Despite incredible sales success, popularity, and a fifty year history, easy readers are one of the most neglected forms of children’s literature. Called everything from “the poor stepchild of the more glamorous picture book or children’s novel” to “literary flotsam,” easy readers are too-often regarded as insubstantial, superficial, sub-par literature. This thesis provides the first comprehensive, theoretically grounded examination of easy readers and endeavors to prove that a surprising complexity lurks beneath the easy reader’s decodable surface. In order to illuminate both extra-textual and textual complexity, easy readers are treated generically and examined using the contemporary genre theories of Amy Devitt and Adena Rosmarin. This thesis ultimately unearths a heretofore unexplored complexity in the easy reader’s publication history and generic emergence, and finds that the easy reader genre has literary potential and can accommodate works of artistic merit.

The reproductive cycle of Coregonus lavaretus (L. ) in Loch Lomond was investigated by monthly sampling. The stages of the cycle occurred at the same time each year and were precisely timed. The environment followed a regular pattern which varied seasonally and was repeated annually. Spawning synchrony within the population during the short breeding period may be in response to lunar phases. A qualitative echosounding survey was made. The spatial distribution of the fish is probably related to their feeding behaviour and was mainly pelagic in summer and benthic in winter. Diel vertical migrations were recorded at dawn and dusk and appeared to be related to negative solar altitudes. The fish occurred at the surface during the night and persisted with their diel vertical migrations when feeding behaviour was benthic. The regulation of the reproductive cycle in the common sole Solea solea was investigated. The timing of spawning is ultimately determined by sea temperature, and spawning synchrony within the population is probably achieved in the initiation of exogenous vitellogenesis by a unified response within the breeding population to a stimulatory photoperiod. In both Solea solea and Coregonus lavaretus, initiation of exogenous vitellogenesis occurred during a rapid rise in the condition of the fish. The photosensitivity of the reproductive system may possibly be linked to a threshold condition. The pineal organ of Coregonus lavaretus is typically salmonid and the convoluted epithelium contained photoreceptors, interstitial cells, and neurones. The interstitial cells gave rise to processes which extended into the perivascular space. Photoreceptor cells synapsed with neurones, photoreceptor cells (lateral processes) and possibly other cell types. The results suggest that the pineal organ functions as a photoreceptor.

Olfactory behaviour in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been studied extensively under laboratory and semi-natural conditions. Results of observations on aspects of the olfactory behaviour of a free-living population of rabbits are presented. To facilitate interpretation of these results, considerable preliminary information about the population was collected. The study was conducted over a three year period on the Isle of May off the east coast of Scotland. A total of 326 rabbits were trapped and marked to permit identification in the field, and data on sex, age and social status of these individuals was collated. Data on the overall structure and fluctuations in the population are presented. The social organisation and home ranges of rabbits at four study sites throughout the three years are described. Observations indicate that the social organisation of free-living populations is more complex and variable than previous descriptions of semi-natural populations would have led us to expect. The reproductive performance of the population was investigated and intra and interwarren variations are analysed with respect to warren and group size. Results indicate an inverse relationship between warren size and reproductive success. The most frequently observed group composition (2 males, 2 females) was also the most reproductively successful. Daily and seasonal activity patterns of different age, sex and social status classes of rabbits are described. Olfactory communication was investigated by analysis of the frequency, daily and seasonal variation, and behavioural context of odour related activities performed by members of different age, sex and social status classes. The importance of using appropriate methods for the sampling of behaviour in field studies of olfaction is stressed. The present study concentrates on behaviour related to latrines; chin marking of the substrate and of conspecifics; enurination and urine squirting; and pawscraping. The results suggest that different scent products may carry similar information but analysis of variations in the frequency and context of odour deposition suggests that the deposition of scent fulfills a variety of functions.

Honors project (B.A.) -- Carson-Newman College, 2009. / Project advisor: Dr. Shannon Collins. Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-89).

A investigação aqui apresentada se inscreve no campo da História da Educação e procura dialogar, preferencialmente, com os aportes teóricos da História Cultural, em especial com os contextos de pesquisa envolvendo a história do livro e da leitura. É, pois, através da interlocução entre estes dois campos do conhecimento - história e educação - que o estudo procura compreender os dispositivos de controle da literatura infanto-juvenil, isto é, as ações que intentavam controlar, coibir, taxar e interditar determinados impressos, notadamente periódicos infanto-juvenis, em circulação no Rio Grande do Sul no decorrer da década de 1950. Ou ainda, as estratégias de regulação impostas na tentativa de governar a leitura da maioria. Ao mesmo tempo, compreender as práticas discursivas sobre a literatura e o leitor jovem, bem como as condições de possibilidade de emergência e proliferação de tais práticas naquele contexto histórico. Procurou-se compreender, ainda, como o controle da leitura e da literatura infanto-juvenil é construído discursivamente, de modo a ser justificado e autorizado como verdade. / The investigation here presented enrolls itself in the field of the History of the Education and it tries to dialogue, preferentially, with the theoretical contributions of the Cultural History, especially with the research contexts involving the history of the book and the reading. It is, therefore, through the dialogue among these two fields of the knowledge -history and education - that the study searches for understanding the devices of control of the infanto-juvenile literature, that is, the actions that attempted to control, to restraint, to rate and to interdict certain printed papers, mainly infanto-juvenile newspapers, the ones which was circulating in Rio Grande do Sul, during the 1950s. Or still, the regulation strategies imposed in the attempt of governing the reading of the majority. At the same time, to understand the discursive practices on the literature and on the young readers, as well as the conditions of emergency possibility and proliferation of such practices in that historical context. In addition, to understand, still, how the control of the reading and the infanto-juvenile literature is built discoursively, in a way to be justified and authorized as a truth.

A investigação aqui apresentada se inscreve no campo da História da Educação e procura dialogar, preferencialmente, com os aportes teóricos da História Cultural, em especial com os contextos de pesquisa envolvendo a história do livro e da leitura. É, pois, através da interlocução entre estes dois campos do conhecimento - história e educação - que o estudo procura compreender os dispositivos de controle da literatura infanto-juvenil, isto é, as ações que intentavam controlar, coibir, taxar e interditar determinados impressos, notadamente periódicos infanto-juvenis, em circulação no Rio Grande do Sul no decorrer da década de 1950. Ou ainda, as estratégias de regulação impostas na tentativa de governar a leitura da maioria. Ao mesmo tempo, compreender as práticas discursivas sobre a literatura e o leitor jovem, bem como as condições de possibilidade de emergência e proliferação de tais práticas naquele contexto histórico. Procurou-se compreender, ainda, como o controle da leitura e da literatura infanto-juvenil é construído discursivamente, de modo a ser justificado e autorizado como verdade. / The investigation here presented enrolls itself in the field of the History of the Education and it tries to dialogue, preferentially, with the theoretical contributions of the Cultural History, especially with the research contexts involving the history of the book and the reading. It is, therefore, through the dialogue among these two fields of the knowledge -history and education - that the study searches for understanding the devices of control of the infanto-juvenile literature, that is, the actions that attempted to control, to restraint, to rate and to interdict certain printed papers, mainly infanto-juvenile newspapers, the ones which was circulating in Rio Grande do Sul, during the 1950s. Or still, the regulation strategies imposed in the attempt of governing the reading of the majority. At the same time, to understand the discursive practices on the literature and on the young readers, as well as the conditions of emergency possibility and proliferation of such practices in that historical context. In addition, to understand, still, how the control of the reading and the infanto-juvenile literature is built discoursively, in a way to be justified and authorized as a truth.

A investigação aqui apresentada se inscreve no campo da História da Educação e procura dialogar, preferencialmente, com os aportes teóricos da História Cultural, em especial com os contextos de pesquisa envolvendo a história do livro e da leitura. É, pois, através da interlocução entre estes dois campos do conhecimento - história e educação - que o estudo procura compreender os dispositivos de controle da literatura infanto-juvenil, isto é, as ações que intentavam controlar, coibir, taxar e interditar determinados impressos, notadamente periódicos infanto-juvenis, em circulação no Rio Grande do Sul no decorrer da década de 1950. Ou ainda, as estratégias de regulação impostas na tentativa de governar a leitura da maioria. Ao mesmo tempo, compreender as práticas discursivas sobre a literatura e o leitor jovem, bem como as condições de possibilidade de emergência e proliferação de tais práticas naquele contexto histórico. Procurou-se compreender, ainda, como o controle da leitura e da literatura infanto-juvenil é construído discursivamente, de modo a ser justificado e autorizado como verdade. / The investigation here presented enrolls itself in the field of the History of the Education and it tries to dialogue, preferentially, with the theoretical contributions of the Cultural History, especially with the research contexts involving the history of the book and the reading. It is, therefore, through the dialogue among these two fields of the knowledge -history and education - that the study searches for understanding the devices of control of the infanto-juvenile literature, that is, the actions that attempted to control, to restraint, to rate and to interdict certain printed papers, mainly infanto-juvenile newspapers, the ones which was circulating in Rio Grande do Sul, during the 1950s. Or still, the regulation strategies imposed in the attempt of governing the reading of the majority. At the same time, to understand the discursive practices on the literature and on the young readers, as well as the conditions of emergency possibility and proliferation of such practices in that historical context. In addition, to understand, still, how the control of the reading and the infanto-juvenile literature is built discoursively, in a way to be justified and authorized as a truth.

Despite incredible sales success, popularity, and a fifty year history, easy readers are one of the most neglected forms of children’s literature. Called everything from “the poor stepchild of the more glamorous picture book or children’s novel” to “literary flotsam,” easy readers are too-often regarded as insubstantial, superficial, sub-par literature. This thesis provides the first comprehensive, theoretically grounded examination of easy readers and endeavors to prove that a surprising complexity lurks beneath the easy reader’s decodable surface. In order to illuminate both extra-textual and textual complexity, easy readers are treated generically and examined using the contemporary genre theories of Amy Devitt and Adena Rosmarin. This thesis ultimately unearths a heretofore unexplored complexity in the easy reader’s publication history and generic emergence, and finds that the easy reader genre has literary potential and can accommodate works of artistic merit. / Arts, Faculty of / Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS), School of / Graduate

The modern cephalopod molluscs, particularly the octopods, are highly developed macrophageous predators which have a pronounced ability to learn. Striking resemblances are found between these animals and the vertebrates, particularly the fish. The study of cephalopods therefore provides an opportunity to examine systems which are composed of structural units common to molluscs but which may be similar in function and performance to those of vertebrates. This investigation concerns the alimentary canal and its innervation in the lesser octopus Eledone cirrhosa. Detailed anatomical investigation shows the alimentary canal of E. cirrhosa to be very similar to that of the better known Octopus vulgaris. Current concepts of the functions of the alimentary organs are discussed utilizing data from both E. cirrhosa and O. vulgaris. Silver staining reveals a basic pattern of innervation in the alimentary organs. Large nerve trunks running in the external collagenous layer give rise to a nerve plexus within the circular muscle. The longitudinal muscle plexus arises from branches of the circular muscle plexus or direct from the nerves of the external layer, Nerves of both plexuses contact muscle fibres in an 'en passant' manner. Fibres run out from the longitudinal muscle to the subepithelium, where they are observed associated with muscle fibres and beneath the epithelial basal lamina. Good evidence for fibres crossing into the epithelium was observed only in the cuticularized regions of the digestive tract. The digestive gland ducts differ from this pattern in the very large numbers of major nerves seen in their external and muscular regions. Outwith the alimentary ganglia nerve cells are only regularly observed within the major intestinal nerves. Receptor like cells were also repeatedly observed only in the posterior intestine. These results axe compared with data from O. vulgaris and the physiological evidence for the presence of receptors. The blood vessels of the alimentary canal are innervated at all levels. The distribution of other densely staining cells is reported. Evidence for the presence of particular neurotransmitters within the alimentary canal and alimentary nerve centres is reviewed. Fluorescence histochemistry shows that at least two types of nerves are present in the alimentary wall. The majority axe aminergic (including those associated with blood vessels and some sphincters), as the pattern of fluorescent nerves is predominantly that shown by silver studies. However, fluorescent nerves decrease and then disappear anteriorly from the crop/oesophageal sphincter and posteriorly from the mid-intestine. The stomach has fluorescent nerves, other than those associated with blood vessels. Fluorescent fibres enter the gut via the sympathetic and possibly the digestive gland duct nerves. Non-fluorescent fibres enter via the atrio-rectal nerves and from the gastric ganglion. The fluorescence is ascribed to catecholamines as no evidence of 5HT was obtained, Specific fluorescence was also observed in some cells of the subepithelium and the external region. These results are discussed with reference to available physiological data. The anterior intestine was the representative region chosen for fine structural studies. These show the alimentary muscles to be the same basic type (cross or pseudo-striated) as that found in cephalopod somatic or heart muscle. Three types of myomuscular and neuromuscular junctions axe described. The presence of mineralized concretions (spherites) in the external layer of the intestine, together with the complex relations of its epithelial cells and heavy vascularization suggest a secondary function of mineral and/or water balance for this organ. These results are discussed. Finally, a pathological condition affecting the octopuses during this study is described.

Este trabalho visa a analisar algumas formas do medo na literatura infantil e juvenil de língua portuguesa, com base nos Estudos Comparados de Literatura. Para tal, serão utilizados conceitos como polifonia, dialogismo, intertextualidade e prática social, reveladores de mudanças na forma de se tratar o medo desde a utilização dos mitos, pelos povos primitivos, passando pela didática comportamental dos textos exemplares e culminando na pedagogia da superação em textos modernos. O tema revelou-se interessante para um trabalho de pesquisa, visto ser um ingrediente sempre presente na vida humana, desde a infância, quando as narrativas são de fundamental importância para a construção da alteridade na criança, assim como para revelar a realidade social na busca por transformação e liberdade. A escolha do corpus promoveu a divisão do estudo em duas etapas: a primeira, analisandose textos exemplares, constatando-se o medo como inibidor de comportamentos socialmente indesejáveis, com as obras Chapeuzinho Vermelho, conto de Charles Perrault, e A mãe canibal e seus filhos, conto popular africano adaptado por Júlio Emílio Braz; a segunda, estudando-se textos modernos, caracterizados pela busca do novo, incentivando a transgressão, cuja análise centra-se nas obras Chapeuzinho Amarelo, de Chico Buarque, O gato e o escuro, do moçambicano Mia Couto e O gatinho Nicolau, Chapeuzinho Vermelho e o Lobo, de Aurélio de Oliveira. / This paper aims to analyze some forms of fear in children\'s books and juvenile literature in Portuguese, based on the Comparative Studies of Literature. This will be used as concepts polyphony, dialogism, intertextuality and social practice, revealing changes in the way of dealing with the fear from the use of myths, by primitive people, through didactic behavioral from example texts, and culminating in the pedagogy of resilience in modern texts. The issue has proved useful for research work, since it is an ever-present ingredient in human life, from childhood, when the narratives are of fundamental importance for the building of the another representation of child as well is to reveal the social reality in the quest for freedom and transformation. The choice of the corpus promoted a division of the study into two stages: first, analyzing example texts, confirming the fear as an inhibitor of socially undesirable behaviors, with the works of Chapeuzinho Vermelho by Charles Perrault, and A mãe canibal e seus filhos, african folk tale adapted by Julio Emilio Braz; the second, studying modern texts, characterized by the pursuit of new, encouraging the transgression, whose analysis focuses on works Chapeuzinho Amarelo, by Chico Buarque, O gato e o escuro, by mozambican Mia Couto and O gatinho Nicolau, Chapeuzinho Vermelho e o Lobo, from Aurelio de Oliveira.