Age calculation using X-ray microfocus computed tomographical scanning of teeth: a pilot study

To correlate dental age with an individual's chronological age based on the calculated volume ratio of pulp versus tooth volume measured, an X-ray microfocus computed tomography unit (microCT) with 25 microm spatial resolution was used to non-destructively scan 43 extracted single root teeth of 25 individuals with well-known chronological age. Custom-made analysis software was used by two examiners to obtain numerical values for pulpal and tooth volume. The ratio of both was calculated and statistically processed. No significant intra- or inter-examiner differences were found. In fact, a very strong concordance correlation coefficient was found. Linear regression analysis showed a coefficient of determination (r) of 0.31 which suggests that there is a rather weak correlation between the volume ratio of pulp versus tooth and biological age. Although rather time consuming, this technique shows promising results for dental age estimation in a non-destructive manner using X-ray microfocus computed tomography.     

Political culture, alternative politics and foreign policy: The case of Israel

This article analyzes how sociopolitical dynamics within a state can help explaining foreign policy. We show that under certain conditions, the public can be involved in ways that extend beyond expressing opinions that act as constraints on policy makers, and also takes active initiatives that eventually shape foreign policies. The article explains how sociopolitical processes in Israeli society, which transformed the nature of citizen–politician relations from a top-down to a bottom-up orientation, gradually led to shifts in foreign policy regarding the conflict with the Palestinians. The Israeli public has adopted an approach to solving social problems by unilateral initiatives, as part of its attempts to shape foreign policy from the bottom up, due to continuous government failure to provide public services, combined with blocked influence channels. As long as Israeli politicians ignored these changes, they failed to mobilize support for policies imposed from the top down and lost their positions of power.     

Chinese Society and its New Emerging Culture

China has gone through major changes during the last two decades. The following research aims to present and analyze the current evolutions taking place in the less visible stratum of the Chinese social structure, that of values. The study is based on in-depth interviews and brings to the fore a number of themes that have undergone radical changes. Among the 220 analytical categories initially considered, 12 main themes have been identified as being strongly subjected to changes. Focusing on significant themes, such as a growing process of ‘individuation’, a materialistic orientation, a resurgence of ancient creeds, changes within the family, a shift in women's status, a transformation of role models, a social change from equality to differentiation, and a shift in the vision of the world, this article presents key indicators of the major trends in contemporary urban China.