bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Energy Savings From Community Scale Solar Water Heating in Los Angeles County: Residential Case Studies
Authors: Cudd Robert , Anderson Kevin , Yassine Wael
Published: December 2019

Estimation of Energy Savings from Community Scale Solar Water Heating in Los Angeles County explores the extent to which community scale solar water heating systems, designed for residential structures in Los Angeles County and constructed from currently available technology, can displace natural gas for domestic water heating through a series of case studies. The effects of policy, urban form, and building characteristics on the performance of solar water heating systems, as well as community scale solar water heating’s potential to reduce emissions from the residential housing sector, are discussed herein. Three public and three private residential developments were selected as case studies for community scale solar water heating, with numbers of units and residents ranging from the tens to hundreds. These six cases were draw from the pool of approximately 19,000 “energy communities” in Los Angeles County, i.e. residential developments where the installation and operation of community scale solar water heating systems is broadly feasible. The six properties were also chosen to represent a cross-section housing stock and development patterns common in Los Angeles County, and different levels of suitability for solar water heating. The performance of and energy savings from solar water heating systems on each of these properties is then evaluated using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s System Advisor Model (NREL SAM). The results of the system simulations reveal how building characteristics and hot water demand affect the performance of community scale solar water heating systems. The case study sites’ system simulations show that residential developments with community scale solar water heating systems reach an average solar fraction of 50%. The results of the case studies indicate that community scale solar water heating is viable as an emissions reduction technology for the residential building sector in Mediterranean climates. However, side-by-side comparison with solar PV systems and other water heating technologies (such as grid-connected heat pumps) is necessary to determine optimality in terms of cost, emissions reduction, and thermal efficiency) in specific contexts.
Numerical Investigations on the Flow Past an Inclined Thin Square Plate at Re = 300
Authors: Zhao Yakun , Tian Xinliang , Wu Xia , Zhang Xiantao , Li Xin
Published: December 2019

Direct numerical simulations are performed for the flow past an inclined square plate. The side length-thickness ratio of the plate is selected as 50, representing a reasonably thin plate. Various incidence angles of the plate with respect to the flow are considered from 0° to 75°, where 0° refers to the condition in which the flow is normal to the plate. The Reynolds number (Re) based on the flow velocity and the side length in the streamwise direction of the plate is up to 300. The hydrodynamic characteristics, including the force coefficients, the three-dimensional vortical structures and vortex shedding process, are presented. The effects of incidence angle on the wake transition are also discussed. It is observed that as the incidence angle increases, the flow firstly changes from a chaotic state to a periodic state and finally returns to chaos again at high incidence angles.
Poly-Generation Using Biogas From Agricultural Wastes
Authors: Welch Michael
Published: December 2019

Across the world, many people, especially in rural communities, still lack access to secure, affordable electricity supplies. Many countries also lack or have under-developed indigenous fossil fuel resources, or rely on environmentally unfriendly fuels such as coal or Heavy Fuel Oil. Many under-developed regions though are blessed with considerable agricultural resources, and well-suited to Distributed Power Generation, where smaller decentralized power plants are located close to the actual energy consumers. Distributed Power eliminates the need for an electricity transmission grid, or reduces the investment costs necessary to strengthen the grid system, and helps ensure stable, secure electricity to support local economic growth. Agricultural wastes can be used as a locally available feedstock to produce the energy required to electrify regions and stimulate economic growth.

This paper examines the benefits of applying Poly-generation — the production of multiple products at a single location — and examines a proposed bio-refinery scheme to produce ethanol from agricultural waste. The ethanol production process produces a waste biogas, which can then be used in a high efficiency Cogeneration (or Combined Heat and Power) plant as a fuel for gas turbines to generate electricity and steam (heat), not just for the bio-refinery but also local industry and businesses. By creating a high value product (ethanol) along with a free fuel, the bio-refinery acts as an anchor plant to provide reliable, affordable electricity to the local community. As well as providing economic benefits, such a concept has multiple environmental benefits as regions and nations try to combine growth in energy demand with reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions: agricultural residues that would otherwise have decayed emitting methane and CO2 into the atmosphere are used to create a high value product in ethanol, while using the biogas as a fuel displaces combustion of fossil fuels, reducing both combustion emissions and those associated with transportation of the fuel to the point of use.
Revenue Maximization for a Groundwater Desalination Plant and Small Modular Reactor Coupling
Authors: Worsham Elizabeth K. , Thomas Alexander D. , Terry Stephen D.
Published: December 2019

Desalination is becoming a popular and necessary process for producing fresh water in deserts and areas across the word affected by drought. Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology is attractive for this application because it cogenerates steam and electricity to run multiple desalination processes at once. Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) technology requires steam to evaporate fresh water, while Reverse Osmosis (RO) only requires electricity for desalination. While RO typically produces fresh water more efficiently than MED, condensate from the evaporators can be flashed and sent to an absorption chiller to produce chilled water for space cooling. This study uses a 6-effect backward feed evaporator model to analyze revenues and savings from total freshwater and chilled water produced and determine the steam pressure from the SMR and loading schedule to produce maximum revenue for the specified desalination facility. Three loading schedules were chosen for this study: base loading, day/night loading, and diurnal demand loading, and revenues were calculated by closely matching a demand of 50,000 people. Day/night loading resulted in significantly more revenue and chilled water production than the other two schedules. The coupling of RO and MED systems to a small modular reactor could result in increased revenue for a desalination plant while meeting the freshwater demands of a community.
Recent Advancement of Biomass in Energy Exploration in Some African Countries
Authors: Olatunji Obafemi , Akinlabi Stephen , Madushele Nkosinathi , Adedeji Paul , Fatoba Samuel
Published: December 2019

Africa is so much endowed with a vast amount of renewable resources that can engender economic prosperity and provide adequate capacity to meet up with current and future energy demands. These vast resources made her to be at a vantage position in Renewable Energy (RE) exploration across the globe. One of such RE with enormous potential is biomass, however, the maximum potential has not been realized. This article provides an overview of the biomass resources in some selected African countries. The state-of-the-art in biomass application, availability, energy production in power plant, especially as related to electricity production were discussed. Overall, the authors identify the barrier to biomass energy exploration in these countries and proffer some solution to deal with these challenges.
Integration of Technology Capability for Performance Diagnostics of MS7001EA Using PYTHIA
Authors: Indarti Dieni , Osigwe Emmanuel O. , Li Yi-Guang , Widyantoro Dody
Published: December 2019

Gas turbine components are susceptible to degradation during operations; hence, the identification of the engine condition is really important for the gas turbine users. To this end, a comprehensive adaptive diagnostic tool is an important step to monitoring the engine health condition and planning appropriate maintenance actions, thereby increasing the availability and reliability of the unit, and at the same time reducing the operation and maintenance expenses. In this paper, the capability of PYTHIA; a computer software technology for engine diagnostic purpose using a non-linear gas path analysis was explored on GE MS7001EA industrial heavy duty gas turbine during a plot period of 12,000 hours. The method used in this paper was to adapt an accurate engine performance model from the real engine historical data readings, and by implicating multiple component degradation parameters onto the diagnostic tool; which represents the possible phenomena in the real engine operation period. The adaptive gas path analysis was used to identify the level of degradation or health indices of the gas turbine at the module level and its degraded performance compared with the actual engine data trending. The results obtained indicated the capability of PYTHIA to successfully adapt real engine data and detect fault patterns in response to implanted faults of selected measurement set during engine operation period. The deviations between the predicted and measured values showed a satisfactory result with a root mean square error (RMS) ≤ 0.004 and Gas Path Analysis index value ≥ 0.996. The component parameter degradation during the 12000 hours engine operation was detected, indicating a decrease in flow capacity by 2.1% for compressor and turbine by 2.8%.
Integration of Flame-Assisted Fuel Cells With a Gas Turbine Running Jet-A As Fuel
Authors: Ghotkar Rhushikesh , Milcarek Ryan J.
Published: December 2019

In recent years, the aircraft industry is heading towards the concept of the More Electric Airplane (MEA). Previous research has investigated the possibility of integrating Dual Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (DC-SOFC) with the auxiliary power unit (APU) of the aircraft. This paper evaluates the merits of integrating the recently proposed Flame-assisted Fuel Cells (FFCs) with the APU gas turbine system. The syngas composition for fuel-rich combustion is studied using chemical equilibrium analysis of Jet-A/air at 8 Bar and 1073 K. The results show the potential for reforming Jet-A fuel to 22% Carbon Monoxide and 18% Hydrogen in the exhaust at an equivalence ratio of 2.4. The paper also reports how the efficiency of power generation changes when FFCs are placed in the combustor of a turbine in the APU. The maximum theoretical electrical efficiency of the FFC/combustor and the area and weight of the fuel cell required to generate the design power is calculated. The FFC offers a viable substitute for the DC-SOFC to be integrated with the APU.
Effect of Zr Diffusion Barrier Properties on the Irradiation Performance of U-10Mo Monolithic Fuel Plate
Authors: Mohamed Walid , Ozaltun Hakan , Roh Hee Seok
Published: December 2019

The most recent design of U-Mo monolithic fuel as adopted by the U.S. for the conversion of its High Performance Research Reactors (USHPRR) from high enrichment uranium (HEU) to low enrichment uranium fuel (LEU, < 20% U235) consists of a high density (LEU) U-10Mo fuel sandwiched between Zirconium (Zr) diffusion barriers and encapsulated in aluminum (AA6061) cladding. In this work, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to evaluate effect of Zr diffusion barrier properties on the thermal and mechanical performance of a U-10Mo monolithic fuel plate by considering possible variation in thermal and mechanical properties of the Zr diffusion barrier. Possible variation in thermo-mechanical properties of the Zr diffusion barrier were determined and a simulation matrix was designed accordingly. Analyses of simulation results included determination of global peak stresses in the fuel, Zr diffusion barrier, and cladding sections as well as the plate thickness profile at a transverse section toward the top side of the plate. Results showed that variation in yield stress, elastic modulus and thermal conductivity of the Zr diffusion barrier has negligible effect on the thermal and mechanical performance of the monolithic fuel plate. The effect of variation in these properties was found to be limited to the barrier section itself, which may be attributed to the relatively smaller thickness of that section compared to the fuel and cladding sections of the fuel plate.
Modeling Pressurized Dense Phase Coal Fluidization and Transport
Authors: Adams Bradley R. , Schroedter Taylor L.
Published: December 2019

A transient gas-solid model based on CPFD Software’s Barracuda Virtual Reactor was developed for a feed system to a pilot-scale pressurized oxy-coal (POC) reactor. A simplified geometry with a vertical coal hopper feeding into a 0.635-cm diameter horizontal pipe was used to represent key elements of the feed system. Coal particles were transported with 20-atm CO2 gas. The feed system was required to maintain a steady flow of gas and solids at a coal flow rate of approximately 3.8 g/s and a CO2 to coal mass ratio in the range 1–2. Sensitivity of model results to mesh size and particle interaction sub-model settings was assessed.

Two design concepts were evaluated. A gravity-fed concept was found to be infeasible due to inadequate coal flow rates even at very high CO2 to coal flow ratios. This was due to gravitational forces being insufficient to move the pressurized coal from the hopper into the CO2 stream at the desired rate. A fluidized bed concept was found to provide the desired coal flow rate and CO2 to coal flow ratio. CO2 injected at the hopper base first fluidized the vertical coal bed before transporting it through a horizontal exit pipe. A second CO2 inlet downstream of the hopper exit pipe was used to dilute the fluidized coal and increase pipe velocities to minimize coal drop out. The amount of coal transported from the hopper was dependent on the net CO2 hopper flow but independent of the CO2 dilution flow. This meant that the coal flow rate and CO2 to coal flow ratio could be controlled independently. Pipe exit coal flow rates were found to fluctuate at levels acceptable for steady burner operation.
Using Thermodynamics Principles to Optimize Performance of Capacitive Mixing Cycles for Salinity Gradient Energy Generation
Authors: Moreno Daniel , Hatzell Marta C.
Published: December 2019

Understanding the thermodynamics associated with ion mixing and separation processes is important in order to meet the rising demands for clean energy and water production. Several electrochemical-based technologies such as capacitive deionization and capacitive mixing (CapMix) are capable of achieving desalination and energy production through ion mixing and separation processes, yet experimental investigations suggest energy conversion occurs with low second law (thermodynamic) efficiency. Here, we explore the maximum attainable efficiency for different CapMix cycles to investigate the impact cycle operation has on energy extraction. All investigated cycles are analogous to well documented heat engine cycles. In order to analyze CapMix cycles, we develop a physics-based model of the electric double layer based on the Gouy-Chapman-Stern theory. Evaluating CapMix cycles for energy generation revealed that cycles where ion mixing occurs at constant concentration and switching occurs at constant charge (a cycle analogous to the Stirling engine) attained the highest overall first law (electrical energy) efficiency (39%). This first law efficiency is nearly 300% greater than the first law efficiency of the Otto, Diesel, Brayton, and Atkinson analog cycles where ion mixing occurs while maintaining a constant number of ions. Additionally, the maximum first law efficiency was 89% with a maximum work output of 0.5 kWh per m3 of solution mixed (V = 1.0V) using this same Stirling cycle. Here the salinity gradient was CH = 600 mM and CL = 1 mM (ΔGmix = 0.56 kWh/m3). The effect of voltage was also examined at CH = 600 mM (seawater) and CL = 20 mM (river water). CapMix cycles operated at lower voltage (V < 1.0V), resulted in the Otto cycle yielding the highest first law efficiency of approximately 25% (compared to under 20% for the Stirling cycle); however, this was at the expense of a reduction (50x) in net electrical energy extracted from the same mixing process (0.01 kWh per m3).
Transient Response of Gradient-Based Optimization for Ground Source Heat Exchangers
Authors: DiCarlo Anthony A. , Caldwell Rickey A.
Published: December 2019

The efficiency of ground source heating and cooling can be improved during installation by utilizing non-uniform properties of the soil. This paper presents a transient analysis of a computed optimal distribution of heterogeneous soils with varying thermal conductivities. This optimal configuration was computed via a gradient descent approach. The numerically simulated case studies demonstrate an improved performance when utilizing this approach to maximize the overall efficiency.

The focus of this study is optimization of the soil heterogeneity surrounding the ground heat exchanger composed of pipes buried 2 meters underground. Finite element mathematics is used for the optimization algorithm. The finite element cells are treated as isotropic material voxels. The variation of material thermal conductivity in individual cells is employed as the optimizing variable. The updated conductivities are verified to ensure they are within the design domain. This method computes the sensitivities for the search direction (i.e. the gradient descent direction) utilizing the equations employed in the finite element mathematics. The optimization solution commences with the finite element model and applied boundary conditions. An initial guess is made of the elements’ conductivity. Based on these conductivities, the initial temperature is computed and later implemented to estimate the gradient. The global geometric conductivity matrix is assembled once in this process from the element geometric conductivity matrices. The objective function presented in this work maximizes the temperature at the critical locations. For this study, the critical locations are the location of the pipes.

A three-dimensional, transient thermal simulation is developed based upon the optimized configuration for the soil. The monthly mean diurnal ambient air temperature variations for the months in the Northeast United States representing winter and summer are implemented in this study along with typical solar loading for each season. The results are presented for both a baseline homogeneous soil configuration and the optimized configuration. The results illustrate the benefits of an optimized soil configuration to maximize performance.
Fuel Swelling and Creep Analysis for a MURR LEU U-10Mo Monolithic Plate
Authors: Mohamed Walid , Roh Hee Seok , Stillman John , Wilson Erik
Published: December 2019

U-10Mo monolithic fuel is considered for the conversion of the US High Performance Research and Test Reactors (USHPRR) from high enriched uranium (HEU) to high density low enrichment uranium (LEU) fuel. The monolithic fuel plates are comprised of high density LEU-10Mo fuel core sandwiched between zirconium diffusion barrier interlayers and encapsulated in an aluminum alloy cladding. The conversion of the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR), one of the USHPRR fleet, from the use of HEU to LEU is currently in progress. Preliminary safety analysis for the conversion of MURR assumes maximum increase in plate thickness of about 0.1 mm due to irradiation effects. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to model the thermo-mechanical behavior of a MURR LEU-10Mo monolithic plate under typical irradiation conditions in the LEU core. The maximum increase of the plate thickness was determined considering various combinations of swelling correlations and coefficient of creep rate. Analysis of the displacement profiles showed that maximum displacement along the plate thickness direction occurs at the same location in all cases. For any of the swelling correlations considered in this work, the lowest creep rate coefficient, 5 (× 10−25 cm3/MPa-fission), was found to cause larger outboard displacement. The maximum increase in plate thickness was found not to exceed 0.083 mm with a combination of fuel creep coefficient in the range between 750 and 250 (× 10−25 cm3/MPa-fission) and the the 95% UCL of the most conservative U-10Mo correlation available to describe fuel swelling.
Increasing the performance of active noise control systems on ground with two vertical reflecting surfaces with an included angle
Authors: Zhong Jiaxin , Tao Jiancheng , Qiu Xiaojun
Published: December 2019

This paper investigates the feasibility of increasing the noise reduction performance of active noise control (ANC) systems on ground by introducing two vertical reflecting surfaces with an included angle. By using the image source method, the theory of sound wave propagation in a wedge-shaped reflector and the integral equation method, the noise reduction of the ANC systems with two infinitely large or finite size reflecting surfaces with different included angles are studied. It is demonstrated that the noise reduction of the system can be increased significantly with two reflecting surfaces after optimizing their included angle and size. The simple empirical formulas for the optimal included angle of the surfaces and the noise reduction are presented. It is found that the noise reduction at 500 Hz increases by 13.6 dB when two vertical reflecting surfaces are arranged with an optimal angle of 125° and the source distance is 0.1 m. By optimizing the size of the reflecting surfaces to about 0.35 of the wavelength, the noise reduction can be further increased by approximately 2.8 dB. The mechanisms for the performance improvement are disclosed, and the experiments are conducted to validate the results.
Analysis of the Topology and Active-Site Residues of WbbF, a Putative O-Polysaccharide Synthase from Salmonella enterica Serovar Borreze
Authors: Wear Samantha S. , Hunt Brittany A. , Clarke Bradley R. , Whitfield Chris
Published: December 2019

Glycosyltransferases play a critical role in the synthesis of a wide variety of bacterial polysaccharides. These include O-antigenic polysaccharides, which form the distal component of lipopolysaccharides and provide a protective barrier important for survival and host-pathogen interactions. Synthases are a subset of glycosyltransferases capable of coupled synthesis and export of glycans. Currently, the O:54 antigen of
Salmonella enterica
serovar Borreze involves the only example of an O-polysaccharide synthase, and its generation of a lipid-linked product differentiates it from classical synthases. Here, we explore features conserved in the O:54 enzyme and classical synthases to shed light on the structure and function of the unusual O:54 enzyme.
Multicentric Evaluation of the Bio-Evolution Toxoplasma gondii Assay for the Detection ofToxoplasmaDNA in Immunocompromised Patients
Authors: Ammar Nawel Ait , Yera Hélène , Bigot Jeanne , Botterel Françoise , Hennequin Christophe , Guitard Juliette
Published: December 2019

PCR-based methods are a key tool for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients. Laboratory-developed protocols lack standardization. This study aimed to assess the performances of a commercial kit for the detection ofToxoplasmaDNA in different specimens drawn from immunocompromised patients.
A Model for an Intensive Hands-On Faculty Development Workshop To Foster Change in Laboratory Teaching
Authors: Beck Christopher W. , Blumer Lawrence S.
Published: December 2019

Faculty development workshops are frequently used to bring about change in faculty teaching. Yet, the characteristics of successful faculty professional development in the context of laboratory teaching are unclear. In this Perspective, we describe our approach to intensive hands-on faculty development workshops for fostering change in laboratory teaching and present evidence for the effectiveness of the approach. The outcomes from our workshops and feedback from past participants support the following recommendations: 1) faculty should attend workshops in teams from their institutions, 2) workshops should allow participants to develop curricula that can be implemented with relatively little additional work after the workshop, 3) workshops should allow faculty time to “work” on tangible products and should involve hands-on activities, 4) workshops should be of sufficient duration to allow for faculty to develop expertise and tangible products but short enough that faculty do not “burn out,” and 5) a structure for ongoing and systematic follow-up with participants is essential.
Expression of the Conserved Herpesvirus Protein Kinase (CHPK) of Marek’s Disease Alphaherpesvirus in the Skin Reveals a Mechanistic Importance for CHPK during Interindividual Spread in Chickens
Authors: Krieter Andrea , Ponnuraj Nagendraprabhu , Jarosinski Keith W.
Published: December 2019

Marek’s disease in chickens is caused by
Gallid alphaherpesvirus
2, better known as Marek’s disease alphaherpesvirus (MDV). Current vaccines only reduce tumor formation but do not block interindividual spread from chicken to chicken. Understanding MDV interindividual spread provides important information for the development of potential therapies to protect against Marek’s disease while also providing a reliable natural host in order to study herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis in animals. Here, we studied the conserved
Herpesviridae
protein kinase (CHPK) in cell culture and during infection in chickens. We determined that MDV CHPK is not required for cell-to-cell spread, for disease induction, and for oncogenicity. However, it is required for interindividual spread, and mutation of the invariant lysine (K170) results in stability issues and aberrant expression in chickens. This study is important because it addresses the critical role CHPK orthologs play in the natural host.
Rousette Bat Dendritic Cells Overcome Marburg Virus-Mediated Antiviral Responses by Upregulation of Interferon-Related Genes While Downregulating Proinflammatory Disease Mediators
Authors: Prescott Joseph , Guito Jonathan C. , Spengler Jessica R. , Arnold Catherine E. , Schuh Amy J. , Amman Brian R. , Sealy Tara K. , Guerrero Lisa W. , Palacios Gustavo F. , Sanchez-Lockhart Mariano , Albariño Cesar G. , Towner Jonathan S.
Published: December 2019

Marburg viruses (MARVs) cause severe human disease resulting from aberrant immune responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) are primary targets of infection and are dysregulated by MARV. Dysregulation of DCs facilitates MARV replication and virus dissemination and influences downstream immune responses that result in immunopathology. Egyptian rousette bats (ERBs) are natural reservoirs of MARV, and infection results in virus replication and shedding, with asymptomatic control of the virus within weeks. The mechanisms that bats employ to appropriately respond to infection while avoiding disease are unknown. Because DC infection and modulation are important early events in human disease, we measured the transcriptional responses of ERB DCs to MARV. The significance of this work is in identifying cell type-specific coevolved responses between ERBs and MARV, which gives insight into how bat reservoirs are able to harbor MARV and permit viral replication, allowing transmission and maintenance in the population while simultaneously preventing immunopathogenesis.
Cohort profile: The Observational cohort for the study of DOlutegravir in Antiretroviral Combination REgimens (ODOACRE)
Authors: Ciccullo Arturo , Baldin Gianmaria , Capetti Amedeo , Borghi Vanni , Sterrantino Gaetana , Latini Alessandra , Madeddu Giordano , Celani Luigi , Vignale Francesca , Rossetti Barbara , Dusina Alex , Cossu Maria Vittoria , Restelli Sibilla , Gennari William , Lagi Filippo , Giacomelli Andrea , Colafigli Manuela , Brescini Lucia , Borghetti Alberto , Mussini Cristina , Rusconi Stefano , Di Giambenedetto Simona
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The Observational cohort for the study of DOlutegravir in Antiretroviral Combination REgimens (ODOACRE) cohort was established in Italy in 2016 to evaluate the overall efficacy and tolerability of dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral (ARV) regimens in clinical practice.

Participants

The ODOACRE cohort enrols all adult HIV-1-infected patients, both treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced, starting a DTG-based ARV regimen, in 11 clinical centres in Italy from 2014.

Findings to date

In recent years, various works by the ODOACRE cohort have been produced, demonstrating the high efficacy and tolerability of DTG-based ARV regimens in clinical practice, both in ART-naïve (in the setting of acute HIV-1 infection and late presenters patient) and experienced patients. We confirmed the virological efficacy of DTG-based regimens and we evaluated predictors of virological failure. We investigated cause of discontinuation and evaluated tolerability and metabolic profile of the regimens. Within these investigations, we explored particularly the use of DTG in simplification in two-drug regimen with either rilpivirine or lamivudine. We also compared DTG-based regimens with other integrase inhibitors in clinical practice.

Future plans

To continue to study long-term efficacy and tolerability of DTG-based regimens is the purpose of the ODOACRE cohort.
Development of a core outcome set for myocardial infarction in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine: a study protocol
Authors: Qiu Ruijin , Zhong Changming , Han Songjie , He Tianmai , Huang Ya , Guan Manke , Hu Jiayuan , Li Min , Lin Yiyi , Chen Jing , Shang Hongcai
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most dangerous complication in patients with coronary heart disease. In China, there is an increasing number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating MI. However, the inconsistency of outcome reporting means that a large number of clinical trials cannot be included in systematic reviews to provide the best evidence for clinical practice. The aim of this study is to develop a core outcome set (COS) for future TCM clinical trials of MI, which may improve the consistency of outcome reporting and facilitate the synthesis of data across studies in systematic reviews.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a systematic review of MI clinical trials with any intervention. Semistructured interviews will be conducted to obtain the perspectives of patients with MI. The outcomes from the systematic review and semistructured interviews will be grouped and used to develop a questionnaire. The questionnaire will be developed as a supplement for the TCM syndromes of MI and will be constructed from the results of a systematic review, existing medical records and a cross-sectional study. Then two rounds of the Delphi survey will be conducted with different stakeholders (TCM experts and Western medicine experts in cardiovascular disease, methodologists, magazine editors and patients) to determine the importance of the outcomes. Only the TCM experts will need to response to the questionnaire for core TCM syndromes. A face-to-face consensus meeting will be conducted to create a final COS and recommend measurement time for each outcome.

Ethics and dissemination

This project has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The final COS will be published and freely available.

Trial registration number

This study is registered with the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials database as study 1243 (available at:http://www.comet-initiative.org/studies/details/1243).
Demonstrating the value of postgraduate fellowships for physicians in quality improvement and patient safety
Authors: Myers Jennifer S , Lane-Fall Meghan Brooks , Perfetti Ross H , Humphrey Kate , Sato Luke , Shaw Kathy N , Taylor April M , Tess Anjala
Published: December 2019

Background

Academic fellowships in quality improvement (QI) and patient safety (PS) have emerged as one strategy to fill a need for physicians who possess this expertise. The authors aimed to characterise the impact of two such programmes on the graduates and their value to the institutions in which they are housed.

Methods

In 2018, a qualitative study of two US QIPS postgraduate fellowship programmes was conducted. Graduates’ demographics and titles were collected from programme files,while perspectives of the graduates and their institutional mentors were collected through individual interviews and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty-eight out of 31 graduates (90%) and 16 out of 17 (94%) mentors participated in the study across both institutions. At a median of 3 years (IQR 2–4) postgraduation, QIPS fellowship programme graduates’ effort distribution was: 50% clinical care (IQR 30–61.8), 48% QIPS administration (IQR 20–60), 28% QIPS research (IQR 17.5–50) and 15% education (7.1–30.4). 68% of graduates were hired in the health system where they trained. Graduates described learning the requisite hard and soft skills to succeed in QIPS roles. Mentors described the impact of the programme on patient outcomes and increasing the acceptability of the field within academic medicine culture.

Conclusion

Graduates from two QIPS fellowship programmes and their mentors perceive programmatic benefits related to individual career goal attainment and institutional impact. The results and conceptual framework presented here may be useful to other academic medical centres seeking to develop fellowships for advanced physician training programmes in QIPS.
Using end-user feedback to optimize the design of the Versius Surgical System, a new robot-assisted device for use in minimal access surgery
Authors: Hares Luke , Roberts Paul , Marshall Keith , Slack Mark
Published: December 2019

Background

Robot-assisted minimal access surgery (MAS) reduces blood loss, recovery time, intraoperative and postoperative complications and pain. However, uptake of robotic MAS remains low, suggesting there are barriers to its use. To overcome these barriers, a new surgical robot system, Versius, was developed based on the needs and feedback of surgeons and surgical teams.

Methods

The surgical robot prototype was designed based on observations in the operating room (OR) and previous interviews with surgeons. Formative studies with surgeons and surgical teams were used to refine the prototype design, resulting in modifications to all components, including the arms, instruments, handgrips and surgeon console. Proof-of-concept cadaver studies were used to further optimize its design by assessing its usability during surgical procedures.

Results

Feedback led to the development of a novel, mobile design with independent arm carts and surgical console, linked by supported serial or parallel connections, providing maximum flexibility in the OR. Instrument tips were developed based on surgeons’ preferred designs and wristed at the tip providing seven degrees of freedom within the patient. Multiple handgrip designs were assessed by surgeons; of these, a ‘game controller’ design was rated most popular and usable. An open surgical console design allowing multiple working positions was rated highest by surgeons and the surgical teams.

Conclusions

This surgical robot system has been developed using feedback from end users throughout the design process and aims to minimize barriers to robotic MAS uptake. Additionally, these studies demonstrate system success in the surgical procedures it was designed for. The studies reported here, and further studies of the Versius Surgical System, are intended to align with IDEAL (Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term study) Framework guidance.
Composite gravitons from metric-independent quantum field theories
Authors: Carone Christopher D.
Published: December 2019

We review some recent works by Carone, Erlich and Vaman on composite gravitons in metric-independent quantum field theories, with the aim of clarifying a number of basic issues. Focusing on a theory of scalar fields presented previously in the literature, we clarify the meaning of the tunings required to obtain a massless graviton. We argue that this formulation can be interpreted as the massless limit of a theory of massive composite gravitons in which the graviton mass term is not of Pauli–Fierz form. We then suggest closely related theories that can be defined without such a limiting procedure (and hence without worry about possible ghosts). Finally, we comment on the importance of finding a compelling ultraviolet completion for models of this type, and discuss some possibilities.
Neighborhood Effects on Children's Development in Experimental and Nonexperimental Research
Authors: Leventhal Tama , Dupéré Veronique
Published: December 2019

Children's neighborhood contexts are defined by rising socioeconomic inequality and segregation. This article reviews several decades of research on how neighborhood socioeconomic conditions are associated with children's development. The nonexperimental literature suggests that the most salient neighborhood socioeconomic condition depends on the outcome—disadvantage for social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes and advantage for achievement-related outcomes. Moreover, children's cumulative exposure to neighborhood socioeconomic conditions over the first two decades of life, and possibly especially in childhood, may matter most for later development. These findings are partially supported by the few experimental studies available, and across study designs, neighborhood effects are typically modest. In order to improve our understanding of this topic, we recommend methodologically rigorous designs—experimental and nonexperimental—and comparative approaches, particularly ones addressing the complexities of development in neighborhood contexts. To guide this research, we provide an integrated framework that captures a broad and dynamic perspective including macro forces, neighborhood social processes and resources, physical features, spatial dynamics, and individual differences.
Technological Innovation, Intangible Capital, and Asset Prices
Authors: Kogan Leonid , Papanikolaou Dimitris
Published: December 2019

We review research on the asset pricing implications of models with innovation and intangible capital. In these models, technological innovation shocks propagate differently than standard total factor productivity shocks—and therefore have qualitatively distinct asset pricing implications. We discuss recent approaches to measuring intangible capital and innovation, many of which rely on the prices of financial securities. Last, we review models that explore the economic differences between intangible and innovation relative to other forms of investments—focusing on the role of human capital and cash-flow appropriability.
Rapid analytical instrumentation for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements
Authors: hu yuan , Brahim Sean , Maat Stefan , Davies Patricia , Kundu Arpan , Fisher Timothy
Published: December 2019

This work reports a low-cost custom electrochemical instrument capable of performing rapid and accurate electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for supercapacitors over a broad frequency band (10 mHz to 2 kHz). Conventionally, EIS is measured via sinusoidal perturbations; however, such an approach suffers from lengthy measurement time. Chirp signals have been shown previously to reduce EIS measurement time for supercapacitors for relative narrow frequency bands (1 Hz to 2 kHz). However, to characterize supercapacitors comprehensively, much broader frequency bands are required. Here, we present a custom instrument with an adaptive measurement algorithm for performing EIS measurements in a wide frequency range of 10 mHz to 2 kHz with low measurement uncertainties. The results obtained using this new technique has been validated here with a commercial instrument on several types of supercapacitors. Furthermore, measurement time on average decreases from 1500 s to less than 400 s. The overall cost of the custom instrument is 90% lower as compared to the commercial instrument. The custom instrument's accuracy, time efficiency and low cost are expected to benefit electrochemical researchers.
Role of Grb10 in mTORC1-dependent regulation of insulin signaling and action in human skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Edick Ashlin M. , Auclair Olivia , Burgos Sergio A.
Published: December 2019

Growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (Grb10) is an adaptor protein that binds to the insulin receptor, upon which insulin signaling and action are thought to be inhibited. Grb10 is also a substrate for the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) that mediates its feedback inhibition on phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling. To characterize the function of Grb10 and its regulation by mTORC1 in human muscle, primary skeletal muscle cells were isolated from healthy lean young men and then induced to differentiate into myotubes. Knockdown of Grb10 enhanced insulin-induced PI3K/Akt signaling and glucose uptake in myotubes, reinforcing the notion underlying its function as a negative regulator of insulin action in human muscle. The increased insulin responsiveness in Grb10-silenced myotubes was associated with a higher abundance of the insulin receptor. Furthermore, insulin and amino acids independently and additively stimulated phosphorylation of Grb10 at Ser476. However, acute inhibition of mTORC1 with rapamycin blocked Grb10 Ser476 phosphorylation and repressed a negative-feedback loop on PI3K/Akt signaling that increased myotube responsiveness to insulin. Chronic rapamycin treatment reduced Grb10 protein abundance in conjunction with increased insulin receptor protein levels. Based on these findings, we propose that mTORC1 controls PI3K/Akt signaling through modulation of insulin receptor abundance by Grb10. These findings have potential implications for obesity-linked insulin resistance, as well as clinical use of mTORC1 inhibitors.
Combined overexpression of SIRT1 and knockout of GCN5 in adult skeletal muscle does not affect glucose homeostasis or exercise performance in mice
Authors: Svensson Kristoffer , Tahvilian Shahriar , Martins Vitor F. , Dent Jessica R. , Lemanek Adrianna , Barooni Neeka , Greyslak Keenan , McCurdy Carrie E. , Schenk Simon
Published: December 2019

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and general control of amino acid synthesis 5 (GCN5) regulate mitochondrial biogenesis via opposing modulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) acetylation status and activity. However, the combined contribution of SIRT1 and GCN5 to skeletal muscle metabolism and endurance performance in vivo is unknown. In this study, we investigated the impact of combined skeletal muscle-specific overexpression of SIRT1 and deletion of GCN5 on glucose homeostasis, skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and function, and metabolic adaptation to endurance exercise training in mice. We generated mice with combined and tamoxifen-inducible skeletal muscle-specific overexpression of SIRT1 and knockout of GCN5 (dTG) and floxed [wild type (WT)] littermates using a Cre-LoxP approach. All mice were treated with tamoxifen at 5–6 wk of age, and 4–7 wk later glucose homeostasis, skeletal muscle contractile function, mitochondrial function, and the effects of 14 days of voluntary wheel running on expression of metabolic proteins and exercise capacity were assessed. There was no difference in oral glucose tolerance, skeletal muscle contractile function, mitochondrial abundance, or maximal respiratory capacity between dTG and WT mice. Additionally, there were no genotype differences in exercise performance and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis after 14 days of voluntary wheel running. These results demonstrate that combined overexpression of SIRT1 and loss of GCN5 in vivo does not promote metabolic remodeling in skeletal muscle of sedentary or exercise-trained mice.
Effects of Traditional Kampo Drugs and Their Constituent Crude Drugs on Influenza Virus Replication In Vitro: Suppression of Viral Protein Synthesis by Glycyrrhizae Radix
Authors: Nomura Toshihito , Fukushi Masaya , Oda Kosuke , Higashiura Akifumi , Irie Takashi , Sakaguchi Takemasa
Published: December 2019

An influenza virus epidemic is an important issue in public hygiene, and continuous development on an effective drug is required. Kampo medicine is a traditional medicine that is used clinically for treatment of various diseases in Japan and other East Asian countries. We evaluated the effects of the Kampo drugs maoto, kakkonto, senkyuchachosan, jinkokato, and bakumondoto, which are prescribed for treatment of respiratory symptoms including symptoms caused by influenza, on influenza virus replication in cultured cells. Culture media of influenza virus-infected MDCK(+) cells were tested for hemagglutination and infectivity at 24 h after the addition of Kampo drugs at various concentrations, and four of the five Kampo drugs were found to inhibit virus release to the culture media. These drugs inactivated virus infectivity not by acting on virus particles but by acting on virus-infected cells. In addition, when six crude drugs (Atractylodis lanceae rhizome, Citri unshiu pericarpium, Cnidii rhizome, Glycyrrhizae radix, Rehmanniae radix, and Saposhnikoviae radix) that constitute the effective Kampo drugs were examined, the strongest activity was found for Glycyrrhizae radix (IC50 = 0.27 mg/ml), which selectively suppressed viral protein synthesis. Since Glycyrrhizae radix is contained in many Kampo drugs, it may give anti-influenza virus activity to a broad range of Kampo drugs.
Removal of Fluoride from Drinking Water by Sorption Using Diatomite Modified with Aluminum Hydroxide
Authors: Akafu Tesfaye , Chimdi Achalu , Gomoro Kefyalew
Published: December 2019

Exposure to fluoride beyond the recommended level for longer duration causes both dental and skeletal fluorosis. Thus, the development of cost-effective, locally available, and environmentally benign adsorbents for fluoride removal from contaminated water sources is absolutely required. In the present study, diatomaceous earth (diatomite) locally available in Ethiopia, modified by treating it with an aluminum hydroxide solution, was used as an adsorbent for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions. Adsorption experiments were carried out by using batch contact method. The adsorbent was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy. Effects of different parameters affecting efficiency of fluoride removal such as adsorbent dose, contact time, initial fluoride concentration, and pH were investigated and optimized. The optimum adsorbent dose, contact time, initial fluoride concentration, and pH values were 25 g/L, 180 min, 10 mg/L, and 6.7, respectively. The performance of the adsorbent was also tested under optimum conditions using groundwater samples taken from Hawassa and Ziway. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to describe the equilibrium data. Compared to Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.888), the Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.985) model was better fitted to describe the adsorption characteristics of fluoride on Al-diatomite. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity was 1.67 mg/g. The pseudosecond-order model was found to be more suitable than the pseudofirst-order to describe the adsorption kinetics. The low correlation coefficient value ofR2 = 0.596 for the intraparticle diffusion model indicates that the intraparticle diffusion model does not apply to the present studied adsorption system. The maximum fluoride removal was observed to be 89.4% under the optimum conditions which indicated that aluminum hydroxide-modified diatomite can be used as efficient, cheap, and ecofriendly adsorbents for the removal of fluoride from contaminated water.