bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined heat and power systems: economic and policy barriers to growth
Authors: Kalam Adil , King Abigail , Moret Ellen , Weerasinghe Upekha
Published: April 2012

Background

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems can provide a range of benefits to users with regards to efficiency, reliability, costs and environmental impact. Furthermore, increasing the amount of electricity generated by CHP systems in the United States has been identified as having significant potential for impressive economic and environmental outcomes on a national scale. Given the benefits from increasing the adoption of CHP technologies, there is value in improving our understanding of how desired increases in CHP adoption can be best achieved. These obstacles are currently understood to stem from regulatory as well as economic and technological barriers. In our research, we answer the following questions: Given the current policy and economic environment facing the CHP industry, what changes need to take place in this space in order for CHP systems to be competitive in the energy market?

Methods

We focus our analysis primarily on Combined Heat and Power Systems that use natural gas turbines. Our analysis takes a two-pronged approach. We first conduct a statistical analysis of the impact of state policies on increases in electricity generated from CHP system. Second, we conduct a Cost-Benefit analysis to determine in which circumstances funding incentives are necessary to make CHP technologies cost-competitive.

Results

Our policy analysis shows that regulatory improvements do not explain the growth in adoption of CHP technologies but hold the potential to encourage increases in electricity generated from CHP system in small-scale applications. Our Cost-Benefit analysis shows that CHP systems are only cost competitive in large-scale applications and that funding incentives would be necessary to make CHP technology cost-competitive in small-scale applications.

Conclusion

From the synthesis of these analyses we conclude that because large-scale applications of natural gas turbines are already cost-competitive, policy initiatives aimed at a CHP market dominated primarily by large-scale (and therefore already cost-competitive) systems have not been effectively directed. Our recommendation is that for CHP technologies using natural gas turbines, policy focuses should be on increasing CHP growth in small-scale systems. This result can be best achieved through redirection of state and federal incentives, research and development, adoption of smart grid technology, and outreach and education.
The smart meter and a smarter consumer: quantifying the benefits of smart meter implementation in the United States
Authors: Cook Brendan , Gazzano Jerrome , Gunay Zeynep , Hiller Lucas , Mahajan Sakshi , Taskan Aynur , Vilogorac Samra
Published: April 2012

The electric grid in the United States has been suffering from underinvestment for years, and now faces pressing challenges from rising demand and deteriorating infrastructure. High congestion levels in transmission lines are greatly reducing the efficiency of electricity generation and distribution. In this paper, we assess the faults of the current electric grid and quantify the costs of maintaining the current system into the future. While the proposed “smart grid” contains many proposals to upgrade the ailing infrastructure of the electric grid, we argue that smart meter installation in each U.S. household will offer a significant reduction in peak demand on the current system. A smart meter is a device which monitors a household’s electricity consumption in real-time, and has the ability to display real-time pricing in each household. We conclude that these devices will provide short-term and long-term benefits to utilities and consumers. The smart meter will enable utilities to closely monitor electricity consumption in real-time, while also allowing households to adjust electricity consumption in response to real-time price adjustments.
A review of fire blocking technologies for soft furnishings
Authors: Nazaré Shonali , Davis Rick D
Published: April 2012

Fire barrier fabrics are expected to play an increasingly important role in complying with existing and proposed soft furnishing flammability regulations in the US. The number of commercial fire blocking technologies is large in order to accommodate the vast requirements of the consumers, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies. Generally, highloft, nonwoven fiber battings are used in residential mattress applications, whereas coated or laminated textiles are more common in institutional and upholstered furnishing applications. Successfully achieving the desired level of fire protection requires appropriate matching of the barrier fabric to the desired characteristics of the soft furnishing. Barrier material selection for soft furnishings is generally a process of trial and error due to significant measurement science gaps.

In 2009, the National Institute of Science and Technology and American Fiber Manufacturers Association held a workshop on fire blocking barrier fabrics for soft furnishings to discuss the past, present, and future state of the barrier materials in the US. This manuscript is based on knowledge obtained from the workshop and the subsequent knowledge gathered from literature and stakeholders. Several fire blocking technologies have been explored to reduce the flammability of soft furnishings by preventing or delaying direct flame impingement and heat transfer from the flames or molten polymer to the core components. While previous studies reported on use of fire barriers to comply with full-scale testing of soft furnishing items, they failed to report on assessment of barrier materials as isolated components. In addition to a few examples that demonstrate the complexity that makes a priori selection of fire barrier materials difficult, various fire blocking technologies are discussed in this report with respect to material type, fiber content, and fire blocking mechanisms. Potential test methods for characterizing barrier performance are reviewed. Future trends in fire blocking materials are also briefly described.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia and ICU mortality in severe ARDS patients ventilated according to a lung-protective strategy
Authors: Forel Jean-Marie , Voillet François , Pulina Daniel , Gacouin Arnaud , Perrin Gilles , Barrau Karine , Jaber Samir , Arnal Jean-Michel , Fathallah Mohamed , Auquier Pascal , Roch Antoine , Azoulay Elie , Papazian Laurent
Published: April 2012

Introduction

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) may contribute to the mortality associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aimed to determine the incidence, outcome, and risk factors of bacterial VAP complicating severe ARDS in patients ventilated by using a strictly standardized lung-protective strategy.

Methods

This prospective epidemiologic study was done in all the 339 patients with severe ARDS included in a multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial of cisatracurium besylate in severe ARDS patients. Patients with suspected VAP underwent bronchoalveolar lavage to confirm the diagnosis.

Results

Ninety-eight (28.9%) patients had at least one episode of microbiologically documented bacterial VAP, including 41 (41.8%) who died in the ICU, compared with 74 (30.7%) of the 241 patients without VAP (P = 0.05). After adjustment, age and severity at baseline, but not VAP, were associated with ICU death. Cisatracurium besylate therapy within 2 days of ARDS onset decreased the risk of ICU death. Factors independently associated with an increased risk to develop a VAP were male sex and worse admission Glasgow Coma Scale score. Tracheostomy, enteral nutrition, and the use of a subglottic secretion-drainage device were protective.

Conclusions

In patients with severe ARDS receiving lung-protective ventilation, VAP was associated with an increased crude ICU mortality which did not remain significant after adjustment.
Factor analysis of engineering geophysical sounding data for water-saturation estimation in shallow formations
Authors: Szabó Norbert Péter , Dobróka Mihály , Drahos Dezső
Published: April 2012

The engineering geophysical sounding method has been applied for in situ investigation of unconsolidated near-surface formations since the 1990s. In this study, we offer an alternative to geophysical inversion methods for data processing. Factor analysis is applied to engineering geophysical sounding and cone penetration test data to extract information on water saturation of the shallow region. A linear correlation is indicated between water saturation and one of the new variables derived by factor analysis. We used a general formula for estimating water saturation and applied it on data measured in 12 shallow boreholes situated over a nuclear waste disposal site. We extended the statistical procedure to estimate the spatial distribution of water (air) saturation between the boreholes. We compared the statistical results to inversion estimations. The study showed that factor analysis gives a quick and reliable solution for the assessment of hydrogeological conditions in shallow prospecting sites.
A microelectromechanical system digital 3C array seismic cone penetrometer
Authors: Ghose Ranajit
Published: April 2012

A digital 3C array seismic cone penetrometer has been developed for multidisciplinary geophysical and geotechnical applications. Seven digital triaxial microelectromechanical system accelerometers are installed at 0.25-m intervals to make a 1.5-m-long downhole seismic array. The accelerometers have a flat response up to 2 kHz. The seismic array is attached to a class 1 digital seismic cone, which measures cone tip resistance, sleeve friction, pore-pressure, and inclination. The downhole 3C array can be used together with impulsive seismic sources and/or high-frequency vibrators that are suitable for high-resolution shallow applications. Results from two field experiments showed that a good data quality, including a constant source function within an array, and a dense depth-sampling allowed robust estimation of seismic velocity profiles in the shallow subsoil. Using horizontal and vertical seismic sources, downhole 9C seismic array data can be easily acquired. The quality of the shear-wave data is much superior when the surface seismic source is a controlled, high-frequency vibrator in stead of a traditional sledge hammer. A remarkable correlation in depth, in a fine scale, between low-strain seismic shear wave velocity and high-strain cone tip resistance could be observed. The array measurements of the full-elastic wavefield and the broad spectral bandwidth are useful in investigating frequency-dependent seismic wave propagation in the porous near-surface soil layers, which is informative of the in situ fluid-flow properties. Stable estimates of dispersive seismic velocity and attenuation can be obtained.
Rules of upscaling for rock physics transforms: Composites of randomly and independently drawn elements
Authors: Dvorkin Jack , Derzhi Naum
Published: April 2012

The tight trends (transforms) between two rock physical properties obtained in the physical or digital laboratory on cm- or mm-sized samples may hold for a composite constructed of these samples. One requirement is that all the elements of the composite obey the same trend. Another requirement is that the composite is spatially uncorrelated and, hence, approximately isotropic. The final requirement is that the underlying elemental transforms are approximately linear. The methods we use to address this exportability of trends for the dynamic elastic moduli (or the elastic-wave impedance) versus porosity, permeability versus porosity, and electrical resistivity versus porosity are, respectively, theoretical elastic bounding, numerical reservoir-scale fluid flow, and electrical current simulations. A practical implication is that if an elastic property of a large volume is determined from remote sensing, be it seismic or cross-well data, its average porosity can be estimated using the transforms established at a much smaller scale. Then, this average porosity can be translated into the hydraulic and electrical properties once again, using the elemental transforms established in the physical or digital laboratory.
Rock quality assessment using the effect of mud-filtrate invasion on conflicting borehole resistivity measurements
Authors: Salazar Jesús M. , Martin A. Jeff
Published: April 2012

Unexpected borehole measurements are often inaccurately interpreted due to limited knowledge of the formation, particularly in tight-gas unconventional reservoirs. A novel method was applied to determine reservoir quality and the reliability of borehole array-induction resistivity measurements in a tight gas sandstone reservoir. Four exploration wells drilled with synthetic oil-based mud showed conflicting resistivity profiles. The discovery well showed a conductive invasion profile, but the appraisal wells showed resistive profiles. Simulation of oil-based mud-filtrate invasion was coupled with forward simulation and inversion of array-induction resistivity measurements to determine the difference in such resistivity profiles. Laboratory measurements on rock core and fluid samples were used to calibrate a log-based petrophysical model that was necessary to simulate the physics of fluid-flow mud-filtrate invasion. The dynamic process of invasion was simulated with a multicomponent formulation for the hydrocarbon phase and rock wettability alteration effects due to surfactants present in the mud. Simulated borehole-resistivity measurements were compared to field logs, and the rock properties were modified to secure a close agreement between simulated and field logs. The different invasion profiles corresponded to variable rock quality and mud composition. In the discovery well, good rock quality and thick surfactants in the mud caused a low mobility ratio between filtrate and native fluids, which created a water bank that moved ahead into the formation. This effect created a conductive annulus in the near-wellbore region. In turn, the deep invasion and high resistivity are due to excellent rock quality that is typical of a conventional sandstone reservoir. The shallower invasion and resistive profiles in the delineation wells suggest the tight gas sandstone reservoir we expected to find throughout the formation.
A modified coherent potential approximation: Grain-contact moduli and coordination-number effect
Authors: Madadi Mahyar , Christy Andrew G.
Published: April 2012

We modified the self-consistent coherent potential approximation (CPA) for modeling properties of granular composite materials so that it takes into consideration the grain coordination number and distinctive elastic moduli for grain-contact zones. The original CPA was reasonably accurate for low-porosity consolidated sandstones but used only inclusion (pore or grain) shape and did not take into account morphological parameters such as coordination number and contact area or contact moduli. In our modified model, the grain inclusion was represented as a “grain with contact area”; therefore, scattering of elastic waves by contacts was incorporated. The modified CPA has been used to calculate data for 3D digital models of sintered quartz bead samples and Fontainebleau sandstones. Reduction of local elastic moduli for contact zones of specified area and thickness reduced effective overall moduli of the bulk sample. The modified theory predicted this weakening accurately, as compared to finite-element simulations.
The Royal Menageries of Louis XIV and the Civilizing Process Revisited
Authors: Sahlins Peter
Published: April 2012

This article examines the shift in animal spectatorship at the beginning of the reign of Louis XIV (the 1660s) from the violence of wild animal combat at the Vincennes menagerie to the peaceful display of graceful birds in the first pavilion constructed in the Versailles park beginning in 1662. I interpret the pavilion and animal collections using the sparse administrative sources and the richer literary descriptions by Mademoiselle de Scudéry, Jean de La Fontaine, and the unpublished poem of the engineer-fountaineer Claude Denis. Drawing on the theoretical work of Norbert Elias and Michel Foucault, I argue that the menagerie is best understood both as a royal claim of absolute authority and as a model of the aristocratic experience of civilité. The menagerie was less a zoo than a living metaphor of Louis XIV’s absolutism and the court society of Versailles itself.

Cet article examine le changement des modalités de présentation des animaux vivants au début du règne de Louis XIV (les années 1660) dans l’optique du passage de la violence des combats d’animaux sauvages à la Ménagerie de Vincennes jusqu’à l’exposition paisible d’oiseaux gracieux et élégants dans les cours du premier pavillon construit dans le parc de Versailles dès 1662. L’article se sert des maigres archives administratives et des descriptions littéraires plus riches de Mademoiselle de Scudéry, Jean de La Fontaine ainsi que d’un poème inédit de l’ingénieur fontainier Claude Denis. Il propose une nouvelle interprétation des ménageries de Louis XIV et des choix d’animaux présentés, s’engageant avec Norbert Elias et Michel Foucault pour penser la ménagerie à la fois comme une revendication d’autorité absolue du roi et de l’expérience aristocratique de la civilité à la cour. La ménagerie fut moins un zoo moderne qu’une métaphore vivante de l’absolutisme et de la civilisation des mœurs à la société de cour à Versailles.
Carefully Uncertain
Authors: Clooney Francis X.
Published: April 2012

This essay explores a certain kind of uncertainty, a fuzziness, that occurs in inter-religious study where the religions involved both highly prize clarity, truth, and specific commitments. Reading that crosses religious borders creates a body of new insights and even spiritual experiences that neither fit easily into the settled doctrines of traditions nor contest those doctrines by offering new, liberal, or relativizing alternatives. Rather, productive spaces open up wherein spiritual insight and uncertainty go hand in hand, created and accentuated by study, a stubborn fidelity to detail, and the ability to live with incertainty. By way of example, this essay offers an instance from a current study that the author, a Roman Catholic, is undertaking of intensely devotional medieval Hindu poetry, in part read along with passages from the biblical Song of Songs. The uncertainty carefully cultivated in this kind of study is, he argues, beneficial for those who remain committed to doctrinally robust traditions but also engage in the study of other, similarly robust traditions.
Regulation of nuclear TDP-43 by NR2A-containing NMDA receptors and PTEN
Authors: Zheng Mei , Liao Mingxia , Cui Tianyuan , Tian Honglin , Fan Dong-Sheng , Wan Qi
Published: April 2012

The dysfunction of TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the function of TDP-43 is not fully elucidated. Here we show that the protein level of endogenous TDP-43 in the nucleus is increased in mouse cortical neurons in the early stages, but return to basal level in the later stages after glutamate accumulation-induced injury. The elevation of TDP-43 results from a downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). We further demonstrate that activation of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors (NR2ARs) leads to PTEN downregulation and subsequent reduction of PTEN import from the cytoplasm to the nucleus after glutamate accumulation. The decrease of PTEN in the nucleus contributes to its reduced association with TDP-43, and thereby mediates the elevation of nuclear TDP-43. We provide evidence that the elevation of nuclear TDP-43, mediated by NR2AR activation and PTEN downregulation, confers protection against cortical neuronal death in the late stages after glutamate accumulation. Thus, this study reveals a NR2AR–PTEN–TDP-43 signaling pathway by which nuclear TDP-43 promotes neuronal survival. These results suggest that upregulation of nuclear TDP-43 represents a self-protection mechanism to delay neurodegeneration in the early stages after glutamate accumulation and that prolonging the upregulation process of nuclear TDP-43 might have therapeutic significance.
Ni–Cu/ZnO-catalyzed Hydrogenolysis of Cellulose for the Production of 1,2-Alkanediols in Hot Compressed Water
Authors: Wang Xicheng , Wu Feng , Yao Shengxi , Jiang Yijun , Guan Jing , Mu Xindong
Published: April 2012

Ni–Cu/ZnO catalysts with varied Ni-to-Cu mole ratio were prepared by coprecipitation and evaluated for the hydrogenolysis of high-crystalline cellulose. Ni and Cu species exerted synergetic effects in dehydroxylation reaction and C–C bond breakage for the formation of 1,2-alkanediols. Ni–Cu/ZnO with Ni-to-Cu ratio of 2:3 is highly selective toward 1,2-alkanediols (72.5%) under hydrothermal conditions (518 K, 4 MPa H2), which also exhibits excellent activity in the conversion of real biomass.
Organogelators Derived from [3.3]Metacyclophane Skeleton with a Urea Unit
Authors: Tsuge Akihiko , Matsushita Ryuichiro , Sakura Katsuhiko , Moriguchi Tetsuji , Araki Koji
Published: April 2012

Dithia[3.3]metacyclophanes with a urea unit having long alkyl chains have been prepared. It has been found out that some of them give stable organogels in some solvents, and their gelating ability depends on structural properties of both aromatic components in the dithia[3.3]metacyclophane.
CaO-catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of α-Hydroxy Ketones: Application to One-pot Synthesis of Quinoxaline Derivatives
Authors: Hara Takayoshi , Takami Yukihiro , Ichikuni Nobuyuki , Shimazu Shogo
Published: April 2012

The aerobic oxidation of α-hydroxy ketones into α-diketones catalyzed by CaO is compared with the same reaction catalyzed by other metal oxides. The catalytic activities of the various metal oxides were proportional to their surface basicities. The direct conversion of α-hydroxy ketones into quinoxalines via CaO-catalyzed aerobic oxidation followed by in situ reaction with 1,2-diaminoaromatics is also achieved. Various types of quinoxalines were synthesized in the presence of the CaO catalyst and molecular oxygen. It was also found that the CaO catalyst was reusable without any loss of its catalytic activity.
Versatile Modification for Highly Dispersive and Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Ukigaya Koichi , Oaki Yuya , Imai Hiroaki
Published: April 2012

Highly dispersive and functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) 50–100 nm in diameter were formed by versatile surface modification through photopolymerization of organic molecules having vinyl groups. Hydrophilic polymers, hydrophobic chains, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), and poly(N-vinylcarbazole) were easily attached to methacryl groups as a reactive site on the particle surface. We obtained MSNs having high dispersibility in various media and functionality, such as thermosensitivity and photoluminescence, using the facile technique.
Carbon Black Paste Combined with Conductivity-enhanced CuSCN for Improved Performance in Quasi-solid-state Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Premalal E V A , Dematage Nilupulee , Konno Akinori
Published: April 2012

Vast improvement in the performance of a dye-sensitized solid-state solar cell of TiO2/N719/modified CuSCN is observed when carbon paste is applied on CuSCN. AC-impedance analysis reveals the existence of the ionic nature of the modified CuSCN material, and it is further developed when carbon paste is applied on CuSCN in the solar cell. Voltage-transient spectra of decay analysis show the improvement of the lifetime of the photogenerated electrons and thus improve the voltage in the carbon-paste-applied solar cell.
Exploring Spectroscopic Regression Modelling Using Eureqa: Black-Box Chemometrics or a Useful Tool for Exploration and Learning?
Authors: Reeves James B.
Published: April 2012

“Eureqa (pronounced ‘eureka’) is a software tool for detecting equations and hidden mathematical relationships in your data” made available by the Cornell Creative Machines Lab. ( http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/eureqfa ). Based on the use of evolutionary genetic programming, the program is capable of testing a wide variety of mathematical functions, and combinations thereof, to find relationships between data. Functions include the standard functions used in multi-linear regression (MLR; +, –, /, *, k) plus others, such as exponentials, roots, trigonometric etc. The objective of this investigation was to determine if this program might be useful in the investigation and development of spectroscopic calibrations. Two sets (173 or 241 samples) of forages (hays) and by-products (hulls, stalks etc.), some of which had been chemically treated with sodium chlorite to increase digestibility, were studied using Eureqa. Data for six analytes were available, but based on previous work using partial least squares regression, only crude protein, a well-determined analyte, and lignin, a much poorly determined analyte, were examined. Results indicated that standard spectral pre-treatments such as normalisation, mean centring, variance scaling, multiplicative scatter correction and derivatives might be beneficial in more rapidly obtaining the best calibrations, but were not necessary unless needed for data scaling. While overall results were comparable to those from partial least squares, but never as quite as good, several aspects of the program led to the conclusion that it is a wonderful exploration and learning tool for spectroscopy, even if one is not interested in developing MLR-based calibrations. As just one example, the results for all samples are displayed for each equation as developed and any of the best dozen or so can be displayed with a simple mouse click. Thus, it is easy to see how the developing equation effects the predicted versus actual fit, outliers etc. in nearly real time. Similarly, the many function fitting options (different error measures, both least- and non-least squares) allow one to explore and see how these affect both the final results and equation evolution. In conclusion, Eureqa is an exceedingly interesting and useful program, both for developing MLR-based calibrations and for studies of calibration development in general.
A Non-Destructive Method of Predicting the Particle Size of the Bulk Drug Powder in an Acetaminophen Suppository by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Prendergast Eri , Abe Hiroyuki , Aburada Masaki , Otsuka Makoto
Published: April 2012

This paper describes a non-destructive method for determining the particle size of the bulk drug powder in an acetaminophen suppository using near infrared (NIR) spectrometry combined with chemometrics. Acetaminophen bulk powder samples were obtained by sieving through 75–1400 μm screens. Suppository samples containing the bulk powder with various particle sizes were obtained at 50°C. They consisted of the bulk powder (4.5 w/w%), hard fat and plastic suppository container. Spectra of 36 standard suppository samples were recorded using a NIR spectrometer, fitted with a fibre-optic probe, in the range of 4000–12,500 cm−1. The spectra were divided to a calibration set and a validation data set. Various pre-treatments were tested and partial least squares regression used to develop the calibration models which were tested against the samples in the validation set. Chemometric calculations were also performed on long range (4000–12,500 cm−1) and short range (5000–10,000 cm−1) data sets, respectively. The best model was obtained when using the short range, the pre-treatment of smoothing, standard normal variate plus area normalisation and eight principal components, to achieve a standard error of cross validation of 100 μm. The plot of the predicted values versus the actual values for a validation set of suppositories gave a straight line with a regression coefficient of determination of 0.957 and standard error of prediction of 98 μm. The correlation spectrum of the best model suggested that the specific positive and negative peaks were due to hard fat and drug particle size, respectively. These results demonstrate that it was possible to predict the particle size of acetaminophen bulk powder in a suppository without destroying the sample.
Estimation of Wood Basic Density of Acacia Melanoxylon (R. Br.) by near Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Santos António J.A. , Alves Ana M.M. , Simões Rogério M.S. , Pereira Helena , Rodrigues José , Schwanninger Manfred
Published: April 2012

Wood basic density is one of the most important wood quality properties and one of the simplest to assess but it is too time consuming to be really useful for the screening of populations or for improvement programmes where large numbers of samples need to be assessed. Although the usefulness of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to assess wood properties, including wood density, is well established only a few of the published models are suitable for screening. The NIR-based partial least squares regression models obtained in this study can be used for screening the basic density of the Portuguese blackwood [ Acacia melanoxylon (R. Br.)] population with standard errors of cross-validation of only 11 kg m−3 and values for the residual prediction deviation well above the 2.5 limit. It was also concluded that at least 45 samples for calibration and a further 16 samples for validation are necessary to obtain acceptable models for screening. Even using a very small number of spectra per disc, accurate estimates of wood basic density were obtained.
Determination of Eucalyptus Globulus Wood Extractives Content by near Infrared-Based Partial Least Squares Regression Models: Comparison between Extraction Procedures
Authors: Alves Ana M.M. , Simões Rita F.S. , Santos Claudia A. , Potts Brad M. , Rodrigues José , Schwanninger Manfred
Published: April 2012

Wood extractives, the non-cell wall components that can be removed by solvents, can play an important role in the protection of the living tree as well as derived wood products. On the other hand they can be detrimental for pulp and paper, paint and varnish films and adhesives. The objective of this work was to develop near infrared-based partial least squares regression models for the prediction of wood extractives. The developed models are well suited for screening of the ethanol and total extractives content of Eucalyptus globulus wood. The models for the prediction of ethanol extractives with residual prediction deviations above 5 are also suited for quality control. It is shown that samples with high extractives content always have a more intense OH combination band than the samples with low extractives content and that near infrared can be used for a rough estimation of the relative performance of the reference methods.
Near Infrared Quantitative Analysis of Total Flavonoid Content in Fresh Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Based on Different Wavelength Region Selection Methods and Partial Least Squares Regression
Authors: Shi Ji-Yong , Zou Xiao-Bo , Zhao Jie-Wen , Holmes Mel
Published: April 2012

Total flavonoid concentration is often considered an important quality attribute of Ginkgo biloba leaf. Near infrared spectroscopy was used to determine total flavonoid concentration in fresh G. biloba leaf. The spectra of 120 leaf samples were acquired in the wavelength range of 10,000 cm−1 to 4000 cm−1. After pre-processing, interval partial least squares (iPLS), synergy interval partial least squares (SiPLS), genetic algorithm interval partial least squares (GA-iPLS) and simulation annealing algorithm interval partial least squares (SAA-iPLS) were used to select the most informative wavelength regions correlated with total flavonoid concentration. The number of wavelength regions and the number of PLS factors were optimised by cross-validation. The performance of the SAA-iPLS model developed in this study was better than PLS, iPLS and GA-iPLS models. The coefficient of determination ( r2) and the root mean square error of prediction ( RMSEP) for the prediction set samples using the SAA-iPLS model were 0.89 mg g−1 and 3.0 mg g−1, respectively. These results show that near infrared spectroscopy combined with SAA-iPLS has significant potential for the non-destructive quantitative analysis of total flavonoids in G. biloba leaf.
The Use of near Infrared Spectroscopy to Determine the Fat, Caffeine, Theobromine and (−)-Epicatechin Contents in Unfermented and Sun-Dried Beans of Criollo Cocoa
Authors: Álvarez Clímaco , Pérez Elevina , Cros Emile , Lares Mary , Assemat Sophie , Boulanger Renaud , Davrieux Fabrice
Published: April 2012

Cocoa is an important raw material in international trade, for which the highest quality is demanded. Venezuelan Criollo cocoa beans from the south of Lake Maracaibo or Chuao are of very high quality and are considered to be Venezuela's finest beans. It is therefore important to characterise and define that quality, or its precursors, in the different primary cocoa processing stages. Given the large number of samples to be analysed, new analytical techniques providing fast and reliable quality data are essential. Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy utilises wavelengths from 780–2500 nm to measure the absorbance by a sample, compute organic functional groups and quantitatively predict a particular factor. It has been extensively used to analyse food quality and to determine the main alkaloids of coffee. Fat, caffeine, theobromine and (−)-epicatechin contents are related to cocoa bean “flavour” quality. These parameters are usually determined using conventional methods, which are time consuming, destructive and expensive. The goals of this study were to use NIR spectroscopy to develop a fast and non-destructive tool to determine compounds in unfermented and sun-dried cocoa beans of high quality. Calibration coefficients of determination ( R2) and standard errors of cross-validation were 0.94 and 0.89%, 0.94 and 0.05%, 0.88 and 0.08% and 0.96 and 0.18% for fat, caffeine, theobromine and (−)-epicatechin contents (% dry matter), respectively. The results confirmed the good predictability of the models and showed that NIR spectroscopy can be used as a rapid method for determining these compounds in cocoa beans.
Indications for reverse shoulder replacement
Authors: Smith C. D. , Guyver P. , Bunker T. D.
Published: April 2012

The outcome of an anatomical shoulder replacement depends on an intact rotator cuff. In 1981 Grammont designed a novel large-head reverse shoulder replacement for patients with cuff deficiency. Such has been the success of this replacement that it has led to a rapid expansion of the indications. We performed a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the functional outcome of each indication for the reverse shoulder replacement. Secondary outcome measures of range of movement, pain scores and complication rates are also presented.
Femoral revision surgery with impaction bone grafting
Authors: ten Have B. L. E. F. , Brouwer MD R. W. , van Biezen F. C. , Verhaar J. A. N.
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of revision of the femoral component of a total hip replacement using impaction bone grafting. Femoral revision with an impacted allograft was performed on 29 patients (31 hips). In all, 21 hips (68%) had grade III or IV femoral defects according to the Endo-Klinik classification. A total of 11 patients (12 hips) died before the ten-year follow-up period. Of the remaining patients, 18 patients (19 hips) were followed for 10 to 15 years; three further patients died during this time. None of the 31 stems underwent further revision of their stem. However, four stems showed extensive subsidence (> 15 mm). One of these patients had a femoral fracture that required fixation. Three other patients had a femoral fracture, two of which required fixation and the other was treated conservatively. Patients with a femoral fracture and/or severe subsidence had significantly more grade IV defects (six of seven hips; p = 0.004). One patient needed a closed reduction for dislocation.

Impaction allografting in revision hip surgery gives good long-term results for femora with grades I, II and III Endo-Klinik-classified defects. Extensive subsidence and femoral fractures were seen mainly in patients with grade IV damaged femora.
Incomplete avulsion of the proximal insertion of the hamstring
Authors: Aldridge S. E. , Heilpern G. N. A. , Carmichael J. R. , Sprowson A. P. , Wood D. G.
Published: April 2012

Incomplete avulsion of the proximal hamstrings can be a severely debilitating injury that causes weakness, pain while sitting and inability to run. The results of the surgical treatment of 23 consecutive patients with such injuries at least two years after surgery are described. The surgery consisted of the repair of the hamstrings directly onto the ischial tuberosity. At review, using a visual analogue scale (VAS, 0 to 100), pain while sitting improved from a mean of 40 (0 to 100) to 64 (0 to 100) (p = 0.024), weakness from a mean of 39 (0 to 90) to 76 (7 to 100) (p = 0.0001) and the ability to run from a mean of 24 (0 to 88) to 64 (0 to 95) (p = 0.0001). According to a VAS, satisfaction was rated at a mean of 81 (0 to 100) and 20 patients (87%) would have the same procedure again. Hamstring strength measured pre- and post-operatively had improved significantly from a mean of 64% (0% to 95%) to 88% (50% to 114%) compared with the normal side.

Most of these patients with symptomatic incomplete hamstring avulsions unresponsive to conservative treatment had an improved outcome after surgical repair.
Fungal peri-prosthetic joint infection after primary total knee replacement
Authors: Hwang B-H. , Yoon J-Y. , Nam C-H. , Jung K-A. , Lee S-C. , Han C-D. , Moon S-H.
Published: April 2012

We retrospectively reviewed 30 two-stage revision procedures in 28 patients performed for fungal peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI) after a primary total knee replacement. Patients were followed for at least two years or until the infection recurred. The mean follow-up for patients who remained free of infection was 4.3 years (2.3 to 6.1). Overall, 17 patients were assessed as American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 3 or 4. The surgical protocol included removal of the infected implant, vigorous debridement and insertion of an articulating cement spacer. This was followed by at least six weeks of antimicrobial treatment and delayed reimplantation in all patients. The mean interval between removal of the prosthesis and reimplantation was 9.5 weeks (6 to 24). After reimplantation, patients took antifungal agents orally for a maximum of six months. Two knees became reinfected at one and two months post-operatively, respectively: one of these subsequently required arthrodesis because of uncontrolled infection.

Fungal PJIs can be treated successfully by removal of all infected material, appropriate antimicrobial treatment and delayed reimplantation.
Increasing stability by pre-bending the nails in elastic stable intramedullary nailing
Authors: Kaiser M. M. , Zachert G. , Wendlandt R. , Eggert R. , Stratmann C. , Gros N. , Schulze-Hessing M. , Rapp M.
Published: April 2012

Elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) is generally acknowledged to be the treatment of choice for displaced diaphyseal femoral fractures in children over the age of three years, although complication rates of up to 50% are described. Pre-bending the nails is recommended, but there are no published data to support this. Using synthetic bones and a standardised simulated fracture, we performed biomechanical testing to determine the influence on the stability of the fracture of pre-bending the nails before implantation. Standard ESIN was performed on 24 synthetic femoral models with a spiral fracture. In eight cases the nails were inserted without any pre-bending, in a further eight cases they were pre-bent to 30° and in the last group of eight cases they were pre-bent to 60°. Mechanical testing revealed that pre-bending to 60° produced a significant increase in the stiffness or stability of the fracture. Pre-bending to 60° showed a significant positive influence on the stiffness compared with unbent nails. Pre-bending to 30° improved stiffness only slightly.

These findings validate the recommendations for pre-bending, but the degree of pre-bend should exceed 30°. Adopting higher degrees of pre-bending should improve stability in spiral fractures and reduce the complications of varus deformity and shortening.
Scoliosis in patients with Friedreich’s ataxia
Authors: Tsirikos A. I. , Smith G.
Published: April 2012

We reviewed 31 consecutive patients with Friedreich’s ataxia and scoliosis. There were 24 males and seven females with a mean age at presentation of 15.5 years (8.6 to 30.8) and a mean curve of 51° (13° to 140°). A total of 12 patients had thoracic curvatures, 11 had thoracolumbar and eight had double thoracic/lumbar. Two patients had long thoracolumbar collapsing scoliosis with pelvic obliquity and four had hyperkyphosis. Left-sided thoracic curves in nine patients (45%) and increased thoracic kyphosis differentiated these deformities from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. There were 17 patients who underwent a posterior instrumented spinal fusion at mean age of 13.35 years, which achieved and maintained good correction of the deformity. Post-operative complications included one death due to cardiorespiratory failure, one revision to address nonunion and four patients with proximal junctional kyphosis who did not need extension of the fusion. There were no neurological complications and no wound infections. The rate of progression of the scoliosis in children kept under simple observation and those treated with bracing was less for lumbar curves during bracing and similar for thoracic curves. The scoliosis progressed in seven of nine children initially treated with a brace who later required surgery. Two patients presented after skeletal maturity with balanced curves not requiring correction. Three patients with severe deformities who would benefit from corrective surgery had significant cardiac co-morbidities.
A randomised pilot trial of “locking plate” fixation versus intramedullary nailing for extra-articular fractures of the distal tibia
Authors: Mauffrey C. , McGuinness K. , Parsons N. , Achten J. , Costa M. L.
Published: April 2012

The ideal form of fixation for displaced, extra-articular fractures of the distal tibia remains controversial. In the UK, open reduction and internal fixation with locking-plates and intramedullary nailing are the two most common forms of treatment. Both techniques provide reliable fixation but both are associated with specific complications. There is little information regarding the functional recovery following either procedure.

We performed a randomised pilot trial to determine the functional outcome of 24 adult patients treated with either a locking-plate (n = 12) or an intramedullary nailing (n = 12). At six months, there was an adjusted difference of 13 points in the Disability Rating Index in favour of the intramedullary nail. However, this was not statistically significant in this pilot trial (p = 0.498). A total of seven patients required further surgery in the locking-plate group and one in the intramedullary nail group.

This study suggests that there may be clinically relevant, functional differences in patients treated with nail versus locking-plate fixation for fractures of the distal tibia and differences in related complications. Further trials are required to confirm the findings of this pilot investigation.
Haematogenous acute and subacute paediatric osteomyelitis
Authors: Dartnell J. , Ramachandran M. , Katchburian M.
Published: April 2012

A delay in the diagnosis of paediatric acute and subacute haematogenous osteomyelitis can lead to potentially devastating morbidity. There are no definitive guidelines for diagnosis, and recommendations in the literature are generally based on expert opinions, case series and cohort studies.

All articles in the English literature on paediatric osteomyelitis were searched using MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library and reference lists. A total of 1854 papers were identified, 132 of which were examined in detail. All aspects of osteomyelitis were investigated in order to formulate recommendations.

On admission 40% of children are afebrile. The tibia and femur are the most commonly affected long bones. Clinical examination, blood and radiological tests are only reliable for diagnosis in combination. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism detected, but isolation of Kingella kingae is increasing. Antibiotic treatment is usually sufficient to eradicate the infection, with a short course intravenously and early conversion to oral treatment. Surgery is indicated only in specific situations.

Most studies were retrospective and there is a need for large, multicentre, randomised, controlled trials to define protocols for diagnosis and treatment. Meanwhile, evidence-based algorithms are suggested for accurate and early diagnosis and effective treatment.
Surgical treatment of Sprengel’s shoulder
Authors: Di Gennaro G. L. , Fosco M. , Spina M. , Donzelli O.
Published: April 2012

The outcome of 56 children (61 shoulders) treated surgically at the Rizzoli Institute between April 1975 and June 2010 for congenital elevation of the scapula is reported. There were 31 girls and 25 boys with a mean age at surgery of 6.4 years (2 to 15). The deformity involved the right shoulder in 20 cases, the left in 31 and was bilateral in five. The degree of the deformity was graded clinically and radiologically according to the classifications of Cavendish and Rigault, respectively. All patients underwent a modified Green procedure combined, in selected cases, with resection of the superomedial portion of the scapula and excision of any omovertebral connection. After a mean follow-up of 10.9 years (1 to 29.3), there was cosmetic improvement by at least one Cavendish grade in 54 shoulders (88.5%). The mean abduction of the shoulder improved from 92° (50° to 155°) to 112° (90° to 170°) and the mean flexion improved from 121° (80° to 160°) to 155° (120° to 175°). The unsatisfactory cosmetic result in seven shoulders was due to coexistent scoliosis in two cases and insufficient reduction of the scapular elevation in the other five. An incomplete upper brachial plexus palsy occurred post-operatively in three patients but resolved within seven months.

We suggest that a modified Green procedure combined with resection of the superomedial portion of the scapula provides good cosmetic and functional results in patients with Sprengel’s shoulder.