Ichimatsu Boy and the Historical Impact on Ichimatsu Ningyo

This article discusses the historical research found on the Ichimatsu Ningyo boy doll by Takizawa Koryusai II. This doll is housed by the Barry Arts Museum and is an example of the Japanese Ichimatsu Ningyo art style. The purpose of this project was to discover why and how the doll was created due to the lack of provenance. This investigation will first address the make and style of the doll as well as the symbolism that lies well within its image. Second, it will address the historical significance and future of the Japanese Ningyo doll. By comparing how the doll was created and the symbols within it, this paper seeks to present a more proper understanding of the doll\u27s intended purpose

Effect of Congenital Versus Acquired Varus on Patient-Reported Outcomes After High Tibial Osteotomy

ABSTRACT Objectives: 1) To determine the inter-rater reliability of tibial bone varus angle (TBVA) measurements. 2) To compare patient-reported outcomes after medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) in patients with congenital versus acquired varus. Methods: Two raters measured TBVA from preoperative whole-limb standing anteroposterior radiographs (n=74). Patients completed Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) before and 5 years after surgery. The sample was first divided into two groups based on preoperative congenital (TBVA\u3e5°) or acquired (TBVA≤5°) varus, then three groups based on tertiles for TBVA. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) suggested excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC2,1=0.78; ICC2,2=0.88). Repeated measures analysis of variance suggested no significant difference in the increase in KOOS scores between groups. Although patients in the highest TBVA tertile had higher KOOS scores before and after surgery, increases were similar among groups. Conclusions: Improvements in patient-reported outcomes after medial opening wedge HTO are similar for patients with congenital and acquired varus. Key terms: tibial bone varus angle; tbva; knee; osteoarthritis; high tibial osteotomy; inter-rater reliability; patient reported outcome

Bridges And Barriers To Connection: Class, Race, And Student Engagement With Institutional Agents

How people forge ties and build social connections, particularly social connections which help to advance their life chances, has long-been of sociological interest. Research on social capital, cultural capital, and trust within communities, in different ways, investigates the same fundamental process: how do interpersonal relationships—social ties—and cultural knowledge help young people get ahead? Studies have primarily focused on quantity of ties but not as much on the quality and dynamics. This dissertation, based on in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations, explores the connection between students and institutional agents in three interrelated but distinct ways. First, I investigate undergraduates’ perspectives on forming resourceful ties with institutional agents on campus—faculty, advisors, and administrators. Class differences persist: compared to their middle-class peers, students from working-class backgrounds more often miss out on forging these connections that can assist them beyond providing academic support. However, even among middle-class students, their strategies differ by race. White middle-class students demonstrate an embodied ease where they balance familiarity with deference to authority figures. On the other hand, black middle-class students rely on professional self-presentation when interacting with institutional agents and some express distrust of the institution. Second, I investigate from the perspective of undergraduate academic advisors the quality of their connections with students of different class backgrounds. Some middle-class and upper-class students view advisor-student relationships as more instrumental. More affluent students go over their advisors’ heads, activating hierarches, slipping through cracks, and pursuing accommodations. Students choose to activate cultural capital, not for a relationship, but for an advantage. Students from working-class backgrounds can miss out on personal accommodations because they do not enact the same assertive strategies as middle-class students. Finally, in a study of high school teachers and their mentorships with low-income black students, I show that relationships must be appropriately maintained or students risk losing assistance. Mutual trust and reciprocity are critical to maintaining social capital. In all, this dissertation considers the bridges and barriers that young people of diverse social backgrounds face as they navigate forming and leveraging ties—ties which help students comply with institutional standards

Implications of Cloud Computing on Digital Forensics

Cloud computing is a paradigm for computingservices that are delivered to users over the Internet. In cloudcomputing, users rent rather than buy their computing resources.Cloud computing likely represents the next stage in the evolutionof the Internet. But the cloud computing paradigm is stilldeveloping, with numerous unknowns and many questions openfor research. One critical question that has not received muchattention is security. A significant subset is digital forensics—that is, (1) the discovery of evidence remaining on a computerafter a security breach or attack and (2) the use of that evidenceto investigate the event and establish facts for use in legalproceedings.This paper discusses the impact that cloud computingwill have on digital forensics. From a forensic perspective,cloud computing raises a number of concerns. Most immediateis whether or not forensic practitioners will be able to analyzethe Cloud using existing techniques of digital forensics. Duringa traditional forensic examination, files on the storage media areexamined along with the entire file system structure. But this maynot be a practical model for examinations in the Cloud, wherethe computer is virtual, that is, where numerous heterogeneousresources, often geographically distributed, are combined. Otherconcerns include protecting evidence against contaminationand anticipating the legal issues that will be raised by the Cloudparadigm, with its resources spread over diverse administrativeand geopolitical domains. Comprehensive security services toprotect not only the Cloud’s resources but also the data thatresides on them may need to be instituted. The open literature todate has yet to address any of these challenges.Cloud technologies are predicted to cause a paradigm shiftin digital forensic techniques. This paper discusses the applicationof traditional digital forensic examinations to cloud forensics

Multinational subsidiary evolution : Vodafone and its South African subsidiary, Vodacom

Multinational Corporations (MNCs) increasingly realise the importance of acknowledging their dispersed subunits as individual organisations with the potential to formulate strategies and implement autonomous decision making in order to ensure the MNC‟s competitive viability. As MNCs need to remain responsive to the distinctive host markets‟ needs in order to retain and grow their market share, knowledge of the evolution of its subsidiaries becomes vital. Vodacom‟s new role as a subsidiary of Vodafone since its acquisition by the MNC in 2009, make it an ideal test subject to evaluate the roles of a subsidiary‟s mandates and its evolution in relation to the parent company from a South African perspective. The study summarised in this paper highlights a theoretically-based evaluation of the subsidiary-role frameworks, and presents new knowledge gained from in-depth interviews conducted with key personnel. The investigation suggests Vodacom is becoming an Active Subsidiary, showing high decision-making autonomy, operating and executing its decision making within the Vodafone procedures, policies and strategy. This has a marked effect on all business functions. Further research could focus on the processes of evolution of the subsidiary roles, and the contribution and strategic positioning of Centre of Excellence in the MNCs.Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)unrestricte

The relationship between the Auriculotemporal nerve and middle Meningeal artery in a sample of the South African population.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Introduction: Within the infratemporal fossa, the auriculotemporal nerve arises as two roots from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve and forms a buttonhole through which the middle meningeal artery courses. Thereafter, the two roots of the auriculotemporal nerve re-join and proceeds to provide sensory innervation to multiple structures of the head. The middle meningeal artery branches from the maxillary artery and enters the cranium through foramen spinosum. Variations of the auriculotemporal nerve and the middle meningeal artery have been documented in several populations. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding the South African population group. The aim of this study was to document the relationship between the auriculotemporal nerve and the middle meningeal artery and their variations (if any) within a South African population. Materials and methods: Sixteen (n=32) adult cadavers were dissected to reveal the infratemporal fossae regions. The auriculotemporal nerve and middle meningeal arteries were observed, and the morphology and morphometry were documented. Results: The auriculotemporal nerve arose as one to four roots. The most common variation was the two-root auriculotemporal nerve (14/32; 43.75%). The inferior alveolar nerve was observed to contribute to the formation of the auriculotemporal nerve in the majority of the individuals. The roots of the auriculotemporal nerve were either anterior, deep, or superficial to the middle meningeal artery. Although the V-shapes were present in 23/32 infratemporal fossae, only 13/32 middle meningeal arteries passed through them. In the South African cohort, the maxillary artery was found to course deep to the lateral pterygoid muscle in 19/32 (59.38%) individuals and superficial in 13/32 (40.63%). Fifteen accessory middle meningeal arterieswere present in 14/32 (43.75%) infratemporal fossae – one individual displayed a double accessory middle meningeal artery. The accessory middle meningeal artery originated from the middle meningeal artery or the maxillary artery in (8/15) 53.33% and (7/15) 46.67% of the individuals, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed numerous anatomical variations of the neurovasculature within the infratemporal fossa. Furthermore, this study provides novel information about the auriculotemporal nerve and middle meningeal artery in a South African population, which has not been previously reported. The results may be beneficial to medical professionals during surgical interventions to the infratemporal fossa

The relationship between the auriculotemporal nerve and middle meningeal artery in a sample of the South African population

The interaction between the auriculotemporal nerve and the middle meningeal artery within the infratemporal fossa is vital in the spread of perineural tumors. Knowledge of their morphological and morphometric variations is critical to surgeons approaching the infratemporal fossa. There is a paucity of literature on the relationship between the auriculotemporal nerve and middle meningeal artery in a South African population. Hence, the aim of this study was to document the morphology and morphometry of the auriculotemporal nerve and its relationship to the middle meningeal artery within a South African cohort. The infratemporal fossae of 32 cadaveric specimens were dissected and the auriculotemporal nerves and middle meningeal arteries were analyzed, together with their variations. Nine out of 32 specimens displayed one-root, 14/32 two-root, 7/32 three-root, and 2/32 four-root auriculotemporal nerves. Eighteen auriculotemporal nerves originated from the mandibular nerve, while the rest had at least one communication to the inferior alveolar nerve. The mean distance between the first and second roots of the auriculotemporal nerve was 4.69 mm. There were V-shaped formations found in 23 auriculotemporal nerves. However, the middle meningeal artery only passed through 13/23 V-shapes. The maxillary artery was of a deep course in relation to the lateral pterygoid muscle in 19/32 and superficial in 13/32 of the sample. There were 15 accessory middle meningeal arteries present in 14/32 specimens. The accessory middle meningeal arteries often arose from the middle meningeal artery (46.67%). The results of this study show a high possibility of variations of the auriculotemporal nerve and middle meningeal artery in the South African population. The variations and interactions should be considered during surgical procedures

Social Support and Religion: Mental Health Service Use and Treatment of Schizophrenia

The perceptions and religious beliefs held by family members, mental health and health care professionals, and the community may affect the treatment of individuals with schizophrenia. To better identify and understand the influence of families, professionals and community members on individual’s treatment for schizophrenia, this review paper examines: (1) the religious perceptions of families, professionals, and the public towards schizophrenia; (2) religious perceptions of the etiology of schizophrenia; (3) how others perceive religion as a coping mechanism; and (4) how religion influences treatment engagement and help-seeking behaviors. MEDLINE and PsycInfo databases were systematically searched from 1980 to 2010 using the terms schizophrenia, schizoaffective, schizophreniform, psychotic disorder not otherwise specified and religion, religiosity, spirituality, and faith. Forty-three (n = 43) original research studies met the inclusion criteria. This study found that religious beliefs influence the treatment of schizophrenia in the following ways: Religious themes were positively associated with coping, treatment engagement and help-seeking behavior. Evidence of religious underpinnings was found in perceptions of etiology. The findings also indicate that there is often both a preference among family members and caregivers to utilize religious-based professionals and caution toward mental health professionals. Researchers and professionals may find avenues for improving treatment through examining the interaction of religious and schizophrenia at the social support level

Contrast-enhanced sonography as a novel tool for assessment of vascular malformations

Vascular malformations with arteriovenous shunt components can cause significant disability, chronic pain, and functional impairment. Effective treatment may require serial procedures, yet an imaging modality optimized to control cost and reduce radiation exposure in this predominantly pediatric population has not yet been identified. We describe the use of contrast-enhanced sonography as a novel tool to define vascular anatomy and localize arteriovenous shunting in a young patient with a symptomatic vascular malformation. This method may effectively reduce radiation exposure and cost, and additionally provide unique information about arteriovenous shunting, offering a novel imaging application for patients with these conditions

Negotiating Closed Doors and Constraining Deadlines: The Potential of Visual Ethnography to Effectually Explore Private and Public Spaces of Motherhood and Parenting

Pregnancy and motherhood are increasingly subjected to surveillance, by medical professionals, the media and the general public; and discourses of ideal parenting are propagated alongside an admonishment of the perceived ‘failing’ maternal subject. However, despite this scrutiny, the mundane activities of parenting are often impervious to ethnographic forms of inquiry. Challenges for ethnographic researchers include the restrictions of becoming immersed in the private space of the home where parenting occurs, and an institutional structure that discourages exploratory and long-term fieldwork. This paper draws on four studies, involving 34 participants, which explored their journeys into the space of parenthood and their everyday experiences. The studies all employed forms of visual ethnography including artefacts, photo-elicitation, timelines, collage and sandboxing. The paper argues that visual methodologies can enable access to unseen aspects of parenting, and engender forms of temporal extension, which can help researchers to disrupt the restrictions of tightly time bounded projects