bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synchronized Northern Hemisphere climate change and solar magnetic cycles during the Maunder Minimum
Authors: Yamaguchi Yasuhiko T. , Yokoyama Yusuke , Miyahara Hiroko , Sho Kenjiro , Nakatsuka Takeshi
Published: November 2010

The Maunder Minimum (A.D. 1645–1715) is a useful period to investigate possible sun–climate linkages as sunspots became exceedingly rare and the characteristics of solar cycles were different from those of today. Here, we report annual variations in the oxygen isotopic composition (δ18O) of tree-ring cellulose in central Japan during the Maunder Minimum. We were able to explore possible sun–climate connections through high-temporal resolution solar activity (radiocarbon contents; Δ14C) and climate (δ18O) isotope records derived from annual tree rings. The tree-ringδ18O record in Japan shows distinct negativeδ18O spikes (wetter rainy seasons) coinciding with rapid cooling in Greenland and with decreases in Northern Hemisphere mean temperature at around minima of decadal solar cycles. We have determined that the climate signals in all three records strongly correlate with changes in the polarity of solar dipole magnetic field, suggesting a causal link to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). These findings are further supported by a comparison between the interannual patterns of tree-ringδ18O record and the GCR flux reconstructed by an ice-core10Be record. Therefore, the variation of GCR flux associated with the multidecadal cycles of solar magnetic field seem to be causally related to the significant and widespread climate changes at least during the Maunder Minimum.
The spread of innovations in social networks
Authors: Montanari Andrea , Saberi Amin
Published: November 2010

Which network structures favor the rapid spread of new ideas, behaviors, or technologies? This question has been studied extensively using epidemic models. Here we consider a complementary point of view and consider scenarios where the individuals’ behavior is the result of a strategic choice among competing alternatives. In particular, we study models that are based on the dynamics of coordination games. Classical results in game theory studying this model provide a simple condition for a new action or innovation to become widespread in the network. The present paper characterizes the rate of convergence as a function of the structure of the interaction network. The resulting predictions differ strongly from the ones provided by epidemic models. In particular, it appears that innovation spreads much more slowly on well-connected network structures dominated by long-range links than in low-dimensional ones dominated, for example, by geographic proximity.
Flexible mechanisms underlie the evaluation of visual confidence
Authors: Barthelmé Simon , Mamassian Pascal
Published: November 2010

Visual processing is fraught with uncertainty: The visual system must attempt to estimate physical properties despite missing information and noisy mechanisms. Sometimes high visual uncertainty translates into lack of confidence in our visual perception: We are aware of not seeing well. The mechanism by which we achieve this awareness—how we assess our own visual uncertainty—is unknown, but its investigation is critical to our understanding of visual decision mechanisms. The simplest possibility is that the visual system relies on
cues to uncertainty
, stimulus features usually associated with visual uncertainty, like blurriness. Probabilistic models of the brain suggest a more sophisticated mechanism, in which visual uncertainty is explicitly represented as probability distributions. In two separate experiments, observers performed a visual discrimination task in which confidence could be determined by the cues available (contrast and crowding or eccentricity and masking) or by their actual performance, the latter requiring a more sophisticated mechanism than cue monitoring. Results show that observers’ confidence followed performance rather than cues, indicating that the mechanisms underlying the evaluation of visual confidence are relatively complex. This result supports probabilistic models, which imply the existence of sophisticated mechanisms for evaluating uncertainty.
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 p8 protein increases cellular conduits and virus transmission
Authors: Van Prooyen Nancy , Gold Heather , Andresen Vibeke , Schwartz Owen , Jones Kathryn , Ruscetti Frank , Lockett Stephen , Gudla Prabhakar , Venzon David , Franchini Genoveffa
Published: November 2010

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma as well as tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1–associated myelopathy. HTLV-1 is transmitted to T cells through the virological synapse and by extracellular viral assemblies. Here, we uncovered an additional mechanism of virus transmission that is regulated by the HTLV-1–encoded p8 protein. We found that the p8 protein, known to anergize T cells, is also able to increase T-cell contact through lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 clustering. In addition, p8 augments the number and length of cellular conduits among T cells and is transferred to neighboring T cells through these conduits. p8, by establishing a T-cell network, enhances the envelope-dependent transmission of HTLV-1. Thus, the ability of p8 to simultaneously anergize and cluster T cells, together with its induction of cellular conduits, secures virus propagation while avoiding the host's immune surveillance. This work identifies p8 as a viral target for the development of therapeutic strategies that may limit the expansion of infected cells in HTLV-1 carriers and decrease HTLV-1–associated morbidity.
Detoxifying carcinogenic polyhalogenated quinones by hydroxamic acids via an unusual double Lossen rearrangement mechanism
Authors: Zhu Ben-Zhan , Zhu Jun-Ge , Mao Li , Kalyanaraman Balaraman , Shan Guo-Qiang
Published: November 2010

Hydroxamic acids, which are best-known for their metal-chelating properties in biomedical research, have been found to effectively detoxify the carcinogenic polyhalogenated quinoid metabolites of pentachlorophenol and other persistent organic pollutants. However, the chemical mechanism underlying such detoxication is unclear. Here we show that benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) could dramatically accelerate the conversion of the highly toxic tetrachloro-1, 4-benzoquinone (
p
-chloranil) to the much less toxic 2,5-dichloro-3, 6-dihydroxy-1, 4-benzoquonine (chloranilic acid), with rate accelerations of up to 150,000-fold. In contrast, no enhancing effect was observed with
O
-methyl BHA. The major reaction product of BHA was isolated and identified as
O
-phenylcarbamyl benzohydroxamate. On the basis of these data and oxygen-18 isotope-labeling studies, we proposed that suicidal nucleophilic attack coupled with an unexpected double Lossen rearrangement reaction was responsible for this remarkable acceleration of the detoxication reaction. This is the first report of an unusually mild and facile Lossen-type rearrangement, which could take place under normal physiological conditions in two consecutive steps. Our findings may have broad biological and environmental implications for future research on hydroxamic acids and polyhalogenated quinoid carcinogens, which are two important classes of compounds of major biomedical and environmental interest.
Single secretory granules of live cells recruit syntaxin-1 and synaptosomal associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) in large copy numbers
Authors: Knowles M. K. , Barg S. , Wan L. , Midorikawa M. , Chen X. , Almers Wolfhard
Published: November 2010

Before secretory vesicles undergo exocytosis, they must recruit the proteins syntaxin-1 and synaptosomal associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) in the plasma membrane. GFP-labeled versions of both proteins cluster at sites where secretory granules have docked. Single-particle tracking shows that minority populations of both molecules are strongly hindered in their mobility, consistent with their confinement in nanodomains. We measured the fluorescence of granule-associated clusters, the fluorescence of single molecules, and the numbers of unlabeled syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25 molecules per cell. There was a more than 10-fold excess of SNAP-25 over syntaxin-1. Fifty to seventy copies each of syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25 molecules were associated with a single docked granule, many more than have been reported to be required for fusion.
Modular coils and plasma configurations for quasi-axisymmetric stellarators
Authors: Ku L.P. , Boozer A.H.
Published: November 2010

Characteristics of modular coils for quasi-axisymmetric stellarators that are related to the plasma aspect ratio, number of field periods and rotational transform have been examined systematically. It is observed that, for a given plasma aspect ratio, the coil complexity tends to increase with the increased number of field periods. For a given number of field periods, the toroidal excursion of coil winding is reduced as the plasma aspect ratio is increased. It is also clear that the larger the coil–plasma separation is, the more complex the coils become. It is further demonstrated that it is possible to use other types of coils to complement modular coils to improve both the physics and the modular coil characteristics.
Impact of 3D features on ion collisional transport in ITER
Authors: Bustos A. , Castejón F. , Fernández L.A. , García J. , Martin-Mayor V. , Reynolds J.M. , Seki R. , Velasco J.L.
Published: November 2010

The influence of magnetic ripple on ion collisional transport in ITER (Shimada et al
2007 Progress in the ITER Physics Basis: chapter 1. Overview and summary Nucl. Fusion
47 S1) is calculated using the Monte Carlo orbit code ISDEP (Castejón et al
2007 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion
49 753). The ripple is introduced as a perturbation to the 2D equilibrium configuration of the device, given by the HELENA code (Huysmans 1991 CP90 Conf. on Computational Physics (Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1990) (Singapore: World Scientific) p 371), obtaining a 3D configuration. Since the intensity of the ripple can change depending on the design of the test blanket modules that will be introduced in ITER, a scan of the ripple intensity has been performed to study the changes in confinement properties. The main result is that an increase in the perturbation leads to a degradation of the confinement due to an increase in the radial fluxes. The selective ion losses cause modifications in the ion distribution function. In this work most of the computing time has been provided by a new Citizen Supercomputer called Ibercivis.
QuACN: an R package for analyzing complex biological networks quantitatively
Authors: Mueller Laurin A. J. , Kugler Karl G. , Dander Andreas , Graber Armin , Dehmer Matthias
Published: November 2010

Motivation: Network-based representations of biological data have become an important way to analyze high-throughput data. To interpret the large amount of data that is produced by different high-throughput technologies, networks offer multifaceted aspects to analyze the data. As networks represent biological relationships within their structure, it turned out to be fruitful to analyze their topology. Therefore, we developed a freely available, open source R-package called Quantitative Analysis of Complex Networks (QuACN) to meet this challenge. QuACN contains different, information-theoretic and non-information-theoretic, topological network descriptors to analyze, classify and compare biological networks.

Availability:  QuACN is freely available under LGPL via CRAN (http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/QuACN/).

Contact:  laurin.mueller@umit.at
Protein Peeling 3D: new tools for analyzing protein structures
Authors: Gelly Jean-Christophe , de Brevern Alexandre G.
Published: November 2010

Summary: We present an improved version of our Protein Peeling web server dedicated to the analysis of protein structure architecture through the identification of protein units produced by an iterative splitting algorithm. New features include identification of structural domains, detection of unstructured terminal elements and evaluation of the stability of protein unit structures.

Availability: The website is free and open to all users with no login requirements at http://www.dsimb.inserm.fr/dsimb-tools/peeling3.

Contact:  jean-christophe.gelly@univ-paris-diderot.fr
Analyzing marginal cases in differential shotgun proteomics
Authors: Carvalho Paulo C. , Fischer Juliana S. G. , Perales Jonas , Yates John R. , Barbosa Valmir C. , Bareinboim Elias
Published: November 2010

Summary: We present an approach to statistically pinpoint differentially expressed proteins that have quantitation values near the quantitation threshold and are not identified in all replicates (marginal cases). Our method uses a Bayesian strategy to combine parametric statistics with an empirical distribution built from the reproducibility quality of the technical replicates.

Availability:The software is freely available for academic use at http://pcarvalho.com/patternlab.

Contact:  paulo@pcarvalho.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Evolutionary design principles and functional characteristics based on kingdom-specific network motifs
Authors: Kim Tae-Hwan , Kim Junil , Heslop-Harrison Pat , Cho Kwang-Hyun
Published: November 2010

Background: Network motifs within biological networks show non-random abundances in systems at different scales. Large directed protein networks at the cellular level are now well defined in several diverse species. We aimed to compare the nature of significantly observed two- and three-node network motifs across three different kingdoms (Arabidopsis thaliana for multicellular plants, Saccharomyces cerevisiae for unicellular fungi and Homo sapiens for animals).

Results: ‘Two-node feedback’ is the most significant motif in all three species. By considering the sign of each two-node feedback interaction, we examined the enrichment of the three types of two-node feedbacks [positive–positive (PP), negative–negative (NN) and positive–negative (PN)]. We found that PN is enriched in the network of A.thaliana, NN in the network of S.cerevisiae and PP and NN in the network of H.sapiens. Each feedback type has characteristic features of robustness, multistability and homeostasis.

Conclusions: We suggest that amplification of particular network motifs emerges from contrasting dynamical and topological properties of the motifs, reflects the evolutionary design principles selected by the characteristic behavior of each species and provides a signature pointing to their behavior and function.

Contact:  ckh@kaist.ac.kr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
TE Displayer for post-genomic analysis of transposable elements
Authors: Rooke Rebecca , Yang Guojun
Published: November 2010

Summary: TE Displayer can be used to retrieve genetic polymorphisms caused by transposable elements (TEs) in large-genomic datasets and present the results on virtual gel images. This enables researchers to compare TE profiles in silico and provides reference profiles for experimental analyses.

Availability and implementation: Freely available on the web at http://labs.csb.utoronto.ca/yang/TE_Displayer.

Contact:  gage.yang@utoronto.ca

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Zooming the macroscope: medium-resolution remote sensing as a framework for the assessment of a small-scale fishery
Authors: Amoroso Ricardo O. , Parma Ana M. , Orensanz J. M. (Lobo) , Gagliardini Domingo A.
Published: November 2010

Amoroso, R. O., Parma, A. M., Orensanz, J. M., and Gagliardini, D. A. 2011. Zooming the macroscope: medium-resolution remote sensing as a framework for the assessment of a small-scale fishery. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 696–706. Management of small-scale fisheries targeting sedentary stocks requires integration of information about processes operating and observable at different spatial and temporal scales. An integrated approach was developed with a scallop (Aequipecten tehuelchus) fishery in a small, semi-enclosed Patagonian basin as a demonstration case. Medium-resolution (30 m2) satellite (Landsat) data, used to identify circulation patterns, were combined with information from fishery surveys and recruitment experiments to link oceanographic processes with population dynamics. A frontal system splits San José Gulf (northern Argentine Patagonia) into two oceanographic domains (East and West) with distinct hydrographic regimes. In the West Domain, where circulation is highly advective and governed by turbulent vorticial fluxes, larval settlement on artificial collectors was insignificant over five reproductive seasons and no important scallop grounds were ever found. In the East Domain, where the main fishing grounds are, spat abundance varied between sites and years, but was always significant. Growth rates displayed strong clinal variation within the East Domain, decreasing clockwise away from the entrance to the Gulf and reflecting inferred circulation and gradual nutrient extinction. A physical mechanism capable of dispersing larvae over long distances towards the north, into the adjacent San Matias Gulf, was identified from Landsat images. The large-scale patterns of variation in growth, distribution, and recruitment of the Tehuelche scallop stock could not have been interpreted without an integrative approach to data assemblage and analysis, including satellite remote sensing.
Vibrio atlanticus sp. nov. and Vibrio artabrorum sp. nov., isolated from the clams Ruditapes philippinarum and Ruditapes decussatus
Authors: Diéguez Ana L. , Beaz-Hidalgo Roxana , Cleenwerck Ilse , Balboa Sabela , de Vos Paul , Romalde Jesús L.
Published: November 2010

Facultatively anaerobic marine bacteria isolated from cultured clams, Ruditapes decussatus and Ruditapes philippinarum, were previously investigated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. The isolates formed two AFLP clusters and belonged to the genus Vibrio, more precisely to the Splendidus clade. In this study, phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the housekeeping genes rpoA, rpoD, pyrH, atpA and recA supported their inclusion in that clade forming two well differentiated groups with respect to the rest of the species within the clade, and confirmed that they formed two groups, separated from the rest of the species of the clade. DNA–DNA hybridization demonstrated that the isolates constitute two novel species of the genus Vibrio, which can be phenotypically differentiated from their closest relatives. The names Vibrio atlanticus sp. nov. and Vibrio artabrorum sp. nov. are proposed, with Vb 11.11T ( = CECT 7223T  = LMG 24300T) and Vb 11.8T ( = CECT 7226T  = LMG 23865T) as the type strains, respectively.
Thioprofundum hispidum sp. nov., an obligately chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing gammaproteobacterium isolated from the hydrothermal field on Suiyo Seamount, and proposal of Thioalkalispiraceae fam. nov. in the order Chromatiales
Authors: Mori Koji , Suzuki Ken-ichiro , Urabe Tetsuro , Sugihara Maki , Tanaka Kenji , Hamada Moriyuki , Hanada Satoshi
Published: November 2010

A novel mesophilic, facultatively anaerobic, sulfur-oxidizing bacterial strain, designated gps61T, was isolated from a surface rock sample collected from the hydrothermal field of Suiyo Seamount on the Izu-Bonin Arc in the Western Pacific Ocean. Cells of the isolate were rod-shaped with a single sheathed polar flagellum. Neither extensive internal membranes nor storage materials were present in the cells. In a 20 % CO2atmosphere, strain gps61Tgrew using thiosulfate, sulfur or tetrathionate as electron donors and oxygen or nitrate as electron acceptors. Other substrates, including organic acids and sugars, did not support growth, indicating that strain gps61Twas an obligate chemolithoautotroph. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain gps61Twas closely related toThioprofundum lithotrophicum106T(98.5 % sequence similarity) in the orderChromatiales. Phylogenetic trees grouped strain gps61TandThioprofundum lithotrophicumin the same cluster along withThioalkalispira microaerophilaandThiohalophilus thiocyanoxidans, but it was apparent from the analysis that the novel strain had definitely departed from the family lineage. On the basis of its phylogenetic position along with its morphological and physiological characteristics, strain gps61T( = NBRC 101261T = DSM 18546T) represents a novel species of the genusThioprofundum, for which the nameThioprofundum hispidumsp. nov. is proposed. In addition, we propose a novel family name,Thioalkalispiraceae, in the orderChromatiales, to accommodate the generaThioalkalispira,ThiohalophilusandThioprofundum.
Aquimarina addita sp. nov., isolated from seawater
Authors: Yi Hana , Chun Jongsik
Published: November 2010

An orange-coloured, rod-shaped, non-motile, Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated JC2680T, was isolated from a seawater sample of Jeju Island, Korea. The isolate required sea salts for growth. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the test strain belonged to the genus Aquimarina within the family Flavobacteriaceae, but shared relatively low levels of similarity (93.6–95.9 %) with the type strains of recognized Aquimarina species. The predominant cellular fatty acids [iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 9 (comprising 10-methyl C16 : 0 and/or iso-C17 : 1ω9c) and DNA G+C content (35 mol%) were consistent with the assignment of strain JC2680T to the genus Aquimarina. However, a number of phenotypic characteristics, namely inability to grow under microaerophilic conditions, differences in enzyme reactions, and absence of flexirubin-type pigments and gliding motility, clearly distinguished strain JC2680T from recognized species of the genus Aquimarina. The data presented thus indicate that strain JC2680T represents a novel species of the genus Aquimarina, for which the name Aquimarina addita sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC2680T ( = KACC 14156T  = JCM 17106T).
Timing in trace conditioning of the nictitating membrane response of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): Scalar, nonscalar, and adaptive features
Authors: Kehoe E. James , Ludvig Elliot A. , Sutton Richard S.
Published: November 2010

Using interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 125, 250, and 500 msec in trace conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response, the offset times and durations of conditioned responses (CRs) were collected along with onset and peak latencies. All measures were proportional to the ISI, but only onset and peak latencies conformed to the criterion for scalar timing. Regarding the CR's possible protective overlap of the unconditioned stimulus (US), CR duration increased with ISI, while the peak's alignment with the US declined. Implications for models of timing and CR adaptiveness are discussed.
Cyanide, a Coproduct of Plant Hormone Ethylene Biosynthesis, Contributes to the Resistance of Rice to Blast Fungus
Authors: Seo Shigemi , Mitsuhara Ichiro , Feng Jiao , Iwai Takayoshi , Hasegawa Morifumi , Ohashi Yuko
Published: November 2010

Rice (Oryza sativa) plants carrying the Pi-i resistance gene to blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae restrict invaded fungus in infected tissue via hypersensitive reaction or response (HR), which is accompanied by rapid ethylene production and formation of small HR lesions. Ethylene biosynthesis has been implicated to be important for blast resistance; however, the individual roles of ethylene and cyanide, which are produced from the precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, remain unevaluated. In this study, we found that Pi-i-mediated resistance was compromised in transgenic rice lines, in which ethylene biosynthetic enzyme genes were silenced and then ethylene production was inhibited. The compromised resistance in transgenic lines was recovered by exogenously applying cyanide but not ethephon, an ethylene-releasing chemical in plant tissue. In a susceptible rice cultivar, treatment with cyanide or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid induced the resistance to blast fungus in a dose-dependent manner, while ethephon did not have the effect. Cyanide inhibited the growth of blast fungus in vitro and in planta, and application of flavonoids, secondary metabolites that exist ubiquitously in the plant kingdom, enhanced the cyanide-induced inhibition of fungal growth. These results suggested that cyanide, whose production is triggered by HR in infected tissue, contributes to the resistance in rice plants via restriction of fungal growth.
Mechanical Properties of Plant Cell Walls Probed by Relaxation Spectra
Authors: Hansen Steen Laugesen , Ray Peter Martin , Karlsson Anders Ola , Jørgensen Bodil , Borkhardt Bernhard , Petersen Bent Larsen , Ulvskov Peter
Published: November 2010

Transformants and mutants with altered cell wall composition are expected to display a biomechanical phenotype due to the structural role of the cell wall. It is often quite difficult, however, to distinguish the mechanical behavior of a mutant's or transformant's cell walls from that of the wild type. This may be due to the plant’s ability to compensate for the wall modification or because the biophysical method that is often employed, determination of simple elastic modulus and breakstrength, lacks the resolving power necessary for detecting subtle mechanical phenotypes. Here, we apply a method, determination of relaxation spectra, which probes, and can separate, the viscoelastic properties of different cell wall components (i.e. those properties that depend on the elastic behavior of load-bearing wall polymers combined with viscous interactions between them). A computer program, BayesRelax, that deduces relaxation spectra from appropriate rheological measurements is presented and made accessible through a Web interface. BayesRelax models the cell wall as a continuum of relaxing elements, and the ability of the method to resolve small differences in cell wall mechanical properties is demonstrated using tuber tissue from wild-type and transgenic potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) that differ in rhamnogalacturonan I side chain structure.
The effect of dye molecules in titania‐silica hybrid coatings for corrosion protection
Authors: Rout Tapan Kumar
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a corrosion resistant zinc‐free coating for interstitial free steel.

Design/methodology/approach

The objective was achieved by developing a titania‐silica hybrid coating through a sol‐gel process by incorporating a dye molecule. The role of dye molecules was particularly important for enhancing the anti‐corrosion properties of the coating. The approach of current research was to develop a low‐temperature coating process that can bring similar performance to that obtained in case of zinc coating. Titania and silica precursors were mixed by stirring under a nitrogen atmosphere at 80°C to formulate a low‐temperature coating. The dye molecules were added before addition of water for subsequent hydrolysis. This complete formulation was applied over steel sheets using a roll coater as the application method.

Findings

The ranking order of improved corrosion resistance was found to be PATMS>EETMS>GPTMS and the addition of trace amount of tartrazine dye (60‐65 mg/l of liquid) in PATMS increased the corrosion service life in saline environments from 168 to 216 h, thus showing a promising improvement. Scanning Kelvin Probe results indicated that the corrosion reaction is controlled cathodically in presence of dye and, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results exhibited a charge transfer resistance (Ct) of coating with dye of 419Ω cm2, which was higher than that of a similar coating without dye (360Ω cm2), indicating increased corrosion protection.

Research limitations/implications

This coating had improved barrier protection but lacked cut edge protection. Future work will focus on adding sacrificial protection by introducing compatible corrosion inhibitors, especially dye molecules, which are photosensitive.

Practical implications

This coating has huge potential for use in the automotive sector, especially for certain automotive parts (i.e. helm flanges), which suffer from poor durability in salty and high‐humidity atmospheres.

Social implications

Since this coating formulation utilises a partially aqueous base, some environmental impact cannot be avoided, but it will have less impact than a complete solvent base formulation.

Originality/value

The novelty of the work was the introduction of dye molecules as the corrosion inhibitor and their compatibility in the hybrid coating system.
High‐pressure CO2 pretreatment as a method for stainless steel passivation
Authors: Slemnik M. , Pečar D.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a study of corrosion properties of the highly corrosion‐resistant stainless steel Prokron 11Nb, which is suitable for use in high‐temperature and high‐pressure systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Prokron 11Nb was immersed in 0.1 M H2SO4 that had been previously sparged with CO2 and was exposed to high pressures within the range of 1‐300 bar at a constant temperature of 25°C. Treated surfaces were scanned with an electronic microscope (scanning electron microscope) equipped with energy spectrum distribution (energy dispersive spectroscopy) to analyze the morphologies and compositions of surface deposits. Corrosion properties were measured using the potentiodynamic method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Findings

The corrosion rate decreased with increasing CO2 pressure, which accelerated surface passivity, but only up to a pressure of 200 bar. Higher pressures (300 bar) increased the corrosion rate. The trends in corrosion rate with CO2 pressure agree with the stability of a protective layer where iron carbonate is present.

Originality/value

A high‐pressure CO2 treatment at low temperature is found to be a useful method for improving the passivity of stainless steel. Iron carbonate, which is the result of CO2 corrosion, forms a stable protective layer on the steel surface and this lowers the corrosion rate.
Study of an environment‐friendly insulating coating with high corrosion resistance on electrical steel
Authors: Lin An , Zhang Xian , Fang Dajing , Yang Miao , Gan Fuxing
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the corrosion resistance and the insulating characteristics of an environment‐friendly chromium‐free coating on electrical steel.

Design/methodology/approach

A water‐based semi‐inorganic environment‐friendly insulating coating on electrical steel was developed. The coating system of silane coupling agent and rare earth salt were used first in this coating to replace the chromate containing coating. In this study, it provided a successful combination of coating and passivation.

Findings

Several test results, such as insulating ability, corrosion resistance, adhesion strength and hardness, showed that the performance of the film complied fully with the industry standards, particularly excellent in its corrosion resistance and the maximum corrosion resistance (neutral salt‐spray test) time up to 20 h.

Originality/value

There have been few reports on the chromium‐free insulating coating on electrical steel, and described in the paper, this environment‐friendly insulating coating on electrical steel was found to be highly effective.
Bond between galvanized steel and concrete prepared with limestone aggregates
Authors: Maldonado L. , Quiroz‐Zavala Omán , Díaz‐Ballote Luis
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate if there is a loss in bond strength between galvanized steel used as reinforcement, and concrete of water‐to‐cement (w/c) ratio of 0.4 and 0.5, after both types of sample were cured for seven, 21 and 28 days in saturated calcium hydroxide solution, and without curing. The air permeability of the concrete was investigated at the interfacial zone.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural low‐carbon steel and galvanized steel were embedded in concrete samples, prepared with Portland cement type I and limestone (calcite 94‐97 percent) aggregates. The bond strength between the concrete and the reinforcing bars was measured by means of pull‐out tests.

Findings

In concrete of w/c=0.4 the bond for galvanized steel was 5.4±0.5 MPa, while the bond for black steel was 5.8±0.5 MPa, which is 7 percent higher than bond strength measured for samples with galvanized steel rebars. The bond strength for galvanized steel in concrete with a w/c ratio 0.5 was 5.5±0.6 MPa, which was 9 percent higher than the values obtained for black steel, which was 5.0±1 MPa. The total average bond strength of galvanized steel in concrete of w/c ratio 0.4 (5.4±0.5 MPa) and w/c ratio 0.5 (5.5±0.6 MPa) was very similar. They differed by only 2 percent. No decrease in the air permeability at the interfacial zone concrete/galvanized steel was found due to curing.

Originality/value

This research gives quantitative data on the behavior of galvanized steel used as reinforcing bars in concrete, prepared with limestone aggregates. The results might help to increase the reliability of galvanized reinforcing steel used in infrastructure exposed to very aggressive tropical humid marine environments.
Open products, open interfaces, and Ex Libris open‐platform strategy
Authors: Sadeh Tamar
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a hybrid model of library software development, according to which libraries implement commercial software products and extend them with locally developed or community developed open‐source components.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the following sources to describe several approaches to providing software that addresses the specific needs of individual libraries: commercial and community organizations' public statements of aims, philosophies, policies, and processes; e‐mail interviews; and e‐mail discussion lists. Data from a customer‐accessed collaborative web site are offered in an examination of the approach taken by one vendor, Ex Libris, to developing and supporting systems that customers can extend, customize, and integrate with other systems.

Findings

A little more than a year after the Ex Libris open‐platform program was launched, active community interaction in the creation and sharing of code extensions to the vendor's commercial systems was observed.

Practical implications

Community initiatives, a long part of the library tradition, are becoming common in library software development. Very few libraries have the resources required to carry out large software projects; however, by leveraging the resources of the community to develop and exchange code that enhances and customizes commercial solutions, all libraries, regardless of their resources, stand to benefit from commercial solutions in a cost‐effective way.

Originality/value

Libraries that are in the market for a software solution and are comparing commercial products with open‐source initiatives can benefit from this description of a hybrid model in which libraries maximize their investment in a commercial product by leveraging their staff's expertise and community support.
Cutting the proprietary cord
Authors: Helling John
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the two leading open source library management system (LMS) packages.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper highlights the reasons behind a switch from one open source provider to another. It is based on practical experience.

Findings

Both main open source LMSs (Koha and Evergreen) are presented in terms of their current use as well as their future directions of development and opportunities.

Originality/value

This paper compares the history of Koha and Evergreen. The former is criticized because of the recent “fork”, i.e. commercial use of open source code. Problems with a local implementation of Koha are also discussed. Evergreen however, since it was developed by a library consortium, appeared the better choice for the Indiana Shared Library Catalog (ISLC), a consortium of different libraries in Indiana. ISLC runs through the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority.
Open source software use in libraries
Authors: Payne Alexandria , Singh Vandana
Published: November 2010

Purpose

In order to provide a general context for library implementations of open source software (OSS), the purpose of this paper is to discuss the existing presence of OSS in libraries, the functionality and variety of OSS products, and the need for further study into the application of OSS technologies in libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a literature review.

Findings

This paper endeavors to provide a broad overview of the deepening relationship between libraries and OSS. Libraries are seeking alternatives to proprietary applications which may require specialized support and/or services. Moreover, OSS and proprietary products have a functional verisimilitude, and, as proprietary applications developers anticipate user needs, so too do OSS contributors.

Practical implications

The degree of variance between proprietary and OSS applications, features, support, and compatibility is continually lessening, so libraries are increasingly making use of less costly alternatives to subscription based tools.

Originality/value

The use of OSS in libraries is an increasing trend. OSS tools and implementations provide library institutions with access to a dynamic and cost effective solution for servicing user groups, manipulating large volumes of content, and facilitating communications between various institutional and public entities. This paper gives an holistic perspective albeit in a short form.
Good to great: lessons for managers
Authors: Filbeck Greg , Gorman Raymond , Parente Diane , Zhao Xin
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Jim Collins' Good to Great is but one of many popular press books on management. In his book, Collins discusses the keys to success for today's corporations. Many managers flocked to bookstores to discover what they might be missing in making their organization great. This paper aims to use methodologies more commonly found in the finance literature to validate the results of Collins' study.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses methodologies more commonly found in finance literature (e.g. event study methodology, Fama‐French three‐factor model with momentum, buy‐and‐hold abnormal returns) to validate the results of Collins' study.

Findings

The results show that the Good to Great firms had unexceptional performance when compared to other benchmark lists of firms, on an ex‐ante or ex‐post basis.

Practical implications

From a management perspective, the advice that one might obtain from Good to Great should be carefully examined by managers before they implement it, only to find that great is not really so great.

Originality/value

The paper is original in its methodological design and is valuable to managers who are seeking advice for opportunities that enhance shareholder wealth.
Closing the gap: a polemic on plant‐based research in operations management
Authors: Hill Terry , Nicholson Alastair , Westbrook Roy
Published: November 2010

There has been a growing call from within the operations management (OM) academic community for research of more managerial relevance. This has implied a greater emphasis on empirical research: surveys, cases, and action research. But in fact these types are quite different. However, the great majority of empirical OM work published is based on postal surveys and/or interviewing executives, where research method selection is made for reasons of practical convenience and academic expectation. Given the level of complexity involved in understanding the OM perspective of business issues then the emphasis should be placed on plant‐based research. Conducting research on‐site and investigation through the analysis of relevant data, issues, developments and events ensures relevance and a validity essential to making an impact on business practice. There are obstacles to increasing the amount of plant‐based research which is carried out, such as practical and personal difficulties, a mistaken concern over research rigour, and academic institutional inertia. Each of these needs to be overcome if OM research is to influence business practice more in the future than it has in the past.
Verification of a building defect classification system for housing
Authors: Georgiou Jim
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to verify and validate a building defect classification system that has been previously developed and presented in Structural Survey. In doing so, the paper also seeks to address the following question: “Can Government regulatory control improve the quality of house construction?”

Design/methodology/approach

Archicentre House Inspection Reports were used.

Findings

The houses built under the HCGA (1988‐1996) from a previous study recorded an average of 2.29 defects per house. The 100‐house sample constructed under the DBCTA (1996 onwards) recorded 536 defects, equating to an average of 5.36 defects per house. This finding suggests that the quality of housing has dropped since the two Acts of Parliament were enacted. There also appears to be a significant increase in the number of consumers requesting inspections by industry professionals while construction is still in progress and before handover is achieved. This, coupled with the substantial increase in the number of defects per house, would suggest that the new Act has not had the desired impact.

Originality/value

The research is the first of its kind to examine the effectiveness of Government regulatory control of quality of housing that is constructed. Using the defect classification system, governments can examine the effectiveness of their domestic building policies.
Condition survey objectivity and philosophy driven masonry repair
Authors: Forster Alan Mark , Douglas James
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The assessment of a deteriorating masonry structure should lead to an objective evaluation of condition. This process is, however, inevitably subjective owing to human interpretation. The condition of the substrate and the required repairs cannot be guaranteed and may vary from building inspector to inspector. For conservation works the determination of repairs is a function of condition but also directly relates to the underpinning framework of building conservation philosophy. These are also fundamentally subjective. The combination of both condition survey subjectivity and building conservation philosophy's nebulous nature creates the potential for project aesthetic and technical divergence. This paper aims to examine this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a literature review and hypothetical case studies.

Findings

It has been shown by various researchers that a visual survey is subjective and is therefore prone to differences in reporting. In addition, the application of building conservation philosophy is seen through the perspective of the professional specifying the repairs. The combination of these two factors leads to the potential for significant project outcomes.

Originality/value

Subjectivity of evaluation of condition for traditional masonry structures has been little studied by academics and practitioners alike, and it is generally assumed that these yield objective, rational data. This is not necessarily the case. The application of building conservation philosophy to determine repair strategies is also a subjective process. The combination of both may lead to significant project divergence. These combined factors have never previously been discussed.
Logistical constraints negating the successful completion of live city‐centre building refurbishment projects
Authors: Kangwa Joseph , Olubodun Femi , Nelson Margaret‐Mary
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This study undertakes to examine the perceived barriers to effective management of live city‐centre building refurbishment projects in the UK. Currently a school of thought posits that refurbishment projects are more unpredictable than new builds. The aim of the study is to identify how, against myriad logistical constraints of city‐centre refurbishment projects, managers endeavour to complete their projects on time.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 38 project managers responsible for large and medium‐scale city‐centre refurbishment projects in Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Nottingham were targeted as participants for the study. The projects were selected on the basis of location. Only live and active projects within a busy shopping centre of a city were targeted.

Findings

The study identified, using SPSS and non‐parametric statistical techniques, that the chance of success of planning for live city‐centre projects (LCCP) is impacted by economics, micro traffic flow, the experience of project managers, the share scale of the building form, the availability of specialist refurbishment trades, and how the project itself is linked to the feeder routes to and from the main active shopping areas (MASA). The study concludes that auxiliary skills remain critical to successful project completion; among these is the relationship between local authority agencies and the project team.

Originality/value

The study is unique as it seeks to identify which refurbishment dimensions and challenges are relevant and exclusive to live city‐centre refurbishment projects.
The cross‐cultural appropriateness of survey‐based value(s) research
Authors: Watkins Leah
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Cross‐cultural research in marketing has been dominated by survey‐based quantitative approaches; however, the assumption of prior validity required for the adoption of the survey approach to values in cross‐cultural research has yet to be established. This paper aims to review the literature and outlines the problems of the survey‐based approach to cross‐cultural values research. These criticisms relate both to the choice of the method and its execution. The paper outlines the multiplicative effects of these problems, that threaten the validity of the survey methodology in this context, and suggests a methodological alternative.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews and synthesises the relevant literature on conceptual and methodological issues pertinent to the survey approach to values research in a cross‐cultural context.

Findings

A review of the literature suggests numerous methodological problems that threaten the validity and reliability of the survey approach to cross‐cultural values research. This review exposes a methodological gap that can be filled by a qualitative approach to the study of values in cross‐cultural research. In particular, the paper advocates means‐end methodology as offering significant strengths and addressing several of the weaknesses of the survey‐based approach to cross‐cultural values research.

Originality/value

The paper synthesises the literature on methodological issues in cross‐cultural values research, bringing together disparate criticisms which reveal the range of unresolved problems with the empirical, survey‐based approach to cross‐cultural values research; the paper also offers a suggestion for an alternative methodological approach. The means‐end approach is increasingly being used in various research areas; this paper highlights its appropriateness in a cross‐cultural context, as an alternative to predefined and culturally determined measures that limit our understanding of cross‐cultural values. Means‐end addresses many of the specific weaknesses of the survey method identified in the literature review. This discussion of methodological issues has implications for the field of cross‐cultural research more generally and suggests a critical re‐assessment of cross‐cultural methods is needed.