Keeping Research Data Safe: a cost model and guidance for UK universities (KRDS1)

This study has investigated the medium to long term costs to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of the preservation of research data and developed guidance to HEFCE and institutions on these issues. It has provided an essential methodological foundation on research data costs for the forthcoming HEFCE-sponsored feasibility study for a UK Research Data Service.It will also assist HEIs and funding bodies wishing to establish strategies and TRAC costings for long-term data management and archiving. The rising tide of digital research data raises issues relating to access, curation and preservation for HEIs and within the UK a growing number of research funders are now implementing policies requiring researchers to submit data management, preservation or data sharing plans with their funding applications.

Marine Mammal Strandings in the United States: Proceedings of the Second Marine Mammal Stranding Workshop, Miami, Florida, December 3-5, 1987

Over a decade ago, in August 1977, the First Marine Mammal Stranding Workshop was convened in Athens, Georgia. That workshop, organized by j.R. Geraci and D.J. St. Aubin, not only considered biology and pathology of stranded marine mammals, but it also served as a springboard for the formation of regional marine mammal stranding networks in the United States. The ramifications have been extremely important to the field of marine mammalogy since, for some species, examination or rehabilitation of stranded specimens serves as virtually the only source of information on distribution, anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and pathology. The First Marine Mammal Stranding Workshop led to increased awareness of the marine mammals themselves, as well as the logistic and legal factors associated with effective handling of the animals. A number of individuals indicated that they felt that a Second Marine Mammal Stranding Workshop held prior to the Seventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (Miami, Florida; December 1987) would be both timely and productive. Accordingly, we organized the workshop and scheduled it to occur on 3-5 December. Our goals for the workshop were several, including 1) providing descriptions of some research, especially new techniques, regarding stranded marine mammals; 2) providing a forum where scientists could interact and possibly initiate cooperative research activities; 3) presenting information regarding procedures used effectively to handle stranded animals; 4) assessing ways to standardize data and specimen collection, archiving, and retrieval; and 5) providing a forum for assessing accomplishments and status of regional stranding networks to date, as well as for making recommendations regarding future activities of the networks. Nearly 100 individuals representing Federal and State governments, academic institutions, the oceanarium industry, consulting groups, conservation organizations, and the private sector attended the workshop (see Workshop Participants, this volume). (PDF file contains 166 pages.)

A new ground motion intensity measure, peak filtered acceleration (PFA), to estimate collapse vulnerability of buildings in earthquakes

In this thesis, we develop an efficient collapse prediction model, the PFA (Peak Filtered Acceleration) model, for buildings subjected to different types of ground motions.

For the structural system, the PFA model covers modern steel and reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame buildings (potentially reinforced concrete shear wall buildings). For ground motions, the PFA model covers ramp-pulse-like ground motions, long-period ground motions, and short-period ground motions.

To predict whether a building will collapse in response to a given ground motion, we first extract long-period components from the ground motion using a Butterworth low-pass filter with suggested order and cutoff frequency. The order depends on the type of ground motion, and the cutoff frequency depends on the building’s natural frequency and ductility. We then compare the filtered acceleration time history with the capacity of the building. The capacity of the building is a constant for 2-dimentional buildings and a limit domain for 3-dimentional buildings. If the filtered acceleration exceeds the building’s capacity, the building is predicted to collapse. Otherwise, it is expected to survive the ground motion.

The parameters used in PFA model, which include fundamental period, global ductility and lateral capacity, can be obtained either from numerical analysis or interpolation based on the reference building system proposed in this thesis.

The PFA collapse prediction model greatly reduces computational complexity while archiving good accuracy. It is verified by FEM simulations of 13 frame building models and 150 ground motion records.

Based on the developed collapse prediction model, we propose to use PFA (Peak Filtered Acceleration) as a new ground motion intensity measure for collapse prediction. We compare PFA with traditional intensity measures PGA, PGV, PGD, and Sa in collapse prediction and find that PFA has the best performance among all the intensity measures.

We also provide a close form in term of a vector intensity measure (PGV, PGD) of the PFA collapse prediction model for practical collapse risk assessment.

Could the library be dismantled/role of unique holdings in modern times

I have been asked by administration, how much of our collection could go into storage. They optimistically hoping for a room or two for faculty/staff offices, as some buildings need renovation or need to be closed due to safety issues. Clearly, much of the population believes that all/most library materials are available on-line – free. I will present the results of our survey’s of material held and available on-line and space “freed” thanks to archiving. How little space is freed.

Análise da atenção prestada aos pacientes portadores de hipertensão arterial no município de Piraí com bases nos registros dos prontuários ambulatoriais e hospitalares

O controle da Hipertensão Arterial é central para que seja alcançada maior eficiência na redução de eventos adversos secundários ao descontrole crônico da pressão arterial. Os resultados de uma atenção integral aos portadores não se esgotam no acesso e disponibilização de fármacos eficazes no controle da pressão arterial. Ela envolve a rede integrada de serviços, orientada pela atenção primária, com serviços especializados e hospitalares na atenção das intercorrências. O cuidado aos portadores destes agravos crônicos exige dos serviços e profissionais da atenção primária a implantação de estratégias de acolhimento, efetivação de vínculos e projetos terapêuticos e uma intervenção que abrange a promoção, prevenção, assistência e reabilitação. Com esta questão em mente é que este projeto buscou analisar a atenção prestada aos portadores de Hipertensão Arterial no município de Piraí com base nos registros dos prontuários ambulatoriais e hospitalares. Foram computados e analisados os prontuários de pacientes internados por agravos que, direta ou indiretamente, estão relacionados ao descontrole da pressão arterial. Identificaram-se um total de 61 pacientes internados com diagnóstico de internação de Crise Hipertensiva e Acidente Vascular Encefálico no ano de 2010, no Hospital Flávio Leal. A partir dos registros hospitalares foram selecionados 35 pacientes. Estes eram moradores do município de Piraí, adscritos a equipes básicas no município e tiveram seus diagnósticos de internação confirmados na alta hospitalar. A segunda etapa do estudo analisou, na Unidade de Saúde da Família, os prontuários familiares dos casos de internação. Foi observado que não havia uniformidade na forma de registro e de arquivamento dos prontuários entre as unidades básicas. Nos prontuários clínicos não havia campos destinados aos registros de aspectos psicossociais, mudança de comportamento ou adesão. As anotações eram centradas na doença e nos tratamentos farmacológicos. A participação de profissionais não médicos nos registros clínicos era escassa. A Ficha B do SIAB (Ficha de Acompanhamento do Paciente Hipertenso) que contém os dados sobre comportamento e risco cardiovascular foi encontrada apenas em 3 das 8 unidades visitadas. Segundo os dados dos prontuários analisados a distribuição de consultas e visitas domiciliares foi muito irregular. Com um total de 10 prontuários sem registros de consultas no ano em que o pacientes foi internado. A gravidade dos pacientes internados pode ser identificada pelo elevado número de óbitos entre os casos analisados. Muitos dos casos apresentavam sequelas neurológicas e comorbidades que provavelmente dificultava suas idas às unidades de saúde da família. Aspectos psicossociais, familiares e da comunidade estavam, em sua maioria, ausente dos prontuários familiares analisados dos pacientes internados. Também não foram encontrados anotações sobre projetos terapêuticos multidisciplinares que individualizassem e hierarquizassem os agravos e os riscos físicos e psicossociais dos pacientes. A análise evidencia que os registros nos prontuários não traduzem a abrangência de uma atenção integral aos portadores de Hipertensão Arterial no âmbito da Atenção Primária.

Vanadyl arsenates as catalysts for selective oxidation of organic sulfides and alkenes

artículo científico (postprint)

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Study of Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Vanadate of Nickel(II) Coordination Complex with Pyrazine, Ni3(C4H4N2)3(V8O23)

Artículo científico: postprint

Mild Hydrothermal Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Thermal Behavior, Spectroscopic and Magnetic Properties of (NH4)0.80Li0.20[Fe(AsO4)F]

postprint

Procurement of electronic content across the UK National Health Service and Higher Education sectors. Report to JISC executive and LKDN executive.

Spink, S., Urquhart, C., Cox, A. & Higher Education Academy - Information and Computer Sciences Subject Centre. (2007). Procurement of electronic content across the UK National Health Service and Higher Education sectors. Report to JISC executive and LKDN executive. Sponsorship: JISC/LKDN

Rainfall infiltration and soil hydrological characteristics below ancient forest, planted forest, and grassland in a temperate northern climate

How rainfall infiltration rate and soil hydrological characteristics develop over time under forests of different ages in temperate regions is poorly understood. In this study, infiltration rate and soil hydrological characteristics were investigated under forests of different ages and under grassland. Soil hydraulic characteristics were measured at different scales under a 250 year old grazed grassland (GL), a six (6 yr) and 48 (48 yr) year old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantation, remnant 300 year old individual Scots pines (OT) and a 4000 year old Caledonian Forest (AF). In-situ field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) was measured and visible root:soil area was estimated from soil pits. Macroporosity, pore structure, and macropore connectivity were estimated from X-ray tomography of soil cores, and from water-release characteristics. At all scales the median values for Kfs, root fraction, macro-porosity and connectivity values tended to AF > OT > 48 yr > GL > 6 yr, indicating that infiltration rates and water storage increased with forest age. The remnant Caledonian Forest had a huge range of Kfs (12 to > 4922 mm h-1), with maximum Kfs values 7 to 15 times larger than 48-year-old Scots pine plantation, suggesting that undisturbed old forests, with high rainfall and minimal evapotranspiration in winter, may act as important areas for water storage and sinks for storm rainfall to infiltrate and transport to deeper soil layers via preferential flow. The importance of the development of soil hydrological characteristics under different aged forests is discussed.

The function of the self-attention network

This commentary links Humphrey and Sui’s proposed Self-attention Network (SAN) to the memory advantage associated with self-relevant information (i.e., the self-reference effect). Articulating this link elucidates the functional quality of the SAN in ensuring that information of potential importance to self is not lost. This adaptive system for self-processing mirrors the cognitive response to threat stimuli, which also elicit attentional biases and produce characteristically enhanced, episodic representations in memory. Understanding the link between the SAN and memory is key to comprehending more broadly the operation of the self in cognition.

BitBox!: A case study interface for teaching real-time adaptive music composition for video games

Real-time adaptive music is now well-established as a popular medium, largely through its use in video game soundtracks. Commercial packages, such as fmod, make freely available the underlying technical methods for use in educational contexts, making adaptive music technologies accessible to students. Writing adaptive music, however, presents a significant learning challenge, not least because it requires a different mode of thought, and tutor and learner may have few mutual points of connection in discovering and understanding the musical drivers, relationships and structures in these works. This article discusses the creation of ‘BitBox!’, a gestural music interface designed to deconstruct and explain the component elements of adaptive composition through interactive play. The interface was displayed at the Dare Protoplay games exposition in Dundee in August 2014. The initial proof-of- concept study proved successful, suggesting possible refinements in design and a broader range of applications.

Learning from triads: training undergraduates in counselling skills

Background: Research has shown that counselling skills training in undergraduate programmes is effective. However, there is potential that premature intimacy and disclosures during triad work may impact on relationships which must be maintained out-with the counselling component of the course. Little research has examined individual pedagogical practices within training. Aim: The aim of this research was to explore the experience of the practical skills training component of a counselling course for a cohort of undergraduate students, and the impact of this learning experience. The objective being an evaluation of the use of this approach for this group and of the impact of personal sharing within cohorts of undergraduates. Method: Semi-structured interviews focusing on the experience of skills training and self-disclosure during training were carried out on 12 undergraduates taking counselling skills modules as part of their BSc Psychology and Counselling degree. Thematic analysis was carried out on the interview transcripts. Results: As a result of engagement in skills training and acting as ‘clients’ for one another, individuals perceived the formation of a positive group identity with implicit ‘rules’, but also an impact of training on relationships within the group which relied on the ability to maintain boundaries and personal identities with peers, and this influenced the learning experience. The ability to manage their engagement on the programme was dependent on ongoing support and guidance from tutors. Discussion: While this pedagogical approach appears appropriate for facilitating learning and potentially provides a rich learning journey for undergraduate students, tutors must act proactively to ensure a safe learning environment.

Handedness and social anxiety: using Bryden's research as a catalyst to explore the influence of familial sinistrality and degree of handedness

Phil Bryden's work has impacted on many areas of laterality, including degree and measurement of hand preference, as well as influences of familial sinistrality (FS). For example, Bryden[(1977). Measuring handedness with questionnaires. Neuropsychologia, 15, 617–624] is a well-cited and influential paper that remains relevant to this day. Inspired by this we extended our analysis of the relationship between handedness and anxiety in a number of ways. We used familial handedness and strength of handedness to examine their potential influences on anxiety, and extended our research by exploring their relationship to social anxiety, using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). Inconsistent left-handers (ILH) were found to be more socially anxious. In all categories of SPIN except avoidance, ILH were significantly more anxious than consistent right- and left-handers. There were FS differences between ILH with a first degree left-handed relative (FS+) compared to ILH with no first degree left-handed relative (FS−) on all categories of anxiety scores. Within FS+ participants, ILH had significantly higher anxiety scores, compared with consistent handers across all categories. This suggests that ILH's social anxiety may be influenced by a close left-handed relative. Inspired by examining Bryden's work for this special issue, we will continue to add both strength of preference and familial handedness to our work.

Correction to the pathogenic alternative splicing, caused by the common GNB3 c.825C>T allele, using a novel, antisense morpholino

The very common GNB3 c.825C>T polymorphism (rs5443), is present in approximately half of all human chromosomes. Significantly the presence of the GNB3 825T allele has been strongly associated, with predisposition to essential hypertension. Paradoxically the presence of the GNB3 825T allele, in exon 10, introduces a pathogenic alternative RNA splice site into the middle of exon 9. To attempt to correct this pathogenic aberrant splicing, we therefore bioinformatically designed, using a Gene Tools® algorithm, a GNB3 specific, antisense morpholino. It was hoped that this morpholino would behave in vitro as either a potential “ splice blocker and/or exon skipper, to both bind and inhibit/reduce the aberrant splicing of the GNB3, 825T allele. On transfecting a human lymphoblast cell line homozygous for the 825T allele, with this antisense morpholino, we encouragingly observed both a significant reduction (from ~58% to ~5%) in the production of the aberrant smaller GNB3 transcript, and a subsequent increase in the normal GNB3 transcript (from ~42% to ~95%). Our results demonstrate the potential use of a GNB3 specific antisense morpholino, as a pharmacogenetic therapy for essential hypertension.