public service media as one of their main values. To this end, transparency policies have been implemented as a mechanism of corporate projection by strengthening their role as an essential service. The objective of this article is to ascertain the existence of this type of policies among European public broadcasters. To this end, a nominal group was made with 24 experts who were surveyed, thus generating new indicators of transparency and accountability strategies around sustainability and digitalization. The contents of the websites of RTVE (Spain), RTP (Portugal), France TV (France), RAI (Italy), BBC (UK), RTÉ (Ireland), ZDF (Germany), VRT (Belgium), and SVT (Sweden) were also analyzed, paying attention to such indicators and strategies. The main results include the identification of differences on the basis of the ideal models described by Hallin and Mancini; a commitment to credibility (fact-checking) to the detriment of diversity of opinions; and a connection between the political system and the media system, which, preliminarily, determines the level of transparency of these public entities.

Objective. We aimed to compare a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA, QUANTA Flash) on BIO-FLASH with a multiplex flow immunoassay (MFI) on BioPlex 2200 for the detection of antibodies to Ro60, Ro52, and SS-B.Methods. The study included 241 samples, from patients suffering from systemic autoimmune diseases (n=108) as well as disease controls (n=133). All samples were tested for anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60, and anti-SS-B (La) antibodies on QUANTA Flash (INOVA Diagnostics, San Diego, USA) and BioPlex 2200 (Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Hercules, USA). Discrepant samples were tested by two independent methods: BlueDot/ANA and QUANTRIX Microarray (both D-tek, Belgium).Results. The overall qualitative agreements were 95.4% (95% confidence interval, CI 92.0–97.7%) for anti-Ro52, 98.8% (95% CI 96.4–99.7%) for anti-Ro60, and 91.7% (95% CI 87.5–94.9%) for anti-SS-B antibodies. There were 34 discrepant samples among all assays (20 anti-SS-B, 11 anti-Ro52, 3 anti-Ro60). 30/33 of retested samples (by D-tek dot blot) agreed with the QUANTA Flash results. Similar findings were obtained with QUANTRIX Microarray kit.Conclusion. QUANTA Flash and BioPlex 2200 show good qualitative agreement. The clinical performances were similar for anti-Ro52 and anti-Ro60 autoantibodies while differences were observed for anti-SS-B (La) antibodies.

Radivoj Franciscus Mikuš (1906.–1983.) slovenski je jezikoslovac za koga se često kaže da je poznatiji izvan Slovenije nego u Sloveniji. Ta se tvrdnja zasniva na mnogim važnim podatcima u njegovoj bibliografii budući da je većinu svojih radova objavio u časopisima kao što su Word, Journal de Psychologie, Cahiers Ferdinand de Saussure, Lingua, Voprosy jazykoznanija dok je u Sloveniji objavio svega nekoliko radova, od kojih jedan rad u vlastitoj nakladi. Velik dio svojega radnog vijeka proveo je kao srednjoškolski profesor u Srbiji i Hrvatskoj (prije II. svjetskog rata) i u anonimnosti srednjoškolskog profesora, lektora i predavača francuskoga jezika u Ljubljani, sve do svoje knjige À propos de la syntagmatique du prof. A. Belić (1952) u kojoj se usudio kritizirati tada nedodirljivi jezikoslovni autoritet u Jugoslaviji – beogradskog profesora i predsjednika SANU – Aleksandra Belića. Time se je izložio žestokim kritikama srpske i slovenske akademije i na neki način sebi zatvorio svaki izgled za napredovanje u karijeri. Izlaz je pronašao u prijavi doktorata u Zagrebu kod prof. Guberine i zapošljavanjem na Filozofskom fakultetu u Zadru. Ovaj rad predstavlja bio-bibliografski vodič Mikuševa djelovanja kao sveučilišnog nastavnika i jezikoslovca u Zadru od 1959. do 1965. godine kada je službeno napustio Zadar i zaposlio se na Université Nationale du Zaïre* u Elisabethvilleu (Lumumbashi) gdje je ostao do odlaska u mirovinu 1973. godine. Govori se o njegovu radu na organizaciji studija na Katedri za francuski jezik Filozofskog fakulteta u Zadru i dekanskom mandatu na istom fakultetu. Daje se analitički pregled njegovih priloga u Radovima Filozofskog fakulteta u Zadru i u stranim časopisima objavljenima za njegova boravka u Zadru. Prema podatcimasačuvanim u obiteljskoj arhivi rekonstruirana su i predavanja koja je Mikuš održao u Njemačkoj i Belgiji u siječnju i veljači 1962. godine. Posebno se daje prikaz njegove knjige-skripte objavljene u Zadru 1963. i umnožene na ciklostilu, do sada potpuno nepoznate u Mikuševoj bibliografiji. Vrijeme provedeno u Zadru znanstveno je najplodniji period u životu Radivoja Franciskusa Mikuša, jednog od najpoznatijih predstavnika sintagmatike, jezikoslovne teorije nastale u krugu "Ženevske škole" i u brazdi njezina najpoznatijeg predstavnika Charlesa Ballya.

Rad se bavi elektroničkim monitoringom i njegovom primjenom u suvremenom kaznenom pravu s posebnim osvrtom na njegovu moguću primjenu u hrvatskom kaznenom pravu de lege ferenda. Začetke ima u Sjedinjenjem Američkim Državama (dalje: SAD) gdje se pojavio kao jedna od alternativa kazni zatvora odnosno kao specijalna vrsta sankcije, te ujedno i kao jedno od mogućih rješenja za ekonomsko i populacijsko rasterećenje zatvorskog sustava. U zemljama europskog kontinentalnog kruga najčešće je jedan od načina provođenja alternativa kazni zatvora (uvjetne osude, rada za opće dobro i dr.), načina izdržavanja kazne zatvora (uvjetnog otpusta) ili drugih sankcija (sigurnosnih mjera) ili mjera tijekom kaznenog postupka (jamstva, istražnog zatvora i sl.). Ovim radom nastoji se ukazati na možebitne prednosti kao i na eventualne prigovore istaknute u vezi s njegovom primjenom, te prikazati mogućnosti njegove primjene u kaznenom pravu u američkim i europskim pravnim sustavima. U Hrvatskoj je bio primijenjen eksperimentalno u okviru pilot-projekta 2017. god. i pokazao je dobre rezultate. Sukladno tome, autorice predlažu njegovu širu primjenu i u hrvatskom kaznenom pravu i to kao jedan od načina nadzora tijekom kaznenog postupka ili tijekom izvršavanja sankcija i mjera, ili čak i umjesto kazne zatvora tijekom izdržavanja kazne zatvora u domu, kao što je to već učinjeno u brojnim državama u svijetu (SAD-u, Velikoj Britaniji, Belgiji i dr.), sve u cilju osuvremenjivanja i poboljšanja učinkovitosti postojećeg hrvatskog kaznenopravnog sustava.

(nemacki) Slawische Gemeinsamkeit und auch politische Ursachen brachten nach dem Ersten Weltkriege zwei neue Staaten, zusammen, Jugoslawien und Tschechoslowakei. Kulturelle Beziehungen waren sehr lebendig (sie waren auch aktuell vor dem Kriege) auf dem musikalischen Gebiete, in dem Konzertsaal, in der Oper. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit erhob die Oper Kostana (1929) von Petar Konjovic, mit der Premiere in damaligen Jugoslawien in 1931 (Zagreb, Belgrad Ljubljana), die sie auch nach Tschechoslowakei brachte. Nach der Auff?hrung in dem Nationaltheater Brno/Br?nn (ins Tschechisch ?bersetzt von Zdenek Knittl), September 1932, f?r deren Erfolg sich der tschechische Dirigent Zdenek Chalabala sehr engagiert hatte, kam die Oper Kostana in die Sph?re der k?nstlerischen Aufmerksamkeit des Westens (z. B. Universal war sehr interessiert) und dabei auf die Szene des Prager Nationaltheater 1935, auch unter der Leitung von Chalabala. Seine Anstrengungen waren keine blosse H?flichkeit, ?berbieten jedenfalls eine normale zwischenstaatliche Kurtoasie und auch beide Nationaltheater, nich ohne Verdienst dieses Dirigenten stellten ihre beste Besetzungen dem serbischen Tons?tzer zur Verf?gung. Leider verhinderte der Zweite Weltkrieg Kostanas "Drang nach Westen". In der Nachkriegszeit erlebte diese Oper eine Premiere in Bratislava (Slowakei 1948), und noch ein Gastspiel der Belgrader Oper in Warschau (l960). In der Korrespondenz Konjovic - Chalabala handelt sich um die Vorbereitungen der beiden tschechischen Premieren und um die Bearbeitung der Kostana, von Chalabala initiert und von dem Komponisten durchgef?hrt oder autorisiert. Der Briefumtausch dauerte 1932-1940, mit cca 100 Schreiben (hier nur ein Viertel geschildert). Ein Teil der Korrespondenz, die Briefe von Konjovic zu Chalabala, kamen auf private Weise von der Dirigenten Witwe Bela Rosumova (Operns?ngerin, Br?nner Kostana) durch die damalige pensionierte Solistin der Zagreber Oper, Marta Wellar-Rak (?brigens ?bersetzerin ins Deutsch der Texte in den Kompositionen von Konjovic) zu Autorin dieser Pr?sentation. Die Briefe von Konjovic zu Chalabala haben keine Signatur, wie auch die ganze Korrespondenz von Konjovic, die sich wie der komplete Nachlass des Komponisten in dem Musikwissenschaftlichen Institut SANU in Belgrad befindet. Als wichtigste Resultat dieser Zusammenarbeit, entstand, nach beiden Premieren, ein neues Bild der Oper (statt 5 hat Kostana in endg?ltiger Fassung 6 Bilder), dass Konjovic iM Jahren 1936-8 komponierte. Bald nach der Prager Auff?hrung von Kostana bekam Chalabala den Dirigentenpost in dem Nationaltheater der Hauptstadt. In dieser Zeit kam auch wegen der Kostanas Erfolge eine Verehrung des serbischen Komponisten: er wurde zum ausl?ndischen Mitglied der Tschechischen Akademie der Wissenschaften gew?hlt (vorher waren das Igor Stravinsky und Karol Szymanovski). Die Premiere der "neuen" Kostana fand in Belgrader Nationaltheater 1940 statt, leider ohne Zdenek Chalabala als Gast am Pult, was Konjovic eifrig w?nschte. (Statt Chalabala war es Lovro Matacic). In derselben Version wurde die Oper nach dem Kriege in Jugoslawien in Zagreb und Belgrad aufgef?hrt, auch in Slowakei. Die Korrespondenz Chalabala - Konjovic schildert eine interessante musikalische Welt in Mitteleuropa 30-en Jahren, mit heute fast vergessenen Pers?nlichkeiten, wie die hervorragenden tschechischen Operns?nger, auch die serbischen Regisseure, Komponisten, Dramaturgen, Musikwissenschaftler und Herausgeber.

Abstract Clinicopathological investigations are essential for the evaluation of the health status of ruminants. Apart from species-specific reference intervals, the effect of common biological factors should be considered for an accurate interpretation of laboratory data. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of season on hematologic and biochemical analytes, and serum total thyroxine and cortisol in adult rams of two breeds. Four blood samples (one every season) were collected from each ram. Complete blood count was performed on the Advia 120 (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, USA), while the differential leukocyte count was manually conducted. Biochemical and hormonal analyses were performed on Flexor E (Vital Scientific, The Netherlands), AVL 9180 (Roche Diagnostics, Belgium), and Immulite 1000 (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, USA), respectively. Linear mixed effects models (R language) were employed for statistical analyses. Forty-three (26 Chios, 17 Florina), adult, clinically healthy rams were included. Statistically significant (p<0.05), mostly breed-independent seasonal differences were observed in almost all of the analytes. However, when assessing these differences in view of the respective reference intervals, only a few of them were considered biologically important. Specifically, mild hyperglycemia and mild decrease in the concentration of total calcium and inorganic phosphorus were detected in winter, while a mild increase in thyroxine concentration (autumn) and creatine kinase activity (spring and summer) was also noted. In conclusion, seasonal effects should be considered when evaluating laboratory results in rams; however, season does not appear to have an essential effect on the clinicopathological profile of rams reared in the Mediterranean region.

Background:Increased awareness of the importance of MTX in rheumatic disease is leading to more MTX use in patients from TB-endemic areas. Current management guidelines for rheumatic disease address TB in the context of biologics but not MTX use.Objectives:To systematically review the published literature on TB rates with MTX ≤30 mg per week.Methods:We searched CINAHL, Embase, Global, MEDLINE and World of Science databases (Jan 1990 to May 2018) for terms including ‘methotrexate’ and ‘tuberculosis’. We also searched citations from review articles. Titles, abstracts or full manuscripts of the 4707 reports identified were screened independently by 2 reviewers to identify studies reporting TB in patients taking MTX. Study quality was assessed using the McGill Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data was extracted on TB incidence (new TB diagnosis vs reactivation of latent TB), and outcomes (pulmonary, dissemination, death) and safety of isoniazid, INH. Descriptive summaries are presented on studies providing outcomes in patients taking MTX ≤30 mg per week.Results:After removing duplicates and studies not meeting criteria or providing sufficient information, 31 studies were included (8 cohort, 7 case-control, 1 clinical trial, 15 case reports/case series). Only 27% of articles reported data from low to moderate human development index countries. Studies were of moderate quality. Seven case control studies were heterogeneous but most demonstrated a modest increased risk of TB with MTX (Table). Five cohort studies reported TB incidence rates in rheumatic disease (treated with MTX +/- biologics) ranging from 102-367.9/100,000 patient-years. These rates were generally higher than comparator general population rates. Two cohort studies of MTX in RA (without biologic) reported cumulative TB incidence in Maldova (12 TB cases in 44 RA patients, 27%) and in China (9/114, 7.9%). Other cohort studies generated rates of overt infection (143/100,000 patient years in Spain, higher if co-prescribed with corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants in South Africa), and latent TB rates detection (16/922 RA screened, 1.7%, in Canada). When reported, rates of extra-pulmonary TB were higher than comparator general population rates. One clinical trial (China), 2 cohorts (Japan, USA) and 2 case-series (Belgium, USA) evaluated safety of INH and MTX. Isoniazid-related hepatotoxicity and neutropenia were generally more common when taken with MTX, but were usually reversible.Conclusion:Despite a paucity of high-quality data, this review confirms that TB screening and clinical surveillance are needed in patients from TB-endemic areas who are prescribed MTX, particularly with co-administration of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants. Isoniazid, if monitored, appears safe and prevents TB reactivation.References:Table .Case control studiesRegion (Year)DiagnosisTB with MTXTB without MTXOdds RatioMexico(1999)Mixed (4 RA)1/65/752.76Japan(2004)RA3/4717/1540.56Canada(2009)RA29/48321/10463.12Brazil(2010)Lupus2/31/57112Taiwan(2012)Psoriasis33/144464/23411.2Taiwan(2015)JIA4/3574/10262.90South Africa (2017)RA0/1340/18NAJIA=juvenile idiopathic arthritisAcknowledgments:Funded by the International League Against Rheumatism and McGill University Global Health Scholar AwardsDisclosure of Interests:Anna Davidson: None declared, Alize Gunay: None declared, Ines Colmegna: None declared, Diane Lacaille: None declared, Hal Loewen: None declared, Michele Meltzer: None declared, Rosie Scuccimarri: None declared, Yewondwossen Mengistu: None declared, Sasha Bernatsky: None declared, Carol Hitchon Grant/research support from: UCB Canada; Pfizer Canada

Son of Ram Das Joshi, Prof Keshav Das Joshi was born at Kathmandu. He completed MBBS on 1968 from Trivandrum Kerela, residency (1970 to 1974) in MS (General Surgery) on 1974 from AIIMS, New Delhi. He served as a registrar on 1975 at Maulana Azad Medical College and training in Clinical Oncology in Tokyo at the National Cancer Hospital) on 1983. He had his training in Plastic Surgery in U.K. 1987 and various periods of training and Observation in Burn & Plastic Surgery in Canada, Belgium, France, Singapore and Switzerland. Since 2032 he has worked as a general surgeon in Butwal Hospital, Lumbini Anchal, Bheri Anchal Hospital followed by six years in Gandaki Zonal Hospital a total of 10 years. The history of Burns and Plastic surgery services in Nepal was started in Bir hospital. The separate Burns and Plastic surgery unit was established in the year 1998 AD. Dr Keshav Das Joshi, senior consultant plastic surgeon, proposed it. In his endeavor the first organized Burn Unit was established in 2000 A.D. For his contribution to the society he has been felicitated by the government by ‘Gorkha Dakshin Bahu’ Third, ‘Trishaktipatta’ Third, ‘Birendra Aishworya Sewa Padak’ etc to name a few. He served as the president of Society of Surgeon of Nepal for the period 1999 – 2002. He served as the editor of souvenir of the third International Surgical Conference of SSN on 1994. He had a major role in the establishment of the Journal of Society of Surgeons of Nepal (JSSN). He served as the chief editor for the period 1998, 1999.

Although in vitro production of equine embryos has greatly evolved in recent years, there are still substantial differences between in vitro-produced and in vivo-derived equine embryos. Fundamental insight into these differences could lead to optimization of equine assisted reproductive techniques. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) is a highly specific and sensitive tool to compare mRNA expression levels of specific genes and was used in this study to determine differences in gene expression between equine in vivo and in vitro embryos. In vivo embryos (n = 8) were derived by uterine flushing of artificially inseminated mares at 7 days after ovulation. For the production of the in vitro embryos (n = 8), oocytes from slaughtered mares were matured in DMEM-F12-based medium (Galli et al. 2007 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 98, 39-55) in 5% CO2 in air (maturation rate: 57%), fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and cultured in DMEM-F12 with 10% fetal calf serum in 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 for 9.5 days (cleavage rate: 74%; blastocyst rate: 7%). RNA was extracted from single early to expanded blastocysts and amplified and converted into cDNA with the WT-Ovation RNA Amplification System (NuGEN, San Carlos, CA, USA). Based on the presumed gene functions and differential gene expression as determined in a previously performed suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH; Smits et al. 2009 Reprod. Dom. Anim. 44, 75), 5 genes [brain expressed X-linked 2 (BEX2), Mps one binder kinase activator-like 3 (MOBKL3), fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3), minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 (MCM7), and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)] were selected for quantification by RT-qPCR with the KAPA SYBR® FAST qPCR Kit (Kapa Biosystems, Belgium) on the iCycler iQ Real-Time PCR Detection System (Bio-Rad, Nazareth, Belgium). All data were normalized with previously determined stable reference genes (beta actin, ubiquitin C, ribosomal protein L32, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and statistically analyzed by means of a Mann-Whitney test. The fact that all genes were expressed at greater levels in the in vivo-derived blastocysts than in the in vitro-produced blastocysts confirmed the results of the SSH. This difference was highly significant for MOBKL3, BEX2, and ODC (P < 0.005), significant for FABP3 (P < 0.05), and not significant for MCM7. These genes have already been shown to be important for embryonic cell survival (ODC), oocyte maturation and pre- implantation development (MOBKL3) in mice, regulation during embryonic development (BEX2) and fetal development (FABP3) in human, and genome replication in eukaryotes (MCM7) (Pendeville et al. 2001 Mol. Cell Biol. 21, 6549-6558; Han et al. 2005 Nucleic Acids Res. 33, 6555-6565). In conclusion, 4 genes (MOBKL3, BEX2, ODC, and FABP3) with greater expression levels in in vivo-derived equine blastocysts have been identified. Whether the up-regulation of these genes is important for normal embryonic differentiation in the horse embryo is currently under investigation.

Optical fibre sensors (OFS) are worthy of interest for measurements in nuclear reactor thanks to their unique features, particularly compact size and remote multi-point sensing for some of them. But besides non negligible constraints associated with the high temperature environment of the experiments of interest, it is well known that the performances of OFS can be severely affected by high level of radiations. The Radiation Induced Attenuation (RIA) in the fibre is probably most known effect, which can be to some extent circumvented by using rad hard fibres to limit the dynamic loss. However, when the fast neutron fluence reaches 1018 to 1019 n/cm2, the density and index variations associated to structural changes may deteriorate drastically the performances of OFS even if they are based on rad hard fibres, by causing direct errors in the measurements of temperature and/or strain changes. The aim of the present study is to access the effect of nuclear radiations on the Fabry Perot (FP) and of Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors through the comparison of measurements made on these OFS - or part of them - before and after irradiation [1]. In the context of development of OFS for high irradiation environment and especially for Material Testing Reactors (MTRs), Sake 2 experiment consists in an irradiation campaign at high level of gamma and neutron fluxes conducted on samples of fibre optics – bare or functionalised with FBG. The irradiation was performed at two levels of fast neutron fluence: 1 and 3.1019 n/cm2 (E>1MeV), at 250°± 25°C, in the SCK•CEN BR2 reactor (Mol Belgium). An irradiation capsule was designed to allow irradiation at the specified temperature without active control. The neutron fluence was measured with activation dosimeters and the results were compared with MCPN computations. Investigation of bare samples gives information on the density changes, while for the FBGs both density and refractive index perturbation are involved. Some results for bare fibres were reported recently. In this paper, we will focus on the measurements made on FBGs that have been manufactured by different laboratories on SMF 28 fibers: CEA, University of St-Etienne and University of Mons. Tested gratings have been written using various conditions (type of fibre, of laser, writing wavelength, power density, post writing thermal annealing,…), leading to various behaviours after Sake 2 irradiation. Bragg wavelength and reflectivity have been measured before and after irradiation thanks to a special mounting at the same temperature. It appears that a change in the shape after irradiation of the Bragg peak disturb the retrieval of the Bragg wavelength. The measurements show that for nearly all gratings the Bragg peak remains visible after the irradiation, and that Radiation Induced Bragg Wavelength Shifts (RI-BWSs) vary from few pm (equivalent to an error of less than 1°C for a temperature sensor) to nearly 1 nm (equivalent to 100°C) depending of the FBG types. High RI-BWSs could indeed be expected when considering the huge refractive index variation and compaction of the bare fibre samples that have been measured by other techniques. Post writing thermal annealing is confirmed as a key parameter in order to obtain a more radiation tolerant FBG. Our results show that specific annealing regimes allow making FGBs suitable to perform temperature measurements in a MTR experiment.

Fipronil je insekticid širokog spektra djelovanja koji se ubraja u skupinu fenilpirazola. Prvi je insekticid koji je djelovao ciljajući GABA (gama-aminomaslačnu kiselinu) receptor i imao povoljnu selektivnu toksičnost prema insektima, ali ne i sisavcima. U skladu s uredbom (EZ) br. 1107/2009. fipronil nije odobren u sredstvima za zaštitu bilja te je zabranjeno tretiranje životinja namijenjenih za prehranu ljudi u Europskoj uniji (EU). Najveća dopuštena količina (NDK) fipronila ustvrđena je prema Uredbi 396/2005. o maksimalnim razinama ostataka pesticida u i na hrani i hrani za životinje biljnog i životinjskog podrijetla te za jaja i meso peradi iznosi 0,005 mg/kg. Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija (WHO) klasificirala je fipronil kao umjereno opasan pesticid II klase. Konzumiranje malih količina fipronila izaziva mučninu, glavobolju, povraćanje, bol u želucu, slabost i vrtoglavicu. Nakon apsorpcije u ljudi distribuira se u tkiva i oslobađa aktivne metabolite koji se nakupljaju uglavnom u masnom tkivu. Eksperimenti na miševima pokazali su da produljena izloženost visokim dozama fipronila prouzroči rak štitnjače u mužjaka i ženki. Pojava fipronila u jajima u EU zabilježena je 2016. godine u Belgiji. Kao posljedica ustvrđene zlouporabe fipronila na farmama pilića, države članice EU i Europska komisija dogovorile su provedbu ad-hoc monitoringa na ostatke insekticida fipronila i drugih akaricida u jajima i mesu peradi. Europska agencija za sigurnost hrane (EFSA) objavila je izvješće o rezultatima monitoringa te su u ukupnoj količini od 5439 uzoraka jaja i mesa peradi u zemljama članicama EU i Islandu u 742 uzorka (13,6 %) ustvrđene količine veće od zakonski dopuštenih. Većina nesukladnih rezultata odnosila se na fipronil u uzorcima kokošjih jaja i masnog tkiva kokoši nesilica. U uzorcima iz Republike Hrvatske nisu ustvrđeni nesukladni rezultati. Uzorci koji su prekoračili zakonsko ograničenje bili su podrijetlom iz Nizozemske, Italije, Njemačke, Poljske, Mađarske, Francuske, Slovenije i Grčke. Članice EU su u kontroli proizvoda koji se upućuju na tržište EU nesukladne rezultate fipronila prijavljivale u razdoblju 2017.-2019. putem centralnog sustava brzog uzbunjivanja za hranu i hranu za životinje - RASFF. Ukupno je prijavljeno 128 različitih proizvoda s nesukladnim koncentracijama fipronila, a najviše se obavijesti odnosilo na jaja i proizvode od jaja. Pri tome je u okviru poduzetih mjera za čak 45 prijava provedeno povlačenje kontaminiranih jaja s tržišta, obavljeno je po 9 zapljena i 9 službenih pritvora. Na temelju ustvrđenih nesukladnih nalaza fipronila Europska komisija je prema Provedbenoj Uredbi Komisije (EU) 2019/533 uvrstila njegovu kontrolu u okviru koordiniranog višegodišnjeg programa kontrole EU za razdoblje 2020.-2022.

Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), the casual agent of rhizomania disease, was identified in sugar beet plants from several fields in the Wielkopolska Region of Poland (1). In greenhouse studies, sugar beets were grown in the soil from one of these fields to bait soilborne viruses. Of 200 sugar beet plants, three developed symptoms of vein clearing, vein banding, and mosaic. Crude sap from symptomatic plants was used for mechanical inoculation of various plants species. In Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, and Tetragonia expansa only local lesions were observed. Electron microscope examination of negatively stained leaf-dip preparations from symptomatic sugar beet plants showed a mixture of rod-shape particles from 70 to 400 nm long. Using double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests, two symptomatic sugar beet plants gave positive reactions with antiserum against BNYVV (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA) and a third plant gave a positive reaction with antisera against BNYVV and Beet soilborne virus (BSBV). Total RNA was extracted from roots and leaves of the symptomatic plants and used in a multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) assay. Specific primers were designed to amplify a fragment of the RNA1 for BSBV and RNA2 for BNYVV and Beet virus Q (BVQ) (2). Two mRT-PCR products amplified with the primers specific to BNYVV and BSBV were obtained and sequenced. A 274-nt amplicon sequence (GenBank Accession No. DQ012156) had 98% nucleotide sequence identity with the German BNYVV isolate F75 (GenBank Accession No. AF19754) and a 376-nt amplicon sequence (GenBank Accession No. AY999690) had 98% nucleotide and 98% amino acid sequence identity with the German BSBV isolate (GenBank Accession No. Z97873). The Polish BSBV isolate had 88% nucleotide and 62% amino acid sequence identity with BVQ, another pomovirus (GenBank Accession No. AJ 223596 formerly known as serotype Wierthe of BSBV (2). In 2005, mRT-PCR was used on samples collected from two fields of the Wielkopolska Region. Of 15 tested sugar beet plants, 12 gave positive reactions with primers specific for BSBV and nine with primers specific to BNYVV. To our knowledge, this is first report of BSBV in Poland. In Europe, BSBV was previously reported in England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, France, and Finland (2,3). References: (1) M. Jezewska and J. Piszczek. Phytopathol. Polonica, 21:165, 2001. (2) A. Maunier et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:2356, 2003. (3) C. M. Rush and G. B. Heidel. Plant Dis. 79:868, 1995.

The objective of this work was to determine whether Beet virus Q (BVQ), a member of the genus Pomovirus, is present in Poland. BVQ, like Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), is transmitted by Polymyxa betae Keskin. Earlier, BVQ was described as the Wierthe serotype of Beet soilborne virus (BSBV). Now, on the basis of its genomic properties (2), BVQ is recognized as a distinct virus species. BVQ is often found in fields where BSBV and BNYVV are present (4). During the fall of 2005, five plants of a cultivar susceptible to rhizomania (cv. Alyssa) and five resistant to rhizomania (cv. Henrietta) were collected from a field in the Wielkopolska Region of Poland, where BSBV and BNYVV had been previously identified, and tested for BVQ (1). All samples were analyzed by a double antibody sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) with antiserum against BNYVV (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA). Rhizomania was identified only in sugar beet samples of the susceptible variety. The same samples were then tested using a triple antibody sandwich (TAS)-ELISA with commercial antisera against BSBV/BVQ (As-0576.2) and BSBV (As-0576.1) (DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany). Nine sugar beet plants gave positive reactions with antiserum against BSBV/BVQ and negative reactions with antiserum specific to BSBV. Total RNA extracted from roots of 10 beet samples was then tested using a multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) and specific primers designed to amplify a fragment of the RNA2 for BNYVV and BVQ (3). The primers specifically amplified fragments of 545 bp and 291 bp of the BNYVV and BVQ, respectively. BNYVV was detected in all five samples from susceptible sugar beet plants. The presence of BVQ was confirmed in nine of the sugar beer plants, and the RT-PCR products were sequenced. Sequence analysis of the 206-nt amplicon sequence of the Polish isolate of BVQ (GenBank Accession No. DQ309444) indicated 97% nucleotide and 94% amino acid sequence identity with the previously published sequence of BVQ (GenBank Accession No. AJ223596) (2). To my knowledge, this is the first report of the natural occurrence of BVQ on sugar beet in Poland. In Europe, it has been previously reported in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden (3,4). References: (1) N. Borodynko et al. Plant Dis. 90:112, 2006. (2) R. Koenig et al. J. Gen. Virol. 79:2027, 1998. (3) A. Meunier et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:2356, 2003. (4) C. Rubies Autonell et al. Plant Dis. 90:110, 2006.

Shortly after the first detection of human immundeficiency virus (HIV) infection in USA in 1981, the number of cases have increased gradually from all around the world. Turkey’s high capacity for tourism and the unique geographic location extending between Europe and Asia, provides convenience for the passage of individuals across the countries and sexually transmitted infections including HIV, as well. According to the official data of the Ministry of Health; there are 25809 HIV positive and 1958 AIDS cases as of November 30, 2020, after the epidemic started in 1985 in Turkey. Despite the decrease in the number of newly detected HIV cases as a result of serious measures taken for the transmission of infection worldwide, the increase in the number of cases still continues in our country. Shortening the reporting period and starting treatment as soon as possible in the diagnosis of infection is critical for the control of the epidemic. For this purpose, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a new test algorithm in 2010, which suggested the use of the Geenius™ HIV ½ supplemental assay test instead of western blot tests, which have been used for many years to verify HIV screening test positivity. In this study, we aimed to report the experience of the National HIV-Acquiner Immundeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Viral Hepatitis Reference Laboratories of Turkey in the first year of transition to the new HIV algorithm and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Geenius™ HIV ½ and line immunassay (LIA) s. A total of 2090 anti-HIV positive patient sera sent to National HIV-AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Reference Laboratories of Turkey, Ankara for HIV confirmation were included in the study. All samples were retested with a fourth-generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test (VIDAS® HIV-1/2 Duo Ultra assay, BioMerieux, France) followed by the confirmatory tests; Geenius™ HIV 1/2 confirmatory assay (BioRad, Redmond, WA) and Line-immunoassay (INNO-LIA HIV ½ Score, Fujirebio, Belgium). Indeterminate/negative test results or discrepancies between the confirmatory tests were resolved with HIV-1 RNA reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (artus HI Virus-1 RT-PCR, Qiagen, Germany) test and in-house HIV-2 RNA and proviral DNA PCR. The sensitivity, specificity, and the agreement of the each assay were compared. Cohen’s Kappa analysis was used for the evaluation of the agreement between the tests. According to the new algorithm which recommended Geenius™ test besides HIV-1 RNA test, 1707 (81.7%) HIV-1 positive samples were identified. Of these samples; 95.9% and 95.02% were identified as HIV-1 positive by GeeniusTM and INNO-LIA, respectively. However, 2.5% of the positive samples were negative with Geenius™ and 3.5% with INNO-LIA. One and a half percentage (1.5%) of these samples were detected with Geenius™ and 1.4% with INNO-LIA as indeterminant. When all the positive samples determined with ELISA were evaluated; it was detected that,1.3% were indeterminate by Geenius™ test and 2.4% by the INNO-LIA test. When the INNO-LIA test was regarded as the gold standard method; sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values of the Geenius™ test were as follows; 99.7%, 96.1%, 98.9%, and 99.1%. The agreement between INNO-LIA and Geenius™ tests was found to be 98.95% (κ= 0.969; very good). When the Geenius™ and HIV-1 PCR tests were evaluated together for the confirmation; the sensitivities of Geenius™ and INNO-LIA tests were 99.8% and 98.3%, specificities were 89.8% and 85.3%, respectively. Slight positive bands were detected in the gp36 or gp140 bands, the HIV-2 specific envelope proteins, were detected in seven samples, However, the positivity disappeared after the dilution of the samples and it was accepted as false positivite reaction due to the absence of HIV-2 RNA and proviral DNA in these samples. In conclusion; we concluded that Geenius™ and INNO-LIA tests have a perfect agreement in HIV diagnosis and due to the rapid and reliable results provided for the HIV test protocol, Geenius™ test can be used safely as an alternative to the immunoblot tests. HIV-1 RNA testing must be performed in all HIV confirmation centers in order to detect acute HIV cases in the fast and early period which are the main reason for the updates in HIV diagnosis.

U prvom desetljeću 21. stoljeća u hrvatskim nizinskim hrastovim sastojinama proveden je niz istraživanja vezanih uz integriranu zaštitu hrastove oblovine. U središtu ovih istraživanja bila je olfaktorna manipulacija domaćim vrstama iz rodova Trypodendron i Xyleborus uz uporabu naletno-barijernih klopki kompletiranih s atraktantima (lineatin, ETOH, GLV, Domowit-Trypowit D^®). Tijekom ovih eksperimenata u ulovima naletno-barijernih klopi, pojavila se nova vrsta za hrastove nizinske sastojine u Hrvatskoj Xylosandrus germanus. Pojava vrste Xylosandrus germanus u ulovima naletno barijernih klopki prvi puta je zabilježena u dijelu terenskih eksperimenta (2009. godine), a ulovi u naletno-barijernim klopkamasu bili su u porastu ostatak perioda provedenih istraživanja. Tijekom 2011. godine fenologija potkornjaka drvaša nizinskih hrastovih sastojina provedena je od siječnja do početka lipnja. U ovom periodu zabilježena je i praćena fenologija šest vrsta potkornjaka drvaša, od kojih je T. signatum bio najbrojniji, a invazivna strana vrsta X. germanus je bio drugi po brojnosti tijekom ovog opažanja, iako prisutan u ulovima naletno barijernih klopki 2011 godine. Iako je ekonomski značaj X. germanus malen, ovo je vrsta koja je prisutna u Europi 65 godina. Postoje zabilježeni slučajevi iz Švicarske 1995. g. kada je X. germanus napao 20 000 m³ smreke i jele u regiji Jura. S ekološkog gledišta, glavna zabrinutost je da X. germanus postaje jedan od najbrojnijih potkornjaka na područjima u kojima se etablirao, ali bez dokaza o negativnom utjecaju na autohtone vrste. Iako se smatra da X. germanus ima potencijal negativno utjecati na lokalno nestajanje autohtonih vrsta i biološku raznolikost (Henin and Versteirt 2004; Bouget and Noblecourt 2005). Istraživanja u Belgiji pokazuju da postoji preklapanje ekoloških niša X. germanus sa nekoliko autohtonih vrsta (Henin and Versteirt 2004). U Sjevernoj Americi , X. germanus je jedan od ekonomski najvažnijih negativnih čimbenika u rasadnicima. Neki autori navode da postoji izvjesna razina fiziološkog stresa koja nije uočljiva, ali stabla ipak emitiraju stresom generirane atraktivne tvari koje privlače potkornjake tijekom rojenja. X. germanus se smatra štetnikom koji napada fiziološki oslabljena stabla pod stresom, ali neka istraživanja pokazuju da napada i naizgled zdrava stabla. Prisutnost i brojnost X. germanus u Hrvatskoj još treba biti dodatno istražena, jer se ovaj polifagni štetnik uspješno razvija na velikom broju vrsta listača i četinjača. X. germanus isto može biti i vektor za određene uzročnike bolesti i najčešće se povezuje sa gljivama iz roda Fusarium, koje mogu uzrokovati odumiranje stabala, venuće i rak na napadnutim stablima. Ovakav vektorski odnos dokazan je na vrstama iz roda Juglans. X. germanus može prenositi i holandsku bolest brijesta. Zbog navedenog potrebno je daljnje praćenje i istraživanje utjecaja izrazito polifagne invazivne vrste potkornjak drvaša X. germanus na ekosustave nizinskih hrastovih sastojina.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) provides a means of tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Unfortunately, in Nigeria, like in some other low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), AMS practice has been lacklustre due to poor institutional support amongst other factors. Efforts were made to address this situation by engaging with the management of National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria, using antibiotic prescription information obtained through repeated point prevalence survey.Methodology: Two rounds of antibiotic PPS were conducted in 2015 and 2017 using the Global Point Prevalence Survey (G-PPS) format. Data were collected from all inpatients receiving antibiotics on the selected day of study, including patient characteristics, antimicrobial prescription details, laboratory results and information on a set of quality indicators. The data were uploaded to an online G-PPS application hosted at the University of Antwerp in Belgium for validation, analysis and reporting.Results: The PPS data showed that hospital-wide antibiotic use prevalence increased from 58% in 2015 to 61% in 2017. Surgical prophylaxis beyond 24 hours also increased from 88-90% in 2015 to 100% in 2017, and only minority of therapies were supported by laboratory input for diagnosis and monitoring; 22% in 2015 and 5% in 2017.Conclusion: These results were used for evidence-based engagement with the management to formally support AMS activities in the hospital. Positive outcomes were the formal reconstitution and inauguration of AMS committee in 2018 as well as the issuance of a formal policy statement by the hospital in 2020. The ease and free availability of Global PPS methodology makes it ideal in driving antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) in LMICs like Nigeria. Keywords: Antibiotic stewardship checklist, institutional support, point French Title: Utilisation d'une enquête longitudinale sur la prévalence ponctuelle des antibiotiques (PPS) pour conduire des programmes de gestion des antimicrobiens dans un hôpital tertiaire nigérian Contexte: La gestion des antimicrobiens (AMS) offre un moyen de lutter contre la résistance aux antimicrobiens (RAM). Malheureusement, au Nigéria, comme dans certains autres pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire (PRFI), la pratique de la MGS a été médiocre en raison d'un soutien institutionnel insuffisant, entre autres facteurs. Des Longitudinal PPS for AMS programmes efforts ont été faits pour remédier à cette situation en collaborant avec la direction de l'hôpital national d'Abuja, au Nigéria, en utilisant les informations sur les prescriptions d'antibiotiques obtenues grâce à une enquête ponctuelle répétée de prévalence.Méthodologie: Deux séries d'antibiotiques PPS ont été menées en 2015 et 2017 en utilisant le format Global Point Prevalence Survey (G-PPS). Des données ont été recueillies auprès de tous les patients hospitalisés recevant des antibiotiques le jour sélectionné de l'étude, y compris les caractéristiques des patients, les détails de la prescription d'antimicrobiens, les résultats de laboratoire et les informations sur un ensemble d'indicateurs de qualité. Les données ont été téléchargées sur une application en ligne G-PPS hébergée à l'Université d'Anvers en Belgique à des fins de validation, d'analyse et rapports.Résultats: Les données PPS ont montré que la prévalence de l'utilisation d'antibiotiques à l'échelle de l'hôpital est passée de 58% en 2015 à 61% en 2017. La prophylaxie chirurgicale au-delà de 24 heures est également passée de 88 à 90% en 2015 à 100% en 2017, et seule une minorité de thérapies a été soutenue par entrée de laboratoire pour le diagnostic et la surveillance; 22% en 2015 et 5% en 2017.Conclusion: Ces résultats ont été utilisés pour un engagement fondé sur des données probantes avec la direction afin de soutenir officiellement les activités AMS à l'hôpital. Les résultats positifs ont été la reconstitution formelle et l'inauguration du comité AMS en 2018 ainsi que la publication d'une déclaration de politique formelle par l'hôpital en 2020. La facilité et la disponibilité gratuite de la méthodologie Global PPS la rend idéale pour conduire le programme de gestion des antimicrobiens (ASP) en PRFI comme le Nigéria. Mots clés: liste de contrôle pour la gestion des antibiotiques, soutien institutionnel, enquête ponctuelle de prévalence, déclaration de politique prevalence survey, policy statement

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major clinical challenge globally. It is mainly a consequence of inappropriate prescribing and use of antibiotics. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) ensures that antibiotics are prescribed and used appropriately. This study assessed AMS practice in selected Nigerian hospitals.Methodology: This was a cross sectional survey of 20 Federal, State and Private tertiary hospitals randomly selected from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Using an adapted WHO tool on AMS, data were collected from each hospital as regard the existence of AMS committee, Accountability and Responsibility, AMS actions, Education and Training, Monitoring and Evaluation, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice, facilities to support AMS, and challenges to AMS implementation. Gaps and challenges to the implementation of the AMS among the hospitals were identified.Results: Only 6 (30%) of the 20 hospitals had AMS committees while 2 (10%) had any evidence of leadership commitment to AMS. All the hospitals had laboratory facilities to support culture and sensitivity testing. There were no regular AMS-related education or training, monitoring, evaluation or reporting activities in the hospitals, except in 7 (25%) that had participated in the global point prevalence survey (Global-PPS) of antimicrobial use and resistance being hosted by the University of Antwerp, Belgium. Challenges impeding AMS activities included lack of human and financial resources, prescribers’ opposition, lack of awareness and absence of AMS committees. Most of the gaps and challenges bordered on seeming lack of knowledge and inadequate communication among prescribers and other stakeholders.Conclusion: There is need for intense education and training activities for prescribers and other stakeholders, including but not limited to hospital administrators. Keywords: Survey, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antimicrobial Resistance; Nigeria French title: Mise en œuvre de la gestion des antimicrobiens dans les hôpitaux Nigérians: lacunes et défis Contexte: La résistance aux antimicrobiens (RAM) est un défi clinique majeur à l'échelle mondiale. C'estprincipalement une conséquence d'une prescription et d'une utilisation inappropriées d'antibiotiques. La gestion des antimicrobiens (AMS) garantit que les antibiotiques sont prescrits et utilisés de manière appropriée. Cette étude a évalué la pratique de l'AMS dans certains hôpitaux Nigérians. Méthodologie: Il s'agissait d'une enquête transversale de 20 hôpitaux tertiaires fédéraux, d'État et privéssélectionnés au hasard dans les six zones géopolitiques du Nigéria. À l'aide d'un outil OMS adapté sur l'AMS, des données ont été collectées auprès de chaque hôpital en ce qui concerne l'existence d'un comité AMS, la responsabilité et la responsabilité, les actions AMS, l'éducation et la formation, le suivi et l'évaluation, la pratique de prévention et de contrôle des infections (IPC), les installations pour soutenir l'AMS. et les défis de la mise en œuvre de l'AMS. Les lacunes et les défis liés à la mise en œuvre de l'AMS parmi les hôpitaux ont été identifiés. Résultats: Seuls 6 (30%) des 20 hôpitaux avaient des comités AMS tandis que 2 (10%) avaient des preuves d'engagement du leadership envers l'AMS. Tous les hôpitaux disposaient d'installations de laboratoire pour soutenir la culture et les tests de sensibilité. Il n'y avait pas d'activités régulières d'éducation ou de formation, de suivi, d'évaluation ou de rapportage liées à la MGS dans les hôpitaux, sauf dans 7 (25%) qui avaient participé à l'enquête mondiale sur la prévalence ponctuelle (Global-PPS) de l'utilisation et de la résistance aux antimicrobiens organisée par l'Université d'Anvers, Belgique. Les défis entravant les activités de l'AMS comprenaient le manque de ressources humaines et financières, l'opposition des prescripteurs, le manque de sensibilisation et l'absence de comités AMS. La plupart des lacunes et des défis se limitaient à un manque apparent de connaissances et à une communication inadéquate entre les prescripteurs et les autres intervenants.Conclusion: Des activités d'éducation et de formation intensives sont nécessaires pour les prescripteurs et autres intervenants, y compris, mais sans s'y limiter, les administrateurs d'hôpitaux. Mots clés: enquête, gestion des antimicrobiens, résistance aux antimicrobiens; Nigeria

Abstract. Across the world, nature-triggered disasters fuelled by climate change are worsening. Some two billion people have been affected by the consequences of natural hazards over the last ten years, 95% of which were weather-related (such as floods and windstorms). Fires swept across large parts of California, and in Australia caused unprecedented destruction to lives, wildlife and bush. This picture is likely to become the new normal, and indeed may worsen if unchecked. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that in some locations, disaster that once had a once-in-a-century frequency may become annual events by 2050.Disaster management needs to keep up. Good cooperation and coordination of crisis response operations are of critical importance to react rapidly and adequately to any crisis situation, while post-disaster recovery presents opportunities to build resilience towards reducing the scale of the next disaster. Technology to support crisis response has advanced greatly in the last few years. Systems for early warning, command and control and decision-making have been successfully implemented in many countries and regions all over the world. Efforts to improve humanitarian response, in particular in relation to combating disasters in rapidly urbanising cities, have also led to better approaches that grapple with complexity and uncertainty.The challenges however are daunting. Many aspects related to the efficient collection and integration of geo-information, applied semantics and situational awareness for disaster management are still open, while agencies, organisations and governmental authorities need to improve their practices for building better resilience.Gi4DM 2020 marked the 13th edition of the Geoinformation for Disaster Management series of conferences. The first conference was held in 2005 in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami which claimed the lives of over 220,000 civilians. The 2019-20 Australian Bushfire Season saw some 18.6 million Ha of bushland burn, 5,900 buildings destroyed and nearly three billion vertebrates killed. Gi4DM 2020 then was held during Covid-19 pandemic, which took the lives of more than 1,150,000 people by the time of the conference. The pandemic affected the organisation of the conference, but the situation also provided the opportunity to address important global problems.The fundamental goal of the Gi4DM has always been to provide a forum where emergency responders, disaster managers, urban planners, stakeholders, researchers, data providers and system developers can discuss challenges, share experience, discuss new ideas and demonstrate technology. The 12 previous editions of Gi4DM conferences were held in Delft, the Netherlands (March 2005), Goa, India (September 2006), Toronto, Canada (May 2007), Harbin, China (August 2008), Prague, Czech Republic (January 2009), Torino, Italy (February 2010), Antalya, Turkey (May 2011), Enschede, the Netherlands (December, 2012), Hanoi, Vietnam (December 2013), Montpellier, France (2015), Istanbul, Turkey (2018) and Prague, Czech Republic (2019). Through the years Gi4DM has been organised in cooperation with different international bodies such as ISPRS, UNOOSA, ICA, ISCRAM, FIG, IAG, OGC and WFP and supported by national organisations.Gi4DM 2020 was held as part of Climate Change and Disaster Management: Technology and Resilience for a Troubled World. The event took place through the whole week of 30th of November to 4th of December, Sydney, Australia and included three events: Gi4DM 2020, NSW Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (NSW SSSI) annual meeting and Urban Resilience Asia Pacific 2 (URAP2).The event explored two interlinked aspects of disaster management in relation to climate change. The first was geo-information technologies and their application for work in crisis situations, as well as sensor and communication networks and their roles for improving situational awareness. The second aspect was resilience, and its role and purpose across the entire cycle of disaster management, from pre-disaster preparedness to post-disaster recovery including challenges and opportunities in relation to rapid urbanisation and the role of security in improved disaster management practices.This volume consists of 22 scientific papers. These were selected on the basis of double-blind review from among the 40 short papers submitted to the Gi4DM 2020 conference. Each paper was reviewed by two scientific reviewers. The authors of the papers were encouraged to revise, extend and adapt their papers to reflect the comments of the reviewers and fit the goals of this volume. The selected papers concentrate on monitoring and analysis of various aspects related to Covid-19 (4), emergency response (4), earthquakes (3), flood (2), forest fire, landslides, glaciers, drought, land cover change, crop management, surface temperature, address standardisation and education for disaster management. The presented methods range from remote sensing, LiDAR and photogrammetry on different platforms to GIS and Web-based technologies. Figure 1 illustrates the covered topics via wordcount of keywords and titles.The Gi4DM 2020 program consisted of scientific presentations, keynote speeches, panel discussions and tutorials. The four keynotes speakers Prof Suzan Cutter (Hazard and Vulnerability Research Institute, USC, US), Jeremy Fewtrell (NSW Fire and Rescue, Australia), Prof Orhan Altan (Ad-hoc Committee on RISK and Disaster Management, GeoUnions, Turkey) and Prof Philip Gibbins (Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU, Australia) concentrated on different aspects of disaster and risk management in the context of climate change. Eight tutorials offered exciting workshops and hands-on on: Semantic web tools and technologies within Disaster Management, Structure-from-motion photogrammetry, Radar Remote Sensing, Dam safety: Monitoring subsidence with SAR Interferometry, Location-based Augmented Reality apps with Unity and Mapbox, Visualising bush fires datasets using open source, Making data smarter to manage disasters and emergency situational awareness and Response using HERE Location Services. The scientific sessions were blended with panel discussions to provide more opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences, connect people and researchers from all over the world.The editors of this volume acknowledge all members of the scientific committee for their time, careful review and valuable comments: Abdoulaye Diakité (Australia), Alexander Rudloff (Germany), Alias Abdul Rahman (Malaysia), Alper Yilmaz (USA), Amy Parker (Australia), Ashraf Dewan (Australia), Bapon Shm Fakhruddin (New Zealand), Batuhan Osmanoglu (USA), Ben Gorte (Australia), Bo Huang (Hong Kong), Brendon McAtee (Australia), Brian Lee (Australia), Bruce Forster (Australia), Charity Mundava (Australia), Charles Toth (USA), Chris Bellman (Australia), Chris Pettit (Australia), Clive Fraser (Australia), Craig Glennie (USA), David Belton (Australia), Dev Raj Paudyal (Australia), Dimitri Bulatov (Germany), Dipak Paudyal (Australia), Dorota Iwaszczuk (Germany), Edward Verbree (The Netherlands), Eliseo Clementini (Italy), Fabio Giulio Tonolo (Italy), Fazlay Faruque (USA), Filip Biljecki (Singapore), Petra Helmholz (Australia), Francesco Nex (The Netherlands), Franz Rottensteiner (Germany), George Sithole (South Africa), Graciela Metternicht (Australia), Haigang Sui (China), Hans-Gerd Maas (Germany), Hao Wu (China), Huayi Wu (China), Ivana Ivanova (Australia), Iyyanki Murali Krishna (India), Jack Barton (Australia), Jagannath Aryal (Australia), Jie Jiang (China), Joep Compvoets (Belgium), Jonathan Li (Canada), Kourosh Khoshelham (Australia), Krzysztof Bakuła (Poland), Lars Bodum (Denmark), Lena Halounova (Czech Republic), Madhu Chandra (Germany), Maria Antonia Brovelli (Italy), Martin Breunig (Germany), Martin Tomko (Australia), Mila Koeva (The Netherlands), Mingshu Wang (The Netherlands), Mitko Aleksandrov (Australia), Mulhim Al Doori (UAE), Nancy Glenn (Australia), Negin Nazarian (Australia), Norbert Pfeifer (Austria), Norman Kerle (The Netherlands), Orhan Altan (Turkey), Ori Gudes (Australia), Pawel Boguslawski (Poland), Peter van Oosterom (The Netherlands), Petr Kubíček (Czech Republic), Petros Patias (Greece), Piero Boccardo (Italy), Qiaoli Wu (China), Qing Zhu (China), Riza Yosia Sunindijo (Australia), Roland Billen (Belgium), Rudi Stouffs (Singapore), Scott Hawken (Australia), Serene Coetzee (South Africa), Shawn Laffan (Australia), Shisong Cao (China), Sisi Zlatanova (Australia), Songnian Li (Canada), Stephan Winter (Australia), Tarun Ghawana (Australia), Ümit Işıkdağ (Turkey), Wei Li (Australia), Wolfgang Reinhardt (Germany), Xianlian Liang (Finland) and Yanan Liu (China).The editors would like to express their gratitude to all contributors, who made this volume possible. Many thanks go to all supporting organisations: ISPRS, SSSI, URAP2, Blackash, Mercury and ISPRS Journal of Geoinformation. The editors are grateful to the continued support of the involved Universities: The University of New South Wales, Curtin University, Australian National University and The University of Melbourne.

Abstract. Across the world, nature-triggered disasters fuelled by climate change are worsening. Some two billion people have been affected by the consequences of natural hazards over the last ten years, 95% of which were weather-related (such as floods and windstorms). Fires swept across large parts of California, and in Australia caused unprecedented destruction to lives, wildlife and bush. This picture is likely to become the new normal, and indeed may worsen if unchecked. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that in some locations, disaster that once had a once-in-a-century frequency may become annual events by 2050.Disaster management needs to keep up. Good cooperation and coordination of crisis response operations are of critical importance to react rapidly and adequately to any crisis situation, while post-disaster recovery presents opportunities to build resilience towards reducing the scale of the next disaster. Technology to support crisis response has advanced greatly in the last few years. Systems for early warning, command and control and decision-making have been successfully implemented in many countries and regions all over the world. Efforts to improve humanitarian response, in particular in relation to combating disasters in rapidly urbanising cities, have also led to better approaches that grapple with complexity and uncertainty.The challenges however are daunting. Many aspects related to the efficient collection and integration of geo-information, applied semantics and situational awareness for disaster management are still open, while agencies, organisations and governmental authorities need to improve their practices for building better resilience.Gi4DM 2020 marked the 13th edition of the Geoinformation for Disaster Management series of conferences. The first conference was held in 2005 in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami which claimed the lives of over 220,000 civilians. The 2019-20 Australian Bushfire Season saw some 18.6 million Ha of bushland burn, 5,900 buildings destroyed and nearly three billion vertebrates killed. Gi4DM 2020 then was held during Covid-19 pandemic, which took the lives of more than 1,150,000 people by the time of the conference. The pandemic affected the organisation of the conference, but the situation also provided the opportunity to address important global problems.The fundamental goal of the Gi4DM has always been to provide a forum where emergency responders, disaster managers, urban planners, stakeholders, researchers, data providers and system developers can discuss challenges, share experience, discuss new ideas and demonstrate technology. The 12 previous editions of Gi4DM conferences were held in Delft, the Netherlands (March 2005), Goa, India (September 2006), Toronto, Canada (May 2007), Harbin, China (August 2008), Prague, Czech Republic (January 2009), Torino, Italy (February 2010), Antalya, Turkey (May 2011), Enschede, the Netherlands (December, 2012), Hanoi, Vietnam (December 2013), Montpellier, France (2015), Istanbul, Turkey (2018) and Prague, Czech Republic (2019). Through the years Gi4DM has been organised in cooperation with different international bodies such as ISPRS, UNOOSA, ICA, ISCRAM, FIG, IAG, OGC and WFP and supported by national organisations.Gi4DM 2020 was held as part of Climate Change and Disaster Management: Technology and Resilience for a Troubled World. The event took place through the whole week of 30th of November to 4th of December, Sydney, Australia and included three events: Gi4DM 2020, NSW Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (NSW SSSI) annual meeting and Urban Resilience Asia Pacific 2 (URAP2).The event explored two interlinked aspects of disaster management in relation to climate change. The first was geo-information technologies and their application for work in crisis situations, as well as sensor and communication networks and their roles for improving situational awareness. The second aspect was resilience, and its role and purpose across the entire cycle of disaster management, from pre-disaster preparedness to post-disaster recovery including challenges and opportunities in relation to rapid urbanisation and the role of security in improved disaster management practices.This volume consists of 16 peer-reviewed scientific papers. These were selected on the basis of double-blind review from among the 25 full papers submitted to the Gi4DM 2020 conference. Each paper was reviewed by three scientific reviewers. The authors of the papers were encouraged to revise, extend and adapt their papers to reflect the comments of the reviewers and fit the goals of this volume. The selected papers concentrate on monitoring and analysis of forest fire (3), landslides (3), flood (2), earthquake, avalanches, water pollution, heat, evacuation and urban sustainability, applying a variety of remote sensing, GIS and Web-based technologies. Figure 1 illustrates the scope of the covered topics though the word count of keywords and titles.The Gi4DM 2020 program consisted of scientific presentations, keynote speeches, panel discussions and tutorials. The four keynotes speakers Prof Suzan Cutter (Hazard and Vulnerability Research Institute, USC, US), Jeremy Fewtrell (NSW Fire and Rescue, Australia), Prof Orhan Altan (Ad-hoc Committee on RISK and Disaster Management, GeoUnions, Turkey) and Prof Philip Gibbins (Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU, Australia) concentrated on different aspects of disaster and risk management in the context of climate change. Eight tutorials offered exciting workshops and hands-on on: Semantic web tools and technologies within Disaster Management, Structure-from-motion photogrammetry, Radar Remote Sensing, Dam safety: Monitoring subsidence with SAR Interferometry, Location-based Augmented Reality apps with Unity and Mapbox, Visualising bush fires datasets using open source, Making data smarter to manage disasters and emergency situational awareness and Response using HERE Location Services. The scientific sessions were blended with panel discussions to provide more opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences, connect people and researchers from all over the world.The editors of this volume acknowledge all members of the scientific committee for their time, careful review and valuable comments: Abdoulaye Diakité (Australia), Alexander Rudloff (Germany), Alias Abdul Rahman (Malaysia), Alper Yilmaz (USA), Amy Parker (Australia), Ashraf Dewan (Australia), Bapon Shm Fakhruddin (New Zealand), Batuhan Osmanoglu (USA), Ben Gorte (Australia), Bo Huang (Hong Kong), Brendon McAtee (Australia), Brian Lee (Australia), Bruce Forster (Australia), Charity Mundava (Australia), Charles Toth (USA), Chris Bellman (Australia), Chris Pettit (Australia), Clive Fraser (Australia), Craig Glennie (USA), David Belton (Australia), Dev Raj Paudyal (Australia), Dimitri Bulatov (Germany), Dipak Paudyal (Australia), Dorota Iwaszczuk (Germany), Edward Verbree (The Netherlands), Eliseo Clementini (Italy), Fabio Giulio Tonolo (Italy), Fazlay Faruque (USA), Filip Biljecki (Singapore), Petra Helmholz (Australia), Francesco Nex (The Netherlands), Franz Rottensteiner (Germany), George Sithole (South Africa), Graciela Metternicht (Australia), Haigang Sui (China), Hans-Gerd Maas (Germany), Hao Wu (China), Huayi Wu (China), Ivana Ivanova (Australia), Iyyanki Murali Krishna (India), Jack Barton (Australia), Jagannath Aryal (Australia), Jie Jiang (China), Joep Compvoets (Belgium), Jonathan Li (Canada), Kourosh Khoshelham (Australia), Krzysztof Bakuła (Poland), Lars Bodum (Denmark), Lena Halounova (Czech Republic), Madhu Chandra (Germany), Maria Antonia Brovelli (Italy), Martin Breunig (Germany), Martin Tomko (Australia), Mila Koeva (The Netherlands), Mingshu Wang (The Netherlands), Mitko Aleksandrov (Australia), Mulhim Al Doori (UAE), Nancy Glenn (Australia), Negin Nazarian (Australia), Norbert Pfeifer (Austria), Norman Kerle (The Netherlands), Orhan Altan (Turkey), Ori Gudes (Australia), Pawel Boguslawski (Poland), Peter van Oosterom (The Netherlands), Petr Kubíček (Czech Republic), Petros Patias (Greece), Piero Boccardo (Italy), Qiaoli Wu (China), Qing Zhu (China), Riza Yosia Sunindijo (Australia), Roland Billen (Belgium), Rudi Stouffs (Singapore), Scott Hawken (Australia), Serene Coetzee (South Africa), Shawn Laffan (Australia), Shisong Cao (China), Sisi Zlatanova (Australia), Songnian Li (Canada), Stephan Winter (Australia), Tarun Ghawana (Australia), Ümit Işıkdağ (Turkey), Wei Li (Australia), Wolfgang Reinhardt (Germany), Xianlian Liang (Finland) and Yanan Liu (China).The editors would like to express their gratitude to all contributors, who made this volume possible. Many thanks go to all supporting organisations: ISPRS, SSSI, URAP2, Blackash, Mercury and ISPRS Journal of Geoinformation. The editors are grateful to the continued support of the involved Universities: The University of New South Wales, Curtin University, Australian National University and The University of Melbourne.

<p>"I graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University,” says the oncologist, who completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 2005 and is now working at the same university as a lecturer in clinical oncology. Ain Shams University, originally known as ‘Ibrahim Pasha’s University’ prides itself in being the third higher education institution to be founded in Egypt. It has produced famous alumni that include current acting Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail Mohamed and former Egyptian Prime Minister Abd El Aziz Muhammad Hegazi, as well as the noted American modern philosopher Charles Butterworth.</p><p> </p><p>In 2007, Dr. Abdel-Rahman furthered his studies by pursuing a Master’s in Oncology at the same university. “I finished my training as a clinical oncologist in 2010. I was soon appointed as an assistant lecturer, before becoming a full lecturer in clinical oncology at the same institute,” he adds. Upon finishing his early stage training, he went on to pursue his PhD in the same area at his alma mater. While doing his doctorate studies, Dr. Abdel-Rah- man attended and passed the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians UK (MRCPUK) written examination. The diploma is a knowledge-based assessment for core medical training, and a successful completion of the entire three-part examination is a requirement for physicians wishing to undergo training in a medical-related specialty in the UK. Additionally, Dr. Abdel-Rahman also completed a Master’s of Advanced Oncology at Ulm University, Germany.</p><p> </p><p>“My interest and career goals are to improve my knowledge and understanding of clinical and translational cancer research,” says the oncologist. As every physician has his or her own reasons for choosing the field which they specialize in, AMOR’s EIC explains that he chose to hone his skills in oncology owing to the significant impact of the disease upon the general population. “Cancer is a global health problem that has widespread consequences, not only in a medical sense but also socially and economically,” says Dr. Abdel-Rahman. “We need to put in every effort to combat this fatal disease,” he adds.</p><p> </p><p>Tackling the spread of cancer and the increase in the number of cases reported every year is not without its challenges, he asserts. “I see the key challenges as the unequal availability of cancer treatments worldwide, the increasing cost of cancer treatment, and the increased median age of the population in many parts of the world, which carries with it a consequent increase in the risk of certain cancers,” he says. “We need to reassess the current pace and orientation of cancer research because, with time, cancer research is becoming industry-oriented rather than academia-oriented — which, in my view, could be very dangerous to the future of cancer research,” adds Dr. Abdel-Rahman. “Governments need to provide more research funding to improve the outcome of cancer patients,” he explains.</p><p> </p><p>His efforts and hard work have led to him receiving a number of distinguished awards, namely the UICC International Cancer Technology Transfer (ICRETT) fellowship in 2014 at the Investigational New Drugs Unit in the European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy; EACR travel fellowship in 2015 at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK; and also several travel grants to Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, and many other countries where he attended medical conferences. Dr. Abdel-Rahman is currently engaged in a project to establish a clinical/translational cancer research center at his institute, which seeks to incorporate various cancer-related disciplines in order to produce a real bench-to-bedside practice, hoping that it would “change research that may help shape the future of cancer therapy”.</p><p> </p><p>Dr. Abdel-Rahman is also an active founding member of the clinical research unit at his institute and is a representative to the prestigious European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), as well as a member of EORTC breast cancer and gastro-intestinal cancer research groups. “I am the director of the largest ever multicenter Egyptian oncology study, officially titled as ESLC-1 study ‘NCT01539018’. Addi-</p><p> </p><p>tionally, I have co-authored more than 30 publications in the last three years in the fields of breast cancer, NSCLC, GI malignancies, as well as hematology,” says the researcher, whose books on issues relevant to oncology include ‘Exploring systemic options for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma’, ‘Clinical oncology tips and tricks’, and ‘Exploring high precision radiotherapy technologies’.</p><p align="left"> </p><p>With regard to the continuous development of AMOR under his leadership, Dr. Abdel-Rahman says, “I am very happy with the progress of AMOR and I hope that it will continue along the same trajectory.” As the Editor-in- Chief of this journal, he has had his share of challenges during the setting up of the journal. “Of course, establishing a new journal is a big challenge, particularly in the context of the plethora of new oncology journals that arise every day,” he says. “Moreover, maintaining a mini- mum acceptable standard of research and publication quality is a difficult endeavor,” adds the oncologist.</p><p> </p><p>“I hope AMOR will continue as an effective platform that features important cancer-related research from all parts of the world, and the journal will continue to support high-quality research activities, particularly those from the underrepresented parts of the world,” concludes Dr. Abdel-Rahman.</p>

Abstract Objective Little is known about the incidence and consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in patients with rheumatic diseases. To improve our knowledge in this field, we collected data from patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases who developed COVID-19 infection. Methods We performed a monocentric observational longitudinal study and collected data retrospectively from patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases who developed a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection between 3 March and 10 June 2020. Results A total of 23 patients developed COVID-19 infection. Seven patients needed hospitalization [female 57%, mean age 59 +/− 9 years], and 16 patients were followed as outpatients [female 80%, mean age 50 +/− 14 years]. All hospitalized patients had more than one co-morbidity. At the time of infection, all patients were on immunosuppressive therapy consisting of either conventional synthetic DMARDs and/or biotherapy, with or without CSs. A minority received Corticoids (CSs) only. The most common symptoms of COVID-19-infected patients were fever, dyspnoea, cough and fatigue. PCR and chest CT were performed in all hospitalized patients to confirm the diagnosis (100% positive PCR, 71% positive CT). All outclinic patients were diagnosed clinically (confirmed by PCR in only one). The mean length of hospital stay was 21 +/− 19 days. Three patients developed an ARDS, including one who died. Conclusion A limited number of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases suffered from COVID-19 infection. Two patients needed mechanical ventilation and survived, whereas one patient died. All patients with a severe form of infection had at least one co-morbidity.

Despite various solutions proposed to solve the relative age effect (RAE), it is still a major problem confounding talent identification and selection processes. In the first phase, we sampled 302 under 7–21 academy soccer players from two Belgian professional soccer clubs to explore the potential of a new approach to solve the inequalities resulting from relative age- and maturity-related bias. This approach allocates players into four discrete quartile groups based on the midway point of their chronological and estimated developmental (ED) birth dates (calculated using the growth curves for stature of Belgian youth). With the use of chi square analyses, a RAE was found (p &lt; 0.01) for the overall sample (Q1 = 41.4% vs. Q4 = 14.9%) that completely disappeared after reallocation (Q1 = 26.5%; Q2 = 21.9%; Q3 = 27.5%; Q4 = 24.2%). According to the new allocation method, the stature difference was reduced, on average, by 11.6 cm (from 24.0 ± 9.9 to 12.4 ± 3.4 cm, d = 1.57). Body mass difference between the two methods was 1.9 kg (20.1 ± 11.3–18.2 ± 13.1 kg, respectively, d = 0.15). The new method created a maximum chronological age difference of 1.9 vs. 0.8 years for the current method. With the use of this method, 47% of the players would be reallocated. Twenty-three percent would be moved up one age category, and 21% would be moved down. In the second phase, we also examined 80 UK academy soccer players to explore if reallocating players reduces the within-playing group variation of somatic and physical fitness characteristics. The percentage coefficient of variation (%CV) was reduced (0.2–10.1%) in 15 out of 20 metrics across U11–U16 age categories, with the U13 age category demonstrating the largest reductions (0.9–10.1%) in CV. The U12 and U13 age categories and associated reallocation groupings showed trivial to small (ES = 0.0–0.5) between-method differences and trivial to moderate (ES = 0.0–1.1) differences within the U14–U16 age categories. A reduction in RAE may lead to fewer dropouts and thus a larger player pool, which benefits, in turn, talent identification, selection, and development.

Abstract Background Chinese indigenous rabbits have distinct characteristics, such as roughage resistance, stress resistance and environmental adaptability, which are of great significance to the sustainable development of the rabbit industry in China. Therefore, it is necessary to study the genetic diversity and population structure of this species and develop genomic resources. Results In this study, we used restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) to obtain 1,006,496 SNP markers from six Chinese indigenous rabbit breeds and two imported rabbit breeds. Jiuyishan and Fujian Yellow rabbits showed the highest nucleotide diversity (π) and decay of linkage disequilibrium (LD), as well as higher observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He), indicating higher genetic diversity than other rabbits. The inbreeding coefficient (FIS) of New Zealand rabbits and Belgian rabbits was higher than that of other rabbits. The neighbour-joining (NJ) tree, principal component analysis (PCA), and population structure analysis of autosomes and Y chromosomes showed that Belgian, New Zealand, Wanzai, Sichuan White, and Minxinan Black rabbits clustered separately, and Fujian Yellow, Yunnan Colourful, and Jiuyishan rabbits clustered together. Wanzai rabbits were clearly separated from other populations (K = 3), which was consistent with the population differentiation index (FST) analysis. The selection signature analysis was performed in two populations with contrasting coat colours. With Sichuan White and New Zealand rabbits as the reference populations and Minxinan Black and Wanzai rabbits as the target populations, 408, 454, 418, and 518 genes with a selection signature, respectively, were obtained. Gene Ontology (GO) classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on the genes with a selection signature. The results showed that the genes with a selection signature were enriched in the melanogenesis pathway in all four sets of selection signature analyses. Conclusions Our study provides the first insights into the genetics and genomics of Chinese indigenous rabbit breeds and serves as a valuable resource for the further effective utilization of the species.

ObjectivesThe number of reported cases of multiresistant Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is increasing globally. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of macrolide and possible fluoroquinolone resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) of MG in Belgium.MethodsThe study was performed retrospectively on two sets of MG-positive samples collected in Belgium between 2015 and 2018. The first set of samples originated from routine surveillance activities and the second set came from a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM) using pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission. Detection of RAMs to macrolides and fluoroquinolones was performed on all samples using DNA sequencing of the 23S ribosomal RNA gene, the gyrA gene and the parC gene.ResultsSeventy-one per cent of the MG samples contained a mutation conferring resistance to macrolides or fluoroquinolones (ParC position 83/87). RAMs were more frequently found among men compared with women for fluoroquinolones (23.9% vs 9.1%) and macrolides (78.4% vs 27.3%). Almost 90% of the MG infections among MSM possessed a RAM to macrolides (88.4%). In addition, 18.0% of the samples harboured both macrolides and fluoroquinolone RAMs; 3.0% in women and 24.2% in MSM. Being MSM was associated with macrolide RAMs (OR 15.3), fluoroquinolone RAMs (OR 3.8) and having a possible multiresistant MG infection (OR 7.2).ConclusionThe study shows an alarmingly high prevalence of MG with RAMs to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in Belgium. These results highlight the need to improve antimicrobial stewardship in Belgium in order to avoid the emergence of untreatable MG.

This article analyses the response of European Public Service Media to the crisis caused by Covid-19, especially the impact of the pandemic on Europe’s major public broadcasters, with a particular focus on technical and professional constraints, alterations in audience volume and habits, production strategies, type of broadcast content and journalists’ routines. The research is based on public information from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and 19 in-depth, structured interviews with a convenience sample of innovation and strategy managers from public broadcasters in Austria (ORF), Belgium (VRT and RTBF), Denmark (DR), Finland (YLE), France (France TV), Germany (ARD and ZDF), Great Britain (BBC), Ireland (RTÉ), Italy (RAI), Netherlands (NPO), Portugal (RTP), Spain (RTVE), Sweden (SVT), Switzerland (RTS) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The results indicate that the corporate projection of PSM was increased by emphasising their role as essential services and their defence of the values that characterise them. The pandemic forced the adaptation of programme production from technical standards to an emotional approach, accelerating a formal hybridisation with native online contents. Dependence on software grew and newsmaking processes were altered towards ‘remote journalism’. Changes are drawn that may be maintained in the future.

Abstract A description is provided for Eudarluca caricis. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. DISEASE: Hyperparasitic on rust pustules. This species has been discussed as a potential biological control agent by various authors (PELHATE, 1961, and SEBESTA, 1963, according to ERIKSSON, 1966; GONZÁLEZ & CASTELLANOS, 1978). HOSTS: On many rust species (including Kuehneola malvicola, Phakopsora gossypii, Peridermium peckii, Puccinia cynodontis, P. fimbristylidis, P. gouaniae, P. huberi, P. levis, P. liberta, P. melampodii, P. melanocephala, P. polysora, P. purpurea, P. raunkaerii, P. sorghi, P. thaliae, Puccinia sp., Uredinales fam. indet., Uredo aeschynomensis, U. kyllingiae, U. commelinae, U. costaricensis, U. phaseoli, U. setariae-italicae, U. tenuicutis) associated with the following plants: Allium ampeloprasum, A. schoenoprasum (Alliaceae), Canna coccinea, C. glauca (Cannaceae), Commelina elegans (Commelinaceae), Centaurea scabiosa, Synedrella nodiflora, Wedelia rugosa (Compositae), Carex sp., Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus sp., Eleocharis interstincta, Eleocharis sp., Fimbristylis diphylla, Kyllinga sp., Rhynchospora micrantha (Cyperaceae), Andropogon sp., Arachis hypogaea, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria decumbens, Eriochloa polystachys, Lasiacis divaricata, Panicum maximum, P. purpurascens, P. trichoides, Paspalum plicatulum, Pennisetum purpureum, Phragmites communis, Rhynchelytrum roseum, Sorghum bicolor, S. halepense, S. vulgare, Sporobolus indicus, Tripsacum laxum, Zea mays (Gramineae), Aeschynomene americana, Inga vera, Phaseolus vulgaris (Leguminosae), Althaea rosea, Gossypium barbadense, Hibiscus syriacus (Malvaceae), Rivina humilis (Phytolaccaceae), Gouania lupuloides (Rhamnaceae), Persica vulgaris, Potentilla canadensis, P. verna (Rosaceae), Salix fragilis, S. purpurea (Salicaceae). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Ubiquitous. Records of the anamorph are as follows. AFRICA: Algeria. NORTH AMERICA: Canada, USA (NAG RAJ, 1993). CENTRAL AMERICA: American Virgin Islands (SEAVER, 1924, 1925), Cuba (COOK, 1906), Puerto Rico. SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina, Brazil. Ecuador. Venezuela (CHARDÓN & TORO, 1934). AUSTRALASIA: New Zealand. EUROPE: Austria, former Czechoslovakia, France, Germany. Records of the teleomorph are as follows. AFRICA: Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda. NORTH AMERICA: USA. CENTRAL AMERICA: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico. SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina, Brazil, Guyana [as British Guiana], Ecuador, Venezuela (ERIKSSON, 1966). ASIA: China, India, Japan, Malaysia (including North Borneo), former USSR. AUSTRALASIA: New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea. EUROPE: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland. TRANSMISSION: By air-borne conidia.

No man [...] can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which one may be true. (Nathaniel Hawthorne Scarlet Letter – as seen and pondered by Tony Soprano at Bowdoin College, The Sopranos, Season 1, Episode 5: “College”)The fictitious is a particular and varied source of insight into the everyday world. The idea of seriality—with its variations of the serial, series, seriated—is very much connected to our patterns of entertainment. In this essay, I want to begin the process of testing what values and meanings can be drawn from the idea of seriality into comprehending the play of persona in contemporary culture. From a brief overview of the intersection of persona and seriality as well as a review of the deployment of seriality in popular culture, the article focuses on the character/ person-actor relationship to demonstrate how seriality produces persona. The French term for character—personnage—will be used to underline the clear relations between characterisation, person, and persona which have been developed by the recent work by Lenain and Wiame. Personnage, through its variation on the word person helps push the analysis into fully understanding the particular and integrated configuration between a public persona and the fictional role that an actor inhabits (Heinich).There are several qualities related to persona that allow this movement from the fictional world to the everyday world to be profitable. Persona, in terms of origins, in and of itself implies performance and display. Jung, for instance, calls persona a mask where one is “acting a role” (167); while Goffman considers that performance and roles are at the centre of everyday life and everyday forms and patterns of communication. In recent work, I have use persona to describe how online culture pushes most people to construct a public identity that resembles what celebrities have had to construct for their livelihood for at least the last century (“Persona”; “Self”). My work has expanded to an investigation of how online persona relates to individual agency (“Agency”) and professional postures and positioning (Barbour and Marshall).The fictive constructions then are intensified versions of what persona is addressing: the fabrication of a role for particular directions and ends. Characters or personnages are constructed personas for very directed ends. Their limitation to the study of persona as a dimension of public culture is that they are not real; however, when one thinks of the actor who takes on this fictive identity, there is clearly a relationship between the real personality and that of the character. Moreover, as Nayar’s analysis of highly famous characters that are fictitious reveals, these celebrated characters, such as Harry Potter or Wolverine, sometime take on a public presence in and of themselves. To capture this public movement of a fictional character, Nayar blends the terms celebrity with fiction and calls these semi-public/semi-real entities “celefiction”: the characters are famous, highly visible, and move across media, information, and cultural platforms with ease and speed (18-20). Their celebrity status underlines their power to move outside of their primary text into public discourse and through public spaces—an extra-textual movement which fundamentally defines what a celebrity embodies.Seriality has to be seen as fundamental to a personnage’s power of and extension into the public world. For instance with Harry Potter again, at least some of his recognition is dependent on the linking or seriating the related books and movies. Seriality helps organise our sense of affective connection to our popular culture. The familiarity of some element of repetition is both comforting for audiences and provides at least a sense of guarantee or warranty that they will enjoy the future text as much as they enjoyed the past related text. Seriality, though, also produces a myriad of other effects and affects which provides a useful background to understand its utility in both the understanding of character and its value in investigating contemporary public persona. Etymologically, the words “series” and seriality are from the Latin and refer to “succession” in classical usage and are identified with ancestry and the patterns of identification and linking descendants (Oxford English Dictionary). The original use of the seriality highlights its value in understanding the formation of the constitution of person and persona and how the past and ancestry connect in series to the current or contemporary self. Its current usage, however, has broadened metaphorically outwards to identify anything that is in sequence or linked or joined: it can be a series of lectures and arguments or a related mark of cars manufactured in a manner that are stylistically linked. It has since been deployed to capture the production process of various cultural forms and one of the key origins of this usage came from the 19th century novel. There are many examples where the 19th century novel was sold and presented in serial form that are too numerous to even summarise here. It is useful to use Dickens’ serial production as a defining example of how seriality moved into popular culture and the entertainment industry more broadly. Part of the reason for the sheer length of many of Charles Dickens’ works related to their original distribution as serials. In fact, all his novels were first distributed in chapters in monthly form in magazines or newspapers. A number of related consequences from Dickens’ serialisation are relevant to understanding seriality in entertainment culture more widely (Hayward). First, his novel serialisation established a continuous connection to his readers over years. Thus Dickens’ name itself became synonymous and connected to an international reading public. Second, his use of seriality established a production form that was seen to be more affordable to its audience: seriality has to be understood as a form that is closely connected to economies and markets as cultural commodities kneaded their way into the structure of everyday life. And third, seriality established through repetition not only the author’s name but also the name of the key characters that populated the cultural form. Although not wholly attributable to the serial nature of the delivery, the characters such as Oliver Twist, Ebenezer Scrooge or David Copperfield along with a host of other major and minor players in his many books become integrated into everyday discourse because of their ever-presence and delayed delivery over stories over time (see Allen 78-79). In the same way that newspapers became part of the vernacular of contemporary culture, fictional characters from novels lived for years at a time in the consciousness of this large reading public. The characters or personnages themselves became personalities that through usage became a way of describing other behaviours. One can think of Uriah Heep and his sheer obsequiousness in David Copperfield as a character-type that became part of popular culture thinking and expressing a clear negative sentiment about a personality trait. In the twentieth century, serials became associated much more with book series. One of the more successful serial genres was the murder mystery. It developed what could be described as recognisable personnages that were both fictional and real. Thus, the real Agatha Christie with her consistent and prodigious production of short who-dunnit novels was linked to her Belgian fictional detective Hercule Poirot. Variations of these serial constructions occurred in children’s fiction, the emerging science fiction genre, and westerns with authors and characters rising to related prominence.In a similar vein, early to mid-twentieth century film produced the film serial. In its production and exhibition, the film serial was a déclassé genre in its overt emphasis on the economic quality of seriality. Thus, the film serial was generally a filler genre that was interspersed before and after a feature film in screenings (Dixon). As well as producing a familiarity with characters such as Flash Gordon, it was also instrumental in producing actors with a public profile that grew from this repetition. Flash Gordon was not just a character; he was also the actor Buster Crabbe and, over time, the association became indissoluble for audiences and actor alike. Feature film serials also developed in the first half-century of American cinema in particular with child actors like Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland often reprising variations of their previous roles. Seriality more or less became the standard form of delivery of broadcast media for most of the last 70 years and this was driven by the economies of production it developed. Whether the production was news, comedy, or drama, most radio and television forms were and are variation of serials. As well as being the zenith of seriality, television serials have been the most studied form of seriality of all cultural forms and are thus the greatest source of research into what serials actually produced. The classic serial that began on radio and migrated to television was the soap opera. Although most of the long-running soap operas have now disappeared, many have endured for more than 30 years with the American series The Guiding Light lasting 72 years and the British soap Coronation Street now in its 64th year. Australian nighttime soap operas have managed a similar longevity: Neighbours is in its 30th year, while Home and Away is in its 27th year. Much of the analyses of soap operas and serials deals with the narrative and the potential long narrative arcs related to characters and storylines. In contrast to most evening television serials historically, soap operas maintain the continuity from one episode to the next in an unbroken continuity narrative. Evening television serials, such as situation comedies, while maintaining long arcs over their run are episodic in nature: the structure of the story is generally concluded in the given episode with at least partial closure in a manner that is never engaged with in the never-ending soap opera serials.Although there are other cultural forms that deploy seriality in their structures—one can think of comic books and manga as two obvious other connected and highly visible serial sources—online and video games represent the other key media platform of serials in contemporary culture. Once again, a “horizon of expectation” (Jauss and De Man 23) motivates the iteration of new versions of games by the industry. New versions of games are designed to build on gamer loyalties while augmenting the quality and possibilities of the particular game. Game culture and gamers have a different structural relationship to serials which at least Denson and Jahn-Sudmann describe as digital seriality: a new version of a game is also imagined to be technologically more sophisticated in its production values and this transformation of the similitude of game structure with innovation drives the economy of what are often described as “franchises.” New versions of Minecraft as online upgrades or Call of Duty launches draw the literal reinvestment of the gamer. New consoles provide a further push to serialisation of games as they accentuate some transformed quality in gameplay, interaction, or quality of animated graphics. Sports franchises are perhaps the most serialised form of game: to replicate new professional seasons in each major sport, the sports game transforms with a new coterie of players each year.From these various venues, one can see the centrality of seriality in cultural forms. There is no question that one of the dimensions of seriality that transcends these cultural forms is its coordination and intersection with the development of the industrialisation of culture and this understanding of the economic motivation behind series has been explored from some of the earliest analyses of seriality (see Hagedorn; Browne). Also, seriality has been mined extensively in terms of its production of the pleasure of repetition and transformation. The exploration of the popular, whether in studies of readers of romance fiction (Radway), or fans of science fiction television (Tulloch and Jenkins; Jenkins), serials have provided the resource for the exploration of the power of the audience to connect, engage and reconstruct texts.The analysis of the serialisation of character—the production of a public personnage—and its relation to persona surprisingly has been understudied. While certain writers have remarked on the longevity of a certain character, such as Vicky Lord’s 40 year character on the soap opera One Life to Live, and the interesting capacity to maintain both complicated and hidden storylines (de Kosnik), and fan audience studies have looked at the parasocial-familiar relationship that fan and character construct, less has been developed about the relationship of the serial character, the actor and a form of twinned public identity. Seriality does produce a patterning of personnage, a structure of familiarity for the audience, but also a structure of performance for the actor. For instance, in a longitudinal analysis of the character of Fu Manchu, Mayer is able to discern how a patterning of iconic form shapes, replicates, and reiterates the look of Fu Manchu across decades of films (Mayer). Similarly, there has been a certain work on the “taxonomy of character” where the serial character of a television program is analysed in terms of 6 parts: physical traits/appearance; speech patterns, psychological traits/habitual behaviours; interaction with other characters; environment; biography (Pearson quoted in Lotz).From seriality what emerges is a particular kind of “type-casting” where the actor becomes wedded to the specific iteration of the taxonomy of performance. As with other elements related to seriality, serial character performance is also closely aligned to the economic. Previously I have described this economic patterning of performance the “John Wayne Syndrome.” Wayne’s career developed into a form of serial performance where the individual born as Marion Morrison becomes structured into a cultural and economic category that determines the next film role. The economic weight of type also constructs the limits and range of the actor. Type or typage as a form of casting has always been an element of film and theatrical performance; but it is the seriality of performance—the actual construction of a personnage that flows between the fictional and real person—that allows an actor to claim a persona that can be exchanged within the industry. Even 15 years after his death, Wayne remained one of the most popular performers in the United States, his status unrivalled in its close definition of American value that became wedded with a conservative masculinity and politics (Wills).Type and typecasting have an interesting relationship to seriality. From Eisenstein’s original use of the term typage, where the character is chosen to fit into the meaning of the film and the image was placed into its sequence to make that meaning, it generally describes the circumscribing of the actor into their look. As Wojcik’s analysis reveals, typecasting in various periods of theatre and film acting has been seen as something to be fought for by actors (in the 1850s) and actively resisted in Hollywood in 1950 by the Screen Actors Guild in support of more range of roles for each actor. It is also seen as something that leads to cultural stereotypes that can reinforce the racial profiling that has haunted diverse cultures and the dangers of law enforcement for centuries (Wojcik 169-71). Early writers in the study of film acting, emphasised that its difference from theatre was that in film the actor and character converged in terms of connected reality and a physicality: the film actor was less a mask and more a sense of “being”(Kracauer). Cavell’s work suggested film over stage performance allowed an individuality over type to emerge (34). Thompson’s semiotic “commutation” test was another way of assessing the power of the individual “star” actor to be seen as elemental to the construction and meaning of the film role Television produced with regularity character-actors where performance and identity became indissoluble partly because of the sheer repetition and the massive visibility of these seriated performances.One of the most typecast individuals in television history was Leonard Nimoy as Spock in Star Trek: although the original Star Trek series ran for only three seasons, the physical caricature of Spock in the series as a half-Vulcan and half-human made it difficult for the actor Nimoy to exit the role (Laws). Indeed, his famous autobiography riffed on this mis-identity with the forceful but still economically powerful title I am Not Spock in 1975. When Nimoy perceived that his fans thought that he was unhappy in his role as Spock, he published a further tome—I Am Spock—that righted his relationship to his fictional identity and its continued source of roles for the previous 30 years. Although it is usually perceived as quite different in its constitution of a public identity, a very similar structure of persona developed around the American CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite. With his status as anchor confirmed in its power and centrality to American culture in his desk reportage of the assassination and death of President Kennedy in November 1963, Cronkite went on to inhabit a persona as the most trusted man in the United States by the sheer gravitas of hosting the Evening News stripped across every weeknight at 6:30pm for the next 19 years. In contrast to Nimoy, Cronkite became Cronkite the television news anchor, where persona, actor, and professional identity merged—at least in terms of almost all forms of the man’s visibility.From this vantage point of understanding the seriality of character/personnage and how it informs the idea of the actor, I want to provide a longer conclusion about how seriality informs the concept of persona in the contemporary moment. First of all, what this study reveals is the way in which the production of identity is overlaid onto any conception of identity itself. If we can understand persona not in any negative formulation, but rather as a form of productive performance of a public self, then it becomes very useful to see that these very visible public blendings of performance and the actor-self can make sense more generally as to how the public self is produced and constituted. My final and concluding examples will try and elucidate this insight further.In 2013, Netflix launched into the production of original drama with its release of House of Cards. The series itself was remarkable for a number of reasons. First among them, it was positioned as a quality series and clearly connected to the lineage of recent American subscription television programs such as The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Dexter, Madmen, The Wire, Deadwood, and True Blood among a few others. House of Cards was an Americanised version of a celebrated British mini-series. In the American version, an ambitious party whip, Frank Underwood, manoeuvres with ruthlessness and the calculating support of his wife closer to the presidency and the heart and soul of American power. How the series expressed quality was at least partially in its choice of actors. The role of Frank Underwood was played by the respected film actor Kevin Spacey. His wife, Clare, was played by the equally high profile Robin Warren. Quality was also expressed through the connection of the audience of viewers to an anti-hero: a personnage that was not filled with virtue but moved with Machiavellian acuity towards his objective of ultimate power. This idea of quality emerged in many ways from the successful construction of the character of Tony Soprano by James Gandolfini in the acclaimed HBO television series The Sopranos that reconstructed the very conception of the family in organised crime. Tony Soprano was enacted as complex and conflicted with a sense of right and justice, but embedded in the personnage were psychological tropes and scars, and an understanding of the need for violence to maintain influence power and a perverse but natural sense of order (Martin).The new television serial character now embodied a larger code and coterie of acting: from The Sopranos, there is the underlying sense and sensibility of method acting (see Vineberg; Stanislavski). Gandolfini inhabited the role of Tony Soprano and used the inner and hidden drives and motivations to become the source for the display of the character. Likewise, Spacey inhabits Frank Underwood. In that new habitus of television character, the actor becomes subsumed by the role. Gandolfini becomes both over-determined by the role and his own identity as an actor becomes melded to the role. Kevin Spacey, despite his longer and highly visible history as a film actor is overwhelmed by the televisual role of Frank Underwood. Its serial power, where audiences connect for hours and hours, where the actor commits to weeks and weeks of shoots, and years and years of being the character—a serious character with emotional depth, with psychological motivation that rivals the most visceral of film roles—transforms the actor into a blended public person and the related personnage.This blend of fictional and public life is complex as much for the producing actor as it is for the audience that makes the habitus real. What Kevin Spacey/Frank Underwood inhabit is a blended persona, whose power is dependent on the constructed identity that is at source the actor’s production as much as any institutional form or any writer or director connected to making House of Cards “real.” There is no question that this serial public identity will be difficult for Kevin Spacey to disentangle when the series ends; in many ways it will be an elemental part of his continuing public identity. This is the economic power and risk of seriality.One can see similar blendings in the persona in popular music and its own form of contemporary seriality in performance. For example, Eminem is a stage name for a person sometimes called Marshall Mathers; but Eminem takes this a step further and produces beyond a character in its integration of the personal—a real personnage, Slim Shady, to inhabit his music and its stories. To further complexify this construction, Eminem relies on the production of his stories with elements that appear to be from his everyday life (Dawkins). His characterisations because of the emotional depth he inhabits through his rapped stories betray a connection to his own psychological state. Following in the history of popular music performance where the singer-songwriter’s work is seen by all to present a version of the public self that is closer emotionally to the private self, we once again see how the seriality of performance begins to produce a blended public persona. Rap music has inherited this seriality of produced identity from twentieth century icons of the singer/songwriter and its display of the public/private self—in reverse order from grunge to punk, from folk to blues.Finally, it is worthwhile to think of online culture in similar ways in the production of public personas. Seriality is elemental to online culture. Social media encourage the production of public identities through forms of repetition of that identity. In order to establish a public profile, social media users establish an identity with some consistency over time. The everydayness in the production of the public self online thus resembles the production and performance of seriality in fiction. Professional social media sites such as LinkedIn encourage the consistency of public identity and this is very important in understanding the new versions of the public self that are deployed in contemporary culture. However, much like the new psychological depth that is part of the meaning of serial characters such as Frank Underwood in House of Cards, Slim Shady in Eminem, or Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, social media seriality also encourages greater revelations of the private self via Instagram and Facebook walls and images. We are collectively reconstituted as personas online, seriated by the continuing presence of our online sites and regularly drawn to reveal more and greater depths of our character. In other words, the online persona resembles the new depth of the quality television serial personnage with elaborate arcs and great complexity. Seriality in our public identity is also uncovered in the production of our game avatars where, in order to develop trust and connection to friends in online settings, we maintain our identity and our patterns of gameplay. At the core of this online identity is a desire for visibility, and we are drawn to be “picked up” and shared in some repeatable form across what we each perceive as a meaningful dimension of culture. Through the circulation of viral images, texts, and videos we engage in a circulation and repetition of meaning that feeds back into the constancy and value of an online identity. Through memes we replicate and seriate content that at some level seriates personas in terms of humour, connection and value.Seriality is central to understanding the formation of our masks of public identity and is at least one valuable analytical way to understand the development of the contemporary persona. This essay represents the first foray in thinking through the relationship between seriality and persona.ReferencesBarbour, Kim, and P. David Marshall. “The Academic Online Constructing Persona.” First Monday 17.9 (2012).Browne, Nick. “The Political Economy of the (Super)Text.” Quarterly Review of Film Studies 9.3 (1984): 174-82. Cavell, Stanley. “Reflections on the Ontology of Film.” Movie Acting: The Film Reader. Ed. Wojcik and Pamela Robertson. 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