on two feet. Highly intelligent animals, apes are very closely related to humans, who are also categorized by zoologists as members of Homi¬ nidae. As a result of habitat destruction and hunting, all the apes are now regarded as endangered.
APEC in full Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Trade group established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of Asia- Pacific economies and the advent of regional economic blocs (such as the European Union and the North American Free Trade Area) in other parts of the world. APEC works to raise living standards and education levels through sustainable economic growth and to foster a sense of community and an appreciation of shared interests among Asia-Pacific countries. At the end of the 1990s APEC’s membership included its 12 founding members—Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States—as well as Chile, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The Pacific Economic Coop¬ eration Council, the South Pacific Forum, and the secretariat of the Asso¬ ciation of Southeast Asian Nations maintain observer status. The APEC group represents about 40% of the world’s population, 40% of global trade, and 50% of the world’s gross national product. See also NAFTA; trade agreement; World Trade Organization.
a pel la \3-'pe-b\ Ancient Spartan assembly, similar to the Ecclesia of other Greek states. The apella, whose monthly meetings were open to citizens over age 30, did not initiate proposals. It could only consider matters submitted by the ephors or the gerousia. Voting was by shouts. Its business included treaties, wars, and succession; it named commanders, elected elders and ephors, and voted on changes in the laws.
Apelles \3-'pe-,lez\ (fl. late 4th century-early 3rd century bc) Greek painter. He studied under Pamphilus and was court painter to Philip II of Macedonia and his son, Alexander the Great. Notable works included a portrait of Alexander, an allegorical picture of Calumny, and a painting of Aphrodite rising from the sea. A master of composition and chiaroscuro, he was noted for his technical improvements; he used a dark glaze to pre¬ serve his paintings and soften their colour. Though no copies of his works survive, in antiquity he was considered the greatest of Greek painters.
Apennines Va-p9- l nlnz\ Mountain range, central Italy. It stretches some 840 mi (1,350 km) from near Savona in the northwest to Reggio di Cal¬ abria in the south, its width varying from 25 to 80 mi (40-130 km). Monte Corno is its highest peak, at 9,560 ft (2,915 m). The range is the source of most of Italy’s rivers, including the Arno, Tiber, Voltumo, and Gari- gliano. It is famous for its hill towns, including Florence, Arezzo, L'Aquila, and Benevento.
Apgar Score System Rating procedure to identify newborns need¬ ing life-sustaining medical assistance. It was developed in 1952 by Vir¬ ginia Apgar (1909-1974). Five signs, keyed to Apgar’s name— Appearance (color), Pulse, Grimace (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration—measure adaptation to leaving the uterus. The maximum score is 10. If the total score at one and then five minutes after birth is less than 7, the infant is reevaluated every five minutes for 20 minutes or until two consecutive scores of 7 or more are obtained.
aphasia \9-'fa-zh9\ or dysphasia \dis-'fa-zho\ Defect in the expres¬ sion and comprehension of words, caused by damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. It can result from head trauma, tumour, stroke, or infection. Symptoms vary with the brain area involved, and the ability to put words in a meaningful order may be lost. Speech therapy may be useful. In some cases, improvement may be due to assumption of some language functions by other areas of the brain.
aphid Va-fod', a-fod\ Any of several species of sapsucking, soft-bodied insects (order Homoptera) that are about the size of a pinhead, with tube¬ like projections on the abdomen. Serious plant pests, they stunt plant growth, produce plant galls, transmit plant viral diseases, and deform leaves, buds, and flowers. Ants may take care of aphids, protecting them from weather and natural enemies and transferring them from wilted to healthy plants. The ants in turn obtain honeydew, a sweet product excreted by aphids, which the ants retrieve by “milking” the aphids (stroking their abdomens).
aphorism Terse formulation of any generally accepted truth or senti¬ ment conveyed in a pithy, memorable statement. The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, a long series of propositions concerning disease and the art of healing. Aphorisms were used especially in dealing
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88 I aphrodisiac ► Apollo
with subjects for which principles and methodology developed relatively late, including art, agriculture, medicine, jurisprudence, and politics, but in the modern era they have usually been vehicles of wit and pithy wis¬ dom. Celebrated modern aphorists include Friedrich Nietzsche and Oscar Wilde.
aphrodisiac X.a-fro-'de-ze-.akA Any of various forms of stimulation thought to arouse sexual excitement. They may be psychophysiological (arousing the senses of sight, touch, smell, or hearing) or internal (e.g., foods, alcoholic drinks, drugs, love potions, medicinal preparations). Most foods traditionally believed to be aphrodisiacs have no chemical compo¬ nents that would have such an effect. In some cases, their reputation may be based on a supposed resemblance to genitalia (e.g., ginseng root, rhi¬ noceros horn). Drugs such as alcohol or marijuana may lead to sexual excitation by lessening the user’s inhibitions. Few medical studies have been conducted; the only substances medically recognized as aphrodisi¬ acs are extremely hazardous to the health.
Aphrodite \,a-fr3-'dl-te\ Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty. She is also associated with the sea and, according to legend, was born of sea foam arising from the genitals of Uranus. Sparta, Thebes, and Cyprus honored her as a goddess of war. Many scholars believe that her cult is Semitic rather than Greek in origin. According to Homer, she was the daughter of Zeus and his consort Dione, and she married Hephaestus but betrayed him with Ares. She had many mortal lovers. Her main centres of worship were on the islands of Cyprus and Cythera and at Corinth. As a fertility goddess, she is associated with Eros, the Graces, and the Horae (seasons). Venus is her Roman counterpart.
Apia \a-'pe-a\ Seaport town (pop., 2001: 38,836) and capital, Samoa. It lies on the northern coast of Upolu Island. Its economy centres on the export of goods to American Samoa. Robert Louis Stevenson is buried at nearby Mount Vaea; Vailima, his former home, is now the residence of the head of state.
apiculture See beekeeping
Apis \'a-p3s\ In ancient Egyptian religion, a sacred bull deity worshiped at Memphis. The cult originated at least as early as the 1st dynasty (c.
2925-c. 2775 bc). Apis was probably at first a fertility god but became associated with Ptah and also with Osiris and Sokaris, gods of the dead.
When an Apis bull died, it was bur¬ ied with great pomp, and the calf that was to be its successor was installed at Memphis. Apis’s priests drew omens from the bull’s behaviour, and his oracle had a wide reputation. The worship of Serapis (a combination of Osiris and Apis) probably arose at Memphis in the 3rd century bc and became one of the most widespread Oriental cults in the Roman Empire.
aplastic \a-'plas-tik\ anemia or anemia of bone-marrow failure Inadequate blood-cell for¬ mation by bone marrow. Pancytope¬ nia is the lack of all blood-cell types (ERYTHROCYTES, LEUKOCYTES, and PLATE¬ LETS), but any combination may be missing. Drug, chemical, or radiation exposure most often causes the dis¬ ease, but about half of all cases have no known cause. It may occur at any age. Acute disease may be quickly severe, even fatal; chronic disease has symptoms including weakness, shortness of breath, headache, fever, and pounding heart. There is usually a waxy pallor. Hemorrhages occur in mucous membranes, skin, and other organs. Lack of white blood cells lowers resistance to infection and becomes the major cause of death. Very low platelet count may lead to severe bleeding. The treatment of choice is bone-marrow transplantation. Otherwise treatment involves avoiding any known toxic agent and giving fluids, glucose, and proteins (often intravenously) as well as blood components and antibiotics.