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Invasive pressure monitors are ubiquitous in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia. This technology allows beat-to-beat assessment of central venous, pulmonary, and arterial blood pressures during surgery, procedural interventions, and critical care. Education is commonly focused on the procedural aspects and the complications associated with the initial placement of these monitors without instruction on the technical concepts required for obtaining accurate data. Anesthesiologists must understand the fundamental concepts on which measurements are made to effectively use invasive pressure monitors, including pulmonary artery catheters, central venous catheters, intra-arterial catheters, external ventricular drains, and spinal or lumbar drains. This review will address important gaps in knowledge surrounding leveling and zeroing of invasive pressure monitors, emphasizing the impact of varied practice patterns on patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous experimental studies have examined how much orthodontic force is needed to move teeth more smoothly; however, no reports have examined this clinically in individual, living subjects. We aimed to develop a method for quantifying the force exerted on individual teeth by an orthodontic wire to measure how loads placed on crowded teeth change dynamically over time. Accordingly, we fabricated a series of dental casts of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment (using optical impressions and a three-dimensional printer), fitted these models with nickel-titanium wire, and subjected them to bending load tests. During leveling, nickel-titanium wire is generally considered to exert a weak force due to its low elastic modulus, with a weak orthodontic force applied over a long period of time due to its superelasticity; however, we found that the actual energy exerted by nickel-titanium wire is also largely affected by other factors (e.g., amount of crowding). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the problem of restoring the service reliability of residential multi-storey buildings in ultimate limit state is an urgent problem. Basically, buildings that are in the emergency group have an excess of standard building tilt. This problem is solved, most effectively, by lifting and leveling by means of the hydraulic robot-based system. In the aforementioned system, including the hydraulic part, a system of sensors, control of geometric characteristics, and a management software, when lifting a building, the comparison of measurement results from two groups of sensors is performed. The first group of sensors is linear displacements installed in the area of ​​the separation cavity and monitoring the amount of movement of the building relative to its base. The second group of sensors – building tilts installed on horizontal and vertical bearing structures of buildings, monitor the change in the leans and tilts of building structures. The software provides a comparative analysis of two information flows, evaluates their identity and adequacy, and performs a control action on the hydraulic part or on the continuation of the lifting procedure, or on the termination of this action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competency standards for clinical research professionals are being developed across the enterprise, based largely on the Core Competency Framework put forth by the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency (JTF). In late 2016, representatives from organizations around the world convened at a workshop hosted by the Multi-Regional Clinical Trial Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard (MRCT Center) to discuss their use of the standards. A number of modifications were suggested that resulted in the publication of JTF Framework 2.0. Another suggested evolution of the Framework was to consider "leveling" the competencies, to reflect the increase in competency that occurs as individuals progress in their careers. This paper describes the process utilized and final outcome of this work. The leveled competencies, defined as the Fundamental, Skilled, and Advanced levels, and the included examples are expected to provide better-defined tools and resources to organizations that are creating educational and training programs, standardized role descriptions, or professional progression planning for clinical research professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 10 years, self-ligating brackets have captured the interest of many clinicians and enjoyed increasing popularity. These brackets have been developed to overcome the disadvantages of stainless steel or elastomeric ligatures in terms of ergonomics, efficiency, deformation, discoloration, plaque accumulation, and friction. A self-ligating bracket does not require any type of ligature because it is has a mechanical device that opens and closes the edgewise slot. Secure archwire engagement may be accomplished by a built-in clip. Depending on the interaction between the bracket and archwire, self-ligating brackets can be active and passive. The aim of this article is to describe a new active self-ligating bracket system designed to noticeably reduce the amount of friction that normally originates from archwireslot interaction, particularly during the correction of horizontal and vertical discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duration, cost, and resources are defined as project constraints. Consequently, in each project, one of these constraints is received attention compared with another. Thus, the abilities of construction project manager should include balancing these constraints in a way that all the project objectives are fulfilled. Achieving this balance is conducted by determining the best alternative for each activity, while minimizing project total cost and duration and satisfies resources constraints as well as smoothing resource histograms. For that purpose, this study aims at optimizing project schedule to provide this balance by using multi construction methods which is mainly based on multiskilling strategy. As will be discussed, to achieve this goal, a model was developed and genetic algorithm is used to preform optimization. This study contributes to the body of knowledge a model able to produce schedules with appropriate project duration, cost, and quality, also satisfy resource constraints with most leveled histograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood pressure data may vary by measurement technique. We performed a technological assessment of differences in blood pressure measurement between non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) and invasive arterial blood pressure (ABP) in neurocritically ill patients. After IRB approval, a prospective observational study was performed to study differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) values measured by NIBP arm, ABP at level of the phlebostatic axis (ABP heart) and ABP at level of the external auditory meatus (ABP brain) at 30 and 45-degree head of bed elevation (HOB) using repeated measure analysis of covariance and correlation coefficients. Overall, 168 patients were studied with median age of 57 ± 15 years, were mostly female (57%), with body mass index ≤30 (66%). Twenty-three percent (n = 39) had indwelling intracranial pressure monitors, and 19.7% (n = 33) received vasoactive agents. ABP heart overestimated ABP brain for SBP (11.5 ± 2.7 mmHg, p < .001), MAP (mean difference 13.3 ± 0.5 mmHg, p < .001) and CPP (13.4 ± 3.2 mmHg, p < .001). ABP heart overestimated NIBP arm for SBP (8 ± 1.5 mmHg, p < .001), MAP (mean difference 8.6 ± 0.8 mmHg, p < .001), and CPP (mean difference 9.8 ± 3.2 mmHg, p < .001). Regardless of HOB elevation, ABP heart overestimates MAP compared to ABP brain and NIBP arm. Using ABP heart data overestimates CPP and may be responsible for not achieving SBP, MAP or CPP targets aimed at the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiTi arch wires are used widely in orthodontic treatment due to its superelastic and biocompatibility properties. In brackets configuration, the force released from the arch wire is influenced by the sliding resistances developed on the arch wire-bracket contact. This study investigated the evolution of the forces released by a rectangular NiTi arch wire towards possible intraoral temperature and deflection changes. A three dimensional finite element model was developed to measure the force-deflection behavior of superelastic arch wire. Finite element analysis was used to distinguish the martensite fraction and phase state of arch wire microstructure in relation to the magnitude of wire deflection. The predicted tensile and bending results from the numerical model showed a good agreement with the experimental results. As contact developed between the wire and bracket, binding influenced the force-deflection curve by changing the martensitic transformation plateau into a slope. The arch wire recovered from greater magnitude of deflection released lower force than one recovered from smaller deflection. In contrast, it was observed that the plateau slope increased from 0.66 N/mm to 1.1 N/mm when the temperature was increased from 26 °C to 46 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate levelling strategies to ensure the flatness of heavy plates are crucial for a high level of productivity in the plate mill. As heavy plate levelling is typically a multi-pass process, it is important to identify levelling strategies that deliver the desired plate flatness with minimum effort. Due to the high sensitivity of the actual roll positions in the leveller on the incoming material properties and plate geometry, a unique machine setup has to be determined for each combination of material and geometry. Besides, successful levelling strategies have also to consider the incoming plate profile. A method to quantify windable and non-windable defects as well as ski defects by characteristic values suggested earlier is briefly repeated. To investigate the influence of the incoming defects on the outgoing flatness, conventionally numerous FE simulations have to be performed. This is caused by the fact that a single set of roll positions is required that delivers a defined plastification ratio and a flat plate at the same time. Within this work, a closed-loop controlled FE model is presented that is capable of evaluating the required set of roll positions within a single pass. Coupling the information obtained by a multiple of different simulations with results from an online flatness gauge will establish a methodology to derive an efficient process design. In the future, this will enable knowledge of an appropriate levelling strategy to eliminate the incoming flatness defects and to predict the time required for levelling prior to the first pass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-efficient, fully-automated strip processing lines rely on homogeneous conditions of the incoming metal strip. Roller levelling machines are therefore placed in the initial stage of sheet processing lines to ensure both the strip flatness and a desired residual stress distribution. Even though a sheet metal appears perfectly flat, the residual stress distribution may be disadvantageous and lead to flatness defects in the downstream production. Furthermore, the material properties of the metal strip may change along its length and make an adaption of the leveller’s setting necessary. To link both target values of sheet flatness and residual stress distribution, a numerical model of a seven-roll leveller is used to determine roll positions resulting in a flat sheet and a defined residual stress distribution. Thus, correlations between the initial sheet properties, the machine settings and the final sheet properties can be derived. Additionally, the influence of changing material parameters is shown. All results will finally be used to provide a reference for a feed-forward process control based on a force measurement in the first load triangle of a roller leveller. In order to validate the numerical results, experiments on a down-sized roller leveller are conducted which show that the changes of the forces in each load triangle correspond to the numerical results when changing both the initial sheet state and the intermesh. Thus, the general potential of changing the residual stress distribution via roller levelling can be investigated using numerical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Langage & Societe is the property of Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents an extensive analysis of the literature on defining production leveling and the methodology for its implementation. The main aim of this article is to show how to change these factors after the implementation of production leveling. The article also presents an example of the implementation of leveling production at the department for the production of surgical instruments at a manufacturing enterprise. The current production scheme, including maps of material flow analysis, orders, and the flow from production are described. Finally, the article presents the successive steps in implementing the production leveling in the enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Automatika: Journal for Control, Measurement, Electronics, Computing & Communications is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the history of Kierkegaard studies, A Literary Review has often been hailed as the Danish philosopher's main contribution to the field of social-political philosophy. Although this aspect of the work has been explored in some detail, only few commentators have taken the time to study the background of it, i.e., the book which Kierkegaard purports to analyze in the review, namely Two Ages by Thomasine Gyllembourg. The present article explores the relation between Gyllembourg's novel and A Literary Review with an eye to determining what influence Gyllembourg's work might have had on Kierkegaard. It is argued that Gyllembourg's novel served primarily as an occasion for Kierkegaard to further develop ideas that he was already concerned with previously in connection with his authorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Textile Leader is the property of China Textile Information Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In 1914 Theodor Haecker presented Kierkegaard to the German-speaking public as a social critic, when he published the translation of a fragment from Kierkegaard's A Literary Review (1846). The translation inspired several influential authors of the interwar period, who commented on the condition of the society of that time. One of them was Karl Jaspers who believed that Kierkegaard's views were more relevant in the 20th century than they were in the 19th century. In his work The Spiritual Condition of the Age (1931/1932) Jaspers adopted several motifs from Kierkegaard's critique of society. In the present paper I examine thematic points of intersection of Kierkegaard's reflections on the public and Jaspers' reflections on the mass. I also elucidate Kierkegaard's and Jaspers' views on excellence, envy, leveling and modern media. Both thinkers provide original and incisive analyses of the decadent features of modern society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theodor Haecker (1879 - 1945) was an influential commentator, translator and promoter of Kierkegaard's philosophy during the era of the German "Kierkegaard Renaissance." In 1914 he published the translation of one part of Kierkegaard's/Í Literary Review (1846) to which he attached a twenty-five-page-long Afterword. In the Afterword he engaged in a sharp polemic against the contemporary cultural and political liberalism promoted in certain German periodicals. He based his criticism on Kierkegaard's findings concerning the leveling role of the modem press. Haecker's translation and commentary create a philosophical continuum that attests to the lasting relevance of Kierkegaard's thought. They influenced the thinking of a number of German-speaking philosophers, such as K. Jaspers, M. Heidegger, F. Ebner and T. W. Adorno. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper is focused on recent displacement rates in the Altai-Sayan region, obtained by hydroleveling, leveling, and satellite geodesy. Effective elastic moduli and viscosity parameters of the crust are used in the modeling of coseismic and tectonic processes. The elastic moduli are determined from measurements of periodic vertical displacements during seasonal loadings of the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant. We present the results of the modeling of coseismic displacements during the earthquakes of 10 February 2011 (M = 6.1) and 27 December 2011 (M = 6.7) in Tuva and West Sayan. The results of GPS determinations for postseismic displacements in the Chuya earthquake zone (Gorny Altai, 27 September 2003, M = 7.5) are analyzed; models for the geologic medium are selected; and its effective viscosity is estimated. The tectonic component of the recent crustal displacements in the Altai-Sayan region is defined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The mission of the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is to "define, maintain and provide access to the National Spatial Reference System to meet our nation's economic, social, and environmental needs." One component of that mission is to provide accurate geodetic control, including a vertical datum, for all territories of the United States. The islands of the territory of Puerto Rico have had a mixed, patchwork series of geodetic control over the last century, when they have had any geodetic control at all. This has included the lack of a comprehensive vertical datum for the entire territory. In accordance with its mission, NGS underwent an effort beginning in 1993, which has culminated in the Puerto Rico Vertical Datum of 2002. This paper defines that datum and describes the work leading up to its definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Application of conventional leveling approaches in industry is constrained by the requested product diversity. Therefore, leveling is predominantly used in high volume production. However, it can be utilized in low volume and high mix production by means of an adapted leveling approach presented in this paper. This approach primarily uses clustering techniques to group product types into families. After that, a family-based leveling pattern is generated. The paper focuses on the formation of product families for leveling and describes in detail the usage of a so-called desirability index for cluster validation. It also provides an example of actual application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Langage & Societe is the property of Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Investigate the effects of heat-activated NiTi and stainless steel wires to evaluate potential changes in the position of mandibular incisors in extraction cases as correlated with treatment length. Method: The sample consisted of 36 individuals of both genders, Brazilian Caucasians with mean initial age of 15 years and 5 months with Class I and Class II malocclusions, divided into two groups. In Group 1 (n=17) leveling was performed with Sequence 1, comprised of three different wire cross-sections: 0.016-in and 0.019 x 0.025-in heat-activated NiTi wires and 0.019 x 0.025-in stainless steel wires. In Group 2 (n=19) Sequence 2 was tested using only stainless steel wires (0.014-in, 0.016-in, 0.018-in, 0.020-in and 0.019 x 0,025-in) with passive torque in the mandibular incisors. Data were collected using computerized cephalometry and compared using Student's t-test with 5% significance level. Results: In Group 1, mandibular incisors were inclined lingually although only the crowns showed significant movement (1.6 mm). In Group 2, mandibular incisors remained stable. No vertical changes were noted in either group. Conclusions: Sequence 2 yielded better mandibular incisor control with no changes in their initial positions, while Sequence 1 allowed torques in the bracket prescription to be expressed, leading to the lingual inclination of these teeth. Treatment length was shorter when Sequence 1 was used. The evaluated biomechanic variations presented advantages and disadvantages that should be known and considered by the orthodontist during treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mission of the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is to "define, maintain and provide access to the National Spatial Reference System to meet our nation's economic, social, and environmental needs." One component of that mission is to provide accurate geodetic control, including a vertical datum, for all territories of the United States. The U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S.VI) has had a mixed, patchwork series of geodetic control over the last century. This has included the lack of a comprehensive vertical datum for the entire U.S.VI. In accordance with its mission, NGS underwent an effort beginning in 2003, which has culminated in the Virgin Islands Vertical Datum of 2009. This paper defines that datum and describes the work leading up to its definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting Taipei as the representative of Taiwan Mandarin, this preliminary study of Mandarin leveling in Taiwan investigated the tonal leveling of Mandarin between Mandarin-Waishengren and Holo-Benshengren in Taiwan. The results indicated that the tonal leveling of Mandarin between these two ethnic groups started as early as between the first Taiwan-born Mandarin-Waishengren generation and their Holo peers, one generation earlier than the more general patterns suggested by Trudgill (Trudgill 1986, 2004). This leveling has nearly reached its completion in the following generation, taking approximately 30 years. Four factors were proposed to interpret the rapidity of this leveling - (1) the intensiveness of Waishengren immigration to Taiwan, (2) the exclusive Mandarin-only language policy, (3) the pre-established social order and infrastructure during the Japanese colonial period, and (4) the frequent contacts between Waishengren and Benshengren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a project to establish vertical control on the Hoover Dam Bypass-Colorado River Bridge. It applies the hypothesis that the use of reciprocal trigonometric leveling with reciprocal zenith angles for vertical control will meet the 0.005-feet vertical tolerance specification for arch construction layout. It discusses the error sources of trigonometric leveling using reciprocal zenith angles. The article also establishes an average slope distance and zenith angle to use for each setup.

Abstract: In this study, the maximum load levelling of periodic heat flux entering a room through a composite roof consisting of different insulation layer has been evaluated for different insulation positions in the roof. A numerical model based on implicit finite difference scheme was applied for 12 different roof configurations during typical winter and summer days. For this purpose, total insulation thickness was kept constant and insulation was placed as equally two pieces and as equally three pieces in different locations within the roof thickness. Then, insulation layers were moved 1cm at a time across the roof thickness for 12 different configurations. Maximum and minimum values of periodic heat fluxes for each sweeping process in the roof were calculated for achieving the maximum levelling of the heat flux entering through the roof. It was found that the best load levelling was achieved in the case where three pieces insulation of equal thickness were placed one at the outdoor surface of the roof, the second piece of insulation was placed in the middle of the roof and third piece of insulation was placed at the indoor surface of the roof. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A list of articles on geodesy, surveying and land information systems published in various journals are presented. These include "NOAA's Tides & Currents Program: Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services--Introduction," by M. Szbados, "History of Considering Refraction in Leveling," by O. A. Mozzhukhin and A. V. Gordeevtsev and "The unified approach to least squares in step-by-step procedures," by A. Antonopoulos.

The GEOID03 model was developed in the same manner as GEOID99 using an underlying gravimetric geoid, USGG2003, and updated GPS ellipsoidal heights on leveled benchmarks (GPSBMs). USGG2003 is similar to G99SSS, however, it includes an updated model for gravity anomalies in the deep ocean areas, GSFC00.1. The conversion surface for GEOID03 was developed from 14,185 GPSBMs at a 5 arc-minute grid interval, which provided a substantial increase in the spatial coverage and reduced errors due to interpolation. The fit to these same points afterwards was 4.8 cm (2σ), which was comprised of both correlated (attributable to GEOID03) and uncorrelated (GPS observation error) signals. The uncorrelated signal was 4.2 cm (2σ) and the correlated signal was 2.0 cm (2σ), with a 3.5 km correlation wavelength. GEOID03 thus had a very good fit with the GPSBMs, and can be relied upon to convert between the NAD 83 and NAVD 88 datums to the centimeter level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated precise leveling surveys carried out during the past decade point to an instability of the nodal points in the leveling network in the southwest part of Israel. This situation prevents the adjustment of the leveling network to ensure correct heights for benchmarks. Modeling the regional and local vertical movements of points will enable adjustment of the leveling network, which contains lines that were measured in different times. Nine GPS campaigns were carried in the region over a period of one calendar year to monitor the stability of the network's nodal points. The large number of monitoring sessions enabled the investigation of the fluctuations of the nodal points, based on physical processes such as the cyclic effects of swelling and shrinking of the ground. The GPS measurements were analyzed by a two-step analysis. In the first step, geodetic measurements were processed sequentially without modeling variations in the height of the network's points. In the second step, the variations in the network geometry were modeled by means of a physical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Electra-Level is a leveling device with applications infield archaeology. It offers advantages over the line level and optical leveling instruments in situations where visibility, obstructions, or shortage of personnel are factors. Some specific applications in archaeological fieldwork by Boston's City Archaeology Program are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]