bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigation to the Properties of Eutectic Salts by NaCl-KCl-ZnCl2 for Application as High Temperature Heat Transfer Fluids
Authors: Wang Kai , Molina Edgar , Dehghani Ghazal , Xu Ben , Li Peiwen , Hao Qing , Lucas Pierre , Kassaee Mohamad H. , Jeter Sheldon M. , Teja Amyn S.
Published: October 2014

A group of eutectic ternary halide salts were surveyed and studied for the objective of developing a high temperature heat transfer fluid with a freezing point below 250°C and a low vapor pressure, below 1.0 atm, at temperatures up to 800°C. The studied salts include: 1) NaCl-KCl-ZnCl2 with a mole fractions of 18.6%-21.9%-59.5% and a melting point of tm=213°C; 2) NaCl-KCl-ZnCl2 with a mole fraction of 13.4%-33.7%-52.9% and a melting point of tm=204°C; and 3) NaCl-KCl-ZnCl2 with mole fraction of 13.8%-41.9%-44.3% and a melting point of tm=229 °C. Vapor pressures of these salts at different temperatures were experimentally obtained using an in-house developed test facility. The results show that vapor pressures of all the three eutectic molten salts are below 1.0 atm at a temperature of 800 °C. The salt of ZnCl2-KCl-NaCl in mole faction of 44.3%-41.9%-13.8% has lowest vapor pressure which is only about 1.0 atm even at a temperature of 900 °C. Viscosities of these salts were measured in the temperature range from after melting to 850°C. At low temperatures near their melting points of the salts, the viscosities are about 16 × 10−3Pa s, while at high temperatures above 700°C the viscosities are around 4 × 10−3Pa s, which is satisfactorily low to serve as heat transfer fluid for circulation in a CSP system. Both the vapor pressure and the viscosities of the studied three eutectic salts demonstrated satisfaction to serve as high temperature heat transfer fluids. Other thermal and transport properties of these salts are expected to be reported in the future for screening out a satisfactory high temperature heat transfer fluid.
Full State Feedback Control of Steam Temperature in a Once-Through Direct Steam Generation Receiver Powered by a Paraboloidal Dish
Authors: Zapata José I.
Published: October 2014

DSG plants in a once-through configuration convert water into superheated steam suitable for a steam turbine, with a single pass of the fluid through the receiver. The control problem is to manipulate the feed-water mass flow to maintain a desired steam condition (e.g. temperature) under variable solar radiation. This paper presents a full state linear feedback controller for the steam temperature for a once-through direct steam generation system, featuring a 500 m2 paraboloidal dish concentrator and a mono-tube cavity receiver at the Australian National University. The controller manipulates the feed-water mass flow at the receiver inlet to maintain a predetermined specific enthalpy at the receiver outlet, compensating for variations in direct normal irradiation (DNI) and other ambient conditions. The linear controller features three separate regulation mechanisms: a feedforward law to anticipate changes in DNI; a full state feedback loop that uses a state observer for the receiver and an additional output feedback integrator loop for robustness. Experimental results show that the linear controller can successfully control the temperature of the SG4 receiver, provided that it is adequately tuned.
Performance Analysis With Future Predictions of Different Solar Cooling Systems in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Authors: Naranjo-Mendoza Carlos , López-Villada Jesús , Gaona Gabriel , Labus Jerko
Published: October 2014

This paper presents a comparative analysis of three different solar cooling system configurations developed for a case study building in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Guayaquil is a city located at the Ecuadorian coast with an average annual temperature of 25°C. The city’s need for air conditioning throughout the year and the relatively intense solar radiation provide a great opportunity for implementation of solar cooling systems. The first cooling system includes a 175 kWc single-effect absorption chiller powered by evacuated tubes solar thermal collectors. This system was compared with two 140 kWc compression chiller systems (air-cooled (AC) and water-cooled (WC)) powered by grid-connected photovoltaics. Both constant flow rate (CFR) and variable flow rate (VFR) of chilled water were analyzed. The three systems have to satisfy a cooling demand of the top floor in one governmental building (app. 1296 m2) which was selected as case study. Additionally, two 140 kWc conventional compression chiller systems (AC and WC) were included in the comparison as reference systems. Cooling demand of the building was simulated in EnergyPlus and coupled with the appropriate system configurations developed in TRNSYS. The weather file (TMY) was developed based on real meteorological data collected in the last decade. The present analysis was extended with the prediction scenarios for the years 2020, 2050 and 2080 using climate change adapted weather files.
Frequency Analysis and Predictive Identification of Flame Stability by Image Processing
Authors: De Giorgi Maria Grazia , Sciolti Aldebara , Pescini Elisa , Ficarella Antonio
Published: October 2014

Monitoring and characterization of combustion flames by digital image processing is an active research topic.

This study experimentally investigates the feasibility of high speed visualization techniques for combustion instability monitoring in a swirl liquid-fueled lean combustor for different air/fuel ratios. Instability, in fact, is an unpleasant aspect in the combustive system that negatively impacts on combustion efficiency.

This work investigates methods for extracting significant parameters using the geometrical and luminous data of the flame images; some flame features are related to the combustion regimes. The stability of the flame is identified using spectral and wavelet-based analysis of the pixel intensities of the flame images.

In particular the most flame unstable regions were identified by analyzing the two dimensional maps of different physical quantities.

The impact of the fuel/air ratio on the stability of the flame is investigated also by a Monochromator/Photomultiplier system (PMT).

The results support the potential of the methods described for flame monitoring.
Structural Design Considerations for Tubular Power Tower Receivers Operating at 650°C
Authors: Neises Ty W. , Wagner Michael J. , Gray Allison K.
Published: October 2014

Research of advanced power cycles has shown supercritical carbon dioxide power cycles may have thermal efficiency benefits relative to steam cycles at temperatures around 500–700°C. To realize these benefits for CSP, it is necessary to increase the maximum outlet temperature of current tower designs. Research at NREL is investigating a concept that uses high-pressure supercritical carbon dioxide as the heat transfer fluid to achieve a 650°C receiver outlet temperature. At these operating conditions, creep becomes an important factor in the design of a tubular receiver and contemporary design assumptions for both solar and traditional boiler applications must be revisited and revised. This paper discusses lessons learned for high-pressure, high-temperature tubular receiver design. An analysis of a simplified receiver tube is discussed, and the results show the limiting stress mechanisms in the tube and the impact on the maximum allowable flux as design parameters vary. Results of this preliminary analysis indicate an underlying trade-off between tube thickness and the maximum allowable flux on the tube. Future work will expand the scope of design variables considered and attempt to optimize the design based on cost and performance metrics.
Calibrated Building Energy Models for Community-Scale Sustainability Analyses
Authors: Waite Michael , Modi Vijay
Published: October 2014

Building energy contributes approximately 40% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and 75% of emissions in some urban areas. Evaluating modifications to existing building stocks is essential to a proper assessment of GHG reduction policy at various levels. With deeper penetration of intermittent renewable energy resources, supply and demand effects at a high resolution (e.g. hourly) will become more important as variations in grid emissions will become more significant. City-level hourly electricity load data is available; however, effects of building stock changes on usage profiles are not easily analyzed, and on-site fossil fuel usage — the dominant loads in many urban areas — are generally only available annually. Building energy models allow for detailed simulation of building systems, but existing building models must be calibrated to actual energy usage to predict the effects of energy conservation measures.

Reference building models developed by the U.S. Department of Energy for the EnergyPlus software tool were used as the basis for a set of calibrated building energy models to perform community-scale energy conservation measures on the dominant building classes in NYC (i.e. residential and office buildings). A statistical analysis of zip code-level annual electricity and fuel usage data was performed to determine electricity, space heating fuel and domestic hot water (DHW) fuel usage intensities (EUIs) for three broad building categories encompassing these building types in New York City. Several parameters were adjusted for each model until simulations produced the EUIs from the statistical analysis: Thermal envelope characteristics, peak electric equipment and lighting loads, DHW flow requirements, cooling equipment coefficient of performance and heating equipment efficiency. Cooling energy demands were adjusted based on the electricity demand vs. temperature behavior during the cooling season. The hourly daily usage schedules of internal electric and lighting loads were then adjusted for all models, targeting the actual hourly electricity demands for NYC. Because hourly changes affect annual EUIs, the calibrations were performed iteratively until the model outputs, weighted by each building type’s total NYC square footage, equaled the annual EUIs for each building type and the hourly electricity demand data.

This paper shows that this comprehensive calibration approach can achieve root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of 7% from the average annual electricity demand for these building types, compared to a 31% RMSD for an approach using annual energy calibration only.
Study of Different Configurations of ISCC Parabolic Trough
Authors: Duran Dolores , Almanza Rafael , Martínez Ivan
Published: October 2014

This work shows the study of different configurations of integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) parabolic-trough power plant with Direct Steam Generation (DSG). This paper is a sequel of previous works (Duran), but in this case six different configurations are analyzed: two pressure level without reheater (2P), 2P considering the solar field the high pressure economizer of the heat recovery steam generator, 2P considering the solar field the low pressure superheater, two pressure level with reheater (2PR), 2PR considering the solar field the low pressure superheater, 2PR considering the solar field the high pressure economizer. The main objective is to achieve the thermoeconomic optimization (based on Thermodynamic 1st. Law) of the HRSG including the solar field, to determine the optimal design parameters of both systems.

It is applied a genetic algorithm (GA) methodology employed in previous works for the optimization of combined cycle power plants. Also, a sensitivity analysis with respect to the variation of solar radiation is done for the configurations that yield better results. As a result it would be obtained the optimal parameters of the HRSG and the optimal solar energy contribution for the configurations analyzed.
Development and Design Prototype 300 kW-Thermal High-Temperature Particle Heating Concentrator Solar Power System Utilizing Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Golob Matthew , Jeter Sheldon , Abdel-Khalik Said I. , Sadowski Dennis , Al-Ansary Hany , Elleathy Abdelrahman
Published: October 2014

The advantages of high temperature central receiver particle heating solar heat supply systems in concentrator solar power (CSP) have been recognized in recent years. The use of particulate as the collection medium provides two critical advantages: (1) Ordinary particulate minerals and products will allow higher collection temperatures approaching 1000°C compared with conventional molten salts, which are limited to around 650°C, and (2) the low cost high temperature particulate material can also be used as the storage medium in a highly cost effective thermal energy storage (TES) system. The high operating temperature allows use of high efficiency power conversion systems such as supercritical steam in a vapor power cycle or supercritical carbon dioxide in a Brayton cycle. Alternatively, a lower cost gas turbine can be used for the power conversion system. High conversion efficiency combined with inexpensive TES will yield a highly cost effective CSP system. The 300 kW-th prototype is being constructed as a solar heat supply system only, deferring the power conversion system for later demonstration in a larger integrated CSP system.

This paper describes the general design and development efforts leading to construction of the 300 kW prototype system located in the Riyadh Techno Valley development near King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is the first sizeable solar heat supply system purposely designed, and constructed as a particle heating system.

An important component in a particle heating system is the particle heating receiver (PHR), which should be durable and efficient while remaining cost-effective. A critical enabling technology of the PHR being implemented for this project was invented by researchers on our team. In our version of the PHR, the particulate flows downwards through a porous or mesh structure where the concentrated solar energy is absorbed. The porous structure will reduce the speed of the falling particulate material allowing a large temperature rise on a single pass. The new design will also increase the absorption of solar energy and mitigate convective heat loss and particle loss. Other innovative aspects of this design include low cost thermal energy storage bins and a cost effective particle to working fluid heat exchanger. Certain features of these design elements are subjects of ongoing patent applications. Nevertheless, the overall design and the development process of the prototype system is presented in this paper.
Towards a Data Calibrated, Simulation-Based Campus Energy Analysis Environment for Situational Awareness and Future Energy System Planning
Authors: Duncan Scott , Balchanos Michael , Sung Woongje , Kim Juhyun , Li Yongchang , Issac Yanal , Mavris Dimitri , Coulon Adam
Published: October 2014

Researchers at Georgia Tech (GT) have recently begun the GT Smart Energy Campus initiative, which combines campus energy metering data with physics-based modeling and simulation to create an integrated analysis environment for campus energy. The environment consists of a digital representation of campus, which supports situational awareness, as well as a virtual test bed for analyzing emerging energy technologies and future scenarios. The first year of the initiative has focused on evaluating campus energy metering data using visual analytics and statistical analysis techniques. Data analysis is presented as having value for two main uses: (1) as attention-directing information to help system operators diagnose anomalies and (2) as a precursor to modeling and simulation (M&S) in future phases of the Smart Energy Campus initiative. The environment is explained using the initial study scoping of the campus thermal energy generation and distribution systems. Furthermore, a modeling and simulation approach leveraging the Modelica M&S language is described, and preliminary results in using it to represent the campus chilled water system are presented.
LNG Regasification Integrated Within an Air-Separation Process
Authors: Morosuk T. , Schult M. , Tsatsaronis G.
Published: October 2014

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) market has grown significantly and the growth is expected to continue in the future. New technologies that lead to an increased efficiency in each step of the LNG chain are currently under consideration. The studies and the commercial applications associated with the LNG regasification processes can be divided into three large groups: (a) Direct and indirect heat transfer processes between water and LNG; (b) LNG-based co-generation systems, and (c) industrial complexes consisting of an LNG import terminal and an energy-conversion plant, or an energy-intensive chemical plant.

In this paper a novel concept for integrating the LNG vaporization into an air separation process is presented. The simulation, energy and exergy analyses are discussed.
Electrochemically etched Ni tips in a constant-current mode for spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy
Authors: Chen Hui , Xiao Wende , Wu Xu , Yang Kai , Gao Hong-Jun
Published: October 2014

The authors present an efficient method to fabricate Ni tips for spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) via electrochemical etching of Ni wires in a constant-current mode. Instead of applying constant voltages to trigger the electrochemical etching of Ni wires in previous reports, here a constant current is applied, which ensures a stable etching process and favors a high yield of Ni tips with good quality. The prepared Ni tips have been applied to obtain atomic resolution images on various surfaces in conventional STM measurements and to resolve magnetic-state-dependent contrast of Co islands grown on a Cu(111) surface in SP-STM experiments.
Infrared study on room-temperature atomic layer deposition of HfO2 using tetrakis(ethylmethylamino)hafnium and remote plasma-excited oxidizing agents
Authors: Kanomata Kensaku , Ohba Hisashi , Pungboon Pansila P. , Ahmmad Bashir , Kubota Shigeru , Hirahara Kazuhiro , Hirose Fumihiko
Published: October 2014

Room-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) of HfO2 was examined using tetrakis (ethylmethylamino)hafnium (TEMAH) and remote plasma-excited water and oxygen. A growth rate of 0.26 nm/cycle at room temperature was achieved, and the TEMAH adsorption and its oxidization on HfO2 were investigated by multiple internal reflection infrared absorption spectroscopy. It was observed that saturated adsorption of TEMAH occurs at exposures of ∼1 × 105 L (1 L = 1 × 10−6 Torr s) at room temperature, and the use of remote plasma-excited water and oxygen vapor is effective in oxidizing the TEMAH molecules on the HfO2 surface, to produce OH sites. The infrared study suggested that Hf–OH plays a role as an adsorption site for TEMAH. The reaction mechanism of room temperature HfO2 ALD is discussed in this paper.
Comparative analysis of 11 different radioisotopes for palliative treatment of bone metastases by computational methods
Authors: Guerra Liberal Francisco D. C. , Tavares Adriana Alexandre S. , Tavares João Manuel R. S.
Published: October 2014

Purpose:

Throughout the years, the palliative treatment of bone metastases using bone seeking radiotracers has been part of the therapeutic resources used in oncology, but the choice of which bone seeking agent to use is not consensual across sites and limited data are available comparing the characteristics of each radioisotope. Computational simulation is a simple and practical method to study and to compare a variety of radioisotopes for different medical applications, including the palliative treatment of bone metastases. This study aims to evaluate and compare 11 different radioisotopes currently in use or under research for the palliative treatment of bone metastases using computational methods.

Methods:

Computational models were used to estimate the percentage of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage (fast Monte Carlo damage algorithm), the probability of correct DNA repair (Monte Carlo excision repair algorithm), and the radiation‐induced cellular effects (virtual cell radiobiology algorithm) post‐irradiation with selected particles emitted by phosphorus‐32 (32P), strontium‐89 (89Sr), yttrium‐90 (90Y), tin‐117 (117mSn), samarium‐153 (153Sm), holmium‐166 (166Ho), thulium‐170 (170Tm), lutetium‐177 (177Lu), rhenium‐186 (186Re), rhenium‐188 (188Re), and radium‐223 (223Ra).

Results:

223Ra alpha particles, 177Lu beta minus particles, and 170Tm beta minus particles induced the highest cell death of all investigated particles and radioisotopes. The cell survival fraction measured post‐irradiation with beta minus particles emitted by 89Sr and 153Sm, two of the most frequently used radionuclides in the palliative treatment of bone metastases in clinical routine practice, was higher than 177Lu beta minus particles and 223Ra alpha particles.

Conclusions:

223Ra and 177Lu hold the highest potential for palliative treatment of bone metastases of all radioisotopes compared in this study. Data reported here may prompt future in vitro and in vivo experiments comparing different radionuclides for palliative treatment of bone metastases, raise the need for the careful rethinking of the current widespread clinical use of 89Sr and 153Sm, and perhaps strengthen the use of 223Ra and 177Lu in the palliative treatment of bone metastases.
Spatiotemporal filtering of MR‐temperature artifacts arising from bowel motion during transurethral MR‐HIFU
Authors: Schmitt Alain , Mougenot Charles , Chopra Rajiv
Published: October 2014

Purpose:

Transurethral MR‐HIFU is a minimally invasive image‐guided treatment for localized prostate cancer that enables precise targeting of tissue within the gland. The treatment is performed within a clinical MRI to obtain real‐time MR thermometry used as an active feedback to control the spatial heating pattern in the prostate and to monitor for potential damage to surrounding tissues. This requires that the MR thermometry measurements are an accurate representation of the true tissue temperature. The proton resonance frequency shift thermometry method used is sensitive to tissue motion and changes in the local magnetic susceptibility that can be caused by the motion of air bubbles in the rectum, which can impact the performance of transurethral MR‐HIFU in these regions of the gland.

Methods:

A method is proposed for filtering of temperature artifacts based on the temporal variance of the temperature, using empirical and dynamic positional knowledge of the ultrasonic heating beam, and an estimation of the measurement noise. A two‐step correction strategy is introduced which eliminates artifact‐detected temperature variations while keeping the noise level low through spatial averaging.

Results:

The filter has been evaluated by postprocessing data from five human transurethral ultrasound treatments. The two‐step correction process led to reduced final temperature standard deviation in the prostate and rectum areas where the artifact was located, without negatively affecting areas distal to the artifact. The performance of the filter was also found to be consistent across all six of the data sets evaluated. The evaluation of the detection criterion parameter M determined that a value of M = 3 achieves a conservative filter with minimal loss of spatial resolution during the process.

Conclusions:

The filter was able to remove most artifacts due to the presence of moving air bubbles in the rectum during transurethral MR‐HIFU. A quantitative estimation of the filter capabilities shows a systematic improvement in the standard deviation of the corrected temperature maps in the rectum zone as well as in the entire acquired slice.
A direct derivation of the relativistic Lagrangian for a system of particles using d'Alembert's principle
Authors: Nađđerđ Laslo J. , Davidović Miloš D. , Davidović Dragomir M.
Published: October 2014

We present a derivation of the Lagrangian for a system of relativistic particles, starting from d'Alembert's principle. We follow the virtually forgotten derivation of Pars, using generally accepted notation, while introducing some new steps in the derivation and clarifying others.
Demystifying umklapp vs normal scattering in lattice thermal conductivity
Authors: Maznev A. A. , Wright O. B.
Published: October 2014

We discuss the textbook presentation of the concept of umklapp vs normal phonon-phonon scattering processes in the context of lattice thermal conductivity. A simplistic picture, in which the “momentum conservation” in a normal process leads to the conservation of the heat flux, is only valid within the single-velocity Debye model of phonon dispersion. Outside this model, the simple “momentum conservation” argument is demonstrably inaccurate and leads to conceptual confusion. Whether or not an individual scattering event changes the direction of the energy flow is determined by the phonon group velocity, which, unlike the quasimomentum, is a uniquely defined quantity independent of the choice of the primitive cell in reciprocal space. Furthermore, the statement that normal processes do not lead to a finite thermal conductivity when umklapp processes are absent is a statistical statement that applies to a phonon distribution rather than to individual scattering events. It is also important to understand that once umklapp processes are present, both normal and umklapp processes contribute to thermal resistance. A nuanced explanation of the subject would help avoid confusion of the student and establish a connection with cutting edge research.
What integration cues, and what cues integration in intermediate electromagnetism
Authors: Doughty Leanne , McLoughlin Eilish , van Kampen Paul
Published: October 2014

We report on semi-quantitative research into students' difficulties with integration in an intermediate-level electromagnetism course with cohorts of about 50 students. We have found that before they enter the course, students view integration primarily as a process of evaluation, even though viewing integration as a summation process would be more fruitful. We confirm and quantify earlier results that recognizing dependency on a variable is a strong cue that prompts students to integrate and that various technical difficulties with integration prevent almost all students from getting a completely correct answer to a typical electromagnetism problem involving integration. We describe a teaching sequence that we have found useful in helping students address the difficulties we identified.
Criblamydia sequanensis
Harbors a Megaplasmid Encoding Arsenite Resistance
Authors: Bertelli Claire , Goesmann Alexander , Greub Gilbert
Published: October 2014

Criblamydia sequanensis
is an amoeba-resisting bacterium recently isolated from the Seine River. This
Chlamydia-
related bacterium harbors a genome of approximately 3 Mbp and a megaplasmid of 89,525 bp. The plasmid encodes several efflux systems and an operon for arsenite resistance. This first genome sequence within the
Criblamydiaceae
family enlarges our view on the evolution and the ecology of this important bacterial clade largely understudied so far.
Complete Genome Sequences of Lineage III Peste des Petits Ruminants Viruses from the Middle East and East Africa
Authors: Muniraju Murali , Munir Muhammad , Banyard Ashley C. , Ayebazibwe Chrisostom , Wensman Jonas , Zohari Siamak , Berg Mikael , Parthiban AravindhBabu R. , Mahapatra Mana , Libeau Geneviève , Batten Carrie , Parida Satya
Published: October 2014

For the first time, complete genome sequences of four lineage III peste des petits ruminants (PPR) viruses (Oman 1983, United Arab Emirates 1986, Ethiopia 1994, and Uganda 2012) originated from the Middle East and East Africa are reported here. The availability of complete genome sequences from all four lineages (I to IV) of the PPR virus (PPRV) would greatly help in a comprehensive understanding of the molecular evolution and emergence of PPRV.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Iron-Oxidizing, Acidophilic, and Halotolerant “Thiobacillus prosperus” Type Strain DSM 5130
Authors: Ossandon Francisco J. , Cárdenas Juan Pablo , Corbett Melissa , Quatrini Raquel , Holmes David S. , Watkin Elizabeth
Published: October 2014

“
Thiobacillus prosperus
” is a halotolerant mesophilic acidophile that gains energy through iron and sulfur oxidation. Its physiology is poorly understood. Here, we describe the principal genomic features of the type strain of
T. prosperus
, DSM 5130. This is the first public genome sequence of an acidophilic halotolerant bacterium.
Metagenomics of Ancient Fermentation Pits Used for the Production of Chinese Strong-Aroma Liquor
Authors: Guo Ming-Yi , Huo Dan-Qun , Ghai Rohit , Rodriguez-Valera Francisco , Shen Cai-Hong , Zhang Niang , Zhang Su-Yi , Hou Chang-Jun
Published: October 2014

The complex microbiota of pit mud of solid-state fermentation reactors used for the production of Chinese liquor is responsible for producing one of the oldest distillates in the world. We apply a deep-sequencing approach to characterize the microbiota from pits that have been in use for up to 440 years.
Complete Genome Sequence of Type Strain Pasteurella multocida subsp.
multocida
ATCC 43137
Authors: Davenport K. W. , Daligault H. E. , Minogue T. D. , Bishop-Lilly K. A. , Bruce D. C. , Chain P. S. , Coyne S. R. , Frey K. G. , Jaissle J. , Koroleva G. I. , Ladner J. T. , Lo C. C. , Palacios G. F. , Redden C. L. , Scholz M. B. , Teshima H. , Johnson S. L.
Published: October 2014

Soft-tissue infection by
Pasteurella multocida
in humans is usually associated with a dog- or cat-related injury, and these infections can become aggressive. We sequenced the type strain
P. multocida
subsp.
multocida
ATCC 43137 into a single closed chromosome consisting of 2,271,840 bp (40.4% G+C content), which is currently available in the NCBI GenBank under the accession number CP008918.
Draft Genome Assemblies of Enterobacter aerogenes CDC 6003-71, Enterobacter cloacae CDC 442-68, and Pantoea agglomerans UA 0804-01
Authors: Minogue T. D. , Daligault H. E. , Davenport K. W. , Bishop-Lilly K. A. , Bruce D. C. , Chain P. S. , Coyne S. R. , Chertkov O. , Freitas T. , Frey K. G. , Jaissle J. , Koroleva G. I. , Ladner J. T. , Palacios G. F. , Redden C. L. , Xu Y. , Johnson S. L.
Published: October 2014

The
Enterobacteriaceae
are environmental and enteric microbes. We sequenced the genomes of two
Enterobacter
reference strains,
E. aerogenes
CDC 6003-71 and
E. cloacae
CDC 442-68, as well as one near neighbor used as an exclusionary reference for diagnostics,
Pantoea agglomerans
CDC UA0804-01. The genome sizes range from 4.72 to 5.55 Mbp and have G+C contents from 54.6 to 55.1%.
Full-Genome Sequence of a Hepatitis B Virus Genotype F1b Clone from a Chronically Infected Chilean Patient
Authors: Hernández Sergio , Venegas Mauricio , Brahm Javier , Villanueva Rodrigo A.
Published: October 2014

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a DNA virus belonging to the
Hepadnaviridae
family. Viral isolates have been classified into 10 genotypes, named from A to J, and several subtypes. We report the full-genome sequence from a single molecular clone of HBV genotype F1b, amplified from a chronically infected Chilean patient.
Genome Sequences of Five Oenococcus oeni Strains Isolated from Nero Di Troia Wine from the Same Terroir in Apulia, Southern Italy
Authors: Capozzi Vittorio , Russo Pasquale , Lamontanara Antonella , Orrù Luigi , Cattivelli Luigi , Spano Giuseppe
Published: October 2014

Oenococcus oeni
is the principal lactic acid bacterium responsible for malolactic fermentation in wine. Here, we announce the genome sequences of five
O. oeni
strains isolated from Nero di Troia wine undergoing spontaneous malolactic fermentation, and we report, for the first time, several genome sequences of strains isolated from the same terroir.
Draft Genome Sequences of Two Ulvan-Degrading Isolates, Strains LTR and LOR, That Belong to the
Alteromonas
Genus
Authors: Kopel Moran , Helbert William , Henrissat Bernard , Doniger Tirza , Banin Ehud
Published: October 2014

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of two ulvan-degrading
Alteromonas
spp. isolated from the feces of the sea slug,
Aplysia
. These sequenced genomes display a unique ulvan degradation machinery compared with ulvanolytic enzymes previously identified in
Nonlabens ulvanivorans
.
Full-Genome Assembly of Reference Strain Providencia stuartii ATCC 33672
Authors: Frey K. G. , Bishop-Lilly K. A. , Daligault H. E. , Davenport K. W. , Bruce D. C. , Chain P. S. , Coyne S. R. , Chertkov O. , Freitas T. , Jaissle J. , Koroleva G. I. , Ladner J. T. , Minogue T. D. , Palacios G. F. , Redden C. L. , Xu Y. , Johnson S. L.
Published: October 2014

A member of the normal human gut microflora,
Providencia stuartii
is of clinical interest due to its role in nosocomial infections of the urinary tract and because it readily acquires antibiotic resistance. Here, we present the complete genome of
P. stuartii
strain ATCC 33672, consisting of a 4.28-Mbp chromosome and a 48.9-kbp plasmid.
Metagenomic Assessment of the Eastern Oyster-Associated Microbiota
Authors: Chauhan Ashvini , Wafula Denis , Lewis Dawn E. , Pathak Ashish
Published: October 2014

Bacteria associated with the Eastern oysters (
Crassostrea virginica
) native to Apalachicola Bay, FL, were investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon metagenomic sequencing which revealed that the oyster microbiome was predominated by
Cyanobacteria
and
Proteobacteria
. We also found that the oyster tissues were predominated by the pathogenic and symbiotic
Photobacterium
spp. (formerly known as
Vibrio damsela
e).
Draft Genome Sequences of Three
Smithella
spp. Obtained from a Methanogenic Alkane-Degrading Culture and Oil Field Produced Water
Authors: Tan BoonFei , de Araújo e Silva Renata , Rozycki Trent , Nesbø Camilla , Foght Julia
Published: October 2014

Two draft genomes affiliated with
Smithella
spp. were obtained from a methanogenic alkane-degrading enrichment culture by single-cell sorting and metagenome contig binning, and a third was obtained by single-cell sorting of oil field produced water. Two genomes contained putative
assABC
genes encoding alkylsuccinate synthase, indicating genetic potential for fumarate activation of alkanes.
Electronic health records improve clinical note quality
Authors: Burke Harry B , Sessums Laura L , Hoang Albert , Becher Dorothy A , Fontelo Paul , Liu Fang , Stephens Mark , Pangaro Louis N , O'Malley Patrick G , Baxi Nancy S , Bunt Christopher W , Capaldi Vincent F , Chen Julie M , Cooper Barbara A , Djuric David A , Hodge Joshua A , Kane Shawn , Magee Charles , Makary Zizette R , Mallory Renee M , Miller Thomas , Saperstein Adam , Servey Jessica , Gimbel Ronald W
Published: October 2014

Background and objective The clinical note documents the clinician's information collection, problem assessment, clinical management, and its used for administrative purposes. Electronic health records (EHRs) are being implemented in clinical practices throughout the USA yet it is not known whether they improve the quality of clinical notes. The goal in this study was to determine if EHRs improve the quality of outpatient clinical notes.

Materials and methods A five and a half year longitudinal retrospective multicenter quantitative study comparing the quality of handwritten and electronic outpatient clinical visit notes for 100 patients with type 2 diabetes at three time points: 6 months prior to the introduction of the EHR (before-EHR), 6 months after the introduction of the EHR (after-EHR), and 5 years after the introduction of the EHR (5-year-EHR). QNOTE, a validated quantitative instrument, was used to assess the quality of outpatient clinical notes. Its scores can range from a low of 0 to a high of 100. Sixteen primary care physicians with active practices used QNOTE to determine the quality of the 300 patient notes.

Results The before-EHR, after-EHR, and 5-year-EHR grand mean scores (SD) were 52.0 (18.4), 61.2 (16.3), and 80.4 (8.9), respectively, and the change in scores for before-EHR to after-EHR and before-EHR to 5-year-EHR were 18% (p<0.0001) and 55% (p<0.0001), respectively. All the element and grand mean quality scores significantly improved over the 5-year time interval.

Conclusions The EHR significantly improved the overall quality of the outpatient clinical note and the quality of all its elements, including the core and non-core elements. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that the EHR significantly improves the quality of clinical notes.
Implications of an emerging EHR monoculture for hospitals and healthcare systems
Authors: Koppel Ross , Lehmann Christoph U
Published: October 2014

In many hospitals and health systems, a ‘new’ electronic health record means a shift to one vendor: Epic, a vendor that dominates in large and medium hospital markets and continues its success with smaller institutions and ambulatory practices. Our paper examines the implications of this emerging monoculture: its advantages and disadvantages for physicians and hospitals and its role in innovation, professional autonomy, implementation difficulties, workflow, flexibility, cost, data standards, interoperability, and interactions with other information technology (IT) systems.
Association between the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism and pterygium in Sardinian patients: a population based case–control study
Authors: Demurtas Paolo , Orrù Germano , Coni Pierpaolo , Minerba Luigi , Corrias Michela , Sirigu Paola , Zucca Ignazio , Demurtas Elena , Maxia Cristina , Piras Franca , Murtas Daniela , Lai Simone , Perra Maria Teresa
Published: October 2014

Objective

The purpose of the study was to examine whether the insertion (I) and/or deletion (D) polymorphism of ACE confers susceptibility to primary pterygium in Sardinian patients in a case–control study.

Methods and results

Polymorphism genotyping was performed by nested PCR using genomic DNA extracted from the whole peripheral blood of participants with (n=251) and without (n=260) pterygium. DD, ID and II genotype frequencies were: 48%, 39% and 13%, respectively, for patients with pterygium, and 15%, 40% and 44%, respectively, for the control group. A statistically significant difference was found between the pterygium and control groups for theACEI/D polymorphism (p<0.001). Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the DD and II groups (p<0.01; OR=10.49; 95% CI 6.18 to 17.79), DD+ID versus II group (p<0.01; OR=5.23; 95% CI 3.37 to 8.13) and DD versus ID groups (p<0.01; OR=3.21; 95% CI 2.04 to 5.04).

Conclusions

Statistical analysis showed that the DD genotype is associated with an increased risk of developing pterygium, and with a good chance that the D allele may play an important role in the development of disease.
The effect of enhanced public–private partnerships on Maternal, Newborn and child Health Services and outcomes in Nairobi–Kenya: the PAMANECH quasi-experimental research protocol
Authors: Bakibinga Pauline , Ettarh Remare , Ziraba Abdhalah K , Kyobutungi Catherine , Kamande Eva , Ngomi Nicholas , Osindo Jane
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Rapid urbanisation in Kenya has resulted in growth of slums in urban centres, characterised by poverty, inadequate social services and poor health outcomes. The government's initiatives to improve access to quality healthcare for mothers and children are largely limited to public health facilities, which are few and/or inaccessible in underserved areas such as the slums. The ‘Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health’ (PAMANECH) project is being implemented in two Nairobi slums, Viwandani and Korogocho, to assess the impact of strengthening public–private partnerships for the delivery of healthcare on the health of mothers, newborns and young children in two informal settlements in Kenya.

Methods and analysis

This is a quasi-experimental study; our approach is to support private as well as public health providers and the community to enhance access to and demand for quality healthcare services. Key activities include: infrastructural upgrade of selected Private Not-For-Profit health facilities operating in the two slums, building capacity for healthcare providers as well as the Health Management Teams in Nairobi, facilitating provision of supportive supervision by the local health authorities and forming networks of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) to create demand for health services. To assess the impact of the intervention, the study is utilising multiple data sources using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. A baseline survey was conducted in 2013 and an end-line survey will be conducted at least 1 year after full implementation of the intervention. Systematic monitoring and documentation of the intervention is on-going to strengthen the case for causal inference.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Kenya Medical Research Institute. Key messages from the results will be packaged and widely disseminated through workshops, conference presentations, reports, factsheets and academic publications to facilitate uptake by policymakers.

Protocol registration number

KEMRI- NON-SSC-PROTOCOL No. 393.
Functional MRI-guided microsurgery of intracranial arteriovenous malformations: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zhao Bing , Cao Yong , Zhao Yuanli , Wu Jun , Wang Shuo
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Modern microsurgery has improved the results of surgical treatment of AVMs; however, the treatment of AVMs, particularly eloquently located AVMs, still carries a high risk. Functional MRI (fMRI) has been reported to be used for the preoperative evaluation of AVMs in small case series. The purpose is to identify the utility and efficacy of fMRI-guided microsurgery of AVMs in a large randomised controlled trial.

Methods and analysis

The study is a prospective, randomised controlled clinical trial. This study will enrol a total of 600 eligible patients. These eligible patients will be randomised to the standard microsurgery group and the fMRI-guided microsurgery group in a 1:1 ratio. Patient baseline characteristics and AVM architecture and characteristics will be described. In the fMRI-guided group, fMRI mapping of an eloquent cortex in all AVMs will be identified. Surgical complications and outcomes at pretreatment, post-treatment, at discharge and at 1-month, 3-month and 6-month follow-up intervals will be analysed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). This trial will determine whether fMRI-guided microsurgery could improve outcomes in patients with AVMs and also identify the safety and efficacy of fMRI-guided microsurgery.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol and written informed consent were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University (ky2012-016-02). Study findings will be disseminated in the printed media.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.govNCT01758211.
Cardiovascular Disease Population Risk Tool (CVDPoRT): predictive algorithm for assessing CVD risk in the community setting. A study protocol
Authors: Taljaard Monica , Tuna Meltem , Bennett Carol , Perez Richard , Rosella Laura , Tu Jack V , Sanmartin Claudia , Hennessy Deirdre , Tanuseputro Peter , Lebenbaum Michael , Manuel Douglas G
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Recent publications have called for substantial improvements in the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of prediction models. Publication of study protocols, with prespecification of key aspects of the analysis plan, can help to improve transparency, increase quality and protect against increased type I error. Valid population-based risk algorithms are essential for population health planning and policy decision-making. The purpose of this study is to develop, evaluate and apply cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk algorithms for the population setting.

Methods and analysis

The Ontario sample of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2001, 2003, 2005; 77 251 respondents) will be used to assess risk factors focusing on health behaviours (physical activity, diet, smoking and alcohol use). Incident CVD outcomes will be assessed through linkage to administrative healthcare databases (619 886 person-years of follow-up until 31 December 2011). Sociodemographic factors (age, sex, immigrant status, education) and mediating factors such as presence of diabetes and hypertension will be included as predictors. Algorithms will be developed using competing risks survival analysis. The analysis plan adheres to published recommendations for the development of valid prediction models to limit the risk of overfitting and improve the quality of predictions. Key considerations are fully prespecifying the predictor variables; appropriate handling of missing data; use of flexible functions for continuous predictors; and avoiding data-driven variable selection procedures. The 2007 and 2009 surveys (approximately 50 000 respondents) will be used for validation. Calibration will be assessed overall and in predefined subgroups of importance to clinicians and policymakers.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Ottawa Health Science Network Research Ethics Board. The findings will be disseminated through professional and scientific conferences, and in peer-reviewed journals. The algorithm will be accessible electronically for population and individual uses.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.govNCT02267447.
Pulmonary hypertensive vascular changes in lungs of patients with sudden unexpected death. Emphasis on congenital heart disease, Eisenmenger syndrome, postoperative deaths and death during pregnancy and postpartum
Authors: Krexi Dimitra , Sheppard Mary N
Published: October 2014

Aims

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in asymptomatic patients is a rare cause of sudden death. This study aims to determine the incidence of this entity and raise awareness among pathologists.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 44 cases of sudden unexpected death in relation to PH in patients not on antihypertensive therapy. This is the largest pathological study reported.

Results

We report 44 cases of sudden death due to PH in which 28 (63.63%) were female and 16 (36.36%) were male, and the age range was from 5 days to 93 years old (mean age: 24±20). The majority had no clinical evidence of PH prior to death with none on therapy. The majority died at rest, 18 cases (40.90%), while 7 patients (15.90%) died following cardiac surgery and 7 patients (15.90%) during pregnancy or postpartum, 6 of whom had congenital heart disease. The cause of PH was recognised as congenital heart disease in 27 patients (61.36%), 14 of whom had simple congenital heart disease, such as atrial or ventricular septal defect,and 13 had complex congenital heart disease with associated atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect. The remaining 17 patients (29.55%) suffered from primary PH due to plexiform arteriopathy, veno-occlusive disease and thromboembolic disease. Extensive sampling of the lungs is required to detect the lesions microscopically in these conditions.

Conclusions

It is important that clinicians and pathologists be aware of the risk of sudden unexpected death in asymptomatic patients with PH, especially in those with congenital heart disease, after cardiac surgery or pregnancy.