bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biogas Fired Industrial Gas Turbines: A Technological and Potential Assessment
Authors: Hanagudu Harish 
Published: February 2015

This paper reviews the advantages, technical considerations and application of biogas fired Industrial Gas Turbines, and suggests strategies for improving the regeneration of electricity in cane sugar distilleries.
Biogas is produced by the anaerobic treatment of waste by the Indian Distillery and allied alcohol based industries. Treatment of waste has been made mandatory and all distilleries in India are setting up such units. With the generation of biogas, the Indian Distillery has found a novel way of converting waste into energy.
Traditionally, the biogas obtained was fired in boilers to generate steam. Steam could be used for process or to drive a back-pressure steam turbine. A few small units also considered installing dual fuel reciprocating engines.
Recently, a trend setting project of firing biogas directly in a gas turbine to produce electricity and subsequently utilize the hot exhaust gases in a waste heat recovery boiler is being proposed. There are distinct advantages in selecting the gas turbine route over other competing prime movers.
Evolution of Gas Turbines Auxiliary Systems Designed for Reliability
Authors: Misiowiec Jacek , McElwee Tim , DellaVilla Sal 
Published: February 2015

Gas turbine design evolution and practice is driven by industry demand for increased output and improved operating efficiencies. New aerothermal design characteristics require a focus on improved materials and coatings, and cooling techniques. As environmental issues continue to confront the industry, Dry Low NOx combustion system designs represent a significant opportunity for meeting new emissions requirements. These issues represent opportunity for significant technology improvements and industry driven advances.
However, just as important is the design evolution of the Control and Auxiliary systems which support the gas turbine. Historically, these support systems, as demonstrated by the Operational Reliability Analysis Program (ORAP), are typically the primary drivers of plant Availability and Reliability. Following a rigorous “Design for Reliability” approach provides opportunities for ensuring that the design meets three critical requirements: starting reliability, a minimum of unit shutdowns during operating demand periods and ease of maintenance. The design approach for the Control and Auxiliary systems for new turbine design (product improvement) therefore provides an opportunity for developing a uniform and standardized approach which continues to focus on Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability. This design approach also provides opportunities for improved field installation and reduced cycle time, a major benefit for the end user.
This paper will describe the “Design for Reliability” approach followed by ABB Power Generation, Inc., and supported by Strategic Power Systems, Inc.® (SPS) for the GT11N2 auxiliary systems. The extension of the ORAP system for auxiliary systems will be discussed as the approach for monitoring unit Availability and Reliability, maintaining configuration control, and for promoting continuous improvement.
A Study of the Feasibility of Steam-Augmented Gas Turbines for Surface Ships
Authors: Urbach Herman B. , Knauss Donald T. , Patchett David B. , Purnell John G. , Muench Rolf K. , Garman Richard W. , Bielitz Charles L. , Stoffel William H. , Doyle Timothy J. 
Published: February 2015

The steam-augmented gas turbine (SAGT) has attracted attention because of its increased fuel efficiency. It yields significant, cost-effective increments of output power, particularly when steam/water injection is increased to levels approaching 50% of air flow. Such high levels of steam/water consumption permit burner operation near stoichiometric combustion ratios with specific powers exceeding 580 hp-sec/lb anticipated.
This paper examines steam-augmented gas turbines for their applicability in Navy DDG-class ship environments. SAGT engine concepts exhibit efficiencies approaching the Navy’s intercooled regenerative (ICR) engine, and an impressive compactness that arises from the high specific power of steam.
Polished water consumption may be 425,000 gal/day for a 100,000-hp SAGT-engine ship plant. Nevertheless, SAGT engine systems impose little if any negative ship impact even after accounting for water purification systems. Moreover, because of their high specific power, SAGT systems are as affordable, on a first-acquisition-cost basis, as the current gas turbine systems in the fleet, and in the present supply pipeline.
Development of a New Front Stage for an Industrial Axial Flow Compressor
Authors: Eisenberg B. 
Published: February 2015

Industrial axial flow compressors are specially designed to achieve a wide operating range. The analysis of an existing 6 stage axial flow research compressor indicated that the front stage could be improved significantly using modern design technique. To demonstrate the advantages of such a technique a redesign of the current front stage was conducted.
By controlling the diffusion inside the blade sections with an inverse design method, loading was enlarged. Higher loading normally results in a reduction of profile incidence range. For compensation a wide chord application was chosen. Compared to the original compressor version, experiments resulted in steeper characteristic curves together with larger usable operating range. Keeping the same outer and inner diameter, mass flow was increased by 6%. Measurements of performance curves with variable speed and for guide vane control are presented. Theoretical calculations achieve a high degree of agreement with measured performance.
Test Result of Low NOx Catalytic Combustor for Gas Turbine
Authors: Ozawa Y. , Hirano J. , Sato M. , Saiga M. , Watanabe S. 
Published: February 2015

Catalytic combustion is an ultra low NOx combustion method, so it is expected that this method will be applied to gas turbine combustor. However, it is difficult to develop catalytic combustor because catalytic reliability at high temperature is still insufficient.
To overcome this difficulty, we designed a catalytic combustor in which premixed combustion was combined. By this device, it is possible to obtain combustion gas at a combustion temperature of 1300°C while keeping the catalytic temperature below 1000°C.
After performing preliminary tests using LPG, we designed two types of combustors for natural gas with a capacity equivalent to 1 combustor used in a 20MW–class multi–can type gas turbine. Combustion tests were conducted at atmospheric pressure using natural gas.
As a result, it was confirmed that a combustor in which catalytic combustor segments were arranged alternately with premixing nozzles could achieve low NOx and high combustion efficiency in the range from 1000°C to 1300°C of the combustor exit gas temperature.
Impact of range shifter material on proton pencil beam spot characteristics
Authors: Shen Jiajian , Liu Wei , Anand Aman , Stoker Joshua B. , Ding Xiaoning , Fatyga Mirek , Herman Michael G. , Bues Martin 
Published: February 2015

Purpose:To quantitatively investigate the effect of range shifter materials on single‐spot characteristics of a proton pencil beam.Methods:An analytic approximation for multiple Coulomb scattering (“differential Moliere” formula) was adopted to calculate spot sizes of proton spot scanning beams impinging on a range shifter. The calculations cover a range of delivery parameters: six range shifter materials (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Lexan, Lucite, polyethylene, polystyrene, and wax) and water as reference material, proton beam energies ranging from 75 to 200 MeV, range shifter thicknesses of 4.5 and 7.0 g/cm2, and range shifter positions from 5 to 50 cm. The analytic method was validated by comparing calculation results with the measurements reported in the literature.Results:Relative to a water‐equivalent reference, the spot size distal to a wax or polyethylene range shifter is 15% smaller, while the spot size distal to a range shifter made of Lexan or Lucite is about 6% smaller. The relative spot size variations are nearly independent of beam energy and range shifter thickness and decrease with smaller air gaps.Conclusions:Among the six material investigated, wax and polyethylene are desirable range shifter materials when the spot size is kept small. Lexan and Lucite are the desirable range shifter materials when the scattering power is kept similar to water.
ibex: An open infrastructure software platform to facilitate collaborative work in radiomics
Authors: Zhang Lifei , Fried David V. , Fave Xenia J. , Hunter Luke A. , Yang Jinzhong , Court Laurence E. 
Published: February 2015

Purpose:Radiomics, which is the high‐throughput extraction and analysis of quantitative image features, has been shown to have considerable potential to quantify the tumor phenotype. However, at present, a lack of software infrastructure has impeded the development of radiomics and its applications. Therefore, the authors developed the imaging biomarker explorer (ibex), an open infrastructure software platform that flexibly supports common radiomics workflow tasks such as multimodality image data import and review, development of feature extraction algorithms, model validation, and consistent data sharing among multiple institutions.Methods:The ibex software package was developed using the matlab and c/c++ programming languages. The software architecture deploys the modern model‐view‐controller, unit testing, and function handle programming concepts to isolate each quantitative imaging analysis task, to validate if their relevant data and algorithms are fit for use, and to plug in new modules. On one hand, ibex is self‐contained and ready to use: it has implemented common data importers, common image filters, and common feature extraction algorithms. On the other hand, ibex provides an integrated development environment on top of matlab and c/c++, so users are not limited to its built‐in functions. In the ibex developer studio, users can plug in, debug, and test new algorithms, extending ibex’s functionality. ibex also supports quality assurance for data and feature algorithms: image data, regions of interest, and feature algorithm‐related data can be reviewed, validated, and/or modified. More importantly, two key elements in collaborative workflows, the consistency of data sharing and the reproducibility of calculation result, are embedded in the ibex workflow: image data, feature algorithms, and model validation including newly developed ones from different users can be easily and consistently shared so that results can be more easily reproduced between institutions.Results:Researchers with a variety of technical skill levels, including radiation oncologists, physicists, and computer scientists, have found the ibex software to be intuitive, powerful, and easy to use. ibex can be run at any computer with the windows operating system and 1GB RAM. The authors fully validated the implementation of all importers, preprocessing algorithms, and feature extraction algorithms. Windows version 1.0 beta of stand‐alone ibex and ibex’s source code can be downloaded.Conclusions:The authors successfully implemented ibex, an open infrastructure software platform that streamlines common radiomics workflow tasks. Its transparency, flexibility, and portability can greatly accelerate the pace of radiomics research and pave the way toward successful clinical translation.
Independent 2-rainbow domination in trees
Authors: Amjadi J. , Dehgardi N. , Mohammadi N. , Sheikholeslami S. M. , Volkmann L. 
Published: February 2015

A 2-rainbow dominating function (2RDF) on a graph G is a function f from the vertex set V(G) to the set of all subsets of the set {1, 2} such that for any vertex v ∈ V(G) with f(v) = ∅ the condition ⋃u∈N(v)f(u) = {1, 2} is fulfilled. A 2RDF f is independent 2-rainbow dominating function (I2RDF) if no two vertices assigned nonempty sets are adjacent. The weight of a 2RDF f is the value ω(f) = ∑v∈V |f(v)|. The 2-rainbow domination number γr2(G) (respectively, the independent 2-rainbow domination number ir2(G)) is the minimum weight of a 2RDF (respectively, I2RDF) on G. M. Chellali and N. Jafari Rad [Independent 2-rainbow domination in graphs, to appear in J. Combin. Math. Combin. Comput.] have studied the independent 2-rainbow domination numbers in graphs and posed the following problem: Find a sharp bound for ir2(T) in terms of the order of a tree T. In this paper we prove that for every tree T of order n ≥ 3, [Formula: see text].
The ratio of Th17/Treg cells as a risk indicator in early acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Yu Zhi-xin , Ji Mu-sen , Yan Jun , Cai Yan , Liu Jing , Yang Hong-feng , Li Yong , Jin Zhao-chen , Zheng Jin-xu 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Introduction
Recent studies have revealed that lung inflammation mediated by CD4+ T cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The imbalance between CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper (Th)17 cells has been found in a number of different inflammation and autoimmune diseases, while the role of the Th17/Treg balance in ARDS remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the Th17/Treg pattern and its impact on disease severity and outcomes in patients with ARDS.

Methods
This prospective, observational study enrolled 79 patients who fulfilled the Berlin definition of ARDS and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Circulation Th17 and Treg cell frequencies were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expressions of Th17- and Treg-related cytokines in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and the Lung Injury Score were also calculated at enrollment.

Results
Within 24 hours after the onset of ARDS, the changes of peripheral circulating Th17 and Treg cell frequencies gradually increased from mild to severe ARDS. Th17/Treg ratio was positively correlated with APACHE II score, SOFA score, and Lung Injury Score, while negatively correlated with PaO2/FiO2. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curves of Th17/Treg ratio for predicting 28-day mortality in ARDS patients was higher than that of APACHE II score, SOFA score, Lung injury score, as well as PaO2/FiO2. Using a Th17/Treg ratio cutoff value of >0.79 to determine 28-day mortality, the sensitivity was 87.5% with 68.1% specificity. Multivariate logistic regression showed Th17/Treg ratio >0.79 (odds ratio = 8.68, P = 0.002) was the independent predictor for 28-day mortality in patients with ARDS. Finally, cumulative survival rates at 28-day follow-up also differed significantly between patients with Th17/Treg ratio >0.79 and ≤0.79 (P <0.001).

Conclusions
The Th17/Treg imbalance favoring a Th17 shift represents a potential therapeutic target to alleviate lung injury and a novel risk indicator in patients with early ARDS.
Trauma-induced coagulopathy: impact of the early coagulation support protocol on blood product consumption, mortality and costs
Authors: Nardi Giuseppe , Agostini Vanessa , Rondinelli Beatrice , Russo Emanuele , Bastianini Barbara , Bini Giovanni , Bulgarelli Simona , Cingolani Emiliano , Donato Alessia , Gambale Giorgio , Ranaldi Giulia 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Introduction
Hemorrhage is the principal cause of death in the first few hours following severe injury. Coagulopathy is a frequent complication of critical bleeding. A network of Italian trauma centers recently developed a protocol to prevent and treat trauma-induced coagulopathy. A pre-post cohort multicenter study was conducted to assess the impact of the early coagulation support (ECS) protocol on blood products consumption, mortality and treatment costs.

Methods
We prospectively collected data from all severely injured patients (Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15) admitted to two trauma centers in 2013 and compared these findings with the data for 2011. Patients transfused with at least 3 units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) within 24 hours of an accident were included in the study. In 2011, patients with significant hemorrhaging were treated with early administration of plasma with the aim of achieving a high (≥1:2) plasma-to-PRBC ratio. In 2013, the ECS protocol was the treatment strategy. Outcome data, blood product consumption and treatment costs were compared between the two periods.

Results
The two groups were well matched for demographics, injury severity (ISS: 32.9 in 2011 versus 33.6 in 2013) and clinical and laboratory data on admission. In 2013, a 40% overall reduction in PRBCs was observed, together with a 65% reduction in plasma and a 52% reduction in platelets. Patients in the ECS group received fewer blood products: 6.51 units of PRBCs versus 8.14 units. Plasma transfusions decreased from 8.98 units to 4.21 units (P <0.05), and platelets fell from 4.14 units to 2.53 units (P <0.05). Mortality in 2013 was 13.5% versus 20% in 2011 (13 versus 26 hospital deaths, respectively) (nonsignificant). When costs for blood components, factors and point-of-care tests were compared, a €76,340 saving in 2013 versus 2011 (23%) was recorded.

Conclusions
The introduction of the ECS protocol in two Italian trauma centers was associated with a marked reduction in blood product consumption, reaching statistical significance for plasma and platelets, and with a non-significant trend toward a reduction in early and 28-day mortality. The overall costs for transfusion and coagulation support (including point-of-care tests) decreased by 23% between 2011 and 2013.
An observational study of surface versus endovascular cooling techniques in cardiac arrest patients: a propensity-matched analysis
Authors: Oh Sang Hoon , Oh Joo Suk , Kim Young-Min , Park Kyu Nam , Choi Seung Pill , Kim Gi Woon , Jeung Kyung Woon , Jang Tae Chang , Park Yoo Seok , Kyong Yeon Young ,   On behalf of the Korean Hypothermia Network Investigators
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Introduction
Various methods and devices have been described for cooling after cardiac arrest, but the ideal cooling method remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the neurological outcomes, efficacies and adverse events of surface and endovascular cooling techniques in cardiac arrest patients.

Methods
We performed a multicenter, retrospective, registry-based study of adult cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia presenting to 24 hospitals across South Korea from 2007 to 2012. We included patients who received therapeutic hypothermia using overall surface or endovascular cooling devices and compared the neurological outcomes, efficacies and adverse events of both cooling techniques. To adjust for differences in the baseline characteristics of each cooling method, we performed one-to-one matching by the propensity score.

Results
In total, 803 patients were included in the analysis. Of these patients, 559 underwent surface cooling, and the remaining 244 patients underwent endovascular cooling. In the unmatched cohort, a greater number of adverse events occurred in the surface cooling group. Surface cooling was significantly associated with a poor neurological outcome (cerebral performance category 3–5) at hospital discharge (p = 0.01). After propensity score matching, surface cooling was not associated with poor neurological outcome and hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR): 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-1.96, p = 0.31 and OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.55-1.30, p = 0.44, respectively]. Although surface cooling was associated with an increased incidence of adverse events (such as overcooling, rebound hyperthermia, rewarming related hypoglycemia and hypotension) compared with endovascular cooling, these complications were not associated with surface cooling using hydrogel pads.

Conclusions
In the overall matched cohort, no significant difference in neurological outcomes and hospital morality was observed between the surface and endovascular cooling methods.
Serum levels of apolipoprotein A-I and high-density lipoprotein can predict organ failure in acute pancreatitis
Authors: Peng Yun-Shing , Chen Yung-Chang , Tian Ya-Chung , Yang Chih-Wei , Lien Jau-Min , Fang Ji-Tseng , Wu Cheng-Shyong , Hung Chien-Fu , Hwang Tsan-Long , Tsai Ying-Huang , Lee Mel S , Tsai Ming-Hung 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Introduction
Predicting severity of pancreatitis is an important goal. Clinicians are still searching for novel and simple biomarkers that can better predict persistent organ failure (OF). Lipoproteins, especially high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and apolipoprotein A-I (APO A-I), have been shown to have anti-inflammation effects in various clinical settings. Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is associated with hypo-lipoproteinemia. We studied whether the concentrations of HDL and APO A-I can predict persistent OF in patients with predicted SAP admitted to the ICU.

Methods
In 66 patients with predicted SAP, we prospectively evaluated the relationship between lipid levels, inflammatory cytokines and clinical outcomes, including persistent OF and hospital mortality. Blood samples were obtained within 24 hours of admission to the ICU.

Results
HDL and APO A-I levels were inversely correlated with various disease severity scores. Patients with persistent OF had lower levels of HDL and APO A-I, while those with transient OF had lower levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and lower rates of hospital mortality. Meanwhile, hospital non-survivors had lower concentrations of HDL, and APO A-I compared to the survivors. By using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, both HDL and APO A-I demonstrated an excellent discriminative power for predicting persistent OF among all patients (AUROC 0.912 and 0.898 respectively) and among those with OF (AUROC 0.904 and 0.895 respectively). Pair-wise comparison of AUROC showed that both HDL and APO A-I had better discriminative power than C-reactive protein to predict persistent OF.

Conclusions
Serum levels of HDL and APO A-I at admission to the ICU are inversely correlated with disease severity in patients with predicted SAP and can predict persistent OF in this clinical setting.
Systematic identification of cancer driving signaling pathways based on mutual exclusivity of genomic alterations
Authors: Babur Özgün , Gönen Mithat , Aksoy Bülent Arman , Schultz Nikolaus , Ciriello Giovanni , Sander Chris , Demir Emek 
Published: February 2015

AbstractWe present a novel method for the identification of sets of mutually exclusive gene alterations in a given set of genomic profiles. We scan the groups of genes with a common downstream effect on the signaling network, using a mutual exclusivity criterion that ensures that each gene in the group significantly contributes to the mutual exclusivity pattern. We test the method on all available TCGA cancer genomics datasets, and detect multiple previously unreported alterations that show significant mutual exclusivity and are likely to be driver events.