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This article examines oaths functioning within customary law during the post-reform period, reflecting the system of basic values of the peasant society. The relevance of the study is justified by the urgent task of preserving ethnocultural identity, as well as the practical needs of the modern legal system, demonstrating a disconnect from the value orientations of traditional culture. The sphere and peculiarities of oath application in customary legal tradition are identified, and the main elements of the ritual are described. The verbal component of oaths is identified and characterized. The attitudes of peasants towards oaths are explored, and beliefs about the consequences of false oaths are analyzed. The system of values relevant to peasant society is reconstructed, highlighting justice, life (including a “righteous” life after death), health, reputation, honor, prosperity, various social ties including familial connections uniting ancestors and descendants as well as intra-community bonds, and spiritual values such as the connection with God, the rupture of which was perceived as spiritual death. It is concluded that despite the declining popularity of informal oaths, they remain relevant in the post-reform period as a means of conflict neutralization and an effective mechanism for uncovering truth, precisely because they appeal to significant categories and values for ethnocultural consciousness.

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Inclusion of the clause on the oath at naturalization in the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” in 2017 makes understanding of historical experience of such an institution in Russia in the past, relevant. The paper is an attempt of comparative legal study of the modern institution of the oath at naturalization and similar institutions that existed in the Ancient Rus’, Moscow state, Russian Empire. It is emphasized that for a long time the institution of the oath was not formaly established; however, it was established at first in relation to natives of Eastern countries, while the oath of Europeans who accepted a Russian citizenship was not regulated in form and content. Authors raise the question to what extent the historical traditions of our country were taken into account in the development of the modern oath of Russian citizenship. To answer this question, the basic elements of the institution of the oath including terms of adjuration, ceremonial, content and legal formalization have been examined. The study is mainly based on the formal-legal, historical-legal and comparative-legal methods.

The paper proposes a reflection on mathematical beauty, considering the possibility of aesthetic qualities for formal language. Through a concise overview of the way this question is understood by some famous scientists and mathematicians, we turn our attention to Gian-Carlo Rota’s theoretical proposal: his reflections as a mathematician and philosopher offer a perspective, of phenomenological matrix, fruitful for looking at the question. Rota’s contribution allows us to focus on the role of competence, acquired through effort, sedimentation and habit of repetition, in cultivating the potential to recognise the aesthetic quality of formal language. Finally, we draw on some contributions from Gestalt theory, closely connected to twentieth-century phenomenology for chronological and conceptual reasons, applying the idea of gestalt wholeness to the mathematical product and proposing some reflections that may help to clarify some of the dynamics underlying the attribution of qualities of beauty to formulas or the detection of its lack.

Background and Research Aims: Conservationists aiming to establish seed orchards or restoration plantings benefit from methods that reduce tree juvenility. Previous studies suggest that seedling and sapling mortality is the major limitation to natural population recovery of the critically endangered Serianthes nelsonii. To enable effective restoration actions new methods are required to reduce sapling mortality. Methods: Ex situ experiments were used to determine if trellised, shaded growth conditions would reduce juvenility of Serianthes saplings. Serianthes kanehirae was used as a surrogate for S. nelsonii. Stem growth was trained horizontally to a wire trellis in shaded tunnels of differing lengths (0, 3, 6, 9 or 12 m). Time to reach the end of each tunnel, and subsequent vertical stem growth in full sun were recorded until flower production commenced. Results: The shortest S. kanehirae juvenile phase occurred under 12 m tunnels, with first flower production within a year (351 ± 10 days, mean ± SE). The juvenile phase increased in duration as tunnel length shortened. The control plants did not produce flowers during the study. Conclusion: Horizontal trellised support of shaded stems was effective in reducing juvenile phase duration of Serianthes saplings. Implications for Conservation: Serianthes seed orchards may use shaded trellises to produce seeds on young plants to rapidly boost species recovery efforts. The production of seeds in managed conservation gardens may improve recovery efforts by reducing the need to remove seeds from in situ communities. Therefore, this simple protocol may prove beneficial for both in situ and ex situ conservation of all federally listed woody plant species in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Informe Gepec is the property of Informe Gepec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper proposes a reflection on mathematical beauty, considering the possibility of aesthetic qualities for formal language. Through a concise overview of the way this question is understood by some famous scientists and mathematicians, we turn our attention to Gian-Carlo Rota's theoretical proposal: his reflections as a mathematician and philosopher offer a perspective, of phenomenological matrix, fruitful for looking at the question. Rota's contribution allows us to focus on the role of competence, acquired through effort, sedimentation and habit of repetition, in cultivating the potential to recognise the aesthetic quality of formal language. Finally, we draw on some contributions from Gestalt theory, closely connected to twentieth-century phenomenology for chronological and conceptual reasons, applying the idea of gestalt wholeness to the mathematical product and proposing some reflections that may help to clarify some of the dynamics underlying the attribution of qualities of beauty to formulas or the detection of its lack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Os estudos sobre desenvolvimento regional endógeno e associação às redes turísticas prezam pela cooperação e crescimento das entidades e atores sociais que integram determinada localidade. Desta forma, realizou-se uma contextualização acerca dos temas, a fim de compreender o desenvolvimento regional através das redes turísticas. Este estudo pode ser compreendido como um ensaio teórico, tendo como método de pesquisa o levantamento bibliográfico. Entre os principais resultados, verificou-se que para haver um desenvolvimento regional endógeno por meio de uma rede turística, é primordial que o esforço coletivo se sobressaia ao particular, com relações sociais eficientes, empoderamento dos atores sociais, presença de um sistema de turismo que preze pelos interesses coletivos e, principalmente, a importância da participação e do fomento tripartite formado pelo Estado, comunidade civil e pelas empresas privadas. Abstract: Studies on endogenous regional development and association with tourist networks value cooperation and growth of entities and social actors that make up a given location. In this way, a contextualization about the themes was carried out, in order to understand regional development through tourist networks. This study can be understood as a theoretical essay, having the bibliographic survey as a research method. Among the main results, it was found that for there to be an endogenous regional development through a tourist network, it is essential that the collective effort stands out from the particular, with efficient social relations, empowerment of social actors, presence of a tourism system that cherish collective interests and, above all, the importance of participation and tripartite promotion formed by the State, civil community and private companies.

Copyright of Journal of the Cukurova University Institute of Social Sciences is the property of Cukurova University Institute of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To apply retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) optical texture analysis (ROTA) in eyes with early glaucoma to investigate (1) the pattern of RNFL defects, (2) how often the papillomacular bundle and papillofoveal bundles are involved, and (3) the association between papillomacular and papillofoveal bundle defects and visual field (VF) sensitivity abnormalities. Cross-sectional study. Two hundred four eyes with early glaucoma (VF mean deviation, ≥ –6 dB) with RNFL defects from 171 consecutively enrolled patients with glaucoma. All eyes underwent 24-2 VF testing and OCT for ROTA. The borders of RNFL defects were delineated from ROTA, and the involvement of the arcuate bundle, papillomacular bundle (i.e., bundles from the macula, excluding the fovea), and papillofoveal bundle (i.e., bundles from the fovea) was determined for each eye. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the structure–function association. Proportions of eyes with papillomacular or papillofoveal bundle defects. Of the 204 eyes, 71.6% and 17.2% demonstrated RNFL defects involving the papillomacular and papillofoveal bundles, respectively; 25.0% showed arcuate bundle defects without involvement of papillomacular or papillofoveal bundles. The pattern of RNFL defects was diverse; the most common was concomitant involvement of the inferior arcuate bundle and the inferior papillomacular bundle (20.6%). Papillomacular or papillofoveal bundle defects were not associated with VF defects (i.e., with ≥ 3 contiguous locations with abnormal VF sensitivity in the pattern deviation probability plot) in the corresponding hemifield, although VF sensitivity of any 1 of the central 4 VF locations of the 24-2 test, which were within the macula, was more likely to be abnormal (P < 0.05 in the pattern deviation probability plot; odds ratio, 12.5; 95% confidence interval, 7.0–22.5) when the VF stimulus was projected onto a papillomacular or papillofoveal bundle defect than that projected onto an intact papillomacular or papillofoveal bundle. Contrary to the conventional notion that the fovea and macula are not affected until the late stages of glaucoma, papillofoveal and papillomacular bundle defects were common in early glaucoma, and they were associated with central VF sensitivity loss at the corresponding VF test locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Memorias is the property of Fundacion Universidad del Norte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rats (Rattus spp.) are likely established on 80-90% of the world's islands and represent one of the most damaging and expensive biological invaders. Effective rat control tools exist but require accurate population density estimates or indices to inform treatment timing and effort and to assess treatment efficacy. Capture-mark-recapture data are frequently used to produce robust density estimates, but collecting these data can be expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. We tested a potentially cheaper and easier alternative, chew-cards, as a count-based (quantitative) index of invasive rat densities in tropical forests in the Mariana Islands, an archipelago in the western North Pacific Ocean. We trialed chew-cards in nine forest grids on two Mariana Islands by comparing the proportion of cards chewed to capture-mark-recapture density estimates and manipulated rat densities to test whether the relationship was retained. Chew-card counts were positively correlated with rat capture-mark-recapture density estimates across a range of rat densities found in the region. Additionally, the correlation between the two sampling methods increased with the number of days chew-cards were deployed. Specifically, when chew-cards were deployed for five nights, a 10% increase in the proportion of cards chewed equated to an estimated increase in rat density of approximately 2.4 individuals per ha (R2 = 0.74). Chewcards can provide a valid index of rat densities in Mariana Island forests and are a cheaper alternative to capture-mark-recapture sampling when relative differences in density are of primary interest. New cost-effective monitoring tools can enhance our understanding and management of invaded islands while stretching limited resources further than some conventional approaches, thus improving invasive species management on islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a British or North American nuclear-powered submarine docks at the southern dock of the port / naval Base of Gibraltar, it is usual for environmental groups in the neighbouring Spanish area to come to the fore protesting this scale and airing the dangers it entails that repeated presence. Regardless of the numbers and given the repetition of these visits, it is worth considering what is the relevance of the Gibraltar facilities, and also those of Rota, for the operation of these platforms and. Moreover, it is key to stress the importance of the submarines – nuclear or not – for the Navies of the countries that possess them, in the context of the current international strategic situation. This article evaluate what happened and what was done when in Gibraltar a submarine of the Royal Navy, the ‘HMS Tireless’, was docked for a year repairing a failure in the primary cooling circuit of its nuclear reactor. The security aspect of the population living a very short distance from the nuclear submarine berths is reflected in the nuclear emergency plan available to Gibraltar and the absence of it on the Spanish side of the Gate. The article will also review the internal nuclear emergency plan available to the US-Spain Rota Base and the absence, once again, of a civil emergency plan for the towns that surround it.

La disputa entre los duques de Béjar, el Arzobispado de Toledo y los clérigos del Estado de Capilla por la percepción de los diezmos y el derecho a nombrar los párrocos y asignarles el salario, discurrió a lo largo de un siglo y medio, resolviéndose fundamentalmente en la Rota romana con distintas alternativas. Incardinado en este largo proceso, el motín de Capilla en mayo de 1629, cuyo pretexto fue la celebración de unas fiestas de toros, constituyó un grave desafío a la autoridad de los duques, y en él participó una parte importante de la villa. Fue organizado y protagonizado por los clérigos, que unieron sus fuerzas con las de los dirigentes del cabildo de la villa. Este hecho demuestra que la intervención del estamento eclesiástico en los conflictos sociales de la Edad Moderna castellana, no siempre fue la de moderador del conflicto.

Copyright of Tarih İncelemeleri Dergisi is the property of Tarih Incelemeleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Humanities & Tourism Research (JoHUT) is the property of Journal of Humanities & Tourism Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to determine the optimal route for traveling between 15 units, divided into two divisions of an agricultural company. The study sought to answer the problem of what is the best route to visit the 15 units in order to minimize the distance traveled. To this end, the traveling salesman problem was applied, which was modeled as a binary integer programming problem, to determine the best route for each of the divisions. This research, in terms of its objectives, is classified as exploratory and quantitative. The procedural methods are case study and descriptive research. The data was collected through observation and informal interviews and treated using Excel's Solver add-in to solve the problem. Considering that the manager must leave the city of origin, visit each city only once and return to the origin, by modeling the traveling salesman problem it was possible to determine the best route for each of the two divisions and, by applying Excel's Solver, the best route was found for division I, which totals 765.4 kilometers, and for division II, where 655.3 kilometers will be traveled. These optimized routes bring several benefits to the company, among them is that with the minimization of the distance traveled, there may be a reduction in cost and travel time and also, there will be a better organization of the manager. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the several types of tourism, faith tourism entails the visits to sacred places and resulting socio-economic revenues. In Tunceli hosts several tombs, associations and various places of interest due to the prominent Alevite culture. Tunceli has a significant faith tourism potential for due to these unique Alevite places of interest. These sites attract several domestic and international visitors. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the Alevite sites with tourism potential in the province based on the data collected in field observations and tourism agency guides. During the field study, interviews were conducted at the places of interest and these sites were photographed. Among these venues, 22 places of interest with faith tourism potential were identified. Next, these places with belief tourism potential were determined as stopping points and a faith tourism route was planned. The route was planned to start at the central provincial, and five routes were planned to create a faith tourism corridor. Although the lack of studies on the topic in the literature was an important motivation, the determination of the points of interest with faith tourism potential and the assignment of these points as stop points on a touristic route would lead to important gains for the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature covering the biology, ecology, horticulture, and conservation of the critically endangered tree Serianthes nelsonii Merr. was reviewed. The roots, stems, and leaves of this charismatic legume tree revealed highly plastic traits and responded positively to horticultural manipulations to improve the quality of container-grown transplants. Pre-sowing seed treatments of seed coat scarification and 1 h of imbibition generated 85% to 90% germination at a temperature optimum of 26 °C. Adventitious root formation on air layers and successful unions on approach grafts were 100%. Seedling and sapling growth was maximum under 25% to 50% sunlight transmission, limited irrigation to ensure adequate root zone aeration, repetitive stem tip pruning to increase root:shoot quotient, and thigmic stress to retain an orthotropic orientation of stems. In situ regeneration on Guam was substantial but recruitment from seedling to sapling was nil. High quality leaf litter chemistry enabled rapid decomposition, and soils beneath the tree exhibited unique chemical traits that increased ecosystem health by creating spatial heterogeneity. The greatest unanswered questions focus on plant mortality. Research is needed to determine the reasons for the mortality of in situ seedlings, mortality within transplantation projects on Guam, and the mortality of 60% of the mature in situ tree population during the 26-year implementation of the national recovery plan. Horticultural researchers are ideally positioned to answer these urgent questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Memoria em Rede is the property of Revista Memoria em Rede and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The transhumance cultural landscape reflects a deep knowledge of the territory. Based on pastoral activity, involves spatial, periodic and seasonal movements of livestock between mountain pastures, valleys and lowlands, to provide food. We highlight an important Portuguese route: Serra da Estrela -- Idanha-a-Nova, where wool production was the main activity's driving force. The activity reached its peak in the Middle Ages and survived until the 1950s in Beira Interior region. Aware that change is an inherent dynamic in landscape, we cannot, however, disregard that over generations, the use of endogenous natural resources, shows an understanding of the ecosystem, contributing to the region's cultural and landscape identity heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature covering the biology, ecology, horticulture, and conservation of the critically endangered tree Serianthes nelsonii Merr. was reviewed. The roots, stems, and leaves of this charismatic legume tree revealed highly plastic traits and responded positively to horticultural manipulations to improve the quality of container-grown transplants. Pre-sowing seed treatments of seed coat scarification and 1 h of imbibition generated 85% to 90% germination at a temperature optimum of 26 °C. Adventitious root formation on air layers and successful unions on approach grafts were 100%. Seedling and sapling growth was maximum under 25% to 50% sunlight transmission, limited irrigation to ensure adequate root zone aeration, repetitive stem tip pruning to increase root:shoot quotient, and thigmic stress to retain an orthotropic orientation of stems. In situ regeneration on Guam was substantial but recruitment from seedling to sapling was nil. High quality leaf litter chemistry enabled rapid decomposition, and soils beneath the tree exhibited unique chemical traits that increased ecosystem health by creating spatial heterogeneity. The greatest unanswered questions focus on plant mortality. Research is needed to determine the reasons for the mortality of in situ seedlings, mortality within transplantation projects on Guam, and the mortality of 60% of the mature in situ tree population during the 26-year implementation of the national recovery plan. Horticultural researchers are ideally positioned to answer these urgent questions.

Copyright of Pasos: Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural is the property of Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Politicas y Sociales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper examines the Latin terms rota, strophus and mac(h)ina, which occur in the passage describing the treatment to reduce the dislocation of a horse’s shoulder in § 583 of the Mulomedicina Chironis (the term rota is also used in Pelagon. 44, 3 and Veg. Mulom. 2, 45, 7 and 2, 46; in the last passage we also find mac(h)ina). After presenting the somewhat divergent opinions of modern scholars, the paper goes on to analyse similar treatments in Greek authors and their continuations in medieval Latin and romance treatises. This research has shown in particular how an inspection of the iconography of some of the manuscripts transmitting these texts, together with an examination of equivalent techniques still used in modern veterinary medicine, can contribute significantly towards solving the problems of interpretation in the passage of the Mulomedicina Chironis.

Emergence and longevity of seedlings beneath Guam’s only known Håyun lågu Tree Serianthes nelsonii were studied to determine the fate of every observed seedling during 2013. Newly emerged seedlings were marked with wire stakes every 15 days, then the stakes were collected at each seedling upon death. Longevity of each seedling was calculated from the marked ending and emergence dates. The least number of newly emerged seedlings was recorded at the end of the dry season, and the greatest number of newly emerged seedlings was recorded in the beginning of the rainy season. More than half of the year’s 374 seedlings died in less than 30 days. Seedling longevity ranged from a mean of 31 days for seedlings that emerged in May to 78 days for seedlings that emerged in June. Our results reveal that the baseline level of recruitment potential of the lone survivor of this species on Guam is substantial, and underscore the need for further research to determine the factors associated with the acutely limited seedling lifespan.

ABSTRACT. The Mariana eight-spot butterfly (Hypolimnas octocula marianensis) and the Mariana wandering butterfly (Vagrans egistina) are endemic to the Mariana Islands and both have recently been listed as federally protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. We conducted both targeted surveys and grid transect searches on Guam and targeted surveys across the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota to locate native hostplants, eggs, caterpillars and adults of these rare insects. Despite having a relatively common hostplant, V. egistina was not found during this study, even in places it had last been found. Although various life stages of H. o. marianensis were documented, the hostplants of this species were heavily impacted by grazing of introduced ungulates; only in native limestone forest with jagged tower karst topography, did hostplants persist, and the butterfly with them. The reasons for the disappearance of V. egistina are not clear, but do not appear to be related to hostplant availability. Our surveys suggest that control of invasive ungulates on Guam will be the single most effective conservation action for Mariana eight-spot recovery, and is essential to any chance of long-term persistence for the species there. H. o. marianensis has significant, unoccupied, hostplant patches on the three northern islands (Rota, Tinian, and Saipan) which might be considered as sites for future translocation and reintroduction efforts, in order to reduce the risk of extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergence and longevity of seedlings beneath Guam's only known Håyun Lågu Tree Serianthes nelsonii were studied to determine the fate of every observed seedling during 2013. Newly emerged seedlings were marked with wire stakes every 15 days, then the stakes were collected at each seedling upon death. Longevity of each seedling was calculated from the marked ending and emergence dates. The least number of newly emerged seedlings was recorded at the end of the dry season, and the greatest number of newly emerged seedlings was recorded in the beginning of the rainy season. More than half of the year's 374 seedlings died in less than 30 days. Seedling longevity ranged from a mean of 31 days for seedlings that emerged in May to 78 days for seedlings that emerged in June. Our results reveal that the baseline level of recruitment potential of the lone survivor of this species on Guam is substantial, and underscore the need for further research to determine the factors associated with the acutely limited seedling lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The western Pacific island of Rota is the fourth largest human-inhabited island in the Mariana archipelago and designated an Endemic Bird Area. Between 1982 and 2012, 12 point-transect distance-sampling surveys were conducted to assess bird population status. Surveys did not consistently sample the entire island; thus, we used a ratio estimator to estimate bird abundances in strata not sampled during every survey. Trends in population size were reliably estimated for 11 of 13 bird species, and 7 species declined over the 30-y time series, including the island collared-dove Streptopelia bitorquata, white-throated ground-dove Gallicolumba xanthonura, Mariana fruit-dove Ptilinopus roseicapilla, collared kingfisher Todiramphus chloris orii, Micronesian myzomela Myzomela rubratra, black drongo Dicrurus macrocercus, and Mariana crow Corvus kubaryi. The endangered Mariana crow (x̄ = 81 birds, 95% CI 30–202) declined sharply to fewer than 200 individuals in 2012, down from 1,491 birds in 1982 (95% CI = 815–3,115). Trends increased for white tern Gygis alba, rufous fantail Rhipidura rufifrons mariae, and Micronesian starling Aplonis opaca. Numbers of the endangered Rota white-eye Zosterops rotensis declined from 1982 to the late 1990s but returned to 1980s levels by 2012, resulting in an overall stable trend. Trends for the yellow bittern Ixobrychus sinensis were inconclusive. Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus trends were not assessed; however, their numbers in 1982 and 2012 were similar. Occupancy models of the 2012 survey data revealed general patterns of land cover use and detectability among 12 species that could be reliably modeled. Occupancy was not assessed for the Eurasian tree sparrow because of insufficient detections. Based on the 2012 survey, bird distribution and abundance across Rota revealed three general patterns: 1) range restriction, including Mariana crow, Rota white-eye, and Eurasian tree sparrow; 2) widespread distribution, low abundance, including collared kingfisher, island collared-dove, white-throated ground-dove, Mariana fruit-dove, white tern, yellow bittern, black drongo, and Micronesian myzomela; and 3) widespread distribution, high abundance, including rufous fantail and Micronesian starling. The Mariana crow was dispersed around the periphery of the island in steep forested land-cover types. In contrast, the Rota white-eye was restricted to the high-elevation mesa. Only for the white-throated ground-dove was there a significant difference among cover types, with lower occupancy in open field than in forested areas. Vegetation was included in the best-fit occupancy models for yellow bittern, black drongo, Micronesian myzomela, and Micronesian starling, but vegetation type was not a significant variable nor included in the top models for the remaining five species: white tern, island collared-dove, Mariana fruit-dove, collared kingfisher, and rufous fantail. Given declining population trends, the Rota bird-monitoring program could benefit from establishing threshold and alert limits and identifying alternative research and management actions. Continued monitoring and demographic sampling, in conjunction with ecological studies, are needed to understand why most bird species on Rota are declining, identify the causative agents, and assess effectiveness of conservation actions, especially for the Mariana crow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of the Critically Endangered Mariana crow Corvus kubaryi on the island of Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, has decreased dramatically in recent years. It is unclear to what extent negative practices by people, such as inappropriate land use or persecution of crows, have contributed to this decline. We conducted a public opinion survey to document ongoing practices towards the crows on Rota, to assess residents’ knowledge of and attitudes towards the birds, and to gauge potential responses to a government-instituted land incentive programme. Enumerators administered surveys in person during August 2011. Most of the 573 respondents were native Chamorro residents (75%) and more than half were landowners (62%). A majority of respondents (72%) considered environmental issues ‘very important’ and 76% knew of the Mariana crow's Critically Endangered status. Fewer respondents (55%) expressed concern about the bird going extinct. A number of respondents condoned shooting and chasing crows (17 and 52%, respectively), suggesting that residents may be harassing the birds. Chamorro landowners on the island were more likely to have negative attitudes towards the crows and to know people who persecute the crows than other island residents. Education was positively correlated with knowledge and concern about the crow and environmental issues, suggesting that new educational programmes on Rota may help improve residents’ attitudes towards the species. In addition, we recommend a revision of current land-use regulations and implementation of a monetary compensation programme for owners of crow nesting habitat to improve landowners’ attitudes and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: To create the first evidence-based risk management tool that balances productivity with the likelihood of breeching the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) and band 1 of the current UK junior doctor contract. Thus, providing reassurance to HR managers and junior doctors that a working pattern will not breech contractual and legislative hours limits. Methods: Twenty-one North West England NHS Trusts allowed access to their junior doctor hours monitoring data from 2012/13. Examination of the variance between the anticipated hours of work and that actually worked in practice facilitated the production of a risk-management tool for rota designers. Results: Valid monitoring returns were obtained for 256 full-shift and 47 non-resident on-call rotas. Full-shift specialties with >10 rotas in the dataset, and normally distributed, were used to produce a look-up table that allows rota designers to choose an acceptable percentage likelihood of breeching a pay banding/EWTD. This would be achieved by incorporating a specified minimum number of minutes under/over the 48-hour limit into the template rota as designated by the tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iuramentum perhorrescentiae was a remedy under canon law in the fourteenth century by which any person could have his case tried in the first instance at the Papal Curia by swearing that, because of the power of his adversary, he did not expect to obtain justice in the locality. The English chancellor exercised a similar jurisdiction in the late-fourteenth century in cases in which the plaintiff claimed he could not avail himself of the common law remedy because of the defendant's power. This paper examines the possible influence of the iuramentum perhorrescentiae on the development of early Chancery jurisdiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Designing and running robust junior doctor rotas is a challenging task and much previous advice has been based on consensus or anecdote. This paper aims to discern the most frequently occurring problems with trainee working patterns and produce evidence-based guidance for implementing and running contract-compliant rotas. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 35 secondary care trusts in North West England were invited to supply information on pay banding appeals requested under the New Deal junior doctor contract. Of these, 15 (43 per cent) participated with data from 35 appeals between 2004 and 2012. A thematic analysis was undertaken to discern the commonly occurring causes of contractual breaches. Findings – A total of 83 per cent (n=29/35) of appeals were based on data showing the rota to be non-compliant with the contract (band 3), with the remainder being compliant with the contract but not in keeping with the pay banding currently assigned. Inability to take adequate natural breaks was the most frequently cited cause of rota non-compliance. Where underlying reasons were given for breaches of hours/rest limits they clustered around 20 themes, the top four being poor or absent dialogue between HR and doctors, excessive workload, inappropriately timed ward rounds, and inadequate or non-existent bleep policies. Originality/value – This is the first analysis of banding appeals under the UK junior doctor contract. The findings show that problems with rotas cluster around specific themes. The authors provide recommendations to target these so as to avoid financially detrimental contract breaches and trainee dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]