bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Resolution Simulations with a Compositional Parallel Simulator for History Matching Laboratory CO2/Brine Core Flood Experiment
Authors: Kong Xianhui , Delshad Mojdeh , Wheeler Mary F.
Published: February 2013

Numerical simulators are essential tools to develop a better understanding of the geologic characteristics of brine reservoirs and to build support for future CO2 storage projects. Modeling CO2 injection requires the implementation of multiphase flow and an equation of state to compute the dissolution of CO2 in brine and vice versa. Capillary pressure and relative permeability need to be consistent with permeability/porosity variations. It is, therefore, crucial to gain confidence in the results of numerical simulators by validating the models and numerical accuracies using lab and field pilot scale results. A published steady state core scale CO2/brine displacement results was selected for our numerical study. The experimental results accompanied by fluid properties, relative permeability and capillary pressure curves, and medical X-ray CT images of subcore porosity, CO2 saturation CT images, and gas saturation histogram. Published saturation measurements provided insight into the role of heterogeneity in final CO2 distribution where slight variation in porosity gives rise to large variation in CO2 saturation distribution.

High resolution compositional simulations of brine displacement with supercritical CO2 are presented using IPARS (parallel compositional reservoir simulator). 3D numerical model of the Berea core was constructed using geostatistical based permeability and porosity distributions. Grid cells were on the order of 1 mm x 1 mm x 6 mm with a total of 32000 cells. The core was initially saturated with brine before the injection of supercritical CO2.Fluid properties were calibrated against the measured data. Capillary pressure and relative permeability curves were based on the measurement with capillary pressure scaling based on Leverett J-function for permeability, porosity, and interfacial tension for every grid element. Simulation results indicated that accurate representation of capillary pressure at small scales was critical. Water drying and the shift in relative permeability had significant impact on final CO2 distribution along the core.
4D Seismic History Matching With Ensemble Kalman Filter - Assimilation on Hausdorff Distance to Saturation Front
Authors: Abadpour Anahita , Bergey Pierre , Piasecki Remi
Published: February 2013

Distance to water front parameterization has been implemented and capability of ensemble kalman filter to handle large number of measured data on top of the uncertain parameters has been deployed to benefit from the richness of 4D seismic observation as spatial information in the reservoir. Distance to the observed and predicted water fronts has been calculated using an accurate Fast Marching method and the Hausdorff distance has been calculated to provide the misfit term to perform EnKF updates during the assimilation steps that the 4D observation is available.

Need for proper scheme of localization has been revealed in this study to both ameliorate the quality of the history match and also the posterior geological models.

The proposed workflow has been compared to the direct approach of using cell by cell inverted water saturation as a 4D seismic derived observation to perform the history match. Result showed not only an important gain in the obtained match but also significant advantage in preserving the geology of post match models.
Prior Model Identification with Sparsity-Promoting History Matching
Authors: Khaninezhad Mohammadreza M.
Published: February 2013

Construction of predictive reservoir models invariably involves interpretation and interpolation of limited available data and imperfect modeling assumptions that introduce significant subjectivity and uncertainty into the modeling process. A major source of uncertainty comes from the description of the geologic continuity that controls reservoir connectivity and, hence, governs the main fluid displacement patterns and the production efficiency. In particular, identification of anisotropy and heterogeneity in reservoir property distributions (e.g., permeability or porosity) under geologic uncertainty can be quite challenging. Using recent developments in sparse signal processing, we develop a prior model identification (PMI) approach using a mixture modeling framework that utilizes production history to identify and correct errors and biases in prior reservoir continuity (i.e., variogram) model. The method begins by generating a diverse "dictionary" of initial geologic continuity models that reflect a wide range of variability and uncertainty in the prior knowledge about reservoir connectivity. Given this diverse geologic dictionary as a mixture model and the production history, we implement an adaptive sparse reconstruction algorithm to automatically identify incorrect models of reservoir continuity (variogram parameters) during history matching iterations and replace them with more consistent prior model components to improve the production data match. The novel sparse signal recovery algorithm implements a model selection procedure that discriminates against incorrect prior models by heavily penalizing them and promotes models with significant contribution to matching the production data. Unlike conventional history matching techniques that assume a given prior model, this adaptive sparse PMI implementation provides a systematic mechanism for identifying consistent global continuity models from production data in addition to constraining the local variability in the property map to match the observed data. As such, it has significant practical implications for minimizing the subjectivity in prior model specification and the overall history matching workflows. We use two numerical experiments to illustrate the effectiveness of the sparse PMI for detecting and correcting errors in the initial specification of the prior reservoir continuity model. The results clearly demonstrate the suitability of the approach for reliable identification of reservoir connectivity under significant geologic uncertainty.
A New Approach to Improve Linear Solver Performance for a Fully Implicit Coupled System of Reservoir and Surface Network
Authors: Wang Qinghua , Fleming Graham , Lu Qin
Published: February 2013

In a fully integrated reservoir and surface facility simulator, an overlapping multiplicative Schwarz method was chosen to solve the coupled system, using perforated grid blocks as the overlapping layer. But in many cases it was found that this overlapping approach did not improve global linear solver performance, and the matrix for the extended surface network, which included the perforated grid-blocks, was much larger and denser and lost its original tree structure, which taxed the linear solver for the network. Furthermore, the pressure solver for the reservoir domain was totally decoupled from the network domain. The loose coupling in the pressure solution led to the disappointing performance. In most cases, the accuracy of the pressure solution across the reservoir and surface network directly determines the performance of the global linear solver, so it is crucial to define an appropriate global pressure matrix to represent the flow exchange between these two domains.

Taking advantage of a new formulation for a generalized network model of wells and facilities in which node-based variables, pressure and component compositions, are chosen as the primary variables, instead of mixed node and connection- based variables, algebraic methods are designed to reduce the full system matrix, involving pressure and component masses for the reservoir domain and pressure and component compositions for the network domain, to a pressure-only matrix. This global pressure matrix works as the first stage preconditioning matrix in a two-stage solution method. For the reservoir domain, a widely-used IMPES-like reduction method was implemented. This paper focuses on methods to construct the pressure matrix for the network domain and coupling matrices between the domains. Performance comparisons between different approaches are presented.
Development of an Analytical Injectivity Model for Non-Newtonian Polymer Solutions
Authors: Li Zhitao , Delshad Mojdeh
Published: February 2013

Polymers are currently used for mobility control and improving sweep efficiency in several field projects. In-situ non-Newtonian polymer rheology is the most crucial factor that affects polymer injectivity. Significant viscosity variations during polymer flood occur in the vicinities of wellbores where velocities are high. Numerical simulations are used to predict the performance and in particular the injectivities of polymer solutions since project economics are sensitive to the injection rates. In this paper, we propose an analytical injectivity model which can be easily implemented in reservoir simulators.

As the size of a wellblock increases, velocity smears, and thus polymer injectivity is erroneously calculated. Because of the complex and strong coupling of polymer apparent viscosity and shear rate, empirical correlations are generally employed. In the University of Texas Chemical flooding simulator, an effective radius was introduced to capture the "grid effect". It is assumed that polymer flux rate in a wellblock is equal to the flux rate using an effective radius. However, this radius is a complicated function of polymer rheology, grid size, and other factors. It should be determined for each well from matching injectivity of coarse-grid with that of fine-grid simulations. This becomes impractical for large-scale field simulations with several hundred wells. Another approach is to use the local grid refinement near wells but this also adds to the computational cost and limits the size of the problem. An attractive alternative to previous approaches is based on the Peaceman’s well model.

An analytical model developed for both shear-thinning and shear-thickening polymers is presented. The model and its implementation in the simulator were validated by comparing results of different gridblock sizes and radial numerical simulation. Next, we tested a field case by comparing results of a fine-grid simulation and its up-scaled coarse-grid model. Finally, a pilot-scale polymer flood was simulated. The model successfully captured polymer injectivity in all of these cases with no need to introduce empirical parameters.

There are several ongoing polymer injection field tests where the field injectivities differ significantly from the simulation forecasts. We have developed an analytical model to improve predictability of polymer injectivity during the field projects to help with optimum injection strategies.
The impacts of climate change on a Norwegian high-head hydropower system
Authors: Chernet Haregewoin Haile , Alfredsen Knut , Killingtveit Ånund
Published: February 2013

Hydropower is the most important renewable energy source for electricity in Norway. However, it is the most vulnerable resource to climate change. Despite the importance of hydropower and its vulnerability to climate change, many studies have been mostly concerned with large-scale resources assessment. This study aims to address the climate change impacts on the scale of a single hydropower system in Norway. The impact studies are based on a combination of hydrological model and a hydropower simulation model driven by scenarios from the Atmospheric-Ocean General Circulation Model (AOGCM). These climate scenarios were used for driving the HBV (Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning) hydrological model to provide inflow scenarios for the hydropower study. The nMAG hydropower simulation model was used to simulate the hydropower system for the control and scenario period and to investigate future changes in power production. In general, the projections indicate an average increase of 11–17% in annual inflow to the system, earlier peaks and a larger increase in spring. The hydropower simulation results show an increase in energy generation of 9–20% under the current reservoir operation strategies.
Tracer experiment and RTD analysis of DAF separator with bar-type baffles
Authors: Terashima M. , Iwasaki M. , Yasui H. , Goel R. , Suto K. , Inoue C.
Published: February 2013

This paper describes the development of a new dissolved air flotation (DAF) separator with a flow streamlining baffle to improve solid separation efficiency. The analysis of the RTD (residence time distribution) curves indicated that the parameter θ10 (dimensionless time at which 10% of tracer has discharged) increased from 0.38 for control reactor to 0.54 for the test reactor, suggesting significant reduction in short circuit flow. The RTD curves were also used to develop a compartment model for white water (rich in micro-bubbles and water flow is turbulent) and clear water (little or no air content and water flow is quiescent) zones in the reactor using a series of CSTR (continuous stirred tank reactors) and plug flow regime respectively. The proportion of the volume occupied by the white water zone was different in control and test configurations. In the test reactor, the fraction of the clear water zone was found to increase from 6 to 37%, resulting in improvement of the suspended solid (SS) removal efficiency from 97 to 99%.
Modeling NOM removal by softening in a surface water treatment plant
Authors: Dias João M. L. , Oliveira Rui , Semmens Michael
Published: February 2013

Phenomenological models and hybrid phenomenological–chemometric models were developed to predict natural organic matter (NOM) removal based on the real water treatment data from the city of Minneapolis over a 3 year period. The analysis of the modeling results showed that the phenomenological model was able to capture the major variations of NOM removal but it tended to over predict the NOM removal in independent data sets. These results could be significantly improved by the hybrid model, which was less biased and much more accurate than the phenomenological model. The phenomenological model parameters showed low statistical confidence because the available data, collected in real water treatment conditions, was not sufficiently informative to identify the complex model structure. By comparison, the hybrid modeling method enabled a more reliable discrimination of the most important factors affecting NOM removal. The final hybrid model was implemented in an Excel spreadsheet and can be easily used for NOM removal prediction and the control of chemical dosing.
Particle velocity and sediment transport at the limit of deposition in sewers
Authors: Ota J. J. , Perrusquía G. S.
Published: February 2013

This paper focuses on the sediment particle while it is transported at the limit of deposition in storm sewers, i.e. as bed load at the limit of concentration that leads to sediment deposition. Although many empirical sediment transport equations are known in the literature, there is only limited knowledge concerning particle velocity. Sediment particle and sphere velocity measurements were carried out in two pipe channels and these results led to the development of a semi-theoretical equation for sediment transport at the limit of deposition in sewers. Even in the transport process without deposition, sediment movement is slower than water velocity and depends on the angle of repose of sediment with a diameter d on the roughness k of the pipe channel. Instead of classical dimensionless bed shear stress ψ, a modified dimensionless bed shear stress ψ (d/k)2/3 was suggested, based on the angle of repose and this parameter was proved to be significant for quantifying the transport capacity. The main purpose of this article is to emphasize the importance of careful observation of experiments. Not only number of tests, but physical understanding are essential for better empirical equations.
Decolorization and degradation of cationic red X-GRL by upflow blanket filter
Authors: Qiu Bin , Dang Yan , Cheng Xiang , Sun Dezhi
Published: February 2013

An anaerobic upflow blanket filter (UBF) was employed for the treatment of dye wastewater containing cationic red X-GRL (X-GRL) in this study. The bacterial community in the UBF at its stable state was investigated by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The results showed that all color and the majority of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (92–74%) can be removed as the dye load increased from 33 to 134 g/(m3 d). The removal of color and COD were mostly attributed to the anaerobic activated sludge in the reactor. According to the DGGE fingerprints, the bacterial community in the biofilm was more diverse than that in the activated sludge. The bacterial diversity of the activated sludge and the bioflim both decreased with the dye load increasing. The dominant group was found to be phyla proteobacteria including β-proteobacteria, γ-proteobacteria, δ-proteobacteria and ɛ-proteobacteria, suggesting that these microbes might play an important role in X-GRL decolorization and degradation.
Extended statistical entropy analysis (eSEA) for improving the evaluation of Austrian wastewater treatment plants
Authors: Sobańtka A. , Rechberger H.
Published: February 2013

Extended statistical entropy analysis (eSEA) is used to evaluate the nitrogen (N) budgets of 13 Austrian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The eSEA results are then compared to the WWTPs specific N-removal rates. Among the five WWTPs that achieve a removal rate of 75% the eSEA detects significant differences in the N-performance. The main reason for this is that eSEA considers all N-species and seems to be more discriminating than the N-removal rate. Additionally, the energy consumption and the costs of the mechanical–biological treatment process are related to the N-performance according to the eSEA. The influence of the WWTP size on the energy- and cost-efficiency of the N-treatment is investigated. Results indicate that energy-efficiency does not necessarily coincide with cost-efficiency. It is shown that smaller WWTPs between 22,000 PE (population equivalents) and 50,000 PE can be operated as energy-efficiently as larger WWTPs between 100,000 and 1,000,000 PE. On average, the smaller plants operate less cost-efficiently than the large ones. This research offers a new method for the assessment of the N-performance of WWTPs, and suggests that small WWTPs are not necessarily less energy- and cost-efficient than large ones.
Abutment scour in clear-water and live-bed conditions by GMDH network
Authors: Najafzadeh Mohammad , Barani Gholam-Abbas , Kermani Masoud Reza Hessami
Published: February 2013

In the present study, the Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) network has been utilized to predict abutments scour depth for both clear-water and live-bed conditions. The GMDH network was developed using a Back Propagation algorithm (BP). Input parameters that were considered as effective variables on abutment scour depth included properties of sediment size, geometry of bridge abutments, and properties of approaching flow. Training and testing performances of the GMDH network were carried out using dimensionless parameters that were collected from the literature. The testing results were compared with those obtained using the Support Vector Machines (SVM) model and the traditional equations. The GMDH network predicted the abutment scour depth with lower error (RMSE (root mean square error) = 0.29 and MAPE (mean absolute percentage of error) = 0.99) and higher (R = 0.98) accuracy than those performed using the SVM model and the traditional equations.
Effects of acute stress on gene expression of splenic catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in chronically stressed rats
Authors: Gavrilovic Ljubica , Stojiljkovic Vesna , Kasapovic Jelena , Pejic Snezana , Todorovic Ana , Pajovic Snezana , Dronjak Sladjana
Published: February 2013

The aim of this study was to examine how acute immobilization stress affects
the concentrations of catecholamines in the plasma and the expression of the
splenic catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH),
dopamine-?-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase
(PNMT) in chronically socially isolated rats. We found that acute
immobilization increases the plasma catecholamine levels and splenic PNMT
protein levels in chronically socially isolated rats. These results show that
acute stress of chronically stressed animals activates the
sympatho-adrenomedullary system and increases synthesis of splenic PNMT by
37%, both of which can modulate the immune function.
Heart surgery in patients on chronic dialysis
Authors: Unic-Stojanovic Dragana , Milicic Miroslav , Vukovic Petar , Babic Srdjan , Jovic Miomir
Published: February 2013

Introduction. Patients on dialysis for end-stage renal failure are subjected
to cardiac surgery with increasing frequency. End-stage renal failure is
known to be an important risk factor for complications of cardiac operations
performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. The aim of this study was to determine
the impact of preoperative clinical status and operative variables on
perioperative morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis dependent patients
subjected to a cardiac surgery. Material and Methods. The following operative
variables were examined: urgency, type and duration of surgery and duration
of extracorporeal circulation. The study is a retrospective analysis of
consecutive patients with end-stage renal failure dependent on maintenance
hemodialysis who underwent cardiac surgery during four years. Results. The
study included 46 patients. Operations performed included isolated coronary
artery bypass grafting (CABG, n = 24), valve surgery alone (n = 6), and
combined valve surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery
(n = 16). The perioperative mortality rate was 13% with four fatal outcomes
in patients who had undergone combined cardiac surgery. We found age > 70
years, preoperative New York Heart Association class IV, preoperative anemia,
combined surgery and emergent surgery to be associated with a higher relative
risk for perioperative death. Conclusion. Patients on dialysis have an
increased morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery; however, we
believe that end-stage renal failure should not be regarded as a
contraindication to cardiac surgery or cardiopulmonary bypass.
Rhagoletis cerasi Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae): Biological characteristics, harmfulness and control
Authors: Stamenkovic Svetomir , Peric Pantelija , Milosevic Drago
Published: February 2013

The European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae),
is a highly destructive pest in sweet and sour cherry orchards with a
distribution area throughout Europe and the temperate regions of Asia. It
occurs regularly in all production regions of these fruit species in Serbia,
damaging up to 10% of cherries in commercial production, while damage can go
up to 100% in orchards and on solitary threes unprotected by control
measures. In Serbia, European cherry fruit fly most often attacks and damages
fruits of the lateripening cultivars of sweet cherry (Van, Stela,
Hedelfinger, Bing, Lambert, Drogan?s Yellow). After a sweet cherry harvest,
adults migrate to sour cherry where they continue feeding and ovipositing in
half-mature sour cherries (prevailingly the domestic ecotype Oblacinska).
During their activity period, larvae damage the fruits, so that they can no
longer be consumed either fresh or processed. The high percentage of sour
cherries damaged by R. cerasi has become a factor limiting exports because
the intensity of infestation of this fruit exceeds permissible limits.
Pesticide use for controlling this pest, especially in integrated production,
is based on a very poor selection of insecticides which cause problems with
residual ecotoxicity. Consequently, alternative measures for controlling
European cherry fruit fly have been intensively studied over the past few
years. This work surveys up-to-date results of various studies on the
European cherry fruit fly as a very important pest in Serbia and other South
and Mid-European countries. The work contains detailed descriptions of its
biological characteristics, flight phenology, infestation intensity and
possibilities of fly control in sweet and sour cherry production areas.
Genus Monilinia on pome and stone fruit species
Authors: Hrustic Jovana , Mihajlovic Milica , Grahovac Mila , Delibasic Goran , Bulajic Aleksandra , Krstic Branka , Tanovic Brankica
Published: February 2013

Different species of the genus Monilinia are common plant pathogens that
endanger pome and stone fruit production worldwide. In Serbia, two species of
this genus are widely distributed - M. laxa and M. fructigena, while M.
fructicola, which is officially on the A2 EPPO List of quarantine pest
organisms in Europe and on the 1A part I List of quarantine pest organisms in
Serbia, has so far been detected only on stored apple and nectarine fruits.
The most important control measures against these pathogens include chemical
control in combination with adequate cultural practices, particularly under
favourable conditions for disease development. Concerning that species of
this genus can cause significant economic losses, knowledge of the pathogen
biology, disease epidemiology and pathogen-host interactions is a necessary
prerequisite for stable and profitable production of pome and stone fruits.
A new form of economic development and employment: Model of creative rural industrialization
Authors: Rikalovic Gojko , Stojanovic Zaklina , Zakic Zorka
Published: February 2013

This paper analyzes the performance of the labour market in the predominantly
rural areas of Serbia classified according to the OECD criterion of rurality
(<150 inhabitants/km?). The research covers 18 NUTS III areas. The analysis
emphasizes the structural problems of the aging population, poor education
and unfavourable employment structure in the study area. A survey
specifically refers to the consideration of demographic labour market index,
directing the public policy actions toward different treatment of different
rural areas in Serbia. The specific answer is found in the new approach based
on innovativeness and the model of creative rural industrialization.
Compliance of declarative and procedural knowledge in cooperative teaching
Authors: Miscevic-Kadijevic Gordana
Published: February 2013

In a number of works dealing with cooperative teaching affective domain
variables were in focus, while the cognitive domain variables were studied
less. In this paper, we try to look on cooperative teaching from the point of
conformation of declarative and procedural knowledge. The influence of three
modalities of cooperative work in teaching Nature and Society on
comformability of students? declarative and procedural knowledge are
experimentally checked. Arranging the students within small homogeneous and
heterogeneous groups was the basis for the formation of the applied
modalities. The sample consisted of 259 fourth-grade students of elementary
school. The experiment was done with parallel groups. The results showed that
students in the experi?mental group had better conformation of declarative
and procedural knowledge not only at the final, but also at the subsequent
measurings, as compared to the control group. Heterogeneous or homogeneous
grouping led to the same conformation of declarative and procedural
knowledge. Quality knowledge can not be obtained by accumulation of either
declarative or procedural one, but by balancing these two kinds of knowledge,
by their conformation. Conformed skills last longer and that is precisely the
goal of a successful teaching in general, and not only cooperative teaching
Nature and Society we dealt with in our study.
Special forms of criminal property confiscation
Authors: Lajic Oliver
Published: February 2013

Confiscation has existed in the domestic legal system for more than half a
century. Considering limitations in practical implementation of this
principle, espe?cially in the context of fighting against organized crime,
the domestic legislator has recently offered new solutions for ?criminal
property? confiscation in the form of criminal property confiscation
procedure regulated by a special law. In this sense, this paper ana?lyzes the
specific characteristics of organized crime phenomena, which require a
different approach compared to the standard solutions in this area,
criticizing such solutions, as well as the state of the local law and
practice that preceded the adoption of the above mentioned regulation. The
author concludes that criminal property confiscation may be considered as a
desirable instrument in the fight against organized crime, whereby we should
be careful in creating the related normative and legal framework, thus
avoiding numerous negative effects that may challenge its creators. He also
points out the international element that has significant influence in the
design and practical implementation of the national models.
Effects of oral and intraperitoneal magnesium treatment against cadmium-induced oxidative stress in plasma of rats
Authors: Buha Aleksandra , Bulat Zorica , Đukić-Ćosić Danijela , Matović Vesna
Published: February 2013

Cadmium (Cd) has been recognised as one of the most important environmental and industrial pollutants, and up-to-date investigations have shown that one of the mechanisms of its toxicity is associated with the induction of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine the connection between acute oral and intraperitoneal exposure to Cd and parameters indicative of oxidative stress in the plasma of rats, as well as to examine the potential protective effect of magnesium (Mg) in conditions of acute oral and intraperitoneal Cd poisoning. The experiment was performed on male albino Wistar rats (n=40) randomly divided into control group, Cdor group that received 30 mg kg-1 b.w. Cd by oral gavage, Cd+Mgor group that orally received 50 mg kg-1 b.w. Mg one hour before oral Cd, Cdip group that received 1.5 mg kg-1 b.w. Cd intraperitoneally, and Cd+Mgip group that intraperitoneally received 3 mg kg-1 b.w. Mg 10 min before intraperitoneal Cd. The animals were sacrifi ced 24 h after treatment and the following parameters were measured: superoxidedismutase activity, superoxide anion, total oxidative status, advanced oxidation protein products, and malondialdehyde. All parameters of oxidative stress in rat plasma were negatively affected by Cd treatment with more pronounced negative effects after intraperitoneal treatment, with the exception of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Although both oral and intraperitoneal Mg pretreatment had protective effects, more pronounced benefi cial effects were observed after oral administration, since it managed to completely prevent Cd-induced changes in the investigated parameters. The observed results support the use of Mg as potential protective agent against toxic effects caused by Cd.
The First Report on Mushroom Green Mould Disease in Croatia / Prvi Izvještaj O Bolesti Zelene Plijesni U Hrvatskoj
Authors: Hatvani Lóránt , Sabolić Petra , Kocsubé Sándor , Kredics László , Czifra Dorina , Vágvölgyi Csaba , Kaliterna Joško , Ivić Dario , Đermić Edyta , Kosalec Ivan
Published: February 2013

Green mould disease, caused by Trichoderma species, is a severe problem for mushroom growers worldwide, including Croatia. Trichoderma strains were isolated from green mould-affected Agaricus bisporus (button or common mushroom) compost and Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) substrate samples collected from Croatian mushroom farms. The causal agents of green mould disease in the oyster mushroom were T. pleurotum and T. pleuroticola, similar to other countries. At the same time, the pathogen of A. bisporus was exclusively the species T. harzianum, which is different from earlier findings and indicates that the range of mushroom pathogens is widening. The temperature profiles of the isolates and their hosts overlapped, thus no range was found that would allow optimal growth of the mushrooms without mould contamination. Ferulic acid and certain phenolic compounds, such as thymol showed remarkable fungistatic effect on the Trichoderma isolates, but inhibited the host mushrooms as well. However, commercial fungicides prochloraz and carbendazim were effective agents for pest management. This is the first report on green mould disease of cultivated mushrooms in Croatia
Two Rare Cases Of Central Nervous System Opportunistic Mycoses / Oportunističke Mikoze Središnjega Živčanog Sustava – Prikaz Dvaju Bolesnika
Authors: Mlinarić Missoni Emilija , Baršić Bruno
Published: February 2013

This article presents two cases of opportunistic mycoses (OMs) of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus nidulans, respectively. The patients were hospitalised in local hospitals between 2009 and 2011 because of unspecific symptoms (fever, headache, and/or weight lost). Duration of symptoms varied from 4 days to over 2 weeks. The patients were treated with antibiotics and symptomatically. OM was not suspected in any of them. The patients became critically ill with symptoms of CNS involvement and were transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University Hospital for Infectious diseases (UHID) in Zagreb. None of the patients belonged to the high-risk population for developing OMs. They were not HIV-infected, had no transplantation of bone marrow or solid organ, and were not on severe immunosuppressive chemotherapy. Fungi were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and, in one patient, from aspirate of cerebral abscess. Isolation and mycological identification of all fungal isolates and in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of these isolates were done at the Reference Centre for Mycological Diagnostics of Systemic and Disseminated Infections (RCMDSDI) in Zagreb. The patient with cryptococcal meningitis was treated with amphotericin B and fluconazole and the patient with cerebral aspergilloma with voriconazole.
Evaluation of the decorative value of wild-grown Festuca trachyphylla (Hack.) Krajina in the southeastern part of Poland
Authors: Dąbrowska Agnieszka
Published: February 2013

The decorative value of 24 fescue (Festuca trachyphylla) ecotypes from natural habitats in the Lublin region was assessed in the years 2004-2011. Plants with desirable ornamental characteristics were selected and the cuttings were planted in experimental plots in the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Botanical Garden in Lublin, where they grew in uniform habitat conditions. During the study years, 18 morphological traits that determine the decorative value of grasses were analysed; 11 quantitative traits (length and number of the culm, length of the panicle, number of spikelets in the panicle, number of vegetative stems, length, width and thickness of the leaf blade, length and width of the cauline leaf and diameter of the tuft) and seven qualitative traits (plant growth habit, greenness index of the leaf blade [SPAD], winter greenness, culm colour, waxy coating on the leaf blade, flowering periods and plant condition after 8 years). The analysis of quantitative and qualitative traits demonstrated that F. trachyphylla is a morphologically variable species. The variability is mainly manifested in the inflorescence morphology, length of the leaf blades and number of culms, which have been statistically corroborated by the results of the ANOVA analysis. A considerable degree of variability was also exhibited by plant habit, colour of leaves and culm, wax deposits on the leaves and flowering period. The high morphological variability of this species allowed for the selection of two interesting types among the plant individuals studied, which were characterised by desirable decorative traits. The most decorative features of the selected ecotypes include the shape and colour of the leaves and the plant habit.
Thermodynamical motivation of the Polish energy policy
Authors: Ziębik Andrzej
Published: February 2013

Basing on the first and second law of thermodynamics the fundamental trends in the Polish energy policy are analysed, including the aspects of environmental protection. The thermodynamical improvement of real processes (reduction of exergy losses) is the main way leading to an improvement of the effectivity of energy consumption. If the exergy loss is economically not justified, we have to do with an error from the viewpoint of the second law analysis. The paper contains a thermodynamical analysis of the ratio of final and primary energy, as well as the analysis of the thermo-ecological cost and index of sustainable development concerning primary energy. Analyses of thermo-ecological costs concerning electricity and centralized heat production have been also carried out. The effect of increasing the share of high-efficiency cogeneration has been analyzed, too. Attention has been paid to an improved efficiency of the transmission and distribution of electricity, which is of special importance from the viewpoint of the second law analysis. The improvement of the energy effectivity in industry was analyzed on the example of physical recuperation, being of special importance from the point of view of exergy analysis.
Analysis Of Family Cases With Type I Diabetes Mellitus In A Group Of Pediatric Patients From Constanţa County
Authors: Franciuc Irina , Mihai Cristina Maria , Martinescu Alina , Aftenie Loredana Mariana , Honcea Adina
Published: February 2013

The aim of this study was to present the cases with family history of type 1 diabetes in a group of pediatric patients from the Clinic of Pediatrics, Constanta County Hospital, and to analyze the risk for relatives conferred by presence of particular DR genotypes. 8 out of 60 index cases had relatives affected with type 1 diabetes (13.33%). Of these, four had firstdegree relatives affected (6.67%) and were presented here. Although high-risk genotypes were more frequent in the group of familial cases, no association was found between DR genotype and family history of type 1 diabetes when statistical significance was tested (p value 0.119).
Rare Immunodeficiency In A Two-Months-Old Infant
Authors: Oniceanu Florina-Mădălina , Ion Ileana , Leu Elena , Apostol Adriana , Adumitresi Cecilia , Rădulescu Ninela , Farcaş Cristina , Ştefănescu Anabella-Cristiana , Chirică R.
Published: February 2013

Chronic granulomatous disease is a diverse group of hereditary diseases characterized by neutrophils incapacity or difficulty to form reactive oxygen compounds, most important, the superoxide radical, used to kill certain pathogens. The consequence is recurrent infections with germs with normally low pathogenicity and formation of supurative granulomas. The authors present a pathology case of immunodeficiency rarely seen in pediatrics: chronic granulomatous disease in a 2 months old infant. The positive diagnosis was based on clinical presentation, dominated by lymphadenopathy, pemphigoid skin lesions, bilateral ear secretion, growth failure, hepatomegaly. Physical presentation correlated with laboratory studies (Bursttest), chest radiography and CT imaging, moderate inflammatory syndrome, low platelets level and the presence of fibrin monomers suggested a neonatal sepsis having on the background a X-linked immunodeficiency (the patient being the only male survivor in his family, with 4 healthy sisters). The specific feature in this case was early onset of the disease, with clinical, but most important, pulmonary radiological aspect characteristic for chronic granulomatous disease. The prognosis was poor; the baby is readmitted in the hospital after 2 months and he dies, having clinical aspect of sepsis unresponsive to the applied intensive therapy. The histological findings enhanced numerous pulmonary and hepatic microabscesses.
Postmortem Traumatic Lesions Produced In Storm Conditions In Black Sea – Case Presentations
Authors: Popa Marius Florentin
Published: February 2013

Drowning represents a mechanical asphyxia form, produced by the obstruction of the air pathways, obstruction in which the air is replaced by a fluid. For the drowning to take place is enough that the breathing orifices (mouth, nose) to be placed in the fluid environment. This paper aims to analyze some special drowning cases, cases in which the traumatic lesions encountered are very rare in the forensic pathology. These postmortem traumatic lesions are very rare encountered in cases of drowning. In the international special literature there are no such cases presented, because these types of traumatic injuries are usually present in death situations due to a much more violent death mechanism - blunt object trauma, driving or train accidents. In the international special literature this types of lesions are not encountered, this aspect being very important to be known and noted, for a pertinent differential diagnosis with other more violent types of death.
Citrullinemia and Hyperglycinemia Presenting with Seizures - Case Report of a 4 Day Old Baby
Authors: Lodh Moushumi , Kerketta Joshi Anand
Published: February 2013

Inborn errors of amino acid metabolism (IEM) are of concern in India, the spectrum being wide, varied and poorly diagnosed. Since aggregate incidence of inborn errors of metabolism is relatively high, in countries such as India, a high degree of suspicion is essential to correctly diagnose an inborn error of amino acid metabolism. We report a case of citrullinemia, glycinemia with hyperammonaemia and seizures in a 4-dayold previously asymptomatic baby, with a brief review of the literature. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v3i1.4801 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 3(2012) 17-20
Can Results of car-following Model Calibration Based on Trajectory Data be Trusted?
Authors: Punzo Vincenzo , Ciuffo Biagio , Montanino Marcello
Published: February 2013

Calibration of car-following models against trajectory data has been widely applied as the basis for studies ranging from model investigation and benchmarking to parameter correlation analysis. Other theoretical issues, such as inter- and intradriver heterogeneity or multianticipative driving behavior, are also addressed in such studies. However, very few of these studies attempted to analyze and quantify the uncertainty entailed in the calibration process and its impacts on the accuracy and reliability of results. A thorough understanding of the whole calibration problem (against trajectory data), as well as of the mutual effect of the specific problems raised in the field literature, does not yet exist. In this view, a general methodology to assess a calibration procedure was proposed and applied to the calibration of the Gipps’ car-following model. Compact indicators were proposed to evaluate the capability of a calibration setting to find the known global solution regarding the accuracy and the robustness against the variation of the starting conditions of the optimization algorithm. Then a graphical inspection method, based on cobweb plots, was proposed to explore the existence and nature of the local minima found by the algorithms, as well as to give insights into the measures of performance and the goodness-of-fit functions used in the calibration experiments. The methodology was applied to all calibration settings (i.e., combinations of algorithms, measures of performance, and goodness-of-fit functions) used in the field literature so far. The study allowed the highlighting and motivation, for the model under investigation, of the limits of some of these calibration settings. Research directions for the definition of robust settings for the problem of car-following model calibration based on real trajectory data are outlined.
Multistate Travel Time Reliability Models with Skewed Component Distributions
Authors: Guo Feng , Li Qing , Rakha Hesham
Published: February 2013

The multistate travel time reliability model has demonstrated superior performance, a close relationship with underlying traffic conditions, and ease of interpretation for travel time reliability reporting. This study advances the multistate model by using skewed component distributions—for example, the gamma and lognormal distributions—to accommodate nonsymmetrically distributed travel times, which are commonly observed in congested states. Six alternative models, the single-state normal, gamma, and lognormal distributions and their multistate versions, were fitted to field-collected data. The performance of the models was compared with Akaike's information criterion. The results indicate that the multistate lognormal model consistently out performs alternative models, especially during peak hours. The improved fitting of the lognormal model is mainly reflected in the mode and tail portion of the data distribution. During off-peak hours, the single-state model could provide a compatible but parsimonious alternative to multistate models. The impact of using the multistate lognormal model is demonstrated on travel time reliability reporting by using the travel time buffer index. The study concludes that the multistate lognormal model is the optimal alternative model for modeling travel time under moderate to heavy traffic conditions along freeways.
Traffic State Estimation from Aggregated Measurements with Signal Reconstruction Techniques
Authors: Coric Vladimir , Djuric Nemanja , Vucetic Slobodan
Published: February 2013

The estimation of the state of traffic provides a detailed picture of the conditions of a traffic network based on limited traffic measurements and, as such, plays a key role in intelligent transportation systems. Most of the existing state estimation algorithms are based on Kalman filtering and its variants, which, starting from the current estimate, predict the future state and then correct it on the basis of new measurements. Most often, traffic measurements are aggregated over multiple time steps, and this procedure raises the question of how to best use this information for state estimation. A standard approach that performs the correction only at the time step when the aggregated measurement is received is suboptimal. Reconstructing the high-resolution measurements from the aggregated ones and using them to correct the state estimates at every time step are proposed. Several reconstruction techniques from signal processing, including kernel regression and a reconstruction approach based on convex optimization, were considered. The proposed approach was evaluated on real-world NGSIM data collected at Interstate 101, located in Los Angeles, California. Experimental results show that signal reconstruction leads to more accurate traffic state estimation as compared with the standard approach for dealing with aggregated measurements.