bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Professional Overcharging in Large Bankruptcy Reorganization Cases
Authors: LoPucki Lynn M. , Doherty Joseph W.
Published: December 2008

In an empirical study of professional fees and expenses in 74 large public company bankruptcies concluded 1998–2003, we found that (1) controlling for the trend over time and the geographical location of the cases, company size (measured by assets), case duration (measured in days), and the number of parties (measured by the number of professional firms working) explain nearly 87 percent of the case‐to‐case variation in professional fees, (2) fees and expenses increased about 10.4 percent per year over the six‐year period covered by our study, (3) five of six predictors of fees and expenses exhibited a strong scale effect, (4) the scale effect for company size is so severe that reporting fees as a simple percentage of assets is misleading, (5) using the same model we used with court file data, our variables explain 86 percent of the case‐to‐case variance in the amounts of professional fees and expenses reported in SEC filing data, and (6) fees and expenses reported in SEC filing data are highly correlated with those reported in court file data, but are 58 percent higher. The principal determinants of fees and expenses—assets, days in bankruptcy, and the number of professional firms working—appear to us to measure not only the need for professional services, but also the opportunity for professionals to bill. In an attempt to statistically isolate this “billing opportunity” component of fees and expenses, we compiled a second set of variables—employees, docket length, and reorganization plan classes—that we believe measures case complexity without measuring billing opportunity. When those variables are substituted for the principal determinants, the regression explains substantially the same percentage of variance in fees and expenses. This second, complexity‐only model predicts fees that, controlling for scale, are significantly lower for companies with assets greater than about $770 million. We theorize that this systematic difference in the two models' predictions measures the billing opportunity component of fees and expenses in large public company bankruptcies. That component is an overcharge because it is not warranted by the complexity of the cases, including complexity resulting from company size.
Enhancing Personal Outcomes: Organizational Strategies, Guidelines, and Examples
Authors: Schalock Robert L. , Verdugo Miquel A. , Bonham Gordon S. , Fantova Fernando , Van Loon Jos
Published: December 2008

Education and rehabilitation programs in the field of intellectual disabilities are developing specific strategies related to demonstrated personal outcomes, quality of life (QOL)‐related services and supports, evidence‐based practices, and quality improvement. The purpose of this article is to summarize key aspects of these strategies within a two‐component framework: the concept of QOL and systems thinking. Based on our collective experiences and published literature, four specific strategies are presented and discussed: mental models, assessment, service delivery practices, and quality improvement (QI). Essential guidelines for the successful implementation of these strategies are then presented, along with an exemplary application of each strategy. Each example shows the significant role of the consumer, the organization, and the larger system in organizational change, QI, and the enhancement of personal outcomes.
Adaptation of Flemish Services to Accommodate and Support the Aging of People With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Maes Bea , Van Puyenbroeck Joris
Published: December 2008

The authors attempted to find out to what extent and in which ways, in Belgium, have Flemish services for people with intellectual disability adapted to the specific needs of aging people. A study was undertaken and a questionnaire was developed to address the following research topics: (1) accommodations and personnel, (2) staff working methods, and (3) staff views and attitudes. The questionnaire was completed by 66 coordinating staff members in as many facilities. At the time of our study, these services supported 310 (27%) persons with Down syndrome age 40 years and older and 833 (73%) persons with intellectual disability (other than Down syndrome) age 55 years and older. Adaptations in accommodation and personnel management were obvious in the majority of the participating services. The working methods reflected a person‐centered philosophy, regardless of the age‐factor. An exploratory factor analysis revealed three different staff approaches: an activating/socializing, disengaging, and methodical. Participation in activities and involvement in social relations have a prominent place in the staff's views. In general, the authors found that about two‐thirds of the services have started to modify their accommodation and personnel to the needs of aging people with intellectual disability. The authors note also that the results suggest there is still a lot of work to do in improving staff training, introducing specific working methods, and in altering stereotypical staff attitudes to assure a good “aging in place.”
Public Special Services Provided to People With Intellectual Disabilities in Sweden: A Life‐Span Perspective
Authors: Umb‐Carlsson Õie
Published: December 2008

This study describes public special services, support, and health care provided to an administratively defined county sample of people with intellectual disabilities from early childhood to adult age. Comparisons were made on the variables year of birth, sex, and assessed level of intellectual disabilities in 1974. Information was obtained from case files and included the period from year of birth of the participants (between 1959 and 1974) to 2005. All participants were provided public special services, support, and health care either periodically or throughout the study period. Changes in legislation were reflected in the type of services, support, and health care provided to the target group. Type and amount of special services and support were related to year of birth. Only a few differences were related to sex and level of intellectual disabilities. These results indicate that public special services, support, and health care provided to people with intellectual disabilities reflect disability policy, legislation, and professional attitudes over different periods. It is suggested that measures were tailored to meet general needs considered to be shared by all people with intellectual disabilities rather than individual choices and wishes. The interaction among professionals emerged only to a limited extent. However, deficient information in the case files does not imply absence of contact between professional groups, but, if continuity in services, support, and health care is to be attained, significant improvement in documentation is required.
Premature Ejaculation and Serum Leptin Level: A Diagnostic Case-Control Study
Authors: Nikoobakht Mohammad Reza , Tajik Parvin , Karami Ali Akbar , Moradi Kamran , Mortazavi Abolghasem , Kosari Farid
Published: December 2008

Introduction

Premature ejaculation (PE) is regarded as the most common male sexual disorder. To date, there is no accurate and objective diagnostic test for PE.

Aim

To determine the diagnostic value of serum leptin level for PE.

Methods

In a case-control design, the serum leptin level of 46 PE patients referred to our outpatient clinic were determined and compared with 44 control patients referred to the same clinic with the complaint of nephrolithiasis. PE was defined based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV criteria and an intravaginal ejaculatory latency time of less than a minute.

Main Outcome Measures

Serum leptin level and presence of PE.

Results

The PE patients had significantly higher serum leptin levels (8.3 ± 3 ng/mL) than the controls (3.3 ± 1 ng/mL) (P < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity for the test as a predictive diagnostic tool for PE were 80.4% and 97.7%, respectively, at the cutoff value of 6.3 ng/mL.

Conclusion

According to our results, leptin level in patients with PE was significantly higher than in the control subjects. More studies are necessary to determine the value of serum leptin as a diagnostic tool for PE.
Dry Gangrene of the Foreskin after Second Attempt at Prepuce-Sparing Surgery for Congenital Penile Curvature: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Chitale Sudhanshu , Sethia Krishna
Published: December 2008

Introduction

Dry gangrene of the foreskin following corrective surgery for congenital penile curvature (CPC) or Peyronie's disease is extremely rare. It is noted as a consequence of intraoperative penile degloving.

Aim

We report one such case with its natural history presented by serial clinical pictures, discuss the management dilemmas, and review a rather scant relevant literature.

Methods

A 32-year-old man with CPC underwent prepuce-sparing corrective surgery for penile curvature on two occasions resulting in dry gangrene of the foreskin following the second attempt.

Results

It was managed conservatively with a satisfactory result.

Conclusion

Gangrene of the foreskin is most likely to occur as a complication after a second attempt at prepuce-sparing surgery. It can be managed nonsurgically with a satisfactory outcome.
Sexually Dimorphic Effects of Testosterone Administration on Brain Allopregnanolone in Gonadectomized Rats
Authors: Pluchino Nicola , Ninni Filippo , Casarosa Elena , Lenzi Elena , Begliuomini Silvia , Cela Vito , Luisi Stefano , Freschi Letizia , Merlini Sara , Giannini Andrea , Cubeddu Alessandra , Genazzani Andrea Riccardo
Published: December 2008

Introduction

Clinical and biological evidences have shown a wide range of neuroactive effects of testosterone administration.

Aim

Evaluation of the effects of 2-weeks treatment with testosterone (T), Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and estradiol valerate (E2V) on brain and serum allopregnanolone (AP) in gonadectomized rats of both sexes.

Main Outcome Measures

AP levels were measured in frontal and parietal lobe, hippocampus, hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and in serum.

Methods

Eight groups of Wistar female and eight groups of Wistar male rats were included. For each sex, one group of fertile and one group of gonadectomized rats were employed as control receiving placebo. The others groups received subcutaneous T at the dose of 10 µg/kg/day and 100 µg/kg/day for female rats, and 1 mg/kg/day and 5 mg/kg/day for male rats, or DHT at the doses of 1 µg/kg/day, 10 µg/kg/day, and 100 µg/kg/day for females, and 0, 1 µg/kg/day, 1 mg/kg/day and 5 mg/kg/day for males, or E2V (0.05 mg/Kg/day).

Results:

Ovariectomy (OVX) and orchidectomy (OCX) induced a significant decrease in AP in all brain areas analyzed, as well as in serum. In OVX rats, T replacement, as well as E2V, significantly increased AP content in all brain areas and in plasma. In OCX, T and E2V did not actively result in influencing AP concentration in frontal and parietal lobe, while it produced a significant rise in AP levels in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and serum. Conversely, DHT replacement had no affect on AP levels anywhere or at any administered dose, either in males or in female rats.

Conclusion

Gender difference and T therapy affect brain AP synthesis/release during the reproductive aging. This effect becomes particularly evident in the brain of ovariectomized animals, where the content of this specific neurosteroid is much more responsive than male animals to testosterone replacement.
Male Sexual Dysfunction in Unconsummated Marriage: Long-Term Outcome in 417 Patients
Authors: Zargooshi Javaad
Published: December 2008

Introduction

Little research has been conducted about unconsummated marriage (UCM).

Aim

To report the long-term outcome of male sexual dysfunction (MSD) in UCM.

Methods

From 1997 to 2008, 417 couples presented to the author with UCM. The mean UCM duration ranged from 1 hour to 8 years. The median follow-up was 78.5 months.

Main Outcome Measures

Self-reported MSD in UCM based upon clinical history taking.

Results

In 177 cases, UCM was due to erectile dysfunction (ED) (86), premature ejaculation (PE) (89), performance anxiety (25), vaginismus (34), hypodesire disorder (6), not knowing the coital technique (8), men who have sex with men (MSM) (2), hypogonadism (1), request by bride to delay coitus (1), and thick hymen (1) (more than one factor involved in many cases). In the remaining 240 cases, UCM was due to being under social pressure to have a quick intercourse while relatives waited behind the door to confirm and celebrate coitus by checking a handkerchief that was placed beneath the bride to become bloody by hymen perforation. Intracavernosal injection (ICI) using papaverine ± phentholamine was used in 239 cases (57.3%); 221 (92.4%) responded. The eight cases who did not know the coital technique responded to sex education. Of the 50 men who were prescribed phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, only 4 responded. Of the 26 men who received clomipramine (21) or fluoxetine (5) for PE, 2 and 1 responded, respectively. Fourteen grooms who did not respond to treatments later consummated spontaneously.

No treatment was given to 94 grooms, including men with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder, men with learning difficulties, divorcing patients, and men in obligatory, loveless marriages. Ten untreated patients later consummated spontaneously. Of the 260 patients who consummated either with treatment (236) or spontaneously (24), 58 (22.3%) later presented with sexual complaints. The remaining 202 did well at a follow-up. Of the 157 couples who did not respond to treatment or did not receive treatment, 62 were either divorced or divorcing.

Conclusion

We strongly advise ICI as the first-line treatment of UCM. Oral therapies of ED and PE, vacuum constriction devices (VCD), and hymenectomy are of limited value. No treatment is indicated in many cases. Most grooms do well sexually in a long-term follow-up.
Improvement of Chronic Pain by Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Arabkheradmand Jalil , Foroutan Seyed Kazem , Ranjbar Shayan , Abbasi Tehrani , Hessami Salahodin , Gorji Ali
Published: December 2008

Introduction

Pain specialists, who do not routinely examine patients regarding their sexual medicine problems, need to be aware that sexual problems can and do aggravate the patient's pain. Patients may refuse to admit suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) but complain about continuous or progressive severe pain. These patients may be best managed by the combined team effort of a sexual medicine specialist and pain specialist.

Aim

This report documents the management of three cases with long-term intractable pain after severe trauma. Treatment of occult ED led to significant improvement of their pain.

Main Outcome Measures

The association of the treatment of uncovered ED and improvement of chronic severe pain.

Methods

Three case reports of patients with severe pain who attended a pain clinic in an academic medical center.

Results

Three men suffering from chronic pain due to severe trauma were observed for several years by different physicians as well as pain specialists. In spite of different treatments, including administration of several analgesics, psychotherapy, and physical therapy, pain was not alleviated. After finding ED problems, patients were referred to the family health clinic. Using different therapies such as psychosexual therapy, correction of sexual misconceptions, relaxation training, treatment of interpersonal difficulties, and pharmacological intervention ED was cured. Treatment of ED was accompanied by a significant reduction of chronic pain in all three patients.

Conclusion

The present report indicates that uncovered ED in patients suffering from chronic pain may trigger their somatic pain or reduce its threshold. Significant improvement in sexual functioning may improve the pain and reduce its complications.
Health-Related Quality of Life Instruments in Studies of Adult Men with Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome: A Critical Assessment
Authors: Langham Sue , Maggi Mario , Schulman Claude , Quinton Richard , Uhl-Hochgraeber Kerstin
Published: December 2008

Introduction

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a multidimensional concept, which subjectively measures a patient's physical, social, and emotional well-being. This information is becoming increasingly important in policy and clinical decisions. With such a wide range of tools available, careful selection is required to ensure they adequately reflect patient's concerns.

Aim

To critically assess HRQOL instruments used in studies of testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) to see whether they accurately measure these concerns.

Methods

A systematic review identified published articles. Studies were included if the population was adult men with TDS, with or without comorbid disease; used one or more HRQOL tools; and described the impact of treatment, the impact of TDS on the patient or the development of a questionnaire. Measurement properties and their use in clinical studies were described. Each study was assessed against 10 clinical face validity criteria to evaluate whether the questionnaires reflected issues that were of concern to patients.

Main Outcome Measure

Review of published literature.

Results

The study identified 29 articles that included 14 HRQOL questionnaires selected for use in 20 intervention studies, seven studies of the impact of TDS on the patient, and two studies describing the development of a HRQOL tool. Questionnaires displayed variable measurement properties and only nine studies complied with more than 50% of the clinical face validity criteria. Disease-specific instruments achieved a higher rate of compliance and more often demonstrated a positive effect of treatment on HRQOL compared to generic instruments.

Conclusion

Instruments used to measure HRQOL display variable measurement properties and often lack adequate clinical face validity. There are well-validated disease-specific HRQOL measures for age-related TDS, but none for classical TDS patients. Clinical and political decision-makers require HRQOL information using a combination of well-validated generic questionnaires and patient-focused, disease specific instruments relevant to the target TDS population under study.
A Screening Model for Injection‐Extraction Treatment Well Recirculation System Design
Authors: Wu Monica Y. , Smits Kathleen M. , Goltz Mark N , Christ John A.
Published: December 2008

Implementation of injection‐extraction treatment well pairs for in situ, in‐well, or on‐site remediation may be facilitated by development and application of modeling tools to aid in hydraulic design and remediation technology selection. In this study, complex potential theory was employed to derive a simple one‐step design equation and related type curves that permit the calculation of the extraction well capture zone and the hydraulic recirculation between an injection and extraction well pair oriented perpendicular to regional flow. This equation may be used to aid in the design of traditional fully screened injection‐extraction wells as well as innovative tandem recirculating wells when an adequate geologic barrier to vertical ground water flow exists. Simplified models describing in situ bioremediation, in‐well vapor stripping, and in‐well metal reactor treatment efficiency were adapted from the literature and coupled with the hydraulic design equation presented here. Equations and type curves that combine the remediation treatment efficiency with the hydraulic design equation are presented to simulate overall system treatment efficiency under various conditions. The combined model is applied to predict performance of in situ bioremediation and in‐well palladium reactor designs that were previously described in the literature. This model is expected to aid practitioners in treatment system screening and evaluation.
Laboratory Study Evaluating Heating of Tetrachloroethylene Impacted Soil
Authors: Burghardt Julie M. , Kueper Bernard H.
Published: December 2008

A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the relationship between degree of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) mass removal and heating duration, initial dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) saturation, and soil grain size. Data were collected to evaluate the impact of postheating sample temperature on PCE concentration and to calculate the thermal diffusivity of the soil. A linear relationship was found between initial DNAPL saturation and duration of the co‐boiling plateau, which occurred at 89 °C ± 4 °C. PCE concentrations were reduced most in samples that were heated beyond dryout, but continued heating for 12 hours beyond that point did not lead to further decreases. Heating samples with initial DNAPL saturations between 4.9% and 39.9% pore space illustrated a positive relationship between initial saturation and final soil concentration for a fixed heating duration. Smaller grain size resulted in lower postheating soil concentrations. Cooling postthermal remedy soils to as low as 20 °C prior to sampling did not affect measured PCE concentrations. An analytical model fit to cooling data indicated that the soil diffusivity values ranged from 1.4 × 10−7 to 1.8 × 10−7 m2/s.
A Practical Method to Evaluate Ground Water Contaminant Plume Stability
Authors: Ricker Joseph A.
Published: December 2008

Evaluating plume stability is important for the evaluation of natural attenuation of dissolved chemicals in ground water. When characterizing ground water contaminant plumes, there are numerous methods for evaluating concentration data. Typically, the data are tabulated and ground water concentrations presented on a site figure. Contaminant concentration isopleth maps are typically developed to evaluate temporal changes in the plume boundaries, and plume stability is often assessed by conducting trend analyses for individual monitoring wells. However, it is becoming more important to understand and effectively communicate the nature of the entire plume in terms of its stability (i.e., is the plume growing, shrinking, or stable?). This article presents a method for evaluating plume stability using innovative techniques to calculate and assess historical trends in various plume characteristics, including area, average concentration, contaminant mass, and center of mass. Contaminant distribution isopleths are developed for several sampling events, and the characteristics mentioned previously are calculated for each event using numerical methods and engineering principles. A statistical trend analysis is then performed on the calculated values to assess the plume stability. The methodology presented here has been used at various contaminated sites to effectively evaluate the stability of contaminant plumes comprising tetrachloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, pentachlorophenol, creosote, naphthalene, benzene, and chlordane. Although other methods for assessing contaminant plume stability exist, this method has been shown to be efficient, reliable, and applicable to any site with an established monitoring well network and multiple years of analytical data.
Patient‐centered care and adherence: Definitions and applications to improve outcomes
Authors: Robinson Janice H. , Callister Lynn C. , Berry Judith A. , Dearing Karen A.
Published: December 2008

Purpose: The implementation of patient‐centered care (PCC) has been hampered by the lack of a clear definition and method of measurement. The purpose of this review is to identify the fundamental characteristics of PCC to clarify its definition, propose a method for measurement of PCC, and recommend effective PCC practices.

Data sources: Review of literature related to PCC, adherence and communication from Cinahl, PubMed Academic Search Premier, and Cochrane Library databases.

Conclusions: Research has shown that patient‐centered interactions promote adherence and lead to improved health outcomes. The fundamental characteristics of PCC were identified as (a) patient involvement in care and (b) the individualization of patient care. The use of a numeric rating scale to measure the presence of these characteristics allows quantification from the patient perspective. Effective PCC practices were related to communication, shared decision making, and patient education.

Implications for practice: PCC is a measure of the quality of health care. Understanding the characteristics of PCC facilitates its implementation and measurement. Promoting PCC activities will improve adherence and encourage patient responsibility for health status.
Diagnosis and management of geriatric insomnia: A guide for nurse practitioners
Authors: Krishnan Preetha , Hawranik Pamela
Published: December 2008

Purpose: To discuss the assessment, diagnosis, and management of geriatric insomnia, a challenging clinical condition of older adults frequently seen by primary care providers.

Data sources: Extensive literature review of the published research articles and textbooks.

Conclusions: Complaints of insomnia among older adults are frequently ignored, considered a part of the normal aging process or viewed as a difficult to treat condition. Geriatric insomnia remains a challenge for primary care providers because of the lack of evidence‐based clinical guidelines and limited treatment options available. Effective management of this condition is necessary for improved quality of life, which is a primary issue for the elderly and their families. Therefore, geriatric insomnia warrants thorough attention from the nurse practitioners (NPs) who provide care for older adults.

Implications for practice: Undiagnosed or under treated insomnia can cause increased risk for falls, motor vehicle accidents, depression, and shorter survival. Insomniacs double their risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and suicide compared to their counterparts. Insomnia is also associated with increased healthcare utilization and institutionalization. NPs could play a central role in reducing the negative consequences of insomnia through a systematic approach for diagnosis, evaluation, and management.
THE VICTIMIZATION–TERMINATION LINK*
Authors: JACQUES SCOTT , WRIGHT RICHARD
Published: December 2008

The life histories of drug dealers suggest that victimizations sometimes mark turning points toward the end of criminal careers, which is a criminologically important but neglected empirical connection that we label the “victimization–termination link.” We theorize this link thusly: When serious victimizations occur in the context of crime, a break from the customary provides an opportune situation for adaptation, and when victims have social bonds and agency, when they define the event as the result of their own criminal involvement, and when they find other adaptations unattractive, criminal‐victims are likely to adapt by terminating crime. We illustrate this desistance process with qualitative data obtained through interviews with young, middle‐class drug dealers. We conclude by exploring promising avenues for future work.

It takes only a minute to change one's whole life course.
REASSESSING RACE DISPARITIES IN MARYLAND CAPITAL CASES*
Authors: PATERNOSTER RAYMOND , BRAME ROBERT
Published: December 2008

A generation of research studies that were conducted in multiple states and covered different time periods has found evidence that individuals who kill white victims encounter a greater risk of facing the death penalty than killers of black victims. More recently, research has also examined the likelihood of death penalty processing for black defendants who kill white victims in comparison with other defendant–victim race groups. In particular, a study in Maryland conducted by Paternoster et al. (2003) found evidence that offenders in black defendant–white victim cases were more likely to be death noticed by prosecutors and to receive a death sentence than other offenders. A recent analysis by Berk, Li, and Hickman (2005) raised questions about some of these findings. In this article, we conduct new analyses and conclude that black defendants who kill white victims face a greater risk of adverse treatment than other types of defendants.
ESCAPING CRIME: THE EFFECTS OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT VICTIMIZATION ON MOVING*
Authors: XIE MIN , MCDOWALL DAVID
Published: December 2008

This article investigates the impact of criminal victimization on household residential mobility. Existing research finds that direct experiences with crime influence mobility decisions, such that persons who suffer offenses near their homes are more likely to move. The current study extends this line of inquiry to consider whether indirect victimization that involves neighbors also stimulates moving. The analysis uses the National Crime Survey to estimate multilevel models that incorporate data from individual households and their spatially proximate neighbors. The results show that the link between direct victimization and moving continues to hold after controlling for neighborhood context. Indirect property victimization also leads to moving, with effects about equal in size to those of direct victimization. In contrast, no evidence is found that violent victimization that occurs in neighboring homes influences mobility, probably because most of these events are nonstranger violence that provokes less anxiety for neighbors.
SELF‐CONTROL THEORY AND THE CONCEPT OF OPPORTUNITY: THE CASE FOR A MORE SYSTEMATIC UNION*
Authors: HAY CARTER , FORREST WALTER
Published: December 2008

The purpose of this study is to advance the idea that low self‐control—one of the strongest known predictors of crime—likely has effects that are conditional on the supply of criminal opportunities. Some scholars initially interpreted the theory to make this exact prediction, but Gottfredson and Hirschi (2003) have rejected this interpretation. They have insisted that the simplistic nature of most crimes ensures that opportunities are limitless and that variation in opportunity simply reflects variation in self‐control. We trace the history of this uncertain position of opportunity in self‐control theory and argue that it should play a significant role in the theory, even if Gottfredson and Hirschi did not originally envision this. Next, we draw on routine activities theory and applications of it to individual offending to offer a theoretical statement of how opportunity should be incorporated into self‐control theory. Last, using data from a national sample of juveniles, we test the arguments that have been made. The analysis suggests that the effects of low self‐control on delinquency partially depend on the availability of criminal opportunities, as indicated by the time juveniles spend with their friends or away from the supervision of their parents.
Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Brain Cancer and the Promise of Preclinical Testing
Authors: Huse Jason T. , Holland Eric C.
Published: December 2008

Recent improvements in the understanding of brain tumor biology have opened the door to a number of rational therapeutic strategies targeting distinct oncogenic pathways. The successful translation of such “designer drugs” to clinical application depends heavily on effective and expeditious screening methods in relevant disease models. By recapitulating both the underlying genetics and the characteristic tumor‐stroma microenvironment of brain cancer, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) may offer distinct advantages over cell culture and xenograft systems in the preclinical testing of promising therapies. This review focuses on recently developed GEMMs for both glioma and medulloblastoma, and discusses their potential use in preclinical trials. Examples showcasing the use of GEMMs in the testing of molecularly targeted therapeutics are given, and relevant topics, such as stem cell biology, in vivo imaging technology and radiotherapy, are also addressed.
An Overview of Six Sigma
Authors: Montgomery Douglas C. , Woodall William H.
Published: December 2008

We provide an introductory overview of the Six Sigma development and improvement processes. A historical perspective is provided. We also discuss the statistical methods frequently used within this framework and briefly comment on the impact of Six Sigma on the practice of statistics in industry.
Overcoming the restriction barrier to plasmid transformation and targeted mutagenesis in Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003
Authors: O'Connell Motherway Mary , O'Driscoll Jonathan , Fitzgerald Gerald F. , Van Sinderen Douwe
Published: December 2008

In silico analysis of the Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 genome predicted two distinct loci, which encode three different restriction/modification systems, each comprising a modification methylase and a restriction endonuclease. Based on sequence homology and observed protection against restriction we conclude that the first restriction endonuclease, designated BbrI, is an isoschizomer of BbeI, the second, BbrII, is a neoschizomer of SalI, while the third, BbrIII, is an isoschizomer of PstI. Expression of each of the B. breve UCC2003 methylase‐encoding genes in B. breve JCM 7017 established that BbrII and BbrIII are active and restrict incoming DNA. By exploiting knowledge on restriction/modification in B. breve UCC2003 we successfully increased the transformation efficiency to a level that allows the reliable generation of mutants by homologous recombination using a non‐replicative plasmid.
Asymmetric Information and Dividend Policy
Authors: Li Kai , Zhao Xinlei
Published: December 2008

We examine how informational asymmetries affect firms' dividend policies. We find that firms that are more subject to information asymmetry are less likely to pay, initiate, or increase dividends, and disburse smaller amounts. We show that our main results are not driven by our sample and that our results persist after accounting for the changing composition of payout over the sample period, the increasing importance of institutional shareholdings, and catering incentives. We conclude that there is a negative relation between asymmetric information and dividend policy. Our results do not support the signaling theory of dividends.
Do Voting Rights Affect Institutional Investment Decisions? Evidence from Dual‐Class Firms
Authors: Li Kai , Ortiz‐Molina Hernán , Zhao Xinlei
Published: December 2008

We examine whether, and to what extent, shareholder voting rights affect institutional investment decisions. We find that institutional ownership in dual‐class firms is significantly lower than it is in single‐class firms after controlling for other determinants of institutional investment. Although institutions of all types hold fewer shares of dual‐class firms, this avoidance is more pronounced for long‐term investors with strong fiduciary responsibilities than for short‐term investors with weak fiduciary duties. Following the unification of dual‐class shares into a single class, institutional investors increase their shareholdings in the unifying firm. Overall, our results suggest that voting rights are an important determinant of institutional investment decisions.
Does Voluntary Disclosure Improve Stock Price Informativeness?
Authors: Haggard K. Stephen , Martin Xiumin , Pereira Raynolde
Published: December 2008

According to theory, comovement in stock prices reflects comovement in the fundamental factors underlying the values of stocks. Recent theory contends that stock price comovement can be driven by information markets or the informational opacity of the firm. To the extent that voluntary disclosure reduces information acquisition cost and enhances firm transparency, we predict that enhanced voluntary disclosure reduces stock price comovement. We provide evidence in support of this prediction using analyst evaluation of firm disclosure policy. Overall, our evidence supports the effectiveness of firm disclosure policy in increasing the amount of firm‐specific information contained in stock returns.
Implementation of a Bottom-Hole Assembly Program
Authors: Bhalla Kenneth , Gong Lixin , McKown George K.
Published: December 2008

A state of the art graphical user interface program has been developed to predict and design the bottom-hole assembly (BHA) performance for drilling. The techniques and algorithms developed in the program are based on those developed by Lubinski and Williamson. The BHA program facilitates conducting parametric studies and making field decisions for optimal BHA performance. The input parameters may include formation class, dip angle, hole size, drill collar size, number of stabilizers, and stabilizer spacing. The program takes into consideration bit-formation characteristics and interaction, drilling fluid weight, drill collar sizes, square collars, shock absorbers, measurement while drilling tools, reamer tools, directional tools, rotary steerable systems, etc. The output may consist of hole curvature (buildup or drop rate), hole angle, and weight on bit and is presented in drilling semantics. Additionally, the program can perform mechanical analyses and can solve for the bending moments and reaction forces. Moreover, the program has the capability to predict the wellpath using a drill ahead algorithm. The program consists of a mathematical model that makes assumptions of 2D, static, and constant hole curvature, resulting in a robust computationally efficient tool that produces rapid reliable results.
Using Transient Inflow Performance Relationships to Model the Dynamic Interaction Between Reservoir and Wellbore During Pressure Testing
Authors: Costantini Aldo , Falcone Gioia , Hewitt Geoffrey F. , Alimonti Claudio
Published: December 2008

The fundamental understanding of the dynamic interactions between multiphase flow in the reservoir and that in the wellbore remains surprisingly weak. The classical way of dealing with these interactions is via inflow performance relationships (IPRs), where the inflow from the reservoir is related to the pressure at the bottom of the well, which is a function of the multiphase flow behavior in the well. A steady-state IPRs are normally adopted, but their use may be erroneous when transient multiphase flow conditions occur. The transient multiphase flow in the wellbore causes problems in well test interpretation when the well is shut-in at the surface and the bottomhole pressure is measured. The pressure buildup (PBU) data recorded during a test can be dominated by transient wellbore effects (e.g., phase change, flow reversal, and re-entry of the denser phase into the producing zone), making it difficult to distinguish between true reservoir features and transient wellbore artifacts. This paper introduces a method to derive the transient IPRs at bottomhole conditions in order to link the wellbore to the reservoir during PBU. A commercial numerical simulator was used to build a simplified reservoir model (single well, radial coordinates, homogeneous rock properties) using published data from a gas condensate field in the North Sea. In order to exclude wellbore effects from the investigation of the transient inflow from the reservoir, the simulation of the wellbore was omitted from the model. Rather than the traditional flow rate at surface conditions, bottomhole pressure was imposed to constrain the simulation. This procedure allowed the flow rate at the sand face to be different from zero during the early times of the PBU, even if the surface flow rate is equal to zero. As a result, a transient IPR at bottomhole conditions was obtained for the given field case and for a specific set of time intervals, time steps, and bottomhole pressure. In order to validate the above simulation approach, a preliminary evaluation of the required experimental setup was carried out. The setup would allow the investigation of the dynamic interaction between the reservoir, the near-wellbore region, and the well, represented by a pressured vessel, a cylindrical porous medium, and a vertical pipe, respectively.
Hydrodynamic Modeling of Three-Phase Flow in Production and Gathering Pipelines
Authors: Zaghloul Jose , Adewumi Michael , Ityokumbul M. Thaddeus
Published: December 2008

The transport of unprocessed gas streams in production and gathering pipelines is becoming more attractive for new developments, particularly those in less friendly environments such as deep offshore locations. Transporting gas, oil, and water together from wells in satellite fields to existing processing facilities reduces the investments required for expanding production. However, engineers often face several problems when designing these systems. These problems include reduced flow capacity, corrosion, emulsion, asphaltene or wax deposition, and hydrate formation. Engineers need a tool to understand how the fluids travel together, to quantify the flow reduction in the pipe, and to determine where, how much, and what type of liquid that would form in a pipe. The present work provides a fundamental understanding of the thermodynamics and hydrodynamic mechanisms of this type of flow. We present a model that couples complex hydrodynamic and thermodynamic models for describing the behavior of fluids traveling in near-horizontal pipes. The model presented herein focuses on gas transmission exhibiting low-liquid loading conditions. The model incorporates a hydrodynamic formulation for three-phase flow in pipes, a thermodynamic model capable of performing two-phase and three-phase flash calculations in an accurate, fast, and reliable manner, and a theoretical approach for determining flow pattern transitions in three-phase (gas-oil-water) flow and closure models that effectively handle different three-phase flow patterns and their transitions. The unified two-fluid model developed herein is demonstrated to be capable of handling three-phase systems exhibiting low-liquid loading. Model predictions were compared against field data with good agreement. The hydrodynamic model allows (1) the determination of flow reduction due to the condensation of liquid(s) in the pipe, (2) the assessment of the potential for forming substances that might affect the integrity of the pipe, and (3) the evaluation of the possible measures for improving the deliverability of the pipeline.
An Experimental Study on Wax Removal in Pipes With Oil Flow
Authors: Wang Qian , Sarica Cem , Volk Michael
Published: December 2008

Pigging is recognized as one of the most used techniques for removing wax deposits in pipelines. In an earlier paper, the mechanics of wax removal was studied using an experimental setup under dry conditions, i.e., no oil presence. In this study, the pigging experiments are conducted for both regular disk and by-pass disk pigs under flowing conditions. A new test facility was designed and constructed. The test section is 6.1 m (20 ft) long schedule 40 steel pipe with an inner diameter of 0.0762 m (3 in.). A mixture of commercial wax and mineral oil is cast inside the spool pieces for different wax thicknesses and oil contents. The wax breaking and plug transportation forces are investigated separately. The results indicated that the wax breaking force increases as wax thickness increases, and the wax plug transportation force gradient is independent of the wax plug length. In comparison to previous test results, the presence of oil reduced the wax plug transportation force. Experimental results also showed that the wax transport behavior of the by-pass pig is significantly different than that of the regular pig. The by-pass pig allows the oil to flow through the by-pass holes and mobilizes the removed wax in front of the pig resulting in no discernible wax accumulation in front of the pig. Therefore, no measurable transportation force was observed for the by-pass pig tests.
NETL Extreme Drilling Laboratory Studies High Pressure High Temperature Drilling Phenomena
Authors: Lyons K. David , Honeygan Simone , Mroz Thomas
Published: December 2008

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) established the Extreme Drilling Laboratory to engineer effective and efficient drilling technologies viable at depths greater than 20,000 ft. This paper details the challenges of ultradeep drilling, documents reports of decreased drilling rates as a result of increasing fluid pressure and temperature, and describes NETL’s research and development activities. NETL is invested in laboratory-scale physical simulation. Its physical simulator will have capability of circulating drilling fluids at 30,000 psi and 480°F around a single drill cutter. This simulator is not yet operational; therefore, the results will be limited to the identification of leading hypotheses of drilling phenomena and NETL’s test plans to validate or refute such theories. Of particular interest to the Extreme Drilling Laboratory’s studies are the combinatorial effects of drilling fluid pressure, drilling fluid properties, rock properties, pore pressure, and drilling parameters, such as cutter rotational speed, weight on bit, and hydraulics associated with drilling fluid introduction to the rock-cutter interface. A detailed discussion of how each variable is controlled in a laboratory setting will be part of the conference paper and presentation.
Laboratory Simulation of Drill Bit Dynamics Using a Model-Based Servohydraulic Controller
Authors: Raymond David W. , Elsayed M. A. , Polsky Yarom , Kuszmaul Scott S.
Published: December 2008

Drilling costs are significantly influenced by bit performance when drilling in offshore formations. Retrieving and replacing damaged downhole tools is an extraordinarily expensive and time-intensive process, easily costing several hundred thousand dollars of offshore rig time plus the cost of damaged components. Dynamic behavior of the drill string can be particularly problematic when drilling high strength rock, where the risk of bit failure increases dramatically. Many of these dysfunctions arise due to the interaction between the forces developed at the bit-rock interface and the modes of vibration of the drill string. Although existing testing facilities are adequate for characterizing bit performance in various formations and operating conditions, they lack the necessary drill string attributes to characterize the interaction between the bit and the bottom hole assembly (BHA). A facility that includes drill string compliance and yet allows real-rock/bit interaction would provide an advanced practical understanding of the influence of drill string dynamics on bit life and performance. Such a facility can be used to develop new bit designs and cutter materials, qualify downhole component reliability, and thus mitigate the harmful effects of vibration. It can also serve as a platform for investigating process-related parameters, which influence drilling performance and bit-induced vibration to develop improved practices for drilling operators. The development of an advanced laboratory simulation capability is being pursued to allow the dynamic properties of a BHA to be reproduced in the laboratory. This simulated BHA is used to support an actual drill bit while conducting drilling tests in representative rocks in the laboratory. The advanced system can be used to model the response of more complex representations of a drill string with multiple modes of vibration. Application of the system to field drilling data is also addressed.