Short Break Research Articles

Effects Of High-intensity Exercise On The ROM Training Device On Muscular Strength And Body Composition

Methods: 16 healthy, untrained subjects (12 men, 4 women, age 36 ±10 years) exercised for 8 weeks, 3 times a week. Net exercise time per session was 8 minutes. In every session, first the upper body was exercised for 4 minutes and then, after a short break, the lower body was exercised for the same length of time. The upper body exercise is more or less similar to rowing, with resistance in both movement directions. The lower body exercise can be described as deep stepping. Subjects were encouraged to train at their maximal intensity. Total net exercise time over 8 weeks was 3 hours and 12 minutes. Before and after the training period maximal isometric strength of 6 muscle groups (left and right arm flexors, arm extensors, trunk flexors, trunk extensors, leg extensors), body weight and fat percentage (Durnin & Wormersley skin fold method) were measured.

High-intensity Exercise On The ROM Training Device Improves VO2max And Endurance Capacity In Untrained Adults

The importance of sports and physical activity for the maintenance and improvement of health and physical fitness is increasingly recognized. However, most people do not allow themselves the time to engage in a conventional, high volume - moderate intensity training program. A less time consuming, yet equally effective program could solve this problem. PURPOSE: To investigate whether the VO2max and endurance capacity of healthy, untrained adults can be improved by a high-intensity - low volume exercise program using a whole body training device, the so called ROM machine. METHODS: 16 healthy, untrained subjects (12 men, 4 women, age 36 ± 10 years) exercised for 8 weeks, 3 times a week. Net exercise time per session was 8 minutes. In every session, first the upper body was exercised for 4 minutes and then, after a short break, the lower body was exercised for the same length of time. The upper body exercise is more or less similar to rowing, with resistance in both movement directions. The lower body exercise can be described as deep stepping. Subjects were encouraged to train at their maximal intensity. Total net exercise time over eight weeks was 3 hours and 12 minutes. Before and after the training period, two tests on a cyle ergometer were conducted; one progressive test to determine VO2max, maximal power output (Wmax) and maximal heart rate (HRmax) and one constant power test until exhaustion at 80% VO2max to determine endurance capacity. RESULTS: Both VO2max (39.6 ± 4.7 vs. 41.0 ± 4.8 ml/kg*min, p = 0.01) and Wmax (248 ± 64 vs. 272 ± 66 W, p < 0.01) increased significantly over the training period, while HRmax (182 ± 8 vs. 181 ±8 bpm) did not change. There was a significant increase of 72% in endurance time at 80% VO2max (14:51 ±6:31 vs. 25:31 ± 11:57min, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Whole body, high-intensity training on the ROM training device is a time efficient way to improve VO2max and especially endurance capacity in healthy, untrained adults.

Raoul Hoffmann and His External Fixator*

A wealth of information exists concerning the biomechanics, indications, and outcomes associated with the use of the Hoffmann external fixator. Likewise, much has been written about the history of external fixation of fractures. However, little is known about the fascinating life of one of the major figures in its development, Raoul Hoffmann. The purpose of this report is to fill that void and bring to the attention of those who use his device, or its variations, the extraordinary career of this very talented surgeon. Born in Berlin to Adolphe and Aline on April 5, 1881, Raoul Hoffmann was one of three brothers (Rene and Roger were the others). He also had one sister, Rose. Having received an offer to serve as the minister of the German-speaking Lutheran Church in Geneva, Adolphe moved his family to Switzerland when Raoul was six months old. Only a year later, Adolphe presided over the church's celebration of the 400th anniversary of Martin Luther's birth1. Raoul's mother, a minister's daughter, was a well-known Swiss-French author whose writing focused especially on issues of interest to women of her era, including home education, gender relationships, child education, women's rights, and religion2. While Hoffmann's early school years were unremarkable, signs of intellectual prowess, and a strong work ethic, were evident2. These traits contributed to Hoffmann's academic success in high school at the College of Geneva, where he graduated first in his class in 18993. Hoffmann continued his education at the University of Geneva, earning a baccalaureate degree in Letters in 1899 and in Physical and Natural Sciences in 19024. Hoffmann then took a short break from academia and served an apprenticeship as a furniture maker in La Place du Bourg-de-Four, a charming, historic square in Geneva's old city …

DEVELOPMENT OF ADSORBENT USING BYPRODUCTS FROM KOREAN MEDICINE FOR REMOVING HEAVY METALS

Most of the herb residue producing from oriental medical clinics(OMC) and hospitals(OMH) is wasted in Korea. To develop of adsorbent for removing heavy metal from wastewater, the various pre-treatment methods of the herb residue were evaluated by potentiometric titration, Freundlich isotherm adsorption test and the kinetic adsorption test. The herb residue was pre-treated for increasing the adsorption capacity by cleaning with distilled water, 0.1 N HCl and 0.1 N NaOH and by heating at for 30 min. It showed a typical weak acid-weak base titration curve and a short pH break like commercial activated carbon during photentiometric titration of pre-treated herb residue. The log-log plots in the Freundlich isotherm test were linear on the herb residue pre-treated with NaOH or HCl like commercial activated carbon. The adsorption capacity(qe) in the Freundlich isotherm test for was 1.5 times higher in the pre-treated herb residue with HCl than in activated carbon. On the other hand the herb residue pre-treated with NaOH showed the good adsorption capacities for , and even though those adsorption capacities were lower than that of activated carbon. In kinetic test, most of heavy metals removed within the first 10 min of contact and then approached to equilibrium with increasing contact time. The removal rate of heavy metals increased with an increase of the amount of adsorbent. Likewise, the removal rates of heavy metals were higher in the herb residue pre-treated with NaOH than in that pre-treated with HCl. The adsorption preference of herb residues pre-treated with NaOH or HCl was > or > in the order. Conclusively, the herb residue can be used as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals depending on pr-treatment methods.

Nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Paleocene-lower Eocene succession in the Thamad area, east central Sinai, Egypt

In the Thamad area, east central Sinai, two stratigraphic sections are measured and sampled; Gebel El Mishiti and G. El Keeh, in order to determine the nannofossil biostratigrapy of the Paleocene-lower Eocene rocks. Gebel El Mishiti section is considered one of the most complete sections across the K/P boundary in Egypt where all the exposed rocks at G. El Keeh belong to the lower Eocene Egma Formation. A nearly complete sucession of Paleocene nannofossil biozones is recorded from the Esna Formation at G. El Mishiti. They are arranged from base to top as follows: Markalius inversus (NP1), Cruciplacolithus tenuis (NP2), Chiasmolithus danicus (NP3), Ellipsolithus macellus (NP4), Fasciculithus tympaniformis (NP5), Heliolithus kleinpellii (NP6), Discoaster mohleri (NP7/8) and Discoaster multiradiatus (NP9) zones. The Danian/Selandian boundary is located at the base of Zone NP5 at the level of the first appearance of Fasciculithus taxa. The Selandian/Thanetian boundary can be traced tentatively at the base of the Discoaster mohleri Zone (NP7/8). The Paleocene/Eocene boundary is traced between the NP9a/NP9b subzonal boundary which is marked by the first appearances of Discoaster araneus , Rhomboaster calcitrapa, R. bitrifida and R. cuspis . The Paleocene/Eocene boundary lies within the upper part of the Esna Formation. A very thin layer of conglomeratic chalk with no paleontological break is located between Zone NP9 and NP10. However, a very short nannofossil break is noted within Zone NP10 (subzones NP10b and NP10c are missing) which is overlain by Zone NP11. The lower part of the latter covers the topmost part of the Esna Formation where its upper part lies within the base of the Egma Formation; therefore, a conformable relationship between the two formations is suggested. At Gebel El Mishiti, the lower Eocene nannofossil biozones NP11, NP12, NP13 and lower/middle Eocene Zone NP14 are recorded. On the other hand, Gebel El Keeh section, which is about 95m thick is only represented by the Discoaster sublodoensis Zone (NP14).

The Effects of repeated interviewing on children's forensic statements of sexual abuse

AbstractMultiple interviews with children alleging sexual abuse are not uncommon. Researchers expressed concern that repeated investigations may create and preserve inaccurate details. However, studies indicated that repeated open‐ended interviews are not necessarily harmful and may have advantages. Forensic interviews were conducted with 40 children, alleged victims of sexual abuse, according to the NICHD investigative protocol. The children were re‐interviewed after a short break. The information obtained in the second interview was almost 25% new. The first interview yielded a larger number of details, both central and peripheral, but the proportion of central details was larger in the second interview. The proportion of details repeated in both interviews was surprisingly low, and most of the original information was not included. Older children repeated more information than younger ones. The data suggest that a repeated forensic interview may elicit new information and preserve central details. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

The self-catering accommodation market: A review of electronic and other sources

This paper contributes to a better understanding the self-catering accommodation sector by considering its nature and scope within Scotland, the UK and the international context. It reviews the available literature search and also presents an exhaustive search of the Internet. The term “self catering accommodation” typically refers to cottages and holiday flats, but also may include larger premises as well as mobile units such as boats. Student accommodation comes into this category, as do serviced apartments for business use. Self-catered accommodation is widely used for activity holidays, and courses for outward-bound or country pursuits. The sector is considered in terms of economic impact, ownership, and mode of use, and an analysis of the market shows that it has grown and changed rapidly since the 1980s driven by changes in the economy and advances in technology. During the same period demand has increased due to demographic, economic and lifestyle changes, the predominant segments being older and middle-aged customers and young couples without children. The growth of short break holidays and a growing interest in country pursuits and activity holidays favour the self-catering sector.

Farming practices for managing Inopus rubriceps (Macquart) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in sugarcane in Australia

Larvae of the sugarcane soldier fly, Inopus rubriceps (Macquart), attack the roots of sugarcane in Australia, reducing crop yields and forcing the premature removal of crops. Manipulation of farming practices may help to manage this pest, by affecting its population dynamics directly, or indirectly via natural enemies. Six different crop management procedures were applied in large unreplicated plots on six farms. Numbers of larval I. rubriceps and other large soil fauna were assessed in soil cores in each of 4 years, while surface-active predators were collected in pitfall traps in one year. Numbers of I. rubriceps in newly planted sugarcane crops were reduced when crops were planted after a long break (up to 1 year) compared with a short break of about 3 months, and this difference was maintained into the first ratoon in the 2nd year after planting. Long breaks managed with herbicide or that included a soybean rotation were equally as effective as a fallow maintained bare by cultivation. The addition of organic matter as mill mud (mill waste) or cane trash did not affect numbers of I. rubriceps. Numbers of predatory beetles (Carabidae, Staphylinidae and Elateridae) were not affected by the different practices, numbers of ants were greater in short-break plots in one of the study years, and numbers of earthworms were greater in plots with mill mud. The significance of factors that might increase mortality of I. rubriceps was examined by correlation between annual inter-generational mortality and densities of other faunal groups. There was evidence for an association between an increase in mortality of the pest and densities of ants and of predatory Coleoptera, particularly the staphylinid Thyreocephalus chalcopterus (Erichson), in some datasets. Soil concentrations of spores of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin in the root zone of new plant crops were higher after minimum tillage planting back into the old cane rows than after conventional soil preparation and planting. Sugar yields were lower when cane was planted after a long break than when cane was planted sooner, perhaps because of the shorter growing time of the crop but perhaps also because of the use of experimental planting equipment that might not have been optimal. Despite this, a long break is likely to reduce the risk of damaging I. rubriceps infestations in subsequent cane crops, with either a rotation with soybeans or spraying out the old crop with herbicide being the preferred options. These practices have been adopted by many affected cane farmers when replacing crops damaged by I. rubriceps.

Destination decision sets: A longitudinal comparison of stated destination preferences and actual travel

There have only been a small number of applications of consumer decision set theory to holiday destination choice, and these studies have tended to rely on a single cross-sectional snapshot of research participants’ stated preferences. Very little has been reported on the relationship between stated destination preferences and actual travel. To what degree then can marketers rely on consumers’ stated attitudes if there is no supporting measure of actual behaviour? The article presents a rare longitudinal examination of destination decision sets, and the first in the context of short break holidays by car in Queensland, Australia. Two questionnaires were administered, three months apart. The first identified destination preferences while the second examined actual travel and revisited destination preferences. The findings indicate a general consistency between attitude and behaviour in the short term. The results support the proposition that the positioning of a destination into a consumer’s decision set represents a source of competitive advantage. A key implication for the destination of interest, which launched a new brand campaign during the period of the project, is that a long-term investment in a clearly differentiated brand message will be required to improve awareness and intent to travel by consumers in the region’s most important market. It is recommended that monitoring decision set composition represents an important and practical indicator of future performance for destination marketers.

Correlation of cytotechnologists' parameters with their performance in rapid prescreening of papanicolaou smears

Efficient quality control is essential to ensure high sensitivity of Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. For this purpose, rescreening of 10% random negative smears is increasingly felt to be ineffective. Rapid rescreening (RR) of all negative Pap smears is more practical and has received widespread acceptance, especially in Europe, although its sensitivity is difficult to monitor and its retrospective nature may influence the vigilance of the screeners. The method of rapid prescreening (RPS) overcomes these drawbacks because rapid review of Pap smears precedes full screening. All routine conventional Pap smears (n = 8364) over 2 months underwent RPS by 12 cytotechnologists, followed by full screening. Data were analyzed to determine correlation between the RPS sensitivity of individual cytotechnologists and both their sensitivity in full screening and their years of experience as cytotechnologists. There was a striking variability in sensitivity (15.4%-72.7%) among the 12 screeners with an atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) threshold. There was no correlation between RPS sensitivity of individual cytotechnologists with either their sensitivity in full screening or their years of experience as cytotechnologists. The skills required of a cytotechnologist for achieving a high sensitivity in RPS are apparently different from those of full screening and are independent of the sensitivity of the screeners at full screening or of the years of experience as cytotechnologists.

Short Breaks Services for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Factors Associated with Service Use and Non-use

Short break services in a UK county were studied using a postal survey of 256 families with a child with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Results confirmed high degrees of stress and low levels of informal support for all families, but no significant difference in the informal support available to non-users as compared to users of short break services. Robinson & Stalker's (1990) 10-point dependency scale showed a significant difference in dependence and more difficult behaviors between children of users and non-users. However, a large number of non-users had children with high dependence (scoring >7 points). Access was denied by the age of the child (under 11) diagnosis (Asperger syndrome), educational placement (mainstream) and lack of social worker referral.

Determinants of oral contraceptive pill use and its discontinuation among rural women in Bangladesh.

Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) contribute a major share in the current method-mix in Bangladesh. However, multiple studies show high discontinuation rates of OCP. The present study examines the behavior and attitude towards OCP use, and investigates the determinants of its discontinuation among the rural married women of Bangladesh. The present study is based on critical analyses of the data from 24 focus group discussions and 135 in-depth-interviews with women, their husbands and key informants conducted over the period of 1year. The present study shows that more than two-thirds of married women have at one time or another used OCP as a method of family planning. However, many women did not take the pills regularly and about one-quarter of ever users had taken, at one stage or another, a 'short break' from OCP use. Although nearly half of them took a break because of side effects, interestingly, 16% took a break as the result of fear of health problems that were related to 'folk stories' and other misconceptions. The individual assessment by users of the national family planning service delivery, perceived side effects, misconceptions about continuous use of pills, quality of counseling and information, and contraceptive behavior of the OCP users considerably influenced the decisions on contraceptive use or non-use. (Reprod Med Biol 2006; 5: 111-121).

Determinants of oral contraceptive pill use and its discontinuation among rural women in Bangladesh

Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) contribute a major share in the current method‐mix in Bangladesh. However, multiple studies show high discontinuation rates of OCP. The present study examines the behavior and attitude towards OCP use, and investigates the determinants of its discontinuation among the rural married women of Bangladesh.The present study is based on critical analyses of the data from 24 focus group discussions and 135 in‐depth‐interviews with women, their husbands and key informants conducted over the period of 1 year.The present study shows that more than two‐thirds of married women have at one time or another used OCP as a method of family planning. However, many women did not take the pills regularly and about one‐quarter of ever users had taken, at one stage or another, a ‘short break’ from OCP use. Although nearly half of them took a break because of side effects, interestingly, 16% took a break as the result of fear of health problems that were related to ‘folk stories’ and other misconceptions. The individual assessment by users of the national family planning service delivery, perceived side effects, misconceptions about continuous use of pills, quality of counseling and information, and contraceptive behavior of the OCP users considerably influenced the decisions on contraceptive use or non‐use. (Reprod Med Biol 2006; 5: 111–121)

Incidence of spontaneous hearing threshold shifts during modern concert performances

Concerts have long periods of intense sound with short break intervals. Hearing concerns are well known to performers; concertgoers largely ignore them. Preperformance and postperformance audiograms were compared to assess hearing threshold shifts with and without earplugs. A prospective, randomized study in which 29 volunteers attended 3 concerts, encompassing 3 music genres. Audiograms, seating location, sound intensity, and earplug-use data were collected. Data were analyzed to determine frequency test-retest variability. Sound levels averaged 99.8 dBA, and the maximum was 125.6 dBA. Sixty-four percent (9/14) of participants without earplugs showed significant threshold shifts compared with 27% (4/15) of those using earplugs. No significant differences existed between music genres or seating location. This study showed a high incidence of threshold shifts in unprotected concertgoers. Sound levels exceeded all Occupational Safety and Health Act rules despite standardized sound systems. A significant reduction in threshold shifts was seen with the use of earplugs. A-1b.

Nazi Euthanasia of the Mentally Ill at Hadamar

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Images in PsychiatryFull AccessNazi Euthanasia of the Mentally Ill at HadamarRael D. Strous, M.D.Rael D. StrousSearch for more papers by this author, M.D.Published Online:1 Jan 2006https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.163.1.27AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail The Nazi euthanasia program, code-named “Operation-T4,” set out to eliminate “life unworthy of life.” It rapidly expanded to include individuals with mental illness, with Hitler’s 1939 decree allowing physicians to decide that certain individuals “be accorded a mercy-death.” These patients included those with schizophrenia, the criminally insane, and the chronically hospitalized. The euthanasia program became the Nazi regime’s first campaign of mass murder against specific populations whom it considered inferior and threatening to the well-being of the Aryan race and the first time in history where psychiatrists sought out to systematically exterminate their patients, with several prominent psychiatrists playing central roles (1–4).By 1940, six killing centers designated as euthanasia institutions were established at Brandenburg, Grafeneck, Hartheim, Sonnenstein, Bernburg, and Hadamar. The Hadamar Psychiatric Institute near Wiesbaden, Germany, code-named “Facility-E,” was refashioned for use as a psychiatry euthanasia facility in November 1940. From mid-January 1941 under Dr. Ernst Baumhard’s direction, with a staff of approximately 100, busloads of patients arrived daily at the killing operation. The patients were offloaded, weighed, photographed, and led to the gas chamber disguised as a shower room in the cellar. At least 10,000 mentally ill adults were gassed and cremated at Hadamar in the first 9 months of 1941. In August 1942, after a short break, the facility again functioned as a euthanasia center, using lethal medication doses or starvation. After removal of various organs for medical research, the bodies were buried in mass graves located on the hospital grounds. The killing center remained operational until its liberation by American troops on March 26, 1945 (4).Operation-T4 claimed approximately 200,000 lives. Psychiatric euthanasia institutions served as training centers for the Schutzstaffel (SS) who used the experience to construct larger killing centers (Auschwitz, Treblinka, etc.). The psychiatrist Dr. Imfried Eberl, Treblinka’s first commandant and the only physician to command a death camp, established the facility following his experience as superintendent of Brandenburg Psychiatry Hospital (2).Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Strous, Beer Yaakov Mental Health Center, P.O. Box 1, Beer Yaakov 70350, Israel; [email protected] (e-mail). Gas chamber at Hadamar. Image courtesy of Prosjekt Felles Framtid. Mass burial site at Hadamar. Image courtesy of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Archives and Records Administration.

Effectiveness of Parallel and Serial Integration of Teaching Resources in Laboratory Teaching in Engineering Education

Recent advances in the development of 'electronic teaching support systems' make it more attractive to embrace such emerging technology in the conventional teaching programme. Mechanical Engineering subject areas require extensive laboratory activities where teaching and the resources available need to be used optimally to produce engineers with the right skills and knowledge. It is for this reason that attempts are being made throughout the World to include electronic support into the laboratory environment to make learning more effective. This paper undertakes a study to compare two different methods of integrating electronic resources into the conventional laboratory teaching in engineering education and describes the learning experience of two groups of students using each system. Two groups of students were carefully selected to ensure they had the same learning abilities (similar average marks and standard deviations) and each was asked to learn an engraving operation using a CNC machine. The resources available were a facilitator, computer simulation software and the CNC machine. Each group was asked to approach the learning tasks differently. The first group of students (Group 1) were asked to learn the engraving operation using a computer simulation of the engraving operation and were encouraged to carry out actual exercise on a CNC machine in parallel with the simulation. The role of the facilitator was to explain various operations on the simulation software as well as help students on actual machines. The second group of students (Group 2) were exposed to the simulation in a classroom environment which was followed by the entire procedure being explained by the facilitator on a CNC machine within the laboratory environment. The learning experience in this case was sequential in that the learning resources were used in series for the 'Group 2' students. Evaluation tests were used to measure the performance of each group after the exercise. It was apparent from the evaluation reports that the group experiencing the parallel provision of resources achieved a better overall learning rate than the sequential or series group. It is felt this may be answered in two ways: The group receiving parallel input of information had an instant means of self evaluation of progress by comparing performance to the simulation whereas the sequential group had no reference or benchmark. The second reason could be the break in concentration and the 'loss factor' in the transfer of 'classroom knowledge' to the laboratory. Even a short break, or minimum distraction, is sufficient to disrupt the level of concentration and so in-depth learning and memory retention is hampered. Keywords: Computer Technology, Milling C.N.C Machine, Auto Cad Software, C.N.C Program

Predicting the Timing and Duration of Sleep in an Operational Setting Using Social Factors

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of bio‐mathematical models to predict alertness, performance, and/or fatigue in operational settings. Current models use only biological factors to make their estimations, which can be limited in operational settings where social and geo‐physical factors also dictate when sleep occurs. The interaction between social and biological factors that help determine the timing and duration of sleep during layover periods have been investigated in order to create and initially validate a mathematical model that may better predict sleep in the field. Participants were 32 male transmeridian airline pilots (17 captains, 10 first officers, and 5 second officers) flying the Sydney‐Bangkok‐London‐Singapore‐Sydney (SYD‐LHR) pattern. Participants continued their regular schedule while wearing activity monitors and completing sleep and work diaries. The theoretical sleep timing model underpinning this analysis consists of separate formulations for short (<32 h) and long (>32 h) break periods. Longer break periods are split into three distinct phases—recovery (break start until first local night), personal (first local night until last local night), and preparation phases (last local night until break end)—in order to exploit potential differences specific to each. Furthermore, an iterative procedure combining prediction and retrodiction (i.e., using future duty timing information to predict current sleep timing) was developed to optimize predictive ability. Analysis found an interaction between the social and circadian sleep pressures that changed over the break period. Correlation analysis indicated a strong relationship between the actual sleep and new model's predictions (r=0.7–0.9), a significant improvement when compared to existing models (r=0.1–0.4). Social and circadian pressures play important roles in regulating sleep for international flight crews. An initial model has been developed in order to regulate sleep in these crews. The initial results have shown promise when applied to small sets of data; however, more rigorous validation must be carried out.

An Evaluation of the Mars Letter Contrast Sensitivity Test

The Mars Letter Contrast Sensitivity Test (initially known as the Lighthouse Letter Contrast Sensitivity Test) is similar in design to the Pelli-Robson Test but may offer several advantages. This study evaluates the repeatability of the Mars test and its agreement with the Pelli-Robson test in normal and low-vision subjects. Fifty-four subjects were tested (age 22-86 years), including 20 normally sighted young adults, 17 normally sighted older adults, and 17 adults with low vision (20/16 to 20/250). Subjects were tested with both contrast sensitivity tests and with the ETDRS visual acuity chart. After a short break, subjects were retested with an alternate form of each contrast sensitivity test. The chart forms used (two Pelli-Robson and three Mars) and the order of testing were varied systematically. Testing was monocular with habitual correction and, for subjects over 40 years of age, included appropriate near add. Letter-by-letter scoring was used for both tests. Repeatability and agreement were assessed by determining the 95% limits of agreement (LoA): +/- 1.96 standard deviations of the differences between administrations or tests. The Mars test showed excellent agreement with the Pelli-Robson test, with 95% LoA of +/- 0.21 log units for all subjects. The Mars test was similarly repeatable (95% LoA = +/-0.20 log units) to the Pelli-Robson test (95% LoA = +/-0.20 log units) among all subjects. The new Mars Letter Contrast Sensitivity Test shows excellent agreement with the Pelli-Robson test and has similar repeatability. There are subtle differences in the actual contrast levels on different forms of the Mars test, and adjusting for these differences leads to superior repeatability of the Mars test. Thus, the Mars test may be a useful alternative to the Pelli-Robson test offering several advantages, including smaller size, improved durability, and ease of use.

David Allan Bromley

David Allan Bromley

Evidence of two-stage extensional tectonics from the northern edge of the Edremit Graben, NW Turkey

Western Turkey is a place of active continental extension, characterized by the occurrence of several WNW-ESE-trending major grabens. The central part of the northern edge of the Edremit Graben is delineated by various geological units, namely the metamorphic Kazdağ Massif, the Mid-Cretaceous Çetmi mélange, the sedimentary Küçükkuyu formation, and loose Plio-Quaternary deposits. Detailed structural and sedimentological study suggests a two-stage extensional evolution of the area, separated by a short break in the tectonic regime. The first stage, possibly related to back-arc extension and/or orogenic collapse, is marked by the activity of a newly described low-angle detachment fault, the şelale detachment fault, from the latest Oligocene onward. The fault plane, separating the mylonitized rocks of the Kazdağ Massif in the footwall from the unmetamorphosed Çetmi mélange and Küçükkuyu formation in the hanging wall, must have played a significant role in the initial exhumation processes of the Kazdağ Massif at that time. The Lower Miocene syntectonic Küçükkuyu formation has recorded the initiation and filling up of a small basin, which has developed in a typical supra-detachment basin, above the detachment fault. After a short phase of possible compression and erosion, the second stage—which marks the onset of neotectonic activity—is marked by the development of Plio-Quaternary step-like normal faults, which cut through all the previous units. Coarse, loose sediments were deposited following the fault activity. These local results are extrapolated to apply to the entire Edremit Graben. In that case, its evolution is seen as the succession of two extensional stages, characterized by distinct structural and sedimentological patterns, and possibly separated by a short compressional phase.