bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Integrated Aging Management System Applied to Nuclear Power Plants in Korea
Authors: Won Se-Youl , Lee Kyeong-Soo , Lee Jae-Gon
Published: February 2014

According to Post Fukushima action items in Korea, KHNP has established the integrated aging management system to reinforce aging management of system, structures, and components (SSCs) effectively for seven operating units, which are in service for more than twenty years, and for Kori Unit 1 and Wolsung Unit 1, which are subject to continued operation (CO) based on NUREG-1801 GALL report. KHNP’s integrated aging management programs (AMPs) focus on the establishment of aging management system for long-lived operation of nuclear power plants in Korea.

The integrated aging management system consists of the integrated AMP standard guideline, operating guideline for each plant, individual AMPs of each plant, and AMP Data Base (DB) system including implementation results, basic DB information related to facilities operating in NPPs, and operating information such as operating experience and evaluation report.

The integrated aging management system is importantly utilized for Periodic Safety Review (PSR) and the renewal of CO. Therefore, it will be largely contributed to keep NPPs the level of safety for long time operation through the effective aging management.
Off-Site Emergency Response of AP1000
Authors: Huang Xiaodong , Du Fenglei
Published: February 2014

Considering the emergency evacuation of Fukushima, special attention shall be paid on the reasonableness of the emergency evacuation area and the population distribution in the site vicinity. Based on the radioactive release source of AP1000 in the event of a severe accident, this paper proposes the classification of emergency area of AP1000 and analyzes its reasonableness under China’s laws and regulations. Besides, this paper primarily demonstrates the feasibility of AP1000 nuclear power plant (NPP) emergency evacuation with due consideration of China population distribution.
Demonstration Test on Concrete With Epoxy Resin Coating Using Ultra-High Pressure Water Jet Decontamination Technology
Authors: Tagawa Akihiro , Tezuka Masashi , Terakura Yoshihiro , Naitou Masayuki , Miyazima Kenji
Published: February 2014

It is one of the most urgent issues to remediate the nuclear power plants contaminated by radioactive materials discharged following the accident at the TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi NPS. Concrete walls of nuclear power plants in Japan are coated an epoxy resin coating for easily performing decontamination. We experimented a cutting test in Fugen Decommissioning Engineering Center using maximum 280MPa pressure and 30L/min water quantity, ultra-high pressure water jet system and 40m3/min air quantity vacuum system. We are conducting a study of decontamination technology in environmental pollution using this decontamination system. This decontamination system has achieved a decontamination factor 10 to 100. In environment experiments, we achieved more than 10 decontamination factor in water pressure of more than 150MPa. Thus, we have confirmed the change in a cutting ability by changing parameters. Parameters are the water pressure, the water quantity and air quantity. The impact force for water jet is a function that contains the test parameters. We have considered it using this function. The results of the test showed that there is a correlation between the impact force for water jet and a cutting capability. This decontamination technology can decontaminate radioactive material of the surface adhesion contamination and reduce the amount of waste generated for a thin cutting.

In addition, we have experimented that the water can be recycled by chemical precipitation. After we experimented flocculation test using aluminum sulfate and zeolite flocculant, we have confirmed that it. can clean water up to the level of suspended solids 5mg/L, in turbid water using zeolite flocculant. This suspended solids concentration can be passed to the water processing system in nuclear power plant. From the test results, we found that ultra-high pressure water jet decontamination technology has a possibility that it can be used for decontamination of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Bounding Analysis of Uplift and Erosion Scenario for an HLW Repository
Authors: Wakasugi Keiichiro , Nakajima Kunihiko , Shimemoto Hidenori , Shibata Masahiro , Yamaguchi Masaaki
Published: February 2014

Uplift and erosion scenarios must be analysed since these natural phenomena are expected to be inevitable at most districts in Japan. It is increasingly important to enhance the confidence in uplift and erosion scenarios even if these processes occur far into the future, since performance assessment cut-off times have not yet been defined. In this context, this study specifies uplift and erosion scenarios considering uplift and fluvial erosion based on Japanese geological and topographical characteristics and describes a conceptual model focused on a comprehensive fluvial erosion process that were based on generalisations of field observations. A series of bounding analyses have been carried out to define parameter conditions to satisfy hypothetical dose criteria considering various uplift and erosion rates and transmissivities. The results based on the conservative assumptions show that there are some cases that satisfy the hypothetical dose criterion in each phase for the likely scenario (base scenario: 10 μSv/y), which is a targeted dose suggested by the Nuclear Safety Commission for sub-surface disposal. All cases are below 300 μSv/y, which is the targeted dose for the less-likely scenario (variant scenario) as well as the dose constraint for radioactive waste disposal by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The discussion also provides that a loss of inventory in the engineered barrier system by accelerating release of nuclides does not significantly decrease the doses in later phases due to inherent attributes of the repository system, i.e. multiple barriers and multiple safety functions. In principle, the influence of uplift and erosion should be reduced by appropriate site selection and design, to the extent possible; to ensure that sufficient nuclides decay while the repository is deep underground.
Development of Numerical Code for Coupling Dynamical Response of Typical Tokomak Structures Using Volumetric Finite Element
Authors: Yuan Zhensheng , Li Weixin , Xu Jingyi , Wu Wenjing , Chen Zhenmao
Published: February 2014

Aiming to simulate the dynamical response of a non-ferromagnetic conductive structure in a strong magnetic field, a code of finite element method (FEM) was developed based on the reduced vector potential (Ar) method and a step by step time integration algorithm. The electromagneto-mechanical coupling effect was taken into consideration by adding ν × B term in the eddy current governing equation to calculate the additional electric field induced by the movement of the structure. The hexahedral isoparametric element was adopted in this code in order to simplify the correspondence between the simulation of electromagnetic force and the dynamical response, which enables the application of the code developed by authors to more complicated structures. To verify the validity of the new numerical code, the benchmark problem (TEAM-16) as a simplified model of Tokamak vacuum vessel structure was simulated. By numerical results contrasted between the current code and the ANSYS software, the code was proved to be more effective than typical commercial codes for structural analysis of a magneto-mechanical coupling problem. The simulation results proved that the new code can improve simulation accuracy especially in case of a large external magnetic field. In addition, the magnetic damping effect was also discussed in the paper.
Effects of Bypass Flow on the LOFA Transient Computations in a VHTR
Authors: Tung Yu-Hsin , Johnson Richard W. , Ferng Yuh-Ming , Chieng Ching-Chang
Published: February 2014

The prismatic gas-cooled very high temperature reactor (VHTR) is one possible option for the generation IV nuclear power plant. The prismatic VHTR basically involves stacks of hexagonal graphite blocks that are drilled to accept cylindrical fuel compacts and provide coolant channels for the helium coolant. Between the hexagonal blocks, there are gaps, which allow the coolant flow to bypass the coolant channels. The gaps are not intentionally designed to occur in the core, but are present because of tolerances in machining the blocks, imperfect installation and expansion and shrinkage from heating and irradiation. Based on previous studies of a loss of flow accident (LOFA), the cooling provided by flow in the bypass gaps has a significant effect on the nature and strength of the attendant natural circulation. One of the mechanisms that occurs after a LOFA for the transport of heat out of the core is by the natural convection of the coolant. It is of interest to know if there are problems for the core associated with the natural circulation and what is the role played by the bypass flow in such an event.

The distribution of heat generation and the separation of the partial columns included in the CFD model of the heated core have a strong effect on the natural circulation. In the present paper, a 1/12 symmetric section of the active core is considered for the CFD model. Two regions of the 1/12 section are employed to perform the LOFA transient calculations. Several scenarios are investigated including with and without the bypass gap in the model. The present study also reports the effects of bypass flow on the natural circulation with time for these cases.
Experimental Modelling of a Molten Salt Reactor Concept
Authors: Yamaji Bogdán , Aszódi Attila
Published: February 2014

Based on the MSFR (Molten Salt Fast Reactor) reactor concept proposed within the framework of the EVOL (Evaluation and Viability of Liquid Fuel Fast Reactor System, EU FP7) international research project a scaled and segmented experimental model of the MSFR and first measurement result will be presented in the paper.

MSFR is a single region, homogeneous liquid fuelled fast reactor concept. The reactor uses fluoride-based molten salts as fuel and coolant, with fissile uranium and/or thorium and other heavy nuclei content with the purpose of applying the thorium cycle and the burn-up of transuranic elements. The concept has a single region cylindrical core with sixteen radial inlet and outlet nozzles located at the bottom and top of the core. The external circuit (internal heat exchanger, pump, pipes) is broken up in sixteen identical modules distributed around the core.

A scaled and segmented experimental model of the MSFR concept was designed and built in order to carry out Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements. Purpose of the experimental mock-up is to provide measurement data for validation and benchmarking of CFD simulations, and also to study specific problems or phenomena related to the MSFR, such as design of inlet geometry, effects of internal structures, coolant mixing.

The experimental model uses water as working fluid with 50 μm polyamide seeding particles added for PIV measurement. Geometrical scaling was applied in order to reduce size and necessary pumping power and the geometry represents a 90 degree segment of the original cylindrical geometry. It was not possible to maintain the nominal value of the Reynolds-number (∼1E+06 for the core) however a highly turbulent flow (Re>1E+05) can be reproduced in the system.

Final design of the scaled and segmented plexiglas model will be presented, capabilities and limitations of the measurement assembly will be discussed together with the presentation of first measurements results.
An Introduction to RCC-C: An AFCEN Code for Design and Construction of PWR Fuel Assemblies
Authors: Vauglin Christine , Ton-That Marc , Sperandio Morello , Buisine Denis
Published: February 2014

AFCEN is the French society which publishes codes for design, construction and in-service inspection rules for Pressurized Water Reactors. The fields covered by theses codes are: mechanical components, in-service surveillance of mechanical components, electrical equipments, nuclear fuel, and more recently, civil works and fire protection.

After a brief global presentation of AFCEN history and current position, we set out the technical content of one of these codes: RCC-C. This code is dedicated to fuel assemblies and associated core components. It sets forth minimum generic requirements to be met by the supplier and by the manufacturer for the design justifications and for the manufacturing and inspection operations of PWR fuel assemblies and rod cluster control assemblies.

We go over the different chapters of RCC-C: product and part characteristics; manufacturing and inspection processes and methods and associated qualifications; inspection requirements for the different items; design characteristics and requirements which the design justification shall meet; methods for demonstrating that design requirements are met.
A Review of the Current State of FPGA Systems in Nuclear Instrumentation and Control
Authors: McNelles Phillip , Lu Lixuan
Published: February 2014

A Field Programmable Gate Array, or FPGA, is a form of integrated circuit that is programmed (configured) after it has been built. These devices have recently become a topic of interest for various applications in the nuclear field. Most of the recent work put into these FPGA systems is for the purpose of Instrumentation and Control (I&C) systems, but other applications include health physics, particle detectors, and pulse measurement systems. These new FPGA based systems are thought of as possible replacements for older, analog systems that are commonly used in Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). Many of these systems are becoming obsolete, and it can be difficult to repair and maintain them. FPGAs possess certain advantages over traditional analog circuits, as well as microprocessors, for nuclear I&C applications. This paper provides an extensive literature survey on the current research into FPGA-based systems in NPP applications, such as shutdown systems, neutron monitors, and feedwater controls. Current plans and plans for future FPGA implementations are also discussed. Research from different countries in North America, Europe and Asia is discussed, covering a variety of NPP types (CANDU, Pressurized Water Reactors, Boiling Water Reactors, etc.). The main companies and organizations involved in the FPGA research and development are examined, and a direction for future research is presented.
ALWR PRA Standard Development
Authors: Chapman James R.
Published: February 2014

In 2012 a review and comment ballot containing requirements for use of the Standard on ALWRs was issued. The ballot is based on the ASME/ANS PRA Standard (i.e., RA-Sa-2009). The ballot was developed by the Joint Committee on Nuclear Risk Management (JCNRM) working group (WG) on ALWRs. Based on the charter of the working group and stakeholder interest, Parts 1 through 5 of the Standard have been addressed. Thus, address internal events at power, internal flooding at power, internal fires at power, and seismic at power have been addressed. Other external events started in 2012 and will be balloted in 2013. Low power and shutdown (LP/SD) modes, and Level 2 PRA and Level 3 PRA Standards (when they are available) will then be considered. A formal ballot for Parts 1 through 5 is planned for 2013. This paper provides the approach and results.

The mandatory appendix is important because an ALWR plant in the preoperational cannot meet the standard as written, and the US NRC expects that the PRA will meet the Standard. Thus changes are needed to the standard to address the differences in preoperational and operational plants and the differences in current generation and ALWR plants. This will assist vendors and licensees in successfully developing PRAs to meet US NRC requirements.
A Utility Model of Environmental Radiation Online Monitoring System of Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Chen Qian , Sun Xuefeng , Shangguan Zhihong
Published: February 2014

Most of the existing nuclear power plants locate in coastal mountainous region. In the traditional way, radio communication is used between the environmental radiation monitoring stations and monitoring center. As the terrain and thunderstorms have great impact on radio, the signal is easily disturbed or intercepted. At the same time, the technologies and functions of the conventional system is no able to fully meet the requirements of the environmental monitoring of nuclear power plant in new situation.

A utility model of environmental radiation online monitoring system of nuclear power plants is put forward to solve the former problems. The system includes a monitoring center with capability of data processing and multiple monitoring stations with capability of environmental radiation online monitoring. Each of stations has radiation detectors as the monitoring center consists of a main server and a backup server.

The communications between the monitoring center and Stations include wire communication and wireless communication. Wire communication mentioned above consists of public telephone network and telephone lines between the network and monitoring stations. The wireless communication mentioned above consists of public telecommunication service network and virtual private network (VPN) which is able to transfer data confidentially.

Through the network, monitoring center uses two servers to provide wire and wireless data reception service. Monitoring stations choose one of the normal channels to transfer environmental radiation monitoring data. Based on the status of communication, data will be shared and synchronized automatically between the main server and backup server.

On the basic of the architecture of equipment and network, some software systems are designed and developed. The main subsystems of the software systems are the data acquisition workstation software systems and the central station software system. These two kinds of subsystems play different role in system. Some new computer technology (such as Microsoft .Net, Geographic Information System) is used in these software systems to provide better functions which include data storage, data management, data show, statistics and analysis to enhance efficiency and reliability.

In the practical application of some NPPs in China, the utility model solves the former problems of environmental radiation online monitoring effectively and makes the system more dependable. It can be transplanted and popularized in other coastal nuclear power plants.
Dose Distribution in the Spent Fuel Package Operations and the Radiation Risk Control
Authors: Lü Gang , Wei Meng , Zhang Zhen , Li Shiyuan , Han Xue
Published: February 2014

In this paper, NAC-STC (spent fuel transport cask) package operation is studied. The calculated / measured doses of different parts of the cask surface (or 1 m and 2 m away) in the course of package operation are analyzed. The radiation risk control methods are proposed to protect the operators exposed in the high dose area.
Utilizing the Purified Orbit Curve Technical in AP1000 NPP Turbine Diagnosis (Monitoring) Systems
Authors: Han Peidi
Published: February 2014

To improve the diagnosis accuracy and self-adaptability of steam turbine diagnosis systems in AP1000 NPP, this article attempts to apply a new method which unifies digital filter and stimulant filter into the filter processing of turbine Shaft vibration signal in Nuclear Power Plant. According to the process of power plant field data guideline, 4-level Butterworth filter prototype is used to resolve noise influence on original vibration signal. Supported by Matlab ANN Tools and Delphi, this study uses “spline” interpolation in the Process of orbit curve; with an ideal smooth effect achieved after compliance, this practice is proved that it can enhance the recognition effect of in Sanmen AP1000 Nuclear Power Plant TDM(Turbine Diagnosis Systems) monitoring functions.
Research of Features of U-Pu-Th Fuel Cycle and its Use for Burning Up of Minor Actinides in Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor With Fast Neutron Spectrum
Authors: Glebov Alexander P. , Klushin Alexey V. , Baranaev Yuriy D. , Kirillov Pavel L.
Published: February 2014

Since 2006 year FSUE “SSC RF – IPPE” and OKB “Gidropress” are being collaborated on a project of a direct cycle reactor cooled by water of supercritical parameters. The vessel type reactor concept with a fast resonance neutron spectrum and a two-pass coolant flow scheme has been chosen as the basic version. Here analysis of fuel cycles for this reactor which MOX (U-Pu)-based fuel consists of WWER spent nuclear fuel and weapon plutonium is presented. Besides, effect of using of thorium and fuel assemblies without a sheath tube is investigated. The following two test tasks are calculated: 1) burning up of isotopes including minor actinides (Am and Cm), 2) nonuniformity of power density distribution on fuel pins. Two approaches such as the WIMS ACADEM program complex developed by IPPE and the Monte-Carlo based program are applied for these tasks.
Analysis of Early Stage Accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi NPS
Authors: Ono Hiroshi , Konishi Hideo
Published: February 2014

The operation of the Isolation Condenser (IC) played an important role in the progression of the accident at the unit 1 of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. Analyses of Unit 1 accident in the early stage (prior to the occurrence of core melt) were performed using plant dynamics analysis code RELAP5/MOD31 and the results were compared with measured data. In the RELAP5 code, analysis scope of target is not a severe accident. But, the detailed simulation in the early stage of accident including the plant control system behavior is possible. Moreover, some sensitivity analyses were conducted and the reactor behavior under IC operations was examined.
Fretting of Fuel Cladding Materials for Pb Cooled Fast Reactors: Long Term Prediction Using Fretting Maps
Authors: Del Giacco Mattia , Weisenburger Alfons , Müller Georg
Published: February 2014

Fretting is a particular type of wear that is expected to occur in molten lead alloy cooled nuclear reactors due to flow induce vibrations and will mainly affect fuel claddings and heat exchanger tubes. A new facility (FRETHME) designed to investigate this specific type of wear was applied the first time for fretting test in liquid lead alloys at reactor relevant conditions. Numerous fretting tests at severe conditions (accelerated tests) were performed on candidate steels such as the f/m T91 steel, the austenitic 15-15 Ti steel and Al surface alloyed T91 (GESA-T91).

The fretting damage increases with the increasing number of cycles/time and temperature. Fretting interacts with the corrosion mechanisms occurring in liquid Pb alloys (fretting corrosion) and destabilizes the corrosion barriers, favouring e.g. dissolution attacks. Due to the favourable wear and corrosion resistance properties of the surface alloyed layer, GESA-T91 steel showed the best fretting corrosion behaviour up to 550 °C. On the contrary, due to the high Ni content, the 15-15Ti steel is affected by dissolution enhanced fretting; while oxidation enhanced fretting characterizes T91 steel at temperatures higher than 500 °C.

In most of the tests under accelerating conditions, 10% of fuel clad thickness was penetrated after quite short times already. To extrapolate the obtained results to conditions (load and amplitude) that allow long term use of the respective component in Pb cooled reactors, the concept of fretting maps was applied. Fretting maps were constructed using the obtained experimental data especially the fretting wear coefficient, which is a characteristic of a specific fretting regime. The obtained fretting maps were used to determine the tolerable amplitude and load up to which the tested materials can be used in a Pb cooled nuclear reactor.

In addition, dedicated tests suggested that, besides the use of aluminized steels, possible countermeasures to mitigate the fretting impact are the use of pre-oxidized components and Ni-enriched liquid Pb.
Stress, Strain, and Energy at Fracture of Degraded Surfaces: Study of Replicates of Rough Surfaces
Authors: Medina Hector E. , Hinderliter Brian
Published: February 2014

Due to the aging of structures, the issues of plant life management and license extension are receiving increasing emphasis in many countries. Understanding failure of structures due to random roughness on surfaces at early stages of degradation is therefore crucial. It has been shown that even slightly sinusoidal roughness can increase stress concentration by a factor of 2 or 3, which can be critical for a brittle component due to the significant reduction of its load-carrying capacity, even with slight roughness. A more in-depth fracture analysis of surfaces possessing random roughness is needed in order to more profoundly understand, and hence develop models that will predict more accurately, failure of structural materials exposed to degrading, in-service conditions. Using a technique previously developed and successfully applied, replicates of random rough surfaces, imprinted with various levels of degradation, and at three distinct auto correlation lengths, were realized and mechanical testing was performed on them. The stress, strain and energy at fracture are reported. Finite element analysis was carried out to elucidate experimental results. Besides the expected reduction of energy at fracture with degradation, a relaxation region was observed where the energy slightly increases. This phenomenon implies that even after degradation has progressed there is a local maximum of energy at fracture due to the competing effect of tendons and growth of pits. The results find applications on the early stage of maintenance of surfaces of structures in service.
Hydrogen Combustion Modelling in Large-Scale Geometries
Authors: Studer E. , Beccantini A. , Kudriakov S. , Velikorodny A.
Published: February 2014

Hydrogen risk mitigation issues based on catalytic recombiners cannot exclude flammable clouds to be formed during the course of a severe accident in a Nuclear Power Plant. Consequences of combustion processes have to be assessed based on existing knowledge and state of the art in CFD combustion modelling. The Fukushima accidents have also revealed the need for taking into account the hydrogen explosion phenomena in risk management. Thus combustion modelling in a large-scale geometry is one of the remaining severe accident safety issues. At present day there doesn’t exist a combustion model which can accurately describe a combustion process inside a geometrical configuration typical of the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) environment. Therefore the major attention in model development has to be paid on the adoption of existing approaches or creation of the new ones capable of reliably predicting the possibility of the flame acceleration in the geometries of that type. A set of experiments performed previously in RUT facility and Heiss Dampf Reactor (HDR) facility is used as a validation database for development of three-dimensional gas dynamic model for the simulation of hydrogen-air-steam combustion in large-scale geometries. The combustion regimes include slow deflagration, fast deflagration, and detonation. Modelling is based on Reactive Discrete Equation Method (RDEM) where flame is represented as an interface separating reactants and combustion products. The transport of the progress variable is governed by different flame surface wrinkling factors. The results of numerical simulation are presented together with the comparisons, critical discussions and conclusions.
Biophysical Characterization of a Swimmer with a Unilateral Arm Amputation: A Case Study
Authors: Figueiredo Pedro , Willig Renata , Alves Francisco , Vilas-Boas João Paulo , Fernandes Ricardo J.
Published: February 2014

Purpose:

To examine the effect of swimming speed (v) on the biomechanical and physiological responses of a trained front-crawl swimmer with a unilateral arm amputation.

Methods:

A 13-y-old girl with a unilateral arm amputation (level of the elbow) was tested for stroke length (SL, horizontal displacement cover with each stroke cycle), stroke frequency (SF, inverse of the time to complete each stroke cycle), adapted index of coordination (IdCadapt, lag time between propulsive phases), intracycle velocity variation (IVV, coefficient of variation of the instantaneous velocity–time data), active drag (D, hydrodynamic resistance), and energy cost (C, ratio of metabolic power to speed) during trials of increasing v.

Results:

Swimmer data showed a positive relationship between v and SF (R2 = 1, P < .001), IVV (R2 = .98, P = .002), D (R2 = .98, P < .001), and C (R2 = .95, P = .001) and a negative relationship with the SL (R2 = .99, P = .001). No relation was found between v and IdCadapt (R2 = .35, P = .22). A quadratic regression best fitted the relationship between v and general kinematical parameters (SL and SF); a cubic relationship fit the IVV best. The relationship between v and D was best expressed by a power regression, and the linear regression fit the C and IdCadapt best.

Conclusions:

The subject’s adaptation to increased v was different from able-bodied swimmers, mainly on interarm coordination, maintaining the lag time between propulsive phases, which influence the magnitude of the other parameters. These results might be useful to develop specific training and enhance swimming performance in swimmers with amputations.
A Descriptive Analysis of Internal and External Loads for Elite-Level Tennis Drills
Authors: Murphy Alistair P. , Duffield Rob , Kellett Aaron , Reid Machar
Published: February 2014

Purpose:

Planning tennis sessions accentuating physical development requires an understanding of training load (TL). The aims were to describe the external and internal TL of drills and analyze relationships between ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), TL, and other measures.

Methods:

Fourteen elite-level junior tennis athletes completed 259 individual drills. Six coaches helped devise classifications for all drills: recovery/defensive, open pattern, accuracy, 2-on-1 open, 2-on-1 net play, closed technical, point play, and match play. Notational analysis on stroke and error rates was performed postsession. Drill RPE and mental exertion were collected postdrill, while heart rate (HR) was recorded continuously.

Results:

Recovery/defensive, open pattern, and point play were significantly greater than closed technical drills (P < .05) for RPE and mental exertion, as were accuracy drills and match play (P < .05). Recovery/defensive, open-pattern, accuracy, and 2-on-1 open drills had higher stroke rates than match play (P < .05). Error rates of closed technical drills were significantly higher than for open pattern, 2-on-1 drills, point play, and match play (P < .05). No HR differences were observed (P > .05) between categories. Substantial correlations existed for drill RPE and TL with mental exertion (r > .62) for several categories. TL was substantially correlated with total strokes (r > .65), while HR and stroke and error rates were in slight to moderate agreement with RPE and TL (r < .51).

Conclusions:

Recovery/defensive drills are highest in physiological stress, making them ideal for maximizing physicality. Recovery/defensive drills compromised training quality, eliciting high error rates. In contrast, 2-on-1 net-play drills provided the lowest error rates, potentially appropriate for error-amelioration practice. Open-pattern drills were characterized by significantly higher stroke rates, suggesting congruence with high-repetition practice. Finally, with strong relationships between physical and mental perception, mental exertion may complement currently used monitoring strategies (TL and RPE).
“Let the Marketplace be the Judge”: The Founders Reflect on the Origins and Trajectory of NASSM
Authors: Bowers Matthew T. , Green B. Christine , Seifried Chad S.
Published: February 2014

Founders of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) set out to realize a future in which the management of sport was part of a broader vision that included exercise, dance and play. However, the organization quickly became untethered from this broad interpretation of sport management. In this mixedmethod historical research and Delphi study, 10 founding members of NASSM explain the underlying reasons why NASSM leaders redirected the organization’s focus over time. Drawing from the literature on institutional legitimacy as a lens to understand the development of NASSM, the findings suggest an emphasis on commercial sport emerged over that of exercise, dance, and play. This emphasis was perceived to offer a more sustainable niche within the crowded sport and physical activity academic society continuum. Shaped by market- and culture-driven processes, NASSM’s legitimacy-seeking efforts ultimately catalyzed a narrowing of the organization’s scope.
Flavivirus NS1 Structures Reveal Surfaces for Associations with Membranes and the Immune System
Authors: Akey David L. , Brown W. Clay , Dutta Somnath , Konwerski Jamie , Jose Joyce , Jurkiw Thomas J. , DelProposto James , Ogata Craig M. , Skiniotis Georgios , Kuhn Richard J. , Smith Janet L.
Published: February 2014

Two-Faced Viral Protein

Flaviviruses cause human diseases such as West Nile fever and dengue fever. The flavivirus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) has multiple functions in flavivirus biology and is a target for vaccine development. Dimeric NS1 is essential for replication of the viral genome inside host cells, while hexameric NS1 is secreted and plays a role in evasion of the immune system.

Akey
et al.

(p.
881
, published online 6 February; see the Perspective by

Shi

) report crystal structures for full-length glycosylated NS1 from West Nile and dengue viruses. The structures show a hexamer comprised of three dimers. The structural analysis together with liposome and mutational studies identify a membrane interacting surface on one face of the dimer and an immune evasion surface on the other.
Genome Sequences of Campylobacter jejuni 81-176 Variants with Enhanced Fitness Relative to the Parental Strain in the Chicken Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Johnson Jeremiah G. , Carpentier Samuel , Spurbeck Rachel R. , Sandhu Sukhinder K. , DiRita Victor J.
Published: February 2014

Campylobacter jejuni
is a major cause of food-borne infections in the United States due to its ability to asymptomatically colonize the gastrointestinal tracts of chickens. Using competition assays with parental
C. jejuni
81-176, variants with consistently improved fitness in chicken ceca relative to the parental strain were identified and sequenced.
Draft Genome and Plasmid Sequences of Chlamydia pneumoniae Strain B21 from an Australian Endangered Marsupial, the Western Barred Bandicoot
Authors: Roulis Eileen , Bachmann Nathan , Polkinghorne Adam , Hammerschlag Margaret , Kohlhoff Stephan , Timms Peter
Published: February 2014

Chlamydia pneumoniae
is a ubiquitous intracellular pathogen, first associated with human respiratory disease and subsequently detected in a range of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Here we report the draft genome sequence for strain B21 of
C. pneumoniae
, isolated from the endangered Australian marsupial the western barred bandicoot.
First Closed Genome Sequence of Campylobacter fetus subsp.
venerealis
bv. intermedius
Authors: van der Graaf-van Bloois Linda , Miller William G. , Yee Emma , Bono James L. , Rijnsburger Martine , Campero Carlos , Wagenaar Jaap A. , Duim Birgitta
Published: February 2014

Campylobacter fetus
subsp.
venerealis
bv. intermedius is a variant of
C. fetus
subsp.
venerealis
, the causative agent of bovine genital campylobacteriosis, a venereal disease associated with abortion and infertility in cattle. We report the first closed whole-genome sequence of this biovar.
First Draft Genome Sequence of a Member of the Genus
Planomicrobium
, Isolated from the Chandra River, India
Authors: Salwan Richa , Swarnkar Mohit Kumar , Singh Anil Kumar , Kasana Ramesh Chand
Published: February 2014

We report the first draft genome sequence of a member of the genus
Planomicrobium
, isolated from a soil sample from the Chandra River, located in the cold deserts of Himachal Pradesh, India. The draft genome assembly for
Planomicrobium glaciei
strain CHR43 has a size of 3,900,800 bp with a G+C content of 46.97%.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus namurensis Chizuka 01, Isolated from Nukadoko, a Pickling Bed of Fermented Rice Bran
Authors: Kato Keita , Toh Hidehiro , Sakamoto Naoshige , Mori Kazuki , Tashiro Kosuke , Hibi Naruhiro , Sonomoto Kenji , Nakayama Jiro
Published: February 2014

Lactobacillus namurensis
Chizuka 01 was isolated from nukadoko, which is a fermented rice bran bed traditionally used in Japan for pickling vegetables. Here, we report the first draft of an annotated genome sequence of this organism. This paper is the first published report of the genomic sequence of
L. namurensis
.
Genome Sequence of Streptomyces exfoliatus DSMZ 41693, a Source of Poly(3-Hydroxyalkanoate)-Degrading Enzymes
Authors: Martínez Virginia , Hormigo Daniel , del Cerro Carlos , Gómez de Santos Patricia , García-Hidalgo Javier , Arroyo Miguel , Prieto Auxiliadora , García José Luis , de la Mata Isabel
Published: February 2014

Here we report the draft genome sequence of
Streptomyces exfoliatus
DSMZ 41693, which includes a gene encoding a poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) depolymerase, an enzyme which can be used for the industrial synthesis of chiral (
R
)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids. In addition, the genome carries numerous genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including polyketides and terpenes.
Role of imaging in successful management of malignant ovarian vein thrombosis in RCC
Authors: Goyal Ankur , Rangarajan Krithika , Singh Prabhjot , Das Chandan Jyoti
Published: February 2014

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common renal malignancy in adults. Since complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice, accurate staging and extent delineation are imperative for optimal management. Owing to venous tropism, the tumour has a propensity to extend into renal vein and/or inferior vena cava. However, contiguous gonadal vein extension has rarely been reported. Here we present an unusual case of a 65-year-old woman who demonstrated a large left renal mass with extension of tumour thrombus into the left renal and ovarian veins with multiple retroperitoneal venous collaterals detected on multiphasic CT examination. This preoperative imaging information facilitated en bloc resection of the tumour and thrombosed vessels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case where comprehensive imaging evaluation enabled successful surgical management of RCC with malignant ovarian vein thrombosis and limited peroperative complications.
Disseminated tuberculosis following liver transplant presenting with an axillary abscess
Authors: Ladds Emma
Published: February 2014

Four years after an orthoptic liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to alcoholic liver disease, the patient presented in a crescendo manner with skin infections and finally a septic right arm wound. The abscess was drained and cultures grewMycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient reported a previous episode of ‘pneumonia’ and subsequent hospitalisations for recurrent chest infections, and following further investigation, he was diagnosed with disseminated tuberculosis. The infection responded to triple therapy, but primary closure of the arm wound was unsuccessful and it was treated conservatively with negative pressure wound therapy. The patient remains an inpatient 3 months after his presentation, responding well to therapy and anticipating imminent discharge. The patient's case serves as a reminder that infections are common in solid organ transplant recipients and clinicians should be aware of unusual or recurrent presentations in these patients, to allow for early diagnosis and timely management.
Costs and yield of a 15-month preparticipation cardiovascular examination with ECG in 1070 young athletes in Switzerland: implications for routine ECG screening
Authors: Menafoglio Andrea , Di Valentino Marcello , Segatto Jeanne-Marie , Siragusa Patrick , Pezzoli Reto , Maggi Mattia , Romano Gian Antonio , Moschovitis Giorgio , Wilhelm Matthias , Gallino Augusto
Published: February 2014

Background

The usefulness and modalities of cardiovascular screening in young athletes remain controversial, particularly concerning the role of 12-lead ECG. One of the reasons refers to the presumed false-positive ECGs requiring additional examinations and higher costs. Our study aimed to assess the total costs and yield of a preparticipation cardiovascular examination with ECG in young athletes in Switzerland.

Methods

Athletes aged 14–35 years were examined according to the 2005 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) protocol. ECGs were interpreted based on the 2010 ESC-adapted recommendations. The costs of the overall screening programme until diagnosis were calculated according to Swiss medical rates.

Results

A total of 1070 athletes were examined (75% men, 19.7±6.3 years) over a 15-month period. Among them, 67 (6.3%) required further examinations: 14 (1.3%) due to medical history, 15 (1.4%) due to physical examination and 42 (3.9%) because of abnormal ECG findings. A previously unknown cardiac abnormality was established in 11 athletes (1.0%). In four athletes (0.4%), the abnormality may potentially lead to sudden cardiac death and all of them were identified by ECG alone. The cost was 157 464 Swiss francs (CHF) for the overall programme, CHF147 per athlete and CHF14 315  per finding.

Conclusions

Cardiovascular preparticipation examination in young athletes using modern and athlete-specific criteria for interpreting ECG is feasible in Switzerland at reasonable cost. ECG alone is used to detect all potentially lethal cardiac diseases. The results of our study support the inclusion of ECG in routine preparticipation screening.
Current smoking and secondhand smoke exposure and depression among Korean adolescents: analysis of a national cross-sectional survey
Authors: Lee Kyung-Jae
Published: February 2014

Objectives

To examine the association between cigarette smoke exposure and depression among Korean adolescents using the seventh Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS).

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

A nationally representative sample of middle and high school students across South Korea.

Participants

75 643 eligible participants across the country.

Primary outcome measures

Current smoking, secondhand smoke exposure and depression.

Methodology

Data were analysed from a nationally representative survey of 75 643 participants (37 873 men and 37 770 women). Data were gathered on extensive information including current smoking, secondhand smoke exposure and depression in adolescence. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between current smoking, secondhand smoke exposure and depression in Korean adolescents.

Results

Among those who had never smoked, secondhand smoke exposure was positively associated with depression in male and female adolescents in a dose–response relation (OR 1.27, OR 1.52 in males; OR 1.25, OR 1.72 in females). Similar associations were observed among currently smoking men and women in a dose–response manner (OR 1.29, OR 1.55 in males; OR 1.22, OR 1.41 in females). These significant trends were consistently observed even after adjustments.

Conclusions

We suggested that current smoking and secondhand smoke exposure were positively associated with depression in male and female adolescents. Efforts to encourage no smoking and no secondhand smoke exposure will be established for adolescents.
UK doctors’ views on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as applied to medical practice: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Clarke Rachel T , Pitcher Alex , Lambert Trevor W , Goldacre Michael J
Published: February 2014

Objectives

To report on what doctors at very different levels of seniority wrote, in their own words, about their concerns about the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) and its implementation in the National Health Service (NHS).

Design

All medical school graduates from 1993, 2005 and 2009 were surveyed by post and email in 2010.

Setting

The UK.

Methods

Using qualitative methods, we analysed free-text responses made in 2010, towards the end of the first year of full EWTD implementation, of three cohorts of the UK medical graduates (graduates of 1993, 2005 and 2009), surveyed as part of the UK Medical Careers Research Group's schedule of multipurpose longitudinal surveys of doctors.

Results

Of 2459 respondents who gave free-text comments, 279 (11%) made unprompted reference to the EWTD; 270 of the 279 comments were broadly critical. Key themes to emerge included frequent dissociation between rotas and actual hours worked, adverse effects on training opportunities and quality, concerns about patient safety, lowering of morale and job satisfaction, and attempts reportedly made in some hospitals to persuade junior doctors to collude in the inaccurate reporting of compliance.

Conclusions

Further work is needed to determine whether problems perceived with the EWTD, when they occur, are attributable to the EWTD itself, and shortened working hours, or to the way that it has been implemented in some hospitals.
Collaborative pharmaceutical care in an Irish hospital: uncontrolled before-after study
Authors: Grimes Tamasine C , Deasy Evelyn , Allen Ann , O'Byrne John , Delaney Tim , Barragry John , Breslin Niall , Moloney Eddie , Wall Catherine
Published: February 2014

Background

We investigated the benefits of the CollaborativePharmaceuticalCare inTallaght Hospital (PACT) service versus standard ward-based clinical pharmacy in adult inpatients receiving acute medical care, particularly on prevalence of medication error and quality of prescribing.

Methods

Uncontrolled before-after study, undertaken in consecutive adult medical inpatients admitted and discharged alive, using at least three medications. Standard care involved clinical pharmacists being ward-based, contributing to medication history taking and prescription review, but not involved at discharge. The innovative PACT intervention involved clinical pharmacists being team-based, leading admission and discharge medication reconciliation and undertaking prescription review. Primary outcome measures were prevalence per patient of medication error and potentially severe error. Secondary measures included quality of prescribing using the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) in patients aged ≥65 years.

Findings

Some 233 patients (112 PACT, 121 standard) were included. PACT decreased the prevalence of any medication error at discharge (adjusted OR 0.07 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.15)); number needed to treat (NNT) 3 (95% CI 2 to 3) and no PACT patient experienced a potentially severe error (NNT 20, 95% CI 10 to 142). In patients aged ≥65 years (n=108), PACT improved the MAI score from preadmission to discharge (Mann–Whitney U p<0.05; PACT median −1, IQR −3.75 to 0; standard care median +1, IQR −1 to +6).

Conclusions

PACT, a collaborative model of pharmaceutical care involving medication reconciliation and review, delivered by clinical pharmacists and physicians, at admission, during inpatient care and at discharge was protective against potentially severe medication errors in acute medical patients and improved the quality of prescribing in older patients.