bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of human papillomavirus type 16 in cervical cancer cells
Authors: Gudleviciene Zivile , Kanopiene Daiva , Stumbryte Ausra , Bausyte Raminta , Kirvelaitis Edgaras , Simanaviciene Vaida , Zvirbliene Aurelija
Published: September 2014

Cervical cancer remains an important cause of
women morbidity and mortality. The progression of cervical
pathology correlates with the HPV integration into the host
genome. However, the data on the viral integration status in
cervical dysplasias are controversial. The aim of the current
study was to evaluate the status of HPV integration in two
types of cervical pathology – invasive and non invasive
cervical cancer (e.g. carcinoma in situ). 156 women were
included in the study: 66 women were diagnosed with
invasive cervical cancer (CC) and 90 with non invasive cervical
cancer (carcinoma in situ, CIS). 74.2% [95% PI: 63.64÷84.76]
of specimens collected from women with diagnosed CC
and 85.6% [95% PI: 85.53÷92.85] of CIS specimens were
positive for HPV. The most prevalent HPV genotype in both
groups was HPV16. To evaluate HPV integration, three
selected HPV16 E2 gene fragments were analyzed by PCR.
In the majority of CC and CIS specimens the amplification
of all three HPV16 E2 gene fragments was observed. The
episomal HPV16 form was detected in the majority of CC
and CIS specimens. The deletion of all three HPV16 E2 gene
fragments was detected in 9.4% of CC specimens and 2.2%
of CIS specimens. Finally, integration status could not be
used as diagnostical additional test to distinguish between
invasive and non invasive cervical cancer.
Lithium transition metal pnictides – structural chemistry, electrochemistry, and function
Authors: Winter Florian , Pöttgen Rainer , Greiwe Magnus , Nilges Tom
Published: September 2014

Lithium-transition metal (T)-pnictides (Pn=P, As, Sb, Bi) are an interesting class of materials with greatly differing crystal structures. The transition metal and pnictide atoms build up covalently bonded networks that leave cavities or channels for the lithium atoms. Depending on the bonding of lithium to the polyanionic network, one observes mobility of the lithium atoms. The crystal chemistry, chemical bonding, 7Li solid-state NMR, and the electrochemical behavior of the pnictides are reviewed. The structural chemistry is compared with related tetrelides.
An Evaluation of Three Triaxial Systems With Results From 0.1 to 100 MPa
Authors: Casey Brendan , Germaine John T.
Published: September 2014

This paper evaluates the results of triaxial tests carried out over a very wide range of effective stresses using custom-built triaxial systems specially developed for testing at low, medium, and high pressures. These tests were performed on samples of resedimented Boston Blue Clay, and good reproducibility is demonstrated across testing devices. A novel approach was taken to evaluate the effect of apparatus compressibility of the drainage system on the measured undrained shear behavior, as this issue becomes increasingly important for triaxial testing at high stresses. The effect of apparatus compressibility on triaxial shear results was evaluated by comparing the volume of pore fluid necessary to develop the drained strength of a specimen to the volume of flow caused by apparatus compressibility. This method is more illustrative and intuitive for undrained triaxial testing of saturated specimens than the traditional approach of using a specimen's B-value. Triaxial test results show a consistent decrease in both undrained strength ratio and critical state friction angle over the effective stress range of 0.1 to 100 MPa for each overconsolidation ratio investigated. The conventional assumption made in soil models that fine-grained soils exhibit constant normalized strength properties is therefore shown to be invalid when these properties are viewed over a significant range of effective stresses.
Partial Decarburization and Intensive Quenching to Increase Fatigue Limit of Quenched Small Parts
Authors: Lozano D. E. , Totten G. E. , Martinez-Cazares G. M. , Mercado-Solis R.
Published: September 2014

The 5160 spring steel is mainly used to endure fatigue and since its Mf is below room temperature, retained austenite is usually present after conventional quenching, which is detrimental from a fatigue point of view. To reduce the amount of retained austenite, a partial decarburization was promoted (to increase the Ms and Mf, respectively) by austenitizing the steel at different temperatures and times in air, prior to performing an interrupted quenching in an accelerated media (brine) instead of the conventional oil quenching. The same quenching conditions with partial decarburization and without decarburization are compared. In addition, conventional oil quenching was performed as reference. Results showed that with a controlled partial decarburization, it is possible to increase the fatigue limit compared to the conditions without decarburization (both interrupted quenching and oil quenching). Fatigue experiments were carried out in a rotating bending fatigue type tester. Cooling curves, decarburization profiles, fraction of martensite plots, and fatigue data are discussed.
Values and decisions on sustainable food choices when eating out
Authors: Curry Robin , Crawley Emily , Baird Jim
Published: September 2014

Food consumption and production is estimated to contribute 20–30% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions and to an estimated 20–30% of total household consumption impacts across the European Union. Although domestic food consumption has received considerable attention from both academic researchers and policy makers, there has been relatively little focus on the factors influencing diners' values and decisions on sustainable food choices when eating away from home. This paper seeks to address this gap with research that aimed to gain an understanding of the factors influencing people's values and decisions on sustainable food choices when eating out, and the associated barriers and drivers. The research revealed a lack of clarity among stakeholders over what constitutes sustainable food choices when eating out, a significant correlation between food choices at home and when eating out, and support for choice editing and restaurants taking the lead with guidance and star-style rating systems. The implications and opportunities for more sustainable food choices when eating out are discussed and recommendations are made on an agenda for future research priorities in this important but under-researched area.
State of Art in Prediction of Fluvial Sandbodies in Low Permeable Tyumen Formation of West Syberia
Authors: Martynov M. E. , Shishmanidi I. V. , Kozlov A. V. , Leskin F. Y.
Published: September 2014

Effective development of hard-to-recover reserves is one of the key activities of Russian oil companies. Great interest in this category of deposits is related to significant reserves. Prospective target for the development in Krasnoleninskoye field are deeply buried continental deposits of Tyumen formation which are related to the category of hard-to-recover reserves. Tyumen Formation is represented by interbedded sandstone, siltstone, shale, coal and characterized by low reservoir properties, average porosity and permeability are 12 % and 0.4 md, respectively. Despite numerous attempts to come to full-scale development of these deposits - and this has become possible only since the late 90's after the introduction of hydraulic fracturing technology, but there was no significant results. The main problem in this case is very complex geological structure, and if the problem of low permeability is solved by reservoir stimulation using hydraulic fracturing, the problem of spatial distribution prediction of the sandbodies is still actual, which in turn is a cause of low drilling success, flowrates and difficulties in effective waterflooding design. At the present an attempt solving the problem by drilling horizontal wells to enter maximum amount of sandbodies and their involvement in the development at the expense of a multistage hydraulic fracturing. This paper considers an example of the successful application of the engineering approach by integrating data from various lines of inquiry (seismic, geology and reservoir engineering, well testing) in order to forecast continental deposits of Tyumen formation and successful exploration drilling organization.
The Results of the Field Tests and Prospects of Termogas Development of Bazhenov Formation in OJSC RITEK
Authors: Kokorev V. I. , Darishchev V. I. , Akhmadeishin I. A. , Shchekoldin K. A. , Boksernam A. A.
Published: September 2014

The paper covers the distinctive features of thermogas stimulation for Bazhenov formation, gives data resulted from the experimental work performed at Sredne-Nazym field of OJSC "RITEK"

At present structural deterioration of reserves is in progress due to the increased share of heavy-to-recover and unconventional hydrocarbons in the total structure of the Russian raw-material base.

Most of unconventional hydrocarbon resources of Russia are found in Bazhenov oil source rocks (further on referred to as BS).

The urgency of BS effective development is necessitated by the fact that now the land of Russia stores nonessential quantity of actual reserves. While, nonconventional reserves are estimated at over 1 trillion tons, and a potential increase of recoverable reserves greatly exceeds local current recoverable reserves. Virtually, all non-conventional reserves are spread through the regions with developed infrastructure making it possible to cut the period for field tests and commercial application of new engineering decisions to involve into effective development the BS deposits being a form of the giant world shale hydrocarbon resources. According to foreign and local experts the potential of BS recoverable oil reserves amounts to minimum 30-40 bln. tons, and that is multiply higher than a possible increase of oil reserves owing to exploration of new Eastern Siberia and Arctic fields. To develop BS deposits the technical and technological complex to increase oil recovery based on integration of thermal and gas methods is under designing.
Non-Darcy Flow Numerical Simulation and Pressure/Rate Transient Analysis for Ultra-Low Permeable Reservoirs
Authors: Baikov V. A. , Davletbaev A. Ya. , Ivaschenko D. S.
Published: September 2014

The current progress in oilfield development is focused on ultra-low permeable reservoirs to be put in production. Experimental results show that fluid flow in ultra-low permeable reservoirs no longer obeys Darcy's law.

We investigate the pressure pattern behavior under a nonlinear relation between flow velocity and pressure gradient. The use of non-Darcy flow simulation in pressure/rate transient field data analysis exhibits new possibilities for estimating permeability and a drainage area. The results obtained show that the effective drainage area is significantly smaller than interwell distance in a development system cell. This may cause decision making for infill drilling in low-gradient areas.
Feasibility Evaluation of Perspective Geological Structures in Oil and Gas Production Regions with Highly Developed Infrastructure
Authors: Bulgakov S. A. , Ismagilov A. F. , Khamitov I. G. , Troshkov Yu. M. , Fedorchenko G. D. , Manasian A. E.
Published: September 2014

The paper considers the automated system to optimize the package of geological and exploration works. The distinctive feature of the proposed system contains the integrated approach from static record-keeping of reservoir distribution features and their formation properties to automated calculation of the field development and construction options for the promising objects. This method is aimed at economic potential evaluation in commissioning the small-sized hydrocarbon pools in oil and gas production provinces that have highly-developed infrastructure with due account for regional features. Validation of the proposed method was completed for the case with Kelveyskoye Licensed Area of OAO "Samaraneft-egas".
Algorithms of Automatic Core-Log Depth-Shifting In Problems of Petrophysical Model Construction
Authors: Nadezhdin O. , Zairullina E. , Efimov D. , Savichev V.
Published: September 2014

The problem of core-log depth matching/shifting is an integral part of any petrophysical interpretation and modeling. The correct and robust solution to this task predetermines the quality of the resultant petrophysical model however this solution is not straightforward. In this paper the authors present specific algorithms aimed at automated processing, depth shifting and calibration of downhole wireline logs and petrophysical properties measured in core analysis.
Application of 2D Technology of Digital Modeling for Prediction of Traps in the Sedimentary Cover
Authors: Ershov Andrey V. , Linev Dmitriy N. , Lineva Maria D.
Published: September 2014

Sedimentological modeling is one of the important parts of basin modeling. Processes of sedimentation and sedimentation environment mostly determine the final structure and properties of the geological play. So, to solve the direct problem means to find out the lithological and facies cross-section, being based on initial sedimentation environments and processes. The solution of the direct problem allows us to predict lithology and facies distribution of play of interest. Spatial resolution of the sedimentological model can be rather high, up to centimeters. Solution of the inverse problem helps us to reconstruct initial environments and conditions of sedimentation. If we have solved the inverse problem for well-explored areas, we could extrapolate the results to adjacent unexplored areas and predict sedimentary structure by solving the direct problem.

The designed Mazay2D forward sedimentary modelling software complex can perfom sedimentological modeling of erosion, distribution and accumulation of clastic deposits and formations, sedimentation and erosion of carbonate deposits (including reefs).

Sedimentary modeling technology solves direct problem (we know environment – we can calculate final structure of the geological play) and inverse problem (we have final structure – we can calculate processes of its sedimentation). The direct problem solution allows us to calculate lithology, gradation, porosity, permeability, density and other petrophysical characteristics. Elastic parameters and synthetic seismic profile can also be calculated.

Output data of sedimentological modelling can be used as input data in basin modeling to calculate, for example, porosity evolution during post-sedimentary stage.

Sedimentary modeling can be used to predict high-resolution lithological and facies structure of the reservoir, to plan geophysical research and as assistance for seismic interpretation. Besides, sedimentological model can be applied to basin modeling of hydrocarbon systems.
Practice and Future Potential of Multilateral Horizontal Drilling for Lower Permian Reservoirs: Case Study from Lemezinskoe Field
Authors: Krasnevsky Yu. S. , Ganeev A. I. , Mescheryakov O. E. , Chervyakova A. N. , Trofimov V. E.
Published: September 2014

Lemezinskoe oil field is situated in Iglinsky region, Republic of Bashkortostan, 84 km to the east of Ufa and 35 km to the south-east of the regional center Iglino. The field is located in the region with well-developed infrastructure. In the regional tectonic setting the field lies in the northern part of the Belsk Depression, Pre-Ural Foredeep Basin. It is associated with a buried Lower Permian reef build-up (P1ar-P1s). Oil shows of various intensity and nature were recorded in the Kungurian, Artinskian and Sakmarian sequences. Commercial oil reserves of Lemezinskoe field are discovered in the porous and permeable limestones of the productive Artiskian-Sakmarian reservoirs. The reef build-up consists of carbonates which differ in their mineral composition, origin, structure and texture as well as porosity and permeability. The oil is heavy, viscous, waxy and sour.

One production target is identified within the field and two reservoirs which are located at a considerable distance from each other. The key parameters of the developed Artiskian-Sakmarian Reservoir 1 (Reservoir 2 is not developed due to its location in the sanitary-protection zone) are summarized below.

The reservoir layers within the body of the reef are characterized by discreet spatial distribution. In most cases the permeable streaks are isolated by tight carbonate rocks. Well-to-well correlation of the reservoir intervals is impossible due to the heterogeneous lithology of the section. Geological cross-sections show the distribution of the reservoir intervals only in the wells whereas in the interwell space the presumed distribution pattern is rather schematic and simplified (Fig. 1). One distinct feature of Lemezinskoe field as a reefal build-up is lack of biodegrated oil or gas cap.
Review of a Forgotten Technology With High Potential - The World Largest Nitrogen Based IOR Project in the Supergiant Field Cantarell, Mexico
Authors: Guzmann Marcus S.
Published: September 2014

This paper provides a compelling review about the world largest nitrogen IOR project in the supergiant field Cantarell, an oil field offshore Gulf of Mexico. Cantarell is Mexico's largest resource being operated by Pemex. The very successful IOR project includes the daily injection of up to 1.5 bn scf (50.000 tons) per day of nitrogen for pressure maintenance since year 2000.

The basic reservoir characteristic and production history will be discussed, including the very positive field response of more than doubling the oil production from 1.0 million to 2.2 million bblpd. Alternative EOR technologies are techno-commercially assessed. The supply of the required nitrogen volumes by air separation plants and the associated infrastructure will be explained in detail.

The conclusion is that nitrogen for pressure maintenance (IOR) including the use of nitrogen for gas lift is a state-of-the-art technology with proven success in offshore fields.
Injection Test of Carbonate Reservoir with Complex Porosity Types Including Porous Matrix, Fractures, Vuggy Zones
Authors: Abdullin R. , Davletbaev A. , Bikbulatova G. , Ignatev A. , Yamalov I.
Published: September 2014

Water flooding of carbonate reservoirs with complex porosity, fracture system and high vugginess is complicated by water breakthrough and quick waterflooding of the producers. At that, reservoir pressure maintenance is essential means as due to reduced reservoir energy state resulting from formation and bottom hole pressure decrease at elasto-plastic drive, well production rate decreases. Analyses of well test study show that pressure drop fracture healing takes place and leads to production loss of the producers. High vertical permeability leads to technogenic formation of gas caps at reservoir pressure drawdown below bubble point pressure and to necessity of shutting off some producers drilled under the field arch.

To reduce water flooding in producers and involve non-draining uninvaded areas to injection high-elastic solutions are injected. This helps to distribute the fluid injected to uninvaded intervals. As a rule, fracture system and secondary porosity are less developed in these intervals. For that reason the reservoir are of less permeability.

Liduid injection to the wells is carried out at high pressures. According to transient well test results which were undertaken before and after injection of high-elastic solutions large – spontaneous growth of vertical fracture in injection wells are observed. Thus, according to log-log plot after the undertakings logarithmic derivative view (flow pattern for single vertical fractures) is fundamentally changed. Field research results show that after the injection of high-elastic solutions and further injection at high pressure rates in reservoirs with bad flow properties artificial hydrofracs are forming which helps to involve earlier non-draining intervals.
Controlled Pressure Drilling and Downhole Isolation Valve Technologies for Enhancing Coal Seam Gas Drilling and Completion Operations in Australia
Authors: McHardy Mark Lawrence , Wuest Chad Henry , Toralde Julmar Shaun
Published: September 2014

The use of controlled pressure drilling (CPD) techniques in tandem with downhole isolation valve (DIV) technologies to improve drilling and completion operations for coal seam gas (CSG) in Australia has yet to be maximized, especially for wells that are drilled into dewatered coal formations where reservoir pressures are below sub-hydrostatic levels and cannot be drilled conventionally as circulation losses would result.

Advancements in rotating control devices (RCD) and CPD technologies where backpressure is exerted on the annulus of the well during drilling in order to control the bottomhole pressure while drilling with air, mist or foam fluid systems have increased their potential to enhance the drilling process. The utilization of a DIV to keep the well underbalanced during tripping and when the completion assembly is ran minimizes the pressure spikes that the inherently unstable coal formation sees and helps ensure that the completion is ran to the ideal depth and maximum production is realized. Together, CPD and DIV solutions can improve the economics of CSG wells in Australia. Case studies of previous deployments involving a tandem application of these technologies and their impact will also be discussed.
A Probabilistic Approach to Predicting Coalbed Methane Well Performance Using Multi-Seam Well Test Data
Authors: Burgoyne M. W. , Clements G. M.
Published: September 2014

Significant heterogeneity in production rates from coalbed methane (CBM) wells is observed throughout the Surat and Bowen Basins in Eastern Queensland, Australia. Typically, individual well performance predictions are conducted using deterministic coal properties obtained from core data in combination with permeability and pressure measurements from multi-seam well testing. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the coal, the total permeability measured across the tested interval in a single well will likely not represent the behaviour of even the closest of neighbouring wells. This leads to challenges in mapping permeability between and away from wells, and producing representative predictions for field development.

A new method is proposed to take a statistically significant population of multi-seam CBM permeability test results, correct to equivalent expected single seam test results and, using the full dataset, relate those results to a probabilistic single well performance envelope for a defined area with similar geological properties and setting. Depth, gas content, saturation, total net coal isopachs and any unique structural features are the primary control points for defining these ‘geodomains’.

The resultant single well performance envelopes remove the need to subjectively choose an average permeability to use for each well or coal measure. The results have been demonstrated to reasonably represent the range of observed actual peak water and gas productivities across a variety of geological areas in the Surat and Bowen basins.

This provides a method by which discrete representations of well families can be made for a particular geologic setting; leading to an understanding of the range of potential well outcomes which cannot be achieved using a typical deterministic approach.
Studies on ASP Flooding Formulations Based on Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Surfactants
Authors: Zhu Youyi , Cao Fengying , Bai Ziwu , Wang Zhe , Wang Hongzhuang , Zhao Shumei
Published: September 2014

Alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding field tests showed a significantly enhanced oil recovery in Chinese mature oilfields. However, there were still some limitations remained in ASP flooding technique, including scaling, corrosion and emulsification bring problems in lifting system, and produced liquid hard to treatment in strong caustic ASP system (using sodium hydroxide with high concentration for example). In order to avoid the side effects caused by strong alkali, development of chemical combination flooding system with low damage formulations is being a hot topic in application of ASP flooding technique.

In this research, the preparation, interfacial tension (IFT) properties and oil displacement experiments of synthesized alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants were mainly studied in weak alkaline ASP flooding, in order to better understand the relationship between IFT performance and surfactant structure at different types of alkali condition, and to optimize low damage formulations in ASP Flooding.

A series of alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants were synthesized. The IFT measurements of both model oil/water and crude oil/formation water indicated that the molecular structure of surfactants such as length of carbon chains could remarkably affect the IFT. Low damage formulation of ASP system was selected for Daqing crude oil and formation water, based on adjusting both of molecular weight and structures of alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant. The ultralow IFT between crude oil and ASP displacing liquid was obtained at the concentration range of surfactants from 0.05wt% to 0.3wt% and Na2CO3 or Na2CO3+NaHCO3 (1:1) from 0.4wt% to 1.0wt%. The pH value of the chemical systems was lower than that of NaOH system. Core flooding experiments showed that the incremental oil recovery by weak alkaline ASP flooding formulations could reach 22-23% over water flooding.

Development of chemical flooding with low damage formulations is very important and might facilitate the further applications of ASP chemical combination flooding in the different types of reservoirs.
Field Pilot of Gel Barriers Placement for In-depth Fluid Diversion in Daqing Oil Field
Authors: Lv Jing , Li Junjian , Liu Yuzhang , Xiong Chunming , Li Yikun , Wei Falin
Published: September 2014

Due to severe heterogeneity of thick positive rhythm reservoir and the gravity influence, the injected water channels and ineffectively cycles in high-permeability layers at the bottom of thick reservoir. An innovative in-depth fluid diversion technique, gel barrier placement, will be a promising approach to tap the potential of remaining oil in positive rhythm reservoirs in the period of high water-cut, which involves injecting gel into the radial laterals in the vertical wells between the injectors and producers to form ‘gel barriers’, then follow-up injected water will bypass these barriers and be diverted into the upper low permeability zones where the remaining oil is relatively enriched. As a result, the sweep efficiency of the upper low-permeability zones can be increased. A pilot of gel barrier placement was conducted in Daqing oil field. The paper deals with well pattern and chemical agents’ selection, injection scheme design, numerical simulation, and field implementation results.
Research on Pipe-in-Pipe Coiled Tubing
Authors: Chen Yingchun , Zhang Shimin , Xu Kebin , Wang Wenming , Xiong Minghao
Published: September 2014

Under balanced technology is now urgently needed to handle weak and leakage conditions. This paper describes a new Pipe-in-Pipe Coiled Tubing which can form its own circulation passage. Due to its unique property, Pipe-in-Pipe Coiled Tubing is especially suitable for low-washed sand, plugging, drilling and grinding, drilling and other operations. Current applications of Pipe-in-Pipe Coiled Tubing is overviewed in this paper; an indoor bench is also built to experimentally study the axial force transfer behavior of Pipe-in-Pipe Coiled Tubing, results shows: due to the difference on Moment of inertia, Pipe-in-Pipe Coiled Tubing's axial force transfer efficiency would be higher than that of Traditional Coiled tubing under the same condition. This paper would be useful for the practical application of Pipe-in-Pipe Coiled Tubing.
Water Control Success in Onshore and Offshore Horizontal Wells Completed with Slotted Liners by Annular Isolation - Case Studies from China
Authors: Wei F. , Liu Y. , Xiong C. , Liu H. , Li Y. , Xu H. , Chen R. , Li L.
Published: September 2014

This paper describes the applications of annular chemical packer (ACP) with highly tailored thixotropic characteristics in horizontal wells completed with slotted liners. The purpose of the applications was to provide a cost effective annular isolation method for water control in horizontal sections.

The rheological properties of ACP, the placement techniques of ACP, the subsequent treatment procedures, and the uncertainties involved were provided.

The oil rate of the candidate onshore horizontal well M28-P7 was only 0.5m3/d, with 99% water cut. Production logging identified that about 86% of liquid rate was produced from the toe section. The ACP was placed across the shale between the two different liquid-producing zones, and a mechanical plug was dropped at middle of the ACP site. Then effective acidizing was performed for the heel section in order to gain higher permeability. After the treatments, the water cut decreased to 83% while the corresponding oil gain reached up to 5.3m3/d, 20 times that of the pre-treatment scenario.

The other similar treatment was performed in offshore horizontal well A2h after production logging. Two ACP plugs were designed and an optimized recompletion string was put into the well. The water control operation went smoothly, which significantly decreased the water cut to 3% from 74% and the oil rate was increased to 187m3/d, with the net oil increased by about 100m3/d over the pre-treatment scenario. This is the first ever successful water control operation with water diagnosis in an offshore well with a tough completion in the South China Sea.

Case histories indicate that using ACPs was the right choice for blocking water in the sand screen liner completion with high level technical success and economic feasibility. Also a comprehensive and detailed water control design based on production logging results, completion, and reservoir permeability distribution is the key for successful water shutoff.
Petrophysical Evaluation of Deep Sandstone Gas-Bearing Reservoirs Using LWD Time-Independent Logs Paradigm
Authors: Fakolujo Kehinde M. , Al-Belowi Ali , Gzara Kais , Onuigbo Oluchukwu L.
Published: September 2014

Formation evaluation can become complex when the invading mud-filtrate properties are unusual, variable or unknown like in sodium potassium (Na/K) formate water base mud (WBM) environments. In these situations, computed reservoir properties are adversely affected and become strongly dependent on the formation invasion status.

The Permian age reservoir discussed in this paper, consists of highly unconsolidated heterogeneous sandstone sequences, saturated with condensate rich gas. From a drilling engineering perspective, the shales are often unstable, requiring high mud overbalance to maintain hole stability in wells with high inclinations, which resulted in recurrent differential sticking incidents. The use of formate based drilling fluids in this field, gained acceptance over time, primarily to minimize drilling problems.

The downside of formate muds, however, is that log data interpretation encounters serious challenges because of the uncertain petrophysical properties of the mud, affecting log measurements in two ways. The first are those effects related to the mud present inside the borehole and surrounding the tool, or so-called environmental effects. The second are those related to the invading mud-filtrate present inside the formation, resulting in pessimistic porosity, mineralogy and permeability estimates.

This paper shows how Na/K formate WBM filtrate effects can be identified and eliminated using Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) time-lapse data acquisition and analysis to provide time-independent logs in a manner that renders the logs immune to various mud-filtrate effects. These logs, together with a corresponding new petrophysical model, make it possible to do away with the mud-filtrate petrophysical properties, and to solve for porosity, mineralogy and fluid saturations from standalone nuclear measurements, irrespective of the formation invasion status.

Moreover, the results demonstrate how valuable LWD time-lapse data acquisition can be, and that data acquired while drilling – especially resistivity data in this instance – are important to validate this novel formation evaluation interpretation approach.
A Laboratory and Numerical Simulation Study of Co-optimizing CO2 Storage and CO2 EOR
Authors: Kamali Fatemeh , Hussain Furqan , Cinar Yildiray
Published: September 2014

This paper presents experimental observations that delineate co-optimization of CO2 EOR and storage. Pure supercritical CO2 was injected into a homogeneous, outcrop sandstone under various miscibility conditions. A mixture of hexane and decane was used for the oil phase. Three experiments were run at 70°C and different pressures (1,300, 1,700 and 2,100 psi). Each pressure was determined using a PVT simulator to create immiscible, near-miscible and miscible displacements. Oil recovery, differential pressure and compositions were recorded during experiments. A co-optimization function for CO2 storage and incremental oil was defined and calculated using the measured data for each experiment. A compositional simulator was then used to examine gravity effects on displacements and derive relative permeabilities.

Experimental observations demonstrate that an almost similar oil recovery was achieved during miscible and near-miscible displacements whereas about 18% less recovery was recorded in the immiscible displacement. More decane was recovered in the miscible and near-miscible displacements than the immiscible displacement. The co-optimization function suggests that the CO2 storage efficiency was highest in the near-miscible displacement and that the near-miscible displacement displayed the best performance for coupling CO2 EOR and storage. Numerical simulations show that, even on the laboratory scale, there were significant gravity effects in the near-miscible and miscible displacements. It was revealed that the near-miscible and miscible recoveries depend strongly on the end-point CO2 relative permeability which increased with miscibility.
Soil Accretion Influenced by Elevation, Tree Density, and Substrate on Reconstructed Tree Islands
Authors: Rodriguez Andres F. , Serna Alexandra , Scinto Leonard J.
Published: September 2014

Tree islands provide a relatively dry habitat for flora and fauna and are biogeochemical hotspots within the oligotrophic Everglades' marsh. Tree islands occupy a small percentage of Everglades' surface area, yet they provide critical ecosystem functions. Hydrologic manipulations throughout the 20th century resulted in a significant loss of tree islands. This study was conducted to determine previously unknown characteristics of soil development important to creating self‐sustaining tree islands. Physicochemical characteristics of surface soil (0–3 cm), considered newly accreted, were compared with deeper, older soil (3–10 cm). Soil at varying relative elevations (leading to differences in hydroperiods) and under different tree densities were evaluated in reconstructed tree islands at the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA). Accretion rates, using feldspar markers, averaged 0.70 cm yr−1 and maximized at high elevations. Soil nutrients were positively correlated with organic matter. Surface soils exhibited greater total P (TP, 374 μg g−1 dry wt.), total N (TN, 14.4 mg g−1 dry wt.), total C (TC, 190 mg g−1 dry wt.), and organic matter (OM, 0.36 g g−1 dry wt.) compared to 3‐ to 10‐cm soils (TP, 216 μg g−1 dry wt.; TN, 10.2 mg g−1 dry wt.; TC, 132 mg g−1 dry wt.; OM, 0.25 g g−1 dry wt.). Concentrations of TP and available P, determined by sequential fractionation, were greatest on surface soils in the densest planting. Findings indicate that tree islands gradually increase soil nutrient concentrations under the influence of plant activity, supporting previous work suggesting a mechanism by which groundwater nutrients are imported via the transpiration stream, and ultimately build soil.
“I Just Don'T Get it”: Perceived Artists' Intentions Affect Art Evaluations
Authors: Jucker Jean-Luc , Barrett Justin L. , Wlodarski Rafael
Published: September 2014

Cognitive approaches have recently been proposed for understanding art appreciation, emphasizing the role of perceived artist's intentions and messages in how lay people define what is “art” and what is “good” art. In particular, it is argued that a work of art automatically triggers speculation about the artist's intention, and that it is intuitively assessed as an act of symbolic communication. The current experimental study tested these claims by presenting participants with various artifacts and works of art, alongside differing levels of information regarding the artist's intentions, and asking them to rate the artifacts on artistic merit. In total, 505 adults participated in four experiments. In experiment 1, participants used the artists' putative intentions to decide whether certain artifacts were instances of “art.” In experiments 2a and 2b, titles that ostensibly clarified the artists' messages were found to increase participants' understanding and, importantly, liking of a series of works of art. In experiment 3, high levels of perceived investment from artists were found to increase how much participants liked a series of paintings. Overall, the results suggest that perceived artists' intentions and messages affect what people consider to be art and good art. The art experience is not only about beauty or hedonistic pleasure, but involves assessment of the artist's intention and of the history behind the work of art.
Composer Similarities through “The Classical Music Navigator”: Similarity Inference from Composer Influences
Authors: Smith Charles H. , Georges Patrick
Published: September 2014

Data from “The Classical Music Navigator” ( CMN) website are used to generate statistics bearing on the relative stylistic similarities of 500 classical music composers. When the CMN was compiled, notice was taken of which composers are thought to have influenced which others; it is reasoned here that composers with similar arrays of composer influences should usually themselves be adjudged as similar. Measures of association like the ones more commonly used in fields such as biogeography and biological systematics were applied to pairwise comparisons across the 500 by 500 matrix of composer influences lists, and then examined for the relevant characteristics. Samples of the results using three measures in particular are given.
The role of air quality modelling in particulate matter management in cities. Results from the Air Implementation Pilot
Authors: Castell N. , Guerreiro C. , Denby B.R. , Ortiz González
Published: September 2014

The European Commission and the EEA agreed to reinforce efforts to improve
knowledge on implementation of air quality legislation through a joint pilot
project. The Air Implementation Pilot run from March 2012 to June 2013 and
aimed at better understanding the challenges cities faced in implementing
air quality policy. Twelve European cities were selected and invited to join
the project. One of the focus of the Pilot project was to assess the use of
models for air quality assessment and management, share experiences, and
identify needs for further guidance. The results of the analysis of
modelling practices are presented in this work. More than 20 different
models have been used for air quality assessment and management in these
cities. The main purposes for which cities applied models are air quality
assessment, quantification of source contribution and long term planning.
The cities have found models helpful and the outputs have been used in urban
air quality assessment and management, including the evaluation of
strategies to reduce PM ambient levels. However, the cities found
difficulties in the application of models as for instance the quality and
availability of input data or the validation and uncertainty estimation of
the model results.
High-performance simulation-based algorithms for an alpine ski racer’s trajectory optimization in heterogeneous computer systems
Authors: Dębski Roman
Published: September 2014

Effective, simulation-based trajectory optimization algorithms adapted to heterogeneous computers are studied with reference to the problem taken from alpine ski racing (the presented solution is probably the most general one published so far). The key idea behind these algorithms is to use a grid-based discretization scheme to transform the continuous optimization problem into a search problem over a specially constructed finite graph, and then to apply dynamic programming to find an approximation of the global solution. In the analyzed example it is the minimum-time ski line, represented as a piecewise-linear function (a method of elimination of unfeasible solutions is proposed). Serial and parallel versions of the basic optimization algorithm are presented in detail (pseudo-code, time and memory complexity). Possible extensions of the basic algorithm are also described. The implementation of these algorithms is based on OpenCL. The included experimental results show that contemporary heterogeneous computers can be treated as μ-HPC platforms-they offer high performance (the best speedup was equal to 128) while remaining energy and cost efficient (which is crucial in embedded systems, e.g., trajectory planners of autonomous robots). The presented algorithms can be applied to many trajectory optimization problems, including those having a black-box represented performance measure
Conceptual Modeling of Drag-Augmented Supersonic Retropropulsion for Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing
Authors: Skeen Michael A. , Starkey Ryan P.
Published: September 2014

The development of new decelerator technologies will be required as the payload mass for future Mars landing missions increases beyond the current state-of-the-art capability. This study examines the potential for supersonic retropropulsion applied on entry, descent, and landing vehicles to increase the landed payload mass. This study describes the development of a model characterizing the drag augmentation capabilities of peripheral-nozzle supersonic retropropulsion flow interactions. The model captures the dominant flow physics of pressure conservation through shock cascade structures and predicts an increase in the drag coefficient over the nominal drag coefficient of a 70 deg sphere-cone aeroshell by 14% at high Mach numbers. This study also describes drag-augmented supersonic retropropulsion operation concepts for use in Mars entry, descent, and landing. Drag-augmented supersonic retropropulsion is found to be most effective when used in the region of maximum freestream dynamic pressure. The vehicle dry mass is increased by 47% over the reference ballistic trajectory. The region of influence for aerodynamic–propulsive interactions is identified for a set of constant-thrust supersonic retropropulsion trajectories. A hybrid concept combining supersonic retropropulsion and an inflatable aerodynamic decelerator is found to be capable of providing vehicle dry masses that are 707% larger than the baseline vehicle studied.
Developmental Education in North Carolina Community Colleges
Authors: Clotfelter Charles T. , Ladd Helen F. , Muschkin Clara , Vigdor Jacob L.
Published: September 2014

This article contributes to the empirical literature on remediation in community colleges by using policy variation across North Carolina’s community colleges to examine how remediation affects various outcomes for traditional-age college students. We find that being required to take a remedial course (as we define it in this article) either in math or in English significantly reduces a student’s probability of success in college and also the probability that a student ever passes a college-level math or English course. Among students who are required to take a remedial course in their first semester, however, we find no adverse effects on the probability of returning for another semester. We also find differential effects by a student’s prior achievement level, family income, and gender. Despite methodological differences, our main findings are generally consistent with, albeit somewhat more negative, than those from prior studies based on regression discontinuity designs.
Impact of Using Physiotherapy Self-Referral in the Medical–Surgical Neurological Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Duncan Catharine , Muc Lisa , Heck Carol
Published: September 2014

Purpose: To describe physiotherapy (PT) referral practice in a medical–surgical neurological intensive care unit (MSNICU) of a large quaternary teaching hospital before and after the implementation of PT self-referral. Methods: Charts were reviewed for MSNICU patients who received PT pre-implementation (Pre; n=90) and post-implementation (Post; n=100) to collect data on timeliness, number of referrals, and MSNICU length of stay (LOS); t-tests were conducted to determine group differences. Results: The mean age of MSNICU patients referred to PT was 60.6 (SD=18.6) years; 59.5% were male. PT treatment consisted of cardiorespiratory (39% Pre, 51.1% Post), mobility (22% Pre, 28.8% Post), and combined (39% Pre, 20% Post) interventions. Overall, the number of days between MSNICU admission and PT initiation and MSNICU LOS did not differ significantly from Pre to Post. However, for patients (n=50) receiving early (within 7 days of MSNICU admission) PT self-referral Post versus patients receiving physician referral only Pre (n=83), there was a significant decrease (p=0.01) in time to PT initiation of 1.4 days (3.2 Pre, 1.8 Post). Conclusions: PT self-referral increased both the number of patients receiving more timely access to PT and the provision of treatment of a deferred group of patients previously not referred. Future studies need to evaluate the impact of referral methods across a variety of clinical populations.
Bibliometric Analyses of Physical and Occupational Therapy Faculty across Canada Indicate Productivity and Impact of Rehabilitation Research
Authors: MacDermid Joy C. , Fung Eunice H. , Law Mary
Published: September 2014

Purpose: This study examines physical and occupational therapy faculty across Canada, using bibliometrics and federal funding as indicators of academic impact, and considers the validity of various bibliometric indices. Methods: Faculty members were identified and their rank, professional designation, and department obtained from faculty Web sites. Bibliometric indicators were determined using Publish or Perish software. An independent author (not a faculty member) inspected the data to remove any incorrectly attributed publications. The h-index, citation years, g-index, and total number of citations for each faculty member were retrieved. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding database was used to determine the amount of research funding provided to each faculty member as a principal investigator (PI) and his or her total CIHR funding received. Mean faculty indicators by university, rank, gender, and profession were determined. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to detect differences by rank and gender, and measures of association (Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression) were used to identify factors that affected h-index and PI funding received. Results: A total of 347 physical and occupational therapy faculty were identified. The median h-index was 5 (inter-quartile range [IQR] 2–8) for assistant professors, 11 (IQR 7–15) for associate professors, and 18 (IQR 12–26) for full professors. ANOVA indicated no significant differences between male and female faculty in terms of h-index or funding received. Regression analysis indicated that 58% of h-index variance could be explained by gender (p=0.039), appointment within a department that provides a (rehabilitation science) PhD programme (p<0.001), rank (p<0.001), CIHR PI funding (p=0.001), or total CIHR funding (p<0.001). Significant predictors of the amount of CIHR funding received as a PI included h-index (p<0.001) and total number of citations (p=0.023), which together explained 27% of the variation in funding received. Conclusion: The h-index, although not without flaws, provides a useful metric that indicates that physical and occupational faculty in Canada are productive scientists having a measurable impact and that this impact increases with rank and greater funding.