bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Intervention Tool to Operate Subsurface Barrier Valves
Authors: Balasubramanian Ganesh
Published: February 2020

Subsurface barrier valves such as a formation isolation valves (FIVs) isolate the formation from the production bore after the first perforation and the lower completion has been installed. This enables installation of the upper completion and in some cases multiple perforation runs before the well starts producing. During this time, they protect the formation from fluid loss and pressures by acting as a bi-directional fluid barrier. In addition to reduced rig time, a key advantage of FIVs is reduced intervention costs. FIVs can be openend and closed multiple times as required, mechanically with an intervention tool such as a primary shifting tool (PST) (Fig. 1). The conveyance method for PSTs can be on coiled tubing, work string, perforating string, or wireline (using a tractor and stroker) to open and close FIVs. PSTs then must reliably engage and release from shifting profiles in the FIVs to operate the valve and release from the profile after successful valve actuation.
Changing the Game with Real-Time Downhole and along String Data During Managed Pressure Liner Running and Cementing
Authors: Hawthorn Andy , Groves Duncan , Brian Tom
Published: February 2020

Managed Pressure Drilling is one of several techniques gaining traction on critical wells with very tight pore and fracture pressure windows. In order to stay within these narrow mud weight windows it is critical to understand the bottom hole pressures. Some efforts have been made to combine surface modeling with downhole measurements during the actual drilling phase utilizing data sent to surface by mud pulse telemetry. However, during liner running and cementing operations this data is generally not available. Due to the narrow annular clearances around the liner and the heavier slurries used during cementing the chances of exceeding the fracture gradient are greatly magnified. To compound this during most cementing operations in managed pressure situations the surface measurements, and therefore the associated models based off them may bear no relationship to what is happening downhole, particularly as in certain circumstances the cement can be effectively in freefall inside the pipe. Measurements can be, and are, compared both before and after the actual job, but during the critical time of the actual cement job and displacement there is often no indication of what is actually happening downhole.

As stated above the telemetry system most utilized during drilling is mud pulse telemetry. However, as these systems occupy the pipe bore, and require a full mud column inside the pipe with a flow rate above a minimum threshold, then they are not used during cementing and liner running operations. To overcome these limitations a distributed measurement and acoustic telemetry network was run incorporated in the drillstring. This network sends data including annular and bore pressures, both from directly above the liner-running tool, but also distributed back along the string to surface. Acoustic telemetry transmits through the steel wall of the drillstring and therefore is independent of flow or fluid and can send data whilst tripping as well. Additionally the tools are fully through bore allowing the passage of cement darts and slurries with no real restriction. As the network also supplies interval measurements, then the passage of the different stages of the cement job can be seen as they move both down the pipe and back along the annulus.

This paper will show, through actual field results, what is really happening downhole in the critical time of the managed pressure cement job. Results will be compared with traditional surface measurements. We will describe how we used downhole and interval calculations of friction factors and equivalent circulating densities to model what is happening in and around the liner during the cement job. We will discuss the application of the data, and the resultant algorithms and calculations derived from this to affect subsequent jobs and to improve decision-making and therefore the safety and efficiency of these critical cement jobs.
Importance of the Pin-End Effect on Leak Assessment in Threaded Connections
Authors: Goodman Malcolm , Mitchell Robert , Kalil Issa
Published: February 2020

Because pin and box are offset, applied axial tension (or compression) creates axial shear across engaged threads that opens a connection and reduces leak resistance. Less understood is the pin-end effect which does the same thing. Internal pressure acting on the pin nose pushes the pin out of the box, creating an additive axial force that contributes to the thread shear and decreases leak resistance. This paper addresses these axial loads for threads with non-symmetric flank angles.

Multiple new concepts are presented. First, the thread shear equation, which depends on the pin-end effect, is developed for Buttress type threads in terms of the two flank angles. Second, the leak ratings for specific Buttress connections are presented in terms of a new leak criterion with dependence on backup pressure and axial force. Third, the leak dependence of Buttress type threads on backup pressure is shown to be significant and suggests that qualification testing of any connection for leak, without backup pressure, is not adequate.
Novel Analyses and Design of Relief Well Considering 3-D Vector Effect of Kill Fluid
Authors: Zhou Lei , Gomes Paulo , Knight James , Nanda Satpreet
Published: February 2020

A novel approach that considers the three-dimensional flow effects while designing kill well strategies has been developed. This type of analysis helps to accurately model the flow behaviour downhole at the interception point and offers game-changing safety and environmental benefits for well kill design and operations.

In planning a relief well contingency, the current industry standard is the 1-D multiphase model which is used to determine the requirement of pump rate and mud weight to kill the blowout well. Using 3-D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) helps to capture the physics of the flow better and provides more accurate representation of the mixing and multiphase interaction occurring.

Both 1-D and CFD modeling were compared to analyze well kill design conditions. In one field case, the 1-D analysis returned results where even with a 19.0 ppg mud pumped at 100 bpm, the worst-case discharge rate from the well (680 MMSCF/D) could not be killed. Another case using the 1-D analysis showed that planning a relief well kill for a 1.0 BCF/D gas blowout rate, required three to four relief wells with a kill rate of 200 bpm simultaneously to kill the well.

CFD modeling was used to model the same two conditions, in addition, the CFD model also captured the jetting effect from the relief well. CFD model also iterated on a design that included pumping down a smaller string to analyze/understand the detailed fluid flow behavior at the intercept. This allowed for two successful designs of a kill with lighter muds for the 680 MMSCF/D case. For the 1.0 BCF/D rate case, the CFD analysis indicated that the well could be killed at a much lower pump rate compared to the 1-D model.

A test apparatus was designed and created to verify which of the two methods was more accurate. Physical experiments indicate that results from the proposed method match the test results closer than the standard approach.

This approach can reduce the equipment required and the time to drill a relief well (which can take two to three months to drill) and more effectively terminate a blowout event earlier, thereby minimizing the negative impact on environment, economics and human life.
Advisory System for Drilling: Automatic Procedures Acting on Real-time Data
Authors: Dashevskiy Dmitriy , Macpherson John , Mieting Ralf , Wassermann Ingolf
Published: February 2020

Thorough planning of drilling operations includes capturing best practices and expert knowledge as operational procedures to provide guidance during execution. However, due to the high level of uncertainty in drilling, and because conventional field procedures are generic and not context sensitive, they are open to interpretation. The resulting performance depends on the user's experience. In challenging situations, when crews are under time pressure and stress, any assistance with monitoring drilling conditions, identifying causes, and carrying out mitigation activities, is of value.

This paper describes an advisory system to capture operational knowledge in the form of context sensitive procedures and rules. The system uses real-time measurements and connections to other systems to gather information and data on current operational conditions. Automatic execution of the procedures and rules is possible within the current level of process automation, but the manual use of the system can guide field users through complex tasks. This is particularly useful in handling manually complex operations within an automation scenario, and helps with maintaining situational awareness for operators. As an essential piece of the drilling automation package, the system monitors events created by various specialized processing and alarm-generating components, and triggers execution of required workflows.

The deployment of the advisory system in the North Sea has focused on several aspects: drilling with RSS systems, automated trajectory drilling, borehole cleaning, vibration management, MWD/LWD tools troubleshooting, and drilling through stringers. For example, hard formation stringers recognized by the stringer-detection application, trigger execution of mitigation procedures, giving precise instructions depending on the wellbore inclination. The system easily integrates with, and controls, these application libraries allowing consistent execution promoting the reduction of NPT. Further, the advisory system allows autonomous monitoring of drilling events, and execution of best operating practices facilitates multi-well remote operations.

Situational awareness is critical in situations where human operators and automated systems play inter-related roles. In such cases, it is important for users to know the state of each task and understand how activities they perform affect other users. The use of context sensitive procedures and rules, executed with connectivity to instrumentation, measurements and real-time applications, allows the user to maintain situational awareness while automating the drilling process.
The Company Man Programme
Authors: Morton Tim
Published: February 2020

The Company Man or Drilling Supervisor is one of the key personnel who can mitigate and minimize risk in drilling operations and ensure Non-Productive Time is kept to a minimum. Their technical competency is crucial to running safe and efficient drilling operations and industry generally ensures these key personnel have the knowledge and skills to do this. However equally or even more importantly, are those skills in the human factors sphere since these account for some 80% of the total causal factors for accidents and incidents offshore. This is especially pertinent for well control incidents but similarly true for all other events.

The application of non-technical skills to safety and efficiency should be seen as crucial in all high-risk operations. This is well understood in the aviation and other industries where CRM (Crew Resource Management) has been practiced for some time.

The oil and gas industry is starting to recognise the ever-increasing importance that psychological factors play in safe and efficient operations. Furthermore to make the step-change improvement needed in operational safety and efficiency requires all members of the well operations team to have effective development in the application of non-technical skills.

Non-technical skills and human factors encompass many elements all of which influence our behaviour. In a work environment these include different areas; for example environmental and organisational components, the use of a variety of equipment, various processes and procedures and the characteristics of many different personnel along with their skills and competencies.

It is widely acknowledged many of the world's worst oil field incidents are directly attributable to human error and decision-making. It is notable that some incidents may initially appear straightforward but are frequently exacerbated by human error. Risk and costs increase and in the worst cases results in blowouts or other major disasters.

A new programme has been developed to address this and assist in embedding these non-technical skills. It is recognised this is a new area where traditionally industry has only trained in a technical manner and this will require commitment from all.
A Comprehensive Test Pad for Bradenhead Pressure Mitigation in the DJ Basin
Authors: Belvin Ashley , Cocchiere Brian , Jacobs Meghan , Ichim Adonis
Published: February 2020

Bradenhead pressure, or sustained casing pressure, is pressure build up in the annular space between the surface casing and the next smaller diameter casing string within the wellhead. The objective of the test pad was to determine if increasing the physical flexibility of cement and rotating the casing string to increase displacement efficiency would help improve the cement bond to casing, decrease cement channeling, and help eliminate future bradenhead pressure accumulation.

A twelve well pad housed three different cement slurries: four latex-type jobs, four resin jobs, and four foam jobs. A rotating cement head was used to enable mud circulation, dropping plugs, and rotating the string of casing during the cementing process on two of the four wells of each slurry type. For the production casing string, a threaded and coupled connection with a wedge thread profile was used to withstand the high torque experienced during rotation operations.

Results were determined by evaluating pre- and post-stimulation logs along with continued bradenhead pressure monitoring. According to the outcomes from this test pad, recommendations were made on cementing practices within the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin, based on regional gas-oil ratios (GOR).

This interdisciplinary work determined whether the deployment of advanced cement slurries and casing rotation would help eliminate a potential health, safety, and environment (HSE) risk and help improve well integrity as related to bradenhead pressure.
Digitalization of Detailed Drilling Operation Plans and Verification of Automatic Progress Tracking with an Online Drilling Simulator Environment
Authors: Farmanbar Pourya , Revheim Olav , Uberg Anne Siw , Chekushev Alexander , Cayeux Eric , Gravdal Jan Einar , Hauge Espen
Published: February 2020

In the age of digitalization and automatization of drilling operations, it is time to move the detailed drilling operating procedure from its classical text format, only intended for human interpretation, to a structured representation that can be utilized efficiently by computer systems. The immediate benefit of this transformation is that progress tracking during an operation can be fully automated.

To verify that automatic progress tracking can be performed with a digital version of the detailed operating procedure, simulated operations have been fed to the digital procedure and activity recognition software. The matching quality is thereafter assessed for each step of the planned drilling and non-drilling operating procedure. The detailed digital operating procedure itself is automatically generated from general descriptions contained in the operation program like tubular strings and fluids, and operational limits.

The testing procedure utilized five operations generated on the fly by a simulator: running in hole and tagging bottom, setting liner hanger and releasing running tool, pull out of hole, spacing out a completion seal assembly in a liner top and setting and testing a production packer. The simulated operations were inspired by actual operations recorded in a real-time data server.

The simulator runs remotely and is accessible through different application programming interfaces. The simulated data stream is very realistic compared to recorded data but offers the possibility to make variations on the simulated sequence and therefore test the reliability of the operation recognition algorithm.

From a technical point of view, there are no differences where the real-time data flow comes from and what is the source of the data, whether it comes from a real-time data server, drilling simulator or any other source of the real-time data.

All the simulated operation steps were successfully recognized by the system for the test case scenarios and proper notifications were triggered when required which proves the effectiveness of both the implemented system and the simulator.

The new system is a unique approach to automatically digitalize operating procedures and activities and track them. The method also automatically warns when execution deviates from the plan and allows the instant deployment of best practices.
Addressing Subsea Blowout Effects Using NASA Methodology
Authors: Cuthbert Andy
Published: February 2020

The highly under-expanded jet of a rocket plume creates a strong shock wave, which interacts with the boundaries of surrounding surfaces. These complicated patterns of crossflow separation cause thrust vectoring, which affects the vehicle's balance and can dramatically alter the pitch of the rocket. In a similar way, a subsea plume emanating from a blowing well, will have a similar effect on the attitude of a capping stack under similar release conditions.

Using software combinations commonplace in the aerospace industry, but hitherto used separately for discrete applications in the oil industry, has provided new information and insight. Ongoing research into the effects produced by a subsea blowout have revealed interesting results that raise doubt as to the veracity of otherwise industry-accepted Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling.

Linking expertise gleaned from NASA in rocket propulsion multi-phase flow dynamics with subject matter proficiency in subsea capping technology and encompassing both specific and general aspects of plume flow, the investigation offers insight into the physics that governs buoyant multiphase fluids released into a subsea environment during a subsea blowout.

By adopting practices employed by NASA, a process for successful execution of a subsea capping operation could be refined; and in the course of the research a commonly held notion was revealed to be ill-conceived. This paper offers insight into the what the aerospace industry has been able to contribute to the understanding of plume-force analysis in subsea capping operations to control a shallow or deep water blowout.
Modeling of Dynamic Cuttings Transportation during Drilling of Oil and Gas Wells by Combining 2D CFD and 1D Discretization Approach
Authors: Zhang Feifei , Wang Yidi , Wang Yuezhi , Miska Stefan , Yu Mengjiao
Published: February 2020

This paper presents an approach that combines a two-dimensional (2D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and one-dimensional (1D) continuous model for cuttings transport simulation during drilling of oil and gas wells. The 2D CFD simulates the flow profile and the suspended cuttings concentration profile in the cross section of the wellbore and the 1D continuous model simulates the cuttings transportation in the axial direction of the wellbore. Different cuttings sizes are considered in the model by using a new proposed superposition method. Experimental tests conducted on a 203 × 114 × 25 mm3 flow loop are used to validate the model from three different perspectives: the single-phase flow pressure drop, the steady-state cuttings bed height, and the transient pressure changes. Compared to layer models, the new approach is able to catch accurate flow details in the narrow flow region and overcome the shortcoming of traditional models that underpredict bed height under high flow rate conditions. The computational time increases by the order of 104∼105 from the level of millisecond to seconds but is still within the acceptable range for engineering applications, and the model provides close to three-dimensional (3D) accuracy at a much shorter central processing unit (CPU) time compared to 3D CFD models.
Medication Burden and Inappropriate Prescription Risk Among Elderly With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Roux-Marson Clarisse , Baranski Jean-Baptiste , Fafin Coraline , Extermann Guillaume , Vigneau Cecile , Couchoud Cecile , Moranne Olivier
Published: February 2020

Background Elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently present comorbidities that put them at risk of polypharmacy and medication-related problems. This study aims to describe the overall medication profile of patients aged ≥ 75 years with advanced CKD from a multicenter French study and specifically the renally (RIMs) and potentially inappropriate-for-the-elderly medications (PIMs) that they take. Methods This is a cross-sectional analysis of medication profiles of individuals aged ≥ 75 years with eGFR < 20 ml/min/1.73m2 followed by a nephrologist, who collected their active prescriptions at the study inclusion visit. Medication profiles were first analyzed according to route of administration, therapeutic classification. Second, patients were classified according to their risk of potential medication-related problems, based on whether the prescription was a RIM or a PIM. RIMs and PIMs have been defined according to renal appropriateness guidelines and to Beer’s criteria in the elderly. RIMs were subclassified by 4 types of category : (a) contraindication; (b) dose modification is recommended based on creatinine clearance (CrCl); (c) dose modification based on CrCl is not recommended but a maximum daily dose is mentioned, (d) no specific recommendations based on CrCl : “use with caution”, “avoid in severe impairment”, “careful monitoring of dose is required” “reduce the dose”. Results We collected 5196 individual medication prescriptions for 556 patients, for a median of 9 daily medications [7-11]. Antihypertensive agents, antithrombotics, and antianemics were the classes most frequently prescribed. Moreover, 77.0% of patients had at least 1 medication classified as a RIM. They accounted 31.3% of the drugs prescribed and 9.25% was contraindicated drugs. At least 1 PIM was taken by 57.6% and 45.5% of patients had at least one medication classified as RIM and PIM. The prescriptions most frequently requiring reassessment due to potential adverse effects were for proton pump inhibitors and allopurinol. The PIMs for which deprescription is especially important in this population are rilmenidine, long-term benzodiazepines, and anticholinergic drugs such as hydroxyzine. Conclusion We showed potential drug-related problems in elderly patients with advanced CKD. Healthcare providers must reassess each medication prescribed for this population, particularly the specific medications identified here.
CD8-positive memory T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer
Authors: Vahidi Yasmin , Bagheri Mandana , Ghaderi Abbas , Faghih Zahra
Published: February 2020

Background: Human immunological memory is a hallmark of the adaptive immune system and plays an important role in the development of effective immune responses against tumors. In the present study, we aimed to determine the frequencies of CD8 + memory T cell subsets including stem memory T cells (TSCM) in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer (BC).
Methods: Mononuclear cells were obtained from axillary lymph nodes of 52 untreated patients with BC and stained for CD8, CCR7, CD45RO, CD95 markers to detect different subtypes of memory cells in the CD8 + lymphocyte population. Data were acquired on four-color flow cytometer and analyzed with CellQuest Pro software.
Results: We observed that 47.65±2.66% of CD8+ lymphocytes expressed the CD45RO, a marker for memory T cells. Statistical analysis showed that the total frequency of central memory T cells (TCM) and their subset with low CD45RO expression was significantly higher in tumor-involved nodes compared to tumor-free ones (P=0.024 and P=0.017, respectively). The level of CD95 expression (based on mean fluorescence intensity) on the surface of TCM, their CD45RO hi and CD45RO low subsets, and TSCM was higher in patients with stage II compared to those in stage I (P<0.05). In addition, the percentage of naive CD8 + T cells was significantly lower in tumor-involved lymph nodes compared to tumor-free ones (P=0.025).
Conclusions: Our data collectively indicate no significant differences in the frequencies of CD8 + lymphocytes or their memory subsets in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with BC. However, the frequency of CD45 low TCM was higher in tumor-involved nodes. Along with a decrease in the frequency of naive T cells, the higher frequency of CD45 low TCM suggests that despite the immune reaction to provide a pool of effective memory cells, it is blocked in early-stage of memory cells’ differentiation (CD45RO low ), probably by tumor-derived suppressive factors. Identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind this suppression can provide invaluable tools for adoptive T cell therapies in cancer.
How does a targeted active labour market program impact on the well-being of the unemployed? A Concept Mapping study on Barcelona “Employment in the Neighbourhoods”
Authors: Puig-Barrachina Vanessa , Malmusi Davide , Artazcoz Lucía , Bartoll Xavier , Clotet Eva , Cortés-Franch Imma , Ventura Lorena , Daban Ferran , Díez Èlia , Borrell Carme
Published: February 2020

Background: The “Employment in the neighbourhoods” program is an innovative, tailor-made Active Labour Market Program that has been implemented in 12 neighbourhoods in Barcelona (Spain). Its goal is to get people from deprived, high-unemployment neighbourhoods back to work. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of the program on participants’ quality of life, and identify the mechanisms underlying these effects, according to their own perception and the perception of technical staff who assisted them.
Methods: We used Concept Mapping, a mixed methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative analysis, to develop a conceptual map of the participants’ and technical staffs’ perceptions about changes in the participants’ quality of life. Data collection occurred within the generation and structuring steps where participants brainstormed answers to a focus question, and then rated and sorted the responses. To create maps, we used Concept Systems Incorporated software, which conducted two main forms of analysis, a multidimensional scaling analysis, and a hierarchical cluster analysis.
Results: Study participants reported several positive effects on mental health and emotional wellbeing, including self-esteem and empowerment, and considered that this was achieved through strengthened social networks, skills acquisition, emotional coaching, and personalized technical assistance. They also described some negative impacts, mainly related to the labour market situation. We observed marked gender differences in the discourses of program participants.
Conclusions: The results obtained have allowed us to identify different perceived effects and mechanisms by which the “Employment in the Neighbourhoods” Active Labour Market Programme can influence quality of life of participants from the most deprived areas of Barcelona.
Keywords
Active labour market programs, unemployment, Barcelona City (Spain), deprived neighbourhoods, gender, quality of life, concept mapping.
P-selectin(CD62P) and soluble TREM-like transcript-1(sTLT-1) are associated with coronary artery disease-A case control study
Authors: Shen Li , Yang Tianlun , Xia Ke , Yan Zhiqiang , Tan Juanjuan , Li Lei , Qin Yingchun
Published: February 2020

Background/Aims: Platelet activation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease(CAD) ， platelet P-selectin(CD62P )is a platelet classic activation indicator in platelet surface and soluble TREM-like transcript-1 (sTLT-1) is a new one,the relation between these two makers and acute coronary syndromes(ACS) has not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the expression of CD62P in platelet surface and sTLT-1 on serum and their relationship with CAD. Methods: We measured the levels of CD62P and sTLT-1 in 83 patients undergoing CAD compared to 49 controls.The associations with age, blood pressure,lipid profiles, body mass index and liver injury marker levels were also examined. Results: A stepwise increase in CD62P concentration was found based on the number of CAD patients (P <0.01), especially in AMI (P <0.01) . Serum sTLT-1 concentration of AMI and UAP were more higher than the NC group (P <0.01). Conclusions: The consistent of sTLT-1 and CD62P expression levels in CAD,indicating that sTLT-1 level may be a new maker of platelet activating and positively related with CAD.
Proteome Profile Changes During Poly-hydroxybutyrate Intracellular Mobilization in Gram Positive Bacillus cereus tsu1
Authors: LI HUI , O’Hair Joshua , Thapa Santosh , Bhatti Sarabjit , Zhou Suping , Yang Yong , Fish Tara , Thannhauser Theodore W.
Published: February 2020

Background
Bacillus cereus is a bacterial species which grows efficiently on a wide range of carbon sources and accumulates biopolymer poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) up to 80% cell dry weight. PHB is an aliphatic polymer produced and stored intracellularly as a reservoir of carbon and energy, its mobilization is a key biological process for sporulation in Bacillus spp. Previously, a B. cereus tsu1 was isolated and cultured on rapeseed cake substrate (RCS), with maximum of PHB accumulation reached within 12 h, and depleted after 48 h; fore-spore and spore structure were observed after 24 h culture.
Results
Quantitative proteomic analysis of B. cereus tsu1 identified 2,952 quantifiable proteins, and 244 significantly changed proteins (SCPs) in the 24h-12h pair of samples, 325 SCPs in the 48h-12h pair of samples. Based on gene ontology classification analysis, biological processes enriched only in the 24h:12h SCPs include purine nucleotide metabolism, protein folding, metal ion homeostasis, response to stress, carboxylic acid catabolism, and cellular amino acid catabolism. The 48h:12h SCPs were enriched into processes including carbohydrate metabolism, protein metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and formation of translation ternary structure. A key enzyme for PHB metabolism, poly(R)-hydroxyalkanoic acid synthase (PhaC, KGT44865) accumulated significantly higher in 12h-culture. Sporulation related proteins SigF and SpoEII were significantly higher in 24h-samples. Enzymes for nitrate respiration and fermentation accumulated at a higher level in 48h-culture.
Conclusions
Changes in proteome of B. cereus tsu1 during PHB intracellular mobilization were characterized in this study. The key enzyme PhaC for PHB synthesis increased significantly after 12h-culture which supports the highest PHB accumulation at this time point. The protein abundance level of SpoIIE and SigF were increased which is correlated with sporulation in 24h-culture. Enzymes for nitrate respiration and fermentation were significantly induced in 48h-culture which indicates the depletion of oxygen at this stage and carbon flow towards fermentative growth. Results from this study provide insights into proteome profile changes during PHB accumulation and reuse, which can be applied to achieve a higher PHB yield and to improve bacterial growth performance and stress resistance.
Tracing cross species transmission of Mycobacterium bovis at the wildlife/livestock interface in South Africa
Authors: Sichewo Petronillah Rudo , Hlokwe Tiny M. , Etter Eric M.C. , Michel Anita L.
Published: February 2020

Background Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) affects cattle and wildlife in South Africa with the African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) as the principal maintenance host. The presence of a wildlife maintenance host at the wildlife/livestock interface acting as spill-over host makes it much more challenging to control and eradicate bTB in cattle. Spoligotyping and mycobacteria interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) genotyping methods were performed to investigate the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium bovis ( M. bovis ) isolates from cattle and wildlife, their distribution and transmission at the wildlife/livestock interface in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), South Africa. Results SB0130 was identified as the dominant spoligotype pattern at this wildlife/livestock interface, while VNTR typing revealed a total of 29 VNTR profiles (strains) in the KZN province signifying high genetic variability. The detection of 5 VNTR profiles shared between cattle and buffalo suggests M. bovis transmission between species. MIRU-VNTR confirmed co-infection in one cow with three strains of M. bovis that differed at a single locus, with 2 being shared with buffalo, implying pathogen introduction from most probably unrelated wildlife sources. Conclusion Our findings highlight inter and intra species transmission of bTB at the wildlife/livestock interface and the need for the implementation of adequate bTB control measures to mitigate the spread of the pathogen responsible for economic losses and a public health threat.
Clinical analysis of surgical treatment for retroperitoneal unicentric Castleman Disease: a single-centre experience for 10 years
Authors: Wang Wenda , Dong Dexin , Wen Jin , Li Hanzhong
Published: February 2020

Objective Diagnosis of unicentric Castleman Disease (UCD) is not easy before the resection and obtainment of pathological result. We summarized 10-year experience of clinical management for retroperitoneal UCD in PUMCH. Methods A retrospective analysis of retroperitoneal UCD between December 1st, 2009 and December 31th, 2019 in PUMCH was carried out. Epidemiological data, imaging and laboratorial examinations, and histopathological results after resection were reviewed and analyzed. The long-term follow up was performed in these retroperitoneal UCD patients. Results 72 UCD patients with pathological diagnosis after resection were screened out. Among them 25 patients had retroperitoneal UCD. The average age of the 25 patients was 43.80±12.79, and 52.00% were male. No patients had systemic symptoms, and one patient got pre-operative treatment. The average size of masses was 5.59±2.86cm. The UCD sites included kidney, adrenal area, perinephric area, pancreas, peripancreatic area, area of descending part of duodenum, periaortic area or beside iliac artery, and others. The masses presented different degree of enhancement on CT scans and hypoecho or isoecho on ultrasound. Increased metabolism could be found on 18 F-FDG PET/CT. Some patients had positive results on somatostatin receptor imaging, but none had positive results on 131 I-MIBG. Some patients presented the elevated level of IL-6, 24h-urinary catecholamine and tumor markers. All the patients received complete resection of masses and 96.00% had hyaline-vascular type pathology except one patient (plasma cell-type). 92.00% patients received a long-term follow up with an average follow-up time of 35.48±33.90 months. No patients died or experienced relapse during follow up. Conclusions Differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal UCD may be difficult according to imaging and laboratorial examinations. Complete resection is the best treatment and could provide a final pathological diagnosis.
Features of approaches to the treatment of secondary hypokalemic paralysis in emergency neurology. Review
Authors: Sakovets Tatiana G.
Published: February 2020

Secondary hypokalemic myoplegia may be due redistribution of potassium between extracellular and intracellular fluid, loss of potassium through the gastrointestinal tract, elevated renal excretion of potassium. Mortality in hypokalemic myoplegia is determined by fatal cardiac arrhythmias, in patients, as a rule, suffering from a pathology of the cardiovascular system (ischemic heart disease, chronic heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy), respiratory failure. The emergence of prognostically unfavorable rhythm disturbances (ventricular fibrillation, bigeminy, trigymenia, “pirouette” ventricular tachycardia) is provoked by even a slight K deficiency in the blood (less than 3.5 mmol/l). The arrhythmogenic effect of hypokalemia is potentiated by taking digitalis preparations. With ventricular arrhythmias that have arisen on the background of hypokalemia, emergency therapeutic measures are required to restore the content of potassium in the blood serum. The most effective is the use of a diet rich in potassium in combination with taking potassium chloride or potassium-saving diuretics. Late arrest of cardiac arrhythmias with hypokalemic myoplegia, especially in patients with cardiovascular pathology, determines an increase in the frequency of deaths.
Xenon in the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus. Case report
Authors: Lazarev Vladimir V. , Golubev B. I. , Brusov G. P. , Tsypin L. E. , Ilina E. S. , Holin A. A. , Usacheva E. L.
Published: February 2020

Tolerance to specific drug therapy may occur in the relief of epileptic status. One of the solutions this problem are use of volatile anesthetics, which have a number of negative properties in addition to positive effects. In the presented description of a clinical case of a super-refractory status epilepticus in a 5-year-old child, xenon, possessing the properties of a general anesthetic and having no negative side effects, was successfully used to relieve seizures. By inhalation of the xenon-oxygen mixture in the proportion of 60–70 % xenon and 30–40 % oxygen, it was possible to completely level the convulsive activity of the patient during the procedure, which was confirmed by electroencephalogram. The presented case gives grounds for further study of the possibility of using xenon in the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus in children.
Risk and significance of venous air embolism at neurosurgical operations in the position of sitting at adults. Article
Authors: Lakotko Roman S. , Averyanov D. A. , Shchyogolev A. V.
Published: February 2020

Background. Currently, the patientʼs sitting position has largely lost popularity among neurosurgeons mainly due to fears of possible complications. This position involves certain risks, the most dangerous of which are venous air embolism and paradoxical air embolism.
Materials and methods. We report a retrospective study that included 66 neurosurgical patients operated on in a sitting position in 2 years. Preoperative examination, anesthetic management, and intraoperative monitoring have been standardized. The analysis included data from anesthetic charts and protocols of intaoperative monitoring.
Results. Of 66 patients, 24 (36 %) were diagnosed with patent foramen ovale using contrast transesophageal echocardiography with Valsalva breakdown. The anomaly was not considered as a contraindication for surgery in a sitting position. Venous air embolism during surgery was diagnosed in 34 patients (51.5 %). However, clinically significant complications developed in 3 patients (4.5 %). None of the patients had complications requiring therapy in the postoperative period.
Conclusion. Our study shows that an anaesthetic support model like ours is effective in preventing major complications associated with the patientʼs sitting position. The fear of fatal complications seems unfounded.
The influence of anesthesia components on systemic inflammatory response during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Article
Authors: Adzhigaliev Ruslan R. , Вautin А. E. , Рasyuga V. V.
Published: February 2020

Background. There are some experimental and clinical data indicating that propofol and morphine may to reduce systemic inflammatory response (SIR) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
Objectives. To study the impact of anesthetics and opioids on the SIR associated with cardiopulmonary bypass.
Materials and methods. The studies examined the dynamic concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) before CPB, 1, 3 and 24 hours after the end of CPB in 119 patients randomized in four groups. Patients of the first group received sevoflurane and fentanyl, patients of the second group received sevoflurane and morphine, patients of the third group received propofol and fentanyl, patients of the fourth group received propofol and morphine.
Results. There was found increase in cytokine level in 1 hour after CPB. In the fourth group concentration of markers was lower versus the other groups. Significant differences were found with group 1 (sevoflurane and fentanyl) in the concentration of IL-6 after 3 hours (p = 0.004) and after 24 hours (p = 0.018); IL-8 after 1 hour (p = 0.003); TNF after 1 hour (p = 0.001) and after 3 hours (p = 0.001). In the fourth group (propofol and morphine) compared with group 1 (sevoflurane and fentanyl) there was lower body temperature in 4 hours after surgery (p = 0.005) and a lower leukocyte count on the 3rd day – 8,2 (7–11,4) ×109/l versus 11,1 (9–12,6) ×109/l (p = 0,005), there was less length of the ICU stay — 24 (21–29) hours versus 44 (23–71) hours (p = 0.013) and the frequency of use of vasoactive medications is 13.3 % versus 46.7 % (p = 0.02).
Conclusion. Our results showed the ability of propofol and morphine to reduce the manifestations of a systemic inflammatory response throughout cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.
Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using agricultural byproducts
Authors: Alalwan Hayder A. , Kadhom Mohammed A. , Alminshid Alaa H.
Published: February 2020

The use of agricultural waste to remove heavy metals from wastewater has attracted much attention due to its economic advantages and high removal efficiency which is attributed to different functional groups. The sorption mechanism of biomass can consist of several steps including chemisorption, complexation, adsorption on surface, diffusion through pores, and ion exchange. Heavy metals were removed in different rates depending on the adsorbent and metal itself. For instance, coconut waste showed adsorption capacities of 263 and 285 mg/g in removing lead and cadmium ions, respectively. Also, black oak bark has adsorbed mercury in an adsorption capacity of 400 mg/g, while wheat brans adsorption capacity for chromium was 310 mg/g. The adsorption capacity is commonly calculated by Lagergren's first-order equation, the Redlich Peterson model, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) model. However, Langmuir and Freundlich models were intensively used to calculate the adsorbed amount by a unit weight of solid sorbents. This review article aims to present the recently available information on utilizing the biomass materials for heavy metals removal. Here, we highlight the increasing use of these materials due to their low cost, regeneration ability, high adsorption efficiency, and small chemical or biological sludge with a possibility of metal recovery.
Modifying graphite felt cathode by HNO3 or KOH to improve the degradation efficiency of electro-Fenton for landfill leachate
Authors: Jiang Bo , Wang Yan , Wang Dongfang , Yao Meng , Fan Congying , Dai Jie
Published: February 2020

Based on graphite felt (GF), the cathode of an electro-Fenton (EF) system was modified by HNO3 and KOH respectively to improve the degradation efficiency for actual landfill leachate. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, Boehm titration experiments, contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and adsorption experiments illustrated that the surface of the modified GFs had more oxygen-containing functional (OG) groups, and possessed better hydrophilicity and larger specific surface area. In 180 min H2O2 electrogeneration experiments, the cumulative amount of H2O2 produced by unmodified GF (GF-0), HNO3 modified GF (GF-1) and KOH modified GF (GF-2) was 526 mg/L, 891 mg/L and 823 mg/L respectively. In 180 min EF reaction, the removal rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in GF-0, GF-1 and GF-2 EF systems was 31.88%, 60.65% and 52.08% respectively; the removal rate of NH4+-N in GF-0, GF-1 and GF-2 EF systems was 43.37%, 98.10% and 94.81% respectively. In addition, both the performance of GF-1 and GF-2 for Fe2+ regeneration was greatly enhanced, and GF-1 was superior to GF-2. The degradation efficiency for landfill leachate was enhanced obviously by employing the modified EF system, suggesting that the two modified cathodes have great potential in practical production.
Enhancing treated wastewater effluent characteristics using hybrid biofilm/activated sludge process – a case study
Authors: Hassan Khalid , Hamdy Olfat , Helmy Mohamed , Mostafa Hossam
Published: February 2020

This paper documents the results of 12 months of monitoring of an upgraded hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor-conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant (MBBR-CAS WWTP). It also targets the assessment of the increment of the hydraulic load on existing treatment units with a zero construction and land cost. The influent flow to the plant was increased from 21,000 m3 d−1 to 30,000 m3 d−1, 40% of the existing CAS reactor volume was used for the MBBR zone with a carrier fill fraction of 47.62% and with Headworks Bio ActiveCell™ 515 used as media; no modifications were made for the primary and secondary tanks. The hybrid reactor showed high removal efficiencies for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS), with average effluent values recording 33.00 ± 8.87 mg L−1, 52.90 ± 9.65 mg L−1 and 29.50 ± 6.64 mg L−1 respectively. Nutrient removals in the hybrid modified biological reactor were moderate compared with carbon removal despite the high C/N ratio of 12.33. Findings in this study favor the application of MBBR in the upgrading of existing CAS plants with the plant BOD5 removal efficiency recording an increase of about 5% compared with the plant before upgrade and effluent values well within the legal requirements.
Trends in Nanotechnology for in vivo Cancer Diagnosis: Products and Patents
Authors: do Nascimento Tatielle , Tavares Melanie , Monteiro Mariana S.S.B. , Santos-Oliveira Ralph , Todeschini Adriane R. , de Souza Vilênia T. , Ricci-Júnior Eduardo
Published: February 2020

Background:

Cancer is a set of diseases formed by abnormal growth of cells leading to the formation
of the tumor. The diagnosis can be made through symptoms’ evaluation or imaging tests, however, the techniques
are limited and the tumor detection may be late. Thus, pharmaceutical nanotechnology has emerged to optimize
the cancer diagnosis through nanostructured contrast agent’s development.

Objective:

This review aims to identify commercialized nanomedicines and patents for cancer diagnosis.

Methods:

The databases used for scientific articles research were Pubmed, Science Direct, Scielo and Lilacs.
Research on companies’ websites and articles for the recognition of commercial nanomedicines was performed.
The Derwent tool was applied for patent research.

Results:

This article aimed to research on nanosystems based on nanoparticles, dendrimers, liposomes, composites
and quantum dots, associated to imaging techniques. Commercialized products based on metal and composite
nanoparticles, associated with magnetic resonance and computed tomography, have been observed. The research
conducted through Derwent tool displayed a small number of patents using nanotechnology for cancer diagnosis.
Among these patents, the most significant number was related to the use of systems based on metal nanoparticles,
composites and quantum dots.

Conclusion:

Although few systems are found in the market and patented, nanotechnology appears as a promising
field for the development of new nanosystems in order to optimize and accelerate the cancer diagnosis.