bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of IFOT in Tight Gas as a Reservoir Surveillance Technique
Authors: Pinto E.. , Adams J. R.
Published: February 2011

Tight gas reservoirs are characterized by very low matrix permeability. In these types of reservoir systems long shut in periods are required to establish pseudo radial flow making conventional well testing methods impractical. This is especially true once the well has been hydraulically fractured due to the added flow complexity and the resultant additional time required to reach pseudo radial flow.

Injection fall off test (IFOT) is a pre frac injection technique that can be used to estimate reservoir pressure and get a qualitative estimate of formation permeability-thickness (k*h) in tight gas reservoirs. This is somewhat equivalent to a cleanup flow on a DST (Drill Stem Test); the idea is to establish flow to the reservoir, get the well-bore fluid to a known density, restrict the flow duration to minimize the reservoir volume affected by the flow, and shut-in long enough that the Horner/Superposition plot extrapolation is as small as possible.

BP has applied this technique to infill Cotton Valley (CV) wells in the East Texas Basin in order to get an updated value of reservoir pressure for use in material balance depletion analysis, amongst other applications. After successful implementation of this technique in vertical and horizontal tight gas sandstone wells, the testing method was extended to three Cotton Valley Lime wells and also to the first BP Haynesville Shale vertical well. This document summarizes field examples that illustrate the analysis and application of this IFOT technique in both vertical and horizontal wells including the test results on the Hayneville shale well. In the latter, the application of the test results on basic reservoir simulation is also discussed.
Improving In-Situ Horizontal Stress Profile Accuracy Using Multi-Mode Sonic Measurements: A Case Study in a Deep Tight Gas Well in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Luo MaoLin , Wu Haojie , Mohiuddin Mohammed A.
Published: February 2011

The magnitude and direction of in-situ horizontal stresses are crucial parameters for a successful hydraulic fracture design and operation that are often conducted in tight unconventional reservoirs. The Poro-Elastic Horizontal Strain method where the minimum horizontal stress magnitude is calibrated to closure pressure from extended leak off test or leak off test is commonly used to estimate the horizontal stress profiles. However, in exploration areas it is common that calibration data is very limited or missing, hence horizontal stress calibration from other sources like multi-mode sonic measurements becomes useful.

This paper presents a recent application of using multi-mode sonic log acquired in a deep vertical exploration well in Saudi Arabia to determine in-situ stress profile for the design of hydraulic fracturing job in a tight gas reservoir. The azimuth of fast shear was used to determine maximum horizontal stress direction, whilst, horizontal stress gradients were determined using Velocity Dispersion Gradient (VDG) method at five intervals where the acoustic anisotropy is predominantly stress-induced. Subsequently, a Mechanical Earth Model was constructed in which the horizontal stress estimated using Poro-Elastic method was calibrated to horizontal stress gradient from VDG method at the five intervals. The minimum in-situ horizontal stress profile was later confirmed by the closure pressure from MiniFrac test and the hydraulic fracture height indicated by the temperature log. The difference in magnitudes between minimum in-situ horizontal stress and closure pressure at the perforation zone was 1.2%, and the hydraulic fracture height agreed with the minimum in-situ horizontal stress profile.

Considering that the multi-mode sonic logs are commonly acquired to derive compressional and shear slowness, the VDG method can then be used to improve the accuracy of horizontal stress profile without any additional rig cost to operators.
A New Method for Low Permeability Gas Well Performance Prediction Using Pressure Transient Analysis: Theory and Practices
Authors: Hedong Sun , Xu YanMei
Published: February 2011

The performance predictive target is always too optimistic using the LIT equation and material balance equation for the supply, multi-layer and other non-homogeneous low-permeability gas reservoir. To solve this problem, the project intends to start from the theory of pressure transient testing to establish different types of non-homogeneous gas reservoir performance prediction theoretical model, to explore optimization algorithm. The overall objective is to establish a more realistic dynamic prediction theory. It can improve the early prediction results for non-homogeneous gas reservoir, and this theory is considered non-homogeneous gas layer or regional non-homogeneous variables, but also simple and quick to predict the dynamic change of pressure and gas rate. New method is amended by numerical simulation. A single-well radial/composite model is constructed with measured rock and fluid properties. This compositional simulator is used to generate synthetic pressure transient data which are subsequently interpreted in well testing package. The impacts of test time and reservoir heterogeneity on prediction results are investigated. Through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, the mechanism for gas flow, the pressure, the output rate variation over time is analyzed. A low permeability gas wells are analyzed by new method, thus improving long-term well performance predictions.
Suggested Priorities for the PCAOB: A Statement at the Inaugural Meeting of the PCAOB’s Investor Advisory Group
Authors: Carcello Joseph V.
Published: February 2011

SUMMARY: In advance of the May 4 2010, inaugural meeting of the PCAOB’s Investor Advisory Group (IAG), I was asked (as were the other members of the IAG) to list the five items that I believe should be the PCAOB’s top priorities. My five items included (1) prioritizing inspections of foreign registered firms, particularly for those firms performing substantial portions of the audits of U.S. multinationals or, where legal obstacles remain, implement and rely on firm-based inspections of such foreign affiliates which are subject to detailed PCAOB inspection; (2) requiring registered firms (at least the six largest) to have independent members on firm governing boards and/or implement more rigorous PCAOB examination of the audit firm’s culture; (3) creating a national fraud center under the auspices of the PCAOB; (4) developing, measuring, and reporting on a listing of audit quality indicators; and (5) requiring the audit engagement partner to sign the audit report. In this commentary, I provide my insights and reasoning for each of these items.
Histochemical and enzyme-histochemical studies of Oncomelania hupensis (Gredler, 1881), the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum
Authors: Wang Wei , Dai Jianrong , Li Hongjun , Liang Yousheng
Published: February 2011

The distribution of glycogen, DNA and histone, and localization of activity of ten enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), cytochrome oxidase (CCO), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 5′-nucleotidase (5′-NT), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), Mg2+-adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2+-ATPase), and cholinesterase (CHE) in Oncomelania hupensis (Gredler, 1881) snails, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, was surveyed using the histochemical and enzyme-histochemical techniques. The results showed that the glycogen with high activity was widely distributed in snails. DNA showed its strongest reaction in testis. The histone was distributed in sites of the radula, parenchyma of penis and ovary. LDH and SDH were widely distributed in snails and all were abundant. Sites of the strongest enzyme activities of G-6-PDH were evident in the reproductive system together with central ganglia. Only the ovary showed a strong enzyme activity of G-6-Pase. Most tissues and organs contained CCO, and the activity of this enzyme was very strong. 5′-NT showed a strong enzyme activity in the ovary and testis. Mg2+-ATPase was localized in sites of the liver, stomach and reproductive gland. A strong enzyme activity of ALP appeared in the digestive system. ACP showed a low activity in snails. The central ganglia, nervous stem, liver, branchial duct, epithelia of the head and foot regions showed a very strong enzyme activity of CHE. The findings could provide a theoretical basis for development of highly effective molluscicides with low toxicity to other biota, as well as means for novel snail control strategies.
Helminth parasites of the Atlantic chub mackerel, Scomber colias Gmelin, 1789 from Canary Islands, Central North Atlantic, with comments on their relations with other Atlantic regions
Authors: Costa Graça , Cavallero Serena , D’Amelio Stefano , Paggi Lia , Santamaria Maria , Perera Clara , Santos Maria , Khadem Mahnaz
Published: February 2011

Eleven parasite taxa were found infecting 68 Atlantic chub mackerel, Scomber colias Gmelin, 1789 from the Canary Islands, Central North Atlantic. The most abundant parasites were the gill monogenean Pseudokuhnia minor (P = 54.4%), larval anisakid nematodes (P = 11.8%) in the body cavity, a larval tetraphyllidean infecting bile ducts (P = 8.8%) and didymozoid digeneans infecting the gills (P = 7.4%). No correlation between fish length and abundance of infection with these parasites was found. Within the Atlantic, the comparison of present results with previous reports on the occurrence of parasites in this fish host, might suggest that there is more than one population unit of Atlantic chub mackerel in the Eastern Atlantic.
Maxvachonia ingens sp. nov. (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) in Litoria darlingtoni (Anura, Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea
Authors: Bursey Charles , Goldberg Stephen , Kraus Fred
Published: February 2011

Maxvachonia ingens sp. nov. from the intestines of Litoria darlingtoni (Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. Maxvachonia ingens sp. nov. represents the 7th species assigned to the genus and the 5th from the Australo-Papuan Region. The new species differs from other species assigned to Maxvachonia by the position of the vulva in the female (the only species with a post-oesophageal position) and the spicule/gubernaculum ratio of the male (the only species with ratio greater than 1). Females of the new species are most similar to M. dimorpha and M. ewersi in that the posterior ends of these three species are rounded. These species are easily separated: M. ewersi possesses lateral alae, the other 2 do not; the posterior end of M. dimorpha terminates in a mucro, M. ingens sp. nov. lacks terminal ornamentation.
Ultrastructural and cytochemical studies of GER-bodies in the intrauterine eggs of Wenyonia virilis Woodland, 1923 (Cestoda, Caryophyllidea)
Authors: Młocicki Daniel , Świderski Zdzisław , Mackiewicz John , Ibraheem Mohammed
Published: February 2011

Ultrastructural and cytochemical characteristics of GER-bodies observed in the vitellocyte cytoplasm of the intrauterine eggs of the caryophyllidean cestode Wenyonia virilis are described. In this species GER-bodies were observed only in the cytoplasm of vitellocytes, surrounded by a newly formed egg-shell. They are composed of spherical areas of condensed, electron-dense cytoplasm which contains concentrically arranged parallel lamellae of granular endoplasmic reticulum (GER), forming characteristic balls of different sizes. Each GER-body is surrounded by numerous free ribosomes, polyribosomes, α-glycogen rosettes and large mitochondria. Results of cytochemical analysis by means of PATSC-SP test for polysaccharides indicated that glycogen is absent within the GER-bodies, however, a strongly positive reaction was observed only in large aggregations of α-glycogen rosettes and β-glycogen particles, localised usually near GER-bodies.
Nanotrema niokoloensis sp. nov. and a redescription of N. citharini Paperna, 1969 (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) from the gills of Citharinus citharus citharus (Characiformes, Citharinidae) from Senegal
Authors: Musilová Nad’a , Řehulková Eva , Gelnar Milan
Published: February 2011

One previously described and 1 new species of Nanotrema Paperna, 1969 are reported from the gills of Citharinus citharus citharus (Citharinidae) collected from the Niokolo Koba River, Senegal. Nanotrema citharini Paperna, 1969 is redescribed, based on the re-examination of the type specimens and new information obtained from material taken in Senegal (new locality record). Nanotrema niokoloensis sp. nov. is distinguished primarily by possessing a copulatory organ composed of a long thin tube with median portion usually coiled into about 2.5 rings and an accessory piece resembling a braid lying within the rings. Based on the presence of the dorsal anchors modified into paired haptoral spikes, which lack an associated bar, species of Nanotrema phenotypically appear to be related to those of Neotropical Rhinoxenus Kritsky, Boeger et Thatcher, 1988 and Indian Spicocleidus Agrawal, Tripathi et Shukla, 2005.
Observations on two nematode species parasitizing freshwater fishes in Thailand, including Spinitectus thaiensis sp. nov. (Cystidicolidae) from Pseudomystus siamensis (Bagridae)
Authors: Moravec František , Yooyen Thanapon
Published: February 2011

One new and one already known species of parasitic nematodes are described from the intestine of freshwater fishes in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand: Spinitectus thaiensis sp. nov. (Cystidicolidae) from the catfish Pseudomystus siamensis (Regan) (Bagridae, Siluriformes) in the Fang Brook, a tributary of the Kok River (the Mekong River basin), Fang District and Oceanicucullanus chitwoodae Le-Van-Hoa et Pham-Ngoc-Khue, 1971 (Cucullanidae) from the cyprinid Mystacoleucus marginatus (Valenciennes) (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes) in the Ping River (the Chao Phraya River basin), Muang District. The new species, S. thaiensis, is very similar to S. petrowi Belous, 1965, differing from it, in addition to some biometrical differences, mainly in having simple cuticular spines (instead of transversely oriented peg-like spines with rounded ends) on the ventral surface of the female tail; the spicules are 156–171 and 66–72 μm long, the vulva is situated at 74% of female body length, and the entire oesophagus including the vestibule represents 14–15% of body length in the male and 12% in the female. The latter species, O. chitwoodae, was studied for the first time by scanning electron microscopy, which enabled to recognize some previously unrecorded morphological details in this species. The finding of O. chitwoodae in M. marginatus in Thailand represents new host and geographical records for this nematode.
Regioselective N-alkylation of (2-chloroquinolin-3-yl) methanol with N-heterocyclic compounds using the Mitsunobu reagent
Authors: Roopan Selvaraj , Khan Fazlur-Rahman , Jin Jong
Published: February 2011

The Mitsunobu reaction is a well-established fundamental reaction and has been widely applied in organic synthesis. In this paper, under Mitsunobu conditions dehydration proceeds between (2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methanol and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds such as quinazolinone, pyrimidone, 2-oxoquinoline in dry THF in the presence of triethylamine, triphenylphosphane and diethyl azodicarboxylate to give the corresponding products. As part of our recent research, we attempted to couple two N-heterocyclic compounds under Mitsunobu reaction conditions to provide efficient building blocks for natural product synthesis.
New design of interference band-pass infrared filter
Authors: Yaremchuk I. , Fitio V. , Bobitski Ya.
Published: February 2011

The new design of the interference band-pass infrared filters is proposed. The analytic expressions for the analysis structure “layer with the high refractive index — interference mirror — layer with the high refractive index” are obtained. The refractive indices optimal and thicknesses of individual layers that limited interference mirror are obtained.
Filtered thermal contrast based technique for testing of material by infrared thermography
Authors: Gryś S.
Published: February 2011

A new kind of thermal contrast, called “filtered contrast” is presented, which allows detecting and characterizing material defects using active thermography under some assumptions on physical and thermal parameters of materials. In opposition to known definitions of the thermal contrast, knowledge about defect-free area is not necessary and this contrast is less sensitive to nonuniformity of heat disposal to the material surface. The measurements were performed on an experimental setup equipped with a ThermaCAM PM 595 infrared camera and frame grabber. The step heating was chosen as heat excitation. The results demonstrate usefulness of the 1D model of heat transfer used for determination of depth of subsurface defects. The influence of the parameter of the smoothing filter, required for filtered contrast implementation, thermal parameters of the tested material and defect on expanded uncertainty of determination of defect depth is also presented. Due to significant complexity of the model of heat transfer, the conditions for the “law of propagation of uncertainty” were not fulfilled and a numerical method, i.e., Monte Carlo simulation is applied for the propagation of distributions.
Infrared photodetectors based on the system “Hg1−xCdxTe photodiode — direct-injection readout circuit”
Authors: Gumenjuk-Sichevska J. , Karnaushenko D. , Lee I. , Polovinkin V.
Published: February 2011

A mathematical model for multi-element IR FPAs based on Hg1−xCdxTe photodiodes with direct-injection readout circuits is developed. This model was used to identify the main factors that limit the performance characteristics of thermography systems based on such FPAs.
Low-level environmental lead exposure and intellectual impairment in children — The current concepts of risk assessment
Authors: Jakubowski Marek
Published: February 2011

Lead is an environmental contaminant. The majority of epidemiological research on the health effects of lead has been focused on children, because they are more vulnerable to lead than adults. In children, an elevated blood lead (B-Pb) is associated with reduced Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score. This paper summarizes the current opinions on the assessment of the health risk connected with the children’s environmental exposure to lead. The B-Pb level of concern of 100 μg/l proposed by the US Centers of Disease Control in 1991 was for a long time accepted as the guideline value. In the meantime there has been a significant worldwide decrease of B-Pb levels in children and present geometric mean values in the European countries range from 20 to 30 μg/l. The recent analyses of the association of intelligence test scores and B-Pb levels have revealed that the steepest declines in IQ occur at blood levels < 100 μg/l and that no threshold below which lead does not cause neurodevelopmental toxicity can be defended. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in 2010, on the basis of results of Benchmark Dose (BMD) analysis, that an increase in B-Pb of 12 μg/l (BMDL01) could decrease the IQ score by one point. It seems that this value can be used as a “unit risk” to calculate the possible decrease of IQ and, consequently, influence of the low-level exposure to lead (< 100 μg/l) on the health and socioeconomic status of the exposed population.
The prevalence of injuries in professional Turkish soccer players
Authors: Yamaner Faruk , Gümüşdağ Hayrettin , Kartal Alparslan , Gümüş M. , Güllü A. , Imamoğlu O.
Published: February 2011

The prevalence of injuries in professional Turkish soccer players

Study aim: To assess the prevalence and anatomical sites of injuries in professional soccer players in one game season.

Material and methods: A cohort of 510 professional male soccer players consisting of 48 goalkeepers, 194 defence players, 189 mid-field players and 79 forward players of the 1st and 2nd Turkish Professional Soccer Leagues in 2005-2006 season were requested to submit questionnaire reports on all injuries they experienced.

Results: About 60% of all injuries pertained to lower extremities, another 25% to upper extremities, the most frequent being skin abrasions (about 24%). The percentage of players who sustained injuries was lowest among mid-field players (about 47%) compared with other categories (nearly 70%) but the average number of injuries per player was highest among them (8.1 vs. about 4.5). The risk of sustaining injury when playing a match amounted to 9.8% for mid-field players; that was significantly (p<0.01) lower (11.7 - 13.0%) than for other categories of players.

Conclusions: Football injuries are the major factor affecting players' performance. Thus, appropriate strategies, aimed at reducing injuries, ought to be implemented.
Glottochronological Classification of Oromo Dialects
Authors: Blažek Václav
Published: February 2011

Glottochronological Classification of Oromo Dialects

The purpose of the present article is the classification of the Oromo dialect continuum. Firstly, the previous attempts are discussed. As a method the so-called ‘recalibrated glottochronology’ developed by Sergei Starostin was applied. The results confirm the mutual relation of the ‘mainstream’ dialects, Maca, Qottu and Borana. In the case of more peripheral dialects the differences are bigger in comparison with the ‘impressionistic’ model sketched in Ethnologue16 (Bender compared only those three dialects). The reason probably consists in the chosen method: although it is not explicitly said in Ethnologue16, the classification used combines the qualitative and geographical approaches, contrary to the present model based on strictly quantitative principles.
Zoltán Gendler Szabó (ed.). 2008. Semantics versus Pragmatics.
Authors: Roguska-Heims Magdalena
Published: February 2011

Zoltán Gendler Szabó (ed.). 2008.Semantics versus Pragmatics.
Forests, Forestry and the Water Framework Directive in Sweden: A Trans-Disciplinary Commentary
Authors: Futter Martyn  N. , Keskitalo E. Carina H. , Ellison David , Pettersson Maria , Strom Anna , Andersson Elisabet , Nordin Jessica , Löfgren Stefan , Bishop Kevin , Laudon Hjalmar
Published: February 2011

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is an ambitious piece of legislation designed to protect and improve water quality throughout Europe. However, forests are only mentioned once in the WFD, and forestry is not mentioned at all, despite its potential implications for streams, rivers and lakes. Here we present a transdisciplinary commentary on the WFD and its implications for forests and forestry in Sweden. This commentary has been prepared by forestry stakeholders, biophysical and social scientists. While we were cognizant of a large body of discipline-specific research, there are very few inter- or trans-disciplinary commentaries which link academic and stakeholder perspectives on the WFD. We had originally felt that there would be little commonality in our concerns. However, we found significant areas of agreement. Our key areas of concern about the implications of the WFD for forestry in Sweden included: (i) concerns about what is meant by good ecological status and how it is assessed; (ii) a perceived lack of clarity in the legal framework; (iii) an inadequate environmental impact assessment process; and (iv) uncertainties about appropriate programs of measures for improving water quality. We were also concerned that ecosystem services provided by forests and the positive effects of forestry on water quality are inadequately recognized in the WFD.
Toward a Theory of Play: A Logical Perspective on Games and Interaction
Authors: Van Benthem Johan , Pacuit Eric , Roy Olivier
Published: February 2011

Logic and game theory have had a few decades of contacts by now, with the classical results of epistemic game theory as major high-lights. In this paper, we emphasize a recent new perspective toward “logical dynamics”, designing logical systems that focus on the actions that change information, preference, and other driving forces of agency. We show how this dynamic turn works out for games, drawing on some recent advances in the literature. Our key examples are the long-term dynamics of information exchange, as well as the much-discussed issue of extensive game rationality. Our paper also proposes a new broader interpretation of what is happening here. The combination of logic and game theory provides a fine-grained perspective on information and interaction dynamics, and we are witnessing the birth of something new which is not just logic, nor just game theory, but rather a Theory of Play.
Nonspecific Networking
Authors: Durieu Jacques , Haller Hans , Solal Philippe
Published: February 2011

A new model of strategic networking is developed and analyzed, where an agent’s investment in links is nonspecific. The model comprises a large class of games which are both potential and super- or submodular games. We obtain comparative statics results for Nash equilibria with respect to investment costs for supermodular as well as submodular networking games. We also study supermodular games with potentials. We find that the set of potential maximizers forms a sublattice of the lattice of Nash equilibria and derive comparative statics results for the smallest and the largest potential maximizer. Finally, we provide a broad spectrum of applications from social interaction to industrial organization.
Smoking and Socio-Demographic Determinant of Cardiovascular Diseases among Males 45+ Years in Indonesia
Authors: Sumartono Wasis , Sirait Anna  M. , Holy Maria , Thabrany Hasbullah
Published: February 2011

The main objective of this study is to present the prevalence of Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVDs) defined as been diagnosed or having symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease, Arrhytmia, or Heart Failure. The main risk factor analyzed is smoking behavior. The data used for this study was from Basic Health Survey of 2007, a National baseline data collected every three years which consist of more than one million samples representing 33 provinces in Indonesia. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, history of CVDs and smoking behavior were collected by highly-trained interviewers using a questionnaire which had been tested. A sub-sample of the survey consisting of 100,009 males aged 45 years and over was analyzed. Crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) were analyzed using logistic regressions to estimate the prevalence of CVDs by smoking behavior and socio-demographic characteristics. Overall, 86.8% respondents reported that they had never been diagnosed as having CVDs or having any symptom of CVDs.; while 2.1% respondents reported that they had been diagnosed by a health professional (a doctor or a nurse) of having CVDs. The interviewers also identified three signs and symptoms of CVDs for all respondents if they reported of never been diagnosed CVDs. Among all respondents 2.3% had symptoms of coronary heart disease, 4.9% had symptoms of arrhytmia, and 3.9% had symptoms of heart failure. The prevalence of CVDs was significantly higher in former smokers (OR = 2.03), and duration of smoking for more than 20 years. The prevalence of CVDs was significantly higher among older groups. Old males who lived in Sulawesi island had higher probability of having CVDs (OR = 1.67). The lower prevalence of CVDs seemed to have associated with higher among Senior High School Graduate compared to those who Never Schooling (OR = 0.8). Since population of Indonesia is relatively young, the future of health care costs of Indonesia would be high due to high prevalence of smoking among males population. This finding suggests that Indonesia should ratify Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ans start impelementing measures to control tobacco uses in order to reduce public health and economic consequences of smoking in the future.
A Review of Domain Modelling and Domain Imaging Techniques in Ferroelectric Crystals
Authors: Potnis Prashant  R. , Tsou Nien-Ti , Huber John  E.
Published: February 2011

The present paper reviews models of domain structure in ferroelectric crystals, thin films and bulk materials. Common crystal structures in ferroelectric materials are described and the theory of compatible domain patterns is introduced. Applications to multi-rank laminates are presented. Alternative models employing phase-field and related techniques are reviewed. The paper then presents methods of observing ferroelectric domain structure, including optical, polarized light, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray and neutron diffraction, atomic force microscopy and piezo-force microscopy. Use of more than one technique for unambiguous identification of the domain structure is also described.
Iron Oxide Silica Derived from Sol-Gel Synthesis
Authors: Darmawan Adi , Smart Simon , Julbe Anne , Diniz da Costa João Carlos
Published: February 2011

In this work we investigate the effect of iron oxide embedded in silica matrices as a function of Fe/Si molar ratio and sol pH. To achieve homogeneous dispersion of iron oxide particles, iron nitrate nonahydrate was dissolved in hydrogen peroxide and was mixed with tetraethyl orthosilicate and ethanol in a sol-gel synthesis method. Increasing the calcination temperature led to a reduction in surface area, although the average pore radius remained almost constant at about 10 Å, independent of the Fe/Si molar ratio or sol pH. Hence, the densification of the matrix was accompanied by similar reduction in pore volume. However, calcination at 700 °C resulted in samples with similar surface area though the iron oxide content increased from 5% to 50% Fe/Si molar ratio. As metal oxide particles have lower surface area than polymeric silica structures, these results strongly suggest that the iron oxides opposed the silica structure collapse. The effect of sol pH was found to be less significant than the Fe/Si molar ratio in the formation of molecular sieve structures derived from iron oxide silica.
Bis-Indole Derivatives for Polysaccharide Compositional Analysis and Chiral Resolution of D-, L-Monosaccharides by Ligand Exchange Capillary Electrophoresis Using Borate-Cyclodextrin as a Chiral Selector
Authors: Kuo Chien-Yuan , Liao Kuo-Shiang , Liu Yin-Chen , Yang Wen-Bin
Published: February 2011

A series of aldo-bis-indole derivatives (aldo-BINs) was prepared by aromatic C-alkylation reactions of aldoses and indole in acetic acid solution. Common monosaccharides such as glucose, mannose, galactose, fucose, xylose, rhamnose, ribose, arabinose and N-acetylglucosamine were smoothly derivatized to form the UV absorbing aldo-BINs. The use of a capillary electrophoretic method to separate these novel aldo-BIN derivatives was established. The capillary electrophoresis conditions were set by using borate buffer (100 mM) at high pH (pH 9.0). The limit of determination was assessed to be 25 nM. The enantioseparation of D, L-pairs of aldo-BINs based on chiral ligand-exchange capillary electrophoresis technology was also achieved by using modified hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector in the presence of borate buffer. This aldose labeling method was applied successfully to the compositional and configurational analysis of saccharides, exemplified by a rapid and efficient method to simultaneously analyze the composition and configuration of saccharides from the medicinal herbs Cordyceps sinensis and Dendrobium huoshanense.
Discussion on “Malešev, M.; Radonjanin, V.; Marinković, S. Recycled Concrete as Aggregate for Structural Concrete Production. Sustainability, 2010, 2, 1204-1225”
Authors: Fathifazl Gholamreza , Razaqpur A. Ghani
Published: February 2011

The authors are to be congratulated for their comprehensive research work on the use of RCA as aggregate in structural grade concrete [1], but some of their conclusions with regard to the effect of aggregate type and RCA content on the fresh and hardened properties of concrete made with coarse RCA, termed RAC for brevity, need discussion.
Constat sur le respect du principe nulla poena sine lege par les tribunaux pénaux internationaux
Authors: Scalia Damien
Published: February 2011

Le principe nulla poena sine lege reste un principe fondamental de tous systèmes de droit. Il accompagne le principe nullum crimen sine lege, dans un ensemble plus communément appelé le principe de légalité. Ce dernier, mis en place après la Révolution française, permet le respect des droits de la personne face à l’arbitraire possible du pouvoir exécutif et judiciaire. Le principe nulla poena sine lege a aujourd’hui une place importante au sein du noyau dur des droits de l’Homme: il est non seulement reconnu par la majorité des États, mais est aussi mentionné par les conventions internationales ou régionales relatives aux droits de l’Homme. Or, si les juridictions pénales internationales ad hoc (Tribunaux Pénaux Internationaux pour l’Ex-Yougoslavie et pour le Rwanda) ont pu valablement justifier le respect du principe nullum crimen sine lege, il n’en est pas de même pour ce qui est du principe nulla poena sine lege, dont la question de son respect reste ouverte. En effet, aucun texte international ne prévoit un quantum pour les infractions poursuivies par ces tribunaux. Le développement ci-dessous effectue un constat sur les peines prononcées par les TPI et sur les critères mis en place pour fixer le tarif de celles-ci. L’auteur en tire comme conclusion que le respect stricto sensu du principe de légalité des peines pose des problèmes au niveau international.
Les droits des tiers dans la procédure administrative de contrôle des concentrations - Aspects du droit allemand
Authors: Bien Florian
Published: February 2011

La procédure administrative de contrôle des concentrations met souvent en cause les intérêts économiques des entreprises tierces (concurrents, clients, fournisseurs). Pour protéger les intérêts des tiers concernés, le droit allemand de procédure administrative prévoit des instruments et recours divers tels le statut de partie associée à la procédure (Beiladung), l’action en annulation (Anfechtungsklage), l’action en émission d’un acte

(Verpflichtungsklage) et même une procédure de référé. Or, d’importantes dérogations législatives en matière de la concurrence accordant notamment un large pouvoir d’appréciation aux autorités de la concurrence rendent souvent aléatoire la possibilité pour les tiers de pouvoir contester la validité de l’autorisation d’une opération de concentration devant les juridictions compétentes. Le législateur allemand a saisi l’occasion de la septième réforme de la Loi contre les restrictions à la concurrence pour aggraver les conditions pour l’ordonnance judiciaire de l’effet suspensif à l’encontre de l’autorisation d’une telle opération. Les tiers se voient ainsi de facto privés des avantages de la procédure de référé.
Les grandes lignes des contrats bancaires en Israël
Authors: Ben-Oliel Ricardo
Published: February 2011

D’un point de vue juridique, les transactions bancaires sont des contrats conclus entre les banques et leurs clients. En Israël, ces contrats sont régis par le droit général des contrats, par l’ordonnance portant sur les délits civils, mais aussi par des règles bancaires spécifiques. Les décisions de la Cour Suprême, qui ont force obligatoire, sont une autre source de droit. Un point intéressant se dégage du fait que dans le système juridique Israélien, qui appartient à la famille du droit mixte, ces différentes règles résultent aussi bien de l’influence de droits étrangers -notamment celle du droit continental-que de l’influence du droit anglais. Dans cet article, l’Auteur tente d’expliquer et de concilier les principales règles qui régissent les contrats bancaires, telles qu’elles découlent des différentes sources de droit.
Us et abus de la fonction punitive (dommages-intérêts punitifs et le droit brésilien)
Authors: Martins-Costa Judith , Souza Pargendler Mariana
Published: February 2011

Récemment, la doctrine des punitive damages a été reçue avec persistance, dans le Droit brésilien, par la voie jurisprudentielle. Cet article essaie d’examiner les chemins de cette réception, en comparant les conditions générales de cette forme d’indemnisation dans le common law, avec les possibles solutions offertes par les régimes juridiques de la responsabilité civile par dommages extrapatrimoniaux au Brésil. Tout en suivant les sentiers, pas toujours rectilignes, de cette réception jurisprudentielle, les auteurs, soucieuses d’éviter une possible interprétation hors-contexte, de même que les anachronismes qui pourraient l’accompagner, ont tracé, tout d’abord, des approximations conceptuelles entre peine privée et punitive damages, mettant la peine privée en perspective dans la tradition romaniste et la tradition anglo-saxonne des punitive damages, leurs cases et les conditions de leur application. Dans la deuxième partie, les auteurs s’occupent de la reprise de la peine privée et du Droit brésilien, en envisageant les particularités de la réglementation de l’indemnisation pour préjudices extrapatrimoniaux et les paradoxes et «ajustements» à la doctrine des punitive damages.

Dans la conclusion, même si elles ne rejettent pas les utilités possibles des punitive damages, elles signalent les dangers de l’abus et de la superposition entre dénomination et signification comme un vice de méthode du Droit comparé.
Le statut du magistrat en Italie
Authors: Civinini Maria Giuliana
Published: February 2011

Statute of the judges and justice organization are present time issues in several Countries of Europe. The article describes the evolution of the Italian system and the broken course to guarantee independence of magistrate and quality of the justice from the birth of the Republic to the reform of the Berlusconi government to the hopes, up to now disappointed, dependent on the change of the parliamentary majority. Separation of the careers or the functions, guarantees of independence for the prosecuting attorney, career profile, civil and disciplinary liability for the judge or prosecutor in their quality of authors of a judicial decision, evaluations of professionalism: these are the tackled questions. They are the same problems to which French magistrate must face. From here the interest to know how they were solved in a very close Country.
Arbitrage et procès équitable dans la zone sud-ouest de l’Océan indien
Authors: Zattara-Gros Anne-Françoise
Published: February 2011

The study of reports stating that arbitration and fair judgment exist in the different laws of the islands in the south western zone of the Indian Ocean takes on a whole new dimension if the zone provides a patchwork of different legal systems. The question is whether or not arbitration is the same as in the French legal system. One must consider that the New Civil Procedure Code (NCPC) which was decreed in France on 5th December 1975, was transplanted to Madagascar, the Comoros Islands and Mauritius. Logic would thus lead one to believe the affirmative. However the diversity of the context, which is constituted either by transposing French arbitration law that integrates the decreed trial model as defined by article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights, or the erection of internal arbitration law composed partially of French legal dispositions, provides some new situations. If, in accordance with the trends, the cross study of dispositions relative to arbitration and those of the fair trial in the Indian Ocean reveal that these two spheres are growing, and that a result of this there is a risk of procedure arbitration, the institutionalization of arbitration also allows for the concerned parties to find guarantees, which is very satisfying for countries whose state law is weak and where state justice has difficulty in ensuring legal security for investments and commercial exchange.
Risk Factors for Fatality in HIV-Infected Patients with Dideoxynucleoside-Induced Severe Hyperlactataemia or Lactic Acidosis
Authors:   the Lactic Acidosis International Study Group, Arenas-Pinto Alejandro , Grant Alison , Bhaskaran Krishnan , Copas Andrew , Carr Andrew , Worm Signe W , Martinez Esteban , Reiss Peter , Dunn David , Weber Rainer , Hoy Jennifer , Weller Ian
Published: February 2011

Background

Lactic acidosis (LA) and severe hyperlactataemia (HL) are infrequent but serious complications of antiretroviral therapy that have been associated with a high fatality rate.

Methods

In a multinational retrospective cohort study, LA was defined as arterial blood pH<7.35, bicarbonate <20 mmol/l and lactate above normal, and HL as con-firmed blood lactate >5 mmol/l. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with fatality. Sensitivity and specificity of different case definitions as predictors of death were compared.

Results

The overall case-fatality rate was 19/110 (17.3%), but among acidotic patients it was 33% (16/49 cases). There were 10 asymptomatic patients and none of them died as a consequence of the event. The median lactate for fatal, non-fatal and all patients was 8.3 mmol/l (IQR 7.2–13.1), 6.4 mmol/l (IQR 5.4–7.8) and 6.7 mmol/l (IQR 5.5–8.1), respectively. After adjusting for age and current CD4+ T-cell count, lactate >7 mmol/l (OR 6.27, 95% CI 1.13–34.93), blood bicarbonate <12 mmol/l (OR 10.02 relative to >18 mmol/l, 95% CI 1.33–75.65) and concurrent opportunistic infections (OR 8.69, 95% CI 1.45–52.22) were independently associated with case fatality. Blood lactate >7 mmol/l showed a sensitivity of 84% for fatality with a specificity of 60%, whereas bicarbonate <12 mmol/l showed a better specificity (85%) but a poorer sensitivity (42%). Bicarbonate <18 mmol/l appears to be as good as lactate <7 mmol/l at predicting death (sensitivity 90% and specificity 54%).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that blood lactate >7 mmol/l and blood bicarbonate <18 mmol/l appear to predict death and might help clinicians in selecting patients who may benefit from more intense monitoring.
Low reliability of home-based diagnosis of malaria in a rural community in western Kenya
Authors: Kakai Rose Muyoka , Nasimiyu Josephine , Odero Wilson
Published: February 2011

Introduction:  Home-based management of malaria is promoted as a major strategy for improving prompt delivery of effective malaria treatment in Africa. This study aimed to determine the proportion of children who tested positive for malaria with routine light microscopy among those whose mothers had made a home-based diagnosis in a rural community in Western Kenya. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bokoli location, Bungoma East District in November and December 2007. Mothers of children five years of age or under with malaria diagnosed by their mothers were interviewed (n = 96). Duplicate blood smears were collected, stained by field stain A (Methylene blue, Azure) and B (Eosin), and examined for malaria parasites using light microscopy. Results: Only 30/96 (31.2%) specimens were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. Elevated temperature (70/96; 72.9%) in their children was the most commonly cited criterion for diagnosis of malaria by the mothers. In 57 of the 96 cases, information was given by the mothers regarding treatment during the current malaria episode; of these, 10 (17.5%) had received treatment for malaria, but six (60%) of these were parasite negative. This means that only 4/21 (19.0%) with positive smear microscopy received treatment. The most common anti-malaria drugs used were Fansidar (37.8%) and Metakelfin (29.7%). Conclusion: The difficulty of diagnosing malaria accurately at home increases the urgent need for improved diagnostic tools that can be used at the community level in poor populations. Intervention measures are needed to increase the treatment rate to reduce reservoirs and malaria parasite transmission.
A case of Candida mediastinitis after dental extraction
Authors: Badiee Parisa , Alborzi Abdolvahab , Farhoudi Farimah
Published: February 2011

Acute mediastinitis is a serious infection involving the connective mediastinal tissue in the interpleural spaces and other thoracic structures. Candida albicans mediastinitis is a rare clinical entity associated with high mortality and morbidity. We present a rare case of a previously healthy and immunocompetent man with Candida mediastinitis due to retropharyngeal abscess after dental extraction, who presented with odynophagia and fever. Antibiotics were prescribed and surgical drainage was performed after diagnosis of mediastinitis by CT scan; however, the patient remained febrile.  The second culture obtained during irrigation of the mediastinum was positive for Candida albicans and the patient was responsive to antifungal therapy and survived. This case illustrates the need to consider a fungal cause in immunocompetent patients with mediastinitis who are not responsive to broad spectrum antibiotics and surgical drainage.
Multilocus VNTR analysis of Mycobacterium ulcerans strains isolated in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Coulibaly-N´Golo Grossmann Marie-David , Ekaza Euloge , Coulibaly Bakary , Aka N’guetta , N’Guessan Raymond Kouassi , Thiberge Jean Michel , Caro Valérie , Brisse Sylvain , Bretin-Dosso Mireille
Published: February 2011

Introduction: Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is endemic in more than 30 countries worldwide, with Côte d'Ivoire being among the most affected countries. Methodology: We used seven variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) markers and analyzed 114 samples from 11 Ivorian localities consisting of 33 bacterial strains and 81 clinical samples. Complete data sets at loci 1, 6, 9 and 33 were obtained for 18 of these strains (n = 15) and samples (n = 3) collected in each of the localities. Results: All the strains had allelic profile [3113], corresponding to the previously described Atlantic Africa genotype. Conclusion: Sequencing of PCR products at all loci showed no variation in sequence or repeat number, underlining the genetic monomorphism of M. ulcerans in Côte d'Ivoire.
Multidrug resistant Salmonella Concord is a major cause of salmonellosis in children in Ethiopia
Authors: Beyene Getenet , Nair Satheesh , Asrat Daniel , Mengistu Yohannes , Engers Howard , Wain John
Published: February 2011

Introduction: S. Concord in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to determine the aetiology of febrile and diarrhoeic illness in Ethiopian children focussing on Salmonella. Methodology: Paediatric patients (n = 1,225) presenting with diarrhoea or fever from the paediatric outpatient department of Tikur Anbessa University Hospital, Addis Ababa (n = 825), and Jimma University Hospital, South West Ethiopia (n = 400), were investigated for pathogens from January to August 2006. Results: Parasites were detected in 337 cases, Salmonella in 65, and Shigella in 61. Serotyping of Salmonella (including 48 stored isolates) demonstrated the dominance of S. Concord:  S. Concord (85), S. Typhimurium (7), S. Paratyphi B (2), S. Haifa (1), S. Typhi (2),  S. Enteritidis (4), S. Butantan (2), S. Infantis (1), S. Pomona (1), Salmonella group M (28:y:-)  (1), and S. Oskarshamn (1). Six isolates in serogroups B and D were untypeable. Of 81 S. Concord isolates, 30% were invasive, most (86.5%) were positive for ESBL production by E-test and 70% were multiply resistant to trimethoprim-sulphamethaxole, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol and gentamicin, of which over one quarter (27%) also showed reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: Multi-drug resistant S. Concord was the major cause of salmonellosis in two regions of Ethiopia. The strain isolated was highly invasive, highly antibiotic-resistant, and represents a threat to heath care globally.