Design and Development of a Reconfigurable Testing System for Biomechanical and Orthopedic Experimental Research

The goal of this work was to develop a versatile mechanical testing load frame and control system that incorporates hardware and software components that can be readily reconfigured to meet the unique needs of a wide variety of orthopedic testing applications. The technical requirements of the system included a maximum axial loading capacity of at least 2000lbf and a maximum torsional loading capacity of at least 250 in-lbf. The system was physically designed using Solidworks, including the load frame and selected actuators, before being fabricated and assembled. Custom software for the system was developed using LabVIEW, and consists of three primary sections: the control system loop, data recording, and the user interface. The control system loop is structured as a finite state machine (FSM) to allow for easier troubleshooting as well as expansion of control types. The data recording consist of two separate loops, one of which operates deterministically to store data in a clustered real time first in first out (RTFIFO) variable while the second records this collected data to a text file on the cRIO system. The user interface allows the operator to change the system control type such as position or load, create a file for data recording, and displays information about the system during operation. The user interface also includes various safety checks to prevent the user from damaging the system. The system’s final cost came out to approximately $47,023 including a safety screen, custom fixturing for upcoming Biomechanical Environments Laboratories (BMEL) projects, and an estimation for work hours. The system is being prepared for used in an Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulated study and will be validated as required for the study. A user’s manual was created for the system including information concerning assembly for a linear and torsional loading scenario, operation of the current software version, and steps for adding and changing sensors in the system

Global Journal Prestige and Supporting Disciplines: A Scientometric Study of Information Systems Journals

Many argue that the Information Systems (IS) field is at a critical juncture in its evolving identity. In debating whether the IS field is in crisis, we agree with Hirschheim and Klein (2003) that ¡°reflective analysis¡± will contribute to the field¡¯s continued prosperity. Indeed, reflective analysis is needed to evaluate the journals of the field as well as IS journal rankings, which evaluate the effectiveness and productivity of researchers and the effectiveness and productivity of journals in communicating research results. After all, where and how we publish are fundamental aspects of the identity of the IS field¡ªreflecting our value systems, paradigms, cultural practices, reward systems, political hierarchy, and aspirations. This article reviews the results of the largest global, scientometric survey to date of IS journal rankings that targeted 8741 faculty from 414 IS departments world-wide, and resulted in 2559 responses, or a 32% response rate. Rather than using predetermined journal lists, the study required respondents to freely recall their top-four research journals. This research improves on the usual scientometric journal ranking studies by providing a foundation for further reflection and self-analysis. For instance, it first examines the global structure of the IS field and investigates perceptions among global IS academics concerning current research outlets. Specific results then illustrate the values and cultural norms in the global IS community that affect the evaluation of research and publication outlets. Finally, in addition to rankings of scholarly journals by the entire world-wide sample of IS academics, rankings are provided for top IS practitioner journals, most frequently read IS journals, top journals for the major IS supporting disciplines, and top journals by world region

Examining interactions among SNPs that can explain the prognostic variability in colorectal cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer is a significant medical burden worldwide and in Newfoundland and Labrador. Examining the relationships of SNP interactions with survival outcomes can help identify new prognostic markers for this disease. Objectives: To examine associations between colorectal cancer survival outcomes and interactions of SNPs from MMP family and VEGF interactome genes using data-reduction methods. Methods: Two data-reduction software programs, Cox-MDR and GMDR 0.9, were applied to the data of patients from the Newfoundland Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry. Eight datasets were investigated: one for the MMP gene SNPs (201 SNPs), and seven for the VEGF interaction networks (total 1,517 SNPs). Significance of interaction models was assessed using permutation testing. Associations between significant interaction models and clinical outcomes were confirmed using multivariable regression methods. Results: For the MMP dataset two multi-SNP models and one single-SNP model were identified, while fifteen novel multi-SNP models and thirteen single-SNP models were identified for the VEGF interaction network datasets. All but one of these models were able to distinguish patients based on their outcome risk in multivariable regression models (p-value range: 0.03 – 2.2E-9). Conclusion: This research demonstrated that novel genetic interactions associated with outcome risk in colorectal cancer can be found using data-reduction methods. This proves the utility of these methods in prognostic research

SPOCS User Guide

SPOCS implements a graph-based ortholog prediction method to generate a simple tab-delimited table of orthologs, and in addition, html files that provide a visualization of the ortholog/paralog relationships to which gene/protein expression metadata may be overlaid

Infrared measurements of atmospheric constituents

The objective of this program is to obtain data concerning the concentration versus altitude of various constituents of interest in the photochemistry of the stratospheric ozone layer. Data pertinent to this objective are obtained using balloon-borne instruments to measure the atmospheric transmission and emission in the mid infrared. In addition to obtaining constituent profile information, the spectral data obtained are also used to identify absorption or emission features which may interfere with the retrieval of constituent data from satellite instruments using lower spectral resolution. The spectral resolution obtained with the solar spectral system is 0.0025 cm(exp -1) and represents about a factor of 5 greater resolution than any solar spectra previously obtained in this spectral region. As a result of the increase in spectral resolution, a large number of features are observed in these spectra which were not observed in previous studies. Identification and analysis of these features is in progress. The results of this analysis to date shows a number of HNO3 features which have not been observed before, and these occur where they will interfere with the retrieval of other constituents. An example of the interference is the occurrence of features in the 780.2 cm(exp -1) region which overlap the ClONO2 feature which will be used for retrieval of ClONO2 by the CLAES instrument on UARS. A number of features due to COF2 were also identified in the 1250 cm(exp -1) region which may interfere with retrieval of N2O5

Analysis of atmospheric spectra for trace gases

The objective is the comprehensive analysis of high resolution atmospheric spectra recorded in the middle-infrared region to obtain simultaneous measurements of coupled parameters (gas concentrations of key trace constituents, total column amounts, pressure, and temperature) in the stratosphere and upper troposphere. Solar absorption spectra recorded at 0.002 and 0.02 cm exp -1 resolutions with the University of Denver group's balloon-borne, aircraft borne, and ground-based interferometers and 0.005 to 0.01 cm exp -1 resolution solar spectra from Kitt Peak are used in the analyses