bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting the dental workforce: Flood, famine, hysteria or hysteresis?
Authors: Tennant Marc , Kruger Estie , Walsh Laurence J , Brostek Andrew M
Published: May 2017

Dental workforce predictions have been at the forefront of the minds of professionals and governments for many years. However, the relative inaccuracy of these predictions has not been closely scrutinised. We have rested on the old adage that ‘the past is a predictor of the future’. In reality, with the substantive external environmental pressures that come to bear on workforce participation in dentistry, the underpinning assumptions are called into question.
Assesment and evaluation of excess lifetime cancer risk for Occupants of university of Uyo permanent campus, Nigeria
Authors: Etuk Sunday , Antia Akaninyene , Agbasi Okechukwu
Published: May 2017

This paper presents the results of ambient radioactive radiation, radiation health hazard indices and excess lifetime cancer risk estimation within University of Uyo campus, Use Offot, Uyo, Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Mean annual outdoor and indoor equivalent doses of 0.284mSv/yr. and 0.854mSv/yr. respectively were recorded, being less than 1mSv/yr. maximum recommended limit for general public. Mean annual outdoor and indoor effective doses of 0.174mSv/yr. and 0.645mSv/yr. respectively with a total of 0.819mSv/yr. were computed. The mean outdoor and indoor ELCR values of 0.61x10-3 and 2.26 x 10-3 respectively, with a mean total of 2.87 x 10-3 were also computed. The results though higher than the worldâ€™s average, are comparable with those of some other locations within the Niger Delta region.
KESETIMBANGAN ADSORBSI SENYAWA ORGANIK VOLATIL PADA PERMUKAAN TANAH (SUATU PREDIKSI MODEL)
Authors: Hargono Hargono
Published: May 2017

Model adsorbsi klasik Langmuir dan BET (Brauer-Emmet-Teller) memberikan titik awal dalam pengembangan model mengenai "equilibrium state" senyawa organik volatil pada permukaan tanah. Moisture content (kandungan air) dalam tanah merupakan faktor kunci  (key factor) peristiwa adsorpsi. Prediksi model persamaan diberlakukan untuk tanah kering , lembab dan basah. Pada keseimbangan adsorpsi senyawa organik volatil di udara dan di tanah memberikan korelasi antara konsentrasi uap senyawa organik volatil dikorelasikan dengan moisture content tanah. Teori menunjukkan 3 sub model tanah yang paling dominan adalah adsorpsi yang dilakukan oleh tanah kering (dry soils).
RANCANG BANGUN ALAT UJI RUNNING-IN UNTUK SISTEM KONTAK TWO-DISC
Authors: Londa Petrus , Hidayat Taufiq , Supriyana Nana , Jamari Jamari , Nugroho Sri
Published: May 2017

Keausan merupakan fenomena tribologi yang terjadi pada setiap peralatan akibat kontak mekanik antara dua komponen. Dalam kurun waktu yang lama keausan ini akan menimbulkan kerusakan pada peralatan. Untuk meningkatkan keandalan dan efisiensi peralatan, maka fenomena keausan ini perlu dikaji lebih lanjut. Didalam ilmu tribology para peneliti membagi proses terjadinya keausan akibat kontak mekanik tersebut menjadi tiga fase, yaitu fase running-in, fase steady state (fase tunak) dan fase wear-uot. Untuk mengetahui secara cepat kondisi dari ketiga fase tersebut diperlukan alat uji running-in. Paper ini difokuskan pada rancang bangun alat uji running-in. Alat ini dipakai untuk menguji komponen yang terdiri dari dua buah piringan (two-disc) yang terbuat dari material yang dapat divariasikan jenisnya. Perancangan mekanismenya memungkinkan sisi kedua piringan pada arah radial saling kontak ketika kedua piringan tersebut berputar (rolling contact) dan dapat divariasikan beban maupun putaran. Untuk itu metode perancangan Pugh dapat memberikan solusi, karena dengan metode ini semua konsep produk akan dinilai dan konsep produk terbaik yang akan dikembangkan menjadi produk. Pengujian dilakukan secara eksperimen untuk mengetahui fenomena keausan yang terjadi mulai dari kondisi running-in sampai kondisi steady state. Hasil rancangan menunjukan bahwa alat uji dapat digunakan untuk menentukan variabel-variabel dalam proses running-in. Dengan variasi jumlah putaran (maksimal 2800 rpm), beban tekan (masimal 5 kg) dan beban torsi yang dapat dikontrol (5 kg) serta arah putaran specimen yang dapat diatur, maka gaya gesek pada permukaan specimen dapat diketahui, sedangkan variabel yang diukur adalah perubahan kekasaran permukaan.
GEOMETRIC CONSTRAINTS AND TANGENTIAL AND RADIAL STRESSES OF ROTATING DISCS WITH VARIABLE THICKNESS
Authors: Prahasto Toni
Published: May 2017

This article presents an algorithm along with Scilab codes to calculate radial and tangential stresses in rotating disc with varying thickness. The continuous change of thickness is represented by stepped; discrete ones.The geometry of disc is represented by two arrays, each of whose elements represents the radius and the thickness respectively. The stresses arise due to combination of rotation and prescribed pressures at the outer and inner radiuses of the disc. The stresses are limited to linearly elastic cases; loadings and rotation causing either non-linear elastic or plastic strains are beyond the scope of this work. Linear inequality onstraints on the values of the radiuses are prescribed in order to prevent overlapping of radiuses, and thus maintain the validity of the disc geometry. Codes are designated for Scilab for ease of use.
PENENTUAN ENERGI AKTIVASI PEMBAKARAN BRIKET CHAR SAMPAH KOTA DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN METODA THERMOGRAVIMETRY DAN ISOTHERMAL FURNACE
Authors: Himawanto Dwi Aries
Published: May 2017

Penelitian ini bertujuan mencari energi aktivasi pembakaran briket char sampah kota dengan metoda thermogravimetry dan isothermal furnace. Penelitian diawali dengan pembuatan briket char dengan komposisi 75 % sampah organik dan 25 % yang  dilakukan dengan jalan  ditekan dalam sebuah mesin pres hingga berbentuk silindris, dengan tekanan pengepresan 250 kg/cm2 dan lama holding time (penahanan tekanan) selama 1 menit. Briket arang sampah kota tersebut dibuat dengan  menggunakan perekat tepung kanji dengan berat 20 %  dari  berat total briket. Berat sampel briket char sampah kota adalah seberat 3 gram. Selanjutnya dilakukan uji laju pembakaran dengan menggunakan dua metode, metode pertama adalah   metode thermogravimetry yang dilakukan dengan cara menaikkan temperatur ruang bakar dari temperatur kamar secara bertahap dengan besar kenaikan konstan tiap waktu sebesar 20 0C/menit, sampai sampel bahan bakar terbakar habis, sementara metode yang kedua adalah metode isothermal furnace, dimana briket char sampah akan diletakkan dalam reaktor dengan temperatur ruang tertentu sampai terbakar habis, variasi temperatur ruang bakar yang dipilih adalah 250 0C, 500 0C dan 600 0C . Pada pengujian pembakaran secara isothermal furnace dilakukan pada kecepatan aliran udara 0,1  m/s .  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa metoda isothermal furnace dapat digunakan untuk melakukan perhitungan energi aktivasi pembakaran seperti halnya metoda thermogravimetry, dengan memperhatikan pemilihan suhu reaktor yang dipilih, banyaknya kondisi isothermal yang digunakan serta sifat-sifat fisis dari briket
PENGARUH WAKTU DAN TEMPERATUR SINTER TERHADAP DENSITAS DAN POROSITAS KOMPOSIT ALUMINIUM YANG DIPERKUAT LIMBAH GEOTHERMAL
Authors: Sulardjaka Sulardjaka , Rahman M.S. , Wahyudianto C.
Published: May 2017

Pembuangan limbah geothermal ke lingkungan akan mengakibatkan masalah pencemaran lingkungan. Untuk mengatasi masalah pembuangan limbah geothermal ke lingkungan, perlu dilakukan upaya untuk memanfaakan limbah geothermal tersebut. Pada penelitian ini memanfaatkan limbah geothermal sebagai penguat pada bahan komposit matrik aluminium. Proses pembuatan komposit dilakukan dengan metode metalurgi serbuk. Pembuatan green body komposit dilakukan dengan penekanan secara uniaxial dengan tekanan kompaksi 250 MPa. Sintering dilakukan di dalam dapur elektrik pada lingkungan gas argon dengan variasi temperatur sinter 550 oC, 550 oC dan 600 oC  dengan waktu penahanan sinter 1, 2 dan 4 jam. Pengujian terhadap densitas dilakukan berdasarkan hukum Archimedes. Porositas bahan komposit dihitung dengan membandingkan densitas hasil pengukuran dengan densitas teoritis.
KETAHANAN BALISTIK LEMBARAN BAJA PADA BERBAGAI SUDUT TEMBAK
Authors: Rusnaldy Rusnaldy , Haryanto Ismoyo , Iskandar Norman , Anugra Binar Ade , Zaedun Ahmad
Published: May 2017

Results of study on the performance of 0.4 mm mild steel plate when impacted by 4.5 mm diameter steel ogive-shaped projectile at 45o, 60o (oblique impact) and 90 o (normal impact) angles of attack are presented. The projectiles were fired at highest velocity using air riffle gun. The target-holding fixture was located at a distance of 2 m from the gun. Experimental results show that steel plate provides protection at 45o and 60o obliquity, but fails to provide protection at angle of attack of 90o (normal impact)
EMISI GAS CARBON MONOOKSIDA (CO) DAN HIDROCARBON (HC) PADA REKAYASA JUMLAH BLADE TURBO VENTILATOR SEPEDA MOTOR “SUPRA X 125 TAHUN 2006”
Authors: Jayanti Novita Eka , Hakam Mohamad , Santiasih Indri
Published: May 2017

Indonesia adalah termasuk dalam sepuluh besar negara di dunia yang berkontribusi dalam emisi gas rumah kaca. Kendaraan yang paling banyak menyumbang polusi udara adalah sepeda motor. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mereduksi emisi gas buang yaitu Carbon Monooksida (CO) dan Hidrocarbon (HC) melalui uji pemasangan turbo ventilator dan melakukan analisis emisi gas buang yang dihasilkan. Variabel dalam penelitian ini adalah variasi jumlah blade yaitu 6 blade, 7 blade, dan 8 blade. Emisi gas yang dianalisis adalah kadar CO dan HC.Hasil pengujian menunjukkan hasil rata-rata kadar CO pada emisi gas buang supra x 125 standar 3.69%, Turbo ventilator 6 blade adalah 1.93 %, 7 blade 1.04 %, dan 1.62% oleh turbo ventilator 8 blade. Kadar HC rata-rata yang dihasilkan oleh emisi gas buang sepeda motor standar 619.3 ppm, turbo ventilator 6 blade 437.33 ppm, 7 blade 777.35 ppm, dan turbo ventilator 8 blade 482.98 ppm.
TEST CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TURBINE SAVONIUS 4 LEVELS SECTIONAL, PARTITIONED, 0.25 DIAMETER OVERLAP AND 45o SLIDING ANGLE WITH COMPARABLE STANDARD TURBINE
Authors: Sudargana Sudargana , Yunianto Bambang , M. Abiseka , Utomo Teguh Priyo
Published: May 2017

The energy and environmental crisis where CO2 causes global warming and climate change. This condition encourage the world community take advantage of new renewable energy non-CO2 as wind, water currents, geothermal, solar, etc. Savonius Turbine has a simple construction can be made by the public so they can be used for wind power or hydro countryside. In this study aims to improve the efficiency and reduce the amplitude of vibrations to the modification of the 4-storey Savonius turbine, partitioned, sliding angle 45 degree and 0.25 diameter blade overlap. The location of research is Cokro Tulung Channel Klaten and Parangrucuk Baron Beach Gunungkidul. Measurements such as water current and wind speed, turbine rotational speed, torque of the turbine shaft and power. The turbines analysis are torque, power and efficiency characteristics and comparing by the turbine Savonius standard (one pair of blades). Results as hydro turbine at low velocity 0.3166 m/s Savonius 4 level had better revolution and efficient (0.0826) than 1 level (0.024), but as wind turbine at 3.056 m/s velocity the Savonius 4 level had worse efficiency (0.039) than 1 level (0.025) because the inertia load
PENGARUH TEKSTUR PERMUKAAN MATERIAL UHMWPE TERHADAP DISTRIBUSI TEGANGAN PADA BEBAN KONTAK STATIC, ROLLING DAN SLIDING
Authors: Jamari Jamari , Priyoga Fajar Hari
Published: May 2017

Material UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) sering digunakan sebagai actebular liner pada sistem sambungan tulang panggul buatan. Fungsi material ini sebagai bantalan dan peredam. Performansi material ini terus dikaji dan ditingkatkan melalui berbagai macam teknologi. Optimasi bentuk tekstur merupakan salah satu cara dalam meningkatkan karakteristik tribologi. Paper ini bertujuan mengkaji pengaruh tekstur permukaan terhadap distribusi  tegangan  von  Mises  untuk  beban  statik, roling dan sliding. Perhitungan tegangan dan distribusinya dilakukan mengunakan metode elemen hingga. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa untuk semua kasus pembebanan baik statik, roling maupun sliding tegangan von Mises yang terbesar terjadi pada tekstur permukaan yang memiliki diameter lubang (cavities) yang terkecil. Selain itu besarnya tegangan maksimum von Mises paling besar terjadi pada kasus beban kontak sliding kemudian kontak roling dan yang paling kecil kontak statik.
ANALISIS NUMERIK DAN VALIDASI KASUS KAVITASI POMPA SENTRIFUGAL MISSION MAGNUM I MENGGUNAKAN CFD
Authors: Yohana Eflita , Majiid M. Fandiar
Published: May 2017

Salah satu penyebab menurunnya performa pompa adalah kavitasi. Kavitasi pada pompa sentrifugal dapat menimbulkan efek kerugian yang sangat buruk seperti turunnya performa pompa yang disebabkan erosi, getaran, dan kebisingan yang terjadi. Kavitasi dapat terjadi dalam kondisi apapun, untuk mencegahnya kita harus mengetahui fenomena awal kavitasi pada pompa. Untuk mendeteksi kavitasi kita bisa menggunakan berbagai macam metode atau software, salah satunya dengan CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) dan metode FVM (Finite Volume Methode) yang sudah di validasi terlebih dahulu. Percobaan yang telah dilakukan memperoleh tekanan absolut yang sangat rendah pada bagian sisi isap pompa mencapai 2650 Pa. Hal tersebut bisa menjadi dasar indikasi terjadinya kavitasi.
ANALISIS HIGH AXIAL VIBRATION PADA BLOWER 22K-102 REFORMER FORCE DRAFT FAN (FDF) - HYDROGEN PLANT
Authors: Iskandar Norman , Azzura Muhammad Lazuardi
Published: May 2017

Blower 22K-102 FDF berfungsi untuk menggerakkan atau menghasilkan udara sekunder yang bertekanan tinggi, udara yang diambil FDF diambil dari luar, dalam perjalanan menuju boiler, udara tersebut dinaikkan suhunya oleh secondary air heater (pemanas udara sekunder) agar proses pembakaran bisa terjadi di boiler. Dalam proses perawatannya, kemudian dilakukan inspeksi terhadap blower 22K-102 FDF selama 2 minggu sekali, pada tanggal 21 januari 2016 terjadi kenaikan trending vibrasi pada bearing outboard yang diukur secara axial. Melalui metode defect frequency, yaitu dengan cara menggunakan data trending vibrasi dan spectrum vibrasi, kemudian dilakukan perhitungan terhadap tiap bagian sebuah bearing yaitu outerrace, innerrace, train, dan ball bearing, maka didapatkan hasil frekuensi dari metode tersebut, kemudian dilakukan plotting pada spektrum vibrasi, dari keempat bagian bearing tidak terdapat masalah kerusakan dikarenakan frekuensi kurang dari 1 kali RPM dan tidak menyentuh puncak RPM pada spektrum vibrasi, dimana pada tabel 1 dijelaskan bahwa hal tersebut dikarenakan mechanical looseness, dan kemudian dilakukan proses perbaikan yaitu tightening locknut dimana bagian ulir dari bearing dikencangkan, proses ini pada awalnya dilakukan pengecekan clearance pada bearing dengan feeler, dan didapatkan clearance bearing yaitu sebesar 0,2 mm, hasil ini tidak sesuai dari standar clearance bearing yaitu sebesar 0,05 mm, maka dilakukan proses tightening locknut dan regreasing pada bagian bearing, dan didapatkan clearance yang sesuai standar bearing yaitu sebesar 0,05 mm, maka dilakukan running dan didapatkan vibrasi pada bearing sudah dibawah alert high sebesar 4,53 mm/s rms. Maka dari itu dapat diambil kesimpulan bahwa bearing tidak terjadi kerusakan pada tiap bagiannya dan terjadi kelonggaran pada clearance bearing dan vibrasi pada bearing kembali normal
ANALISIS EFISIENSI SIKLUS COMBINE CYCLE POWER PLANT (CCPP) GAS TURBINE GENERATOR TERHADAP BEBAN OPERASI PT KRAKATAU DAYA LISTRIK
Authors: Yohana Eflita , Herriza Rigo Muhammad
Published: May 2017

Turbin Gas Generator umumnya mengalami perubahan beban untuk memenuhi kebutuhan daya listrik yang berubah sewaktu-waktu, sesuai dengan permintaan konsumen. Beban dari turbin gas yang berubah-ubah akan berpengaruh terhadap kinerja dari tiap-tiap komponennya antara lain kompresor, combustion chamber, dan turbin gas. Dalam merespon perubahan beban yang terjadi, maka suplai bahan bakar, udara pembakaran, serta gas buang yang akan di proses di HRSG untuk mengoperasikan turbin uap ikut berubah pula. Hal tersebut akan berpengaruh pada kinerja dan efisiensi dari gas turbin tersebut. Dengan mengetahui efisiensi siklus pada tiap beban maka diperoleh grafik efisiensi siklus pada turbin gas generator sehingga diketahui perbedaan nilai efisiensi siklus pada tiap variasi pembebanan. Analisa efisiensi siklus Gas Turbin Generator dilakukan pada Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Gas dan Uap melalui perhitungan efisiensi kompresor, dan efisiensi turbin gas, tanpa memperhitungkan efisiensi yang terjadi di ruang bakar. Selain itu analisa efisiensi gas turbin generator juga menghasilkan nilai efisiensi dari tiap pembebanan yang terjadi di turbin gas generator Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Gas dan Uap. Data temperatur dan tekanan yang diperoleh telah tercatat melalui layanan sistem operasi interface. Dari hasil perhitungan pada turbin gas Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Gas dan Uap diperoleh nilai efisiensi siklus turbin gas generator yang berbahan bakar gas alam (metan) sebesar 31.28% pada pembenanan 23 MW, 38.71% pada pembebanan 27MW, dan 45.56% pada pembebanan 33MW. Dari hasil perhitungan efisiensi pada 3 proses pembebanan diketahui bahwa semakin besar pembebanan dilakukan maka efisiensi yang dihasilkan mesin semakin tinggi
RANCANG BANGUN ALAT PERMAINAN EDUKATIF JENIS GELINDING KELERENG UNTUK PENDIDIKAN ANAK USIA DINI KELOMPOK USIA 4-6 TAHUN
Authors: Kusumaningtyas Nila , Setyoadi Yuris
Published: May 2017

Pendidikan bagi anak usia dini merupakan proses pendidikan yang sangat fundamental sebagai kerangka dasar pembentukan dan pengembangan dasar-dasar pengetahuan, sikap dan ketrampilan pada anak. Keberhasilan proses pendidikan diusia dini menjadi dasar sangat penting untuk proses pendidikan selanjutnya. Alat Permainan Edukatif (APE) meerupakan sarana yang dapat dipergunakan sebagai alat permainan yang mengandung makna pendidikan, dan dapat dipergunakan sebagai alat stimulasi seluruh aspek perkembangan anak yang meliputi aspek moral agama, fisik motorik, kognitif, bahasa, sosial emosional dan seni. Manfaat APE selain untuk membantu pertumbuhan dan perkembangan anak, juga mendorong aktifitas bermain dan membantu menstimulasi kepekaan anak terhadap kondisi lingkungan di sekitarnya. Dalam artikel ini rancang bangun alat permainan edukatif jenis gelinding kelereng untuk pendidikan anak usia dini kelompok usia 4-6 tahun yang sebelumnya dilakukan secara konvensional, dialakukan perbuahan proses rancang bangun menggunakan software CAD dan pencetakan menggunakan 3D printer, proses rancang bangun ini dlakukan agar prosedur rancang bangun menjadi cepat dan bisa dilakukan berulang-ulang.
Fin junction of ferroelectric thin films
Authors: Carbone Luciano , Chacouche Khaled , Gaudiello Antonio
Published: May 2017

In this paper, starting from a non-convex and nonlocal 3D-variational
model for the electric polarization in a ferroelectric material, and using an asymptotic process based on dimensional reduction,
we analyze junction phenomena for two orthogonal joined ferroelectric thin films. We obtain three different 2D-variational models for joined thin films, depending on how the reduction happens. Indeed, a memory effect of the reduction process appears, and it depends on the competition of the relative thickness of the two films. The guide parameter is the limit of the ratio between these two small thickness.
A new method for converting boundary value problems for impulsive fractional differential equations to integral equations and its applications
Authors: Liu Yuji
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we present a new method for converting boundary value problems of impulsive fractional differential equations to integral equations. Applications of this method are given to solve some types of anti-periodic boundary value problems for impulsive fractional differential equations. Firstly by using iterative method, we prove existence and uniqueness of solutions of Cauchy problems of differential equations involving Caputo fractional derivative, Riemann–Liouville and Hadamard fractional derivatives with order

q
∈

(
0
,
1
)

{q\in(0,1)}

, see Theorem 2, Theorem 4, Theorem 6 and Theorem 8. Then we obtain exact expression of piecewise continuous solutions of these fractional differential equations see Theorem 1, Theorem 2, Theorem 3 and Theorem 4. Finally, four classes of integral type anti-periodic boundary value problems of singular fractional differential equations with impulse effects are proposed.
Sufficient conditions are given for the existence of solutions of these problems. See Theorems 4.1–4.4. We allow the nonlinearity

p
⁢

(
t
)

⁢
f
⁢

(
t
,
x
)

{p(t)f(t,x)}

in fractional differential equations to be singular at

t
=

0
,
1

{t=0,1}

and be involved a super-linear and sub-linear term. The analysis relies on Schaefer’s fixed point theorem. In order to avoid misleading readers, we correct the results in [28] and [65]. We establish sufficient conditions for the existence of solutions of an anti-periodic boundary value problem for impulsive fractional differential equation. The results in [68] are complemented. The results in [81] are corrected. See Lemma 5.1, Lemma 5.7, Lemma 5.10 and Lemma 5.13.
Influence of age, gender and body mass index on late-night salivary cortisol in healthy adults
Authors: Coelli Sabrina , Farias Camila Bergonsi , Soares Ariana Aguiar , Crescente Gabriele Martins , Hirakata Vânia Naomi , Souza Luiza Barboza , Czepielewski Mauro Antônio , Camargo Joíza Lins , Silveiro Sandra Pinho
Published: May 2017

Background:

Late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) is one of the most reliable tests to screen for endogenous Cushing syndrome. This test is simple, inexpensive and noninvasive and has high sensitivity and specificity. The aim of our study was to analyze the putative influence of age, gender and body mass index (BMI) on LNSC levels in a healthy population.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study conducted in healthy adults. Midnight saliva samples were collected at home. Participants refrained from teeth brushing, eating or drinking for 2 h prior to collection. Salivary cortisol measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital (number 140073).

Results:

We evaluated 122 nonsmoking healthy volunteers. Mean age was 35±14 years (range, 18–74 years); 63% were women. Mean BMI was 24±3 kg/m

Conclusions:

The maximum reference value (P97.5) of LNSC was set at 8.3 nmol/L (0.3 μg/dL) using ECLIA. Advanced age was associated with higher LNSC levels, with no evident influence of gender or BMI.
Intensive educational efforts combined with external quality assessment improve the preanalytical phase in general practitioner offices and nursing homes
Authors: Sølvik Una Ørvim , Bjelkarøy Wenche Iren , Berg Kari van den , Saga Anne Lise , Hager Helle Borgstrøm , Sandberg Sverre
Published: May 2017

Background:

Errors in the preanalytical phase in clinical laboratories affect patient safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intensive educational efforts together with external quality assessment (EQA) of the preanalytical phase from 2013 to 2015 to improve patient identification in primary health care in Norway. In addition, routines for venous and capillary blood sampling were investigated.

Methods:

A preanalytical EQA was circulated in 2013 by the Norwegian Quality Improvement of Laboratory Examinations (Noklus) to general practitioner offices and nursing homes (n=2000) to obtain information about important issues to focus on before launching an intensive educational program with courses, posters and visits in 2013–2015. Preanalytical EQA surveys were further circulated in 2014 and 2015.

Results:

The response rate varied between 42% and 55%. The percentages of participants asking for the patients’ name and the Norwegian identification number increased from about 8% in 2013 to about 35% in 2015. The increase was similar for those participating in only one EQA survey and for those who participated in EQA surveys both in 2013 and 2015. Guidelines for venous and capillary blood sampling were not always followed.

Conclusions:

Educational efforts more than the preanalytical EQA influenced the actions and resulted in an increase in the percentages of participants that followed the guidelines for patient identification. Some aspects of blood sampling routines need improvement.
The impact of pneumatic tube system on routine laboratory parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kapoula Georgia V. , Kontou Panagiota I. , Bagos Pantelis G.
Published: May 2017

Background:

Pneumatic tube system (PTS) is a widely used method of transporting blood samples in hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the PTS transport in certain routine laboratory parameters as it has been implicated with hemolysis.

Methods:

A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched (up until November 2016) to identify prospective studies evaluating the impact of PTS transport in hematological, biochemical and coagulation measurements. The random-effects model was used in the meta-analysis utilizing the mean difference (MD). Heterogeneity was quantitatively assessed using the Cohran’s

Results:

From a total of 282 studies identified by the searching procedure, 24 were finally included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis yielded statistically significant results for potassium (K) [MD=0.04 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.015–0.065; p=0.002], lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (MD=10.343 U/L; 95% CI=6.132–14.554; p<10

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis suggests that PTS may be associated with alterations in K, LDH and AST measurements. Although these findings may not have any significant clinical effect on laboratory results, it is wise that each hospital validates their PTS.
Laboratory characterization of leukemic cell procoagulants
Authors: Hudák Renáta , Debreceni Ildikó Beke , Deák Ivett , Szabó Gabriella Gál , Hevessy Zsuzsanna , Antal-Szalmás Péter , Osterud Bjarne , Kappelmayer János
Published: May 2017

Background:

In acute myeloid leukemias, there is an increased chance to develop thrombotic disorders. We hypothesized that in addition to leukemic promyelocytes, monocytic leukemia cells may also have a higher procoagulant activity.

Methods:

Fibrin formation was assessed by a one-stage clotting assay using a magnetic coagulometer. The thrombin generation test (TGT) of magnetically isolated normal human monocytes, intact leukemic cells and their isolated microparticles was performed by a fluorimetric assay. Phosphatidylserine (PS) expression of leukemic cells and microparticle number determinations were carried out by flow cytometry.

Results:

All cell lines displayed a significant procoagulant potential compared to isolated normal human monocytes. In the TGT test, the mean of lagtime and the time to peak parameters were significantly shorter in leukemic cells (3.9–4.7 and 9.9–10.3 min) compared to monocytes (14.9 and 26.5 min). The mean of peak thrombin in various monocytic leukemia cell lines was 112.1–132.9 nM vs. 75.1 nM in monocytes; however, no significant difference was observed in the ETP parameter. Factor VII-deficient plasma abolished all procoagulant activity, whereas factor XII-deficient plasma did not affect the speed of fibrin formation and thrombin generation but modulated the amount of thrombin. Factor XI-deficient plasma affected the time to peak values in one leukemic cell line and also attenuated peak thrombin. Leukemia cell-derived microparticles from all three cell lines exerted a procoagulant effect by significantly shortening the lagtime in TGT; there was a nonsignificant difference in case of ETP parameter.

Conclusions:

All investigated monocytic leukemia cell lines exhibited significant thrombin generation. This phenomenon was achieved by the procoagulants on the surface of leukemic cells as well as by their microparticles.
𝒟-modules arithmétiques sur la variété de drapeaux
Authors: Huyghe Christine , Schmidt Tobias
Published: May 2017

Soient p un nombre premier,
V un anneau de valuation discrète complet d’inégales caractéristiques

(
0
,
p
)

(0,p)

, et G un groupe réductif et deployé sur

Spec
⁡
V

\operatorname{Spec}V

.
Nous obtenons un théorème de localisation, en utilisant les distributions arithmétiques, pour le faisceau des opérateurs différentiels arithmétiques sur la variété de drapeaux formelle de G.
Nous donnons une application à la cohomologie rigide pour des ouverts dans la variété de drapeaux en caractéristique p.

Let p be a prime number, V a complete discrete valuation ring of unequal characteristics

(
0
,
p
)

(0,p)

, and G a connected split reductive algebraic group over

Spec
⁡
V

\operatorname{Spec}V

. We obtain a localization
theorem, involving arithmetic distributions, for the sheaf of arithmetic differential operators on the formal flag variety of G.
We give an application to the rigid cohomology of open subsets in the characteristic p flag variety.
Characteristics of carbon nanofibers produced from lignin/polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/kraft lignin-g-PAN copolymer blends electrospun nanofibers
Authors: Park Chan-Woo , Youe Won-Jae , Han Song-Yi , Kim Yong Sik , Lee Seung-Hwan
Published: May 2017

Lignin-based electrospun nanofibers (eNFs) were prepared and thermally stabilized at 250°C and subsequently carbonized at 1400°C. The starting blend was prepared in dimethyl formamide (DMF) solution with lignin and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), while a lignin-grafted-PAN (L-g-PAN) copolymer served as compatibilizer. The viscosity was highest of the DMF solution with PAN, and decreased for the lignin/PAN blends and additionally in presence of L-g-PAN. The uniform eNFs with clean surfaces dispose of diameters between 400 nm and 1 μm. The average diameter of eNFs decreased by the thermal treatment and at higher lignin contents in the blends. Remarkable shrinkage by carbonization was observed in all nanofibers. The successful carbonization of all electrospun carbon nanofibers (eCNFs) was confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The specific tensile strength and elastic modulus of the eCNF mats from lignin/PAN blends were improved by the addition of L-g-PAN, and it can be safely concluded that it acts as a compatibilizer between lignin and PAN.
Appearance of inaccurate results in the MUSIC algorithm with inappropriate wavenumber
Authors: Park Won-Kwang
Published: May 2017

MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) is a well-known non-iterative location detection algorithm for small, perfectly conducting cracks in inverse scattering problems. However, when the applied wavenumbers are unknown, inaccurate locations of targets are extracted by MUSIC with inappropriate wavenumbers, a fact that has been confirmed by numerical simulations. To date, the reason behind this phenomenon has not been theoretically investigated. Motivated by this fact, we identify the structure of MUSIC-type imaging functionals with inappropriate wavenumbers by establishing a relationship with Bessel functions of order zero of the first kind. This result explains the reasons for inaccurate results. Various results of numerical simulations with noisy data support the identified structure of MUSIC.
Macedonia’s colourful revolution and the elections of 2016. A chance for democracy, or all for nothing?
Authors: Reef Paul
Published: May 2017

This article analyses Macedonia’s Colourful Revolution and elections of 2016 against the background of the criticism and protests directed against the Skopje 2014 Project. It also provides a photographic reportage of Skopje 2014 during the political turmoil from July 2016. It examines the main grounds for resistance and opposition to Nikola Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE government by further investigating the controversies surrounding Skopje 2014. Those controversies are manifold but stem mainly from the project’s tremendous cost and corruption, its controversial rewriting of history and its exclusion of Albanians and other minorities. Finally, the article argues that the Colourful Revolution has until now failed to overturn or decisively upset Macedonia’s politics or political system, as is evident from election results there. However, it has borne fruit in one respect in that two Albanian MPs have been included in the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), a tentative step towards overcoming the ethnic deadlock of Macedonian politics.
The Relationship Between the Push Off Ground Reaction Force and Ball Speed in High School Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Oyama Sakiko , Myers Joseph B.
Published: May 2017

Oyama, S and Myers, JB. The relationship between the push off ground reaction force and ball speed in high school baseball pitchers. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1324–1328, 2018—Baseball pitching is a sequential movement that requires transfer of momentum from the lower extremity to the throwing arm. Therefore, the ground reaction force (GRF) during push off is suggested to play a role in production of ball speed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between GRF characteristics during push off and ball speed in high school baseball pitchers. A total of 52 pitchers performed fast pitches from an indoor pitching mound. A force plate embedded in an indoor mound was used to capture the push off GRF. The GRF characteristics (peak anterior, vertical, and resultant forces, vertical and resultant forces at the time of peak anterior GRF, and impulse produced by the anterior GRF) from the 3 fastest strike pitches from each pitcher were used for analyses. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were used to describe the relationships between ball speed and the GRF characteristics. Ball speed was only weakly correlated with peak resultant force (ρ = 0.32, p = 0.02) and vertical (ρ = 0.45, p < 0.001) and resultant (ρ = 0.42, p = 0.002) forces at the time of peak anterior force. The ball speed was not correlated with other variables. The correlation between ball speed and push off force in high school pitchers was weak, especially when compared with what was reported for adult pitchers in other studies. Unlike for adult pitchers, higher push off force is only weakly correlated with ball velocity in high school pitchers, which suggests that training to better use body momentum may help high school pitchers improve ball speed.
Aerobic Exercise Supplemented With Muscular Endurance Training Improves Onset of Blood Lactate Accumulation
Authors: Farrell John W. , Lantis David J. , Ade Carl J. , Cantrell Greg S. , Larson Rebecca D.
Published: May 2017

Farrell III, JW, Lantis, DJ, Ade, CJ, Cantrell, GS, and Larson, RD. Aerobic exercise supplemented with muscular endurance training improves onset of blood lactate accumulation. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1376–1382, 2018—Studies have shown that when aerobic exercise is supplemented with muscular endurance training metabolic adaptions occur that result in the delay of the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). However, previous studies have not explored any submaximal cardiorespiratory adaptations that may result from this training protocol. The aim of the current investigation was to evaluate the effect of supplementing an aerobic exercise training program with a muscular endurance training program on various cardiorespiratory and metabolic measurements. Fourteen aerobically active men performed an incremental exercise test to determine the OBLA, gas exchange threshold (GET), and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o
2max). Maximal strength was measured using 1 repetition maximum (1RM) for leg press (LP), leg curl (LC), and leg extension (LE). Eight subjects supplemented their aerobic activity (experimental [EX] group) with 8 weeks of muscular endurance training, while 6 continued their regular aerobic activity (control [CON] group). No significant group differences were observed for all pretraining variables. After 8 weeks of training, no significant differences in body mass, GET, and V̇o
2max were observed for either group. However, the EX group showed a significant improvement for both absolute and relative V̇o
2 at OBLA compared with the CON group. Leg curl and LE 1RM assessments for the EX group showed a significant improvement compared with CON group. Muscular endurance training did not improve GET and V̇o
2max, but significantly increased V̇o
2 at OBLA, LP, and LC. These findings suggest that this training protocol maybe useful in the development of submaximal aerobic performance and leg strength for endurance athletes.
Cardiovascular Immunology Research in Wuhan Union Hospital: Over the Past 25 years
Authors: Liao Yuhua , Wang Yiyi
Published: May 2017

Cardiovascular immunology research in Wuhan Union Hospital began in 1991. Anti-heart antibodies in dilated cardiomyopathy and acute viral myocarditis began to be reported from 1993. It was found that a new autoantibody against L-type calcium channel results in ventricular tachycardia and sudden death in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Through the Intervention Study of Diltiazem in Dilated Cardiomyopathy, diltiazem was verified to reduce mortality and the chronic heart failure hospitalization rate significantly in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The autoantibodies against angiotensin II receptor type 1 and α1-adrenoceptor were associated with the increased recurrence of and death from stroke in hypertensive patients. Through many clinical and experimental studies, the functional imbalance of T-cell subsets was suggested to mediate myocardial injury and chronic heart failure, which provided a new theoretical basis for immunoregulation therapy for heart failure. The first antihypertensive polypeptide vaccine (ATRQβ-001) was invented. In addition to these achievements, there will be more research on cardiovascular immunology in Wuhan Union Hospital in the future.
Angiotensin IV Receptors Mediate the Cognitive and Cerebrovascular Benefits of Losartan in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Royea Jessika , Zhang Luqing , Tong Xin-Kang , Hamel Edith
Published: May 2017

The use of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) correlates with reduced onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mechanism depicting how ARBs such as losartan restore cerebrovascular and cognitive deficits in AD is unknown. Here, we propose a mechanism underlying losartan's benefits by selectively blocking the effects of angiotensin IV (AngIV) at its receptor (AT4R) with divalinal in mice overexpressing the AD-related Swedish and Indiana mutations of the human amyloid precursor protein (APP mice) and WT mice. Young (3-month-old) mice were treated with losartan (∼10 mg/kg/d, 4 months), followed by intracerebroventricular administration of vehicle or divalinal in the final month of treatment. Spatial learning and memory were assessed using Morris water mazes at 3 and 4 months of losartan treatment. Cerebrovascular reactivity and whisker-evoked neurovascular coupling responses were measured at end point (∼7 months of age), together with biomarkers related to neuronal and vascular oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase-2), neuroinflammation (astroglial and microglial activation), neurogenesis (BrdU-labeled newborn cells), and amyloidosis [soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) species and Aβ plaque load]. Divalinal countered losartan's capacity to rescue spatial learning and memory and blocked losartan's benefits on dilatory function and baseline nitric oxide bioavailability. Divalinal reverted losartan's anti-inflammatory effects, but failed to modify losartan-mediated reductions in oxidative stress. Neither losartan nor divalinal affected arterial blood pressure or significantly altered the amyloid pathology in APP mice. Our findings identify activation of the AngIV/AT4R cascade as the underlying mechanism in losartan's benefits and a target that could restore Aβ-related cognitive and cerebrovascular deficits in AD.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAntihypertensive medications that target the renin angiotensin system, such as angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), have been associated with lower incidence and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in cohort studies. However, the manner by which ARBs mediate their beneficial effects is unknown. Here, the angiotensin IV receptor (AT4R) was identified as mediating the cognitive and cerebrovascular rescue of losartan, a commonly prescribed ARB, in a mouse model of AD. The AT4R was further implicated in mediating anti-inflammatory benefits. AT4R-mediated effects were independent from changes in blood pressure, amyloidosis, and oxidative stress. Overall, our results implicate the angiotensin IV/AT4R cascade as a promising candidate for AD intervention.
In VivoCalcium Signaling during Synaptic Refinement at theDrosophilaNeuromuscular Junction
Authors: Vonhoff Fernando , Keshishian Haig
Published: May 2017

Neural activity plays a key role in pruning aberrant synapses in various neural systems, including the mammalian cortex, where low-frequency (0.01 Hz) calcium oscillations refine topographic maps. However, the activity-dependent molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Activity-dependent pruning also occurs at embryonicDrosophilaneuromuscular junctions (NMJs), where low-frequency Ca2+oscillations are required for synaptic refinement and the response to the muscle-derived chemorepellant Sema2a. We examined embryonic growth cone filopodiain vivoto directly observe their exploration and to analyze the episodic Ca2+oscillations involved in refinement. Motoneuron filopodia repeatedly contacted off-target muscle fibers over several hours during late embryogenesis, with episodic Ca2+signals present in both motile filopodia as well as in later-stabilized synaptic boutons. The Ca2+transients matured over several hours into regular low-frequency (0.03 Hz) oscillations.In vivoimaging of intact embryos of both sexes revealed that the formation of ectopic filopodia is increased inSema2aheterozygotes. We provide genetic evidence suggesting a complex presynaptic Ca2+-dependent signaling network underlying refinement that involves the phosphatases calcineurin and protein phosphatase-1, as well the serine/threonine kinases CaMKII and PKA. Significantly, this network influenced the neuron's response to the muscle's Sema2a chemorepellant, critical for the removal of off-target contacts.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTo address the question of how synaptic connectivity is established during development, we examined the behavior of growth cone filopodia during the exploration of both correct and off-target muscle fibers inDrosophilaembryos. We demonstrate that filopodia repeatedly contact off-target muscles over several hours, until they ultimately retract. We show that intracellular signals are observed in motile and stabilized “ectopic” contacts. Several genetic experiments provide insight in the molecular pathway underlying network refinement, which includes oscillatory calcium signals via voltage-gated calcium channels as a key component. Calcium orchestrates the activity of several kinases and phosphatases, which interact in a coordinated fashion to regulate chemorepulsion exerted by the muscle.
Effectiveness of cattail (Typha spp.) management techniques depends on exogenous nitrogen inputs
Authors: Elgersma Kenneth J. , Martina Jason P. , Goldberg Deborah E. , Currie William S.
Published: May 2017

Wetlands occupy a position in the landscape that makes them vulnerable to the effects of current land use and the legacies of past land use. Many wetlands in agricultural regions like the North American Midwest are strongly affected by elevated nutrient inputs as well as high rates of invasion by the hybrid cattail Typha × glauca. These two stressors also exacerbate each other: increased nutrients increase invasion success, and invasions increase nutrient retention and nutrient loads in the wetland. This interaction could create a positive feedback that would inhibit efforts to manage and control invasions, but little is known about the effects of past or present nutrient inputs on wetland invasive plant management. We augmented a previously-published community-ecosystem model (MONDRIAN) to simulate the most common invasive plant management tools: burning, mowing, and herbicide application. We then simulated different management strategies and 3 different durations in low and high nutrient input conditions, and found that the most effective management strategy and duration depends strongly on the amount of nutrients entering the wetland. In high-nutrient wetlands where invasions were most successful, a combination of herbicide and fire was most effective at reducing invasion. However, in low-nutrient wetlands this approach did little to reduce invasion. A longer treatment duration (6 years) was generally better than a 1-year treatment in high-nutrient wetlands, but was generally worse than the 1-year treatment in low-nutrient wetlands. At the ecosystem level, we found that management effects were relatively modest: there was little effect of management on ecosystem C storage, and while some management strategies decreased wetland nitrogen retention, this effect was transient and disappeared shortly after management ceased. Our results suggest that considering nutrient inputs in invaded wetlands can inform and improve management, and reducing nutrient inputs is an important component of an effective management strategy.
Toward an Information Infrastructure for Global Health Improvement
Authors: Friedman C. P. , Rubin J. C. , Sullivan K. J.
Published: May 2017

Profound global challenges to individual and population health, alongside the opportunities to benefit from digital technology, have spawned the concept of the Learning Health System. Learning Health Systems (LHSs)--which can function at organizational, network, regional, and national levels of scale--have the capability of continuous data-driven self-study that promotes change and improvement. The LHS concept, which originated in the U.S. in 2007, is rapidly gaining attention around the world. LHSs require, but also transcend, the secondary use of health data. This paper describes the key features of LHSs, argues that effective and sustainable LHSs must be supported by infrastructures that allow them to function with economies of scale and scope, and describes the services that such infrastructures must provide. While it is relatively straightforward to describe LHSs, achieving them at the high level of capability necessary to promote significant health benefits will require advancements in science and engineering, engaging the field of informatics among a wider range of disciplines. It also follows from this vision that LHSs cannot be built from an imposed blueprint; LHSs will more likely evolve from efforts at smaller scales that compose into larger systems.