bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On-Site Partial Discharge Monitoring System in Generator at Tanjung Bin Power Plant, Johor, Malaysia
Authors: Muhamad A. H. , Arief Y. Z. , Izzati W. A. , Adzis Z. , Sidik M. A. B. 
Published: January 2014

Power generation is a business that ought to satisfy industrial and consumer electrical power needs. Power generation technology has emerged from conventional power plants, which are mostly steam power plants, evolving into more complicated nuclear power plants. While the mechanical arrangements in the power plants are usually unique and distinct from one another, their electrical assemblies are almost the same; the major factor considered is sizing of the electrical equipments. The electrical generator is therefore one of the fundamental equipment that every power plant must have. In principle, the generator is crucial equipment that needs proper maintenance in order to produce steady output supply. The objective of this study is to is to conduct on-site partial discharge monitoring system of 3 unit generators stator winding at Tanjung Bin Power Plant, Johor, Malaysia as condition based monitoring (CBM) system. Partial discharge characteristics of unit 10, 20 and 30 generators stator winding were compared respectively. Software designed by Iris LP was used throughout these processes. The software-PDView demonstrates graphical view of the partial discharge occurrence in the generator stator winding. Compiled data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel in order to establish an evaluation of the generator stator winding. The analyzed results showed that all generators were in good condition.
Organization Behaviour and Development-Related Issues in Effective Implementation of ISO 9001
Authors: Nargesi Zahra Ramzanpour , Baniani Ali Mohammad , Galankashi Masoud Rahiminezhad , Ziaei Farhad , Zahraee Seyed Mojib , Abdolghader Yasser 
Published: January 2014

The demand for ISO 9001 certification is increasing, both from the public and private sectors. The adoption of a quality management system should be a strategic decision of an organization. The design and implementation of an organization's quality management system is influenced by varying needs, particular objectives, the products provided, the processes employed and the size and structure of the organization. It is necessary to explore the issues related to effective implementation of ISO 9001. The objective of this article is to scrutinize the OBD issues, facts, and problems related to implementing ISO 9001 in various industries in order to collect and categorize these factors and issues for finding common critical factors. Authors tried to find related data from each industry with the aim of internet, observation, interview, and questionnaire. After data collection, the Meta analysis will be used to achieve probable common factors or factors that have had more influence on implementing ISO9001 successfully. The influential issues in effective implementation of ISO9001 can be classified into internal and external issues. There are several OBD-related issues like organizational culture, leadership commitment, team working and communication that have a crucial role in this area. The three most important OBD–related issues are organizational culture, leadership commitment and team working.
Perception of Taxi Services in Oman–A Cross Examination of Citizens’ and Taxi Drivers’ Perception
Authors: Belwal Rakesh , Minhans Anil , Al-Balushi Ali Murad 
Published: January 2014

Short-haul public transport, particularly the passenger cars, is the most frequently utilized mode of transport in the world. Next to the private cars, taxis are the key to ensuring mobility in Oman where the state of development of public transport has been very slow. Despite having a high ratio of taxis to the private cars, the residents of Oman complain about the taxi services and their perception of taxi services in Oman is poor. Using a structured questionnaire targeted over a sample of 120 taxi drivers, this study reveals the basic statistics about taxis in Oman, their operations, the perspectives of taxi drivers and citizens about these services, the challenges to taxi business along with a few suggestions for improving taxi services in Oman. The study found that while taxis are the predominant mode of transportation in Oman, their operations are largely unorganized. Most of the taxi services are rendered on an individual basis. This paper also compared and contrasted the allegations of residents about the taxi drivers and taxi services with the responses obtained from the taxi drivers, which the taxi drivers had mostly denied. Lower number of passengers coupled with low income, insufficient parking and high insurance cost paid to the companies were identified as the major challenges confronting taxi drivers. Overall, the results reveal an expectation gap between drivers and the customers and recommend an urgent need for regulating the taxi services and by creating rules and regulations for the operators and customers.
Verification of Puffin Modelling Using VISSIM
Authors: S. A. Hassan, , N. B. Hounsell, , B. P. Shrestha, 
Published: January 2014

Puffin crossing is the most recent signalised crossings in UK. The operation of Puffin signal control is mainly based on traffic condition hence could impose longer waiting time on pedestrian. Therefore there is a need to review on the operation of the signal control strategy of Puffin crossings to make it more pedestrian responsive without imposing significant delay to other road users. Research to date has shown that VISSIM model is more suitable for the evaluation of signal control improvement. The latest signal controlled pedestrian crossing facility, the Puffin, has been modelled and tested in VISSIM micro-simulation model. The objective of this study is to verify the Puffin coding using VISSIM microsimulation software. It is to ensure that the Puffin signal control in VISSIM is working as in a real traffic condition. For this purpose a suitable mid-block section was selected at Market Street, United Kingdom. Pedestrians' characteristics, vehicular characteristics, geometric layout of the site were retrieved from video recording. All these characteristics were coded in Puffin model using VISSIM micro-simulation. The results proved that the Puffin model in VISSIM is able to reproduce site representative condition. The findings in this study are significant in the whole modelling process.
Performance of PSf Ultrafiltration Membrane: Effect of Different Nonsolvent on Coagulation Medium
Authors: Shohur Muhamad Fikri , Harun Zawati , Lau W. J. , Yunos Muhamad Zaini , Jamalludin Mohd Riduan 
Published: January 2014

One of the big challenges in developing a good asymmetric membrane is macrovoid formation that leads to reduction of rejection value. The most common method to reduce or suppress macrovoid formation is by addition of controlled solvent to the coagulation bath. Therefore, the effect of difference coagulants based on dissolved KCl (monovalent) and dissolved Na2SO4(divalent) with different concentration onto asymmetric Polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration membrane was investigated in this work. The PSf ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by using phase inversion method using these two immerse aqueous solutions. The performances of membranes were evaluated via pure water flux (distilled water) and solute rejection (humic acid). Results on the cross section revealed that the structure of membrane show a straight pattern of bigger finger-like pore structure from top to bottom layer tend to reduce with at the same time the diameter of finger-like pore structure also increased, as salt medium of coagulant increases. These obviously shown by permeation values for both salt mediums were higher compared to without salt coagulant. This reduction of finger-like structure at bottom layer occurred along together with the formation of sponge shape structure. The growth of thick sponge shape is strongly influence by kinetic phase inversion of salt coagulant that also creates resistance to permeation mechanism. However the intense salt coagulant medium can cause the bigger sponge structure that will slightly reduce rejection and increase the permeation. This was proved by the rejection of KCl medium started to increase at 1-3% but slightly reduced at 4%. Based on the result analysis demonstrated that the ideal membrane with highest rejection and good permeation values was membrane immersed into 1% Na2SO4 coagulation medium.
Aerial Exposure to the Bacterial Volatile Compound Trimethylamine Modifies Antibiotic Resistance of Physically Separated Bacteria by Raising Culture Medium pH
Authors: Létoffé Sylvie , Audrain Bianca , Bernier Steve P. , Delepierre Muriel , Ghigo Jean-Marc 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTBacteria release a wide diversity of small bioactive molecules that often correspond to secondary metabolites. Among them, volatile molecules produced under various growth conditions were shown to mediate cross-kingdom interactions with plants, nematodes, and fungi. Although the role of volatile compounds in bacterial biology is not well understood, recent reports indicated that they could play a role in airborne interactions between bacteria and influence antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and virulence. In this study, we investigated long-distance effects of 14 previously describedEscherichia colivolatile compounds upon the bacteriaE. coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus, andBacillus subtilis. We show that several of these molecules constitute chemical cues influencing growth, adhesion, and motility in exposed bacteria. Moreover, we show that aerial exposure to trimethylamine (TMA), a volatile compound produced in animal intestines and tissues upon biogenic reduction of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), modifies the antibiotic resistance profiles of all tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We demonstrate that the TMA mode of action is distinct from that previously described for ammonia and results from nonspecific transient alteration of antibiotic uptake due to pH increase in the environment of bacteria aerially exposed to TMA. Our study therefore presents a new way by which volatile compounds can affect community behavior and structure in physically separated bacteria. It further demonstrates that bacterial gases and volatile compounds mediate chemical interactions, triggering functional responses that play an important role in the development of bacterial communities.IMPORTANCEBacteria release many different volatile compounds during food transformation and fermentation. Here we sought to investigate the role of several bacterial volatile molecules released byEscherichia coliduring long-distance airborne interactions with other bacteria. While several tested volatiles affect bacterial motility and surface adhesion, we show that aerial exposure to trimethylamine, a molecule produced byE. coliand many other Gram-negative bacteria in animal intestines and infected tissues, also modulates antibiotic resistance in all tested bacteria. We demonstrate that exposure to trimethylamine increases the pH of the growth medium of exposed bacteria, resulting in modifications in antibiotic uptake and transient alteration of antibiotic resistance. Our study therefore presents a new mechanism by which volatile compounds can affect community behavior and structure in physically separated bacteria, and it illustrates how airborne chemical interactions between bacteria contribute to the development of bacterial communities.
Bracing superior to neuromuscular training for the prevention of self-reported recurrent ankle sprains: a three-arm randomised controlled trial
Authors: Janssen Kasper W , van Mechelen Willem , Verhagen Evert A L M 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundAnkle sprain is the most common sports-related injury with a high rate of recurrence and associated costs. Recent studies have emphasised the effectiveness of both neuromuscular training and bracing for the secondary prevention of ankle sprains.AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of combined bracing and neuromuscular training, or bracing alone, against the use of neuromuscular training on recurrences of ankle sprain after usual care.Methods384 athletes, aged 18–70, who had sustained a lateral ankle sprain, were included (training group n=120; brace group n=126; combi group n=138). The training group received an 8-week home-based neuromuscular training programme, the brace group received a semirigid ankle brace to be worn during all sports activities for 12 months, and the combi group received both the training programme, as well as the ankle brace, to be worn during all sports activities for 8 weeks. The main outcome measure was self-reported recurrence of the ankle sprain.ResultsDuring the 1-year follow-up, 69 participants (20%) reported a recurrent ankle sprain: 29 (27%) in the training group, 17 (15%) in the brace group and 23 (19%) in the combi group. The relative risk for a recurrent ankle sprain in the brace group versus the training group was 0.53 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.97). No significant differences were found for time losses or costs due to ankle sprains between the intervention groups.ConclusionsBracing was superior to neuromuscular training in reducing the incidence but not the severity of self-reported recurrent ankle sprains after usual care.
Coronary stent imaging with dual-source CT: assessment of lumen visibility using different convolution kernels and postprocessing filters
Authors: Ulrich Anne , Burg Matthias C , Raupach Rainer , Bunck Alexander , Schuelke Christoph , Maintz David , Heindel Walter , Seifarth Harald 
Published: January 2014

Background Assesment of the coronary arteries after stent placement using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) currently requires reconstruction of images with soft kernels for the assessment of atherosclerotic plaques and dedicated edge enhancing kernels for the evaluation of the stent lumen. Purpose To evaluate a two-dimensional filter tool that provides instant postprocessing of images reconstructed with soft kernels into edge-enhanced images and vice versa and thus may eliminate the need for two separate reconstrcutions for the assessment of coronary artery stents using CCTA. Material and Methods Twenty stents with a diameter of 3.0 mm placed in a vascular phantom were scanned with a dual-source CT using standard parameters. Images were reconstructed with a soft B30f and an edge-enhancing B46f kernel and postprocessed with the corresponding filter algorithm (F30 for B30f images; F46 for B46f images). The resulting four data-sets were evaluated for lumen visibility, intraluminal attenuation, and image noise by two independent readers. Results were validated in vivo against invasive coronary angiography in data-sets from patients with coronary artery stents. Results Average intraluminal attenuation was 552.6 HU, 527.3 HU, 207.9 HU, and 267.5 HU for B30f, F30, B46f, and F46 images, respectively ( P < 0.0001). Average image noise was 11.3, 10.6, 19.2, and 15.0 HU, respectively ( P < 0.0001). The visible stent diameter was significantly higher in the B46f (59.6%) and F46 images (54%) compared to the B30f (48.3%) and F30 (51.5%) images ( P < 0.0001). In the patient study, lumen assessability was significantly better in B46f images than in F46 images. Sensitivity for stenosis detection was best in the original B46f images with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 94%. Conclusion The postprocessing filter reduces image noise, however currently it does not offer an alternative to image reconstruction using the edge-enhancing kernels for the evaluation of the stent lumen.
Comparison of pemetrexed and docetaxel as salvage chemotherapy for the treatment for nonsmall-cell lung cancer after the failure of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Authors: Dong Lei , Han Zhao-feng , Feng Zi-hui , Jia Zhi-yang 
Published: January 2014

Objective To compare the therapeutic effects and adverse reactions of pemetrexed and docetaxel as salvage chemotherapy in patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after the failure of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI). Methods In this randomized Phase 2 trial, patients with NSCLC who had previously failed EGFR-TKI therapy were randomized to receive intravenous pemetrexed (500 mg/m2 for 21 days [one cycle]) or docetaxel (75 mg/m2 for 21 days [one cycle]). Therapeutic effects were evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours standards and adverse effects were evaluated according to the US National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Results There was no statistically significant difference in disease control rate, response rate, median survival and 1-year survival between treatment groups. Rates of nausea, myelosuppression, renal damage and hair loss were significantly higher in the docetaxel group than the pemetrexed group. Conclusion Pemetrexed is effective and well tolerated as salvage chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC after EGFR-TKI failure and may be a suitable therapeutic option in these patients.
The Wellbeing of Infants Exposed to Buprenorphine via Breast Milk at 4 Weeks of Age
Authors: Gower Shelley , Bartu Anne , Ilett Kenneth F. , Doherty Dorota , McLaurin Renate , Hamilton Dale 
Published: January 2014

Background: Buprenorphine has been available in Australia since 2000 as an alternative pharmacotherapy to methadone for the treatment of opioid dependence. However, there is little information in the literature regarding the effect of buprenorphine on the wellbeing of infants exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk, following discharge from hospital. Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the wellbeing of infants exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk up to 4 weeks postnatally. Methods: Approximately 4 weeks after birth, information on the feeding and sleeping patterns, skin color, infant elimination patterns and hydration, and Neonatal Abstinence Scores of infants (n = 7) exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk was collected via both observation and documentation. Results: Infants were progressing well, with normal sleep patterns and skin color, and 2 mothers had minor concerns regarding infant elimination patterns. Four infants were exclusively breastfed and 3 were receiving a supplement, with a range of 260 to 700 mL of formula over 24 hours. The sleep patterns following feeding ranged from 1.55 to 3.33 hours, with a median of 2.12 hours. Conclusion: No adverse effects were detected in infants exposed to buprenorphine via breast milk up to 4 weeks postnatally. Further research using larger samples to assess possible developmental effects over longer periods of time is required.
High Incidence of Abdominal Venovenous Collaterals After Kawashima Operation
Authors: Rahmath Muhammed Riyas K , Masud Faraz , Sallehuddin Ahmad , Kamal Reema Yousef , Bhat Akhlaque Nabi , Dilawar Muhammad 
Published: January 2014

Introduction: Systemic venous collaterals have been found at different stages of single-ventricle palliation, specifically after Kawashima operation. In this study, we present the incidence, clinical features, associated risk factors, and management of such venovenous collaterals (VVCs) after Kawashima procedure. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of all the patients who underwent Kawashima procedure prior to December 2011 at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar, was performed. Data were collected and reviewed from medical records. Results: The study group involved a total of six patients with Kawashima procedure. The median age of patients was 112.7 months (range 46-336 months), and median age at the time of Kawashima operation was 31.7 months (range 15-187 months). Mean systemic arterial oxygen saturation (Spo2) after Kawashima operation was 94.5% ± 1.5%. In five patients, during a median follow-up of 53.4 months (range 16.9-147.9 months), the Spo2 declined to a mean of 78.8% ± 8.2%. A total of 16 venous collaterals were observed in the study group, and majority (70%) of these collaterals were subdiaphragmatic. Conclusion: In our study, abdominal VVCs were observed in 100% of the patients who were followed after Kawashima operation. We therefore recommend that thorough evaluation for such VVCs should be part of the ongoing evaluation of patients after Kawashima operation, especially in those with low Spo2. We also recommend early surgical rerouting of hepatic veins to pulmonary arteries in all post-Kawashima patients.
Relationship Between Risk-Adjustment Tools and the Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score
Authors: Russell Rebecca A. , Ghanayem Nancy S. , Kuhn Evelyn M. , Jeffries Howard E. , Scanlon Matthew C. , Rice Tom B. 
Published: January 2014

Background: The Risk-Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) method and Aristotle Basic Complexity (ABC) scores correlate with mortality. However, low mortality rates in congenital heart disease (CHD) make use of mortality as the primary outcome measure insufficient. Demonstrating correlation between risk-adjustment tools and the Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) score might allow for risk-adjusted comparison of an outcome measure other than mortality. Methods: Data were obtained from the Virtual PICU Systems database. Patients with postoperative CHD between 2009 and 2010 were included. Correlation between RACHS-1 category and PELOD score and between ABC level and PELOD score was examined using Spearman rank correlation. Consistency of PELOD scores across institutions for given levels of case complexity was examined using Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric analysis of variance. Results: A total of 1,981 patient visits among 12 institutions met inclusion criteria. Positive correlations between PELOD score and RACHS-1 category ( rs = .353, P < .0001) as well as between PELOD score and ABC level ( rs = .328, P < .0001) were demonstrated. Variability in PELOD scores across individual centers for given levels of case complexity was observed ( P < .04). Conclusions: Risk-Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery categories and ABC levels correlate with postoperative organ dysfunction as measured by PELOD. However, the correlation was weak, potentially due to limitations of the PELOD score itself. Identification of a more accurate metric of morbidity for the congenital heart disease population is needed.