Benefits of Obtaining an Advanced Degree in Engineering Management

In this study, an attempt to evaluate factual benefits of an advanced degree in the field of Engineering Management has been made. The study concentrated on estimation of economic and non-monetary benefits, reported by various groups of Engineering Management alumni of The University of Tennessee. The comparison between age, gender and career variation groups was completed, and the possible reasons for these findings were discussed. Also, additional data pertaining to program cost coverage, demographics, composition of alumni pool, and appreciation of the Engineering Management program in their post-graduation careers was collected and analyzed. The study suggests that, even though there is an economic benefit to obtaining an advanced degree, it takes several years until its potential can be fully realized. Moreover, there appear to be noticeable non-monetary benefits to continuing professional education in the field of Engineering Management

Experimental and theoretical studies on the conformational properties of cis- and trans-4,5-methano-L-prolines

Il est connu que les 4,5-méthano-L-prolines ont des conformations et des caractéristiques différentes que la L-proline. L’aplatissement du cycle pyrrolidine dans la proline joue un rôle important dans sa stabilité et la conformation spatiale des analogues 4,5-méthano- de la L-proline. Ainsi, des études approfondies ont été menées pour analyser les différences de structure et les modèles de pliage des cis- et trans-4,5-méthano-L-prolines et leurs oligomères en corrélation avec la délocalisation électronique n→π∗ entre les carbonyles adjacents. Dans cette thèse, la stabilisation n→π∗ entre les groupes carbonyl d’une amide et un ester a été analysée, divulguant des propriétés structurelles supplémentaires des 4,5-méthano-L-prolines. Les études spectroscopiques en RMN ont révélé les caractéristiques spatiales des cis- and trans-4,5-méthano-L-prolines corrélant avec l’équilibre d’isomérisation de l’amide trans : cis dans des environnements différents. En outre, le mécanisme de la cyclisation intramoléculaire des dimères cis-cis, trans-trans, et du mélange trans,cis-4,5-méthano-L-proline dans la formation des dicétopipérazines a révélé l'importance de la stabilisation n→π∗ sur les caractéristiques conformationnelles et de pliage. Des études de modélisation DFT ont également été menées afin de compléter nos résultats et de fournir des explications soutenant nos résultats expérimentale.It is well known that 4,5-methano-L-prolines have different conformational properties and characteristics than proline. The flattening of the pyrrolidine ring plays a role in the stability and conformation of L-proline methanologs. Thus, extensive studies have been conducted to analyze the structural differences and folding patterns of cis- and trans-4,5-methano-L-prolines and their oligomers in correlation with the n→π∗ electron delocalization between the adjacent carbonyls of amide and ester groups. In this thesis, the n→π∗ stabilization of each derivative is analyzed, disclosing additional structural properties of 4,5-methano-L-prolines. NMR spectroscopic studies revealed the spatial characteristics of cis- and trans-4,5-methano-L-prolines in correlation to the amide trans : cis isomerization equilibrium in different solvents. In addition, the tendency of diketopiperazine formation from the cis-cis, trans-trans, and mixed trans,cis-4,5-methano-L-proline dimers reflected the importance of the n→π∗ stabilization on the conformation and folding characteristics

Laser suction effect: Zero-basket technique for dusting ureteral stones with pulse modulation

Introduction and Objectives: In the laser suction effect, collapse of the vapor bubble leads to a change in pressure which produces a suction effect on the stone. In the Venturi effect, a vacuum is produced in front of the stone as the endoscope is withdrawn and the irrigating fluid helps push the stone out. During semi-rigid ureteroscopy (URS) and laser lithotripsy, it may be possible to use a combination of these two phenomena to help attract and evacuate stone fragments. In this video, we demonstrate our technique of dusting ureteral stones using pulse modulation for laser suction effect, along with Venturi effect, for evacuation of fragments without the need for basket retrieval. Materials and Methods: We present three patients with distal to mid ureteral stones (7 to 12 mm) undergoing semi-rigid URS and laser lithotripsy. Dusting settings of low pulse energy and moderate frequency with pulse modulation (Moses Contact mode) using a 230 µm core fiber was used to treat the stones (P120Moses, Lumenis). Each stone was able to be broken into dust and small fragments, which were sequentially evacuated out of the ureter. Results: Principles for this technique include: (1) Patient in reverse Trendelenburg position, (2) Semi-rigid ureteroscopy, (3) Safety guidewire, (4) Irrigation modulated by surgeon, (5) Low power (\u3c10 W) 0.3 J x 30 Hz dusting settings, (6) Pulse modulation (Moses Contact mode) to reduce retropulsion and keep fragments close to fiber tip for laser suction effect, (7) Activating laser on center of stone, (8) Advancing scope beyond fragments and withdrawal of scope for Venturi effect and fragment expulsion, (9) Manipulation of guidewire to help tease fragments out of ureteral orifice. In all three patients, the stone could be dusted and fragments expelled without the need for basketing. There were no complications and follow-up imaging showed no hydronephrosis or residual fragments. Conclusions: We present a method of dusting stones in the ureter with the semirigid ureteroscope using low pulse energy (0.3 J), and moderate frequency (30 Hz). Use of pulse modulation aids this approach, by reducing retropulsion and keeping fragments close to the scope while withdrawing it out of the ureter. A combination of fluid irrigation and scope withdrawal helps evacuate fragments from the ureter without the use of a basket

Stress sigma factor RpoS degradation and translation are sensitive to the state of central metabolism

International audienceRpoS, the stationary phase/stress sigma factor of Escherichia coli, regulates a large cohort of genes important for the cell to deal with suboptimal conditions. Its level increases quickly in the cell in response to many stresses and returns to low levels when growth resumes. Increased RpoS results from increased translation and decreased RpoS degradation. Translation is positively regulated by small RNAs (sRNAs). Protein stability is positively regulated by anti-adaptors, which prevent the RssB adaptor-mediated degradation of RpoS by the ClpXP protease. Inactivation of aceE, a subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), was found to increase levels of RpoS by affecting both translation and protein degradation. The stabilization of RpoS in aceE mutants is dependent on increased transcription and translation of IraP and IraD, two known anti-adaptors. The aceE mutation also leads to a significant increase in rpoS translation. The sRNAs known to positively regulate RpoS are not responsible for the increased translation; sequences around the start codon are sufficient for the induction of translation. PDH synthesizes acetyl-CoA; acetate supplementation allows the cell to synthesize acetyl-CoA by an alternative, less favored pathway, in part dependent upon RpoS. Acetate addition suppressed the effects of the aceE mutant on induction of the anti-adaptors, RpoS stabilization, and rpoS translation. Thus, the bacterial cell responds to lowered levels of acetyl-CoA by inducing RpoS, allowing reprogramming of E. coli metabolism

Brand addiction in the contexts of luxury and fast-fashion brands

Although research on consumer-brand relationship has gained increasing interest among scholars, little is known to date about its most intense form – brand addiction. This research explores the main motives and outcomes of this phenomenon in the two brand categories: luxury and fast-fashion brands. The authors conducted 21 in-depth interviews in the U.S. to tap into the respondents’ addictive experiences with luxury and fast-fashion brands. Different themes emerged regarding the motivations for luxury and fast-fashion brand addiction. Self-expressiveness, status consumption and perceived quality are motivators for luxury fashion brand addiction while continuous update of fashion-led items, perceived value, and product assortments are motivators for fast-fashion brand addiction. As for the consequences, interpersonal relationships and financial issues emerged as common themes for addiction to certain luxury and fast-fashion brands while selectivity of style and motivation to work harder surfaced as themes for addiction to particular luxury brands. The results also show that brand addiction may cause both positive and negative effects on consumers’ well-being. This research provides important implications for consumer-brand relationships and ethical considerations for brand managers

L’Empereur à pied

Chapitre 1 L’imagination pourrait aisément façonner ici des histoires de principautés un peu frustes, de dynasties remontant au Déluge et vivant environnées de sommets couverts de cèdres et de chênes. Mais je ne vais pas partir si loin, ni même au temps où les vieux temples en ruine servaient encore d’escale aux processions religieuses dansant et progressant le long des gorges, ni à celui d’un Moyen Âge obscur où les clameurs de cinquante invasions de peuples schismatiques ou rebelles ne pure..

On-board cost effective recording system for enhanced road safety

A low cost monitoring system based on Smart Card technology is designed and developed to monitor the entire duration of driving, duration of pause, average driving speed as well as peak speeds over a preset period of time. The system is recording the information on a 8KB smart card of an encrypted manner to avoid any interaction of the driver or the enforcing authority with the information. The encryption permits continuous records as long as 30 days and could accommodate the information collected from the on-board computer of the car as well as of the external sensors. The system is using a microcontroller with serial and parallel interfaces to collect data. The system has been conceived as expandable to a larger number of sensors as well as to a larger capacity smart card system. In addition, an investigation on the capability of the system to record other information related to the driver's driving habits or dangerous manoeuvres has been carried out. The system has also been conceived to be capable of reading information from remote sensors through telemetry and record vehicle conditions that may lead to future accidents