bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coastal cliff geohazards in weak rock: the UK Chalk cliffs of Sussex
Authors: Mortimore R.N. , Lawrence J. , Pope D. , Duperret A. , Genter A.
Published: December 2007

Geohazards related to chalk coastal cliffs from Eastbourne to Brighton, Sussex are described. An eight-fold hazard classification is introduced that recognizes the influence of chalk lithology, overlying sediments and weathering processes on location, magnitude and frequency of cliff collapses. Parts of the coast are characterized by cliffs of predominantly a single chalk formation (e.g. Seven Sisters) and other sections are more complex containing several Chalk formations (Beachy Head). Rock properties (intact dry density or porosity) and mass structure vary with each formation and control cliff failure mechanisms and scales of failures. The Holywell Nodular Chalk, New Pit Chalk and Newhaven Chalk formations are characterized by steeply inclined conjugate sets of joints which lead to predominantly plane and wedge failures. However, the dihedral angle of the shears, the fracture roughness and fill is different in each of these formations leading to different rock mass shear strengths. In contrast the Seaford and Culver Chalk formations are characterized by low-density chalks with predominantly clean, vertical joint sets, more closely spaced than in the other formations. Cliff failure types range from simple joint controlled conventional plane and wedge failures to complex cliff collapses and major rock falls (partial flow-slides) involving material failure as well as interaction with discontinuities. Other hazards, related to sediments capping the Chalk cliffs, include mud-slides and sandstone collapses at Newhaven, and progressive failure of Quaternary Head and other valley-fill deposits. Weathering, including the concentration of groundwater flow down dissolution pipes and primary discontinuities, is a major factor on rate and location of cliff collapses. A particular feature of the Chalk cliffs is the influence of folding on cliff stability, especially at Beachy Head, Seaford Head and Newhaven. A new classification for cliff collapses and a new scale of magnitude for collapses are introduced and used to identify, semi-quantify and map the different hazards.

Climate (and climate change) and marine erosion affect the rate of development of cliff collapse and cliff-line retreat. This was particularly evident during the wet winters of 1999–2000–2001 when the first major collapses along protected sections of coastline occurred (Peacehaven Cliffs protected by an undercliff wall; Black Rock Marina the Chalk cliffs and the Quaternary Head). It is the geology, however, that controls the location and scale of erosion and cliff failure.
Laboratory abrasion tests on beach flint shingle
Authors: Dornbusch U. , Moses C. A. , Robinson D. A. , Williams R. B. G.
Published: December 2007

Laboratory tumbling experiments demonstrate that rounded flint beach shingle is less durable than commonly supposed. The mean rate of abrasion for dark grey Sussex flints (Senonian) in the first few hours of tumbling increases with weight whereas that of white Normandy flints (Turonian and Coniacian) does not. Depending on pebble weight, the Sussex flints abrade at up to six times the rate of the Normandy flints. Abrasion rates also vary according to tumbler load, the water:shingle ratio, and tumbling period. The abrasion rate of Sussex flints decreases with time at a much greater rate than could be expected from the reduction in size. The abrasion debris is mostly silt sized, but small quantities of sand are produced from samples containing larger pebbles.
In situ
abrasion of flint shingle is estimated to be significant, reducing the protection shingle beaches afford to cliffs thus exacerbating Chalk cliff instability.
Early kinematic history of the Goban Spur rifted margin derived from a new model of continental breakup and sea-floor spreading initiation
Authors: Healy D. , Kusznir N. J.
Published: December 2007

Deformation of continental lithosphere leading to breakup and the initiation of sea-floor spreading can be described in terms of an upwelling divergent flow field within the continental lithosphere and asthenosphere. A new model (SfMargin) of rifted continental margin formation using this upwelling divergent flow field has been developed that successfully predicts lithosphere depth-dependent stretching and mantle exhumation at rifted margins. The kinematics of this flow field has important consequences for the bathymetric (subsidence) and thermal history of continental margin lithosphere. We apply the new model to a profile through the Goban Spur on the eastern Atlantic continental margin. Forward modelling yields parameter values describing the kinematics of the flow field leading to continental breakup and sea-floor spreading initiation that are consistent with the known amagmatic history of this margin. We employ a grid search method to systematically explore model parameter space and provide an assessment of the sensitivity of the model to the kinematic flow field parameter values. The preferred forward model parameters coincide with low values of misfit with respect to observed present-day bathymetry and free air gravity anomalies. Our results reveal the early kinematic history of the Goban Spur margin as characterized by a ratio of upwelling rate to half-spreading rate of unity, consistent with that expected for the initiation of sea-floor spreading at a non-volcanic rifted margin and only a modest amount of prebreakup lithospheric stretching (β=1.5). These results conform with recent observations of depth-dependent stretching and serpentinized mantle exhumation at this amagmatic rifted continental margin.
The boundary between continental rifting and sea-floor spreading in the Woodlark Basin, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Goodliffe A. M. , Taylor B.
Published: December 2007

Seismic reflection, bathymetry, acoustic imagery and magnetic data are presented that encompass the boundary between rifting of the Papuan continent and westward propagating sea-floor spreading in the Woodlark Basin. West of the spreading tip, the southern margin is characterized by large fault blocks, which were tilted to the south on north-dipping normal faults during the current rifting phase, and graben further south where previous rifting failed. The northern margin is devoid of large offset normal faults and its subsidence from near sea level requires synrift flow of the lower crust. The margin asymmetry primarily reflects across-strike differences in the prerift geology, morphology and rheology. Horst and graben with 3 km relief below sea level occur adjacent to the spreading tip. Although heat flow data imply greater crustal thinning to the south of Moresby continental seamount, seismicity shows that deformation is currently focused on the Moresby normal fault that bounds its northern side. Based on logging results from ODP Leg 180 and semblance analysis, depth conversion of seismic reflection data show that Moresby Fault has a dip ≥29°, which is compatible with an earthquake slip plane of 30°–33°. Directly east of Moresby Seamount, the first spreading segment is identified on the basis of magnetic, bathymetry and sidescan data to comprise two ring dykes in the west and Cheshire Seamount in the east. A seismic reflection line crossing the western ring dyke shows an intrusive body that cuts Moresby Fault at depth. Currently, intrusive rocks have only reached the surface near the ring dyke, leaving flat-lying synrift sediments, sills (?) and surface lava flows overlying the main intrusive body. The boundary between continental rifting and sea-floor spreading in the Woodlark Basin is spatially abrupt, although the processes overlap in time. The progression from rifting to spreading is characterized by a decrease in sedimentation as the margins are progressively thinned, subside below sea level, are eroded less and trap sediments in proximal basins. The post-rift sedimentation near the continent–ocean boundary is hemipelagic and drapes breakup topography without a distinct breakup unconformity. Synrift sediments, deposited above the 8.4 Ma rift onset unconformity and prior to breakup, are characterized by rotated sections (with parallel or diverging reflectors) as well as by ponded sections that onlap bounding fault blocks where local extension has ceased. Splayed reflectors representing sediment deposition on rotating fault blocks do not characterize the full synrift section, but only those times and places where extension is localized.
The role of gravitational instabilities, density structure and extension rate in the evolution of continental margins
Authors: Burov E.
Published: December 2007

Formation of rifted continental margins is associated with localized thinning and breakup of the continental lithosphere, driven or accompanied by the ascent of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary. Thinning creates sharp density and viscosity contrasts and steep boundaries between cold deformed lithosphere and hot upwelling asthenosphere, thus providing conditions for the development of positive (asthenosphere) and negative (mantle lithosphere) Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) instabilities. The evolution of many continental margins (e.g. Newfoundland margin and Iberian margin) is characterized by slow spreading rates. This allows the RT instabilities to grow at the timescale of rifting. The impact of positive RT instabilities (asthenospheric upwelling) is well studied. The negative RT instabilities, associated with mantle down-welling, remain an overlooked factor. However, these instabilities should also affect the rift evolution, in particular, they may cause mantle thinning or thickening below the rift flanks. Our numerical experiments suggest that the ratio of the RT-growth rate to the extension rate controls the overall rift geometry and evolution. Even if the effect of negative RT instabilities is more important for slow extension rates of 2×5 mm year
−1
(Deborah number,
De
<1), it is still significant for 2–3 times higher extension rates of 2×15 mm year
−1
(
De
<10). The numerical experiments for extension rates of 2×15 mm year
−1
and mantle–asthenosphere density contrasts of 10–20 kg m
−3
demonstrate a number of structural similarities with continental margins characterized by low
De
(e.g. Flemish Cap and Galicia margin). In particular, rift asymmetry results from interplay between the RT instabilities and differential stretching at
De
<1. Formation of interior basins occurs at
De
≈1–3. The best correspondence with the observed geometry of rifted margins is obtained for chemical density contrast of 20 kg m
−3
and extension rate of 2×15 mm year
−1
, which is twice that of the averaged values inferred from the observations. This suggests that margins may initially (prebreakup stage) extend at higher rates than the average extension rates characterizing rift evolution. The influence of RT instabilities is strongly controlled by extension rate, density, rheology and thermal structure of the lithosphere; this implies that we need better constraints on these parameters from the observations.
A dynamic model of rifting between Galicia Bank and Flemish Cap during the opening of the North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Harry D. L. , Grandell S.
Published: December 2007

A finite-element model is used to simulate Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous rifting between the Flemish Cap and Galicia Bank continental margins. The model results show that variations in the thickness of the continental crust on these margins at wavelengths greater than about 75 km can be explained as a consequence of the interaction of two pre-existing weaknesses in the lithosphere. A weakness in the crust, attributed to structural fabrics in the Variscan front, controls the location of crustal extension during the early stages of rifting in the model. This results in formation of a broad rift basin similar to the Galicia Interior Basin. A deep-seated weakness located 110 km further west, attributed to the thick crust beneath the central Variscan Orogen, controls the location of mantle necking. Extension in this region is initially diffuse, but accelerates and becomes more focused with time. Approximately 13 million years after rifting begins, the locus of crustal extension shifts from the region of pre-weakened crust into the region of pre-weakened mantle. This marks the end of subsidence in the Galicia Interior Basin and the onset of subsidence in the Flemish Cap and Galicia Bank marginal basins. Extension in these areas continues for another 12 million years before continental breakup. The asthenosphere does not ascend to depths shallow enough for decompression melting to begin until less than 5 million years before the onset of sea-floor spreading. The model predicts that all late-stage synrift magmatism during this period is limited to within 45 km of the rift axis, and production of melt thicknesses greater than 2 km is restricted to within 35 km of the rift axis. Mantle potential temperatures of 1250–1275 °C, ∼5–30 °C cooler than normal, result in 3.1–4.5 km-thick oceanic crust at the time of breakup, in general agreement with the 2–4 km thick crust observed adjacent to these margins.
A kinematic modelling approach to lithosphere deformation and basin formation: application to the Black Sea
Authors: Egan S. S. , Meredith D. J.
Published: December 2007

A kinematic model of lithosphere deformation has been developed that integrates the following components: structural deformation of the crust and mantle lithosphere; thermal conditioning, perturbation and subsequent re-equilibration of the lithosphere temperature field; flexural isostatic adjustments; and surface processes, including both lateral and temporal variations in basin fill and bathymetry. This approach enables the forward modelling of extensional basin evolution in two and three dimensions followed by deformation due to subsequent extensional and compressional (i.e. inversion) events.

The model has been applied to the Black Sea, which is one of the deepest basins in the world and yet it is poorly understood in terms of the mechanisms that have controlled its evolution. Although it is widely accepted that this basin was initiated by Mesozoic back-arc extension related to the subduction of the Tethys Plate to the south, most of the subsidence observed today occurred within the Palaeogene and Neogene (i.e. within the framework of the Alpine–Himalayan orogenic belt). The modelling approach described above has been used to test possible geological and geodynamic mechanisms that have controlled the subsidence history of the Black Sea. In particular, the investigation has focused on trying to explain the anomalously thick post-rift subsidence that occurred in the basin. Models assuming uniform lithosphere extension do not generate the observed thickness of sediment infill in the basin. Similarly, modelling of the compressional deformation around the edges of the basin structure does little to explain the large magnitude of subsidence within the centre of the basin. Model results show that the observed basin depths can be attained only when the total magnitude of deformation is constrained from crustal thickness changes rather than by fault displacement measurements.
Joint Effects of Dietary Trace Metals and DNA Repair Capacity in Lung Cancer Risk
Authors: Mahabir Somdat , Forman Michele R. , Barerra Stephanie L. , Dong Yong Q. , Spitz Margaret R. , Wei Qingyi
Published: December 2007

In a large case-control study, we previously reported that dietary intakes of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), but not selenium (Se), were inversely associated with lung cancer risk. Because Zn, Cu, Se, iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca) are important for maintaining DNA stability, we examined their associations with DNA repair capacity (DRC) measured by the lymphocyte host-cell reactivation assay in 1,139 cases and 1,210 of the controls. Dietary intake was reported in a food frequency questionnaire. In multivariate analyses, compared to those with high dietary Cu + proficient DRC, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) [OR (95% CI)] for lung cancer for low Cu + suboptimal DRC was 2.54 (1.97-3.27). Similar results were observed for men and women. These effects were more pronounced in older and lean subjects, those with late-stage disease, and those with a family history of cancer in first-degree relatives. Compared to subjects with high Zn + proficient DRC, the OR for lung cancer for low Zn + suboptimal DRC was 1.82 (95% CI, 1.41-2.34), with pronounced effects in men, current smokers, subjects with longer duration of smoking, those with late-stage disease, or those with a family history of cancer. An OR of 1.94 (95% CI, 1.51-2.48) was observed for low Fe + suboptimal DRC compared with high Fe + proficient DRC, and pronounced effects appeared in older, lean subjects, those with longer duration of smoking, are heavier smokers, those with a late-stage disease, and those with a family history of cancer. No significant joint associations were seen for Se or Ca and DRC. Our joint associations between Cu-DRC, Zn-DRC and Fe-DRC and lung cancer risk require confirmation in prospective studies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(12):2756–62)
Dairy Products, Calcium Intake, and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
Authors: Ahn Jiyoung , Albanes Demetrius , Peters Ulrike , Schatzkin Arthur , Lim Unhee , Freedman Michal , Chatterjee Nilanjan , Andriole Gerald L. , Leitzmann Michael F. , Hayes Richard B. ,   for the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Trial Project Team
Published: December 2007

Higher intakes of calcium and dairy products, a major source of dietary calcium, are reported to increase the risk of prostate cancer, potentially due to reductions in circulating vitamin D with increasing calcium intake. We prospectively examined the association of dairy product and calcium intake with prostate cancer risk in 29,509 men, including 1,910 cases, in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. We also evaluated the relation of calcium intake with serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], in a Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Trial substudy (n = 275). Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Baseline serum 1,25(OH)2D was determined by RIA. Greater intake of dairy products, particularly low-fat dairy products, was weakly associated with increased risk of prostate cancer [relative risk (RR), 1.12; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.97-1.30; P trend = 0.06 for >2.75 versus ≤0.98 servings of total dairy/day; 1.23 (1.07-1.41) for low-fat dairy]. Greater dietary calcium intake was associated with increased risk of prostate cancer (RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.93-1.94; P trend = 0.02 for >2,000 versus <1,000 mg/day), but greater supplementary calcium intake was not associated with the risk. Associations of dairy product and dietary calcium intake were evident for nonaggressive disease (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.99-1.46; P trend = 0.01 for dairy products; 1.64, 1.04-2.57; P trend = 0.002 for dietary calcium), but not aggressive disease (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.81-1.28 for dairy products; 0.94, 0.49-1.80 for dietary calcium). Calcium intake was not associated with serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2D concentration. In this large prospective study in a prostate cancer screening trial, greater dietary intake of calcium and dairy products, particularly low-fat types, may be modestly associated with increased risks for nonaggressive prostate cancer, but was unrelated to aggressive disease. Furthermore, we found no relationship between calcium intake and circulating vitamin D. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(12):2623–30)
A Study on Neural Learning on Manifold Foliations: The Case of the Lie Group SU(3)
Authors: Fiori Simone
Published: December 2007

Learning on differential manifolds may involve the optimization of a function of many parameters. In this letter, we deal with Riemannian-gradient-based optimization on a Lie group, namely, the group of unitary unimodular matrices SU(3). In this special case, subalgebras of the associated Lie algebra su(3) may be individuated by computing pair-wise Gell-Mann matrices commutators. Subalgebras generate subgroups of a Lie group, as well as manifold foliation. We show that the Riemannian gradient may be projected over tangent structures to foliation, giving rise to foliation gradients. Exponentiations of foliation gradients may be computed in closed forms, which closely resemble Rodriguez forms for the special orthogonal group SO(3). We thus compare optimization by Riemannian gradient and foliation gradients.
Information Literacy in Practice: engaging public library workers in rural South Africa
Authors: de Jager Karin , Nassimbeni Mary
Published: December 2007

Mpumalanga Provincial Library Services, South Africa, offers public library services in a largely rural `new' province created in 1996. Many of the libraries are in isolated areas and have to meet the very diverse needs of their communities. This paper reports the results of an information literacy intervention designed for public library workers in this province. The campaign, a first of its kind in Mpumalanga (and South Africa), gave public library workers the opportunity to develop their information literacy skills and to apply them in their libraries. This paper discusses the information and training needs that were identified, the campaigns that were constructed, their progress and the outcomes. From the outset, emphasis was placed on the importance of measuring and evaluating activities throughout their campaigns in order to be able to assess the impact of their interventions. The paper attempts to show what difference even small public libraries with unqualified library workers can make in tackling social exclusion in disadvantaged communities.
The Role of the New “Date Rape Drugs” in Attributions About Date Rape
Authors: Girard April L. , Senn Charlene Y.
Published: December 2007

This study investigates the effect of voluntary and involuntary drug use on attributions about sexual assault. The sample was composed of 280 randomly selected male and female undergraduate students. The type of drug used (GHB, alcohol, or none) and the voluntariness of the administration were varied in an unambiguous date rape scenario. Participants viewed sexual assault facilitated by alcohol or drugs similarly to sexual assault without drug or alcohol involvement, assigning the highest levels of responsibility and blame to the perpetrator and the lowest levels of both to the victim in these situations. In contrast, women's voluntary consumption of drugs prior to a sexual assault reduced perpetrator responsibility and blame and increased blame to the victim compared to other situations (except in some cases, voluntary drunkenness). These findings extend the limited research on date rape drugs and previous work on the influence of alcohol on date rape attributions.
Experiences With Dating Aggression and Sexual Coercion Among Polish College Students
Authors: Doroszewicz Krystyna , Forbes Gordon B.
Published: December 2007

Dating aggression and sexual coercion were studied in Polish college women ( n = 100) and men ( n = 101) using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996). Rates of psychological and physical aggression, sexual coercion, and injury were compared for men and women. Rates of physical aggression, sexual coercion, and injury were compared with preliminary data from 31 universities and 16 countries from the International Dating Violence Study (IDVS; Straus, 2003, 2004). Rates of psychological aggression, physical aggression, and sexual coercion were high with respective rates of 77%, 36%, and 42% for men and 89%, 48%, and 40% for women. Relative to the IDVS samples, Polish men and women had high levels of physical aggression and sexual coercion. Relative to the IDVS samples, women, but not men, had high levels of causing injury to their partner and using threats or actual physical force to obtain oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse. The possible influences of high levels of domestic violence in Polish society and rapid changes in women's roles are discussed.
Community Violence Exposure of Southeast Asian American Adolescents
Authors: Ho Joyce
Published: December 2007

Southeast Asian adolescents in the United States face the daily challenge of adjusting to the American culture and their culture of origin. However, little is known about how the patterns of their bicultural adjustment influence psychological symptoms, especially when faced with other challenges such as community violence and negative life events. Additionally, the overrepresentation of Southeast Asian youth in the mental health and juvenile justice systems also necessitates a deeper understanding of the adjustment of this group of adolescents. Data from a sample of 80 Vietnamese and Cambodian adolescents who were between 13 and 18 years old revealed high rates of community violence witnessing and victimization, and a moderate level of negative life events. All of these stressors were related to higher externalizing and trauma-related symptoms, but only violence victimization and negative life events were related to higher internalizing symptoms. There was an additive effect of higher bicultural orientation related to lower externalizing and traumatic-stress symptoms in the face of stress and violence exposure, but no moderation effects were found.
Social Support and Depression among Bone Marrow Transplant Patients
Authors: Jenks Kettmann Julie D. , Altmaier Elizabeth M.
Published: December 2007

This study considered the role of social support in mitigating depression among bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients. Eighty-six BMT patients completed the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale (MOS-SSS) and the Centers for Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale (CES-D) before transplant and again at one year posttransplant. Results showed moderate levels of depressive symptoms in BMT patients, with 29.1 percent and 27.6 percent meeting the suggested criterion for clinical depression at pre-BMT and one year post-BMT, respectively. Overall, patients experienced a reduced level of depression post-BMT, although females reported more depression than males. Social support pre-BMT predicted depression levels post-BMT controlling for initial levels of depression. Clinical implications for health care providers working with cancer patients and their families are discussed.
Making Sense of Illness or Disability
Authors: Pakenham Kenneth I.
Published: December 2007

This study investigated sense making in multiple sclerosis (MS) and relations with illness, religious-spiritual beliefs and adjustment (life satisfaction, positive states of mind, depression, anxiety). Four hundred and eight persons with MS completed a questionnaire. Half the sample generated sense making explanations for their illness. Content analyses revealed 16 sense making themes. Participants who reported having a religious-spiritual belief were more likely to report sense making than those who did not have such a belief. Sense making was related to lower disability and disease severity and evidenced beneficial direct effects on positive adjustment outcomes and depression after controlling for illness and religious-spiritual belief.
Effects of Weight Stigma on Exercise Motivation and Behavior
Authors: Vartanian Lenny R. , Shaprow Jacqueline G.
Published: December 2007

This study examined the relation between weight stigma, exercise motivation and exercise behavior. One hundred female undergraduates (BMIs [kg/m2] 17—38) completed measures of experiences with weight stigma, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem and exercise motivation, and reported on their exercise behavior. Stigma experiences were positively correlated with BMI and body dissatisfaction. Importantly, stigma experiences were related to increased desire to avoid exercise, even when controlling for BMI and body dissatisfaction. Exercise avoidance was in turn related to less frequent strenuous and moderate exercise. These findings suggest that weight stigma (through its impact on avoidance motivation) could potentially decrease physical activity levels.
An improved method for calculation of creep damage during creep–fatigue cycling
Authors: Spindler M. W.
Published: December 2007

Thermal mechanical cycling can result in creep–fatigue cycles in which the creep dwell has a wide variety of positions within the cycle. The effects of creep dwell position have been investigated using tests on three austenitic stainless steels: Type 316H, cast Type 304L and Type 347 weld metal. The analysis of these tests has resulted in the proposal of a new method to calculate creep damage. This method has been shown to give better predictions for the creep damage at failure than both the standard ductility exhaustion approach and the time fraction approach. In particular, the new method gives improved predictions of creep damage at failure for cycles with intermediate dwells and for cycles with low strain ranges. The present paper summarises the validation of this new method, the effects of multiaxial states of stress and the effects of compressive dwells.
High temperature fatigue of friction welded joints in dissimilar nickel based superalloys
Authors: Li H. Y. , Huang Z. W. , Bray S. , Baxter G. , Bowen P.
Published: December 2007

The high temperature fatigue performance of two dissimilar material joints made by inertia friction welding and linear friction welding is assessed in the present study. The fatigue strength of the welded joints is found to be comparable to that of the weaker parent material for the plainsided specimens. However, the fatigue crack growth resistance within the weld zone of both material systems is found to be reduced compared to that of parent material. This effect is more pronounced for high temperature Ni alloys than for the lower temperature nickel alloy. Environmental attack is confirmed to be the controlling failure mechanism for acceleration of crack growth, but the extent to which it is observed is sensitive to local microstructure, i.e. to grain size, redistribution of the main strengthening phase γ′, and to the grain boundary carbide morphology. Such local microstructural variations are the result of welding and subsequent post-weld heat treatment procedures.
Adaptive numerical modelling of high temperature strength, creep and fatigue behaviour in Ni based superalloys
Authors: Di Martino I. , Brooks J. W. , Reed P. A. S. , Holdway P. , Wisbey A.
Published: December 2007

The mechanical behaviour of high performance Ni alloys is required for many applications and where experimental data is not readily available then a suitable predictive approach would be beneficial. There are numerous routes to achieve this, however, here the data driven neural network method has been adopted to produce models for the tensile, creep and fatigue performance of nickel base alloys. These models have been successfully developed and tested against a range of criteria. The tensile and creep models have displayed excellent fidelity to known nickel alloy behaviour, while good correspondence was also achieved for the fatigue properties (both strain and stress controlled). Potential routes to further improve the performance of these models have been discussed.
An analysis of the security and privacy of email messages used in e-mentoring
Authors: Caffery Liam , Stewart Sarah , Smith Anthony C
Published: December 2007

We analysed the content of email messages exchanged in a pilot mentoring scheme. The e-mentoring study was conducted for clinicians involved in the delivery of residential home care nursing, midwifery and allied health therapies. A classification score was assigned to each message, using an 8–point scale (1 = breach of patient confidentiality to 8 = no need for either security or privacy). For 108 messages examined, the mean score was 6.3 (SD 1.1), range 3–8. The analysis showed that no patient identifiable data had been divulged during the mentoring. This suggests that email systems used in e-mentoring do not need to use encryption techniques to meet legislative or administrative requirements. However, the success of e-mentoring is enhanced by the participants’ ability to discuss sensitive topics. We recommend the use of an email system unconnected to the employer's email system. This will improve the privacy of mentoring correspondence by placing it outside the bounds of employer scrutiny.
A cost-minimization analysis of a telepaediatric mental health service for patients in rural and remote Queensland
Authors: Smith Anthony C , Stathis Stephen , Randell Angela , Best Denisse , Ryan Ven-Nice , Bergwever Emma , Keegan Frank , Fraser Eliza , Scuffham Paul , Wootton Richard
Published: December 2007

The e-Child and Youth Mental Health Service (eCYMHS) is delivered by videoconferencing to nine rural and regional sites in Queensland. Between July 2004 and December 2006, a total of 317 videoconference clinics were offered, with 606 patient consultations. A cost-minimization analysis was undertaken to compare the actual costs of videoconference consultations with the potential costs of face-to-face consultations with the same specialists in Brisbane (i.e. patient travel) and the potential costs of face-to-face consultations in the regions (i.e. visiting psychiatrist). The actual cost of providing telepaediatrics during the 30–month period was $230,753 ($1 = US$0.86 or €0.63). The potential cost of patient travel was $650,389 and the potential cost of a visiting psychiatrist was $299,913. Videoconferencing was the cheapest method of delivering child psychiatry services when the workload exceeded 131 consultations (compared with patient travel) and 379 consultations for the visiting psychiatrist outreach service. Based on the actual workload observed in the study, the use of videoconferencing resulted in a net saving for the health service of about $420,000 compared with patient travel and $70,000 compared with a visiting outreach service.
Enhancing chronic disease management through telecare - the Singapore Health Services experience
Authors: Seng Lim Fang , Foo Marjorie , Kanagalingam Devendra , Lim Ruth , Bahadin Juliana Bte , Leong Tan Keng , Ee Tan Teing , Tan Roger , Idris Dahliana Bte , Ong Alvin , Chee Eddie
Published: December 2007

A telecare project has been established which allows outpatients to monitor their own health with the assistance of SingHealth clinicians. Communication takes place through a Web portal and/or by mobile phone text messaging (SMS). The pilot service has been used by local and overseas patients with chronic diseases such as heart failure, hypertension, renal failure, diabetes and suspected occupational asthma. Through the telecare system, which was developed in-house, clinicians can configure a personalized monitoring plan (vital signs and symptoms) for each patient and follow up with interactive charts. The patient's health data are transmitted to the telecare system by the patient or care-giver, through a Web portal or by SMS messages. If a patient's health indicators fall outside predefined thresholds, clinicians can be alerted by SMS. Patients and clinicians can also communicate through the portal. Apart from chronic disease management, the system has also been used to replace one of the regular clinic reviews for well-controlled primary care patients with hypertension and to facilitate the diagnosis of occupational asthma through monitoring peak flow values during periods at work and away from work. The responses from clinicians and patients have been favourable. Patients have benefited medically from the interventions and their quality of life has improved.
Challenges in the development of e-health strategies for geriatric medicine
Authors: Wright Olivia , Wootton Richard , Margolis Stephen , Scuffham Paul , Gray Len
Published: December 2007

Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), supported by e-health, was provided to 89 frail veterans aged 70 years or older who were admitted to medical, surgical or orthopaedic units at two private hospitals in rural Queensland. Patients were screened and assessed by trained nurses using the interRAI-Acute Care tools. Data entry, validation, reporting and geriatrician comment were facilitated by an online, secure database and reporting system. The process was evaluated based on its utilization and staff satisfaction. The response to the project was generally very positive, but there were also some problems: (1) lack of staff, staff time and resources to successfully complete the assessments; (2) limited referrals from general practitioners (GPs) and difficulty with developing a sustainable communication and referral system between GPs and the hospital; (3) significant variations in caseloads between the study sites; and (4) the unfamiliarity of sufficient staff at the trial sites with the CGA process. Despite these challenges, the use of e-health-supported strategies in geriatric medicine certainly appears achievable and deserve further study.
Consultation time in email-based, store-and-forward telemedicine
Authors: Caffery Liam , Smith Anthony C
Published: December 2007

We compared the consultation time for two different email-based counselling applications. Counsellors from a national service recorded consultation time for 17,309 teleconsultations during a 20–month period ending in March 2005. During the study period, the counselling service initially operated with an ordinary email application and later with a purpose-written email application. While using the ordinary email system the mean consultation time was 24.0 min (n=8266, SD 14.6) and while using the purpose-written email application the mean consultation time was 23.2 min (n=9041, SD 14.9). The mean observed difference in consultation time was 49 s (95% confidence interval 0.3–1.2 min). Although use of the purpose-written email application was significantly faster, it did not increase the number of teleconsultations that a counsellor could perform in a day.
A Web-based system for the consolidation of hospital-based cancer registries in Brazil
Authors: Moretto Emerson Galves , De Carvalho Alegro Maryana , Hira Adilson , De Mello André Nebel , Kondo Márcia Narumi Shiraishi , Camanho Paulo , Leitão Altino , Zuffo Marcelo
Published: December 2007

The Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) distributes a cancer registry tool to all hospitals. The data are stored locally but then have to be physically shipped to INCA. The RHCNet is a centralized, secure, Web-based system that collects information in electronic form and consolidates it in one database using information from all Brazilian hospital-based cancer registry clients nationally. It allows the generation of a more accurate picture of the cancer occurrence in Brazil, which is important for the evaluation of treatment strategies and government decision-making. RHCNet is now entering the production phase; in its pilot phase, six hospitals and 75,000 patients were registered. By the end of 2007 it will be available at 67 centres with an estimated 350,000 patients. RHCNet is contributing to the modernization of medical practice in Brazil, providing a unified view of cancer care and combining the best telehealth practices with the latest information system technologies.
Preliminary evaluation of a system for neonatal teleconsultation
Authors: Armfield Nigel R , Bensink Mark , Donovan Tim , Wootton Richard
Published: December 2007

We assessed the efficacy of a system for teleconsultation in the care of newborns via real-time video (NEMO, Neonatal Examination and Management Online). The study was conducted in the controlled environment of a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before deployment for trial in remote hospitals. Eight ventilated infants were studied (their parents providing consent). A range of clinical tasks were completed by 14 medical staff. These included visual assessment of respiratory rate and perfusion, gathering of data from cot-side equipment, and the capture and interpretation of an X-ray image from an LCD screen. In total, 854 tests were completed using the system. In the visual infant assessment phase, 100% of participants read the endotracheal tube taped distance accurately within 1 cm, while agreement between participants and control on respiration rate (within 5 breaths/min) was 93%. When reviewing an X-ray image captured from an LCD screen, 85% of participants agreed with the control regarding endotracheal tube placement (high, normal or low). The results show that the NEMO system provides an efficacious means of presenting tertiary neonatal specialists with timely information beyond that currently available by ordinary telephone.
The relationship between health-care organizations and technology vendors: An overlooked factor in telemedicine success
Authors: Mackert Michael , Whitten Pamela
Published: December 2007

A key aspect of telemedicine projects, the relationship between a health-care organization and an external technology vendor, was examined in a case study. The primary data came from interviews, which were corroborated by project records. Transaction Cost Economics was used to investigate two research questions - one focusing on the evolution of the partnership, the other on agency and governance issues that influenced this relationship. The telemedicine project was an unsuccessful effort to develop a videoconferencing network to serve rural nursing homes. The relationship between researchers and the vendor went through four phases: (1) pre-grant work; (2) the Request for Proposal process and vendor selection; (3) pre-installation planning; and (4) installation and troubleshooting. Throughout the project an information asymmetry caused problems, compounded by a lack of governance mechanisms to ensure vendor performance. The potential of telemedicine to improve health care is clear when projects succeed, but it is through failed projects that researchers and practitioners can learn how to improve their chances of success.
Future proofing telehealth in developing countries
Authors: Scott Richard E
Published: December 2007

There is growing recognition of the need to integrate telehealth and health informatics applications to provide cohesive e-health solutions. This is best achieved by the development of a sound national e-health strategy with which national telehealth activities can be aligned in order to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of investment. Based on experience from site visits to various Asian and African countries, discussion and assessment of e-health initiatives there, several common principles and a logical sequence of steps have been identified. A conceptual framework has been drawn up, based on two components, six principles and a six-step process. The framework described can be considered a country-level, needs-assessment process that integrates telehealth and guides future national strategic e-health plans. It establishes a sound and defensible strategy that will shape and future-proof a country's e-health ambitions.
A telemedicine-enabled nurse-led epilepsy service is acceptable and sustainable
Authors: Bingham Ena , Patterson Victor
Published: December 2007

Epilepsy nurse specialists and neurologists each have important roles in managing epilepsy patients. We have devised a model where the nurse specialist travels to the patient's local hospital but the neurologist does not. The nurse specialist sees the patient first and telephones the neurologist if there are problems requiring his expertise. If the situation cannot be resolved, then the neurologist establishes a videolink with the nurse and patient. The proof of any new system is whether it stands the test of time so we report our experience over the last five years. In a survey of patient satisfaction, 113 of 155 (73%) questionnaires were returned in 2001 and 72 of 100 in 2003 (72%). Ninety percent of responders agreed that ‘I'd be happy to be seen this way again’ in the first survey and 100% in the second. Since 2002, a total of 1804 patients have been seen. The number of patients seen each year has remained relatively constant at approximately the maximum capacity for the system. Two-thirds of patients are now dealt with by the nurse alone. We did not analyse our costs fully, but there were obvious savings in the neurologist's time.
The Doctor Was Surprised; or, How to Diagnose a Miracle
Authors: Duffin Jacalyn
Published: December 2007

A survey of more than six hundred miracle records in the canonization files of the Vatican Secret Archives from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century reveals that more than 95 percent are healings from illness. The history of the canonization process is summarized to explain the sources. The diagnoses amenable to miracle cure change through time to reflect current medical preoccupations and methods. Physician testimony has always been crucial to the investigation of miracles for declaring the hopeless prognosis and the surprise at recovery. From this analysis, medicine and religion emerge as parallel semiotic endeavors, using their canons of wisdom and careful observation to derive meaning in suffering.
Regulation of Bone Turnover by Sex Steroids in Men
Authors: Sanyal Arunik , Hoey Kelley A , Mödder Ulrike I , Lamsam Jesse L , McCready Louise K , Peterson James M , Achenbach Sara J , Oursler Merry Jo , Khosla Sundeep
Published: December 2007

Introduction: The mechanism(s) by which sex steroids regulate bone turnover in humans are unclear, and recent studies have suggested that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) may play an important role in regulating bone resorption.

Materials and Methods: Fifty-nine men (median age, 69 yr) underwent suppression of sex steroids using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and aromatase blocker and were replaced with testosterone (T; 5 mg/d) and estradiol (E; 37.5 μg/d). After assessment of bone resorption markers (serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX] and TRACP5b), they were randomized to sex steroid deficiency (−T, −E), E alone (−T, +E), T alone (+T, −E), or both (+T, +E) and restudied 3 wk later. Bone marrow aspirates were obtained to isolate osteoblastic, T, and monocytic cells using magnetic-activated cell sorting.

Results: Serum CTX and TRACP5b increased significantly (by 71% and 15%, p < 0.01 and < 0.001, respectively) in the −T, −E group, and these increases occurred despite a 60% suppression of serum FSH levels (p < 0.001) caused by the GnRH agonist. There were significant E (but not T) effects on preventing increases in serum CTx and TRACP levels. There was a nonsignificant trend (p = 0.122) for E to suppress RANKL mRNA levels in bone marrow osteoblastic cells. Changes in mRNA levels for other cytokines (TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IFN-γ) in bone marrow cells were not significant.

Conclusions: E has greater suppressive effects on bone resorption than T, and increased bone resorption after sex steroid deficiency can occur independently of changes in FSH secretion. E effects on bone resorption may be mediated by regulation of RANKL production by osteoblastic cells, although further studies using more highly purified cells may reduce the variability of the mRNA measurements and allow for clearer definition of the mediators of sex steroid action in vivo.