Peer review of the National Transportation Safety Board structural analysis of the I-35W bridge collapse.

The Engineering Sciences Center at Sandia National Laboratories provided an independent peer review of the structural analysis supporting the National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the August 1, 2007 collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis. The purpose of the review was to provide an impartial critique of the analysis approach, assumptions, solution techniques, and conclusions. Subsequent to reviewing numerous supporting documents, a SNL team of staff and management visited NTSB to participate in analysis briefings, discussions with investigators, and examination of critical elements of the bridge wreckage. This report summarizes the opinion of the review team that the NTSB analysis effort was appropriate and provides compelling supporting evidence for the NTSB probable cause conclusion

Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive success and ongoing natural selection at the FADS locus

: Identifying genetic determinants of reproductive success may highlight mechanisms underlying fertility and identify alleles under present-day selection. Using data in 785,604 individuals of European ancestry, we identified 43 genomic loci associated with either number of children ever born (NEB) or childlessness. These loci span diverse aspects of reproductive biology, including puberty timing, age at first birth, sex hormone regulation, endometriosis and age at menopause. Missense variants in ARHGAP27 were associated with higher NEB but shorter reproductive lifespan, suggesting a trade-off at this locus between reproductive ageing and intensity. Other genes implicated by coding variants include PIK3IP1, ZFP82 and LRP4, and our results suggest a new role for the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) in reproductive biology. As NEB is one component of evolutionary fitness, our identified associations indicate loci under present-day natural selection. Integration with data from historical selection scans highlighted an allele in the FADS1/2 gene locus that has been under selection for thousands of years and remains so today. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that a broad range of biological mechanisms contribute to reproductive success

BHPR research: qualitative1. Complex reasoning determines patients' perception of outcome following foot surgery in rheumatoid arhtritis

Background: Foot surgery is common in patients with RA but research into surgical outcomes is limited and conceptually flawed as current outcome measures lack face validity: to date no one has asked patients what is important to them. This study aimed to determine which factors are important to patients when evaluating the success of foot surgery in RA Methods: Semi structured interviews of RA patients who had undergone foot surgery were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted to explore issues that were important to patients. Results: 11 RA patients (9 ♂, mean age 59, dis dur = 22yrs, mean of 3 yrs post op) with mixed experiences of foot surgery were interviewed. Patients interpreted outcome in respect to a multitude of factors, frequently positive change in one aspect contrasted with negative opinions about another. Overall, four major themes emerged. Function: Functional ability & participation in valued activities were very important to patients. Walking ability was a key concern but patients interpreted levels of activity in light of other aspects of their disease, reflecting on change in functional ability more than overall level. Positive feelings of improved mobility were often moderated by negative self perception ("I mean, I still walk like a waddling duck”). Appearance: Appearance was important to almost all patients but perhaps the most complex theme of all. Physical appearance, foot shape, and footwear were closely interlinked, yet patients saw these as distinct separate concepts. Patients need to legitimize these feelings was clear and they frequently entered into a defensive repertoire ("it's not cosmetic surgery; it's something that's more important than that, you know?”). Clinician opinion: Surgeons' post operative evaluation of the procedure was very influential. The impact of this appraisal continued to affect patients' lasting impression irrespective of how the outcome compared to their initial goals ("when he'd done it ... he said that hasn't worked as good as he'd wanted to ... but the pain has gone”). Pain: Whilst pain was important to almost all patients, it appeared to be less important than the other themes. Pain was predominately raised when it influenced other themes, such as function; many still felt the need to legitimize their foot pain in order for health professionals to take it seriously ("in the end I went to my GP because it had happened a few times and I went to an orthopaedic surgeon who was quite dismissive of it, it was like what are you complaining about”). Conclusions: Patients interpret the outcome of foot surgery using a multitude of interrelated factors, particularly functional ability, appearance and surgeons' appraisal of the procedure. While pain was often noted, this appeared less important than other factors in the overall outcome of the surgery. Future research into foot surgery should incorporate the complexity of how patients determine their outcome Disclosure statement: All authors have declared no conflicts of interes

USING IVR TECHNOLOGY TO SURVEY MOOSE HUNTERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK

For many wildlife agencies, hunter surveys provide useful data on hunter effort, harvests, hunter demographics and opinion on resource issues. Traditional formats for these types of surveys include either mail-out/mail-in survey forms or direct contact via telephone. Often these surveys are time-consuming and expensive for management agencies to conduct and the accuracy of some of the information obtained may be suspect because data are not collected until weeks or months following the end of hunting seasons. Low response rates are common because survey forms are often detailed and time-consuming for the hunter to complete, or the survey timing is inconvenient. In the fall of 1995, the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources & Energy (DNRE) experimented with a new approach for obtaining moose hunter information by utilizing interactive voice response (IVR) technology. This two-step electronic process involved (i) leaving a brief explanatory/introductory message on the voice mail systems of more than 17,000 moose hunter applicants, inviting them to call a toll-free service and participate in an electronic telephone survey, and (ii) providing a brief four question IVR survey soliciting input on moose management issues. Herein we report on the results of the IVR survey, compare the costs and benefits of the IVR system to traditional survey methods used in New Brunswick, and suggest ways that emerging technologies might be adapted by wildlife agencies to effectively solicit input from resource users and stakeholders

MOOSE AND FOREST ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT: THE BIGGEST BEAST BUT NOT THE BEST

Over the last few decades, forest policies regarding wildlife habitat have evolved from featured-species oriented management to the consideration of a broader scope of interests. Ecosystem management is already or will be applied soon in many jurisdictions. A few have set habitat objectives for moose and other species, and some plan to establish relationships with population levels. Others try to define methods to plan forest interventions to imitate nature of to take into consideration the needs of the various forest resource users. Both spatial and temporal multi-scales have to be defined to implement a habitat management strategy based not only on natural boundaries, but also on the concerns of forest users. Moose habitat management has to be subordinated to biodiversity objectives and social needs, such as sustainable food supply for the Native peoples or a satisfying hunting experience for moose hunters. Adaptive management, adequate funding, and involvement of forest and wildlife users are necessary to reach these goals