bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data-Centrism: A Path to Digital Transformation in Engineering Design Environment
Authors: Diniz Filipe Castello Da Costa Beltrao , Espindola Breno Do Nascimento , Affonso Italo Dourado , Queiroz Jackson Luan , Oliveira Leojaime Queiroz , Barboza Gerson , Pereira Carlos Augusto
Published: October 2019

This work aims at describing some initiatives (within the context of new ultra deep-water oil platforms designs using computer aided engineering tools) in order to reach a higher level of information organization, transform the engineering design environment so that it is possible to get more productive processes in order to meet all required deadlines. These initiatives were developed focusing on data structuring, information standardization, redundancy reduction, auditing mechanisms implementation and workflow standardization and automation, allowing Petrobras engineerign design team to get benefits from Industry 4.0.
Combined Data Analytics and Physics-Based Simulation for Optimum Bit, Motor, BHA Combination
Authors: BA Samba , Belov Dmitry , Nobre Daniel , Yin Ling Ling , Johnson Eric
Published: October 2019

Today, drill bits and mud motor issues often account for more than half of the reasons for pulling out of hole before total depth (TD) on typical directional drilling wells. In this paper, we present a comprehensive methodology designed for optimally matching drill bits, mud motors, and bottomhole assembly (BHA) components for reduced failure risks and improved drilling performance.

The methodology consists of combining the design characteristics of drill bits, mud motors, and the rest of the BHA. Each crucial component, like the drill bit, the mud motor, or the rotary steerable system, is analyzed with a particular simulation software made for the component itself before combining the components into a system analysis tool that considers all the detailed features. For example, the simulation software for the mud motor and power section optimizes for the type of elastomer, the mud compatibility, and the fit used. Cutter types and geometries, hydraulics, rocks, and the back and side rake angles are all included in the drill bit simulation. A full drillstring and wellbore simulation takes care of the rest of the components and the link to the top drive. The workflow smartly combines physics-based simulation and data analytics to achieve the necessary level of accuracy with reasonable computation time.

The new methodology presented here enables performing joint simulations of performance, durability, and stability for the first time. The performance simulation involved rate of penetration (ROP) prediction, motor power output, and available downhole torque. The durability consists of estimating the motor fatigue life, the bit wear over time, and the fatigue estimation of BHA components. The stability simulation analysis risks of lateral vibration, axial vibration, stick/slip, and bit and BHA whirl. All these are done on a system level with interdependences between different components considered. It enables matching the best bit with the best motor under the best possible BHA. The full workflow was evaluated with the drilling of a typical section in the Permian with significant improvement in both the ROP and reliability.

In summary, this paper describes a collective simulation capability that enables matching the bit, motor, and BHA by evaluating the design characteristics of each component and combining them into a system-level simulation tool. It enables joint evaluation of the ROP capability, bit wear, motor fatigue life, and BHA shock and vibration. At the end, we can perform fast drilling without compromising durability or reliability.
A Flexible Riser System for Ultra-Deepwater
Authors: Hou Yucheng , Yuan Jiabei , Tan Zhimin
Published: October 2019

For the application of flexible riser in ultra-deepwater beyond 2000m water depth, one of the technical challenges is the existence of ultra-high-tension loads induced from riser self-weight and amplified by its dynamic responses. The high-tension loads impose additional equipment and operational constrains in riser installation and application. For example, the high-tension loads limit the choice of installation vessel and prohibit the use of disconnectable turret moored system technology, which protects the riser system during extreme weather events. The industry has been developing innovative technologies to mitigate the high-tension loads anticipated in ultra-deepwater riser applications, such as using light weight composite material, buoyancy modules, hybrid riser tower structures, etc.

This paper presents an innovative fully flexible riser solution for deep water application: a step riser configuration and it's variation-patented by BHGE. The technology was evolved from traditional free hanging configuration and based on existing proven reliable technologies. The step riser configuration is characterized by utilizing buoyancy tank/modules arrays to maximize uplifting buoyancy efficiency and exerting the buoyancy force directly to riser midline connections instead on the riser body directly. Extensive numerical simulations were performed to better understand the step riser's dynamic response characteristics, with validation through scale-model tank tests. This paper also includes an alternative buoyancy module and buoyancy system design, for potentially significant savings in fabrication cost and improvements in offshore installation efficiency. The step riser configuration permits various buoyancy designs to suit the capacity of installation vessels and to improve the riser extreme and fatigue performance in service. The technology also enables applicability for disconnectable turret moored systems in ultradeepwater application. It shows that the presented technology is a practical and reliable solution for ultradeepwater applications, with providing potential cost saving opportunity.
Big Data Approach for Assessing Hydraulic Interference Between Wells in Not-Controled Systems
Authors: Silva Victor Costa Da
Published: October 2019

When we are evaluating reservoirs of very high hydraulic communication, as in the case of several Brazilian pre-salt fields, the identification of the effects of a well, be it source or sink, in other observer wells becomes very complex to be observed. It becomes even more difficult when we do not have control of the volumes that are injected in each zone of interest, uncertainty in the reported flows (mainly of the producers) and difficulty to define a perfect observer point. This work proposes to use the large volume of pressure and flow data that we have available to, through a linear optimization process, identify the hydraulic communication index of each well (producer or injector) at each point of observation.

To achieve this objective the author resorts to physical-based data-driven methods, and through linear optimization, reach hydraulical interference coefficients between wells. Those coefficients may delivers relevant, and even unexpected information on how wells are communicated, if there are fractures or vuges unseen by geological methods, and allow the reservoir managing team to anticipates water and/or gas breakthrough, a well is more responsive to which other, etc. Furthermore the methodology may give important information to subsidize the history matching process.

The paper shows that the methodology is widely applicable in reservoirs where either the hydraulical communication or the wells densification is high enough to avoid any conclusive assessments from usual methods and has as greatest advantage a strong physical background behind it, unlike several machine learning data driven methods. It will be presented through several examples, applying both in controlled (obtained by synthetically generated data from reservoir flow models) and uncontrolled systems (hard data obtained from Brazilian pre-salt reservoirs).
Application of Machine Learning to Oil Production Forecast under Uncertainties-The Linear Model
Authors: Kubota Leonardo , Souto Fabio
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we propose an alternative approach to the problem of oil-production forecast based on the most straightforward feature-based machine-learning algorithm: the linear model. The method can be successfully applied to forecast both oil-rate and liquid-rate in oil fields under (i) water injection, (ii) gas injection, and (iii) simultaneous water and steam injection. Our data-driven algorithm learns the underlying reservoir dynamics from 3 sets of time-series, namely, (i) injection-rate, (ii) liquid and oil-rate, and (iii) number of producers. That is all the data we need to make reliable forecasts, no geological model or numerical reservoir simulators were used.
Analysis of Brazilian's Oil and Gas Industry Research Fostering
Authors: Cantuária Marco Aurélio , Peczek Maria Pedrosa
Published: October 2019

The present paper tries to understand how ANP Regulation n.° 03/2015 affected the Research and Development (R&D) in Brazil in the Oil and Gas Industry, by identifying the amount of projects, institutions involved, investment executed, companies responsible, and the whole research landscape along with a thorough analysis of the process and main numbers.
Finding New Hydrocarbons in Mature Fields with High Resolution Dielectric Dispersion
Authors: Bustos Ulises Daniel , Chaparro Diana Patricia , Serrano David Alfonso , Chapellin Alvaro Jose , Kovarskiy Egor , Rodriguez Diego Fernando , Cañarete Heliodoro , Ortiz Juan Carlos
Published: October 2019

Several fields in Colombia are in the maturity phase. While the efforts are mainly focused on workflows and technology incorporation for either increasing hydrocarbon production and/or minimizing water cut, the combination of variable salinities due to production/waterflood with complex mineralogies and shales distributions, is detrimental to a proper saturation assessment with archie methods. The content of clay, thin laminations and small pore sizes add to the rock an important conductivity component that translates into low resistivity responses when measuring with low frequency conductivity devices (either based on induction or laterolog principles) and low contrast between sand and shales. Such formation evaluation issues are detrimental to achieve representative hydrocarbon saturation computations in many interest zones in this case study.

In this context, we propose a formation evaluation solution based on wireline dielectric dispersion measurements. Using a 1-inch vertical resolution wireline-conveyed device, we polarize the reservoirs with a multi-frequency electromagnetic field and evaluate the formation response to the application of this field. At higher frequencies, the electronic polarization phenomena enable to displace cloud of atoms in the formation where information on low dielectric constant materials (hydrocarbons, matrix) is assessed. At intermediate frequencies, the molecular polarization occurs by rotating-reorienting the dipoles (water molecules) creating a strong attenuation and phase shift of the electromagnetic field; consequently, allowing to measure salinity and resistivity-independent water volume. Lastly, at lower frequencies the predominance of Maxwell-Wagner effects which are related to the electrical charge redistribution at interfaces due to electromagnetic field application, enable to obtain information on rock textural information (tortuosity and cation exchange capacity). By building a petrophysical model with dielectric dispersion and nuclear logs, we then obtain a high-resolution resistivity and salinity-independent formation evaluation that solves for porosity and water vs oil saturation with a single and fast wireline logging run.
Effect of Silica Nanoparticles on Thermal Stability in Bentonite Free Water-Based Drilling Fluids to Improve its Rheological and Filtration Properties After Aging Process
Authors: Vargas Johanna , Roldán Leidy Johanna , Lopera Sergio Hernando , Cardenas José Carlo , Zabala Richard Disney , Franco Camilo Andrés , Cortés Farid Bernardo
Published: October 2019

In the Oil & Gas industry, preserve filtration properties of the drilling fluids based on the rheological behavior under prolonged exposure time, and temperature (aging process) are the most important challenges due to the implications that lead to the formation damage. The polymers as xanthan gum (XG) suffer degradation due to the drilling processes losing their viscosifying capacity, solid suspension, and subsequent the filtration control since the effective build-up of the mudcake is not possible. In this way, this study aims to evaluate the effect of SiO2 nanoparticles on thermal stability under thermal rolling process in the filtration properties through of the rheological behavior in bentonite-free water-based mud (BFWBM). Two kinds of SiO2 nanoparticles were evaluated: (1) synthesized through the sol-gel method and (2) fumed silica nanoparticles. SiO2 nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and zeta potential (ZP). The SiO2 -XG interactions were evaluated through polymer adsorption onto nanoparticles using a batch-mode, rheological studies, and evaluation of thermal stability. Additionally, the effect of SiO2 nanoparticles on basic (pH, density, solid content, rheological, and filtration) properties in BFWBM were studied according to American Petroleum Institute (API) standard after aging through hot roller oven at 77°C for 16 hours. Results of adsorption experiments showed that adsorption isotherms of XG polymer onto silica followed a Type I behavior and these were modeled using solid-liquid equilibrium (SLE) model, showing an uptake adsorbed higher for the SiC nanoparticle than other materials. The rheological conduct of XG polymer - SiO2 nanoparticles system showed a pseudoplastic behavior with a high performance of SiC nanoparticles with an increase of 15% of the viscosity and inhibition of the degradation of the 32.2% compared with the polymer sample without nanoparticles. Also, the experimental results showed that the addition of SiO2 nanoparticles did not alter the basic properties such as pH, density, and solid content. Meanwhile, SiC increased the plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), yield stress (YS), and gel strength of the drilling fluid and reduced the filtration volume and the mudcake thickness of the drilling fluid after the thermal rolling process. Also, these nanoparticles showed the highest increase of the VP, YP, and YS by 12, 19, and 100%, respectively. Additionally, SiC nanoparticles reduced the spurt loss and total filtration volume by 67 and 49%, respectively. Nanoparticles strengthened the hydrogen bonds with polymer preventing the hydrolysis.
Subsea Arrangements Optimization for Gas Export Systems
Authors: Patusco Carlos Alexandre Pereira , Simões Eugenio Fredericci
Published: October 2019

When defining the subsea arrangement for a gas export system, a few options are available to connect a trunk gas pipeline to other pipelines or to FPUs, especially when there is uncertainty about future projects which may need to be connected to the export system. The objective of this paper is to present an assessment of different options based on a case study. A matrix will be generated pointing the pros and cons of different technical solutions regarding aspects such as: economicity for long and short distances, total length of pipelines, number of subsea structures, technology maturity, risks related to QHSE issues, risks to assets during installation, interruption of gas export during installation, construction duration and availability to deepwater. Considerations about the applicability and relative importance of each of the above mentioned parameters will also be included. Examples of subsea arrangements and strategies of acquisition for gas export systems projects include: using ILTs/ILYs for each connection; using ILTs/ILYs and PLEMs "offline", i.e., PLEMs with several hubs connected to in-line structures along the trunk pipeline; using PLEMs in-line, i.e., PLEMs connected directly to the trunk line, by means of rigid or flexible jumpers and PLETs; using diver assisted or diverless cut after hot tapping; using diver assisted or diverless cut in conjunction with smart plugs. Finally, nonconventional alternatives to export the gas like LNG, CNG, GTW or GTL will also be assessed. The results will present guidelines on how to select the most appropriate subsea arrangement for gas export systems, depending on the specificities of each project, such as: the extension of the field, the distance to shore, the maturity level of the present and future (interconnected) projects, the water depth, the distance between FPUs and others.
Tuning a Fully Convolutional Network for Velocity Model Estimation
Authors: Campos Luan Rios , Nogueira Peterson , Nascimento Erick
Published: October 2019

Different parameters of a fully convolutional network (FCN) are experimented to evaluate which combination predicts sound velocity models from a single configuration of seismic modeling. The evaluation is made considering some fixed parameters of the deep learning model, such as number of epochs, batch size and loss function, but with variations of the optimizer and activation function. The considered optimizers were RMSprop, Adam and Adamax, whilst the activations functions were the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU), Leaky ReLU, Exponential Linear Unit (ELU) and Parametric ReLU (PReLU). Five metrics were used to evaluate the model during the testing stage: R2, Pearson's r, factor of two, mean absolute error and mean squared error. To the extent of these experiments, it was found that the optimizers have much more influence than the activation functions when determining the resolution of the output model. The best combination was the one using the PReLU activation function with the Adamax optimizer.
Prediction of Wettability Alteration Using the Artificial Neural Networks in the Salinity Control of Water Injection in Carbonate Reservoirs
Authors: Reginato Leonardo Fonseca , Carneiro Cleyton Carvalho , Gioria Rafael Santos , Pinto Marcio Sampaio
Published: October 2019

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) applications have grown exponentially in all areas of science and technology. The advantages are its versatility, speed and ability to aggregate information, perform predictions of a given set of data. These attributes attract the petroleum industry, which often depends on laboratory analysis or numerical simulation to estimate various reservoir behaviors. This research, aims to predict the relative permeability curves with wettability alteration effect, given a concentration of the ionic composition in water injection. For this, machine learning methods were applied. An analytical algorithm was developed that incorporated the effect of wettability alteration, generating the database for the training process. Two different networks were applied: (i) Self-Organizing Maps - SOM and (ii) Neural Net Fitting – NNF. The forecast data of the networks are compared with calculated for analytical results. This ANN performs a good forecast of data tested (NNF with R-squared results around 90%). The analyses confirm effects on relative permeability of oil and water with salt control, indicating wettability alteration (WA). These tests were able to confirm that the applied methodology is capable to predict, using ANN, results of several laboratory tests.
Lessons Learned from Cuttings Treatment at Offshore Wells in the Campos Basin
Authors: Vadinal Rodolfo Balthazar , Reis Leomir Samuel Tormen , Del Claro Daniel Ribeiro , Ceolin Saulo Pereira , Bernardes Maria Carolina do Couto Pessanha
Published: October 2019

The main wastes associated with well drilling activity are drilling fluids and cuttings. With regard to drilling fluids, the oil industry has invested in more environmentally friendly formulations to reduce environmental impact. For offshore operations, cuttings are generally disposal at sea after meeting environmental criteria of government agencies. This paper presents the lessons learned in the operation of the cuttings collector system and the collection of cuttings associated with water based mud in cutting boxes in Campos Basin wells. The main advances to reduce the non-productive time of the cuttings collector system were the use of hybrid boats and the increase of the screw conveyor reliability. To collect cuttings associated with water-based mud, the drilling fluid + cuttings mixture needs to be treated to prevent H2S generation.
The Science of Capping a Subsea Well Blowout
Authors: Guinn Mitch , Cargol Mike
Published: October 2019

As part of any Source Control Emergency Response Plan (SCERP), capping a subsea well blowout is a significant contingency operation that requires attention to many details to ensure that an operator is prepared to manage the risks involved and to achieve the desired outcome of stopping the flow of an uncontrolled well.

The objective of this paper is to identify and describe the technical considerations (the science behind the procedures) that a prudent operator must address to be able to efficiently and effectively store, maintain, mobilize, install and operate a subsea capping stack in a subsea well blowout event.

The paper will offer a brief description of the critical design and functionality requirements that were considered in the development of the original capping stacks. It will contain some updated guidance regarding storage, maintenance and transportation of a capping stack to the incident site. This paper will also present the latest review of available installation methods and offer a brief narrative regarding operating procedures. The paper will also briefly relay portions of the newly-released guidelines introduced in IOGP Report 594, dated January 2019, regarding the need for and definition of an effective SCERP.

It has been almost 10 years since the last catastrophic offshore well control incident and the industry has responded by building equipment and developing procedures to enable an effective response to a similar incident. However, operating in an offshore environment requires a perpetual risk assessment and constant review and evaluation of contingency plans for all procedures, especially for those relating to protecting the environment. This paper will present an operator with proven guidance statements to enable the operator to properly prepare for a subsea well control incident.

This paper will present updated guidance regarding selected technical issues of capping stack design and pertinent updated guidance regarding capping stack storage, maintenance, mobilization, and installation. The paper will also reinforce the newly released SCERP guidance regarding capping stacks in IOGP Report 594, dated January 2019.
A New Robust Drilling Rate Model
Authors: Al-Rubaii Mohammed Murif , Gajbhiye Rahul N. , Al-Yami Abdullah Saleh , Alouhali Raed A.
Published: October 2019

Drilling rate remains a major challenge when it comes to planning and drilling workover and development wells. The main mission of a drilling engineer is to design a well optimizing time, cost, economics and safety. Analysis of previously drilled wells operations' records is required to perform optimization techniques to reduce drilling cost for new wells to be drilled. Among the many potential optimizations, Rate of Penetration (ROP) has the most obvious impact on cost effectiveness of a well's drilling, but to ensure optimized rate of penetration, it must be engineered.

There are several correlations, methods, designs, models, tools, charts, fields' results, and experimental studies to enhance the well drilling performance. Many of these are effective, but some others are incomplete and not suited for drilling operations as they are based on unproven theory and lack proper experimental data. Proper models must include knowledge of all factors that affect rate of penetration in order to provide a meaningful tool for optimizing the well design. The objective of this work is to develop a new method for optimized drilling rate that will model rate of penetration more accurately and therefore facilitate improving drilling efficiency and cost.

The drilling parameters and mud rheological properties in certain hole sections were collected and analyzed first to determine the effect of mud properties and drilling parameters on ROP performance. The parameters and properties that are selected are from the same hole size, formation type and mud type. The relationship between mud rheological properties and ROP was then evaluated to determine how strong it is. This step helps to determine the significance of mud rheological properties on estimating ROP and that will lead to optimization of the drilling operation and reduction in the drilling time. This is the first model combining the drilling fluid properties, drilling parameters, cuttings volume and dogleg severity with rate of penetration optimization simultaneously.

The developed model has been compared with using field data during drilling challenging hole sections in several different fields. It has shown high correlation coefficient regression value matching with actual ROP Values with high percentage of accuracy, which is about 90 %. The new model showed the importance of combining mud properties, cuttings volume percent, drilling parameters and dogleg severity since that will make it applicable in any type of wellbore or hole section such as (vertical, deviated and horizontal). The developed model can assist drilling engineers in selecting improved drilling parameters, mud properties, optimized value of cuttings volume or cuttings concentrations in annulus and dogleg severity value by optimizing the drilling rate using the developed model effectively. It can be used in real time operating center to participate for drilling Automation projects.
Remediation of Hydrate Plug in Gas Export Line – A West Africa Deep Water Case
Authors: Papot Fabien , Alexandre Celma , Abdulssalam Mohammed , Chita Ambrosio , Pina Alberto , Chipoque Antonio , Glenat Philippe
Published: October 2019

This paper describes a recent hydrate plug issue experienced in a 12inch gas export line of one of TOTAL E&P operated FPSOs in the deep water of West Africa. In summer 2018, due to long-term maintenance work on the dehydration unit of the FPSO's gas compression, the off- spec produced gas was injected into a remote subsea gas well injector to avoid gas flaring, in line with TOTAL's flaring policy. Methanol was continuously injected for hydrate inhibition. Unfortunately, at the end of the operation, a hydrate plug occurred in the 12-inch gas export line. Through a multi–disciplinary crisis management team, all necessary efforts and procedures were implemented to remove the plug from the line in less than 1 week. The main steps included topsides depressurisation, a subsea intervention, additional hydrate inhibitor injection (Methanol and especially MEG) and liquid flushing operations.
Helicopter Rotor Blade Radar Antenna
Authors: Upton Hugh W.
Published: October 2019

The helicopter main rotor blade can be used as a scanning radar antenna. Its large aperture gives a narrow azimuth beam‐width and the natural rotor scanning motion provides a fast scan. It is much lighter than conventional antennas and since it is integral with the rotor blade,
it induces no additional drag. Fifteen foot long slotted array antennas have been installed in both the leading and trailing edge of UH‐1B helicopter. Flight tests have been performed on the leading edge antenna. No undesirable effects were caused by blade bending or feathering action.
A radar installed inside the helicopter can feed the antennas through the hollow main mast with a rotary joint at the top. A radar with 0.1 microsecond pulse width, 20 kilocycle pulse repetition frequency, 30 kilowatt power, and a Daylight View Storage Tube can provide a real time mapping
capability greater than any present helicopter radar. The antenna feasibility has been proven in a flight test program.
Rotor Blade Wake Flutter—A Comparison of Theory and Experiment
Authors: Anderson William D. , Watts George A.
Published: October 2019

During early whirl testing of the hingeless main rotor of the AH‐56A Cheyenne helicopter, a high‐frequency (7P), highly coupled, flap‐torsion‐inplane flutter occurred at rotor overspeed at a condition of near zero lift at the rotor tips. The flutter disappeared
at higher and lower values of rotor lift rather than being nearly lift independent as had been predicted by quasisteady aerodynamic theory. Wake flutter was suspected and coroborated by subsequent analysis. This discussion covers the theoretical flutter analyses and the effects on flutter
of design changes made both to eliminate the flutter and to improve vehicle stability and control. A theoretical analysis employing quasi‐steady aerodynamics was the basis for predicting the complicated reactionless interblade mode shape and frequency, but not the lift level of instability.
The flutter stability analysis was then amended to include the effects of previous blade passage wakes and interblade mode coupling, in the four‐bladed rotor, on unsteady aerodynamics and the new analysis results agreed very well with the experimental flutter. The flutter was shown
to occur in the specific region of lift near zero, being stable at higher and lower levels, and at a critical overspeed rpm with stability reappearing with increase of rpm above the critical.
Acute effect of strength training on mood of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome
Authors: Andrade A. , De Azevedo Klumb Steffens R. , Mendes Sieczkowska S. , Reis Coimbra D. , Torres Vilarino G.
Published: October 2019

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a musculoskeletal disorder characterized by chronic pain and frequently associated changes in mood states. The aim of this study was to analyze the acute effect of strength training (ST) sessions on the mood states of patients with fibromyalgia. A total of 110 FM patients were eligible for this study. After the inclusion criteria, twenty-eight women with FM (mean age: 51.88±10.22 years) performed three sessions of ST. Each training session worked the main muscle groups and lasted 60 min. Three sets of 12 repetitions were performed with 1-min intervals between them. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, after one session, and after three ST sessions. The Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) was used to assess mood states, and the Wilcoxon test was used to verify differences in mood after one and three ST sessions. The ST practice had positive effects on the patients’ mood states after a single session. Reductions in anger, mental confusion, mood depression, fatigue, and tension were observed. The results of the 3rd ST session were similar. We concluded that a single ST session was sufficient to improve the mood states of patients with fibromyalgia.
Late onset systemic sclerosis with seronegativity: a rare presentation of an uncommon disease
Authors: Saxena D. , Jain D. , Yadav M. , Giri K. , Yadav T. , Jain P.
Published: October 2019

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an uncommon connective tissue disorder characterized by multisystem involvement with fibrosis of skin and internal organs. Antibody formation is one of the hallmarks of SSc. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are positive in 97% of patients with SSc. We report a rare case where the patient was negative for ANA, Anti-topoisomerase I, Anti-centromere and Anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies.
Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENAS) in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Joob B. , Wiwanitkit V.
Published: October 2019

Not available
Duramycin radiosensitization of MCA-RH 7777 hepatoma cells through the elevation of reactive oxygen species
Authors: Yang Bowen , Huang Xiaoke , Li Weiguo , Mouli Samdeep , Lewandowski Robert J. , Larson Andrew Christian
Published: October 2019

Objective:

The objective of this study is to explore the radiosensitization effects of duramycin against the liver cancer hepatoma cells and relationship to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

Materials and Methods:

MCA-RH 7777 cells were treated with various combinations of duramycin concentrations and radiation doses. After the treatment, cell viabilities were determined by a cell proliferation assay; intracellular ROS levels were detected with the flow cytometric method.

Results:

MCA-RH 7777 cell viability was found significantly reduced after combining duramycin and radiation exposure (comparing to that of either treatment alone). Increased intracellular ROS levels were observed in cells treated with combinations of duramycin and radiation.

Conclusion:

Duramycin increased the intracellular ROS generation and also increased the radiosensitivity of MCA-RH 7777 cells.
Observational study of cone beam computed tomography based interfractional urinary bladder filling variation during image guided radiation therapy in pelvic malignancies
Authors: Shah Manjari , Agarwal Sandeep , Agarwal Rashi , Subramanian Bala , Gupta Sweety , De Sudarsan , Mishra Shiv
Published: October 2019

Background:

Organ motion is an important factor that limits the precision of radiation treatment. Bladder filling variation has significant impact on the position of target volumes in pelvic malignancies.

Aims and Objective:

This study was an effort to maintain a consistent urinary bladder volume after following a bladder protocol, which was then analyzed by in-room cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging.

Material and Methods:

A total number of 26 patients/300 scans, i.e. 26 planning scan and 274 CBCT were analyzed. The bladder volumes and bladder wall dimension were analyzed comprehensively, thus adding considerable understanding to the bladder wall motions.

Result:

The mean bladder volume for all 26 patients was 183.07 cc with standard deviation of 90.43 cc. The mean +/- standard deviation of transverse, anteroposterior and longitudinal diameter was 8.35+/- 1.03, 6.69+/-1.05 and 5.59+/-1.79 cm.

Conclusion:

This study showed considerable reduction of margin could be done on the lateral side, as there is less displacement on transverse diameter and more liberal margins should be considered in anteroposterior dimension and longitudinal dimensions. This study has reached the conclusion that bladder-filling protocol is necessary to maintain the consistent bladder volume, but it is too preliminary to state that it will translate into reduction of margin.
Association of interleukin-4 gene polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis in Egyptian patients
Authors: El Nakeeb Seham M , Ahmed Reem M , Elsied Alzahraa A , Ali Elsied Mohsen M
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive disease characterized by chronic joint inflammation and subsequent structural damage. Interleukin (IL)-4-590 promoter polymorphism (rs2243250), a C-to-T base substitution, has been suggested to be associated with RA and has become of great interest to be investigated.

Aim

The aim of this study was to find the relationship between IL-4-590 promoter polymorphism and RA in Egyptians, and also to study the relationship of this gene with clinical and laboratory features of the disease.

Patients and methods

This study was carried on 180 subjects divided into two groups. The first group included 120 patients with RA and the second group were 60 apparently healthy individuals as controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes of both groups and genotyped by PCR for amplification of IL-4 gene followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results

IL-4-590 (TT) genotype was significantly more frequent in patients with RA than controls (10 vs. 1.70%, P=0.027, odd ratio (OR)=7.543 and Confidence interval (CI)=0.947–60.049). IL-4-590 (CT) genotype showed no significant difference between patients with RA and controls (31.70 vs. 25%, P=0.195 OR=1.592 and CI=0.786–3.228), whereas IL-4-590 (CC) genotype was significantly less frequent in patients with RA than controls (58.30 vs. 73.30%, P=0.048). Regarding the distribution of different alleles, the frequency of T allele was significantly more in patients with RA than controls (P<0.01). In patients with RA, there were significant differences in some clinical and laboratory parameters of RA disease between different IL-4-590 genotypes (e.g. number of tender and swollen joints, duration of morning stiffness, disease activity score 28, serum rheumatoid factor, serum C-reactive protein, and serum anticyclic citrullinated peptide levels), all were higher in TT genotype, which means patients with RA with TT genotype may have more aggressive course of the disease.

Conclusion

The T allele and the TT genotype at position −590 of IL-4 gene may be related to development of RA in Egyptians and may be associated with the disease activity.
Revisional and conversional operations after bariatric surgery
Authors: Attia Radwa , Sonna Kamal A , Elazim Hoda A
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Bariatric/metabolic surgery is currently the only effective long-term treatment for morbid obesity and obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and dyslipidemia. With the increasing number of bariatric procedures being performed annually, it is expected that the incidence of revisions will increase. The overall incidence of surgical revision after a primary bariatric operation is 5–50%. Redo (revisional) surgery can be quite complex and technically challenging and may offer the patient a wide variety of solutions for treatment of weight reduction and complications after primary operations.

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the initial experience of redo operations after bariatric surgery.

Patients and methods

A total of 20 patients were included in this study who underwent redo operations after bariatric surgery. Their BMI ranged from 25 to 50 kg/m2. They were managed from June 2016 to June 2018 at Al Zahraa University Hospital. The indications, surgical outcomes, and efficacy of the redo surgeries were analyzed.

Result

A total of 20 patients underwent redo operations. The primary bariatric procedures included vertical band gastroplasty in seven patients, Scopinaro operation in six patients, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in four patients, and sleeve gastrectomy in three patients. The indications for redo surgery included poor weight loss, weight regain, and malnutrition in cases of Scopinaro operation. The weight loss results varied depending on the indication for redo surgery. Postoperative complications revealed one case (5%) developed leak and required reoperation. However, no bleeding cases, no died cases, or other complications were observed during postoperative follow-up period.

Conclusion

Redo operation after bariatric surgery can be successfully performed via open or laparoscopic approach with acceptable risk. Deliberate selection for the proper revisional or conversion procedure can efficiently manage undesirable results from the primary surgery.
Comparative study between lightweight poliglecaprone meshes versus traditional heavyweight polypropylene meshes for the repair of inguinal hernia
Authors: El-Shafey Mohammad H , Ramadan Muhammad
Published: October 2019

Introduction

The ideal outcome of inguinal hernia surgery is to provide a repair that is free from recurrence, pain and infection with minimal scarring and with improvement in patient's quality of life.

Aim of the work

Is to compare lightweight poliglecaprone (Ultrapropolypropylene/Monocryl), UltraPro™ mesh with the standard heavyweight polypropylene mesh in tension free Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair.

Patients and methods

The current study included 200 patients complained of uncomplicated inguinal hernia and they were randomized into two groups according to the type of mesh used in tension free Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair. Group I, 100 patients received the standard polypropylene mesh. Group II, 100 patients received light weight UltraPro™ mesh, using sutures for their fixation.

Results

The UltraPro™ (LWM) mesh proved to be as safe and effective as the standard (HWM) prolene mesh in repair of uncomplicated inguinal hernia. There was no difference between the two groups as regard to the technical difficulties, operative complications and surgeons were equally satisfied. There was more incidence of chronic pain with prolene mesh (25%) compared to (zero%) with UltraPro™ mesh. The mesh fixation time and the overall operative time were shorter with UltraPro™ mesh.

Conclusion

The shorter operative time and the no-need to use analgesics could partially compensate the higher cost of UltraPro™ mesh in the absence of other economic factors such as the duration of patient improvement and return to work.
Hochschild cohomology of algebras arising from categories and from bounded quivers
Authors: Cibils Claude , Lanzilotta Marcelo , Marcos Eduardo N. , Solotar Andrea
Published: October 2019

The main objective of this paper is to provide a theory for computing the Hochschild cohomology of algebras arising from a linear category with finitely many objects and zero compositions. For this purpose, we consider such a category using an ad hoc quiver

Q

, with an algebra associated to each vertex and a bimodule to each arrow. The computation relies on cohomological functors that we introduce, and on the combinatorics of the quiver. One point extensions are occurrences of this situation, and Happel’s long exact sequence is a particular case of the long exact sequence of cohomology that we obtain via the study of trajectories of the quiver. We introduce cohomology along paths, and we compute it under suitable Tor vanishing hypotheses. The cup product on Hochschild cohomology enables us to describe the connecting homomorphism of the long exact sequence.

Algebras arising from a linear category where the quiver is the round trip one, provide square matrix algebras which have two algebras on the diagonal and two bimodules on the corners. If the bimodules are projective, we show that five-terms exact sequences arise. If the bimodules are free of rank one, we provide a complete computation of the Hochschild cohomology. On the other hand, if the corner bimodules are projective without producing new cycles, Hochschild cohomology in large enough degrees is that of the product of the algebras on the diagonal.

As a by-product, we obtain some families of bound quiver algebras which are of infinite global dimension, and have Hochschild cohomology zero in large enough degrees.
Overdetermined problems and constant mean curvature surfaces in cones
Authors: Pacella Filomena , Tralli Giulio
Published: October 2019

We consider a partially overdetermined problem in a sector-like domain

\Omega

in a cone

\Sigma

in

\mathbb{R}^N

,

N\geq 2

, and prove a rigidity result of Serrin type by showing that the existence of a solution implies that

\Omega

is a spherical sector, under a convexity assumption on the cone. We also consider the related question of characterizing constant mean curvature compact surfaces

\Gamma

with boundary which satisfy a 'gluing' condition with respect to the cone

\Sigma

. We prove that if either the cone is convex or the surface is a radial graph then

\Gamma

must be a spherical cap. Finally we show that, under the condition that the relative boundary of the domain or the surface intersects orthogonally the cone, no other assumptions are needed.
O bom professor de Educação Física na visão de acadêmicos de licenciatura
Authors: Dos Santos Leontine Lima , Ribeiro José Antônio Bicca , Da Silva Patrícia Da Rosa Louzada , Pereira Otávio Ávila , Ilha Franciele Roos da Silva , Afonso Mariângela Da Rosa
Published: October 2019

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar a percepção dos acadêmicos de Licenciatura em Educação Física sobre os elementos que compõem a prática pedagógica do bom professor na sala de aula. A metodologia possui um delineamento descritivo e caracteriza-se pelo uso da abordagem qualitativa, apresentando como sujeitos de pesquisa uma turma de dezoito acadêmicos de licenciatura em Educação Física da Escola Superior de Educação Física da Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Utilizamos a análise de conteúdo e optamos por dividir os resultados em duas categorias. A primeira, denominada “Conhecimento profissional e contextos de atuação”, foi construída com a intenção de explorar os conhecimentos docentes relacionados à profissão e sua atuação profissional. Já a segunda está relacionada às “Características do bom professor e as habilidades necessárias para a docência”, buscando descrever as características deste bom professor e trazendo os elementos relacionados às práticas docentes dentro do contexto da sala de aula.
As implicações da configuração interdependente entre estagiários e professores supervisores no estágio curricular supervisionado em Educação Física
Authors: Silva Júnior Arestides Pereira da , Bisconsini Camila Rinaldi , Flores Patric Paludett , Anversa Ana Luíza Barbosa , Oliveira Amauri Aparecido Bássoli de
Published: October 2019

A partir do referencial de Norbert Elias, a pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar as implicações da configuração entre estagiários e professores supervisores no Estágio Curricular Supervisionado na formação de professores de Educação Física. Participaram da pesquisa 90 acadêmicos do curso de Educação Física (licenciatura) e 63 professores supervisores de estágio. Como instrumentos foram utilizados um questionário e a análise de documentos. Os dados quantitativos foram apresentados com a utilização da estatística descritiva (%). Os dados qualitativos foram tratados por meio da análise de conteúdo e organizados no software NVivo 10. Constatou-se que os indicadores analisados apresentam configuração de interdependência e possíveis implicações na realização do Estágio Curricular Supervisionado na formação inicial em Educação Física, uma vez que a experiência do professor, sua qualificação e status profissional podem favorecer ou limitar as relações estabelecidas entre os envolvidos ao longo deste momento formativo.
A Review on Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KOERI) Seismic Network and Earthquake Catalog: 2008–2018
Authors: Cambaz Musavver Didem , Turhan Fatih , Yılmazer Mehmet , Kekovalı Kıvanç , Necmioğlu Öcal , Kalafat Doğan
Published: October 2019

Abstract. KOERI has a long history of earthquake seismology,
beginning its observations right after the devastating earthquake on 10 July 1894 in Istanbul, by deploying the first seismograph in the region.
Naturally, its seismic network and earthquake catalog evolved since that
time, in harmony with the progress in the science of seismology. Currently,
the seismic network consists of 242 stations that record approximately 1500
earthquakes per month during periods of regular seismicity. Magnitude is one
of the most critical parameters in determining the size of an earthquake,
especially in seismic hazard assessment studies. The objective of this study
is to homogenize the magnitudes of the KOERI catalog between 2008 and 2018.
For this aim, we computed the Magnitude of Completeness (Mc) for two
different time periods between 2008–2011 and 2012–2018 by taking into
account the duration magnitude (Md) and local magnitude (Ml), where these
parameters might not be available jointly for the both time periods
considered. As a result, we present a relationship of Md and Ml magnitudes
derived from and applicable to KOERI's earthquake catalogs.