Mining for Culture: Reaching Out of Range

The goal of this paper is to present a tool that will sustain the development of culturally relevant computing artifacts by providing an effective means of detecting culture identities and cultures of participation. Culturally relevant designs rely heavily on how culture impacts design and though the guidelines for producing culturally relevant objects provide a mechanism for incorporating culture in the design, there still requires an effective method for garnering and identifying said cultures that reflects a holistic view of the target audience. This tool presents culturally relevant designs as a process of communicating with key audiences and thus bridging people and technology in a way that once seemed out of range

Testing of New Bridge Rail and Transition Designs, Volume VII: Appendix F, 32-in (813-mm) F-Shape Bridge Railing

DTFH61-86-C-00071The 32-in. (813-mm) F-shape concrete parapet is similar to the New Jersey safety shape. The F-shape was designed and tested to performance level two of the 1989 AASHTO Guide Specifications for Bridge Railings and acceptable performance was obtained. Computed ultimate strength of the railing with the steel reinforcement used was 59 kips (263 kN)

Testing of New Bridge Rail and Transition Designs, Volume III: Appendix B, BR27D Bridge Railing

DTFH61-86-C-00071A combination concrete parapet and metal railing for performance level one of the 1989 AASHTO Guide Specifications for Bridge Railings was designed and tested while mounted both on a sidewalk and flush on the deck. The upper portion of the railing permits some visibility through the railing while the 42-in. (1.07-m) height is provided for pedestrians. Acceptable performance was demonstrated in the tests

Testing of New Bridge Rail and Transition Design, Volume XII: Appendix K, Oregon Transition

DTFH61-86-C-00071A transition for the Oregon side-mounted thrie-beam bridge railing was developed and tested to performance level one of the 1989 AASHTO Guide Specifications for Bridge Railings. Acceptable performance of the transition was demonstrated. Post spacing in the transition area is 3 ft 1 1/2 in. (953 mm). A 12 ft 6 in. (3.81 m) length of thrie-beam which curves behind the guardrail post on the approach end is used in the transition

Testing of New Bridges Rail and Transition Designs, Volume V: Appendix D, 32-in (813-mm) Concrete Parapet Bridge Riling

DTFH61-86-C-00071The 32-in. (813-mm) concrete parapet has a flat vertical traffic face with a thickened section along the top. The flat vertical face serves to smoothly redirect vehicles without imparting upward force on the vehicle. It was designed and tested to performance level two of the 1989 AASHTO Guide Specifications for Bridge Railings. Acceptable performance was demonstrated

Testing of New Bridge Rail and Transition Designs, Volume XI: Appendix J, 42-in (1.07-m) F-Shape Bridge Railing

DTFH61-86-C-00071A 42-in. (1.07-m) high F-shape concrete parapet bridge railing was designed and tested to performance level three of the 1989 AASHTO Guide Specifications for Bridge Railings. The parapet has a thickened section along the top to stiffen the top edge and enhance longitudinal distribution of the load. It was mounted on a 10-in. (254-mm) simulated bridge deck overhang. Acceptable performance of the parapet was demonstrated

Imaging-based clusters in current smokers of the COPD cohort associate with clinical characteristics: the SubPopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS)

Background Classification of COPD is usually based on the severity of airflow, which may not sensitively differentiate subpopulations. Using a multiscale imaging-based cluster analysis (MICA), we aim to identify subpopulations for current smokers with COPD. Methods Among the SPIROMICS subjects, we analyzed computed tomography images at total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV) of 284 current smokers. Functional variables were derived from registration of TLC and RV images, e.g. functional small airways disease (fSAD%). Structural variables were assessed at TLC images, e.g. emphysema and airway wall thickness and diameter. We employed an unsupervised method for clustering. Results Four clusters were identified. Cluster 1 had relatively normal airway structures; Cluster 2 had an increase of fSAD% and wall thickness; Cluster 3 exhibited a further increase of fSAD% but a decrease of wall thickness and airway diameter; Cluster 4 had a significant increase of fSAD% and emphysema. Clinically, Cluster 1 showed normal FEV1/FVC and low exacerbations. Cluster 4 showed relatively low FEV1/FVC and high exacerbations. While Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 showed similar exacerbations, Cluster 2 had the highest BMI among all clusters. Conclusions Association of imaging-based clusters with existing clinical metrics suggests the sensitivity of MICA in differentiating subpopulations