The Power of Closing Time: Using Library Occupancy Data to Inform Operational Changes

Objectives: To use hourly building occupancy data over the period of 2012-2014 to determine the effect of changes to library hours of operation on building occupancy near and in the hours leading up to closing time. Methods: Data were collected using an automated gate count system at the primary entrance to the library. The system tracked the occupancy of the building by comparing the number of entrances and exits hourly each day. Incremental changes to the library’s hours of operation occurred in the same time period for the years 2012-2014. This time period will be compared year-to-year. We will test whether changes in closing time have a significant effect on mean occupancy rates during each of the three hours leading up to closing. Based on a previous study which examined a smaller, six-week period between 2012-2014, we expect to find that as closing time is extended, building occupancy in the hours preceding closing time increases despite a decrease in occupancy at closing. Results: Mean occupancy during the hour before closing time did not change when closing time was extended from 9 PM to 10PM. When closing time was extended to 12 AM, mean occupancy during the hour before closing decreased. Mean occupancy during the hour ending at 9 PM increased when closing time was extended from 9 PM to 10 PM. Mean occupancy during the hour ending at 10 PM increased when closing time was extended from 10 PM to 12 AM. We plan to also include data from the ongoing Spring semester in the final results. Conclusions: Occupancy near closing decreased as closing time became later. While occupancy near closing decreased somewhat, occupancy earlier in the evening increased as library hours were extended. The benefits of increased library occupancy appear to justify sustaining extended operating hours

CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy in Human and Veterinary Oncology: Changing the Odds Against Hematological Malignancies

International audienceThe advent of the genome editing era brings forth the promise of adoptive cell transfer usingengineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells for targeted cancer therapy. CAR T-cellimmunotherapy is probably one of the most encouraging developments for the treatment ofhematological malignancies. In 2017, two CAR T-cell therapies were approved by the U. S Food andDrug Administration; one for the treatment of pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the otherfor adult patients with advanced lymphomas. However, despite significant progress in the area, CART-cell therapy is still in its early days and faces significant challenges, including the complexity andcosts associated with the technology. B-cell lymphoma is the most common hematopoietic cancer indogs, with an incidence approaching 0.1% and a total of 20-100 cases per 100,000 individuals. It is awidely accepted naturally occurring model for human non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Current treatment iswith combination chemotherapy protocols, which prolong life for less than a year in canines and areassociated with severe dose-limiting side effects, such as gastrointestinal and bone marrow toxicity.To date, one canine study generated CAR T-cells by transfection of mRNA for CAR domainexpression. While this was shown to provide a transient anti-tumor activity, results were modest,indicating that stable, genomic integration of CAR modules is required in order to achieve lastingtherapeutic benefit. This Commentary summarizes the current state of knowledge on CAR T-cellimmunotherapy in human medicine and its potential applications in animal health, while discussingthe potential of the canine model as a translational system for immuno-oncology research

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p<0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (<1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (<1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

The implementation of an operating system for a shared microcomputer environment

An implementation of a multiuser timeshared operating system for the Sycor 440 Clustered Terminal Processing System is described. Utilizing an 8080 microprocessor, this system provides a virtual operating environment consisting of a console device, eight floppy disk drives, and up to 32 virtual floppy disk images on a five megabyte movable-head disk. In addition, a Centronix serial printer is incorporated into the system as a edicated device for any one of up to four concurrent users. The operating system supports utility programs including an editor, assembler, and debugger which facilitate microcomputer program development at the Naval Postgraduate School.http://archive.org/details/implementationof00carrLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Effect of boundary conditions on the damping characteristics of a randomly excited cast nickel-aluminum bronze specimen at low stress levels.

This research examines how various specimen support arrangements affect a material's damping characteristics. The 74 lb. sample studied is cast nickel-aluminum bronze and measures 19.8 x 13.65 x 1 inches. Using previously documented Naval Postgraduate School research, desired random vibration analysis has been verified by impulse hammer techniques. Input excitation is provided by a combination piezoelectric-electromagnetic vibration generator system and response is recorded through the use of piezoelectric accelerometers . The frequency range studied varies from 100 Hertz to 12,500 Hertz. The vibration generator is threaded into the specimen and the accelerometers are attached to the machined surface of the sample with a cyanoacrylate adhesive. Boundary support conditions include various: foam, bolted and shock-chord configurations.http://archive.org/details/effectofboundary00knouLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Issues in the Hiring and Tenuring of Business Faculty Couples: A Survey of Business Department Chairpersons

Stephen B. Knouse is Professor of Management and Administrative Studies, Department of Management and Quantitative Methods at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Larry E. Scheuermann is Professor of Quantitative Methods, Department of Management and Quantitative Methods at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Sandra B. Scheuermann is an Assistant Professor of Accounting, Department of Accounting and Legal Studies at the University of Southwestern Louisiana

The relationship between unit diversity and perceptions of organizational performance in the military

Structural equation modeling techniques are used to examine the relationship between demographic diversity and perceptions of organizational performance in military units. Analyzing data from the Military Equal Opportunity Climate Survey reveals higher female and minority representation reduces females' and minorities' perceptions of organizational effectiveness, respectively. Identical factors appear to influence the perceptions of organizational performance across these two subgroups of employees. The results demonstrate the importance of conducting separate analyses for subgroups in examining the effects of demographic diversity on organizational performance.demographic diversity, military units, organizational performance, structural equation modeling,