bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using qualitative methods to access the pain experience
Authors: Morse Janice M
Published: September 2014

Qualitative methods provide us with techniques to access the pain experience of patients in ways that provide explanation for apparent contradictions and idiosyncrasies that are difficult to access. In this article, I review three such strategies and the application of qualitative research to practice: (1) the analysis of the ways participants speak about agonizing pain using narrative inquiry, (2) comparisons of childbirth pain in two cultural groups using ethnography and (3) present a qualitative theory, the Praxis Theory of Suffering. This theory provides a theoretical explanation for behaviours that presently confound the understanding of distress using the Distress Thermometer. An alternative approach, ‘reading’ patients’ behavioural manifestations of distress, is recommended.
Risk determination and prevention of breast cancer
Authors: Howell Anthony , Anderson Annie S , Clarke Robert B , Duffy Stephen W , Evans D Gareth , Garcia-Closas Montserat , Gescher Andy J , Key Timothy J , Saxton John M , Harvie Michelle N
Published: September 2014

Breast cancer is an increasing public health problem. Substantial advances have been made in the treatment of breast cancer, but the introduction of methods to predict women at elevated risk and prevent the disease has been less successful. Here, we summarize recent data on newer approaches to risk prediction, available approaches to prevention, how new approaches may be made, and the difficult problem of using what we already know to prevent breast cancer in populations. During 2012, the Breast Cancer Campaign facilitated a series of workshops, each covering a specialty area of breast cancer to identify gaps in our knowledge. The risk-and-prevention panel involved in this exercise was asked to expand and update its report and review recent relevant peer-reviewed literature. The enlarged position paper presented here highlights the key gaps in risk-and-prevention research that were identified, together with recommendations for action. The panel estimated from the relevant literature that potentially 50% of breast cancer could be prevented in the subgroup of women at high and moderate risk of breast cancer by using current chemoprevention (tamoxifen, raloxifene, exemestane, and anastrozole) and that, in all women, lifestyle measures, including weight control, exercise, and moderating alcohol intake, could reduce breast cancer risk by about 30%. Risk may be estimated by standard models potentially with the addition of, for example, mammographic density and appropriate single-nucleotide polymorphisms. This review expands on four areas: (a) the prediction of breast cancer risk, (b) the evidence for the effectiveness of preventive therapy and lifestyle approaches to prevention, (c) how understanding the biology of the breast may lead to new targets for prevention, and (d) a summary of published guidelines for preventive approaches and measures required for their implementation. We hope that efforts to fill these and other gaps will lead to considerable advances in our efforts to predict risk and prevent breast cancer over the next 10 years.
Dynamic evolution of clonal epialleles revealed by methclone
Authors: Li Sheng , Garrett-Bakelman Francine , Perl Alexander E , Luger Selina M , Zhang Chao , To Bik L , Lewis Ian D , Brown Anna L , D’Andrea Richard J , Ross M Elizabeth , Levine Ross , Carroll Martin , Melnick Ari , Mason Christopher E
Published: September 2014

We describe methclone, a novel method to identify epigenetic loci that harbor large changes in the clonality of their epialleles (epigenetic alleles). Methclone efficiently analyzes genome-wide DNA methylation sequencing data. We quantify the changes using a composition entropy difference calculation and also introduce a new measure of global clonality shift, loci with epiallele shift per million loci covered, which enables comparisons between different samples to gauge overall epiallelic dynamics. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of methclone in capturing functional epiallele shifts in leukemia patients from diagnosis to relapse. Methclone is open-source and freely available at https://code.google.com/p/methclone.
Genotype-phenotype correlation in Japanese patients with familial Mediterranean fever: differences in genotype and clinical features between Japanese and Mediterranean populations
Authors: Kishida Dai , Nakamura Akinori , Yazaki Masahide , Tsuchiya-Suzuki Ayako , Matsuda Masayuki , Ikeda Shu-ichi
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent self-limiting fever and serositis that mainly affects Mediterranean populations. Many patients with FMF have been reported in Japan due to increasing recognition of this condition and the availability of genetic analysis for the gene responsible, MEFV. The present study was performed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of Japanese FMF patients and to examine the precise genotype-phenotype correlation in a large cohort of Japanese FMF patients.

Methods

We analyzed the MEFV genotypes and clinical manifestations in 116 patients clinically diagnosed as having FMF and with at least one mutation.

Results

The most frequent mutation in Japanese patients was E148Q (40.2%), followed by M694I (21.0%), L110P (18.8%), P369S (5.4%), and R408Q (5.4%). In contrast, common mutations seen in Mediterranean patients, such as M694V, V726A, and M680I, were not detected in this population. The clinical features with M694I were associated with more severe clinical course compared to those seen with E148Q. P369S/R408Q showed variable phenotypes with regard to both clinical manifestations and severity. Patients with M694I showed a very favorable response to colchicine therapy, while those with P369S and R408Q did not.

Conclusions

Clinical features and efficacy of treatment in Japanese FMF patients vary widely according to the specific MEFV gene mutation, and therefore genetic analysis should be performed for diagnosis in cases of Japanese FMF.
Aromatic-turmerone induces neural stem cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Hucklenbroich Joerg , Klein Rebecca , Neumaier Bernd , Graf Rudolf , Fink Gereon Rudolf , Schroeter Michael , Rueger Maria Adele
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Aromatic (ar-) turmerone is a major bioactive compound of the herb Curcuma longa. It has been suggested that ar-turmerone inhibits microglia activation, a property that may be useful in treating neurodegenerative disease. Furthermore, the effects of ar-turmerone on neural stem cells (NSCs) remain to be investigated.

Methods

We exposed primary fetal rat NSCs to various concentrations of ar-turmerone. Thereafter, cell proliferation and differentiation potential were assessed. In vivo, naïve rats were treated with a single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of ar-turmerone. Proliferative activity of endogenous NSCs was assessed in vivo, by using noninvasive positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and the tracer [18F]-fluoro-L-thymidine ([18F]FLT), as well as ex vivo.

Results

In vitro, ar-turmerone increased dose-dependently the number of cultured NSCs, because of an increase in NSC proliferation (P < 0.01). Proliferation data were supported by qPCR-data for Ki-67 mRNA. In vitro as well as in vivo, ar-turmerone promoted neuronal differentiation of NSCs. In vivo, after i.c.v. injection of ar-turmerone, proliferating NSCs were mobilized from the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the hippocampus of adult rats, as demonstrated by both [18F]FLT-PET and histology (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Both in vitro and in vivo data suggest that ar-turmerone induces NSC proliferation. Ar-turmerone thus constitutes a promising candidate to support regeneration in neurologic disease.
B vitamins to enhance treatment response to antidepressants in middle-aged and older adults: results from the B-VITAGE randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Almeida Osvaldo P. , Ford Andrew H. , Hirani Varsha , Singh Vash , vanBockxmeer Frank M. , McCaul Kieran , Flicker Leon
Published: September 2014

Background

Depression is common and the efficacy of antidepressants is suboptimal. High plasma homocysteine has been consistently associated with depression, and treatment with certain B vitamins demonstrably reduces its concentration.

Aims

To determine whether vitamins B6, B12and folic acid enhance response to antidepressant treatment over 52 weeks.

Method

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of citalopram (20–40 g) together with 0.5mg of vitamin B12, 2mg of folic acid and 25mg of vitamin B6 for 52 weeks (Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: 12609000256279). Participants were community-dwelling adults aged 50 years or over with DSM-IV-TR major depression. We measured severity of symptoms with the Montgomery–åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The primary outcome was remission of the depressive episode after 12, 26 and 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes included reduction of MADRS scores over time and relapse of major depression after recovery by week 12.

Results

In total, 153 people were randomised (76 placebo, 77 vitamins). Remission of symptoms was achieved by 78.1 and 79.4% of participants treated with placebo and vitamins by week 12 (P= 0.840), by 76.5 and 85.3% at week 26 and 75.8 and 85.5% at week 52 (effect of intervention over 52 weeks: odds ratio (OR) = 2.49, 95% CI 1.12–5.51). Group differences in MADRS scores over time were not significant (P= 0.739). The risk of subsequent relapse among those who had achieved remission of symptoms at week 12 was lower in the vitamins than placebo group (OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.12–0.94).

Conclusions

B vitamins did not increase the 12-week efficacy of antidepressant treatment, but enhanced and sustained antidepressant response over 1 year. Replication of these findings would mandate that treatment guidelines adopt the adjunctive use of B vitamins as a safe and inexpensive strategy to manage major depression in middle-aged and older adults.
A Plastic Electrolyte Material in a Highly Desirable Temperature Range: N-Ethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium Bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide
Authors: Yoshizawa-Fujita Masahiro , Kishi Erina , Suematsu Mitsutake , Takekawa Toshihiro , Rikukawa Masahiro
Published: September 2014

A novel organic ionic plastic crystal, N-ethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide ([C2mpyr][FSA]), was synthesized, and its thermal properties and conductivity were investigated. [C2mpyr][FSA] showed a high melting point at 205 °C and exhibited plastic crystalline behavior over a wide temperature range from −22 °C to melting, which was also in a desirable temperature range for electrochemical devices. The ionic conductivity of [C2mpyr][FSA] was 1.23 × 10−6 S cm−1 at 25 °C.
Laureate of the State Prize I.S. Vyshnepolsky
Authors: Вышнепольский  , Vyshnyepolskiy Vladimir
Published: September 2014

It is told about publishing activities of only laureate

of USSR State Prize for a textbook in graphic disciplines’ area, one

of the authors of the classical schoolbook «Drawing» — Vyshnepolsky

I.S. His biography has been briefly considered.
Are hand hygiene guidelines suitable for mental health?
Authors: Cole Mark
Published: September 2014

Healthcare-associated infection is a major patient safety concern. Under a heavily regulated NHS, where infection prevention and control is seen as every bodies business, trusts are required to produce zero-tolerance policies that identify clear lines of accountability and responsibility. An interesting backdrop to this discussion is the manner in which mental health trusts have been pulled along with an acute agenda frequently adopting the same policies. Widely considered to be the single most important measure to reduce infection, one example of this is hand hygiene. This article poses the question of whether the ‘5 moments of hand hygiene’ is an appropriate model for mental environments, or whether certain low-risk environments require a more nuanced approach that recognises the contingent nature of care.
Natural regeneration of Scots pine and Norway spruce close to the timberline in northern Finland
Authors: Juntunen Vesa , Neuvonen Seppo
Published: September 2014

Two different datasets were analyzed in order to clarify the factors that affect regeneration success of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) in the climatically extreme areas in northern Finland. First, pine seed maturity and the number of cones in the trees were investigated at five pairs of study sites during the period 1997â2003. Secondly, the rate of seedling establishment and seedling survival of Scots pine and Norway spruce were monitored and compared among three different timberline zones (forest zone, timberline, tree line) in 13 localities during the period 1983â1999. The first study showed that both cone production (bud formation) and seed maturity may be limiting factors for successful reproduction in the climatically marginal habitats. Seed maturity correlated well with the temperature sum of the summer, but variation in the number of cones had a periodic component rather than strictly following the temperature sum of the summer of bud formation. Monitoring surveys since 1983 showed that pine and spruce regenerated more or less regularly in all the zones during 1983â1999. However, seedling mortality of pines was much higher compared to spruce. In general, initially small sized seedlings showed higher mortality compared with larger ones. The results suggest that besides restrictions in reproduction, stand dynamics in the timberline habitats are strongly controlled by seedling mortality due to a variety of causes.
Age and size structure of gap-dynamic, old-growth boreal forest stands in Newfoundland
Authors: McCarthy John , Weetman Gordon
Published: September 2014

The age and size structure of trees in old Abies-Picea-Betula forests on Newfoundlandâs Great Northern Peninsula were examined. It was hypothesized that the size and age structure of both the tree and regeneration âstrataâ of these stands display the complex structural heterogeneity characteristic of classic, self-regenerating, uneven-aged old-growth stands, and that the development and dynamics of such structures occur over long periods of time. With all tree species combined, dbh (diameter at breast height) and height distributions exhibited a strong reverse-J character, with well-defined, semi-logarithmic rotated sigmoid height and size frequencies. Seedling height and basal diameter frequency distributions were reverse-J in character. Live tree ages for all species, except white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh), ranged from 25 to 269 years, and were characterized by all-age frequency distributions. Tree age and size were poorly correlated. On average, balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) required 62 years to reach breast height (1.3 m), with black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) requiring 40 and 48 years, respectively. Total age of dead standing trees ranged from 45 to 232 years. Reverse-J age frequencies characterized the seedling bank, with balsam fir seedlings present in nearly all age classes up to 110, 120 and 85 years in three sample stands. Seedling size (height and basal diameter)-age relationships were characteristic of decades-long suppression. The combination of tree and seedling bank size and age structure provide strong evidence of quasi-equilibrium, small-scale, gap dynamic old-growth boreal forest stands.
Intra-specific variation in cell wall constituents of needle age classes of Pinus sylvestris in relation to soil fertility status in Southwest England
Authors: Sariyildiz Temel , Anderson J.
Published: September 2014

First, second and third year needles were collected from the same branches of young Scots pine trees growing on soils of two different status (high and low fertility sites) that varied in mineral nutrient concentrations and N mineralisation potential. All needle age classes were analysed for total carbon, acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin, cellulose, phenylpropanoid derivatives (PPD) of lignin, sugar constituents of non-crystalline, hydrated cellulose and hemicellulose, and nutrient concentrations (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Mn). Significant intra-specific variation in the litter quality variables in relation to soils of high and low fertility was found in the second and third year needles, whereas there were no differences in the other cell wall constituents and mineral elements of the first year needles. The second and third year needles from the low fertility soil contained higher concentrations of ADF, lignin, cellulose, sugar constituents of non-crystalline, hydrated cellulose and hemicellulose, and phenylpropanoid derivatives (PPD) of lignin, but lower concentrations of N, P and Mg than the same needles from the high fertility and fertilised soils. The results in the present study indicate that under different soil fertilities, needle age classes show significant variations in the cell wall constituents and mineral elements, and suggest that this can result in significant variation in litter quality and decomposition rates.
Inventory of sparse forest populations using adaptive cluster sampling
Authors: Talvitie Mervi , Leino Olli , Holopainen Markus
Published: September 2014

In many studies, adaptive cluster sampling (ACS) proved to be a powerful tool for assessing rare clustered populations that are difficult to estimate by means of conventional sampling methods. During 2002 and 2003, severe drought-caused damage was observed in the park forests of the City of Helsinki, Finland, especially in barren site pine and spruce stands. The aim of the present study was to examine sampling and measurement methods for assessing drought damage by analysing the effectiveness of ACS compared with simple random sampling (SRS). Horvitz-Thompson and Hansen-Hurwitz estimators of the ACS method were used for estimating the population mean and variance of the variable of interest. ACS was considerably more effective than SRS in assessing rare clustered populations such as those resulting from drought damage. The variances in the ACS methods were significantly smaller and the inventory efficiency in the field better than in SRS.
Biodiversity value of potential forest fertilisation stands, as assessed by red-listed and ‘signal’ bryophytes and lichens
Authors: Gustafsson Lena , Appelgren Leif , Nordin Anders
Published: September 2014

In Sweden ca. 20 000 ha forestland is fertilised each year. By using red-listed and âsignalâ bryophytes and lichens as indicators, we investigated whether forest stands planned for fertilisation have a biodiversity value, and thus if restrictions due to conservation aspects are motivated. Species occurrences were registered in detailed line-transect analysis, with a record size of 10 x 10 m, in 74 coniferous forest stands with a mean age of 57 years in East-Central Sweden. On the 230 ha totally surveyed, 10 red-listed and 37 signal species were found. The mean number of records haâ1 of red-listed bryophytes and lichens was 0.26 haâ1, which is considerably less than previously found in mature production stands and woodland key habitats. Red-listed species were found in 31% of the stands and signal species in 95%. More than 70% of all records of red-listed species and 30% of the records of the signal species were found in moist micro-sites. If rare bryophytes and lichens are to be preserved in fertilisation stands, improved instructions regarding avoidance of important micro-sites are needed.
Evaluation of the multicriteria approval method for timber-harvesting group decision support
Authors: Laukkanen Sanna , Palander Teijo , Kangas Jyrki , Kangas Annika
Published: September 2014

The decision support methods most often used in timber-harvesting planning are based on a single criterion. In this study, a voting-theory-based method called multicriteria approval (MA) is introduced to the group decision support of timber-harvesting. The use of voting methods alleviates the problems caused by the multitude of decision objectives involved in forestry decision-making and by the poor quality of information concerning both the preferences of decision-makers and the evaluation of decision alternatives with respect to the objectives often faced in practical timber-harvesting planning. In the case study, the tactical forest management plan of a forest holding jointly owned by three people was specified at the operative timber-harvesting level. The task was to find the best actual operative alternatives for the harvesting that had been proposed in the tactical plan. These timber-harvesting alternatives were combinations of treatment, timber-harvesting system and the timing of logging. Forest owners established multiple criteria under which the alternatives were evaluated. Two versions of MA were tested, one of them based on individual decision analyses and other one based on a composite analysis. The first was markedly modified from the original MA, combining properties of MA and Borda count voting. The other was an original MA with the order of importance for criteria estimated either using Borda count or cumulative voting. The results of the tested MA versions produced were very similar to each other. MA was found to be a useful tool for the group decision support of timber-harvesting.
Comparison of harvester work in forest and simulator environments
Authors: Ovaskainen Heikki
Published: September 2014

Harvester simulators offer a safe and cost-saving method for studying the basics of harvester controls and working technique. Therefore, harvester simulators are increasingly being used in the education of harvester operators. In this study, the objective was to compare harvester work in real and simulator environments, and to determine how a professional harvester operatorâs working technique may have changed in the simulator environment. Specific features of the simulator that encumbered operatorsâ normal work are also presented; and the correspondence of the simulator to reality is evaluated. The work of six professional harvester operators was studied in thinning and in clear cutting stands in both environments: first in the real forest and thereafter on the simulator. The results indicate that the operatorsâ working technique on the simulator was mainly the same as in the real forest. This means that the same restrictions are valid on the simulator as in the forest. The basic principles of harvesting must be known so that high productivity and good quality can be obtained. However, certain simulator-specific features encumbered the work of harvester operators. Limited visibility to the side increased the need to reverse and the 3D-visualization caused failed catches. Improvements in software would remove some of the defects, e.g. failed felling and cheating in the felling phase. These results also indicate that simulators can be used for research purposes.
Finnish sawlog market under forest taxation reform
Authors: Mutanen Antti , Toppinen Anne
Published: September 2014

The stepwise transition in forest taxation from site productivity tax to taxation of profits from timber sales was one of the major institutional changes to impact Finnish non-industrial private forest owners in the 1990s. In this study the effect of the forest taxation reform on the aggregate supply of sawlogs was investigated using time series analysis and quarterly data. In particular, we estimated two simultaneous equations systems for the pine and the spruce sawlog markets. According to the results, the forest taxation reform strengthened the supply of spruce and pine sawlogs in the anticipatory stage of the taxation reform in 1992. Also during the fiscal transition period, which started in 1993, the supply effect of the taxation reform has clearly been positive. The strong own-price elasticity of sawlog supply found in this study indicates high sensitivity to actual and expected wood price changes in the determination of sawlog supply in Finland. Furthermore, the results indicate that the theoretical assumption of a competitive market is suitable for the Finnish sawlog market, but that separate analysis of pine and spruce sawlogs provides additional insights into market behaviour.
A Splitting Method for Numerical Simulation of Free Surface Flows of Incompressible Fluids with Surface Tension
Authors: Nikitin Kirill D. , Olshanskii Maxim A. , Terekhov Kirill M. , Vassilevski Yuri V.
Published: September 2014

The paper studies a splitting method for the numerical time-integration of the system of partial differential equations describing the motion of viscous incompressible fluid with free boundary subject to surface tension forces.
The method splits one time step into a semi-Lagrangian treatment of the surface advection and fluid inertia, an implicit update of viscous terms and the projection of velocity into the subspace of divergence-free functions. We derive several conservation properties of the method and a suitable energy estimate for numerical solutions.
Under certain assumptions on the smoothness of the free surface and its evolution, this leads to a stability result for the numerical method. Efficient computations of free surface flows of incompressible viscous fluids need several other ingredients, such as dynamically adapted meshes, surface reconstruction and level set function re-initialization.
These enabling techniques are discussed in the paper as well. The properties of the method are illustrated with a few numerical examples. These examples include analytical tests and the oscillating droplet benchmark problem.
Network analysis literacy, data analysis literacy, and socioinformatics
Authors: Zweig née Lehmann Katharina A.
Published: September 2014

Complex network analysis is concerned with identifying
statistically significant patterns in large and complex networks.
A complex network is an abstract model of a complex system; it
represents a well-chosen set of entities as nodes and one or more
types of relationships between them as edges. Methods from complex
network analysis have been used to identify small molecules called
miRNAs that are able to stop breast
cancer [13], to understand possible privacy
breaches [9], or to analyze how humans solve complex
problems [10]. As many areas in our globalized world
tend to get more interconnected, the methods from complex network
analysis became more important: for complex systems with an underlying
network structure, the framework of complex network analysis provides
the potential to identify central nodes, to describe deviating
substructures, and to reveal the interaction between structure and
function of complex networks. Based on this potential impact of
network analysis on many fields of society, my work concentrates on
understanding when to use which kind of network measure to analyze
complex networks and where their limits are, a field I call
network analysis literacy. This question can easily be
generalized to data analysis literacy which can be even more
generalized to the influence of our modern IT-systems on the
individual, on organizations, and on society at large, which
culminates in a new field of study called socioinformatics.
On the height of subgroups of Homeo+(I)
Authors: Akhmedov Azer
Published: September 2014

In [J. Lond. Math. Soc. (2) 78 (2008), no. 2, 352–372], it is proved that a subgroup of PL+(I) has finite height if and only if it is solvable. We prove the “only if” part for any subgroup of Homeo+(I), and present a construction which indicates a plethora of examples of solvable groups with infinite height.
A Criteria Transformation Approach to Pattern Matching based on Non-Linear Parameter Optimization
Authors: John Christian , Tutsch Dietmar , Lepich Thomas , Beitz Bernard , Möller Reinhard
Published: September 2014

This paper presents a concept for pattern matching based on a parameter optimization system for approximative numerical calculation of some parameter combination under soft and hard constraints. The concept uses a non-linear parameter optimization method with an iterative variation of parameters. The paper focuses on the information modeling process to migrate problem-domain specific criteria into optimization-compatible objects suitable for a standardized parameter optimization procedure. A step-by-step transformation process is presented and implemented in object-oriented programming: classes and interfaces. The method is applicable to a wide range of pattern-matching problems due to its flexibility and extensibility.
Ein flexibles und robustes 3D Koordinatenmesssystem basierend auf Weißlichtinterferometrie zur Kalibrierung von Werkzeugmaschinen
Authors: Schmalzried Siegfried , Schmitz Holger
Published: September 2014

Die Anforderungen an die Bearbeitungsqualität von Werkzeugmaschinen
steigen kontinuierlich. In diesem Zusammenhang ist der Kalibrierung
von Werkzeugmaschinen als Basis für die spätere
Bearbeitungsgenauigkeit ein besonderes Augenmerk beizumessen. Hierbei
können die Positionsfehler des Tool-Center-Points (TCP) an
Werkzeugmaschinen durch Anwendung der volumetrischen Kompensation
minimiert werden. Um bestmögliche Ergebnisse aus der volumetrischen
Kompensation zu erreichen, bedarf es hochpräziser berührungsloser
dreidimensionaler Messsysteme.

In diesem Artikel wird das μ-GPS Messystem, ein flexibles
Koordinatenmesssystem basierend auf Weißlichtinterferometrie,
vorgestellt. Das μ-GPS misst den Abstand zwischen einem
Faseremitter und mindestens drei Reflektoren. Die Position des
Emitters bezogen auf die Reflektoren wird anschließend mittels
Multilateration bestimmt. Zur hochgenauen Auswertung der tatsächlichen
Position werden die Umgebungsbedingungen gemessen und Effekte wie
thermische Ausdehnung durch die Software kompensiert. Die
mathematischen und physikalischen Modelle für diese Kompensation
wurden gerätespezifisch entwickelt und werden im System
angewendet. Dabei soll die Absolutgenauigkeit im Volumen von bisher
± 20 μm in einen für die Maschinenkalibrierung
tauglichen Bereich von ± 5 μm gebracht
werden. Gleichzeitig bietet dieses System für die spätere Anwendung in
der Industrie höchstes Potenzial für den lange geforderten
automatisierten Messprozess.

Messungen mit dem μ-GPS System wurden unter realen
Werkstattbedingungen durchgeführt. Die Messergebnisse und die
Anwendung sind ähnlich den heutzutage zur Kalibrierung von
Werkzeugmaschinen eingesetzten Methoden und Systemen. Zusätzlich
jedoch erlaubt das μ-GPS System eine hochpräzise dreidimensionale
Bestimmung der Position. Der Kalibrierungsprozess kann damit
vollständig automatisiert werden, was in dieser Anwendung völlig
neuartig ist.
Fähigkeitsbewertung klassifizierender Bildverarbeitungssysteme
für Prüfaufgaben – Teil 2
Authors: Neubecker Ralph
Published: September 2014

Klassifizierende Bildverarbeitungssysteme sind weit
verbreitet,
z. B. in der industriellen
Qualitätskontrolle. Heute gibt es keine etablierten
Methoden, um deren Fähigkeit quantitativ zu
erfassen. Hier wird eine Systematik
vorgestellt, die sich an grundlegenden
Bildverarbeitungsfunktionalitäten orientiert und daraus
Kenngrößen für den gesamten Prüfprozess
ableitet. Auf dieser Basis können
Bildverarbeitungssysteme problemangepasst ausgelegt und deren Fähigkeit
empirisch bestimmt werden.
Dies ist die Fortsetzung des in [13] erschienen
Artikels, in dem ein erweitertes Beispiel dargestellt
sowie die Frage der empirischen Bewertung und weitergehende Aspekte
behandelt werden.
The mechanics of a compressive sand mixed with tyre rubber
Authors: Fu R. , Coop M. R. , Li X. Q.
Published: September 2014

The effects of the addition of waste tyre products have been extensively investigated in dilative quartz sands, but little is known about their effect on the behaviour of compressive, crushable sands. Rubber granules and fibres were introduced into a decomposed granite in two different proportions, 10 and 30% by weight. It was found that a critical state framework could be successfully applied to the behaviour of the mixtures and that a 30% fibre content gave a significant strength increase, whereas a 10% fibre content and both 10 and 30% granules did not. The paper examines the interacting effects of the rubber and particle breakage in causing volume change. Although the change to the compression index through the addition of rubber was not large, the overall compressibility does increase significantly as a result of increased compression before the normal compression line is reached, giving a downward movement of the line. Similarly the most significant change to the critical state line location in the specific volume–log mean stress plane was a shift downwards with increasing rubber content.
Assessing the impacts of nonrandom seed dispersal by multiple frugivore partners on plant recruitment
Authors: Razafindratsima Onja H. , Dunham Amy E.
Published: September 2014

Directed dispersal is defined as enhanced dispersal of seeds into suitable microhabitats, resulting in higher recruitment than if seeds were dispersed randomly. While this constitutes one of the main explanations for the adaptive value of frugivore‐mediated seed dispersal, the generality of this advantage has received little study, particularly when multiple dispersers are involved. We used probability recruitment models of a long‐lived rainforest tree in Madagascar to compare recruitment success under dispersal by multiple frugivores, no dispersal, and random dispersal. Models were parameterized using a three‐year recruitment experiment and observational data of dispersal events by three frugivorous lemur species that commonly disperse its seeds. Frugivore‐mediated seed dispersal was nonrandom with respect to canopy cover and increased modeled per‐seed sapling recruitment fourfold compared to no dispersal. Seeds dispersed by one frugivore, Eulemur rubriventer, had higher modeled recruitment probability than seeds dispersed randomly. However, as a group, our models suggest that seeds dispersed by lemurs would have lower recruitment than if dispersal were random. Results demonstrate the importance of evaluating the contribution of multiple frugivores to plant recruitment for understanding plant population dynamics and the ecological and evolutionary significance of seed dispersal.
Reservoir Simulation with Hydraulic Fractures: Does it Really Matter How We Model Fractures?
Authors: Rahman Khalil , He Wei , Gui Feng
Published: September 2014

Hydraulic fracturing is a key technology to developing unconventional resources. At the planning stage, the prediction of production profiles in the presence of designed hydraulic fractures in the reservoir model is very important. Various analytical methods available are inadequate to produce reliable production profiles by accurately modeling irregular reservoir shape, permeability heterogeneity, multiphase flow and the presence of natural fractures. Any standard reservoir simulator facilitates these modeling features; the key challenge is, however, to model the propped hydraulic fractures accurately in the reservoir. Techniques such as negative skin, equivalent well radius and a uniform conductivity rectangular fracture are common built-in features in almost all available reservoir simulators. The imperative questions are (1) how good are these techniques to reliably model the flow through a non-rectangular fracture having non-uniform conductivity, and (2) how to model the combination of propped hydraulic fractures and stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) in the presence of stimulated natural fractures? This paper presents the results from two case studies that reveal the shortcomings and simulation difficulties with negative skin, equivalent wellbore radius and uniform conductivity rectangular fractures. The paper also presents improved techniques to model propped hydraulic fractures with nonuniform conductivity in nonrectangular geometry (as usually designed) and SRV in the reservoir model for reservoir simulations. The comparison of results and discussion of various techniques are expected to enable engineers to understand why in certain conditions built-in features may not be possible to use because of numerical instabilities during simulation, and the range of variations in prediction from various techniques. The improved technique presented in this paper, which is based on a local grid refinement technique, can provide more reliable production prediction and can overcome numerical instabilities (though it is generally more computation intensive).
Best Practices in Static Modelling of a Coalbed Methane Field: An Example from the Bowen Basin in Australia
Authors: Zhang Ming , Yang Yong , Xia Zhaohui , Cui Zehong , Ren Bin , Zhang Wenqi , Jeffries Max , Lau Hon Chung
Published: September 2014

Development of a coalbed methane (CBM) field in its early stage is often plagued by the lack of well control and scarcity of geological data over a large geographical area. Therefore, constructing a representative static model to estimate the in-place-volume presents a formidable challenge. In this paper we proposed a workflow to overcome this challenge and applied it to a CBM field in the northern Bowen Basin of Australia.

This workflow may be considered as a best practice for the following reasons. First, it makes use of data from various sources including cores, well logs, seismic interpretation, and topography. Second, it performs rigorous quality control on these data, such as depth shift and log normalization. Third, coal ply division and correlation and subsequent structural modeling are based on three types of correlation: well-to-well, well-to-seismic and, well-seismic-Graphic Information System. Fourth, it establishes the low, base and high trends for the most important reservoir properties. Fifth, it constructs a base case static model by combining the aforementioned structural and reservoir property models. Sixth, it uses sensitivity analysis, which varies one reservoir parameter at one time, to rank the impact of reservoir parameters on in-place-volume. Seventh, it uses uncertainty analysis which varies all reservoir parameters simultaneously to arrive at the P10, P50 and P90 in-place-volumes and their corresponding static models which can then be used for reservoir simulations to estimate the recoverable volumes.
Controllable Sliding Sleeve Fracturing Technology
Authors: Lichen Zheng , Yang Gao , Qinghai Yang , Xiaohan Pei , He Liu
Published: September 2014

A new multistage fracturing technology based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) was disclosed. It consists of disc spring energy storage system, electric control direction valve, multifunction sliding sleeve, microcomputer control system and battery group, distributed with magnetic field sensor, pressure sensor and RFID antenna. The fracturing process is cooperatively controlled by magnetic tags, RFID tags and pressure wave system. The RFID sliding sleeve system keeps a low-power mode in the ordinary time. In fracturing operations, the magnetic tags should be lowered into the well firstly to activate the electronic control system, and then RFID tags are launched to control the opening and closing of the sliding sleeve in any specific fractured interval. After fracturing, pressure wave is applied to open all the sliding sleeves and the production operation begins. The characteristics of controllable sliding sleeve are as follows: (1) the standby time of controllable sliding sleeve is more than six months. It can offer enough time for the fracturing preparation. (2) The drift diameter of controllable sliding sleeve is constant, as a result, fracturing interval number is not restricted. (3) It has a simple operation process, production operation can implemented directly after fracturing, without running and pulling other strings. Lab tests showed that, every module of controllable sliding sleeve run normally and it can meet the demand of field application.
Adaptive Local-Global Multiphase Upscaling for Improved Coarse-Grid Modelling of Condensate Banking Phenomena
Authors: Iizuka Ryo , Ikeda Shuichiro , Iino Atsushi , Funatsu Kunihiro , Akamine Koya , Nakajima Chihiro
Published: September 2014

In this paper, we show a new upscaling process to accurately predict the production performance of gas-condensate reservoirs, accounting for condensate banking phenomena, using a coarsely-gridded black-oil simulation model. In reservoir simulation, it has been necessary to conduct time-consuming fine-grid compositional simulation to reasonably predict the reservoir pressure profile and condensate banking near the wellbore. A newly-developed in-house program utilizes the Adaptive Local-Global Multiphase Upscaling (ALGMP) methodology developed by Nakashima et al. (2012)1. The main feature of the program is that both the entire model domain (global boundary) and local domain (well vicinity) are taken into account in the upscaling process to retain the accuracy of prediction within a relatively short computation time.

The entire model domain was reflected in the form of a coarse-grid full-field model, from which a near-wellbore area of interest was extracted for fine-grid compositional modelling (using velocity-dependent relative permeability (VDRP) to represent relative permeability improvement around wellbore caused by high velocity and/or low interfacial tension (IFT)), applying common flux boundary conditions at each time-step. In the coarse-grid full-field model, mobility change is mainly due to the near-wellbore condensate drop-out observed in the fine-grid compositional model. This was reflected by an iterative upscaling of the gas-condensate relative permeability and fluid properties, using an optimization loop over the local domain, to match the well phase flow rates in the coarse-grid black-oil model with that in the fine-grid compositional model, within an acceptable margin.

The developed program was applied to a real gas-condensate field model and demonstrated that the ALGMP procedure can provide well performance predictions close to the reference fine-grid simulation results with reduced computational time. The accuracy of the ALGMP procedure is higher than that of a standard single-phase upscaling approach.
Reservoir Opportunity Index - Advance in Well and Subsurface Design for Cost Effective Field Development
Authors: Ataei A. , Soni S. , Chuah B. , Yeek Huey H.
Published: September 2014

Phase development is key to any successful field development in complex and compartmentalized reservoirs. The balance of cost, value and risk drives the oil companies to learn from well and reservoir data as they develop the field. Naturally, well productivity will enhance in each phases, by a better well and completion design while the remaining mobile oil, hydrocarbon saturation and reservoir pressure are diminishing. Subsurface target selection and ultimately well design needs to be optimized rigorously in order to meet the expected value of each well in every drilling campaign.

This paper gives a new insight in Reservoir Opportunity Index (ROI) or Simulation Opportunity Index (SOI) which combines the key elements of each target (Flow Capacity, Remaining mobile oil and pressure) into a normalized parameter. There are several papers1,2,3 which introduce the application of this method in several case studies. All of those works is guided by existing simulation model which is history matched until present time. The model is then used to generate the SOI map with the MAX (SOI) function will be treated as the optimize location for future well location.

We had tested this method in several case studies and have found that more detail analysis in SOI indexes are needed before accepting the results of the MAX (SOI) function. Having several infill drilling campaign in the past gives us an opportunity to evaluate the SOI based on the previous data and production performance. Correction of the mathematical function may be needed to better match the historical data which is not limited to production only but the Productivity Index (PI), pressure and remaining oil map. The method have been applied in several cases including a tight gas reservoir and two vast multiple stacked oil reservoirs with reliable full field model.

It will be shown in this paper that this method gives a more reliable targets in subsurface and well design and hence introduced as an integrated part of well optimization workflow. Like other methods, it should be used with care as there are limitations in each case. This paper highlights those limitations that have been observed in our work and advised how to overcome the limitations.
Overcoming Separation Challenges by Use of Electrocoalescence Technology
Authors: Amarzguioui Morad , Jacobsen Per Christian
Published: September 2014

Many challenges are encountered when separating oil and water in a production train. Two of the most common challenges are the presence of stable emulsions and/or high oil viscosities - both of which can limit separation efficiency significantly if not appropriately addressed. Production of “unconventionals” such as heavy oils is becoming more the norm in today's mature oil industry, where most of the light and easy oil fields have been produced. Stable emulsions are increasingly encountered as new wells and fields are tied-in to existing infrastructure, which increases tendency to form stable emulsions due to incompatible chemical compositions. The conventional solution to these challenges includes a combination of high process temperature, higher chemical dosages, larger vessels and/or more separation stages. A significant drawback to conventional separation solutions is that they often demand increased energy consumption, higher material costs and operating costs, and/or large space for the production facility. Furthermore, it is not always feasible to address the issues by conventional means due to restricted energy availability or space restrictions. In the presentation we focus on how the challenges can be resolved more efficiently by application of electrocoalescence at an early stage in the process train. The concept of electrostatic separation has been taken one step further with a Vessel Internal Electrostatic Coalescer (VIEC) that tolerates water and gas contents up to 100%.

The VIEC technology was the OTC “Spotlight on new Technology” award winner in 2004 and has since then been implemented on several major projects.
Soil Carbon Accumulation under Switchgrass Barriers
Authors: Blanco-Canqui Humberto , Gilley John E. , Eisenhauer Dean E. , Jasa Paul J. , Boldt Alan
Published: September 2014

The benefits of grass barriers or hedges for reducing offsite transport of non‐point‐source water pollutants from croplands are well recognized, but their ancillary benefits on soil properties have received less attention. We studied the 15‐yr cumulative effects of narrow and perennial switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) barriers on soil organic C (SOC), total N, particulate organic matter (POM), and associated soil structural properties as compared with the cropped area on an Aksarben silty clay loam (fine, smectitic, mesic Typic Argiudoll) with 5.4% slope in eastern Nebraska. Five switchgrass barriers were established in 1998 at ∼38‐m intervals parallel to the crop rows in a field under a conventional tillage and no‐till grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–corn (Zea mays L.) rotation. Compared with the cropped area, switchgrass barriers accumulated about 0.85 Mg ha−1 yr−1 of SOC and 80 kg ha−1 yr−1 of total soil N at the 0 to 15 cm soil depth. Switchgrass barriers also increased coarse POM by 60%. Mean weight diameter of water‐stable aggregates increased by 70% at 0 to 15 cm and by 40% at 15 to 60 cm, indicating that switchgrass barriers improved soil aggregation at deeper depths. Large (4.75–8 mm) macroaggregates under switchgrass barriers contained 30% more SOC than those under the cropped area. Switchgrass‐induced changes in SOC concentration were positively associated with aggregate stability (r = 0.89***) and porosity (r = 0.47*). Overall, switchgrass barriers integrated with intensively managed agroecosystems can increase the SOC pool and improve soil structural properties.