Rethinking Diplomatic Architecture

This thesis challenges the nature of current diplomatic buildings constructed abroad by the United States. The United States embassy and consulate, driven by fear of terrorism and the resulting requisite for security, has regressed from a dignified diplomatic center to an imposing fortress. Serving as a chief symbol of the United States abroad, an embassy should be a modest yet impressive structure, demonstrating diplomatic goals, fostering goodwill, and allowing access. In many capital cities within the Middle East and Europe, these symbols of America are often secluded from the urban core and are not an adequate representation of our nation. The new compound on the outskirts of Istanbul, Turkey demonstrates this contrast as it replaces the downtown, historic Palazzo Corpi with a daunting, hilltop fortress. Many building types have demonstrated successful implementation of security features while remaining in the public view and maintaining admirable design. In current times, embassy design must incorporate security features and still respect culture of the host country, employ innovative construction techniques, and demonstrate the American ideals in a way that are polite yet sincere

Prototype Modeling vs. Item Response Theory – A Paradigm Shift for Measurement Professionals

In science, the usual research mode is to discover cause - and - effect mechanisms operating behind superficial reality. Aviation, for example, uses prototype modeling to develop improved aircraft from one generation to the next. In stark contrast to prototype modeling’s search for causal mechanisms, assessment technologies remain dominated by probability strategies — which is why psychological assessment lags behind the hard sciences. A major difference in results exists between inferences produced through item response theory versus the cause - effect prototyping strategies of aerospace and other techno - savvy industries. Parallel to aerospace strategies, systems analysis of language, using prototype modeling strategies, provides an effective assessment technology. This paper shows how the result provides causal mechanisms easily employed for assessing, predicting and changing human performance in many contexts

Prognostic relevance of dynamic hyperinflation during cardiopulmonary exercise testing in adult patients with cystic fibrosis

AbstractBackgroundDynamic hyperinflation during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been well characterized, and little is known regarding its prevalence, risk factors and clinical associations.MethodsCPET data from 109 adult patients with mild-to-moderate CF was used, in this retrospective study, to characterize and determine the prevalence of dynamic hyperinflation, and evaluate its relationship with lung function and exercise tolerance, clinical symptoms, and prognosis over a two-year period.Results58% of patients responded to CPET with dynamic hyperinflation. These patients had significantly lower lung function (FEV1 66±19 versus 79±18%pred., p<0.01) and exercise tolerance (peak oxygen uptake 28.7±8.1 versus 32.9±6.1mL·kg−1·min−1, p=0.02), and experienced greater shortness of breath at peak exercise (7±3 versus 5±2 Modified Borg scale, p=0.04) compared to patients who responded without dynamic hyperinflation. Significant relationships between FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, FEF25–75 and dynamic hyperinflation were shown (p<0.01; p=0.02; p<0.01; p<0.01, respectively). Dynamic hyperinflation was also significantly correlated with oxygen uptake, tidal volume, work-rate and shortness of breath at peak exercise (p=0.03; p<0.01; p<0.01; p=0.04, respectively). Responding to CPET with or without dynamic hyperinflation did not significantly predict FEV1 at 2years beyond the FEV1 at baseline (p=0.06), or increase the likelihood of experiencing a pulmonary exacerbation over a two-year period (p=0.24).ConclusionThe prevalence of dynamic hyperinflation during CPET in adult patients with mild-to-moderate CF is high, and is associated with reduced lung function and exercise tolerance, and increased exertional dyspnea. However, identifying dynamic hyperinflation during CPET had limited prognostic value for lung function and pulmonary exacerbation

Microwave Spectroscopy

Contains reports on five research projects.United States Army Signal Corps (Contract DA36-039-sc-74895

Transcatheter occlusion of large pulmonary arteriovenous malformations using multiple devices in a neonate

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110723/1/ccd25561.pd