bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(Im)Perfect robustness and adaptation of metabolic networks subject to metabolic and gene-expression regulation: marrying control engineering with metabolic control analysis
Authors: He Fei , Fromion Vincent , Westerhoff Hans V
Published: November 2013

Background

Metabolic control analysis (MCA) and supply–demand theory have led to appreciable understanding of the systems properties of metabolic networks that are subject exclusively to metabolic regulation. Supply–demand theory has not yet considered gene-expression regulation explicitly whilst a variant of MCA, i.e. Hierarchical Control Analysis (HCA), has done so. Existing analyses based on control engineering approaches have not been very explicit about whether metabolic or gene-expression regulation would be involved, but designed different ways in which regulation could be organized, with the potential of causing adaptation to be perfect.

Results

This study integrates control engineering and classical MCA augmented with supply–demand theory and HCA. Because gene-expression regulation involves time integration, it is identified as a natural instantiation of the ‘integral control’ (or near integral control) known in control engineering. This study then focuses on robustness against and adaptation to perturbations of process activities in the network, which could result from environmental perturbations, mutations or slow noise. It is shown however that this type of ‘integral control’ should rarely be expected to lead to the ‘perfect adaptation’: although the gene-expression regulation increases the robustness of important metabolite concentrations, it rarely makes them infinitely robust. For perfect adaptation to occur, the protein degradation reactions should be zero order in the concentration of the protein, which may be rare biologically for cells growing steadily.

Conclusions

A proposed new framework integrating the methodologies of control engineering and metabolic and hierarchical control analysis, improves the understanding of biological systems that are regulated both metabolically and by gene expression. In particular, the new approach enables one to address the issue whether the intracellular biochemical networks that have been and are being identified by genomics and systems biology, correspond to the ‘perfect’ regulatory structures designed by control engineering vis-à-vis optimal functions such as robustness. To the extent that they are not, the analyses suggest how they may become so and this in turn should facilitate synthetic biology and metabolic engineering.
High-resolution quantitative seismic imaging of a strike-slip fault with small vertical offset in clay rocks from underground galleries: Experimental platform of Tournemire, France
Authors: Bretaudeau François , Gélis Céline , Leparoux Donatienne , Brossier Romain , Cabrera Justo , Côte Philippe
Published: November 2013

Imaging tectonic faults with small vertical offsets in argillites (clay rock) using geophysical methods is challenging. In the context of deep radioactive waste disposals, the presence of such faults has to be assessed because they can modify the rock-confining properties. In the Tournemire Experimental Platform (TEP, Aveyron, France), fault zones with small vertical offsets and complex shape have been identified from underground works. However, 3D high-resolution surface seismic methods have limitations in this context that led us to consider the detection and characterization of the faults directly from underground works. We investigated the potential of seismic full-waveform inversion (FWI) applied in a transmission configuration to image the clay rock medium in a horizontal plane between galleries and compared it with first-arrival traveltime tomography (FATT). Our objective was to characterize seismic velocities of a block of argillites crossed by a subvertical fault zone with a small vertical offset. The specific measurement configuration allowed us to neglect the influence of the galleries on the wave propagation and to simplify the problem by considering a 2D isotropic horizontal imaging domain. Our FWI scheme relied on a robust adaptation of early arrival waveform tomography. The results obtained with FATT and FWI were in accordance, and both correlated with the geologic observations from the gallery walls and boreholes. We found that even though various simplifications was done in the inversion scheme and only a part of the data was used, FWI allowed us to get higher resolution images than FATT, and it was especially less sensitive to the incomplete illumination because it also used diffracted energy. Our results highlighted the complexity of the fault zone, showing a complex interaction of the main fault system with a secondary system composed of decimetric fractures associated with the presence of water.
Trend enhancement in aeromagnetic maps using constrained coherence-enhancing diffusion filtering
Authors: Geng Meixia , Yang Qingjie , Yuan Yuan
Published: November 2013

Geophysical data have to be modeled on a regular grid for various numerical procedures. However, airborne data tend to be collected with fine spacing along traverses but with much coarser spacing between traverses. Gridding only honors flight-line data when the mesh size is close to the sample spacing; otherwise, high-frequency information is always lost, which creates aliasing artifacts. For example, linear trends at an acute angle with respect to flight lines are imaged as “bull’s-eyes,” which resemble a boudinage at line intersections. The presence of boudinage artifacts can significantly distort anomalies of interest and thus lead to incorrect interpretation of shapes or sizes of causative bodies. We evaluated a method called constrained coherence-enhancing diffusion filtering that only diffuses the image in specific areas where strong anisotropy is detected. This method was tested on synthetic and field data set. Results indicated that the method can be efficiently used to enhance linear structure in multiple local directions. The images derived from this grid, such as the vertical gradient map, are also significantly improved. The original line data are honored by the constraints applied. We also used a field data set to compare the proposed approach with the approach used when diffusion is applied uniformly in all areas, irrespective of anisotropy. The proposed method was proven to produce better results with fewer artifacts.
Amygdala activation and symptom dimensions in obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Via Esther , Cardoner Narcís , Pujol Jesús , Alonso Pino , López-Solà Marina , Real Eva , Contreras-Rodríguez Oren , Deus Joan , Segalàs Cinto , Menchón José M. , Soriano-Mas Carles , Harrison Ben J.
Published: November 2013

Background

Despite knowledge of amygdala involvement in fear and anxiety, its contribution to the pathophysiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) remains controversial. In the context of neuroimaging studies, it seems likely that the heterogeneity of the disorder might have contributed to a lack of consistent findings.

Aims

To assess the influence of OCD symptom dimensions on amygdala responses to a well-validated emotional face-matching paradigm.

Method

Cross-sectional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study of 67 patients with OCD and 67 age-, gender- and education-level matched healthy controls.

Results

The severity of aggression/checking and sexual/religious symptom dimensions were significantly associated with heightened amygdala activation in those with OCD when responding to fearful faces, whereas no such correlations were seen for other symptom dimensions.

Conclusions

Amygdala functional alterations in OCD appear to be specifically modulated by symptom dimensions whose origins may be more closely linked to putative amygdala-centric processes, such as abnormal fear processing.
The auto-inhibitory domain and ATP-independent microtubule-binding region of Kinesin heavy chain are major functional domains for transport in theDrosophilagermline
Authors: Williams Lucy S. , Ganguly Sujoy , Loiseau Philippe , Ng Bing Fu , Palacios Isabel M.
Published: November 2013

The major motor Kinesin-1 provides a key pathway for cell polarization through intracellular transport. Little is known about how Kinesin works in complex cellular surroundings. Several cargos associate with Kinesin via Kinesin light chain (KLC). However, KLC is not required for all Kinesin transport. A putative cargo-binding domain was identified in the C-terminal tail of fungal Kinesin heavy chain (KHC). The tail is conserved in animal KHCs and might therefore represent an alternative KLC-independent cargo-interacting region. By comprehensive functional analysis of the tail during Drosophila oogenesis we have gained an understanding of how KHC achieves specificity in its transport and how it is regulated. This is, to our knowledge, the first in vivo structural/functional analysis of the tail in animal Kinesins. We show that the tail is essential for all functions of KHC except Dynein transport, which is KLC dependent. These tail-dependent KHC activities can be functionally separated from one another by further characterizing domains within the tail. In particular, our data show the following. First, KHC is temporally regulated during oogenesis. Second, the IAK domain has an essential role distinct from its auto-inhibitory function. Third, lack of auto-inhibition in itself is not necessarily detrimental to KHC function. Finally, the ATP-independent microtubule-binding motif is required for cargo localization. These results stress that two unexpected highly conserved domains, namely the auto-inhibitory IAK and the auxiliary microtubule-binding motifs, are crucial for transport by Kinesin-1 and that, although not all cargos are conserved, their transport involves the most conserved domains of animal KHCs.
Smad7-Skp2 complex orchestrates c-Myc stability, impacting on the cytostatic effect of TGF-β
Authors: Kim Tae-Aug , Kang Jin Muk , Hyun Ja-Shil , Lee Bona , Kim Staci Jakyong , Yang Eun-Sung , Hong Suntaek , Lee Ho-Jae , Fujii Makiko , Niederhuber John E. , Kim Seong-Jin
Published: November 2013

In most of human cancer, the c-Myc proto-oncogene is highly activated. Dysregulation of c-Myc oncoprotein contributes to drive tumorigenesis in numerous tissues and organs. Thus, targeting c-Myc stability can be a critical step for cancer therapy. Here we report Smad7 as a key molecule to regulate c-Myc stability and activity by recruiting F-box protein, Skp2. Ectopic expression of Smad7 down-regulated the protein level of c-Myc without affecting transcription level and significantly repressed its transcriptional activity, leading to inhibition of cell proliferation and tumorigenic activity. Furthermore, Smad7 enhanced ubiquitination of c-Myc through direct interaction with c-Myc and recruitment of Skp2. Ablation of Smad7 resulted in less sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effect of TGF-β by inducing stable c-Myc expression. In conclusion, these findings that Smad7 functions as a transductory role in c-Myc oncoprotein degradation and enhances the cytostatic effect of TGF-β signaling provide new insightful therapeutic approach for cancer treatment.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity by Particle Morphology: Preparation, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activities of Octahedral Anatase Titania Particles
Authors: Wei Zhishun , Kowalska Ewa , Ohtani Bunsho
Published: November 2013

Titania samples containing octahedral anatase particles (OAPs) were prepared by the ultrasonication–hydrothermal process of partially proton-exchanged potassium titanate nanowires. It was found that increase in the ultrasonication time changed the product morphology, with other structural properties such as specific surface area, crystalline size, and crystallinity remaining almost constant. The results of photocatalytic activity tests for those samples suggested higher activity of a sample with higher OAP content, especially for reactions in the presence of oxygen.
The Public Sector of Mixed Economy in the Modern World
Authors: Maksimovna Bogolib Tetiana
Published: November 2013

The article examines the processes of rapid development of economic systems of a new type, including mixed economy, shows competitive institutions of the mixed economy, and illustrates the significance of the public sector for the development of the national economy.
Funkcje emblematów w strukturze dialogu
Authors: Antas Jolanta , Kraśnicka-Wilk Izabela
Published: November 2013

Functions of emblems in the structure of a dialogue

So far, emblems have been considered a consistent and speech-independent gesture code. This paper attempts to track the function that they play in a natural dialogue. The footage we used to study emblematic gestures, contained such TV programmes where participants can be observed in the situation of unrehearsed dialogue, as it is then that the function of their emblematic gestures is enriched with additional elements such as a mental rapprochement of the interlocutors, and modifications of the syntactic flow of utterances. During the dialogue, speakers might also create new gestural illustrators which can become the seeds of new emblems. The paper also signals a new category of gestures, emotion icons, that were not recognized in previous classifications. Unlike the already known emotion indicators, they do not so much indicate the emotional state of the speaker, as mimic it in a gesture, and are an iconic expression that can even transform into an emblem of the given emotion.
Freedom of expression debates in Turkey: Acute problems and new hopes
Authors: Tunç Asli
Published: November 2013

This article critically evaluates the increasing restrictions on freedom of press in Turkey by giving examples and discussing cases in the last decade. The ownership structure of the media, legal constraints on journalists, self-censorship, media owners’ close links with the political establishment and erosion of editorial independence are the chronic diseases of the media sector. The panacea might be social media as an unfettered source of news with the vacuum in mainstream media coverage of civil antigovernment movements such as Gezi Park protests.
Synthesis of a novel fused tricyclic heterocycle, pyrimido[5,4-e][1,4]thiazepine, and its derivatives
Authors: Bazazan Tahmineh , Bakavoli Mehdi , Rahimizadeh Mohammad , Eshghi Hossein , Nikpour Mohsen
Published: November 2013

Sequential treatment of 5-bromo-2,4-dichloro-6-(chloromethyl)pyrimidine with 2-aminothiophenol and secondary amines afforded a series of 2-[(5-bromo-2-chloro-6-aminopyrimidin-4-yl)methylthio]aniline derivatives. Reaction of the latter compounds with secondary amines in ethanol gave a family of new 5,7-diamino-5,11-dihydropyrimido[5,4-e][1,4]benzothiazepines.
Effects of induced drought and tilting on biomass allocation, wood properties, compression wood formation and chemical composition of young Pinus radiata genotypes (clones)
Authors: Nanayakkara Bernadette , Lagane Frederic , Hodgkiss Pat , Dibley Mike , Smaill Simeon , Riddell Mark , Harrington Jonathan , Cown Dave
Published: November 2013

Eight genotypes (clones) of Pinus radiata were subjected to drought and stem inclination to assess genotype response to common stressors. While drought stress reduced diameter growth, height growth and total biomass accumulation, root to shoot (R/S) ratios were unaffected. Drought-stressed plants had significantly lower average acoustic velocity, but longitudinal shrinkage (LS) and density were not different from those of the control plants. Radial diameter growth and R/S ratios were unaffected by tilting. Inclined stems had significantly lower acoustic velocity, and significantly higher LS and density than control stems. Acoustic velocity had a strong negative correlation with LS (r2=0.79). Compression wood (CW) content was much higher in tilted plants, compared to control and drought treatment plants. The CW of tilted trees had different chemistry than that of the CW of drought and control plants. Genotypes differed significantly in the amount of CW formed as a response to tilting, demonstrating that the formation and extent of CW is genetically influenced. Mechanical perturbation in conjunction with acoustic methods for assessing stiffness would be a useful approach for early-age selection of genotypes less prone to form CW.
Azobenzene switch with a long-lived cis-state to photocontrol the enzyme activity of a histone deacetylase-like amidohydrolase
Authors: Korbus Michael , Balasubramanian Ganesh , Müller-Plathe Florian , Kolmar Harald , Meyer-Almes Franz-Josef
Published: November 2013

The control of enzymes by use of an external stimulus such as light enables the temporal and spatial regulation of defined chemical reactions in a highly precise manner. In this work we investigated and characterized the reversible photocontrol of a bacterial histone deacetylase-like amidohydrolase (HDAH) from Bordetella/Alcaligenes strain FB188, which holds great potential to control deacetylation reactions of a broad spectrum of substrates in biotechnological and biomedical applications. Several HDAH variants with a single surface accessible cysteine close to the active site were developed and covalently modified by a monofunctional azobenzene-based photoswitch [4-phenylazomaleinanil (4-PAM)]. The enzymatic activity of three HDAH variants (M30C, S20C and M150C) were shown to be controlled by light. The thermal cis-to-trans relaxation of azobenzene conjugated to HDAH was up to 50-fold retarded compared to unbound 4-PAM allowing light pulse switching rather than continuing irradiation to maintain the thermodynamically less stable cis-state of covalently attached 4-PAM.
Neoliberal Mystification: Crime and Estrangement in El Salvador
Authors: Garni Alisa , Weyher L. Frank
Published: November 2013

How do Salvadorans' varying responses to nationwide neoliberal restructuring affect their experiences and perceptions of crime? Official rhetoric regarding crime in El Salvador privileges highly individualized understandings over ones that would interrogate the relationship between crime and changing socioeconomic and political conditions. Nonetheless, several scholars have begun to examine the relationship between neoliberalism in war-torn Central America and the region's high crime rates. Building on this work, the authors find that while neoliberalism's structural and ideological components both reflect and further contribute to the conditions and growing sense of estrangement that influence how Salvadorans perceive and experience crime, these perceptions and experiences vary across local contexts. Drawing on 102 in-depth interviews and months of field research in two towns with similar population sizes, amenities, and patterns of migration to the United States, but differing local responses to national neoliberal restructuring, the authors examine the bases for such variation.
Assessing the Effects of Recent Immigration on Serious Property Crime in Austin, Texas
Authors: Stansfield Richard , Akins Scott , Rumbaut Rubén G. , Hammer Roger B.
Published: November 2013

In this article the authors examine the impact of recent immigration on rates of serious property crime across communities in Austin, Texas. The greater Austin foreign-born population has increased by more than 580 percent since 1980, and Austin is considered a “preemerging” immigrant gateway city to the United States. The changing population dynamics in Austin provide an excellent opportunity to study the effect of recent immigration on crime in a target destination for recent immigrants. Although interest in the relationship between violent crime and immigration to new locales is evidenced by recent studies that show less favorable outcomes for Latinos in new destinations, little attention has been directed to the relationship of recent immigration with serious property crime in new destinations. Negative binomial regression models with corrections for spatial autocorrelation indicate that recent immigration is not associated with an increased rate of burglary, larceny, or motor vehicle theft once important structural predictors of crime are controlled for.
Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Mercury among Iranian Hairdressers
Authors: Fakour Hoda , Esmaili‐Sari Abbas
Published: November 2013

Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Mercury among Iranian Hairdressers: Hoda FAKOUR, et al. Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran—

Objectives

The aim of this study was to describe the mercury concentrations in female hairdressers associated with occupational and environmental exposure through cosmetic products and amalgam fillings.

Methods

Sixty‐two hair and nail samples were collected randomly from Iranian hairdressers. Hg level determination was carried out using a LECO, AMA 254, Advanced Mercury Analyzer according to ASTM, standard No. D‐6722.

Results

The mean mercury levels were 1.15 ± 1.03 µg/g and 1.82 ± 1.12 µg/g in the hair and nail samples, respectively with a positive correlation among them (r=0.98). A significant relation was also observed between Hg levels and the number of amalgam fillings (p<0.001), use of cosmetics (p<0.001), and use of gloves (p=0.02).

Conclusions

The Hg levels in about one‐third of the studied samples were higher than the USEPA‐recommended 1 µg/g, which represents a serious health risk. Hairdressers with continuous use of cosmetics and a high number of amalgam fillings had significantly elevated mercury concentrations in their hair and nails, suggesting the importance of mercury exposure assessment in hidden, less‐explored sources of Hg in the workplace.
Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy (660 nm) on Angiogenesis in Wound Healing: A Immunohistochemical Study in a Rodent Model
Authors: Colombo Fabio , Neto Alberto de Aguiar Pires Valenca , Sousa Ana Paula Cavalcanti de , Marchionni Antonio Marcio Teixeira , Pinheiro Antonio Luiz Barbosa , Reis Silvia Regina de Almeida
Published: November 2013

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the angiogenesis on dorsal cutaneous wounds in a rodent model treated with λ660 nm laser light. New vessel formation is a multistep process involving vessel sprouting, endothelial cell migration, proliferation and tube formation. Although several in vivo studies have shown that laser phototherapy influences tissue repair, a fully understanding of angiogenesis mechanisms are not yet known. Twenty-four young adult male Wistar rats weighing between 200 and 250 g were used. Under general anesthesia, one excisional wound was created on the dorsum of each animal and they were randomly distributed into two groups: one control and one treated with laser (λ660 nm, 16 mW, 10 J/cm2). Each group was subdivided into three subgroups according to the animal death timing (2, 4 and 6 days). Laser irradiation started immediately after surgery and was repeated every other day during the experiment and marked with Sirius Red, specific for collagen, and immunomarked with anti-TGF-β and anti-von Willebrand factor. Marked sections underwent histological analysis by light microscopy and the mean area of the wound of each animal was calculated and analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Although at some death periods, collagen expression and number of blood vessels on irradiated animals were higher than in the control ones, no significant differences were found at any time in relation to TGF-β expression (p>0.05). It was concluded that laser treatment (λ660 nm) contributed to increase angiogenesis.
Effect of Surface Pretreatments on the Microtensile Bond Strength of Lithium-Disilicate Ceramic Repaired with Composite Resin
Authors: Colares Regina Claudia Ramos , Neri Jiovanne Rabelo , Souza Andre Mattos Brito de , Pontes Karina Matthes de Freitas , Mendonca Juliano Sartori , Santiago Sergio Lima
Published: November 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ceramic surface treatments and silane drying temperature on the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of a resin composite to a lithium disilicate ceramic. Twenty blocks (7x7x5 mm) of lithium disilicate-based hotpressed ceramic were fabricated and randomly divided into 4 groups: G1: acid etching with 9.5% hydrofluoric acid for 20 s and drying silane with room-temperature air; G2: acid etching with 9.5% hydrofluoric acid for 20 s and drying silane with 45 ± 5 °C warm air; G3: airborne-particle abrasion with 50 µm aluminum oxide particles and drying silane with 45 ± 5 °C warm air; G4: airborne-particle abrasion with 50 µm aluminum oxide particles and drying silane with air at room-temperature. After treatments, an adhesive system (Single Bond 2) was applied, light-cured and direct restorations were built up with a resin composite (Filtek Z250). Each specimen was stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h and cut into ceramic-composite beams with 1 mm2 of cross-sectional area for µTBS testing. Statistical analysis was performed with one-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls test (α=0.05). µTBS means (S.D.) in MPa were: G1: 32.14 (7.98), G2: 35.00 (7.77) and G3: 18.36 (6.17). All specimens of G4 failed during the cutting. G1 and G2 presented significantly higher µTBS than G3 (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between G1 and G2 (p>0.05). As far as the bond strength is concerned, surface pretreatment of lithium-disilicate ceramic with hydrofluoric acid and silane application can be used as an alternative to repair ceramic restorations with composite resin, while surface pretreatment with sandblasting should be avoided.
Dynamics of Microbial Colonization of the Oral Cavity in Newborns
Authors: Nelson-Filho Paulo , Borba Izabela Goncalves , Mesquita Kessia Suenia Fidelis de , Silva Raquel Assed Bezerra , Queiroz Alexandra Mussolino de , Silva Lea Assed Bezerra
Published: November 2013

The host defense mechanisms are not well developed in neonates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of microbial colonization of the oral cavity in newborns. Eighty-one samples of the oral microbiota were obtained from 51 healthy newborns 10 min to 53 h after birth by gently rubbing sterile swabs onto the surface of the tongue, cheek mucosa, alveolar process and palate. After microbiological processing, counting of the colony forming units of streptococci, staphylococci and Gram-negative aerobic bacilli was performed. Between 10 min and 8 h, Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected in 30.7% of the samples; between 8 and 16 h, S. epidermidis was detected in 69.5% of the samples and streptococci in 56.5% of the samples; between 16 and 24 h, S. epidermidis, streptococci and S. aureus were detected in 77.78%, 85.18% and 37.03% of the samples, respectively. Between 24 and 53 h, S. epidermidis was detected in 88.89%, streptococci in 94.4% and S. aureus in 33.3% of the samples. Mutans streptococci were not detected in any of the samples. The adoption of strict hygienic measures by the mother and the nursing staff should be emphasized to avoid or at least delay the occurrence of infections caused by microorganisms in newborns. In addition, hospital procedures must be aseptic and invasive interventions must be minimized.
Comparison of Two Techniques for Selection of Master Gutta-Percha Cone Using Micro-Computed Tomography
Authors: Silva-Filho Joao Manoel , Souza-Gabriel Aline Evangelista , Leoni Graziela Bianchi , De-Bem Samuel Henrique Camara , Alfredo Edson , Silva Ricardo Gariba
Published: November 2013

This study used micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to evaluate the fit of the master gutta-percha cone at time of cone fit, gutta-percha volume in the filling material, and the filling material volume in relation to the canal at the apical limit of the working length. Root canals of 20 maxillary central incisors were prepared with rotary instruments and distributed into two groups (n=10). The gutta-percha cone tip was either plasticized (apical thermal impression technique - ATI) or not (conventional technique - CT), and its apical fit was checked. The apical 1 mm of working length was examined with a micro-CT, canals were filled with gutta-percha and sealer, and new micro-CT scans were obtained. In CT, gutta-percha filled 35.83 ± 15.05% of the canal at cone selection and 38.72 ± 11.64% after filling. In ATI, these values were 23.14 ± 7.74% and 26.98 ± 20.40%, respectively. Gutta-percha volume in the filling material, and filling material volume in relation to the canal were, respectively, 61.28 ± 11.64% and 87.76 ± 9.98% for CT, and 73.00 ± 20.41% and 89.96 ± 9.08% for ATI. No significant difference was found between cone selection and after canal filling, for either CT (p=0.593) or ATI (p=0.4975). The techniques did not differ significantly with respect to gutta-percha volume in the filling material (p=0.132) and filling material volume in relation to the canal (p=0.612). An ideal fit of the master gutta-percha cone at working length was not achieved regardless of the cone selection technique, and the material-filled area was similar for both techniques.
A field trial of a reusable, hollow, cast-in-situ pile
Authors: McNamara Andrew M. , Suckling Tony P. , McKinley Brett , Stallebrass Sarah E.
Published: November 2013

This paper describes the concept and field testing of a hollow, cast-in-situ, rotary bored pile foundation 1200 mm diameter and 30 m deep. The aim of the foundation is to allow large-diameter piles to be constructed using less concrete than in an equivalent conventional solid pile, and with a view to allowing reuse at a later date. Reuse is made possible because the hollow core of the pile allows access for inspection after demolition of an existing structure. The new piles may also allow modification to enhance load capacity by augering through the base and extending their length. In addition, the piles are better suited than conventional piles for use as ‘energy piles' to allow environmentally friendly heating and cooling. The geotechnical performance of the hollow test pile was comparable with that of a conventional solid pile constructed during the same trial. Details of construction are given, including lessons learned.
Swell–shrink behaviour of lime precipitation treated soil
Authors: Thyagaraj T. , Zodinsanga Samuel
Published: November 2013

Previous investigation showed that sequential mixing of calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide solutions with an expansive soil resulted in lime precipitation in the soil mass, which controlled the swelling potentials and increased the unconfined compressive strength of treated specimens through strong modification and pozzolanic reactions. However, expansive soils in the field are subjected to cyclic wetting and drying due to environmental conditions, which affects the swell–shrink behaviour. Therefore, the present investigation examines the efficacy of the lime precipitation technique in controlling the swell–shrink potentials and strength characteristics of expansive soils subjected to cyclic wetting and drying. Expansive soil is mixed sequentially with different concentrations of calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide solutions to yield a range of lime precipitation contents, and cured for different time periods. The cured specimens were subjected to cyclic wetting and drying in modified odeometer cells, and the swell–shrink potentials were monitored. The unconfined compressive strength of cured specimens was also determined after different cycles of wetting and drying in a sand bath. The laboratory results showed that the second swell potential was the maximum for untreated and lime precipitation treated specimens, in comparison with other wetting cycles. The equilibrium state was reached after about four to five cycles of wetting and drying. The equilibrium bandwidth reduced as the percentage lime precipitation and curing period increased. The unconfined compressive strength reduced with wetting and drying cycles, which indicated the loss of cementation after one wetting and drying cycle.
Commuter dependence on expressways when travelling to work
Authors: Chang Daeyeol , Sohn Keemin
Published: November 2013

Traffic congestion is a serious problem in the Seoul metropolitan area in Korea, as the city has sprawled drastically over the past several decades. Although the area has a considerable length of expressways, commuters travelling on them ironically suffer from recurrent traffic congestion. The present study focused on the factors that lead commuters to depend on expressways regardless of the disadvantages in terms of travel costs and even travelling times. The impact of commuters' behavioural or attitudinal latent propensities on determination of their usual route for their commute to work was investigated based on a binary logit choice model. Route- and individual-specific variables, which have been widely adopted in conventional route choice studies, were also included in the model. A total of 522 commuters participated in the survey and provided actual information of the routes they used to travel to work. The results showed that behavioural or attitudinal latent determinants other than travel times and costs also contributed to commuters' dependence on expressways.
The Introduction of a Nurse Practitioner Model of Care Into an Australian Outpatient Setting
Authors: Scanlon Andrew
Published: November 2013

Introduction: This article aims to examine the role of a nurse practitioner (NP) within a public hospital Department of Neurosurgery outpatient setting in Melbourne Australia. Background: Neurosurgical activity in the outpatient clinic has been increasing. Public health networks around Australia have introduced various initiatives to address the growing concern of timely access for specialized care. One such initiative has been the introduction of NPs in both outpatient and acute care settings.

Contemporary practices of an NP working in an Australian neurosurgery department are described. How the role was first proposed initiated, and the training and capacity building is also explored and the national, state, and local structures and processes that have defined the role will be described.
Evolving Persistent Archives and Digital Library Systems: Integrating iRods, Cheshire3 and Multivalent
Authors: Moore Reagan , Rajasekar Arcot , Watry Paul , Corubolo Fabio , Harrison John , Fuselier Jerome
Published: November 2013

This paper describes work undertaken by Data Intensive Cyber Environments Center (DICE) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Liverpool on the development of an integrated preservation environment, which has been presented at the National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD), at the National Science Foundation, and at the European Commission. The underlying technology is based on the integrated Rule-Oriented Data System (iRODS), which implements a policy-based approach to distributed data management. By differentiating between different phases of the data life cycle based upon the evolution of data management policies, the infrastructure can be tuned to support data publication, data sharing, data analysis and data preservation. It is possible to build generic data management infrastructure that can evolve to meet the management requirements of each user community, federal agency and academic research project. In order to manage the properties of the data collections, we have developed and integrated scalable digital library services that support the discovery of, and access to, material organized as a collection.The integrated preservation environment prototype implements specific technologies that are capable of managing a wide range of preservation requirements, from parsing of legacy document formats, to enforcement of preservation policies, to validation of trustworthiness assessment criteria. Each capability has been demonstrated and is instantiated in multiple instances, both in the United States as part of the DataNet Federation Consortium (DFC) and through multiple European projects, primarily the FP7 SHAMAN project.
Here, KAPTUR This! Identifying and Selecting the Infrastructure Required to Support the Curation and Preservation of Visual Arts Research Data
Authors: Garrett Leigh , Gramstadt Marie-Therese , Silva Carlos
Published: November 2013

Research data is increasingly perceived as a valuable resource and, with appropriate curation and preservation, it has much to offer learning, teaching, research, knowledge transfer and consultancy activities in the visual arts. However, very little is known about the curation and preservation of this data: none of the specialist arts institutions have research data management policies or infrastructure and anecdotal evidence suggests that practice is ad hoc, left to individual researchers and teams with little support or guidance. In addition, the curation and preservation of such diverse and complex digital resources as found in the visual arts is, in itself, challenging. Led by the Visual Arts Data Service, a research centre of the University for the Creative Arts, in collaboration with the Glasgow School of Art; Goldsmiths College, University of London; and University of the Arts London, and funded by JISC, the KAPTUR project (2011-2013) seeks to address the lack of awareness and explore the potential of research data management systems in the arts by discovering the nature of research data in the visual arts, investigating the current state of research data management, developing a model of best practice applicable to both specialist arts institutions and arts departments in multidisciplinary institutions, and by applying, testing and piloting the model with the four institutional partners. Utilising the findings of the KAPTUR user requirement and technical review, this paper will outline the method and selection of an appropriate research data management system for the visual arts and the issues the team encountered along the way.
The Problematic Future of Research Data Management: Challenges, Opportunities and Emerging Patterns Identified by the DataRes Project
Authors: Halbert Martin
Published: November 2013

This paper describes findings and projections from a project that has examined emerging policies and practices in the United States regarding the long-term institutional management of research data. The DataRes project at the University of North Texas (UNT) studied institutional transitions taking place during 2011-2012 in response to new mandates from U.S. governmental funding agencies requiring research data management plans to be submitted with grant proposals. Additional synergistic findings from another UNT project, termed iCAMP, will also be reported briefly.This paper will build on these data analysis activities to discuss conclusions and prospects for likely developments within coming years based on the trends surfaced in this work. Several of these conclusions and prospects are surprising, representing both opportunities and troubling challenges, for not only the library profession but the academic research community as a whole.
Meeting the Data Management Compliance Challenge: Funder Expectations and Institutional Reality
Authors: Pink Catherine
Published: November 2013

In common with many global research funding agencies, in 2011 the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) published its Policy Framework on Research Data along with a mandate that institutions be fully compliant with the policy by May 2015. The University of Bath has a strong applied science and engineering research focus and, as such, the EPSRC is a major funder of the universityâ€™s research. In this paper, the Jisc-funded Research360 project shares its experience in developing the infrastructure required to enable a research-intensive institution to achieve full compliance with a particular funderâ€™s policy, in such a way as to support the varied data management needs of both the University of Bath and its external stakeholders. A key feature of the Research360 project was to ensure that after the projectâ€™s completion in summer 2013 the newly developed data management infrastructure would be maintained up to and beyond the EPSRCâ€™s 2015 deadline. Central to these plans was the â€˜University of Bath Roadmap for EPSRCâ€™, which was identified as an exemplar response by the EPSRC. This paper explores how a roadmap designed to meet a single funderâ€™s requirements can be compatible with the strategic goals of an institution. Also discussed is how the project worked with Charles Beagrie Ltd to develop a supporting business case, thus ensuring implementation of these long-term objectives. This paper describes how two new data management roles, the Institutional Data Scientist and Technical Data Coordinator, have contributed to delivery of the Research360 project and the importance of these new types of cross-institutional roles for embedding a new data management infrastructure within an institution. Finally, the experience of developing a new institutional data policy is shared. This policy represents a particular example of the need to reconcile a funderâ€™s expectations with the needs of individual researchers and their collaborators.
SEAD Virtual Archive: Building a Federation of Institutional Repositories for Long-Term Data Preservation in Sustainability Science
Authors: Plale Beth , McDonald Robert H. , Chandrasekar Kavitha , Kouper Inna , Konkiel Stacy , Hedstrom Margaret L. , Myers James , Kumar Praveen
Published: November 2013

Major research universities are grappling with their response to the deluge of scientific data emerging through research by their faculty. Many are looking to their libraries and the institutional repositories for a solution. Scientific data introduces substantial challenges that the document-based institutional repository may not be suited to deal with. The Sustainable Environment - Actionable Data (SEAD) Virtual Archive (VA) specifically addresses the challenges of â€˜long tailâ€™ scientific data. In this paper, we propose requirements, policy and architecture to support not only the preservation of scientific data today using institutional repositories, but also rich access to data and their use into the future.
The GESIS Data Archive for the Social Sciences: A Widely Recognised Data Archive on its Way
Authors: Schumann Natascha , Mauer Reiner
Published: November 2013

This paper describes initial experiences in evaluating an established data archive with a long-standing commitment to preservation and dissemination of social science research data against recently formulated standards for trustworthy digital archives. As stakeholders need to be sure that the data they produce, use or fund is treated according to common standards, the GESIS Data Archive decided to start a process of audit and certification within the European Framework of Certification and Audit, starting with the Data Seal of Approval (DSA). This paper gives an overview of workflows within the archive and illustrates some of the steps necessary to obtain the DSA as well as to optimize some of its services. Finally, a short appraisal of the method of the DSA is made.
The Product and System Specificities of Measuring Curation Impact
Authors: Weber Nicholas M. , Thomer Andrea K. , Mayernik Matthew S. , Dattore Bob , Ji Zaihua , Worley Steve
Published: November 2013

Using three datasets archived at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), we describe the creation of a â€˜data usage indexâ€™ for curation-specific impact assessments. Our work is focused on quantitatively evaluating climate and weather data used in earth and space science research, but we also discuss the application of this approach to other research data contexts. We conclude with some proposed future directions for metric-based work in data curation.
Retroperitoneal fibrosis in feline renal transplant recipients: 29 cases (1998–2011)
Authors: Wormser Chloe , Phillips Heidi , Aronson Lillian R.
Published: November 2013

Objective—To evaluate features, treatment, and prognosis associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis that developed after renal transplantation in cats.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—29 cats.

Procedures—Medical records of cats that developed retroperitoneal fibrosis after renal transplantation at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, between 1998 and 2011 were reviewed for signalment, date of transplantation, age, results of urine and blood analyses, blood pressure at the time of diagnosis, infectious disease and medication anamneses, anesthetic protocols, and intraoperative complications.

Results—Of 138 transplant recipients, 29 (21%) developed clinically important retroperitoneal fibrosis. Nineteen (66%) were male, and median age at the time of renal transplantation was 8 years (range, 4 to 13 years). Median number of days after transplantation to diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibrosis was 62 (range, 4 to 730 days; mean, 125 days). The most common clinical signs were lethargy and anorexia. All affected cats were azotemic (BUN concentration > 32 mg/dL; creatinine concentration > 2.0 mg/dL) and anemic (PCV < 35%) at the time of retroperitoneal fibrosis diagnosis, although cats were nonazotemic at the time of discharge following transplantation, and anemia was less pronounced. Twenty-five cats successfully underwent surgical ureterolysis in which scar tissue was dissected away from the allograft ureter to relieve extraluminal compression. Retroperitoneal fibrosis recurred in 6 (22%) cats a median of 180 days (range, 8 to 343 days) following the original diagnosis and was treated successfully by repeated ureterolysis.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Retroperitoneal fibrosis occurred in a substantial percentage of feline renal transplant recipients and should be considered a differential diagnosis in any feline renal transplant recipient with clinicopathologic findings, imaging abnormalities, or signs suggestive of obstructive uropathy.
Clinical signs, treatment, and prognosis for horses with impaction of the cranial aspect of the base of the cecum: 7 cases (2000–2010)
Authors: Sherlock Ceri E. , Eggleston Randall B.
Published: November 2013

Objective—To determine the clinical signs, treatment, and prognosis for horses with impaction of the cranial aspect of the base of the cecum (cecal cupula).

Design—Retrospective observational case series.

Animals—7 horses with colic attributed to cecal cupula impaction.

Procedures—Medical records were reviewed and horses that underwent exploratory celiotomy from 2000 through 2010 were identified. Horses with cecal cupula impaction and without other abdominal problems to which colic could be attributed were selected for inclusion in the study. Information regarding history, clinical findings, diagnostic testing, surgical findings and treatments, and treatments and complications after surgery was recorded. Rate of survival of horses to discharge from the hospital was determined. Long-term follow-up information was obtained with telephone questionnaires.

Results—Cecal cupula impaction without other cecal abnormalities was identified in 7 horses during exploratory celiotomy. Although clinical signs varied, horses typically had mild signs of colic and nondiagnostic rectal examination findings but were in systemically stable conditions at the time of the initial evaluation. Typhlotomies were performed and impactions were resolved by means of lavage and evacuation. All horses survived to discharge from the hospital and lived ≥ 2 years after surgery.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results of this study suggested cecal cupula impaction was a novel type of cecal impaction that was uncommon. Impactions did not involve the cecal body or apex and hypertrophy of the cecal wall was not grossly detected. Impactions were successfully treated with typhlotomy, lavage, and evacuation. Horses had a good prognosis after surgical treatment.