Neo-endogenous rural development depends on 'bottom-up' activities that integrate external influences to increase local potential. This local focus calls for local knowledge, local resources and the engagement of local people to be central to development processes. Based on data from an evaluation of LEADER in England, we explore the scope for local control and the effective means of creating local empowerment within the neo-endogenous model. Interviews were held with policy actors and beneficiaries of funding across 20 of the 64 Local Action Groups in England. These highlighted a great diversity of projects generating an equally diverse range of outcomes. However, capturing their full value was problematic, suggesting that new approaches to evaluation should be explored to increase local control of the development process. Findings also indicate that the negotiation between top-down and bottom-up, and local and external influences is an ongoing process. Through this process, local learning has empowered local actors to develop flexible approaches tailored to their localities, but local empowerment is more effective when top-down parameters are clearly established.

In 2 studies, college students were socially influenced to be risky or not in a driving simulation. In both studies, confederate peers posing as passengers used verbal persuasion to affect driving behavior. In Study 1, participants encouraged to drive riskily had more accidents and drove faster than those encouraged to drive slowly or not encouraged at all. In Study 2, participants were influenced normatively or informationally to drive safely or riskily. As in Study 1, influence to drive riskily increased risk taking. Additionally, informational influence to drive safely resulted in the least risk taking. Together, the studies highlight the substantial influence of peers in a risk‐related situation; in real life, peer influence to be risky could contribute to automobile accidents.

Objective There is no consensus on the definition of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA). In this review article, our objective is to discuss the main variables that one should consider when determining the hemodynamic significance of a PDA. Results We describe the various approaches that have been utilized over time to define an hsPDA and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each echocardiographic index. Finally, we propose a comprehensive and individualized approach in determining the hemodynamic significance of the PDA. Conclusion There are several PDA‐related clinical, echocardiographic, and other objective variables to take into consideration when defining an hsPDA. However, vulnerability based on gestational or chronological age is an important contributor as well.

The results support the short-term safety, efficacy, and predictability of ICL implantation to treat moderate to high myopia.

A residential washing machine was studied in order to determine the extent of chloroform formation following the application of a laundry bleach containing sodium hypochlorite. A dynamic model was also developed to estimate chloroform formation, mass transfer, and gaseous emissions during a typical wash cycle. A series of 22 experiments was completed to determine model parameters, including chemical reaction and mass transfer rate coefficients, as well as headspace air exchange rates. Three additional experiments were completed to evaluate model performance. Experimental and model results suggest that washing machine environments are very conducive to chloroform formation, with chloroform levels frequently exceeding 1 mg/L in washwater. Chloroform stripping efficiencies were observed to be greater than those previously reported for ethanol, but less than those reported for radon. Mass emissions of chloroform to indoor air during a ten-minute wash cycle were predicted to be between 5.3 and 9.8 mg. On a unit activity basis, chloroform emissions associated with hypochlorite-containing bleach addition to washing machines far exceeded emissions from showers. Each source was estimated to emit similar quantities of chloroform on an annual basis. Finally, it was estimated that the use of hypochlorite-containing laundry bleaches may contribute a significant fraction of chloroform mass loadings to municipal wastewater.

A new technique of phacoemulsification is described in which the nucleus is fractured within the capsular bag (in situ). The characteristics of this technique include hydrodissection, division of the nucleus into quadrants, and manipulation of each quadrant into the safe central zone for emulsification. The advantages of this method are safety, speed, and usefulness in almost all degrees of nuclear density and in small undilatable pupils.

The use of smaller cataract incisions is thought to induce less astigmatism, resulting in a more stable refraction. I analyzed the astigmatic changes in 99 cataract/intraocular lens patients with 4.0 mm incisions. Preoperative keratometry measurements were compared with those obtained one week, one month, and three months postoperatively. These changes, analyzed by vector analysis, revealed 0.13 D of induced with-the-rule astigmatism at one week, degrading to 0.22 D of against-the-rule at three months. This compares favorably with previously reported results of 6.0 mm and 10.0 mm incisions. This low amount of induced cylinder and rapid stabilization of the wound confirms an advantage of small incision surgery.

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