Developing Structural Integrated Stressor–Stress Models for Clients’ and Contractors’ Cost Engineers

Estimation is not a purely scientific task. It requires cost engineers equipped with a wide knowledge of construction and a professional ability to make judgments. However, stress will deaden their use of knowledge and influence their professional judgment in estimating. In the construction industry, cost engineers can generally be divided into two main groups: clients’ cost engineers in consultant firms or in a development company who serve clients; and contractors’ cost engineers in construction companies working for the contractors. This study investigates the causal relationships between the stressors and stress of clients’ and contractors’ cost engineers. Two stressor–stress integrated models were developed for these two cost engineer groups by using the structural equation model. The findings revealed some stressors that affected both clients’ and contractors’ cost engineers: (1) poor environment, role conflict and work underload affect their stress positively; (2) social support and Type A behavior affect their stress negatively; and (3) work underload induces stress via the role conflict among cost engineers, their supervisors, and the organization. On the other hand, some deviations between these two groups of cost engineers also occur: (1) social support acts as a source of stressors of clients’ cost engineers; (2) a private life stressor only affects the stress of contractors’ cost engineers; and (3) a closed interactive looping relationship among role conflict, Type A behavior, and work underload affects contractors’ cost engineers. Based on the results of this study, some recommendations are suggested to manage cost engineers’ stress well.     

Extracellular Vesicles as Biological Indicators and Potential Sources of Autologous Therapeutics in Osteoarthritis

Along with cytokines, extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by immune cells in the joint contribute to osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. By high-resolution flow cytometry, we characterized 18 surface markers and 4 proinflammatory cytokines carried by EVs of various sizes in plasma and synovial fluid (SF) from individuals with knee OA, with a primary focus on immune cells that play a major role in OA pathogenesis. By multiplex immunoassay, we also measured concentrations of cytokines within (endo) and outside (exo) EVs. EVs carrying HLA-DR, -DP and -DQ were the most enriched subpopulations in SF relative to plasma (25–50-fold higher depending on size), suggesting a major contribution to the SF EV pool from infiltrating immune cells in OA joints. In contrast, the CD34⁺ medium and small EVs, reflecting hematopoietic stem cells, progenitor cells, and endothelial cells, were the most significantly enriched subpopulations in plasma relative to SF (7.3- and 7.7-fold higher). Ratios of EVs derived from neutrophils and lymphocytes were highly correlated between SF and plasma, indicating that plasma EVs could reflect OA severity and serve as systemic biomarkers of OA joint pathogenesis. Select subsets of plasma EVs might also provide next generation autologous biological products for intra-articular therapy of OA joints.     

The distribution of brominated long-chain fatty acids in sponge and symbiont cell types from the tropical marine spongeAmphimedon terpenensis

The tropical marine spongeAmphimedon terpenensis (family Niphatidae, order Haplosclerida) has previously been shown to possess unusual lipids, including unusual fatty acids. The biosynthetic origin of these fatty acids is of interest as the sponge supports a significant population of eubacterial and cyanobacterial symbionts. The total fatty acid composition of the sponge was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of the methyl esters. Among the most abundant of the fatty acids in intact tissue were 16∶0, 18∶0 and 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic (phytanic) acid. In addition, three brominated fatty acids, (5E,9Z)-6-bromo-5,9-tetracosadienoic acid (24∶2Br), (5E,9Z)-6-bromo-5,9-pentacosadienoic acid (25∶2Br) and (5E,9Z)-6-bromo-5,9-hexacosadienoic acid (26∶2Br) were also present. The three brominated fatty acids, together with phytanic acid, were isolated from both ectosomoal (superficial) and choanosomal (internal) regions of the sponge. Analysis of extracts prepared from sponge/symbiont cells, partitioned by density gradient centrifugation on Ficoll, indicated that phytanic acid and the three brominated fatty acids were associated with sponge cells only. Further, a fatty acid methyl ester sample from intact tissue ofA. terpenensis was partitioned according to phospholipid class, and the brominated fatty acids were shown to be associated with the phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine fractions that are commonly present in marine sponge lipids. The phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol fractions were rich in the relatively shorter chain fatty acids (16∶0 and 18∶0). The association of brominated long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) with sponge cells has been confirmed. The findings allow comment on the use of fatty acid profiles in chemotaxonomy and permit further interpretation of LCFA biosynthetic pathways in sponges. The assignment of the sponge studied, which is currently placed asA. terpenensis, is being supported to some extent, but the species is unusual in having C₂₅ fatty acids as the major constituent in this group. Other factors, such as season or microenvironmental conditions, may influence observed fatty acid composition which tends to reduce the usefulness of fatty acid profiles as markers in sponge chemotaxonomy.     

The utility of intraindividual variability in selective attention tasks as an early marker for Alzheimer’s disease.

This study explored differences in intraindividual variability in 3 attention tasks across a large sample of healthy older adults and individuals with very mild dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT). Three groups of participants (healthy young adults, healthy older adults, very mild DAT) were administered 3 experimental measures of attentional selection and switching (Stroop, Simon, task switching). The results indicated that a measure of intraindividual variability, coefficient of variation (CoV; SD/M), increased across age and early stage DAT. The CoV in Stroop discriminated the performance of ε4 carriers from noncarriers in healthy older controls and the CoV in task switching was correlated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers predictive of DAT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modeling of an Unbonded CFRP Strap Shear Retrofitting System for Reinforced Concrete Beams

A retrofitting technique has been developed that uses carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) straps to increase the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams. The vertical straps are not bonded to the beam but are instead anchored against the beam, which makes this technique potentially more effective than bonded FRP retrofitting techniques. However, it also means that models for bonded FRPs are not appropriate for use with the straps. Instead, a model based on a shear friction approach has been developed where the strain in the straps is calculated based on a term that accounts for the effects of prestress and additional strain in the strap due to shear crack opening. The model can either consider the shear reinforcement to be smeared along the length of the beam or discrete elements. The “smeared” model was checked against an experimental database consisting of rectangular, T-, and deep beams, both in terms of predicted capacity and predicted strain in the straps. Overall the smeared model predicted the capacity of the specimens and, with some adjustments, the strains quite accurately. There were, however, cases when it was more appropriate to use the “discrete” model such as when the transverse reinforcement ratio was low or when the transverse reinforcement spacing was high. Further experimental data are required to fully validate the models and to determine appropriate limits on the use of the smeared model and the discrete model. However, the initial results are promising.     

The public health approach to youth violence and child maltreatment prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Millions of people in the United States suffer the consequences of violence, including physical injuries, psychological trauma, and death. Solutions to violence have traditionally been reactive. Through the lens of the public health perspective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) views violence as predictable based on various contributing factors, and thus as preventable. Within CDC, the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) leads efforts to prevent injury, death, and disability, and to reduce the suffering and medical costs caused by violence. DVP employs a multidisciplinary, public health approach to identify factors associated with violence, and to develop, evaluate, and disseminate preventive interventions. Psychology is one discipline that has contributed to our approach. The authors present a series of violence prevention initiatives funded by the CDC that are framed within a public health perspective, with attention to the contributions of psychology to youth violence and child maltreatment prevention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genome and proteome annotation: organization, interpretation and integration

Recent years have seen a huge increase in the generation of genomic and proteomic data. This has been due to improvements in current biological methodologies, the development of new experimental techniques and the use of computers as support tools. All these raw data are useless if they cannot be properly analysed, annotated, stored and displayed. Consequently, a vast number of resources have been created to present the data to the wider community. Annotation tools and databases provide the means to disseminate these data and to comprehend their biological importance. This review examines the various aspects of annotation: type, methodology and availability. Moreover, it puts a special interest on novel annotation fields, such as that of phenotypes, and highlights the recent efforts focused on the integrating annotations.     

放眼世界第一验证中心宜特布局效益展现

成立14年，已在资本市场公开发行的宜特科技，并没有像台积电或联发科那么出名，不过，只要置身电子行业中人，不管是做IC或做电子终端产品的．则几乎都认识这家电子验证及医学中心。展望未来，宜特将以“世界第一验证中心”为目标。     

Flash——电子产业最大推手

交通大学校友会在日前在台（11／6）举办的一场“劲竹论坛”演讲活动中，Flash发明人施敏教授及群联电子董事长潘健成针对Flash的发明发展与未来展望．做了精彩的分享。