Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alkali Effect on Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) Flooding Enhanced Oil Recovery Performance: Two Large-Scale Field Tests’ Evidence

Alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding is very promising chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology which can make an incremental oil recovery factor (IORF) of 30% original oil in place (OOIP). How to choose alkali in ASP flooding remains a question for a long time. As the world’s only and largest ASP flooding application place, Daqing Oilfield has always adhered to the strategy of parallel development of strong alkali ASP flooding (SASP) and weak alkali ASP flooding (WASP), but SASP is in a dominant position, indicated by more investments and more project numbers. This leaves an impression that SASP is better than WASP. However, WASP is drawing more interest than SASP recently. Moreover, as the ASP flooding in Daqing went from field tests to commercial applications since 2014, how to comprehensively consider the benefit and cost of ASP flooding has become a new focus at low oil prices. This paper compares two typical large-scale field tests (B-1-D SASP and B-2-X WASP) completed in Daqing Oilfield and analyzes and discusses the causes of this difference. The injection viscosity and interfacial tension (IFT) for the two field test areas are substantially equivalent under the conditions of Daqing Oilfield, and WASP is better than SASP when reservoir geological conditions are considered. WASP exhibits the same IORF of 30% as SASP while having a much better economic performance. For the SASP field test, the injected strong alkali NaOH makes the test behave unlike a typical strong ASP flooding due to the presence of CO2 in the formation fluid, which well explains why IORF is much higher than all the other SASPs but scaling is less severe than others. This paper confirms that under Daqing Oilfield reservoir conditions, it is the alkali difference that caused the performance difference of these two tests, although some minor uncertainties exist. WASP is better than the SASP providing the same conditions . In addition, the detailed information of the two ASP field tests provided can give reference for the implementation of ASP flooding in other oilfields. After all, the study of ASP flooding enhanced oil recovery technology under low oil prices requires great foresight and determination.
New insights into the role of T cells in pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Abstract Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, autoimmune disorder of the skin affecting 2–3% of general population. Approximately 30% of psoriasis patients are also affected with the psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory spondyloarthritis. The review aims to present the current knowledge on immunopathogenesis of both diseases to emphasize the involvement of various T helper cell subsets. An extensive literature search in electronic databases was performed on the topic of different Th cell subsets’ involvement in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Studies were assessed and selected to present the recent progress in the area. Current data strongly suggest that both PsO and PsA are T cell-mediated diseases, with a key role of various proinflammatory cytokines in their development. The involvement of T cells is highlighted by the superior efficacy of biologic therapies targeting T cell-derived proinflammatory cytokines in both diseases. Initially, PsO and PsA were thought to be Th1-mediated diseases; however, in the last years, several studies have shown the important role of other T cell subsets, including Th17, Th22, Th9 and Treg cells, in the pathogenesis of both diseases, which has led to the development of new therapies.
The majority of patients do not store their biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs within the recommended temperature range.

OBJECTIVE To monitor whether biologic DMARD (bDMARD) home storage temperatures comply with the manufacturers' Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) recommendations. METHODS This observational study included consenting adult patients from eight Dutch pharmacies who received their bDMARDs with a validated temperature logger. Patients were instructed to store their packages according to standard label instructions and to return the temperature logger(s) after use. Primary outcome was defined as the proportion of patients that stored their bDMARDs within the SmPC recommended temperature range. In addition, the proportion of patients storing bDMARDs below 0°C or above 25 °C for longer than two consecutive hours was estimated. RESULTS A total of 255 (87.0%) patients (mean age 53.2 (s.d.; 13.1) years, 51.4% female) returned their temperature logger(s) to the pharmacy. Of these, 17 patients (6.7%) stored their bDMARD within the recommended temperature range. The proportion of the patients that stored their bDMARD for more than 2 h consecutive time below 0°C or above 25°C was respectively 24.3% (median duration: 3.7 h (IQR 2.2 h; range 2.0-1,097.1 h) and 2.0% (median duration: 11.8 h (IQR 44.3 h; range 2.0-381.9 h). CONCLUSION The majority of patients do not store their bDMARDs within the SmPC-recommended temperature range.
Polioencephalomalacia associated with the ingestion of ammonium sulphate by sheep and cattle

In the latter part of 1991 an unusual neurological disease was recognised on several farms in England. This report describes the case histories and clinical, biochemical and pathological findings in six calves and two lambs aged from two to 44 weeks obtained from five of these farms. Laminar cerebrocortical necrosis and severe bilateral necrosis of the thalamus and/or striatum progressing to cavitation were recognised in their brains. These changes are similar to those of experimental sulphate toxicity. Morbidity rates of 16 to 48 per cent and mortality rates of 0 to 8 per cent were recorded. The affected animals did not respond to vitamin B1 treatment; the erythrocyte transketolase levels of in-contact cattle and of one untreated affected calf and one untreated lamb were within the normal range. All five farms had recently introduced a proprietary concentrate ration containing ammonium bicarbonate. After this ration was withdrawn no new cases of nervous clinical disease were observed. It is suggested that, in at least some cases, the morphology and topography of lesions may distinguish sulphate induced polioencephalomalacia from that of sporadic thiamine-dependent cerebrocortical necrosis.
Wireless healthcare monitoring system with ZigBee communication link support

We present a framework for a wireless healthcare monitoring system with ZigBee communication link support. It has the capability to monitor vital signs from multiple biosensors. Biomedical signals are collected and processed using two-tier subsystems. The first stage is the mobile device carried on the body that runs a number of biosensors (internal subsystem). At the second stage, further processing is performed by a local base station (external subsystem) using the raw data transmitted on-request by the mobile device. The processed data as well as the analysis results are then monitored and diagnosed through a man-machine interface.
ON SPOKEN LANGUAGE PROCESSING Progress Report No . 26 ( 2003-2004 ) Indiana University Behavioral Inhibition and Audiological Outcomes in Prelingually Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants

Cochlear Implants (CIs) enable many prelingually deaf children to acquire spoken language skills although individual speech and language outcomes are quite varied. Differences in a range of underlying cognitive skills may explain a portion of this variance. The aim of this study was to determine if variation in behavioral inhibition skills of prelingually deaf children were related to speech perception, language, vocabulary knowledge, and speech intelligibility outcome measures after implantation. We conducted a retrospective analysis of longitudinal data collected from prelingually and profoundly deaf children who used CIs. A continuous performance task that did not require any auditory processing was used to measure behavioral inhibition skills. Audiological outcomes based on a battery of speech and language measures were obtained from children after 1, 2, and 3 years of CI use. Compared to published norms, the children in our sample performed in the low-normal range and delay task performance improved as a function of chronological age as well as length of CI use. A correlational analysis revealed several significant associations between behavioral inhibition and receptive and expressive language, vocabulary knowledge, and speech intelligibility scores. Most of these relations remained significant even when the effects of length of CI use and chronological age were partialled out. These findings suggest that speech and language processing skills are closely related to the development of verbal encoding skills, subvocal rehearsal skills, and verbally mediated self-regulatory skills in prelingually deaf children with CIs.
Annual Change of Respiratory Functions in Adult Patients With Asthma: The Potential of Antiasthma Treatments for Many Years to Repair Irreversible Changes of the Airway

Background. Little is known regarding annual changes of respiratory functions among patients with asthma after asthma symptoms enter remission. Objective. Annual changes of respiratory function and influence of patient characteristics and treatment variables on these changes were assessed in patients with adult asthma. Methods. Respiratory function (pre- and postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1] and reversibility by short-acting β2-agonist) and their changes were retrospectively investigated and relationships between these changes, after symptomatic remission, and patient characteristics and treatments were analyzed in adult outpatients with asthma who had undergone spirometry (including a reversibility test) ≥5 times in >5 years. Results. In patients ≥40 years old, or with disease duration ≥10 years or receiving treatment for severe asthma (steps 4–5, high-dose inhaled glucocorticosteroids, or addition of other medications), both pre- and postbronchodilator FEV1 values were significantly lower (p < .05). Mean annual change of prebronchodilator FEV1 (Δpre-FEV1), annual change of postbronchodilator FEV1 (Δpost-FEV1), and annual change of reversibility (Δ reversibility) were −13.8 ± 59.7 ml/year, −25.9 ± 51.0 ml/year, and −0.56% ± 1.89%/year, respectively. Multivariate analysis after stepwise selection for variables in patient characteristics or treatments showed that disease duration ≥10 years contributed to annual improvement of respiratory functions (Δpre-FEV1: odds ratio [OR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–2.46; Δpost-FEV1: OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.25–3.66), treatment with long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) contributed to annual improvement of respiratory function (Δpre-FEV1: OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.23–3.16; Δpost-FEV1: OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.11–2.87), and poor compliance contributed to annual worsening of respiratory functions (Δpre-FEV1: OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.24–0.76; Δpost-FEV1: OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.22–0.70). In addition, duration of disease ≥10 years and severe treatment (steps 4–5) from the beginning contributed to decreasing Δreversibility (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.34–0.87 and OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.29–0.83, respectively). Conclusions. Long-term treatments for asthma are expected to normalize respiratory dysfunction, which cannot be repaired in the short term. Treatment with LABAs and patient compliance may be the most important factors associated with annual improvement of respiratory functions.
Symptom burden and performance status in a population‐based cohort of ambulatory cancer patients

For ambulatory cancer patients, Ontario has standardized symptom and performance status assessment population‐wide, using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS). In a broad cross‐section of cancer outpatients, the authors describe the ESAS and PPS scores and their relation to patient characteristics.
Implementation of Physicochemical and Sensory Analysis in Conjunction with Multivariate analysis towards Assessing Olive Oil Authentication/Adulteration

The authenticity of products labeled as olive oils, and in particular as virgin olive oils, stands for a very important issue both in terms of its health and commercial aspects. In view of the continuously increasing interest in virgin olive oil therapeutic properties, the traditional methods of characterization and physical and sensory analysis were further enriched with more advanced and sophisticated methods such as HPLC-MS, HPLC-GC/C/IRMS, RPLC-GC, DEPT, and CSIA among others. The results of both traditional and “novel” methods were treated both by means of classical multivariate analysis (cluster, principal component, correspondence, canonical, and discriminant) and artificial intelligence methods showing that nowadays the adulteration of virgin olive oil with seed oil is detectable at very low percentages, sometimes even at less than 1%. Furthermore, the detection of geographical origin of olive oil is equally feasible and much more accurate in countries like Italy and Spain where databases of physical/chemical properties exist. However, this geographical origin classification can also be accomplished in the absence of such databases provided that an adequate number of oil samples are used and the parameters studied have “discriminating power. ”
Restoration of lung liquid volume following its acute alteration in fetal sheep.

1. The experiments were aimed at determining the means by which lung liquid volume is controlled in fetal sheep. Six unanaesthetized chronically catheterized fetuses between 121 and 144 days of gestation were used in experiments in which lung liquid volume was acutely reduced or increased. 2. The effects on lung liquid volume, secretion and flow in the trachea were continuously monitored until the original volume was restored. Tracheal pressure, breathing activity, electrocortical activity and laryngeal adductor muscle activity were also monitored. 3. Following a mean reduction in lung liquid volume of 54.1% (40.0 +/‐ 4.3 ml) there was a reduction in tracheal pressure of 1.91 +/‐ 0.26 mmHg. There was no change in the rate of lung liquid secretion and there was a near cessation in its rate of efflux from the trachea. Influx of liquid from the upper airway was rarely seen. 4. 5 h after its reduction, lung liquid volume had returned to control values. Tracheal pressure and the rate of liquid flow in the trachea returned to control values over 7‐8 h. 5. In the hour following the reduction in lung liquid volume the incidence and amplitude of fetal inspiratory muscle electromyogram (e.m.g.) activity were reduced by 19% and 28% respectively. There was no change in laryngeal adductor muscle activity or in the duration of fetal sleep states. 6. When lung liquid volume was increased by 25.4 +/‐ 3.1 ml tracheal pressure increased by 2.01 +/‐ 0.17 mmHg. Although there was no change in the rate of liquid secretion there was a rapid efflux of liquid from the trachea principally during epochs of fetal breathing activity thus returning lung liquid volume to its control value. 7. Following the increase in lung liquid volume there were no changes in the incidence or amplitude of fetal inspiratory muscle activity, the activity of laryngeal adductor muscles or in the duration of sleep states. 8. It is concluded that following its alteration in fetal sheep lung liquid volume is restored by passive means. There was no evidence of volume‐receptive neural reflexes being activated in defence of lung liquid volume.
Pathology of Experimentally Induced Chronic Selenosis (Alkali Disease) in Yearling Cattle

Prolonged oral exposure of cattle to elevated dietary selenium (Se) in forage and seleniferous plants in seleniferous areas of the western United States is associated historically with 2 clinical syndromes: alkali disease and “blind staggers. ” The potential for Se-induced disease in cattle and other species is considerable in areas with seleniferous shales, Se-accumulating plants, arid climates, and alkaline soils. These 2 Se-associated conditions were defined in the 1930s and 1940s, and the nosology of blind staggers is questionable. Seventeen yearling steers fed 0.15, 0.28, and 0.8 mg Se/kg body weight as selenomethionine or selenite for 120 days were euthanized and examined postmortem. Significant lesions were confined to 4 steers in the medium- and high-dose selenomethionine group and to 1 steer in the high-dose selenite group. Grossly, dystrophic hoof lesions developed in 2 steers, 1 of which had extensive separation of horn from lamellar and coronary epidermis and also lost hair from the tail switch. Histologically, tubules in the stratum medium of hooves from these 5 steers were replaced by islands of parakeratotic cellular debris, separated by more normal hoof matrix. Two of the 5 steers also had hyperplasia, acanthosis, parakeratosis, and disorganized germinal epithelium of varying severity in hoof epithelium, particularly at the tips of epidermal lamellae. These changes may distinguish the hoof lesions of chronic selenosis from those of chronic laminitis in cattle, in which dermal (chorial) changes predominate. In skin from the distal part of the tail of the animal that lost its switch, most follicles were atrophic and devoid of hairshafts and displayed dyskeratosis and mild superficial follicular keratosis. No significant lesions developed in tissues other than integument. Autometallographic staining for catalytic Se bonds in various tissues, including skin, liver, and kidney, revealed no positive staining of hair shafts; the correlation between stain intensity and dose group was poor. These findings indicate that dietary exposure for 4 months to 0.28 and 0.8 mg Se/kg in the form of selenomethionine and to 0.8 mg Se/kg in the form of sodium selenite reproduces in some cattle mild (subclinical) to severe (clinical) forms of alkali disease. No significant neurological, renal, or hepatic lesions developed, supporting the contention that blind staggers is caused by factors other than excessive dietary selenium.
MAPK Protects Human Monocytes from Postprandial Triglyceride-Rich Lipoprotein-Induced Toxicity 1 , 2

Postprandial triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) transport dietary fatty acids through the circulatory system to satisfy the energy and structural needs of the tissues. However, fatty acids are also able to modulate gene expression and/or induce cell death. We investigated the underlying mechanism by which postprandial TRLs of different fatty acid compositions can induce cell death in human monocytes. Three types of dietary fat [refined olive oil (ROO), high-palmitic sunflower oil (HPSO), and butter] with progressively increasing SFA:MUFA ratios (0.18, 0.41, and 2.08, respectively) were used as a source of postprandial TRLs (TRL-ROO, TRL-HPSO, and TRL-BUTTER) from healthy men. The monocytic cell line THP-1 was used as a model for this study. We demonstrated that postprandial TRLs increased intracellular lipid accumulation (31–106%), reactive oxygen species production (268–349%), DNA damage (133–1467%), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (800–1710%) and caspase-3 (696–1244%) activities, and phosphorylation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) (54 kDa, 141–288%) and p38 (24–92%). These effects were significantly greater with TRL-BUTTER, and TRL-ROO did not induce DNA damage, DNA fragmentation, or p38 phosphorylation. In addition, blockade of p38, but not of JNK, significantly decreased intracellular lipid accumulation and increased cell death in postprandial TRL-treated cells. These results suggest that in human monocytes, p38 is involved in survival signaling pathways that protect against the lipidmediated cytotoxicity induced by postprandial TRLs that are abundant in saturated fatty acids. J. Nutr. 143: 620–626, 2013.
A population based study of reporting patterns and characteristics of men who abuse their female partners

Objective: This study estimates the prevalence of male abusive behavior reported by men and their female partners and identifies characteristics of abusive men. Design: Baseline survey from a population based cohort study of general health. Setting: A rural county in Iowa, USA. Subjects: 572 men and their cohabitating female partners. Main outcome measures: Male-to-female physical, emotional, and sexual abuse reported by either partner. Results: In this cohort, 13.6% of men had performed at least one act of physical abuse and 34.9% emotional abuse. More than 45% of abusive men reported their own behaviors. Alcohol problems, antisocial personality characteristics, depressive symptoms, and financial stress were all positively associated with both physical and emotional abuse, but suicidal thoughts were less likely among abusers. Conclusion: Identification of common characteristics of abusive men may predict proclivity towards partner violence and barriers to behavior modification.
Direct Effect of Corticosterone upon Insulin Secretion Studied by Three Different Techniques

The immediate effect of corticosterone upon insulin secretion rates estimated by three different techniques (perfusior of isolated rat pancreas and perifusion or incubation of isolated islets of Langerhans) was studied for one hour. Three corticosterone concentrations were used: 0.02, 0.2 or 20 mg/l. With 4.2 mmol/l glucose, corticosterone did not affect insulin secretion, whereas, with a stimulating glucose concentration (16.7 mmol/l), insulin secretion was inhibited by the three corticosterone concentrations tested during incubation experiments, and by only the two physiological ones (0.02 and 0.2 mg/l) during islets perifusion and pancreas perfusion experiments. Moreover the inhibitory effect appeared more rapid with perifused islets than perfused pancreas, where only the second insulin secretory phase was disturbed.
Expansion of CD4+CD28null T-lymphocytes in diabetic patients: exploring new pathogenetic mechanisms of increased cardiovascular risk in diabetes mellitus.

AIMS Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with high incidence of first and recurrent cardiovascular events, especially acute coronary syndromes (ACSs); however, the mechanisms involved are still unknown. We sought to investigate the role of CD4(+)CD28(null)T-lymphocytes, a rare long-lived subset of T-lymphocytes with proatherogenic and plaque-destabilizing properties, in the increased cardiovascular risk associated with DM. METHODS AND RESULTS CD4(+)CD28(null)T-cell frequency was analysed by flow-cytometry in 60 DM patients without overt cardiovascular disease (cDM), in 166 ACS patients with or without DM (ACS/DM+, n= 51 and ACS/DM-, n= 115), and in 60 healthy individuals. The incidence of cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina) was assessed at 36 months follow-up. CD4+CD28(null)T-cell frequency (median, range) was higher in ACS/DM+ (12.7%, 0.1-48) vs. ACS/DM- (3.9%, 0.2-35), cDM (3.1%, 0.3-22.4), and controls (1.5%, 0.1-9.1) (P< 0.001 for all comparisons). Notably, cDM patients had significantly higher CD4+CD28(null)T-cell frequency than controls (P= 0.001). Glycosylated haemoglobin A(1c) was the only parameter independently associated with CD4+CD28(null)T-cells in cDM. The 36-month event-free survival was significantly lower in cDM patients with CD4+CD28(null)T-cells ≥4% (90th percentile of normal distribution) than in those with CD4+CD28(null)T-cells <4% (P= 0.039). Among ACS patients, the 36-month event-free survival was the lowest in those with DM and CD4+CD28(null)T-cells ≥4% and highest in those without DM and CD4+CD28(null)T-cells <4% (P< 0.001), being intermediate in those with only one of these features. CONCLUSIONS In DM patients, CD4+CD28(null)T-cells are expanded and are associated with poor glycaemic control; they also correlate with the occurrence of a first cardiovascular event and with a worse outcome after an ACS.