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The article presents data on nature, incidence, causes, and conse quences of peacetime disasters. Disasters tend to become more and more dele terious as population increases and occupies the wide expanse of the country. A map indicates that coastal areas and the "midlands" are most exposed. De tailed analysis is made of fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, earthquakes, hailstorms, thunderstorms, and winter storms. Analysis of Ameri can Red Cross records, 1925-55, is made, showing disaster effects by month, type of disaster, and state. Statistics are offered on the number of dead and injured, homes wrecked, and number of families involved.—Ed.

Two studies examined the relation of gender-related physical characteristics (such as a deep voice or broad shoulders) to other aspects of gender. The first study used an open-ended survey to identify physical characteristics and mannerisms that are associated with judgements of masculinity and femininity in men and women. In a second study, subjects' gender-related physical attributes and mannerisms were coded during a five minute videotaped interaction and related to other aspects of gender such as personality traits, interests and role behaviors, gender identity, and gender adequacy. The results showed that gender-related physical attributes were consistently associated with other gender characteristics for men but not women. The studies suggest that physical characteristics and mannerisms should be included as an important component in the emerging multifactorial conception of gender identity.

The baru tree fruit has a sustainable economical potential. However, the shelling process to release the whole kernel, the most valued part of the fruit, is still performed in a rather inefficient way. The objective of this investigation was to determine the physical-mechanical properties of the fruit to understand its behavior during shelling. Fruit and nut were characterized by unit mass, dimensions, volume and bulk, and real densities. Compression tests up to endocarp disruption were performed to determine maximum force, corresponding deformation, and deformation energy. X-ray tomography was used to identify potential nut internal dimension changes, affected by the treatments. Whole fruits and nuts showed average unit mass values of 28.20 ± 0.99 g and 16.52 ± 1.67 g, respectively. Their average dimensions, such as length, width, and thickness were 52.40 ± 4.48 mm, 38.31 ± 4.05 mm, and 28.64 ± 3.67 mm, and 50.78 ± 5.57 mm, 34.65 ± 5.14 mm, and 21.36 ± 2.86 mm, respectively. Average bulk and real densities values were 519.33 ± 49.63 kg/m3 and 918.87 ± 77.77 kg/m3, and 517.14 ± 41.88 kg/m3 and 1072.00 ± 187.01 kg/m3, respectively. Considering all treatments, the average rupture force ranged between 7926.7 and 9284.4 N, with corresponding widthwise specific deformation of 5.1% and 6.6%, to release 100% whole kernels of the tested nuts. Up to maximum force, deformation energy values ranged between 6.55 and 9.26J. There was no evidence of treatments' effect on the internal dimension. Based on its mechanical behavior, showing that it is possible to open the endocarp and release the whole kernel, it was concluded that the baru nut has mechanized shelling potential.

Physical characteristics in professional soccer differ between competition levels and playing positions, and normative data aid practitioners in profiling their players to optimize performance and reduce injury risk. Given the paucity of research in Arabic soccer populations, the purpose of this study was to provide position-specific normative values for professional players competing in the Qatar Stars League. One hundred and ninety-five players completed a musculoskeletal assessment as part of an annual periodic health examination. Tests included measures of range of motion (hip, ankle, and hamstring), bilateral and unilateral jump performance, and quadriceps/hamstring (isokinetic/NordBord), hip adduction/abduction (eccentric), and groin (isometric) strength. Descriptive data were examined, and positional differences were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Goalkeepers were significantly heavier (p <0.01), had a higher body mass index (p <0.05) than outfield positions and demonstrated greater absolute strength. Defenders were the strongest relative to body mass, and these differences were significant (p <0.05) versus goalkeepers and strikers. No meaningful between-group comparisons were apparent for jumping or range of motion tests. Compared to mean values from other professional leagues, soccer players in Qatar appear to be shorter, lighter and display inferior strength and jump capacities. These data can be used to tailor training and rehabilitation programs to the specifics of the league and position in which the athletes compete.

The optical and physical characteristics of the aerosol vertical layers over Northeastern China (NEC) are investigated using the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) Level 2 layer products from 2007 to 2014. To better examine the spatial and temporal variations in the characteristics of aerosols over NEC, the region is divided into three parts (Heilongjiang province, Jilin province, and Liaoning province) to analyze the inter-annual and seasonal variations of nine selected aerosol parameters in each part during night and day times. The results reveal that the values of aerosol optical depth (AOD) increase year by year, over the whole NEC, being relatively high over the Liaoning (LN) province ; this might be induced by higher levels of economic development and agricultural activity. The highest AOD values appear in summer, which is plausibly related to the temperate monsoon climate in NEC. Higher AOD values exist during the daytime than at night ; this is intuitively the result of higher daytime anthropogenic activities. The base altitude of the lowest aerosol layer (BAL) and the top altitude of the highest aerosol layer (TAH) varied significantly due to the topography of NEC. The number of aerosol layers (N) is relatively large over LN, which might be caused by a relatively stronger atmospheric convection over this landscape. The thickness of the lowest aerosol layer (TLL) bore little relationship with the topography of NEC. The AOD proportion of the lowest aerosol layer (PAODL) is high (0.70 to 0.85 for the entire NEC), indicating that aerosols are mainly concentrated in the lowest layer of the atmosphere. The volume depolarization ratio of the lowest aerosol layer (VDRL) is large during spring and winter due to the presence of dust aerosols. The color ratio of the lowest aerosol layer (CRL) is large during the day due to relatively more human activities taking place than at night. Moreover, there is a significantly positive linear correlation between N and TAH, and a negative logarithm correlation between N and PAODL over NEC. The results of this study could provide researchers and the government departments with detailed and certain optical and physical information about aerosol layers over NEC, to help in the treatment of air pollution over NEC.