bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Emerging NDE Techniques: Methods for Evaluating and Implementing Continuous Online Monitoring
Authors: Cumblidge Stephen E. , Doctor Steven R. , Bond Leonard J. , Taylor Tom T. , Lupold Timothy R. , Hull Amy B. , Malik Shah N.
Published: February 2010

There are approximately 440 operating reactors in the global nuclear power plant (NPP) fleet with an average age greater than 20 years and original design lives of 30 or 40 years. The United States is currently implementing license extensions of 20 years on many plants, and consideration is now being given to the concept of “life-beyond-60”, license extension from 60 to 80 years and potentially longer. In almost all countries with NPPs, authorities are looking at some form of license renewal program. In support of NPP license renewal over the past decade, various national and international programs have been initiated. One of the goals of the program for the proactive management of materials degradation (PMMD) is to manage proactively the in-service degradation of metallic components in aging NPPs. As some forms of degradation, such as stress corrosion cracking, are characterized by a long initiation time followed by a rapid growth phase, new inspection or monitoring technologies may be required. New nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques that may be needed include techniques to find stress corrosion cracking (SCC) precursors, on-line monitoring techniques to detect cracks as they initiate and grow, as well as advances in NDE technologies. This paper reports on the first part of the development of a methodology to determine the effectiveness of these emerging NDE techniques for managing metallic degradation. This methodology will draw from experience derived from evaluating techniques that have “emerged” in the past. The methodology will follow five stages: a definition of inspection parameters, a technical evaluation, laboratory testing, round robin testing, and the design of a performance demonstration program. This methodology will document the path taken for previous techniques and set a standardized course for future NDE techniques. This paper then applies the expert review section of the methodology to the acoustic emission technique to evaluate the use of acoustic emission in performing continuous online monitoring of reactor components.
Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) Based on Leak Detection Criteria (LDC) Design for a Subsea Oil Export Pipeline
Authors: Badaruddin Mohd Fauzi , Zhang Fangyuan , Bai Yong
Published: February 2010

A QRA based LDC design for a proposed sub-sea oil export pipeline is presented in this paper as an example to reveal how to perform the QRA/LDC study in practical projects. The authors are now dedicated to a pipeline QRA/RBI program development, which will be issued in the near future. The object of QRA/LDC study is to determine if the current leak detection philosophy excluding the use of statistical leak detection is sufficient, based on QRA results; if not, an appropriate LDC will be established. The QRA assessment will determine the frequency of leaks, leak volume, response time and Shoreline/Marine Park infected oil quantity. All of the risk assessments in this paper have been done for the comparison of two scenarios: with LDS and without LDS, in order to find out the benefits of statistical LDS installation. And the result has revealed that the use of statistical LDS can largely reduce the oil spill volume. Thus, a suitable LDS is recommended to be installed to reduce the impact of oil spill consequences. A sound LDC has been defined based on QRA study results and comments form various LDS vendors in this paper to assist the Emergency Response Team (ERT) to quickly identify, locate and employ a mitigation measure to contain the damage in case a leak incident occurs.
Vertical Riser VIV Simulation in Uniform Current
Authors: Huang Kevin , Chen Hamn-Ching , Chen Chia-Rong
Published: February 2010

Recently some riser vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) experimental data have been made publicly available (oe.mit.edu/VIV/), including a 10m riser VIV experiment performed by MARINTEK and donated by ExxonMobil URC. This paper presents our numerical simulation results for this 10m riser and the comparisons with the experimental results in uniform current. The riser was made of a 10m brass pipe with an OD of 0.02m (L/D = 482), and mass ratio of 1.75. The riser was positioned vertically with top tension of 817N, and pinned at its two ends to the test rig. Rotating the rig in the wave tank would simulate the uniform current. In the present numerical simulation the riser’s ends were pinned to the ground, and a uniform far field incoming current was imposed. The riser and its surrounding fluid were discretized using 1.5 million elements. The flow field is solved using an unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) numerical method in conjunction with a chimera domain decomposition approach with overset grids. The riser is also discretized into 250 segments. Its motion is predicted through a tensioned beam motion equation with external force obtained by integrating viscous and pressure loads on the riser surface. Then the critical parameters including riser VIV a/D, vorticity contours, and motion trajectories were processed. The same parameters for the experimental data were also processed since these data sets are in “raw time-histories” format. Finally, comparisons are made and conclusions are drawn. The present numerical method predicts similar dominant modes and amplitudes as the experiment. It is also shown that the cross flow VIV in the riser top section is not symmetric to that of the bottom section. One end has considerably higher cross flow vibrations than the other end, which is due to the non-dominant modal vibrations in both in-line and cross flow directions. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results also agree with the experimental results very well on the riser vibrating pattern and higher harmonics response. The higher harmonics were studied and it is found they are related to the lift coefficients, hence the vortex shedding patterns. It is concluded that the present CFD approach is able to provide reasonable results and is suitable for 3D riser VIV analysis in deepwater and complex current conditions.
Expansion Design Philosophy to Prevent Buckle Walking at Very Uneven Seabed
Authors: Igland Ragnar T. , Kvittem Marit Irene , Vysochinskiy Dmitry
Published: February 2010

Subsea flowline development for a field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf comprises design of HP/HT flowlines for oil and gas transport from subsea manifolds. Flowline engineering faces several challenges related to flowlines crossing very uneven seabed. Among them is choosing an expansion design philosophy that minimizes the need for continuous survey and intervention work updates. Control of buckling behavior is ensured by use of rock berms. The standard design of the rock dumps according to [1] is based on buckle sharing criterion for axial friction capacity, which aims to control initiation of buckles. However, fulfilling the buckle sharing criterion alone does not provide sufficient control of pipeline behavior through the different operational conditions. In addition to buckle sharing criterion fulfillment [1], anchoring rock berms shall also ensure that the point of zero axial displacement is inside the berm for all operational conditions. This will give control over feed-in lengths and counter pipeline walking between sections. Criteria for ARBs are established, covering post buckle and shutdown conditions in addition to buckle sharing. Unstable buckle configuration during shutdown/start-up cycles is defined as buckle walking. Redistribution of feed-in between buckles is frequently observed as the cause of buckle walking. Use of uplift cover is avoided or minimized in order to eliminate extra axial friction and the uncertainty around such friction, and thus to guarantee that the sectioning by anchoring rock berms (ARBs) is working. Within each section between ARBs the axial force in the system is held at a minimum level by controlled buckling. The combination of isolated pipeline sections with minimum axial restraint within the section provides control over unstable buckling behavior. Thus the risk of unexpected buckles is minimized. This is particularly important for uneven seabed. 3D global buckling analyses are performed by ANSYS with upper bound, best estimate and lower bound design parameters for friction in accordance with [1] and capacity control for local buckling of pipeline in accordance with [2].
Dependence of Lift Coefficient Clv on Reynolds Number and Surface Roughness and Its Possible Impact on SHEAR7 Prediction
Authors: Huang Shan , Kitney Neil
Published: February 2010

An extensive literature review is carried out in order to ascertain the influence of Reynolds number and surface roughness on the lift coefficient Clv, which is one of the critical inputs to SHEAR7 VIV prediction. The effort is directed towards developing an understanding as to why, for bare pipes, SHEAR7 fatigue prediction looks reasonably good when compared with the laboratory test data, but its prediction appears to be considerably conservative when compared with the field measurements, particularly those measurements on large diameter drilling risers. Based upon the data collated, an empirical formula of Clv, together with its dependence on Reynolds number and surface roughness, is proposed.
Assessment of Fatigue Damage of Floating Fish Cages Due to Wave Induced Response
Authors: Thomassen Paul E. , Leira Bernt J.
Published: February 2010

Floating fish cages provide the main production utilities for salmon farming. However, despite their pivotal role in production safety as well as in protection of the environment, there is still much room for improvement in relation to verified structural design procedures and computerized tools for structural analysis. To a large extent they can be regarded as not being in accordance with the state-of-the-art of structural analysis and design for more traditional types of marine structures. In this paper a study of fatigue design for floating fish farms is presented. The study is based on a structure which is being applied by the Norwegian fish farming industry today. The floater is made of steel cylinders which are configured as a square. The formulation for the wave loading is based on a combination of potential theory and horizontal drag forces on the floater. Horizontal and vertical drag forces on the netpen are also accounted for. A fatigue design procedure for floating fish farms in steel is suggested. The procedure is based on a time domain analysis of the structure in irregular waves. For each seastate half an hour (real time) analysis is performed and the stress history for an assumed critical location is computed. Based on the stress histories, the fatigue damage is estimated by application of rain flow counting and a given SN curve. The scatter diagram for the seastates at a given location is generated from the associated wind speed distribution.
On the Hydrodynamic of an Impinging Swirling Jet: Effect of the Impingement Distance and the Swirl Number
Authors: Felli Mario
Published: February 2010

The present paper deals with the problem of an impinging swirling jet against a wall. The study concerned a detailed experimental investigation on the jet-wall interaction using velocity and wall pressure measurements in the Large Cavitation Channel of INSEAN. The influence of the impingement distance and the swirl number as well as the interaction between the jet deformation and the perturbation induced on the wall are highlighted in the paper.
Measurement and Modeling of the Motions of a High-Speed Catamaran in Waves
Authors: Fu T. C. , Fullerton A. M. , Terrill E. , Faller W. , Lada G. , Hess D. , Minnick L.
Published: February 2010

Wetdeck slamming can be defined as a large vertical acceleration event that occurs when ship motions cause an impact between the cross deck and the ocean’s surface. The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and other simulation tools to accurately predict wetdeck slamming loads and ship motions has become the objective of a number of efforts (Hess, et al, 2007; Lin, et al, 2007; Faller et al, 2008; for example). The Sea Fighter, FSF-1, is a high-speed research vessel developed by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR). Christened in 2005, she is an aluminum catamaran propelled by four steerable water jets capable of speeds up to 50 knots. In 2006, Sea Fighter underwent a series of rough water trials to assess its operational profile in high sea states (Fu, et. al., 2007). Along with this assessment, ONR sponsored an effort to obtain full-scale qualitative and quantitative wave slamming and ship motion data. One of these rough water trials took place 18–20 April 2006 as the ship transited from Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada to San Diego, California, USA. During this trial, the significant wave height ranged from 1.5 to 2.7 m and the ship speed ranged from 20 to 40 knots. This paper describes the results of the effort to characterize the Sea Fighter’s motion in waves. To provide suitable full-scale validation data, the incoming ambient waves had to be characterized. A Light Detecting and Ranging, (LiDAR) system, an array of ultrasonic distance sensors, and several video cameras were used to characterize the incoming wave field. In addition, three fiber optic gyro motion units were deployed to record ship motions. Additionally, a GPS unit was utilized to measure ship speed, pitch, roll, and heading. Several slam and near slam events are discussed over the range of ship’s speed, heading, and sea states tested. Similarities and differences between these events are also noted. Additionally, this data was used to develop a simulation of the Sea Fighter’s motion in waves similar to previous work done utilizing model test data (Hess, et al, 2007; Faller et al, 2008).
Numerical Simulations of Cylinder VIV Focusing on High Harmonics
Authors: Constantinides Yiannis , Oakley Owen H.
Published: February 2010

The discovery of high frequency contributions in flexible cylinder VIV during the DeepStar experiments revealed a significant omission and raised concerns among riser designers due to the high fatigue contribution. Researchers are now focusing on this area by analyzing the sparse experimental data or performing simplified experiments. Building on past success with CFD simulations, this numerical study focuses on understanding the origin and cause of the 3rd harmonic in particular. An array of basic spring supported rigid cylinder and various configurations of flexible cylinder computations are performed to validate CFD and to gain a qualitative understanding. A relationship between the hydrodynamic force causing the 3rd harmonic and cylinder motion as well its spatial characteristics is established.
Scour Studies for a Gas Pipeline Crossing in Negro River, Brazil
Authors: Rego Vale´ria S. , Hansen Alexandre S. , Florence Eduardo M. , Teixeira Marcelo J. B.
Published: February 2010

Each pipeline river crossing is a unique project and depends on the local environmental conditions. Sediment movement or erosion of the river bed can, for example, originate free spans superior to those for which the pipeline was designed to resist. A thorough understanding of the sediment dynamics is necessary in order to guarantee the integrity of the pipeline from damages caused by variation of the river bed. PETROBRAS designed and installed two gas pipelines in Negro River, state of Amazonia, Brazil. The new pipelines will have a total length of 383 km through the rain forest, 10 km of which was laid along the river bed and a second branch crossing the river over 5 km. In order to guarantee the structural safety of the pipeline, characterization of river hydraulics and bed dynamics was carried out with acquisition of environmental data, numerical modeling and surveying. Current and flow measurements with ADCPs, hydrodynamic and morphological modeling were carried out. Multibeam, side scan sonar and SBP surveys at different times were compared in order to assess large scale changes in the river bed and presence of bed forms. Hydraulic characterization of the Negro River indicated relatively low bed mobility in comparison to the Amazon River, for example. Finally, parametric calculations for onset of scour, length and depth of scour holes and related time scale, as well as bottom velocities over the hydrological cycle were used to obtain parameters for engineering design (route stability, free span analysis, etc.), protection requirements and survey periodicity for monitoring of free span development along the pipeline.
Feasibility of Using Stress Joint in an Existing Flexible Joint Receptacle for a Deepwater SCR
Authors: Mekha Basim , Kumar Alok , Stark Mike , Barnett Paul
Published: February 2010

In recent years, most fluid produced or exported has been transported using steel catenary risers (SCRs) attached to deepwater floating structures. The SCRs are terminated at the floating structures using Top Termination Units (TTUs) such as flexible joints or tapered stress joints. The flexible joints are usually designed to allow the riser to rotate with the floating structure motion and reduce the amount of moments transferred to the hull structure. The flexible joints depend on the flexibility and compressibility of the elastomer layers to allow for the rotation of the SCR. The stress joints, alternatively, provide fixed support at the hull and thus larger bending moment that has to be accounted for in the hull design. The stress joints can be made of steel or titanium material. The SCR TTU’s receptacle, which will be welded to the hull porch and contains the TTU basket, has to be designed to meet the force and reaction requirements associated with the selected TTU type. However, in some cases which could be due to failure of the TTU to meet the expected life or the operational requirements, the operators may have to replace the damaged TTU with another one or with a different TTU type. A few examples are available in the Gulf of Mexico. Recently the Flexible Joint TTU of the Independent Hub 20-inch export SCR had an operational problem. During the course of investigating the related issues and studying possible solutions, one option considered was the feasibility of replacing the Flexible Joint (FJ) with Titanium Tapered Stress Joint (TSJ). This paper highlights the issues that have to be considered in the design of the FJ existing receptacle to accommodate the force reactions of a Titanium TSJ. These issues are addressed and the results of the detailed finite element analysis performed are provided. The analysis conclusions, which are related to the feasibility of the existing receptacle to receive the loads imposed by TSJ and the modifications required to achieve this, are presented.
Ocean Energy in the United States: An Overview
Authors: Previsic Mirko
Published: February 2010

The total US generation potential of emerging marine renewable energy sources could provide a significant contribution to the US renewable energy mix. This paper discusses the resource potential for power generation within different geographic regions. The paper further addresses technology status and barriers to development.
Separate Roles
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2010

A mutation in the gene encoding NEMO uncouples its roles in developmental and immune processes.
Quantifying Interactions
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: February 2010

Fluorescence microscopy methods allow researchers to accurately quantify protein interactions in situ.
Tissue chemistry of Abiesbalsamea and Betulapapyrifera var. cordifolia from subalpine forests of northeastern United States
Authors: Lang Gerald E. , Reiners William A. , Shellito Greg A.
Published: February 2010

The concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg, K, and Na are reported for leaf, twig, wood, bark, and root tissues for balsam fir (Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill.) and heart-leaved paper birch (Betulapapyrifera var. cordifolia (Reg.) Fernald), the dominant tree species in subalpine forests of the Appalachian Mountains of northeastern United States. The N concentrations of birch leaves (2.79%) and especially current fir needles (2.48%) were high relative to comparable data in the literature. Ca and Mg concentrations of fir needles and birch leaves were relatively low, while the concentrations of P and K were typical. These chemical relationships generally, but not consistently, reflected the nutrient status of the forest floor and mineral soil in this environment. We believe that the foliar nitrogen values are partly a result of the chemical nature of the precipitation and cloud droplets impinging on these forests.
The effects on forest of air pollution from energy production: application of the PIXE method to elemental analysis of pine needles from the years 1959–1979
Authors: Raunemaa T. , Hautojärvi A. , Kaisla K. , Gerlander M. , Erkinjuntti R. , Tuomi T. , Hari P. , Kellomäki S. , Katainen H.-S.
Published: February 2010

Long-term effects of air pollutants emitted in energy production were studied by analyzing pine needles (Pinussylvestris L.) from 1959–1979 corresponding to the natural fall. The needles originate in different parts of Finland between the latitudes 60 and 68° N. New procedures were introduced to apply the sensitive X-ray fluorescence (PIXE) method to elemental analysis of the needles. Concentrations were shown to be lower in northern Finland than in southern Finland. Several elemental concentrations follow an annual increase in the southern part of the country, but not in northern rural areas.
Decay capacities and interactions between isolates of an unidentified basidiomycete and Echinodontiumtinctorium Ell. & Ev. obtained from suppressed grand fir
Authors: Eslyn Wallace E. , Aho Paul E.
Published: February 2010

Two isolates of an unidentified basidiomycete (UB) and two isolates of Echinodontiumtinctorium (ET), all from suppressed grand fir (Abiesgrandis (Doug.) Lindl.) in Oregon, were found to have an optimum growth temperature on malt agar medium of about 23 °C. In soil-block decay tests, conducted for 10 months at 23 °C. ET isolates caused average weight losses of 21.9 and 18.1%, while no decay was associated with UB. When UB was inoculated onto blocks precolonized with ET, it had a small negative effect upon the decay capacity of ET. However, when ET was inoculated onto blocks containing either living or dead (steam-sterilized) UB, no decay ensued. The UB isolates had apparently imparted a growth-inhibiting or fungitoxic material into the wood. As a result of this work, prior infection of twigs with UB is believed to inhibit or stop invasion of this infection court by ET.
Shore pine and Douglas-fir height and volume development on low productivity sites
Authors: Dunsworth B. G. , Northway S. M. , Packee E. C.
Published: February 2010

Stem analysis of 14 cast coast Vancouver Island mixed stands of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and shore pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. conforta) indicated that shore pine was taller and contained more volume per tree up to 80 years of age than Douglas-fir. Shore pine–Douglas-fir mixed stands could significantly increase fibre yields from these sites if pine were utilized as a thinning crop.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer Foundation Grants Program: A 25-Year Report and a Look Toward the Future
Authors: King Jennifer C. , Lawrence Theodore S. , Murphy Sharon B. , Davidson Nancy E. , Mayer Robert J.
Published: February 2010

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Grants Program began in 1984 with a single $16,000 grant to a young investigator for start-up research funding. In 2009, the Grants Program, now administered by The ASCO Cancer Foundation, awarded more than $6.5 million to 70 different investigators. This article, celebrating the 25th anniversary of this initiative, describes the history and evolution of the Grants Program, attempts to measure the impact of the program on clinical cancer research through an analysis of the career paths of past recipients, and addresses challenges that the program will face as it enters its second 25 years.
Das Concilium Quinisextum (691/692). Neue Erkenntnisse über ein umstrittenes Konzil und seine Teilnehmer
Authors: Flogaus Reinhard
Published: February 2010

One of the two oldest manuscripts of Greek canon law, the Codex Patmiacus 172, sheds new light on the history of the Council in Trullo (691/92). Whereas from the other 45 extant manuscripts only 220 episcopal signatures to this Council have been known so far, the Patmiacus has preserved 6 additional signatures and thus raises the number of the hitherto known clerical participants to 226, representing a total of 227 bishoprics. Since these subscriptions are preceded by the signature of the Emperor, the Patmiacus is the sole extant manuscript that bears in fact a total of 227 signatures, the number of participants assigned to this Council in the later canonistic tradition. Besides, this manuscript offers a great number of additions and corrections to the other 220 signatures. Due to the discovery of the six new episcopal signatures, however, the question of authenticity of the six position markers found in some manuscripts to indicate the place for the signatures of six episcopal sees which were present at the Sixth Ecumenical Council in 681/82 but apparently absent in 691/92 must be reconsidered. Whereas so far these markers have been considered original because it was only by their connumerating that the number of 227 could be achieved, this argument has become obsolete by the subscription list of the Patmiacus. Furthermore, the missing of the first three markers in the oldest extant manuscripts as well as their odd positions makes it very likely that they are not original but were interpolated at the times of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in order to assimilate the beginning of the subscription list of the Council of 691/92 to the one of 681/82 and thus substantiating Tarasios' claim that the Council in Trullo was a continuation of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. Whether the West and the metropolitan sees present in 681/82 - Rome, Thessaloniki, Sardinia, Ravenna and Corinth - were in fact invited as well to the Council in 691/92 is once again an open question and cannot be answered by reference to the manuscript tradition. Finally, the reasons for the western opposition to this Council are not so much to be sought in the form of the subscription list but more in the content of the canons and the Logos Prosphonetikos.
The anonymous progymnasmata in John Doxapatres' Homiliae in Aphthonium
Authors: Gibson Craig A.
Published: February 2010

This article examines the anonymous progymnasmata in John Doxapatres' commentary on Aphthonius' Progymnasmata for evidence about their authorship, origin, and relations to other progymnasmata. These exercises include three chreias, a refutation and confirmation of the myth of Ganymedes, an encomium and invective of Agamemnon, a comparison of the grapevine and olive tree, and an ethopoeia on the deposition of the emperor Michael V Kalaphates. In addition to providing a formal rhetorical analysis of the exercises, the article offers further support for the view of R. F. Hock and E. N. O'Neil (The Chreia and Ancient Rhetoric: Classroom Exercises, 2002) that Doxapatres did not compose these exercises and that they all derive from a single collection. In an appendix, it argues that George Pachymeres, in his comparison of the olive tree and grapevine, used the anonymous comparison in Doxapatres and not the four parallel exercises by Ps.-Nicolaus.
Über die Liebe der Byzantiner zum Rindfleisch
Authors: Koder Johannes
Published: February 2010

An article published several years ago on the provision of Constantinople with meat came to the conclusion (which had already been postulated a priori at the beginning of the paper) that beef had always played a considerable role in the Byzantine kitchen. A reexamination of the written sources (some considered by the author as well as many others) and some archaeological evidence (neglected by the author) allows for the following conclusions: The Byzantines used horned cattle (and buffalos) mainly as working and draught animals, in some regions also for dairy produce. Although the Byzantines did not avoid eating beef (nor was this forbidden by any religious precept), archaeological evidence generally indicates that beef was only occasionally consumed, and then only such animals as old dairy cows and plough oxen slaughtered before dying a natural death. In some instances, however, written sources mention foreigners, e. g. soldiers from other lands, as consumers of beef.
Damnata verba: censure di Pletone in alcuni codici platonici
Authors: Pagani Fabio
Published: February 2010

This paper explores the historical and palaeographical features linking together three manuscripts of Plato that bear - as previous researchers have shown - marginalia and textual corrections in the hand of the Byzantine humanist George Gemistos Pletho: Marc. Gr. 188 and 189 and Laur. 80, 19. There is, however, one more astonishing peculiarity associating precisely these three manuscripts: at several points there are erasures of passages dealing with ancient theology or with pagan myths and gods.

The first part of this study provides a general analysis of the censored passages, showing that they are part of a coherent project aiming at altering Plato's theology: in the manuscripts in his possession Pletho radically altered Plato's text, sometimes improving it, but sometimes censoring or entirely rewriting it; it is this very distinctive text of Plato that circulated in his school. In the second part, Pletho's acts of censorship as a whole are compared with his philosophical ideas as they can be reconstructed from the surviving portions of his Laws (Nomoi), proving that he tried to remove discrepancies between Plato and himself. In the third part of the essay, the ideological reasons for this censorship are investigated, with a special focus on the relations between Pletho's manuscripts and some miscellaneous codices belonging to his students or circulating in the platonic milieu of Mystra.

The stemma codicum drawn up by Müller (Würzburger Jahrbücher für die Altertumswissenschaft 5: 237–251, 1979) can thus be understood in its deeper cultural meaning, i.e. as an outline enabling us to understand how the philosopher propagated his ideas and to follow where and how they were received.
Assessing Trends in Practice Demographics of Underrepresented Minority Pediatricians, 1993–2007
Authors: Basco William T. , Cull William L. , O'Connor Karen G. , Shipman Scott A.
Published: February 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To assess whether underrepresented minority (URM) pediatricians serve minority and/or publicly insured or uninsured children to a greater degree than non-URM pediatricians, and to evaluate trends in these relationships.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS:

Respondents to American Academy of Pediatrics surveys in 1993, 2000, and 2007, provided their race/ethnicity, practice locations, and estimated race/ethnicity and insurance sources of their patient panels. We classified pediatricians by race/ethnicity as either URM (black, Hispanic, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native) or non-URM (white, non-Hispanic/Latino, Asian, or other). We compared the average percentages of minority individuals (excluding Asians) in the patient panels of URM and non-URM pediatricians, and compared the average percentages of publicly insured (includes TRICARE) or uninsured patients.

RESULTS:

Response rates were >50% for all surveys. There were 1003 (10.2% URM) postresidency respondents in 1993, 707 (11.8% URM) in 2000, and 900 (11.1% URM) in 2007. In all 3 surveys, the average percentage of minority children in URM pediatricians' patient panels was higher than for non-URM pediatricians by approximately 20 percentage points (all P < .001). The differences in the percentages of patients who were either publicly insured or uninsured widened over the study period, from 46% in URM pediatric practices versus 38.8% in non-URM practices in 1993 to 59.7% vs 40.7%, respectively, in 2007 (P < .001). In multivariable analyses, URM pediatricians' patient panels had a higher mean percentage of minorities (15.2 percentage points greater; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.1–18.4) and a higher mean percentage of publicly insured and uninsured patients (10.9 percentage points greater; 95% CI: 6.7–15.4) compared with non-URM pediatricians' patient panels.

CONCLUSIONS:

Over the last 14 years, URM pediatricians were more likely than their non-URM peers to care for minority children and publicly insured or uninsured patients. This relationship has not appeared to attenuate over time, and these data support ongoing and enhanced efforts to recruit qualified URMs into pediatric careers to meet the growing needs of the expanding minority child population.
Quantification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Windrow Composting of Garden Waste
Authors: Andersen Jacob K. , Boldrin Alessio , Samuelsson Jerker , Christensen Thomas H. , Scheutz Charlotte
Published: February 2010

Microbial degradation of organic wastes entails the production of various gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon monoxide (CO). Some of these gases are classified as greenhouse gases (GHGs), thus contributing to climate change. A study was performed to evaluate three methods for quantifying GHG emissions from central composting of garden waste. Two small‐scale methods were used at a windrow composting facility: a static flux chamber method and a funnel method. Mass balance calculations based on measurements of the C content in the in‐ and out‐going material showed that 91 to 94% of the C could not be accounted for using the small‐scale methods, thereby indicating that these methods significantly underestimate GHG emissions. A dynamic plume method (total emission method) employing Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy was found to give a more accurate estimate of the GHG emissions, with CO2 emissions measured to be 127 ± 15% of the degraded C. Additionally, with this method, 2.7 ± 0.6% and 0.34 ± 0.16% of the degraded C was determined to be emitted as CH4 and CO. In this study, the dynamic plume method was a more effective tool for accounting for C losses and, therefore, we believe that the method is suitable for measuring GHG emissions from composting facilities. The total emissions were found to be 2.4 ± 0.5 kg CH4–C Mg−1 wet waste (ww) and 0.06 ± 0.03 kg N2O‐N Mg−1 ww from a facility treating 15,540 Mg of garden waste yr−1, or 111 ± 30 kg CO2–equivalents Mg−1 ww.
A BIOMECHANICAL VALIDATION OF A NEW FEMORAL NECK FIXATION DYNAMIC HIP SCREW FOR PROXIMAL FEMORAL FRACTURE
Authors: Lin Shih-Wei , Wang Jaw-Lin
Published: February 2010

High failure rates are expected in the treatment of osteoporotic proximal femoral fractures. A newly designed femoral neck locking dynamic hip screw has been developed to increase the fixation strength; a biomechanical examination was performed to prove its efficacy.

Femoral surrogate specimens were used for the test. Unstable intertrochanteric fractures were created on specimens. Then these specimens were divided into two groups to test two different methods of fixation: (1) the conventional dynamic hip screw and (2) the new designed femoral neck fixation dynamic hip screw. For each specimen, the peak cyclic loading was 800 N, and a total of 20,000 cycles were applied. The vertical displacement, rotation around the long axis of lag screw, and the varus rotation around the center of femoral head between the two groups were compared at specific intervals.

All the conventional dynamic hip screw constructs failed within 1000 cycles, while no gross mechanical failure was recorded for the femoral neck fixation dynamic hip construct even after 20,000 loading cycles. The mechanical test comparing the two constructs at the end of each 1000 loading cycles demonstrated that the femoral neck fixation dynamic hip screw construct is stronger than that of the conventional dynamic hip screw.

For the fixation of proximal femoral fractures, the femoral neck fixation dynamic hip screw can provide a stronger support than what a conventional dynamic hip screw can do. At the same time, femoral neck can be a suitable site for the application of proximal locking screws.
One‐year change in radiographic joint space width in patients with unilateral joint space narrowing: Data from the osteoarthritis initiative
Authors: Benichou O. D. , Hunter D. J. , Nelson D. R. , Guermazi A. , Eckstein F. , Kwoh K. , Myers S. L. , Wirth W. , Duryea J.
Published: February 2010

Objective

To examine the rate of joint space width (JSW) loss in both knees of patients with unilateral medial joint space narrowing (JSN) at baseline.

Methods

Cases were selected from a pool of 2,678 subjects enrolled in the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort. Inclusion criteria for the present study were unilateral medial JSN, bilateral frequent knee pain, and body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2. Baseline and 1‐year fixed flexion radiographs of both knees were read (blinded to time point) using an automated algorithm for minimum JSW and JSW at 4 fixed locations in the medial compartment.

Results

Sixty‐seven participants met the inclusion criteria: 43 women and 24 men, with mean ± SD age 60 ± 9 years and mean ± SD BMI 31 ± 4 kg/m2. Thirty‐seven subjects (55%) had ≥1 definite tibiofemoral osteophyte. The average progression in no‐JSN knees was comparable with that in JSN knees (approximately −0.2 mm/year). However, JSW change was more variable in no‐JSN knees, resulting in standardized response means (SRMs; the mean/SD) of approximately −0.24 in no‐JSN knees versus approximately −0.41 in JSN knees on average at the 4 fixed locations, and SRMs of −0.24 and −0.35, respectively, for minimum JSW. Young age and high BMI were associated with increased progression, especially in JSN knees.

Conclusion

JSN and no‐JSN knees progressed at a comparable rate, but a wider distribution of JSW change in no‐JSN knees resulted in a poorer sensitivity to change in these knees.
Osteoporosis screening, prevention, and treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus: application of the systemic lupus erythematosus quality indicators
Authors: Schmajuk Gabriela , Yelin Edward , Chakravarty Eliza , Nelson Lorene M. , Panopolis Pantelis , Yazdany Jinoos
Published: February 2010

Objective

Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are associated with significant morbidity for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). New quality indicators (QIs) for SLE advise bone mineral density testing, calcium and vitamin D use, and antiresorptive or anabolic treatment for specific subgroups of patients receiving high‐dose steroids.

Methods

Subjects were participants in the University of California, San Francisco Lupus Outcomes Study, an ongoing longitudinal study of patients with physician‐confirmed SLE, in 2007–2008. Patients responded to an annual telephone survey and were queried regarding demographic, clinical, and other health care–related variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to predict receipt of care per the QIs described above.

Results

One hundred twenty‐seven patients met the criteria for the formal definitions of the denominators for QI I (screening) and QI II (calcium and vitamin D); 91 met the formal criteria for QI III (treatment). The proportions of patients receiving care consistent with the QIs were 74%, 58%, and 56% for QIs I, II, and III, respectively. In a sensitivity analysis of all steroid users (n = 427 for QI I and II and n = 224 for QI III), rates were slightly lower. Predictors of receiving care varied by QI and by denominator; however, female sex, older age, white race, and longer disease duration were associated with higher‐quality care.

Conclusion

Bone health–related care in this community‐based cohort of SLE patients is suboptimal. Quality improvement efforts should address osteoporosis prevention and care among all SLE patients, especially those receiving high‐dose, prolonged steroids.
An Expeditious Route to Fluorinated Rapamycin Analogues by Utilising Mutasynthesis
Authors: Goss Rebecca J. M. , Lanceron Simon , Deb Roy Abhijeet , Sprague Simon , Nur‐e‐Alam Mohammed , Hughes David L. , Wilkinson Barrie , Moss Steven J.
Published: February 2010

Rapamycin is a drug with several important clinical uses. Its complex structure means that total synthesis of this natural product and its analogues is demanding and lengthy. A more expeditious approach is to utilise biosynthesis to enable the generation of otherwise synthetically intractable analogues. In order to achieve this, rules governing biosynthetic precursor substrate preference must be established. Through determining these rules and synthesising and administering suitable substrate precursors, we demonstrate the first generation of fluorinated rapamycin analogues. Here we report the generation of six new fluororapamycins.
Surface Layer‐by‐Layer Chemical Deposition Reaction for Nanosized Thin‐Film Formation of Metal Complexes of 2‐Mercaptonicotinic Acid
Authors: Haggag Sawsan M. S.
Published: February 2010

2‐Mercaptonicotinic acid [H2mna] reacted with MnII, CoII, NiII, CuII, and ZnII by using a layer‐by‐layer chemical deposition technique; thin‐film nanosized metal–[Hmna]2 complexes were formed. The metal complexes were synthesized by the alternative dipping of a glass substrate into the metal ion solution followed by the ligand solution. A molar stoichiometric ratio of 1:2 was characterized for all newly synthesized nanosized MnII‐, CoII‐, NiII‐, CuII‐, and ZnII–2‐mercaptonicotinate complexes, as confirmed from analysis of the metal. Electron impact mass spectrometry (EIMS) of the collected particles from the thin‐film deposited MnII[Hmna]2 complex (as a selected example) indicates molecular ion peaks at m/z values of 155 and 363 amu for [H2mna] and MnII[Hmna]2, respectively. The deposited thin films of the nanosized metal complexes were subjected to analysis and imaging by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and were identified to give a range of detected particle sizes ≥20–130 nm. The five metal–[Hmna]2 complexes were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, and the ligand was found to bind to the metal through the carboxylic oxygen atom and the mercapto sulfur atom. The UV/Vis spectra of the deposited thin film materials and of the ethanol solutions of the complexes were recorded to identify the possibility of d–d transitions in all newly synthesized metal–[Hmna]2 complexes. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG) was also used to identify the possible thermal degradation processes and to calculate some thermodynamic parameters.
Institute of Medicine Recommendations for the Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C
Authors: Mitchell Abigail E. , Colvin Heather M. , Beasley Palmer R.
Published: February 2010

Despite federal, state, and local public health efforts to prevent and control hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, these diseases remain serious health problems in the United States. About 1%-2% of the U.S. population has chronic HBV or HCV infections, and each year about 15,000 people die from liver cancer or liver disease related to these preventable infections. The Institute of Medicine formed an expert committee to determine ways to reduce new HBV and HCV infections and the morbidity and mortality related to chronic viral hepatitis and released its findings in a report. The major factor found to impede current efforts to prevent and control HBV and HCV is lack of knowledge and awareness about these diseases among healthcare and social-service providers, members of the public, and policy makers. Because the extent and seriousness of this public health problem is not appreciated, inadequate resources are being allocated to prevention, control, and surveillance programs. This situation has led to continued transmission of HBV and HCV and inadequate identification of and medical management for chronically infected people.

Conclusion:

To address the situation, the Institute of Medicine report makes recommendations in four areas: improved surveillance for HBV and HCV; improved knowledge and awareness among healthcare and social-service providers and the public, especially at-risk people; improved HBV vaccine coverage; and improved viral hepatitis services and access to those services. HEPATOLOGY, 2010
Fluoropassivation and gelatin sealing of polyester arterial prostheses to skip preclotting and constrain the chronic inflammatory response
Authors: Xie Xingyi , Guidoin Robert , Nutley Mark , Zhang Ze
Published: February 2010

Fluoropassivation and gelatin coating have been applied to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) vascular prosthesis to combine the advantages of both polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and PET materials, and to eliminate the preclotting procedure. The morphological, chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of such prostheses were investigated and compared with its original model. Fluoropassivation introduced OCF3, CF3, and CFCF2 structures onto the surface of the polyester fibers. However, the surface fluorine content was only 28–32% compared to the 66% in expanded PTFE (ePTFE) grafts. The fluoropassivation decreased the hydrophilicity, slightly increased the water permeability, and marginally lowered the melting point and the crystallinity of the PET fibers. After gelatin coating, the fluoropassivated and nonfluoropassivated prostheses showed similar surface morphology and chemistry. While gelatin coating eliminated preclotting, it also renders the prostheses slightly stiffer. The original prosthesis had the highest bursting strength (275 N), with the fluoropassivated and gelatin‐sealed devices showing similar bursting strength between 210 and 230 N. Fluoropassivation and gelatin coating lowered the retention strength by 23 and 30% on average, respectively. In vitro enzymatic incubation had only marginal effect on the surface fluorine content of the nongelatin‐sealed prostheses. However, the gelatin‐sealed ones significantly lost their surface fluorine after in vitro enzymatic incubation (by 69–85%) or in vivo 6‐month implantation (by 51–60%), showing the lability of the fluoropolymer layer under the hostile biological environment. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010
Characterization of an air‐spun poly(L‐lactic acid) nanofiber mesh
Authors: François Sébastien , Sarra‐Bournet Christian , Jaffre Antoine , Chakfé Nabil , Durand Bernard , Laroche Gaétan
Published: February 2010

It was previously showed that PLLA nanofiber mesh promoted good endothelial cell proliferation. A new technique was developed to produce nanofibers by air jet spinning inside the tubular shape of vascular prostheses and to characterize this nanofiber mesh. Polymer macromolecule stability was assessed by gel permeation chromatography. Thermal analyses were conducted with differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis on PLLA nanofibers obtained with 4% and 7% solutions (w/v) in chloroform. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was also treated with atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge under air or nitrogen atmosphere to optimize PLLA nanofiber adherence, assessed by peel tests. Air spinning induced a reduction of number‐average molecular weight (Mn) for the 7% PLLA solution but not for the 4% solution. The nanofibers were more crystalline and less sensible to viscoelastic relaxation as a function of aging in the 4% solution than in the 7% solution. Discharge treatment of the PET promoted identical surface modification on PET film and PET textile surfaces. Moreover, the best PLLA nanofibers adhesion results were obtained under nitrogen atmosphere. This study demonstrates that it is possible to coat the internal side of tubular vascular prostheses with PLLA nanofibers, and provides a better understanding of the air spinning process as well as optimizing nanofibers adhesion. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010