bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benzodiazepines for anxiety disorders: maximising the benefits and minimising the risks
Authors: Starcevic Vladan
Published: July 2012

Benzodiazepines still play an important role in the management of anxiety disorders but dependence is associated with their therapeutic use. The key to effective and safe long-term use of benzodiazepines is: the careful selection of patients who might benefit from them; administration in clinical situations in which they are more likely to be beneficial; use of lower doses and in conjunction with an antidepressant, if possible; monitoring and managing their side-effects; and minimising the risk of withdrawal symptoms and relapse, mainly through tapering the dose and/or combining with effective psychological interventions.
Why benzodiazepines are not going away
Authors: Tyrer Peter
Published: July 2012

Benzodiazepines are still widely prescribed in psychiatry, mainly for the treatment of anxiety-related disorders. This is not because they are only taken by a hard core component of patients who are addicted and do not need them; it is because they remain the most effective and rapid acting of all drug treatments. Strategies for practitioners to use them more confidently are described.
Arthur Conan Doyle: the many faces of Sherlock Holmes
Authors: Reed James
Published: July 2012

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle trained as a doctor and practised in a number of areas, but found real success only as an author. He is best known as the creator of the Sherlock Holmes stories. This article considers the individuals in Doyles' life that seem to have inspired the character of Holmes, a flawed genius with dark aspects (including intravenous drug use and instability of mood).
How does psychotherapy work? The self and its disorders
Authors: Adshead Gwen , Fonagy Peter
Published: July 2012

There is now extensive evidence that different types of psychological therapy are effective for various psychiatric disorders, both in terms of symptom reduction and in improving the patient's capacity to function adaptively. In two articles, we set out some current ideas of how psychological therapies might ‘work’, drawing on neurobiological studies of brain plasticity and therapeutic efficacy. In this first article, we review the evidence that disorders of self-experience are common to many psychiatric disorders, and that psychological therapies ‘work’ on those disorders. The second article will appear in the next issue ofAdvances.
Grief as a psychiatric disorder
Authors: Bryant Richard A.
Published: July 2012

The revisions DSM-5 and ICD-11 are attempting to describe psychopathological reactions to bereavement. The delineation between depressive disorder and normal bereavement-related depressed state lacks sufficient data to guide diagnostic development. In contrast, there is strong evidence for a diagnosis of prolonged grief that is distinguished from depression and involves marked impairment.
Magnetic resonance imaging in late-life depression: vascular and glucocorticoid cascade hypotheses
Authors: Sexton Claire E. , Masurier Marisa Le , Allan Charlotte L. , Jenkinson Mark , McDermott Lisa , Kalu Ukwuori G. , Herrmann Lucie L. , Bradley Kevin M. , Mackay Clare E. , Ebmeier Klaus P.
Published: July 2012

Background

Late-life depression is a common and heterogeneous illness, associated with structural abnormalities in both grey and white matter.

Aims

To examine the relationship between age at onset and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of grey and white matter to establish whether they support particular hypotheses regarding the anatomy and aetiology of network disruption in late-life depression.

Method

We studied 36 participants with late-life depression. Grey matter was examined usingT1-weighted MRI and analysed using voxel-based morphometry. The hippocampus was automatically segmented and volume and shape analysis performed. White matter was examined using diffusion tensor imaging and analysed using tract-based spatial statistics.

Results

Later age at onset was significantly associated with reduced fractional anisotropy of widespread tracts, in particular the anterior thalamic radiation and superior longitudinal fasciculus. Earlier age at onset was associated with reduced hippocampal volume normalised to whole brain size bilaterally. However, no significant correlations were detected using hippocampal shape analysis or voxel-based morphometry.

Conclusions

Overall, the results were compatible with the vascular hypothesis, and provided some support for the glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis.
Psychometric properties of the Mental Health Recovery Star
Authors: Killaspy Helen , White Sarah , Taylor Tatiana L. , King Michael
Published: July 2012

Background

The Mental Health Recovery Star (MHRS) is a popular outcome measure rated collaboratively by staff and service users, but its psychometric properties are unknown.

Aims

To assess the MHRS's acceptability, reliability and convergent validity.

Method

A total of 172 services users and 120 staff from in-patient and community services participated. Interrater reliability of staff-only ratings and test–retest reliability of staff-only and collaborative ratings were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Convergent validity between MHRS ratings and standardised measures of social functioning and recovery was assessed using Pearson correlation. The influence of collaboration on ratings was assessed using descriptive statistics and ICCs.

Results

The MHRS was relatively quick and easy to use and had good test–retest reliability, but interrater reliability was inadequate. Collaborative ratings were slightly higher than staff-only ratings. Convergent validity suggests it assesses social function more than recovery.

Conclusions

The MHRS cannot be recommended as a routine clinical outcome tool but may facilitate collaborative care planning.
Neuroimaging in psychiatry: bringing neuroscience into clinical practice
Authors: Phillips Mary L.
Published: July 2012

The past 20 years have seen a remarkable development of neuroimaging methodologies that allow fine-tuned examination of abnormalities in the structure and function of neural circuitry, supporting cognition and emotion in individuals with psychiatric disorders. This editorial highlights the potential of neuroimaging to address major challenges in psychiatric clinical practice.
Planting a Seed: The Brockman Gallery and the Village
Authors: LeFalle-Collins Lizzetta
Published: July 2012

The media are awash in tales of young entrepreneurs recounting their stories of how social media helped them develop and grow their businesses. This is a different type of story void of those tools, the entrepreneur classes, and self-help articles. This essay considers the effects that a strong black community and family had on two artist brothers, Alonzo and Dale Davis, enabling them to open the Brockman Gallery in Los Angeles in 1967. It contextualizes their young lives in Tuskegee, Alabama, where they were steeped in black history and culture and exposed to faculty and college students from African and Caribbean nations who were in residence on the campus. Historical events that led to the opening of the gallery are woven into the text. Founded during the growth of the Black Arts movement, the Brockman Gallery provided early exposure to a number of artists who are today widely acclaimed, including Betye Saar, David Hammons, and John Outterbridge. As the text continues to unfold, a picture also emerges of the Leimert Park Village and the neighboring “Hills” communities of black wealth, the patrons of art whom the gallery hoped to serve.
The Art of Remembering: Camille Billops and James Hatch
Authors: Winston Connie
Published: July 2012

Founded in 1972, the Hatch-Billops Collection houses an extensive archive of African American memorabilia and exists as a direct result of the 1965 “open admissions” policy at the City College of New York, where James Hatch was teaching theater history. Today the collection’s mission is threefold: to collect and preserve primary and secondary resources in the black cultural arts; to provide access to these materials to artists, scholars, and the general public; and to develop programs in the arts that would use the materials in the collection. This essay examines the importance of archiving black American culture and the lives of Hatch and Camille Billops, the artists who have made it their life’s work.
The Weusi Artists
Authors: Brown Kay
Published: July 2012

This essay outlines the formation of the Weusi Artists, begun in Harlem in 1965 as an African American artists’ collective. The word Weusi translates as “blackness” in Swahili. Together the artists founded a gallery and academy of fine arts and studies, both of which became great motivating forces in the development, production, and dissemination of black art during the 1960s and 1970s.
AfriCOBRA Manifesto? “Ten in Search of a Nation”
Authors: Donaldson Jeff R.
Published: July 2012

In the AfriCOBRA manifesto Donaldson describes the origins of the group and its aesthetic principles: “The expressive awesomeness that one experiences in African art and life in the U.S.A. like the Holiness church . . . and the demon that is the blues, Alcindor’s dunk and Sayer’s cut . . . Symmetry that is free, repetition with change, based on African music and African movement . . . We want the work to look like the creator made it through us . . . We want the things to shine, to have the rich luster of a just-washed ’Fro, of spit-shined shoes . . . Color that shines . . . Color that defines, identifies and directs . . . Coolade colors for coolade images for superreal people.”
Inaugurating AfriCOBRA: History, Philosophy, and Aesthetics
Authors: Hogu Barbara Jones
Published: July 2012

This essay explains the founding of AfriCOBRA as a cohesive, collaborative artists’ coalition that worked with an accepted philosophy and aesthetics to create positive images regarding their ethnic group’s social, economic, and political conditions, regardless of the media or techniques they employed. The philosophy of functionalism or humanism and their aesthetics of line, shape, and color are described in detail, along with several manifesto-like statements on their goals and ideas. The concepts of AfriCOBRA’s philosophy and aesthetics are still relevant for its founding members as well as for present artists, and they will probably inspire future generations of artists as well.
Maximum Bleaching of Vegetable Oils by Acid-Activated Bentonite: Influence of Nanopore Radius
Authors: Önal Müsęerref , Sarıkaya Yüksel
Published: July 2012

The optimum conditions necessary for preparing a bleaching earth (BE) with maximum bleaching power (BP) towards soybean oil (SO) and cottonseed oil (CSO) were investigated. BEs were obtained by H2SO4 activation of a white calcium bentonite (CaB) sample from the Kütahya region of Turkey. After drying for 4 h at 105 °C, the CaB samples were activated by heating their acidic aqueous suspensions for 6 h at 97 °C, the acid content of the dry bentonite/acid mixture being varied in the 0–70% mass range. The respective specific surface area (S) and specific nanopore volume (V) of the BEs were determined from nitrogen adsorption/desorption data obtained at −196 °C. For natural CaB, the values of S and V were 44 m2/g and 0.11 cm3/g, respectively. These values attained a maximum of 135 m2/g and 0.30 cm3/g for the BE sample prepared employing 40% H2SO4 for acid activation. Interestingly, the maximum BP was not associated with the maximum S and V values. The optimum values for the percentage H2SO4, S and V for attaining the maximum BP were 20%, 100 m2/g and 0.17 cm3/g, respectively. The mean nanopore radius (r) of each BE was calculated using the corresponding S and V values. Nanopores with a mean radius in the range 3.5–5.5 nm, which was close to the diameter of the coloured pigment, were found to be mostly responsible for the BP towards SO and CSO. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the value of r was more effective than the S and V values of BEs in the bleaching of vegetable oils. Adsorption of a pigment onto a BE was found to depend not only on the physicochemical interaction between the pigment molecule and the BE surface, but also on the mean nanopore size.
Tensile Tensegrity Structures
Authors: Skelton Robert E , Nagase Kenji
Published: July 2012

An optimized tensegrity system is designed to be efficient in tension. The system is composed of simple units each having one compressive member (bar) and four tensile members (strings). The total number of units in the network is pq where p is the number of parallel lines of units, and each line is q units long. The problem solved is to find the angle between the strings of each unit and the optimal complexity p, q so as to minimize the mass of the total system while satisfying a stiffness constraint.
Design and Analysis of Tensegrity Power Lines
Authors: Dalilsafaei Seif , Tibert Gunnar
Published: July 2012

Overhead transmission power lines have undergone very small aesthetic and technical changes over time. Studies on mitigation of the electromagnetic field shows that utilizing a helix configuration is an effective way to reduce the electromagnetic field. This study proposes to use tensegrity structures as power lines. Tensegrity structures are composed of tension and compression elements in equilibrium. Modules, simple units with a certain rotation, are connected together to design of overhead power lines with considerable electromagnetic field reduction. A form-finding method enables the design of various free-form configurations. A parametric study is performed to investigate the influence of the module dimensions on the stiffness of the power line. A design algorithm was used for determining the optimum size of elements and the pre-stress level. The selected baseline structure was able to tolerate the wind and ice loads in severe conditions with a 50 times reduction in electromagnetic field. Finally a sensitivity analysis is performed to show the effects of element loss or damage.
Technological Assessment of National Nuclear Fuel Cycle Using Transmutations of High-Level Nuclear Waste (Hlw)
Authors: Woo Tae Ho , Kim Yun Il
Published: July 2012

The advanced fuel cycle initiative (AFCI) has been investigated for the safe processing of the spent nuclear fuels (SNFs), which has focused mainly on the economic factor. The simulation of the political factor is suggested, which is introduced by the political susceptibility factor (PSF), because the political situation is much more important in the treatment of the SNFs considering the characteristics of the nuclear material. The system dynamics (SD) algorithm is used in the dynamical simulation where the political aspect is emphasized. There are 5 classifications of the PSF as president, party, vote, term, and feedback. The degree of the possibility is impacted by 5 steps. Eventually, the dynamic simulation is quantified for the SNFs. The possibility of the high-level nuclear waste (HLW) repository construction increases slowly in the early stage and faster in the later stage. The importance of the political aspect for the SNFs treatment is shown as numerical values with easy estimations.
Analysis of Sustainable Cassava Biofuel Production in Nigeria
Authors: Ogundari I.O. , Momodu A.S. , Famurewa A.J. , Akarakiri J.B. , Siyanbola W.O.
Published: July 2012

Nigeria's biofuels policy advocates the adoption of cassava as feedstock for a 10%-biofuel substitution option in Nigerian transport fuel demand. This policy option is expected to address energy security and environmental consequences of using fossil fuels as the sole source of transport energy in the country. This paper appraised the technological and economic factors necessary for achieving Nigeria's cassava-based biofuel initiative at different substitution levels of 5, 10, and 15% by the Year 2020. A multi-stage energy forecasting and project analysis framework adapted from Coate's structure for technology assessment, as well as engineering economy methodology was used for the study. Technological analysis entailed determining petrol consumption projection, R&D capability, input feedstock requirements, environmental considerations and land requirement for feedstock crop production while engineering economy analysis evaluated the economic viability of the project. The results showed that petrol consumption in Nigeria and bioethanol substitution requirements were in the range of 18,285.7 – 19,142.84 thousand tons and 914.28 (5% low demand) – 2871.43 (15% high demand) thousand tons, respectively by 2020. Cassava feedstock and landmass requirements for bioethanol production were in the range of 4.64 – 14.53 million tons and 4.08 – 12.80 thousand sq. km, respectively while carbon dioxide savings were between 1.87 – 5.89 million tons by 2020. The recovery price for cassava bioethanol was estimated to be US$ 0.74/litre [Formula: see text]. Petrol being subsidised presently is harmful to the environment though it ‘oils’ the economy. Nigeria currently subsidizes petroleum products to the tune of 28% of 2011 budget. The government plans to remove this by 2012. Thus we conclude that weighing both economic and environmental benefits of bioethanol substitution in petrol consumption in Nigeria, the study showed that bioethanol production from cassava feedstock would be both technically and economically viable, provided subsidy, which depends on political will on the side of the government, is introduced for the first ten years of its implementation.
Free-Market Energy
Authors: Schaefer Alexander M. , Block Walter E.
Published: July 2012

There should be no governmental energy policy, nor any department of energy, for that matter. All decisions concerning fuel, up to and including nuclear power, should be based on private property rights and the tenets of laissez faire capitalism. This would assure the proper assumption of risk and ideal resource allocation.
Dynamic Assessment of Shear Connection Conditions in Slab-Girder Bridges by Kullback-Leibler Distance
Authors: Zhu X.Q. , Hao H. , Uy B. , Xia Y. , Mirza O.
Published: July 2012

Shear connectors are widely used in composite bridges that provide composite action. Their damage will reduce the load-carrying capacity of the structure. In this study, a novel method based on Kullback-Leibler distance (KLD) was developed to assess the integrity of the shear connectors. A bridge model was constructed in the laboratory and some removable anchors were specially designed and fabricated to link the beams and slab that were cast separately. Each anchor consists of a threaded bar that penetrates through the soffit of the beam and ties up into an embedded nut cap to simulate a shear connector in the real bridges. Different damage scenarios were introduced by pulling out some connectors. Vibration tests were carried out in each damage scenario. Various damage detection methods have been applied and results show that the method was able to detect all the assumed damage scenarios successfully and consistently.
Regional Timber Bridge Girder Reliability: Structural Health Monitoring and Reliability Strategies
Authors: Moore John C , Glenncross-Grant Rex , Mahini Seyed Saeed , Patterson Robert
Published: July 2012

Many short span timber beam bridges in regional New South Wales are of unknown reliability, have high traffic loadings and were designed according to codes, many of which have since been superseded. Because asset managers are delaying their maintenance for fiscal reasons, a high proportion of these bridges are structurally degraded and potentially unsafe when excessively loaded. In regional areas, a prioritised maintenance program can be a cost effective alternative to bridge replacement. Such older bridges will require continuous monitoring by low cost methods to assess the temporal probability of their failure.

This paper examines the potential for measuring the mid-span deflections of girders caused by high traffic loads to obtain continually updated indicators of the structural health of girders. The mid-span deflection data of a case study bridge were continuously measured using a laser based measuring system, recently developed by the first author. An analysis of the deflection data is used to obtain a reliability index and the probability of bridge failure. Reliability indicators such as these can be used, in conjunction with continuous deflection monitoring, to prioritise cost effective maintenance of older timber bridges in regional New South Wales.
Mixed-Dimensional Consistent Coupling by Multi-Point Constraint Equations for Efficient Multi-Scale Modeling
Authors: Yu Y. , Chan T.H.T. , Sun Z.H. , Li Z.X.
Published: July 2012

Finding an appropriate linking method to connect different dimensional element types in a single finite element model is a key issue in the multi-scale modeling. This paper presents a mixed dimensional coupling method using multi-point constraint equations derived by equating the work done on either side of interface connecting beam elements and shell elements for constructing a finite element multi-scale model. A typical steel truss frame structure is selected as case example and the reduced scale specimen of this truss section is then studied in the laboratory to measure its dynamic and static behavior in global truss and local welded details while the different analytical models are developed for numerical simulation. Comparison of dynamic and static response of the calculated results among different numerical models as well as the good agreement with those from experimental results indicates that the proposed multi-scale model is efficient and accurate.
Computations of gas exchange, heat release and transfer processes in engine fuelled with diesel or CNG
Authors: Boretti Alberto
Published: July 2012

The paper focuses on the conversion of a Diesel engine to CNG, with emphasis on the use within Australia where the refueling network is scarce, and the developments needed in the injection and combustion systems to further improve the fuel conversion efficiency and reduce the in-cylinder pollutant formation. For dual fuel CNG-Diesel operation, the best option is the adoption of two independent fuel injectors for the Diesel and the CNG, while for the single fuel CNG operation, the best option is the adoption of one direct CNG injector plus a jet ignition device accommodating a second CNG injector and a glow plug. With both designs, the CNG engine would operate following different modes of combustion, not only the traditional Diesel like, but also the traditional gasoline-like, a mixed gasoline/Diesel-like and finally HCCI-like depending on the injection strategy adopted for the two injectors of each cylinder. Computations of gas exchange, heat release and heat transfer processes are computed with an engineering performance simulation code with the model for the Diesel fuel validated versus extensive experimental data.
Non-Markovian evolution approach to structural modeling of material fracture
Authors: Lepov V. , Loginov A.
Published: July 2012

The new multiscale non-Markov evolution modeling approach for damage accumulation and fracture processes of polycrystalline and ultra fine grained materials is proven by experimental results at nanoscale. Microstructural parameters are estimated by an atomic-force scanning probe in situ during the deformation. The non-Marcov evolution in the approach means taking into account the history of each element on a certain structure. The ultimate state of the current level controls the transfer on the next level of the whole structure. The main difficulty of traditional multiscale modeling is the determination of the ultimate states due to the parameters. This new approach presumes it is possible to restrict the current state of a material to only one control factor of nanostructure order. The new approach of defect behavior modeling allows the simulation of materials under a wide range of external influence, including low and high temperature and other environmental factors, almost without any faults.
Study on evaluation of building energy efficiency rate using BIM based simulation tool
Authors: No Sang-Tae
Published: July 2012

Energy saving of buildings is a big issue because building energy occupies about 25% of national energy. To reduce building energy, many countries try to control building energy by laws, such as building energy regulations. This study has two objectives. The first is to evaluate building energy efficiency rate of a specific building using annual energy analysis software based on BIM tools. The second objective is to reduce building energy usage adopting passive and active architectural strategies under the Korean building energy rating regulation. A newly constructed public library building was selected as energy simulation base model, and a few active and passive energy saving strategies were applied to the same building. Energy plus was adopted as a simulation tool. The calculated annual source energy usage per area for alt model was 210.7 kWh/m2 yr, and the value for base model was 355 kWh/m2 yr. The building energy efficiency rate for alt model is the first class under Korean building energy rating regulation.
Poly(vinyl butyral)-zirconia hybrid films formed by sol-gel process
Authors: Nakane Koji , Mizutani Kosuke , Zhang Ruonan , Sugimoto Kenta , Ogata Nobuo
Published: July 2012

A sol-gel process has been successfully utilized to form hybrid materials of poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) and zirconium dioxide (zirconia). The gelation occurred due to the interaction between remaining hydroxyl group of PVB and zirconia. The hybrids showed good optical transparency and significant improvement in Young's modulus, dynamic mechanical property, abrasion resistance and impact resistance. The glass transition temperature of PVB shifted to higher temperatures by hybridization of PVB and zirconia.
New quantum key distribution study for world covers security communications
Authors: Aris S. , Messai A. , Mokhtari H. , Benslama M.
Published: July 2012

The use of LEO satellite systems has become widespread throughout the world, not only from the services standpoint but in large scale communication networks as well, as they make it possible to communicate from any point of the globe. Lately, the communications in the satellite field have been markedly developed thanks to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and GEO satellite orbit. This paper deals with the main survey of these networks by a demonstration of satellite constellations constitutions and the different interfering factors, namely the number of satellites in each orbit, modelling the HANDCHECK problems or Handover satellite probably blocking. In order to preserve the information, to make sure that a seamless communication between two satellite zones is ensured the Hand check should continuously be present in satellite networks. Although the achievement of such schemes is routine work in the laboratory, nontrivial problems emerge in long-distance applications. At present, the only suitable system for long-distance quantum communication is photons. The essential work carried out in our research laboratory concerns an approach in software development of the implementation of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Networks with LEO orbit satellites and a reduction of the telecommunication interruption risks, which indeed will provide a better communication quality.
A Comparative Study of Entrepreneurs' Attitudes to Failure in Technology Ventures
Authors: Cotterill Keith
Published: July 2012

Entrepreneurs develop new technology ventures in uncertain conditions with unproven technologies and limited resources. The majority of such ventures fail. Examining entrepreneurs' attitudes to failure may reveal much about how entrepreneurs learn and how they identify subsequent opportunities.

There is much literature on entrepreneurial failure [1-7] but relatively little that is focused on attitudes to failure [8, 9], the high-technology industry, or international comparisons. Pioneering work by the late Jason Cope applied methodologies derived from qualitative psychology to investigate attitudes to failure in entrepreneurs with recent experience of failed ventures in the aftermath of the ‘dot-com’ crash in 2001. We develop this work further, examining a wider range of geographic regions, a less intense period and focusing entirely on attitudes of the entrepreneur.

This paper examines how entrepreneurs' attitudes to failure in early stage technology companies differ in the USA (Silicon Valley), UK (Cambridge) and Germany (Munich), and what this might reveal about entrepreneurial learning and opportunity identification in these countries. Using a qualitative approach, interviews with habitual entrepreneurs explore their experiences of failure. Techniques from qualitative psychology, including Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis are employed in the gathering and analysis of interview-based case studies to reveal emergent trends, which are then used to compare attitudes to failure within and between each country.

Based on preliminary analysis of interview transcripts and a review of the literature, a conceptual model of how to analyze failure is proposed. Emergent trends are identified within each country and then evaluated to draw comparisons between different countries. Failure represents a frequent and important component of the entrepreneurial experience. Attitudes to failure reveal insights into how entrepreneurs respond and how they identify future opportunities.

It is hoped this research will add to existing knowledge and theory of entrepreneurial failure, especially through the comparative (regional) approach and the industry-specific (high-technology) focus. It may also improve the preparedness of new entrepreneurs, with positive implications for future entrepreneurial success.
Technology Confidence in Early Stage Development of Medical Devices
Authors: Johnson Jonathan , Moultrie James
Published: July 2012

Innovation is a critical factor in ensuring commercial success within the area of medical technology. Biotechnology and Healthcare developments require huge financial and resource investment, in-depth research and clinical trials. Consequently, these developments involve a complex multidisciplinary structure, which is inherently full of risks and uncertainty. In this context, early technology assessment and ‘proof of concept’ is often sporadic and unstructured. Existing methodologies for managing the feasibility stage of medical device development are predominantly suited to the later phases of development and favour detail in optimisation, validation and regulatory approval. During these early phases, feasibility studies are normally conducted to establish whether technology is potentially viable. However, it is not clear how this technology viability is currently measured. This paper aims to redress this gap through the development of a technology confidence scale, as appropriate explicitly to the feasibility phase of medical device design. These guidelines were developed from analysis of three recent innovation studies within the medical device industry.
An Investigation of Centers for Innovation
Authors: Kahn Kenneth , Dempsey Jaycee
Published: July 2012

The center for innovation model is a growing and prominent phenomenon across corporate, government, nonprofit, and university contexts. Based on the name, one would infer an aim is to serve as a mechanism that catalyzes innovation. A further aim would be to serve as exemplars of technology development, knowledge development, and knowledge dissemination in the course of delivering a given mission. To date, little work has examined the center for innovation phenomenon and so there is a need to investigate these inferences and provide an understanding for the basis and rationale for why organizations across various contexts are pursuing centers for innovation. Examining mission statements followed by an electronic survey of 66 centers for innovation, we characterize the practices, rationales, success factors, challenges, and other descriptors of these centers in an effort to understand their operating characteristics. Results suggest four archetypes for the center for innovation model based on constituency. Results also show similarities across success factors and challenges, with sustainable funding clearly a common challenge.
A Numerical Study on Impact Damage Assessment and Dynamic Behaviour of Concrete Bridges by Pounding Effect
Authors: Tamai Hiroki , Sonoda Yoshimi
Published: July 2012

The South Hyogo prefecture earthquake indicated that various kind of damage was incurred under severe ground motion. Some of the reported damage cases are caused by pounding between bridge girders and between a superstructure and an abutment. To establish the reasonable and safe seismic design for bridges, it is necessary to evaluate the damage level of bridge abutment under impact of bridge girder and to clarify dynamic behaviour of whole bridge under pounding. So the main objective of this study is to evaluate the damage level of an abutment by pounding. To achieve this, impact response analyses of pounding effect were conducted by using 3-dimensional FEM. Furthermore, to clarify dynamic behavior of whole bridge under pounding, frame analyses were conducted.
Behavior of High Ductility Cement Composite Beams under Low Impact
Authors: Dancygier Avraham N. , Katz Amnon , Yardimci Mert Y. , Yankelevsky David Z.
Published: July 2012

This paper describes part of a study that examines possible material compositions aiming at increasing and controlling the ductility of cementitious composities under dynamic loading. The work described herein focuses on the influence of adding micro or macro scale steel fibers to the cementitious composite mix on the hardened specimen's mechanical properties. Small beam specimens made of 14 types of mixes were tested under static and dynamic loads, where the low-velocity dynamic loading was generated in a free-fall hammer. Variables that were examined included compression strength, single and hybrid usage of different types of steel fibers and the fibers volume ratios. The main conclusions indicate enhanced mechanical properties of the hybrid HSC specimens under dynamic loading. The results show that an enhanced material behavior, and therefore also structural response, can be engineered by designing different fiber reinforced cement composite mixes with similar compressive strengths.
Experimental Investigation of Aluminum Foam Lined Suppressive Shield Containment Vessels
Authors: Braimah Abass , Elshafey Mohamed , Halim Abd El Halim O. Abd El , Contestabile Ettore
Published: July 2012

Manufacture, transport, and storage of dangerous goods, especially energetic materials, in Canada and around the world pose serious challenges to explosives regulators and inspectors. Currently siting of manufacturing and storage facilities are in accordance with quantity-distance principles designed to mitigate effects of accidental explosions. The land requirements to satisfy these principles are imposing financial burdens on the explosives sector.

This paper presents an experimental program designed to investigate the effectiveness of suppressive shield containers in reducing the blast pressure outside of the container while eliminating fragments thus reducing the distance requirement for the stored amount of explosives. Several suppressive shield panels including aluminium foam-lined panels were tested to study their effect on blast pressure and impulse. In addition computational fluid dynamics techniques were used to study suppressive shields effects on blast environment. The results show reduction of the incident peak blast pressure by 60% and the incident impulse by 58%. The aluminium foam-lined suppressive shield panels attenuated the peak incident pressure and impulse by 80%.
Abortion‐Seeking Minors’ Views on the Illinois Parental Notification Law: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Kavanagh Erin K. , Hasselbacher Lee A. , Betham Brittany , Tristan Sigrid , Gilliam Melissa L.
Published: July 2012

CONTEXT

Thirty‐seven states have laws in effect that mandate parental involvement in adolescent abortion decisions. Little is known about minors’ opinions of parental involvement laws.

METHODS

In‐depth interviews were conducted with 30 minors presenting for an abortion at one of three Chicago‐area clinics in 2010. Interviewers described the Illinois parental notification law (which was passed in 1995 but is not in effect because of legal challenges) and a corresponding judicial bypass option to the minors and asked their opinions about them. Interviews were coded and analyzed using content analysis and grounded theory methods.

RESULTS

Most minors perceived the law negatively, citing fears that it would lead to diminished reproductive autonomy for minors, forced continuation of pregnancies, adverse parental reactions (including emotional or physical abuse) and damaged parental relationships. A few held positive or ambivalent opinions, concluding that notifying a trusted adult could provide an adolescent with needed support, but that parental involvement should not be mandated. Most participants held negative opinions of judicial bypass, describing it as overwhelming and logistically complicated, and worrying that some minors might go to extreme lengths to avoid the process.

CONCLUSIONS

Many minors have deep concerns about the potential harm that could result from parental involvement laws. These opinions provide a valuable addition to the debate on such laws, which purportedly are intended to ensure minors’ best interests.
A Sequence-Anchored Linkage Map of the Plant–Parasitic Nematode Meloidogyne hapla Reveals Exceptionally High Genome-Wide Recombination
Authors: Thomas Varghese P , Fudali Sylwia L , Schaff Jennifer E , Liu Qingli , Scholl Elizabeth H , Opperman Charles H , Bird David McK , Williamson Valerie M
Published: July 2012

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) cause major yield losses to many of the world’s crops, but efforts to understand how these pests recognize and interact with their hosts have been hampered by a lack of genetic resources. Starting with progeny of a cross between inbred strains (VW8 and VW9) of Meloidogyne hapla that differed in host range and behavioral traits, we exploited the novel, facultative meiotic parthenogenic reproductive mode of this species to produce a genetic linkage map. Molecular markers were derived from SNPs identified between the sequenced and annotated VW9 genome and de novo sequence of VW8. Genotypes were assessed in 183 F2 lines. The colinearity of the genetic and physical maps supported the veracity of both. Analysis of local crossover intervals revealed that the average recombination rate is exceptionally high compared with that in other metazoans. In addition, F2 lines are largely homozygous for markers flanking crossover points, and thus resemble recombinant inbred lines. We suggest that the unusually high recombination rate may be an adaptation to generate within-population genetic diversity in this organism. This work presents the most comprehensive linkage map of a parasitic nematode to date and, together with genomic and transcript sequence resources, empowers M. hapla as a tractable model. Alongside the molecular map, these progeny lines can be used for analyses of genome organization and the inheritance of phenotypic traits that have key functions in modulating parasitism, behavior, and survival and for the eventual identification of the responsible genes.
Impact of Sampling Schemes on Demographic Inference: An Empirical Study in Two Species with Different Mating Systems and Demographic Histories
Authors: St. Onge K R , Palmé A E , Wright S I , Lascoux M
Published: July 2012

Most species have at least some level of genetic structure. Recent simulation studies have shown that it is important to consider population structure when sampling individuals to infer past population history. The relevance of the results of these computer simulations for empirical studies, however, remains unclear. In the present study, we use DNA sequence datasets collected from two closely related species with very different histories, the selfing species Capsella rubella and its outcrossing relative C. grandiflora, to assess the impact of different sampling strategies on summary statistics and the inference of historical demography. Sampling strategy did not strongly influence the mean values of Tajima’s D in either species, but it had some impact on the variance. The general conclusions about demographic history were comparable across sampling schemes even when resampled data were analyzed with approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). We used simulations to explore the effects of sampling scheme under different demographic models. We conclude that when sequences from modest numbers of loci (<60) are analyzed, the sampling strategy is generally of limited importance. The same is true under intermediate or high levels of gene flow (4Nm > 2–10) in models in which global expansion is combined with either local expansion or hierarchical population structure. Although we observe a less severe effect of sampling than predicted under some earlier simulation models, our results should not be seen as an encouragement to neglect this issue. In general, a good coverage of the natural range, both within and between populations, will be needed to obtain a reliable reconstruction of a species’s demographic history, and in fact, the effect of sampling scheme on polymorphism patterns may itself provide important information about demographic history.
A Noncomplementation Screen for Quantitative Trait Alleles inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Kim Hyun Seok , Huh Juyoung , Riles Linda , Reyes Alejandro , Fay Justin C
Published: July 2012

Both linkage and linkage disequilibrium mapping provide well-defined approaches to mapping quantitative trait alleles. However, alleles of small effect are particularly difficult to refine to individual genes and causative mutations. Quantitative noncomplementation provides a means of directly testing individual genes for quantitative trait alleles in a fixed genetic background. Here, we implement a genome-wide noncomplementation screen for quantitative trait alleles that affect colony color or size by using the yeast deletion collection. As proof of principle, we find a previously known allele of CYS4 that affects colony color and a novel allele of CTT1 that affects resistance to hydrogen peroxide. To screen nearly 4700 genes in nine diverse yeast strains, we developed a high-throughput robotic plating assay to quantify colony color and size. Although we found hundreds of candidate alleles, reciprocal hemizygosity analysis of a select subset revealed that many of the candidates were false positives, in part the result of background-dependent haploinsufficiency or second-site mutations within the yeast deletion collection. Our results highlight the difficulty of identifying small-effect alleles but support the use of noncomplementation as a rapid means of identifying quantitative trait alleles of large effect.
Development of a 10,000 Locus Genetic Map of the Sunflower Genome Based on Multiple Crosses
Authors: Bowers John E , Bachlava Eleni , Brunick Robert L , Rieseberg Loren H , Knapp Steven J , Burke John M
Published: July 2012

Genetic linkage maps have the potential to facilitate the genetic dissection of complex traits and comparative analyses of genome structure, as well as molecular breeding efforts in species of agronomic importance. Until recently, the majority of such maps was based on relatively low-throughput marker technologies, which limited marker density across the genome. The availability of high-throughput genotyping technologies has, however, made possible the efficient development of high-density genetic maps. Here, we describe the analysis and integration of genotypic data from four sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) mapping populations to produce a consensus linkage map of the sunflower genome. Although the individual maps (which contained 3500–5500 loci each) were highly colinear, we observed localized variation in recombination rates in several genomic regions. We also observed several gaps up to 26 cM in length that completely lacked mappable markers in individual crosses, presumably due to regions of identity by descent in the mapping parents. Because these regions differed by cross, the consensus map of 10,080 loci contained no such gaps, clearly illustrating the value of simultaneously analyzing multiple mapping populations.
Mutations in the pqe-1 Gene Enhance Transgene Expression in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Yamada Koji , Tsuchiya Jun-ichi , Iino Yuichi
Published: July 2012

Although various genetic tools have been developed and used as transgenes, the expression of the transgenes often is hampered by negative regulators. Disrupting such negative regulators of gene expression is potentially a way to overcome the common problem of low expression of transgenes. To find such regulators whose mutations enhance transgene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans, we took advantage of a newly developed reporter transgene, lin-11pAΔ::venus. This transgene induces expression of a fluorescent protein, Venus, in specific neurons including AIZ, where the expression was stochastic. The frequency of reporter expression in AIZ seemed to be correlated with the strength of transgene expression. By using this system, in which a moderate increase of expression was converted to all-or-none expression states, we describe here a forward genetic screen for mutations that enhance the expression of transgenes. Through the screen, we found that mutations in the pqe-1 gene, which encodes a Q/P-rich nuclear protein with an exonuclease domain, increase the chance of reporter expression in AIZ. The fluorescence intensity in RIC, in which all lin-11pAΔ::venus animals show reporter expression, was increased in pqe-1 mutants, suggesting that pqe-1 reduces the expression level of the transgene. Expression of transgenes with other promoters, 3′UTR, or reporter genes was also enhanced by the pqe-1 mutation, suggesting that the effect was not specific to a particular type of transgenes, whereas the effect did not seem to extend to endogenous genes. We propose that pqe-1 mutants can be used to increase the expression of various useful transgenes.
A Genome-Wide Screen Identifies Genes That Affect Somatic Homolog Pairing inDrosophila
Authors: Bateman Jack R , Larschan Erica , D’Souza Ryan , Marshall Lauren S , Dempsey Kyle E , Johnson Justine E , Mellone Barbara G , Kuroda Mitzi I
Published: July 2012

In Drosophila and other Dipterans, homologous chromosomes are in close contact in virtually all nuclei, a phenomenon known as somatic homolog pairing. Although homolog pairing has been recognized for over a century, relatively little is known about its regulation. We performed a genome-wide RNAi-based screen that monitored the X-specific localization of the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex, and we identified 59 candidate genes whose knockdown via RNAi causes a change in the pattern of MSL staining that is consistent with a disruption of X-chromosomal homolog pairing. Using DNA fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), we confirmed that knockdown of 17 of these genes has a dramatic effect on pairing of the 359 bp repeat at the base of the X. Furthermore, dsRNAs targeting Pr-set7, which encodes an H4K20 methyltransferase, cause a modest disruption in somatic homolog pairing. Consistent with our results in cultured cells, a classical mutation in one of the strongest candidate genes, pebble (pbl), causes a decrease in somatic homolog pairing in developing embryos. Interestingly, many of the genes identified by our screen have known roles in diverse cell-cycle events, suggesting an important link between somatic homolog pairing and the choreography of chromosomes during the cell cycle.