The World in Singing Made: David Markson\u27s Wittgenstein\u27s Mistress

In line with Wittgenstein\u27s axiom that what the solipsist means is quite correct; only it cannot be said, but makes itself manifest, this thesis aims to demonstrate how the gulf between analytic and continental philosophy can best be bridged through the mediation of art. The present thesis brings attention to Markson\u27s work, lauded in the tradition of Faulkner, Joyce, and Lowry, as exemplary of the shift from modernity to postmodernity, wherein the human heart is not only in conflict with itself, but with the language out of which it is necessarily constituted. Markson limns the paradoxical condition of the subject severed from intersubjectivity, and affected not only by the grief of bereavement, which can be defined in Heideggarian terms as anxiety for the ontic negation of a being (i.e., death), but by loss, which I assert is the ontological ground for how Dasein encounters the nothing in anxiety proper

Convergence of Accounting Standards World Wide - An Update

This paper provides an update on the convergence efforts of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In an earlier published paper (2007), the author explored the process of convergence and after nine (9) years would like to incorporate additional information. It will attempt to answer two questions: What are perceived benefits of convergence? What are the obstacles encountered in implementing convergence? The expectation is that increased reliability, consistency, comparability, and transparency of accounting information brought about by convergence of accounting standards would result in more informed decision-making by users of financial reports

High-velocity impact on composite sandwich structures: A theoretical model

A theoretical energy-based model to capture the ballistic response of sandwich structures made of composite material peels and a crushable foam core was developed. The model was based on the wave propagation theory and it was split in six stages with their corresponding energy-absorption mechanisms. The division of the stages was based on the physical interpretation of the perforation process involving reasonable hypotheses and simplifications. The energy-absorption was analysed at velocities below, near and above the ballistic limit within all the stages showing the general trends in terms of their relative importance. The time and velocity at each stage was separately analysed within a wide range of velocities in order to see the stage contribution to the energy-absorption. The model was validated against experimental results obtained in the literature showing a good agreement in terms of the impact-residual velocity curve. © 2021 The Author(s

Quality and safety considerations in breast cancer screening

Breast cancer is a leading cause of premature mortality among United States women. Early detection has been shown to reduce breast cancer morbidity, mortality and cost of treatment. The relative safety of breast cancer screening has been viewed in terms of benefits and harms. The quality and safety of breast cancer screening depends on both technical and human factors. Focusing on quality and safety considerations, we review two imaging modalities recommended for primary breast cancer screening: mammography and magnetic resonance imaging, and the use of ultrasound (US) for supplemental breast cancer screening

A numerical–analytical study to determine a suitable distribution of plies in sandwich structures subjected to high-velocity impact

This work presents a study that was undertaken to find the configuration that corresponds to the highest ballistic limit for composite sandwich structures made of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) sandwich skins and a crushable foam. To this end, a new three-dimensional finite element (FE) model was implemented. The model accounts for the constitutive response of the GFRP sandwich skins and the crushable foam by means of two subroutines. A previously developed analytical model was used to support and complete the results of the FE model. Experimental data were also used to validate both models in the vicinity of the ballistic limit for the neutral configuration (same number of plies on the front and rear face skins). Thus, the most appropriate configuration to improve the ballistic limit for a structure with the same material (same number of plies) was obtained by testing different distributions of laminae. The ballistic limit was then estimated for all the possible configurations and the energy-absorption mechanisms were analysed to reveal new insights into the behaviour of these structures when the neutral configuration is varied. In addition, the damaged areas of the specimens were compared between the experiments and the model. As a result, the most suitable configuration turned out to be associated with thicker rear face skins, which produce higher ballistic limits. The largest fraction of the energy was absorbed by the out-of-plane mechanisms, this behaviour being maintained in all the configurations. Experimental observations established that the damaged area of the front face skin was smaller than the damage produced in the rear face skin and that bending effects were notable in the latter. The affected areas were proved to have a round shape, presenting the largest size in the vicinity of the ballistic limit

Elasto-mammography: Theory, Algorithm, and Phantom Study

A new imaging modality framework, called elasto-mammography, is proposed to generate the elastograms of breast tissues based on conventional X-ray mammography. The displacement information is extracted from mammography projections before and after breast compression. Incorporating the displacement measurement, an elastography reconstruction algorithm is specifically developed to estimate the elastic moduli of heterogeneous breast tissues. Case studies with numerical breast phantoms are conducted to demonstrate the capability of the proposed elasto-mammography. Effects of noise with measurement, geometric mismatch, and elastic contrast ratio are evaluated in the numerical simulations. It is shown that the proposed methodology is stable and robust for characterization of the elastic moduli of breast tissues from the projective displacement measurement

Aggressive Surveillance Is Needed to Detect Endoleaks and Junctional Separation between Device Components after Zenith Fenestrated Aortic Reconstruction

Background Junctional separation and resulting type IIIa endoleak is a well-known problem after EVAR (endovascular aneurysm repair). This complication results in sac pressurization, enlargement, and eventual rupture. In this manuscript, we review the incidence of this late finding in our experience with the Cook Zenith fenestrated endoprosthesis (ZFEN, Bloomington, IN). Methods A retrospective review was performed of a prospectively maintained institutional ZFEN fenestrated EVAR database capturing all ZFENs implanted at a large-volume, academic hospital system. Patients who experienced junctional separation between the fenestrated main body and distal bifurcated graft (with or without type IIIa endoleak) at any time after initial endoprosthesis implantation were subject to further evaluation of imaging and medical records to abstract clinical courses. Results In 110 ZFENs implanted from October 2012 to December 2017 followed for a mean of 1.5 years, we observed a 4.5% and 2.7% incidence of clinically significant junctional separation and type IIIa endoleak, respectively. Junctional separation was directly related to concurrent type Ib endoleak in all 5 patients. Three patients presented with sac enlargement. One patient did not demonstrate any evidence of clinically significant endoleak and had a decreasing sac size during follow-up imaging. The mean time to diagnosis of modular separation in these patients was 40 months. Junctional separation was captured in surveillance in 2 patients and reintervened upon before manifestation of endoleak. However, the remaining 3 patients completed modular separation resulting in rupture and emergent intervention in 2 and an aortic-related mortality in the other. Conclusions Junctional separation between the fenestrated main and distal bifurcated body with the potential for type IIIa endoleak is an established complication associated with the ZFEN platform. Therefore, we advocate for maximizing aortic overlap during the index procedure followed by aggressive surveillance and treatment of stent overlap loss captured on imaging