bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Quantitative Risk Assessment Interface for Fixed Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Platforms
Authors: Wang Chen , Ong Patrick , Wood Lincoln C. , Zou Fengqiu , Abdul-Rahman Hamzah
Published: December 2019

Light, sweet crude oils are depleting, forcing oil and gas companies to explore and operate in increasingly deeper waters, remote geographical locations, and harsher environmental conditions with higher safety risks. This paper analyzed the common misuse and errors of typical quantitative risk assessments (QRAs) during identification, assessment, approval, and project implementation stages of a project for the case of optimization of facilities and manning fixed offshore oil and gas platform, as well as the scenario of a gas leak from riser pipeline of a floating production platform. The lessons learned were then applied to design an optimized QRA process for a real case, preproject assessment for a proposed addition of a riser platform (R-A) to a fixed offshore oil and gas platform complex using individual risk per annum (IRPA) and potential loss of life (PLL) analyses. Findings reveal that applying the standard hazard and effects management process (HEMP) and as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) guidelines and tools alone are insufficient. The application of practical lessons learned from the past oil and gas disasters using IRPA and PLL parameters has helped this research to produce an optimized QRA. The optimized QRA process is a live process which could be further improved with future lessons learned.
Burst Pressure Prediction of Cylindrical Vessels Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Zolfaghari Abolfazl , Izadi Moein
Published: December 2019

Pressure vessel plays an important role in wide range of applications to store gas or liquid substances. In order to design a pressure vessel safely, one of the main factors which has to be considered is selection of proper burst pressure perdition criterion. Due to large range of available materials in manufacturing of the vessels under different working conditions, several criteria to forecast burst pressure of the vessels have been developed and used by designers. Choosing the most proper criterion based on working condition and the material is a vital task to meet design requirements because inappropriate criterion may lead to unsafe vessel or over design. This issue makes not only pressure vessel design more complex but also maintenance planning, especially for designers who do not have enough experience, is a challenging task. Therefore, lack of a burst pressure predictor model, which is able to determine the pressure more accurately for wide range of materials and applications, has been remained unsolved. To evaluate machine learning techniques in prediction of burst pressure of pressure vessels, in this paper, a new model based on artificial neural network (ANN) has been proposed and developed. Input parameters of the model include internal and outer diameter, thickness, ultimate and yield strength; output is burst pressure. The obtained results showed that the constructed model has a good potential to be used as more applicable model compared to current models in design of pressure vessels.
Pressure Drop and Convective Heat Transfer in Different SiSiC Structures Fabricated by Indirect Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Rezaei Ehsan , Barbato Maurizio , Gianella Sandro , Ortona Alberto , Haussener Sophia
Published: December 2019

The microstructure of porous materials has a significant effect on their transport properties. Engineered cellular ceramics can be designed to exhibit properties at will, thanks to the advances in additive manufacturing. We investigated the heat and mass transport characteristics of SiSiC lattices produced by three-dimensional (3D) printing and replication, with three different morphologies: rotated cube (RC), Weaire–Phelan (WPh), and tetrakaidecahedron (TK) lattices, and a commercially available ceramic foam. The pressure gradients were measured experimentally for various velocities. The convective heat transfer coefficients were determined through a steady-state experimental technique in combination with numerical analysis. The numerical model was a volume-averaged model based on a local thermal nonequilibrium (LTNE) assumption of the two homogeneous phases. The results showed that for TK and WPh structures, undesirable manufacturing anomalies (specifically window clogging) led to unexpectedly higher pressure drops across the samples and increased thermal dispersion. Compared to the TK and WPh structures the manufactured RC lattice and the random foam had lower heat transfer rates but also lower pressure drops. These lower values for the RC lattice and foam are also a result of their lower specific surface areas.
Estimation of the Bubble Influence on the Imbibed Liquid Measurement During Tight Rock Continuous Imbibition
Authors: Meng Mianmo , Ge Hongkui , Shen Yinghao , Ji Wenming , Li Longlong , Yu Jiayao , Li Qinyu , Liu Tongyuan , Li Yunfeng
Published: December 2019

Bubble influence makes the measured liquid content in rock become less during continuous imbibition because it attaches to the surface of the tight sand increasing the buoyancy of rock in liquid. The imbibition experiment was performed to research this influence. The experiment has two parts. One is the repeated measurement of imbibition with the same sample to investigate the repeatability of the imbibition experiment under the bubble influence. The other part includes the measurement with bubble influence and without bubble influence of the same sample. The results are listed as follows. The repeated measurement of the same rock imbibition reflects a similar characteristic with the bubble influence. The water content is very close with the corresponding imbibition time. This characteristic presents that tight sand imbibition has the characteristic of repeatability, which was the basis for the other experiment. Some different characteristics appear during the measurement of the liquid content with and without bubble influence in the same sample. The liquid content without bubble influence is apparently larger than the liquid content with bubble influence. The difference between the liquid content in these two conditions is small at the end of imbibition time. It becomes larger in the middle imbibition time. The error can reach 50%. It severely influences the accurate evaluation of the imbibition capacity of tight sand. Our research contributes to the acquaintance of liquid imbibition in the formation during hydraulic fracturing and is also conducive to better measure the liquid content through the laboratory experiment.
Experimental Investigation on Airflow and Water Production in the Integrated Rooftop Solar Thermal System
Authors: Sivaram P. M. , Dinesh Kumar S. , Premalatha M. , Sivasankar T. , Arunagiri A.
Published: December 2019

Solar chimney is a passive renewable technology, adopted and followed widely for the application of room ventilation and power production. It requires a wide space for operation. Hence, an effective heat transfer mechanism is required within the available space to improve the performance. The solar chimney is integrated with a solar still using an external condenser to effectively utilize the energy released during the condensation of water vapor in the external condenser. The external condenser acts as an additional heat source besides the solar collector in the solar chimney. The experiments were conducted with the solar chimney of heights 1 m and 2 m, by considering the effects of an external condenser in both summer and winter. Heat transfer studies on the external condenser are also made to determine the effectiveness and the number of transfer units. The temperature and mass flow rate of vapor in the still are the influential parameters on the effectiveness of the external condenser. The condensation energy released from the external condenser increased the daily average air velocity by 14.9% and 22.4% in summer and winter, respectively. However, the overall solar chimney efficiency was improved by 37.1% in summer and 14.5% in winter for the integrated system with the chimney of height 2 m.
Modeling and Optimization of a New Configuration of Heat Pipe Parabolic Trough Collector for Solar Water Heating
Authors: Janan Moulay Ahmed , Taqi Mohamed , Chakir Hamid
Published: December 2019

This work reports the design, numerical modeling, and optimization of a new solar water heater using a heat pipe parabolic trough collector (HPPTC) with low concentration ratio. The heat pipe evaporator is positioned on the focal axis of the reflector, while the condenser section is completely immersed in the water cylindrical tank. The copper wire mesh wick is used as the capillary structure, and the working fluid is distillated water. The proposed model operates in transitory regime under the weather conditions of Casablanca city in Morocco. The intensity of direct solar radiation was estimated by the Kasten model assuming a total sun tracking. The finite difference method has been used to solve governing equations. Several optimization types have been investigated and proved that the optimal configuration is obtained by correctly choosing the geometrical and physical parameters of the system. The thermal efficiency for this configuration with a single heat pipe is about 68.45%. This high performance show that the incorporation of a heat pipe as absorber in a PTC may be a better alternative than conventional heating systems.
Low-Cost Fabrication of Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Personalized Vascular Phantoms for In Vitro Hemodynamic Studies: Three Applications
Authors: Annio Giacomo , Franzetti Gaia , Bonfanti Mirko , Gallarello Antonio , Palombi Andrea , De Momi Elena , Homer-Vanniasinkam Shervanthi , Wurdemann Helge A. , Tsang Victor , Diáz-Zuccarini Vanessa , Torii Ryo , Balabani Stavroula , Burriesci Gaetano
Published: December 2019

Vascular phantoms mimicking human vessels are commonly used to perform in vitro hemodynamic studies for a number of bioengineering applications, such as medical device testing, clinical simulators, and medical imaging research. Simplified geometries are useful to perform parametric studies, but accurate representations of the complexity of the in vivo system are essential in several applications as personalized features have been found to play a crucial role in the management and treatment of many vascular pathologies. Despite numerous studies employing vascular phantoms produced through different manufacturing techniques, an economically viable technique, able to generate large complex patient-specific vascular anatomies, accessible to nonspecialist laboratories, still needs to be identified. In this work, a manufacturing framework to create personalized and complex phantoms with easily accessible and affordable materials and equipment is presented. In particular, three-dimensional (3D) printing with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is employed to create the mold, and lost core casting is performed to create the physical model. The applicability and flexibility of the proposed fabrication protocol is demonstrated through three phantom case studies—an idealized aortic arch, a patient-specific aortic arch, and a patient-specific aortic dissection model. The phantoms were successfully manufactured in a rigid silicone, a compliant silicone, and a rigid epoxy resin, respectively; using two different 3D printers and two casting techniques, without the need of specialist equipment.
Reconstruction and Analysis of Freak Waves Generated From Unidirectional Random Waves
Authors: Ma Yuxiang , Yuan Changfu , Ai Congfang , Dong Guohai
Published: December 2019

The generation of two freak waves in a broadband and a narrowband random series registered in the experiments of Li, J. X., Li, P. F., and Liu, S. X. (2013, “Observations of Freak Waves in Random Wave Field in 2D Experimental Wave Flume,” China Ocean Eng., 27(5), pp. 659–670) is precisely reconstructed using a fully non-hydrostatic water wave model. The simulation results indicate that even when the background spectral bandwidths are different, the evolution processes of the two freak waves are similar. Both freak waves emerge quickly during the transition from normal states to extreme events. The freak waves can persist over a long distance, i.e., approximately 5 peak wavelengths. The reconstructed time series in both the backward and forward locations at which the freak waves were recorded reveal that the largest freak wave crests were not captured in the experiment. The freak waves gradually emerged from an intense wave group. The waves developed quickly during the transition from a normal state to an extreme event. Very deep troughs were also formed in the evolution process. The two freak waves were actually generated via different spectral bandwidth processes, but the generation mechanisms of the rogue waves were similar. By analyzing the time series of the freak wave groups, the formation of the freak waves is found to result from the combined effect of the dispersive focusing, the third-order resonant wave interactions, and the higher harmonics.
Shifts in the Molecular Epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni Infections in a Sentinel Region of New Zealand following Implementation of Food Safety Interventions by the Poultry Industry
Authors: Nohra Antoine , Grinberg Alex , Marshall Jonathan C. , Midwinter Anne C. , Collins-Emerson Julie M. , French Nigel P.
Published: December 2019

This study provides a unique insight into the effects of food safety interventions implemented in one sector of the food industry on the transmission routes of a major foodborne agent. Following the implementation of food safety interventions by the poultry industry, shifts in the molecular epidemiology of
Campylobacter jejuni
infections in a sentinel region of New Zealand were observed. Targeted interventions to reduce disease incidence are effective but require continued surveillance and analysis to indicate where further interventions may be beneficial.
Association between regional deprivation and type 2 diabetes incidence in Germany
Authors: Jacobs Esther , Tönnies Thaddäus , Rathmann Wolfgang , Brinks Ralph , Hoyer Annika
Published: December 2019

Objective

The aim of this analysis was to estimate the association between regional deprivation and type 2 diabetes incidence and to investigate differences by age and sex for Germany.

Research design and methods

Type 2 diabetes incidence rate ratios comparing the most deprived fifth of the population to the remainder of the population (divided into quintiles) were estimated using the illness-death model, which describes the relationship between prevalence, mortality, and incidence. For the analysis, we used the type 2 diabetes prevalence and the general mortality rate according to deprivation quintiles, which we calculated based on valid estimates for Germany. Because mortality rate ratios for people with type 2 diabetes compared with people without type 2 diabetes are lacking for Germany, we used estimates from Scotland. Estimates were standardized to the German population in 2012 and stratified by sex.

Results

Incidence of type 2 diabetes was estimated to be over twice as high among people living in the most deprived regions of Germany compared with people living in the least deprived regions (men: 2.41, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.28; women: 2.40, 95% CI 1.25 to 4.29). The strength of the association increased with increasing age until the age of 75 years. No sex differences were present.

Conclusions

The study adds new evidence regarding the association between type 2 diabetes incidence and regional deprivation for Germany. The results underpin the importance to intensify public health actions to reduce social inequalities in Germany and whole Europe in the future.
Exploring how lifestyle weight management programmes for children are commissioned and evaluated in England: a mixed methodology study
Authors: Mears Ruth , Jago Russ , Sharp Deborah , Patel Anamica , Kipping Ruth , Shield Julian P H
Published: December 2019

Objective

To assess how lifestyle weight management programmes for children aged 4–16 years in England are commissioned and evaluated at the local level.

Design

This was a mixed-methods study comprising an online survey and semistructured telephone interviews.

Setting

An online survey was sent to all local authorities (LAs) in England regarding lifestyle weight management services commissioned for children aged 4–16 years. Online survey data were collected between February and May 2016 and based on services commissioned between April 2014 and March 2015. Semistructured telephone interviews with LA staff across England were conducted between April and June 2016.

Participants

Commissioners or service providers working within the public health department of LAs.

Main outcome measures

The online survey collected information on the evidence base, costs, reach, service usage and evaluation of child lifestyle weight management services. The telephone interviews explored the nature of child weight management contracts commissioned by LAs, the type of outcome data collected and whether these data were shared with other LAs or organisations, the challenges faced by these services, and the perceived ‘markers of success’ for a programme.

Results

The online survey showed that none of the participating LAs was aware of any peer-reviewed evidence supporting the effectiveness of their specific commissioned service. Despite this, the telephone interviews revealed that there was no national formal sharing of data to enable oversight of the effectiveness of commissioned services across LAs in England to help inform future commissioning decisions. Challenges with long-term data collection, service engagement, funding and the pressure to reduce the prevalence of obesity were frequently mentioned.

Conclusions

Robust, independent, cost-effectiveness analyses of obesity strategies are needed to determine the appropriate allocation of funding to lifestyle weight management treatment services, population-level preventative approaches or development of whole system approaches by an LA.
Prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension among persons aged 15–49 in India: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ghosh Soumitra , Kumar Manish
Published: December 2019

Objectives

This is the first attempt to provide estimates on the prevalence of hypertension at the national, state and district level, a prerequisite for designing effective interventions. Besides, the study aims to identify the risk factors of hypertension.

Design

We analysed cross-sectional survey data from the fourth round (2015–2016) of National Family Health Survey (NFHS). NFHS was conducted between January 2015 and December 2016, gathering information on a range of indicators including blood pressure. The age adjusted prevalence of hypertension was calculated for state comparison, while multilevel logistic regression analysis was done to assess the correlates of hypertension.

Setting and participants

India (2015–2016; n=811 917) aged 15–49.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome is hypertension, which has been defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg.

Results

The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension in India was 11.3% (95% CI 11.16% to 11.43%) among persons aged between 15 and 49 and was four percentage points higher among males 13.8% (95% CI 13.46% to 14.19%) than among females 10.9% (95% CI 10.79% to 11.06%). Persons in the urban location (12.5%, 95% CI 12.25% to 12.80%) had a marginally higher prevalence than persons in rural location (10.6%, 95% CI 10.50% to 10.78%). The proportion of population suffering from hypertension varied greatly between states, with a prevalence of 8.2% (95% CI 7.58% to 8.85%) in Kerala to 20.3% (95% CI 18.81% to 21.77%) in Sikkim. Advancing age, obesity/overweight, male sex, socioeconomic status and consumption of alcohol were found to be the major predictors of hypertension.

Conclusions

Hypertension prevalence is now becoming more concentrated among the poor. Policy measures should be taken to improve the hazardous working conditions and growing social pressures of survival responsible for ‘life-style’ changes such as consumption of high calorie food and alcohol.
Interaction and innovation: practical strategies for inclusive consumer-driven research in health services
Authors: Dahm Maria R , Brown Anthony , Martin Dean , Williams Maureen , Osborne Brian , Basseal Jocelyne , Potter Mary , Hardie Rae-Anne , Li Julie , Thomas Judith , Georgiou Andrew
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Despite advances in the co-creation of clinical research involving consumers in the last few decades, consumer engagement in health services research generally remains inconsistent and is too often treated as a perfunctory exercise.

Objective

Drawing on a health services study on diagnostic test result management, communication and follow-up, we: (1) outline practical strategies used to enhance the contribution of health consumer representatives across all stages of health services research, including active involvement in prioritising objectives for data analysis and participating in data analysis and the dissemination of findings; and (2) describe the impact of continued engagement of consumers on the programme of research, the interpretation of findings and their translational potential.

Key innovations

Key enabling innovations for engagement included: (1) planned opportunities for long-term consumer involvement across all stages of the research process from conception to dissemination; (2) enhanced consumer engagement capacity; (3) purposeful recruitment of appropriately trained consumers; (4) provision of support structures for active consumer involvement in research design, analysis and write-up; and (5) financial support for consumer involvement.

Impact/Conclusion

Enhancing consumer contribution and establishing inclusive research design requires a negotiated, interactive, meaningful and transparent process. As a collaborative approach, consumer-driven research involvement offers opportunities for new, often unexpected or unexplored perspectives to feature across the whole research process. In a move away from tokenistic consumer involvement, consumers and researchers who participated in this novel and immersive research project identified inclusive research as a powerful tool to enhance health services research and its translation into effective policy.
Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)
Authors: ten Kate Chantal A , Vlot John , IJsselstijn Hanneke , Allegaert Karel , Spaander Manon C W , Poley Marten J , van Rosmalen Joost , van den Akker Erica L T , Wijnen Rene M H
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Anastomotic stricture formation is the most common postoperative complication after oesophageal atresia (OA) repair. The standard of care is endoscopic dilatation. A possible adjuvant treatment is intralesional steroid injection, which is thought to inhibit scar tissue formation and thereby to prevent stricture recurrence. We hypothesise that this intervention could prevent refractory strictures and reduce the total number of dilatations needed in these children.

Methods and analysis

This is an international multicentre randomised controlled trial. Children with OA type C (n=110) will be randomised into intralesional steroid injection followed by balloon dilatation or dilatation only. Randomisation and intervention will take place when a third dilatation is performed. The indication for dilatation will be confirmed with an oesophagram. One radiologist—blinded for randomisation—will review all oesophagrams. The primary outcome parameter is the total number of dilatations needed with <28 days’ interval, which will be analysed with a linear-by-linear χ2 association test. Secondary outcome parameters include the level of dysphagia, the luminal oesophageal diameter and stricture length (measured on the oesophagrams), the influence of comedication on stricture formation, systemic effects of intralesional steroids (cortisol levels, length and weight) and the cost-effectiveness. Patients will undergo a second oesophagram; length and weight will be measured repeatedly; a scalp hair sample will be collected; and three questionnaires will be administered. The follow-up period will be 6 months, with evaluation at 2–3 weeks, 3 and 6 months after the intervention.

Ethics and dissemination

Patients will be included after written parental informed consent. The risks and burden associated with this trial are minimal. The institutional review board of the Erasmus Medical Centre approved this protocol (MEC-2018–1586/NL65364.078.18). The results of the trial will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will be presented at international conferences.

Trial registration numbers

2018-002863-24 and NTR7726/NL7484.
Reducing avoidable chest pain admissions and implementing high-sensitivity troponin testing
Authors: Bhatti Yousaf , Stevenson Alexander , Weerasuriya Scott , Khan Sadia
Published: December 2019

NHS accident and emergency departments see 0.5 million patients presenting with a cardiac condition each year. The accurate assessment of chest pain and subsequent diagnosis or exclusion of myocardial infarction (MI) represent a significant challenge, with important consequences on patient outcome and healthcare resources. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of patients admitted with cardiac chest pain to a busy district general hospital in London. The criteria used by physicians to admit patients for further cardiac investigations were measured against national guidance on chest pain assessment and diagnosis of MI. We found that poor adherence to guidance, unsuitable patient pathways and inappropriate diagnostic tools at the point of presentation led to unnecessary inpatient admissions to the hospital. Quality improvement methods were used with the aim to reduce avoidable admissions to hospital in patients presenting with chest pain. We describe a system to implement new high-sensitivity troponin testing into legacy chest pain pathways. This was achieved through local education of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, the use of patient pro formas and the creation of two new chest pain pathway arms to enable physicians to streamline patients for appropriate inpatient or outpatient care. As a result of these changes, we reduced non-compliance with NICE guidance by 83% and achieved a 42% reduction in avoidable chest pain admissions. Overall, the improvements made by this project were sustained over 2 years and saved £21 000 per month in avoidable admissions.
Risk of spread in adult-onset isolated focal dystonia: a prospective international cohort study
Authors: Berman Brian D , Groth Christopher L , Sillau Stefan H , Pirio Richardson Sarah , Norris Scott A , Junker Johanna , Brüggemann Norbert , Agarwal Pinky , Barbano Richard L , Espay Alberto J , Vizcarra Joaquin A , Klein Christine , Bäumer Tobias , Loens Sebastian , Reich Stephen G , Vidailhet Marie , Bonnet Cecilia , Roze Emmanuel , Jinnah Hyder A , Perlmutter Joel S
Published: December 2019

Objective

Isolated focal dystonia can spread to muscles beyond the initially affected body region, but risk of spread has not been evaluated in a prospective manner. Furthermore, body regions at risk for spread and the clinical factors associated with spread risk are not well characterised. We sought here to prospectively characterise risk of spread in recently diagnosed adult-onset isolated focal dystonia patients.

Methods

Patients enrolled in the Dystonia Coalition with isolated dystonia affecting only the neck, upper face, hand or larynx at onset of symptoms were included. Timing of follow-up visits was based on a sliding scale depending on symptom onset and ranged from 1 to 4 years. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to assess clinical characteristics associated with dystonia spread.

Results

487 enrolled participants (68.3% women; mean age: 55.6±12.2 years) met our inclusion/exclusion criteria. Spread was observed in 50% of blepharospasm, 8% of cervical dystonia, 17% of hand dystonia and 16% of laryngeal dystonia cases. Most common regions for first spread were the oromandibular region (42.2%) and neck (22.4%) for blepharospasm, hand (3.5%) for cervical dystonia and neck for hand (12.8%) and laryngeal (15.8%) dystonia. Increased spread risk was associated with a positive family history (HR=2.18, p=0.012) and self-reported alcohol responsiveness (HR=2.59, p=0.009).

Conclusions

Initial body region affected in isolated focal dystonia has differential risk and patterns of spread. Genetic factors likely influence the risk of spread. These findings can aid clinical prognostication and inform future investigations into potential disease-modifying treatments.
Generalized Misner–Sharp energy in generalized Rastall theory
Authors: Moradpour H. , Valipour M.
Published: December 2019

Employing the unified first law of thermodynamics and the field equations of the generalized Rastall theory, we get the generalized Misner–Sharp mass of space–times for which gtt = –grr = –f(r). The obtained result differs from those of the Einstein and Rastall theories. Moreover, using the first law of thermodynamics, the obtained generalized Misner–Sharp mass, and the field equations, the entropy of static spherically symmetric horizons are also addressed in the framework of the generalized Rastall theory. In addition, by generalizing the study to a flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) universe, the apparent horizon entropy is also calculated. Considering the effects of applying the Newtonian limit to the field equations on the coupling coefficients of the generalized Rastall theory, our study indicates (i) the obtained entropy–area relation is the same as that of the Rastall theory, and (ii) the Bekenstein entropy is recovered when the generalized Rastall theory reduces to the Einstein theory. The validity of the second law of thermodynamics is also investigated in the flat FRW universe.
Investigations of Particle-Initiated Insulation Breakdowns in Bearings
Authors: Joshi Abhishek , Blennow Jörgen
Published: December 2019

Early failures in bearings of wind turbine drivetrains have increased after introduction of power electronic switches, which leads to shaft voltages and bearing currents. In presence of voltage, a rupture of bearing insulation could occur due to several plausible electro-physical mechanisms viz., asperities, electric breakdowns, particles, etc. The flow of high amperage current through the bearing during a breakdown mechanism could lead to early failures. Our aim is to understand the electrical behaviour of a bearing and elaborate by an equivalent electric circuit model, emphasizing on particle-initiated breakdowns. In presence of a shaft voltage, the particles form a path of low resistance through the bearing and results in flow of shaft or bearing currents, which could cause pre-mature failure of the bearing. Particles such as Arizona Test Dust (ATD), carbon black, aluminium powder and fine iron powder were mixed in lubricant at particle concentrations ranging between 7.5 mg/L and 150 mg/L. The breakdown characteristics of electrical insulation of the bearing during a given test is quantified as time of conduction, which is expressed as a percentage of the time the bearing is in the conducting state during a test. An investigation of time of conduction for different lubricant samples was conducted along with studying the effects of start and stops of the rotating shaft. The electrical conductive nature of the particle played no role in breakdown of bearing voltage. At a fixed concentration of 150 mg/L, the insulation breakdown events were highest in lubricant with ATD, followed by iron powder, aluminium power and carbon black particles. The time of conduction increases up to 24 times for the same test lubricant, as the particle concentration was increased from 7.5 mg/L to 150 mg/L. The current activity reduced to almost half in the test after stopping the shaft rotation. The resistance of bearing during insulation breakdown events is highest for aluminium powder, followed by fine iron powder, carbon black and ATD.
Up-Regulated MicroRNA-27b Promotes Adipocyte Differentiation via Induction of Acyl-CoA Thioesterase 2 Expression
Authors: Murata Yuka , Yamashiro Takashi , Kessoku Takaomi , Jahan Israt , Usuda Haruki , Tanaka Tetsuya , Okamoto Takayuki , Nakajima Atsushi , Wada Koichiro
Published: December 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by a spectrum of liver pathologies, from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis. Recent studies have increasingly noted the aberrant expression of microRNAs closely related to NAFLD pathologies. We have previously shown the presence of increased levels of microRNA-27b (miR-27b) in patients with NAFLD. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-27b in NAFLD by examining the impact of up-regulated miR-27b on the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. We found that miR-27b-3p remarkably enhances the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells associated with lipid accumulation and intracellular triglyceride contents. Furthermore, we have demonstrated not only that miR-27b-3p induces acyl-CoA thioesterase 2 (ACOT2) expression in 3T3-L1 cells, but also that the knockdown of ACOT2 suppresses lipid accumulation and adipocyte differentiation in both the presence and absence of miR-27b-3p treatment. Our data strongly suggest that the miR-27b-ACOT2 axis is an important pathway in adipocyte differentiation and may play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.
Changes in the Fluorescence Tracking of NaV1.6 Protein Expression in a BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J Autistic Mouse Model
Authors: Alshammari Musaad A. , Khan Mohammad R. , Alasmari Fawaz , Alshehri Abdulaziz O. , Ali Rizwan , Boudjelal Mohamed , Alhosaini Khalid A. , Niazy Abdurahman A. , Alshammari Tahani K.
Published: December 2019

The axon initial segment (AIS), the site of action potential initiation in neurons, is a critical determinant of neuronal excitability. Growing evidence indicates that appropriate recruitment of the AIS macrocomplex is essential for synchronized firing. However, disruption of the AIS structure is linked to the etiology of multiple disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition characterized by deficits in social communication, stereotyped behaviors, and very limited interests. To date, a complete understanding of the molecular components that underlie the AIS in ASD has remained elusive. In this research, we examined the AIS structure in a BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mouse model (BTBR), a valid model that exhibits behavioral, electrical, and molecular features of autism, and compared this to the C57BL/6J wild-type control mouse. Using Western blot studies and high-resolution confocal microscopy in the prefrontal frontal cortex (PFC), our data indicate disrupted expression of different isoforms of the voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) at the AIS, whereas other components of AIS such as ankyrin-G and fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) and contactin-associated protein 1 (Caspr) in BTBR were comparable to those in wild-type control mice. A Western blot assay showed that BTBR mice exhibited a marked increase in different sodium channel isoforms in the PFC compared to wild-type mice. Our results provide potential evidence for previously undescribed mechanisms that may play a role in the pathogenesis of autistic-like phenotypes in BTBR mice.
Galectin-3 Regulates the Expression of Tumor Glycosaminoglycans and Increases the Metastatic Potential of Breast Cancer
Authors: Pereira Jonathas Xavier , dos Santos Sofia Nascimento , Pereira Thaís Canuto , Cabanel Mariana , Chammas Roger , de Oliveira Felipe Leite , Bernardes Emerson Soares , El-Cheikh Márcia Cury
Published: December 2019

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a multifunctionalβ-galactoside-binding lectin that once synthesized is expressed in the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell surface, and extracellular environment. Gal-3 plays an important role in breast cancer tumors due to its ability to promote interactions between cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) elements, increasing tumor survival and metastatic dissemination. Still, the mechanism by which Gal-3 interferes with tumor cell migration and metastasis formation is complex and not fully understood. Here, we showed that Gal-3 knockdown increased the migration ability of 4T1 murine breast cancer cellsin vitro. Using the 4T1 orthotopic breast cancer spontaneous metastasis mouse model, we demonstrated that 4T1-derived tumors were significantly larger in the presence of Gal-3 (scramble) in comparison with Gal-3 knockdown 4T1-derived tumors. Nevertheless, Gal-3 knockdown 4T1 cells were outnumbered in the bone marrow in comparison with scramble 4T1 cells. Finally, we reported here a decrease in the content of cell-surface syndecan-1 and an increase in the levels of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans such as versican in Gal-3 knockdown 4T1 cells bothin vitroandin vivo. Overall, our findings establish that Gal-3 downregulation during breast cancer progression regulates cell-associated and tumor microenvironment glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)/proteoglycans (PG), thus enhancing the metastatic potential of tumor cells.
From Blessed Lips: the Textualization of Abu Saʿid’s Dicta and Deeds
Authors: O’Malley Austin
Published: December 2019

This paper examines the formation and development of the Abu Saʿid Abuʾl-Kheyr hagiographic tradition. It shows how reports about the eleventh-century saint circulated within a shrine community of his descendants and disciples, both orally and in ad hoc notes, before being set down in writing. It argues that the Asrār al-towhid, the largest and best-known hagiography devoted to Abu Saʿid, is not a natural outgrowth of this oral material, but a reworking for a broad audience of outsiders in light of the shrine community’s destruction by the Ghuzz Turks in the 1150s. In the case of the Asrār, textualization involved substantial rhetorical and linguistic changes in order to open up the material to a literary public of non-initiates; it also implied a new understanding of how Abu Saʿid’s blessings would manifest themselves in the world.
An ‘Embellisher’ of Grotius?
Authors: Clerici Alberto
Published: December 2019

Willem Van der Muelen (1659–1739), jurist and member of the Dutch urban elite, was the author of a huge and widely read commentary on Hugo Grotius’s De iure belli ac pacis. Defined by the Neapolitan philosopher Giambattista Vico as a simple ‘embellisher’ of Grotius, but in recent times hailed as ‘the Dutch Locke’, Van der Muelen certainly deserves more attention. The essay will focus on the justification of political resistance to the sovereign, a particularly controversial issue both in early-modern political thought and in Grotius himself. I argue that Van der Muelen, far from being a simple ‘embellisher’ of Grotius, adopts a more radical view based on a strong individualistic and utilitarian anthropology, bridging the Scholastic and monarchomach ideas of resistance – to which he is still indebted – with modern natural law jurisprudence. Thus he offers an interesting companion to Locke as well as a source of inspiration for later commentators such as Jean Barbeyrac.
Observations on the Legal Observations
Authors: van Nifterik Gustaaf
Published: December 2019

In the years 1777–1778 four volumes were published under the title Legal Observations on Several Dark and Until Now Unverified Sections of the Introduction. The volumes were composed by a society of young legal practitioners from The Hague (Netherlands), the most famous among them being Joannes van der Linden. By then Grotius’s Introduction to the Jurisprudence of Holland was still the cornerstone of the law of Holland and around the year 1800 it would become the fundament for attempts to codify this law. Today the Legal Observations can function as entrance to the historical sources of the law of Holland as described by Grotius and developed further after publication of his Introduction.
Are Forced Migrants More Skilled?
Authors: Oruc Nermin , Jackson Ian , Pugh Geoffrey
Published: December 2019

This article fills a gap in theories of forced migration. We present a new model, motivated by specific features of forced migration during a conflict which do not feature in existing migration models. We incorporate the relative deprivation hypothesis and a new “restoration” hypothesis in order to better explain forced migration as a two-stage process, which starts with conflict and, in some cases, forced displacement in the first stage and continues with emigration in the second stage. A particular feature of our model is that it predicts self-selection of highly skilled individuals into international migration as a result of conflict, since the “restoration” hypothesis assumes that individuals with higher income before conflict are most under pressure to restore their previous income through emigration. The model used in this article to analyse conflict-induced migration could also motivate further modelling to better match the characteristics of migration induced by natural disasters (which are expected to increase in the future as a result of climate change) as well as by large development projects.
China’s Shan’erdai: the Formation and Transformation of Philanthropy
Authors: Xing (邢菁华) Jinghua , Gan (甘韡) Wei N.
Published: December 2019

China’s economic reform since the late 1970s has inaugurated a societal restructuring, with profound changes taking place in the outlook on wealth and fortune. In recent years, a distinct group of social actors, the shan’erdai, comprised of the children of the super wealthy, has emerged to play a significant role in social welfare and charity projects. Though there has been some discussion about philanthropy in general and its realization in China in particular, the shan’erdai has received little scholarly attention. This paper identifies some of the defining characteristics of the shan’erdai and examines a modern form of Chinese philanthropy that the shan’erdai practice. Drawing on interviews and publication reviews, we specifically address two central questions: What are the motivations, values, and practices of the shan’erdai? How do the motivations, giving patterns, and modes and technologies of the shan’erdai differ from the parental generation? We sketch the contours of the shan’erdai as a social group and explore the ways through which this shan’erdai experiments with new forms of philanthropy, charity, and social entrepreneurship. Shaped by social and historical formations domestically and on the global stage, we argue that the shan’erdai proactively reformulates the logics of social action for the public good and inspires a novel form of philanthropy in China.
Push and Pull: a Case Study of the Dynamics of Chinese Diaspora Philanthropy
Authors: Zhu (朱健刚) Jiangang , Jing (景燕春) Yanchun
Published: December 2019

The contribution of overseas Chinese to their ancestral homeland in China is an important topic for research. This article uses the concept of diaspora philanthropy to analyze the patterns and mechanisms of philanthropic giving by overseas Chinese to their ancestral hometowns or villages, also known as qiaoxiang. Based on an ethnographic study in Shunde, Guangdong Province, this article argues that Chinese diaspora philanthropy is not just based on a tradition based on the donors’ affinity, emotional ties, and personal relations to their hometowns, but is involved in the historical process organized and strategically orchestrated by multiple actors, including individuals, organizations, and the state. In this process, the associations of overseas Chinese and local governments in China, especial through the cooperation between local “qiao cadres” and leaders of oversea Chinese communities, play important roles in promoting philanthropy and bringing about desirable outcomes. The intersection of push and pull mechanisms in stimulating donor giving constitutes the basic dynamics of contemporary Chinese diaspora philanthropy. This is the reason why philanthropic giving from overseas Chinese continues to rise even as qiaoxiang have been already well developed.
The Effects of the Surface Properties of a Gold Nanorod on Its In Vitro/Vivo Toxicity Against Cancer Cells
Authors: Gong Jing , Zhang Yingying , Huang Yong , Zhang Tingying , Liang Beibei , Hu Shuangyan , Zhu Minhui , Hua Libo , Zhang Guopin , Yin Wei , Shao Chengwei , Zheng Hongliang , Li Wei
Published: December 2019

Gold nano rods (GNRs) have showed cytotoxicity to cancer cells. At the same time, it shows little effects on non-tumor cells. Between GNRs and sub-cellular organelles, the understanding of interaction plays a very important role to determine the intracellular mechanisms. The purpose
of what we done is to explain the effects of the surface properties of GNRs on specific cancer cell death. Three GNR samples with different aspect ratios were finely prepared by the seed-mediated growth method. Then the intracellular transport and the in vitro/vivo mechanisms of cancer
cell death were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), laser light scattering, and flow cytometry (FCM). It was found that GNRs700 exhibited the largest photothermal conversion efficiency. However, the GNR660 with or without light stimulation
exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against cancer cells, which was contradict to the general knowledge. Detailed intracellular investigations showed that the lysosome was the key sub-organelle affecting the GNR function. Further experiments revealed that cytotoxicity was strongly affected
by the GNR's surface potential. This potential was actually related to the density of surface cationic molecules, which further regulated lysosomal membrane penetration. The results obtained herein indicated that the physicochemical properties of the surface potential mediated the specific
toxicity of GNRs against tumours.
Enhancing the Bioavailability of Silver Through Nanotechnology Approaches Could Overcome Efflux Pump Mediated Silver Resistance in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: George Saji , Tay Ignacius , Phue Wut Hmone , Gardner Hannah , Sukumaran Bindu
Published: December 2019

While the wide-spectrum antimicrobial properties and stability of silver nanomaterials have been copiously utilized in many medical and consumer products, we found that Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is less susceptible to silver in comparison to Methicillin
Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Pre-exposure of MRSA to sub-lethal concentrations of AgNO3 caused 2.5-fold increase in LD50 of silver suggesting an inducible resistance mechanism. Studies involving gene expression profiling and efflux pump blockers showed
the induction of P-type efflux pumps (Cop A, Cop Z and Nor B) as the principle mechanism conferring silver resistance in MRSA. Chlorpromazine—an efflux pump blocker increased sensitivity of MRSA to silver. Leveraging on these observations, silver resistance in MRSA was circumvented
by enhancing the bioavailability of silver by cationic functioning of silver nanoparticles or by co-delivering silver together with chlorpromazine. Atomic Force Microscopy showed that poly-ethylene imine (PEI) functionalized silver nanoparticles adhere to bacterial cells which was found to
increase the bioavailability, membrane rupture and cell death. The strategy of co-delivery of AgNO3 and chlorpromazine using chitosan-functionalized wormhole silica nanoparticles caused 12 log reduction in bacterial count which was 1000 times higher than bacterial reduction by AgNO3
alone. In short, these studies showed that circumventing antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria is possible by designed silver nanotechnology.