Small Members Research Articles

Initiating small group learning in a Caribbean medical school.

Initiating small group learning in a Caribbean medical school.

“ Titles Must Be Perfect ”: The Broad Form Deed, Politics, and Landownership in Eastern Kentucky at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

“Titles Must Be Perfect”:The Broad Form Deed, Politics, and Landownership in Eastern Kentucky at the Turn of the Twentieth Century Stephanie M. Lang (bio) The dominance of the coal industry in eastern Kentucky began over a century ago when businessmen both inside and outside of the region discovered the immense stores of wealth locked within the mountains. This lucrative natural resources windfall coincided with and was spurred on by the tremendous growth of the nation’s industrial sector in the late nineteenth century, occurring at the same time as the literary “discovery” of Appalachia.1 The method of choice in obtaining the natural resources was the infamous broad form deed, a document crafted to sever mineral rights from the surface estate and which ultimately allowed investors and businessmen to not only extract resources but influence the economic, legal, and political landscape of the mountains. However, early political and legal challenges from holders of Virginia land grants, issued before Kentucky reached [End Page 27] statehood, nearly rendered broad form deeds useless and resulted in a direct attack on the interests of mineral owners in the mountains. This article focuses on this lesser known part of the mineral rights story and examines how local businessmen, mineral speculators, and state representatives ended the land-grant issue through a constitutional convention and a series of legal challenges. The neutralization of Virginia land-grant claims both politically and legally paved the way for broad form deed mineral owners to secure and extract the region’s natural resources. These early landownership challenges also shed light on the changing perceptions of what constitutes modernization and progress held by both small farmers and the local elite as both groups sought to maintain ties to the land. Ultimately, the protection of mineral rights secured with the broad form deed allowed the coal industry to gain entrance into eastern Kentucky and put into motion a political, economic, and physical dominance that continues today. From the 1880s until the 1920s, the broad form deed was used by mineral speculators to acquire rights to the profitable mineral wealth of Appalachia. The unfortunate cleverness of this document came from the creation of two separate estates on a single piece of land by horizontally severing the mineral estate from the surface estate. The broad form deed gave the mineral owner a wide range of rights which included the use of timber on the property for mining purposes; the right to construct company buildings necessary for operations, transportation lines, or diversion of watercourses; and access to the minerals in any manner “deemed necessary or convenient.”2 The surface owner, typically a small farmer, was granted use of timber not intended for mining purposes, coal for household use, and, most importantly, was supposed to be able to continue farming. As environmentally disruptive mining operations began, however, farming became impossible in many situations. [End Page 28] The use of the broad form deed itself also revealed a variety of attitudes regarding the meaning and use of land in Appalachia and conflicting ideas of what constituted progress and modernization between small farmers and members of the local elite. Existing economic and kinship connections influenced local opinions on economic change and elicited a complex mixture of responses, both positive and negative, from small farmers and county-seat businessmen, large landowners, lawyers, and other members of the local elite.3 Although the land had been traded, sold, or mortgaged in business dealings for decades, the creation of two separate estates on a single piece of land caused residents to question their own views on land use and modernization. These issues, often lost in the debate over the motivating factors surrounding the actual buying and selling of mineral rights, played a substantial role in the political, economic, social, and legal changes the region underwent from the 1880s through the 1920s. Spurred on by members of the local elite, the broad form deed forced small farmers in the region to view the land in a new way. Landowners gained an important sense of independence from the land, both economically and emotionally. It was the land that supplied their livelihood, allowing them to provide for their families, and played a major role...

Cuttlefish can school in the field

Cuttlefish (Sepiidae) are usually solitary in nature, but we have found evidence that the broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) forms schools. S. latimanus groups of various sizes were observed for 145 min in Okinawa, Japan. The groups were comprised of 2–9 members that were usually of similar body sizes. The groups continuously changed shape, forming either clusters or lines. The groups were regarded as schools and had characteristic structures such as synchronized and polarized swimming with similar distances apart from each other (~4.0 mantle length), and swam in parallel (under 20° or over 110° in angle) to their nearest neighbours, regardless of the numbers of members in the group. Small members sometimes followed larger members within the school. These characteristics were similar to those observed in schools of Teuthoidea squid. Schools comprising large numbers of members frequently exhibited hunting behaviour for small crustaceans and fish. This is the first observation of schooling behaviour in wild Sepiidae.

Metadherin exon 11 skipping variant enhances metastatic spread of ovarian cancer.

Metastatic ovarian cancer has a dismal prognosis and current chemotherapeutic approaches have very limited success. Metadherin (MTDH) is expressed in human ovarian cancer tissue and its expression inversely correlates with patients overall survival. Consistent with these studies, we observed MTDH expression in tissue specimens of FIGO Stage III ovarian carcinomas (72/83 cases). However, we also observed this in normal human ovarian epithelial (OE) cells, which raised the question of whether MTDH-variants with functional differences exist. We identified a novel MTDH exon 11 skipping variant (MTDHdel) which was seen at higher levels in ovarian cancer compared to benign OE cells. We analyzed MTDH-binding partner interactions and found that 12 members of the small ribosomal subunit and several mRNA binding proteins bound stronger to MTDHdel than to wildtype MTDH which indicates differential effects on gene translation. Knockdown of MTDH in ovarian cancer cells reduced the amount of distant metastases and improved the survival of ovarian cancer-bearing mice. Selective overexpression of the MTDHdel enhanced murine and human ovarian cancer progression and caused a malignant phenotype in originally benign human OE cells. MTDHdel was detectable in microdissected ovarian cancer cells of some human tissue specimens of ovarian carcinomas. In summary, we have identified a novel MTDH exon 11 skipping variant that shows enhanced binding to small ribosomal subunit members and that caused reduced overall survival of ovarian cancer bearing mice. Based on the findings in the murine system and in human tissues, MTDHdel must be considered a major promalignant factor for ovarian cancer.

Small groups, contexts, and civic engagement: A multilevel analysis of United States Congregational Life Survey data

Prior research suggests that church-goers are more civically engaged than their non-church-going counterparts. Little is known, however, about how the popular phenomenon of small groups factors into this equation. In the present study, we examine relationships between small group participation at individual and congregation levels and civic engagement. Using multilevel modeling and national data on congregations and individuals from the U.S. Congregational Life Study (n=82,044), we find that: (1) individual-level small group involvement is associated with four measures of civic engagement; (2) congregation-level small group participation is associated with both lower and higher civic engagement in the case of two outcomes; and (3) in the case of three civic outcomes, congregation-level small group participation moderates individual-level small group involvement such that small group members’ civic activity more closely resembles the lower civic engagement of small group nonparticipants. In the case of one civic outcome, at high levels of overall small group participation, small group members’ civic engagement drops below that of small group nonparticipants. Explanations for these findings, including a “crowding out” effect, are examined including their complex implications for debates regarding small groups, religious involvement, and civic engagement.

Non-Tariff Measures, and the Post-Bali Agenda: Strategies for Small States and Vulnerable Economies

This paper first looks at the considerable progress made during the Doha Round in the context of the NAMA negotiations on non-tariff measures (NTMs) and discusses ways in which to retain the forward momentum as the WTO struggles to define its negotiating agenda for the next few years. The paper also discusses strategies and approaches for those most impacted by these measures, namely small and vulnerable WTO Members.

Chelyabinsk meteorite explains unusual spectral properties of Baptistina Asteroid Family

We investigated the spectral and compositional properties of Chelyabinsk meteorite to identify its possible parent body in the main asteroid belt. Our analysis shows that the meteorite contains two spectrally distinct but compositionally indistinguishable components of LL5 chondrite and shock blackened/impact melt material. Our X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the two lithologies of the Chelyabinsk meteorite are extremely similar in modal mineralogy. The meteorite is compositionally similar to LL chondrite and its most probable parent asteroid in the main belt is a member of the Flora family. Our work confirms previous studies (e.g., Vernazza et al. [2008]. Nature 454, 858–860; de León, J., Licandro, J., Serra-Ricart, M., Pinilla-Alonso, N., Campins, H. [2010]. Astron. Astrophys. 517, A23; Dunn, T.L., Burbine, T.H., Bottke, W.F., Clark, J.P. [2013]. Icarus 222, 273–282), linking LL chondrites to the Flora family. Intimate mixture of LL5 chondrite and shock blackened/impact melt material from Chelyabinsk provides a spectral match with (8) Flora, the largest asteroid in the Flora family. The Baptistina family and Flora family overlap each other in dynamical space. Mineralogical analysis of (298) Baptistina and 11 small family members shows that their surface compositions are similar to LL chondrites, although their absorption bands are subdued and albedos lower when compared to typical S-type asteroids. A range of intimate mixtures of LL5 chondrite and shock blackened/impact melt material from Chelyabinsk provides spectral matches for all these BAF members. We suggest that the presence of a significant shock/impact melt component in the surface regolith of BAF members could be the cause of lower albedo and subdued absorption bands. The conceptual problem with part of this scenario is that impact melts are very rare within ordinary chondrites. Of the ∼42,000 ordinary chondrites, less than 0.5% (203) of them contain impact melts. A major reason that impact melts are rare in meteorites is that high impact velocities (V>10km/s) are needed to generate the necessary shock pressures and temperatures (e.g., Pierazzo, E., Melosh, H.J. [1998]. Hydrocode modeling of oblique impacts: The fate of the projectile. In: Origin of the Earth and Moon, Proceedings of the Conference. LPI Contribution No. 957) unless the target material is highly porous. Nearly all asteroid impacts within the main belt are at ∼5km/s (Bottke, W.F., Nolan, M.C., Greenberg, R., Kolvoord, R.A. [1994]. Collisional lifetimes and impact statistics of near-Earth asteroids. In: Tucson, Gehrels T. (Ed.), Hazards Due to Comets and Asteroids. The University of Arizona Press, Arizona, pp. 337–357), which prevents them from producing much impact melt unless they are highly porous. However, shock darkening is an equally efficient process that takes place at much lower impact velocities (∼2km/s) and can cause the observed spectral effects. Spectral effects of shock darkening and impact melt are identical. The parent asteroid of BAF was either a member of the Flora family or had the same basic composition as the Floras (LL Chondrite). The shock pressures produced during the impact event generated enough impact melt or shock blackening to alter the spectral properties of BAF, but keep the BAF composition largely unchanged. Collisional mixing of shock blackened/impact melt and LL5 chondritic material could have created the Baptistina Asteroid Family with composition identical to those of the Floras, but with subdued absorption bands. Shock darkening and impact melt play an important role in altering the spectral and albedo properties of ordinary chondrites and our work confirms earlier work by Britt and Pieters (Britt, D.T., Pieters, C.M. [1994]. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 58, 3905–3919).

Analysis of Crack Width Calculation of Steel Fibre and Ordinary Reinforced Concrete Flexural Members

It is known that steel fibre can reduce the crack width of reinforced concrete flexural members however generally accepted crack width calculation method does not exist yet. The residual tensile strength which is used for crack width calculations should be obtained from tests. Three crack width calculation methods of steel fibre and ordinary reinforced concrete flexural members are discussed in this paper. All these methods have been derived using Eurocode 2 provisions, which are intended to the members without the fibre. Experimental cracking results of small cross section flexural members reinforced with steel fibre and ordinary reinforcement are also discussed. A scatter of the residual tensile strength which is obtained from three point bending test and its influence to the crack width is also reviewed briefly. Calculated crack widths are compared to the experimental results. It is determined that due to lack of the specimens the large deviations of residual flexural tensile strength can be obtained and it can cause the significant errors of calculated crack widths. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.6.1.6336

DEM simulations of loads on obstruction attached to the wall of a model grain silo and of flow disturbance around the obstruction

In the design of a storage silo usually an axially symmetric state of stress is assumed. However, unsymmetrical pressure distribution may occur because of such factors as: non-uniform humidity of the material, eccentric filling or/and discharge, and additional construction elements inside the deposit. Small internal construction members act similarly to structural imperfection and can initiate buckling, while larger flow obstacles can markedly alter the stress distribution.A study was conducted to numerically simulate the effect of plane (2D) or block (3D) obstruction attached to the wall in a model grain silo holding wheat. This work compares the results of earlier laboratory testing and numerical simulations using the discrete element method (DEM).Series of the DEM simulations were performed with an assembly of 75000 spherical particles with random uniform distribution of diameters with a mean of 3.8mm and range of ±1% placed in the cylindrical container with a diameter of 0.12m. The set-up of DEM simulations reproduced earlier laboratory tests performed in the model grain silo, 1.83m in diameter with flat floor and corrugated wall. Despite the very large difference in the number of particles in real and simulated deposits, the results of simulations and laboratory testing were in fairly good agreement.

Anatomy Of The Southern African Customs Union: Structure And Revenue Volatility

This paper studies the evolution of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), tracing it from its inception in 1889 as the Customs Union Convention, the worlds first customs union, to its current status. While the union has operated under different agreements, which have been negotiated and renegotiated with changing circumstances, the study identifies the agreements of 1889, 1910, 1969 and 2002 as key to the unions transformation. It is observed that SACU has evolved from a geopolitical organisation with a repressive colonial foundation to a well-integrated regional trading bloc that is perceived as a possible springboard for larger regional trading blocs in Africa. The study further explores evidence of declining SACU revenue and investigates its implications on government expenditures in the small members of the union; namely, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS countries). It is found that among the members of the union, Lesotho and Swaziland are the most dependent on SACU transfers and, consequently, the most vulnerable to the current downward trend in SACU revenue. While Namibia has traditionally relied on diamond exports, it has also been receiving large SACU transfers relative to its GDP. In addition, the study observes that the present SACU revenue sharing formula adopted in 2002 exposes the BLNS countries to instabilities arising from global business cycles more than it does South Africa.

Analysis of RC Member’s Reliability Subjected to Eccentric Compression Based on Monte Carlo Simulation

Reinforced concrete eccentric compression member is one of the most common structural member. Eccentric compression members are divided into large eccentric compression members and small eccentric compression members. Uncertainty of calculation, geometric size and concrete strength were considered as random variables, the reliability of eccentric compression members were discussed by monte carlo simulation.

Implication of Smart Defence Initiative for Small Members of NATO

Smart defence is becoming an increasingly dominant topic on NATO’s agenda. Politicians, the academic community and other security experts quickly latched on to the term “smart defense”. It became a catch phrase even in popular literature and the mass media. The aim of this article is to look at the smart defense initiative from small states’ perspective. This article should fill a gap that exists between the theoretical model of smart defense and the behavior (response) of small nations to the challenges posted by this initiative. The article is divided into two parts. The first part discusses factors that influence decisions of small states. The second part examines national responses and practical initiatives that nations undertake in response to this challenge.

Sampling forest tree regeneration with a transect approach

A new transect approach for sampling forest tree regeneration is developed with the aim to minimize the amount of field measurements, and to produce an accurate estimation of tree species composition and density independent of tree height. This approach is based on the “probability proportional to size” (PPS) theory to assess heterogeneous vegetation. This new method is compared with other approaches to assess forest regeneration based on simulated and measured, real data. The main result is that the transect approach requires about 50% of the time to assess stand density as compared to the plot approach, due to the fact that only 25% of the tree individuals are measured. In addition, tall members of the regeneration are counted with equal probability as small members. This is not the case in the plot approach. The evenness is 0.1 to 0.2 units larger in the transect by PPS than in the plot approach, which means that the plot approach shows a more homogenous regeneration layer than the PPS approach, even though the stand densities and height distributions are similar. The species diversity is variable in both approaches and needs further investigations.

Optimally choosing small ensemble members to produce robust climate simulations

This study examines the subset climate model ensemble size required to reproduce certain statistical characteristics from a full ensemble. The ensemble characteristics examined are the root mean square error, the ensemble mean and standard deviation. Subset ensembles are created using measures that consider the simulation performance alone or include a measure of simulation independence relative to other ensemble members. It is found that the independence measure is able to identify smaller subset ensembles that retain the desired full ensemble characteristics than either of the performance based measures. It is suggested that model independence be considered when choosing ensemble subsets or creating new ensembles.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of the small GTPase ROP members expressed in laticifers of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)

ROP (Rho of plants) proteins are plant-specific Rho-type small GTPases which play important roles in cellular processes and stress responses. This study explores the characteristics and possible functions of ROPs that are expressed primarily in laticifers of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). The work serves as a preliminary step to determining their involvement in latex flow and regeneration, laticifers formation and tapping panel dryness (TPD, a physiological disorder in rubber trees that result in the stoppage of latex flow). In this connection, we (i) identified five HbROPs (HbROP1–HbROP5) by searching latex transcripts database and the genome databases, (ii) characterized molecular and phylogenic aspects of the HbROPs and examined the cis-regulatory elements in their promoter regions; (iii) analyzed by Real-time Quantitative PCR (QPCR) the tissue specificity of the HbROPs and their expression patterns in response to tapping, bark wounding and growth regulator treatments. All five HbROP genes were strongly expressed in the latex, with HbROP1, 3, 4 and 5 showing the highest expression among the six Hevea tissues examined, viz. latex, bud, mature leaf, bark, male flower and seed. When tapping was initiated on previously untapped trees, HbROP3 transcription was substantially down-regulated whereas HbROP5 expression was markedly up-regulated. Transcripts of HbROP3 rose gradually with the development of TPD. Except for the cytokinin 6-benzyl aminopurine that induced a rise in HbROP5 transcripts by more than 2-fold, the other growth regulators tested had little effect on HbROPs expression. The roles of HbROPs in rubber tree are discussed in relation to the diverse functions of ROP homologs reported in other plant species.

Structural optimization using graphic statics

This paper presents a method for structural optimization of discrete trusses using Graphic Statics. As opposed to traditional structural optimization techniques, which are typically conducted by manipulating the geometry of the structure (the form diagram), the approach presented in this paper establishes a Graphic Statics solution to the problem, where structural optimization is conducted using design variables in the force domain (force diagram). The proposed approach presents several attractive features compared to traditional approaches. Since it is based on reciprocal graphical relationships between form geometry and forces, member stiffnesses need not be calculated. Additionally, by working on the force diagram, equilibrium of the solution is guaranteed, and no additional methods are required to enforce this condition; for example, there is no need to triangulate the structure or to add small area members. Furthermore, because only solutions that are in equilibrium are permitted, the number of design variables can be reduced. Also, subject to certain relationships, the location of the loads (or reactions) do not need to be set a priori. Through examples, it is shown that the proposed methodology can readily accommodate different tensile and compressive stresses for volume optimization problems and that, through the use of Graphic Statics, other restrictions or constraints on the member forces can easily be incorporated.

Comparison of two new species of astogloia Bacillariophyceae) with other small members of section Ellipticae

In this study, seven Mastogloia species belonging of the section Ellipticae are morphologically described through scanning electron microscopy, including two new taxa M. matthaei and M. stellae. They were collected as epiphytes on seagrasses from several tropical (Indonesia), subtropical (Egypt, Greece, Republic of Malta, Turkey) and temperate (Slovenia, Italy) regions of the world. All these species show typical characters of the Hustedt’s section Ellipticae: elliptical valve outline, a flat valve surface and rounded apices. Moreover, this study provides novel information on the frustule ultrastructure and gives update of their current geographical distribution. Some nomenclatural inconsistencies have been resolved with the typification of M. ovulum and the related species, M. emarginata, from the original Miang Besar material in the Hustedt collection.

Review of BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design by François LévyWiley, Hoboken, NJ 07030; 2011; ISBN 978-0-47059-089-8; 312pp; $85.

Review of <i>BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design</i> by François LévyWiley, Hoboken, NJ 07030; 2011; ISBN 978-0-47059-089-8; 312pp; $85.

"It's so little money you could make as much at home" - options for work in an impoverished rural region of high unemployment.

Hungary has a higher unemployment rate than the member states of the European Union and even most former socialist countries. This rate for 15-64 year-olds has been around 56% since 1999, as against 66% in the European Union (OECD Employment Database). There is also a high degree of regional unevenness within the country. The situation is worst in North Hungary, an area of multiple economic and social deprivations. Several pieces of research have analysed the causes of long-term unemployment and have highlighted the main social, geographical and institutional factors behind it. People of low educational attainment who live in small villages and members of the Roma minority are particularly likely to have been without jobs for a long time.

Improved Cost, Health, and Satisfaction With a Health Home Benefit Plan for Self-Insured Employers and Small Physician Practices

We compared the impacts on total costs, health, and satisfaction among 615 adults enrolled 2 years in an employer's health home benefit plan to their baseline year in a standard preferred provider organization plan. The new plan combined strong continuity care incentives with nurse coaching support. After 24 months, total medical costs were 23% lower than the baseline year, biometric measures improved for more than 85% of members, and patient satisfaction exceeded 85%. Emergency department visits decreased by 16% and hospital days decreased by 48%. Health home benefit plans engaging small primary care physician practices and members in coordinated continuity care can deliver high value.