Background: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a component of childhood nephrotic syndrome occurring in 10%-20% of all cases. Over time, 25%-50% of children with FSGS develop kidney failure disease. We followed a cohort of children with FSGS in order to delineate the risk profile of progression to kidney failure (KF). Methods: We evaluated patient data collected from 1977 to 2002 at a regional mid-Atlantic nephrology center in the United States. KF was defined primarily for those patients whose serum creatinine (SCr) value doubled compared with the SCr value from a previous visit. Patients who received dialysis or a kidney transplant were also defined as having KF. We analyzed patient data for those who had at least two visits with SCr values recorded. Various baseline characteristics of patients who had developed KF and those with no kidney failure (NKF) were compared. Hazard ratios and correlation were used to further investigate potential risk factors of the kidney failure. We also compared the inverse SCr trend for KF and NKF patients using weighted linear regression. Results: Thirty-four of 43 FSGS patients had adequate follow-up data. About 60% of the patients developed KF over the study period. The average age of the KF patients at diagnosis of FSGS was 9 years, and that of NKF patients 12 years (P=0.05). FSGS patients with KF had a significantly higher mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at baseline, compared to those with NKF (P<0.0001). Other baseline characteristics including race, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, urinary protein/creatinine ratio and calculated glomerular filtration rate (cGFR) were not significantly different. Baseline DBP was a significant risk factor in progression to KF (HR: 1.03; 95%CI: 1.01-1.06). Inverse SCr values were significantly decreased over time in KF patients (P=0.01). Conclusions: The data of this study indicate that children diagnosed with FSGS who are younger than 10 years and have elevated baseline DBP are more likely to develop kidney failure. The non-significant hazard ratios for other baseline characteristics including gender, race, and BMI are not instrumental risk factors. These results may help understand what may affect progression towards kidney failure in children with FSGS.

Hazardous winds, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, have a great impact on civil engineering structures and cause significant social and economic disturbances. The wind speed and pressure tested in the conventional wind tunnel experiments are much smaller than the actual wind speed and pressure measured in the field. Therefore, the Wind-induced Damage Simulator (WDS) was constructed at the University of Ottawa to overcome the wind speed limitations of wind tunnels and to simulate different types of wind speed profiles. WDS is an isolated cubic box with dimensions 3.65m x3.65 m and 3.0 m height, with multiple inlets on the side faces of the testing chamber and an outlet on the top side. This unique equipment creates a controlled environment for studying wind speed profiles in a confined space, by regulating the air flow with the aid of an attached industrial blower. To measure the simulated wind velocities inside the WDS and to obtain the wind speed profile in the testing chamber, Aeroprobe (12- Hole Probe) sensor was used for different combinations of opened inlets and at four different locations. The data collected from the Aeroprobe was processed by the use of the Aeroflow 2.7.5.7346 software, to get the velocity of wind in three different directions (u, v and w) and the mean velocity at a single point. After determining the mean velocity at different heights and RPM values at all four positions, Matlab software was used to determine the wind profile and the spectra of the turbulence intensities and these were compared for different heights at the four investigated locations and for various rotations per minute (RPM) values (400 to 800 RPM) for controlling the blower. Once the flow characterization was completed, the wind-induced pressure for three models of the Silsoe Cube were measured as a part of the second phase of the test. The current experiment employed 3 different scales of Silsoe cube: 1:40, 1:30 and 1:20, while the pressure coefficients were determined at 16 different points along a vertical line crossing the faces of the cube. A pressure taps system with 16 channels and a Scanivale pressure scanner were used to measure the pressure at 16 different positions on the cube. Matlab software was used to determine the pressure coefficients from the data measured by pressure taps. The pressure coefficienst for the Silsoe Cube were plotted and compared for the three different scales. Also, for determining the best scale to be used in future experiments. The pressure coefficients of the 3 different scaled model of Silsoe Cubes was compared with full-scale data reported in the literature for the same structure. Based on the results obtained from the experiments, recommendations for the best location in the testing chamber for the future experiments employing the WDS were formulated.

Travel and tourism marketers face a highly competitive environment brought on by the changing demographics of the U.S. population, the most significant change being the growth in size of the mature segment of the population. In terms of market size, there are currently 73 million people age 50 and older, comprising nearly one-fourth of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau 2000). That number is expected to rise to 96 million by 2010, representing one-third of the population (Rasmusson 2000). A swelling population is not the only enticement that this age group offers. It is important to note that many mature consumers have deep pockets and a strong desire to spend. In fact, they control more than three-quarters of the wealth and one-half of the discretionary income in the nation. It is also estimated that they lay claim to three-fourths of the country's financial assets and boast more than $1 trillion in annual buying power. When all is said and done, this age group accounts for 40 percent of the total consumer demand in the United States (Swartz, 1999). However, even though recognizing the significance of the mature market in terms of their market size and economic potential, little research has been conducted to identify and understand the mature travelers who use the Internet.The main purpose of this study is to profile mature travelers on the basis of Internet use. More specifically, the intention is to examine the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of mature travelers who use the Internet compared to those who do not use the Internet. In addition, the purpose of the present study is to examine whether or not differences exist between Internet users and Internet non-users among mature travelers with respect to travel behavior. Attention is paid to investigate types of trip selected, the preferred activities participated in during the travel, length of stay, travel-related expenditures, type of lodging, type of transportation, number in the travel party, and type of travel party in explaining the differences between Internet users and Internet non-users of the mature market.Data were collected by utilizing a mailed questionnaire. 433 responses (23.44 percent of the total target population) were coded and used for data analysis. Data were analyzed by employing three types of data analysis: chi-square tests of independence; t-tests; and multiple discriminant analysis.The findings in the present study suggest that there are numerous differences in demographics, socio-economic characteristics, and travel characteristics between Internet users and Internet non-users among mature travelers. As a whole, for example, the results revealed that mature travelers who use the Internet were more likely to be younger, have higher annual household incomes, and have higher levels of education than mature travelers who do not use the Internet. Also, the results indicated that mature travelers who are still working are more likely to use the Internet than those who are not working. By understanding and utilizing information gathered from Internet users' and Internet non-users' demographics, socio-economic characteristics, and travel characteristics, tourism planners and marketers can develop appropriate and effective marketing strategies that appeal to mature travelers. / Master of Science

Antennas in hand-held radios must be compact and unobtrusive. Electrically small and low-profile antennas experience high input reactance, low input resistance, and low radiation efficiency.Further degradation of radiation efficiency occurs in hand-held radios due to size-reduced ground planes, losses within the plastic device casing, and losses due to coupling with the tissue of the user. These factors may also affect the radiation pattern of the antenna. This discussion reports on antenna designs that are well suited for hand-held radios. The design issues are covered for electrically small antennas and the hand-held environment. A review of Microstrip Antenna (MSA) theory, and the theory of the Inverted-L Antenna (ILA), and variations on the ILA including the Inverted-F Antenna (IFA), Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA), and Dual Inverted-F Antenna (DIFA) is included. Two specific antenna designs are presented: the DIFA and the Proximity-Coupled Rectangular Patch MSA. The radiation patterns and input impedance of the DIFA are calculated numerically and measured empirically. The Proximity-Coupled Rectangular Patch Microstrip Antenna is treated numerically. / Master of Science

Aboard the International Space Station, potable water will likely be produced from recycled wastewater. The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) plans to use iodine as a disinfectant, and, consequently, the formation of iodinated disinfection by-products (IDBPs) requires investigation. Objectives of this research were to determine possible precursors of IDBPs, identify IDBPs formed, and apply flavor profile analysis (FPA) as a tool to evaluate water qaulity. Experiments were performed by separately reacting iodine with each of the following organic compounds: methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, acetone, and formaldehyde. NASA previously identified all of these compounds in wastewater sources under consideration for recycling into potable water. Experiments were performed at pH 5.5 and 8, iodine concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/L, and organic concentrations of 5 and 50 mg/L. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to identify and monitor the concentrations of organic species. Spectrophotometry was used to monitor the iodine concentration. Acetone was the only compound identified as an IDBP precursor and it reacted to produce iodoacetone and iodoform. Concentrations of iodoform from 0.34 mg/L to 8.637 mg/L were produced at conditions that included each pH level, iodine concentration, and acetone concentration. The greatest iodoform concentration was produced at pH 8 from 50 mg/L of iodine and acetone. FPA indicated that the odor threshold concentration (OTC) of iodoform was 1.5 ug/L, and the OTC of iodine was 500 ug/L. Both iodine and iodoform have medicinal odors, making it difficult to distinguish each compound when present in a mixture. / Master of Science

Over the first half of the present study the Mini-Mult (MM1), a brief form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), was compared with the standard MMPI in relation to eleven criteria classifications. These criteria were composed of the profile analysis classifications of Marks and Seeman (1963). Pearson product-moment correlations between the MM1 and MMPI failed to reach statistical significance for any of the eleven criteria. As based on the information gained, a correction factor was devised and added to the MM1. Subsequently, the second half of the study involved a comparison between the HMPI and the revised MM. This revised test was termed the MM2. In only two of eleven criteria cases did the correlation between the MM2 and MMPI reach statistical significance. However, for nine of the eleven criteria the MM2 did obtain a higher positive correlation with the MMPI than did the MM1. Such results indicate that the proposed correction factor is a step in the right direction and deserving of continued investigation. Although the MM2 as it presently stands cannot be validy substituted for the MMPI, continued research in the area of modifying its correction factor can yield it a useful clinical tool.

Soil classification in this country is based on the system proposed by Marbut in 1920 (2). This system uses eight criteria, one of which is the chemical composition of the soil horizons. Workers in the field of soil survey are depending more and more upon laboratory data to characterize and differentiate soils not only at the series level but also at higher levels of classification where it may be necessary to establish the presence or absence of critical horizons or characteristics. This was predicted by Robinson (16) when he said that laboratory analysis is needed to give "precise physical meaning to field descriptions" and that the importance of laboratory data increases as the classification of soils becomes more minute

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the consumer characteristics of boaters in Utah and Idaho. This has entailed a descriptive analysis of boater's socio-economic profiles, facilities and equipment, preferences and attitudes, and activity patterns. Concomitantly a test of the hypothesis that boating is not a homogenous recreational activity was attempted. Two statistical analyses were carried out. The first test was to determine whether the profiles of boaters having different activity specialities differed. This was accomplished by finding the means of selected boater characteristics (i.e., income, children, length of boat) for each boating speciality. The L.S.D. multiple means comparison test was then used to determine if a statistically significant difference existed between the means of each activity. The second test determined whether the effect of selected boater characteristics on activity levels was the same when regressed on the three dependent variables of hours fishing, hours skiing, and hours pleasure boating. Boaters were found to have higher incomes, more education and higher percentages of household heads working in the highest paying professional, technical, and managerial occupations. The results of the multiple mean and regression analysis support the hypothesis that boaters specialyzing in the different boating activities are not homogeneous. Boaters specializing in water skiing, pleasure boating and fishing were found to take different types of boating trips, have different socioeconomic levels, and own different kinds of boating equipment. Fishermen were the most divergent group. They took fewer trips but raveled longer distances than skiing enthusiasts. Fishermen were found to own smaller boats with less horsepower. Boaters specializing in fishing were also found to have lower socioeconomic levels.

No description available.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Understanding the operating profile of different heavy-duty vehicles is needed by parts manufacturers for improved configuration and better future design of the parts. This study investigates the use of a tournament classification approach for both vocation and fleet identi- fication. The proposed approach is implemented using four different classification techniques, namely, K-Means, Expectation Maximization, Particle Swarm Optimization, and Support Vector Machines. Vocations classifiers are developed and tested for six different vocations ranging from coach buses to rail inspection vehicles. Operational field data are obtained from a number of vehicles for each vocation and aggregated over a pre-set distance that varies according to the data collection rate. In addition, fleet classifiers are implemented for five fleets from the coach bus vocation using a similar approach. The results indicate that both vocation and fleet identification are possible with a high level of accuracy. The macro average precision and recall of the SVM vocation classifier are approximately 85%. This result was achieved despite the fact that each vocation consisted of multiple fleets. The macro average precision and recall of the coach bus fleet classifier are approximately 77% even though some fleets had similar operating profiles. These results suggest that the proposed classifier can help support vocation and fleet identification in practice.