bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paradoxical decrease in HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 with simvastatin and atorvastatin in a patient with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ramachandran S , Saraf S , Shetty C , Capps N , Bailey C
Published: November 2010

Statins are agents widely used to lower LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. The five statins available in the UK (simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) differ in many of their pharmacologic properties. In addition to lowering LDL-C, statins also increase HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) moderately. There have been rare reports of significant HDL-C decreases in patients commenced on fibrates and when thiazolidinediones are added to fibrates. This is known as a ‘paradoxical HDL-C decrease’ as both groups of agents usually increase HDL-C. This phenomenon has never been clearly documented following statin therapy. We now describe a patient with type 2 diabetes who showed this paradoxical fall in HDL-C (baseline HDL-C: 1.8 mmol/L; on simvastatin 40 mg HDL-C 0.6 mmol/L; on atorvastatin 20 mg HDL-C 0.9 mmol/L) with a similar decrease in apolipoprotein A1. No similar decrease was observed with pravastatin and rosuvastatin therapy. This phenomenon appeared to be associated with statin treatment and not a statin/fibrate combination. Our patient clearly demonstrated a paradoxical HDL-C fall with simvastatin and atorvastatin, but not pravastatin or rosuvastatin. Simvastatin and atorvastatin share many pharmacokinetic properties such as lipophilicity while pravastatin and rosuvastatin are relatively hydrophilic and are not metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4. However, these characteristics do not explain the dramatic reductions in HDL-C observed.
Effect of a splice site mutation in LDLR gene and two variations in PCSK9 gene in Tunisian families with familial hypercholesterolaemia
Authors: Jelassi A , Slimani A , Jguirim I , Najah M , Maatouk F , Varret M , Slimane M N
Published: November 2010

Autosomal dominant hypercholesterolaemia (ADH) is due to defects in the LDL receptor gene ( LDLR), in the apolipoprotein B-100 gene ( APOB) or in the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 gene ( PCSK9). The aim of this study was to identify and to characterize mutations at the origin of ADH in two Tunisian families. We found three genomic variations: (1) c.1845 + 1G > A, a splice site mutation in the LDLR gene and (2) two variations in the PCSK9 gene (p.Phe515Leu and p.Gly670Glu) that were both reported to be associated with high LDL-C levels. These results enlarge the spectrum of ADH-causative LDLR and PCSK9 variations in Tunisia. Our observations indicate that missense variations in the PCSK9 gene do not influence the clinical phenotype of ADH patients carrying a mutation in the LDLR gene.
Hand therapy management of metacarpal fractures: an evidence-based patient pathway
Authors: Toemen Angela , Midgley Robyn
Published: November 2010

Introduction

Metacarpal fracture injuries are commonly referred to hand therapy departments, and may account for up to 40% of all hand fractures. These fractures are managed with either a surgical or non-surgical approach depending on their location and stability. Evidence for the effective therapy management of these fractures is sparse, varied and of poor quality and does not provide a ‘gold standard’ therapeutic treatment approach.

Methods

A literature review was performed to develop an evidence-based patient pathway that accounts for the location and stability of a fracture, minimizes the risks associated with metacarpal fractures and prevents secondary complications from developing.

Results

An evidence-based patient pathway for metacarpal fractures is presented that prevents unnecessary immobilization of unaffected joints and facilitates timely return to function.

Conclusion

The hand therapy management of metacarpal fracture pathway accounts for the location of the fracture, stability and surgical or non-surgical management based on best available evidence. It is recommended that the patient pathway be evaluated against functional outcome measures to ensure patients achieve optimal results.
Cross-cultural adaptation process and pilot testing of the Arabic version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH-Arabic)
Authors: Alotaibi Naser Mohammed
Published: November 2010

Background

The Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) is a self-administered upper extremity outcome measure questionnaire that has been demonstrated to have sound psychometric properties and wide popularity. It has been cross-culturally adapted and translated into numerous other languages.

Objectives

This study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the DASH into Arabic and pilot test the Arabic version.

Method

The cross-culturally adapted DASH translated into Arabic was self-administered by 40 Arabic clients with a range of upper extremity conditions. Each client was interviewed face-to-face to assess the relevance of instructions/items to the Arabic language and culture. Face and content validity as well as internal consistency were assessed. Pilot testing of the DASH-Arabic was then performed with 20 Arabic clients with different upper extremity conditions.

Results

Clarity and understanding of the written language, language barriers, cultural considerations and construction of items were successfully addressed. The cross-culturally adapted DASH showed adequate face and content validity as well as a high internal consistency reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96). Pilot testing of the DASH-Arabic showed that items were easily understood without any difficulty in wordings reported.

Conclusion

Further assessments of psychometric properties of the DASH-Arabic are recommended. Implications for hand therapy practice and research were presented.
Imagine: Towards an integrated and applied social psychology
Authors: Abell Jackie. , Walton Chris.
Published: November 2010

This commentary does not aim to engage with the epistemological and ontological technicalities of the discursive psychology maintained by epistemological constructionism and discursive psychology reliant on ontological constructionism approaches that form the basis of the two papers under discussion; other commentators, both in this issue and in the future, are likely to do that. Instead, this commentary aims to situate both papers within a broader frame of contemporary, primarily British social psychology, to ponder the circumstances that gave rise to them and their implications for social psychologists, discursive and non‐discursive, alike. We have organized this commentary into two parts. The first part considers two simple questions. First, why does Corcoran critique DPEC for failing to do things that other discursive approaches provide for? And, second, why does Corcoran take DPEC research to task for having too little potential for or made too little contribution to improving the lives and subjectivities of people in general? These two questions are not unrelated, but for clarity's sake we will try to answer them separately. The second part of this commentary will consider the influence of discursive psychology on social psychology more generally.
Death Penalty Singapore-Style: Clinical and Carefree
Authors: Tey Tsun Hang
Published: November 2010

Singapore has developed a jurisprudence that death penalty and capital proceedings are no different from other minor criminal proceedings. Instead of scrutinizing criminal legislation on their substantive fairness, the courts have instead consistently restricted their adjudicative function to one of procedural assessment. In so doing, formalistic and textualist techniques are employed to achieve crime control ends at considerable expense of due process. This paper seeks to discuss the jurisprudence that has been moulded, and examines how much it has deviated from other Commonwealth jurisprudence.
Getting to Grips with the Shareholder Value Theory in Corporate Law
Authors: Keay A.
Published: November 2010

When it comes to determining what is the objective of a large public company there are two dominant theories that are employed around the world. They are the shareholder value theory (also known as ‘shareholder primacy’ or ‘shareholder wealth maximization’) on the one hand, and the stakeholder theory on the other. Generally speaking, Anglo-American corporate law embraces the former, and in countries such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Ireland public companies apply shareholder value as their guiding light. Much has been written about the shareholder value approach, and the reasons why it should be implemented. But what has rarely been considered is: what does it actually mean and what does it involve? How does one determine whether a company has been managed in such a way as to achieve shareholder value? The main aim of this paper is to address those questions. The paper, after providing some background to the theory, examines what the theory actually stands for, and this involves an identification of the primary reasons given for the employment of the theory. Next, the paper seeks to ascertain what is meant by shareholder value and what it means to operate a company pursuant to the theory. One of the major selling points of shareholder value is that it is certain and clear. The paper finds that the meaning of shareholder value is in fact not clear and certain. Indeed, it is rather disturbing that there has been so little consideration of how such an influential theory in corporate life is applied in commercial terms. Equally worrying is the fact that there is a lack of consensus among its advocates as to what it involves.
Mediating an Intra-Elite Struggle for Power and Privilege in Nigeria: The Police and the Oyo State Political Crisis, 2005–2007
Authors: Rotimi Emmanuel O. , Adesoji Abimbola O.
Published: November 2010

It is not new that politics in Nigeria since the attainment of political independence, and even in the period before, has been a zero-sum game. It is also a fact that politicians and political office holders engage in intense struggles to sustain themselves in power and to liquidate the opposition by all means possible, fair or foul. Similarly, the emergence of political godfathers with tremendous clout has remained an essential feature of politics in Nigeria, the same way that the police have remained a pawn on the chessboard of the political class in Nigeria. The emergence of ‘godfathers' and the brazen ways in which they justify their existence may be the most defining feature of Nigeria's democracy since 2003. The crisis between Rashidi Ladoja, the governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2007, and Chief Lamidi Adedibu was only one of many such cases. Yet it typifies Nigeria's politics by the manner of police involvement. This paper situates the role of the police in a historical context of their being an instrument of power since colonial rule. It explores how the new manifestation of this character in the Ladoja–Adedibu crisis underscores the contemporary form of Nigeria's politics.
Using Textbooks as Ballistic Shields in School Emergency Plans
Authors: Stone William E. , Spencer David J.
Published: November 2010

This study reports the results of an empirical investigation into the ability of textbooks to form an effective ballistic shield that can be incorporated into school safety plans. The authors examine the history of assaultive violence with firearms in schools and the evolution of school emergency plans. The most common calibres used in school shootings were tested for their ability to penetrate hardback textbooks. The results indicate that most common handgun bullets can be stopped by only one or two textbooks and that even most assault rifle rounds can be stopped by three to five books. Examples are also provided on how law enforcement officers might incorporate the ballistic resistance of textbooks concept into a school emergency plan.
Athwal and All That: Previous Statements, Narrative, and the Taxonomy of Hearsay
Authors: Munday Roderick
Published: November 2010

Along with other forms of narrative evidence, s. 120 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 rendered parties' previous statements admitted to rebut suggestions of fabrication admissible evidence of any matter stated. In R v Athwal the Court of Appeal sought to situate this variety of evidence within the Act's general hearsay regime. This article questions whether s. 114 of the 2003 Act did successfully integrate such statements into other exceptions to the hearsay rule, explores the scope of this little-studied exception to the rule against narrative, and offers some thoughts both on the taxonomy of hearsay in general and on how courts might deal with an apparent drafting defect in s. 114.
Any Excuse for Certainty: English Perspectives on the Defence of ‘Reasonable Excuse’
Authors: Newman Christopher J. , Middleton Ben
Published: November 2010

This article examines the operation of the defence of reasonable excuse within the English legal system through the prism of two distinct offences—Terrorism Act 2000, s. 58 and Public Order Act 1986, s. 5. It is contended that legislative ambiguity in the drafting of these provisions has given the English judiciary excessive latitude in determining the scope of this defence, which has led to dangerous uncertainty in this area. The discussion draws upon recent jurisprudence in order to establish areas of commonality and highlight areas of inconsistency in judicial application. The authors conclude that legislative action by the UK Parliament is required, otherwise there will continue to be no clear understanding as to what constitutes a reasonable excuse within English law.
Codification of the Criminal Law: An Attainable Ideal?
Authors: Lavery Jenny
Published: November 2010

As the Law Commission welcomes suggestions for the 11th Programme of Law Reform, this article argues that the criminal law is an ideal candidate for reform and explores the potential for the implementation of a criminal code in England and Wales. While numerous obstacles exist to impede codification efforts, namely institutional and professional hostility, claims that a criminal code's theoretical foundations are incompatible with England's common law sympathies, and the current trend towards stop-gap legislation, the author nevertheless argues that a criminal code is necessary in order to rectify the substantial lacunae in the fundamental relationship between the individual and the state. The article sets out the case for a criminal code and examines reasons of failed attempts at codification, which was once at the forefront of the Law Commission's reform agenda. Endeavours such as Bentham's Utilitarianism, Macaulay's efforts in India and the 19th century Law Commissioners are scrutinised in an attempt to divine the likelihood of codification and conditions for success. German criminal law is endorsed as a source of inspiration in the search for a coherent and efficient code and the author submits that with the support of the judiciary, Parliament, government and legal scholarship, criminal codification is attainable.
Alcohol-Related Rape Cases: Barristers' Perspectives on the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and its Impact on Practice
Authors: Gunby Clare , Carline Anna , Beynon Caryl
Published: November 2010

This article discusses the findings of a qualitative study which interviewed 14 barristers about the law-in-action reality of rape cases involving alcohol intoxication. The study aimed to identify how a number of provisions introduced by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 were perceived by barristers, worked in practice and their overall impact in terms of improving the law of rape and specifically, alcohol-involved rape. The article focuses on barristers' opinions relating to the definition of consent as contained in s. 74; the ‘consent presumptions’, with specific emphasis on s. 75(2)(f); the jurors' perceived response to jury directions and definitions; and barristers' opinions on the need for future reforms in this area. It is argued that certain provisions introduced by the 2003 Act are not always utilised in a way that was intended, have been interpreted and applied narrowly and, in a number of instances, fail to assist the jury.
Characterisation of Norway spruce hemicelluloses extracted by pressurised hot-water extraction (ASE) in the presence of sodium bicarbonate
Authors: Song Tao , Pranovich Andrey , Holmbom Bjarne
Published: November 2010

Ground spruce sapwood was extracted with pressurised hot water with addition of different amounts of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to find optimal pH conditions for extraction of hemicelluloses, especially of galactoglucomannans (GGMs). The extractions were carried out in an accelerated solvent extractor (ASE) at 170°C. When extraction was carried out with 2.5 mM NaHCO3during 60–100 min extraction time (end-pH 3.9), more than 60% of the total extracted substances were hemicellulose-derived carbohydrates. Under these conditions, approximately 80% of the extracted carbohydrates were from GGMs (13% b.o. wood). At higher concentrations of NaHCO3, the yield of carbohydrates, especially those derived from GGMs, decreased. Hydrolytic depolymerisation of hemicelluloses occurring during extraction with plain water was largely inhibited in the presence of 2.5–5 mM NaHCO3. The hydrolytic deacetylation of GGM was diminished at low NaHCO3concentrations but increased dramatically at higher NaHCO3concentrations. It can be concluded that 2.5–5 mM NaHCO3giving an end-pH value of 4 is better for GGM isolation than plain water.
Evidence for what? Evidentiality and scope
Authors: Boye Kasper
Published: November 2010

This paper deals with the scope properties of evidential meanings. It rejects the idea that different types of evidential meanings have different scope properties. More basically, it rejects the idea that evidential meanings apply to ‘speech acts’ or to ‘states of affairs’. The paper argues that evidential meanings share scope properties in the sense that they are all conceptually dependent on a ‘proposition’ – i.e. a meaning unit which can be said to have a truth value. Subsequently, it outlines how the scope properties can be employed in criteria of membership of the category of evidentiality.
Syntactic change and shifts in evidential meanings: four Russian units
Authors: Letuchiy Alexander
Published: November 2010

The aim of the article is to analyze relations between the type of use of modal/evidential markers and their syntactic properties (part of speech and linear position). The analysis is based on the uses of the Russian polysemous markers vrode ‘similar’, kak budto (by) ‘as if’, budto (by) ‘as though’, kažetsja ‘(it) seems’ and poxože ‘similar’. All of them have non-evidential (mainly modal and comparative) and evidential uses. I draw the conclusion that the reportive meaning is more contextually restricted than the inferential one, and that the syntactic position of the marker depends on the degree of contextual dependence of the given reading. Besides that, I conclude that we must postulate two different units of the Database for budto (by), kak budto (by), kažetsja and poxože, but only one unit for vrode.
Drosophila as a Model for Epilepsy:bssIs a Gain-of-Function Mutation in the Para Sodium Channel Gene That Leads to Seizures
Authors: Parker Louise , Padilla Miguel , Du Yuzhe , Dong Ke , Tanouye Mark A
Published: November 2010

We report the identification of bang senseless (bss), a Drosophila melanogaster mutant exhibiting seizure-like behaviors, as an allele of the paralytic (para) voltage-gated Na+ (NaV) channel gene. Mutants are more prone to seizure episodes than normal flies because of a lowered seizure threshold. The bss phenotypes are due to a missense mutation in a segment previously implicated in inactivation, termed the “paddle motif” of the NaV fourth homology domain. Heterologous expression of cDNAs containing the bss1 lesion, followed by electrophysiology, shows that mutant channels display altered voltage dependence of inactivation compared to wild type. The phenotypes of bss are the most severe of the bang-sensitive mutants in Drosophila and can be ameliorated, but not suppressed, by treatment with anti-epileptic drugs. As such, bss-associated seizures resemble those of pharmacologically resistant epilepsies caused by mutation of the human NaV SCN1A, such as severe myoclonic epilepsy in infants or intractable childhood epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Prescribing of Controlled Medications to Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States
Authors: Fortuna Robert J. , Robbins Brett W. , Caiola Enrico , Joynt Michael , Halterman Jill S.
Published: November 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The nonmedical use of prescription drugs by adolescents and young adults has surpassed all illicit drugs except marijuana, yet little is known about prescribing patterns. We examined the prescribing of controlled medications to adolescents aged 15 to 19 and young adults aged 20 to 29.

METHODS:

We used cross-sectional data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (N = 4304 physicians) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (N = 2805 clinics; N = 1051 emergency departments) between 2005 and 2007. We also used consecutive data from 1994 to describe trends.

RESULTS:

A controlled medication was prescribed at 2.3 million visits by adolescents and 7.8 million visits by young adults in 2007. Between 1994 and 2007, controlled medications were prescribed at an increasing proportion of visits from adolescents (6.4%–11.2%) and young adults (8.3%–16.1%) (P < .001 for trend). This increase was seen among males and females, in ambulatory offices and emergency departments, and for injury-related and non–injury-related visits (all P < .001). A controlled medication was prescribed during 9.6% of all adolescent visits and 13.8% of young-adult visits for non–injury-related indications and at 14.5% of adolescent visits and 27.0% of young-adult visits for injury-related reasons. Controlled medications were prescribed at a substantial proportion of visits for common conditions, such as back pain, to both adolescents (23.4%) and young adults (36.9%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Controlled medications are prescribed at a considerable proportion of visits from adolescents and young adults, and prescribing rates have nearly doubled since 1994. This trend and its relationship to misuse of medications warrants further study.
Material flow determination through agricultural machinery management
Authors: Romanelli Thiago Libório , Milan Marcos
Published: November 2010

The approach of material embodiment in agricultural production systems is important because it determines the convergence of inputs (indirectly, the natural resources) to the field. Additionally, material flow is the basis for both environmental (energy analysis, emergy synthesis, life-cycle analysis and carbon inventories) and economical analyses. Since different materials cannot compose a single index, generally these flows are not shown, making comparisons among approaches difficult. Another aspect that makes comparisons difficult is the definition of the boundary of the studied system. If these boundaries differ, results will also be different, hiding actual distinctions among systems. The present study aims to suggest an arrangement of existing models to determine material flow in agricultural production systems. The following steps were considered: i) the adoption of a diagram language to represent the analyzed system; ii) determination of the material flow for directly applied inputs; iii) determination of the material flow for indirectly applied inputs, which included: determination of the effective field capacity; fuel consumption; machinery depreciation; and labor. Data on fuel consumption were compared with the models presented. The best model applied was a fixed parameter based on engine power (0.163 L kW-1 h-1). The determination of the material flow for maize silage production presented similar results as those obtained in regional databases.
The Nursing Incivility Scale: Development and Validation of an Occupation-Specific Measure
Authors: Guidroz Ashley M. , Burnfield-Geimer Jennifer L. , Clark Olga , Schwetschenau Heather M. , Jex Steve M.
Published: November 2010

This article describes the development of the Nursing Incivility Scale (NIS), which is designed to assess hospital nurses’ experiences with incivility according to specific sources—physicians, coworkers, patients, and direct supervisors. The NIS was developed using focus groups with nurses at a hospital in the midwestern United States and validated during a second survey administered to 163 hospital nurses. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the NIS items grouped according to a priori scale construction. All subscales showed acceptable reliability and demonstrated acceptable convergent and discriminant validity with other variables. The results indicate that the NIS has good psychometric qualities and can be used by hospitals and health care administrators to assess the prevalence of incivility.
Lessons Learned in Instrument Pilot Testing With Mexican American Caregivers of Elders
Authors: Kao Hsueh-Fen S. , Lynn Mary R. , Lujan Josefina
Published: November 2010

Given the fast-growing Mexican American (MA) population, it is common for investigators to be pressured into using Spanish translated instruments developed for English-speaking populations. However, these translated instruments may have limited relevance for data collection without adequate assessment and vetting. The purpose of this paper is to present lessons learned from the pilot testing of instruments designed for use with Mexican Americans. Pilot testing of two instruments was conducted with 22 Mexican American family caregivers of older adults. Issues that emerged were classified into three categories—instrumentation, methodology, and demographic data. Within the area of instrumentation, six issues were identified—level of abstraction, concreteness, pronoun use, clarity, exclusiveness, and response format. Methodological concerns were focused on test–retest administration and inclusion criteria. Issues within the demographic data were concerned with marital status, country of birth, household size and income, and validity of self-rated scales. By addressing those concerns, investigators may be more likely to have culturally sensitive measures and greater generalization to relevant MA populations.
Contemporary Challenges in Unitization and Equity Redetermination of Petroleum Accumulations
Authors: Worthington Paul F.
Published: November 2010

The unitization of oil and gas fields that straddle license or international boundaries traditionally has been effected with the aim of maximizing return on investment for all unit owners. The rationale is that the costs of unitization and any subsequent redeterminations of equity will be subordinate to the enhanced production and thence revenue that unitization might bring compared to a partitioned development. This outcome is more likely to be achieved in the traditional case of a sizable field with laterally consistent, discernible reservoir properties and fairly uniform hydrocarbon that is unitized before production startup with a perception of predictable commodity prices. This rationale is impacted by departures from the classical situation. These departures include field marginality, market volatility, reservoir complexity, hidden pay, the presence of multiphase hydrocarbons, cross-license trends in reservoir-rock or substance properties, and post-production unitization. Each of the major departures is analyzed from the standpoint of the challenges it presents to a value-adding unitization exercise. Part of this analysis calls for a consideration of alternatives to unitization where another avenue might prove more beneficial to the owners of straddled licenses. This evaluation is undertaken by reference to case histories, through which procedural recommendations are formulated for future guidance. Notwithstanding this collation of options, it is of paramount importance that each case be examined thoroughly so that the optimum development strategy can be identified for any straddling petroleum accumulation.
Advances in the Analysis of Pressure Interference Tests
Authors: Martinez N.R. , Samaniego F.V.
Published: November 2010

This paper presents an extension for linear and spherical flow conditions of the El-Khatib method for the analysis of pressure interference tests through the use of the pressure derivative. For linear flow a graph shows a straight line with slope and intercept, which can be used to estimate the formation permeability and porosity; similarly, for spherical flow a graph shows a straight line with slope and intercept, which can be used to estimate the same previously discussed parameters. A friendly computer code for the automated analysis of pressure interference tests is also discussed. Two field cases are presented to show the use of this program. The first deals with the interference tests conducted in the naturally fractured Klamath Falls geothermal field, and the second is a test carried out in a river-formed bed, dominated by linear flow conditions.
Frictional Pressure Loss Estimation of Non-Newtonian Fluids in Realistic Annulus With Pipe Rotation
Authors: Ozbayoglu Evren Mehmet , Sorgun Mehmet
Published: November 2010

The annular frictional performance of non-Newtonian fluids is among the major considerations during development of hydraulic programs for drilling operations. Proper estimation of the frictional pressure losses become more critical when determining hydraulic horsepower requirements and selecting proper mud pump systems to foresee any serious problems that might occur with hydraulics during drilling operations. Because the rheological behaviour of the non-Newtonian fluids is known to be challenging, it becomes even more complicated during pipe rotation, especially in eccentric wellbores. In many cases, significant differences are observed when theoretical calculations and measurements for pressure losses are compared. This study aims to develop correction factors for determining the frictional pressure losses accurately in eccentric horizontal annulus for non-Newtonian fluid, including the effect of pipe rotation. Extensive experimental work has been conducted on METU-PETE Flow Loop for numerous non-Newtonian drilling fluids, including KCl-polymer muds and PAC systems for different flow rates and pipe rotation speeds, and frictional pressure losses are recorded during each test. Rheological characteristics of the drilling fluids are determined using a rotational viscometer. Observations showed that pipe rotation has a significant influence on frictional pressure loss, especially at lower flow rates. Up to a point, as the pipe rotation increases, the frictional pressure losses also increase. As the flow rates are increased, the effect of pipe rotation on frictional pressure losses diminishes. Also, after a certain pipe rotation speed, no additional contribution of pipe rotation on frictional pressure loss is observed. When the developed friction factors are used, there is a good agreement between the calculated and observed frictional pressure losses for any pipe rotation speed.
Estimation of Vertical Permeability in the McMurray Formation
Authors: Deutsch C.V.
Published: November 2010

Predicting the performance of in-situ recovery processes in the McMurray formation is required to optimize development planning and resource management. These performance predictions are sensitive to many parameters; however, vertical permeability is perhaps the most critical geological parameter. There are many challenges associated with the estimation of vertical permeability: (1) it is difficult to collect representative core measurements, (2) the high viscosity of the bitumen makes it impossible to perform well testing, (3) statistical approaches and the notion of representative elementary volumes (REVs) are challenged by heterogeneities at all scales and (4) the nature of the heterogeneities is variable within different depositional environments. This paper summarizes these challenges, then presents a consistent numerical modelling framework based on core data, core photographs, conventional well-logs, high-resolution image logs and detailed geological interpretation. The framework includes: dividing the stratigraphic column into facies with similar spatial arrangement of sand/shale, constructing high-resolution models of sand/shale, assigning porosity and permeability to sand/shale, calibrating the models to direct measurements, solving for effective horizontal and vertical permeability at the appropriate scale and transferring the results to geomodelling. This framework is described in detail and demonstrated with illustrative examples. Considerations for even better results are discussed.
Drilling Challenges in the Bitumen-Saturated Grosmont Formation
Authors: Arseniuk Stephen E. , Becker D.L. , Barrett Kent R. , Keller Derek
Published: November 2010

The Upper Devonian Grosmont formation, located in the West Athabasca oil sands deposit, contains an estimated 318 billion barrels of bitumen. The reservoir is a heavily karsted and fractured, bitumen-saturated dolomite with up to 38% porosity and permeabilities commonly measured in the darcies. These properties make the Grosmont an excellent candidate for steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). Grosmont SAGD development will be exposed to similar operating conditions as McMurray SAGD projects, and will have similar logistics, well construction and materials challenges. However, there are many additional challenges, including severe loss circulation, that further complicate well design. This paper presents the challenges experienced by Laricina Energy in drilling Grosmont wells at Saleski and Burnt Lakes over the last three seasons. It will also address additional areas for future research and development in the drilling of vertical and horizontal wells.
Assessment of Trace Metal Levels in Catfish (Cathorops spixii) from Sal River Estuary, Aracaju, State of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Barbieri Edison , Passos Elisangela de Andrade , Aragão Kennedy Alexandre Sousa , Santos Danielle Barros , Garcia Carlos Alexandre Borges
Published: November 2010

The concentrations of cadmium, copper, nickel, zinc, and lead were determined in the catfish (Cathorops spixii) from the Sal River estuary, Brazil, to evaluate the potential role of domestic and industrial effluents released without treatment on the quality of the estuarine environment with consequences to fish resources. Muscle, liver, and kidney samples were analyzed for trace metal composition by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean concentration (µg/g wet weight) of trace metals in the tissues of C. spixii were as follows: cadmium = 1.65, 2.81, and 0.71 µg/g; copper = 29.07, 4.38, and 3.40 µg/g; zinc = 229, 312, and 15.57 µg/g; nickel = 1.22, 1.04, and 117 µg/g; and lead = 7.09, 10.77, and 11.18 µg/g. The results show that metal accumulation in organs indicates the difference between them. The results showed high concentrations of copper, zinc, nickel, lead, and cadmium in the Cathorops spixii compared with the maximum values registered from fish in studies reported in other coastal regions of Brazil.
Investigation of Electrochemical Variables and Performance of a Continuous Upflow Electrocoagulation Process in the Treatment of Reactive Blue 140
Authors: Phalakornkule Chantaraporn , Karakat Benjawan , Nuyut Thanawin , Ruttithiwapanich Tarworn
Published: November 2010

This study presents an investigation of electrochemical variables in the operation of a continuous upflow electrocoagulation process in treating textile wastewater. Reactive Blue 140, which is porphyrin‐based, was used as a representative dye in the experiments. The optimal values of the design and operating parameters were found, from a batch mode, to be the following: iron anode, distance between electrodes of 8 mm, current density of at least 30 A/m2, and contact time of at least 5 minutes. These optimal values were used to design a continuous upflow electrocoagulation reactor. The pattern of liquid flow within the upflow reactor was studied using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program, which simulated the flow behavior inside the reactor using the finite volume method. For optimal parameter values, the water passing the electrode plates had a uniform distribution, and the reactor performance was satisfactory, with >90% color removal and energy consumption of approximately 1.4 kWh/m3.
Chlorine Disinfection of Blended Municipal Wastewater Effluents
Authors: Boczek Laura A. , Johnson Clifford H. , Meckes Mark C.
Published: November 2010

Blending is used in the wastewater industry to manage wet‐weather events. Wastewater is treated through primary clarification, with flows in excess of the hydraulic capacity of the secondary system being directed to effluent disinfection. Before disinfection, the primary clarified effluent is “blended” with effluents that have been treated through the secondary system. The combined or “blended” effluents are then disinfected before being discharged to receiving waters. This study evaluated the effectiveness of chlorine to disinfect blended effluents. Experiments were conducted at bench‐scale on primary and secondary effluents and three ratios of primary to secondary effluent (1:9, 3:7, and 5:5) from three publicly owned treatment works. Results from this study found that blending 10% or more primary effluent with secondary reduces the efficacy of chlorine disinfection, and coliphage survived chlorine disinfection better than bacterial indicator organisms. A simple empirical model for predicting indicator organism densities following chlorine disinfection was developed using data from this research.
Motivation to Provide Help to Older Parents in Norway, Spain, and Israel
Authors: Katz Ruth , Gur-Yaish Nurit , Lowenstein Ariela
Published: November 2010

We explore from a cross-national perspective three motivations in adult children to provide help to older parents: affectual solidarity, parental need for care, and filial norms. The sample is 1,055 adult children from Norway, Spain, and Israel, countries selected because they represent different family cultures and welfare regimes. Affectual solidarity and parental need for care was found to influence amount of help in all three countries, whereas filial norms was found to have no effect. Country context had a differential impact.

In Israel, affectual solidarity was more strongly associated with amount of help. In Israel and Norway, parents' need for care was related to amount of help; in Spain help provided was high, regardless of parents' need for care.

We demonstrate the universality of motivations to provide help to older parents and the influence of cultural context on these motivations, taking into account within-country differences.
Optimization of Ultrahigh Pressure Extraction of Momordicosides from Bitter Melon
Authors: Ji Hongfang , Zhang Lingwen , Li Jian , Yang Mingduo , Liu Xin
Published: November 2010

Response surface methodology was used to optimize the conditions of ultrahigh pressure extraction of momordicosides from fresh fruits of bitter melon. The effect of extraction pressure, extraction time, ethanol concentration and solvent to sample ratio, and their interactions on yield of total momordicosides was investigated. Results showed that data could be well fitted to a second-order polynomial model. The independent parameters of extraction pressure, extraction time, solvent to sample ratio, all quadratics as well as the interactions between extraction pressure and solvent to sample ratio affected the yield significantly (p < 0.05). The model predicted that the optimal conditions were 423.1 MPa, extraction time 7.0 min, ethanol concentration 70.0 percent (V/V) and solvent to sample ratio 45.3 : 1 mL/g, and under such conditions, the maximum yield of 3.270 g Rg1 equivalents /100 g bitter melon dry weight could be achieved. In comparison with conventional heat reflux extraction, ultrahigh pressure extraction is more efficient and rapid to extract momordicosides from bitter melon. Additionally, the momordicosides compositions in extracts by both the methods were similar, which were investigated by using HPLC profile.
Effluent Volume in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Overestimates the Delivered Dose of Dialysis
Authors: Claure-Del Granado Rolando , Macedo Etienne , Chertow Glenn M. , Soroko Sharon , Himmelfarb Jonathan , Ikizler T. Alp , Paganini Emil P. , Mehta Ravindra L.
Published: November 2010

Background and objectives

Studies examining dose of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and outcomes have yielded conflicting results. Most studies considered the prescribed dose as the effluent rate represented by ml/kg per hour and reported this volume as a surrogate of solute removal. Because filter fouling can reduce the efficacy of solute clearance, the actual delivered dose may be substantially lower than the observed effluent rate.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Data were examined from 52 critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis. All patients were treated with predilution continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) and regional citrate anticoagulation. Filter performance was monitored during the entire course of therapy by measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and dialysis fluid urea nitrogen (FUN) at initiation and every 12 hours. Filter efficacy was assessed by calculating FUN/BUN ratios every 12 hours of filter use. Prescribed urea clearance (K, ml/min) was determined from the effluent rate. Actual delivered urea clearance was determined using dialysis-side measurements.

Results

Median daily treatment time was 1413 minutes (1260 to 1440) with a total effluent volume of 46.4 ± 17.4 L and urea mass removal of 13.0 ± 7.6 mg/min. Prescribed clearance overestimated the actual delivered clearance by 23.8%. This gap between prescribed and delivered clearance was related to the decrease in filter function assessed by the FUN/BUN ratio.

Conclusions

Effluent volume significantly overestimates delivered dose of small solutes in CRRT. To assess adequacy of CRRT, solute clearance should be measured rather than estimated by the effluent volume.
Cystatin C Reduction Ratio Depends on Normalized Blood Liters Processed and Fluid Removal during Hemodialysis
Authors: Huang Shih-Han S. , Filler Guido , Yasin Abeer , Lindsay Robert M.
Published: November 2010

Background and objectives

A negative correlation between the weekly standard Kt/V (urea) and serum cystatin C level (CysC) in functionally anephric dialysis patients has been previously demonstrated. Our objective was to measure the per dialysis CysC reduction ratio (CCRR) and to compare it with other indices of dialytic functions.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

In a pilot cross-sectional study of 15 functionally anephric patients on conventional high-flux high-efficiency hemodialysis three times per week, CysC levels were drawn pre-, mid-, and postdialysis over 1 week. CCRR was compared with single-pool Kt/V (Sp Kt/V) using urea kinetic modeling, urea reduction ratio (URR), creatinine reduction ratio (CRR), normalized liters processed (LP/kg), and ultrafiltration volume (UF). Normally distributed data (Shapiro-Wilks test) were described as mean ± SD, otherwise as median and interquartile range.

Results

The mean pre- and post-CysC levels were 6.0 ± 1.0 and 4.7 ± 1.1 mg/L. The Sp Kt/V and Std Kt/V were 1.5 ± 0.2 and 2.6. The URR, CRR, and CCRR were 70.2% ± 9.0%, 64.5% ± 8.2%, and 26.1% ± 11.8%, respectively. There was no correlation between the CCRR, and the Sp Kt/V, URR, and CRR, whereas CCRR correlated with LP/kg and UF. Multiple regression analysis with these two parameters provided a model that explained 81% of the variance.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that normalized liters processed and ultrafiltration volume explain most of the variance of CCRR. Therefore, CCRR may be an excellent method to monitor dialysis efficiency of low molecular weight proteins.
Systemic Consequences of Poor Oral Health in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Akar Harun , Akar Gulcan Coskun , Carrero Juan Jesús , Stenvinkel Peter , Lindholm Bengt
Published: November 2010

Changes in the oral cavity, such as periodontitis and other manifestations of poor oral health, are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may contribute to increased morbidity and mortality because of systemic consequences such as inflammation, infections, protein-energy wasting, and atherosclerotic complications. Poor oral health in CKD patients may thus represent an important, but often overlooked, problem. Several studies show that uremic patients have higher rates of decayed, missing, and filled teeth, loss of attachment, and periapical and mucosal lesions than the general population. The consequences of poor oral health may be more severe in CKD patients because of advanced age, common comorbidities such as diabetes, concurrent medications, and a state of immune dysfunction that may increase the risk for systemic consequences of periodontitis and other oral and dental pathologic conditions. Poor dentition and other signs of poor oral health should be an alarm clock also at early stages of CKD. However, it remains to be determined whether more successful management of poor oral health and periodontitis will reduce the risk of inflammation, infection, protein-energy wasting, and atherosclerotic complications in CKD patients. This review explores etiological factors and potential systemic consequences of poor oral health in CKD patients as well as possible preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Peritoneal Dialysis First
Authors: Chaudhary Kunal , Sangha Harbaksh , Khanna Ramesh
Published: November 2010

The use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) has become wide spread since the introduction of continuous ambulatory PD more than 25 years ago. Over this time, many advances have been made and PD is an alternative to hemodialysis (HD), with excellent comparable survival, lower cost, and improved quality of life. The percentage of prevalent PD patients in the United States is approximately 7%, which is significantly lower compared with the 15% PD prevalence from the mid-1980s. Despite comparable survival of HD and PD and improved PD technique survival over the last few years, the percentage of patients performing PD in the United States has declined. The increased numbers of in-center HD units, physician comfort with the modality, perceived superiority of HD, and reimbursement incentives have all contributed to the underutilization of PD. In addition to a higher transplantation rate among patients treated with PD in the United States, an important reason for the low PD prevalence is the transfer to HD. There are various reasons for the transfer (e.g., episodes of peritonitis, membrane failure, patient fatigue, etc.). This review discusses the various factors that contribute to PD underutilization and the rationale and strategies to implement “PD first” and how to maintain it. The PD first concept implies that when feasible, PD should be offered as the first dialysis modality. This concept of PD first and HD second must not be seen as a competition between therapies, but rather that they are complementary, keeping in mind the long-term goals for the patient.