PWR2006-88202 FIELD VALIDATION TESTING OF NEW HEAT TM STEAM TURBINE

Abstract The field validation and launch unit performance testing of a new high efficiency steam turbine design is described. The HEAT TM (High Efficiency Advanced Technology) steam turbine utilizes a new line of high efficiency steam path components developed by the author's company [1]

Competition between the invasive Impatiens glandulifera and UK native species: the role of soil conditioning and pre-existing resident communities

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a highly invasive annual herb that has become extremely prevalent in riparian zones across the UK. The competitive ability of I. glandulifera, both in terms of resource exploitation and allelopathy (i.e., the release of biochemicals that may be toxic to neighbouring plants), is considered a key determinant of its success. Little is known, however, about the effects of the resident community on the establishment and growth of I. glandulifera. Here, we aim to increase our understanding of the competitive ability of this highly invasive plant by investigating the effects of soil conditioning on the performance of four co-occurring native species (Tanacetum vulgare, Urtica dioica, Chelidonium majus and Arabidopsis thaliana). In addition, we also aim to investigate the effect that the pre-existing species composition have on the performance of I. glandulifera seedlings by establishing artificial communities (monocultures and mixtures of four UK native species, including U. dioica). We found negative effects of soil conditioning by I. glandulifera in all four species, either by reducing above-ground biomass, chlorophyll content or both. Monocultures of U. dioica were the only artificial communities that reduced growth of I. glandulifera, and we did not find any support for the idea that a more diverse community may be more resistant to invasion. Our results confirm the high competitive ability of I. glandulifera and highlight how the identity of the natives in the resident community may be key to limit its success

Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study: April 2008 - January 2010

Wind generation resources in Nebraska will play an increasingly important role in the environmental and energy security solutions for the state and the nation. In this context, the Nebraska Power Association conducted a state-wide wind integration study

Spatial Neglect: An Exploration of Clinical Assessment Behaviour in Stroke Rehabilitation

Objective: There is a large gap between evidence-based recommendations for spatial neglect assessment and clinical practice in stroke rehabilitation. We aimed to describe factors that may contribute to this gap, clinician perceptions of an ideal assessment tool, and potential implementation strategies to change clinical practice in this area. Design: Qualitative focus group investigation. Focus group questions were mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework and asked participants to describe their experiences and perceptions of spatial neglect assessment. Setting: Online stroke rehabilitation educational bootcamp. Participants: A sample of 23 occupational therapists, three physiotherapists, and one orthoptist that attended the bootcamp. Intervention: Prior to their focus group, participants watched an hour-long educational session about spatial neglect. Main measures: A deductive analysis with the Theoretical Domains Framework was used to describe perceived determinants of clinical spatial neglect assessment. An inductive thematic analysis was used to describe perceptions of an ideal assessment tool and practice-change strategies in this area. Results: Participants reported that their choice of spatial neglect assessment was influenced by a belief that it would positively impact the function of people with stroke. However, a lack of knowledge about spatial neglect assessment appeared to drive low clinical use of standardised functional assessments. Participants recommended open-source online education involving a multidisciplinary team, with live-skill practice for the implementation of spatial neglect assessment tools. Conclusions: Our results suggest that clinicians prefer functional assessments of spatial neglect, but multiple factors such as knowledge, training, and policy change are required to enable their translation to clinical practice

A population genetic analysis of the Critically Endangered Madagascar big-headed turtle, Erymnochelys madagascariensis across captive and wild populations

Erymnochelys madagascariensis is a Critically Endangered turtle endemic to Madagascar. Anthropogenic activity has depleted the wild population by 70% in the last century, and effective conservation management is essential to ensuring its persistence. Captive breeding was implemented to augment depleted populations in the southern part of Ankarafantsika National Park (ANP), when no genetic data were available for E. madagascariensis. It is unknown how much of the natural population’s diversity is encapsulated in captivity. We used eight microsatellite loci and fragments of two mitochondrial genes to identify the genetic structure of E. madagascariensis in the wild. Captive bred turtles were compared with wild populations in order to assess the representativeness of this ex situ conservation strategy for ANP. Six microsatellite clusters, ten cytochrome b, and nine COI haplotypes were identified across wild populations, with high genetic divergence found between populations in two groups of watersheds. Captive bred individuals represent three out of six sampled microsatellite clusters found in the wild and just one mitochondrial haplotype, possibly due to genetic drift. To improve genetic representation, the strategy of frequent interchange between captive and wild breeders within ANP should be revitalised and, as originally planned, hatchlings or juveniles should not be released beyond ANP

Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors

Background Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and nonfatal suicide attempts, which occur far more frequently, are a major source of disability and social and economic burden. Both have substantial genetic etiology, which is partially shared and partially distinct from that of related psychiatric disorders. Methods We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 29,782 suicide attempt (SA) cases and 519,961 controls in the International Suicide Genetics Consortium (ISGC). The GWAS of SA was conditioned on psychiatric disorders using GWAS summary statistics via multitrait-based conditional and joint analysis, to remove genetic effects on SA mediated by psychiatric disorders. We investigated the shared and divergent genetic architectures of SA, psychiatric disorders, and other known risk factors. Results Two loci reached genome-wide significance for SA: the major histocompatibility complex and an intergenic locus on chromosome 7, the latter of which remained associated with SA after conditioning on psychiatric disorders and replicated in an independent cohort from the Million Veteran Program. This locus has been implicated in risk-taking behavior, smoking, and insomnia. SA showed strong genetic correlation with psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, and also with smoking, pain, risk-taking behavior, sleep disturbances, lower educational attainment, reproductive traits, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer general health. After conditioning on psychiatric disorders, the genetic correlations between SA and psychiatric disorders decreased, whereas those with nonpsychiatric traits remained largely unchanged. Conclusions Our results identify a risk locus that contributes more strongly to SA than other phenotypes and suggest a shared underlying biology between SA and known risk factors that is not mediated by psychiatric disorders.Peer reviewe

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study: Executive Summary April 2008 – January 2010

Wind generation is a source of electric energy that, in sufficient quantity, can cause concern for the operation of the bulk power system because of the variability and uncertainty of the wind. Most short-term planning and operational functions supporting the electric power grid are centered on supply resources that have capacity attributes – i.e. they can be dispatched (controlled up and down) to a specified power level for a specified period of time. The need to maintain very high levels of system reliability reinforces the preference in operations toward resources having capacity attributes. Wind generation usually has relatively low capacity value at system peak. The characteristics of wind generation increase the variability of the net demand in the balancing area and the uncertainty about the net demand over operational planning horizons – e.g. next hour, next 24 hours beginning at midnight, etc. Managing a system with significant wind generation requires conventional resources to potentially “work a little harder”. Increased costs are a consequence of the additional duties performed by conventional generators. Over the past decade, many “wind integration” studies have been performed to quantify the operational impacts of wind generation. Wind generation resources in Nebraska will play an increasingly important role in the environmental and energy security solutions for the state and the nation. In a reference document entitled “Renewable Energy Background and Outlook for Nebraska Electricity Consumers”, the Nebraska Power Association utilities recognized the growing need for a specific study of wind generation in the state. This Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study provides that initial study