The effects of sodium bicarbonate concentration, population density, and temperature on the maintenance of an outdoor monoculture of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis were studied. A clear response by Spirulina to the concentration of bicarbonate was evident, with 0.2M bicarbonate representing the lowest concentration in which a monoculture could be maintained. When the temperatures fell d...

This study aimed to analyze the contributions of the Primary Healthcare nursing interventions, with primiparae in the promotion of breastfeeding. This is a quasi-experimental, longitudinal study, with a sample consisting of 151 primiparae, who had less than 28 weeks of pregnancy, with the child living for at least six months after the birth, performed between 15 October 2007 and 29 February 200...

This paper uses micro data from the German Socio-Economic Panel to document that the wage structure in West Germany was remarkably stable over the period 1984–97, with little variation over time in wage or earnings inequality among and within different skill groups. The paper investigates a number of possible explanations for the stability of the wage structure and concludes that it is attribut...

Four new species of the genus Thoracophorus Motschulsky, 1857 of the Neotropical region are described: T. verhaaghi n. sp., T. zicsii n. sp., T. struyvei n. sp., and T. perplexus n. sp. The new species originate from French Guiana, Peru, and Ecuador. Similar species T. filum Sharp, 1887, T. proximus Irmler, 1985, T. exilis (Erichson, 1840) and T. aequalis Sharp, 1887 are compared to discuss dif...

Recently, BMI screening in public schools has stirred sharp controversy with the emergence of letters sent home to parents indicating their child’s BMI percentile and weight category. In Massachusetts, these letters have been deemed, “fat letters,” and have appeared on late night comedy shows, newspapers, and televised news reports. Not only has screening come under harsh criticism, but the inc...