A number of modern software practices (MSP) have emerged over the last decade in response to the difficulties that have tended to accompany software development efforts. Recent studies of software development groups, however, indicate that these MSP are generally not being used. Since software development is a labor-intensive, cognitive activity whose success is largely determined by individual...

Radial longitudinal deficiencies are characterized by radial deviation of the wrist, a short and bowed forearm and a non-functional or absent thumb. The deformity is caused by varying degrees of underdevelopment and malformation including hypoplasia of the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and vessels. This study describes our results from centralization in 8 limbs with Bayne t...

In resting platelets, the GPIb-IX complex, the receptor for the von Willebrand factor (vWF), is linked to underlying actin filaments by actin-binding protein (ABP-280). Thrombin stimulation of human platelets leads to a decrease in the surface expression of the GPIb-IX complex, which is redistributed from the platelet surface into the open canalicular system (OCS). Because the centralization of...

The centralization phenomenon was first described 20 years ago. It refers to the abolition of distal pain emanating from the spine in response to therapeutic exercises. Since then a number of papers on the subject have been published. A review of current knowledge is appropriate. Selection criteria were established prior to a computer-aided search for published papers. Two reviewers independent...

We show that the von Neumann entropy (from herein referred to as the von Neumann index) of a graph’s trace normalized combinatorial Laplacian provides structural information about the level of centralization across a graph. This is done by considering the Theil index, which is an established statistical measure used to determine levels of inequality across a system of ‘agents’, e.g., income lev...

Although previous works have discussed the benefits of precolonial centralization for development in Africa, the findings and the mechanisms provided do not explain the heterogeneity in development outcomes of formerly centralized states. Using new survey data from Nigeria, I find a significant negative effect of precolonial centralization on access to certain public services for centralized re...

Abstract China’s educational leaders have long debated the pluses and minuses of decentralization of control and resources of China’s vast educational enterprise. During various periods of post-1949 China, the central authorities have devolved control to the provinces, key cities, and rural communes, only to recentralize later usually due to political reforms. In this chapter various stages of ...