A Dangerous Theology

Ministry is inherently risky. The existence of a call to ministry implies potential failure: failure to respond, failure to discern, failure to fulfill. Ministry also carries with it potential societal and personal consequences, ranging from outright persecution to subtler judgment for counter-cultural words and actions to loss or rearrangement of personal relationships. Perhaps for this reason, within the Quaker context, we can’t address a theology of ministry while only addressing the minister. Quakerism is not a faith of the individual but of the community. In theological and theoretical circles, Friends say that the community, not the individual, has the responsibility for empowering ministry. The individual may be called, but the community must respond faithfully

Measuring firm innovativeness: towards a composite innovation index built on firm innovative posture, propensity and performance attributes. ACES Working Paper No. 12, 2008

The ability to innovate is generally accepted as a critical success factor to growth and future performance of firms. Yet, this acceptance obscures a comprehensive perspective on how firms can influence their innovation capacity and resulting performance. This paper proposes a '3P' construct of innovation measurement that simultaneously considers the Posture, Propensity and Performance related to a firm's innovation capabilities. We propose and provide empirical support showing that robust measurement of the performance implications of innovation requires the consideration of input, throughput and output factors simultaneously. Single or more limited indicators do not offer the degree of fine-tuning to a firm's innovation system that managers require. Thus, we propose the development, and future research into contingent variations, of a Composite Innovation Index (CII). We further demonstrate its use in comparing innovators and allowing managers to design a firm's innovation system

Particle size effects on viscosity of silver pastes: A manufacturer's view

Particles from a variety of silver powders were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and particle size analyses. Particle size distribution curves and volume population graphs were prepared for these silver powders and for glass powders with optimum, extra fine and coarse particle sizes. The viscosity at a given shear rate and slope of viscosity over a range of shear rates were determined for thick film pastes made with these powders. Because of particle anomalies and variations, the need for flexibility to achieve the best printing qualities for silver pastes was evident. It was established that print quality, dried and fired film density and optimum contact of silver particles with silicon, important for cell electrical output, could be achieved by adjusting the slope of viscosity that fell outside of the range, -0.550 to -0.650. This was accomplished through organic vehicle technology that permitted a change in the slope of viscosity, up or down, while maintaining a constant silver and total solids content

An Agent-Based Model of New Venture Creation: Conceptual Design for Simulating Entrepreneurship

There is a growing debate over the means by which regions can foster the growth of entrepreneurial activity in order to stimulate recovery and growth of their economies. On one side, agglomeration theory suggests the regions grow because of strong clusters that foster knowledge spillover locally; on the other side, the entrepreneurial action camp argues that innovative business models are generated by entrepreneurs with unique market perspectives who draw on knowledge from more distant domains. We will show you the design for a novel agent-based model of new venture creation that will demonstrate the relationship between agglomeration and action. The primary focus of this model is information exchange as the medium for these agent interactions. Our modeling and simulation study proposes to reveal interesting relationships in these perspectives, offer a foundation on which these disparate theories from economics and sociology can find common ground, and expand the use of agent-based modeling into entrepreneurship research

Identification of proteins in the postsynaptic density fraction by mass spectrometry

Our understanding of the organization of postsynaptic signaling systems at excitatory synapses has been aided by the identification of proteins in the postsynaptic density (PSD) fraction, a subcellular fraction enriched in structures with the morphology of PSDs. In this study, we have completed the identification of most major proteins in the PSD fraction with the use of an analytical method based on mass spectrometry coupled with searching of the protein sequence databases. At least one protein in each of 26 prominent protein bands from the PSD fraction has now been identified. We found 7 proteins not previously known to be constituents of the PSD fraction and 24 that had previously been associated with the PSD by other methods. The newly identified proteins include the heavy chain of myosin-Va (dilute myosin), a motor protein thought to be involved in vesicle trafficking, and the mammalian homolog of the yeast septin protein cdc10, which is important for bud formation in yeast. Both myosin-Va and cdc10 are threefold to fivefold enriched in the PSD fraction over brain homogenates. Immunocytochemical localization of myosin-Va in cultured hippocampal neurons shows that it partially colocalizes with PSD-95 at synapses and is also diffusely localized in cell bodies, dendrites, and axons. Cdc10 has a punctate distribution in cell bodies and dendrites, with some of the puncta colocalizing with PSD-95. The results support a role for myosin-Va in transport of materials into spines and for septins in the formation or maintenance of spines

Recession and its affect on the Las Vegas hospitality industry

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the recession which began in 2007, and to study its causes, effects, and some attempted solutions through data analysis, academic literature review, public financial reporting, stock information and other news sources. Two major strip companies will be researched; Las Vegas Sands and MGM Grand, as well as a local’s company; Station Casinos. This information will be presented in a case study format that will be available as a learning tool for future hospitality leaders

Preventive and Protective Properties of Pertussis Vaccines: Current Situation and Future Challenges

Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, is a potentially fatal respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. Two different types of vaccines provide effective protection: killed whole-cell vaccines (wPV) and more recently available acellular vaccines (aPVs) formulated with specific components. Disturbingly, while the vaccines are widely used, the incidence of disease is increasing in several developed countries that have switched from wPV to an aPV. It is suggested that the single most important underlying cause suggested for the resurgence is transmission through asymptomatic infections. While both vaccines protect against disease, a newly developed baboon model has shown that they do not prevent infection. Importantly, wPV-vaccinated animals appeared to clear an infection more rapidly than those vaccinated with aPV, which can relate to the period of possible disease transmission. To ultimately control whooping cough, it is clear that a more effective vaccine is needed that can prevent both disease and transmission. Modifications underway include the elimination of LPS from wPVs to improve their safety profiles and augmentation of aPVs with other bacterium proteins to increase immunogenicity and the longevity of protection. In the interim, vaccinations with aPV during pregnancy appear to protect newborns, the most susceptible to deadly pertussis

Emerging Methods for Use of Real-World Clinical Data for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research

Title from PDF of title page, viewed September 14, 2022Dissertation advisors: Kim G. Smolderen and John A. SpertusVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 71-77)Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Department of Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2021The purpose of this dissertation is to describe methods for use of real-world data resources to study quality of care and outcomes for patients with critical limb ischemia. We used the Cerner Health Facts de-identified EHR database to 1) exclude patient records except those with critical limb ischemia from clinical sites in the Health Facts database, 2) document variability in patient outcomes after critical limb ischemia care, and 3) document variability in evidence-based medical therapy for the treatment of critical limb ischemia. We derived a data mart from the Health Facts database and identified 31,490 unique patients seen in 79,359 unique encounters at 233 unique clinical sites in the Health Facts database between 2010 and 2017. Of these, 20,204 encounters included endovascular peripheral vascular intervention. Within 30 days of the intervention, 2.8% of patient encounters resulted in a major amputation. We documented the association of modifiable patient factors with 30-day amputation and significant variation in 30-day amputation rates at the clinical site level. In addition to procedural quality outcomes, we examined rates of guideline directed medical therapy—medications indicated to reduce risk of adverse outcomes in all patients with critical limb ischemia. Only 27.2% of patient encounters documented complete medical therapy while 72.4% documented some component of therapy. As with 30-day amputation outcomes, rates of the medical therapy quality metric varied widely between sites with a median rate of 38.2% and interquartile range of 16.3-60.1%. This work demonstrates the use of a national, EHR database for cardiovascular outcomes research. We documented 30-day amputation outcomes after peripheral vascular intervention--a metric of CLI treatment outcomes. We also documented quality of care—guideline directed medical therapy—surrounding an inpatient encounter for CLI. We documented site variability for both treatment outcomes and quality of care to inform future quality improvement work in the treatment of CLI nationally.General introduction -- Aim 1: Methods for identifying clinical sites with comprehensive data for cardiovascular outcomes research in a national electronic health record database -- Aim 2A: Variability in 30-day major amputation rates following endovascular peripheral vascular intervention for critical limb Ischemia -- Aim 2B: Rates of guideline directed medical therapy in patients with critical limb Ischemia and major amputation -- Assessing patient preferences for shared decision-making in peripheral artery disease -- General discussio

Decisional Conflict in Peripheral Arterial Disease: Association with Treatment Choice and Health Status

Title from PDF of title page viewed June 6, 2017Thesis advisor: Kim SmolderenVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 42-45)Thesis (M.S.)--School of Medicine. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2017Background: Symptom relief in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can be obtained by invasive options such as endovascular stenting as well as exercise, and PAD medications. Each of these options have their own risks and benefits. A lack of knowledge about treatment options, risks and benefits, and how these matter to the patient, as well as a lack of support relating to treatment decisions can result in decisional conflict. We aimed to (1) document decisional conflict in patients facing PAD treatment decisions; (2) examine site variability in decisional conflict; and (3) examine whether decisional conflict is associated with PAD treatment strategy and 1-year health status outcomes. Methods: The PORTRAIT study is an observational prospective study that enrolled patients with new or an exacerbation of PAD symptoms from 16 PAD specialty clinics in the US, the Netherlands, and Australia. Patients were interviewed before they underwent PAD treatments to document their socio-economic background and their health status (Peripheral Artery Questionnaire – PAQ). Medical history was abstracted from the medical records. At 3 months, treatment information and decisional conflict (yes/no – 4-item SURE instrument) information was collected from the patient. One-year follow-up health status information was collected by phone interview. Median odds ratios were calculated to quantify the level of site variability. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to examine the association between decisional conflict and primary PAD treatment strategy (invasive vs. non-invasive). A multivariable linear regression model was built to examine the association between decisional conflict and 1-year PAQ summary scores, while adjusting for baseline PAQ summary scores. Results: The unadjusted median odds ratio (MOR) for site variability was 2.01 (95% CI 1.56-3.13; p<0.001), after adjusting for country, the MOR was 1.12 (95% CI 1.00-1.46; p=0.35). After adjustment for site and relevant patient covariates, decisional conflict was associated with lower odds of receiving invasive treatment (OR=0.58; 95% CI 0.34-1.00; p=0.050). Decisional conflict was also associated with lower 1-year health status gains for the PAQ summary score (adjusted B=-4.72; 95% CI -9.38;-0.06; p=0.047), even adjusting for primary PAD treatment strategy. Conclusion: One in five patients facing PAD treatment decisions experience decisional conflict. While there is considerable variation for the occurrence of decisional conflict, it is more common among non-US countries. As compared with patients who do not experience decisional conflict, those reporting conflict are more often managed non-invasively and experience lesser 1-year health status gains, not entirely explained by the primary PAD treatment modality. Increasing knowledge and support for non-invasive PAD treatment options may be ways to reduce decisional conflict in PAD.Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Discussio

A Pleistocene Clone of Palmer's Oak Persisting in Southern California

BACKGROUND: The distribution of Palmer's oak (Quercus palmeri Engelm.) includes numerous isolated populations that are presumably relicts of a formerly larger range that has contracted due to spreading aridity following the end of the Pleistocene. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We investigated a recently discovered disjunct population of Palmer's oak in the Jurupa Mountains of Riverside County, California. Patterns of allozyme polymorphism, morphological homogeneity, widespread fruit abortion, and evidence of fire resprouting all strongly support the hypothesis that the population is a single clone. The size of the clone and estimates of annual growth from multiple populations lead us to conclude that the clone is in excess of 13,000 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The ancient age of the clone implies it originated during the Pleistocene and is a relict of a vanished vegetation community. Range contraction after climate change best explains the modern disjunct distribution of Q. palmeri and perhaps other plants in California