bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data Mining Approach for Estimating Residential Attic Thermal Resistance From Aerial Thermal Imagery, Utility Data, and Housing Data
Authors: Alshatshati Salahaldin F. , Hallinan Kevin P. , Arlobaian Abdulrahman , Altarhuni Badr , Naji Adel
Published: August 2017

Conventional residential building energy auditing needed to identify opportunities for energy savings is expensive and time consuming. On-site energy audits require quantification of envelope R-values, air and duct leakage, and heating and cooling system efficiencies. There is a need to advance lower cost automated approaches, which could include aerial and drive-by thermal imaging at-scale in an effort to measure the building R-value. However, single-point in time thermal images are generally qualitative, subject to errors stemming from building dynamics, background radiation, wind speed variation, night sky thermal radiation, and error in extracting temperature estimates from thermal images from surfaces with generally unknown emissivity. This work proposes two alternative approaches for estimating roof R-values from thermal imaging, one a physics based approach and the other a data-mining based approach. Both approaches employ aerial visual imagery to estimate the roof emissivity based on the color and type of roofing material, from which the temperature of the envelope can be estimated. The physics-based approach employs a dynamic energy model of the envelope with unknown R-value and thermal capacitance. These are tuned in order to predict the measured surface temperature at the time of the imaging, given the transient weather conditions prior to the imaging. The data-mining approach integrates the inferred temperature measurement, historical utility data, and easily accessible or potentially easily accessible housing data. A data mining regression model, trained from this data using residences with known R-values, is used to predict the roof R-value in the unknown houses. The data mining approach was shown to be a far superior approach, demonstrating an ability to estimate attic/roof R-value with an r-squared value of greater than 0.88 using as few as nine training houses. The implication of this research is significant, offering the possibility of auditing residences remotely at-scale via aerial and drive-by thermal imaging coupled with utility analysis.
Stabilizing the Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste for Biomethane Production
Authors: Hegde Swati , Win Shwe Sin , Trabold Thomas A.
Published: August 2017

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a viable method for conversion of food waste and other organic materials into methane-rich biogas. However, when used at high organic loading rates, using only food waste can lead to an unstable process. Process instability is indicated by frequent changes in pH, and increase in ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentration. These uncontrolled changes combined with over-production of organic acids can inhibit biogas production and ultimately lead to digester failure. Therefore, certain co-substrates produced as wastes in the regional food sector were tested as stabilizing agents for food waste digestion with an objective of achieving stable non-manure based digestion. The substrates tested were acid whey, bread, manure, caffeinated drink, paper napkins and apple pomace. The biogas production was increased by 12% in reactors containing bread, by 10% with acid whey, and by 12% when the co-substrate was caffeinated drink. The reactors containing paper and manure showed decreased biogas production by 6% and 12% respectively, but these changes are relatively small and thus not considered inhibitory. Co-digestion with apple pomace was found to be inhibitory and resulted in digester failure. This initial study has demonstrated that the stability of AD systems may be improved by strategically combining available food waste feedstocks.
Design of Particle-Based Thermal Energy Storage for a Concentrating Solar Power System
Authors: Ma Zhiwen , Zhang Ruichong , Sawaged Fadi
Published: August 2017

Solid particles can operate at higher temperature than current molten salt or oil, and they can be a heat-transfer and storage medium in a concentrating solar power (CSP) system. By using inexpensive solid particles and containment material for thermal energy storage (TES), the particle-TES cost can be significantly lower than other TES methods such as a nitrate-salt system. The particle-TES system can hold hot particles at more than 800°C with high thermal performance. The high particle temperatures increase the temperature difference between the hot and cold particles, and they improve the TES capacity. The particle-based CSP system is able to support high-efficiency power generation, such as the supercritical carbon-dioxide Brayton power cycle, to achieve >50% thermal-electric conversion efficiency. This paper describes a solid particle-TES system that integrates into a CSP plant. The hot particles discharge to a heat exchanger to drive the power cycle. The returning cold particles circulate through a particle receiver to absorb solar heat and charge the TES. This paper shows the design of a particle-TES system including containment silos, foundation, silo insulation, and particle materials. The analysis provides results for four TES capacities and two silo configurations. The design analysis indicates that the system can achieve high thermal efficiency, storage effectiveness (i.e., percentage usage of the hot particles), and exergetic efficiency. An insulation method for the hot silo was considered. The particle-TES system can achieve high performance and low cost, and it holds potential for next-generation CSP technology.
Intelligent Approaches for Modeling and Optimizing HVAC Systems’ Energy Use
Authors: Tesiero Raymond C. , Nassif Nabil , Gokaraju Balakrishna , Doss Daniel Adrian
Published: August 2017

Advanced energy management control systems (EMCS), or building automation systems (BAS), offer an excellent means of reducing energy consumption in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems while maintaining and improving indoor environmental conditions. This can be achieved through the use of computational intelligence and optimization. This paper evaluates model-based optimization processes (OP) for HVAC systems utilizing any computer algebra system (CAS), genetic algorithms and self-learning or self-tuning models (STM), which minimizes the error between measured and predicted performance data. The OP can be integrated into the EMCS to perform several intelligent functions achieving optimal system performance. The development of several self-learning HVAC models and optimizing the process (minimizing energy use) is tested using data collected from an actual HVAC system.

Using this optimization process (OP), the optimal variable set points (OVSP), such as supply air temperature (Ts), supply duct static pressure (Ps), chilled water supply temperature (Tw), minimum outdoor ventilation, and chilled water differential pressure set-point (Dpw) are optimized with respect to energy use of the HVAC’s cooling side including the chiller, pump, and fan. The optimized set point variables minimize energy use and maintain thermal comfort incorporating ASHRAE’s new ventilation standard 62.1-2013.

This research focuses primarily with: on-line, self-tuning, optimization process (OLSTOP); HVAC design principles; and control strategies within a building automation system (BAS) controller. The HVAC controller will achieve the lowest energy consumption of the cooling side while maintaining occupant comfort by performing and prioritizing the appropriate actions. The program’s algorithms analyze multiple variables (humidity, pressure, temperature, CO2, etc.) simultaneously at key locations throughout the HVAC system (pumps, cooling coil, chiller, fan, etc.) to reach the function’s objective, which is the lowest energy consumption while maintaining occupancy comfort.
A Novel Coal Gasification System Through Thermochemical Regenerative Process of Syngas Sensible Heat to Enhance Cold Gas Efficiency
Authors: Wang Dandan , Li Sheng , Gao Lin
Published: August 2017

In this paper, a novel coal gasification technology used for Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants is proposed, in which a regenerative unit is applied to recover syngas sensible heat to generate steam and then the high temperature steam is used to gasify coke from pyrolyzer. Through such a thermochemical regenerative unit, the sensible heat with lower energy level is upgraded into syngas chemical energy with higher energy level, and therefore a higher cold gas efficiency (CGE) is expected. The Aspen Plus Software is selected to simulate the novel coal gasification system. Then the exergy and Energy-Utilization Diagram (EUD) analyses are applied to disclose the plant performance enhancement mechanism. It reveals that 83.2% of syngas sensible heat can be recovered into steam agent and so the CGE is upgraded to 90%. And with the enhancement of CGE, the efficiency of an IGCC plant based on the novel gasification system can be as high as 51.82%, showing a significant improvement compared to 45.2% in a Texaco coal gasification based plant. At the same time, the exergy destruction of gasification process is reduced from 132.5MW to 98.4MW through thermochemical reactions. Lift of accepted energy level (Aea), and decrease of released energy level (Aed) and heat absorption (ΔH) contribute to the exergy destruction reduction in the gasification process. Additionally, since oxygen agent is no longer used in the IGCC, 34.5MW exergy loss in the air separation unit is avoided. Thereby the novel coal gasification technology proposed in this paper has a good thermodynamic performance and may provide a quite promising way for high efficient and clean coal utilization.
Numerical Analysis of Centrifugal Pumps Running in Turbine Mode Under Dynamic Operating Conditions
Authors: De Rose Vincenzo , Martelli Francesca , Milani Massimo , Montorsi Luca
Published: August 2017

The use of pumps as turbines (PAT) has gained importance in the recent years as a possible alternative to specifically developed turbine for mini/micro hydropower plants. The use of production pump for hydropower generation reduces the capital cost of the plant but the energy conversion efficiency can be remarkably lower.

The paper analyses the performance of a production centrifugal pump running both in direct and reverse mode. The analysis calculates theoretically the behavior of the PAT under the best efficiency point and extends the investigation to other operating points using both a combined theoretical approach and CFD simulation under dynamic conditions.

The effects of possible modifications to the initial design of the pump are investigated when running in turbine mode and their influence on the standard pump operation is also determined.

Numerical simulation demonstrates that the impeller trimming leads to improvement in the PAT efficiency in some operating conditions. Conversely, the rotational speeds close to the values typical for the electric generator reduce the PAT performance. Finally, the modification of the impeller geometry at the turbine inlet increases the PAT efficiency but lowers the performance of the machine when running in pump mode.
Analytical Evaluation of Heat Flow Pattern in Biodiesel Operated Engine Cylinder
Authors: Nwaiwu Chidiebere , Nwaigwe Kevin , Ogueke Nnamdi
Published: August 2017

There has been a global search for alternative fuels that are environmentally friendly to replace and or compliment the conventional fossil fuels used in running engines. This is in line with the global action to reduce CO2 emissions hence ameliorating the effect of climate change. Biodiesel fuels have been adjudged to be clean energy with minimal environmental pollution during combustion. Hence, biodiesel fuels for running compression ignition engines have been developed from various feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fat, and waste or used cooking oils. The properties of these biodiesels have been reported to be dependent on the feedstock type and therefore vary according to the source feedstock. In carrying out this present study on the effects of utilising biodiesel fuel on the compression ignition engine, a numerical study of temperature distribution in the cylinder liner of biodiesel-powered compression ignition engine is presented. Biodiesel produced from palm kernel oil is used. Eight nodes in the cylinder liner spanning the top section of the liner, midpoint and the interface between the liner and the block were used as data source as it is established that sharp-edged points are most likely regions for thermal stress. Of the eight nodes selected, four were edge nodes and the other four were nodes at the interface with varying conditions. Model equations used for the study were developed and subsequently transformed using the finite difference method. Numerical solutions were obtained from computer codes written in MATLAB programming language. The obtained results from this code were compared to results obtained from commercial software (ANSYS FLUENT) for same geometry and boundary conditions. Results on the cylinder liner showed steady state temperatures were reached in about five minutes using both the MATLAB code and ANSYS FLUENT and both results showed a similar trend of temperature distribution in the radial direction. However, the MATLAB code showed higher temperatures at the upper section of the liner material as compared to the midpoint of the liner whereas ANSYS FLUENT showed the midpoint section to possess maximum temperatures as compared to the cylinder head section. Both results agree with the lower section having least temperature distribution. Further analyses were carried out on the midpoint of the cylinder and the cylinder head section and factors responsible for the discrepancies discussed. The outcome of this study presents palm kernel based biodiesel as an alternative fuel in cylinder engines while highlighting sections of the engine that require design attention in terms of heat flux and engine stability.
An Investigation of a Novel Structure Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cell for Concentrated Solar Power
Authors: Radwan Ali , Emam Mohamed , Elzoheiry Radwan M. , Ahmed Mahmoud
Published: August 2017

To achieve reliable and efficient operation of generic polycrystalline silicon solar cell under concentrated sunlight, a novel structure of the cell layers is proposed along with effective cooling technique using microchannel heat sink (MCHS). In the novel structure, Boron Nitride with the volume fraction of 20%, 40%, and 60% as a filler is incorporated in the Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) matrix to form a new composite. The new composite is used instead of the conventional EVA layer in the solar cell. Various solar cell structures integrated with MCHS are studied and compared with the conventional structure. To determine the performance of the developed concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) system, a comprehensive three-dimensional model of the solar cell with heat sink is developed. The model is numerically simulated and validated. Based on the validated results, it is found that the novel structure with EVA-60% BN composite along with aluminum foil back sheet attains 30% increase in the gained solar cell electric power with 10.9 % reduction in the cell temperature compared with the conventional solar cell structure at the same cooling mass flow rate of 50 g/min and concentration ratio of 20. However at CR = 20, Vw = 1m/s and Ta = 30°C a significant damage of the conventional solar cell structure will occurs if no effective cooling technique is used. Moreover, the developed design of solar cell achieves a higher CPVT-system thermal efficiency compared with the conventional one.
A Novel Photovoltaic Module With Cell Strands That Track the Sun
Authors: Diong Bill , Carlsen Wesley , Avit Brian , McFall Kevin , Tippens Scott
Published: August 2017

The goal of a recent study was to design, and determine the effectiveness of, a fixed-tilt solar panel module that contains strands of photovoltaic cells, which are rotated by a very small motor to track the sun. The motivation was that such a configuration enjoys the advantage of increased energy collection over static solar panels due to sun tracking ability, while it mitigates some key difficulties associated with stabilizing and rotating bulky panels as current active and passive tracking systems need to do. Most critically, such a module allows the benefits of sun tracking to be reaped by sloped roof panel installations, which at present almost always consist of fixed-tilt solar panels rather than rotating tracking panels. The study’s result is an active tracking system design in a fixed-tilt module configuration that generated over 10% more daily energy typically, during the test period, compared to a static panel, thus substantially offsetting its added complexity and higher initial cost.
Optimization Design of Composite Wind Turbine Blades Integrating Lightning Strike Analysis
Authors: Hu Weifei , Wang Yeqing
Published: August 2017

This paper presents an optimization procedure which integrates lightning strike analysis into design reliable and economical composite wind turbine blades. A high-fidelity 5-MW composite wind turbine blade is applied into the lightning strike analysis and the optimization procedure under four different lightning severity levels. The lightning-strike-induced electric field along the wind turbine blade at the top vertical position is calculated using finite element analysis. The dielectric breakdown strength of the composite wind turbine blade is considered as a function of laminate thickness. The lightning safety ratio is then calculated as the ratio between the dielectric breakdown strength and the magnitude of the lightning-strike-induced electric field. Subjected to the lightning constraints and fatigue constraints, the optimization procedure minimizes the total composite material cost by fine-tuning the laminate thickness design variables of the blade model. Both the lightning strike analysis and the optimization results indicate that the blade tip is the most vulnerable region against lightning strike damage. The obtained optimum designs under the four lightning severity levels increase the lightning safety ratio by 36% – 45% and increase the fatigue life more than 15 times compared with the initial blade design.
Development of a Fiber-Optic Hybrid Day-Lighting System for Mobile Shelter Applications
Authors: Lawless Sean , Gorthala Ravi
Published: August 2017

This paper discusses a Fiber-Optic Hybrid Day-Lighting system that can cut energy consumed by buildings for lighting significantly. This system is designed for mobile applications such as military shelters. The system is comprised of two primary components: the solar collector and the Solar Hybrid Lighting Fixture. The first component, the solar collector, consists of a housing, structural stand, a dual axis tracking system, Fresnel Lenses, secondary optics, and fiber-optic cables. The collector is integrated into a dual-axis tracker, which is then mounted on a tripod. The tripod can be staked into the ground and weighed down to protect the system from any wind loading and the collector height can be adjusted so that there is no shading of the collector by nearby structures. The collector with an aluminum housing holds eight 10-inch diameter Fresnel Lenses that focus sunlight onto eight secondary optics based on TIR (total internal reflection) which filter UV/IR and deliver uniform light to the fiber-optic cables. The secondary optic is coupled to the fiber-optic cable with index matching gel so that Fresnel reflection losses are minimized. The solar collector tracks the sun’s movement through the day with a dual-axis tracker (azimuth/tilt), ensuring the light is concentrated into the fiber-optic cables. The optics has been designed to have a high half-acceptance of 1.75° and can accommodate a tracking accuracy of 1.50° or better.

The opposite end of the fiber-optic cable attaches to the second part of the Day-Lighting system, the Solar Hybrid Light Fixture (SHLF). The SHLF comprises of two lighting systems: 1) a solar fiber-optic system and 2) an LED system. The fiber-optic cable is coupled to an acrylic light diffusing rod that evenly delivers the light into the room. During sunny periods, depending on the length of the cable, solar fiber-optic lighting could provide full illumination of the space. In order to keep lighting uniform even during fluctuations of the light output from the sun during cloudy periods, the LED portion of the light will allow for constant lighting at a lower power consumption. The LED lighting has dimming capabilities due to a photosensor that regulates the light output of the LEDs based on how much solar light is delivered by the fiber-optic cables. On a typical sunny day with an overall concentration factor of ∼400 from the Fresnel Lens system to the optical fiber, it is possible to generate an output of 2,000 lumens with a 20-foot cable, with each fiber-optic cable experiencing a 1% loss of light per foot of cable. The LED portion of the hybrid light fixture produces about 1,800 lumens as well.
Evaluation of a Prototype Integrated Solar Combined-Cycle Power Plant Using a Linear Fresnel Reflector
Authors: Altmann Fernando , Cheng A. S. (Ed)
Published: August 2017

A computational heat-transfer and thermodynamic-cycle model was developed to evaluate the performance of an integrated solar and combined-cycle power plant using a prototype linear Fresnel reflector. The solar receiver consists of a secondary reflector and single-tube absorber, with a selective surface and glass cover to optimize collector efficiency. The solar integration occurs in the high-pressure steam drum of the heat recovery steam generator, to boost power output when solar energy is available without the need for an auxiliary fossil-fueled boiler or thermal storage. The solar resource and weather data used in the model were for the municipality of Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil.

Results indicated that, over a year, 8.25 GWh of solar thermal energy was provided to the plant, with an incremental power plant output of 2.76 GWh. While these numbers were small relative to baseline power plant operation using only fossil-fuel sources, the utilization of additional solar thermal modules would produce a more significant impact.
Optimal Design of a Distributed Energy Resources System That Minimizes Cost While Reducing Carbon Emissions
Authors: Flores Robert , Brouwer Jack
Published: August 2017

From a practical perspective, economics drive the development of distributed energy resource (DER) systems. However, the adoption of a DER system provides an opportunity for the end user to completely control their environmental footprint. This work examines the process of designing a DER system while controlling carbon emissions. A mixed integer linear program (MILP) for sizing and dispatching a DER system is developed. The MILP includes a novel formulation of constraints that govern utility natural gas, generator operational state, and charging of thermal energy storage. The MILP is executed using real energy demand data for the University of California, Irvine to optimally design a DER system that minimizes cost while also reducing carbon emissions by a specified quantity. Two primary technology scenarios are explored (DER including storage with and without electrical export). A trajectory of DER technology adoption is determined for both technology scenarios. The different operational methods through which each system achieved lower carbon emissions at minimum cost is examined. Finally, the cost to reduce carbon emissions is calculated for both technology scenarios.
Integration of Organic Rankine Cycle and Scroll Expander Models for Effective Design and Performance Using Organic Working Fluids
Authors: Narasimhan Arun Kumar , Wickramaratne Chatura , Kamal Rajeev , Singh Punit , Goswami D. Y.
Published: August 2017

This paper presents the organic Rankine cycle performance comparison of several working fluids with low global warming potential and low ozone depletion potential at several heat source temperatures. At an evaporating temperature of 80°C, maximum first law efficiency of 5.8% was achieved with ammonia, while at 145°C and 180°C, diethyl ether provides the maximum cycle efficiencies of 11.4% and 13% respectively. For the best operating conditions of the ORC model, a suitable two-stage scroll geometry was modeled and its performance was evaluated. Stage I and stage II scroll geometries with volume ratios of 5.3 each were modeled for the supply conditions of 180°C and 2.6 MPa. The geometries provided a combined shaft work of 8.7 kW at combined expander efficiency of 89% accounting for the losses due to the leakage in the expander.
Numerical Evaluation of Novel Particle Release Patterns in High-Temperature Falling Particle Receivers
Authors: Mills Brantley , Ho Clifford K.
Published: August 2017

Novel particle release patterns have been proposed as a means to increase the thermal efficiency of high-temperature falling particle receivers. Innovative release patterns offer the ability to utilize light-trapping and volumetric heating effects as a means to increase particle temperatures over a conventional straight-line particle release pattern. The particle release patterns explored in this work include wave-like patterns and a series of parallel curtains normal to the incident irradiation that have shown favorable results in previous numerical studies at lower particle temperatures. A numerical model has recently been developed of an existing falling particle receiver at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories to evaluate these patterns at elevated temperatures necessary to evaluate radiative and convective losses. This model has demonstrated that thermal efficiency gains of 2.5–4.6% could be realized using these patterns compared to the conventional planar release depending on the particle mass flow rate. Increasing the number of parallel curtains, increasing the spacing between curtains, and shifting the particle mass flow rate deeper in the receiver cavity was also found to increase the thermal efficiency. These effects became less significant as the particle mass flow rate increased.
Modeling of Heat Removal in a Single-Channel Microscale Fuel Cell
Authors: Sun Liyong , Hollinger Adam S.
Published: August 2017

Considerable waste heat is generated via the oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Consequently, heat generation and removal in conventional fuel cell architectures has been carefully investigated in order to achieve effective thermal management. Here we present a novel microscale fuel cell design that utilizes a half-membrane electrode assembly. In this design, a single fuel/electrolyte stream provides an additional pathway for heat removal that is not present in traditional fuel cell architectures. The model presented here investigates heat removal over a range of inlet fuel temperatures. Heat generation densities are determined experimentally for all inlet fuel temperatures. The simulations presented here predict thermal profiles throughout this microscale fuel cell design. Simulation results show that the fuel stream dominates heat removal at room temperature. As inlet fuel temperature increases, the majority of heat removal occurs via convection with the ambient air. The model also shows that heat transfer through the oxidant channel is minimal over the range of inlet fuel temperatures.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Magnetospirillum
sp. ME-1, a Novel Magnetotactic Bacterium Isolated from East Lake, Wuhan, China
Authors: Ke Linfeng , Liu Pengming , Liu Shan , Gao Meiying
Published: August 2017

A novel spiral magnetotactic bacterium,
Magnetospirillum
sp. ME-1, was isolated from East Lake in China. Here we report the complete genome of ME-1, which contains a 4,551,873-bp circular chromosome and a 5,222-bp circular plasmid. The magnetosome biogenesis-specific genes are located in a 97,664-bp magnetosome genomic island.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolate (Sequence Type 1) from Seafood
Authors: Sivaraman G. K. , Vanik Deesha , Visnuvinayagam S. , Prasad M. M. , Ravishankar C. N.
Published: August 2017

The draft genome sequence of a methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) isolate (sequence type 1 [ST 1]) from the salted dried ribbonfish from Gujarat, India, is reported here.
Staphylococcus
genus-specific genes were present in this MRSA isolate. The whole-genome sequence of this strain contains 2,797 protein-coding genes and 80 RNAs within the 2.85-Mb genome.
Complete Genome Characterization of the Porcine Deltacoronavirus HKD/JPN/2016, Isolated in Japan, 2016
Authors: Suzuki Tohru , Hayakawa Jun , Ohashi Seiichi
Published: August 2017

In 2016, an outbreak of diarrhea with high mortality in piglets occurred on a swine farm in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan. The causative porcine deltacoronavirus HDK/JPN/2016 was isolated from intestinal samples of the dead piglets on LLC-PK1 cells. The complete genome of HKD/JPN/2016 was sequenced and analyzed by next-generation sequencing technology.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Fungus Associated with Oak Wilt Mortality in South Korea,
Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae
KACC44405
Authors: Jeon Jongbum , Kim Ki-Tae , Song Hyeunjeong , Lee Gir-Won , Cheong Kyeongchae , Kim Hyunbin , Choi Gobong , Lee Yong-Hwan , Stewart Jane E. , Klopfenstein Ned B. , Kim Mee-Sook
Published: August 2017

The fungus
Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae
is the causal agent of Korean oak wilt, a disease associated with mass mortality of oak trees (e.g.,
Quercus
spp.). The fungus is vectored and dispersed by the ambrosia beetle,
Platypus koryoensis
. Here, we present the 27.0-Mb draft genome sequence of
R. quercus-mongolicae
strain KACC44405.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Streptomyces
sp. TN58, a Producer of Acyl Alpha-
l
-Rhamnopyranosides
Authors: Najah Soumaya , Chong Teik Min , Gerbaud Claude , Chan Kok-Gan , Mellouli Lotfi , Pernodet Jean-Luc
Published: August 2017

Streptomyces
sp. TN58, isolated from a Tunisian soil sample, produces several natural products, including acyl alpha-
l
-rhamnopyranosides. It possesses a 7.6-Mb linear chromosome. This is, to our knowledge, the first genome sequence of a microorganism known to produce acyl alpha-
l
-rhamnopyranosides, and it will be helpful to study the biosynthesis of these specialized metabolites.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Human Gammapapillomavirus Isolated from Skin
Authors: Brancaccio Rosario N. , Robitaille Alexis , Dutta Sankhadeep , Rollison Dana E. , Fischer Nicole , Grundhoff Adam , Tommasino Massimo , Gheit Tarik
Published: August 2017

A novel human papillomavirus (HPV ICB1) was fully characterized from a skin swab by using a sensitive degenerate PCR protocol combined with next-generation sequencing. The L1 open reading frame of HPV ICB1 shares 70.54% nucleotide homology with its closest relative, HPV164, and thus constitutes a novel human gammapapillomavirus.
Bacteriophage Clinical Use as Antibacterial “Drugs”: Utility and Precedent
Authors: Abedon Stephen T.
Published: August 2017

For phage therapy—the treatment of bacterial infections using bacterial viruses—a key issue is the conflict between apparent ease of clinical application, on the one hand, and on the other hand, numerous difficulties that can be associated with undertaking preclinical development. These conflicts between achieving efficacy in the real world versus rigorously understanding that efficacy should not be surprising because equivalent conflicts have been observed in applied biology for millennia: exploiting the inherent, holistic tendencies of useful systems, e.g., of dairy cows, inevitably is easier than modeling those systems or maintaining effectiveness while reducing such systems to isolated parts. Trial and error alone, in other words, can be a powerful means toward technological development. Undertaking trial and error-based programs, especially in the clinic, nonetheless is highly dependent on those technologies possessing both inherent safety and intrinsic tendencies toward effectiveness, but in this modern era we tend to forget that ideally there would exist antibacterials which could be thus developed, that is, with tendencies toward both safety and effectiveness, and which are even relatively inexpensive. Consequently, we tend to demand rigor as well as expense of development even to the point of potentially squandering such utility, were it to exist. In this review I lay out evidence that in phage therapy such potential, in fact, does exist. Advancement of phage therapy unquestionably requires effective regulation as well as rigorous demonstration of efficacy, but after nearly 100 years of clinical practice, perhaps not as much emphasis on strictly laboratory-based proof of principle.
Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in children with congenital heart defects
Authors: Jortveit Jarle , Klcovansky Jakob , Døhlen Gaute , Eskedal Leif , Birkeland Sigurd , Holmstrøm Henrik
Published: August 2017

Aims

Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a rare but devastating event in children and adolescents. The risk is assumed to be higher in children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) than in healthy individuals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the rate of and survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in children 2–18 years old with CHDs.

Methods and results

Data concerning all live births in Norway between 1994 and 2009 were retrieved from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, the patient administrative systems at all hospitals in Norway, the Oslo University Hospital’s Clinical Registry for Congenital Heart Defects and the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Survivors were followed through 2012, and supplementary information for the deceased children was retrieved from medical records at Norwegian hospitals. Among the 943 871 live births in Norway from 1994 to 2009, 11 272 (1.2%) children had a CHD. We identified 11 (0.1%) children 2–18 years old with CHDs who experienced out-of-hospital SCA. The estimated rate of out-of-hospital SCA in children 2–18 years old with CHD was 10 per 100 000 person-years. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated in all patients. Three children survived.

Conclusions

The incidence of and survival after out-of-hospital SCA in children with CHDs were comparable to the reported rates in the general child population.
Concurrent validity, discriminatory power and feasibility of the instrument for Identification of Parents At Risk for child Abuse and Neglect (IPARAN)
Authors: Horrevorts Esther M B , van Grieken Amy , Mieloo Cathelijne L , Hafkamp-de Groen Esther , Bannink Rienke , Bouwmeester-Landweer Merian B R , Broeren Suzanne , Raat Hein
Published: August 2017

Objectives

To determine the feasibility, concurrent validity and discriminatory power of the instrument for Identification of Parents At Risk for child Abuse and Neglect (IPARAN) among Dutch parents with a newborn child.

Setting

Community paediatrics.

Participants

Data from a controlled trial were used. In total, 2659 Dutch parents with a newborn child were invited to participate. Of the 2659 parents, 759 parents filled in the consent form and participated in the study.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Concurrent validity was determined by calculating correlations—using the Pearson’s correlation (r)—between the IPARAN score and related constructs from the following instruments: the Empowerment Questionnaire 2.0, the Family Functioning Questionnaire and the Parenting Stress Questionnaire. Discriminatory power was determined by calculating receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves between high-risk mothers and low-risk mothers according to their scores on the related constructs. Feasibility was determined by examining the percentage of missing answers.

Results

In terms of concurrent validity, we found that 3 out of 12 correlations between the IPARAN score and related constructs were strong (ie, r>0.50) and 4 out of 12 were medium (ie, r=0.30–0.49). In terms of discriminatory power, mothers with a score in the borderline/clinical range or lowest 10 percent (P10) range of the related constructs (high-risk mothers) had a higher IPARAN score than mothers with a score in the normal range or highest 90 percent (P90) range of the related constructs (low-risk mothers). Effect sizes varied from d=0.37 to d=1.93, and the area under the ROC curve varied from 0.62 to 0.93. Regarding feasibility, the part of the IPARAN filled in by the mother had on average 0.7% missing answers, whereas the part of the IPARAN filled in by the father had on average 1.7% missing answers.

Conclusion

The results of this study support the concurrent validity, discriminatory power and feasibility of the IPARAN among a population of Dutch parents with a newborn child.
Impact of family-friendly prison policies on health, justice and child protection outcomes for incarcerated mothers and their dependent children: a cohort study protocol
Authors: Myers Helen , Segal Leonie , Lopez Derrick , Li Ian W , Preen David B
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Female imprisonment has numerous health and social sequelae for both women prisoners and their children. Examples of comprehensive family-friendly prison policies that seek to improve the health and social functioning of women prisoners and their children exist but have not been evaluated. This study will determine the impact of exposure to a family-friendly prison environment on health, child protection and justice outcomes for incarcerated mothers and their dependent children.

Methods and analysis

A longitudinal retrospective cohort design will be used to compare outcomes for mothers incarcerated at Boronia Pre-release Centre, a women’s prison with a dedicated family-friendly environment, and their dependent children, with outcomes for mothers incarcerated at other prisons in Western Australia (that do not offer this environment) and their dependent children. Routinely collected administrative data from 1985 to 2013 will be used to determine child and mother outcomes such as hospital admissions, emergency department presentations, custodial sentences, community service orders and placement in out-of home care. The sample consists of all children born in Western Australia between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 2011 who had a mother in a West Australian prison between 1990 and 2012 and their mothers. Children are included if they were alive and aged less than 18 years at the time of their mother’s incarceration. The sample comprises an exposed group of 665 women incarcerated at Boronia and their 1714 dependent children and a non-exposed comparison sample of 2976 women incarcerated at other West Australian prisons and their 7186 dependent children, creating a total study sample of 3641 women and 8900 children.

Ethics and dissemination

This project received ethics approval from the Western Australian Department of Health Human Research Ethics Committee, the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee and the University of Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee.
Exploring the enablers and barriers to implementing the Medication Appropriateness Tool for Comorbid Health conditions during Dementia (MATCH-D) criteria in Australia: a qualitative study
Authors: Page Amy Theresa , Clifford Rhonda Marise , Potter Kathleen , Seubert Liza , McLachlan Andrew J , Hill Xaysja , King Stephanie , Clark Vaughan , Ryan Cristin , Parekh Nikesh , Etherton-Beer Christopher D
Published: August 2017

Objectives

The Medication Appropriateness Tool for Comorbid Health conditions in Dementia (MATCH-D) criteria provide expert consensus guidance about medication use for people with dementia. This study aimed to identify enablers and barriers to implementing the criteria in practice.

Setting

Participants came from both rural and metropolitan communities in two Australian states.

Participants

Focus groups were held with consumers, general practitioners, nurses and pharmacists. Outcomes: data were analysed thematically.

Results

Nine focus groups were conducted. Fifty-five participants validated the content of MATCH-D, appraising them as providing patient-centred principles of care. Participants identified potential applications (including the use of MATCH-D as a discussion aid or educational tool for consumers about medicines) and suggested supporting resources.

Conclusion

Participants provided insights into applying MATCH-D in practice and suggested resources to be included in an accompanying toolkit. These data provide external validation of MATCH-D and an empiric basis for their translation to practice. Following resource development, we plan to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of implementation in practice.
Alcohol consumption in a general antenatal population and child neurodevelopment at 2 years
Authors: Halliday Jane L , Muggli Evelyne , Lewis Sharon , Elliott Elizabeth J , Amor David J , O’Leary Colleen , Donath Susan , Forster Della , Nagle Cate , Craig Jeffrey M , Anderson Peter J
Published: August 2017

Background

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a community health problem with up to 50% of pregnant women drinking alcohol. The relationship between low or sporadic binge PAE and adverse child outcomes is not clear. This study examines the association between PAE in the general antenatal population and child neurodevelopment at 2 years, accounting for relevant contributing factors.

Methods

This prospective population-based cohort recruited 1570 pregnant women, providing sociodemographic, psychological and lifestyle information and alcohol use for five time periods. PAE categories were ‘low’, ‘moderate/high’, ‘binge’, in trimester 1 or throughout pregnancy. Measures of cognitive, language and motor development (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development) were available for 554 children, while measures of sensory processing (Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile) and social–emotional development (Brief Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment) were available for 948.

Results

A positive association in univariate analysis with low-level PAE throughout pregnancy and cognition (β=4.1, 95% CI −0.02 to 8.22, p=0.05) was attenuated by adjusting for environmental/social deprivation risk factors (β=3.06 (−1.19 to 7.30), p=0.16). Early binge drinking, plus continued PAE at lower levels, was associated with the child being more likely to score low in sensation avoidance (adjusted OR 1.88 (1.03 to 3.41), p=0.04).

Conclusion

Early binge exposure, followed by lower-level PAE, demonstrated an increase in sensation-avoiding behaviour. There were, however, no significant associations between PAE and neurodevelopment following adjustment for important confounders and modifiers. Follow-up is paramount to investigate subtle or later onset problems.
Experimental simulation and mathematical modelling of clogging in stone column
Authors: Tai Pei , Indraratna Buddhima , Rujikiatkamjorn Cholachat
Published: August 2017

In this paper, time-dependent clogging is studied considering a unit cell consisting of a single stone column interacting with the surrounding soft clay. Clogging is assessed quantitatively and the corresponding void space of the column is determined using computed tomography. It is observed that the extent of clogging is substantial in the upper part of the column, but diminishes rapidly with depth. The soil properties in the clogged zone are determined indirectly through additional tests of clay–aggregates mixtures with various clay fractions. An equal strain consolidation model based on the principle of unit cell analysis is developed to capture both the initial and time-dependent clogging. The model accounts for a reduction in permeability and an increase in compressibility of the column. This current model, as expected, offers identical results to some previous studies if clogging is ignored, while the comparison with other selected models demonstrates the influence that clogging of the stone column can have on the consolidation of the surrounding soil. Furthermore, load–settlement predictions from the proposed “equal strain” model are also compared with the consolidation response of a previously developed “free strain” model.
Michael addition at neutral pH: a facile synthesis of 1,3-dinitroalkanes
Authors: Bora Porag , Bora Pranjal P. , Wahlang Barisha , Bez Ghanashyam
Published: August 2017

Base-catalyzed Michael addition of nitroalkane to conjugated nitroalkene suffers serious practical difficulties due to the formation of oligomeric byproduct. Given its importance for synthesis of pharmacologically relevant organic compounds, a scalable synthesis of 1,3-dinitroalkane is developed by addition of nitroalkane to nitroalkene in aqueous phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 with no added traditional base catalyst.
Reference transcriptome assembly and annotation for perennial ryegrass
Authors: Shinozuka Hiroshi , Cogan Noel O.I. , Spangenberg German C. , Forster John W.
Published: August 2017

RNA-Seq methodology has been used to generate a comprehensive transcriptome sequence resource for perennial ryegrass, an important temperate pasture grass species. A total of 931 547 255 reads were obtained from libraries corresponding to 19 distinct tissue samples, including both vegetative and reproductive stages of development. Assembly of data generated a final filtered reference set of 48 713 contigs and scaffolds. The transcriptome resource will support whole genome sequence assembly, comparative genomics, implementation of genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) methods based on transcript sampling, and identification of candidate genes for multiple biological functions.
Interaction of viscous modified Chaplygin gas with f(R, T) gravity
Authors: Sharif M. , Siddiqa Aisha
Published: August 2017

We study the evolution of viscous modified Chaplygin gas (MCG) interacting with f(R, T) gravity in flat FRW universe, where T is the trace of energy–momentum tensor. The field equations are formulated for a particular model f(R, T) = R + 2[Formula: see text]T and constraints for the conservation of energy–momentum tensor are obtained. We investigate the behavior of total energy density, pressure and equation of state (EoS) parameter for emergent, intermediate as well as logamediate scenarios of the universe with two interacting models. It is found that the EoS parameter lies in the matter-dominated or quintessence era for all the three scenarios while the bulk viscosity enhances the expansion for the intermediate and logamediate scenarios.
Relativistic quantum scattering yielded by Lorentz symmetry breaking effects
Authors: Mota H. F. , Bakke K. , Belich H.
Published: August 2017

We investigate the scattering of a relativistic scalar quantum particle induced by a scattering-like potential that arises from the effects of the violation of the Lorentz symmetry. We then obtain the scattering phase shift caused by the influence of such a potential and use it to calculate the exact expressions for the scattering amplitude as well as for the total scattering cross-section through the optical theorem. In addition, we estimate an upper bound for the Lorentz symmetry violation parameters.
Operad with a prescribed element
Authors: Yu Xuan
Published: August 2017

We study operad with a prescribed element (of its underlying degree one component), generalize some of the classical results of Gerstenhaber and Voronov [M. Gerstenhaber and A. A. Voronov, Homotopy G-algebras and moduli space operad, Int. Math. Res. Not. 3 (1995) 141–153]. In particular, we introduce and show that Hom–Loday algebra cohomologies carry such structures when the Hom-structure twist is an idempotent.