The dialogic city: towards a synthesis of physical and conceptual artefacts in urban community configurations

This paper addresses a question in urban research relating to definitions of the physical and conceptual artefacts that comprise local urban communities. These artefacts are, we suggest, products of complex relationships between discursive and non -discursive agencies in urban contexts. We focus on the problems of defining conceptual artefacts by considering how urban communities’ social meanings are embedded in their spatial configurations, conceptualizations and practices. Considering the relational nature of the built environment, we describe the interplays of space, society and meaning as being ‘dialogic’. By this we mean that the urban environment’s discursive and non-discursive agencies inform and transform each other through processes of their complex inter-dependencies. These dialogic processes also occur where professional and community practitioners seek to transform the built environment by exchanging their conceptualizations and definitions. Towards a refocusing upon conceptual artefacts in the built environment, we review a selection of diverse research from the fields of space syntax, actor -network theory in architecture, and urban sociologies of crime and deprivation. We sample from specific studies of urban spatial effects upon local community behaviours. We observe that processes of conceptualization are revealed in professionals’ definitions of urban environments. Moreover, we draw attention to the lack of community -membership definitions in many urban interventions. We argue that this lack persists because community conceptualizations, based upon ‘mental models’, tend to be reflected in quotidian or sub -conscious practices, which do not enter the standard professional discourse. We reflect critically on the urban research studies sampled, considering in particular their treatment of the role of conceptualizations in shaping the urban environment. Building on this critique, we argue that the notion of ‘mental models’ is overlooked in the urban research literature and warrants further investigation. Working towards a synthesis of physical and conceptual artefacts, we attempt an outline of the significance of inter -dependencies in urban formations. Hence we consider the role played by local conceptualizations in phenomena such as neighbourhood boundaries, community foci, stereotypes of others and place -specific community values. Finally, we outline the requirements for a method to examine these conceptualizations

Exploring Beginning Latino Farmers and Ranchers' Willingness to Become Involved in Community Activities in Rural Missouri

Presentation made at Latinos in the Heartland (13th : 2015 : Columbia, Mo.) and published in the annual conference proceedings.In 2013, we conducted two workshop series, each consisting of 10 sessions, focused on how to improve financial capacity of agribusiness and to gain access to community resources. As part of the workshops, eighteen Latino farmers and ranchers in Southwest Missouri completed a survey that analyzed their disposition towards becoming involved in community activities over the upcoming six months. The willingness of the Latino farmers and ranchers to become involved in community activities was explored across five indicators: 1. to be more engaged in community leadership roles, 2. to form new connections in the community, 3. to display more tolerance when working with others, 4. to develop a community action plan, and 5. to implement a community project. A total of 140 answers to each indicator were collected from participants and were analyzed using symmetric responses, where 1 was coded as "not willing," 2 was coded as "reluctant," 3 as "neutral," 4 as "moderate willing," and 5 as "very willing." Participants' responses to each of those five indicators showed that many (46%, 43%, 51%, 53% and 48%) beginning farmers and ranchers were "very willing" to involve themselves with community projects and activities during the upcoming six months. The willingness of participants to become involved in community activities helped us to know their predisposition to integrate and assimilate into the communities where they lived. It is argued that Latino immigrants have trouble assimilating into mainstream US culture (Huntington, 2004), and those who do assimilate, belong to a cluster with the following characteristics: spatial concentration, high incomes, intermarriage, English fluency and high levels of embeddedness in Anglo-social contexts (South et al. 2005, Waters & Jimenez, 2005). The predisposition to participate in community activities is positively related with Waters and Jimenez's perception (2005) that US communities have evolved in absorbing new immigrants and continual immigrant replenishment makes assimilation less visible. Other factors influencing positive integration and assimilation may be attributed to the population size of that immigrant group in the community and the population size of the rural community where they immigrated. A multistate conference about integration of immigrants Proceedings of the 13th Annual Conference Latinos in the Heartland: Growing Together in New Destination Areas www.cambio.missouri.edu/Library/ Key words: beginning Latino farmers and ranchers, immigrant integration, rural communities

Experimental validation of a drive-by stiffness identification method for bridge monitoring

 An experimental investigation is carried out to verify the feasibility of using an instrumented vehicle to detect and monitor bridge dynamic parameters. The low cost method consists of the use of a moving vehicle fitted with accelerometers on its axles. In the laboratory experiment, the vehicle-bridge interaction model consists of a scaled two-axle vehicle model crossing a simply supported steel beam. The bridge model also includes a scaled road surface profile. The effects of varying the vehicle model configuration and speed are investigated. A finite element beam model is calibrated using the experimental results and a novel algorithm for the identification of global bridge stiffness is validated. Using measured vehicle accelerations as input to the algorithm, the beam stiffness is identified with a reasonable degree of accuracy.European Commission - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship for North American and European ResearchersJapanese Society for the Promotion of Science Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Researc

In Silico Modelling to Assess the Electrical and Thermal Disturbance Provoked by a Metal Intracoronary Stent during Epicardial Pulsed Electric Field Ablation

[EN] Background: Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) ablation has been recently proposed to ablate cardiac ganglionic plexi (GP) aimed to treat atrial fibrillation. The effect of metal intracoronary stents in the vicinity of the ablation electrode has not been yet assessed. Methods: A 2D numerical model was developed accounting for the different tissues involved in PEF ablation with an irrigated ablation device. A coronary artery (with and without a metal intracoronary stent) was considered near the ablation source (0.25 and 1 mm separation). The 1000 V/cm threshold was used to estimate the PEF-zone¿. Results: The presence of the coronary artery (with or without stent) distorts the E-field distribution, creating hot spots (higher E-field values) in the front and rear of the artery, and cold spots (lower E-field values) on the sides of the artery. The value of the E-field inside the coronary artery is very low (~200 V/cm), and almost zero with a metal stent. Despite this distortion, thePEF-zone contour is almost identical with and without artery/stent, remaining almost completely confined within the fat layer in any case. The mentioned hot spots of E-field translate into a moderate temperature increase (<48 _C) in the area between the artery and electrode. These thermal side effects are similar for pulse intervals of 10 and 100 _s. Conclusions: The presence of a metal intracoronary stent near the ablation device during PEF ablation simply `amplifies¿ the E-field distortion already caused by the presence of the vessel. This distortion may involve moderate heating (<48 _C) in the tissue between the artery and ablation electrode without associate Background: Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) ablation has been recently proposed to ablate cardiac ganglionic plexi (GP) aimed to treat atrial fibrillation. The effect of metal intracoronary stents in the vicinity of the ablation electrode has not been yet assessed. Methods: A 2D numerical model was developed accounting for the different tissues involved in PEF ablation with an irrigated ablation device. A coronary artery (with and without a metal intracoronary stent) was considered near the ablation source (0.25 and 1 mm separation). The 1000 V/cm threshold was used to estimate the `PEF-zone¿. Results: The presence of the coronary artery (with or without stent) distorts the E-field distribution, creating hot spots (higher E-field values) in the front and rear of the artery, and cold spots (lower E-field values) on the sides of the artery. The value of the E-field inside the coronary artery is very low (~200 V/cm), and almost zero with a metal stent. Despite this distortion, the PEF-zone contour is almost identical with and without artery/stent, remaining almost completely confined within the fat layer in any case. The mentioned hot spots of E-field translate into a moderate temperature increase (<48 _C) in the area between the artery and electrode. These thermal side effects are similar for pulse intervals of 10 and 100 _s. Conclusions: The presence of a metal intracoronary stent near the ablation device during PEF ablation simply `amplifies¿ the E-field distortion already caused by the presence of the vessel. This distortion may involve moderate heating (<48 _C) in the tissue between the artery and ablation electrode without associated thermal damage. d thermal damage.This research was funded by Government of Ireland, Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund (DTIF), grant number DT20180123, and Spanish MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, grant RTI2018-094357-B-C21.González-Suárez, A.; Pérez, JJ.; O Brien, B.; Elahi, A. (2022). In Silico Modelling to Assess the Electrical and Thermal Disturbance Provoked by a Metal Intracoronary Stent during Epicardial Pulsed Electric Field Ablation. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease. 9(12):1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd912045811191

CV19015

This report provides the main results and findings of the fourteenth annual underwater television survey on the ‘Smalls grounds’ ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 22. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV, CTD and other ecosystem data. A total of 41 UWTV stations were surveyed successfully (high quality image data), carried out over an isometric grid at 4.5nmi or 8.3km intervals. The precision, with a CV of 9%, was well below the upper limit of 20% recommended by SGNEPS (ICES, 2012). The 2019 abundance estimate was 30% higher than in 2018 and at 1121 million is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (990 million). Using the 2019 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2020 that correspond to the F ranges in the EU multi annual plan for Western Waters are between 2247 and 2820 tonnes (assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2016–2018). One species of sea pens were recorded as present at the stations surveyed: Virgularia mirabilis. Trawl marks were observed at 57% of the stations surveyed

In overweight or obese pregnant women, maternal dietary factors are not associated with fetal growth and adiposity

The aim of our study was to evaluate associations between maternal dietary factors and fetal growth and adiposity in overweight and obese women. Women randomised to the &lsquo;Standard Care&rsquo; group of the LIMIT trial were included. Maternal dietary factors including Healthy Eating Index, total energy, fat, carbohydrates, protein, glycaemic load and index were measured using the Harvard semi-quantitative Food Frequency questionnaire at time of study entry, 28 and 36 weeks&rsquo; gestation. Fetal ultrasound measurements of biometry and adiposity were obtained at 28 and 36 weeks&rsquo; gestation. Linear regression models were used to associate between dietary factors and fetal growth and adiposity measurements. There were 721 women included in this exploratory analysis. A 10 unit increase in the log total energy was associated with a reduction in mid-thigh lean mass by 4.94 mm at 28 weeks (95% CI &minus;9.57 mm, &minus;0.32 mm; p = 0.036) and 7.02 mm at 36 weeks (95% CI &minus;13.69 mm, &minus;0.35 mm; p = 0.039). A 10 unit increase in Healthy Eating Index score was associated with a reduced mean subscapular skin fold measure at 28 weeks by 0.17 mm (95% CI &minus;0.32 mm, &minus;0.03 mm; p = 0.021). We did not identify consistent associations between maternal diet and measures of fetal growth and adiposity in overweight and obese women.Cecelia M. O’Brien, Jennie Louise, Andrea Deussen and Jodie M. Dod

Laparoscopic versus open liver resection: a meta‐analysis of long‐term outcome

AbstractBackgroundLaparoscopic liver resection is growing in popularity, but the long‐term outcome of patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection for malignancy has not been established. This paper is a meta‐analysis and compares the long‐term survival of patients undergoing laparoscopic (LHep) versus open (OHep) liver resection for the treatment of malignant liver tumours.MethodsA PubMed database search identified comparative human studies analysing LHep versus OHep for malignant tumours. Clinical and survival parameters were extracted. The search was last conducted on 18 March 2012.ResultsIn total, 1002 patients in 15 studies were included (446 LHep and 556 OHep). A meta‐analysis of overall survival showed no difference [1‐year: odds ratio (OR) 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42 to 1.20, P = 0.202; 3‐years: OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.03, P = 0.076; 5‐years: OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.10, P = 0.173]. Subset analyses of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal metastases (CRM) were performed. There was no difference in the 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival for HCC or in the 1‐year survival for CRM, however, a survival advantage was found for CRM at 3 years (LHep 80% versus OHep 67.4%, P = 0.036).ConclusionsLaparoscopic surgery should be considered an acceptable alternative for the treatment of malignant liver tumours

CV20016

This report provides the main results and findings of the nineteenth annual underwater television survey on the Aran, Galway Bay and Slyne head Nephrops grounds, ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 17. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV, CTD and other ecosystem data. In 2020 a total of 44 UWTV stations were successfully completed, 34 on the Aran Grounds, 5 on Galway Bay and 5 on Slyne Head patches. The mean burrow density observed in 2020, adjusted for edge effect, was medium at 0.29 burrows/m². The final krigged burrow abundance estimate for the Aran Grounds was 359 million burrows with a CV (Coefficient of Variance; relative standard error) of 4%. The final abundance estimate for Galway Bay was 27 million and for Slyne Head was 7 million, with CVs of 13% and 4% respectively. The total abundance estimates have fluctuated considerably over the time series. The 2020 combined abundance estimate (394 million burrows) is 20% lower than in 2019, and it is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (540 million burrows). Using the 2020 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catches between 443 and 508 tonnes in 2021 that correspond to the F ranges in the EU multi annual plan for Western Waters, assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2017–2019. Virgularia mirabilis was the only sea-pen species observed on the UWTV footage. Trawl marks were present at 7% of the Aran stations surveyed