bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catalytic hydrorefining of tar to liquid fuel over multi-metals (W-Mo-Ni) catalysts
Authors: Wang Hongyan , Cao Yimin , Li Dan , Muhammad Usman , Li Chunshan , Li Zengxi , Zhang Suojiang
Published: September 2013

In the perspective of fossil fuel depletion, the importance of renewable and substitute fuels is remarkable. In this study, clean liquid-fuel was obtained from tar through catalytic hydrorefining method. Hydrorefining catalysts were prepared by impregnation, containing tungsten-nickel (W-Ni), molybdenum-nickel (Mo-Ni), tungsten-molybdenum-nickel (W-Mo-Ni), and tungsten-molybdenum-cobalt (W-Mo-Co). γ-alumina was used as catalysts supporter. The clean liquid fuel product was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, elemental analyzer, octane number for gasoline fraction and cetane-number for diesel fraction, and Engler distillation range. The rules of sulfur and nitrogen content were also investigated. The overall product yield was up to 97%, and the sulfur and nitrogen content was less than 70 ppm. The W-Mo-Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst showed high performance in catalytic hydrofinishing and good stabilization under required conditions.
Manipulation of methyl jasmonate esterase activity renders tomato more susceptible to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Findling Simone , Fekete Agnes , Warzecha Heribert , Krischke Markus , Brandt Hendrik , Blume Ernst , Mueller Martin J. , Berger Susanne
Published: September 2013

Jasmonic acid methyl ester has been discussed as a stress signal in plants. To investigate the relevance of reversible methylation of jasmonic acid, stress responses of transgenic tomato lines with altered expression and activity of methyl jasmonate esterase were analysed. No consistent changes in levels of methyl jasmonate, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid, jasmonic acid, jasmonic acid isoleucine and expression of the jasmonate-responsive genes AOC and PINII between control line and RNAi as well as overexpressing lines were detectable under basal and wound-induced conditions. In contrast, reduction as well as enhancement of methyl jasmonate esterase activity resulted in increased susceptibility to the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum despite higher levels of the hormonal active jasmonic acid isoleucine conjugate. Results suggest that methyl jasmonate esterase has a function in vivo in plant defence, which appears not to be related to its in vitro capacity to hydrolyse methyl jasmonate.
Flow variability and longitudinal characteristics of organic carbon in the Lachlan River, Australia
Authors: Moran Nicholas P. , Ganf George G. , Wallace Todd A , Brookes Justin D.
Published: September 2013

Heterotrophic organic-carbon cycling is a major source of energy to aquatic food webs, yet there are few studies into patterns of heterotrophic productivity in large lowland rivers. The Lachlan River experienced a period of extreme flow variability from September 2010 to February 2011; for example, daily discharge (ML day–1) at one site reached >22 times its 10-year average. Heterotrophic cycling of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were assessed over this period at six sites on the Lachlan River. Concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) ranged from 7 to 30 mg L–1, of which the majority was in dissolved form. Concentration of DOC was positively correlated with daily discharge. Biochemical oxygen demand of TOC over 5 days (BOD5) showed significant variability, ranging from 0.6 to 6.6 mg O2 L–1. BOD5 did not appear related to discharge, but instead to a range of other factors, including regulation via weirs, lateral and longitudinal factors. Partitioning of DOC and POC showed that POC had an influence on BOD5 comparable to DOC. This is relevant to environmental-flow management in the Lachlan River, the Murray–Darling Basin and rivers generally, by showing that flow variability influences a fundamental ecosystem characteristic, namely organic carbon.
Influence of upwelling events on the estuaries of the north-western coast of the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Alvarez I. , Dias J. M. , deCastro M. , Vaz N. , Sousa M. C. , Gómez-Gesteira M.
Published: September 2013

Coastal upwelling is one of the best studied oceanographic phenomena because of its effects on primary production. The western coast of the Iberian Peninsula has high biological diversity, mainly due to this primary production. In this study, the response of salinity and temperature to the occurrence of upwelling was analysed at the Ria de Vigo– and Ria de Aveiro–ocean boundary over the course of a year. Both systems were influenced by similar external forcing, but the response of thermohaline properties differed. Salinity and temperature were dependent on external forcing throughout the water column at Ria de Aveiro, whereas near-bed measurements revealed the presence of upwelled water at Ria de Vigo. Eastern North Atlantic Central Water was observed during spring–summer (summer) at the southern (northern) mouth of Ria de Vigo, but it was not observed at Ria de Aveiro. This difference may be due to the shallowness and narrowness of the Ria de Aveiro mouth, which can limit the entrance of ocean water. The trends found are unlikely to be unique, suggesting that geomorphologic characteristics of system–ocean boundaries determine how physical processes occurring in adjacent coastal areas impact estuarine properties.
Recent trends in sediment and nutrient accumulation rates in coastal, freshwater Lake Sibaya, South Africa
Authors: Humphries Marc S. , Benitez-Nelson Claudia R.
Published: September 2013

Eutrophication of aquatic systems has emerged as one of the most pressing issues confronted by scientists and environmental managers. In this study, we used two sediment cores from Lake Sibaya, a coastal freshwater lake in South Africa, to infer historical variations in bulk sediment accumulation and nutrient (C, N and P) biogeochemistry. Cores were dated using 210Pb, 137Cs and 14C, and dates were used to calculate bulk sediment accumulation rates and nutrient concentrations over the last 250 years. In the western section of the lake, stratigraphic variations in total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus increased abruptly to near-constant levels around the beginning of the 20th century, a trend that appears to be consistent with the onset of human settlement and land clearance in the catchment. In contrast, sedimentation rates have remained relatively constant over this period, despite recent land use change in the catchment. Results of this study suggest that recent increases in development pressure have yet to further influence sedimentation in Lake Sibaya, thus providing values against which future monitoring efforts can be compared. This study represents the first report on recent trends in sedimentation and nutrient biogeochemistry in Lake Sibaya. The results have broad implications for other ecologically sensitive areas within the Maputaland ecoregion of coastal southern Africa.
Measurements of riverbed hydraulic conductivity in a semi-arid lowland river system (Murray–Darling Basin, Australia)
Authors: Taylor Andrew R. , Lamontagne Sébastien , Crosbie Russell S.
Published: September 2013

Riverbed hydraulic conductivity (Kr) was measured along one river reach in four tributaries of the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) in south-eastern Australia. Two techniques were trialled: in-river falling-head tests in high Kr sediments, and laboratory evaporation tests on intact riverbed cores for low Kr sediments. In-river falling-head tests were conducted using two types of permeameter: a steel-base permeameter or a stand-pipe permeameter. Kr was found to range from 10–10 to 10–3 m s–1, corresponding to a range in riverbed sediment textures from clay to silty gravels, respectively. Although the within-reach variability in Kr was also large, in general the river reaches could be divided in two groups, those with a low Kr (<10–8 m s–1) or a high Kr (>10–5 m s–1). The low Kr reach (Billabong Creek) was a clay-lined bed, whereas the others had silty sand or silty gravel beds. Thus, regional-scale assessments of Kr in the MDB could be made using a stratified sampling process in which reaches would be first classified into low or high Kr classes, and then Kr measurements made in a subsample of low and high Kr reaches. This would be an improvement over the current practice whereby riverbed Kr is estimated either from regional soil maps or through the calibration of groundwater models.
Temperature affects immersion tolerance of first-instar nymphs of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera
Authors: Woodman James D.
Published: September 2013

The population dynamics of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera, are strongly linked to the timing and distribution of heavy rainfall events in semiarid and arid environments. While the effects of insufficient rainfall on survival are relatively well understood, little information exists on the effects of excessively wet conditions. This study aimed to quantify the survival of first-instar C. terminifera nymphs to a range of water-immersion periods and temperatures. Results show that survival is strongly dependent on immersion temperature whereby survival times ranged from time to 50% mortality (LT50) = 8.12 ± 0.26 h at 15°C to 4.93 ± 0.30 h at 25°C. Nymphs entered a coma-like state within 2 min of immersion. Post-immersion recovery times were greater for longer immersion periods and longer at higher temperatures for immersion periods of >3 h. These findings suggest that first-instar nymphs would be able to survive most instances of transient, localised pooling of water associated with heavy rainfall in the field. However, flooding that could trap individuals for >5 h (including nymphs still underground within the egg pod before emergence to the soil surface) has the potential to cause high mortality, particularly during summer and early autumn when water temperatures may be high.
Botany.
Authors: Bhargava A. , Srivastava S.
Published: September 2013

This chapter focuses on the morphology and anatomy of the root systems, stems, leaves, inflorescence, flowers and fruits of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Genetic variations in these traits are described.
Crop production and management.
Authors: Bhargava A. , Srivastava S.
Published: September 2013

This chapter describes quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) production and management. An overview of preharvesting (land preparation, sowing, fertilizer application, irigation and weed control), harvesting and postharvesting (predrying and drying, threshing, cleaning of seeds, and drying) operations in quinoa production is provided.
Breeding.
Authors: Bhargava A. , Srivastava S.
Published: September 2013

This chapter summarizes research on various aspects of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) breeding and genetics, including the following: breeding objectives, outcrossing, male sterility, genetic variability, genetic correlation and path coefficient analysis, genetic diversity, hybridization, and genotype × environment interaction.
Molecular studies.
Authors: Fuentes F. , Zurita-Silva A.
Published: September 2013

This chapter presents the recent progress in developing molecular genetic resources for quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and the potential impact of their use for the next-generation challenges and opportunities in quinoa production. An overview of research on genetic markers, genetic linkage maps, molecular cytogenetics, and gene discovery, functional genomics and non-coding genotyping is provided.
Chemistry.
Authors: Bhargava A. , Srivastava S.
Published: September 2013

This chapter presents the nutritional (protein, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, vitamins and fibre) and antinutritional (tannins and saponins) components of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) seeds, and describes the utilization of quinoa as fodder and food with regard to presence of these components. The chemical composition of the leaves is briefly covered.
Saponins.
Authors: Bhargava A. , Srivastava S.
Published: September 2013

This chapter focuses on saponins in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), particularly on their chemical structures, biosynthesis, and industrial applications. The genetic basis of saponin content, methods for saponin analysis, and techniques for the removal of saponins from seeds are also covered.
Molecular overview on plant somatic embryogenesis.
Authors: Rocha D. I. , Dornelas M. C.
Published: September 2013

The developmental pathway leading to plant somatic embryogenesis (SE) is true demonstration of totipotency of plant cells. During this process, somatic cells, under appropriate conditions, divide and differentiate into embryos. This developmental pathway plays an important role as an efficient means for plant regeneration and large-scale propagation. It includes a profound reprogramming of gene expression leading to changes in cell division and differentiation patterns, becoming a suitable platform to study the morpho-physiological and molecular aspects involved in plant cell differentiation and embryo development. Plant growth regulators such as auxin, as well as stress factors and DNA methylation, are key components to induce entry into SE pathways. Proteome and transcriptome analysis allowed isolation and characterization of embryogenic-specific gene markers involved in promoting vegetative-to-embryogenic transition as well as in maturation of somatic embryos contributing to the understanding of complex relationships between inductive conditions and somatic embryo formation. This review describes current advances made, mainly at the molecular level, in discovery of the main factors involved in the induction and maturation of somatic embryos providing a basic background for understanding genetic reprogramming that is at the heart of this process. We paid special attention to extracellular protein markers during SE as well as to auxin, abscisic acid and ethylene response genes, transcriptor factors and proteins involved in embryogenic competence acquisition.
The Celsus Library at Ephesus: Spatial Rhetoric, Literacy, and Hegemony in the Eastern Roman Empire
Authors: Eidson Diana
Published: September 2013

Building upon the insights of historians of rhetoric and architecture, this study examines the Celsus Library at Ephesus through the lenses of literacy studies and hegemony. By drawing on first-hand observations of the extant structure and historical studies that re-create its original appearance and relationship with its architectural context, the author speculates on the uses and functions of the library during the early second century CE. While the library's elite patrons experienced its instrumental impact, passersby from all levels of society witnessed the building's hegemonic display of Rome's cultural and political power.
Anoxybacillus calidus sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium isolated from soil near a thermal power plant
Authors: Cihan Arzu Coleri , Cokmus Cumhur , Koc Melih , Ozcan Birgul
Published: September 2013

A novel thermophilic, Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, strain C161abT, was isolated from a soil sample collected near Kizildere, Saraykoy-Buharkent power plant in Denizli. The isolate could grow at temperatures between 35 and 70 °C (optimum 55 °C), at pH 6.5–9.0 (optimum pH 8.0–8.5) and with 0–2.5 % NaCl (optimum 0.5 %, w/v). The strain formed cream-coloured, circular colonies and tolerated up to 70 mM boron. Its DNA G+C content was 37.8 mol%. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. Strain C161abT contained menaquinones MK-7 (96 %) and MK-6 (4 %). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-branched fatty acids: iso-C15 : 0 (52.2 %) and iso-C17 : 0 (28.0 %,) with small amounts of C16 : 0 (7.4 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed 94.6–96.8 % sequence similarity with all recognized species of the genus

Anoxybacillus

. Strain C161abT showed the greatest sequence similarity to

Anoxybacillus rupiensis

DSM 17127T and

Anoxybacillus voinovskiensis

DSM 17075T, both had 96.8 % similarity to strain C161abT, as well as to

Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus

DSM 15730T (96.6 %). DNA–DNA hybridization revealed low levels of relatedness with the closest relatives of strain C161abT,

A. rupiensis

(21.2 %) and

A. voinovskiensis

(16.5 %). On the basis of the results obtained from phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genomic fingerprinting, phylogenetic and hybridization analyses, the isolate is proposed to represent a novel species, Anoxybacillus calidus sp. nov. (type strain C161abT = DSM 25520T = NCIMB 14851T).
Chitinophaga jiangningensis sp. nov., a mineral-weathering bacterium
Authors: Wang Qi , Cheng Cheng , He Lin-Yan , Huang Zhi , Sheng Xia-Fang
Published: September 2013

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, JN53T, was isolated from the surfaces of weathered rock (potassic trachyte) from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, PR China. Strain JN53Tgrew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JN53Tbelonged to the genusChitinophagain the familyChitinophagaceae. It was most closely related toChitinophaga terraeKP01T(97.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity),Chitinophaga eiseniaeYC6729T(96.3 %). Strain JN53Tcontained MK-7 as the major menaquinone and homospermidine as the major polyamine. The main fatty acids of strain JN53Twere iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c, C16 : 1ω7cand/or C16 : 1ω6c(summed feature 3), iso-C17 : 03-OH, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 03-OH and C16 : 03-OH. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, unknown aminolipids and unknown lipids. The total DNA G+C content of strain JN53Twas 49.7 mol%. The low level of DNA–DNA relatedness to other species of the genusChitinophagaand the many phenotypic properties that distinguished strain JN53Tfrom recognized species of this genus demonstrated that isolate JN53Tshould be classified as representing a novel species of the genusChitinophaga, for which the nameChitinophaga jiangningensissp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JN53T( = CCTCC AB 2013166T = JCM 19354T).
EXPRESS study shows significant regional differences in 1‐year outcome of extremely preterm infants in Sweden
Authors: Serenius Fredrik , Sjörs Gunnar , Blennow Mats , Fellman Vineta , Holmström Gerd , Maršál Karel , Lindberg Eva , Olhager Elisabeth , Stigson Lennart , Westgren Magnus , Källen Karin ,   the EXPRESS study group
Published: September 2013

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in mortality up to 1 year of age in extremely preterm infants (before 27 weeks) born in seven Swedish healthcare regions.

Methods

National prospective observational study of consecutively born, extremely preterm infants in Sweden 2004–2007. Mortality was compared between regions. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% CI were calculated.

Results

Among 844 foetuses alive at mother's admission for delivery, regional differences were identified in perinatal mortality for the total group (22–26 weeks) and in the stillbirth and perinatal and 365‐day mortality rates for the subgroup born at 22–24 weeks. Among 707 infants born alive, regional differences were found both in mortality before 12 h and in the 365‐day mortality rate for the subgroup (22–24 weeks) and for the total group (22–26 weeks). The mortality rates were consistently lower in two healthcare regions. There were no differences in the 365‐day mortality rate for infants alive at 12 h or for infants born at 25 weeks. Neonatal morbidity rates among survivors were not higher in regions with better survival rates. Perinatal practices varied between regions.

Conclusion

Mortality rates in extremely preterm infants varied considerably between Swedish healthcare regions in the first year after birth, particularly between the most immature infants.
The Response Speed of the International Monetary Fund
Authors: Mody Ashoka , Saravia Diego
Published: September 2013

The more severe a financial crisis, the greater has been the likelihood of its management under an IMF‐supported programme and shorter the time from crisis onset to programme initiation. Political links to the United States have raised programme likelihood but have prompted faster response mainly for ‘major’ crises. Over time, the IMF's response has not been robustly faster, but the time sensitivity to the more severe crises and those related to fixed exchange rate regimes did increase from the mid‐1980s. Similarly, democracies had earlier tended to stall programme initiation but have turned supportive of financial markets' demands for quicker action.
Pure or Wake‐up‐Call Contagion? Another Look at the EMU Sovereign Debt Crisis
Authors: Giordano Raffaela , Pericoli Marcello , Tommasino Pietro
Published: September 2013

We test whether the sharp increase in sovereign spreads of euro‐area countries with respect to Germany after the explosion of the Greek crisis was due to deteriorating macroeconomic and fiscal fundamentals or to some form of financial contagion. Our analysis includes indicators of domestic and external imbalances which were mostly disregarded by previous studies, and distinguishes between investors' increased attention to the variables which ultimately determine the creditworthiness of a sovereign borrower (wake‐up‐call contagion) and behaviour not linked to fundamentals (pure contagion). We find evidence of wake‐up‐call contagion but not of pure contagion.
The genetic legacy of the 19th‐century decline of theBritish polecat: evidence for extensive introgression from feral ferrets
Authors: Costa M. , Fernandes C. , Birks J. D. S. , Kitchener A. C. , Santos‐Reis M. , Bruford M. W.
Published: September 2013

In the 19th century, theBritish polecat suffered a demographic contraction, as a consequence of direct persecution, reaching its lowest population in the years that preceded theFirstWorldWar. The polecat is now recovering and expanding throughout Britain, but introgressive hybridization with feral ferrets has been reported, which could be masking the true range of the polecat and introducing domestic genes into the species. We used a fragment of the mitochondrialDNAcontrol region and 11 microsatellite loci to characterize the frequency and extent of hybridization and introgression between the two species and assess whether the 19th‐century decline corresponded to a genetic bottleneck in the polecat. The proportion of admixture detected in the wild was high (31%) and hybrids were more frequently found outside Wales, suggesting that hybridization is more likely to occur along the eastern edge of the polecat's range expansion. The patterns observed in the mitochondrial and nuclearDNAdata show that introgression was mediated by crosses between male polecats and female ferrets, whose offspring backcrossed with polecats. No first‐generation (F1) hybrids were identified, and the broad range of observed admixture proportions agrees with a scenario of past extensive hybridization between the two species. Using several different methods to investigate demographic history, we did not find consistent evidence for a genetic bottleneck in theBritish polecat, a result that could be interpreted as a consequence of hybridization with ferrets. Our results highlight the importance of theWelsh polecat population for the conservation and restoration of the genetic identity of theBritish polecat.
Sensitivity Analysis on Turbine Blade Temperature Distribution Using Conjugate Heat Transfer Simulation
Authors: Alizadeh Mohammad , Izadi Ali , Fathi Alireza
Published: September 2013

Heat transfer parameters are the most critical variables affecting turbine blade life. Therefore, accurately predicting heat transfer parameters is essential. In this study, for precise prediction of the blade temperature distribution, a conjugate heat transfer procedure is used. This procedure involves three different physical aspects: flow and heat transfer in external domain and internal cooling passages and conduction within metal blade. For the external flow simulation and conduction within metal, three-dimensional solvers are used. However, three-dimensional modeling of blade cooling passages is time-consuming because of complex cooling passage geometries. Therefore, in the current work, a one-dimensional network method is used for the simulation of cooling passages. For validation of the numerical procedure, simulation results are compared with the available experimental data for a C3X vane. Results show good agreement against experimental data. The present paper investigates uncertainties of some parameters that affect turbine blade heat transfer, namely, (1) turbine inlet temperature and pressure, (2) upstream stator coolant mass flow rate and temperature, (3) rotor shroud heat transfer coefficient and fluid temperature over shroud, (4) rotor coolant inlet pressure and temperature (as a result of secondary air system), (5) blade metal thermal conductivity, and (6) blade coating thickness and thermal conductivity. Results show that turbine inlet temperature, pressure drop and temperature rise in the secondary air system (SAS) and coating parameters have significant effect on the blade temperature.
Effect of Combustor Swirl on Transonic High Pressure Turbine Efficiency
Authors: Beard Paul F. , Smith Andy D. , Povey Thomas
Published: September 2013

This paper presents an experimental and computational study of the effect of inlet swirl on the efficiency of a transonic turbine stage. The efficiency penalty is approximately 1%, but it is argued that this could be recovered by correct design. There are attendant changes in capacity, work function, and stage total-to-total pressure ratio, which are discussed in detail. Experiments were performed using the unshrouded MT1 high-pressure turbine installed in the Oxford Turbine Research Facility (OTRF) (formerly at QinetiQ Farnborough): an engine scale, short duration, rotating transonic facility, in which M, Re, Tgas/Twall, and N/T01 are matched to engine conditions. The research was conducted under the EU Turbine Aero-Thermal External Flows (TATEF II) program. Turbine efficiency was experimentally determined to within bias and precision uncertainties of approximately ±1.4% and ±0.2%, respectively, to 95% confidence. The stage mass flow rate was metered upstream of the turbine nozzle, and the turbine power was measured directly using an accurate strain-gauge based torque measurement system. The turbine efficiency was measured experimentally for a condition with uniform inlet flow and a condition with pronounced inlet swirl. Full stage computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was performed using the Rolls-Royce Hydra solver. Steady and unsteady solutions were conducted for both the uniform inlet baseline case and a case with inlet swirl. The simulations are largely in agreement with the experimental results. A discussion of discrepancies is given.
Effect of Blade Skew Strategies on the Operating Range and Aeroacoustic Performance of the Wells Turbine
Authors: Starzmann R. , Carolus Th.
Published: September 2013

One of the most intensively studied principles of harnessing the energy from ocean waves is the oscillating water column (OWC) device. The OWC converts the motion of the water waves into a bidirectional air flow, which in turn drives an air turbine. The bidirectional axial Wells turbine as a candidate for OWC power takeoff systems was the object of considerable research conducted in the last decades. The vast majority of the investigations focused on the aerodynamic performance. However, aiming at minimizing the overall environmental impact of this technology requires a new effort to reduce the aeroacoustic noise associated with a Wells turbine's operation. As for other turbomachinery, rotor blade skew is hypothesized to affect aeroacoustic noise sources favorably. Because of the unique symmetry of the blade shape of any Wells turbine, skew here means an inclination of the stagger line exclusively in circumferential direction and hence incorporates a combination of blade sweep and dihedral. Based on a blade element momentum theory, a new blade design methodology for a Wells turbine with skewed blades is established. Then, the effect of blade skew is assessed systematically by numerical simulations and experiments. As compared to a state-of-the-art rotor with straight blades, optimal backward/forward blade skew from hub to tip delays the onset of stall and increases the range of unstalled operation by approximately 5% in terms of static pressure head. As a Wells turbine in an OWC power plant operates cyclically along its characteristic, any extension of stall-free operating range has the potential of improving the energy yield. The flow-generated sound in unstalled operation was decreased up to 3 dB by optimal backward/forward blade skew. However, the predominate noise benefit in terms of equivalent sound power along complete operating cycles is due to the extended operating range without excessive sound due to stall.
Low-temperature plasmas in carbon nanostructure synthesis
Authors: Levchenko Igor , Keidar Michael , Xu Shuyan , Kersten Holger , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken)
Published: September 2013

Plasma-based techniques offer many unique possibilities for the synthesis of various nanostructures both on the surface and in the plasma bulk. In contrast to the conventional chemical vapor deposition and some other techniques, plasma-based processes ensure high level of controllability, good quality of the produced nanomaterials, and reduced environmental risk. In this work, the authors briefly review the unique features of the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition approaches, namely, the techniques based on inductively coupled, microwave, and arc discharges. Specifically, the authors consider the plasmas with the ion/electron density ranging from 1010 to 1014 cm−3, electron energy in the discharge up to ∼10 eV, and the operating pressure ranging from 1 to 104 Pa (up to 105 Pa for the atmospheric-pressure arc discharges). The operating frequencies of the discharges considered range from 460 kHz for the inductively coupled plasmas, and up to 2.45 GHz for the microwave plasmas. The features of the direct-current arc discharges are also examined. The authors also discuss the principles of operation of these systems, as well as the effects of the key plasma parameters on the conditions of nucleation and growth of the carbon nanostructures, mainly carbon nanotubes and graphene. Advantages and disadvantages of these plasma systems are considered. Future trends in the development of these plasma-based systems are also discussed.
Two‐dimensional inverse planning and delivery with a preclinical image guided microirradiator
Authors: Stewart James M. P. , Lindsay Patricia E. , Jaffray David A.
Published: September 2013

Purpose:

Recent advances in preclinical radiotherapy systems have provided the foundation for scaling many of the elements of clinical radiation therapy practice to the dimensions and energy demanded in small animal studies. Such systems support the technical capabilities to accurately deliver highly complex dose distributions, but methods to optimize and deliver such distributions remain in their infancy. This study developed an optimization method based on empirically measured two‐dimensional dose kernel measurements to deliver arbitrary planar dose distributions on a recently developed small animal radiotherapy platform.

Methods:

A two‐dimensional dose kernel was measured with repeated radiochromic film measurements for the circular 1 mm diameter fixed collimator of the small animal radiotherapy system at 1 cm depth in a solid water phantom. This kernel was utilized in a sequential quadratic programming optimization framework to determine optimal beam positions and weights to deliver an arbitrary desired dose distribution. The positions and weights were then translated to a set of stage motions to automatically deliver the optimized dose distribution. End‐to‐end efficacy of the framework was quantified through five repeated deliveries of two dosimetric challenges: (1) a 5 mm radius bullseye distribution, and (2) a “sock” distribution contained within a 9 × 13 mm bounding box incorporating rectangular, semicircular, and exponentially decaying geometric constructs and a rectangular linear dose gradient region. These two challenges were designed to gauge targeting, geometric, and dosimetric fidelity.

Results:

Optimization of the bullseye and sock distributions required 2.1 and 5.9 min and utilized 50 and 77 individual beams for delivery, respectively. Automated delivery of the resulting optimized distributions, validated using radiochromic film measurements, revealed an average targeting accuracy of 0.32 mm, and a dosimetric delivery error along four line profiles taken through the sock distribution of 3.9%. Mean absolute delivery error across the 0–1 Gy linear dose gradient over 7.5 mm was 0.01 Gy.

Conclusions:

The work presented here demonstrates the potential for complex dose distributions to be planned and automatically delivered with millimeter scale heterogeneity at submillimeter accuracy. This capability establishes the technical foundation for preclinical validation of biologically guided radiotherapy investigations and development of unique radiobiological experiments.
Nitrogen Isotopic Composition and Density of the Archean Atmosphere
Authors: Marty Bernard , Zimmermann Laurent , Pujol Magali , Burgess Ray , Philippot Pascal
Published: September 2013

Same As It Ever Was

Nitrogen constitutes approximately 78% by volume of Earth's atmosphere and is a key component in its chemical and physical characteristics. It is not clear whether N
2
has been so abundant throughout Earth's geological history.

Marty
et al.

(p.
101
, published online 19 September) analyzed the isotopic compositions of nitrogen and argon from fluid inclusions trapped in hydrothermal quartz formed 3 to 3.5 billion years ago. The partial pressure and isotopic composition of atmospheric N
2
were similar to today's. Thus, other factors are needed to explain why liquid water existed on Earth's surface despite the Sun being 30% less luminous.
Crystal Structure of Na
+
, K
+
-ATPase in the Na
+
-Bound State
Authors: Nyblom Maria , Poulsen Hanne , Gourdon Pontus , Reinhard Linda , Andersson Magnus , Lindahl Erik , Fedosova Natalya , Nissen Poul
Published: September 2013

Pumping Out Sodium

Mammalian cells contain relatively high concentrations of potassium but low concentrations of sodium. This balance is maintained by an ion pump, the Na
+
, K
+
–adenosine triphosphatase, in an adenosine triphosphate–driven transport cycle that results in the export of three sodium ions and the import of two potassium ions. Structures of potassium-bound conformations of the pump have been determined. Now,

Nyblom
et al.

(p.
123
, published online 19 September) report on the high-resolution crystal structure of a Na
+
-bound conformation, which reveals conformational changes associated with Na
+
binding.
Influenza A Virus with a Human-Like N2 Gene Is Circulating in Pigs
Authors: Breum Solvej Østergaard , Hjulsager Charlotte Kristiane , Trebbien Ramona , Larsen Lars Erik
Published: September 2013

A novel reassortant influenza A virus, H1avN2hu, has been found in Danish swine. The virus contains an H1 gene similar to the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of H1N1 avian-like swine viruses and an N2 gene most closely related to the neuraminidase (NA) gene of human H3N2 viruses from the mid-1990s.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Equol-Producing Bacterium Adlercreutzia equolifaciens DSM 19450
T
Authors: Toh Hidehiro , Oshima Kenshiro , Suzuki Takehito , Hattori Masahira , Morita Hidetoshi
Published: September 2013

Adlercreutzia equolifaciens
DSM 19450
T
was isolated from human feces and is able to metabolize daidzeins (soybean isoflavonoids) to equol. Here, we report the finished and annotated genome sequence of this organism.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Sphingobium
sp. Strain HDIPO4, an Avid Degrader of Hexachlorocyclohexane
Authors: Mukherjee Udita , Kumar Roshan , Mahato Nitish Kumar , Khurana J. P. , Lal Rup
Published: September 2013

Sphingobium
sp. strain HDIPO4 was isolated from a hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) dumpsite and degraded HCH isomers rapidly. The draft genome sequence of HDIPO4 (~4.7 Mbp) contains 143 contigs and 4,646 coding sequences with a G+C content of 65%.
Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the lung: a rare subtype
Authors: Livieratos Speros , Smith James K , Fatakhov Eduard , Koch Christopher F
Published: September 2013

Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a subtype of adenocarcinoma. It can arise in different organs including stomach, colon, bladder, prostate and breast. The vast majority of SRCC found in the pulmonary system is metastatic. Primary disease to the lungs is rare. The main feature of this type of malignancy is mucin-producing cells. It has been reported that out of 3500 cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, five cases had features of SRCC.
Silent destruction of aortic and mitral valve byKlebsiella pneumoniaeendocarditis
Authors: Srinivas K H , Sharma Rajni , Agrawal Navin , Manjunath C N
Published: September 2013

Klebsiellaendocarditis rarely affects the native valve especially in the immunocompromised and the elderly. We report a case ofKlebsiellaendocarditis in a 60-year-old man who had a nidus of infection on the aortic valve which led to severe aortic regurgitation. This possibly spread to the anterior mitral leaflet (AML) leading to AML perforation therefore causing moderate mitral regurgitation. The reason for this suspicion was that there was perforation of the AML in the absence of vegetation. Noteworthy is that he was asymptomatic apart from generalised fatigue. This case draws our attention to the nature ofKlebsiellavalvular affection due to the fact that it had bitten the aortic and mitral valve silently and compelled the patient to undergo double valve replacement without having a prolonged duration of symptomatic illness thereby calling for high suspicion especially in individuals in the extremes of ages where the symptoms are less-guiding than the signs.
Upper cervical cord enterogenous cyst mimicking transient ischaemic attacks
Authors: Marchionni Marco , Tzerakis Nikolaos , Tsang Kai , Carey Martyn
Published: September 2013

A 76-year-old woman presenting with tetraparesis, left-sided hemisensory loss and occasional neck pain was urgently admitted to our department. A cervical spine MRI scan revealed a partially cystic lesion compressing the cord at the C2–4level. The lesion was surgically excised. The histopathological diagnosis was that of an enterogenous cyst. No postoperative complications were noted and the patient significantly recovered from the preoperative tetraparesis. Eleven months before surgery, a waxing and waning presentation of the myelopathic signs with normal neuroradiological findings on a non-contrast-enhanced head CT scan, had unfortunately led to the misdiagnosis of transient ischaemic attacks and ischaemic stroke which delayed the treatment of an essentially benign disease the total surgical excision of which not only is usually curative but also improves the preoperative signs and symptoms.
Poor glycaemic control in Brazilian patients with type 2 diabetes attending the public healthcare system: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Viana Luciana V , Leitão Cristiane B , Kramer Caroline K , Zucatti Alessandra T N , Jezini Deborah L , Felício João , Valverde Ana B , Chacra Antonio R , Azevedo Mirela J , Gross Jorge L
Published: September 2013

Objectives

To describe the clinical profile of Brazilian patients with type 2 diabetes attending the public healthcare system and identify factors associated with poor glycaemic control.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

14 centres in five regions of Brazil, including primary care units and outpatient clinics of University Hospitals.

Participants

Patients with type 2 diabetes attending outpatient clinics of public healthcare system.

Main outcome measured

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), centrally measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program certified).

Results

A total of 5750 patients aged 61±10 years, with 11±8 years of diabetes duration (66% women, 56% non-white, body mass index: 28.0±5.3 kg/m2) were analysed. Mean HbA1c was 8.6±2.2%, and median HbA1c was 8.1% (6.9% to 9.9%). HbA1c <7% was observed in only 26% of patients. Mean HbA1c was higher (p < 0.01) in the North (9.0±2.6%) and Northeast (8.9±2.4%) than in the Midwest (8.1±2%), Southeast (8.4±2.1%) and South regions (8.3±1.9%). Using the cut-off value of HbA1c above the median, age (0.986 (0.983 to 0.989)), white ethnicity (0.931 (0.883 to 0.981)) and being from Midwest region (0.858 (0.745 to 0.989)) were protective factors, while diabetes duration (1.015 (1.012 to 1.018)), use of insulin (1.710 (1.624 to 1.802)) and living in the Northeast region (1.197 (1.085 to 1.321)) were associated with HbA1c >8%.

Conclusions

The majority of Brazilian patients with type 2 diabetes attending the public healthcare system had HbA1c levels above recommended targets. The recognition of Northeast residents and non-white patients as vulnerable populations should guide future policies and actions to prevent and control diabetes.
Characterising the complexity of medication safety using a human factors approach: an observational study in two intensive care units
Authors: Carayon Pascale , Wetterneck Tosha B , Cartmill Randi , Blosky Mary Ann , Brown Roger , Kim Robert , Kukreja Sandeep , Johnson Mark , Paris Bonnie , Wood Kenneth E , Walker James
Published: September 2013

Objective

To examine medication safety in two intensive care units (ICU), and to assess the complexity of medication errors and adverse drug events (ADE) in ICUs across the stages of the medication-management process.

Methods

Four trained nurse data collectors gathered data on medication errors and ADEs between October 2006 and March 2007. Patient care documents (eg, medication order sheets, notes) and incident reports were used to identify medication errors and ADEs in a 24-bed adult medical/surgical ICU and an 18-bed cardiac ICU in a tertiary care, community teaching hospital. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 630 consecutive ICU patient admissions were assessed to produce data on the number, rates and types of potential and preventable ADEs across stages of the medication-management process.

Results

An average of 2.9 preventable or potential ADEs occurred in each admission, that is, 0.4 events per patient-day. Preventable or potential ADEs occurred in 2.6% of the medication orders. The rate of potential ADEs per 1000 patient-days was 276, whereas the rate of preventable ADEs per 1000 patient-days was 9.2. Most medication errors occur at the ordering (32%) and administration stages (39%). In 16–24% of potential and preventable ADEs, clusters of errors occurred either as a sequence of errors (eg, delay in medication dispensing leading to delay in medication administration) or grouped errors (eg, route and frequency errors in the order for a medication). Many of the sequences led to administration errors that were caused by errors earlier in the medication-management process.

Conclusions

Understanding the complexity of the vulnerabilities of the medication-management process is important to devise solutions to improve patient safety. Electronic health record technology with computerised physician order entry may be one step necessary to improve medication safety in ICUs. Solutions that target multiple stages of the medication-management process are necessary to address sequential errors.
Improving patient waiting times: a simulation study of an obesity care service
Authors: Tako Antuela A , Kotiadis Kathy , Vasilakis Christos , Miras Alexander , le Roux Carel W
Published: September 2013

Background

Obesity care services are often faced with the need to adapt their resources to rising levels of demand. The main focus of this study was to help prioritise planned investments in new capacity allowing the service to improve patient experience and meet future anticipated demand.

Methods

We developed computer models of patient flows in an obesity service in an Academic Health Science Centre that provides lifestyle, pharmacotherapy and surgery treatment options for the UK's National Health Service. Using these models we experiment with different scenarios to investigate the likely impact of alternative resource configurations on patient waiting times.

Results

Simulation results show that the timing and combination of adding extra resources (eg, surgeons and physicians) to the service are important. For example, increasing the capacity of the pharmacotherapy clinics equivalent to adding one physician reduced the relevant waiting list size and waiting times, but it then led to increased waiting times for surgical patients. Better service levels were achieved when the service operates with the resource capacity of two physicians and three surgeons. The results obtained from this study had an impact on the planning and organisation of the obesity service.

Conclusions

Resource configuration combined with demand management (reduction in referral rates) along the care service can help improve patient waiting time targets for obesity services, such as the 18 week target of UK's National Health Service. The use of simulation models can help stakeholders understand the interconnectedness of the multiple microsystems (eg, clinics) comprising a complex clinical service for the same patient population, therefore, making stakeholders aware of the likely impact of resourcing decisions on the different microsystems.
Biomarkers of diabetes risk in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey rolling programme (2008–2011)
Authors: Almoosawi S , Cole D , Nicholson S , Bayes I , Teucher B , Bates B , Mindell J , Tipping S , Deverill C , Stephen A M
Published: September 2013

This study describes the distribution of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and glucose concentrations in the combined year 1 (2008–2009), year 2 (2009–2010) and year 3 (2010–2011) of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) rolling programme. The NDNS rolling programme is a nationally representative survey of food consumption, nutrient intakes and nutritional status of people aged 1.5 years and over living in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The study population comprised survey members who completed three or four days of dietary recording and who provided a blood sample. After excluding survey members with self-reported diabetes (n=25), there were 1016 results for HbA1cand 942 for glucose (not the same individuals in each case). Around 5.4% of men and 1.7% of women aged 19–64 years, and 5.1% of men and 5.9% of women aged ≥65 years had impaired fasting glucose (glucose concentrations 6.1–6.9 mmol/L). Over 20% of men aged ≥65 years had fasting glucose concentrations above the clinical cut-off for diabetes (≥7 mmol/L) compared to 2.1% of women of similar age (p=0.007). Similarly, 16.4% of men had HbA1cconcentrations ≥6.5%, compared to 1.5% of women (p=0.003). Children and teenagers had fasting glucose and HbA1cvalues largely within the normal range. To conclude, this is the first study to provide data on the distribution of HbA1cand glucose concentrations in a nationally representative sample of the British population. The high prevalence of men aged ≥65 years with HbA1cand glucose concentrations above the clinical cut-off of diabetes warrants further attention.