bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pressure ulcer prevention in intensive care patients: guidelines and practice
Authors: Shahin Eman S. M. , Dassen Theo , Halfens Ruud J. G.
Published: March 2009

Background  Pressure ulcers are a potential problem in intensive care patients, and their prevention is a major issue in nursing care. This study aims to assess the allocation of preventive measures for patients at risk for pressure ulcers in intensive care and the evidence of applied pressure ulcer preventive measures in intensive care settings in respect to the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) and Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention.

Design  The design of this study was a cross‐sectional study (point prevalence).

Setting  The study setting was intensive care units. The sample consisted of 169 patients – 60 patients from surgical wards, 59 from interdisciplinary wards and 50 from medical intensive care wards.

Results  The study results revealed that pressure reducing devices like mattresses (alternating pressure air, low air loss and foam) are applied for 58 (36.5%) patients, and all of these patients are at risk for pressure ulcer development. Most patients receive more than one nursing intervention, especially patients at risk. Nursing interventions applied are skin inspection, massage with moisture cream, nutrition and mobility (81.8%, 80.5%, 68.6% and 56.6%) respectively. Moreover, all applied pressure ulcer preventive measures in this study are in line with the guidelines of the EPUAP and AHCPR except massage which is applied to 8.8% of all patients.

Conclusions  The use of pressure reducing devices and nursing interventions in intensive care patients are in line with international pressure ulcer guidelines. Only massage, which is also being used, should be avoided according to the recommendation of national and international guidelines.
A longitudinal study of motivation and competence in children with Down syndrome: early childhood to early adolescence
Authors: Gilmore L. , Cuskelly M.
Published: March 2009

Background  Motivation has been identified as an area of difficulty for children with Down syndrome. Although individual differences in mastery motivation are presumed to have implications for subsequent competence, few longitudinal studies have addressed the stability of motivation and the predictive validity of early measures for later academic achievement, especially in atypical populations.

Method  The participants were 25 children with Down syndrome. Mastery motivation, operationalised as persistence, was measured in early childhood and adolescence using tasks and parent report. At the older age, preference for challenge, another aspect of mastery motivation, was also measured and the children completed assessments of academic competence.

Results  There were significant concurrent correlations among measures of persistence at both ages, and early task persistence was associated with later persistence. Persistence in early childhood was related to academic competence in adolescence, even when the effects of cognitive ability at the younger age were controlled.

Conclusions  For children with Down syndrome, persistence appears to be an individual characteristic that is relatively stable from early childhood to early adolescence. The finding that early mastery motivation is significant for later achievement has important implications for the focus of early interventions.
How employment support and social integration programmes are viewed by the intellectually disabled
Authors: Cramm J. M. , Finkenflügel H. , Kuijsten R. , Van Exel N. J. A.
Published: March 2009

Background  Supported employment is intended to facilitate and promote participation and integration of intellectually disabled citizens in society. This study investigated their view of the programme.

Methods  Q‐methodology was used. Eighteen respondents with a mild intellectual disability rank‐ordered 22 statements representing five main aspects of supported employment. The data were factor‐analysed to group respondents according to their views. Q‐methodology was a feasible approach that facilitated in‐depth conversations with respondents with a mild intellectual disability in a playful manner.

Results  Two views on the impact of supported employment on social integration were observed: ‘work as participation’ and ‘work as structure’. The first placed greater value on participation, task variety, belonging, and feeling appreciated; the second placed greater value on working independently, clear working agreements, and friendly co‐workers. The views indicate two distinct approaches to effecting a positive relationship between supported employment and social integration.

Conclusion  From the perspective of people with an intellectual disability supported employment contributes to self‐development and has a positive effect on well‐being, albeit in different ways for the individual groups.
Social support and intellectual disabilities: a comparison between social networks of adults with intellectual disability and those with physical disability
Authors: Lippold T. , Burns J.
Published: March 2009

Background  Social support has been identified as a major protective factor in preventing mental health problems and also as a major contributor to quality of life. People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have been identified as having limited social support structures. Interventions have been focused on promoting their social presence and integration. However, previous studies have shown that this does not always lead to the formation of social relationships. To date few studies have looked at how having an ID leads to impoverished social networks. This study aimed to do this by contrasting the social relationships of people with physical disabilities (PD) and people with ID.

Methods  Two groups of participants were recruited; 30 people with mild ID and 17 people with PD. Social and functional support networks were assessed, in addition to life experiences. Between and within group differences were then explored statistically.

Results  Adults with ID had more restricted social networks than PD, despite being involved in more activities. Social support for adults with ID was mainly provided by family and carers and few relationships with non‐disabled people were identified. In contrast adults with PD had larger social networks than had been reported in the mainstream literature and had a balance of relationships with disabled and non‐disabled people.

Conclusions  The results suggest that there are additional processes attached to having an ID, which lead to continued impoverished lifestyles. The findings also endorse other work that suggests being physically integrated and engaged in a wide range of activities does not guarantee good social and emotional support.
Automated tracking of migrating cells in phase‐contrast video microscopy sequences using image registration
Authors: HAND A.J. , SUN T. , BARBER D.C. , HOSE D.R. , MACNEIL S.
Published: March 2009

Analysis ofin vitrocell motility is a useful tool for assessing cellular response to a range of factors. However, the majority of cell‐tracking systems available are designed primarily for use with fluorescently labelled images. In this paper, five commonly used tracking systems are examined for their performance compared with the use of a novel in‐house cell‐tracking system based on the principles of image registration and optical flow. Image registration is a tool commonly used in medical imaging to correct for the effects of patient motion during imaging procedures and works well on low‐contrast images, such as those found in bright‐field and phase‐contrast microscopy. The five cell‐tracking systems examined were Retrac, a manual tracking system used as the gold standard; CellTrack, a recently released freely downloadable software system that uses a combination of tracking methods; ImageJ, which is a freely available piece of software with a plug‐in for automated tracking (MTrack2) and Imaris and Volocity, both commercially available automated tracking systems. All systems were used to track migration of human epithelial cells over ten frames of a phase‐contrast time‐lapse microscopy sequence. This showed that the in‐house image‐registration system was the most effective of those tested when tracking non‐dividing epithelial cells in low‐contrast images, with a successful tracking rate of 95%. The performance of the tracking systems was also evaluated by tracking fluorescently labelled epithelial cells imaged with both phase‐contrast and confocal microscopy techniques. The results showed that using fluorescence microscopy instead of phase contrast does improve the tracking efficiency for each of the tested systems. For the in‐house software, this improvement was relatively small (<5% difference in tracking success rate), whereas much greater improvements in performance were seen when using fluorescence microscopy with Volocity and ImageJ.
Species‐wide phylogeography of North American mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus): cryptic glacial refugia and postglacial recolonization
Authors: LATCH EMILY K. , HEFFELFINGER JAMES R. , FIKE JENNIFER A. , RHODES Jr OLIN E.
Published: March 2009

Quaternary climatic oscillations greatly influenced the present‐day population genetic structure of animals and plants. For species with high dispersal and reproductive potential, phylogeographic patterns resulting from historical processes can be cryptic, overshadowed by contemporary processes. Here we report a study of the phylogeography of Odocoileus hemionus, a large, vagile ungulate common throughout western North America. We examined sequence variation of mitochondrial DNA (control region and cytochrome b) within and among 70 natural populations across the entire range of the species. Among the 1766 individual animals surveyed, we recovered 496 haplotypes. Although fine‐scale phylogenetic structure was weakly resolved using phylogenetic methods, network analysis clearly revealed the presence of 12 distinct haplogroups. The spatial distribution of haplogroups showed a strong genetic discontinuity between the two morphological types of O. hemionus, mule deer and black‐tailed deer, east and west of the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. Within the mule deer lineage, we identified several haplogroups that expanded before or during the Last Glacial Maximum, suggesting that mule deer persisted in multiple refugia south of the ice sheets. Patterns of genetic diversity within the black‐tailed deer lineage suggest a single refugium along the Pacific Northwest coast, and refute the hypothesis that black‐tailed deer persisted in one or more northern refugia. Our data suggest that black‐tailed deer recolonized areas in accordance with the pattern of glacial retreat, with initial recolonization northward along a coastal route and secondary recolonization inland.
Functional characteristics of apheresis‐derived platelets treated with ultraviolet light combined with either amotosalen‐HCl (S‐59) or riboflavin (vitamin B2) for pathogen‐reduction
Authors: Picker S. M. , Oustianskaia L. , Schneider V. , Gathof B. S.
Published: March 2009

Background  To examine if different pathogen‐reduction technologies (PRTs) induce different degrees of platelet (PLT) storage lesion.

Design  Twenty‐seven split triple‐dose apheresis PLTs were PRT treated using ultraviolet light with either riboflavin (M) or psoralen (I) or remained untreated (C). Samples taken on days (d) 0 to 8 were analysed for PLT count, blood gas (pH, pO2 and pCO2), metabolism (lactate, glucose, ATP content), in vitro function [swirling, hypotonic shock response (HSR) and aggregation], activation (p‐selectin expression) and cellular integrity (JC‐1 signal, annexin A5 release).

Results  Platelet counts of all study groups remained unchanged during storage indicating that PRT treatment did not induce relevant cell lysis. Although M units demonstrated the highest values for HSR until d5, PRT treatment lowered all parameters examined with significant differences to untreated controls by d7 of storage. During final storage, M was significantly superior over I for HSR, aggregation with TRAP‐6 as agonist (collagen was similar), annexin A5 release and JC‐1 signal. Regarding blood gas and metabolic analysis, the most evident effect of PRT was an elevated glycolytic flux combined with higher acidity due to increased lactate accumulation. Most likely due to impaired O2 consumption, pH and ATP decreased more rapidly in I relative to C and M.

Conclusion  Pathogen reduction technology‐treated PLTs remained comparable to untreated units throughout 7 days of storage. Mitochondria‐based oxidative respiration appeared up‐regulated after the riboflavin‐based PRT. Compared to the psoralen‐based PRT, this resulted in significantly better ATP maintenance and in vitro function during the last storage period (d7, d8).
Type‐I interferon receptor expression: Its circadian rhythm and downregulation after interferon‐α administration in peripheral blood cells from renal cancer patients
Authors: Shiba Masahiro , Nonomura Norio , Nakai Yasutomo , Nakayama Masashi , Takayama Hitoshi , Inoue Hitoshi , Tsujimura Akira , Nishimura Kazuo , Okuyama Akihiko
Published: March 2009

Objectives:  To investigate the regulation of interferon‐α (IFN‐α) receptor expression in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after IFN‐α administration.

Methods:  Blood sampling was carried out in eight patients with metastatic RCC and six healthy volunteers. Flow‐cytometric analysis using a monoclonal antibody against the active subunit of the type‐I IFN‐α receptor (IFNAR2) was carried out to examine the circadian rhythm of IFNAR2 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as its downregulation after IFN‐α administration.

Results:  According to its circadian rhythm IFNAR2 in PBMC had a peak expression at night. Once IFN‐α is administered, IFNAR2 levels in PBMC showed downregulation within 48 h and recovered within another 48 h.

Conclusions:  Our findings might support the establishment of an optimal schedule for IFN‐α administration.
Maternal complete heart block in pregnancy: Analysis of four cases and review of management
Authors: Suri Vanita , Keepanasseril Anish , Aggarwal Neelam , Vijayvergiya Rajesh , Chopra Seema , Rohilla Meenakshi
Published: March 2009

Aim:  Maternal complete heart block (CHB), which manifests for the first time during pregnancy and peurperium, poses a challenge to treating physicians. We present here four cases that were diagnosed during pregnancy and peurperium, and we discuss their management issues.

Methods:  A retrospective analysis of a 3‐year period was carried out in a referral hospital in northern India. The course of pregnancy, disease and perinatal outcome in women with CHB diagnosed during pregnancy was studied.

Results:  Of the four patients who presented with CHB, only one had a structural cardiac lesion (corrected transposition of great arteries). All of the women had an uneventful delivery. Two women were given prophylactic temporary pacing before labor and three women required subsequent permanent pacing. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was present in two babies and preterm labor occurred in one patient. None of the neonates had any rhythm disturbances.

Conclusion:  When a multidisciplinary approach is used, both maternal and neonatal outcomes are good. The incidence of IUGR and preterm birth may be on the increase; hence, clinical vigilance for these conditions is warranted.
Multimodal treatment for glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix
Authors: Nasu Kaei , Takai Noriyuki , Narahara Hisashi
Published: March 2009

Glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare form of cervical cancer that is characterized by aggressiveness and poor prognosis because of its rapid growth, its frequent distant metastases, and its relative resistance to conventional treatment modalities including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. We report here a case of glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix that was successfully treated with radical surgery followed by radiation therapy and combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. A 30‐year‐old primigravid Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital to be treated for stage IIb uterine cervical cancer. She was treated with radical hysterectomy with pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The pathological diagnosis of the surgical specimen was glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix with metastases to the right obturator lymph nodes and left external iliac lymph nodes. The surgical staging of the disease was pT2b, pN1, and pM0. Subsequently, she was treated using conventional radiation therapy (50Gy by whole pelvic radiation) and six courses of tri‐weekly chemotherapy with paclitaxel (180 mg/m2) and carboplatin (area under the curve of 6.0 mg min/mL calculated using the Calvert formula). The patient is alive, without evidence of recurrence, 30 months following the surgery. It is suggested that multimodal therapy with radical surgery, radiation, and combined chemotherapy should be used to treat glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Our multimodal treatment protocol may be one of the treatment options for this aggressive disease.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF VOLUNTARY ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF FIRMS: A CRITICAL REVIEW
Authors: Blanco Esther , Rey‐Maquieira Javier , Lozano Javier
Published: March 2009

Abstract New trends in studies on the governance of natural assets include substantial consideration of the role of voluntary initiatives. A traditional economic view states that there is a trade‐off between being green and being competitive. According to that view, no voluntary environmental action is expected to occur. To undertake an in‐depth analysis of the scope for voluntary action, this paper reviews empirical literature that analyzes the relationship between manufacturing firms’ environmental initiatives or performance and economic results. This review moves beyond the general test of the ‘pay to be green’ hypothesis, preferring instead to systematize empirical results in more specific research questions. Empirical findings of the reviewed literature generally support that there is no penalty for being green. In addition, the typology of firms, the methods utilized for implementing environmental initiatives, the intensity of abatement efforts and stockholders’ valuation of green firms have all been shown to have a sizeable influence on the actual economic results of environmental action or management. Consequently, the findings of this paper challenge the traditional strategic theory that predicts widespread free‐riding; it holds major implications for environmental policy‐making and environmental business decisions.
Population-Based Reversible Jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods For Bayesian Variable Selection and Evaluation Under Cost Limit Restrictions
Authors: Fouskakis D. , Ntzoufras I. , Draper D.
Published: March 2009

The measurement and improvement of the quality of health care are important areas of current research and development. A judgement of appropriateness of medical outcomes in hospital quality-of-care studies must depend on an assessment of patient sickness at admission to hospital. Indicators of patient sickness often must be abstracted from medical records, and some variables are more expensive to measure than others. Quality-of-care studies are frequently undertaken in an environment of cost restriction; thus any scale measuring patient sickness must simultaneously respect two optimality criteria: high predictive accuracy and low cost. Here we examine a variable selection strategy for construction of a scale of sickness in which predictive accuracy is optimized subject to a bound on cost. Conventional model search algorithms (such as those based on standard reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC) sampling) in our setting will often fail, because of the existence of multiple modes of the criterion function with movement paths that are forbidden because of the cost restriction. We develop a population-based trans-dimensional RJMCMC (population RJMCMC) algorithm, in which ideas from the population-based MCMC and simulated tempering algorithms are combined. Comparing our method with standard RJMCMC sampling, we find that the population-based RJMCMC algorithm moves successfully and more efficiently between distant neighbourhoods of ‘good’ models, achieves convergence faster and has smaller Monte Carlo standard errors for a given amount of central processor unit time. In a case-study of n = 2532 pneumonia patients on whom p = 83 sickness indicators were measured, with marginal costs varying from smallest to largest across the predictor variables by a factor of 20, the final model chosen by population RJMCMC sampling, on the basis of both highest posterior probability and specifying the median probability model, was clinically sensible for pneumonia patients and achieved good predictive ability while capping data collection costs.
Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐dependent production of profibrotic mediators by hypoxic hepatocytes
Authors: Copple Bryan L. , Bustamante Juan J. , Welch Timothy P. , Kim Nam Deuk , Moon Jeon‐Ok
Published: March 2009

Background/Aims: During the development of liver fibrosis, mediators are produced that stimulate cells in the liver to differentiate into myofibroblasts and to produce collagen. Recent studies demonstrated that the transcription factor, hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α), is critical for upregulation of profibrotic mediators, such as platelet‐derived growth factor‐A (PDGF‐A), PDGF‐B and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) in the liver, during the development of fibrosis. What remains unknown is the cell type‐specific regulation of these genes by HIF‐1α in liver cell types. Accordingly, the hypothesis was tested that HIF‐1α is activated in hypoxic hepatocytes and regulates the production of profibrotic mediators by these cells.

Methods: In this study, hepatocytes were isolated from the livers of control and HIF‐1α‐ or HIF‐1β‐deficient mice and exposed to hypoxia.

Results: Exposure of primary mouse hepatocytes to 1% oxygen stimulated nuclear accumulation of HIF‐1α and upregulated PAI‐1, vascular endothelial cell growth factor and the vasoactive peptides adrenomedullin‐1 (ADM‐1) and ADM‐2. In contrast, the levels of PDGF‐A and PDGF‐B mRNAs were unaffected in these cells by hypoxia. Exposure of HIF‐1α‐deficient hepatocytes to 1% oxygen only partially prevented upregulation of these genes, suggesting that other hypoxia‐regulated transcription factors, such as HIF‐2α, may also regulate these genes. In support of this, HIF‐2α was activated in hypoxic hepatocytes, and exposure of HIF‐1β‐deficient hepatocytes to 1% oxygen completely prevented upregulation of PAI‐1, vascular endothelial cell growth factor and ADM‐1, suggesting that HIF‐2α may also contribute to upregulation of these genes in hypoxic hepatocytes.

Conclusions: Collectively, our results suggest that HIFs may be important regulators of profibrotic and vasoactive mediators by hypoxic hepatocytes.
DRAG REDUCTION OF A SUBMERSIBLE HULL BY ELECTROLYSIS
Authors: McCORMICK MICHAEL E. , BHATTACHARYYA RAMESWAR
Published: March 2009

Viscous drag reduction of a fully‐submerged body of revolution is obtained by creating hydrogen gas on the hull by electrolysis. The bubbles alter both the laminar and turbulent boundary‐layer characteristics resulting in a significant reduction in the viscous drag on the 3‐foot model up to a speed of 8.5 feet per second, the maximum test velocity. Results show that the amount of drag reduction depends on the ratio of the mass flow of water in the wake to the time‐rate of hydrogen mass produced beneath the boundary‐layer. The results presented herein are model results and should NOT be considered directly applicable to any existing prototype.
ADVANCED ICEBREAKING CONCEPTS
Authors: Coburn Joseph L. , EHRLICH NORMAN A.
Published: March 2009

Recent economic studies have resulted in favorable predictions for extending winter navigation in domestic waterways. The Coast Guard is attempting to meet this challenge by taking a “fresh look” at icebreaking and applying new and innovative concepts to accomplish its task.

This paper describes three advanced concepts which have been investigated: materials handling, explosive icebreaker, and the “super efficient” River Ice Breaker (RIB) concept, which has been selected for continued development. The paper concludes with statements about conventional icebreakers and why R&D is now being applied to enhance U. S. icebreaking technology.
GREATER SHIP CAPABILITY AND ENERGY SAVING WITH COMBINED—CYCLE MACHINERY
Authors: MILLS ROBERT G.
Published: March 2009

The gas turbine cycle receives heat at a relatively high temperature, but rejects it at a temperature well above ambient. Utilizing the rejected heat in a steam cycle, which is inherently a lower temperature device, provides a combined cycle with markedly higher efficiency than that obtainable by either of its components. Advances in gas turbine reliability, and application of well—proven gas turbine design principles to steam turbines of powers used in ships, makes practicable highly efficient, compact and reliable marine prime movers utilizing the combined cycle. Use of a modern dual—pressure once—through boiler provides further significant advantages of military and economic importance.
USE OF HEAT RECOVERABLE COUPLING TECHNOLOGY IN SHIPYARD PRODUCTION
Authors: CASKEY MAURICE R. , EMBRY GERALD D.
Published: March 2009

Skilled pipe welders and brazers are in short supply. Expensive training efforts have failed to supply an adequate number of qualified personnel for shipbuilding programs. Field welded and/or brazed pipe and tubing pose numerous installation problems. The recent introduction of heat recoverable pipe couplings into shipyard production methods provides a means to help alleviate some of these problems.

NITINOL, a “shape memory” alloy, was selected for evaluation of its applicability to shipboard piping systems. NITINOL couplings are cryogenically cooled, expanded, installed on a pipe joint and allowed to warm where they contract over the pipe forming a high‐pressure sealed joint. The evaluation indicated potential labor savings warranting incorporation in ongoing contracts. Using Project Management, a major change in methodology was introduced into production late in two major shipbuilding contracts without the significant problems normally associated with a change.
FIBER OPTICS FOR SHIPBOARD RADAR DATA TRANSMISSION
Authors: DIXON THOMAS P.
Published: March 2009

Optional Fiber Optic Data Links have been installed on four different types of Shipboard Radars and an IFF System at a Navy landbased test site. These data links carry all of the signals both directions between the Radars and the Combat Information Center. The use of fiber optics solved some very real problems at the site and, at the same time, provided an excellent opportunity to evaluate the performance and reliability of the data transmission systems prior to making commitments for shipboard installations. Subsequently, detailed specifications were generated for shipboard hardware, and qualification test programs are underway. All elements of the data links must pass qualification testing or be approved as non‐standard parts before they can be installed in an operational shipboard system. This paper will describe the fiberoptic systems that are operational at the landbased test site, and will detail some of the tradeoffs that have been made for shipboard installations.
FUNDAMENTALS OFNA VAL SURFACE SHIP WEIGHT ESTIMA TING
Authors: STRAUBINGER ERWIN K. , CURRAN WILLIAM C. , FIGHERA VINCENT L.
Published: March 2009

This paper descirbes how ship weights are estimated. Detail is presented concerning relationships between existing weight data and the characteristics of a new design as it develops from completion of feasibility design through contract design. Margin requirements are also discussed. The weight estimating ratios and factors presented, while not directly associated with a specific ship type, cover the weight classification groups one would use in the design of a surface combatant. The purpose of this paper is to present the fundamentals of weight estimating to the ship design community. With this knowledge, ship design engineers and managers should be able to personally identify with the important parts they all play in creation of a credible weight estimate.
ESTABLISHING MOBILE ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (MACS) SAFETY ON USS NAUTILUS
Authors: TUCCIO MICHAEL A.
Published: March 2009

USS Nautilus (SSN‐571) was decommissioned on 3 March 1980. In her later years in service she served as a test bed for many programs which investigated multiple aspects of future sonar designs. The Mobile Acoustic Communication System (MACS) was one of the last major experiments to be performed in Nautilus. This paper describes a unique data collection and presentation system with large numbers of strain gauges that was used to establish structural safety for the MACS antenna and Nautilus operations. The system utilized real‐time processing of digital data with a minicomputer and an instantaneous display of certain nondimensional quantities on two television monitors. This data system performed excellently and allowed Nautilus safely to conduct deep dive, full speed, and emergency blow operations.
FUTURE PROPULSION MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY FOR GAS TURBINE POWERED FRIGATES, DESTROYERS, AND CRUISERS
Authors: BASKERVILLE JAMES E. , QUANDT EARL R. , DONOVAN MICHAEL R.
Published: March 2009

A turning point occurred in naval engineering in 1972 when the U.S. Navy chose to use marine gas turbines for the propulsion of its new SPRUANCE and PERRY Class ships. This paper reviews the more than twenty years of experience with turbine technology and its design integration into combat ships needed to make that decision. It is concluded that the availability of a good second generation aircraft derivative engine with proven reliability and a strong commercial base, i.e., the LM‐2500, was as important to the decision as was the predicted improved ship effectiveness and cost benefits.

This paper discusses improvements that can be made to the twin engine, single gear, single propeller shaft system. Focusing only on this mechanical transmission concept, it addresses the impact of possible improvements to the engine, gear, and shafting. In particular, the paper discusses current LM‐2500 related R&D efforts to:

obtain improved part‐power fuel rates,

integrate with a reversing reduction gear, and

add on a waste heat recovery steam cycle.

Looking ahead to the year 2000, this paper suggests that a successor to the ubiquitous LM‐2500 will appear in the 15 MW power range to provide the next step in the evolution of the twin engine package. This new naval engine will most likely be based on an aircraft core that exists at present, such that it will have demonstrated its reliability and commercial potential through many hours of testing prior to its mid‐1990 marine conversion. This new engine is expected to offer improved air flow, an excellent fuel rate (approaching a flat 0.30 LB/HP‐HR), and effective maintenance monitoring, all at some expense in size, weight, and cost. The year 2000 engine will burn a liquid hydrocarbon fuel similar to JP‐5 because of its aircraft origins. Combined with advances in gear and shafting technology, the full twin engine propulsion system of the year 2000 should be markedly lighter, smaller, and more efficient than today's units.

Using a computerized ship synthesis model available in NAVSEA for conceptual design studies, some indication was obtained of how future technology advances for the twin engine mechanical drive arrangement would affect a notional 9200 ton destroyer. This study showed that 1990 propulsion technology results in a ship only slightly smaller in displacement, between one and two knots faster, and using about 18% less propulsion fuel to perform its mission. Year 2000 technology yielded a mission equivalent ship 10% lower in displacement, 1.5 knots faster, and using 28% less propulsion fuel than the original notional 9200‐ton destroyer. These numerical projections are felt to be meaningful only for this study and should not be compared quantitatively with the results of other studies because of the presently subjective nature of the ship synthesis model procedures.
RATIONALE FOR AN ADA SOFTWARE ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENT FOR NAVY MISSION CRITICAL APPLICATIONS
Authors: PAIGE KATHLEEN K. , CONVERSE ROBERT A.
Published: March 2009

The U.S. Navy introduced the use of digital computers in mission critical applications over a quarter of a century ago. Today, virtually every system in the current and planned Navy inventory makes extensive use of computer technology. Computers embedded in mission critical Navy systems are integral to our strategic and tactical defense capabilities. Thus, the military power of the U.S. Navy is inextricably tied to the use of programmable digital computers.

The computer program is the essential element that embodies the system “intelligence”. In addition, it provides the flexibility to respond to changing threats and requirements. However, this very flexibility and capability poses a host of difficulties hindering full realization of the advantages.

This paper describes the lessons learned about computer program development over the past twenty five years and discusses a software engineering process that addresses these lessons. It then describes how Ada and its related Ada Programming Support and Run‐Time Environments foster this software engineering process to improve computer program productivity and achieve greater system reliability and adaptibility. Finally, the paper discusses how the use of Ada and its environments can enhance the interoperability and transferability of computer programs among Navy projects and significantly reduce overall life cycle costs for Navy mission critical computer programs.
HUMAN FACTORS CONSIDERATIONS APPLIED TO OPERATIONS OF THE FFG‐8 AND LAMPS MK III
Authors: BAITIS A. ERICH , APPLEBEE TERRENCE R. , McNAMARA THOMAS M.
Published: March 2009

The FFG 7/LAMPS MK III Operator Guidance Manual (OGM) was developed for all FFG‐7 class frigates which are not fin stabilized or are operating with the fins off. The OGM was developed to assis the ship operators of the FFG‐7 class in choosing ship speed and heading combinations which will minimize ship motion‐related problems during various phases of the LAMPS deployment. Crew safety and performance were major concerns in the development of the OGM. This paper reviews the effect of human factors on ship operations during helicopter recovery, maintenance, and transit to and from the hangar.
SURFACE HARDENED NAVAL MARINE GEARS WITH REFERENCE TO ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF SURFACE HARDENING
Authors: BARKER ROGER , MUDD GEORGE C.
Published: March 2009

It has become common practice in naval marine gear units of European manufacture to take advantage of the greater load carrying capacity resulting from a surface hardening process. The surface hardening processes open to the gear designer are many and varied, and each has advantages and disadvantages.

This paper examines the three principal applicable processes, explains the characteristics of each and how the disadvantages may be controlled. The load carrying capacity of gears made with the different surface treatments is then discussed, including the effects of hardness gradient, residual stress and size on capacity.
ADVANCED‐CYCLE GAS TURBINES FOR NAVAL SHIP PROPULSION
Authors: BOWEN THOMAS L. , GROGHAN DANIEL A.
Published: March 2009

Investigations are currently being conducted by the Navy and several contractors to determine the technical feasibility and cost effectiveness of advanced regenerative or intercooled‐regenerative gas turbines as a naval propulsion engine for future mid‐size surface combatants. A comparison of the performance characteristics of these engines indicates that significant increases in the thermal efficiency above current simple‐cycle engines will result by adding heat exchangers for regeneration alone or with intercooling. Design and performance characteristics of several advanced‐cycle gas turbines are described which utilize turbomachinery from various existing simple‐cycle gas turbines. Estimates of the weight and volume of recuperators and intercoolers for these conceptual engines are provided. The nominal part‐load fuel consumption trends of the simple‐cycle and the advanced‐cycle engines are used to compare annual fuel usage of typical ships with various combinations of propulsion engines. The relative impacts of the advanced‐cycle gas turbine on propulsion machinery spaces are compared with other energy efficient prime movers using the simple‐cycle gas turbine as the baseline. Commercial applications for an advanced‐cycle gas turbine are surveyed according to output power and market sector. This paper presents an overview of current results and discusses the technology areas which require additional investigation.
THE SOVIET SLAVA CLASS STRIKE CRUISER
Authors: KEHOE CAPT. J.W. , BROWER KENNETH S. , EAST CDR. DON C.
Published: March 2009

This is the ninth in a continuing series of reports on the Ship Characteristics of various types of ships that have been, or will be, introduced into the navies of the world. In this report the authors discuss the major design concepts and basic characteristics of the Soviet Slava class strike cruiser, the first of which has recently deployed to the Mediterranean.
PRODUCTION LINE CONCEPT FOR OVERHAULING SUBMARINES — AN UPDATE
Authors: LANZILLO KENNETH F.
Published: March 2009

The intent of this paper is to update my previous paper, published in the May 1983 issue of the Naval Engineers Journal, entitled “Production Line Concept for Overhauling Submarines, Its Time Has Come.”

As stated in that paper, the fundamental methodology for overhauling submarines has remained virtually unchanged ever since the first overhaul of the first nuclear submarine. The production line concept (PLC) embraces a new methodology by taking advantage of an unprecedented opportunity evolving from our newest class of submarines. That new methodology, which leans heavily on applying production line techniques, is made possible because of the large number of highly standardized submarines in that class.

When the first paper was published, PLC was an ambitious vision which appeared to be cross‐threaded with reality. Today, the foundation for that vision is firmly in place, PLC is fast gaining support, and the obstacles in the way of implementation are known and manageable.

A preliminary analysis of the benefits of PLC indicate a reduction of 30% or more in the cost and time for overhauling submarines. Also, there are many important intangible benefits discussed that appear to be as beneficial to the Navy as monetary savings.

With a new class of submarines, the Navy now has a rare opportunity to substantially improve the submarine overhaul process by adopting PLC. If implemented, PLC will reverse current adverse cost trends, increase submarine on‐line time, improve the overall posture of the submarine Navy, and strengthen the lifeline of naval shipyards.
PHASED MAINTENANCE
Authors: TODD CDR. JIM
Published: March 2009

Phased maintenance has expanded from a one class, three ship experiment to a viable maintenance strategy for the auxiliary and amphibious forces of the U.S. Navy. An evaluation of the program on the AFS class on the East Coast concludes that phased maintenance has solved the Atlantic Fleet AFS deployment problem, all PMAs have completed on time or early, IMA time and emergent voyage repair time are dramatically shorter, operational readiness has been enhanced, repair costs are declining moderately, the repair work definition process has evolved into a well‐managed, streamlined and efficient process, and the port engineer concept continues to be as critical to the success of Atlantic Fleet phased maintenance as any single program element. Critics of expansion of the program charge that too much authority is being placed in the hands of a single individual, modernization will be inadequate, contractors will gouge the Navy with cost reimbursement contracts, a separate supply system will evolve, the Navy will saturate the industrial capacity of certain ports, and competition for Navy repair work will be eliminated with multiyear cost reimbursement contracts.
TWENTY STEPS TO A BETTER FLEET: INSURV REVIEW OF SURFACE SHIP DESIGN ENGINEERING
Authors: BAKER ROBERT C. , REED MICHAEL R.
Published: March 2009

This paper reports upon Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey's (INSURV's) findings regarding fleet characteristics that are the result of past Navy design engineering efforts. Recommendations are made regarding requirements for the engineering of characteristics that support the fleet's ability to conduct the Navy's mission “… Prompt, sustained … combat operations at sea.” The objective is to make tomorrow's fleet better through better engineering today. To this end, twenty engineering principles in six different areas of concern have been identified.

This paper will emphasize primal warship design imperatives:

* That General Specifications for Ships of the U.S. Navy (GEN SPECS) must be the standard for construction of warships.

* That operational reliability must be a primary consideration in warship design.

* That ship survivability must be given greater emphasis in ship design.

The first portion of this paper will identify engineering principles in these three areas. The remainder of the paper will identify engineering principles in three specific emerging areas of concern to INSURV.
MASTER ORDNANCE REPAIR
Authors: CHENARD JOHN H. , STIMSON WILLIAM S.
Published: March 2009

The overhaul of high technology combat systems presents problems in logistics, management, and testing that increasingly challenge the way that these issues have been resolved in the past. Recognizing that a number of surface ships with complex combat systems will be overhauled by private shipyards, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) initiated the master ordnance repair (MOR) program. The objectives are to improve the quality of combat system overhauls in the private sector and to assure that this maturity keeps pace with developing technology.

The MOR program is designed to identify, and qualify, those companies and private shipyards technically capable of managing combat system work and of conducting combat system testing. A team of combat system and overhaul experts from government agencies conducts on‐site visits of MOR applicant facilities. The team examines aspects of the companies' capabilities, then recommends qualification, or not, to NAVSEA.

This paper explains the MOR program and its implementation, discusses qualification of an applicant, identifies support problems unique to the private sector, and proposes a monitor system which will ensure program integrity.
NAVAL PROPULSION SYSTEMS WATER TREATMENT AND CONTROL
Authors: EICHINGER BERNADETTE J.
Published: March 2009

The causes and effects of corrosion and contamination in conventional steam generator systems are described briefly. Treatment and control methodologies currently used by the Navy for feedwater, steam, condensate, and boiler water are detailed. Examples are cited of the manner in which Navy personnel are trained in interpretation of analytical data and in trend analysis in order that the ship can exercise preventive and corrective control of problems. Ancillary subjects discussed include chemical cleaning, mechanical cleaning, and out‐of‐service preservation. An overview of planned improvements is provided.
A QUICK CHANGE — COMMERCIAL SURFACE EFFECT SHIP TO COAST GUARD PATROL BOAT
Authors: MARAFIOTI RONALD J.
Published: March 2009

In 1982, the Coast Guard procured three off‐the‐shelf high performance craft to satisfy an urgent operational need for additional law enforcement resources in the southeast United States. Although originally designed for crew/supply boat applications, the three aluminum 110‐foot surface effect ships (SES) delivered by Bell Halter, Inc. were modified to satisfy these immediate Coast Guard needs. The first two SESs were placed in service in late 1982 and the remaining one in mid‐1983. This paper reviews the strengths and weaknesses reported during the operations of these uniquely designed patrol boats, describes the first stage and subsequent retrofit modifications required to improve their application to Coast Guard service, and introduces modifications to be considered to extend the overall benefit of the unique features of the SES for Coast Guard patrol boat applications.

Based upon two years of patrol boat service, the addition of the 110‐foot SESs to the Coast Guard's inventory has been beneficial to law enforcement and search and rescue capabilities. Upon completion of the first stage and retrofit modifications, the Coast Guard's position to further evaluate this high performance hullform will be greatly improved.
THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO FUTURE TACTICAL C2 DESIGN
Authors: MURRAY ARTHUR J.
Published: March 2009

The purpose of this paper is to develop a top‐level design for an artificial intelligence based C2 decision support system. The design objective is to provide a command level decision maker with timely and accurate information to support optimal utilization of assets to be employed in theater tactical combat situations.

This paper will be divided into two portions. The first will discuss artificial intelligence (AI) in the general sense, i.e., what AI is and what it is not, and why such an approach could have broad‐sweeping applications in naval battle command and control. A generic AI‐based decision support system will be illustrated. This system will have three major attributes: 1) intelligent interfaces to the operator, 2) a goal‐seeking problem processing module, and 3) a knowledge base which utilizes interacting intelligent data base and model base elements. It will be shown how all three of these attributes can be effectively combined to provide the force commander with a rapid assessment of a given threat situation and aid in the selection of recommended courses of action.

The second part of this paper will be directed toward examining specific applications of decision support system technology, using battle management and force management as exemplary domains. Key input drivers, decision algorithms and system safeguards will be addressed. Comparisons of predicted DSS performance vs. current architectures will be made, and discussions of interfacing to existing networks will also be included.
APPLICATION OF VARIABLE SPEED CONSTANT FREQUENCY GENERATORS TO PROPULSION‐DERIVED SHIP SERVICE
Authors: ROBEY H.N. , STEVENS H.O. , PAGE K.T.
Published: March 2009

The higher specific fuel consumption of present Navy gas turbine generators, when compared to main propulsion gas turbines, has led to the investigation of propulsion‐derived ship service electrical power. Variations in propulsion engine speed require that a generator provide constant frequency with a variable input shaft speed. A fuel use analysis has been conducted of the application of a variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) generator to a four gas turbine twin shaft destroyer. Other considerations are the quality of ship service power with the introduction of power electronics to the generating system and the impact of the new components on system weight, volume, and survivability. Propulsion‐derived ship service utilizing VSCF generators offers to provide substantial benefit to Navy combatant ships through the application of proven technology.
A Condition and Performance Monitoring System with Application to U.S. Navy Ship Operations
Authors: REID ROBERT E.
Published: March 2009

The paper describes a microprocessor based onboard automatic ship condition/performance monitoring system. The capabilities of the system for achievement of improved maintenance management and increased operational standard are presented. By the design principles employed, and the system implementation as a distributed digital processing system, it is shown that the technology described is compatible with current U.S. Navy goals both for onboard control and surveillance systems and for reduction in the maintenance costs necessary to achieve high availability and performance of its ship.