Practical Concern Research Articles

Dedicated financial hardship screening adds value to routine distress screening among gynecologic cancer patients

ObjectivesTo evaluate existing distress screening to identify patients with financial hardship (FH) compared to dedicated FH screening and assess patient attitudes toward FH screening. MethodsWe screened gynecologic cancer patients starting a new line of therapy. Existing screening included: (1) Moderate/severe distress defined as Distress Thermometer score ≥ 4, (2) practical concerns identified from Problem Checklist, and (3) a single question assessing trouble paying for medications. FH screening included: (1) Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool and (2) 10-item Financial Needs Checklist to guide referrals. FH was defined as COST score < 26. We calculated sensitivity (patients with moderate/severe distress + FH over total patients with FH) and specificity (patients with no/mild distress + no FH over total patients with no FH) to assess the extent distress screening could capture FH. Surveys and exit interviews assessed patient perspectives toward screening. ResultsOf 364 patients screened for distress, average age was 62 years, 25% were Black, 45% were Medicare beneficiaries, 32% had moderate/severe distress, 15% reported ≥1 practical concern, and 0 reported trouble paying for medications. Most (n = 357, 98%) patients also completed FH screening: of them, 24% screened positive for FH, 32% reported ≥1 financial need. Distress screening had 57% sensitivity and 77% specificity for FH. Based on 79 surveys and 43 exit interviews, FH screening was acceptable with feedback to improve the timing and setting of screening. ConclusionsDedicated FH screening was feasible and acceptable, but sensitivity was low. Importantly, 40% of women with FH would not have been identified with distress screening alone.

Reservoir sediment removal using VMHS: storage loss vs. environmental impact

ABSTRACT Balancing between sediment removal discharge and dam reservoir storage loss considering river environmental impact is of major and practical concern. The paper presents indices for evaluating the sediment removal performance of a Vertical Multi-hole Hydrosuction System (VMHS) in view of environmental impacts. A new hole arrangement on the vertical pipe of VMHS was experimentally examined. The compiled data of the temporal variations of the sediment concentration and the cumulative volume of removed sediment demonstrated that the arrangement of the holes on the vertical pipe of VMHS has profound impact on the speed of sediment removal and on the reservoir water loss. The high concentration of the outflow from the reservoir, however, might affect the downstream water course environment. The proposed indices could be applied to determine the proper duration for terminating the hydrosuction process in order to obtain a balance between the storage capacity and the downstream water course environment.

Peri-implantitis: Knowledge and attitudes of implantology clinicians regarding the disease management: Peri-implantitis knowledge.

Since peri-implantitis is an increasing and prevalent concern in clinical practice and there is no consensus regarding the best therapeutic protocol, this study evaluated the knowledge and behaviours of dentists working in Implantology regarding implant-related infections modulating factors and therapeutic protocols used in the management of peri-implantitis. Cross-sectional study was conducted with 86 Brazilian Implantology clinicians. Data were collected using a structured and online questionnaire evaluating socioeconomic characteristics, education, work/clinical practice, knowledge and attitudes regarding the risk factors and management of peri-implantitis. The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated by test-retest technique. The questionnaire was developed based on the last consensus on peri-implant diseases (2018) and the current evidence related to implant-related infections. Descriptive, bivariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted adopting a significance level of 5%. In this study, 89.5% of included dentists reported that already treated patients with peri-implantitis. Approximately 80% of dentists use antibiotics and mouth rinses during the treatment, and surgical procedures seem the main choice to treat peri-implantitis (91.8%) by dentists. As a preventive approach, 94.2% of dentists reported that routinely assessedbiofilm accumulation in the follow-up visits after implant placement. Logistic regression showed that the self-reported ability to treat peri-implantitis was statistically (p < 0.05) higher among dentists who reported abilities to diagnose the disease and use laser for peri-implantitis treatment. Dentists working in Implantology have a good level of knowledge and behaviors in the management of peri-implantitis. However, the lack of consensus regarding the best treatment protocols may reflect dentist's behaviours because different treatment protocols have been used by evaluated clinicians.

Quantifying opacity of discrete event systems modeled with probabilistic Petri nets

The verification and enforcement problem of opacity that falls into the category of security properties of information flows in a cyber-physical system has been extensively studied from the view of discrete event systems. Recent years have witnessed growing interest in the quantitative analysis of opacity. However, documented results on quantifying opacity in the literature are not formulated within the framework of Petri nets. By introducing a new class of Petri net as a modeling vehicle for opacity quantification, we suggest a novel notion of opacity referred to as worthy opacity, which describes the worth associated with the information that a system might leak during its evolution. Depending on how much system information is captured by an intruder, we propose two types of worthy opacity: stepwise and observational worthy opacity. We provide a necessary and sufficient condition for stepwise worthy opacity and prove its decidability. Observational worthy opacity is established by considering both system and observation aspects, with its verification shown to be undecidable. Compared with the existing works on quantifying opacity, we argue that the worthy opacity is of practical concern, as being aware of the information worth that a system may leak during its evolution is a more realistic guide than the probability that it may reveal a system secret.

Head impacts measured with a monitoring mouthguard for an amateur womens rugby union team in New Zealand

The immediate and long-term effects of multiple and repeated blows to the head that athletes receive in contact sporting environments are a growing concern in clinical practice.

MODULATION OF MOVING CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS IN VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION IN ECONOMIC DISCOURSE

The emergence of Cognitive Linguistics (CL) and the introduction of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) have provided a novel lens through which metaphor translation can be examined. The persistent concern of translation practice remains the effective transmission of meaning and messages. To achieve this objective, modulation may be needed to effectively communicate the intended information. This sequential mixed method study investigates the translation of metaphoric expressions rooted in the conceptual metaphor “ECONOMIC CHANGES ARE WAYS OF MOVING” in English and Vietnamese economic press releases. The findings reveal that a significant number of metaphoric expressions are retained in translation with minimal alterations, suggesting a high degree of cross-linguistic conceptual coherence concerning economic changes. However, occasional modifications are observed, highlighting the potential influence of modulations on the conceptualization of economic events and the underlying conceptual metaphors within the Vietnamese economic context. This study contributes to providing insights into the dynamic interplay between language and conceptualization in the translation of economic news.

Lizzie’s Insistent Rejection to Her Unconscious Desires in Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market through the Lens of Lacanian Desires

The growing concern in the latest critical practices and processes of a great many scholars as indicated in the continuous development and improvement of literary criticism with respect to the veritable and valuable characterization of this poem Goblin Market (1862) has been shown for the essential and evident exploration of the feasible solutions to the problems as most women character have to be faced with in an unavoidable fashion in Victorian age due to their blind adaptation to the ideological and epistemological values emphasized in the continuation of Christian beliefs regarding the essential and crucial morality to be followed in the increasing enrichment and improvement of their rationalist mentality. However, it has seemed to be quite pitiful that they have failed to probe into the unconscious minds of the vivid characters depicted in this poem to lay an ideological and epistemological foundation for the apparent clarification of the strong will of this character Lizzie has developed to enable her to get free from the imprisonment or enslavement of the hegemonic desires carried in the harmful fruits of the goblin men she and her sister Laura has encountered in their lives. For the sake of this critical blind spot, this paper will explore Lizzie’s strong will used to protect the purity and piety of her unconscious desires and to reduce to the least the possibility for her to fall victim to the vicious desires those goblin men aim to impress and impose upon her mind indebted to the rich theoretical enlightenment and encouragement entailed in Lacanian desires related to the conceptual elaboration of the longing for wholeness, sanity, and, meaning in the rich lives of his analysands. In the long run, this exploration will remind more and more readers of the objective truth that the strong willingness of women as exemplified in what has happened to Lizzie is bound to give rise to their great successes in rejecting their unconscious desires triggered in the popularization of the vicious desires of polluted men like those of the goblin men in this poem as epitomized in the developmental inclined with which the marketization and capitalization of the communicative activities related to the commercialization and commodification of the harmful and sinful fruits peddled in goblin market.

Ethical Principles Do Not Support Mandatory Preanesthesia Pregnancy Screening Tests: A Narrative Review

(Anesth Analg. October 6, 2023. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006669. Online ahead of print) The process of informed consent upholds the principle of patient autonomy, rooted in US constitutional principles of privacy and noninterference. It has been legally required in the United States since 1914, ensuring that individuals have the right to determine what happens to their bodies, as Schloendorff v. New York Society Hospital ruled. The recent US Supreme Court decision on abortion has raised concerns about maternal-fetal conflicts and the rights of pregnant patients to undergo elective anesthesia and surgery. Ethical and legal requirements for informed consent in medical testing vary, with challenges in addressing routine laboratory testing. Not all medical tests carry the same ethical implications, but they should all consider beneficence, nonmaleficence, and patient autonomy. Focusing on the need for preanesthesia pregnancy testing remains a concern in anesthesia and surgery practices. The primary premise is preventing harm to the fetus, but this must be supported by medical evidence and adhere to ethical standards. No study conclusively demonstrates that anesthetic agents significantly increase rates of early human fetal loss or malformations. There is no evidence that anesthetic drugs are generally teratogenic or pose a significant risk of harm to the fetus. While such risks are small, they cannot be guaranteed to be absent.

Time-oriented decisions in Palliative Care team meetings

In a wide diversity of workplaces time and temporality are an omnirelevant feature of the praxeological and material environment, as observable by the pervasiveness of chrono-metrical and chronological technologies and artifacts, and by workers’ orientation to matters of punctuality, productivity and other aspects of task dispatch and managerial organization. Professionals’ orientation to time takes an additional complexity in healthcare settings, given the multiple temporalities involved – biological, institutional, social – and the implications of timely professional intervention in the progression of patients’ health. In palliative care, we argue, a practical concern with time and temporality is a constitutive feature of the work of professionals and teams, visible in and built in their interactions. Furthermore, such orientation to time is related to the collective production of justifications for actions. Drawing on conversation analysis of a corpus of audio recordings, we examine how, in team meetings and interactions with other healthcare staff, palliative care professionals make sense of patients’ end of life trajectories in a situated and joint manner, grounding their proposals for action in terms of timeliness – or lack thereof – concerning patients’ current situation and prognoses on their more-or-less foreseeable unfolding, accomplishing a valid rationale for palliative intervention.

Rapid typing of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy informs infection control in veterinary settings.

The emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens linked to healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) is an increasing concern in modern veterinary practice. Thus, rapid bacterial typing for real-time tracking of MDR hospital dissemination is still much needed to inform best infection control practices in a clinically relevant timeframe. To this end, the IR Biotyper using Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy has the potential to provide fast cluster analysis of potentially related organisms with substantial cost and turnaround time benefits. A collection of MDR bacterial isolates (n = 199, comprising 92 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 107 Pseudomonas aeruginosa) obtained from companion animal (i.e., dogs, cats and horses) clinical investigations, faecal and environmental screening from four veterinary facilities between 2012 and 2019 was analysed retrospectively by FTIR spectroscopy. Its performance was compared against MLST extracted from whole genomes of a subset of clustering isolates (proportionally to cluster size) for investigation of potential nosocomial transmission between patients and the surrounding hospital environments. Concordance between the FTIR and MLST types was overall high for K. pneumoniae (Adjusted Rand Index [ARI] of 0.958) and poor for P. aeruginosa (ARI of 0.313). FTIR K. pneumoniae clusters (n = 7) accurately segregated into their respective veterinary facility with evidence of intra-hospital spread of K. pneumoniae between patients and environmental surfaces. Notably, K. pneumoniae ST147 intensely circulated at one Small Animal Hospital ICU. Conversely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa FTIR clusters (n = 18) commonly contained isolates of diversified hospital source and heterogeneous genetic background (as also genetically related isolates spread across different clusters); nonetheless, dissemination of some clones, such as P. aeruginosa ST2644 in the equine hospital, was apparent. Importantly, FTIR clustering of clinical, colonisation and/or environmental isolates sharing genomically similar backgrounds was seen for both MDR organisms, highlighting likely cross-contamination events that led to clonal dissemination within settings. FTIR spectroscopy has high discriminatory power for hospital epidemiological surveillance of veterinary K. pneumoniae and could provide sufficient information to support early detection of clonal dissemination, facilitating implementation of appropriate infection control measures. Further work and careful optimisation need to be carried out to improve its performance for typing of P. aeruginosa veterinary isolates.

Review of Model Systems in Biology: History, Philosophy, and Practical Concerns by Georg Striedter

Review of <i>Model Systems in Biology: History, Philosophy, and Practical Concerns</i> by Georg Striedter

Metabolism, fibrosis, and apoptosis: The effect of lipids and their derivatives on keloid formation.

Keloids, pathological scars resulting from skin trauma, have traditionally posed significant clinical management challenges due to their persistence and high recurrence rates. Our research elucidates the pivotal roles of lipids and their derivatives in keloid development, driven by underlying mechanisms of abnormal cell proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix deposition. Key findings suggest that abnormalities in arachidonic acid (AA) synthesis and non-essential fatty acid synthesis are integral to keloid formation. Further, a complex interplay exists between lipid derivatives, notably butyric acid (BA), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), and the regulation of hyperfibrosis. Additionally, combinations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with BA and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-Prostaglandin J2 have exhibited pronounced cytotoxic effects. Among sphingolipids, ceramide (Cer) displayed limited pro-apoptotic effects in keloid fibroblasts (KFBs), whereas sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) was found to promote keloid hyperfibrosis, with its analogue, FTY720, demonstrating contrasting benefits. Both Vitamin D and hexadecylphosphorylcholine (HePC) showed potential antifibrotic and antiproliferative properties, suggesting their utility in keloid management. While keloids remain a prevalent concern in clinical practice, this study underscores the promising potential of targeting specific lipid molecules for the advancement of keloid therapeutic strategies.

Evaluation of the healing and protective properties of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from cisplatin-induced liver and kidney damage.

The occurrence of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity as a result of cisplatin administration is a major concern in clinical practice. This study examined the potential protective effects of administering mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the renal and hepatic damage caused by cisplatin. Moreover, the study investigated the potential protective effects of administering Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ADMSC) to counteract the harmful effects of cisplatin-induced kidney and liver damage. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: normal control, cisplatin + saline, and cisplatin + ADMSC. Cisplatin was administered to induce toxicity, and ADMSC was administered intravenously as a potential therapeutic intervention. Biochemical parameters and histopathological changes were assessed in the kidney and liver tissues. Statistical analyses were performed using a one-way ANOVA. Cisplatin increased malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-alfa), IL-6, alanine transaminase (ALT), creatinine, Galectin-3, Tissue growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), compared to the normal control group. Cisplatin-MSC reduced these levels. Histopathology showed that cisplatin caused kidney tubular epithelial necrosis, luminal necrotic debris, tubular dilatation, interstitial inflammation, liver sinusoidal and central vein dilatation, congestion, necrosis, and cytoplasmic vacuolization. ADMSC administration significantly reduced histopathological changes. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic benefits of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) administration in mitigating cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. MSC treatment demonstrated protective effects by reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and histopathological alterations. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying these protective effects and evaluate their clinical implications for managing cisplatin-induced organ damage.

On Survival

Abstract An expansion of my 2022 Charles Seeger Lecture, “On Survival” unfolds as a set of reflections on the moment in the history of ethnomusicology that has followed intense periods of response to the COVID-19 pandemic and of racial self-reckoning worldwide. While examining common concerns and practices for ethnomusicology as a field, I do not propose a new theory or method, but rather I argue for the unity of the field rather than the separation of approaches into subdisciplines. The common ground of the present ethnomusicological moment, like that of the past to which ethnomusicologists now return, lies in a fundamental concern for ethical practice and moral purpose. Throughout the article, I draw upon case studies, many from my own ethnographic and historical work, especially from my research in and performances of music of the Shoah, to claim affinity between the fields of ethnomusicology and moral philosophy. These affinities emerge from common engagement with the moral dimensions of survival: trauma, mourning, border crossing, goodness, cohabitation with others in the Anthropocene, transcendence. The video clips are available here: https://files.press.uillinois.edu/journals/supplemental/ethno/seeger_lecture/

Fetal Macrosomia at Gabriel Toure Hospital: Prevalence and Perinatal Prognosis

Macrosomia is a concern in the daily practice of the neonatologist. The aim of this work was to investigate the sociodemographic, clinical and survival aspects of macrosomic neonates. It was a retrospective and descriptive study ran from 01/01/2017 to 31/12/2019. Were included, all macrosomic neonates hospitalized in neonatology service during the study period. Fortysix macrosomic newborns were included, accounting for a hospital frequency of 0.71%. The predominant maternal age group was 20-29 years. Pregnancy was monitored in 73.9% of cases. Gestational diabetes represented 30.4% of cases. Pregnancy term was not specified in 43.5% of cases, and was exceeded in 6.5%. The main complications recorded were a serosanguineous bump observed in 41.3% of cases, clavicle fracture in 10.9%, cephalohaematoma in 6.5%, humerus fracture and obstetric brachial plexus palsy in 2.2% each (Figure 1). Hypoglycemia was observed in 39.1% of patients, 13% of whom died. Newborns were hospitalized for perinatal anoxia in 52.2% of cases, followed by neonatal infection in 47.8% and respiratory distress in 41.3% (Figure 2). At least a quarter of newborns (26.1%) were resuscitated at birth. The average hospital stay was 5.39 ± 2.902 days, with extremes ranging from one to twelve days.

DOP01 Definitions of histological abnormalities in inflammatory bowel disease: an ECCO position paper

Abstract Background High quality histological examination of ileocolonic biopsies in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) plays a critical role in optimising clinical management, investigative studies, and clinical trials. The correct assessment of histological features can confirm the diagnosis of IBD, assist with its subclassification (as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease), facilitate the estimation of disease activity and disease extent, and aid the detection of mimics and complication. However, there are surprisingly few universal definitions of each histological abnormalities and the existing definitions are often inconsistent. The main practical concern is that histological scoring schemes, or guidelines on histological diagnosis, include detailed features, and many of these features have, paradoxically, no, or vague definitions. Furthermore, interobserver variability for many histological features in IBD is significantly high, possibly reflecting lack of precision. The aim of this paper is to review and assess any existing histologcal definitions and criteria, selecting the most appropriate where possible, and modifying them or writing new definitions where necessary. Methods The European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) and the project leaders formed a panel of experts in the IBD field, composed of pathologists and gastroenterologists to explore inconsistencies in the definitions of histological abnormalities using the best resources and evidence available. The panel examined existing definitions, peer reviews publications, scoring schemes, guidelines and textbooks. An important contribution was also given by their professional experience and knowledge. Results The literature review process confirmed that most current existing definitions often have no evidence base and vary between sources. The panel of experts developed 40 statements on histological definitions in IBD with accompanying supporting text for each statement. Conclusion The statements represent expert consensus with the support of evidence where available. Further possible development of this process will include attempts to grade histological changes, aiming to improve the consistency of pathological diagnosis, a reduction in currently high rates of interobserver variability, more precision in clinical trial work and research, and to facilitate development of new guidelines and scoring schemes for IBD.

Deprescribing as a Way to Reduce Inappropriate Use of Drugs for Overactive Bladder in Primary Care (DROP): Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial With an Embedded Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study.

Potentially inappropriate medication remains a significant concern in general practices, particularly in the context of overactive bladder (OAB) treatment for individuals aged 65 years and older. This study focuses on the exploration of alternative options for treating OAB and the deprescribing of anticholinergic drugs commonly used in OAB. The research aims to comprehensively evaluate the efficiency of deprescribing through a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative assessment and qualitative exploration of perceptions, experiences, and potential barriers among patients and health care personnel. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency and safety of the intervention in which health care staff in primary care encourage patients to participate in deprescribing their drugs for OAB. In addition, we aim to identify factors contributing to or obstructing the deprescribing process that will drive more informed decisions in the field of deprescribing and support effective and safe treatment of patients. The drugs for overactive bladder in primary care (DROP) study uses a rigorous research design, using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with an embedded sequential explanatory mixed methods approach. All general practices within the North Denmark Region will be paired based on the number of general practitioners (GPs) and urban or rural locations. The matched pairs will be randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group will receive an algorithm designed to guide the deprescribing of drugs for OAB, promoting appropriate medication use. Quantitative data will be collected from the RCT including data from Danish registries for prescription analysis. Qualitative data will be obtained through interviews and focus groups with GPs, staff members, and patients. Finally, the quantitative and qualitative findings are merged to understand deprescribing for OAB comprehensively. This integrated approach enhances insights and supports future intervention improvement. The DROP study is currently in progress, with randomization of general practices underway. While they have not been invited to participate yet, they will be. The inclusion of GP practices is scheduled from December 2023 to April 2024. The follow-up period for each patient is 6 months. Results will be analyzed through an intention-to-treat analysis for the RCT and a thematic analysis for the qualitative component. Quantitative outcomes will focus on changes in prescriptions and symptoms, while the qualitative analysis will explore experiences and perceptions. The DROP study aims to provide an evidence-based intervention in primary care that ensures the deprescription of drugs for OAB when there is an unfavorable risk-benefit profile. The DROP study's contribution lies in generating evidence for deprescribing practices and influencing best practices in health care. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06110975; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06110975. DERR1-10.2196/56277.

Whose interests matter? The role of participation in inclusive organizational behavior

SummaryIn the context of working from home triggered by the COVID‐19 pandemic, we theorize on inclusive organizational behavior (IOB) as a participatory practice to use diverse interests as a resource for developing a long‐term working mode. We adopt a mixed‐methods design to examine qualitative data from four companies and quantitative data from a company survey. In the qualitative study, we identify four IOB approaches (blighting, silencing, balancing, and harmonizing) employed by various organizational actors (HR/managers, employees, and their representatives). These practices concern organizational culture, structures, and everyday interactions in dealing with diverse interests. In the quantitative study, we examine the relationship between heterogeneity of interests, participation, and organizational experiences with working from home. We integrate our findings in an IOB model and show that a higher degree of participation fosters positive experiences with working from home, as well as opportunities for learning. Addressing diverse interests through participatory practices may involve challenges and lengthy negotiations yet offers the potential to learn from diversity for future working modes. Our research contributes to the conceptualization and practical implementation of IOB by emphasizing the importance of participation in co‐creating opportunities for learning from given and potentially emerging interests in a constantly changing world of work.

Sustainable business practice and going concern of selected listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria

Sustainability has become a crucial aspect of modern business, extending beyond corporate social responsibility to form an integral part of organizational strategies. This study investigated how sustainable business practices impact the going concern of listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria, focusing on stakeholder inclusiveness, dynamic workplace, and community engagement. The research used an ex-post facto research design, analyzing data from 60 consumer and industrial goods manufacturing companies listed on the Nigerian exchange group as of December 31, 2021. The findings indicated that stakeholder inclusiveness, a dynamic workplace, and community engagement positively and significantly influence the net asset per share of these listed manufacturing companies. In other words, incorporating sustainable business practices can enhance the companies' long-term financial stability and operational continuity. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the potential of sustainable business practices to shape the going concern status of listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria when effectively implemented. It suggests that manufacturing companies should develop and implement a well-balanced sustainability strategy that integrates community engagement, shareholder inclusiveness, and the creation of dynamic workplaces with their core business objectives.

A Numerical Simulation Study into the Effect of Longitudinal and Transverse Pitch on Deposition of Zhundong Coal Ash on Tube Bundles

In this paper, the dynamic deposition behavior of Na-enriching Zhundong coal ash on tube bundles with varying longitudinal and transverse pitches was numerically studied. By using a modified critical viscosity model, an improved CFD deposition model has been established and key parameters, including deposit mass and morphology, particle trajectories and impaction and sticking probabilities, as well as the heat flux distribution, have been analyzed. The results show that the ash deposited on tubes in the first row is, respectively, 1.74 and 3.80 times higher than that on the second and third rows, proving that ash deposition in the downstream is lessened. As the longitudinal pitch increased from 1.50 D to 2.50 D, deposit mass in the downstream increased two times, suggesting that an increase in longitudinal pitch would aggravate ash deposition. The effect of transverse pitch, however, with the least deposit propensity at St/D = 1.75, is non-linear due to the joint effect of adjacent tubes and walls in affecting particle trajectory. In addition, due to the non-uniform distribution of the deposit, heat flux across the tube is the smallest at the stagnation point but becomes six times higher at two sides and the leeward, which makes the thermal damage of these sides to be warranted as a practical concern.