bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Four-Loko Effect
Authors: Siegel Shepard
Published: July 2011

There have been recent reports of mass hospitalizations for alcohol intoxication following consumption of fruit-flavored, caffeinated, alcoholic drinks—especially concerning one brand in particular: Four Loko. Caffeine was quickly determined to be the culprit. In accordance with a directive by the Food and Drug Administration, caffeine was removed from Four Loko and similar beverages. However, the evidence that caffeine played a prominent role in widespread displays of intoxication is far from clear. Rather, it is likely that Four Loko-type drinks are especially effective as intoxicants because they provide alcohol in an unusual context. It has been known for many years that drug tolerance partially results from an association between drug-paired stimuli and the drug effect. When these stimuli are altered, the drug-experienced individual does not display the expected tolerant response to the drug—rather, an enhanced (i.e., nontolerant) response is seen. Four Loko and similar beverages may be especially effective intoxicants because they provide a very novel flavor context for alcohol. A recent announcement by the manufacturer of Four Loko suggests (either by design or happenstance) appreciation of the contribution of alcohol-associated cues to alcohol tolerance.
Change in serum KL-6 level from baseline is useful for predicting life-threatening EGFR-TKIs induced interstitial lung disease
Authors: Kawase Shigeo , Hattori Noboru , Ishikawa Nobuhisa , Horimasu Yasushi , Fujitaka Kazunori , Furonaka Osamu , Isobe Takeshi , Miyoshi Seigo , Hamada Hironobu , Yamane Takashi , Yokoyama Akihito , Kohno Nobuoki
Published: July 2011

Background

A high incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been reported in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), particularly in Japanese populations. A previous report from our laboratory demonstrated that KL-6 was a useful serum biomarker to assess the severity of drug-induced pneumonitis. Based on these observations, this study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors of EGFR-TKIs induced ILD and the usefulness of monitoring serum KL-6 levels in patients who developed EGFR-TKIs induced ILD in a large multi-institutional setting.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed clinical records and radiographies of 341 patients with advanced NSCLCs who were treated with EGFR-TKIs, and analyzed risk factors for the development of EGFR-TKIs induced ILD. Changes of circulating levels of KL-6 were also evaluated in the patients who developed EGFR-TKIs induced ILD.

Results

Among the 341 patients included in this study, 20 (5.9%) developed EGFR-TKIs induced ILD, and 9 (2.6%) died from ILD. Univariate analyses revealed that only preexisting pulmonary fibrosis was a significant risk factor for the development of EGFR-TKIs induced ILD (p = 0.003). Absolute levels of circulating KL-6 at neither baseline nor the onset of ILD could discriminate between life-threatening and non-life threatening EGFR-TKIs induced ILDs. However, we found that the ratios of serum KL-6 levels just after the onset of EGFR-TKIs induced ILD to those at baseline could quite precisely distinguish survivors from non-survivors (p = 0.006) as well as acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) pattern from non-AIP pattern (p = 0.005).

Conclusions

The results of this study strongly support the potential of KL-6 as a diagnostic biomarker for life-threatening EGFR-TKIs induced ILD. Monitoring of KL-6 is also useful to evaluate the progression and severity of EGFR-TKIs induced ILD.
Short-term and medium-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted and open surgery for colorectal cancer: a single center retrospective case-control study
Authors: Sun Jing , Jiang Tao , Qiu Zhengjun , Cen Gang , Cao Jun , Huang Kejian , Pu Ying , Liang Hong , Huang Renxiang , Chen Shifu
Published: July 2011

Background

Laparoscopic procedure is a rapid developed technique in colorectal surgery. In this investigation we aim at assessing the diversities of short-term and medium-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted versus open surgery for colorectal cancer.

Methods

A total number of 519 patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled for this study. The patients underwent either laparoscopic-assisted surgery (LAP) (n = 254) or open surgery (OP) (n = 265). Surgical techniques, perioperative managements and clinical follow-ups were standardized. Short-term perioperative data and medium-term recurrence and survival were compared and analyzed between the two groups.

Results

There were no differences in perioperative parameters between the two groups except in regards to a trend of faster recovery in laparoscopic procedures. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications, reoperation rate, or perioperative mortality. Statistically significant differences in a faster return of gastrointestinal function and shorter hospital stay were identified in favor of laparoscopic-assisted resection. In colon and rectal cancer cases separately, the overall survival, cancer-free survival and recurrence rate were similar in two groups. There was also no tendency of significant differences in overall survival, cancer-free survival and recurrence in stage I-II and stage III patients in two cancer categories between the two groups, respectively. pT, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stage were independent predictors of overall death risk, while pT, pN, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage were found to be the independent predictors of recurrence risk in enrolled patients database.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic-assisted procedure has more benefits on postoperative recovery, while has the same effects on medium-term recurrence and survival compared with open surgery in the treatment of non-metastatic colorectal cancer.
Targeting renal cell carcinoma with NVP-BEZ235, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, in combination with sorafenib
Authors: Roulin Didier , Waselle Laurent , Dormond-Meuwly Anne , Dufour Marc , Demartines Nicolas , Dormond Olivier
Published: July 2011

Background

Targeted therapies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors and small-molecule multikinase inhibitors, have produced clinical effects. However, most patients acquire resistance over time. Thus, new therapeutic strategies need to be developed. Here, we evaluated the effect of the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235, in combination with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib on renal cancer cell proliferation and survival in vitro as well as on tumor growth in vivo.

Methods

The renal carcinoma cell lines 786-0 and Caki-1 were treated with NVP-BEZ235 or sorafenib, either alone or in combination. Tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis were investigated in vitro. The anticancer efficacy of NVP-BEZ235 alone, or in combination with sorafenib, was also evaluated on RCC xenografts in nude mice.

Results

Treatment of 786-0 and Caki-1 cells with NVP-BEZ235 or sorafenib resulted in reduced tumor cell proliferation and increased tumor cell apoptosis in vitro. The combination of NVP-BEZ235 and sorafenib was more effective than each compound alone. Similarly, in vivo, NVP-BEZ235 or sorafenib reduced the growth of xenografts generated from 786-0 or Caki-1 cells. The antitumor efficacy of NVP-BEZ235 in combination with sorafenib was superior to NVP-BEZ235 or sorafenib alone.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the simultaneous use of NVP-BEZ235 and sorafenib has greater antitumor benefit compared to either drug alone and thus provides a treatment strategy in RCC.
ZEB1 limits adenoviral infectability by transcriptionally repressing the Coxsackie virus and Adenovirus Receptor
Authors: Lacher Markus D , Shiina Marisa , Chang Peter , Keller Debora , Tiirikainen Maarit I , Korn W Michael
Published: July 2011

Background

We have previously reported that RAS-MEK (Cancer Res. 2003 May 1;63(9):2088-95) and TGF-β (Cancer Res. 2006 Feb 1;66(3):1648-57) signaling negatively regulate coxsackie virus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) cell-surface expression and adenovirus uptake. In the case of TGF-β, down-regulation of CAR occurred in context of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process associated with transcriptional repression of E-cadherin by, for instance, the E2 box-binding factors Snail, Slug, SIP1 or ZEB1. While EMT is crucial in embryonic development, it has been proposed to contribute to the formation of invasive and metastatic carcinomas by reducing cell-cell contacts and increasing cell migration.

Results

Here, we show that ZEB1 represses CAR expression in both PANC-1 (pancreatic) and MDA-MB-231 (breast) human cancer cells. We demonstrate that ZEB1 physically associates with at least one of two closely spaced and conserved E2 boxes within the minimal CAR promoter here defined as genomic region -291 to -1 relative to the translational start ATG. In agreement with ZEB1's established role as a negative regulator of the epithelial phenotype, silencing its expression in MDA-MB-231 cells induced a partial Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition (MET) characterized by increased levels of E-cadherin and CAR, and decreased expression of fibronectin. Conversely, knockdown of ZEB1 in PANC-1 cells antagonized both the TGF-β-induced down-regulation of E-cadherin and CAR and the reduction of adenovirus uptake. Interestingly, even though ZEB1 clearly contributes to the TGF-β-induced mesenchymal phenotype of PANC-1 cells, TGF-β did not seem to affect ZEB1's protein levels or subcellular localization. These findings suggest that TGF-β may inhibit CAR expression by regulating factor(s) that cooperate with ZEB1 to repress the CAR promoter, rather than by regulating ZEB1 expression levels. In addition to the negative E2 box-mediated regulation the minimal CAR promoter is positively regulated through conserved ETS and CRE elements.

Conclusions

This report provides evidence that inhibition of ZEB1 may improve adenovirus uptake of cancer cells that have undergone EMT and for which ZEB1 is necessary to maintain the mesenchymal phenotype. Targeting of ZEB1 may reverse some aspects of EMT including the down-regulation of CAR.
High-level inhibition of mitochondrial complexes III and IV is required to increase glutamate release from the nerve terminal
Authors: Kilbride Seán M , Gluchowska Sonia A , Telford Jayne E , O'Sullivan Catherine , Davey Gavin P
Published: July 2011

Background

The activities of mitochondrial complex III (ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase, EC 1.10.2.2) and complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase EC 1.9.3.1) are reduced by 30-70% in Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease, respectively, and are associated with excitotoxic cell death in these disorders. In this study, we investigated the control that complexes III and complex IV exert on glutamate release from the isolated nerve terminal.

Results

Inhibition of complex III activity by 60-90% was necessary for a major increase in the rate of Ca2+-independent glutamate release to occur from isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes) depolarized with 4-aminopyridine or KCl. Similarly, an 85-90% inhibition of complex IV activity was required before a major increase in the rate of Ca2+-independent glutamate release from depolarized synaptosomes was observed. Inhibition of complex III and IV activities by ~ 60% and above was required before rates of glutamate efflux from polarized synaptosomes were increased.

Conclusions

These results suggest that nerve terminal mitochondria possess high reserves of complex III and IV activity and that high inhibition thresholds must be reached before excess glutamate is released from the nerve terminal. The implications of the results in the context of the relationship between electron transport chain enzyme deficiencies and excitotoxicity in neurodegenerative disorders are discussed.
Diagnostic performance of fractional excretion of urea in the evaluation of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a multicenter cohort study
Authors: Darmon Michael , Vincent Francois , Dellamonica Jean , Schortgen Frederique , Gonzalez Frederic , Das Vincent , Zeni Fabrice , Brochard Laurent , Bernardin Gilles , Cohen Yves , Schlemmer Benoit
Published: July 2011

Introduction

Several factors, including diuretic use and sepsis, interfere with the fractional excretion of sodium, which is used to distinguish transient from persistent acute kidney injury (AKI). These factors do not affect the fractional excretion of urea (FeUrea). However, there are conflicting data on the diagnostic accuracy of FeUrea.

Methods

We conducted an observational, prospective, multicenter study at three ICUs in university hospitals. Unselected patients, except those with obstructive AKI, were admitted to the participating ICUs during a six-month period. Transient AKI was defined as AKI caused by renal hypoperfusion and reversal within three days. The results are reported as medians (interquartile ranges).

Results

A total of 203 patients were included. According to our definitions, 67 had no AKI, 54 had transient AKI and 82 had persistent AKI. FeUrea was 39% (28 to 40) in the no-AKI group, 41% (29 to 54) in the transient AKI group and 32% (22 to 51) in the persistent AKI group (P = 0.12). FeUrea was of little help in distinguishing transient AKI from persistent AKI, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve being 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.49 to 0.70; P = 0.06). Sensitivity was 63% and specificity was 54% with a cutoff of 35%. In the subgroup of patients receiving diuretics, the results were similar.

Conclusions

FeUrea may be of little help in distinguishing transient AKI from persistent AKI in critically ill patients, including those receiving diuretic therapy. Additional studies are needed to evaluate alternative markers or strategies to differentiate transient from persistent AKI.
Differential Effects of Growth Hormone Versus Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I on the Mouse Plasma Proteome
Authors: Ding Juan , List Edward O. , Bower Brian D. , Kopchick John J.
Published: July 2011

The GH/IGF-I axis has both pre- and postpubertal metabolic effects. However, the differential effects of GH and/or IGF-I on animal physiology or the plasma proteome are still being unraveled. In this report, we analyzed several physiological effects along with the plasma proteome after treatment of mice with recombinant bovine GH or recombinant human IGF-I. GH and IGF-I showed similar effects in increasing body length, body weight, lean and fluid masses, and organ weights including muscle, kidney, and spleen. However, GH significantly increased serum total cholesterol, whereas IGF-I had no effect on it. Both acute and longer-term effects on the plasma proteome were determined. Proteins found to be significantly changed by recombinant bovine GH and/or recombinant human IGF-I injections were identified by mass spectrometry (MS) and MS/MS. The identities of these proteins were further confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Isoforms of apolipoprotein A4, apolipoprotein E, serum amyloid protein A-1, clusterin, transthyretin, and several albumin fragments were found to be differentially regulated by GH vs. IGF-I in mouse plasma. Thus, we have identified several plasma protein biomarkers that respond specifically and differentially to GH or IGF-I and may represent new physiological targets of these hormones. These findings may lead to better understanding of the independent biological effects of GH vs. IGF-I. In addition, these novel biomarkers may be useful for the development of tests to detect illicit use of GH or IGF-I.
Inducible Brown Adipogenesis of Supraclavicular Fat in Adult Humans
Authors: Lee Paul , Swarbrick Michael M. , Zhao Jing Ting , Ho Ken K. Y.
Published: July 2011

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays key roles in thermogenesis and energy homeostasis in rodents. Metabolic imaging using positron emission tomography (PET)-computer tomography has identified significant depots of BAT in the supraclavicular fossa of adult humans. Whether supraclavicular fat contains precursor brown adipocytes is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the adipogenic potential of precursor cells in human supraclavicular fat. We obtained fat biopsies from the supraclavicular fossa of six individuals, as guided by PET-computer tomography, with paired sc fat biopsies as negative controls. Each piece of fat tissue was divided and processed for histology, gene analysis, and primary culture. Cells were examined for morphological changes in culture and harvested for RNA and protein upon full differentiation for analysis of UCP1 level. Histological/molecular analysis of supraclavicular fat revealed higher abundance of BAT in PET-positive than PET-negative individuals. In all subjects, fibroblast-like cells isolated from supraclavicular fat differentiated in vitro and uniformly into adipocytes containing multilobulated lipid droplets, expressing high level of UCP1. The total duration required from inoculation to emergence of fibroblast-like cells was 32–34 and 40–42 d for PET-positive- and PET-negative-derived samples, respectively, whereas the time required to achieve full differentiation was 7 d, regardless of PET status. Precursor cells from sc fat failed to proliferate or express UCP1. In summary, preadipocytes isolated from supraclavicular fat are capable of differentiating into brown adipocytes in vitro, regardless of PET status. This study provides the first evidence of inducible brown adipogenesis in the supraclavicular region in adult humans.
High efficiency in human muscle: an anomaly and an opportunity?
Authors: Nelson Frank E. , Ortega Justus D. , Jubrias Sharon A. , Conley Kevin E. , Kushmerick Martin J.
Published: July 2011

Can human muscle be highly efficient in vivo? Animal muscles typically show contraction-coupling efficiencies <50% in vitro but a recent study reports that the human first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle of the hand has an efficiency value in vivo of 68%. We examine two key factors that could account for this apparently high efficiency value: (1) transfer of cross-bridge work into mechanical work and (2) the use of elastic energy to do external work. Our analysis supports a high contractile efficiency reflective of nearly complete transfer of muscular to mechanical work with no contribution by recycling of elastic energy to mechanical work. Our survey of reported contraction-coupling efficiency values puts the FDI value higher than typical values found in small animals in vitro but within the range of values for human muscle in vivo. These high efficiency values support recent studies that suggest lower Ca2+ cycling costs in working contractions and a decline in cost during repeated contractions. In the end, our analysis indicates that the FDI muscle may be exceptional in having an efficiency value on the higher end of that reported for human muscle. Thus, the FDI muscle may be an exception both in contraction-coupling efficiency and in Ca2+ cycling costs, which makes it an ideal muscle model system offering prime conditions for studying the energetics of muscle contraction in vivo.
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
Authors: Godinot Claire , Grover Renaud , Allemand Denis , Ferrier-Pagès Christine
Published: July 2011

Several untested aspects of the regulation of inorganic nutrient uptake were examined using nutrient depletion experiments with the symbiotic coral Stylophora pistillata. The total inhibition of phosphate uptake in artificial seawater lacking sodium indicates the involvement of a sodium/phosphate symporter for the uptake of phosphate across host membranes. Addition of ammonium or nitrate (up to 6.0 μmol l–1) did not enhance saturated phosphate uptake rates, thus indicating that corals, or their symbiotic algae, were not, or not sufficiently, nitrogen limited to modify their phosphate needs. Conversely, the saturated uptake rate of ammonium increased by 2.5-fold in the presence of 3.0 μmol l–1 of phosphate, thus indicating that the corals or their symbionts were lacking intracellular phosphate to take advantage of the inorganic nitrogen compounds dissolved in their surrounding medium. Overall, these results highlight some greater limitation in phosphate rather than in nitrogen. Finally, the rate of phosphate uptake decreased with particulate feeding of the host (organic phosphate source). Indeed, corals that were fed 1 and 3 days before the uptake experiment took up phosphate 42 and 19% slower, respectively, than corals that were fed 21 days before. This result provides additional evidence of phosphate limitation in S. pistillata. This study therefore brings new insights into the relationships between nutrients and symbiotic corals, and may provide a rapid and effective tool to investigate which nutrient is the most limiting for coral metabolism.
Psychiatric evidence in criminal courts: the need for better understanding
Authors: Muzaffar Sajid
Published: July 2011

The rules of admissibility of expert evidence from mental health professionals are not clear. The task of a psychiatrist providing expert opinion to criminal courts is far from clear. Psychiatric experts are trained in a particular set of ethical and philosophical frameworks. They have expertise in the diagnosis and management of behaviours arising from mental disorders. The concept of mental disorder itself is a dimensional one. Such a dimensional view of human behaviour and mental disorders is hard to fit into the categorical view of human behaviour that the law follows. The task of the psychiatric expert is to marry these two philosophically different branches. Such a task would be facilitated by clear rules of admissibility of expert psychiatric evidence, clear definition of the roles and limitations of psychiatric evidence in criminal cases, a better understanding and training of mental health professionals in legal principles and a better understanding by the legal professionals of the mental health concepts. This article aims to analyse the legal basis of the admissibility of expert mental health evidence, the differences in the philosophies of the two disciplines and the challenges in addressing legal criteria while staying faithful to the ethos of psychiatry and psychology.
Briefing: Clean coal technology: a holistic approach
Authors: Shelton Phil
Published: July 2011

What exactly does ‘clean coal’ mean? We know that mining coal creates dust and releases methane gas. We know that burning it liberates carbon dioxide and emits particulates including sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. We also know that it creates wastes that are often stored in unsightly and potentially dangerous slag heaps and lagoons. When clean coal technology is discussed, it sometimes seems that creating modern or ‘ultra super critical’ coal-fired power stations is presented as the main or even the only answer. This paper makes the case for a more holistic approach.
Safety and health education for demolition and reconstruction
Authors: Shaurette Mark
Published: July 2011

In the autumn semester of 2005, the Department of Building Construction Management at Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, offered their first course in demolition and reconstruction management. This first college-level course, developed with input from the demolition industry, offered in the newly created demolition and reconstruction management area of concentration, mirrors many of the general requirements of a traditional construction management curriculum. These include coverage of construction science, planning, regulation, estimating, safety, project management and business management as they apply to projects that do not begin with a vacant site and a blank sheet of paper. During course development it became apparent that demolition and reconstruction activities present specialised safety considerations due to the high risk of accidents, injury and the potentially deleterious health effects presented by these activities. As contractors participate with increasing frequency in projects that involve existing built environments, there is a growing need for expansion of the safety training provided. This paper examines areas of demolition and reconstruction-related safety that are frequently overlooked in construction management safety and health training.
Biocycle anaerobic digester: performance and benefits
Authors: Banks Charles , Chessire Michael , Heaven Sonia , Arnold Rebecca , Lewis Lucy
Published: July 2011

The Biocycle digester in South Shropshire, UK was monitored over a period of 14 months. During this time, the type, source and quantity of input biowastes were analysed and their physical and chemical properties were determined, including quantification of heavy metals content. The source-segregated waste was found to be a rich source of energy and was readily biodegradable, producing a biogas with ~60% methane. The process had a very favourable energy balance with around 400 kWh of energy recoverable from each tonne of waste processed. Although the available heat energy was not utilised, over 620 MWh of the electricity produced was exported to the grid during the study period. An energy balance for the process included the transport and application of the digestate to farmland. 3936 t wet weight of wastes were processed during the study period and over 90% of this mass could be accounted for in the gaseous and digestion products. The environmental benefits and risks of the process are considered in terms of the carbon savings and losses that may result through adoption of this technology.
Performance of tunnel composters fitted with heated walls
Authors: Fletcher Louise A. , Stentiford Edward I. , Hobbis Peter G. , Barton John R.
Published: July 2011

Two composting tunnels, whose unique feature was heated sidewalls, were designed to take batches of around 200 wet tonnes typically consisting of mixtures of green waste and kitchen waste. Compliance with the Animal By-Products Regulations (ABPR) required the material in each stage to reach 60°C for 2 days. The focus of this paper is materials balances, energy balances, ABPR compliance and the impact of heated walls on performance. Each batch studied gave compost output in the range 22·1–28·6% of the input by wet weight using a 10 mm final screen. The final rejects to landfill were around 2 t for 200 t of input. The energy input requirement ranged from 52 to 92 kWh/t of input depending on whether the walls were heated and what system was used for post-treatment of the compost. Temperature loggers within the compost mass showed that the system routinely achieved the designed Animal By-Products Regulations compliance conditions. Loggers fixed to the sidewalls showed that there were some cold spots, but it was considered that adjustment of the control system could eliminate these. The monitored trial runs did not demonstrate that heating the walls brought any discernible benefit to the process.
Performance of a prefabricated concrete tower composter
Authors: Stentiford Edward I. , Fletcher Louise A. , Barton John R. , Hobbis Peter G.
Published: July 2011

The study looked at the performance of a three-level composting tower, each level of which could take around 200 t of shredded mixed municipal solid waste. The composting material moved sequentially down through the three floors, taking 8–10 days to complete the cycle, targeting an Animal By-Products Regulations (ABPR) compliance regime of 70°C for 1 h. Using a 16 mm trommel screen, the yield of compost-like output (CLO) was typically 25–30% of the input by weight. The post-composting separation plant was found to be very effective in giving a range of other products for recycling. An energy usage estimate for the tower alone (not including shredding or post-compost separation) showed consumption between 25 and 31 kWh per tonne of input. Detailed temperature measurements using 40 dataloggers in a batch of 200 t of material showed that the towers were not achieving ABPR compliance standards. Modifications to the towers, which included recirculating warm air from the top of the composting mass and auxiliary heating, are now producing ABPR-compliant CLO.
Mechanical heat treatment of municipal solid waste
Authors: Stringfellow Anne , Powrie William , Tejada Wilmer Castaño , Whatmore Steve , Gilbert Andrew , Manser Ray , Maslen Richard
Published: July 2011

To meet the requirements of the EU landfill directive, which prohibits the disposal of waste to landfill without prior treatment, various types of waste management processes have been proposed. This paper describes the detailed investigation and analysis of a plant employing a process known as mechanical heat treatment. The plant was built, operated for a pilot period and monitored as part of Defra’s new technologies demonstrator programme. The plant treated 20 500 t of household residual waste, through a combination of heat treatment and mechanical separation technology, to produce solid recovered fuels and recyclables (glass, plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals). It is shown that mechanical heat treatment can be an effective and efficient way of processing mixed municipal solid wastes, but the details of the plant and process are crucially important. Modifications to the plant were made as a result of experience gained during the initial phase of operation, including the redesign of some of the equipment to avoid fouling by textiles and plastic film, and the introduction of an additional shredder. Comparison of mass and energy balances for the plant at the beginning and end of the operational period, after improvements had been made, demonstrates an increase in the rate of throughput of waste, significant improvements in the recovery of recyclable materials and fuel products, a reduction in the amount of residual material being sent to landfill and a reduction in the process energy used.
Demonstration scale flash pyrolysis of municipal solid waste
Authors: Williams Paul T. , Barton John
Published: July 2011

This paper describes the demonstration scale flash pyrolysis of solid recovered fuel (SRF) derived from municipal solid waste (MSW) at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK. The project was supported by the Defra new technologies demonstrator programme, which provided support funding to demonstrate new technologies under the UK waste implementation programme. One of the technologies supported was the Scarborough Power Ltd plant based on the Graveson Energy Management Ltd flash pyrolysis system and located at Seamer Carr in Scarborough, UK. The process involves the flash pyrolysis of SRF derived from MSW to produce synthetic gas, which is combusted in a gas engine subsequently to generate electricity. This paper describes the management of MSW in the Scarborough region and the production of SRF for processing by the flash pyrolysis process.
4kast-Pro™ - A Novel Tool for Trend-based and Multi-stream Production Forecasting
Authors: Ibeh C. , Adeoye A. , Ibrahim J , Reynolds K.
Published: July 2011

The application of appropriate tools and processes is necessary to ensure reliable and accurate forecasts of hydrocarbon reserves that will enable more informed capital management decisions on projects. This becomes even more critical considering the tight budget environment which most operators face in the oil and gas industry.

Sustaining oil production in brown fields comes with a myriad of challenges because the once blocky and apparently homogeneous sands are now compartmentalized due to differential depletion, water influx / poor waterflood performance and the emergent effects of erstwhile salient features like small channels, sub-seismic faults, baffles and heterogeneities. These truths get revealed with time as we know more about the reservoirs / fields through: state-of-the-art seismic data acquisition and/or reprocessing, formation evaluation and production data mapping. This information also helps to finetune our simulation models.

The implication is that viable new drill opportunities have now become more difficult to identify and adequately plan because the targets are no longer as evident or "stacked" one on top of another. Due to the prevailing high cost environment, a new drill opportunity today more than ever before will require multiple targets in order to pass the economic hurdle.

Accurately forecasting these multiple streams is critical to meeting the overall project objective. The 4kast-Pro™ software has been built to provide a structured approach to developing production forecasts which is critical to achieving world-class reservoir performance and return on investment.
Evaluation of dehiscences using cone beam computed tomography
Authors: Ising Nicholas , Kim Ki Beom , Araujo Eustaquio , Buschang Peter
Published: July 2011

Objective:

To validate the use of three-dimensional (3-D) surface rendering (SR) images to quantify the height of alveolar dehiscences.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty-four dehiscences were created on 9 incisors, 9 canines, and 6 premolars on 4 cadaver skulls. i-CAT cone beam computed tomography scans (CBCTs) were taken of each skull at .2 mm voxel size. Each dehiscence was quantified by 21 orthodontic residents using 3-D SR. The principal investigator (PI) also quantified each dehiscence using the 2-D multiplanar (MP) image and the 3-D SR image.

Results:

Results of this study showed an average method error of the residents as a group to be 0.57 mm with an intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.77%. Residents' method error ranged from 0.45 mm to 1.32 mm, and the ICC ranged from 0.201% to 0.857%. Systematic error was low at −0.01 mm for the direct measurement compared with the residents' average 3-D SR at 1365 density value (DV) measurement. The 3-D SR at 1365 DV images were compared with the MP and 3-D SR images at 1200 DV, and no significant differences in measurements and low systematic error were noted. The method error of the PI was 0.45 mm, 0.45 mm, and 0.41 mm for 3-D SR at 1365 DV, 3-D SR at 1200 DV, and 2-D MP, respectively.

Conclusions:

3-D SR and 2D MRP can be used to measure dehiscences of the periodontium with similar levels of accuracy.
Estimation of Safety Effectiveness of Widening Shoulders and Adding Passing Lanes on Rural Two-Lane Roads
Authors: Schrock Steven D. , Parsons Robert L. , Zeng Huanghui
Published: July 2011

There is a need to evaluate the costs and benefits of potential safety improvements so that limited budgets for low-volume roads may be used most effectively. Increasing the width of shoulders and adding passing lanes have been regarded as economical and effective safety improvements. The state of Kansas has more than 2,000 mi (3,219 km) of highway that may need these improvements, most of which are rural two-lane roads. This study considered how historical data and crash modification factors (CMFs) were combined to estimate the safety benefits of widening shoulders and adding passing lanes on rural two-lane roads. The objective was to determine specific CMFs for the state of Kansas and states with similar rural environments as well as to estimate the number of crashes avoided. Safety and traffic volume data for rural two-lane roads from 2000 to 2008 were obtained from the State of Kansas and combined with existing models from earlier studies to create state-specific CMFs to more accurately estimate safety benefits. It was determined in this study that CMFs for shoulder widening and the addition of passing lanes for low-volume roads are 0.95 and 0.65, respectively. These CMFs are based on shoulder widening from 2 ft (0.61 m) to 8 ft (2.44 m) or construction of a short four-lane passing section. From these results, 20-year projections were developed for the benefits in crash reductions that could be achieved through implementing these safety improvements.
Safety of Driving Behavior on Low-Volume Roads in China
Authors: Hu Jiang-Bi , Yang Yang
Published: July 2011

Highways with low traffic volume pose a particular kind of safety risk. Among the various causes of traffic accidents in China, driving behavior is important and cannot be neglected. In this research, the Golumd–Kunlun Mountain section of the low-volume Qinghai–Tibet highway was chosen for real-vehicle testing with a random sample of 25 drivers. A dynamic Global Positioning System device, a KF2 dynamic multiparameter physiology and psychology recorder, and an SMI iViewX HED system were employed for real-time measurements of vehicle speed, location, fixation, driver workload, and other parameters. With consideration of the dynamic interactions between driver, vehicle, road, and environment, the relationship between traffic safety and driving behavior was analyzed, as well as eye movement and driving marks on the selected highway. Analysis of the characteristics of traffic accidents in the test section showed that driving behavior was the major cause of traffic accidents. The conclusions provide important insights for traffic safety technology and management on low-volume roads in the plateau area.
Safety Inspections as Supporting Tool for Safety Management of Low-Volume Roads
Authors: Cafiso Salvatore , La Cava Grazia , Montella Alfonso
Published: July 2011

Road safety inspections (RSIs) are becoming an accepted practice in many agencies around the world. A safety assessment procedure based on safety inspections that can be used as a supporting tool in the safety management of low-volume rural roads is presented. From the procedure, a safety index (SI) that quantitatively measures the relative safety performance of a road segment is calculated. The RSIs carried out according to the defined procedures showed that, for the majority of the safety issues, there was a statistically significant level of agreement on the ranking of the issues produced by different inspectors. Further, the SI was assessed in 30 segments of two-lane rural roads, and rankings performed according to the SI scores and according to the empirical Bayes (EB) safety estimates were compared. This comparison showed a good correlation between SI and EB estimates. The results from the Spearman's rank correlation analysis provide additional validation of the procedure, indicating that the rankings from the SI scores and the EB estimates agreed at the 99.9% level of significance. The SI can be assessed as part of the safety inspection process without relevant supplementary work. The low cost and applicability in road networks where geometric and crash data are not available make the procedure very attractive for low-volume roads.
Maintenance Impact on Economic Evaluation of Upgrading Unsealed Roads
Authors: Archondo-Callao Rodrigo
Published: July 2011

The demand for upgrades to unsealed roads is high because road users prefer the comfort and dependability of paved roads; therefore, road agencies are faced with the challenge of upgrading as many kilometers as possible within limited budgets and requirements that govern the economic evaluation of road upgrades. The conditions of unsealed roads vary greatly as a function of the maintenance activities executed over time, but these are typically not applied systematically and thus compromise the transitability of unsealed roads. An argument made against the upgrading of roads with low traffic is typically that proper maintenance funds are not available; therefore, it is best to have a paved road in which the road condition is less susceptible to the maintenance standard applied. This paper presents a methodology for the economic evaluation of whether unsealed roads should be upgraded that was performed with the Highway Development and Management Model by consideration of different assumptions about the maintenance standard applied with or without the upgrade and some sample results. The study shows that the results of the economic evaluation vary according to the assumptions made about the maintenance standard applied. Nevertheless, under a worst- or best-case maintenance standard scenario, one obtains from the evaluation (a) the best investment for a given traffic level and (b) the minimum traffic needed to justify an investment economically. The results presented in the paper should be considered no more than a first approximation of country-specific results. To obtain country-specific results, the methodology should be replicated and adapted with refined country data.
Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide–Based Pavement Design Catalog for Low-Volume Roads in Arkansas
Authors: Li Qiang , Xiao Danny X. , Hall Kevin D.
Published: July 2011

Historically, low-volume roads in Arkansas were typically constructed by use of a standard section, that is, a double surface treatment over a specified thickness of granular base. Subsequent analysis indicated that these sections were structurally inadequate in many cases. In recent years, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department has invested significant research dollars to implement the Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), which is widely believed to be a quantitative leap over the 1993 AASHTO design guide. However, the MEPDG research efforts mostly target high-volume roads. In this paper, a design catalog for low-volume roads (LVRs) in Arkansas was developed with MEPDG software, Version 1.10. The catalog offers a variety of feasible design alternatives for a comprehensive combination of site conditions. The factors considered include the five geographical regions in Arkansas and the typical Arkansas load spectrum for LVRs with three traffic levels, three subgrade types, and six potential aggregate types available in Arkansas that can be used as granular base and surface layer aggregates. All the MEPDG design inputs needed for the development of the design catalog are generated on the basis of the variety of previous MEPDG implementation research conducted in the state of Arkansas. It is anticipated that the design catalog will serve as a simplified and rational design process for the LVRs in Arkansas.
Application of Highway Development and Management Tool in Rural Road Asset Management
Authors: Reddy K. B. Rathnakara , Veeraragavan A.
Published: July 2011

Road asset management is a systematic process of maintaining, upgrading, and operating road assets cost-effectively. Several thousand kilometers of rural roads have been constructed during the past few years in India. The performance of these newly constructed roads under actual traffic, climate, and environmental conditions will be monitored periodically; and a database with data on their performance will be created. The database can be used in planning and scheduling of maintenance activities to preserve the rural road infrastructure by use of sound engineering principles. This paper is an attempt to highlight the various issues that need special attention to preserve the rural road infrastructure assets that are created in the country. The paper presents the effect of timing of maintenance on the pavement condition during the design life and the increased agency cost due to the delay in maintenance intervention. The application of computer-based pavement management tools such as the Highway Development and Management Tool in planning and scheduling of appropriate maintenance strategies is highlighted.
Preservation of Low-Volume Flexible Pavement Structural Capacity by Use of Seal Treatments
Authors: Howard Isaac L.
Published: July 2011

The primary objective of this paper is to provide data comparing chip and scrub seal treatments with those for control sections of a low-volume flexible pavement in Mississippi, where a falling weight deflectometer (FWD) was used to evaluate the change in the effective structural number over approximately 1 year. The analysis combined portions of approaches from Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas and resulted in a technique well suited for the test section. The approach used in the 1993 AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures is included for comparison. A secondary objective is to compare the results computed from the two analysis techniques. The analysis included in this paper appears to be more conceptualized than past analyses of the use of the FWD for evaluation of seal treatments. Results of testing and analysis showed that both the chip and scrub seal treatments preserved the structural number of the pavement better than the structural number on the control sections was preserved, but no appreciable differences between seal types were observed.
Stabilization of Flue Gas Desulfurization By-Products with Fly Ash, Cement, and Sialite
Authors: Liu Xiaoming , Wen Haifang , Edil Tuncer , Benson Craig H.
Published: July 2011

Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) sludge is a by-product generated by air pollution control systems used in coal-fired power plants. The objective of this work was to stabilize FGD gypsum and FGD filter cake with Class C fly ash. The effectiveness of other additives, such as cement, cement kiln dust, and sialite was also investigated. The chemical, physical, and mineralogical properties of FGD gypsum and FGD filter cake were analyzed. Compaction, California bearing ratio (CBR), and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted on FGD gypsum and FGD filter cake with fly ash. The UCS tests were also conducted on FGD materials stabilized separately with cement, cement kiln dust, and sialite. This study investigated the environmental implications of these two types of FGD by-products with different additives. The test results indicated that both CBR values and UCS for FGD gypsum and filter cake increased with an increase in fly ash contents. FGD gypsum has the potential to be used in geotechnical fill and embankment directly, while FGD filter cake cannot be used directly in pavements without stabilization.
Cementitious High-Carbon Fly Ash Used to Stabilize Recycled Pavement Materials as Base Course
Authors: Wen Haifang , Baugh Jeremy , Edil Tuncer , Wang Jingan
Published: July 2011

Because of the increasingly stringent environment policy stipulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities, or both, the power generation industry must take measures to reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxide, and mercury. These measures increase the amount of residual unburned carbon in fly ash. The increase makes the fly ash unsuitable for concrete production and destines it to become landfill. During roadway construction, existing asphalt pavement is often removed. This paper presents the test results of using cementitious high-carbon fly ash to stabilize recycled asphalt pavement materials in situ as a new base course. A series of laboratory tests was performed, including moisture–unit weight relationship, California bearing ratio, unconfined compressive strength, and freeze–thaw durability. Two high-carbon fly ashes (high-calcium and low-calcium) were used in this study. The test results indicate that using high-calcium, high-carbon fly ash has the potential to be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly technology.