bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Is Your Actual Pump Flow Rate?
Authors: Perkins Norman F. , Stacy Philip S.
Published: December 2017

What appears to be a simple question is often quite difficult to answer depending on the quantity of flow; and size, type, and location of piping. Even the reason for asking the question can be varied and complex — ranging from environmental regulation, investment decisions, aging infrastructure improvement planning, and new equipment evaluation. Absolute field performance testing of power plant equipment yields valuable data that can be used in a variety of ways.

National and International codes list several methods to measure water flow in a performance application and provide realistic uncertainty estimates. Codes and standards exist for equipment evaluation and contractual performance tests. These Codes, though, are sometimes viewed as costly or perceived to impose additional risk on suppliers. Herein, we will present how to obtain performance test data and how that data can be used.

In many rehabilitation or regulation driven projects, an accurate representation of the state of the existing power plant is desired. Pump curves typically do not represent an accurate depiction of flow due to equipment degradation, changes in system components/geometry, and/or bio-fouling. While the testing may be considered costly, it can often be justified as part of a rehabilitation project. Absolute testing provides a lower uncertainty that can yield more definitive estimates of return on investment to justify projects that might be otherwise considered marginal.

Case studies will be discussed that illustrate these points, including:

• Flow measurement feasibility and site testing at a nuclear thermal plant

• In-situ flow testing to calibrate existing ultrasonic flow meters at a biomass thermal plant

• Condenser performance testing at a nuclear thermal plant

Paper published with permission.
New Validated Methodology for the Required Force to Operate Balanced Disk Globe Valves
Authors: Leutwyler Zachary , Beasley Kenneth , Leutwyler Emil , Mistry Mital
Published: December 2017

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) contracted Kalsi Engineering, Inc (KEI) to perform flow loop testing, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses, and methodology development to more accurately predict flow-induced forces in balanced globe valves. The flow loop test conditions included single-phase and two-phase water flow, straight pipe and upstream-flow-disturbance pipe configurations, and two 4-inch balanced disk globe valves test specimens with a combination of quick opening and linear trim. CFD predictions were performed with a commercial grade dedicated version of ANSYS CFX 16.0 software.

The methodology was developed to utilize key dimensional characteristics of the disk and cage to determine the effective area through the stroke. The methodology accounts for trim characteristics, flow orientation, disk style, maximum valve DP and maximum flow rate. The model is validated for fluid temperatures between 70 °F and 160 °F, flow velocities up to 45 ft/sec. The methodology was validated against flow loop test data over a range of flow conditions, disk styles, and trim characteristics.

Paper published with permission.
Delivering the Nuclear Promise Through Effective ISE and IST Programs for Dynamic Restraints
Authors: Palmer Matt
Published: December 2017

Delivering cost reductions via the Nuclear Promise can appear to be at odds with the safe operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities. However, In-Service Examination (ISE) and In-Service Testing (IST) programs can deliver significant gains in efficiency and effectiveness with proper application of the ASME O&M code. Along with scheduled maintenance prescribed by the manufacturer, Dynamic Restraints (snubbers) require periodic visual inspection and testing to ensure the installed population will perform its safety function during seismic events or dynamic operational transients. Methods prescribed in the ASME O&M Code Subsection ISTD are effective in identifying bad actors and verifying the operational readiness of the population, but can come at a significant cost when not properly utilized, especially when the penalty for a failed test or inspection is applied to the ISE or IST campaign. The Nuclear Promise can be realized in a snubber ISE or IST program with a thorough understanding of the intent of the prescribed testing and the mechanics of the safety functions to be verified. With this understanding, legacy requirements that were grandfathered into a program can be examined as to their relevance, and procurement specifications and testing procedures can be written that are pertinent and current to industry best practices.

This paper, through the lens of a snubber manufacturer and ASME certificate holder, examines some common and uncommon examples found in industry that add significant cost, time, or dose to a snubber ISE/IST program, and the basis for eliminating them. The methodology used to evaluate an ISE/IST program requirement and determine its effectiveness in verifying a snubber’s safety function while satisfying the O&M code could be used for other components under the jurisdiction of the O&M code. In this manner, the Nuclear Promise can be safely delivered in an ISE/IST program that does not compromise the intent or integrity of Code requirements.

Paper published with permission.
Actuator Fatigue Cycles: Delivering the Nuclear Promise
Authors: Kropp Ronald A.
Published: December 2017

Motor-Operated Valves (MOVs) in nuclear plants have an equipment qualification (EQ) life of 2000 cycles. Historically, nuclear generating stations have not counted actuator cycles. As nuclear plants age beyond 30 years and licenses are extended from 40 to 60 years, the accumulated actuator operational cycles have become an issue. Without hard data, plants are not able to “prove” that actuator fatigue cycle count is less than 2000 cycles. The only viable option to address this issue is actuator replacement. Actuator replacement is expensive and frequently require long lead times for procurement. Nuclear plants generally have fifty to one hundred qualified actuators and replacing all qualified actuators is prohibitively expensive.

The questions is simply how to deliver the nuclear promise without wholesale replacement of actuators and expending significant capital or O&M dollars.

Paper published with permission.
TVA OM Code Mandatory Appendix III Readiness Assessment
Authors: Thacker Bob H. , Mills Jerry V. , Estep Neal E.
Published: December 2017

To prepare for implementation of ASME OM Code [1] Mandatory Appendix III (Appendix III) for inservice testing of motor-operated valves (MOVs), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) performed a comprehensive assessment at all three of their nuclear sites to identify gaps between their legacy IST and MOV programs and an IST program that meets the requirements of Appendix III. This assessment reviewed each paragraph of Appendix III and T VA governing documents to determine how the requirements are already being met or are missing in the legacy MOV program(s). Secondly, the assessment performed a high level overview of TVA’s MOV programs in response to NRC Generic Letters 89-10 [6] and 96-05 [7] and identifies areas for improvement for TVA consideration. This paper presents the assessment purpose and objectives, scope, approach and methods, references, summary of significant gaps, and proposed actions to resolve these gaps prior to Appendix III implementation.

Paper published with permission.
Component Cooling Water (CCW) Pump Assessment Report
Authors: Tomlinson Watson , Kochaniec Steven
Published: December 2017

Three (3) Component Cooling Water (CCW) pumps, IR 8X18SE, appeared to have been operated beyond their original manufacturer pump curves without proper justification and analysis. The testing was performed to determine exactly where the pumps were operating relative to the original head-capacity curve, at different system demands. Additionally, the results would be compared to the customers flow and pressure measuring capabilities.

Paper published with permission.
Realignment of ASME Operations Maintenance Committee: Improving Responsiveness and Efficiency
Authors: Ruggiero T.
Published: December 2017

The O&M Code was developed when it was decided to move Pump and Valve Inservice Testing (IST) Requirements from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B&PV) Code, Section XI to a standalone Code. The Code review process structure at the time was quite small and generally consisted of changing Section XI Subsections IWP and IWV into OM language. At the same time, new testing techniques were being developed that included check valve condition monitoring and current trace testing of motor actuated valves. This necessitated adding groups that were specific to these new initiatives.

Although that was several decades ago, these groups remained and, over the years, it was identified that actions, such as Inquiries, were taking much too long to process. This became abundantly clear with the development of the newly published Mandatory Appendix IV for Air Operated Valve Testing.

This paper discusses how the Code Committee became the organization that it is and how a new realignment will streamline the Code process and make it more efficient and responsive to the industry/regulatory needs.

Paper published with permission.
Pump and Valve Inservice Testing: How Pump and Valve Testing Evolved
Authors: Ruggiero T.
Published: December 2017

The O&M Code was developed when it was decided to move Pump and Valve In-Service Testing Requirements from ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI to a standalone Code. IST for Pumps was originally is ASME Section XI IWP and for Valves IWV. Safety and Relief Valves were a Power Test Code and not in the scope of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. IWP and IWV were developed after plants had been designed and built. The desire was that no back-fits were to be required to comply with IST requirements. After the 1986 Edition, IWP and IWV requirements were moved into O&M. Appendix 1 of OM was what used to be the Power Test Code.

While this was going on, the NRC issued what has been called “the Richardson Letter”. Among other things, that letter required that IST for pumps better asses the condition of the pumps by putting higher accuracy instrumentation on the test pipe. For many plants, this was the minimum recirculation pipe. Over the course of time, the committee was able to get agreement that if a centrifugal pump were tested “back on its curve” increased instrument accuracy would be meaningless. This was the genesis of what we now call comprehensive Pump testing. Additionally, there were several alternative methods for valve testing that had been developed. It became clear, that simple periodic stroke timing of a power operated valve was simply not adequate for detecting degrading performance.

This presentation will discuss how Pump and Valve In Service Testing evolved to what it is today and discuss what might be alternatives in the future.

I want to thank Robert Parry, who provided some insights into this presentation specifically where my memory needed a bit of jogging.

Paper published with permission.
Plant Performance History of an Innovative Gate Valve in Critical Service Applications
Authors: Kalsi M. S. , Alvarez Patricio , White Thomas , Green Micheal
Published: December 2017

A previous paper [1] describes the key features of an innovative gate valve design that was developed to overcome seat leakage problems, high maintenance costs as well as issues identified in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Generic Letters 89-10, 95-07 and 96-05 with conventional gate valves [2,3,4]. The earlier paper was published within a year after the new design valves were installed at the Pilgrim Nuclear Plant — the plant that took the initiative to form a teaming arrangement as described in [1] which facilitated this innovative development. The current paper documents the successful performance history of 22 years at the Pilgrim plant, as well as performance history at several other nuclear power plants where these valves have been installed for many years in containment isolation service that requires operation under pipe rupture conditions and require tight shut-off in both Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). The performance history of the new valve has shown to provide significant performance advantage by eliminating the chronic leakage problems and high maintenance costs in these critical service applications. This paper includes a summary of the design, analysis and separate effects testing described in detail in the earlier paper. Flow loop testing was performed on these valves under normal plant operation, various thermal binding and pressure locking scenarios, and accident/pipe rupture conditions. The valve was designed, analyzed and tested to satisfy the requirements of ANSI B16.41 [9]; it also satisfies the requirements of ASME QME 1-2012 [10]. The results of the long-term performance history including any degradation observed and its root cause are summarized in the paper.

Paper published with permission.
Statistics of peak overpressure and shock steepness for linear and nonlinear N-wave propagation in a kinematic turbulence
Authors: Yuldashev Petr V. , Ollivier Sébastien , Karzova Maria M. , Khokhlova Vera A. , Blanc-Benon Philippe
Published: December 2017

Linear and nonlinear propagation of high amplitude acoustic pulses through a turbulent layer in air is investigated using a two-dimensional KZK-type (Khokhlov–Zabolotskaya–Kuznetsov) equation. Initial waves are symmetrical N-waves with shock fronts of finite width. A modified von Kármán spectrum model is used to generate random wind velocity fluctuations associated with the turbulence. Physical parameters in simulations correspond to previous laboratory scale experiments where N-waves with 1.4 cm wavelength propagated through a turbulence layer with the outer scale of about 16 cm. Mean value and standard deviation of peak overpressure and shock steepness, as well as cumulative probabilities to observe amplified peak overpressure and shock steepness, are analyzed. Nonlinear propagation effects are shown to enhance pressure level in random foci for moderate initial amplitudes of N-waves thus increasing the probability to observe highly peaked waveforms. Saturation of the pressure level is observed for stronger nonlinear effects. It is shown that in the linear propagation regime, the turbulence mainly leads to the smearing of shock fronts, thus decreasing the probability to observe high values of steepness, whereas nonlinear effects dramatically increase the probability to observe steep shocks.
Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species
Authors: Muttenthaler Markus , Andersson Åsa , Vetter Irina , Menon Rohit , Busnelli Marta , Ragnarsson Lotten , Bergmayr Christian , Arrowsmith Sarah , Deuis Jennifer R. , Chiu Han Sheng , Palpant Nathan J. , O’Brien Margaret , Smith Terry J. , Wray Susan , Neumann Inga D. , Gruber Christian W. , Lewis Richard J. , Alewood Paul F.
Published: December 2017

An oxytocin derivative that may not trigger adverse side effects has been generated.
Stimulating NETosis instead of mitosis
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: December 2017

Cell cycle regulators control the production of neutrophil extracellular traps.
Measuring clinical trial transparency: an empirical analysis of newly approved drugs and large pharmaceutical companies
Authors: Miller Jennifer E , Wilenzick Marc , Ritcey Nolan , Ross Joseph S , Mello Michelle M
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To define a series of clinical trial transparency measures and apply them to large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and their 2014 FDA-approved drugs.

Design

Cross-sectional descriptive analysis of all clinical trials supporting 2014 Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)-approved new drug applications (NDAs) for novel drugs sponsored by large companies.

Data sources

Data from over 45 sources, including Drugs@FDA.gov, ClinicalTrials.gov, corporate and international registries; PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, corporate press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and personal communications with drug manufacturers.

Outcome measures

Trial registration, results reporting, clinical study report (CSR) synopsis sharing, biomedical journal publication, and FDA Amendments Acts (FDAAA) compliance, analysed on the drug level.

Results

The FDA approved 19 novel new drugs, sponsored by 11 large companies, involving 553 trials, in 2014. We analysed 505 relevant trials. Per drug, a median of 100% (IQR 86%–100%) of trials in patients were registered, 71% (IQR 57%–100%) reported results or shared a CSR synopsis, 80% (70%–100%) were published and 96% (80%–100%) were publicly available in some form by 13 months after FDA approval. Disclosure rates were lower at FDA approval (65%) and improved significantly by 6 months post FDA approval. Per drug, a median of 100% (IQR 75%–100%) of FDAAA-applicable trials were compliant. Half of reviewed drugs had publicly disclosed results for all trials in patients in our sample. One trial was uniquely registered in a corporate registry, and not ClinicalTrials.gov; 0 trials were uniquely registered in international registries.

Conclusions

Among large pharmaceutical companies and new drugs, clinical trial transparency is high based on several standards, although opportunities for improvement remain. Transparency is markedly higher for trials in patients than among all trials supporting drug approval, including trials in healthy volunteers. Ongoing efforts to publicly track companies’ transparency records and recognise exemplary companies may encourage further progress.
Impact of electronic clinical decision support on adherence to guideline-recommended treatment for hyperlipidaemia, atrial fibrillation and heart failure: protocol for a cluster randomised trial
Authors: Kessler Maya Elizabeth , Carter Rickey E , Cook David A , Kor Daryl Jon , McKie Paul M , Pencille Laurie J , Scheitel Marianne R , Chaudhry Rajeev
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Clinical practice guidelines facilitate optimal clinical practice. Point of care access, interpretation and application of such guidelines, however, is inconsistent. Informatics-based tools may help clinicians apply guidelines more consistently. We have developed a novel clinical decision support tool that presents guideline-relevant information and actionable items to clinicians at the point of care. We aim to test whether this tool improves the management of hyperlipidaemia, atrial fibrillation and heart failure by primary care clinicians.

Methods/analysis

Clinician care teams were cluster randomised to receive access to the clinical decision support tool or passive access to institutional guidelines on 16 May 2016. The trial began on 1 June 2016 when access to the tool was granted to the intervention clinicians. The trial will be run for 6 months to ensure a sufficient number of patient encounters to achieve 80% power to detect a twofold increase in the primary outcome at the 0.05 level of significance. The primary outcome measure will be the percentage of guideline-based recommendations acted on by clinicians for hyperlipidaemia, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. We hypothesise care teams with access to the clinical decision support tool will act on recommendations at a higher rate than care teams in the standard of care arm.

Ethics and dissemination

The Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board approved all study procedures. Informed consent was obtained from clinicians. A waiver of informed consent and of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorisation for patients managed by clinicians in the study was granted. In addition to publication, results will be disseminated via meetings and newsletters.

Trial registration number

NCT02742545.
Retrospective, multicohort analysis of the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to determine differences in the cost of medication wastage, dispensing fees and prescriber time of issuing either short (<60 days) or long (≥60 days) prescription lengths in primary care for common, chronic conditions in the UK
Authors: Doble Brett , Payne Rupert , Harshfield Amelia , Wilson Edward C F
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To investigate patterns of early repeat prescriptions and treatment switching over an 11-year period to estimate differences in the cost of medication wastage, dispensing fees and prescriber time for short (<60 days) and long (≥60 days) prescription lengths from the perspective of the National Health Service in the UK.

Setting

Retrospective, multiple cohort study of primary care prescriptions from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Participants

Five random samples of 50 000 patients each prescribed oral drugs for (1) glucose control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); (2) hypertension in T2DM; (3) statins (lipid management) in T2DM; (4) secondary prevention of myocardial infarction; and (5) depression.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The volume of medication wastage from early repeat prescriptions and three other types of treatment switches was quantified and costed. Dispensing fees and prescriber time were also determined. Total unnecessary costs (TUC; cost of medication wastage, dispensing fees and prescriber time) associated with <60 day and ≥60 day prescriptions, standardised to a 120-day period, were then compared.

Results

Longer prescription lengths were associated with more medication waste per prescription. However, when including dispensing fees and prescriber time, longer prescription lengths resulted in lower TUC. This finding was consistent across all five cohorts. Savings ranged from £8.38 to £12.06 per prescription per 120 days if a single long prescription was issued instead of multiple short prescriptions. Prescriber time costs accounted for the largest component of TUC.

Conclusions

Shorter prescription lengths could potentially reduce medication wastage, but they may also increase dispensing fees and/or the time burden of issuing prescriptions.
Using the plan-do-study-act approach to improve inpatient colonoscopy preparation
Authors: Shah-Khan Sardar Musa , Cumberledge Jeremy , Reynolds Gorman Joel
Published: December 2017

Poor inpatient colonoscopy preparations can provide multiple challenges to healthcare providers and patients alike. Poor preparations can make the colonoscopy difficult to perform, and can require the procedure to be repeated. This can in turn lead to greater costs, longer length of stays, less patient satisfaction and worse outcomes. The aim of this quality improvement project was to decrease the rate of poor inpatient colonoscopy preparations using the plan-do-study-act approach. Inpatient colonoscopies at our institution from a 3-month span (November 2016 to January 2017) were evaluated, and found to have a 19% rate of poor preparations. A multiphase intervention programme was then conducted to improve the quality of these preparations. This intervention programme was threefold, and involved (1) direct education to physicians and nursing staff on the preparation process and its importance; (2) the implementation of an electronic order set within our electronic medical record (EMR) to standardise and simplify the process of ordering colonoscopy preparations; and (3) patient education in the form of a handout explaining the steps and importance of a good preparation. Through these interventions, we were able to bring down our rate of poor preparations over a 3-month average from 19% to 4%. Specifically, the implementation of an electronic order set within our EMR resulted in the greatest impact. Our interventions can be replicated at other institutions in order to decrease the rate of poor preparations, and thus result in better outcomes for patients, providers and healthcare facilities.
X-ray angiography perfusion imaging with an intra-arterial injection: comparative study with15O-gas/water positron emission tomography
Authors: Asai Katsunori , Nakamura Hajime , Watabe Tadashi , Nishida Takeo , Sakaguchi Manabu , Hatazawa Jun , Yoshimine Toshiki , Kishima Haruhiko
Published: December 2017

Background

X-ray angiography perfusion (XAP) is a perfusion imaging technique based on conventional DSA.

Objective

In this study, we aimed to validate parameters derived from XAP by comparing them with15O-gas/water positron emission tomography (PET), using data from patients with chronic ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Methods

18 consecutive patients were included. XAP was performed with intra-arterial infusion of contrast media, and a time–density curve was constructed for each cerebral hemisphere. From the curves, the relative values of mean transit time (rMTT) and wash-in rate (rWiR) were obtained by dividing the values of the right hemisphere by those of the left hemisphere. These were then compared with the relative values of cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and rMTT calculated from the PET data.

Results

XAP rWiR correlated strongly with PET rCBF (r=0.86, P<0.0001). rMTT measurements from the two modalities were also strongly correlated (r=0.85, P<0.0001). Bland–Altman analysis revealed a bias of 0.14±0.18 (95% limits of agreement −0.22 to 0.51) for PET rCBF versus XAP rWiR, and 0.016±0.093 (95% limits of agreement −0.17 to 0.20) for rMTT between the two modalities.

Conclusions

The relative values obtained from XAP were validated across a population of patients with chronic ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
Mechanical thrombectomy and rescue therapy for intracranial large artery occlusion with underlying atherosclerosis
Authors: Jia BaiXue , Feng Lei , Liebeskind David S , Huo Xiaochuan , Gao Feng , Ma Ning , Mo Dapeng , Liao Xiaoling , Wang Chunjuan , Zhao Xingquan , Pan Yuesong , Li Hao , Liu Liping , Wang Yilong , Wang Yongjun , Miao Zhong-Rong
Published: December 2017

Objective

To investigate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy plus rescue therapy for intracranial large artery occlusion (ILAO) with underlying intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS).

Methods

Patients enrolled in the intervention group of EAST (Endovascular Therapy for Acute ischemic Stroke Trial) were analyzed. For underlying ICAS identified during the stent retrieval procedure, rescue treatment was required for those with (1) a degree of arterial stenosis >70% or (2) any degree of arterial with blood flow impairment or (3) evidence of re-occlusion. Outcomes were compared between the ICAS group and the embolic group. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine independent predictors of functional independence at 90 days.

Results

Among the 140 patients included in the analysis, underlying ICAS was identified in 47 (34%), and 30 patients (21.4%) were considered to be eligible to receive rescue treatment. Of the 30 patients, 27 (90%) actually received rescue therapy. Recanalization rate (95.7% vs 96.8%, P=0.757) and functional independence at 90 days (63.8% vs 51.6%, P=0.169) were comparable between the ICAS group and the embolic group. No significant difference in symptomatic hemorrhage (4.3% vs 4.3%, P=1.000) or death (12.8% vs 12.9%, P=0.982) was found between the two groups. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at presentation (OR=0.865, 95% CI 0.795 to 0.941; P=0.001) and modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction after the procedure (OR=2.864, 95% CI 1.018 to 8.061; P=0.046) were independently associated with functional independence at 90 days.

Conclusions

Mechanical thrombectomy is safe in patients with ILAO with underlying ICAS. By employing a standard rescue therapy, favorable outcomes could be achieved in such patients.

Clinical trial registration

NCT02350283(Post-results).
Preschoolers’ health-related quality of life following the implementation of a childcare physical activity intervention
Authors: Truelove Stephanie , Johnson Andrew M. , Vanderloo Leigh M. , Driediger Molly , Burke Shauna M. , Irwin Jennifer D. , Timmons Brian W. , Gaston Anca , Tucker Patricia
Published: December 2017

Being active offers many physical and emotional benefits contributing to a higher health-related quality of life (HRQoL); however, this relationship remains unexplored among preschoolers (aged 2.5–5 years). This study examined the impact of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE), which was an intervention implemented using a cluster randomized controlled trial on preschoolers’ HRQoL. Childcare centres were randomly allocated to the experimental (n = 11) or control (n = 11) conditions, and preschoolers’ HRQoL was measured using the parent-report Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (3 subscales: physical, psychosocial, and total HRQoL) at baseline, post-intervention (i.e., week 8), and 6- and 12-month follow-up. A linear mixed-effects model was used to determine if preschoolers in the experimental condition displayed an increased HRQoL post-intervention and at follow-up compared with preschoolers in the control condition. Preschoolers (n = 234) with HRQoL data at baseline and one additional time-point were retained for analyses. Body mass index was not found to impact significantly on the intervention, and no statistically significant interaction effects were found for any of the 3 HRQoL variables. In conclusion, the SPACE intervention had no impact on preschoolers’ HRQoL. Given the scarcity of research in this population, additional exploration is necessary to better understand the potential impact of physical activity participation on preschoolers’ HRQoL.
Soil microbial communities of three grassland ecosystems in the Bayinbuluke, China
Authors: Shao Keqiang , Gao Guang
Published: December 2017

The microbial community plays an important role in soil nutrient cycles and energy transformations in alpine grassland. In this study, we investigated the composition of the soil microbial community collected from alpine cold swamp meadow (ASM), alpine cold meadow (AM), and alpine cold desert steppe (ADS) within the Bayinbuluke alpine grassland, China, using Illumina amplicon sequencing. Of the 147 271 sequences obtained, 36 microbial phyla or groups were detected. The results showed that the ADS had lower microbial diversity than the ASM and AM, as estimated by the Shannon index. The Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the predominant phyla in all 3 ecosystems. Particularly, Thaumarchaeota was only abundant in ASM, Bacteroidetes in AM, and Acidobacteria in ADS. Additionally, the predominant genus also differed with each ecosystem. Candidatus Nitrososphaera was predominant in ADS, the Pir4 lineage in ASM, and Sphingomonas in AM. Our results indicated that the soil microbial community structure was different for each grassland ecosystem in the Bayinbuluke.
Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake from solid and liquid pig manure in perennial and annual cropping systems
Authors: Karimi Rezvan , Akinremi Wole , Flaten Don
Published: December 2017

Applying pig manure in excess of crop demand can result in nutrient loss to water bodies. We studied the effect of liquid and solid pig manures and their N- and P-based application rates on yield and nutrient uptake in annual and perennial cropping systems for 3 yr. The experiment had a split-plot design with five nutrient management treatments including liquid-N (annual N-based liquid pig manure), liquid-P (P-based liquid pig manure once every 5 yr), solid-N (annual N-based solid pig manure), solid-P (P-based solid pig manure once every 5 yr), and control (no manure). The liquid-P treatment showed high apparent nitrogen and phosphorus recovery (ANR and APR, respectively) in each cropping system and yields similar to that of the liquid-N treatment. The solid-N treatment had the smallest ANR in the perennial cropping system (9%–27%) and also the smallest APR in both cropping systems (typically <4%) possibly due to N deficiency and high P application rate. The current formula for estimating organic N mineralization overestimated the available N, particularly for solid pig manure, reducing crop yield. Based on the ANR obtained in this study, a more appropriate coefficient is 10%–15% of the organic N from solid pig manure for no-till perennial cropping systems.
Response of Bosc and Cold Snap™ pears to thinning with NAA, 6-BA, ACC, and s-ABA
Authors: Cline J.A. , Carter K. , Gunter A. , Bakker C. , Green A.C.
Published: December 2017

Adjusting the crop load of European pears (Pyrus communis L.) by hand thinning is currently required to ensure marketable size of most cultivars grown in Ontario. The benefits of thinning pears chemically and its effect on fruit quality and fresh-market returns were investigated in a 3-yr study where a series of foliar chemical thinning sprays were applied during the 10-mm fruitlet stage to Bosc and Cold Snap™ pear trees growing in commercial orchards in the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario. Treatments included an untreated and hand-thinned control and two concentrations each of 6-benzyladenine (6-BA; 75 and 150 mg L−1), naphthalene acetic acid (10 and 20 mg L−1), 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (150 and 300 mg L−1), and s-abscisic acid (s-ABA; 150 and 300 mg L−1). Overall, all thinning products reduced crop load at least once in the 3-yr study, although this varied by year and cultivar. Higher concentrations were more effective than lower concentrations. Naphthalene acetic acid (both rates), 150 mg L−1 of 6-BA, and 300 mg L−1 of s-ABA were the most consistent at thinning the crop. As the crop load of control trees was not heavy, minimal hand thinning was required and all thinning treatments reduced crop value compared with the untreated trees. There were minimal effects on starch hydrolysis, soluble solids, fruit firmness, and skin colour at harvest.
Isometry groups of twisted reduced group C∗-algebras
Authors: Long Botao , Wu Wei
Published: December 2017

An isometry of a unital [Formula: see text]-algebra with respect to a spectral triple is a [Formula: see text]-automorphism of the [Formula: see text]-algebra given by the conjugation by a unitary operator which commutes with the Dirac operator. We give a semidirect product topological characterization on the isometry group of a twisted reduced group [Formula: see text]-algebra of a discrete group with respect to the standard spectral triple induced by a length function on the group. We prove that this isometry group is compact in the point-norm topology, and in particular, for a finitely generated discrete group, this isometry group is a compact Lie group in the point-norm topology. We also extend this result to a unital [Formula: see text]-algebra with a filtration, and prove that its isometry group is a compact topological group in the point-norm topology.
Thoma type results for discrete quantum groups
Authors: Banica Teodor , Chirvasitu Alexandru
Published: December 2017

Thoma's theorem states that a group algebra [Formula: see text] is of type I if and only if [Formula: see text] is virtually abelian. We discuss here some similar questions for the quantum groups, our main result stating that, under suitable virtually abelianity conditions on a discrete quantum group [Formula: see text], we have a stationary model of type [Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text] being a finite quantum group, and with [Formula: see text] being a compact group. We discuss then some refinements of these results in the quantum permutation group case, [Formula: see text], by restricting the attention to the matrix models which are quasi-flat, in the sense that the images of the standard coordinates, known to be projections, have rank [Formula: see text].
Accelerating BLAS and LAPACK via Efficient Floating Point Architecture Design
Authors: Merchant Farhad , Chattopadhyay Anupam , Raha Soumyendu , Nandy S. K. , Narayan Ranjani
Published: December 2017

Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms (BLAS) and Linear Algebra Package (LAPACK) form basic building blocks for several High Performance Computing (HPC) applications and hence dictate performance of the HPC applications. Performance in such tuned packages is attained through tuning of several algorithmic and architectural parameters such as number of parallel operations in the Directed Acyclic Graph of the BLAS/LAPACK routines, sizes of the memories in the memory hierarchy of the underlying platform, bandwidth of the memory, and structure of the compute resources in the underlying platform. In this paper, we closely investigate the impact of the Floating Point Unit (FPU) micro-architecture for performance tuning of BLAS and LAPACK. We present theoretical analysis for pipeline depth of different floating point operations like multiplier, adder, square root, and divider followed by characterization of BLAS and LAPACK to determine several parameters required in the theoretical framework for deciding optimum pipeline depth of the floating operations. A simple design of a Processing Element (PE) is presented and shown that the PE outperforms the most recent custom realizations of BLAS and LAPACK by 1.1X to 1.5X in GFlops/W, and 1.9X to 2.1X in Gflops/mm2. Compared to multicore, General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and ClearSpeed CSX700, performance improvement of 1.8-80x is reported in PE.
A Framework for OpenCL Task Scheduling on Heterogeneous Multicores
Authors: Ghose Anirban , Dokara Lokesh , Dey Soumyajit , Mitra Pabitra
Published: December 2017

We present an intelligent scheduling framework which takes as input a set of OpenCL kernels and distributes the workload across multiple CPUs and GPUs in a heterogeneous multicore platform. The framework relies on a Machine Learning (ML) based frontend that analyzes static program features of OpenCL kernels and predicts the ratio in which kernels are to be distributed across CPUs and GPUs. The framework provides such static analysis information along with system state information like runtime availability details of computing cores using well defined programming interfaces. Such interfaces are to be utilized by a user specified scheduling strategy. Given such a scheduling strategy, the framework generates device specific binaries and dispatches them across multiple devices in the heterogeneous platform as per the strategy. We test our scheduling framework extensively using different OpenCL task mixes of varying sizes and computational nature. Along with the scheduling framework, we propose a set of novel partition-aware scheduling strategies for heterogeneous multicores. Our proposed approach yields considerably better results in terms of schedule makespan when compared with the current state of the art ML based methods for scheduling of OpenCL workloads across heterogeneous multicores.
Generalised double-logarithmic equation in QCD
Authors: Velizhanin V. N.
Published: December 2017

We present a generalisation of the double-logarithmic equation for the anomalous dimension of the non-singlet unpolarised twist-2 operators in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Using the known three-loop result, this generalisation allows to predict a small x expansion of the four-loop non-singlet splitting functions in QCD for all powers of logarithms up to the single-logarithm term.
Demand Forecast and Multi-Objective Ambulance Allocation
Authors: Tsai Yihjia , Chang Kuan-Wu , Yiang Giou-Teng , Lin Hwei-Jen
Published: December 2017

This study considers the two-fold dynamic ambulance allocation problem, which includes forecasting the distribution of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) requesters and allocating ambulances dynamically according to the predicted distribution of requesters. EMSs demand distribution forecasting is based on on-record historical demands. Subsequently, a multi-objective ambulance allocation model (MOAAM) is solved by a mechanism called Jumping Particle Swarm Optimization (JPSO) according to the forecasted distribution of demands. Experiments were conducted using recorded historical data for EMS requesters in New Taipei City, Taiwan, for the years 2014 and 2015. EMS demand distribution for 2015 is forecasted according to the on-record historical demand of 2014. Ambulance allocation for 2015 is determined according to the anticipated demand distribution. The predicted demand distribution and ambulance allocation solved by JPSO are compared with historic data of 2015. The comparisons verify that the proposed methods yield lower forecasting error rates and better ambulance allocation than the actual one.
Approximately dual and perturbation results for generalized translation-invariant frames on LCA groups
Authors: Khedmati Yavar , Jakobsen Mads S.
Published: December 2017

The results in this paper can be divided into three parts. First, we generalize the recent results of Benavente, Christensen and Zakowicz on approximately dual generalized shift-invariant frames on the real line to generalized translation-invariant (GTI) systems on locally compact abelian (LCA) groups. Second, we explain in detail how GTI frames can be realized as [Formula: see text]-frames. Finally, the known results on perturbation of [Formula: see text]-frames and results on perturbation of generalized shift-invariant systems are applied and extended to GTI systems on LCA groups.
Nongeneric positive partial transpose states of rank five in 3×3 dimensions
Authors: Hansen Leif Ove , Myrheim Jan
Published: December 2017

In [Formula: see text] dimensions, entangled mixed states that are positive under partial transposition (PPT states) must have rank at least four. These rank four states are completely understood. We say that they have rank [Formula: see text] since both a state [Formula: see text] and its partial transpose [Formula: see text] have rank four. The next problem is to understand the extremal PPT states of rank [Formula: see text]. We call two states [Formula: see text]-equivalent if they are related by a product transformation. A generic rank [Formula: see text] PPT state [Formula: see text] is extremal, and both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] have six product vectors in their ranges, and no product vectors in their kernels. The three numbers [Formula: see text] are [Formula: see text]-invariants that help us classify the state. There is no analytical understanding of such states. We have studied numerically a few types of nongeneric rank five PPT states, in particular, states with one or more product vectors in their kernels. We find an interesting new analytical construction of all rank four extremal PPT states, up to [Formula: see text]-equivalence, where they appear as boundary states on one single five-dimensional face on the set of normalized PPT states. The interior of the face consists of rank [Formula: see text] states with four common product vectors in their kernels, it is a simplex of separable states surrounded by entangled PPT states. We say that a state [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-symmetric if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are [Formula: see text]-equivalent, and is genuinely [Formula: see text]-symmetric if it is [Formula: see text]-equivalent to a state [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]. Genuine [Formula: see text]-symmetry implies a special form of [Formula: see text]-symmetry. We have produced numerically, by a special method, a random sample of rank [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-symmetric states. About 50 of these are of type [Formula: see text], among those all are extremal and about half are genuinely [Formula: see text]-symmetric. All these genuinely [Formula: see text]-symmetric states can be transformed to have a circulant form. We find however that this is not a generic property of genuinely [Formula: see text]-symmetric states. The remaining [Formula: see text]-symmetric states found in the search have product vectors in their kernels, and they inspired us to study such states without regard to [Formula: see text]-symmetry.
Generalized Stirling numbers with poly-Bernoulli and poly-Cauchy numbers
Authors: Komatsu Takao , Young Paul Thomas
Published: December 2017

By using the generalized Stirling numbers studied by Hsu and Shiue, we define a new kind of generalized poly-Bernoulli and poly-Cauchy numbers. By using the formulae of the generalized Stirling numbers, we give their characteristic and combinatorial properties.
The equation (w + x + y + z)(1/w + 1/x + 1/y + 1/z) = n
Authors: Bremner Andrew , Xuan Tho Nguyen
Published: December 2017

Bremner, Guy and Nowakowski [Which integers are representable as the product of the sum of three integers with the sum of their reciprocals? Math. Compos. 61(203) (1993) 117–130] investigated the Diophantine problem of representing integers [Formula: see text] in the form [Formula: see text] for rationals [Formula: see text]. For fixed [Formula: see text], the equation represents an elliptic curve, and the existence of solutions depends upon the rank of the curve being positive. They observed that the corresponding equation in four variables, the title equation here (representing a surface), has infinitely many solutions for each [Formula: see text], and remarked that it seemed plausible that there were always solutions with positive [Formula: see text] when [Formula: see text]. This is false, and the situation is quite subtle. We show that there cannot exist such positive solutions when [Formula: see text] is of the form [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text]. Computations within our range seem to indicate that solutions exist for all other values of [Formula: see text].
Derivation of arithmetical functions under the Dirichlet convolution
Authors: Haukkanen Pentti
Published: December 2017

We present the group-theoretic structure of the classes of multiplicative and firmly multiplicative arithmetical functions of several variables under the Dirichlet convolution, and we give characterizations of these two classes in terms of a derivation of arithmetical functions.
Alternating cubic Euler sums with binomial squared terms
Authors: Sofo Anthony
Published: December 2017

We develop new closed form representations of sums of cubic alternating harmonic numbers and reciprocal binomial squared coefficients.
A generalization of the practical numbers
Authors: Schwab Nicholas , Thompson Lola
Published: December 2017

A positive integer [Formula: see text] is practical if every [Formula: see text] can be written as a sum of distinct divisors of [Formula: see text]. One can generalize the concept of practical numbers by applying an arithmetic function [Formula: see text] to each of the divisors of [Formula: see text] and asking whether all integers in a certain interval can be expressed as sums of [Formula: see text]’s, where the [Formula: see text]’s are distinct divisors of [Formula: see text]. We will refer to such [Formula: see text] as “[Formula: see text]-practical”. In this paper, we introduce the [Formula: see text]-practical numbers for the first time. We give criteria for when all [Formula: see text]-practical numbers can be constructed via a simple necessary-and-sufficient condition, demonstrate that it is possible to construct [Formula: see text]-practical sets with any asymptotic density, and prove a series of results related to the distribution of [Formula: see text]-practical numbers for many well-known arithmetic functions [Formula: see text].
Vectorial Drinfeld modular forms over Tate algebras
Authors: Pellarin Federico , Perkins Rudolph B.
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we develop the theory of vectorial modular forms with values in Tate algebras introduced by the first author, in a very special case (dimension two, for a very particular representation of [Formula: see text]). Among several results that we prove here, we determine the complete structure of the modules of these forms, we describe their specializations at roots of unity and their connection with Drinfeld modular forms for congruence subgroups of [Formula: see text] and we prove that the modules generated by these forms are stable under the actions of Hecke operators.