bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Supercritical Water Heat-Transfer Correlations for Vertical Bare Tubes
Authors: Mokry Sarah , Pioro Igor
Published: November 2014

Currently, there are a number of Generation IV SuperCritical Water-cooled nuclear Reactor (SCWR) concepts under development worldwide. These high temperature, high pressure reactors will have much higher operating parameters compared to current Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) (i.e., steam pressures of about 25 MPa and steam outlet temperatures up to 625°C). Additionally, SCWRs will have a simplified flow circuit in which steam generators, steam dryers, steam separators, etc. will be eliminated. In support of developing these SCWRs, studies are currently being conducted for heat transfer at supercritical conditions.

Currently, there are no experimental datasets for heat transfer at supercritical conditions from power-reactor fuel bundles to a coolant (water) available in open literature. Therefore, for preliminary calculations, heat-transfer correlations obtained with bare-tube data can be used as a conservative approach. A number of empirical generalized correlations, based on experimentally obtained datasets, have been proposed to calculate Heat Transfer Coefficients (HTCs) in forced convective heat transfer for various fluids, including water at supercritical pressures. There have been a number of methods applied to correlate heat transfer data. The most conventional approach is to modify the classical Dittus-Boelter correlation for forced convection. The Bishop et al. correlation is an example of this type modification with an addition of an entrance-region term.

The Mokry et al. correlation (2009) was developed as a Dittus-Boelter-type correlation with thermophysical properties taken at a bulk-fluid temperature. The derived correlation has shown a good fit for experimental data at supercritical conditions within a wide range of operating conditions in normal and improved heat-transfer regimes. This correlation has an uncertainty of about ±25% for HTC values and about ±15% for calculated wall temperature. However, this correlation does not take into account the entrance-region effect.

The objective of this paper is an investigation of the entrance-region effect to be incorporated into the proposed Mokry et al. correlation (2009) in an attempt to further improve its accuracy.
Integration of CONTAIN Liquid Metal Models Into the MELCOR Code
Authors: Humphries Larry L. , Merrill Brad J. , Louie David L.
Published: November 2014

A sodium coolant accident analysis code is necessary to provide regulators with a means of performing confirmatory analyses for future sodium reactor licensing submissions. MELCOR and CONTAIN, which are currently employed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for light water reactor (LWR) licensing, have been traditionally used for level 2 and level 3 probabilistic analyses as well as containment design basis accident analysis. To meet future regulatory needs, new models will be added to the MELCOR code for simulation of Liquid Metal Reactor (LMR) designs. Existing models developed for separate effects codes will be integrated into the MELCOR architecture. This work integrates those CONTAIN code capabilities that feasibly fit within the MELCOR code architecture.

Implementation of such models for sodium reactor simulation into an actively maintained, full-featured, integrated severe accident code fills a significant gap in capability for providing the necessary analysis tools for regulatory licensing. Current work scope will focus on the following implementation goals:

• Phase 1: Implement sodium Equations of State (EOS) as a working fluid for a MELCOR calculation from:

○ The fusion safety database

○ The SIMMER-III Code

○ The SAS4a Code

• Phase 2: Examine and test changes to the CONTAIN-LMR Implemented by Japan Atomic Energy Agency, specifically:

○ Aerosol Condensation

○ Implementation of the capability for simultaneous sodium and water condensation modeling

• Phase 3: Implementation and Validation of CONTAIN physics models:

○ Sodium Spray Fires (including new test data)

○ Sodium Pool Modeling

○ Sodium Pool Fires

• Phase 4: Implementation and Validation of CONTAIN chemistry models:

○ Debris Bed/Concrete Cavity Interactions

○ Sodium Pool Chemistry

○ Atmospheric Chemistry

An option for changing the EOS for the MELCOR working fluid from water to liquid metal and the heat transfer from water/steam to liquid metal has been implemented into MELCOR. The property models implemented include an analytic EOS model developed for the SIMMER-III code and the fusion safety works done at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This paper provides a summary of the status of the code development work. A description of the current models implemented together with user requirements and test calculations will be presented.
Development of Grid Depression Model for GalaxyCosmo-S
Authors: Koike Hiroki , Kirimura Kazuki , Yamaji Kazuya , Kosaka Shinya , Matsumoto Hideki
Published: November 2014

An efficient grid depression reconstruction model on axial assembly power distribution was developed for MHI nuclear design code system GalaxyCosmo-S. The objective of this paper is to present the background, methodology and its application of the new model in GalaxyCosmo-S.

In order to consider the grid depression effect to the homogeneous axial power distribution obtained from 3D nodal core calculation, the new model employs the concept of the pin-power reconstruction model widely used in modern core design codes. In the new model, axial heterogeneous assembly power distribution is calculated by synthesizing the grid form function to the axial homogeneous power distribution by nodal calculation. The form function is pre-produced by fitting the local grid depression data processed from the measured axial thimble reaction rate in the grid position. By incorporating the measured data, the form function can reflect the precise grid depression information. According to the present study, it was shown that the form function has a burnup dependency for its depth, and it is prepared for each fuel type and axial grid position.

In order to confirm the applicability of the present method to the existing PWRs, the predicted axial power distribution by GalaxyCosmo-S was compared with the measured data by the movable detector (M/D). As a result, the good agreements were confirmed without any specific trends for burnup condition.

In addition, the difference of axial power distribution between predicted and measured data was statistically analyzed for multiple plants, cycles and burnup conditions. From the results, it is confirmed that the systematic over- or under-estimations of the power distribution observed in the grid homogenized model are reduced by the grid depression model. So this model is suitable for the 3D power distribution analysis and FQ uncertainty evaluation.
Investigation on Hydraulic Resistance of Steam Generator Tube Support Plates
Authors: Xiong Ting , Wen Bo , Zan Yuanfeng , Yan Xiao
Published: November 2014

In order to obtain the hydraulic resistance characteristics of steam generator (SG) tube support plates (TSP), experimental as well as CFD studies have been carried out on both the single-phase and two-phase hydraulic resistances of various trefoil or quatrefoil orifice plates. Results show that with the increase of the Renylod number, the single-phase pressure drop coefficient decreases firstly and remains almost constant later. The single-phase pressure drop coefficient decreases with the increase of the chamfer radius of orifice or flow area. The two-phase pressure drops predicted by the empirical correlations are generally larger than the experimental results, while the pressure drops predicted by CFD software agree with the experimental data.
Validation of SOP Procedure for Dealing With FWLB
Authors: Yaou Shen , Wei Chen , Daishun Huang , Guijun Leng
Published: November 2014

The State Oriented Procedure (SOP) is developed to improve the existing emergency operation procedures, namely, the Event Oriented Procedure (EOP). It is developed based on the finite Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) states instead of an infinite number of possible events, therefore it can cover all of the events/accidents including the accidents caused by more than one initial event. On the other hand, the operator can take actions without diagnosing the events/accidents according to SOP, and thus the human mistakes which will possible happen during the events/accidents diagnosing can be avoided. However, as a generalized procedure system, the SOP needs a lot of validations based on various events/accidents. In this work, an analysis of a postulated Feed Water Line Break (FWLB) accident for LingAo phase II NPP based on the SOP is given and both the automatic protections and operator manual actions required by the SOP are modeled with an advanced, two-fluid, thermal-hydraulic code called CATHARE. The initial conditions and assumptions are chosen to get a severe state of the NPP. Since the EOP addresses the given accident perfectly, the results are then compared with those based on the EOP for a similar NPP to validate the SOP. The main parameters relevant with FWLB of this NPP are the same with LingAo phase II. Therefore, there is no need to perform analyses based on the EOP for LingAo phase II.

The results demonstrate that the main operator manual actions required by the SOP are similar to those required by the EOP, and the operator can take the plant to a controllable safe state according to the SOP procedures. Therefore, the SOP is effective and reasonable for FWLB accident.
CFD Simulation of PANDA and MISTRA Cooler Tests of ERCOSAM-SAMARA Project
Authors: Filippov A. S. , Grigoryev S. Y. , Tarasov O. V. , Iudina T. A.
Published: November 2014

The ERCOSAM and SAMARA projects (EURATOM (EU) and ROSATOM (Russia)) include a set of multi-stage experiments carried out at different thermal-hydraulics facilities (TOSQAN, MISTRA, PANDA, SPOT). The tests sequences are aimed at investigating hydrogen concentration build-up and stratification during a postulated severe accident and the effect of the activation of Severe Accident Management systems (SAMs), e.g. sprays, coolers and passive auto-catalytic recombiners. Each test includes four phases, of which the first three phases simulate the establishment of severe accident conditions in NPP containment (injection of steam and helium (simulator of hydrogen), stratification of the gas mixture). During the fourth phase of the experiment one of the SAMs simulators is activated.

All experiments were simulated at Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Science (IBRAE RAN) with FLUENT and, partially, OpenFOAM codes. In this paper the tests with coolers carried out on PANDA and MISTRA facilities are considered. Their simulations required development of a set of models of volumetric and near-wall condensation phenomena. The models were validated vs. already known tests and vs. integrated experiments of ERCOSAM-SAMARA projects. A brief description of the models and the used CFD methods is provided. Then the results of simulations of the four phases of the tests are presented. Some peculiarities of gas motion and helium distribution obtained in the experiments as well as in their simulations are analyzed. These phenomena concern steam condensation and helium redistribution by convective flows due to the cooler activation in the installation. Local ‘pockets’ of helium are formed with a molar fraction larger than the maximum achieved at the first three phases of the experiments. The accounting of initial and boundary conditions along with calibration of the models provided as a whole a good agreement between calculations and experimental data on transient behavior of gas composition in the facility at the first three phases and at the final fourth phase.
Experimental Study on Model Development for Liquid Accumulation in Steam Generator U-Tube (First Report) Condensing Counter-Current Flow in Single Vertical Pipe
Authors: Yamaji Tatsuya , Yamazaki Kohei , Koizumi Yasuo , Ohtake Hiroyasu , Hasegawa Koji , Araki Shota , Ohnuki Akira , Nishi Hiroaki
Published: November 2014

Experiments of counter-current two-phase flow of upward steam flow and condensing downward film flow in a pipe were performed. The experiments were intended to examine water accumulation in steam generator U-tubes during intermediate and small break loss-of-coolant accidents of a pressurized water reactor. The inner diameter and the length of a test flow channel used in the experiments were 18 mm and 4 m, respectively. Experiments were performed at higher steam velocity a little than the velocity that was expected just after scram as the first trial. There was no water drainage form the test pipe to the lower plenum. All condensed water was entrained by steam to flow out from the top of the test pipe to the upper plenum. The test pipe was filled with the water lump and the water film, then these were blown up upward and the inner wall of the test pipe became dry. Again the test pipe was filled with the water lump and the water film, then these were blown up upward and the inner wall of the test pipe became dry. This process was iterated at short intervals. The flow state in the test pipe is highly chaotic and agitated. Condensed water flows up and down at high frequencies. It is indicated that to examine the time averaged void fraction and the two-phase pressure drop of the counter-current flow are required.
A Portable Laser Processing System for Maintenance and Repair of Nuclear Facilities
Authors: Terada Takaya , Oka Kiyoshi , Nishimura Akihiko
Published: November 2014

We developed a new laser processing system to repair various damages of metal parts in aging nuclear facilities. The system consisted of some components; a laser torch, a composite-type optical fiber (COF), a quasi-continuous wave (QCW) fiber laser, a coupling device. All components were installed in a mobile rack, so we can carry it to a place where we want to use. The COF that had the hybrid-delivery functions of heating laser beam and observing visible image was proved to be very useful for accuracy wire-feeding in limited tubular space. A welding expert succeeded to demonstrate manually a line laser cladding on the inner wall of 1-inch tube, observing the work surface through fiberscope images. And also we succeeded to make clad layers in 1-inch tube by automatic control of devices. The clad on the inner wall of 1-inch tube could not be made by arc welding tools. We proposed to apply the laser cladding system to maintenance of aging industrial plants and nuclear facilities.
A Reduced Order Model for Multi-Group Time-Dependent Parametrized Reactor Spatial Kinetics
Authors: Sartori Alberto , Baroli Davide , Cammi Antonio , Luzzi Lelio , Rozza Gianluigi
Published: November 2014

In this work, a Reduced Order Model (ROM) for multi-group time-dependent parametrized reactor spatial kinetics is presented. The Reduced Basis method (built upon a high-fidelity “truth” finite element approximation) has been applied to model the neutronics behavior of a parametrized system composed by a control rod surrounded by fissile material. The neutron kinetics has been described by means of a parametrized multi-group diffusion equation where the height of the control rod (i.e., how much the rod is inserted) plays the role of the varying parameter. In order to model a continuous movement of the rod, a piecewise affine transformation based on subdomain division has been implemented. The proposed ROM is capable to efficiently reproduce the neutron flux distribution allowing to take into account the spatial effects induced by the movement of the control rod with a computational speed-up of 30000 times, with respect to the “truth” model.
Ceramic High-Temperature Heat-Pipes
Authors: Meisel Peter , Lippmann Wolfgang , Hurtado Antonio
Published: November 2014

Ceramic heat pipes and heat pipe based heat exchangers are tailored for automatically heat removal and heat distribution in thermally, chemically and abrasive high stressed systems. The manufacture of silicon carbide heat pipes was carried out. These were filled with sodium or zinc and sealed by laser brazing using metallic and glassy solder materials. High-temperature performance tests revealed a stable operating regime for both ceramic heat pipes with sodium and zinc as working fluid, respectively. Specifically the heat transferred by a zinc filled heat pipe of 22 mm in diameter and 750 mm in length accounted for 600 W at a temperature difference of 400 K. Notably the internal heat transfer capacity of the working fluid was even higher however, the total heat transfer was limited by the external active heat transfer area of the heat pipe. In order to evaluate the long-term stability of the heat pipes, particularly with respect to the joining seam, manufactured heat pipes are currently being tested in long-term annealing experiments at a temperature of 1000 °C under a variety of corrosive atmospheres.
Zirconium Dioxide as a Protective Layer of Zirconium Fuel Cladding
Authors: Benešová Barbora , Škoda Radek
Published: November 2014

Zirconium is important because of its mechanical and neutronics properties combined with its extraordinary resistance against corrosion. It’s mainly usage in nuclear engineering is as a nuclear fuel cladding. Even though Zr layers are very resistant to neutron fluence at reactor operating temperatures, high pressure and high radiation doses, exothermic Zr oxidation in accident scenario still occurs. Hydrogen, and a newly created layer of zirconium dioxide, are undesirable products of the high temperature steam oxidation. ZrO2 adopts a monoclinic crystal structure at room temperature and transitions to tetragonal and cubic at higher temperatures. The volume expansion caused by the cubic to tetragonal to monoclinic transformation induces large stresses and these stresses cause ZrO2 to crack upon cooling from high temperatures. To stabilize ZrO2 other oxides may be added. Therefore ZrO2 with its high ionic conductivity makes it one of the most promising ceramics to protect fuel cladding and the paper focuses on properties of ZrO2 used on Zr fuel cladding of common power reactors.
Experimental Research on Steam Condensation on Cold Surface: Facility Design
Authors: Han Li-Yong , Yang Lin , Zhou Shan , Wang Shen , Tian Chun-Lai , Zhao Wei , Wang Jia-Peng
Published: November 2014

The passive containment cooling system (PCCS) of the 3rd generation APWR utilizes natural phenomena to transfer the heat released from the reactor to the environment during postulated designed basic accidents. Steam condensation on the inner surface of the containment shell is one of the most dominate mechanism to keep the ambient conditions within the design limits. Extensive experiment and theoretical research shows condensation is a complex process, gas pressure, film temperature and velocity of the gas have impact on the heat transfer coefficient.

To span the expected range of conditions and provide proper model for evaluating the condensation heat transfer process, SCOPE test facility was designed by State Nuclear Power Technology Research & Development Centre (SNPTRD) in various conditions anticipated the operating range of CAP1400 in accident conditions. Pressurized test section with a rectangular flowing channel was used, with one of the walls cooled to maintain low temperature for condensing, supplying systems was designed for different pressures, gas temperatures, velocities and coolant water temperatures. Facility components, test section structure, supplying systems and measurement technology were described in this paper, also results of some pre-tests was introduce to show property of the facility.
Fatigue Assessment of Class 1 Nuclear Power Piping According to ASME BPV Code: Why Other Alternatives?
Authors: Zeng Lingfu , Jansson Lennart G.
Published: November 2014

In this paper, fatigue assessment of Class 1 nuclear power piping according to ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, NB-3600, is discussed. Key parameters involved in the fatigue assessment, i.e. the alternating stress intensity Salt, the penalty factor Ke and the cumulative damage factor U, are addressed. In particular, a so-called simplified elastic-plastic discontinuity analysis for alternative verification when basic fatigue requirements found unsatisfactory, and the procedures for evaluating the alternating stress intensity Salt, is reviewed. Factors that can significantly affect the reliability and accuracy of the fatigue assessment are examined. It is illustrated that there is a great need of other alternatives to this simplified elastic-plastic analysis procedure. An alternative based on non-linear finite element analysis is suggested. This paper is a continuation of our work presented in ICONE16-21, which attempted to categorize design rules in the code into linear and non-linear rules and to clarify corresponding requirements that can be used in combination with non-linear finite element analysis.
Effect of substrate pretreatments on the atomic layer deposited Al2O3 passivation quality
Authors: Bao Yameng , Li Shuo , von Gastrow Guillaume , Repo Päivikki , Savin Hele , Putkonen Matti
Published: November 2014

The authors show here that the passivation quality of Al2O3 is highly sensitive to the surface condition prior to the atomic layer deposition, affecting especially the thermal stability of the film. Pretreatments like diluted HCl bath or preheating at 200 °C both improved significantly the passivation quality and thermal stability of the films. In addition, the authors observed that a thin chemical SiO2 layer resulting from diluted HCl solves the blistering problem often encountered in H2O based atomic layer deposited process. Finally, the authors show that the chemical oxide protects the surface from contaminants, enabling long storage times in a dirty ambient between the cleaning and the film deposition.
Photoemission lifetime of a negative electron affinity gallium nitride photocathode
Authors: Nishitani Tomohiro , Tabuchi Masao , Amano Hiroshi , Maekawa Takuya , Kuwahara Makoto , Meguro Takashi
Published: November 2014

A photocathode electron source using p-type GaN semiconductor with a negative electron affinity (NEA) surface has been studied for its ability to maintain an extended NEA state. The key technology of NEA photocathodes is the formation of electric dipoles by cesium and gallium atoms on the surface, which makes it possible for photoexcited electrons in the conduction band minimum to escape into the vacuum. This means that in order to keep the electron energy spread as small as possible, the excitation photon energy should be tuned to the band gap energy. However, the NEA surface is damaged by the adsorption of residual gas and the back-bombardment of ionized residual gas by photoelectrons. The p-type GaN semiconductor was measured time evolution in quantum yield during NEA surface activation, and a lifetime of quantum yield of excitation energy corresponding to the band gap energy in comparison to the p-type GaAs as the conventional NEA photocathode. In NEA surface activation process, the quantum yield of the GaN was more than 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of the GaAs by only cesium deposition. The exposure amount of cesium in the NEA surface activation of the GaAs was 1.5 times as that of the GaN, even though the quantum yield of the GaAs was the same value as the GaN. Lifetime of NEA-photocathodes using the GaN was 21 times longer than that using the GaAs. The decrease of quantum yield of the GaAs was well correlated in the form of the exponential decrease function with a decrease time of 4.4 h, while the decrease of quantum yield of the GaN was well correlated in the form of the exponential decrease function with two decrease times of 47 and 174 h.
Patient-derived models of acquired resistance can identify effective drug combinations for cancer
Authors: Crystal Adam S. , Shaw Alice T. , Sequist Lecia V. , Friboulet Luc , Niederst Matthew J. , Lockerman Elizabeth L. , Frias Rosa L. , Gainor Justin F. , Amzallag Arnaud , Greninger Patricia , Lee Dana , Kalsy Anuj , Gomez-Caraballo Maria , Elamine Leila , Howe Emily , Hur Wooyoung , Lifshits Eugene , Robinson Hayley E. , Katayama Ryohei , Faber Anthony C. , Awad Mark M. , Ramaswamy Sridhar , Mino-Kenudson Mari , Iafrate A. John , Benes Cyril H. , Engelman Jeffrey A.
Published: November 2014

Targeted cancer therapies have produced substantial clinical responses, but most tumors develop resistance to these drugs. Here, we describe a pharmacogenomic platform that facilitates rapid discovery of drug combinations that can overcome resistance. We established cell culture models derived from biopsy samples of lung cancer patients whose disease had progressed while on treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors and then subjected these cells to genetic analyses and a pharmacological screen. Multiple effective drug combinations were identified. For example, the combination of ALK and MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitors was active in an
ALK
-positive resistant tumor that had developed a
MAP2K1
activating mutation, and the combination of EGFR and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors was active in an
EGFR
mutant resistant cancer with a mutation in
FGFR3
. Combined ALK and SRC (pp60c-src) inhibition was effective in several ALK-driven patient-derived models, a result not predicted by genetic analysis alone. With further refinements, this strategy could help direct therapeutic choices for individual patients.
Complete Mitochondrial DNA Sequence of the Mucoralean Fusion Parasite
Parasitella parasitica
Authors: Ellenberger Sabrina , Burmester Anke , Wöstemeyer Johannes
Published: November 2014

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the
Mucor
-related fungus
Parasitella parasitica
has been sequenced. It has a G+C content of 30% and a total length of 83,361 bp. All protein-coding genes normally found in fungi are present in the sequence. A special feature is the remarkably high number of 27 homing endonucleases.
Complete Genome Sequences of Beijing and Manila Family Strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Wan Xuehua , Qian Lishi , Hou Shaobin , Drees Kevin P. , Foster Jeffrey T. , Douglas James T.
Published: November 2014

The majority of isolates from tuberculosis patients in Hawaii arrive through the immigration of infected individuals from the western Pacific. We report here on the annotated complete genomes of two strains of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
from the two main lineages/families in Hawaii, Beijing and Manila.
Complete Genome Sequence of Dyella japonica Strain A8 Isolated from Malaysian Tropical Soil
Authors: Hui Raymond K. , Chen Jian-Woon , Chan Kok-Gan , Leung Frederick C.
Published: November 2014

We previously identified and presented the draft genome of a
Xanthomonadaceae
bacterial strain
Dyella japonica
A8 which shows quorum-quenching activity. Here, we report the complete, closed genome sequence of this bacterium. This complete genome may help to further investigate the comparative quorum-quenching activity among
D. japonica
strains.
Whole-Genome Sequencing and Mutation Analysis of Two Extensively Drug-Resistant Sputum Isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (VRFCWCF XDRTB 232 and VRFCWCF XDRTB 1028) from Chennai, India
Authors: Kulandai Lily Therese , Lakshmipathy Dhanurekha , Ramasubban Gayathri , Vetrivel Umashankar , Rao Madhavan Hajib Narahari , Rathinam Sridhar , Narasimhan Meenakshi
Published: November 2014

We announce the draft genome sequence of two extensively drug-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
strains, VRFCWCF XDRTB 232 and VRFCWCF XDRTB 1028, isolated from the sputum samples of a patient clinically suspected to have tuberculosis, and we also report novel mutations that confer drug resistance.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Mercury-Resistant Bacterium
Acinetobacter idrijaensis
Strain MII, Isolated from a Mine-Impacted Area, Idrija, Slovenia
Authors: Campos-Guillén Juan , Caballero Pérez Juan , Cruz Medina Julio Alfonso , Molina Vera Carlos , Salas Rosas Luz María , Limpens Gutiérrez Citlalli , García Salinas Isaac , Hernández Ramírez Miriam Rebeca , Soto Alonso Gerardo , Cruz Hernández Andrés , Saldaña Gutiérrez Carlos , Romero Gómez Sergio , Pastrana Martínez Xóchitl , Álvarez Hidalgo Erika , Gosar Mateja , Dizdarevič Tatjana
Published: November 2014

We report here the first draft assembly for the genome of
Acinetobacter idrijaensis
strain MII, isolated from the Idrija mercury mine area (Slovenia). This strain shows a strikingly high tolerance to mercury, and the genome sequence shows genes involved in the mechanisms for heavy metal tolerance pathways and multidrug efflux pumps.
DisseminatedCladophialophora bantianadisease in a patient with prediabetes
Authors: Mansour Anas , Jordan Kim
Published: November 2014

Cladophialophora bantiana, a dematiaceous fungus from the family Phaeohyphomycetes, is highly neurotropic and primarily reported as a rare cause of brain abscess. Pulmonary infection and disease outside the central nervous system is extremely rare, particularly in immunocompetent patients. We report an unusual case of disseminated cladosporiosis in a young man with a new diagnosis of prediabetes but no other identifiable risk factors for disease. Fungal cultures were positive forC. bantianafrom brain abscess aspiration, vertebral bone cultures and subcarinal lymph node biopsy. Although the patient demonstrated initial good response to surgical debridement of brain abscesses plus antifungal therapy, he eventually expired from septic shock secondary toC. bantianapneumonia and recurrent brain abscesses 2 years after initial diagnosis.
Adnexal mass secondary to extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) with associated amyloid deposition
Authors: Mehta Neha , Schöder Heiko , Chiu April , Schoolmeester John Kenneth , Portlock Carol
Published: November 2014

Systemic amyloid light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) is usually seen in association with a plasma cell disorder. Amyloid deposition associated with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is a rare phenomenon that is not typically associated with systemic AL amyloidosis. We describe the unusual case of a patient with an adnexal mass secondary to MALT lymphoma with associated amyloid deposition.
Pulmonary co-infection withNocardiaandAspergillusin a patient with adult-onset Still's disease receiving steroids and tacrolimus
Authors: Misra Durga Prasanna , Parida Jyoti Ranjan , Chowdhury Abhra Chandra , Agarwal Vikas
Published: November 2014

Patients on immunosuppression are at risk of unusual infections. We present a man diagnosed to have adult-onset Still's disease who, on high-dose oral steroid and tacrolimus, developed a cavitating pneumonia due to co-infection withAspergillus flavusandNocardia.Timely diagnosis and institution of appropriate therapy resulted in a favourable clinical outcome. Such co-infection in a patient receiving tacrolimus is rare in the published literature. This case serves to emphasise the need to be vigilant for unusual infections in patients who are immunosuppressed, either due to drugs or underlying disease condition.
Prevalence and risk factors associated with prehypertension in Shunde District, southern China
Authors: Huang Yuli , Qiu Wenke , Liu Changhua , Zhu Dingji , Hua Jinghai , Cai Xiaoyan , Wu Yanxian , Hu Yunzhao , Xu Dingli
Published: November 2014

Objective

To explore the prevalence and combined cardiovascular risk factors of prehypertension in southern China.

Design

A retrospective study; the logistic regression model was used to find the risk factors of prehypertension.

Setting

The study was conducted in Shunde District, southern China, using the community-based health check-up information.

Participants

Participants aged ≥35 years with complete health check-up information data between January 2011 and December 2013 were enrolled and divided into hypertension, prehypertension and optimal blood pressure (BP) groups. Prehypertension was further divided into low-range (BP 120–129/80–84 mm Hg) and high-range (BP 130–139/85–89 mm Hg) subgroups.

Outcome measures

The prevalence of prehypertension and the combined cardiovascular risk factors within the prehypertensive subgroups.

Results

Of the 5362 initially reviewed cases (aged ≥35 years), 651 were excluded because of missing data. The proportions of optimal BP, prehypertension and hypertension were 39.1%, 38.6% and 22.3%, respectively. The average age, proportion of male sex, overweight, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), dyslipidaemia and hyperuricaemia were significantly higher in the prehypertension group than in the optimal BP group (all p <0.05). Compared with low-range prehypertension, the proportions of overweight, dyslipidaemia and IFG were higher in the high-range prehypertension group (all p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that overweight (OR=2.84, 95% CI 1.55 to 5.20), male sex (OR=2.19, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.45), age (per 10 years, OR=1.21, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.44, p=0.03) and hyperuricaemia (OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.54) were independent risk factors of prehypertension.

Conclusions

Prehypertension is highly prevalent in southern China. Prehypertensive individuals presented with many other cardiovascular risk factors. There was heterogeneity of combined risk factors within the prehypertensive subgroups.
Increasing inpatient hospice use versus patient preferences in the USA: are patients able to die in the setting of their choice?
Authors: Hurley Susan Lysaght , Colling Caitlin , Bender Laura , Harris Pamela S , Harrold Joan K , Teno Joan M , Ache Kevin A , Casarett David
Published: November 2014

Background

Growth in hospice utilisation has been accompanied by an increase in the proportion of hospice patients who die in an inpatient hospice setting rather than at home.

Objective

To determine whether this increase in inpatient utilisation is consistent with patient preferences.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Seven hospices in the Coalition of Hospices Organised to Investigate Comparative Effectiveness (CHOICE) network.

Patients

70 488 patients admitted between 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2012.

Measurements

We measured changes in patients’ stated preferences at the time of admission regarding site of death, including weights to adjust for non-response bias. We also assessed patients’ actual site of death and concordance with patients’ preferences.

Results

More patients died receiving inpatient care in 2012 as compared to 2008 (1920 (32.7%), 2537 (18.5%); OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.22; p<0.001). However, patients also expressed an increasing preference for dying in inpatient settings (weighted preferences 27.5% in 2012 vs 7.9% in 2008; p<0.001). The overall proportion of patients who died in the setting of their choice (weighted preferences) increased from 74% in 2008 to 78% in 2012 (p<0.001).

Limitations

This study included only seven hospices, and results may not be representative of the larger hospice population.

Conclusions

Although more patients are dying while receiving inpatient care, these changes in site of death seem to reflect changing patient preferences. The net effect is that patients in this sample were more likely to die in the setting of their choice in 2012 than they were in 2008.
Salvia miltiorrhiza Injection on Pulmonary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Yu , Huang Yuhong , Zhao Caiyan , Qin Xiude , Zhu Qinghua , Chen Sheng , Qu Jinglai
Published: November 2014

Cor pulmonale (pulmonary heart disease) is a chronic progressive complicated disease for which treatment needs to be sustained all the time, creating a great financial burden on individuals and society. In order to improve the life quality of cor pulmonale patients and decrease the dosage and quantity of the routine treatment, in China, TCM is often administered to patients with cor pulmonale. The results of many clinical trials have indicated that Salvia miltiorrhiza and complex Salvia miltiorrhiza injection may be an alternative medicine for cor pulmonale. With the purpose to prove whether Salvia miltiorrhiza and complex Salvia miltiorrhiza benefit the cor pulmonale patients, respectively, we carried out a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Salvia miltiorrhiza and complex Salvia miltiorrhiza injection in cor pulmonale patients. Overall, 2,715 patients were identified from 35 randomized controlled trials. The meta-analysis used I2 test for heterogeneity and chose random or fixed model according to heterogeneity of included studies. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by total effectiveness rate, partial pressure of oxygen ( PaO 2) and carbon dioxide ( PaCO 2), hemorheology, mPAP and adverse effects. Compared with routine medicine treatment alone, routine medicine treatment plus Salvia miltiorrhiza or complex Salvia miltiorrhiza injection showed better outcomes: A significantly higher clinical effectiveness rate ratio (p < 0.001), increase in PaO 2 (p < 0.001) and decrease in PaCO 2 (p < 0.001), improvement in hemorheology (p < 0.001), and alleviation in mPAP (p < 0.05). There is no obvious adverse effect reported. In summary, there are some evidences suggesting that Salvia miltiorrhiza or complex Salvia miltiorrhiza injection are active in cor pulmonale, however, the results were limited by the methodological flaws of the included studies. Long-term and high quality clinical trials are needed to provide more conclusive evidence for the future use of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection.
The QCD analysis of the combined set for the F3structure function data based on the analytic approach
Authors: Sidorov A. V. , Solovtsova O. P.
Published: November 2014

We apply analytic perturbation theory (APT) to the QCD analysis of the xF3(x, Q2) structure function considering a combined set of deep inelastic scattering data presented by several collaborations, and extract values of the scale parameter ΛQCD, the parameters of the form of the xF3structure function, and the x-shape of the higher twist (HT) contribution. We study the difference between the results obtained within the standard perturbative and analytic approaches in comparison with the experimental errors and state that the greatest difference occurs for large x.
The warped product approach to magnetically charged GMGHS spacetime
Authors: Choi Jaedong
Published: November 2014

In the framework of Lorentzian multiply warped products we study the magnetically charged Gibbons–Maeda–Garfinkle–Horowitz–Strominger (GMGHS) interior spacetime in the string frame. We also investigate geodesic motion in various hypersurfaces, and compare their solutions of geodesic equations with the ones obtained in the Einstein frame.
Wormholes supported by f(𝒢) gravity
Authors: Sharif M. , Ikram Ayesha
Published: November 2014

This paper is devoted to study the traversable wormhole (WH) solutions in the context of f(𝒢) gravity. For this purpose, we consider the viable power-law form f(𝒢) = a𝒢n as well as specific variable red-shift function and investigate WH geometries for traceless, isotropic as well as barotropic fluids. It is found that in each case, the effective energy-momentum tensor violates the null energy condition throughout the WH throat. We also check the null as well as weak energy conditions for ordinary matter. We conclude that physical acceptable WH solutions exist in certain regions only for radial barotropic case while the range of these regions increases and decreases as the power of 𝒢 increases in even and odd manner, respectively.
SHM of galaxies embedded within condensed neutrino matter
Authors: Morley P. D. , Buettner D. J.
Published: November 2014

We re-examine the question of condensed neutrino objects (degenerate neutrino matter) based on new calculations. The potential show-stopper issue of free-streaming light neutrinos inhibiting galaxy formation is addressed. We compute the period associated with simple harmonic motion (SHM) of galaxies embedded within condensed neutrino objects. For observational consequences, we examine the rotational velocities of embedded galaxies using Hickson 88A (N6978) as the prototype. Finally, we point out that degenerate neutrino objects repel each other in overlap and we compute directly the repulsive force between two interesting and relevant configurations. An outstanding issue is whether the accompanying tidal forces generated by condensed neutrino matter on embedded galaxies give rise to galactic bulges and halos.
Monotone norms and Finsler structures in noncommutative spaces
Authors: Al-Rashed Maryam H. A. , Zegarliński Bogusław
Published: November 2014

We study Orlicz functionals defined on noncommutative algebras and associated to a weight. We show that large class of them has a joint monotonicity property with respect to completely positive maps.
THE PERISTALTIC TRANSPORT OF CARREAU NANOFLUIDS UNDER EFFECT OF A MAGNETIC FIELD IN A TAPERED ASYMMETRIC CHANNEL: APPLICATION OF THE CANCER THERAPY
Authors: KOTHANDAPANI M. , PRAKASH J.
Published: November 2014

During the cancer treatment, one of the successful methods is to inject the blood vessels which are closest to the tumor with magnetic nanoparticles along with placing a magnet nearer to the tumor. The dynamics of these nanoparticles may happen under the action of the peristaltic waves generated on the walls of tapered asymmetric channel. Analyzing this type of nanofluid flow under such action may highly be supportive in treating cancer tissues. In this study, a newly described peristaltic transport of Carreau nanofluids under the effect of a magnetic field in the tapered asymmetric channel are analytically investigated. Exact expressions for temperature field, nanoparticle fraction field, axial velocity, stream function, pressure gradient and shear stress are derived under the assumptions of long wavelength and low Reynolds number. Finally, the effects of various emerging parameters on the physical quantities of interest are discussed. It is found that the pressure rise increases with increase in Hartmann Number and thermophoresis parameter.
IPED2X: A robust pedigree reconstruction algorithm for complicated pedigrees
Authors: He Dan , Eskin Eleazar
Published: November 2014

Reconstruction of family trees, or pedigree reconstruction, for a group of individuals is a fundamental problem in genetics. Some recent methods have been developed to reconstruct pedigrees using genotype data only. These methods are accurate and efficient for simple pedigrees which contain only siblings, where two individuals share the same pair of parents. A most recent method IPED2 is able to handle complicated pedigrees with half-sibling relationships, where two individuals share only one parent. However, the method is shown to miss many true positive half-sibling relationships as it removes all suspicious half-sibling relationships during the parent construction process. In this work, we propose a novel method IPED2X, which deploys a more robust algorithm for parent construction in the pedigrees by considering more possible operations rather than simple deletion. We convert the parent construction problem into a graph labeling problem and propose a more effective labeling algorithm. We show in our experiments that IPED2X is more powerful on capturing the true half-sibling relationships, which further leads to better reconstruction accuracy.
Fixed points for operators with generalized Hölder derivative
Authors: Argyros I. K. , Khattri S. K.
Published: November 2014

We present semilocal convergence criteria for approximating fixed points of nonlinear operator equations — with generalized Hölder derivative — by Newton-like methods. The new results extend the applicability of Newton-like methods in cases not covered in earlier studies. These results are obtained without additional computational cost. Numerical examples are presented where the new results improve the older results even when the same convergence criteria are used to justify convergence of these methods.
Continent formation through time
Authors: Roberts Nick M. W. , Van Kranendonk Martin J. , Parman Stephen , Clift Peter D.
Published: November 2014

The continental crust is the primary archive of geological history, and is host to most of our natural resources. Thus, the following remain critical questions in Earth Science, and provide an underlying theme to all of the contributions within this volume: when, how and where did the continental crust form? How did it differentiate and evolve through time? How has it has been preserved in the geological record? This introductory review provides a background to these themes, and provides an outline of the contributions contained within this volume.
Characterization of a subpopulation of developing cortical interneurons from human iPSCs within serum-free embryoid bodies
Authors: Nestor Michael W. , Jacob Samson , Sun Bruce , Prè Deborah , Sproul Andrew A. , Hong Seong Im , Woodard Chris , Zimmer Matthew , Chinchalongporn Vorapin , Arancio Ottavio , Noggle Scott A.
Published: November 2014

Production and isolation of forebrain interneuron progenitors are essential for understanding cortical development and developing cell-based therapies for developmental and neurodegenerative disorders. We demonstrate production of a population of putative calretinin-positive bipolar interneurons that express markers consistent with caudal ganglionic eminence identities. Using serum-free embryoid bodies (SFEBs) generated from human inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we demonstrate that these interneuron progenitors exhibit morphological, immunocytochemical, and electrophysiological hallmarks of developing cortical interneurons. Finally, we develop a fluorescence-activated cell-sorting strategy to isolate interneuron progenitors from SFEBs to allow development of a purified population of these cells. Identification of this critical neuronal cell type within iPSC-derived SFEBs is an important and novel step in describing cortical development in this iPSC preparation.
The sleep-wake cycle and motor activity, but not temperature, are disrupted over the light-dark cycle in mice genetically depleted of serotonin
Authors: Solarewicz Julia Z. , Angoa-Perez Mariana , Kuhn Donald M. , Mateika Jason H.
Published: November 2014

We examined the role that serotonin has in the modulation of sleep and wakefulness across a 12-h:12-h light-dark cycle and determined whether temperature and motor activity are directly responsible for potential disruptions to arousal state. Telemetry transmitters were implanted in 24 wild-type mice (Tph2+/+) and 24 mice with a null mutation for tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2−/−). After surgery, electroencephalography, core body temperature, and motor activity were recorded for 24 h. Temperature for a given arousal state (quiet and active wake, non-rapid eye movement, and paradoxical sleep) was similar in the Tph2+/+ and Tph2−/− mice across the light-dark cycle. The percentage of time spent in active wakefulness, along with motor activity, was decreased in the Tph2+/+ compared with the Tph2−/− mice at the start and end of the dark cycle. This difference persisted into the light cycle. In contrast, the time spent in a given arousal state was similar at the remaining time points. Despite this similarity, periods of non-rapid-eye-movement sleep and wakefulness were less consolidated in the Tph2+/+ compared with the Tph2−/− mice throughout the light-dark cycle. We conclude that the depletion of serotonin does not disrupt the diurnal variation in the sleep-wake cycle, motor activity, and temperature. However, serotonin may suppress photic and nonphotic inputs that manifest at light-dark transitions and serve to shorten the ultraradian duration of wakefulness and non-rapid-eye-movement sleep. Finally, alterations in the sleep-wake cycle following depletion of serotonin are unrelated to disruptions in the modulation of temperature.