Alterations In the Shoot Apex of Petunia hybrida Vilm. at Flowering

In the past twenty years a number of morphologists and physiologists have studied the organization and behavior of shoot apices during the vegetative and flowering phases of development. Changes in size and shape as well as alterations in stratification have been reported to occur during each plastochron or interval between the production of leaf primordia (Foster 1939). A number of authors have noted differences in size and shape between vegetative and flowering apices in the same species. Although the literature contains numerous references to studies on vegetative and flowering apices, only casual observations have been made on the possible permanent changes that occur in the apex at the onset of flowering. In most of the literature the terminal meristem is considered to be unchangeable in position and to produce foliar or floral primordia in an opposite or spiral order on the flanks. Petunia hybrida Vilm. in the Solanaceae shows unique developmental changes in the shoot apex at flowering. These changes in apical configuration and method of producing floral primordia are constant and of sufficient difference in pattern of development to seem worthy of report. The present paper contains a detailed description of the size, shape and zonation of the vegetative and inflorescence apices of Petunia hybrida. The dynamics of apical behavior during the production of individual flower primordia is contrasted with apical activity during leaf primordia production. Apical criteria that indicate the onset of flowering are discussed

An examination of the relationship between participation in extra-curricular physical activity and the psychological well-being of adolescent males from disadvantaged communities

Extra-curricular physical activity (ECPA) has an important role to play in post-primary schools. The main aim of this study was to examine participation levels of adolescent males (aged 12-15 years) from disadvantaged communities in ECPA and to investigate the impact on the psychological well-being of those who regularly participated. The main psychological areas to be investigated were physical self-worth, perceived physical competence and enjoyment of physical activity (PA). The study also looked to identify barriers to participation in ECPA. Data were generated using self-report questionnaires, activity monitoring devices (pedometers) and focus group discussions. A longitudinal approach was adopted for this study with data being collected at Autumn, Winter and Summer during the academic year 2008/2009. Junior cycle students (N=174, male, 12-15 years of age, mean age 13.59 + .91) from four City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC) schools participated in the study. Overall, N=174 students completed questionnaires, N=146 students recorded pedometer step counts, and N=43 students were involved in focus group discussions. Only 14% of students met Department of Health and Children (DOHC, 2009) guidelines of > 60 minutes MVPA daily. Over the academic year, the average daily step count was 11,891 (SD = + 3,384) and the average number of days per week that students achieved > 60 minutes MVPA was 4.98 (SD = + 1.21). In terms of ECPA participation, 43% of students reported to ‘regularly’ (2 or more times weekly) participate in ECPA, 41% reported to ‘sometimes’ participate (once a week) and 16% reported ‘never’ participating in ECPA. As the rate of ECPA participation got higher, so did the average daily step count and the number of days > 60 minutes MVPA per week. X The students who reported to either ‘sometimes’ or ‘regularly’ participate in ECPA, scored higher on all psychological well-being sub-scales than the students who reported ‘never’ participating in ECPA. An example of this can be seen under perceived physical competence where regular ECPA participants year-long average score was 23.49 (2.36), compared to students who never participated in ECPA who had a score of 14.88 (3.35), F(2,167)=71.0, p<0.01. The focus groups with students, who regularly participated in ECPA, revealed that their main motivations for participation were enjoyment, being with friends and to improve their self-esteem, fitness and skills. These students also recognised the value of participation in ECPA, commenting on how it helped improve attendance and made school more appealing for them. In comparison, the students who never participated in ECPA suggested a lack of perceived competence and peer rejection were their main reasons for non-engagement. These students however, acknowledged the value of ECPA for its regular participants, namely building their confidence and making friends. Strategies suggested by the non-participants that might encourage participation included more positive support from significant others including peers, parents and teachers. The main recommendation from this study is that ECPA in post-primary schools is a potential untapped resource for increasing minutes of PA in adolescent males. The present study has shown that ECPA participation can also have a positive effect on the psychological well-being of adolescent males, in particular, perceived competence, physical self-worth and enjoyment of PA. Future research should repeat this study with a same age female sample and should examine in greater detail, possibly through direct observation, the role of significant others (parents, peers, PE teachers) in the promotion of ECPA participation for adolescents

Machiavelli and his more recent disciples

[In this paper it shall be not so much our intention to make an exhaustive comparison of Machiavelli and the men whom we shall mention with him as to "point out that the principles and policies which he advocated have been but recently held to and followed, worshiped we might almost say, in the courts of diplomacy and international dealing, showing that they are vital and moving forces in the world about us even at this day. It shall be our purpose to suggest lines of thought, placing men not so much in a definite and ditinct school of political thinking for that is impossible, but rather showing their affiliations, indicating if we may something of the policy which they unconsciously or consciously adopted as they viewed the world of diplomacy.

Leadership as service of a parish in mission

This study is concerned with the style of leadership needed to enable the church to fully express itself in mission. The renewed ecclesiology of the Second Vatican council, in which the church is said to be missionary by nature, is reviewed. The fundamental structure of the church is described theologically under the themes of the people of God, creation of the Holy Spirit and the body of Christ. A study of the Council's teaching on a pyramidal style ofleadership leads to the conclusion that it is inadequate for implementing the teaching on the missionary nature of the church. A review of post-Vatican II ecclesial movements worldwide points to a strong desire among many for a church of greater participation with a more personal leadership style. A study of leadership in the corporate world shows how a servant-style is replacing the traditional pyramidal structure. It is shown how this servant-leadership style could also be used in the church. The results of a qualitative research study of St. Joseph's Parish in Metro Manila, Philippines, are presented. This shows how the pastor gathered around him a group of lay leaders who share and express his style of servant-leadership. This part of the study begins by setting the historical context within which this parish exists by giving an overview of the history of the church in the Philippines and then shows how the leaders of St. Joseph's Parish motivated a passive congregation to become a church-in-mission. This occurred over a number of years through the parishioners being invited to full participation in parish life and becoming involved in service of those in need. An intense formation programme by parish leaders, who used a servant-leadership style, helped lead this parish from its former passivity to a manifestation of the missionary nature of the church. The study concludes by identifying some themes for further research.Christian Spirituality, Church History and MissiologyD.Th.(Missiology

Development of the Helicoid andScorpioid Cymes in Myosotis laxa Lehm. and Mertensia virginica L.

The vegetative and inflorescence apices of Myosotis laxa and Mertensia virginica have been compared and contrasted in order to determine how helicoid and scorpioid cymes differ in development. The apices have been interpreted on the basis of the tunica-corpus theory, since no clear histogenic layers could be determined for these species. The stem apex enlarges and broadens at the onset of flowering, and apical dominance is lost. The number of tunica layers is reduced in both cases, and the enlargement of the apex is found to be due to more, not larger cells. The helicoid cyme of Myosotis laxa results from a continuous renewal of meristematic activity on the same side of the apex. The scorpioid cyme of Mertensia virginica develops in a stepwise fashion as a result of renewed meristematic activity at ninety degrees from the previous point of growth. Both are sympodial axes

(Dis)locating Democratization: Music Technologies in Practice

This article examines the concept of democratization and explains why it has been applied in unhelpful ways to the study of music. We focus on three examples to illustrate the real-world complexities involved in the adoption of new technologies that are often seen as democratic by dint of their widespread use. We argue for a close-reading of the participatory practices of socially-located actors with music-making devices – one that asks detailed questions about who is participating, how, and under what socio-economic conditions. We finish with a call to move beyond the term democratization to an application that is specific to the field of popular music

Rearticulating theory and methodology for perezhivanie and becoming: Tracing flat CHAT assemblages and embodied intensities

Taking up Lemke’s (2000) critical questions of how moments add up to lives and social life, we articulate theoretical and methodological frameworks for perezhivanie and becoming, challenging binaries that splinter entangled flows of perezhivanie into frozen categories. Working from a flat CHAT notion of assemblage to develop an ontology of moments, we stress consequentiality, arguing it emerges in intersections of embodied intensities (not only affective, but also indexical, intra-actional, and historic), the dispersed bio-cultural-historical weight of artifacts and practices, and dialogic resonances across moments. Methodologically, we take an ethico-onto-epistemological perspective to systematically study perezhivanie. The bio-ecological model of rich environments (centered around meaningful complexity, agency, and individual optimization) offers both a key framework for understanding becoming and a design framework for transdisciplinary realizations of ethico-onto-epistemological practice. We illustrate these frameworks with examples from four research projects: a university physics lab group doing and writing an experiment, a former pastor managing bipolar disorder and rejecting faith, a sustained social justice education program at a university, and intersections of aging policies, media representations, and stroke survival in Brazil. Finally, we argue that an ontology of moments centered on consequentiality can illuminate perezhivanie's relationship to becoming and that the model of enriched environments offers metrics to assess and design environments

Development and psychometric properties of the Carer – Head Injury Neurobehavioral Assessment Scale (C-HINAS) and the Carer – Head Injury Participation Scale (C-HIPS): patient and family determined outcome scales

Objective: Develop and assess the psychometric properties of the Carer - Head Injury Participation Scale (C-HIPS) and its biggest factor the Carer - Head Injury Neurobehavioral Assessment Scale (C-HINAS). Furthermore, the aim was to examine the inter-informant reliability by comparing the self reports of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) with the carer reports on the C-HIPS and the C-HINAS. Method: Thirty-two TBI individuals and 27 carers took part in in-depth qualitative interviews exploring the consequences of the TBI. Interview transcripts were analysed and key themes and concepts were used to construct a 49-item and 58-item patient (Patient - Head Injury Participation Scale [P-HIPS]) and carer outcome measure (C-HIPS) respectively, of which 49 were parallel items and nine additional items were used to assess carer burden. Postal versions of the P-HIPS, C-HIPS, Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory-3 (MPAI-3), and the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) were completed by a cohort of 113 TBI individuals and 80 carers. Data from a sub-group of 66 patient/carer pairs were used to compare inter-informant reliability between the P-HIPS and the C-HIPS, and the P-HINAS and the C-HINAS respectively. Results: All individual 49 items of the C-HIPS and their total score showed good test-retest reliability (0.95) and internal consistency (0.95). Comparisons with the MPAI-3 and GOSE found a good correlation with the MPAI-3 (0.7) and a moderate negative correlation with the GOSE (-0.6). Factor analysis of these items extracted a 4-factor structure which represented the domains 'Emotion/Behavior' (C-FUNAS),'Independence/ Community Living', 'Cognition', and 'Physical'. The C-HINAS showed good internal consistency (0.92), test-retest reliability (0.93), and concurrent validity with one MPAI subscale (0.7). Assessment of inter-informant reliability revealed good correspondence between the reports of the patients and the carers for both the C-HIPS (0.83) and the C-HINAS (0.82). Conclusion: Both the C-HINAS and the C-HIPS show strong psychometric properties. The qualitative methodology employed in the construction stage of the questionnaires provided good evidence of face and content validity. Comparisons between the P-HIPS and the C-HIPS, and the P-HINAS and the C-HINAS indicated high levels of agreement suggesting that in situations where the patient is unable to provide self-reports, information provided by the carer could be used. © 2007 Dove Medical Press Limited. All rights reserved