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The Economic History of Denton County, Texas, 1900-1950
"In the first fifty years of the twentieth century, Denton County's chief asset was the fertility of its land. Today the county's main asset is still its land but for a different reason. As industry decentralizes, as the city populace searches for new areas of settlement, as the county's educational institutions expand, as investors look for new tracts of land, as builders construct large interstate highways, and as digging machines create lakes and recreational areas, the principal asset of the county becomes the non-agrarian utility of its land. Accompanying this land value shift has been an occupational change."-- leaf 103
A History of the Upper Guinea Coast, 1545-1800
This thesis is concerned with the relatively small section
of the West African coast between the Gambia and Cape Mount, It seeks to reconstruct a picture of that society in the mid-sixteenth century, while it was still free of profound European influence. Such a picture provides the indispensable basis for analysing the impact of external forces on the narrow coastal strip, being used to embrace not only the Europeans but also influences from the hinterland and adjacent coastal areas.
In 1545 Sierra Leone (the southern portion of the Upper
Guinea Coast) was subjected to invasions from Africans who were
called 'Manesâ. This is the starting point of the study of the
external forces (Ch.Il), and the purely African influences are
treated once more in Ch. IX. However, it is the presence of the
Portuguese (Ch.IIl) and other European traders, which is the external factor most in evidence; and the European association with the Upper Guinea Coast was based largely on the development of the Atlantic slave trade. This latter topic is treated in Chs. IV and X, while Ch. VI; deals with African products other than slaves. European rivalries as such constitute a very minor theme (as treated in Ch. V), for the aim has been to portray European activity in this region only in relationship to the African rulers, African peoples and African polities. Owing to the great differences in European and African culture, and owing to the potency and viciousness of the Atlantic slave trade, the Afro European relationship incorporated violent contradictions, which resolved themselves to the detriment of the society of the Upper Guinea Coast, By 1800, the littoral society was overwhelmed both from the landward and the seaward side by forces set in motion by the Atlantic slave trade
Selecting and Testing Cryptogam Species for Use in Wetland Delineation in Alaska
To support the determination of hydrophytic vegetation in wetland delineations in Alaska, USA, a series of tests were conducted to develop a group of âtest positiveâ species to be used in a âcryptogam indicator.â In 2004, non-vascular cryptogam species (bryophytes, lichens, and fungi) from Interior and South-Central Alaska in the vicinities of Fairbanks and Anchorage were collected at a series of ten 50 Ă 50 cm plots along two 30 m transects in each of six upland and five wetland sites. Nineteen moss and liverwort species were selected from 86 species surveyed to test for wetland fidelity. In 2005, a plot-based analysis of frequency and cover data yielded a revised list of 17 bryophyte species that were specific to wetland communities dominated by black spruce, Picea mariana (P. Mill.) B.S.P. Fungi and lichens were found to be inadequate wetland indicators in the sampled locations because the lichen species were sparsely distributed and the fungi were too ephemeral. The cryptogam indicator was thus restricted to bryophytes. Also in 2005, bryophytes were analyzed for their presence on microtopographic positions within the landscape, including tops of hummocks and hollows at the bases of hummocks. Upland bryophyte species were found on hummock tops inside the wetland boundary, but were not abundant in the hollows (p < 0.05). The fidelity of the species selected for use in the cryptogam indicator was tested. It was determined that if more than 50% of all bryophyte cover present in hollows is composed of one or more of the 17 wetland bryophytes tested in 2005, then vascular vegetation can be considered to be hydrophytic (p < 0.001).Afin dâĂ©tayer la prĂ©sence de vĂ©gĂ©tation hydrophytique dans les dĂ©limitations de zones humides de lâAlaska, aux Ătats-Unis, une sĂ©rie de tests a Ă©tĂ© effectuĂ©e dans le but dâaboutir Ă un groupe dâespĂšces « de test positives » Ă utiliser avec un « indicateur de sporophyte ». En 2004, des espĂšces de sporophytes non vasculaires (bryophytes, lichens et champignons) de lâintĂ©rieur et du centre-sud de lâAlaska, aux environs de Fairbanks et dâAnchorage, ont Ă©tĂ© recueillies Ă une sĂ©rie de dix parcelles de 50 sur 50 cm le long de deux transects de 30 m dans chacun de six sites montagnards et de cinq sites humides. Dix-neuf espĂšces de mousse et dâhĂ©patiques ont Ă©tĂ© choisies Ă partir de 86 espĂšces prĂ©levĂ©es dans le but dâen dĂ©terminer la fidĂ©litĂ© aux zones humides. En 2005, une analyse de frĂ©quence de parcelles et des donnĂ©es de couverture ont permis dâobtenir la liste rĂ©visĂ©e de 17 espĂšces de bryophytes propres aux zones humides dominĂ©es par lâĂ©pinette noire, Picea mariana (P. Mill.) B.S.P. Nous avons constatĂ© que les champignons et les lichens Ă©taient des indicateurs de zones humides inadĂ©quats aux sites Ă©chantillonnĂ©s parce que les espĂšces de lichen Ă©taient rĂ©parties maigrement et que les champignons Ă©taient trop Ă©phĂ©mĂšres. Par consĂ©quent, lâindicateur de sporophytes a Ă©tĂ© restreint aux bryophytes. Ăgalement en 2005, nous avons analysĂ© les bryophytes afin dâen dĂ©terminer la prĂ©sence Ă des positions microtopographiques du paysage, ce qui comprenait le sommet de hummocks et les creux Ă la base de hummocks. Des espĂšces de bryophytes montagnardes ont Ă©tĂ© dĂ©celĂ©es aux sommets de hummocks Ă lâintĂ©rieur de la limite des zones humides, mais celles-ci nâabondaient pas dans les creux (p < 0.05). La fidĂ©litĂ© des espĂšces choisies afin dâĂȘtre utilisĂ©es dans lâindicateur de sporophytes a Ă©tĂ© testĂ©e. Nous avons dĂ©terminĂ© que si plus de 50 % de toute la couverture de bryophyte prĂ©sente dans les creux est composĂ©e de lâune ou plusieurs des 17 bryophytes de zones humides testĂ©es en 2005, la vĂ©gĂ©tation vasculaire peut alors ĂȘtre considĂ©rĂ©e comme hydrophytique (p < 0,001)
Cardiac resynchronization therapy restores optimal atrioventricular mechanical timing in heart failure patients with ventricular conduction delay
AbstractObjectivesWe characterized the relationship between systolic ventricular function and left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in patients with heart failure (HF) and baseline asynchrony during ventricular stimulation.BackgroundThe role of preload in the systolic performance improvement that can be obtained in HF patients with LV stimulation is uncertain.MethodsWe measured the maximum rate of increase of LV pressure, LVEDP, aortic pulse pressure (PP) and the atrioventricular mechanical latency (AVL) between left atrial systole and LV pressure onset in 39 patients with HF. Two subgroups were identified: âresponderâ if PP improved, or ânonresponder.âResultsMaximum hemodynamic improvement occurred at an atrioventricular (AV) delay that did not decrease LVEDP. Left ventricular and biventricular (BV) stimulation increased systolic hemodynamics significantly, despite no significant increase in LVEDP. All parameters decreased when the LVEDP was decreased by shorter AV delay. Left ventricular and BV stimulation provided better hemodynamics than right ventricular (RV) stimulation. For the nonresponder subgroup, systolic hemodynamics only worsened during AV delay shortening. For the responder subgroup, optimum PP was achieved when AVL was near zero.ConclusionsRestoration of optimal left atrial-ventricular mechanical timing partly contributes to the hemodynamic improvements observed in this patient subgroup. However, preload alone cannot explain the differences seen between RV and BV stimulation and the contradictory PP decreases even at maximal preload in the nonresponder subgroup. These results may be explained by a site-dependent mechanism such as the degree of ventricular synchrony. Caution should be taken in these patients when optimizing AV delays using echocardiography techniques that focus on LV inflow
Neuropsychological Testing of Astronauts
The Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) is a computer program that administers a battery of five timed neuro-cognitive tests. WinSCAT was developed to give astronauts an objective and automated means of assessing their cognitive functioning during space flight, as compared with their own baseline performances measured during similar prior testing on the ground. WinSCAT is also intended for use by flight surgeons to assess cognitive impairment after exposure of astronauts to such cognitive assaults as head trauma, decompression sickness, and exposure to toxic gas. The tests were selected from among a group of tests, denoted the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, that were created by the United States Navy and Army for use in evaluating the cognitive impairment of military personnel who have been subjected to medication or are suspected to have sustained brain injuries. These tests have been validated in a variety of clinical settings and are now in the public domain. The tests are presented in a Microsoft Windows shell that facilitates administration and enables immediate reporting of test scores in numerical and graphical forms
Vorinostat in advanced prostate cancer patients progressing on prior chemotherapy (National Cancer Institute Trial 6862)
BACKGROUND: This phase 2 trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of vorinostat in chemotherapy-pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. METHODS: Patients with disease progression on 1 prior chemotherapy, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) â„5 ng/mL, and adequate organ function were treated with 400 mg vorinostat orally daily. The primary endpoint was the 6-month progression rate. Secondary endpoints included safety, rate of PSA decline, objective response, overall survival, and effects of vorinostat on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. RESULTS: Twenty-seven eligible patients were accrued. The median number of cycles delivered was 2 (range, 1-7). All patients were taken off therapy before 6 months. The best objective response in the eligible patient was stable disease in 2 (7%) patients. No PSA decline of â„50% was observed. There was 1 grade 4 adverse event (AE), and 44% of patients experienced grade 3 adverse events. The most common adverse events were fatigue (81%), nausea (74%), anorexia (59%), vomiting (33%), diarrhea (33%), and weight loss (26%). Median time to progression and overall survival were 2.8 and 11.7 months, respectively. Median IL-6 levels (pg/mL) were higher in patients removed from the protocol for toxicity compared with progression at all time points, including baseline (5.2 vs 2.1, P = .02), Day 15 Cycle 1 (9.5 vs 2.2, P = .01), Day 1 Cycle 2 (9.8 vs 2.2, P = .01), and end of study (11.0 vs 2.9, P = .09). CONCLUSIONS: Vorinostat at this dose was associated with significant toxicities limiting efficacy assessment in this patient population. The significant association between IL-6 levels and removal from the study for toxicities warrants further investigation. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/64445/1/24597_ftp.pd
The Test Re-Test Reliability of A Novel Single Leg Hop Test (T-Drill Hop Test)
# Background
Functional training and testing are an important part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program stressing the neuromuscular system in ways that simulate athletic performance to help determine criteria for return to sport. There are numerous single leg hop tests that have been used for these purposes, however, the validity and clinical relevance has been questioned. Many of the functional performance tests assess only the sagittal plane or forward direction and may only partially assess a personâs athletic abilities. There is a need for reliable and valid functional tests to assess in a multi-directional manner.
# Purpose/Hypothesis
The purpose of this study is to determine the test re-test reliability of a novel multi-directional timed single leg hop test (T-Drill Hop Test) for use in rehabilitation and performance assessments.
# Study Design
Cross-sectional reliability study.
# Methods
Fifty healthy recreationally active college age subjects, (23 males and 27 females) between the ages of 18 and 35, (mean age 23.48 with SD 3.82) consented to perform the test. The subjects hopped along a 10ft. x 10ft. âTâ shaped course. Subjects performed two timed maximum effort trials of the T-Drill Hop Test on each leg with an interval of 3-7 days between the two testing days. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) were calculated to determine intersession reliability.
# Results
The inter-rater reliability (ICCâs) for the entire group of 50 subjects ranged between .98 and 1.00 suggesting excellent reliability. The bilateral comparison, utilizing paired t-tests, of the T-Drill Hop Test demonstrated no significant differences between the time scores for the dominant and non-dominant legs for either males or females (p>.05).
# Conclusion
This study demonstrates the T-Drill Hop Test has excellent test re-test reliability. These results are important prior to validation and utilization as a clinical functional performance test.
# Levels of Evidence
Level
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