bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CFD Analysis of Steam Turbines With the IAPWS Standard on the Spline-Based Table Look-Up Method (SBTL) for the Fast Calculation of Real Fluid Properties
Authors: Kunick Matthias , Kretzschmar Hans-Joachim , di Mare Francesca , Gampe Uwe 
Published: August 2015

Accurate simulations of non-stationary processes in steam turbines by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) require precise and extremely fast algorithms for computing real fluid properties. To fulfill these requirements, the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS) issues the “Guideline on the Fast Calculation of Steam and Water Properties with the Spline-Based Table Look-Up Method (SBTL)” as an international standard. Through the use of this method, spline functions for the independent variables specific volume and specific internal energy (v,u) are generated for water and steam based on the industrial formulation IAPWS-IF97. With these spline functions, thermodynamic and transport properties can be computed. The desired backward functions of the variables pressure and specific volume (p,v), and specific internal energy and specific entropy (u,s) are numerically consistent with the spline functions from (v,u). The properties calculated from these SBTL functions are in agreement with those of IAPWS-IF97 within a maximum relative deviation of 10 to 100 ppm depending on the property and the range of thermodynamic states spanned under the given conditions (range of state). Consequently, the differences between the results of process simulations using the SBTL method and those obtained through the use of IAPWS-IF97 are negligible. Moreover, the computations from the (v,u) spline functions are more than 200 times faster than the iterative calculations with IAPWS-IF97.
In order to demonstrate the efficiency and applicability of the SBTL method, the SBTL functions have been implemented into the CFD software TRACE, developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). As a result, the computing times required for the simulations of steam flow in a turbine cascade considering real fluid behavior are reduced by a factor of 6–10 in comparison to the calculations based on IAPWS-IF97. Furthermore, computing times are increased by a factor of 1.4 only with respect to CFD calculations where steam is considered to be an ideal gas, through the use of the SBTL method.
FMECA on Rotating Equipment Preservation for Idle LNG Plant
Authors: Hutagalung Frilo Fitrasali 
Published: August 2015

An LNG Plant or any Petrochemical Plant was constructed on the basis of discovered feed gas with full scale capacity. As the feed gas has decreased, the plant capacity is required to be put in idle or mothball mode. In that period, the plant facilities have to be preserved and inspected to maintain the integrity. The static and rotating equipment, electrical equipment, and instrumentations need to be maintained. The focus in this paper is how to preserve the rotating equipment. Since they always have clearances between rotating part and stationary part, nitrogen containment only is not always adequate to preserve the internal parts.
Failure Mode Effect and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) is one of the tools to define how to preserve rotating equipment. The analysis considers the following essential factors: duration of idle period, equipment functions, equipment mode of failures, preservation method, test convenience, cost of consequence, and safety.
This paper takes the case of FMECA of one of the LNG Process Train in Badak LNG that has undergone idle period. Rotating equipment consists of Steam Turbines, Centrifugal Gas Compressors, LNG Pumps, Hydrocarbon Pumps, High Speed Pumps, Lube Oil Pumps, and Fin Fans. The evaluation is down to its auxiliary parts such as Mechanical Seal, Bearing, and Hydraulic Governors.
The FMECA study also defines criticality of equipment in the frame of future as the idle period has ended. Rotating equipment may have issues on corrosion and performance. One possibility is whether the equipment or its internal parts (such as rotors, diaphragms, etc) need to be removed from site to storage or warehouse.
The criticality also considers the mode of operation of the equipment and their fluid services. This case study presents evaluation of following fluid services: High Pressure Steam, Medium Pressure Steam, Low Pressure Steam, Lubricating Oil, Amine, Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
As the result of FMECA study, the facility has to be preserved in specific methods and measures based on the period of idle. The method provides recommendation of preservation treatment, storage specification, testing requirement, product lifecycle study. The methods and measures performed during idle period are expected to maintain the facility integrity when it needs to be in operation again.
Patients recording clinical encounters: a path to empowerment? Assessment by mixed methods
Authors: Elwyn Glyn , Barr Paul James , Grande Stuart W 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo examine the motivations of patients recording clinical encounters, covertly or otherwise, and why some do not wish to record encounters.DesignMixed-methods analysis of survey data and nested semistructured interviews.SettingSurvey to UK audience, using social media and radio broadcast.Participants168 survey respondents, of whom 161 were 18 years of age or older (130 completions). Of the 56 participants who agreed to be contacted, we included data from 17 interviews.Results19 (15%) respondents indicated having secretly recorded a clinical encounter and 14 (11%) were aware of someone who had secretly recorded a clinical encounter. 45 (35%) said they would consider recording secretly and 44 (34%) said they would record after asking permission. Totally, 69% of respondents indicated theirdesireto record clinical encounters, split equally between wanting to do so covertly or with permission. Thematic analysis of the interviews showed that most patients are motivated by the wish to replay, relisten and share the recording with others. Some are also motivated by the idea of owning a personal record, and its potential use as verification of a poor healthcare experience. The rationale for permission seeking was based on the wish to prioritise a trusting relationship with a health professional. Those who preferred to record covertly described a pre-existing lack of trust, a fear that recording would be denied, and a concern that an affronted clinician would deny them access to future care. There was a general wish that recording should be facilitated.ConclusionsPatients’ prime motivation for recording is to enhance their experience of care, and to share it with others. Patients know that recording challenges the ‘ceremonial order of the clinic’, and so some decide to act covertly. Patients wanted clearer, more permissive policies to be developed.
Heavier smoking may lead to a relative increase in waist circumference: evidence for a causal relationship from a Mendelian randomisation meta-analysis. The CARTA consortium
Authors: Morris Richard W , Taylor Amy E , Fluharty Meg E , Bjørngaard Johan H , Åsvold Bjørn Olav , Elvestad Gabrielsen Maiken , Campbell Archie , Marioni Riccardo , Kumari Meena , Korhonen Tellervo , Männistö Satu , Marques-Vidal Pedro , Kaakinen Marika , Cavadino Alana , Postmus Iris , Husemoen Lise Lotte N , Skaaby Tea , Ahluwalia Tarun Veer Singh , Treur Jorien L , Willemsen Gonneke , Dale Caroline , Wannamethee S Goya , Lahti Jari , Palotie Aarno , Räikkönen Katri , McConnachie Alex , Padmanabhan Sandosh , Wong Andrew , Dalgård Christine , Paternoster Lavinia , Ben-Shlomo Yoav , Tyrrell Jessica , Horwood John , Fergusson David M , Kennedy Martin A , Nohr Ellen A , Christiansen Lene , Kyvik Kirsten Ohm , Kuh Diana , Watt Graham , Eriksson Johan G , Whincup Peter H , Vink Jacqueline M , Boomsma Dorret I , Davey Smith George , Lawlor Debbie , Linneberg Allan , Ford Ian , Jukema J Wouter , Power Chris , Hyppönen Elina , Jarvelin Marjo-Riitta , Preisig Martin , Borodulin Katja , Kaprio Jaakko , Kivimaki Mika , Smith Blair H , Hayward Caroline , Romundstad Pål R , Sørensen Thorkild I A , Munafò Marcus R , Sattar Naveed 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo investigate, using a Mendelian randomisation approach, whether heavier smoking is associated with a range of regional adiposity phenotypes, in particular those related to abdominal adiposity.DesignMendelian randomisation meta-analyses using a genetic variant (rs16969968/rs1051730 in theCHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4gene region) as a proxy for smoking heaviness, of the associations of smoking heaviness with a range of adiposity phenotypes.Participants148 731 current, former and never-smokers of European ancestry aged ≥16 years from 29 studies in the consortium for Causal Analysis Research in Tobacco and Alcohol (CARTA).Primary outcome measuresWaist and hip circumferences, and waist-hip ratio.ResultsThe data included up to 66 809 never-smokers, 43 009 former smokers and 38 913 current daily cigarette smokers. Among current smokers, for each extra minor allele, the geometric mean was lower for waist circumference by −0.40% (95% CI −0.57% to −0.22%), with effects on hip circumference, waist-hip ratio and body mass index (BMI) being −0.31% (95% CI −0.42% to −0.19), −0.08% (−0.19% to 0.03%) and −0.74% (−0.96% to −0.51%), respectively. In contrast, among never-smokers, these effects were higher by 0.23% (0.09% to 0.36%), 0.17% (0.08% to 0.26%), 0.07% (−0.01% to 0.15%) and 0.35% (0.18% to 0.52%), respectively. When adjusting the three central adiposity measures for BMI, the effects among current smokers changed direction and were higher by 0.14% (0.05% to 0.22%) for waist circumference, 0.02% (−0.05% to 0.08%) for hip circumference and 0.10% (0.02% to 0.19%) for waist-hip ratio, for each extra minor allele.ConclusionsFor a given BMI, a gene variant associated with increased cigarette consumption was associated with increased waist circumference. Smoking in an effort to control weight may lead to accumulation of central adiposity.
Coating Made fromPseudotsuga menziesiiPhytosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles is Efficient AgainstStaphylococcus aureusBiofilm Formation
Authors: Dwivedi Poushpi , Narvi S. S. , Tewari R. P. 
Published: August 2015

In this nano era, biomaterials associated infection is a serious problem in the biomedical arena. The race between microbial adhesion and tissue integration becomes a major cause of concern, during the implantation process. Microbial adhesion further gives rise to biofilm formation which finally leads to implant failure. We have therefore designed a strategy to fight effectively against the encroachment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, which is chiefly responsible for majority of biomaterials associated infections. Silver nanoparticles have been synthesized for the purpose using foliage needles of the plant Pseudotsuga menziesii, our Christmas tree. Thereafter the nanoparticles were dispersed in chitosan, a biopolymer matrix and a bionanocomposite, self-sterilizing coating biomaterial was developed. The silver nanoparticles produced, the bionanocomposite developed, and the coating over medical implant, have been characterized through various techniques. The efficacy of the silver/chitosan bionanocomposite, against S. aureus biofilm has been studied here, after being coated over medical implant. It was found that coating of medical implants with this material can definitely restrict bacterial adhesion and their subsequent biofilm formation. This biomaterial was found to be blood and biocompatible at specific levels through testing.
Cigarette Smoking Is Associated with a Lower Concentration of CD105+ Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells
Authors: Beyth Shaul , Mosheiff Rami , Safran Ori , Daskal Anat , Liebergall Meir 
Published: August 2015

Cigarette smoking is associated with musculoskeletal degenerative disorders, delayed fracture healing, and nonunion. Bone marrow progenitor cells (BMPCs), known to express CD105, are important in local trophic and immunomodulatory activity and central to musculoskeletal healing/regeneration. We hypothesized that smoking is associated with lower levels of BMPC. Iliac bone marrow samples were collected from individuals aged 18–65 years during the first steps of pelvic surgery, under IRB approval with informed consent. Patients with active infectious or neoplastic disease, a history of cytotoxic or radiation therapy, primary or secondary metabolic bone disease, or bone marrow dysfunction were excluded. Separation process purity and the number of BMPCs recovered were assessed with FACS. BMPC populations in self-reported smokers and nonsmokers were compared using the two-tailed t-test. 13 smokers and 13 nonsmokers of comparable age and gender were included. The average concentration of BMPCs was 3.52 × 105/mL ± 2.45 × 105/mL for nonsmokers versus 1.31 × 105/mL ± 1.61 × 105/mL for smokers (t= 3.2, P=0.004). This suggests that cigarette smoking is linked to a significant decrease in the concentration of BMPCs, which may contribute to the reduced regenerative capacity of smokers, with implications for musculoskeletal maintenance and repair.
Longitudinal Study of DNA Methylation of Inflammatory Genes and Cancer Risk
Authors: Joyce Brian Thomas , Gao Tao , Liu Lei , Zheng Yinan , Liu Siran , Zhang Wei , Penedo Frank , Dai Qi , Schwartz Joel , Baccarelli Andrea A. , Hou Lifang 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Background: Chronic inflammation plays a key role in cancer etiology. DNA methylation modification, one of the epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression, is considered a hallmark of cancer. Human and animal models have identified numerous links between DNA methylation and inflammatory biomarkers. Our objective was to prospectively and longitudinally examine associations between methylation of four inflammatory genes and cancer risk.
Methods: We included 795 Normative Aging Study participants with blood drawn one to four times from 1999 to 2012 (median follow-up, 10.6 years). Promoter DNA methylation of IL6, ICAM-1, IFN, and TLR2 in blood leukocytes was measured using pyrosequencing at multiple CpG sites and averaged by gene for data analysis. We used Cox regression models to examine prospective associations of baseline and time-dependent methylation with cancer risk and compared mean methylation differences over time between cancer cases and cancer-free participants.
Results: Baseline IFN hypermethylation was associated with all-cancer (HR, 1.49; P = 0.04) and prostate cancer incidence (HR, 1.69; P = 0.02). Baseline ICAM-1 and IL6 hypermethylation were associated with prostate cancer incidence (HR, 1.43; P = 0.02; HR, 0.70; P = 0.03, respectively). In our time-dependent analyses, IFN hypermethylation was associated with all-cancer (HR, 1.79; P = 0.007) and prostate cancer (HR, 1.57; P = 0.03) incidence; and ICAM-1 and IL6 hypermethylation were associated with prostate cancer incidence (HR, 1.39; P = 0.02; HR, 0.69; P = 0.03, respectively). We detected significant ICAM-1 hypermethylation in cancer cases (P = 0.0003) 10 to 13 years prediagnosis.
Conclusion: Hypermethylation of IFN and ICAM-1 may play important roles in early carcinogenesis, particularly that of prostate cancer.
Impact: These methylation changes could inform the development of early detection biomarkers and potential treatments of inflammation-related carcinogenesis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(10); 1531–8. ©2015 AACR.
Accessibility and Quality of Online Cancer-Related Clinical Trial Information for Naïve Searchers
Authors: Abel Gregory A. , Cronin Angel M. , Earles Kristofer , Gray Stacy W. 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Although the Internet may help to increase cancer patients' awareness of clinical trials, little is known about the accessibility and quality of online clinical trial information. We simulated the experience of a naïve cancer patient without clinical trial knowledge by searching three popular search engines for treatment information for breast, lung, and prostate cancer, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Two coders independently evaluated website content for accessibility and quality. We screened 120 websites and identified 40 unique sites for analysis. Overall, 85% [95% confidence interval (CI), 70%–94%] of sites mentioned clinical trials on the landing page and 68% (51%–81%) included links to specific trials. Overall readability was poor. Approximately half of websites (36%–68%) included information on the potential benefits and risks of clinical trials and 40% provided information about when the site had been updated (25%–57%). Among sites with links to specific clinical trials, only 44% (25%–65%) provided an interactive interface that would allow patients to customize search results; breast (100%) and prostate (50%) sites were more interactive than lung (25%) and MDS (14%; P = 0.007). Although cancer clinical trial information is widely available on the Internet, its quality is highly variable. Given the fact that many emerging cancer therapeutics are personalized based on disease or genomic characteristics, interactive web-based interfaces could serve as powerful vehicles to help patients locate appropriate clinical trials. Without enhanced efforts to ensure greater interactivity of cancer treatment websites, patient awareness of relevant clinical trials may remain low. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(10); 1629–31. ©2015 AACR.
Professionalization of Teaching in Nigeria: Strategies, Prospects and Challenges
Authors: Fareo Oluremi Dorcas 
Published: August 2015

The teaching profession in Nigeria has gone through many stages and even today there are disagreements as to whether it should be called a profession; and this has been an issue of concern among educators, teachers, administrators, organizations and the public at large. This paper thus looked into the issue of professionalizing teaching for the development of the education sector in the country. The concepts of teaching and profession were viewed; traits of professionalism; the teaching profession in Nigeria; strategies, prospects and challenges facing teaching profession were identified; The study recommended that the government should look into the problem of general dissatisfaction with the teaching profession, such as poor teacher education programme; poor salaries and allowances; poor public image of the profession; and the desire of most teachers to enter another type of work with attractive remunerations,
Developing Critical Thinking Skills of Students in Mathematics Learning
Authors: Firdaus Firdaus , Kailani Ismail , Bakar Md. Nor Bin , Bakry Bakry 
Published: August 2015

Critical thinking skills should be owned by students. Therefore, schools should be responsible to develop and evaluate critical thinking skills through teaching and learning process in schools. This study aims to identify the effects of mathematical learning modules based on problem-based learning to critical thinking skills at secondary school students in District of Bone. Assessment of critical thinking skills in mathematical problem solving non-routine includes three parts; the identification and interpretation of information, information analysis, and evaluate of evidence and arguments. This study involved a total of 68 students grade 12 science state secondary school (SMAN) in Bone District of South Sulawesi, Indonesia in academic year 2014-2015. The sample consists of 38 students in the city and 30 rural students. The design of the study was quasi experimental one group pretest-posttest. The data was analysed using the inferential t-test with SPSS 20.0 for windows. The study found that there are effects of the use of mathematical learning module based PBL to enhance the ability of critical thinking skills in mathematics students in all three components, namely, identifying and interpreting information, information analysis, and evaluate of evidence and argument.
Routing Ambulances to Designated Centers Increases Access to Stroke Center Care and Enrollment in Prehospital Research
Authors: Sanossian Nerses , Liebeskind David S. , Eckstein Marc , Starkman Sidney , Stratton Samuel , Pratt Franklin D. , Koenig William , Hamilton Scott , Kim-Tenser May , Conwit Robin , Saver Jeffrey L. 
Published: August 2015

Background and Purpose—
Emergency medical services routing of patients with acute stroke to designated centers may increase the proportion of patients receiving care at facilities meeting national standards and augment recruitment for prehospital stroke research.

Methods—
We analyzed consecutive patients enrolled within 2 hours of symptom onset in a prehospital stroke trial, before and after regional Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services implementation of preferentially routing patients with acute stroke to approved stroke centers (ASCs). From January 2005 to mid-November 2009, patients were transported to the nearest emergency department, whereas from mid-November 2009 to December 2012, patients were preferentially transported to first 9, and eventually 29, ASCs.

Results—

There were 863 subjects enrolled before and 764 after emergency medical service preferential routing, with implementation leading to an increase in the proportion cared for at an ASC from 10% to 91% (
P
<0.0001), with a slight decrease in paramedic on-scene to emergency department arrival time (34.5 [SD, 9.1] minutes versus 33.5 [SD, 10.3] minutes;
P
=0.045). The effects of routing were immediate and included an increase in proportion of receiving ASC care (from 17% to 88%;
P
<0.001) and a greater number of enrollments (18.6% increase) when comparing 12 months before and after regional stroke system implementation.

Conclusions—
The establishment of a regionalized emergency medical services system of acute stroke care dramatically increased the proportion of patients with acute stroke cared for at ASCs, from 1 in 10 to >9 in 10, with no clinically significant increase in prehospital care times and enhanced recruitment of patients into a prehospital treatment trial.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00059332.
Validation of Automatic Cb Observations for METAR Messages without Ground Truth
Authors: Hyvärinen Otto , Saltikoff Elena , Hohti Harri 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIn aviation meteorology, METAR messages are used to disseminate the existence of cumulonimbus (Cb) clouds. METAR messages are traditionally constructed manually from human observations, but there is a growing trend toward automation of this process. At the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), METAR messages incorporate an operational automatic detection of Cb based solely on weather radar data, when manual observations are not available. However, the verification of this automatic Cb detection is challenging, as good ground truth data are not often available; even human observations are not perfect as Cb clouds can be obscured by other clouds, for example. Therefore, statistical estimation of the relevant verification measures from imperfect observations using latent class analysis (LCA) was explored. In addition to radar-based products and human observations, the convective rainfall rate from EUMETSAT’s Nowcasting Satellite Application Facility and lightning products from the Finnish lightning network were used for determining the existence of Cb clouds. Results suggest that LCA gives reasonable estimates of verification measures and, based on these estimates, the Cb detection system at FMI gives results comparable to human observations.