Integrating the Capability Maturity Model for Software and the Quality Air Force Criteria

As defense budgets decrease and it is required to do more with less, the Air Force has chosen to use the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) as the basis for implementing quality principles. The Air Force program is known as Quality Air Force (QAF), and the criteria are referred to as the QAF criteria DEPA95b. At about the same time the Department of the Air Force implemented QAF, the software leaders in the Air Force adopted the Capability Maturity Model for Software (CMM) as the internal standard for Air Force software organizations MOSE9l. Software organizations strapped with both sets of requirements struggle with how to implement both models. Many organizations implement redundant programs in an effort to satisfy both. This research uses signature and specification matching techniques gleaned from the software reuse domain to integrate the CMM and QAF criteria into a single set of requirements that correlate to both models

'Ceaseless and Watchful readiness to take part': the Canadian governors general, 1847-1878

This dissertation surveys the constitutional evolution of the Canadian governor general's role between 1847 and 1878. It analyses incidents in the terms of five consecutive governors general—Elgin, Sir Edmund Head, Monck, Lisgar, and Dufferin—and explores how each interpreted his loosely-defined role. While Confederation in 1867 is usually seen as the watershed in Canadian constitutional history, its effect on the viceregal role was limited. The most profound change—the transition to responsible government—had already occurred in 1848. After 1848 it was understood that in internal matters the governor general would follow the advice of his Canadian ministers. Elgin played a key role in putting this new experiment in colonial policy into practice. The advent of self-government for Canada did not mean that the governor general became insignificant, however. The governor retained a role as guardian of the constitution, and the prerogative of refusal of assent to ministerial advice still existed, even if it was infrequently invoked. Elgin, Head, Monck and Dufferin all encountered situations in which at least some political observers believed such refusal would be warranted. In the event, only Head exercised this prerogative. In the formative years of Canadian party politics, the viceregal office afforded an opportunity to exercise informal leadership. Monck in particular played a much-underestimated role in helping to negotiate alliances among political antagonists. Lisgar, by far the most politically seasoned of the five incumbents, paradoxically presided over a stable ministry during his entire term of office. His comparative inactivity in the political realm has led historians to dismiss him as indolent. Lisgar was involved, however, in behind-the-scenes negotiations leading to the 1871 Treaty of Washington. Canadian disappointment over the terms of the treaty, combined with the absence of any archival collection detailing Lisgar's activities, has unfairly cast Lisgar as a historical scapegoat. The study ends with the drafting of a permanent set of Letters Patent and Instructions for the governor general in 1878, a constitutional milestone that has been largely overlooked in Canadian historiography. This initiative on the part of Canada's Liberal minister ofjustice, Edward Blake, to more clearly spell out the limits of the governor general's role was spurred in large measure by Dufferin's intrusiveness. Throughout this formative period, the evolution of the viceregal role was influenced both by circumstance and the character of the individual office holders

OUTPUT FROM MOTOR CORTEX TO CONTRALATERAL AND IPSILATERAL HINDLIMB MUSCLES IN THE PRIMATE

Although corticospinal control of the forelimb has been heavily studied for several decades, relatively little is known about corticospinal control of the hindlimb despite its importance. The overall goal of this project is to investigate hindlimb corticospinal organization and function using methods that have been successfully used to investigate the forelimb. The first two specific aims are designed to evaluate the organization and characteristics of output from primary motor cortex (M1) to hindlimb muscles using spike triggered averaging (SpTA) of electromyography (EMG) recordings. Aim one is to determine whether postspike effects can be detected in averages of EMG activity of distal and proximal hindlimb muscles. This was done by isolating single neurons in the hindlimb representation of M1 and generating averages of EMG segments associated with the individual action potentials (spikes) of each cell. The second aim is to compare the properties of hindlimb postspike effects to forelimb postspike effects collected previously in the laboratory. The third aim is to determine the extent to which poststimulus effects, elicited by stimulus triggered averaging (StTA) in distal and proximal muscles match the postspike effects from a single cell recorded at the same cortical site. Aim four is to evaluate the organization and characteristics of output from the ipsilateral M1 to hindlimb muscles using StTA of EMG activity. In this aim, we will document the properties of poststimulus effects in hindlimb muscles from ipsilateral cortex compared to those from the contralateral cortex. Aim five is to evaluate the function of hindlimb M1 in voluntary movement by reversibly inactivating large portions of the M1 hindlimb representation using injections of the GABA-A agonist, muscimol. Three-hundred-seventy-one neurons in the hindlimb representation of M1 were isolated and tested with spike triggered averaging of EMG activity from twenty-two hindlimb muscles including hip, knee, ankle, digit and intrinsic foot muscles. Despite the presence of monosynaptic connections from corticospinal neurons to hindlimb motoneurons and the fact that the density of corticospinal neurons in hindlimb M1 is similar to that of forelimb M1 (Cheney et al. 2004), the effects in hindlimb muscles from M1 differed substantially from those of forelimb M1. Although the fraction of cells producing a significant postspike effect was similar for forelimb and hindlimb M1, the number of muscles with postspike effects (muscle field) per cell was markedly lower for hindlimb. Another striking difference was the much higher incidence of synchronous and complex effects, compared to true postspike effects, from hindlimb neurons compared to forelimb. To evaluate the strength of motor output from ipsilateral M1 cortex (Aim 4), microstimuli (120 μA) were applied a low rate (5 Hz) and served as triggers to construct stimulus triggered averages of EMG activity. Post-stimulus effects from ipsilateral M1 cortex were then compared to those from contralateral cortex obtained under the same conditions. The magnitudes of contralateral effects were far greater than the magnitudes of ipsilateral effects. In addition, there were fewer effects from ipsilateral cortex obtained at the same stimulus intensity. The organization of neurons was also quite different. For all muscles, the location of maximal output from M1 was shifted anterior and laterally in the ipsilateral cortex compared to contralateral M1. Surprisingly, the minimal onset latencies of effects from ipsilateral cortex were similar to those from contralateral cortex. In conclusion, we were able to detect clear effects in spike triggered averages of EMG activity. The output effects from single neurons in hindlimb M1 differ from those from forelimb M1 neurons in the number and strength of effects as well as the incidence of strong synchrony effects. We used stimulus triggered averaging of EMG activity to evaluate the ipsilateral connections from M1 to motoneurons. Effects from ipsilateral cortex are distinctly weaker than those from contralateral cortex. However, the onset latency of the shortest latency effects from ipsilateral cortex were similar to those from contralateral cortex suggesting that ipsilateral cortex has a minimal linkage that is as direct as that from contralateral cortex. This result suggests that at least some corticospinal neurons in ipsilateral cortex make monosynaptic connections with motoneurons in the spinal cord. We used stimulus triggered averaging data to construct maps of cortical output to different muscle groups. Comparing ipsilateral and contralateral maps revealed that the spatial distribution of neurons producing maximal output effects from ipsilateral cortex is not a mirror image of those in contralateral cortex. Rather, the best location for producing output to a particular muscle from ipsilateral cortex is substantially displaced relative to its position in contralateral cortex. This dissertation provides foundational data on the output properties of ipsilateral cortex in healthy, intact subjects. How these properties may change in relation to recovery of function following damage to contralateral M1 cortex is a question that remains for future studies

Short-Term Radiographic Evaluation of a Tri-Tapered Femoral Stem in Direct Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty

Introduction. Direct anterior approach (DAA) total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become increasingly popular, largely due to utilization of a true internervous and intermuscular plane. However, recent literature has demonstrated an increased rate of femoral implant subsidence with this approach. Hence, different femoral implants, such as the tri-tapered femoral stem, have been developed to facilitate proper component insertion and positioning to prevent this femoral subsidence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the subsidence rate of a tri-tapered femoral stem implanted utilizing a DAA, and to determine if the proximal femoral bone quality affects the rate of subsidence. Methods. A retrospective analysis of 155 consecutive primary THAs performed by a single surgeon was conducted. Age, gender, primary diagnosis, and radiographic measurements of each subject were recorded. Radiological evaluations, such as bone quality, femoral canal fill, and implant subsidence, were measured on standardized anteroposterior (AP) and frog-leg lateral radiographs of the hip at 6-week and 6-month postoperative follow-up evaluations. Results. The average subsidence of femoral stems was 1.18 ± 0.8 mm. There was no statistical difference in the amount of subsidence based on diagnosis or proximal femora quality. The tri-tapered stem design consistently filled the proximal canal with an average of 91.9 ± 4.9% fill. Subsidence was not significantly associated with age, canal flare index (CFI), or experience of the surgeon. Conclusion. THA utilizing the DAA with a tri-tapered femoral stem can achieve consistent and reliable fit regardless of proximal femoral bone quality

Spiritualism and the Language of Universal Religion in Nineteenth-Century America

This dissertation adds to the current scholarship surrounding the construction and popular diffusion of the modern concept of religion. While the construction of this concept has deep historic roots, it emerged fully during the nineteenth century as closer contact and cultural exchange through colonialism fostered comparisons of faiths to each other in search of commonalities. Religion was increasingly understood both as an abstract category—divorced from its exclusive identification with Christianity—to describe the various systems of faith in the world as well as a true and eternal essence. Additionally, some entertained the utopian dream that the true essence of religion could be realized in history thereby creating a universal religion for all mankind. Historians have traditionally associated such broader understandings of religion with eighteenth-century Deists in England, American Transcendentalists, liberal Protestants more broadly, divines of religious academies like Harvard Divinity School, and, more recently, esoteric movements like the Theosophical Society and New Thought. A similar emphasis on the universality of religion and an optimism regarding the impending spiritual unity of the human race can be seen in the loose religious movement known as Spiritualism. Unlike Transcendentalism or academic comparative religion, Spiritualism represented a broad and democratic movement that cut across class, gender, and race. Though the emphasis on eastern religion was far more pronounced in Theosophy and New Thought, Spiritualism, emerging in the mid-nineteenth century, prefigured and influenced them both. As such, this dissertation argues that Spiritualism was an important force for popularizing and democratizing new comparative ideas about religion that had previously existed as part of a more elite and educated discourse. Spiritualists, though lacking a binding creed or theology, generally agreed that there was a timeless and true essence of religion that had been partially expressed in the various historical religions of the world. Thus, other religions and their scriptures could be fruitfully compared and wisdom extracted from them, though Christianity typically remained the implicit standard for comparison. With a pronounced faith in progress and a religious fervour shared by the surrounding revivalistic culture of nineteenth-century America, Spiritualists hoped to transcend sectarian boundaries and—with the help of spiritual guides— inaugurate a new era of peace and social reform under the auspices of their quintessentially modern and rational religion

Urine Screening for Opiod and Illicit Drugs in the Total Joint Arthroplasty Population

Introduction. Recent studies have shown an increase in post-operative orthopaedic complications associated with pre-operative opioid use. It is, therefore, important to know if patients use opioids before scheduled surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine if urine drug screening (UDS) is an effective screening tool for detecting opioid and illicit drug use prior to joint arthroplasty (JA) procedures. Methods. This retrospective chart review was performed with IRB approval on 166 out of 172 consecutive patients in a community-based practice. All the patients had a pre-operative UDS prior to primary or revision JA by a fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon between March 2016 and April 2017. Patient demographics documented opioid and illicit drug use, co-morbid diagnosis, and UDS results were collected from clinical charts. Statistical analysis was conducted using Pearson Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, McNemar test, and t-tests with IBM SPSS Statistics, ver. 23. Significant differences were p < 0.05. Results. Sixty-four of 166 patients (38.6%) tested positive for opioids. Among them, 55.0% (35/64) had no history of prescription opioid use. Significant differences were observed when comparing the test results of the UDS with the patient reported history of prescribed opioids (p = 0.001). Conclusion. With a significant number of patients testing positive for opioids without evidence of a previous prescription, UDS may be beneficial for initial risk assessment for patients undergoing JA procedures

Epigenetic regulation during mammalian oogenesis

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2007. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of CSIRO Publishing for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Reproduction, Fertility and Development 20 (2007): 74-80, doi:10.1071/RD07181.The advent of the epigenetic era has sparked a new frontier in molecular research and the understanding of how development can be regulated beyond direct alterations of the genome. Thus far, the focal point of epigenetic regulation during development has been chromatin modifications that control differential gene expression by DNA methylation and histone alterations. But what of events that alter gene expression without direct influence on the DNA itself? This review focuses on epigenetic pathways regulating development from oogenesis to organogenesis and back that do not involve methylation of cytosine in DNA. We discuss target components of epigenetic modification such as organelle development, compartmentalization of maternal factors and molecular mediators in the oocyte and how these factors acting during oogenesis impact on later development. Epigenetic regulation of development, be it via cytosine methylation or not, has wide ranging effects on the subsequent success of a pregnancy and the intrinsic health of offspring. Perturbations in epigenetic regulation have been clearly associated with disease states in adult offspring including type II diabetes, hypertension, cancers and infertility. A clear understanding of all epigenetic mechanisms is paramount when considering the increased utilization of assisted reproductive techniques and the risks associated with their use.We recognize the NIH (HD42076), ESHE Fund and the Hall Family Foundation for their generous suppor

George VI’s 1939 Royal Tour of Canada: Context and the Constitution

Canada has had a long tradition of tours by members of the royal family, beginning with the 1860 visit of the Prince of Wales. But George VI’s 1939 royal tour of Canada was the first by a reigning British monarch, and its real significance can only be fully understood in context. World events, most notably the looming threat from Hitler’s Germany, made Canada’s attachment to the Commonwealth vitally important. Canada’s Prime Minister Mackenzie King revered the Crown but was a prickly Canadian nationalist who was loath to make any defence commitments to the mother country. The institution of the Crown had weathered a series of crises in the period preceding the visit: the 1931 Statute of Westminster marked a fundamental change in the Crown’s relationship to the dominion governments, and the 1936 abdication sullied the sovereign’s image. The 1939 visit also raised the practical issue of how the duties of the Crown ought to be fulfilled when both the king and his dominion representative were present in the dominion. The 1939 visit represented a vital test of the institution of the Crown, and the true import of the five-week tour must be assessed in light of its political, foreign policy, and constitutional significance. </div

Emergency Action Planning in Kansas High Schools

Introduction. Current evidence shows a variable rate of emergency action plan (EAP) implementation and a low rate of compliance to EAP guidelines in United States secondary schools. Compliance to emergency action plan recommendations in Kansas high schools is not known. The purpose of this study was to identify the emergency preparedness of public high school athletics in the state of Kansas and identify prevailing characteristics of schools that correlate with decreased compliance of an EAP. Methods. Athletic directors for public high schools in the state of Kansas were asked to participate in a web-based questionnaire that was emailed to each athletic director. The questionnaire identified demographics of the study population, EAP implementation rates, compliance to national EAP guidelines, access to certified medical personnel, and training received by athletics personnel. Descriptive statistics were then compiled and reported. Results. The response rate for the survey was 96% (341/355). A total of 94.1% (320/340) of schools have an EAP, 81.4% (276/339) of schools have an automated external defibrillator (AED) at all athletic venues, and 51.8% (176/340) of schools had an athletic trainer (AT) on staff. Urban schools were significantly more likely than rural schools to have an AT on staff (OR=11.10, 95% CI=[6.42, 19.18], p&lt;0.0001), have an EAP (OR=3.69, 95% CI=[1.05, 13.02], p=0.0303), require additional training for coaches (OR=2.69, 95% CI=[1.42, 5.08], p =0.0017), and have an AED on-site for some events (OR=2.18, 95% CI=[1.24, 3.81], p=0.0057). Conclusions. Most Kansas high schools have an EAP in place and have at least 1 AED. Emergency planning should be improved through venue specific EAPs, access to early defibrillation, and additional training. Rural and low division schools have lower AT staffing and consequently are more significantly impacted by these factors. Rural and low division schools are more significantly impacted than urban and high division schools and this should be taken into account in future improvement strategies

Impaired Flush Response to Niacin Skin Patch Among Schizophrenia Patients and Their Nonpsychotic Relatives: The Effect of Genetic Loading

We previously reported familial aggregation in flush response to niacin skin patch among schizophrenia patients and their nonpsychotic relatives. However, little is known about whether this abnormal skin response is associated with genetic loading for schizophrenia. This study compared the niacin flush response in subjects from families with only one member affected with schizophrenia (simplex families) with those from families having a sib-pair with schizophrenia (multiplex families). Subjects were patients with schizophrenia and their nonpsychotic first-degree relatives from simplex families (176 probands, 260 parents, and 80 siblings) and multiplex families (311 probands, 180 parents, and 52 siblings) as well as 94 healthy controls. Niacin patches of 3 concentrations (0.001M, 0.01M, and 0.1M) were applied to forearm skin, and the flush response was rated at 5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively, with a 4-point scale. More attenuated flush response to topical niacin was shown in schizophrenia probands and their relatives from multiplex families than in their counterparts from simplex families, and the differentiation was better revealed using 0.1M concentration of niacin than 0.01M or 0.001M. For the highest concentration of 0.1M and the longest time lag of 15 minutes, a subgroup of probands (23%), parents (27%), and siblings (19%) still exhibited nonflush response. Flush response to niacin skin patch is more impaired in schizophrenia patients and their relatives from families with higher genetic loading for schizophrenia, and this finding has implications for future genetic dissection of schizophrenia