Secession and Security

Since World War II, separatist conflicts have been the most common and deadly types of war in international politics. Such wars result from a simple incongruity: ethno-nationalist groups desire a homeland, but on territory that is controlled by states unwilling to give it up. This book examines states’ strategies, particularly their use of violence, when confronted by separatist movements. Using more than 110 interviews, American and British diplomatic archives, and newspaper archives, this book’s emphasis on external security can account for separatist violence, or its lack thereof, in a variety of historical contexts including Pakistan's treatment of Bengali secessionists; India’s treatment of separatism in Assam, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir; interactions between the Ottoman Empire and Armenia; and Israel's attitudes toward Palestine

Bulletin No. 169 - The Use of Alkali Water for Irrigation

Because of the scanty rainfall of arid regions, the soluble materials in the rocks and soil are not leached out as they are where the rainfall is high. As a result, the accumulation of excessive quantities of soluble salts is likely to be a menace to arid soils. Farm practices must be directed toward preventing this condition

An evaluation of a mental toughness education and training program for early-career English football league referees

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a Mental Toughness Education and Training Program (MTETP) in elite football officiating. The MTETP consisted of four individual and two group-based workshops designed to develop Mental Toughness (MT) and enhance performance in three English Football League (EFL) referees. Adopting a single-subject, multiple-baseline-across-participants design, MT and referee-assessor reports were evaluated. Self and coach-ratings of MT highlighted an instant and continued improvement in all three referees during the intervention phases. Performance reports of all referees improved throughout the intervention phases compared to the baseline phase. Social validation data indicated that an array of strategies within the MTETP facilitated MT development. Discussions acknowledge theoretical and practical implications relating to the continued progression of MT interventions in elite sport

Offshore anchor piles under mooring forces: numerical modeling

A parametric study was carried out to study the behavior of offshore anchor piles under mooring forces in dense sand using a three dimensional (3-D) finite element model (FEM). The Mohr–Coulomb plastic model has been used to model the soil, and has been calibrated based on the centrifuge tests discussed in a Ph.D. thesis (published by Ramadan in 2011). The selection of model parameters and comparison of calibrated results with the centrifuge test results are discussed. In the parametric study, different pile lengths and diameters were considered to have different pile–soil rigidities. The pile was loaded at different load inclination angles to examine a wide range of loading conditions. From the current parametric study, design methods and design recommendations are given to help in improving the design of offshore anchor piles under monotonic mooring forces

Toward an understanding of optimal development environments within elite English soccer academies

This study examined the factors perceived by successful coaches to underpin optimal development environments within elite English soccer academies. A semistructured interview guide was developed to interview 10 expert coaches about the environments they create for players at a key stage in their development. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductively content analyzed. The results identified a wide range of factors resulting in a conceptual framework that explained how these factors interact to underpin an optimal environment. Subcomponents of this framework included organizational core (e.g., advocate a player-driven ideology), adaptability (e.g., embrace novel ideas & approaches), player welfare (e.g., understand players' world-view), key stakeholder relationships (e.g., build trust with parents), involvement (e.g., encourage players' ideas/feedback), and achievement oriented (e.g., establish an explicit pathway to senior level). Collectively, the findings highlight the importance of establishing strong, dynamic, organizational cultures at elite youth soccer academies. Ways that academies might be helped to establish such environments are discussed

Exploring The Understanding And Application Of Motivational Interviewing In Applied Sport Psychology.

The purpose of this study was to explore how sport and exercise psychologists working in sport understand and use motivational interviewing (MI). Eleven practitioners participated in semi-structured interviews, and inductive thematic analysis identified themes linked to explicit use of MI, such as building engagement and exploring ambivalence to change; the value of MI, such as enhancing the relationship, rolling with resistance and integrating with other approaches; and barriers to the implementation of MI in sport psychology, such as a limited evidence-base in sport. Findings also indicated considerable implicit use of MI by participants, including taking an athlete-centred approach, supporting athlete autonomy, reflective listening, demonstrating accurate empathy, and taking a non-prescriptive, guiding role. This counselling style appears to have several tenets to enhance current practice in sport psychology, not least the enhancement of therapeutic alliance

Offshore anchor piles under mooring forces: Centrifuge modeling

Offshore anchor piles are seafloor moorings that keep the position of floating structures during a harsh environment. These piles are usually subjected to a wide range of monotonic and cyclic lateral-to-oblique pullout forces. Centrifuge tests were carried out to study the behavior of offshore anchor piles under mooring forces in saturated dense sand. The tests were carried out at different loading angles. All piles were jacked into the sand bed in-flight. The pile models were instrumented with strain gauges. Bending moment, soil pressure, and pile lateral deflection profiles are presented and discussed. It was found that there is a significant interaction between both tension and lateral loading. This interaction should be considered in the design of offshore anchor piles

Regional Topography of the Internal Carotid Artery

We studied the extra cranial portion of the internal carotid artery and structures associated with it, which are vulnerable to iatrogenic injury during surgical approach to the neck region in 18 individuals. Distances from the origin of the artery to hypoglossal nerve and posterior belly of digastric muscle were measured. The mastoid process and the hyoid bone were also used as landmarks in locating the nerve and respective distances measured. Hypoglossal nerve and posterior belly of digastric muscle crossed the ICA at variable positions with a mean distance of 10.1mm and 17.9mm respectively from the common carotid bifurcation. From the mastoid process, the internal carotid artery ascends underneath the posterior belly of the digastric muscle a third the distance to the hyoid bone. The external carotid artery is located lateral to the internal carotid artery in 63.8% of the cases, posterior in 16.7% and anterior in 19.4%. The posterior belly of digastric muscle and its attachments are key landmarks in identifying the internal carotid artery and thus avoiding injury to vital neurovascular structures which may help structures, which may help, improve clinical outcomes during surgery.Keywords: internal carotid, topography, landmark