Sentence:  <WSD>Thus</WSD> , a child 's Skeletal Age `` dots '' may be classified as `` advanced '' when they appear above the middle curve , `` moderate '' when they appear immediately above or below the middle curve , and `` delayed '' when they appear below the lower curve . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  (used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result