bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Further Observations on the Effects of Autonomic Blocking Agents in Patients with Hypertension
Authors: GROB DAVID , SCARBOROUGH WILLIAM R. , KATTUS ALBERT A. , LANGFORD HERBERT G. , ZIEGLER BARBARA , LORE SALLE , SALTZER GRACE , BIRMINGHAM MARION
Published: June 2012

Moderate reduction in blood pressure by intravenous hexamethonium or pentamethonium was accompanied by a decrease in stroke volume, cardiac output, and left ventricular work, and no change or an increase in peripheral resistance. Renal blood flow, filtration rate, and potassium clearance fell promptly, but returned to the original levels within one to two hours despite continued reduction in blood pressure. Sodium clearance and urine flow were reduced to a greater extent and returned more slowly. Oral hexamethonium produced some reduction in renal blood flow, and improvement in the ballistocardiogram. Oral hydrazinophthalazine diminished the effect of hexamethonium on renal blood flow.
Reactivation of Rheumatic Fever Following Mitral Commissurotomy
Authors: SOLOFF LOUIS A. , ZATUCHNI JACOB , JANTON O. HENRY , O'NEILL THOMAS J. E. , GLOVER ROBERT P.
Published: June 2012

A febrile syndrome following mitral commissurotomy is described. This syndrome consists of the episodic recurrence of a combination of events first occurring after a variable latent phase following mitral commissurotomy and is uniformly characterized by precordial pain and fever, is commonly featured by the precipitation or intensification of pre-existing heart failure, is variably accompanied by migratory joint pains, arrhythmias, hemoptysis or psychosis and sometimes terminates in death. The syndrome was found to occur in 43 (24.0 per cent) of 179 consecutive individuals subjected to mitral commissurotomy. Because we have never encountered such a syndrome following any other type of nonrheumatic cardiac or pulmonary surgery and for other reasons we are compelled to regard it as a reactivation of rheumatic fever.
Heart Force Effects of Sympathomimetic Amines as a Basis for Their Use in Shock Accompanying Myocardial Infarction
Authors: GAZES PETER C. , GOLDBERG LEON I. , DARBY THOMAS D.
Published: June 2012

The treatment of 14 patients in severe shock accompanying myocardial infarction with
l
-norepinephrine (Levophed) in some cases and phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) in others demonstrated a significantly higher recovery rate with
l
-norepinephrine. Twelve of the patients were in congestive heart failure. Using strain-gage technics in fully conscious, trained dogs,
l
-norepinephrine was shown to produce substantial increments in heart contractile force in addition to its recognized pressor effects. Approximately equipressor doses of Neo-Synephrine under the same conditions had little effect on contractile force. These pronounced differences in heart force effects are presented as a basis for the difference in clinical results.
Respiratory and Circulatory Studies of Patients with Mitral Stenosis
Authors: CURTI PIER C. , COHEN GOODMAN , CASTLEMAN BENJAMIN , SCANNELL J. GORDON , FRIEDLICH ALLAN L. , MYERS GORDON S.
Published: June 2012

Sixteen patients with severe mitral stenosis have been studied by means of cardiac catheterization, ventilatory and respiratory tests. A decrease in the oxygen diffusing capacity and an increase in venous admixture were observed in a majority of the cases. The degree of pulmonary arterial and arteriolar abnormality observed in lung biopsies failed to correlate with the pulmonary arteriolar resistances calculated from the hemodynamic data. It is suggested that reversible vasoconstriction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the pulmonary hypertension associated with mitral stenosis.
Some Requirements in Equipment and Technics for Vectorcardiography
Authors: CRONVICH JAMES A. , BURCH GEORGE E. , ABILDSKOV J. A.
Published: June 2012

To reduce the effects of extraneous potentials caused by muscle tremor, sweating, and interference from power circuits, it is desirable to restrict the frequency range of the cathode ray vectorcardiograph. Mathematical analysis of idealized waves and experiments with a photoelectric electrocardiographic generator indicate that a frequency range between the half-power frequency of 0.8 to 80 cycles per second is satisfactory for proper reproduction of most vectorcardiograms. Many investigators construct the vectorcardiogram graphically from the electrocardiogram. In this study it is shown that, unless simultaneous electrocardiograms recorded at greater than usual paper speed are used, such vectorcardiograms may be incorrect.
The Normal Electrocardiogram
Authors: KOSSMANN CHARLES E.
Published: June 2012

An attempt has been made to show that the data available are not altogether adequate for establishing exact criteria for the normal electrocardiogram. Some of the more recent efforts to correct this situation have been reviewed and synthesized so far as possible into a form which it is hoped may be immediately useful. It is emphasized that this report is merely of recent clinical progress in the field. A more comprehensive and statistically complete investigation of the normal electrocardiogram in all age groups remains to be done.
Fluid and Electrolyte Balance during Recovery from High-Output Heart Failure Due to Beri-beri
Authors: ISERI LLOYD T. , UHL H. S. M. , CHANDLER DOUGLAS E. , BOYLE ALBERT J. , MYERS GORDON B.
Published: June 2012

The pathogenesis of congestive heart failure is still obscure. Previous studies showed a decrease in cellular osmolarity during recovery from low output failure. A similar trend was found during recovery from high output failure due to beriberi, suggesting an analogous cellular disturbance. It is postulated that increased cellular osmolarity is an important factor in the retention of water and sodium associated with the development of congestive failure.
The Long-Term Prognosis Following Myocardial Infarction, and Some Factors which Affect It
Authors: COLE DAVID R. , SINGIAN EVELYN B. , KATZ LOUIS N.
Published: June 2012

This study was undertaken to establish the long-term prognosis of the initial attack of myocardial infarction. For this purpose, 285 patients who had their initial attack between 1932 and 1942, and who survived the first two months, were followed until their demise or the end of the study (Jan. 1, 1952). Two-thirds of them were found to have lived over 5 years, two-fifths over 10 years and one-tenth over 15 years. Some of the factors which determine long-term survival were analyzed. The importance of recognizing the presence of a large group of mild cases of myocardial infarction capable of long-term survival is stressed.
Studies on the Effect of Exercise on Cardiovascular Function
Authors: CHAPMAN CARLETON B. , FRASER ROBERT S.
Published: June 2012

Asymptomatic male patients with healed myocardial infarction were studied with respect to the effect of exercise on cardiac output, mean circulation time, blood pressure, and pulse rate. A group of normal men in the same age group served as a control group. It was found that the hemodynamic response of the patients to exercise is very similar to that of the normal group except that the pulse rate in the former increases more than that of the latter group. The probable significance of this minor difference is discussed.
The Genesis and Importance of the Electrocardiogram in Coarctation of the Aorta
Authors: ZIEGLER ROBERT F.
Published: June 2012

The electrocardiogram in uncomplicated coarctation of the aorta in infants reflects the pattern of the fetal circulation and serves as a useful prognostic guide. When the fetal ductus inserts proximally to the region of coarctation and closes at birth, right ventricular enlargement is present at birth but is retrogressive. Furthermore, in this situation collateral circulation has begun to develop before birth so that the left ventricle can compensate on assumption of the postnatal circulation, and the prognosis is good. When the insertion of the fetal ductus is distal to the coarctation, progressive, and frequently fatal, left ventricular enlargement and failure develop shortly after birth. Modifications of these electrocardiographic patterns in the production of right bundle branch block are also discussed and illustrated.
Intrinsic Blood Pressure
Authors: ANDERSON ROBERT M.
Published: June 2012

In this paper a concept of intrinsic blood pressure is formulated. This pressure was measured in 84 subjects with normal and abnormal vascular systems. It is concluded that shock, congestive failure, hypertension and the normal vascular system can be defined and understood in terms of intrinsic blood pressure.
Ventricular Function
Authors: SARNOFF STANLEY J. , BERGLUND ERIK
Published: June 2012

Starling's law of the heart has been studied in the dog with a complete circulation with the continuous registration of cardiac output, and atrial and arterial pressures. From this data ventricular function curves were constructed. In any given physiologic state there was a consistent and reproducible correlation between atrial pressure and ventricular stroke work on the same side. The classically conceived descending limb did not occur in the normal heart. The concept of a family of Starling or ventricular function curves adds a third dimension to the adaptive capacity of the heart as put forth by Frank and Starling.
Cardiovascular Adaptations to Prolonged Physical Effort
Authors: BECKNER GEORGE L. , WINSOR TRAVIS
Published: June 2012

Studies of the cardiovascular system were made among 26-mile marathon runners after at least five years of physical training. Studies made with the subjects at rest showed an electrocardiogram characterized by a vertical or semivertical electrocardiographic position of the heart in the chest, bradycardia, high voltage of the QRS complexes and high T and U waves. T waves which were low with respect to the height of the R waves were not encountered. Etiologically the heart was enlarged. Immediately after running 26 miles the transverse diameter of the heart was decreased considerably.
Myotrophin induces early response genes and enhances cardiac gene expression.
Authors: Mukherjee D P , McTiernan C F , Sen S
Published: June 2012

We have identified and partially sequenced a soluble factor, myotrophin, from spontaneously hypertensive rat hearts and hypertrophic human hearts that enhances myocyte protein synthesis and stimulates myocardial cell growth. Our studies suggest that myotrophin may be a biochemical link between hemodynamic stress and myocardial cellular hypertrophy. When rat neonatal cardiac myocytes maintained in culture were incubated with myotrophin for 30 minutes, they showed a marked increase in c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun messenger RNA levels. Cardiac myocytes treated for 24 hours with myotrophin showed a fourfold increase in connexin 43 (gap junction protein), a sixfold increase in atrial natriuretic factor, a threefold increase in skeletal alpha-actin, and a threefold increase in total myosin transcript levels. Studies on myosin isoforms showed a selective increase in the beta-myosin heavy chain transcript levels but no reciprocal decrease in alpha-myosin heavy chain transcript levels. Our data suggested that myotrophin appears to be a primary modulator for myocardial cell growth and differentiation and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. Myotrophin may be involved in the upregulation of myofibrillar protein and the activation of cardiac gene transcription during growth and hypertrophy of the myocardium, and the induction of early response gene expression may be linked to this response.
Vasodepressor neurons in medulla alter cardiac contractility and cardiac output.
Authors: Drolet G , Chalmers J , Blessing W
Published: June 2012

We injected neuroexcitatory and neuroinhibitory agents into the depressor region of the caudal ventrolateral medulla of anesthetized rabbits and determined the effect on arterial pressure, myocardial contractility, cardiac output, and plasma catecholamines and neuropeptide Y. Brief excitation of the sympathoinhibitory neurons with medullary injection of L-glutamate reduced arterial pressure, peripheral vascular resistance, and myocardial contractility. Cardiac output was unaffected. Prolonged inhibition of the sympathoinhibitory neurons with medullary injection of muscimol increased arterial pressure, peripheral vascular resistance, and myocardial contractility. There was a progressive fall in cardiac output. These changes were accompanied by an increase in plasma neuropeptide Y and plasma norepinephrine, but no change in plasma epinephrine. Our findings indicate that the sympathoinhibitory vasomotor neurons in the caudal ventrolateral medulla tonically suppress the activity of sympathetic preganglionic neurons controlling myocardial contractility as well as peripheral vasomotor tone. Dysfunction of these medullary neurons could underly some forms of experimental hypertension.
Cardiac volume receptor reflex in borderline hypertensive rats.
Authors: DiBona G F , Jones S Y
Published: June 2012

With increased dietary NaCl intake (8% NaCl), borderline hypertensive rats (BHR) develop hypertension and exhibit an exaggerated natriuresis in response to intravenous isotonic saline volume expansion. The exaggerated natriuresis is mediated by the concurrent exaggerated withdrawal of efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity since prior renal denervation eliminates the exaggerated natriuretic response. It was the objective of the present study to examine cardiac volume receptor reflex control of efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity in BHR made hypertensive by increased dietary NaCl intake. BHR were fed either 1% or 8% NaCl from age 4 to 16 weeks. BHR fed 8% NaCl were hypertensive (148 +/- 9 mmHg) compared with BHR fed 1% NaCl (115 +/- 6 mm Hg, p < 0.05). In one protocol, measurements of right atrial pressure and efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity were made in sinoaortic-denervated BHR before and during a 10% body weight intravenous isotonic saline volume load. Compared with 1% NaCl BHR, 8% NaCl BHR showed both a greater maximal inhibition of efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity (-67 +/- 4% versus -31 +/- 3% of control, p < 0.05) and gain (-22.0 +/- 2.3 versus -9.7 +/- 1.7%/mm Hg, p < 0.05). In a second protocol, measurements of efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity were made in sinoaortic-denervated BHR before and during graded frequency stimulation of the central portion of the sectioned vagus nerve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Still Learning to Speak and Still Not Being Heard
Authors: Potter Michael
Published: June 2012

This article offers an analysis of the shortcomings the field of public administration in lending its expertise to financial services regulatory matters. It argues that public administration’s main contributions to debates of regulatory policy are; ethical normative perspective and practitioner expertise.
Clinical Validity of the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2 in Parkinson Disease With MCI and Dementia
Authors: Matteau Evelyne , Dupré Nicolas , Langlois Mélanie , Provencher Pierre , Simard Martine
Published: June 2012

The utility of the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale 2 (MDRS-2) in screening for dementia in Parkinson disease (PD) is well documented. However, little is known about its sensitivity to mild cognitive impairment in PD (PD-MCI). This study sought to document the validity of the MDRS-2 for diagnoses of PD-MCI and dementia in PD (PDD). Twenty-two healthy controls (HCs), 22 PD-MCI, and 16 PDD were compared on each MDRS-2 subscales and MDRS-2 total standard scores. Patients with PDD performed significantly worse than the other groups (all Ps < .05) on the MDRS-2 total and on all subscales, except attention. PD-MCI had significant lower scores than HCs on the MDRS-2 total and on initiation/perseveration and memory subscales. The optimal cutoff score for PD-MCI diagnosis was ≤ 140/144 and ≤ 132/144 for PDD. These findings suggest that MDRS-2 is a useful tool to identify dementia but that there might be a ceiling effect in the MDRS-2 cutoff score to diagnose MCI in PD.
Validity of a Brief Computerized Cognitive Screening Test in Dementia
Authors: Hammers Dustin , Spurgeon Elizabeth , Ryan Kelly , Persad Carol , Barbas Nancy , Heidebrink Judith , Darby David , Giordani Bruno
Published: June 2012

Background: While preliminary evidence supports the criterion validity of the CogState computerized brief battery in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD), definitive validation studies examining a wider range of dementia-related disorders relative to conventional neuropsychological techniques are necessary. Methods: Participants satisfying clinical consensus criteria for dementia (AD, n = 37; frontotemporal dementia, n = 7; and dementia with Lewy bodies, n = 5), MCI (n = 16), and the healthy controls (n = 22) were administered a battery of brief neuropsychological and select computerized (CogState) cognitive tests. The battery, administered through the University of Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, included measures of processing speed, attention, working memory, and learning. Results: CogState and standard neuropsychological task scores were significantly lower for dementia participants than that of the nondementia groups ( P < .05), with a single CogState test distinguishing control from MCI participants, but minimal differentiation existing between dementias using the CogState. Correlations were modest between conventional and computerized test scores, covering matching domains and mostly reflecting the multidimensional nature of cognitive paradigms. Conclusions: Results support the clinical validity of this brief computerized screening battery when used in established dementias, but not to differentiate between various dementias, and suggest that the select CogState battery’s effectiveness in identifying MCI from controls was not as strong as identifying specific dementias.
Interfacial reactivity of radionuclides: emerging paradigms from molecular-level observations
Authors: Felmy A. R. , Ilton E. S. , Rosso K. M. , Zachara J. M.
Published: June 2012

Over the past few decades an increasing array of molecular-level analytical probes has provided new detailed insight into mineral and radionuclide interfacial reactivity in subsurface environments. This capability has not only helped change the way mineral surface reactivity is studied but also how field-scale contaminant migration problems are addressed and ultimately resolved. Here we review relatively new interfacial reactivity paradigms and assess their implications for future research directions. Specific examples include understanding the following: the role of site-to-site electron conduction at mineral surfaces and through bulk mineral phases and the effects of local chemical environment on the stability of intermediate species in oxidation-reduction reactions and the importance of mechanistic reaction pathways for defining possible reaction products and thermodynamic driving force. The discussion also includes examples of how detailed molecular/microscopic characterization of field samples has changed the way complex contaminant migration problems are conceptualized and modelled.
From structure topology to chemical composition. XI. Titanium silicates: crystal structures of innelite-1Tand innelite-2Mfrom the Inagli massif, Yakutia, Russia, and the crystal chemistry of innelite
Authors: Sokolova E. , Cámara F. , Hawthorne F. C.
Published: June 2012

The crystal structures of two polytypes of innelite, ideally Ba4Ti2Na2M2+Ti(Si2O7)2[(SO4) (PO4)]O2[O(OH)] where M2+= Mn, Fe2+, Mg, Ca: innelite-1T,a5.4234(9),b7.131(1), c 14.785(3) Å, α 98.442(4), β 94.579(3), γ 90.009(4)°,V563.7(3) Å3, space groupP1̄,Dcalc= 4.028 g/cm3, Z = 1; and innelite-2M,a5.4206(8),b7.125(1),c29.314(4) Å, 0 94.698(3)°,V1128.3(2) Å3, space groupP2/c,Dcalc.=4.024 g/cm3,Z =2, from the Inagli massif, Yakutia, Russia, have been refined toRvalues of 8.99 and 7.60%, respectively. Electron-microprobe analysis gave the empirical formula for innelite as (Ba3.94Sr0.06)Σ4.00(Na2.16Mn0.382+Fe2+0.17Mg0.15Ca0.10☐0.04)Σ3(Ti2.97Nb0.02Al0.02)Σ3.01Si4.01(S1.02P0.81☐0.17)Σ2H1.84O25.79F0.21which is equivalent to (Ba3.94Sr0.06)Σ4.00(Ti1.97Nb0.02Al0.02)Σ2.01[(OH0.99F0.21)Σ1.20O0.80], calculated on the basis of 26 (O + F) anions, with H2O calculated from structure refinement. The crystal structure of innelite is a combination of a TS (titanium silicate) block and an I (intermediate) block. The TS block consists of HOH sheets (H-heteropolyhedral, O-octahedral) and exhibits linkage and stereochemistry typical for Ti-disilicate minerals of Group III (Ti = 3 a.p.f.u.): two H sheets connect to the O sheet such that two (Si2O7) groups link to thetransedges of a Ti octahedron of the O sheet. The I block containsTsites, statistically occupied by S and P, and Ba atoms. In the structures of innelite-1Tand innelite-2M, TS blocks are related by an inversion centre and a cyglide plane, respectively. HRTEM images show a coherent intergrowth of the two polytypes, together with an as-yet unidentified ∼10 Å phase.
Distinct repeat motifs at the C-terminal region of CagA of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from diseased patients and asymptomatic individuals in West Bengal, India
Authors: Chattopadhyay Santanu , Patra Rajashree , Chatterjee Raghunath , De Ronita , Alam Jawed , Ramamurthy T , Chowdhury Abhijit , Nair G Balakrish , Berg Douglas E , Mukhopadhyay Asish K
Published: June 2012

Background

Infection with Helicobacter pylori strains that express CagA is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric adenocarcinoma. The biological function of CagA depends on tyrosine phosphorylation by a cellular kinase. The phosphate acceptor tyrosine moiety is present within the EPIYA motif at the C-terminal region of the protein. This region is highly polymorphic due to variations in the number of EPIYA motifs and the polymorphism found in spacer regions among EPIYA motifs. The aim of this study was to analyze the polymorphism at the C-terminal end of CagA and to evaluate its association with the clinical status of the host in West Bengal, India.

Results

Seventy-seven H. pylori strains isolated from patients with various clinical statuses were used to characterize the C-ternimal polymorphic region of CagA. Our analysis showed that there is no correlation between the previously described CagA types and various disease outcomes in Indian context. Further analyses of different CagA structures revealed that the repeat units in the spacer sequences within the EPIYA motifs are actually more discrete than the previously proposed models of CagA variants.

Conclusion

Our analyses suggest that EPIYA motifs as well as the spacer sequence units are present as distinct insertions and deletions, which possibly have arisen from extensive recombination events. Moreover, we have identified several new CagA types, which could not be typed by the existing systems and therefore, we have proposed a new typing system. We hypothesize that a cagA gene encoding higher number EPIYA motifs may perhaps have arisen from cagA genes that encode lesser EPIYA motifs by acquisition of DNA segments through recombination events.
Family perspectives in lynch syndrome becoming a family at risk, patterns of communication and influence on relations
Authors: Bartuma Katarina , Nilbert Mef , Carlsson Christina
Published: June 2012

Background

A growing number of individuals are diagnosed with hereditary cancer. Though increased levels of anxiety and depression have been demonstrated around the time of genetic counselling, most individuals handle life at increased risk well. Data have, however, been collected on individual basis, which led us to focus on family perspectives of hereditary cancer.

Methods

Lynch syndrome represents a major type of hereditary colorectal and gynaecological cancer. We preformed open-ended interviews with 27 informants from 9 Lynch syndrome families. Inductive content analysis revealed three major themes: transition to a risk family, patterns of communication and influence on family relations and individual roles.

Results

Family members described how learning about Lynch syndrome shifted focus from daily issues to concerns about cancer. Changes in communication related to difficulties in talking to children about heredity and informing new family members and distant relatives about an increased risk of cancer. Influence on relations was exemplified by family members taking on different roles, e.g. females often being responsible for coordinating information about heredity and providing support. Families in which members had experienced cancer at young age typically informed children soon after learning about heredity and at young age, whereas families with experience of cancer at higher age postponed information and thereby also genetic counselling.

Conclusions

Three major family perspectives are described in Lynch syndrome families; becoming a risk family, patterns of communication and influence on family relations. Since these issues are central, our findings suggests that such family perspectives should be considered during genetic counselling in order to contribute to information spread, help family members cope with the increased risk, and motivate family members at risk to undergo surveillance.
The Nature of Knowledge: Evidence and Evidentiality in the Witness Depositions from the Salem Witch Trials
Authors: Grund Peter J.
Published: June 2012

This article explores evidentiality (or the linguistic marking of source of information), a topic that has received little attention in studies on the history of English. Using witness depositions from the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692–93 as material, the article reveals that a number of linguistic features are used to indicate source of information, especially verb phrases (e.g., see, hear, tell) and prepositional phrases (e.g., to my knowledge, in my sight). It also shows that direct sensory experience and reports are the most common semantic categories of evidentiality in the documents, while inference and assumption are relatively uncommon. I argue that the depositions use evidential marking in different situations to fulfill a variety of pragmatic functions. For example, the witnesses refer to direct experience (seeing) of the affliction by the apparitions of alleged witches to bring greater credibility to allegations that could usually not be substantiated. More generally, the article demonstrates how concepts such as discourse community, setting, and pragmatic concerns, which have not been systematically considered in studies on early English in North America, are crucial factors for our understanding of the use of english in the period.
Domestic Antecedents of Afghan Policy
Authors: Hill Walter W.
Published: June 2012

Realism tells us that states are unitary actors and foreign policy ends at the water’s edge. This essay questions this view in the context of recent US policy on Afghanistan. In early 2008, Senator Barack Obama won several early primary victories and gained a substantial lead in the Democratic presidential nomination contest. Both Democratic senator Hillary Clinton and to a lesser extent the apparent Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, questioned Obama’s leadership ability. The future president responded in part by announcing his intent to expand the US military presence in Afghanistan. The policy of increased militarization crystallized publically in response to domestic campaign pressure rather than because of events on the ground in South Asia.
The International Community’s Role in the Radicalization of Islamist Politics in Somalia, 1992 to 1995: The Creation of the Security Dilemma
Authors: Mantzikos Ioannis
Published: June 2012

In December 1992, the United Nations Security Council, acting under chapter 7 of its charter, authorized the use of all necessary means to secure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Somalia. In the collapsing landscape of that country, however, the intervention of the international community triggered the rise of radical Islamic actors. This result was not simply a product of diplomatic incompetence but an indirect result of the foreign community’s different perspectives and aims during the crisis. This essay attempts to draw conclusions from the political economy of the crisis to address the rise of the local Islamist movement with the use of security dilemma theory.
Targeting the Poor: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
Authors: Alatas Vivi , Banerjee Abhijit , Hanna Rema , Olken Benjamin A , Tobias Julia
Published: June 2012

This paper reports an experiment in 640 Indonesian villages on three approaches to target the poor: proxy means tests (PMT), where assets are used to predict consumption; community targeting, where villagers rank everyone from richest to poorest; and a hybrid. Defining poverty based on PPP$2 per capita consumption, community targeting and the hybrid perform somewhat worse in identifying the poor than PMT, though not by enough to significantly affect poverty outcomes for a typical program. Elite capture does not explain these results. Instead, communities appear to apply a different concept of poverty. Consistent with this finding, community targeting results in higher satisfaction. (JEL C93, I32, I38, O12, O15, O18, R23)
Competitive Pressure and the Adoption of Complementary Innovations
Authors: Kretschmer Tobias , Miravete Eugenio J , Pernías José C
Published: June 2012

Liberalization of the European automobile distribution system in 2002 limits the ability of manufacturers to impose vertical restraints, leading to a substantial increase in competitive pressure among dealers. We estimate an equilibrium model of profit maximization to evaluate how dealers change their innovation adoption strategies following the elimination of exclusive territories. Using French data we evaluate the existence of complementarities between the adoption of software applications and the scale of production. Firms view these innovations as substitutes and concentrate their effort in one type of software as they expand their scale of production. Results are robust to the existence of unobserved heterogeneity. (JEL D24, K21, L21, L22, L62, O32)
Evaluating Microfoundations for Aggregate Price Rigidities: Evidence from Matched Firm-Level Data on Product Prices and Unit Labor Cost
Authors: Carlsson Mikael , Skans Oskar Nordström
Published: June 2012

Using matched data on product-level prices and the producing firm's unit labor cost, we find a moderate pass-through of current idiosyncratic marginal-cost changes. Also, the response does not vary across firms facing very different idiosyncratic shock variances, but identical aggregate conditions. These results do not fit the predictions of Mackowiak and Wiederholt (2009). Neither do firms react strongly to predictable marginal-cost changes, as expected from Mankiw and Reis (2002). We find that firms consider both current and expected future marginal cost when setting prices. This points toward impediments to continuous price adjustments as a key driver of monetary non-neutrality.
The Finnish Great Depression: From Russia with Love
Authors: Gorodnichenko Yuriy , Mendoza Enrique G , Tesar Linda L
Published: June 2012

Why did Finland experience, in 1991–1993, the deepest recession observed in an industrialized country since the 1930s? Using a dynamic general equilibrium model with labor frictions, we argue that the collapse of the Soviet-Finnish trade was a major contributor to the contraction. Finland's experience mirrors that of the transition economies of Eastern Europe, which suffered similar deep recessions coupled with institutional changes. By focusing on the Finnish case, we isolate the effects of the Finnish-Soviet trade collapse and shed new light on the sources of recessions in transition economies.
Credit Spreads and Business Cycle Fluctuations
Authors: Gilchrist Simon , Zakrajšek Egon
Published: June 2012

Using micro-level data, we construct a credit spread index with considerable predictive power for future economic activity. We decompose the credit spread into a component that captures firm-specific information on expected defaults and a residual component–– the excess bond premium. Shocks to the excess bond premium that are orthogonal to the current state of the economy lead to declines in economic activity and asset prices. An increase in the excess bond premium appears to reflect a reduction in the risk-bearing capacity of the financial sector, which induces a contraction in the supply of credit and a deterioration in macroeconomic conditions.
From the Editors—Games and Decisions in Reliability and Risk
Authors: Merrick Jason R. W. , Ruggeri Fabrizio , Soyer Refik , Keller L. Robin
Published: June 2012

The objective of this special issue is to introduce a new theme, the use of game and decision theory in reliability modeling and risk analysis, which was the focus of the First Symposium on Games and Decisions in Reliability and Risk (GDRR) held at the George Washington University on May 27–28, 2009. The issue considered papers presented at the Second Symposium on GDRR ( http://www.mi.imati.cnr.it/conferences/gdrr11.html ), held at the Hotel Villa Carlotta, Belgirate (VB), Lake Maggiore, Italy, on May 19–21, 2011, and also was open to the public for submission of papers relevant to the theme. The contributors to the special issue include Sevillano, Rios Insua, and Rios; Delquié; Foschi and Spizzichino; French; Bhattacharjya and Deleris; Bhattacharjya and Shachter; Lejeune; Cheung and Zhuang; Smith and Dodd; Sri Bhashyam and Montibeller; and Paté-Cornell.
Semantic Epistemology: Response to Machery
Authors: Devitt Michael
Published: June 2012

Machery argues: (1) that "philosophers' intuitions about reference are not more reliable than lay people's —if anything, they are probably worse"; (2) that "intuitions about the reference of proper names and uses of proper names provide equally good evidence for theories of reference". (1) lacks theoretical and empirical support. (2) cannot be right because usage provides the evidence that intuitions are reliable.
Speakership Asymmetry During Topic Talk Involving a Person with Aphasia
Authors: Barnes Scott Edward , Ferguson Alison
Published: June 2012

This paper uses Conversation Analysis to investigate the organisation of topic talk during interactions involving a person with aphasia (Valerie). Approximately three and a half hours of everyday conversation between Valerie and her conversation partners was collected and analysed. It was found that Valerie's conversation partners took on primary speakership more often during topic talk, and held the floor for longer periods of time. It is argued that this pattern was the product of weak alignment with Valerie's topic talk initiations, trouble that arose during Valerie's extended turns, and Valerie's promotion of speakership for her conversation partners. These observations point towards the importance of conversation partners’ conduct in promoting the success of extended turns produced by people with aphasia. Finally, it is suggested that the findings of interaction-focused research can help specify and expand notions of functional communication.
Teacher Reports of Preschool Children's Communication in a Bilingual Setting
Authors: Patterson Janet L.
Published: June 2012

Understanding teacher perspectives on communication can contribute to a more comprehensive characterization of children's communication skills and can prepare SLPs for effective collaboration with teachers. In this study, teacher perspectives on young children's communication were examined. Teachers of preschool children in a Head Start program serving a bilingual population described children's language and communication in ethnographic interviews. The participants were two Latina teachers and the interviews focused on five Latino 4-year-old children with varied experience with Spanish and English. The major themes in the teacher interviews were the children's personal characteristics and their participation in preschool activities. A third theme, bilingual and second language matters, was discussed by the teachers within the participation and personal characteristics framework. Implications of these themes for collaboration within a multidimensional framework are discussed.
An Approach to Oil Production Forecasting in a WAG Process Using Natural CO2
Authors: Ligero Eliana L. , Mello Samuel F. , Muñoz Mazo Eduin O. , Schiozer Denis J.
Published: June 2012

The water-alternating-gas process (WAG) was originally proposed to improve sweep efficiency during gas injection and it combines the advantages of gas and water flooding, better microscopic displacement efficiency and improved macroscopic sweep, respectively. Carbon dioxide is an attractive gas to be used in the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) process, mainly, when the oil in place contains some dissolved CO2 which is produced in the gas phase. The WAG-CO2 can be an attractive recovery method in reservoirs with oil containing CO2. Also, it is a manner to store CO2, representing a viable solution to the greenhouse gas problem. In WAG process simulation, it is necessary to shut-in and shut-off the injector wells alternately in order to change the injection fluid. This procedure results in an elevated simulation time compared to the EOR process with injection of a unique fluid. A numerical approach is investigated to physically represent the WAG process with reduced computational time. In this approach, denominated as Pseudo WAG process, water and CO2 are simultaneously injected into the simulation model, maintaining the same amount of injected fluid. The possibility of the Pseudo WAG process to adequately represent the WAG-CO2 is analyzed using a compositional simulator. To execute the simulations, it is necessary to have equations of state (EOS) that properly represent the oil phase behavior. EOS tuning is based on PVT experimental data of oil available in literature. The EOS is validated before being used in a simulation model. Results indicate that WAGCO2 is an effective method to recover oil containing CO2. The Pseudo WAG process is capable of adequately representing the WAG-CO2 process in terms of production parameters, such as cumulative oil and water productions. The numerical approach of the Pseudo WAG process significantly reduces the simulation time compared to the WAG process. This approach can be useful to simulate WAG-CO2 processes in heterogeneous reservoirs in order to reduce the CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Evaluation of a Smart Well System at the Saramacca Oil Fields-A Case Study
Authors: Griffith Cliff R. , Simon Leslie , Chin A Lien Henk
Published: June 2012

Well performance is monitored on a monthly base with the volume flow test and Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure (FBHP) measurements. In addition, down hole pressure data is also collected for build up tests and other reservoir studies. A very practical solution for this is to have a fully automated smart well system, which allows instant data access and also the ability to troubleshoot online real-time data.
Combining Thorough Coring Calibration and Latest Wireline Logging Technologies to Unravel LRP/LCP Challenges in Peru
Authors: Vasquez M. , Pinto C. , Mengual J-F. , Repsol F. Rodriguez , Vasquez J.
Published: June 2012

Since the early days of the technique of well logging and the original water saturation equation developed by Archie, low-resistivity pay was, practically speaking, a contradiction in terms. Through the years, however, this critical topic and its practical implication for the exploration and development of oil & gas reservoirs has become recognized as a worldwide phenomenon of particular and challenging interest.

For this specific study, we will focus in the continental deposits, mainly composed of eolian facies, of the pre-Cretaceous Nia formation that we can further sub-divide into two main prospective dry gas units. The idiosyncrasy of these two siliciclastic bodies is that they are exhibiting a lack of resistivity contrast between sands and adjacent shales and also with the water filled bottom section of the reservoir, resulting in complex formation evaluation process and problematical reserve calculation because the standard and practical "a, m & n" values are not anymore appropriate.

Despite a uniform mineralogy and clay content, the overall small grain size and relatively elevated amount of feldspars contribute actively to the presence of irreducible water which is not directly related to clay content but to micro-porosity, that creates a "low contrast resistivity" pay (LCP) effect. Furthermore, when micro-pores are present, they exert a gradually increasing influence as Sw decreases. Their effect is to decrease the saturation exponent "n" and this reduction is related to the degree of surface conduction constraints on current flow.

Therefore, we will present in this work a petrophysical approach that was adopted and validated in order to overcome these difficulties by combining a systematic and exhaustive laboratory core calibration along with proficient logging techniques (i.e. mineralogical & NMR). In these relatively freshwater shaly sands logged conductivity is imperfectly modeled and unsuitable to derive an exact water saturation necessary for a precise OGIP calculation. Uncertainties will arise from a combination of various phenomenon including lack of resistivity contrast between pay and non-pay, dissimilarity in shape and size of the sand grains, variable irreducible water content and lack of knowledge of the effective concentration of clay exchange cations. Nevertheless, we will illustrate and evidence that it is still possible to resolve this LCP challenge with the integration of discrete core data, reliable continuous specialized electrical logs and non-linear saturation equation.
Comparison of WAG and Water Over Injection for Carbon Storage and Oil Recovery in a Heavy Oil Field
Authors: Sobers L. E.
Published: June 2012

Compositional reservoir simulation studies show that CO2 enhanced oil recovery (CO2EOR) combined with carbon storage using water over gas injection improves production performance and carbon storage compared to WAG injection. The fluid description is based on matching the PVT-derived viscosity, total and relative volume of a heavy oil sample (density 893 kg/m3 [17 degrees API]). The reservoir description is based on an unconsolidated deltaic, sandstone deposit in the Gulf of Paria, offshore Trinidad. Water over gas injection is an injection strategy proposed by Stone and Jenkins to increase gas sweep efficiency. In this injection design water is injected in the upper portion of the reservoir and gas is injected in the bottom portion of the reservoir using either vertical or horizontal injectors. Increasing the sweep efficiency improves both oil recovery and carbon storage. The counter current flow of injected fluids uses gravity effects to reduce gas override and water underride typical of WAG injection strategies and continuous single fluid injection. The results show that the water over gas injection design results in a larger mixing zone that extends further into the reservoir. Although oil recovery was essentially the same, with water over gas injection, there was greater than 50% increase in carbon storage, 20% reduction in water cut and 85% reduction in producing GOR compared to WAG.
Continuous Improvement and Oversight for Deepwater Cement Programs
Authors: Bogaerts M. , DeBruijn G. G. , Khalilova P. , Moretti F. , Voon E.
Published: June 2012

The deepwater drilling industry continues to require increased oversight of cementing programs and cement operations. A deepwater cementing technical specialist team was created to provide reviews and oversight of deepwater cement programs worldwide. Deepwater cementing specialists were selected from within the organization and the initiative was introduced to operations in the first quarter of 2011. The team provides an additional level of peer review of all deepwater cementing programs. The purpose of the peer review is to support the engineer’s program design and to verify that the program is in compliance with internal standards, client standards, and applicable regulatory requirements. If required, the team will act as a liaison for the operations personnel and additional experts on critical jobs. The reviews are documented so that all communication can easily be tracked.

The main objective of the team is to provide a proactive approach to identify risks early in the design phase and elevate the risks to the appropriate levels of management so that appropriate actions can be taken. The goal is to review all deepwater cement programs before submitting the final procedures for operations.

Sharing worldwide knowledge and adding to the worldwide knowledge base is necessary as new challenges are faced while drilling and cementing offshore wells in deep and ultradeep waters. Risks and potential hazards may be recognized long before the job execution—giving sufficient time to change, improve, and enhance the cementing design. Several examples are given for job designs that have been improved prior to execution. As a result of this initiative, a continuous improvement of job procedures is being observed worldwide, resulting in designs with a higher likelihood of achieving the job objectives, and avoiding unnecessary, costly remedial work.
Improving Cement Bonding and Zonal Isolation in Gas Wells Located in Southern Chile
Authors: Ficetti S. , Fontana H.
Published: June 2012

This work describes some technologies that have been applied in several wells in southern Chile to improve zonal isolation between different reservoir sections and minimize unwanted water production; an excellent cement bond is a key requirement. There are several challenges to the success of a cement job: the presence of gas-bearing zones in the wellbore that can destabilize the cement system causing it to fail, the presence of formations sensitive to filtrates from the drilling fluids and cement, and the climatic conditions in southern Chile during winter. In addition to these factors, the well needs to be cemented without generating any formation damage that could impair the well productivity.

The paper describes a multiwell solution consisting in the utilization of a solid gas migration (SGM) technology that, combined with a high-performance cement system and an engineered train of preflushes, allows achieving the ultimate goal of obtaining excellent cement quality and minimum formation damage. The SGM technology is suitable for use at very low ambient temperatures, and it provides effective gas-tight properties while minimizing the fluid loss of the slurry. The solution has proved to be extremely effective in controlling gas migration, even under extreme situations where neighboring wells presented serious sustained casing pressure (SCP) problems.

The novel SGM technology utilized also allows improvements in logistics by reducing the preparation time and equipment requirements for the job, thus providing a more sustainable well construction process. In addition, the cold-tolerant additives used provide significant value when preventing nonproductive time at the wellsite and, at the same time, eliminating the disposal of mix water containing liquid additives degraded because of the freezing cycles.

To date, more than 20 wells, with gas severity ranging from moderate to high, have been successfully cemented using this approach. The paper provides details of the engineering approach and examples, including cement logs.