bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Successful prevention of preeclampsia in a high-risk pregnancy using progestogen dydrogesterone: a clinical case
Authors: Tskhay Vitaly B. , Kovtun Natalya M. , Schindler Adolf E.
Published: September 2016

The presented clinical example convincingly demonstrates the efficacy of dydrogesterone (30 mg) in the prevention of severe preeclampsia in a high-risk patient (early development of preeclampsia and preterm Cesarean section in her first pregnancy, arterial hypertension). This case suggests using dydrogesterone as an option to prevent preeclampsia, as previously shown in a prospective randomized study.
Effects of obesity treatments on bone mineral density, bone turnover and fracture risk in adults with overweight or obesity
Authors: Harper Claudia , Pattinson Andrea L. , Fernando Hamish A. , Zibellini Jessica , Seimon Radhika V. , Sainsbury Amanda
Published: September 2016

Background:

New evidence suggests that obesity is deleterious for bone health, and obesity treatments could potentially exacerbate this.

Materials and methods:

This narrative review, largely based on recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses, synthesizes the effects on bone of bariatric surgery, weight loss pharmaceuticals and dietary restriction.

Results and conclusions:

All three obesity treatments result in statistically significant reductions in hip bone mineral density (BMD) and increases in bone turnover relative to pre-treatment values, with the reductions in hip BMD being strongest for bariatric surgery, notably Roux-en Y gastric bypass (RYGB, 8%–11% of pre-surgical values) and weakest for dietary restriction (1%–1.5% of pre-treatment values). Weight loss pharmaceuticals (orlistat or the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide) induced no greater changes from pre-treatment values than control, despite greater weight loss. There is suggestive evidence that liraglutide may increase bone mineral content (BMC) – but not BMD – and reduce fracture risk, but more research is required to clarify this. All three obesity treatments have variable effects on spine BMD, probably due to greater measurement error at this site in obesity, suggesting that future research in this field could focus on hip rather than spine BMD. Various mechanisms have been proposed for BMD loss with obesity treatments, notably reduced nutritional intake/absorption and insufficient exercise, and these are potential avenues for protection against bone loss. However, a pressing outstanding question is whether this BMD reduction contributes to increased fracture risk, as has been observed after RYGB, and whether any such increase in fracture risk outweighs the risks of staying obese (unlikely).
Oxidation Kinetics and Spallation Model of Oxide Scale during Cooling Process of Low Carbon Microalloyed Steel
Authors: Cao Guangming , Li Zhifeng , Tang Junjian , Sun Xianzhen , Liu Zhenyu
Published: September 2016

The spallation behavior of oxide scale on the surface of low carbon microalloyed steel (510L) is investigated during the laminar cooling of hot rolling strip. Surface, cross-section morphology and phase composition of oxide scale in different laminar cooling rate are observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Moreover, a spallation mathematic model is established based on empirical formula to predict the critical thickness of oxide scale and the test of high temperature oxidation kinetics at different temperatures between 500 °C to 900 °C provides oxidation rate constant for the model calculation. The results of heat-treatment test and model calculation reveal that laminar cooling rate plays an important role in controlling the thickness of oxide scale and suppressing spallation behavior.
Exercise increases the level of plasma orexin A in humans
Authors: Messina Giovanni , Di Bernardo Giovanni , Viggiano Andrea , De Luca Vincenzo , Monda Vincenzo , Messina Antonietta , Chieffi Sergio , Galderisi Umberto , Monda Marcellino
Published: September 2016

Background:

The purpose of this research was to study the effects of exercise on the concentration of plasma orexin A, a peptide regulating several physiological functions.

Methods:

Blood samples were collected from participants (men, n=10; age: 24.4±2.93 years) 15, 0 min before the start of exercise, and 30, 45, 60 min after a cycle ergometer exercise at 75 W for 15 min. Also heart rate (HR), galvanic skin response (GSR), and rectal temperature were monitored.

Results:

The exercise induced a significant increase (p<0.01) in plasmatic orexin A with a peak at 30 min after the exercise bout, in association with an increase of the other three monitored variables: HR (p<0.01), GSR (p<0.05), and rectal temperature (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that plasmatic orexin A is involved in the reaction to physical activity.
Bi-orthogonal Symbol Mapping and Detection in Optical CDMA Communication System
Authors: Liu Maw-Yang
Published: September 2016

In this paper, the bi-orthogonal symbol mapping and detection scheme is investigated in time-spreading wavelength-hopping optical CDMA communication system. The carrier-hopping prime code is exploited as signature sequence, whose put-of-phase autocorrelation is zero. Based on the orthogonality of carrier-hopping prime code, the equal weight orthogonal signaling scheme can be constructed, and the proposed scheme using bi-orthogonal symbol mapping and detection can be developed. The transmitted binary data bits are mapped into corresponding bi-orthogonal symbols, where the orthogonal matrix code and its complement are utilized. In the receiver, the received bi-orthogonal data symbol is fed into the maximum likelihood decoder for detection. Under such symbol mapping and detection, the proposed scheme can greatly enlarge the Euclidean distance; hence, the system performance can be drastically improved.
Performance Enhancement of Ultra High Capacity 2.5 Tbps DWDM System Using DCF and Optimized Modulation Format
Authors: Parkash Sooraj
Published: September 2016

This paper successfully demonstrate point-to-point (P2P) 2.5 TB/s DWDM system in downstream for 100 wavelengths having 0.4 nm (50 GHz) channel spacing by using post-dispersion compensation scheme. Each channel is transmitting 25 GB/s data rate in down link. A 20 km dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) followed by 80 km standard single mode fiber (SSMF) which passes 20 times through fiber span for compensating the chromatic dispersion. The maximum reach of designed system is (100×20) 2,000 km. In this paper we also performed the comparison of different modulation formats such as NRZ, RZ and CRZ. It has been observed that CRZ modulation format can achieve BER as better as e
Fetal echocardiography: reference values for the Chinese population
Authors: Gu Xiaoyan , He Yihua , Zhang Ye , Sun Lin , Zhao Ying , Han Jiancheng , Liu Xiaowei
Published: September 2016

Objective:

Global racial variability in human development can lead to differences in size of fetal cardiac structures during gestation. Our objective is to establish normal reference ranges of fetal cardiac dimensions between 20 and 34 weeks from fetal echocardiograms recorded at a single center in China.

Methods:

A prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken on single pregnancies with normal fetuses of varying gestational ages (GAs). A total of 4396 normal fetuses were divided into 15 groups from 20 to 34 weeks according to the GA. Measurements included the inner diameter of the fetal cardiac chambers and arteries, the aortic arch isthmus (AI), the descending aorta (DAO), the ductus arteriosus (DA), and the foramen ovale (FO). Measurements were statistically analyzed and regression analysis was applied to assess for correlation with GA.

Results:

Normal reference values of fetal cardiovascular dimensions between 20 and 34 weeks were obtained from 4396 subjects at a single center in China. Measurements of fetal cardiac structures increase with advancing GA. It seems there is no difference in r values among linear, cubic, and quadratic model analyses (P > 0.05). However, the r values for the exponential models appear to be smaller than those of the other three models (P < 0.05). Ratios of the diameters of fetal cardiac structures were calculated in order to identify for differential changes in the growth of structures.

Conclusions:

The presented data derived from 4396 normal fetuses provide the reference values of fetal echocardiography in China, which provide guidance to fetal echocardiography examinations.
Die neue Auffassung der Metaphysik als reine Philosophie in der Inauguraldissertation und ihre propädeutische Bedeutung im Rahmen der Entwicklungsgeschichte der Kritik der reinen Vernunft
Authors: Moledo Fernando
Published: September 2016

In the
The idea of philosophical development
Authors: Renz Ursula
Published: September 2016

This paper takes Udo Thiel’s
The Early Modern Subject Revisited – Responses to Barth, Lenz, Renz and Wunderlich
Authors: Thiel Udo
Published: September 2016

Responding to comments on
The Non-existence of Ontological Categories: A defence of Lowe
Authors: Miller J. T. M.
Published: September 2016

This paper addresses the ontological status of the ontological categories as defended within E.J. Lowe’s four-category ontology (kinds, objects, properties/relations, and modes). I consider the arguments in Griffith (2015. “Do Ontological Categories Exist?” Metaphysica 16 (1):25–35) against Lowe’s claim that ontological categories do not exist, and argue that Griffith’s objections to Lowe do not work once we fully take advantage of ontological resources available within Lowe’s four-category ontology. I then argue that the claim that ontological categories do not exist has no undesirable consequences for Lowe’s brand of realism.
Microcrustacean (Cladocera, Copepoda) source-sink dynamics in a lowland river ecosystem with a dam reservoir
Authors: Karpowicz Maciej
Published: September 2016

Dispersal of crustacean zooplankton from a reservoir in a lowland river was observed over a relatively long distance. Zooplankton samples were collected by a unique technique from “the same water”. Large Cladocera (Daphnia cucullata and Diaphanosoma brachyurum) showed the greatest reduction in a river, but they were common over a distance of up to 130 km below a dam. These two planktonic species revealed a low potential for colonizing oxbow lakes. Eurytopic Chydorus sphaericus and Mesocyclops leuckarti transferred from the Siemianówka Reservoir had a great dispersal capacity in the Narew River and could effectively support local populations in oxbow lakes over a distance of 180 km.

Similarity between the crustacean communities in the river and the reservoir significantly decreased with the increasing distance from the dam. At the same time, crustacean communities in oxbow lakes were not affected by the distance from the source. Dispersal from the large source of zooplankton to local communities is a very important process but the local environmental factors such as habitat heterogeneity, aquatic vegetation and the hydrological connectivity can be strong enough to affect the structure of local crustacean communities in oxbow lakes.
Forms of grease ice ridges on the south coast of the Baltic Sea
Authors: Girjatowicz Józef P.
Published: September 2016

The paper presents the forms of grounded grease ice ridges as well as hydrological, meteorological and physiographic conditions of their occurrence on the south coast of the Baltic Sea. The author used results of observations and measurements performed during hiking expeditions and analyzed profiles and photographs showing the morphology of grease ice ridges which occur along the coast and are usually several meters wide and 1-3 m high. Their windward slopes are very steep, usually concave, with abrasion niches and ice cornices formed by waves. The leeward slopes are gentle (20-30°) and coincident with the angle of the natural slip (angle of slide) of the grease ice, slush and shuga tossed by waves. The major factor leading to grease piling is the movement of waves generated by a strong onshore (NW, N, NE) wind. Such wind conditions occur mainly when a low-pressure area extends to the E, SE and/or S of the southern Baltic, and a high-pressure area – to the W, NW and/or N.
Impaired gonadal development in the sea trout (Salmo trutta) × Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) F1 hybrid females
Authors: Ziomek Elżbieta , Dębowska Marta , Hliwa Piotr , Ocalewicz Konrad
Published: September 2016

Despite large karyotype differences between parental species, the hybrid progeny of the sea trout (Salmo trutta) females (2n = 80, FN = 100) and the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) males (2n = 58, FN = 74) may be viable and even fertile. As hybrids would pose threat to natural populations of parental species through backcrossing, gonadal development in the sea trout × Atlantic salmon hybrids has been studied in the present work. Moreover, cytogenetic investigation was performed to identify any changes in the number and structure of chromosomes that may affect gonadal differentiation and gamete production in the hybrid progeny. Eight males, two intersex individuals and one female were described among the two-year-old hybrids. Some of the hybrid males were already spermiating during the study. Predominance of the testicular component in the gonads was observed in both intersex individuals. Prevalence of males and the presence of intersex individuals together with only one female may suggest disturbances in the gonadal development only in females. Homogeneity of the chromosome number (69) and the chromosome arm number (87) in the hybrid individuals analyzed in this study suggests that unpaired chromosomes disturbed the development of ovaries but not testes.
Temporal and spatial variability of heavy metals in Marudu Bay, Malaysia
Authors: Soon Tan Kar , Denil Delta Jenetty , Ransangan Julian
Published: September 2016

The current study was conducted to estimate the baseline concentration of heavy metals in the surface sediment of Marudu Bay. Environmental parameters were measured at the seafloor and samples of the surface sediment were collected at monthly intervals for the period of 12 months. The organic content, total N, total P and concentration of 16 trace metals in the surface sediment were analyzed. The baseline concentration of metals was estimated by geochemical normalization. Anthropogenic inputs of metals were then estimated by calculating the enrichment factor for each element. The result demonstrated that the C/N ratio of sediment at Marudu Bay varies from 15 to 342, which indicates the dominance of terrestrial organic matter. The baseline concentration of V, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ti, Rb and Sr were 26.74 mg kg-1, 1.04%, 205.31 mg kg-1, 34.09 mg kg-1, 507.61 mg kg-1, 93.25 mg kg-1, 37.56 mg kg-1, respectively. The concentration of most metals was comparable to the baseline, except Mn and Zn which showed higher concentrations in most parts of Marudu Bay. In conclusion, the metal concentration in Marudu Bay is still within the permissible levels and should not cause any threats to public health.
Migration of pentachlorophenol in artificial and natural sediments of Puck Bay
Authors: Maciak Joanna , Lewandowski Krzysztof , Niemirycz Elżbieta
Published: September 2016

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is an anthropogenic substance, toxic to humans. The major source of this compound in the environment are wastes from factories producing PCP and materials (textiles, wood) treated with PCP. In 2008, a dossier was prepared to support the inclusion of PCP in Annex I to the Protocol of the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The draft decision to add PCP along with its salts (NaPCP) and esters (PCPL) in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention was adopted during the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention in 2015. The aim of present study was to assess the status of contamination in Puck Bay with this harmful substance. The surface bottom sediments of Puck Bay were contaminated with pentachlorophenol to varying degrees, ranging from 17.4 ± 5.6 ng g-1 d.w. to 230.1 ± 20.8 ng g-1 d.w. The majority of samples collected from deepwater areas of Puck Bay were contaminated with PCP above 25 ng g-1 d.w. (value of Predicted No Effect Concentration). It has been assessed that bottom currents occurring in Puck Bay can affect sediments deposited at the Gdynia dumping site.
Dry weight and calcium carbonate encrustation of two morphologically different Chara species: a comparative study from different lakes
Authors: Pukacz Andrzej , Pełechaty Mariusz , Frankowski Marcin , Pronin Eugeniusz
Published: September 2016

Two charophyte species (Chara tomentosa Thulli. 1799 and Chara globularis L. 1753) were studied to assess their biomass and CaCO3 production in seven hard-water lakes in Western Poland. In each lake, samples of ten individuals from three study sites were collected for dry weight (DW) and calcium carbonate content (% CaCO3) analyses. Additionally, physicochemical parameters of water collected from the above sampling sites were analyzed.

No significant differences were found between the study sites in each lake for any of the analyzed parameters. In all the lakes, DW of C. tomentosa (0.60 ± 0.23 g indiv.-1) was significantly higher and more differentiated than DW of C. globularis (0.11 ± 0.08 g indiv.-1), suggesting species-specificity. The CaCO3 content in DW for C. tomentosa was higher (58.8-70.9%) than in C. globularis (50.1-68.3%), however, it did not reflect the DW differentiation, suggesting lake-specificity. The physicochemical properties of water revealed clear lake-to-lake differentiation. Different correlations between dry weight and calcium carbonate content and lake characteristics were found for each species. The results showed that DW and % CaCO3 are closely related to habitat conditions and different factors may influence the individual biomass of each species.
Equity as a Question of Decorum and Manners: Conscience as Vision
Authors: Haldar Piyel
Published: September 2016

This paper argues for a re-evaluation of the manner in which conscience is used by equity lawyers. Debates by early modern humanists sought an alignment between conscience and public office. Indeed, conscience had very little to do with the private morals or private compunction of the Chancellor. Rather, conscience was implicated at the level of duty, honestas and dignity. It required stricter attention to the metaphysics of public official conduct. In these terms, conscience was a humanist re-evaluation of a classical idea that gave heavier emphasis to the poesis of vision.
Vueltaen el español ecuatoriano yasíen el español fronterizo mexicano: usos subjetivos e intersubjetivos
Authors: Holguín Mendoza Claudia , Shappeck Marco , Ciriza Maria del Puy
Published: September 2016

This study centers on two Spanish language discourse markers:asíin the Spanish-English contact area along the U.S.-Mexico border andvuelta, a discourse marker used in Andean Spanish which is in contact with Ecuadorian Quichua. Applying Relevance Theory, we observe how these markers convey emergent pragmatic and intersubjective functions.Vueltais able to function as an enumerator indexing iterativity and as a quotative framing indirect speech. Intersubjectively, it frames discourse to be read as either proud, persistent, or annoying.Asíis associated with particular interactional stances of solidarity and politeness. Frequently used by young women signaling prestige, femininity, and socio-economic status,asíindexes values and cultural practices similar to middle-class lifestyles from the U.S. This study argues that in order to understand linguistic permeability and interference in both of these uses, we must first understand speakers’ communicative and social needs within their bilingual community.
Gas-Phase Hydrogenation with Parahydrogen Over Immobilized Vaska’s Complex
Authors: Skovpin Ivan V. , Zhivonitko Vladimir V. , Prosvirin Igor P. , Khabibulin Dzhalil F. , Koptyug Igor V.
Published: September 2016

Generating parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) of nuclear spins with immobilized transition metal complexes as hydrogenation catalysts allows one to produce pure hyperpolarized substances, which can open new revolutionary perspectives for PHIP applications. A major drawback of immobilized complexes is their low stability under reaction conditions. In the present work we studied an immobilized iridium complex, Ir/SiO2
P, synthesized by a covalent anchoring of Vaska’s complex on phospine-modified silica gel. This complex was used to obtain hyperpolarized gasses in the gas phase hydrogenation of propene, propyne and 1-butyne with parahydrogen in PASADENA and ALTADENA experiments. It was found that, in contrast to other immobilized complexes, Ir/SiO2
P is stable under reaction conditions at up to 140°C, and the reduction of iridium does not occur according to XPS analysis. Moreover, the application of Ir/SiO2
P catalyst allowed us to generate continuous flow of hyperpolarized propene and 1-butene with (300–500)-fold NMR signal enhancement which is significantly higher than commonly observed for most supported metal catalysts. The shape of polarized propene signals in PASADENA experiment has indicated that parahydrogen addition to propyne occurs non-stereospecifically, i.e. PHIP was observed for all protons of the vinyl fragment of propene. The analysis of the polarized signals has shown that syn pairwise addition dominates, which was confirmed by spectra simulations. It was found that storage of Ir/SiO2
P under Ar atmosphere leads to a decrease in PHIP amplitude and an increase in the activity of the catalyst. This observation is discussed in terms of the interaction of Ir/SiO2
P with trace amounts of oxygen in Ar, leading to partial oxidation of triphenylphosphine ligand to triphenylphosphine oxide accompanied by the activation of the immobilized complex. It was also found that the interaction of Ir/SiO2
P with alkenes likely leads to formation of stable monohydride complexes, decreasing the production of PHIP in hydrogenations. At the same time, stable substrate complexes are likely formed in alkyne hydrogenations, leading to a significant decrease in the monohydride complex formation and to an increased production of PHIP.
Conectados. La cuarta pantalla como epicentro de las comunicaciones sociales / Connected. The fourth screen as epicenter of social communications
Authors: Castillo-Pomeda José María
Published: September 2016

La primera pantalla fue la cinematográfica, después la televisión entró en nuestras casas y se transformó en el centro de atención del grupo familiar, que se informaba, entretenía y ¿formaba? en torno a ella. La tercera se manifestó como rostro del ordenador, y a su través pudimos acceder a esa especie de Biblioteca de Alejandría moderna que es Internet. Todo está allí, desde el cine a la consulta médica, la respuesta a cualquier pregunta, redes sociales, deportes, música o películas. Pero de pronto todo lo anterior ha aparecido en la palma de nuestra mano: es la cuarta pantalla.La implantación de la telefonía de banda ancha ha convertido a los Smartphone en una especie de epicentro de cualquier forma de entretenimiento, información o comunicación que nos podamos imaginar y de alguna que aun no nos imaginamos. Los contenidos producidos ya en este momento tienen en los Smartphone su destino prioritario, si del público joven hablamos. Y hablamos, por lo tanto, del futuro.
Televisión y metacognición: los menores ante las celebridades / Television and metacognition: minors exposed to celebrities
Authors: Fiz Pérez Javier , Giorgi Gabriele , Sánchez Martínez Blanca
Published: September 2016

El control de la televisión para menores está justificado en cuanto a, como se evidencia en este artículo, la importancia que las celebridades y personajes de ficción tienen en su desarrollo evolutivo y en sus niveles de autoestima y de metacognición. Como es sabido, estas celebridades y personajes de ficción representan modelos de conducta a seguir que, especialmente los preadolescentes, pueden llegar a adoptar en el momento en que se produce la fase de desarollo cognitivo en la que se des-idealiza a los padres para idealizar al propio sujeto elegido como modelo a imitar, en la contínua búsqueda de sus propias habilidades y competencias. En la televisión, los valores comunes a todas las culturas (poder, logro, estimulación, hedonismo, autodirección, universalismo, benevolencia, tradición, conformidad y seguridad), están representados por los personajes y celebridades que en sus espacios aparecen, indicando al preadolescente aquellos valores que otorgan prestigio social y aquellos que en absoluto lo hacen, siendo estos, los menores, los que deberán decidir cuáles representan los suyos propios. A lo largo de esta investigación se demuestra cómo interactúan los preadolescentes con sus celebridades favoritas y cuál es el rol de esos personajes en su día a día.
An Introduction to Primary Production Facilities
Authors: Bommer Paul M.
Published: September 2016

This chapter is an introduction to primary production facilities. Regardless of the placement of the facility, on shore, on platforms, on floating vessels (FPSOs and the like), or on other offshore structures, or even in some cases on the ocean floor, the purpose of these facilities is the same. The production facility is used to condition the produced fluid mixture from a reservoir into components that are suitable for the next use. In general, the mixture is separated into liquid hydrocarbons, natural gas, and produced water. The liquid hydrocarbons, generically termed oil in this chapter, and the natural gas, generically termed gas, may need additional treatment before the next use or sale that is beyond the scope of this chapter. The produced water may need additional treatment depending on what is to be done with the water. The next use may be sale of the oil and gas or perhaps transport to another facility. The produced water may be disposed in an injection well, conditioned to a quality that can be dumped back into the ocean, or conditioned for reuse.
Properties of Rocks and Reservoir Fluids
Authors: Xie Xina
Published: September 2016

The two most important parameters of a reservoir, the hydrocarbon in place and the recoverable reserve, are determined by the reservoir rock and fluid properties along with the fluid distribution. This chapter discusses the properties of reservoir rocks and fluids relevant to hydrocarbon reservoir evaluation and production, and the physical–chemical interactions that control the microscopic distribution of the fluids in the reservoir. Laboratory measurements of some of those properties are also discussed.
Natural Gas Production Engineering
Authors: Ayala H. Luis F. , Morgan Eugene C.
Published: September 2016

This chapter provides an introductory overview of various topics in natural gas production engineering. The chapter starts with a summary of relevant statistics for natural gas production and consumption, as well as various methods of producing natural gas. The next section discusses deliverability and inflow performance analysis, including flow through porous media, the gas diffusivity equation, pseudofunctions, inflow performance relationships, and deliverability tests. The section on wellbore performance and outflow performance analysis covers single- and two-phase flow through pipes, with discussions on finding friction factors, bottomhole pressures, and pressure gradients. The next section talks about gas well performance and system performance, including NODALTM analysis, implications of multiphase flow, and effects of tubing size. The section on gas reserves assessment and production data analysis talks about resource estimation (with a focus on determining original gas in place) via three methods: 1) reservoir volumetrics, 2) material balance, and 3) decline curve analysis. This later method also includes discussion of Rate Transient Analysis and Pressure Transient Analysis. The last section on natural gas field development and performance prediction relates the characteristics of the natural gas reservoir to market demand, and talks about the number of wells to be drilled, the evolution of production from the field over time (buildup period, plateau period, and decline period), and methods of forecasting production over these periods. Examples of the use of various methods are given at the end of each section in the chapter.
Reservoir Types and Characterization
Authors: Aminian Kashy
Published: September 2016

A reservoir is a subsurface rock structure, with sufficient size and closure that contains a three-dimensional network of interconnected void (pore) space and is overlain by a fine-grained water-saturated rock. Porosity and permeability are the key features of pore structure and are important factors in the production of hydrocarbons from the reservoir. Porosity represents the capacity of the reservoir rock to contain petroleum. Permeability represents the ability of the reservoir rock to transmit fluids. Together, they influence the fluid storage and movement. The reservoirs are classified according to the initial state of the fluids in the reservoir in three broad categories, including oil, gas-condensate, and gas reservoirs. The classification of the reservoir according to the drive mechanism is another useful approach. Additionally, the reservoirs can be classified as conventional or unconventional based on the technological requirements for development and production. The term unconventional reservoirs include a wide variety of reservoir types. They commonly include tight-gas sandstones, coalbed methane (CBM), shale gas and oil, heavy oil and tar sands, and gas hydrates. To estimate the productive potential of the reservoir and to maximize the economic payback, the reservoir characteristics—including porosity, permeability, fluid saturations, net formation thickness, pressure, fluid properties, and the structure of the reservoir—must be determined. Reservoir characteristics can be evaluated by the analysis of the information obtained from the direct and indirect measurements. Direct measurements in a reservoir are possible on fluid samples and on the reservoir rock samples (cores). The indirect measurements can be obtained by lowering a string of sensors at the end of a wireline into the well to obtain a continuous record of the subsurface rock properties (logs). Another indirect measurement involves a pressure transient test that can be interpreted to diagnose the condition of production and injection wells.
Development Strategies and Profitability Assessment of Semisubmersible Production Units in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Kaiser Mark J.
Published: September 2016

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico is one of three major deepwater-producing regions in the world, but surprisingly little information exists that methodically examines project profitability. Reliable economic assessments in the deepwater space generally is lacking, and even basic performance measures and comparative issues have not been addressed. Deepwater developments are expensive, complex, and risky endeavors, and significant delineation work is required before a reservoir produces. The major challenge in development is achieving an acceptable financial return in an uncertain environment. The purpose of this chapter is to review semisubmersible developments in the Gulf of Mexico and to estimate their profitability. Through 2013, 11 semisubmersibles produced 777 MMbbl oil and 2,350 Bcf natural gas and generated about $78 billion in gross revenue. Development cost for the projects totaled approximately $38 billion, and if operating cost average $10/boe, total cost circa 2013 is estimated at $50 billion, yielding a benefit-cost ratio of 1.6. In 2013, 8 semisubmersibles produced 80 MMbbl oil and 178 Bcf natural gas worth approximately $9.3 billion. Na Kika is the most successful development with a net present value greater than $5 billion and an estimated 34 % return on investment. Atlantis and Thunder Horse are valued in excess of $2 billion each with expected returns in the 15 to 20 % range. Three semis have been decommissioned, none of which were profitable, and Telemark and Independence are not expected to generate positive returns. Operators spent $13/boe to develop fields with more than 300 MMboe reserves, and $50/boe for fields with less than 100 MMboe reserves. Remaining reserves circa 2013 for the semisubmersible inventory are estimated at 364 MMbbl oil and 740 Bcf natural gas, and $23 to $50 billion in future revenues are expected for oil prices between $60 to $120/bbl. Telemark and Thunder Hawk appear near the end of their life cycle.
Prospective Outlook on World Oil and Gas Reserves and Long-Range Planning Systems
Authors: Elsholkami Mohamed , Elkamel Ali
Published: September 2016

This chapter reviews the historical trends of the world's major oil and gas reserves, their production and consumption, and their future outlook. The chapter also surveys the effect of non-fossil-fuel and unconventional-fossil-fuel energy sources on future energy prospects. The authors summarize the methods that typically are implemented to estimate oil and gas reserves and the major sources of uncertainties associated with these estimates. The authors introduce energy systems models that represent a powerful tool in developing energy infrastructures that efficiently utilize available energy resources.
Drilling Technology Methods
Authors: Butt Stephen D.
Published: September 2016

This chapter provides a condensed but broad overview of drilling technology, including rotary drill rig systems, drill bits, drilling fluids, optimization, well control and managed pressure drilling, casing installation, and directional drilling, and a brief review of offshore drilling.
Las categorías de lo abstracto y lo concreto
Authors: Alfaro Vargas Roy
Published: September 2016

Este artículo aborda la discusión sobre las categorías de lo abstracto y lo concreto en el ámbito del método dialéctico. El análisis se realiza dentro del actual contexto de la crisis capitalista y el nuevo auge del marxismo, enfocándose principalmente sobre algunos autores anglosajones (Lebowitz, Roper y Banaji), los cuales han aplicado estas categorías a diferentes objetos de estudio, mas en una forma totalmente alejada de las verdaderas dimensiones que tales categorías tenían para Marx. Finalmente, se definen estas categorías buscando claridad y consistencia en su aplicación.
Representación, estética y performance. El carácter icónico de las imágenes de los desaparecidos
Authors: Zamora Sauma Rocío
Published: September 2016

Frente a la continua afirmación de la irrepresentabilidad de los acontecimientos, me planteo la siguiente pregunta: ¿De dónde procede la afirmación del carácter inimagi- nable, irrepresentable, indecible de los procesos de genocidio del siglo XX? Para contestar a esta pregunta me refiero en una primera parte al carácter icónico de los retratos de  os desparecidos, para luego entender cuál es el marco sobre el cual se instala la afirmación acerca de lo irrepresentable.
Changes in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Among Older Adolescents
Authors: Li Kaigang , Haynie Denise , Lipsky Leah , Iannotti Ronald J. , Pratt Charlotte , Simons-Morton Bruce
Published: September 2016

OBJECTIVES:

Examined patterns and determinants of objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over 4 years in US emerging adults.

METHODS:

Waves 1 through 4 (W1 [10th grade] to W4 data of a national cohort starting in 2010 (N = 561; 16.19 ± 0.51 years) were used. MVPA was assessed annually from accelerometers; BMI calculated from measured height/weight; and surveys ascertained self-reported physical activity (PA) planning, peer PA , family support, W1 sociodemographics, W4 school status, W4 residence, and W4 employment. Latent growth modeling estimated trajectories in log-transformed duration (minutes/day) of MVPA and associations with covariates.

RESULTS:

Less than 9% of participants met the recommended 60+ minutes/day MVPA across W1 through W4. W1 MVPA was greater in males versus females (B = 0.46, P < .001) and Hispanic versus White (B = 0.34, P < .001) participants. Increased BMI change (W1 to W4 slope) was associated with decreased MVPA. MVPA was positively associated with PA planning (W1–W3: B = 0.10, B = 0.06, B = 0.08, Ps < .05), but not with peer PA or family support. Participants attending 4-year college versus not-attending school (B = 0.52, P < .001), and college students living on campus versus at home (B = 0.37, P < .001) were more likely to engage in MVPA at W4. Weekend MVPA remained relatively constant from W1 through W4.

CONCLUSIONS:

High-school students engaged in little MVPA and maintained this low level through the transition to adulthood. Emerging adults’ MVPA engagement may vary according to social contexts. Those with high BMI may benefit most from interventions to promote MVPA.
Introduction to U.S. Government: Prior Levels and Correlates of Political Knowledge
Authors: Levenbach F. David , England David E. , Hartwig Charles W.
Published: September 2016

How much do university students know about government and politics in the United States? In what areas of government and politics are students well-informed, and in what areas are they ignorant? To what extent are there systematic variations between students in their knowledge? These are the questions we seek to answer in this paper, which is based on a survey of students who were enrolled in the fall of 1986 in an introductory course in US government. While we initially undertook this study as part of an internal curriculum review, we feel that these results are of interest to political scientists as political educators and political analysts.
ANTI-VIRAL ACTIVITY OF GLYCIRRHETINIC AND GLYCIRRHIZIC ACIDS
Authors: Zarubaev V. V. , Anikin V. B. , Smirnov V. S.
Published: September 2016

Influenza is a highly contagious human disease. In the course of use of antiviral drugs drug-resistant strains of the virus are formed, resulting in reduced efficiency of the chemotherapy. The review describes the biological activity of glycirrhetinic (GLA) and glycirrhizic (GA) acids in terms of their use as a therapeutic agent for viral infections. So, these compounds are against a broad spectrum of viruses, including herpes, corona-, alphaand flaviviruses, human immunodeficiency virus, vaccinia virus, poliovirus type I, vesicular stomatitis virus and influenza A virus. These data indicate that anti-viral effect of these compounds is due to several types of activity — direct antiviral effects, effects on cellular proand anti-viral and immunomodulating pathways, in particular by activation of innate immunity system. GA interferes with early steps of the viral reproductive cycle such as virus binding to its receptor, the absorption of the virus by endocytosis or virus decapsidation in the cytoplasm. This is due to the effect of GA-induced reduction of membrane fluidity. Thus, one mechanism for the antiviral activity of GA is that GA molecule increases the rigidity of cellular and viral membranes after incorporation in there. This results in increasing of energy threshold required for the formation of negative curvature at the fusion zones, as well as difficult lateral migration of the virus-receptor complexes. In addition, glycyrrhizin prevents interaction of viral nucleoprotein with cellular protein HMGB1, which is necessary for the viral life cycle. Glycyrrhizin also inhibits the induction of oxidative stress during influenza infection, exhibiting antioxidant properties, which leads to a reduction of virus-induced production of cytokines/chemokines, without affecting the replication of the virus. A wide spectrum of biological activity and effect on various aspects of the viral pathogenesis substantiate the effect of GA and GLA as a component of a complex antiviral therapy. A combination of antiviral mechanisms makes GA and GLA unique means capable of providing an antiviral effect in many types of viral pathologies that emphasizes their prospects as a component of comprehensive antiviral therapy. Further research in the field of optimization of their application may lead to the development of new antiviral drugs and effective schemes of their combined application.
ANTI-APOPTOTIC EFFECT OF CD95 RECEPTOR IN NA VE CD8+ T-LYMPHOCYTES IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS
Authors: Filatova E. N. , Anisenkova E. V. , Presnyakova N. B. , Sycheva T. D. , Kulova E. A. , Utkin O. V.
Published: September 2016

Acute infectious mononucleosis is a widespread viral disease, which most often manifests in childhood. The development of acute infectious mononucleosis is accompanied by the change of the CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes ratio and the increase of the virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes number. One of the T-lymphocytes number regulation mechanisms is the modulation of their progenitor cells apoptosis. The death receptor CD95 takes part in the regulation of T-lymphocytes apoptosis, including naïve T-cells. We studied the effect of CD95 receptor activation on apoptosis of naïve CD4+ and naïve cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes in healthy children and children with acute infectious mononucleosis. In this study children with acute infectious mononucleosis at the age of 9 to 16 years were included. For comparison healthy children of the same age with no clinical and laboratory signs of the disease were used. Naïve CD4+ and naïve cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes were isolated by negative magnetic immunoseparation. The analysis of naïve T-cells apoptosis and the CD95 receptor surface expression density was performed by using the flow cytometry analysis. The analysis of T-cells was performed in three variants: freshly isolated naïve CD4+ T-lymphocytes and naïve cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes, and also cells after 24 hours of the cultivation with anti-CD95 monoclonal antibodies or without them. In healthy children both CD95– and CD95+ naïve CD4+ T-lymphocytes underwent apoptosis. In children with acute infectious mononucleosis CD95– naïve CD4+ T-lymphocytes lost their susceptibility to apoptosis induction. In healthy children and children with acute infectious mononucleosis CD95– naïve cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes were resistant to apoptosis in contrast to CD95+ naïve CD4+ T-lymphocytes. In healthy children CD95 receptor did not induce apoptosis of isolated naïve CD4+ T-lymphocytes and naïve cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes. In children with acute infectious mononucleosis CD95 receptor was involved in inhibition of apoptosis of naïve cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes and did not effect on the level of apoptosis of naïve CD4+ T-lymphocytes. We suggest that CD95-dependent suppression of naïve cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes apoptosis is a protective mechanism for the maintenance of a sufficient number of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in the blood for the realization of effective antiviral immune response.
Criteria for assessment of internal stability of granular soil
Authors: Zhou Zong-qing , Ranjith Pathegama Gamage , Li Shu-cai
Published: September 2016

An attempt is made to assess the internal instability of granular soils based on analysis of variation of the secant slope of the soil particle size distribution (PSD) curve according to three commonly used semi-empirical criteria: the Kezdi criterion, the Sherard criterion and the Kenney and Lau criterion. A computer code ASISGS is developed to first obtain the secant slope curves of soil PSD curves and then the potential for internal instability in 34 soil specimens is analysed. Comparison with experimental results indicates that the Kenney and Lau criterion successfully distinguishes between stable and unstable soil particle distributions for a majority of soil specimens. The Kezdi and the Sherard criteria are not always reliable, however, and are barely applicable when the finer fraction is less than a specific threshold value, especially for internally stable soil specimens which would be deemed as internally unstable. The intersections of the secant slope curves and the limited slope lines demonstrate that the threshold values can be taken as 15% and 12·95% for the Kezdi criterion and the Sherard criterion, respectively. Finally, a new synthetical chart is proposed for assessing internal instability of granular soils; the results derived are in good agreement with experimental results.
Diffusion of multiwall carbon nanotubes through a high-density polyethylene geomembrane
Authors: Saheli P. T. , Rowe R. K. , Petersen E. J. , O'Carroll D. M.
Published: September 2016

The new applications for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in various fields and consequently their greater production volume have increased their potential release to the environment. Landfills are one of the major locations where carbon nanotubes are expected to be disposed, and it is important to ensure that they can limit the release of CNTs. Diffusion of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) dispersed in an aqueous media through a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane (as a part of the landfill barrier system) was examined. Based on the laboratory tests, the permeation coefficient was estimated to be less than 5.1 × 10−15 m2/s. The potential performance of an HDPE geomembrane and geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) as parts of a composite liner in containing MWCNTs was modelled for six different scenarios. The results suggest that the low value of permeation coefficient of an HDPE geomembrane makes it an effective diffusive barrier for MWCNTs, and by keeping the geomembrane defects to minimum during the construction (e.g., the number of holes and length of wrinkles) a composite liner commonly used in municipal solid waste landfills will effectively contain MWCNTs.
Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value in Terms of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998: Lessons from the International Labour Organisation and the United Kingdom
Authors: Ebrahim Shamier
Published: September 2016

Equal pay is an area of employment law that is complex and not easily understood. This complexity is recognised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which notes that equal pay for work of equal value has proved to be difficult to understand, both with regard to what it entails and in its application. Amendments have been made to the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA) to include a specific provision to regulate equal pay claims in the form of section 6(4)-(5) of the EEA. The amendments were made in terms of the Employment Equity Amendment Act 47 of 2013, which came into effect on 1 August 2014 by presidential proclamation. Prior to section 6(4), the EEA did not contain a specific provision regulating equal pay claims. Claims could be brought in terms of section 6(1) of the EEA, which prohibits unfair discrimination on a number of grounds. The recent amendments to the EEA in the form of section 6(4)-(5) (including the Employment Equity Regulations and the Code of Good Practice on Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value) in respect of equal pay claims is a response to the ILO's criticism of South Africa's failure to include specific equal pay provisions in the EEA.

Section 6(4) of the EEA provides for three causes of action in respect of equal pay. They are as follows: (a) equal pay for the same work; (b) equal pay for substantially the same work; and (c) equal pay for work of equal value. The first two causes of action are not difficult to understand as opposed to the third cause of action, which is complex. The ILO has recognised the complexity of the third cause of action, "equal pay for work of equal value". In Mangena v Fila South Africa 2009 12 BLLR 1224 (LC), the Labour Court remarked in the context of an equal pay for work of equal value claim that it does not have expertise in job grading and in the allocation of value to particular occupations. This article will deal with the third cause of action only, "equal pay for work of equal value".

The purpose of this article is to critically analyse the law relating to equal pay for work of equal value in terms of the EEA (including the Employment Equity Regulations) and evaluate it against the equal pay laws of the ILO and the United Kingdom, which deal with equal pay for work of equal value. Lastly, this article seeks to ascertain whether the EEA (including the Employment Equity Regulations) provides an adequate legal framework for determining an equal pay for work of equal value claim.