Wichita Falls Independent School District

This article is a presentation of the French political philosopher, Pierre Manent’s, thoughts on the ancient Greeks’ original and originating contributions to the dynamism of Western civilization. The discussion focuses on three contributions: the production of “the common,” “a hitherto unknown dimension of human life”; the emergence of philosophy with the discovery of “the universal”; and the practice of political philosophy, which monitored and developed “the civic debate.” With these three innovations, the life of action and of thought received decisive new orientations and tasks that helped define and propel western humanity.

Groundwater and surface water have been the primary sources of our public water supply around the world. However, rapid population and economic growth, as well as global climate change, are posing major threats to the quality and quantity of these water resources. Treated wastewater (reclaimed water) and stormwater are becoming more important water resources. Use/reuse of these unconventional water resources can enable a truly sustainable, closed-loop, circular water system. However, these two sources are not usually mixed with each other. In this study, we propose the use of combined excess urban stormwater and reclaimed water as a source of potable water supply. One of the most pronounced benefits of this proposed scheme is the possible elimination of costly and energy-intensive processes like reverse osmosis. Reclaimed water tends to have high concentrations of dissolved solids (>500 mg/L) and nitrate-N (>10 mg/L), which can be lowered by blending with stormwater or rainwater. Despite technical and engineering challenges, this approach can benefit various communities—small, medium, large, upstream, downstream, urban, and rural—in diverse climates. Our study suggests that this new holistic approach is feasible, enabling the combined water to be directly used as a sustainable drinking water source.

The tiger beetle species, Cicindelidia aeneicollis (Bates 1881) is redescribed, as Bates original description was inadequate and did not accurately capture the character states or variation found within the species. The specific epithet aeneicollis is partially misleading as the proepisternum is mostly aeneous (bronze/copper) with the basal quarter to third being polychromatic, which the description does not convey. Some populations of this species from the western coast of Mexico exhibit significant variation in maculations, with individuals ranging from weakly marked (as in Bates description) to much more extensively marked.

Abstract The City of Wichita Falls’ Cypress Environmental Laboratory developed a comprehensive taste and odor (T&O) monitoring program to identify T&O compounds, their point of origin, and how to mitigate each T&O event to lessen its impact and maintain consumer confidence. In January 2023, a T&O compound was detected in the water system using sensory analysis with a threshold odor number (TON) of 3, guiding further analytical testing to identify for musty compounds. The unknown was confirmed to be 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (2,4,6-TBA) at a maximum of 9.86 ng/L. Its point of origin for production was tracked to a raw water line using chlorine dioxide as a primary disinfectant. Jar tests were performed to confirm that the mode of production was excess free chlorine from the generation of chlorine dioxide in the presence of bromide in raw water. The event was mitigated using powdered activated carbon in clarifiers to adsorb and settle out the compound, resulting in a non-detectable level (a TON of 1 and <5.00 ng/L for 2,4,6-TBA). This paper discusses the unique generation pathway within a full-scale treatment plant and how a monitoring and response program can be used to help detect a T&O event in early stages and aid mitigation processes.

Abstract This study investigates and then develops a conceptual framework explaining the strategic factors responsible for mobile product innovations success in an emerging market. Our methodology is based on a qualitative case study research design approach using grounded theory concerning Safaricom's organization and product innovations in East African markets and Kenya in particular. We find that Safaricom's innovation success stems from a combination of four winning strategic factors: continuous innovation, reconfiguration and repositioning of failed innovations, elevation of key successful innovation into strategic assets, and combination of strategic assets into a prime business ecosystem. We integrate these strategies to form the Mobile Technology Innovation Cycle as a contribution to product innovation theory and practice.

Andrew R. Hill1,2, Daniel L Laudermilk1, Soon-Mi Choi1. 1Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX, 2Endunamoo Strength & Conditioning, Wichita Falls, TX. Post activation potentiation (PAP) is defined as a short-term improvement in performance as a result of using a resistance exercise. The phenomenon of PAP has been shown to acutely increase athletic performance with back squats as an effective modality. PURPOSE: This study investigated acute effects of different back squat intensities on the countermovement vertical jump (CMJ). METHODS: Participants were 13 to 18-yr-old healthy male (n=8) and female (n=3) who participated in regular resistance training for at least 6 months and have played in a University Interscholastic League (UIL) within the past 6 months. One Repetition Maximum (1-RM) was measured within 4 weeks before testing and all participants abstained from strenuous exercise for 48 hours prior to testing. Each participant performed a standard warm-up for 5 minutes and measured a baseline (PRE) CMJ by a Vertec ®. One minute of resting interval time was provided after PRE test. The CMJ performed by a randomized counterbalanced order with repeated measures under five different barbell back squat trials: 70, 75, 80, 85, and 90% of 1-RM. Between each barbell back squat trial and CMJ test, the participants rested for one minute. Peak power values were estimated by equation (Harman Formula): Peak power (W) = 61.9 · jump height (cm) + 36.0 · body mass (kg) + 1,822. All Data were represented mean and standard deviation and analyzed by one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. RESULTS: There was no significant difference at 70, 85, and 90% of 1-RM. The CMJ increased significantly in 1-RM 75% (PRE: 51.3 ± 13.9 cm, 75%: 52.8 ± 13.6 cm, p=.036). At 1-RM 80%, increasing tendency was shown (PRE: 51.3 ± 13.9 cm, 80%: 52.8 ± 14.5 cm, p=.069). CONCLUSION: The results may indicate that barbell back squat at 75-80% of 1-RM can improve a CMJ performance acutely in adolescence who plays in UIL level.

The Advantages and Challenges of Measuring Patient Experience in Outpatient Clinical Practice. Part 2: History of Patient Satisfaction in Health Care

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA ALCL) is a newly described clinicopathologic entity. The purpose of this study is to describe the imaging findings of patients with BIA ALCL and determine their sensitivity and specificity in the detection of the presence of an effusion or a mass related to BIA ALCL. A retrospective search was performed of our files as well as of the world literature for patients with pathologically proven BIA ALCL who had been assessed by any imaging study including ultrasound (US), computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET)-CT, as well as mammography. The sensitivity and specificity of each imaging modality in the detection of an effusion or a mass around breast implants was determined. We identified 44 patients who had BIA ALCL and imaging studies performed between 1997 and 2013. The sensitivity for detecting an effusion was 84, 55, 82, and 38%, and for detecting a mass was 46, 50, 50, and 64%, by US, CT, MRI, and PET, respectively. The sensitivity of mammography in the detection of an abnormality without distinction of effusion or mass was 73%, and specificity 50%. Progression-free survival was worse in patients with an implant-associated mass (p=0.001). Current imaging with US, CT, MR, and PET appears suboptimal in the detection of an imaging abnormality associated with BIA ALCL. This under diagnosis may reflect a lack of awareness of this rare entity suggesting the need for better understanding of the spectrum of imaging findings associated with BIA ALCL by breast imagers.