Buffalo Outer Harbor Quays

Buffalo, a once prominent American city hit by hard times, has the opportunity to rebuild. It has industrial resources and transport options. It has a booming education system and medical business. Its technology sector is rapidly expanding. The city has a chance right now to create new glory days. This project is about transforming a forgotten piece of land, a large swath of man-made waterfront that since the fall of Bethlehem Steel has been nothing more than equipment storage, on arguably the best portion of the city’s waterfront. Combining heavy industry, shipping, living, working, and waterfront recreation into one new city district will expand the city to the waterfront and bring new life to this city that continues to hope

Retain or Rotate: Outcomes of Frequent Auditor Switching

Regulators continue to debate the effectiveness of mandatory auditor rotation versus mandatory auditor retention in improving audit quality. Recent regulation in the European Union mandates auditor rotation, but if companies choose a more-lenient auditor with each switch, frequent switching could impair audit quality. I examine whether more-frequent switching leads to an increase in aggressive reporting and evaluate its effect on audit quality and audit attention. I find that audit quality decreases as the number of switches increases, with the results being driven mainly by switches between non-Big 4 audit firms. I also find that frequently switching between non-Big 4 auditors is accompanied by higher fees, longer audit opinion delays, and a higher probability of filing late. In contrast, frequent switching among Big 4 firms is associated with lower fees, suggesting the presence of price cutting. In additional analyses, I find no evidence of opinion shopping among non-Big 4 firms but find that opinion shopping may be occurring among Big 4 firms to prevent internal control material weakness opinions. Collectively, my findings suggest that mandated auditor rotation may negatively impact audit market efficiency

Story & Style: Pursuing Excellence on the Academic Stage

The following thesis is a brief view of the 2017-2018 production of Marco Ramirez’s contemporary play The Royale, as produced by Theatre UNO, the theatre production arm of the University of New Orleans’ Department of Film & Theatre. This thesis will include initial responses, analysis, interpretation, production synthesis and communication, and reflection with conclusions on performance, directing, and pedagogy in academic theatre. This thesis is supported by documentation of the production process, including a scored script. The play was performed in New Orleans, Louisiana at the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center’s Robert E. Nims Theatre, November 9-19, 2017; the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center’s Soundstage, February 17, 2018; and in San Angelo, Texas at the Angelo State University’s Auditorium Theater, twice on March 2, 2018, as part of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region VI (KCACTF VI)

THE IMPACT OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON PERIPHERAL VASCULAR FUNCTION

The physiological manifestations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with an increase in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of negative lifestyle factors. Peripheral vascular dysfunction may be a mechanism by which PTSD increases CVD risk via increases in oxidative stress, inflammation, and/or sympathetic nervous system activity. PURPOSE: This study sought to examine peripheral vascular function in those with PTSD compared to age-matched controls. METHODS: Eight individuals with PTSD (5 women, 3 men; age 22 ± 2 years), and sixteen healthy controls (CON; 10 women, 6 men, 23 ± 2 years), participated in the study. Leg vascular function was assessed via passive leg movement (PLM) technique and evaluated with Doppler ultrasonography. PLM-induced increases in leg blood flow were quantified as peak change in blood flow from baseline (ΔPeak LBF) and blood flow area under the curve (LBF AUC). RESULTS: Significant differences in leg vascular function were revealed between groups. The PTSD group reported significantly lower ΔPeak LBF (PTSD: 294.16 ± 54.16; CON: 594.78 ± 73.70 ml∙min-1; p = 0.01) and LBF AUC (PTSD: 57.23 ± 24.37; CON: 169.92 ± 29.84 ml; p = 0.02) when compared to the CON group. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that lower limb vascular function is impaired in individuals with PTSD when compared to healthy counterparts.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1043/thumbnail.jp

Story & Style: Pursuing Excellence on the Academic Stage

The following thesis is a brief view of the 2017-2018 production of Marco Ramirez’s contemporary play The Royale, as produced by Theatre UNO, the theatre production arm of the University of New Orleans’ Department of Film & Theatre. This thesis will include initial responses, analysis, interpretation, production synthesis and communication, and reflection with conclusions on performance, directing, and pedagogy in academic theatre. This thesis is supported by documentation of the production process, including a scored script. The play was performed in New Orleans, Louisiana at the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center’s Robert E. Nims Theatre, November 9-19, 2017; the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center’s Soundstage, February 17, 2018; and in San Angelo, Texas at the Angelo State University’s Auditorium Theater, twice on March 2, 2018, as part of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region VI (KCACTF VI)

Analysis of Rawinsonde Spatial Separation for Space Launch Vehicle Applications at the Eastern Range

Space launch vehicles develop day-of-launch steering commands based upon the upper-level atmospheric environments in order to alleviate wind induced structural loading and optimize ascent trajectory. Historically, upper-level wind measurements to support launch operations at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Kennedy Space Center co-located on the United States Air Force's Eastern Range (ER) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station use high-resolution rawinsondes. One inherent limitation with rawinsondes consists of taking approximately one hour to generate a vertically complete wind profile. Additionally, rawinsonde drift during ascent by the ambient wind environment can result in the balloon being hundreds of kilometers down range, which results in questioning whether the measured winds represent the wind environment the vehicle will experience during ascent. This paper will describe the use of balloon profile databases to statistically assess the drift distance away from the ER launch complexes during rawinsonde ascent as a function of season and discuss an alternative method to measure upper level wind environments in closer proximity to the vehicle trajectory launching from the ER

On the Development of the Artillery Flight Characterization Electronics Rescue Kit

21st AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference and Seminar, 23 - 26 May 2011, Dublin, IrelandThis paper investigates a prospective avionics suite rescue kit to salvage some of the state-of-the-art electronics in the data-collecting fuze system employed on an artillery projectile. A single-use data collection fuze is currently in use by the Army that relays sensor measurements for the purpose of characterizing the flight of an artillery projectile. The goal of the present study is to develop a parachute/parafoil-based system to be deployed automatically at apogee, so that the ! Reuse-Fuze" becomes separated from the body of the artillery shell and safely recovered. The paper presents the overall design of the Reuse-Fuze system, including the release mechanism, deceleration system, and impact survivability considerations. The successful design of a recoverable and reusable fuze-shaped data collection system will allow the Army to conduct repeated artillery testing without increasing the cost of expensive electronics hardware