bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Successful Endovascular Exclusion of a Common Iliac Artery Aneurysm: Off-Label Use of a Reversed Cook Zenith Extension Limb Stent-Graft
Authors: Leon Luis R. , Mills Joseph L.
Published: November 2008

Open iliac aneurysm repair has been historically associated with major morbidity and mortality. The introduction of endovascular devices and techniques has expanded the armamentarium available to treat these aneurysms, and several methods have been reported. However, the off-label use of a commercially available, flared extension limb stent-graft to treat a common iliac artery aneurysm (CIA) by preliminary extracorporeal predeployment, endograft reversal, and reinsertion into the delivery sheath to fashion a tapered endograft has not been previously reported. A case report of a CIA aneurysm diagnosed 9 years after transperitoneal tube graft abdominal aortic aneurysm repair treated with ipsilateral hypogastric artery occlusion with an Amplatzer plug and placement of a reversed, tapered extension limb stent-graft is herein presented.
Spinal Reflexes in Ankle Flexor and Extensor Muscles After Chronic Central Nervous System Lesions and Functional Electrical Stimulation
Authors: Thompson Aiko K. , Estabrooks Kristen L. , Chong SuLing , Stein Richard B.
Published: November 2008

Objective. Spinal reciprocal inhibitory and excitatory reflexes of ankle extensor and flexor muscles were investigated in ambulatory participants with chronic central nervous system (CNS) lesions causing foot drop as a function of time after lesion and stimulator use. Methods. Thirty-nine participants with progressive (eg, secondary progressive MS) and 36 with generally nonprogressive (eg, stroke) conditions were studied. The tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus maximum H-reflex/M-wave (Hmax/Mmax) ratios and maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) were measured and compared with those in age-matched control participants. Reciprocal inhibition was measured as a depression of the ongoing electromyographic (EMG) activity produced by antagonist muscle—nerve stimulation. Results. Participants with CNS lesions had significantly higher soleus Hmax/Mmax ratios than control participants, and reduced voluntary modulation of the reflexes occurred in both muscles. Reciprocal inhibition of soleus from common peroneal (CP) nerve stimulation was not significantly different from controls in either group. Inhibition of the TA by tibial nerve stimulation decreased and was eventually replaced by excitation in participants with nonprogressive disorders. No significant change occurred in progressive disorders. Use of a foot drop stimulator increased the TA, but not the soleus MVC overall. H-reflexes only showed small changes. Reciprocal inhibition of the TA increased considerably, while that of the soleus muscle decreased toward control values. Conclusions. Disorders that produce foot drop also produce reflex changes, some of which only develop over a period of years or even decades. Regular use of a foot drop stimulator strengthens voluntary pathways and changes some reflexes toward control values. Thus, stimulators may provide multiple benefits to people with foot drop.
Impaired negative regulation of homeostatically proliferating T cells
Authors: Shvets Anna , Chakrabarti Rabindranath , Gonzalez-Quintial Rosana , Baccala Roberto , Theofilopoulos Argyrios N. , Prud'homme Gérald J.
Published: November 2008

Acute lymphopenia-induced homeostatic proliferation (HP) of T cells promotes antitumor immunity, but the mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that this is due to a lack of inhibitory signals that allows activation of T cells with low affinity for self-antigens. Tumors resist immunity in part by expressing inhibitory molecules such as PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), B7-H4, and TGF-β. In irradiated mice undergoing HP, we found that T cells displayed a severe deficit in the activation-induced expression of inhibitory molecules PD-1 and CTLA-4, and TGF-β1–induced expression of Foxp3. HP T cells were also less suppressed by B7-H4/Ig and, unlike control T cells, failed to produce IL-10 in response to this molecule. This deficiency in regulation was reversed as normal T-cell numbers were restored. We conclude that T cells are weakly regulated by inhibitory molecules during the acute phase of HP, which could explain their increased effectiveness in cancer immunotherapy.
Recombinant human activated protein C ameliorates oleic acid-induced lung injury in awake sheep
Authors: Waerhaug Kristine , Kirov Mikhail Y , Kuzkov Vsevolod V , Kuklin Vladimir N , Bjertnaes Lars J
Published: November 2008

Introduction

Acute lung injury (ALI) may arise both after sepsis and non-septic inflammatory conditions and is often associated with the release of fatty acids, including oleic acid (OA). Infusion of OA has been used extensively to mimic ALI. Recent research has revealed that intravenously administered recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) is able to counteract ALI. Our aim was to find out whether rhAPC dampens OA-induced ALI in sheep.

Methods

Twenty-two yearling sheep underwent instrumentation. After 2 days of recovery, animals were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (a) an OA+rhAPC group (n = 8) receiving OA 0.06 mL/kg infused over the course of 30 minutes in parallel with an intravenous infusion of rhAPC 24 mg/kg per hour over the course of 2 hours, (b) an OA group (n = 8) receiving OA as above, or (c) a sham-operated group (n = 6). After 2 hours, sheep were sacrificed. Hemodynamics was assessed by catheters in the pulmonary artery and the aorta, and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) was determined with the single transpulmonary thermodilution technique. Gas exchange was evaluated at baseline and at cessation of the experiment. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance; a P value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results

OA induced profound hypoxemia, increased right atrial and pulmonary artery pressures and EVLWI markedly, and decreased cardiac index. rhAPC counteracted the OA-induced changes in EVLWI and arterial oxygenation and reduced the OA-induced increments in right atrial and pulmonary artery pressures.

Conclusions

In ovine OA-induced lung injury, rhAPC dampens the increase in pulmonary artery pressure and counteracts the development of lung edema and the derangement of arterial oxygenation.
Deep Shear Wave Velocity Profiles from Surface Wave Measurements in the Mississippi Embayment
Authors: Rosenblad Brent L. , Li Jianhua , Menq Farn-Yuh , Stokoe Kenneth H.
Published: November 2008

Shear wave velocity ( VS) profiles to depths of approximately 200 m were developed from active-source surface wave velocity measurements in the Mississippi Embayment region of the Central United States. Soil deposits in this region are hundreds of meters thick, but are poorly characterized at depths below 60 m. Measurements were performed at five locations in Arkansas and Tennessee with a maximum distance between sites of approximately 130 km. The median VS profile calculated from the five profiles is in good agreement with a generic reference VS profile for the Mississippi Embayment that has been used in recent site response studies. The near-surface VS profiles at the five sites were remarkably consistent with average shear wave velocities in the top 30 m ( VS30), varying by less than 10%. Increasing variability between the VS profiles was observed at greater depths. The variability between VS profiles was shown to be correlated with changes in lithology at two of the sites where nearby lithologic information was available.
Reducing Seismic Risk of School Buildings in Venezuela
Authors: López Oscar A. , Hernández Julio J. , Del Re Gianina , Puig José , Espinosa Luis
Published: November 2008

School buildings have frequently collapsed during earthquakes. The 1997 Cariaco earthquake led to the ruin of four reinforced concrete school buildings that were built several years ago. Failures were the result of structural deficiencies: short columns and low lateral strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity. Seventy percent of Venezuelan schools are in high-hazard regions; about 1,000 are similar to the collapsed schools. With the purpose of developing a national risk-reduction program, the expected seismic performance of two typical schools was evaluated: one representing schools built 50 years ago (Old-type) and one representing schools built 20–30 years ago (Box-type). These were analyzed utilizing nonlinear pushover techniques and compared with the inventory of schools in Venezuela. Old-type schools were found to need retrofitting in moderate- and above-seismic zones, and Box-type schools in higher zones. Practical retrofitting is achieved with the addition of auxiliary structures to support the seismic loads, leaving the existing structures to support only the gravity loads. This effort has led to a national program. The initial phase, surveying approximately 28,000 existing schools, has begun.
Fragility Assessment of Steel Frames Using Neural Networks
Authors: Lagaros Nikolaos D. , Fragiadakis Michalis
Published: November 2008

A neural network–based methodology is proposed for the rapid evaluation of the seismic demand using data extracted from ground motion records. Limit-state fragilities for a moment-resisting steel frame are developed using Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed methodology allows taking into account uncertainties on both structural capacity and seismic demand with reduced computational cost. The use of neural networks is motivated by the approximate concepts inherent in the fragility assessment and the large number of time-consuming nonlinear response history analyses required for the accurate calculation of the probability of a limit-state being exceeded. The trained neural network is used to obtain the level of seismic demand, which is expressed in terms of maximum interstory drift. The methodology proposed is efficient and general in application.
Hypothalamic Expression of Eap1 Is Not Directly Controlled by Ovarian Steroids
Authors: Matagne Valerie , Mastronardi Claudio , Shapiro Robert A. , Dorsa Daniel M. , Ojeda Sergio R.
Published: November 2008

A gene termed EAP1 (enhanced at puberty 1) was recently identified as a transcriptional regulator of female neuroendocrine reproductive function. We have now used in vivo and in vitro assays, and the female rat as an animal model, to determine whether Eap1 gene expression is regulated by ovarian steroids. Eap1 mRNA abundance decreases in both the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex during the infantile-juvenile phases of development, but it increases selectively in the hypothalamus at puberty, suggesting that in contrast to the general decline in expression observed in immature animals, the region-specific increase in Eap1 mRNA levels that occurs at puberty might be elicited by ovarian steroids. This is, however, not the case, because hypothalamic Eap1 mRNA levels increase at the expected time of puberty in rats ovariectomized at the beginning of the juvenile period. Although a subpopulation of EAP1-containing cells in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) and preoptic area express estrogen receptor-α (ERα), the 5′-flanking region of the rat Eap1 (rEap1) gene does not contain a complete estrogen-responsive element, and no such estrogen-responsive element is detected within 100 kb of the rEap1 locus. Functional promoter assays showed that neither estradiol (E2) alone nor a combination of E2 plus progesterone increases rEap1 gene transcription. Likewise, E2 administered to ovariectomized immature rats elicited a robust surge of LH but increased neither preoptic area nor MBH Eap1 mRNA levels. E2/progesterone-treated rats showed a massive elevation in plasma LH but only a modest increase in Eap1 mRNA levels, limited to the MBH. These results indicate that hypothalamic Eap1 expression is not directly controlled by ovarian steroids and suggest that Eap1 expression increases at puberty driven by ovary-independent, centrally initiated events.
Altered Expression of Growth Hormone/Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Axis Hormones in Domesticated Fish
Authors: Tymchuk Wendy E. , Beckman Brian , Devlin Robert H.
Published: November 2008

There are genetically based differences in growth and behavior between domestic and wild (W) trout and salmon, although the molecular underpinnings of the physiological alterations have not been identified. To test for genetically based alterations in the GH/IGF-I axis, which is thought to mediate some of the differences in growth and behavior, we measured circulating concentrations of GH, IGF-I, and thyroid hormone (T3), as well as mRNA levels for GH, IGF-I, and GH receptor, from multiple tissues and from fish reared under different environments. Both age-matched and size-matched individuals were examined to overcome difficulties examining strains with inherently different growth rates (and, thus, body size at age). A principal components analysis detected four factors that explained over 70% of the variation in the data; of these, a factor composed of mRNA expression of GH receptor in the liver, IGF-I in the liver, and circulating IGF-I was most strongly correlated with genotype. W coho salmon families responded to environmental alteration with a lower level of plasma IGF-I detected in the seminatural (reduced food) environment relative to the culture environment, whereas no environmental response was detected in the domestic families. The results suggest that genetically based differences in hormone expression and regulation, particularly for IGF-I, are present in response to anthropogenic selection pressures in salmon and trout. In addition, although rearing environment alone can alter relative hormone expression, domestication appears to have reduced the physiological response to environment relative to W fish.
The DNA-binding Polycomb-group protein Pleiohomeotic maintains both active and repressed transcriptional states through a single site
Authors: Fujioka Miki , Yusibova Galina L. , Zhou Jian , Jaynes James B.
Published: November 2008

Although epigenetic maintenance of either the active or repressed transcriptional state often involves overlapping regulatory elements, the underlying basis of this is not known. Epigenetic and pairing-sensitive silencing are related properties of Polycomb-group proteins, whereas their activities are generally opposed by the trithorax group. Both groups modify chromatin structure, but how their opposing activities are targeted to allow differential maintenance remains a mystery. Here, we identify a strong pairing-sensitive silencing (PSS) element at the 3′ border of the Drosophila even skipped (eve) locus. This element can maintain repression during embryonic as well as adult eye development. Transgenic dissection revealed that silencing activity depends on a binding site for the Polycomb-group protein Pleiohomeotic (Pho) and on phogene function. Binding sites for the trithorax-group protein GAGA factor also contribute, whereas sites for the known Polycomb response element binding factors Zeste and Dsp1 are dispensible. Normally, eve expression in the nervous system is maintained throughout larval stages. An enhancer that functions fully in embryos does not maintain expression, but the adjacent PSS element confers maintenance. This positive activity also depends on pho gene activity and on Pho binding. Thus, a DNA-binding complex requiring Pho is differentially regulated to facilitate epigenetic transcriptional memory of both the active and the repressed state.
The Economic Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Vigdor Jacob
Published: November 2008

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina swept into Louisiana and New Orleans, a city built largely on land reclaimed from swamp, witnessed massive failures in its levees. Much of the city and its surrounding suburbs were inundated; those residents of the city who had not heeded warnings to flee the approaching storm were evacuated in its wake. In less than a week, the city's population declined from over 400,000 to near zero. Census Bureau estimates indicate that almost two years after the storm, by July 1, 2007, nearly half of these evacuees had yet to return. Will the future New Orleans bear any resemblance to the city that existed prior to Katrina? Most government authorities, from city officials to federal spokespersons, insist that New Orleans must—and should—be fully rebuilt. Many environmental scientists question whether such a rebuilding would be sensible, given the city's precarious geological position and the contribution of past land reclamation to the city's current vulnerability. The more basic positive question of whether the city will come back, however, is fundamentally an economic one. After Hurricane Katrina, will the city of New Orleans continue to be a preferred location for more than 400,000 residents and their employers? Or will the disaster shift the city to a new equilibrium level of employment and population?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm disease: health risks, management and screening
Authors: Hafez Hany
Published: November 2008

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease is a condition that affects mainly men over the age of 65 years. The majority of AAAs will remain asymptomatic and therefore undetected. These undetected aneurysms will invariably grow enough for their walls to rupture leading to death in nearly 75% of those affected. Ultrasound-based AAA screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying of an AAA by half. This significant reduction of mortality offered by a simple and sensitive non-invasive test has prompted the Department of Health to introduce a national AAA screening programme for England and Wales. In this article, the public health risks of AAA disease together with details of the impact of the anticipated national AAA screening programme are discussed.
Emotional engagement in strategic partnerships: grassroots organising in a tobacco control partnership in the North East of England
Authors: Heckler Serena , Andrew Andrew
Published: November 2008

Multi-agency partnerships are often regarded as crucial for the planning and delivery of public health initiatives. A number of evaluative frameworks stress governance, structure and management as the fundamental factors contributing to partnership success. However, ethnographic research into the multi-agency partnership that sets the strategic direction for tobacco control in the North East of England revealed emotional engagement and positive personal relationships, factors that have largely been overlooked in the relevant literature, to be more important. The partnership coordinators have successfully used a model developed by grassroots organisers in the international tobacco control movement to create an environment where positive affect and mutual liking develop and underpin a dynamic and productive partnership. In some cases, this grassroots model directly contradicts the advice of partnership tools and analyses, but has proved highly effective in engaging with professionals.
Imbalances in funding for clinical and public health research in the UK: can NICE research recommendations make a difference?
Authors: Chalkidou Kalipso , Culyer Anthony , Littlejohns Peter , Doyle Nick , Hoy Andrew
Published: November 2008

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations for further research often focus on access, prevention and health promotion, and include population groups traditionally excluded from clinical trials, such as children and minority ethnic groups. NICE and its advisory bodies are starting to work with the National Institute for Health Research to promote research into the clinical and cost-effectiveness of public health interventions. More streamlined interaction between public funders and policy makers could help drive public R&D (Research & Development) investment towards under-researched areas such as prevention, equity and access, and strengthen the evidence base that underpins NICE guidance and broader clinical and public health practice in the UK.
Effects of gaze‐aversion on visual‐spatial imagination
Authors: Markson Lucy , Paterson Kevin B.
Published: November 2008

Research suggests that averting gaze from an interlocutor can improve both children's and adults' performance in a range of cognitive tasks. With the present experiments, we investigated the effect of gaze aversion on adults' visual‐spatial imagination, using a methodology adapted from Kerr (1987). Participants mentally kept track of a pathway through an imaginary matrix, while either maintaining eye‐contact with the experimenter, closing their eyes, gazing at a static or a dynamic visual stimulus (in Experiment 1), or fixating an upright or inverted image of the experimenter's face (in Experiment 2). The results show that whereas maintaining eye‐contact with another person disrupts accurate imagination of this pathway, averting gaze or looking at other visual stimuli does not. We conclude that gaze aversion benefits cognitive performance, not just by disengaging visual attention from irrelevant visual information, but also by interrupting social interaction processes involved in face‐to‐face communication.
Leadership predictors of innovation and task performance: Subordinates' self‐esteem and self‐presentation as moderators
Authors: Rank Johannes , Nelson Nicole E. , Allen Tammy D. , Xu Xian
Published: November 2008

This study examined self‐related subordinate variables as moderators of relationships between supervisors' leadership behaviours (transformational as well as active‐corrective transactional leadership) and subordinates' innovative behaviour and task performance. Based on behavioural plasticity and self‐monitoring theory, we hypothesized that these associations would be moderated by subordinates' organization‐based self‐esteem and by their propensity to modify self‐presentation, a major facet of the self‐monitoring construct. Field survey data (N=161) collected in research and development, marketing and human resources departments of several German companies revealed that transformational leadership positively predicted both criteria, whereas active‐corrective transactional leadership negatively predicted innovation. As hypothesized, transformational leadership related more strongly and positively to innovation for subordinates low in organization‐based self‐esteem. When subordinates were low in self‐presentation propensity, active‐corrective transactional leadership was negatively, and transformational leadership was positively associated with task performance.
HMO-planes
Authors: Kantor William M.
Published: November 2008

Hiramine, Matsumoto and Oyama [Osaka J. Math. 24: 123–137, 1987] made the remarkable discovery that every translation plane of order q
2 that is 2-dimensional over its kernel produces translation planes of order q
4. This construction is studied, with emphasis on isomorphisms among the resulting planes.
Separating TV ads from TV programming. What we can learn about program-integrated advertising from economic theory and research on media use
Authors: Steininger Christian , Woelke Jens
Published: November 2008

Revenues from television spot-advertising can be viewed as a kind of indirect financing of editorial content. This applies still further to endeavours to incorporate advertising messages into programming. In order to identify problems associated with doing away with the separation principle, it is meaningful to adopt a perspective that brings together theories and findings which are genuinely embedded in economics and communication science. Such a perspective shows that appealing to the self-regulating forces of the market is nonsensical in a sector where market failure is the rule as opposed to the exception. And when it comes to media competence of television viewers, audience research and research on media effects indicates that expectations with respect to the advertising effectiveness of product placement are unlikely to be met.
Comments on the Interpretation of Results from the Restrained Ring Test
Authors: Radlinska Aleksandra , Bucher Brooks , Weiss Jason
Published: November 2008

The restrained ring test has recently been standardized (ASTM C1581-04) as a test method to assess the restrained shrinkage cracking susceptibility of a concrete mixture. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of published information regarding the repeatability of the test. This paper quantifies the variability of the ASTM C1581-04 ring test procedure. To determine the repeatability of the standard test, 24 restrained ring specimens were cast from the same mortar mixture and stored in carefully controlled environmental conditions. Results from the restrained ring test were assessed using the same mixture proportions. The results indicate that a standard deviation of approximately 6 με can be expected in the strain measurements from the same mixture and 8 με from different batches of the same mixture. The total coefficient of variation observed was less than 12 % (within single mixture and between different batches). A probabilistic approach was used to describe the variability associated with the age of cracking and to provide a tool that allows cracking prediction, especially when only a fraction of the ring specimens crack.
Circulating levels of GH predict mortality and complement prognostic scores in critically ill medical patients
Authors: Schuetz Philipp , Müller Beat , Nusbaumer Charly , Wieland Melanie , Christ-Crain Mirjam
Published: November 2008

Background

Circulating levels of GH are increased during critical illness and correlate with outcome in children with meningococcal sepsis. We assessed the prognostic implications of GH on admission and during follow-up in critically ill adult patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit.

Materials and methods

We measured GH, IGF1 and IGF-binding protein3 (IGFBP-3) plasma concentrations in 103 consecutive critically ill patients and compared it with two clinical severity scores (APACHE II, SAPS II).

Results

Median GH levels on admission were similar in septic (n=53) and non-septic (n=50) patients and about 7-fold increased in the 24 non-survivors as compared with survivors (9.50 (interquartile ranges (IQR) 3.53–18.40) vs 1.4 (IQR 0.63–5.04), P<0.0001). GH levels increased with increasing severity of sepsis (sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock, P=0.019). By contrast, IGF1 and IGFBP-3 did not correlate with severity of disease or mortality. Logistic regression models showed that GH and both clinical scores were independent predictors of mortality with a similar prognostic accuracy (GH: area under the curve (AUC) 0.81 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71–0.92), APACHE II: AUC 0.71 (95% CI, 0.58–0.83), P=0.16, SAPS II: AUC 0.75 (95% CI, 0.63–0.86, P=0.36)). GH improved the prognostic accuracy of the APACHE II score to an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.66–090, P=0.04) and tended to improve the SAPS II score to an AUC of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.67–0.90, P=0.09).

Conclusion

GH plasma concentrations on admission are independent predictors for mortality in adult critically ill patients and may complement existing risk prediction scores, namely the APACHE II and the SAPS II score.
IFATS Collection: The Conditioned Media of Adipose Stromal Cells Protect Against Hypoxia-Ischemia-Induced Brain Damage in Neonatal Rats
Authors: Wei Xing , Du Zhimei , Zhao Liming , Feng Dongni , Wei Gang , He Yongzheng , Tan Jiangning , Lee Wei-Hui , Hampel Harald , Dodel Richard , Johnstone Brian H. , March Keith L. , Farlow Martin R. , Du Yansheng
Published: November 2008

Adipose tissue stroma contains a population of mesenchymal stem cells, which support repair when administered to damaged tissues, in large part through secreted trophic factors. We directly tested the ability of media collected from cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to protect neurons in a rat model of brain hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury. Concentrated conditioned medium from cultured rat ASCs (ASC-CM) or control medium was infused through the jugular vein of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to HI injury. The ASC-CM was administered either 1 hour before or 24 hours after induction of injury. Analysis at 1 week indicated that administration at both time points significantly protected against hippocampal and cortical volume loss. Analysis of parallel groups for behavioral and learning changes at 2 months postischemia demonstrated that both treated groups performed significantly better than the controls in Morris water maze functional tests. Subsequent post-mortem evaluation of brain damage at the 2-month time point confirmed neuronal loss to be similar to that observed at 1 week for all groups. We have identified several neurotrophic factors in ASC-CM, particularly insulin-like growth factor-1 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which are important factors that could contribute to the protective effects of ASCs observed in studies with both in vitro and in vivo neuronal injury models. These data suggest that delivery of the milieu of factors secreted by ASCs may be a viable therapeutic option for treatment of HI, as well as other brain injuries.
Improved Autograft Survival of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells by Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Inhibition
Authors: Copland Ian B. , Lord-Dufour Simon , Cuerquis Jessica , Coutu Daniel L. , Annabi Borhane , Wang Eugenea , Galipeau Jacques
Published: November 2008

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) display robust reparative properties through their ability to limit apoptosis, enhance angiogenesis, and direct positive tissue remodeling. However, low in vivo survival of transplanted cells limits their overall effectiveness and significantly affects their clinical usage. Consequently, identifying strategies to improve cell survival in vivo are a priority. One explanation for their low survival is that MSCs are often transplanted into ischemic tissue, such as infarcted myocardium, where there is poor blood supply and low oxygen tension. Therefore, we examined how MSCs respond to a hypoxic, nutrient-poor stress environment to identify trophic factors that could be manipulated in advance of MSC transplantation. Combining microarray and proteomic screens we identified plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) as one factor consistently upregulated in our in vitro ischemia-mimicking conditions. Subsequent genetic and chemical manipulation studies define PAI-1 as a negative regulator of MSC survival in vivo. Mechanistically, MSC-derived PAI-1 does not alter MSC survival through a plasmin-dependent mechanism but rather directly impacts on the adhesiveness of MSCs to their surrounding matrices. Thus we can conclude that post-transplantation, PAI-1 negatively impacts MSC survival by promoting anoikis via matrix detachment.
Individual and Contextual Predictors of Inhalant Use among 8th Graders: A Multilevel Analysis
Authors: Collins David , Pan Zhenfeng , Johnson Knowlton , Courser Matthew , Shamblen Steve
Published: November 2008

Few studies of inhalant use have examined a large number of predictors at the individual level, including risk and protective factors and delinquent behavior, while also taking into account contextual variables (such as school size and poverty rates). This exploratory study uses 8th grade data from a large-scale survey of students in Kentucky to examine individual and contextual predictors of prevalence of inhalant use, and compares the predictors of inhalant use with factors predicting the use of marijuana and other drug use. Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling results using a logit link function suggest that the relationships between inhalant use and some of these factors are different than the relationships between the factors and both marijuana and other drug use. Implications for prevention of inhalant use are discussed.
Immediate and Short-Term Effects of the 5th Grade Version of the Keepin' it Real Substance Use Prevention Intervention
Authors: Hecht Michael L. , Elek Elvira , Wagstaff David A. , Kam Jennifer A. , Marsiglia Flavio , Dustman Patricia , Reeves Leslie , Harthun Mary
Published: November 2008

This study assessed the immediate and short-term outcomes of adapting a culturally-grounded middle school program, keepin' it REAL, for elementary school students. After curriculum adaptation, 10 schools were randomly assigned to the intervention in 5th grade with follow-up boosters in 6th grade; 13 schools were randomly assigned to the control condition, implementing the school's pre-existing substance use prevention programming. Students ( n = 1,566) completed a questionnaire prior to curriculum implementation and follow-up questionnaires toward the end of 5th and 6th grade. The 5th grade kiR curriculum generally appeared no more effective than the control schools' programming in changing students' resistance or decision-making skills; substance use intentions, expectancies, or normative beliefs; or lifetime and recent substance use. Such findings have implications for the age appropriateness of school-based programs.
Role of Family Resources and Paternal History of Substance Use Problems in Psychosocial Adjustment among School-Aged Children
Authors: Peleg-Oren Neta , Rahav Giora , Teichman Meir
Published: November 2008

The present study examines the role of family resources (parenting style and family cohesion) and paternal history of substance abuse on the psychosocial adjustment of their school-aged children. Data were collected from 148 children aged 8–11 (72 of fathers with history of substance use disorder, 76 children of fathers with no substance use problems) and their mothers. Results draw attention to the differences between the subjective experiences of the child and those of the mother, and by indicating that the effect of the interaction between the father's and the mother's control parenting style on the child's psychosocial outcome is greater than the sum total of influences of each of them separately.
Tire-Suspension-Chassis Dynamics in Rolling over Obstacles for Ride and Harshness Analysis
Authors: Kerchman V.
Published: November 2008

The importance of improving dynamic properties is growing in vehicle development, especially as tire sidewall height is reduced. In particular, accurate prediction of tire and suspension dynamics in rolling over road irregularities is needed for evaluation of ride comfort and impact harshness in realistic driving conditions. Severity of loading from impact against bigger obstacles, such as a speed bump, deep pothole, or curb also helps to assess extreme conditions for tire, suspension, and body joint damage and durability.

In this study, a detailed tire-wheel finite element model is combined with the hub and suspension, and attached to a simplified vehicle model with a bicycle-type body and rear half. Transient event simulations of straight rolling over a bump and potholes of various geometries reveal rich dynamics of tire impact deformations and the postimpact tire, hub, and vehicle vibrations. Their relation to the tire resonant modes and rolling-impact load variations is elucidated. Simulations of curb impact and rolling over a long pothole are conducted for conditions similar to a suspension abuse test. In addition to very strong amplification of tire and suspension loads, such events produce severe local tire strains and stresses that indicate tire endurance and performance postimpact effects. An example of oblique bump impact simulation is presented as well.
Characterization of Fracture Dynamic Parameters to Simulate Naturally Fractured Reservoirs
Authors: Bahrami Hassan , Siavoshi Jamal , Parvizi Hadi , esmaili soodabeh , Karimi Mohammad Hussein
Published: November 2008

Fractures identification is essential during exploration, drilling and well completion of naturally fractured reservoirs since they have a significant impact on flow contribution. There are different methods to characterize these systems based on formation properties and fluid flow behaviour such as logging and testing.

Pressure-transient testing has long been recognized as a reservoir characterization tool. Although welltest analysis is a recommended technique for fracture evaluation, but its use is still not well understood. Analysis of pressure transient data provides dynamic reservoir properties such as average permeability, fracture storativity and fracture conductivity.

An infusion of geological knowledge helps reducing uncertainty associated with any well-test interpretation. The static properties of naturally fractured reservoirs such as fracture aperture, fracture spacing and fracture porosity can be obtained from processing of Image Log data.

Simulation of naturally fractured reservoirs needs defining fracture permeability, shape factor and fracture porosity in the fracture model. However, in most simulation studies, due to high uncertainties in estimating fracture permeability and shape factor values, these parameters are initially assumed in the model and they are usually tuned during history matching which can be time consuming and also affect other history match parameters. Reservoir simulation results and predictions might be inaccurate if the values of fracture properties in the model are not reliable.

This paper shows using image log data associated with welltest analysis in order to determine dynamic fracture parameters such as fracture permeability and shape factor for reservoir simulation. In this study, sensitivity analysis has also been performed on fracture permeability, fracture porosity and shape factor in a real simulation model to show importance of accurate determination of fracture parameters.

Introduction

Naturally fractured reservoirs differ from homogeneous reservoirs from many points of view: geological, petrophysical, production and economics. We may think of fractured reservoirs as initially homogeneous systems whose physical properties have been deformed or altered during their deposition. As a consequence, it is not always easy to match the behavior of these systems, specifically to forecast their production during simulation.
Exploratory Well Hits Target Successfully on the 8th Attempts in the Binak Oilfield, North of Persian Gulf
Authors: Fazaelizadeh Mohammad , Hareland Geir , Mirhaj Seyed Ahmed , Yousafi Younas , Kustamsi Andang , Shirkavand Farid
Published: November 2008

In the Binak oilfield, located in the north of the "Persian Gulf", seven exploratory wells were attempted to drill to the target, which is the Khami reservoir at a depth of 5600 m. Due to special conditions and problems, drilling through the formations in this oilfield was unsuccessful. The main drilling challenges include selecting correct casing depth, borehole instability due to shale sloughing and severe fluid loss and flow during drilling. These problems resulted in the unsuccessful drilling of seven exploratory wells. Therefore, the following factors were considered in designing the new exploratory well number eight.Proper selection of drilling fluids for the different hole sections by performing fluid absorption experiments on shale samples.New design of the casing and liner string.Setting casing at the right depths.Correct selection of mud weight in order to minimize severe loss and flow.Precise determination and cure of loss zones.Minimize shale sloughing by increasing mud weight

This paper shares and discusses the experience of NIOC (National Iranian Oil Company) in drilling the 8th exploratory well. It covers the successful well design as well as the methods and procedures adapted to drill this 8th well.

Introduction

The Binak oilfield is located in the north of the Persian Gulf and was discovered in 1957. This oilfield is surrounded by other oilfields such as Bibi-Hakimeh, Rag-E-Sefid, Hendijan, Bahregan SAR, and Golkhari which is shown in Figure 1. The Binak oilfield formations are the Agha Jari, Mishan, Asmari, Pabdeh, Gurpi, Bnagestan group formations, the Kazhdumi and the Khami group formations. Table 1 shows a brief description of the formations in Binak oilfield.

The present path in the drilling industry is to drill more complex wells in as cost effective way as possible. Therfore, well planning and drilling operation has to continuously improve. All technical information related to drilling wells should be considered in the well design. Major considerations must be taken for both safety and economic reasons. Two of the main considerations are that the well is drilled with an optimum mud weight and proper casing setting depth. Factors such as shale layers and abnormal/subnormal pressure formations can also greatly affect the well design.
Integrated Modeling of Fractured Low Permeability Reservoir, Shangonghe Formation, Baolang Oilfield, Northwest China
Authors: Zhou Fengde , Yao Guangqing , Wang Guochang , David Orodu Oyinkepreye , Yang QingJun
Published: November 2008

This paper integrated Flow Zone (FZ), single sandstone sequence, with the study of fracture, and gave a fine characterization and modeling of fractured low permeability reservoir. It pointed out that calculating the porosity and permeability for low permeability reservoir based on FZ and building the 3D discrete fracture network (DFN) distribution model integrated with the static fracture character and the density distribution of high angle fracture (HAF) and low angle fracture (LAF) are efficient methods for fractured low permeability reservoir. This brings forward the use of FZ and considerable sequence stratigraphy controlled modeling method, and brings forward to build fracture surface from point which controlled by the density distribution of HAF and LAF. The result shows the efficiency of a modeling approach for a fractured low permeability reservoir by integrating low permeability characterization and fracture study.

Introduction

It is still a challenge to model fractured low permeability reservoirs, such as characterizing the low permeability matrix, 3D fracture distribution, fracture character, fracture and matrix coupling character. 1–5

From the onset of development of Baobei Block, Baolong oilfield in 1994, the detailed sand architecture, flow zone and possible reservoir performance were known. Based on reservoir performance from exploitation, the low productivity could not be characterized by flow zone only and hence the need for an integrated characterization and modeling of the low permeability matrix and fracture is very important.

This paper is based on detailed core analysis, characterization of low permeability matrix, and model build up of the low permeability matrix controlled by multi-surface and flow zone, and construction of 3D discrete fracture network (DFN) distribution model integrated with the 2D fracture distribution, predicted by well-log response and structural curvature, and the fracture occurrence.
Seismic Expression of Loss Zones within Carbonates of the Browse Basin
Authors: Power Michael Roderic
Published: November 2008

Introduction

This integrated study documents the drilling hazards associated with drilling through the complex overburden geology of the Browse Basin (Fig. 1). Previous drilling campaigns by other operators in the region have encountered severe problems when drilling riser-less with seawater and viscous mud sweeps through unconsolidated sands of Early Tertiary age. In an attempt to avoid these costly drilling hazards, a riser-less mud recovery system was implemented for the first time in the region. Some of the advantages that come with this system are the ability to use a drilling fluid with properties specifically designed for the formation being drilled,avoiding the build-up of cuttings around the well head, andstopping any drilling fluids being discharged into the water column.

In late 2006 the Prelude-1 exploration well was spudded. While drilling through a highly permeable section of the Oliver Formation, with the closed mud system, unsustainable losses were encountered resulting in all the drilling fluids being lost to the formation at a rate of 41 m3/hr (260 bbls/hr). Drilling progressed through the underlying section using conventional seawater and mud sweeps leading to borehole instability and repeated stuck pipe incidents leading to the well being abandoned. A new well location was identified and the well was respudded.
Life Cycle of a depletion drive and sour gas injection development: Birba A4C Reservoir, South Oman
Authors: Haynes Byron , Kaura Naveen Chander , Faulkner Andrew
Published: November 2008

A field in South Oman discovered in 1978 is an over-pressured sour oil reservoir. Since first oil began in 1982, the field will has gone through three stages of development during its life. These can be summarized as follows; pressure depletion, pressure maintenance with sour separator gas plus sweet make-up re-injection, pressure maintenance with sour separator gas plus sour makeup gas injection from other fields

The field produces from the A4C unit of the Ara Group intra salt carbonates. A carbonate reservoir totally encased in salt. No water has been produced to-date from this reservoir. The reservoir oil column is overlain by a gas cap and the reservoir fluid exhibits a strong compositional gradient which impacts the degree of richness required for a sour miscible gas. Development drilling and the construction of facilities proceeded with all well tubulars and facilities constructed out of carbon steel. Operation of the plant and wells occurs with high regard to the risks of sour, high pressure service, and with no integrity or corrosion has been observed to-date.

The field produced under depletion starting in 1982 through oil and gas cap expansion mechanism. The field was shut-in in 1986 awaiting gas injection. In 1993, sour separator gas combined with sweet make-up gas was re-injected as a pressure maintenance project to keep the reservoir pressure from dropping further. Upon expansion of the production station to take production from other nearby sour oil fields, more sour gas was added to the gas injection stream in 2004. Plans are developing to change the composition of the injection gas stream to achieve higher H2S levels so that the injected gas will become miscible with the A4C oil. This is designed to further increase oil recovery.

The purpose of this paper is to present the development history of this sour oil reservoir along with presenting the development approach that has been taken for injecting sour gas to increase oil recovery in this remote South Oman reservoir.

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to present the development and performance history of a pressure maintenance project of a sour oil (H2S & CO2) reservoir developed in the Ara Salt in South Oman (Figure 1). This reservoir has undergone three stages of development with potential for miscible sour gas injection. These stages are as follows; pressure depletion (1982 - 1986), gas injection (1992 - 2004), sour make-up gas injection (2004 - to date). Estimated ultimate recovery is 30.6%. Modeling work has indicated that miscible gas injection will increase the oil recovery factor to 36% (Figure 9).