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This article explores the openness of the grotesque body as a problem space to theorise links between Carnival and political discourse. Data from ethnographic field research on Carnival in the Cata...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent, decrease health-related quality of life (QOL), and are costly to treat. It is useful to consider storage symptom...

In this chapter, I document the structures by which university lecturer faculty, many of whom have comparable qualifications to their tenure-line colleagues, are denied access to comparable compensation, job security, opportunities for advancement, working conditions, support for scholarship, voice in governance, academic freedom, professional development, or recognition. I argue that this two-tier system produces no educational, scholarly, creative, or democratic benefits but exists only to exploit non-tenured faculty while reinforcing white supremacy and patriarchy, leading to the conclusion that the two-tier system must be abolished.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:The Urethral Stricture Symptom and Impact Measure (USSIM) is a condition-specific outcome measure for men with urethral stricture. Concept elicitation, cognitive, and pri...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Measurement of objective measures following urethroplasty (e.g., urethral patency, uroflowmetry) is vital, but patient-reported input via condition-specific outcome measu...

This article explores the use of space imagery in the music of George Clinton and David Bowie and argues that different horizons of black and white terrestrial experience give rise to divergent astral imaginaries. Analysis of song lyrics, liner notes, and statements by the artists in light of their social contexts and the theoretical lens of Bakhtin’s grotesque body shows that Bowie models white imaginations of evolutionary transcendence while Clinton is contrasted as provocateur of a black carnivalesque seeking liberation from lived inequality.

Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) materials are thin, laminated composites consisting of a cementitious matrix that embodies one or multiple layers of continuous synthetic fabrics. FRCM is externally bonded to existing structural members subject to shear, bending, axial, or torsion induced stresses to enhance their performance. In the United States, FRCM material characterization is established by the “Acceptance Criteria AC434,” and the design and analysis of the FRCM-strengthened structural members follows the ACI549.4R-13 design guidelines. This paper investigates the analysis and design of carbon FRCM-strengthened RC beams in flexure. The FRCM-strengthened RC beams were experimentally tested, and the analytical and experimental results are compared in the paper. The ACI 549.4R-13 guidelines and design limitations are also discussed. The analytical and experimental results were in agreement at ultimate capacities. Collective results of studies on flexural strengthening of RC beams with different FRCM systems were used to establish a relationship between FRCM reinforcement ratio and increase in ultimate capacity which will help the designer at design phase to select the optimum FRCM reinforcement ratio for required strengthening demand.

In this article, I explore articulations between ritual practice, public sociality, and the politics of immigration in Catalonia (Spain). I investigate phenomena associated with a vernacular interculturalist project known in Catalan as convivencia (living together), an alternative to both xenophobic and liberal multiculturalist discourses circulating in Europe. I focus on the capacity of ritual practice to shape embodied socialities between hosts and immigrants and contextualize these dynamics by asking, what congeries of history, public reasoning, techniques of sociality, and policy feed momentum toward polarization or toward pluralism?

Objectives: Radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation (XRT) and brachytherapy (BTX) are the most commonly used treatments for localized prostate cancer. We studied whether patient personality influences treatment choice and overall treatment satisfaction. Methods: From 1998 to 2002, 219 consecutive patients treated with RP (n = 74), XRT (n = 73), or BTX (n = 72) at our institution who remained free of biochemical recurrence were sent the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and a satisfaction/treatment participation questionnaire. We compared personality, satisfaction and participation scores between the three groups. Correlation between personality and satisfaction was determined. Multivariate regression was used to determine association between personality and satisfaction/participation after controlling for patient- and disease-related factors. Results: Higher mean satisfaction and participation scores were observed within the RP and XRT groups, respectively (P = NS). No significant differences in personality were observed between groups. XRT patients tended to have higher extroversion, openness and agreeability scores, while RP patients tended to be more neurotic and conscientious (all P = NS). After controlling for other factors, a negative correlation was found between openness scores and satisfaction and a positive correlation between conscientiousness scores and satisfaction. Specific personality traits were associated with interest in participation in care for both RP and BTX patients but not for XRT patients. Conclusions: There are mild variations in personality as measured by the BFI between patients undergoing treatment for localized prostate cancer. Certain BFI-measured personality traits may be associated with levels of satisfaction following therapy. Disease concerns and provider recommendations may override the influence of personality in the decision-making process.

Children with daytime wetting often have constipation, and treatment of constipation helps children become dry. Polyethylene glycol 3350 (Miralax, Braintree Laboratories, Braintree, Massachusetts) is a nonaddictive, tasteless powder that can be mixed with any liquid for treatment of constipation.We review our use of polyethylene glycol 3350 in 35 girls and 11 boys with dysfunctional elimination. Noninvasive urodynamic studies and post-void residual measurement were performed before and during treatment.A significant increase in frequency of bowel movements occurred while taking polyethylene glycol 3350 (p = 0.0001). Average final dose was 0.63 gm/kg. The only reported adverse effect was diarrhea (9 patients). Of the children 18 became dry, 26 had decreased wetting and 2 had no improvement. Voided volume increased (146 vs 210 ml, p0.0001) and post-void residual decreased significantly (92 vs 48 ml, p0.0001) while on polyethylene glycol 3350. Ten children were still considered constipated including both patients who experienced no change in wetting. Average final dose in this group (0.69 gm/kg) did not differ significantly from those in whom constipation resolved (0.61 gm/kg). Patients in whom constipation resolved had a significantly lower post-void residual than those who remained constipated (11.8% vs 30.6%, p0.01) and were significantly more likely to become dry or improved (p = 0.045).The efficacy, compliance and lack of significant side effects make polyethylene glycol 3350 an ideal substance for treatment of constipation in children with dysfunctional elimination. Persistent constipation was associated with decreased resolution of voiding symptoms and significantly increased post-void residuals.

In recent years, psychologists have begun to explore the relationship between cognition and sport performance, specifically the role of mental imagery in performance. One relatively unexplored learned skill, however, is marksmanship. The objectives of this exploratory study were 1) to document the relationship between cognitive processes and marksmanship performance and 2) to test the statistical validity of a friend/foe detection task as a measure of decision making (DM). Ninety US Army active duty Soldiers and Reservists completed a cognitive test battery including measures of DM, the standard marksmanship qualifying task, and a friend/foe detection task. A correlational analysis revealed significant relationships between marksmanship performance and measures of attention, spatial orientation, and visual scanning. However, the results do not support the validity of this friend/foe detection task a measure of DM. These results support the assertion that return-to-duty Soldiers experiencing cognitive impairments may require additional marksmanship training and re-learning prior to reintegration.

Anecdotal reports and experimental evidence suggests an increase in risk-taking behaviors and risk propensity in Soldiers after a combat deployment. This series of studies explored the relationship between risk propensity post-deployment with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, combat experiences, perceptions of threats, and personality dimensions. The results suggest that risk propensity is influenced by PTSD, combat experiences, perceptions of deployment threat, and personality dimensions. Any discrepancies in results between the three studies in this series may be attributed to the amount of time since a subject's deployment, which varied between samples.

Radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation (XRT) and brachytherapy (BTX) are the most commonly used treatments for localized prostate cancer. We studied whether patient personality influences treatment choice and overall treatment satisfaction.From 1998 to 2002, 219 consecutive patients treated with RP (n = 74), XRT (n = 73), or BTX (n = 72) at our institution who remained free of biochemical recurrence were sent the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and a satisfaction/treatment participation questionnaire. We compared personality, satisfaction and participation scores between the three groups. Correlation between personality and satisfaction was determined. Multivariate regression was used to determine association between personality and satisfaction/participation after controlling for patient- and disease-related factors.Higher mean satisfaction and participation scores were observed within the RP and XRT groups, respectively (P = NS). No significant differences in personality were observed between groups. XRT patients tended to have higher extroversion, openness and agreeability scores, while RP patients tended to be more neurotic and conscientious (all P = NS). After controlling for other factors, a negative correlation was found between openness scores and satisfaction and a positive correlation between conscientiousness scores and satisfaction. Specific personality traits were associated with interest in participation in care for both RP and BTX patients but not for XRT patients.There are mild variations in personality as measured by the BFI between patients undergoing treatment for localized prostate cancer. Certain BFI-measured personality traits may be associated with levels of satisfaction following therapy. Disease concerns and provider recommendations may override the influence of personality in the decision-making process.

Intermodal yards have played an important role in the success of the Port of Tacoma since 1985, when the Port pioneered the use of on-dock intermodal yards with the construction of the South Intermodal Yard. Since inception of the on-dock intermodal yard concept, the intermodal container business has grown at a pace that is greater than the transportation industry in general, and it appears that this growth will continue well into the future. Continued growth of intermodal container transportation is heavily dependent on high-quality, efficient rail service and high volume container transfer facilities. The Port of Tacoma (Port) is responding aggressively to the growth of intermodal traffic through the Port’s terminals. Along with other port, terminal and rail improvements, the Port is building the state-of-theart Pierce County Terminal (PCT) Intermodal Yard. With the expected completion in late 2004, the PCT Intermodal Yard facility will be a key component of Port of Tacoma’s port facilities and infrastructure improvement program.

In July 1978, several homes near the Burlington Northern Railroad yards in North La Crosse reported fuel oil in their basements. High water tables and flooding along the La Crosse River caused seepage into the basements. The nearby railroad refueling depot was the only likely source of the product. A review of railroad activities indicated several likely sources for fuel oil leakage into the soil. A contractor was hired and a recovery system was installed. The recovery system removed about 300 gallons of fuel oil per day. Because of several operational problems, this recovery system was abandoned in November 1978 (after recovering about 20,000 gallons of fuel oil). A consultant's report issued in February 1979 indicated there remained about 157,000 gallons of fuel oil underground. Because recovery operations had ceased, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an order to the Burlington Northern Railroad in May 1979 to resume recovery operations. This order was superceded by a second order in July 1979. After reviewing several alternatives, a “cone of depression” recovery system was given approval, installed, and began operation in November 1979. As of November 1983, a total of 137,000 gallons of fuel oil had been recovered using the “cone of depression” method. In spring 1984, inspection showed that the recovery system needed a considerable amount of maintenance work. Additional tests are necessary to determine if recoverable amounts of the fuel oil still remain. If further recovery effort is necessary, further refinements may have to be made to the recovery apparatus.