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Tailgating is an American football pregame activity prevalent on university grounds and surrounding areas. This research specifically investigates generational differences of game-day tailgating rituals at a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) southeastern master level university. Survey data from 753 active tailgaters (Baby boomers, Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z) was analyzed using ANOVA procedures. Findings show that tailgaters are mostly motivated by team identification, followed by escape, and spending time with friends. However, generational differences are observed for spending time with family, identifying with the home team, and the desire to attend home games. In addition, in terms of game-day rituals, while the younger generations are more fluid/ nomadic in their tailgating locations and engage in drinking games, the older generations stick to the tried and true rituals such as setting up a tailgating spot decorated with team colors and cooking. Implications for teams, universities, and related community businesses are discussed. Keywords: Tailgating rituals, cohort theory, U.S. collegiate football, motivating factors, consumer behavior, marketing communications strategy, Tailgating is an American pre-game ritual that takes place prior to college and professional sporting events, in particular American football games. It brings fans and spectators together as a temporary [...]

To understand how learners of respective types respond to marketing games, a joint space generated by canonical correlation analysis is used to recreate Kolb's learning style-type plot and locate business students as points within it according to their learning style types. Two hundred twenty-three undergraduate students played The Marketing Game! and completed exit surveys soliciting their attitude toward the game experience and Kolb's learning styles inventory. Results indicate that marketing games offer all learners a positive experience. Such inclusiveness is achieved because students can frame the game experience to match their preferred learning styles. Pedagogical implications are discussed. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to manage the treatment modalities of ectopic pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 1,103 women diagnosed and treated for ectopic pregnancy at Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020. Serial beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-Hcg) measurements and transvaginal ultrasound (TV USG) findings were used to establish the diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy. They were divided into four groups: expectant treatment, single-dose methotrexate, multidose methotrexate, and surgical treatment. All data analyses were performed using SPSS version 24.0. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the cut-off for change in beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels between the first and fourth day. RESULTS: There were significant differences between groups in terms of gestational age and β-hCG changes (p < 0.001). In patients receiving expectant treatment, the decrease in β-hCG values on the fourth day was 35.19%, while patients receiving single-dose methotrexate treatment showed a decrease of 24%. The most common risk factor for ectopic pregnancy was the absence of risk factors. Comparison of the surgical treatment group with the other groups revealed significant differences in terms of the presence of free fluid in the abdomen, the average diameter of the ectopic pregnancy mass, and the presence of fetal cardiac activity. A single dose of methotrexate was effective in patients with β-hCG levels lower than 1,227.5 mIU/ml, with a 68.5% sensitivity and 69.1% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in gestational age also leads to an increase in β-hCG values and the diameter of the ectopic focus. As the diagnosis period progresses, the need for surgical intervention increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the 21st century advances, the demand for rare earth elements (REEs) is rising, necessitating more robust exploration methods. Our research group is using hyperspectral remote sensing as a tool for mapping REEs. Unique spectral features of bastnaesite mineral, has proven effective for detection of REE with both spaceborne and airborne data. In our study, we collected hyperspectral data using a Senop hyperspectral camera in field and a SPECIM hyperspectral camera in the laboratory settings. Data gathered from California’s Mountain Pass district revealed bastnaesite-rich zones and provided detailed insights into bastnaesite distribution within rocks. Further analysis identified specific bastnaesite-rich rock grains. Our results indicated higher concentrations of bastnaesite in carbonatite rocks compared to alkaline igneous rocks. Additionally, rocks from the Sulphide Queen mine showed richer bastnaesite concentrations than those from the Birthday shonkinite stock. Results were validated with thin-section studies and geochemical data, confirming the reliability across different hyperspectral data modalities. This study demonstrates the potential of drone-based hyperspectral technology in augmenting conventional mineral mapping methods and aiding the mining industry in making informed decisions about mining REEs efficiently and effectively.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are renowned for their exceptional mechanical properties, with applications in industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, civil, and beyond. Despite these merits, a significant challenge in CFRPs lies in their repairability and maintenance. This study, for the first time, delves into the processing and self-healing capability of aromatic thermosetting co-polyester vitrimer-based carbon fiber composites through mechanical testing. Vitrimers are an emerging class of thermosetting polymers, which, owing to their exchangeable covalent bonds, enable the re-formation of bonds across cracks. The specific vitrimer chosen for this study is an aromatic thermosetting co-polyester (ATSP). The mechanical properties of samples were analyzed initially through three-point bending (3PB) testing at room temperature before and after healing (by curing samples for 2 h at 280 °C). Samples were also 3PB tested at 100 °C to analyze their mechanical properties at an elevated temperature for comparison to the samples tested at room temperature. To investigate the fracture properties, optical microscopy images of samples were taken after 3PB tests, which were analyzed to observe crack initiation and crack growth behavior. Through load–displacement curves from double cantilever beam (DCB) mechanical testing, the Mode I crack initiation fracture toughness values of self-healed composites and control composites were calculated to evaluate healing efficiency in ATSP CFRP composites cured at 280 °C for 2 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a similar surface morphology of cracks before and after self-healing. Micro-computed tomography (CT) X-ray imaging confirmed that the healed samples closely resembled the as-fabricated ones, with the exception of some manufacturing voids, caused by outgassing in the initial healing cycle. This research demonstrated the ability for the in situ repair of ATSP CFRPs by restoring the fracture toughness to values comparable to the pristine composite (~289 J/m2).

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY In this study, our aim is to examine the effect of proximal fibular osteotomy on knee and ankle kinematics with finite element analysis method. MATERIAL AND METHODS One 62-year-old, female volunteer’s radiologic images were used for creating lower limb model. Osteotomized model (OM) which was created according to definition of PFO and non-osteotomized model (NOM) were created. To obtain a stress distribution comparison between the two models, 350 N of axial force was applied to the femoral heads of the models. RESULTS After PFO, the average contact pressure decreased 26.1% at the medial tibial cartilage and increased 42.4% at the lateral tibial cartilage. The Von Mises stresses decreased 57.1% at the femoral cartilage and decreased 79.1% at tibial cartilage. The stress on the tibial cartilage increased 44.6%, and stress on the talar cartilage increased 7.1% at the ankle joint. CONCLUSIONS FEA revealed that main loading at the knee joint shifted from medial tibial cartilage to the lateral tibial cartilage after PFO. Additionally, the stresses on each cartilage were redistributed across a wider and more peripheral area. FEA also demonstrated that the Von Mises stresses of the tibial and talar cartilages of the ankle joint increased after PFO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic effect diagnosis and treatment of certain conditions, including bladder cancer (BC). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on BC diagnosis and treatment.Materials and Methods:Following the approval of the ethics committee for the study, data of 869 patients who underwent surgery for BC in the 2-year period between March 1, 2019 and February 28, 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The number of surgeries performed for BC, the time elapsed between symptoms and diagnosis, the treatments performed, and the operative pathologies were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results:During the COVID-19 period, there was a decrease in the total number of BC surgeries compared to the pre-COVID-19 period (p=0.004). It was observed that this decrease was due to a decrease in patients newly diagnosed with BC (p=0.001) as well as the decrease in the number of primary transurethral resection for bladder tumor procedures performed. There was no difference in the tumor stages of the patients at diagnosis (p=0.9). Intracavitary Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy use in high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancers (NMIBC) patients also decreased (p=0.008) during the pandemic period. It was observed that the time between symptom and diagnosis was longer in MIBC than in NIMBC during both periods (p

In this paper we present heuristics and analytical models for the order batching problem. Orders are batched into touts such that the total travel time is minimized. Four heuristics are developed for the order batching problem, for which no exact solution exists. All heuristics are based on the time-saving criterion of combining two or more orders in a single tour rather than processing them one order at a time. Among the heuristics that are presented, the SL algorithm has the best performance. An analytical model is developed to estimate the travel time of the S/R machine as a function of the number of locations to be visited and the physical specifications of the structure. Expressions for upper and lower bounds for travel time are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]