bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantitative assessment of haemolysis secondary to modern infusion pumps
Authors: Poder T. G. , Boileau J.‐C. , Lafrenière R. , Thibault L. , Carrier N. , de Grandmont M.‐J. , Beauregard P. 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundAlthough most studies have shown that little haemolysis is induced by infusion pumps, there are some notable exceptions. Only limited data are available on the actual infusion pumps that are most used in hospitals in Quebec and elsewhere, namely, the Infusomat® Space (peristaltic), Plum A+™ (piston) and Colleague® CXE (shuttle) pumps.MethodsHaemolysis and potassium levels were compared before and after the use of the three different infusion pumps. Using 135 units of packed red blood cells (RBCs) aged from 10 to 28 days, 27 measurements were taken for each pump at various flow rates (30, 60, 150, 300 and 450 ml/h) and were compared with measurements taken before using the pumps. The range of flow rates was chosen to cover those of paediatric and adult transfusions.ResultsThe shuttle‐ and piston‐type pumps resulted in low haemolysis levels. The peristaltic‐type pump produced significantly more haemolysis, which worsened at low flow rates, but the absolute value of haemolysis remained within the range recommended by the regulatory agencies in North America and Europe. Approximately two‐thirds of the haemolysis produced by the peristaltic‐type pump seemed to be secondary to the use of an antisiphon valve (ASV) on the transfusion line recommended by the manufacturer. Potassium levels did not increase with the use of the pumps.ConclusionModern infusion pumps widely used in hospitals in Quebec and elsewhere produce non‐threatening levels of haemolysis during the transfusion of packed RBCs aged from 10 to 28 days. ASVs appear to induce additional haemolysis, and we do not recommend using them for blood transfusion.
Multi-Objective Optimal Control of Under-Actuated Bogie System of High Speed Trains
Authors: Sardahi Yousef , Yao Yuan , Sun Jian-Qiao 
Published: February 2017

Feedback controls are important to the improvement of dynamic performance of high-speed trains. However, designing an active control for these vehicles is a very challenging task because the control system is usually under-actuated and has to meet multiple conflicting objectives. Examples of conflicting objectives include designing a highly relative stable system while minimizing the control efforts or maximizing the capability of the system to reject external disturbances. In addition, the mathematical models of these systems are not completely controllable and observable. This paper studies multi-objective optimal design of feedback controls for a sub-system of high-speed trains, i.e. the bogie system.
The bogie system can be decomposed such that the observable and controllable components of the model are used to stabilize the internal states and therefore the overall system. A linear mathematical model of the system is used in the design. The controllable and the observable states of the model are separated to form a state-feedback control to drive the internal modes and the whole system to stability. A multi-objective genetic algorithm is used to search for the feedback control gains to optimize three objectives: the Frobenius norm of the control law, relative stability and the disturbance rejection. The solutions of the multi-objective optimization provide various trade-offs among the objectives. Numerical simulations show that the proposed control designs can stabilize the system even at a high critical speed of 500 km/h.
Design Considerations for Waste Energy Recovery With Electric Turbocompounding
Authors: Salehi Rasoul , Kiwan Rani , Martz Jason , Stefanopoulou Anna G. 
Published: February 2017

This paper studies the use of an electric turbogenerator (ETG) for waste energy recovery from the exhaust gas of a 13 L Heavy Duty Diesel (HDD) engine. Up to 1% brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) reduction is predicted for this system at high engine loads using a validated mean value engine model. However, the addition of the ETG reduces the air-fuel equivalence ratio (λ) and increases exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate by 10%, deteriorating the engine-out smoke emissions. This challenge is addressed by decreasing the EGR valve position and the asymmetry in the twin scroll turbine. With these modifications, the predicted high load BSFC reduction is 2% and the EGR and λ approach their original values.
The HDD engine is then tested experimentally with the ETG emulated by a valve downstream of the main turbocharger. The experimental results confirm the simulation predictions with the stock engine calibration and geometry, where EGR valve sweeps show the potential of this actuator for remedying the detrimental ETG backpressure effects, which ultimately improves the combined engine and ETG BSFC by 0.6% at high loads. Combining the simulated turbo sizing and the experimental EGR valve results indicates that up to 1.6% BSFC reductions are possible for the HDD engine with an integrated ETG, without deteriorating emission levels. Finally, simulations show that during a torque step the ETG should be bypassed to avoid deterioration in the dynamic response of the engine.
Structural Analysis-Based Fault Diagnosis of Pneumatic Systems
Authors: Rahman Brian M. , Busch Greg T. , Ahmed Qadeer , Rizzoni Giorgio 
Published: February 2017

A significant cost in industrial fluid systems is associated with system maintenance and unexpected downtime due to the troubleshooting and repair of system faults. In large complex systems, faults are often difficult to identify and predict, but recent advances in technology have enabled low-cost wireless-capable sensors, which can provide an unprecedented amount of data to system owners. Combining this data with knowledge of the system dynamics, and a methodical structural analysis-based fault diagnosis approach, provides new opportunities in the field of fault diagnostics. The goal of the project described in this paper is to develop methods to detect and diagnose faults in industrial fluid systems in order to minimize downtime costs and energy losses, with minimum system capital cost in mind.
This paper summarizes a portion of the first phase of this project, which focuses on fault modeling of a small-scale compressed-air test bench. Specifically, the design of the test bench, creation and validation of a flow model used to understand the test bench system dynamics, fault and structural analysis of an element of the test bench (an orifice-pipe combination), and the generation of a sensor installation guide that indicates what type and where to place sensors to detect and isolate faults that may occur. The sensor installation guide provided insight that all faults in the orifice-pipe element were detectable and isolable to the desired level with only a pressure sensor in the orifice and pipe. Orifice and orifice pressure sensor faults were uniquely isolable, but pipe and pipe pressure sensor faults were only isolable.
Realizing Calvin's Radical Potential: Interpreting Jeremiah 48:10 during the English Revolution
Authors: Lyons William John 
Published: February 2017

In his Political Grace: The Revolutionary Theology of John Calvin (2009), Roland Boer asks “what if we let loose the revolutionary strain of Calvin’s theology and politics?” This article examines the impact of Calvin’s ideas on the English Revolution (1642--51), as exemplified in a sermon by Stephen Marshall on Judg 5:23. His much-repeated Meroz Cursed was first delivered to Parliament in 1641 and called for the execution of the King’s councillor, the Earl of Strafford. Picking up on Calvin’s written comments on Jer 48:10, the article examines Marshall's use of that text to argue that Parliament's choice was between taking divinely approved action or being judged for their inaction, echoing Calvin's usage. Calvin’s “revolutionary strain” was thus loosed to tumultuous effect in seventeenth-century England, culminating in the execution of Charles 1.
Repair of a Bacterial Small β-Barrel Toxin Pore Depends on Channel Width
Authors: von Hoven Gisela , Rivas Amable J. , Neukirch Claudia , Meyenburg Martina , Qin Qianqian , Parekh Sapun , Hellmann Nadja , Husmann Matthias 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Membrane repair emerges as an innate defense protecting target cells against bacterial pore-forming toxins. Here, we report the first paradigm of Ca
2+
-dependent repair following attack by a small β-pore-forming toxin, namely, plasmid-encoded phobalysin of
Photobacterium damselae
subsp.
damselae
. In striking contrast,
Vibrio cholerae
cytolysin, the closest ortholog of phobalysin, subverted repair. Mutational analysis uncovered a role of channel width in toxicity and repair. Thus, the replacement of serine at phobalysin´s presumed channel narrow point with the bulkier tryptophan, the corresponding residue in
Vibrio cholerae
cytolysin (W318), modulated Ca
2+
influx, lysosomal exocytosis, and membrane repair. And yet, replacing tryptophan (W318) with serine in
Vibrio cholerae
cytolysin enhanced toxicity. The data reveal divergent strategies evolved by two related small β-pore-forming toxins to manipulate target cells: phobalysin leads to fulminant perturbation of ion concentrations, closely followed by Ca
2+
influx-dependent membrane repair. In contrast,
V. cholerae
cytolysin causes insidious perturbations and escapes control by the cellular wounded membrane repair-like response.

IMPORTANCE
Previous studies demonstrated that large transmembrane pores, such as those formed by perforin or bacterial toxins of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin family, trigger rapid, Ca
2+
influx-dependent repair mechanisms. In contrast, recovery from attack by the small β-pore-forming
Staphylococcus aureus
alpha-toxin or aerolysin is slow in comparison and does not depend on extracellular Ca
2+
. To further elucidate the scope of Ca
2+
influx-dependent repair and understand its limitations, we compared the cellular responses to phobalysin and
V. cholerae
cytolysin, two related small β-pore-forming toxins which create membrane pores of slightly different sizes. The data indicate that the channel width of a small β-pore-forming toxin is a critical determinant of both primary toxicity and susceptibility to Ca
2+
-dependent repair.
Association between community management of pneumonia and diarrhoea in high-burden countries and the decline in under-five mortality rates: an ecological analysis
Authors: Boschi-Pinto Cynthia , Dilip Thandassery Ramachandran , Costello Anthony 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveThe objective of the paper is to explore if the adoption of national policies to use community-based health providers for the management of pneumonia and diarrhoea is associated with the decline in under-five mortality, including achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG)4 target, in high-burden countries.SettingThis country level analysis covers 75 high-burden low-income and middle-income countries which accounted for 98% of the 5.9 million global under-five deaths in 2015. One-fourth of these deaths were due to pneumonia and diarrhoea.Methodsχ2tests and multiple regression analysis were used to examine the association between reduction in under-five mortality rates and community case management of pneumonia and diarrhoea by adjusting for the influence of other possible determinants.ParticipantsNo patient or population interviewed/examined for this analysis. Countries were the unit of analysis.InterventionsCommunity case management (CCM) of pneumonia and diarrhoea policies.Outcome measuresChanges in under-five mortality rates over time.ResultsCountries that had adopted both CCM policies were three times more likely to achieve the MDG4 target than countries that did not have both policies in place. This association was further confirmed by the multivariate analysis (β-coefficient=10.4; 95% CI 2.4 to 18.5; p value=0.012).DiscussionThere is a statistically significant association between adoption of CCM policies for treatment of pneumonia and diarrhoea and the rate of decline in child mortality levels. It is important to promote CCM in countries lagging behind to achieve the new target of 25 or fewer deaths per 1000 live births by 2030.
Prevalence and patterns of congenital heart diseases in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Tankeu Aurel T , Bigna Jean Joel R , Nansseu Jobert Richie N , Aminde Leopold Ndemnge , Danwang Celestin , Temgoua Mazou N , Noubiap Jean Jacques N 
Published: February 2017

IntroductionCongenital heart diseases (CHD) are common causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among young children and adolescents living in Africa. Accurate epidemiological data are needed in order to evaluate and improve preventive strategies. This review aims to determine the prevalence of CHD and their main patterns in Africa.Methods and analysisThis systematic review and meta-analysis will include cross-sectional, case–control and cohort studies of populations residing inside African countries, which have reported the prevalence of CHD, confirmed by an echocardiographic examination and/or describing different patterns of these abnormalities in Africa. Relevant abstracts published without language restriction from 1 January 1986 to 31 December 2016 will be searched in PubMed, Exerpta Medica Database and online African journals as well as references of included articles and relevant reviews. Two review authors will independently screen, select studies, extract data and assess the risk of bias in each study. The study-specific estimates will be pooled through a random-effects meta-analysis model to obtain an overall summary estimate of the prevalence of CHD across studies. Clinical and statistical heterogeneity will be assessed, and we will pool studies judged to be clinically homogeneous. On the other hand, statistical heterogeneity will be evaluated by the χ2 test on Cochrane's Q statistic. Funnel-plots analysis and Egger's test will be used to detect publication bias. Results will be presented by geographic region (central, eastern, northern, southern and western Africa).Ethics and disseminationThe current study will be based on published data, and thus ethical approval is not required. This systematic review and meta-analysis is expected to serve as a base which could help in estimating and evaluating the burden of these abnormalities on the African continent. The final report of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberPROSPERO CRD42016052880.
Are patients in the IBD clinic at risk of proctitis secondary to sexually transmitted infections?
Authors: Groome Maximillian , Robinson Emma M , Mowat Craig , Morieux Alix M L , Allstaff Sarah 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveTo gauge the potential risk of sexually transmitted infection (STI) as a cause of proctitis in a cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to gauge whether this cohort could benefit from STI testing in the future.DesignPatients attending the IBD clinic were given an anonymous questionnaire recording demographics, sexual behaviour, rectal symptoms, history of receptive anal intercourse (RAI), STIs and attitudes towards sexual health screening.SettingA gastroenterology teaching hospital IBD clinic.Patients280 consecutive patients attending a teaching hospital IBD clinic over a consecutive 6-week period. All patients had an endoscopic, radiological and/or histological diagnosis of IBD.Results280 questionnaires were distributed and 274 analysed (3 incomplete, 2 not returned, 1 no sexual activity). 167 female (median: 46 years, range 17–81 years) and 107 males. Two males disclosed RAI and were used as a control. Of the 167 females, 96% were heterosexual, 2.4% were same-sex partners and 1.2% were bisexual. 14% had a history of RAI—this group had more previous STIs (40%) versus those with no history RAI (5%) (p<0.0001; relative risk (RR) 13.41). Chronic rectal pain was more frequent in women with RAI (RR 2.4; p≤0.03). No difference in rectal discharge (RR 1.75; p=0.72) or bleeding (p=0.3).ConclusionsThis is the first report of sexual behaviours in a non-genitourinary medicine clinic; giving a unique insight into sexual practices in a cohort of patients with IBD. A past history of STI and RAI can identify risk and we propose testing for those with a history of STI, RAI, men who have sex with men and women aged under 25 years.
Flow diversion of bifurcation aneurysms is more effective when the jailed branch is occluded: an experimental study in a novel canine model
Authors: Fahed R , Gentric J C , Salazkin I , Gevry G , Raymond J , Darsaut T E 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundFlow diverters (FDs) are increasingly used for bifurcation aneurysms. Failure of aneurysm occlusion may be caused by residual flow maintaining patency of the jailed branch along with the aneurysm. Our aim was to test whether endovascular occlusion of the jailed branch could improve efficacy of flow diversion of bifurcation aneurysms.Materials and methodsSixteen wide-necked lingual–carotid artery bifurcation aneurysms were created in eight canines. Patent aneurysms were randomly allocated 4 weeks later to flow diversion combined with jailed branch occlusion using coils and/or Onyx (n=6) or flow diversion alone (n=8). Angiographic results of aneurysm occlusion at 3 months were scored using an ordinal scale. Pathology specimens were photographed and neointimal coverage estimated using a semiquantitative scoring system.ResultsFourteen aneurysms were patent at 1 month. FD deployment was successful in all cases but, at 3-month follow-up, three devices had prolapsed into the aneurysm. None of the bifurcation aneurysms treated with FD alone were occluded at 3 months. Endovascular branch occlusion combined with flow diversion significantly improved aneurysm occlusion rates compared with flow diversion alone (median angiographic scores 2 vs 0: p=0.0137). Flow-limiting parent vessel stenosis was not observed in any arteries. Devices were covered with thick neointima in most cases, but patent aneurysms were associated with leaks or holes in the neointima covering the aneurysm neck.ConclusionsTreatment failures following flow diversion of bifurcation aneurysms can be caused by persistent flow to the jailed branch. Branch occlusion combined with flow diversion may improve angiographic occlusion scores of a canine bifurcation aneurysm model.
Screening for asymptomatic neurosyphilis in HIV patients after treatment of early syphilis: an observational study
Authors: Tomkins Andrew , Ahmad Shazaad , Cousins Darren E , Thng Caroline M , Vilar Francisco Javier , Higgins Stephen P 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) in HIV-positive individuals after treatment of early syphilis with single-dose benzathine penicillin G (BPG) or oral antibiotic alternatives.MethodsPatients at high risk of neurosyphilis (defined by serum rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titre ≥1:32 and/or peripheral blood CD4 lymphocyte count ≤350/μL) underwent lumbar puncture (LP) at a median time of 8.2 months post treatment. ANS was diagnosed by a reactive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) RPR test or CSF white blood cells (WBC) >20/μL plus a reactive CSF Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) ≥1:640.ResultsOf 133 eligible patients, all were men who have sex with men. Of these, 64 consented to LP. Full CSF results were available for 59 patients. Inclusion criteria were serum RPR (21/59), CD4 count (22/59) and combined RPR and CD4 (16/59). The LP patients were white British (82%), median age 40. Syphilis stages were primary (17%) secondary (43%) and early latent (41%). Syphilis was treated with BPG (47/59), doxycycline 100 mg two times per day for 14 days (10/59) and for 21 days (1/59). Azithromycin 500 mg one time per day for 10 days was given to 1/59. At the time of LP, 100% of patients had achieved serological cure, and 66% were taking antiretroviral treatment. Only 1/59 was diagnosed with ANS. The CSF showed: RPR non-reactive (59/59); TPPA non-reactive in 54/59; WBC ≤5/μL in 51/59.ConclusionsAlthough the number of patients in our study is modest, single-dose BPG appears to be highly effective even in patients at high risk of neurosyphilis.
A hybrid queuing strategy for network traffic on scale-free networks
Authors: Cai Kai-Quan , Yu Lu , Zhu Yan-Bo 
Published: February 2017

In this paper, a hybrid queuing strategy (HQS) is proposed in traffic dynamics model on scale-free networks, where the delivery priority of packets in the queue is related to their distance to destination and the queue length of next jump. We compare the performance of the proposed HQS with that of the traditional first-in-first-out (FIFO) queuing strategy and the shortest-remaining-path-first (SRPF) queuing strategy proposed by Du et al. It is observed that the network traffic efficiency utilizing HQS with suitable value of parameter h can be further improved in the congestion state. Our work provides new insights for the understanding of the networked-traffic systems.
Dislocation dynamics in polycrystals with atomistic-informed mechanisms of dislocation - grain boundary interactions
Authors: Burbery N. B. , Po G. , Das R. , Ghoniem N. , Ferguson W. G. 
Published: February 2017

In polycrystalline materials, dislocations can interact with grain boundaries (GBS) through a number of mechanisms including dislocation absorption, pile-up formation, dissociation reactions within the GB plane and (possibly) dislocation nucleation from the interface itself. The effects of dislocation pile-ups contribute significantly to the mechanical behavior of polycrystalline materials by creating back-stresses that inactivate the primary slip systems in the vicinity of the interface, corresponding with the celebrated Hall–Petch relationship between size and strength. However, dislocation pile-ups cannot be contained within the small grain sizes that can be accommodated by molecular dynamics simulations, which to-date remain the primary computational method used to study the discrete structure of GBs. Dislocation dynamics (DD) simulations are a promising framework for computational modeling that are used to provide insights about phenomena that can only be explained from the intermediate scale between atomistic and macro scales. However, a robust framework for modeling dislocation interactions with internal microstructure such as grain boundaries (GBs) has yet to be achieved for 3D models of DD. Furthermore, this is the first implementation which explicitly includes the dislocation content of the interface. The framework described in this paper is effective for studying GB-dislocation interactions (including inter-granular effects) and the approach for partitioning the DD simulation domain. To achieve a robust method to differentiate between crystal regions, the present framework utilizes a mesh-based partitioning system. Within each grain, slip systems are determined by the grain orientation. The versatile construction described, allows modeling of an arbitrary crystallography, size and grain geometry. Extrinsic dislocations that intersect the interface are constrained to glide on the line of intersection between the glide plane and GB plane. Atomistically informed criteria for slip transmission are implemented, based on the geometrically optimal outgoing glide plane which shares a common line of intersection on the GB plane. Slip transmission is only initiated when the resolved shear stress in one of the compatible outgoing slip directions exceeds an approximate threshold resolved shear stress, which is based on observations made with molecular dynamics studies. The primary aim of the present study was to establish a sufficiently ‘generic’ framework to enable the modelling of various GB structures, polycrystal geometries and crystallographic orientations. The framework described in the present work provides a means to study multi-grain deformation processes governed by dislocations pile-ups at GBs, in detail beyond feasible limits of experiments or atomistic simulation approaches.