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This preliminary paper reviews recent evidence that suggests that there is a strong link between increasing consumption of caffeine and reduced incidence of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease currently affects 1 in 1,000 of the general population and has no cure. Whilst the biological changes resulting in Parkinson’s disease symptoms are well known, the initial cause of these is not. Should a relatively simple lifestyle factor such as caffeine be proven to protect against Parkinson’s disease, then this represents a major breakthrough in knowledge about the disease.

This paper is the fourth in a series on Parkinson's disease and diet and investigates the role which antioxidant vitamins A and C, niacin and selenium may have on the incidence of the disease. Oxidative stress is believed to be a key factor in the development of PD and all of these have a role in preventing oxidative stress mediated cell damage. Dietary information was obtained via questionnaires. Vitamin C was found to reduce the risk of PD by 40 per cent in one study, although this was not supported by other studies. Niacin was associated with an at least 70 per cent reduced risk of PD incidence in a number of studies. No evidence was found to support a role for vitamin A or selenium. There is a need for further research to support or disprove the roles of these antioxidant vitamins within the aetiology of PD.

Whilst Parkinson's disease (PD) remains incurable recent evidence has suggested that diet may have a role in delaying the onset of symptoms and/or reducing the risk of developing the disease. This paper is the first in a series on diet and PD and outlines the effect that vitamin E may have on the prevalence of the disease. Results have indicated that a doubled intake of vitamin E has been associated with a reduction in disease incidence of up to 70 per cent, possibly due to reducing the effects of oxidative stress. Raised intake of peanuts and salad dressing has also associated with a reduced risk of PD. Although no guaranteed protection can be conferred by vitamin E intake it can be recommended that individuals at risk of PD could increase their intake as it may be of benefit and is unlikely to be harmful.

Parkinson's disease is an age‐related brain disease which is currently incurable. The long period during which damage occurs but symptoms are not evident is a focus of research with an aim to finding ways of reducing damage. This paper is the third in a series of diet and PD and covers the evidence for a role of fruit, vegetables and grains in the development of PD. Evidence is not conclusive but suggests that increasing the consumption of fruit, vegetables and grains may reduce the incidence of PD. A small number of studies have found a positive association between fruit and vegetables and PD but this may be due to chemical contamination. There is a need for further research to be carried out, preferably as part of a large ongoing study, rather than using retospective data, with its inherent bias.

Parkinson's disease (PD) affects up to one in ten of those over 80 and is currently incurable. Much current research focus on the preclinical period of damage and it is believed that diet may affect the development of the disease. This paper is the second in a series on diet and PD and outlines the effect dietary fat may have on disease prevalence. Initial dietary analysis studies indicated that fat intake appeared to be associated with raised incidences of PD, this probably being due to animal rather than vegetable fat. Results indicated that animal fat was associated with an up to fivefold increased risk of PD whereas vegetable fat did not appear to affect incidence. More recent evidence questions this finding, as, whilst a similar trend exists, the statistical significance is not strong. Likewise the study methodology is all retrospective and could introduce significant recall bias. Nonetheless, it would be recommended that individuals at risk of PD should alter their fat intake in favour of vegetable fat, whilst reducing overall levels in line with healthy eating guidelines.

ON THE 15TH OF JANUARY 1803 Marjory Fleming was born in a house in the High Street of Kirkcaldy; and in her short life of almost nine years she wrote the diaries and poems which have made her something of a legend. But was she really a child genius, protegée and dear friend of Walter Scott, and the toast of literary Edinburgh—as some of her biographers would have us believe? The mists of Victorian sentimentality are hard to pierce, and facts have become confused by romantic embroidery.

Argues that the effective management of technological change requires transformational leadership, and that one of the principal tools employed by the transformational leader is rites. Rites are elaborate, dramatic, planned sets of activities that promote change in individuals at both the psychological and the behavioural level. Illustrates the various ways in which managers are able to facilitate change through the use of social rites using data drawn from 12 detailed case studies of Manufacturing Resource Planning II (MRP II) implementations. While the focus of the article is primarily on technological change, it is clear that the lessons drawn here are more generally applicable.

This is a selective annotated bibliography of the literature on Christopher Columbus from 1970 to 1989. The subject is particularly relevant considering the approach of the Quincentenary of the “discovery” of America in 1992. For that same reason, there has been an outpouring of literature on the subject since 1990, a significant subset of which contributes to are interpretation of Columbus the man, his voyages, and their impact on the new world. It is hoped that this more recent literature will be part of a subsequent annotated bibliography.

Provides a framework for understanding some social and cognitive implementation processes that accompany technological change. Gives a brief overview of MRPII. Highlights its practical benefits and reviews the difficulties of achieving a successful implementation. Makes a case for re‐thinking technological change paying closer attention to social and cognitive phenomena, using material drawn from a detailed study of 13 MRPII implementations. Finally, draws some conclusions concerning the nature of technological change and the merits and deficiencies of the framework.