Proof of Concept Centers in the United States: an exploratory look

In this paper we identify the population of 32 US university-related Proof of Concept Centers (PoCCs), and we present a model of technology development that identifies the economic role of PoCCs within that model. We examine the broad technology transfer challenges that PoCCs have been established to address. Further, we argue that PoCCs are a growing technology infrastructure in the United States, and they are important as a possible element of our national innovation system.     

Fatal positional asphyxia associated with rollover crashes

Motor vehicle rollover crashes result in complex occupant kinematics with the potential for severe injury. Five cases of fatal asphyxia in occupants suspended from their safety belt upside down after a rollover crash are presented. These fatalities accounted for 13.5% of all motor vehicle related asphyxia deaths in San Diego County over a 10-year period. This study supports previous research noting that incapacitation due to other injuries, alcohol, or obesity may be associated with fatal positional asphyxia due to inversion during rollovers. Safety belts are proven to prevent serious injury in motor vehicle crashes and should always be worn. However, redesign of the buckle could be considered to permit easier release by an occupant. We also suggest that pre-existing heart disease may contribute to the possibility of a fatal asphyxia outcome. Although this is a rare cause of motor vehicle related death, our results suggest that these are potentially preventable deaths.     

Promoting the Safe and Strategic Use of Technology for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Evaluation of the Technology Safety Project

The Technology Safety Project of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence was designed to increase awareness and knowledge of technology safety issues for domestic violence victims, survivors, and advocacy staff. The project used a “train the trainer” model and provided computer and Internet resources to domestic violence service providers in order to (1) increase safe computer and Internet access for domestic violence survivors in Washington; (2) reduce the risk posed by abusers by educating survivors about technology safety and privacy; and (3) increase the ability of survivors to help themselves and their children through information technology. Evaluation of the project suggests that the program is needed, useful, and effective. Consumer satisfaction was high and there was perceived improvement in computer confidence and knowledge of computer safety. Areas for future program development and further research are discussed.     

Allele frequencies of six miniSTR loci in the population of Northern Portugal

A possible approach to try to recover information from degraded DNA is to reduce the size of the PCR products by designing primers that bind as close as possible to the STR repeat region, known as miniSTRs. Allele frequencies and forensic parameters for the six miniSTRs loci D1S1677, D2S441, D4S2364, D10S1248, D14S1434 and D22S1045 were investigated in a sample group consisting of 228 anonymous apparently healthy unrelated individuals living in North of Portugal. The results show that all loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The combined power of discrimination and power of exclusion for the six loci were 0.99999 and 0.9789, respectively. All but one (D4S2364) loci showed a moderate degree of polymorphism (observed heterozygosity >0.6). The allele sizes ranged between 66 and 118 bp in our population, which is beneficial for typing degraded samples than those of a commercial STR kit.     

Mediators of male violence toward female intimates

The purpose of this study was to compare perceived life stressors, alcohol usage, and perceived quality of the intimate relationship of a group of males who have abused their female intimate with a group who have no history of abuse toward their partner. Interviews were conducted with 42 men who were defined as violent and 50 men who were defined as nonviolent. Interviews consisted of various demographic and health questions as well as standardized instrumentation (Michigan Alcoholism Screen Test, Autonomy/Relatedness Scale, Life Experiences Survey, and Conflict-Tactics Scale). Student's t tests indicated that the two groups differed as a function of perceived life Stressors, perceived quality of the intimate relationship, race, and depression. Stepwise logistic regression indicated that higher perceived quality of the intimate relationship, black race, and greater depression were significant predictors of male violence toward female intimates.     

Population data of five STRs in three regions from Portugal

Allele and haplotype frequencies of five chromosome STR loci (CD4, TPO, FES, TH01 and VWA) were determined for unrelated males throughout Portugal. This report presents STR data for three separate regions of Portugal, being the first time that data on the south of the country is presented. This study reveals that the three regions from Portugal are not genetically homogeneous. The north of Portugal presents significant differences in the CD4 locus, when compared with the other two populations. When compared with Madeira and A?ores, the three regions show a different behavior at TPO and VWA loci.