Visual sub-modalities, such as colour, form and motion perception, are analysed in parallel by three visual “pathways” – the parvocellular (PC), magnocellular (MC) and koniocellular (KC) pathways. This thesis aims to further elucidate some properties of the subcortical pathways for colour vision. The experimental animal used throughout is a New World monkey, the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus. (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

ABSTRACT Medieval xenophobia fostered attitudes that viewed anything foreign or distasteful as monstrous. Accordingly, insular inhabitants of the Middle Ages were constantly striving to distinguish Self from Other. My dissertation argues that sixteenth-century England began to reverse this trend: it began to reconcile difference, not by distinguishing Self from Other, but by blurring those distinctions. Visions of ancient Self and contemporary Other began to fuse as proponents of Imperial Britain sought to assimilate foreign monsters that were once considered barbaric, inferior, or inhuman. This method of assimilation is especially apparent during the Elizabethan Age of conquest in the New World. England's prophetic destiny was inextricably tied to its epic history, its Trojan ancestry, and its most glorified rulers, Brutus and his distant successor, King Arthur. Thus, reestablishing and rewriting Britain's legendary past became an exercise in securing its future. I maintain that John Dee (c. 1527-1608/9) and Edmund Spenser (c. 1552-1599) strategically fused ancient Britain and the New World via the figures of King Arthur and his alleged descendant, Queen Elizabeth. Portions of Dee's Brytanici Imperii Limites are explored to illustrate this connection, as are some of his arcane mystical pursuits. I further examine sections of Spenser's Faerie Queene in relation to Queen Elizabeth and King Arthur, and interpret Arthur in Faery lond as a metaphor for England in the New World. My introduction establishes the key features of the Galfridian tradition and its significance to the Tudor dynasty. It further discusses medieval perceptions of the monstrous that influenced the early-modern era. Subsequent chapters argue that England's assimilation of Other extended to pagan deities and giants, Native Americans, ancient Israelites, and (in Elizabeth's case) to the feminine Other. My final chapter demonstrates how Queen Elizabeth, via her affiliation with King Arthur, became a temporal bridge uniting England's epic past with its future glory.

Dentre os gêneros atuais de Evaniidae, Hyptia Illiger é o quarto mais rico em espécies (50 spp.), somente atrás de Prosevania Kieffer (102), Evaniella Bradley (73) e Evania Fabricius (67). Apesar de importantes contribuições recentes de alguns pesquisadores, a quase totalidade das espécies de Hyptia é conhecida superficialmente. A insuficiência das descrições em geral é decorrente do dimorfismo sexual que dificulta o reconhecimento, convergência na aparência de espécies diferentes, descrições não condizentes com os conceitos atuais, existência de poucos dados de distribuição confiáveis, trabalhos baseados em muito poucos exemplares e ilustrações e chaves de identificação inadequadas. É, portanto, fundamental uma revisão global deste gênero.O presente estudo representa o primeiro esforço aliando a revisão taxonômica a análise filogenética interna das espécies do gênero Hyptia com base em caracteres de morfologia externa. A classificação mais atual considerava 50 nomes válidos para a categoria de espécies em Hyptia com 11 sinônimos, totalizando 61 nomes. A proposta de classificação que adoto após o presente estudo considera 80 espécies válidas e 14 sinônimos, totalizando 94 nomes, sendo 46 anteriormente espécies descritas e 34 espécies novas. No presente trabalh foram designados lectótipos para Hyptia amazonica, H. poeyi, H. petiolata e H. rufipes; propostas sinonímias de H. argenteiceps Kieffer, 1904 nov. sin. sob H. petiolata (Fabricius, 1798), H. hirsuta (Taschenberg, 1891) nov. sin. sob H. amazonica (Schletterer, 1886), H. stimulata (Schletterer, 1889) nov. sin. sob H. poeyi (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) e H. spinifera Frison, 1922 nov. sin. sob H. nigriventris Szépligeti, 1903). Proposta para emendas justificadas de H. peruanus (Enderlein, 1905) para H. peruana n. em. e de H. rufipectus Dewitz, 1881 para H. rufipecta n. em. Sugerida a elevação do status da subespécie H. brevicalcar sericea a espécie H. sericea (Kieffer, 1910a) stat. nov. e a transferência de H. festiva para Semaeomyia [S. festiva (Taschenberg, 1891)] nov. comb. Além das mudanças taxonômicas, os sexos dos espécimes-tipo de duas espécies haviam sido incorretamente determinados pelos autores originais: H. brasiliensis Szépligeti, 1903 identificado como fêmea e H. crassa (Cameron, 1888) como macho. Para a espécie H. hapyoides Bradley, 1908 o sexo não havia sido determinado (fêmea). O estudo dos 80 terminais, incluindo os grupos-externos mas não as espécies cujos holótipos não puideream ser estudados, resultou em uma matriz com 173 caracteres, sendo 41 baseados na morfologia da cabeça, 84 do mesossoma, 21 das pernas, 6 do metassoma e 21 das asas. Na forma como apresentados e discutidos, todos os caracteres são propostos e analisados pela primeira vez. A análise filogenética demonstra, pela primeira vez, a relação de grupo-irmão entre Hyptia e Decevania, apoiada por seis sinapomorfias e a monofilia de Hyptia, com pelo menos duas sinapomorfias sustentando esta hipótese. As relações internas apontam para a formação de dois clados maiores, as espécies com presença nas ilhas caribenhas e as espécies com distribuição pelos continentes americanos. Numa próxima etapa, a adição de novos caracteres de morfologia externa e da morfologia interna (apódemas e músculos) devem melhorar o suporte e revelar mais fielmente o relacionamento entre os clados do gênero, pois alguns clados não apresentaram resolução aceitável segundo a análise atual. A construção de um atlas de morfologia foi importante para o estabelecimento dos termos utilizados em Hyptia e, posteriormente, receberá adição de novos caracteres, a partir de estudos mais detalhados de sua morfologia interna, assim como um ferramenta importante para iniciantes na taxonomia da família. / Among the extant Evaniidae genera, Hyptia Illiger is the fourth richest in species (50 spp.), only behind Prosevania Kieffer (102), Evaniella Bradley (73) and Evania Fabricius (67). Despite major recent contributions, most Hyptia species are superficially known. The inadequacy of the descriptions is usually due to sexual dimorphism that hampers recogntion, convergence in appearance of different species, inadequate descriptions in face of current concepts, few reliable distribution data, work based on very few specimens and inadequate illustrations and identification keys. It is therefore imperative that a comprehensive review of this genus is performed. This study represents the first effort combining a taxonomic revision with a phylogenetic analysis of the internal classification of Hyptia species, based on external morphology. The current classification accepts 50 valid and 11 invalid species, in a total of 61 names.With the new proposal for Hyptia classification, 80 species are considered valid and 14 invalid, in a total of 94 names, 46 previously described and 34 undescribed species for Hyptia. In this study, lectotypes were designated for Hyptia amazonica, H. poeyi, H. petiolata and H. rufipes; the synonymy of H. argenteiceps Kieffer, 1904 syn. nov. (=H. petiolata (Fabricius, 1798)); H. hirsuta (Taschenberg, 1891) syn. nov. (=H. amazonica (Schletterer, 1886)), H. stimulata (Schletterer, 1889) syn. nov. (=H. poeyi (Guérin-Méneville, 1843)) and H. spinifera Frison, 1922 syn. nov. (=H. nigriventris Szépligeti, 1903). Proposal for justified emendation from H. peruanus (Enderlein, 1905) to H. peruana n. em. and from H. rufipectus Dewitz, 1881 to H. rufipecta n. em. Rank change from ssp. to sp., H. sericea (Kieffer, 1910a) stat. nov. and transfered from Hyptia to Semaeomyia, Semaeomyia festiva (Taschenberg, 1891) comb. nov. In addition to taxonomic changes, the sexes of the type specimens of two species were incorrectly determined by the original authors: H. brasiliensis Szépligeti, 1903 identified as a female and H. crassa (Cameron, 1888) as being a male., H. hapyoides Bradley, 1908 holotype sex has not been determined (female). The study of 80 terminals, including the outgroups but not those species which holotypes were not actually studied, resulted in a matrix with 173 characters, of which 41 in the head, 84 (mesossoma), 21 (legs), 6 (metassoma) and 21 (wings). As herte presented and discussed, all characters are proposed and analyzed for the first time. The phylogenetic analysis shows by the first time a sister relationship among Hyptia and Decevania, supported by six synapomorphies and the monophyly of Hyptia, with at least two synapomorphies supporting this hypothesis. Internal relationships indicate the existance of two major basal clades, the species present in the Caribbean islands and the species distributed throughout the American continents. The addition of new characters from external and internal morphologies (apodemes and muscles) should improve the support and reveal more accurately the relationship between the clades of the genus, as in the present analysis, some clades showed no acceptable resolution. The development of an morphological atlas for Hyptia was important for the establishment of the used terms and sforms the basis for further studies, as well as an incentive for beginners in the taxonomy of the family.

This study aims to reveal the contribution of Eco Farm New World as a tourist attraction in Caninde de Sao Francisco / SE. Present new possibilities that can boost the development of the town of Caninde de Sao Francisco / SE as an important link between tourism and local development at the same time identify the tourist attractions on site with an emphasis on Eco Farm New World and its relationship with the tourism in the municipality, in order to assess the tourist attractions and the infrastructure of the locality; analyze its importance for tourism in the municipality; relate the tourist activities already consolidated in Caninde de Sao Francisco / SE and explain the strategies used in Eco Farm New World for the implementation of tourist itineraries. Therefore, it is important to note the recognition of products / attractions and the quality of services offered, growth, consolidation, maturity and decline of products along with the importance that it has for the local community and visitors. The first step will be through literature, proceeded in reading sources such as books, articles, monographs in libraries and internet, facilitating analyze diverse concepts on the subject. Soon after this research, field work will take place, with on-site observations. In the first chapter are the main theories on the subject. The second chapter will describe the city in its historical formation, evolution, emergence and characterization of tourism in the region of Caninde de Sao Francisco / SE. The third and final chapter, will show the Eco Farm New World as a tourist attraction in Canyon script. / Este trabalho tem como objetivo revelar a contribuição da Eco Fazenda Mundo Novo como atrativo turístico em Canindé de São Francisco/SE. Apresentar novas possibilidades que poderá impulsionar o desenvolvimento do município de Canindé de São Francisco/SE, constituindo um importante elo entre turismo e desenvolvimento local, ao mesmo tempo identificar os atrativos turísticos existentes no local com ênfase na Eco Fazenda Mundo Novo e sua relação com o turismo no município, tendo em vista avaliar os atrativos turísticos e a infraestrutura da localidade; analisar a importância da mesma para o turismo no município; relacionar as atividades turísticas já consolidadas de Canindé de São Francisco/SE e explicar as estratégias utilizadas na Eco Fazenda Mundo Novo para implementação de roteiros turísticos. Neste sentido, é importante salientar o reconhecimento dos produtos/ atrativos e a qualidade dos serviços ofertados, o crescimento, a consolidação, a maturidade e o declínio dos produtos juntamente com a importância que o mesmo tem para a comunidade local e para os visitantes. A primeira etapa será através de pesquisa bibliográfica, procedida de leitura em fontes, como livros, artigos, monografias em bibliotecas e internet, facilitando analisar conceitos diversificados sobre o tema. Logo após essa pesquisa, acontecerá o trabalho de campo, com observações in loco. No primeiro capítulo estão as principais teorias acerca do tema. O segundo capítulo descreverá a cidade na sua formação histórica, evolução, surgimento e caracterização do turismo na região de Canindé de São Francisco/SE. O terceiro e último capítulo, evidenciará a Eco Fazenda Mundo Novo enquanto atrativo turístico no roteiro do Cânion.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2014-11-24T10:51:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carlos Henrique Lopes de Almeida - 2013.pdf: 1936028 bytes, checksum: 2979efe4054b9b6eb427e7de0419f0cc (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2014-11-24T13:59:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carlos Henrique Lopes de Almeida - 2013.pdf: 1936028 bytes, checksum: 2979efe4054b9b6eb427e7de0419f0cc (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-11-24T13:59:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carlos Henrique Lopes de Almeida - 2013.pdf: 1936028 bytes, checksum: 2979efe4054b9b6eb427e7de0419f0cc (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-19 / The present work aims to study two books from the Spanish chronicler Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, Historia general y natural de las Índias and Sumario de la natural historia de las Índias. These are the issues published in few months with 81 chapters approximately, without been pretentious due to the absence of notes and records of the observations made in the New World at the moment of such production. Those ones have around 1800 pages distributed in 50 books with more time for elaboration and frequent returns to the text. So, it will be designed an analysis that traces the influences of the literarily aspect in the historiographical thoughts present in both books, considering the presence of some imagistical reflexes from the heritage and traces from the Middle age‘s tradition are been announced o n Oviedo‘s chronistical construction. The scenario description of the discovered lands, the encounter between the Old World referential and the New worlds‘ space, the transliterization of the structures responsible to the approximation and incorporation of the new discovers are thematic elements present in the Oviedo‘s chronistical production brought to this research to a treatment of this issue while trope present in medieval art and literature. Still inside this proposal, this work shall analyse the resources present in the writings of Gonzalo Fernandez Oviedo y Valdés which he uses in the descriptivist reports sometimes characterizing realistically the encounter with nature and natives, and at other times exercising a exquisite touch of literary reflexes. Influenced by the authorities and structures so precious to the middle-aged tradition and responsible for confluence zones that reinforce the porosity of historiography and fiction, Oviedo brings elements of medieval the speech to develop the record of the reports present at the chronics what has its own value and originality if compared to other chroniclers of his time. In this sense, this research proposes to analyze and search medieval marks present in the historiographical scenario, the author‘s literary vocation in his historiographical thoughts which entitles this thesis. What is intended is that may give more meaning to the text itself and with this dynamic, to dialog with factors related to the meddle-aged ideal images, the colonization context present in Spaniard America, the literary ruses and the rhetorical resources used by the author. For that matter, it was developed bibliographical studies of the work and theme in authors such as, Weckmann, Pupo-Walker, Prampolini, Castor, Cuello de la Rosa and Irving among others, in the searching to understand how the literary marks occur in the New worlds‘ historiographical from Oviedo‘s and some of the medieval images present in the reports of discovering and colonization of Spaniard America. The result of this work is to show traces of the influence of medieval mentality in the formation of the literary vocation chronicler of Madrid in their travelogues. Strictly speaking, we try to provide, through the textual organization of this thesis, a contribution to the critical fortunes of Oviedo and the research line Literature, History and Imaginary. / O presente trabalho tem como propósito o estudo de duas obras do cronista espanhol Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, Historia general y natural de las Índias e Sumario de la natural historia de las Índias. Trata-se esta, de publicação produzida em poucos meses com aproximadamente 81 capítulos, sem muito rebuscamento, devido à ausência de anotações e registros das observações feitas no Novo Mundo no momento de produção. Aquela, tem aproximadamente 1800 páginas, distribuídas em 50 livros, com um tempo maior para elaboração e constantes retornos ao texto. Assim, traçamos uma análise que rastreia as influências da vocação literária no pensamento historiográfico presente nestas duas obras, considerando a presença de alguns reflexos imagísticos da herança e dos traços da tradição da Idade Média que se anunciam na construção da cronística de Oviedo. A descrição do cenário das terras descobertas, o encontro entre os referenciais do Velho Mundo e o espaço novomundista, a transliteração de esquemas responsáveis pela aproximação e incorporação das novas descobertas são elementos temáticos presentes na produção cronística oviedina trazidos para esta tese para tratamento desse assunto enquanto tropo presente na arte e na literatura medievais. Ainda dentro dessa proposta, analisamos os artifícios narrativos presentes na escrita que Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés utiliza dentro dos relatos descritivistas, ora caracterizando realisticamente o encontro com a natureza e os nativos, ora exercitando um toque requintado de reflexos literários. Influenciado pelas autoridades e por esquemas tão caros à tradição medieval, responsáveis por zonas de confluência que reforçam a porosidade na historiografia e na ficção, Oviedo traz elementos do discurso medieval para o desenvolvimento do registro dos relatos presente nas cronísticas, o que tem seu valor e originalidade se comparado a outros cronistas de sua época. Nesse sentido, esta tese propõe analisar e buscar, nas marcas medievais presentes no cenário historiográfico, a vocação literária no pensamento historiográfico do autor, de acordo com seu título. O que se pretende é que possam dar maior sentido ao texto e, junto a essa dinâmica, dialogar com fatores relacionados ao ideário medieval, ao contexto da colonização presente na América Espanhola, aos artifícios literários e aos recursos retóricos utilizados pelo autor. Desenvolveram-se para tanto, estudos bibliográficos da obra e do tema em questão em autores como Fonseca, Weckmann, Pupo-Walker, Prampolini, Castor, Cuello de la Rosa e Irving entre outros, buscando compreender como se dá a presença das marcas literárias na historiografia novomundista oviedina e algumas das imagens medievais presentes nos relatos do descobrimento e da colonização. O resultado deste trabalho busca demonstrar os traços da mentalidade medieval influenciadores na formação da vocação literária do cronista madrilenho em seus relatos de viagem. A rigor, tentamos proporcionar, por via da organização textual desta tese, uma contribuição à fortuna crítica de Oviedo e à linha de pesquisa Literatura, História e Imaginário.

Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca (1490-1557), hidalgo de la meilleure noblesse espagnole, est l’auteur d’une relation de voyage très significativement intitulée Naufragios (1542) qui constitue le coeur de cette thèse intitulée : "Un conquistador à la découverte de l’autre : Les Naufragios d’Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca". Elle vise à démontrer que le caractère exceptionnel de ce texte réside tout autant dans son contenu que dans la personne de son auteur, brutalement et bien malgré lui confronté au choc de l’altérité, du fait d’une immersion involontaire, prolongée et totale parmi différentes ethnies de l’actuel continent nord-américain. À son retour en Europe, il retranscrit dans un mémoire les différentes étapes de cette découverte et de sa prise de conscience de l’humanité pleine et entière des Indiens, cet "autre" qu’il évoque longuement après l’avoir attentivement observé. Pour Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, les Indiens sont en tous points ses semblables, des hommes qu’il convient de traiter comme tels et dont il devient, contre toute attente, l’ardent défenseur devant la plus haute autorité temporelle et spirituelle d’Espagne, le Roi. Son texte, à la qualité littéraire inclassable, ne relate pourtant pas une aventure unique. C’est à lui cependant qu’il doit sa postérité. Considéré tour à tour comme le premier écrivain américain, un ethnologue avant l’heure ou comme le premier défenseur authentique des Indiens, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, à l’issue d’un périple de près de 10 ans au cours duquel il a parcouru le continent américain d’Est en Ouest connaît la déchéance sociale et n’a pas vu ses idées triompher de son vivant. / Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca (1490-1557), gentleman of the highest Spanish nobility, is the author of a travel very significantly entitled Naufragios (1542) which is the heart of this thesis entitled "A conquistador exploring the other: the Naufragios of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca". It aims to demonstrate that the exceptional nature of this text lies as much in its content and in the person of its author, in spite of himself and suddenly confronted with the shock of otherness, as a result of accidental flooding, and prolonged total among different ethnic groups of the current north American continent. Upon his return to Europe, he transcribed in a memory the different stages of this discovery and its awareness of the full humanity of the Indians, that "other" that evokes long after having carefully observed. For Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, the Indians are in all respects his fellow men should be treated as such and which he became, against all odds, the advocate before the highest temporal and spiritual authority of Spain, the King. His text, the literary quality unclassifiable, yet not only tells a unique adventure. To him, however he has his posterity. Considered in turn as the first American writer, an ethnologist or before the time as the first true defender of the Indians, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, after a journey of almost 10 years during which he traveled the American continent from East to West knows the social decline and has not seen his ideas triumph during his lifetime.

No description available.

Neuweltkameliden, Trächtigkeitsdiagnose, Hormone, Speichel, Milch, Urin Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die trächtigkeitsassoziierten Hormone Progesteron (P4), Pregnanediol-Glucuronid (PdG), Östronsulfat (E1S) und Relaxin (RLN) in Spei-chel, Milch und Urin von tragenden und nicht tragenden Alpakas im Vergleich zur je-weiligen Blutkonzentration zu bestimmen, um ihre Eignung zur nicht invasiven Träch-tigkeitsdiagnostik zu untersuchen. Beprobt wurden, über einen Zeitraum von zwei Jahren, 36 Alpakastuten von sechs pri-vaten Züchtern in Sachsen jeweils vor der Bedeckung und in verschiedenen Stadien der Trächtigkeit (verifiziert durch eine transabdominale Ultraschalluntersuchung). Es wurden jeweils Serum-, Plasma-, Speichel-, Urin- und Milchproben gewonnen und die Hormonkonzentrationen mittels Enzymimmunoassay (EIA) bestimmt. Weiterhin wurden einige Milchproben in einem semiquantitativen Progesteron-Schnelltest für Rinder ein-gesetzt. P4-Konzentrationen steigen signifikant von Basalwerten beim nicht tragenden Tier von 0,35 ± 0,04 ng/ml auf 2,94 ± 0,11 ng/ml Plasma (bzw. von 0,26 ± 0,03 auf 2,87 ± 0,10 ng/ml Serum) bei tragenden Tieren an. Auch in Milch und im Urin tragender Alpakas sind signifikant höhere P4-Konzentrationen messbar: Sie steigen von basal 0,83 ± 0,06 ng/ml auf 4,09 ± 0,38 ng/ml Milch bzw. von 0,29 ± 0,04 ng P4/mg Krea auf 0,60 ± 0,06 ng P4/mg Krea im Urin. Die Urin-Konzentrationen von PdG sind signifikant höher bei graviden (152,73 ± 17,37 ng PdG/mg Krea) als bei ingraviden Alpakas (26,70 ± 2,80 ng PdG/mg Krea). Im Speichel sind weder von P4 noch von PdG Konzentrationsunterschiede zwischen den beiden Gruppen nachweisbar. Der P4-Schnelltest erkannte 28 von 31 Milchproben tragender Tiere richtig als tragend, was einem Prozentsatz von 90 % entspricht. Dage-gen wurden 22 von 32 Proben nicht tragender Tiere als nicht tragend identifiziert (69 %), wobei von den falsch positiven Milchproben jedoch 70% auch mit dem labor-gebundenen EIA falsch positive Ergebnisse lieferten. Während Blutkonzentrationen von RLN signifikant nach dem zweiten Trächtigkeitsmo-nat von basal 1,65 ± 0,56 ng/ml auf 11,69 ± 2,31 ng/ml (Plasma) bzw. von 0,95 ± 0,30 ng/ml auf 16,23 ± 3,05 ng/ml (Serum) ansteigen, sind keine Unterschiede in Milch, Speichel und Urin zwischen tragenden und nicht tragenden Tieren nachweisbar. Konzentrationen von E1S steigen erst im letzten Trächtigkeitsmonat signifikant an: Blutwerte steigen von basal 0,59 ± 0,07 ng/ml auf 3,43 ±0,55 ng/ml (Plasma) bzw. 0,32 ± 0,02 ng/ml auf 2,16 ± 0,43 ng/ml (Serum) und Urinwerte von basal 6,14 ± 0,53 ng E1S/mg Krea auf 104,03 ± 24,09 ng E1S/mg Krea. Speichel und Milchkonzentrationen unterscheiden sich nicht signifikant zwischen den beiden Gruppen. Die gemessenen Konzentrationen von P4, E1S und RLN im Blut bzw. PdG und E1S im Urin stimmen mit den Ergebnissen früherer Untersuchungen überein und können somit als Trächtigkeitsmarker bestätigt werden. Dies ist die erste Arbeit, die trächtigkeitsassoziierte Hormone in Speichel und Milch von Alpakas untersucht. Während die P4 Bestimmung in Milch sowie die Bestimmung von PdG und E1S in Urin geeignete Alternativen darstellen, ist Speichel für eine Trächtig-keitsdiagnostik beim Alpaka ungeeignet. Die Nutzung von Milch und Urin zur Trächtigkeitsdiagnose stellt insofern eine Vereinfa-chung der derzeitig gängigen Methoden (u. a. Blutprogesteron) dar, als dass der Besit-zer das Probenmaterial selbst gewinnen kann und dies mit erheblich weniger Stress für die Stuten verbunden ist. Die Bestimmung von P4 in Milch und PdG in Urin stellen so-mit geeignete Alternativen zur Frühdiagnostik im ersten Trächtigkeitsmonat dar, da zu diesem Zeitpunkt eine transabdominale Ultraschalluntersuchung noch nicht aussage-kräftig ist. Die vorliegende Arbeit leistet einen Beitrag, um die noch vergleichsweise kleine vor-handene Datenbank zur Endokrinologie der Reproduktion bei NWK zu erweitern. / Aims of the present study were the measurement of pregnancy-associated hormones progesterone (P4), pregnanediol-glucuronide (PdG), relaxin (RLN) and oestrone sul-phate (E1S) in saliva, milk and urine of pregnant and non-pregnant alpacas, to compare to their respective blood concentrations and to assess their potential use for pregnancy diagnosis. Samples were obtained over a course of two years from 36 female alpacas of 6 private alpaca breeders in Saxony (Germany) before mating and at different stages throughout pregnancy (confirmed by ultrasonography). Hormone concentrations in serum, plasma, saliva, urine and milk samples were determined using enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Some milk samples were also tested using a commercial on-farm P4 kit which is de-signed for dairy cattle. Concentrations of P4 increased significantly from basal values in non-pregnant alpacas of 0.35 ± 0.04 ng/ml to 2.94 ± 0.11 ng/ml in plasma (and from 0.26 ± 0.03 to 2.87 ± 0.10 ng/ml in serum) in pregnant animals. Milk and urine concentrations of P4 were sig-nificantly higher in pregnant alpacas: Values increased from basal 0.83 ± 0.06 ng/ml to 4.09 ± 0.38 ng/ml in milk and from 0.29 ± 0.04 ng P4/mg Cr to 0.60 ± 0.06 ng P4/mg Cr in urine. While PdG concentrations in urine were significantly higher in pregnant (152.73 ± 17.37 ng PdG/mg Cr) than in non-pregnant animals (26.70 ± 2.80 ng PdG/mg Cr), there were no differences in concentrations of P4 or PdG in saliva. The on-farm milk P4 test kit showed a sensitivity of 90% for diagnosis of pregnancy and a specificity of 69% for non-pregnancy. RLN concentrations in blood increased significantly after the 2nd month from basal 1.65 ± 0.56 ng/ml to 11.69 ± 2.31 ng/ml in plasma and from 0.95 ± 0.30 ng/ml to 16.23 ± 3.05 ng/ml in serum, whereas there were no differences in milk, saliva and urine between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. Hormone concentrations of E1S increase during the last month of pregnancy: Blood concentrations rise from basal values of 0.59 ± 0.07 ng/ml to 3.43 ± 0.55 ng/ml in plasma and from 0.32 ± 0.02 ng/ml to 2.16 ± 0.43 ng/ml in serum; urine concentrations from 6.14 ± 0.53 ng E1S/mg Cr to 104.03 ± 24.09 ng E1S/mg Cr. There were no sig-nificant differences in E1S concentrations in saliva and milk between pregnant and non-pregnant alpacas. Values of P4, E1S and RLN in blood as well as PdG and E1S in urine are comparable to previous reports in alpacas and therefore can be confirmed as an indicator for preg-nancy. This is the first study to include determination of pregnancy associated hormones in saliva and milk of alpacas. However, saliva seems to be unsuitable for pregnancy di-agnosis in alpacas, whereas P4 in milk, as well as PdG and E1S in urine seem to be adequate tools. The use of milk and urine would simplify pregnancy diagnosis in alpacas since, in con-trast to the current methods (e.g. blood P4 concentration and ultrasonography), the owners themselves can take the samples. The avoidance of blood sampling results in a considerable stress reduction for the animals and therefore reduces the risk for potential loss of pregnancies. The measurements of P4 in milk and PdG in urine are useful alternatives to pregnancy diagnosis, especially during the first month of pregnancy, when transcutaneous ultrasonography is not yet reliable. This work adds information to the comparatively small database for camelid reproduc-tive endocrinology.

This essay analyzes the narrative surrounding women’s right to autonomy in two novels in the Speculative Fiction genre, more specifically the 20th century dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985), and the anti-utopian novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932), while arguing for the pedagogical merit of both works. Matters regarding female independence and gender equality are in consistent flux, and any uprise in feminist movements and female emancipation has most commonly been met with resistance. In the overarching aims of the curriculum of upper secondary school it is stated that the education must promote values such as equality, solidarity and inclusivity. As women’s rights to their own bodies are currently under debate in several contexts, students are likely to have been exposed to contemporary discussions on gendered oppression. For these reasons, analyzing how the female body has been rendered in historical and contemporary texts is arguably both relevant and important. As this essay discusses, gender and power relations have remained relevant in political developments: reproduction rights continue to feature prominently, whether in narratives of future worst-possible scenarios, or in speculative fiction. Lastly, this essay proposes that using Speculative Fiction in the L2 classroom can increase learner motivation. / <p>Slutgiltigt godkännandedatum: 2023-06-02</p>