bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Really and Truly by E. Rivard
Authors: Roberts Brenda
Published: April 2016

Rivard, Émilie.  Really and Truly. Illus. Anne-Claire Delisle. Trans. Sarah Quinn. Toronto:  Owlkids Books Inc., 2011.  Print. Prolific Quebec author Émilie Rivard departs from her usual novel format in the picture book, Really and Truly. Really and Truly describes the loving relationship between Charlie and his grandfather, a master storyteller.  Grandpa’s stories are fabulous and Charlie becomes immersed in the tales of pirates, gnomes and witches.  Grandpa has an imaginative explanation for everything and Charlie is mesmerized.  Every story ends with the line, “Really and truly, Charlie.”  Time passes, Charlie gets older and Grandpa changes as a disease “eats up his memory and his words”.  Visit after visit Grandpa becomes less responsive, leaving Charlie and his family heartbroken.  During one visit, Charlie remembers a story his Grandpa used to tell and decides to tell it back to Grandpa.  For the first time in a long time, he catches his Grandpa’s attention.  At each visit, Charlie tells another story eventually eliciting a small smile from Grandpa. This is an endearing story about family relationships and the difficulties of dealing with dementia.  Clever illustrations complement the straightforward text.  Grandpa’s and Charlie’s stories are illustrated in black and white on top of the coloured illustrations of reality.   This would be a good read aloud for primary-junior students, providing a vehicle for discussions about family stories, grandparents, and Alzheimer’s disease.   Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Brenda Roberts Brenda Roberts is the teacher-librarian at Edenbrook Hill Public School in Brampton, Ontario and is working on her M.Ed. in teacher-librarianship from the University of Alberta.  When not devouring books, she enjoys travel, quilting, music and gardening.
Get Well Soon, Grandpa! by A. Swerts & J. Bakker
Authors: Chan Liza
Published: April 2016

Swerts, An, and Jenny Bakker. Get Well Soon, Grandpa! New York: Clavis, 2013. Print.               Get Well Soon, Grandpa! is written by An Swerts and beautifully illustrated by Jenny Bakker.  This 2013 English edition is translated from the original Dutch title, Lieve opa, ik help je wel (2012). It tells the heart-warming story of a caring strawberry-haired girl, Faye, her doting Grandpa Bert, and their experiences of dealing with Grandpa Bert’s unexpected health issue, a stroke.The story starts with Faye’s exciting sleepover with Grandpa Bert. Their close relationship and fun together are evident in their messy pancake-cooking, habitual bedtime stories, and Faye’s special role in Grandpa Bert’s morning shaving rituals. The story is well paced and satisfyingly realistic and whimsical. Young readers would gain insight that a stroke can happen suddenly, and a child, like Faye, can react calmly and appropriately. The medical aspect of stroke is skillfully and aptly explained through colourful lovely images and Faye’s simple questions and dialogue with a gentle physician. The story shows that when an aging relative sustains a stroke, it can be a confusing, stressful, and worrisome time for both young children and adults, as experienced by Faye and Faye’s mother. For passionate and eager Faye, being unfamiliar with the hospital environment and rules, she devises a special and bold plan to make sure Grandpa Bert’s hospital stay is not lonely over the summer, and that he gets to see his dog, Toby.Another noteworthy element of the story is that it superbly highlights the multidisciplinary and rehabilitative nature of stroke therapy with visits from Tom, the physical therapist, and Lena, the speech therapist.  Their interactions with Grandpa Bert and Faye are friendly and beneficial.  Finally, the move-in of Grandpa Bert to Faye’s home and her ability to help with Grandpa Bert’s exercises and activities of daily living indicate the importance of family’s love, adjustment and involvement in the healing process.With an age-appropriate portrayal of stroke and its manifestation, and the admirable bond between a grandparent and grandchild, this is an excellent book for public libraries and elementary school libraries.Highly recommended:  4 stars out of 4Reviewer:  Liza ChanLiza Chan is a Research Librarian, cross-appointed at Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions and University of Alberta John W. Scott Health Sciences Libraries.  She is also a proud auntie to 2 nephews, with whom she often enjoys visiting local libraries.
Nokum is My Teacher by D. Bouchard
Authors: Cardinal Trudy , Swanson Cindy
Published: April 2016

Bouchard, David. Nokum is My Teacher. Markham: Red Deer Press, 2006. Print.Through the creation of conversational inquiry, David Bouchard’s award-winning picture book Nokum is My Teacher carries the reader on a beautiful journey between a young Cree boy and his Nokum, his grandmother. The journey honours both the Cree and English languages by including the dual text in columns throughout the book.  This format invites us to imagine the dialogue occurring in either language as the boy questions his place on the school landscape. He asks his grandmother for guidance and wonders how relevant his school learning is in his life when held in contrast to his experiences and knowing alongside his Cree family. Interwoven throughout the conversation, his grandmother responds to his wonders with questions as she gently guides him to seek answers from within his heart. Recognizing the importance of his traditional knowledge and ways of living alongside his Nokum, he begins to also see the value of the knowledge he will gain from his experiences in school. The young boy, steeped in his Nokum’s wisdom comes to see how new ways of knowing are essential in his life so he may continue to share his stories and experiences in multiple ways. Allen Sapp’s picturesque illustrations exquisitely show both contemporary and traditional Cree lives and invites readers to reflect on their own stories around the importance of place, family and community. A compact disc is included containing a reading of the story in English and Cree with the Cree reading accompanied by the award-winning Aboriginal drumming group, Northern Cree.  The images in the book, the dual text, and the CD offer multiple ways for readers to experience this story with the rhythmic heartbeat of the drum bringing it to life.While this is a children's picture book it will appeal to all ages. We would recommend it be used in every classroom from elementary through to post-secondary as a way to invite conversation about the tensions children and families negotiate as they travel between home and school and as a way to honour multiple ways of knowing.Highly recommended:  4 out of 4 starsReviewers: Cindy Swanson & Trudy CardinalDoctoral candidate Cindy Swanson and Dr. Trudy Cardinal are Cree/Métis scholars from the University of Alberta whose research interests center on the experiences of Indigenous children and families on and off school landscapes. Both share a passion for children’s literature, especially literature written by and portraying the multiplicities in the lives of Indigenous youth and families.
Living Rough by C. Watson
Authors: Blackwood Melissa
Published: April 2016

Watson, Cristy. Living Rough. Victoria: Orca Book Publishers, 2011. Print. Another thought-provoking and poignant topic delivered by the Orca Current Series of books for reluctant middle-school readers. Edgar is a smart teen, living a rough life in an urban modern society.  He has a well-kept secret he hasn’t shared with anyone, not even his best friend Ben.  Edgar and his father are homeless.  After his mother died of cancer, his father became depressed, lost his job and house.  They had no choice but to move into a tent close to town.  A turn in the story twists Edgar’s life around.  A storm strikes that destroys their tent and injures his father.  Edgar must decide what to do with his secret, as sustaining this lifestyle is not an option.  He must decide if it's time to share with the world the issues related to homelessness.   This contemporary realistic fiction discusses the controversial issue of homelessness through a child’s eyes.  Edgar encounters familiar teen issues of bullying, intimidation, cliques, inner conflict, and first love.  Canadian author and teacher Cristy Watson writes a realistic dialogue in life-like school settings in this, her second addition to the Orca Current series.  A progressive chronological plot strongly develops Edgar’s character and his secret adds suspense throughout the novel that will maintain the reader’s interest. This hi-lo novel, set in British Columbia, with short chapters and large font, will appeal to reluctant readers ages ten to fifteen.  Expressing the important themes of friendship, compassion, responsibility, and the complexity of homelessness, this novel can be integrated into a social studies or health curriculum.  Living Rough is a fast-paced novel with an audience-pleasing resolution. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Melissa Blackwood Melissa Blackwood is a Primary/Elementary teacher, presently completing a Master of Education in Teacher-Librarianship with the University of Alberta.
The Dreaded Ogress of the Tundra by N. Christopher
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Christopher, Neil.  The Dreaded Ogress of the Tundra.  Iqaluit:  Inhabit Media, 2015. PrintAmautaliit are giant ogresses who eat small children.  They roam the Arctic tundra looking for unsupervised children such as orphans or those who have wandered away from camp.  They sneak up on the children, capture and carry them away in their disgusting baskets containing rotting seaweed and giant bugs.  These stories have two themes.  First, they are cautionary tales designed to keep children from wandering away from camps and villages. Second, they usually show the children using their ingenuity or ancient magic to escape the not-too-smart amautaliit.This is an updated and revised version of Christopher’s 2009 volume, Stories of the Amautalik, which contains versions of the two stories presented in this work.  However, this edition of the book is more like a junior handbook to amautaliit (plural of amautalik). While this book has many illustrations which are appropriately dark, scary and creepy, there is much more text than one usually finds in an Inhabit Media book.  At least half of the pages are full text and like Stories of the Amautalik, the reading level is high for young children. The book includes a seven-page introduction to amautaliit, which describes who these creatures are, their clothing, their baskets, their caves and how they hunt small children.  At the end of the book there is an “Other Ogres and Ogresses” section, which gives single page, illustrated descriptions of similar creatures, including a giant spider that assumes a human-like form. Even though this is a revision of an earlier work that many libraries will have, the expanded content would make it a useful addition to libraries with children’s collections, and particularly to academic libraries that collect works on Arctic myths and legends.Highly Recommended:  4 stars out of 4Reviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
Home in Time for Dinner by K. Ellis
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Ellis, Kathryn.  Home in Time for Dinner.  Markham, ON: Red Deer Press, 2012. Print.From the author of the book Degrassi Junior High and scripts for the original Degrassi Junior High television show, comes a story about a thirteen-year-old boy who has grown up in Texas, not knowing that is father had abducted him from his Canadian mother in a nasty divorce and custody battle. Ellis is definitely in tune with teenage boys.  She flawlessly takes the reader through Chris Ramsey’s discovery that he is one of the “missing children” profiled on television,  his plan to escape and his flight to Canada.  By presenting the story through Chris’s eyes, Ellis draws the reader into the world of a confused and distressed, but determined teenager.Ellis masterfully responds to all of the obvious objections to the events in the story.  Why doesn’t Chris just go to the police?  His father has taught him to fear and avoid the police.  Chris makes terrible errors in judgement on his journey, but we know that his father has always controlled him, and not allowed him to make decisions, so he has little experience with it.  Remarkably, his mother still lives in the same apartment in Kingston, but Ellis tells us that she’s been waiting for him to return.  So while, objectively, the plot is too tidy, it doesn’t seem that way when you are reading the story.  The one point that really stretches the suspension of disbelief is Chris’ being easily smuggled across the border. While the plot line is simple, Ellis has a knack for getting at the essence of a situation in just a few words.  Whether the alcoholic former preacher who gives Chris a ride, the manipulative Moth who gives a him a place to sleep and then robs him or the moment when Chris’s mother recognizes her child who has been missing for years,  Ellis creates unforgettable characters and scenes.  This is one of the best young adult novels that I have read recently.  It is not a high literary work, but it is a good read and would be a great addition to public and junior high school libraries. Highly recommended:  4 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
Children's Health Fiction Exhibition, October November 2014
Authors: Tan Maria
Published: April 2016

The Deakin Review of Children's Literature Health Fiction Exhibition is a joint exhibit at the University of Alberta’s Education and Health Sciences libraries. It showcases books reviewed in this special issue.
Brave Music of a Distant Drum by M. Herbstein
Authors: Quirk Linda
Published: April 2016

Herbstein, Manu.  Brave Music of a Distant Drum. Markham, ON: Red Deer Press, 2011.  Print. This is a powerful and thought-provoking novel, which offers remarkable insights into one of the darkest chapters in human history.  South African author Manu Herbstein was awarded the 2002 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for Ama: A Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, and in Brave Music of a Distant Drum, Herbstein re-imagines Ama’s story for a younger, North American audience. The novel chronicles the meeting between an elderly woman at the end of her life and the son who does not remember or understand her.  It soon becomes clear that the divide which separates mother and son cannot be overcome until he listens to her story.  Kidnapped as a teenager by Bedagbam slave raiders, young Ama was traded several times by powerful slave owners in Africa before she found herself on a slave ship bound for South America.  Now elderly and blind, Ama needs her son to write her history down so that it will not be drowned “in the swamp of lost memories.” It is a heart-breaking story, but one that is filled with courageous acts of resistance and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of hope.  Following in the tradition of Alex Haley’s Roots (1976) and Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negros (2007), it is apparent that Ama’s son needs to understand his parents’ history before he can make sense of his own life in the present. This novel is recommended for young adults (16+), and this is an important guideline for two reasons.  First, readers who lack sufficient literary and historical knowledge will have trouble interpreting the clues that reveal that the novel is set in eighteenth-century Brazil.  More importantly, although the novel’s realistic depictions of horrific violence serve an important purpose, this violence is challenging for even a mature reader. Recommended: Four stars out of fourReviewer: Linda QuirkLinda is Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.
The Legend of Lightning and Thunder P. I. Rumbolt
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Rumbolt, Paula Ikuutaq. The Legend of Lightning and Thunder. Iqualuit, NV:  Inhabit Media, 2013. Print.There are many Inuit stories that tell of the origins of things.  There are also many stories about orphans.  This book is a simple retelling of a legend that involves both and carries a gentle lesson.  It concludes that the presence of thunder and lightning in our world is the result of people neglecting and not caring for orphan children.  Paula Ikuutaq Rumbolt is an Inuit writer from Baker Lake, Nunavut.  She learned traditional Inuit stories and beliefs from her grandmother. The story is from “a time before stealing existed.  No one knew what it was, as it had never happened to anyone.”  When the orphan children are turned away from the camp, they must steal food to stay alive, which makes them permanent outcasts.  They steal caribou meat, a small caribou skin and a flint.  They discover that the skin will make noise and the flint will make sparks and have fun playing with them.  They soon realize, though, that they will be hunted by the people in the camp so they hide in the sky, where you can hear them today, playing with the skin and the flint, making thunder and lightning.    While the text is fairly easy to read, the presence of more difficult words such as “exhilarating” indicates that it is really intended to be shared by an adult and child.While the story is simple, it is brought to life by Jo Rioux’s artwork. For each pair of pages, one is a full page comic-book style image showing Inuit people in village settings and doing traditional activities.  The facing page has a smaller image, with text usually printed over a light coloured sky.  The images are in a palette of soft browns and oranges, which shade to reds, particularly where magical things are being depicted. Young children will enjoy this book, as will anyone who appreciates Inuit legends.  This volume extends  Inhabit Media's track record of consistently high quality publications and authentic voices and sources.  Highly recommended for elementary school and public libraries.Highly recommended:  4 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
Max and Milo Go to Sleep by H. & E. Long
Authors: Gregson Brittany
Published: April 2016

Long, Heather and Ethan.  Max and Milo Go to Sleep.  New York: S&S/Aladdin, 2013. Print.In Max and Milo Go to Sleep, we read about two brothers who share a room. Max, the elder and very sleepy brother, is kept up by his younger brother Milo’s antics. Milo has tried counting sheep and still can’t sleep. Like any younger brother would, Milo calls to Max for help. Max suggests that Milo read a book but of course he doesn’t do that quietly, nor is that the last problem Milo has that night. After a series of problems, Max snaps. He can’t take Milo and his nightly sleep aversion routine. Mid lecture, Max realizes that Milo has finally gone to sleep. But will Max be able to catch his Zzzzs that night?This book is one of those children’s books that the parent may enjoy more than the child. It is written like a comic book so the cartoonish illustrations are crucial to the story. Max and Milo both have huge expressive faces which make it quite easy to pick up how each brother is feeling. Parents will surely sympathize and laugh out loud at Max’s exasperation with Milo who “never really [tries] to go to sleep.”   A lot of detail was put into the pictures, for example Max had The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on his bedside table. My five-year old nephew thought that this book was ‘awesome and so funny’. Max and Milo is likely to become a bedtime favourite.Highly recommended:  4 stars out of 4 Reviewer: Brittany GregsonBrittany Gregson is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Library and Information Technology program.She works at the Family and Community Resource Centre, Alberta Children’s Hospital as the Child Health Information Specialist. Other than reading she enjoys both baking and crafting.
George by A. Gino
Authors: Paulsen Emily
Published: April 2016

Gino, Alex. George. New York: Scholastic Press, 2015. Print.George is a bright, funny, and somewhat shy girl. Her main problem? Everyone thinks she’s a boy. She looks like a boy, she was born with all the parts of a boy, but she knows that she is a girl. She believes that she will have to hide her true self forever until the chance to play Charlotte in the school’s production of Charlotte’s Web arises and, with the support of her best friend Kelly, changes everything.There are few characters in George that perform with complete virtuosity or complete viciousness. Instead, Gino presents a cast that reflects our own society: some are confused, some say the wrong things, some are cruel, some supportive, and some just worry about George’s safety as she moves into a frequently victimized population. Gino’s prose throughout the novel refers to George as “her.” This pronoun choice in addition to the powerful insight that readers gain from seeing into the mind of George, make it clear that George simply is a girl. Gino does excellent work to create this connection and understanding between George and the reader so that the reader can feel how wrong it is when George is treated as if she’s a boy. The incessant gendering of everyday life is apparent and absurd when it is forced upon George. People, being such visual animals, often focus on the appearance of transgender individuals or can find it difficult to reconcile seeing a “boy” and being told that they are actually a girl inside. But because George’s story has taken the form of the written word, we are not so distracted by what we see and we can instead be more open to understanding.Not just for those questioning their own gender identity, this novel works to inform and inspire empathy for all readers. It is an absolute necessity for a collection that strives for diverse representation.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Emily PaulsenEmily Paulsen is recent graduate from the School of Library and Information Studies Master’s program at the University of Alberta. She is born and raised in Edmonton and enjoys travelling, food, and photography.
My Healthy Body by L. Framer and F. Gerstein
Authors: Tan Maria
Published: April 2016

Fromer, Liza, and F. Gerstein. My Healthy Body. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2012. Print. Liza Fromer is a broadcast journalist with a degree in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson University. In addition to working with The Discovery Channel and being a weekend anchor and reporter at A-Channel in Calgary, Liza has co-hosted CityTV’s Breakfast Television, hosted The Weather Network’s “Good Morning Toronto” and SLICE network’s series, “The List”. Currently, Ms Fromer lives in Toronto, as does her co-author sister-in-law, Dr. Francine Gerstein, a family physician and cosmetic medicine practitioner. Together they have co-written My Healthy Body and five other books that make up the Body Works Series. My Healthy Body opens with an author’s note about seeking medical advice for health concerns, then covers the following topics: sleep, exercise, nutrition, vaccination, eye and dental care, and the importance of family and friends, learning, and personal hygiene. Fun facts and true/false questions signal the end of each topic. Colourful illustrations depict children engaged in a variety of daily activities related to the health topics being discussed. The book focuses on the role that individuals play in being healthy. While it does not specifically situate health behaviours in a broader context of health promotion (i.e., that being healthy is affected by many factors, one of which is individual behaviour) the sections on family and friends and learning, although presented from a personal choice perspective, are a nod to some of these broader determinants. Overall, My Healthy Body is engaging and informative without being text heavy. However, it does have a few limitations. Firstly, I was surprised that, despite the book being written and published in Canada, the nutrition section does not refer to Canada’s Food Guide, highlighting the USDA’s guide instead. Similarly, the section on exercise eschews the more inclusive term, physical activity, used in the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. Secondly, while the publisher’s website lists the book as suitable for children ages six to nine years old, this book includes vocabulary that may be more suited to the upper end of this range and readers may need assistance to understand some of the terms. Some terms are introduced in plain language, followed by the medical term in parentheses. This treatment of health-related terminology is inconsistent – some words, such as “tissues”, “self-esteem”, “obesity” are not defined in the text, nor are they addressed in the brief glossary at the end of the book; unexpectedly, the glossary does introduce some terms that do not appear in the text (e.g., antigen). Finally, the book ends abruptly, with no conclusion, suggestions for further reading, or mention of the glossary. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Maria TanMaria is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta’s H. T. Coutts Education Library. She enjoys travelling and visiting unique and far-flung libraries. An avid foodie, Maria’s motto is, “There’s really no good reason to stop the flow of snacks”.
Use of Hydrochloric Acid To Remove Filter-Cake Damage From Preformed Particle Gel During Conformance-Control Treatments
Authors: Imqam Abdulmohsin , Bai Baojun , Wei Mingzhen , Elue Hilary , Muhammed Farag A.
Published: April 2016

Millimeter-sized (10-µm to mm) preformed particle gel (PPG) has been used to control water flow through superhigh-permeability zones and fracture zones in mature oil fields. When the PPG is extruded into target zones, the gel can form a cake on the surface of low-permeability, unswept formations. This cake reduces the effectiveness of conformance control and the amount of oil that can be recovered from unswept oil formations. Thus, this study evaluated the effectiveness of using hydrochloric acid (HCl) to remove gel cakes induced during conformance-control treatments.

The interactions between HCl and PPG were evaluated to understand the swelling, deswelling, and gel strength after adding acid. A Hassler core holder was then used to determine the core permeability after gel and acid treatments. Gels swollen in brine concentrations of 0.05, 1, and 10% were injected into a sandstone core having a variety of permeabilities. Brine was then injected in cycles through the gel into the core. The core permeability was measured after the gel-particle injection and after the core surface of the gel cake was soaked in the acid solution for 12 hours. The results indicate that particles swollen in brine concentrations of 0.05% caused more damage than those swollen in higher concentrations of brine. The damage increased as the core permeability increased for all the swollen gels. HCl removed the gel cake effectively; varying the HCl concentration did not cause a significant difference in the gel-cake removal efficiency. The gel was found to swell much less in HCl solutions than in brine. After the gel was deswollen in acid, the gel strengths were found to be higher than when the gel was swollen in brine. This work concludes that HCl can be used effectively to mitigate the damage induced by PPGs.
Supramolecular Fluid of Associative Polymer and Viscoelastic Surfactant for Hydraulic Fracturing
Authors: Yang Jiang , Cui Weixiang , Guan Baoshan , Lu Yongjun , Qiu Xiaohui , Yang Zhanwei , Qin Wenlong
Published: April 2016

This paper details the study of a new fracturing fluid that is based on a supramolecular complex between associative polymer and viscoelastic surfactant (VES). The crosslinked complex gel was based on weak physical attractive forces, such as van der Waals, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interaction between associative polymer and wormlike micelles of VES. The concentration of surfactant in the new fluid is 10 times less than that of VES fracturing fluid. The combination of VES and associative polymer synergistically enhances the viscosity to several times more than that of the individual components alone. The fluid system was optimized by experimental design. The microstructure of wormlike micelles and complex formation was verified by electron microscopy. The fluid is shear stable at high temperature for 1 hour. The dynamic rheological properties of the supramoleulcar fluid show high viscoelasticity, in which the elastic moduli are higher than the loss moduli below an angular frequency of 0.1 rad/s. The proppant-transport test in a large-scale fracture simulator showed good proppant-suspension ability. The fluid has 50% lower formation damage than conventional guar. The fluid was prepared with fewer additives, formed gel instantly, and can be mixed on the fly in the field. The gel can be completely broken with almost no residue. Field application of the new fracturing fluid in a gas well showed the enhancement of gas production by more than 100%. The fluid has 20% lower friction pressure than guar fluid. Hence, the new supramolecular fluid is an effective fracturing fluid.
Discussion on Potential Problems Due To Methane Invasion in OBM While Overbalanced
Authors: Petersen Johnny , Carlsen Liv A.
Published: April 2016

When a well, in "safe" overbalance in a reservoir zone, is left undisturbed for a period of time with oil based mud (OBM), methane will diffuse into the OBM. The rate of methane diffusion is a function of temperature, pressure, the reservoir and OBM characteristics, and the condition of the near well region. "The condition of the near well region" includes the extent of the invasion zone of the drilling mud, the mud cake, and the porosity of the formation. The reservoir type will also influence the amount of the diffusion; a pure gas reservoir will cause higher diffusion than an oil reservoir.

For a given drilling history, OBM description and reservoir description, it is possible, by using a diffusion solver, to compute the amount of methane invading the OBM as a function of time.

In long horizontal reservoirs, this could add up to a large amount of methane. This paper will address the dynamics of circulating the methane contaminated OBM. Although there could be a large amount of methane, the methane is distributed over a large volume of OBM with, in some cases, a small concentration at any given position. The problem that occurs is that the methane is of such low concentration that it is nearly "invisible" until the methane starts boiling out of the OBM in the riser, casing a possible domino effect after the BOP. This could dramatically reduce the bottom hole pressure during circulation.

This paper will discuss the elements of computing methane diffusion rates in a well drilled with OBM, and the dynamics of circulating the contaminated mud out of the well. A dynamic well simulator containing a chemical equation of state solver will be used on an example well to illustrate the possible problems and solutions when circulating OBM with diffused methane. By using proper physics and chemistry simulation tools it is possible to predict and avert dangerous situations.
Skewness-Kurtosis Controlled Higher Order Equivalent Decisions
Authors: Richter Wolf-Dieter
Published: April 2016

We define equivalence of asymptotic Gaussian expectation tests when error probabilities of first kind are approaching zero at the same restricted speed for both tests and if the same holds true for the error probabilities of second type which are measured at a moderate locally chosen alternative. To ensure such equivalence, the inﬂuence of skewness and kurtosis parameters is studied.
Factors associated with early treatment failure in adult hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia
Authors: Vukadinovic Dubravka , Samardzic Natalija , Jankovic Slobodan , Tomic-Smiljanic Marijana , Pavlovic Radisa , Stefanovic Srdjan
Published: April 2016

Background/Aim. Early treatment failure (ETF) in patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased risk of mortality and high treatment costs. The aim of this study was to analyze the relative importance of factors influencing ETF in hospitalized adult patients with CAP that are still insufficiently explored. Methods. A retrospective case-control study was carried out on a sample of 126 adult patients treated for serious CAP at the Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, during the 5-year period (2007?2011). The cases (n = 63) were consecutive patients with ETF, observed within the three days upon the admission to hospital, while the control group consisted of the equal number of randomly selected patients without such an outcome. The association between potential risk/protective factors and ETF was estimated using logistic regression analysis. Results. The coexistence of gastrointestinal disorders [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 18.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15?309.04], higher CURB-65 (C ? confusion; U ? urea) 7 mmol/L; R ? respiratory rate ? 30 breaths/min; B ? systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ? 60 mmHg; 65 ? age ? 65 years) score on admission (adjusted OR 2.57, 95%CI 1.05?6.25), initial use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in hospital (adjusted OR 38.19, 95%CI 3.61?404.51) and previous outpatient use of inhaled corticosteroids (adjusted OR 22.41, 95%CI 1.03?489.06) were found to be significant risk factors for ETF. On the other hand, older age and use of antibiotics before the hospitalization were associated with a significantly lower chance of experiencing ETF, reducing the odds for 98% and almost 90%, respectively. Conclusion. The avoidance of the routine inhospital use of NSAIDs as well as the outpatient use of appropriate antibiotics may be beneficial for patients hospitalized for CAP in terms of reducing the risk of ETF. The CURB-65 score could be a better predictor of ETF than Pneumonia Severity Index. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.
Evaluating the Cardiovascular Safety of New Medications for Type 2 Diabetes: Time to Reassess?
Authors: Smith Robert J. , Goldfine Allison B. , Hiatt William R.
Published: April 2016

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Guidance for Industry in 2008 defining preapproval and postapproval requirements for the demonstration of cardiovascular safety for all new medications developed for glycemic management in type 2 diabetes. Seventeen large, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials involving more than 140,000 subjects thus far have been completed or are ongoing in accordance with this guidance. All five of the completed trials, involving three different drug classes, have met their primary objective to exclude an unacceptable level of ischemic cardiovascular risk as defined in the FDA guidance. Additionally, one trial found an increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure, and another demonstrated decreases in cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for heart failure. Given that a heightened risk of cardiovascular ischemic events has not been demonstrated across several classes of new diabetes drugs, we believe it is time for the scientific community and the FDA to consider a more targeted approach to what is, in effect, a global cardiovascular safety trial requirement for all new type 2 diabetes medications in development.
Metabolomics in Prediabetes and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Guasch-Ferré Marta , Hruby Adela , Toledo Estefanía , Clish Clary B. , Martínez-González Miguel A. , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Hu Frank B.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review of cross-sectional and prospective human studies evaluating metabolite markers identified using high-throughput metabolomics techniques on prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through August 2015. We conducted a qualitative review of cross-sectional and prospective studies. Additionally, meta-analyses of metabolite markers, with data estimates from at least three prospective studies, and type 2 diabetes risk were conducted, and multivariable-adjusted relative risks of type 2 diabetes were calculated per study-specific SD difference in a given metabolite.

RESULTS

We identified 27 cross-sectional and 19 prospective publications reporting associations of metabolites and prediabetes and/or type 2 diabetes. Carbohydrate (glucose and fructose), lipid (phospholipids, sphingomyelins, and triglycerides), and amino acid (branched-chain amino acids, aromatic amino acids, glycine, and glutamine) metabolites were higher in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared with control subjects. Prospective studies provided evidence that blood concentrations of several metabolites, including hexoses, branched-chain amino acids, aromatic amino acids, phospholipids, and triglycerides, were associated with the incidence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. We meta-analyzed results from eight prospective studies that reported risk estimates for metabolites and type 2 diabetes, including 8,000 individuals of whom 1,940 had type 2 diabetes. We found 36% higher risk of type 2 diabetes per study-specific SD difference for isoleucine (pooled relative risk 1.36 [1.24–1.48]; I2 = 9.5%), 36% for leucine (1.36 [1.17–1.58]; I2 = 37.4%), 35% for valine (1.35 [1.19–1.53]; I2 = 45.8%), 36% for tyrosine (1.36 [1.19–1.55]; I2 = 51.6%), and 26% for phenylalanine (1.26 [1.10–1.44]; I2 = 56%). Glycine and glutamine were inversely associated with type 2 diabetes risk (0.89 [0.81–0.96] and 0.85 [0.82–0.89], respectively; both I2 = 0.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

In studies using high-throughput metabolomics, several blood amino acids appear to be consistently associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Smoking and the Risk of LADA: Results From a Swedish Population-Based Case-Control Study
Authors: Rasouli Bahareh , Andersson Tomas , Carlsson Per-Ola , Grill Valdemar , Groop Leif , Martinell Mats , Storm Petter , Tuomi Tiinamaija , Carlsson Sofia
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE

Smoking is an established risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In contrast, it has been proposed that smoking may reduce the risk of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), but studies are scarce. We aimed to study the impact of smoking on LADA and type 2 diabetes risks.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used data from a Swedish case-control study including incident case patients with LADA (GAD antibody [GADA] positive, n = 377) and type 2 diabetes (GADA negative, n = 1,188) and control subjects randomly selected from the population (n = 1,472). We calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs by logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, family history of diabetes, and alcohol consumption.

RESULTS

There was no indication of reduced risk of LADA in smokers; instead, heavy smoking was associated with an increased risk of LADA (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02–1.84). Heavy smokers had higher levels of HOMA of insulin resistance (9.89 vs. 4.38, P = 0.0479) and HOMA of β-cell function (55.7 vs. 42.5, P = 0.0204), but lower levels of GADA (75 vs. 250, P = 0.0445), compared with never smokers. Smokers also displayed an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (OR in ever smokers 1.53, 95% CI 1.25–1.88).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large population of LADA patients, we did not observe a protective effect of smoking on autoimmunity and the risk of LADA. A protective effect could possibly be masked by a smoking-induced aggravation of insulin resistance, akin to the diabetogenic effect seen in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
SGLT2 Inhibitors and Cardiovascular Risk: Lessons Learned From the EMPA-REG OUTCOME Study
Authors: Abdul-Ghani Muhammad , Del Prato Stefano , Chilton Robert , DeFronzo Ralph A.
Published: April 2016

Although cardiovascular (CV) mortality is the principal cause of death in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), reduction of plasma glucose concentration has little effect on CV disease (CVD) risk. Thus, novel strategies to reduce CVD risk in T2DM patients are needed. The recently published BI 10773 (Empagliflozin) Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients (EMPA-REG OUTCOME) study demonstrated that in T2DM patients with high CVD risk empagliflozin reduced the primary major adverse cardiac event end point (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke) by 14%. This beneficial effect was driven by a 38% reduction in CV mortality with no significant decrease in nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke. Empagliflozin also caused a 35% reduction in hospitalization for heart failure without affecting hospitalization for unstable angina. Although sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors exert multiple metabolic benefits (decreases in HbA1c, body weight, and blood pressure and an increase in HDL cholesterol), all of which could reduce CVD risk, it is unlikely that the reduction in CV mortality can be explained by empagliflozin’s metabolic effects. More likely, hemodynamic effects, specifically reduced blood pressure and decreased extracellular volume, are responsible for the reduction in CV mortality and heart failure hospitalization. In this Perspective, we will discuss possible mechanisms for these beneficial effects of empagliflozin and their implications for the care of T2DM patients.
Influence of temperature-dependent absorptivity on solid surface heated by CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers
Authors: Boutalbi Nadir , Bouaziz Mohamed Najib , Allouche Moussa
Published: April 2016

The most widely used high power industrial lasers are the Nd:YAG and CO2 lasers, especially in the cutting process and also in the field of surface engineering, due to their precision of operation, short processing time, localized treatment, low thermal distortion, and their precise control of depth treatment. One of the most important parameters affecting the laser–surface interaction is the material's ability to absorb laser energy. This absorptivity is an unknown parameter for which experimental data at high temperatures are currently unavailable. A finite difference method is used to solve numerically the derived nonlinear heat equation taking into account the temperature-dependence absorptivity, input intensity laser pulse heating of a semi-infinite solid material including a convective boundary condition at the surface. Absorptivity was modeled as a temperature-dependent variable function, for the theoretical Hagen-Rubens, and Bramson relationships. Their influence on temporal and spatial evolution of the temperature profile in the material during laser heating is investigated and discussed. In case of constant absorptivity, underestimated temperature is found mainly at the surface of the material.
Avascular Necrosis after Oral Corticosteroids in Otolaryngology: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Kennedy Patrick , Bassiouni Ahmed , Psaltis Alkis , Antisdel Jastin , Brunworth Joseph
Published: April 2016

Objective

In this report, we present a rare case of avascular necrosis (AVN) in an otherwise healthy 42-year-old male patient treated with low dose oral corticosteroids for his bronchitis. A systematic review of the literature related to AVN and corticosteroids was performed.

Case Report

Forty-two-year-old male with no underlying conditions predisposing him to AVN who had been treated four years before for chronic bronchitis with two courses of oral prednisone therapy presented with bilateral AVN of the hips.

Methods

An OVID database search of the terms “low total dose,” “corticosteroids,” and “avascular necrosis” was performed. Two PubMed searches of various permutations of “low-dose,” “corticosteroids,” “avascular necrosis,” and “osteonecrosis” were also performed. Results were then narrowed to relevant articles.

Results

Median total dose of oral corticosteroids in patients with AVN in reviewed articles was 981 mg, with lowest reported association at 105 mg. Median duration of therapy was 16 days with shortest course of six days.

Conclusion

There is emerging data linking AVN with corticosteroid doses previously thought to be safe. After reviewing the relevant literature, it is our consensus to inform all patients regarding AVN before oral corticosteroid use.
Newborn Nasal Obstruction due to Congenital Nasal Pyriform Aperture Stenosis
Authors: Serrano Thiago L. I. , Pfeilsticker Leopoldo , Silva Vanessa , Hazboun Igor , Paschoal Jorge , Maunsell Rebecca , Sakano Eulalia
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Nasal obstruction is an important condition that can lead to severe respiratory distress in newborns. There are several differential diagnoses, and one of them is congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS). CNPAS is a rare case of respiratory distress caused by excessive growth of the nasal process of the maxilla and leads to narrowing of the anterior third of the nasal cavity. Diagnosis, associated anomalies, and treatment strategies are reviewed by the following presentation of two cases.

Case Presentation

We report two cases of infants diagnosed with CNPAS. The patients in the first case had no concomitant comorbidities, and the outcome was successful after surgical correction of stenosis. The patient in the second case had an associated holoprosencephaly, and although surgical correction and nasal cavity patency, the patient remains dependent on tracheostomy due to dysphagia and neurologic impairment.

Discussion

Airway obstruction affects 1 in 5000 children, and CNPAS is a diagnosis frequently forgotten and even unknown to neonatal and pediatric intensivists. Newborns are obligate nasal breathers, and, nasal obstruction, therefore, can lead to severe respiratory distress. CNPAS is not only rare but, many times, is not easily recognized. It is important to bear in mind the diagnostic criteria when evaluating infants with nasal obstruction. Conservative treatment should be prioritized, but surgical treatment is required in severe cases with failure to thrive and persistent respiratory distress. Respiratory distress and dysphagia may persist to some degree despite correction of the stenotic pyriform aperture due to associated narrowing of the entire nasal cavity and association with other anomalies.

Final Comments

CNPAS is a rare condition and may be lethal in newborns. Differential diagnosis of nasal obstruction must be remembered to recognize this anomaly, and the otolaryngologist must be familiarized with this condition and its diagnosis. Precise surgical treatment in severe cases have high rates of success in children without other comorbidities.