bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Impact of Extrinsic and Intrinsic SCM Career Choice Factors on Career Satisfaction
Authors: Goffnett Sean , Divine Richard , Williams Zachary , Cook Robert
Published: July 2013

Attracting and retaining supply chain management (SCM) talent is a major concern inindustry. This exploratory study utilized survey research methods to obtain perceptions of intrinsicand extrinsic career choice factors and career satisfaction held by individuals working and educatedin SCM. Means tests and hierarchical regression were used to identify career choice factors and toexamine the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic criteria on career satisfaction. Leadership opportunitiesemerged as most important to predicting career satisfaction. Other important predictors were also ofan intrinsic nature, which is consistent with classic needs theory. This paper expands the applicationof needs theory and career theory in SCM. Individuals who place more value on careers that provideleadership opportunities, responsibility, and earnings potential are more likely to be satisfied with theircareers. Managers seeking to design career paths that satisfy talent should develop a plan that alignswith what individual's value.DOI: 10.12660/joscmv6n1p122-138URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/joscmv6n1p122-138
Responsiveness in the Supply Chain: A Possible Decision-Driver for Location of New Subsidiaries?
Authors: Da Silva Ronald Tavares Pires , Villar Cristiane Biazzin , Siegler Janaína
Published: July 2013

This study explores possible new drivers that may be integrated into the decision-makingmodels for establishing the location of subsidiaries. More precisely, it seeks to answer the followingresearch question: "Does the degree of responsiveness in the supply chain influence decisions regardingthe location of multinational subsidiaries?" Based on the theoretical approaches of the UppsalaSchool, the Eclectic Paradigm and RBV, this research analyzes the case of a large multinational in theagribusiness sector, aiming to explore the recent decision-drivers for the location of new subsidiariesand the influence of the current competitive market in this context.DOI: 10.12660/joscmv6n1p26-41URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/joscmv6n1p26-41
Classification of offences in the sphere of labour relations
Authors: Репетева Олеся , Repeteva Olesya
Published: July 2013

The author examines the classification of offenses in the sphere of labour relations on various grounds. The author concludes that the most accurate is the classification of offenses in the sphere of labour is
SPRINGBACK CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TAILOR-WELDED 18G2A-E355 STEEL STRIPS
Authors: Froń Paweł , Stachowicz Feliks
Published: July 2013

Recently many industry companies are trying to form different products by using tailor-weldedblanks. A tailor-welded blank consists of two or more sheets that have been welded together in asingle plane prior to forming. And the sheets joined by welding can be identical, or they canhave different thickness, mechanical properties or surface coatings. Various welding processes,i.e. laser welding, mash welding, electron-beam welding or induction welding, can join them.Many studies presented a wide range of information about the formability and failure patterns oftailor-welded blanks and the springback of non-welded sheet metal parts. However, accurateprediction of the springback remains elusive, especially in the case of thick sheet metal. Thepurpose of this study was to predict the springback of the tailor-welded 18G2A-E355 steelstrips. Especially, it was focused on comparing the differences of the mechanical properties andspringback between the tailor-welded strips and non-welded ones under the same experimentalconditions. The set-up mounted on the testing machine, instrumentation and process controlsystem allows the rig to operate in displacement as well as load control. The MAG method withthe Argon + CO2 atmosphere was used for strips welding.
LEACHING OF LEAD FROM SPENT MOTORCYCLE BATTERY IN HYDROCHLORIC ACID. PART II: SOLVENT EXTRACTION STUDIES
Authors: A. Baba Alafara
Published: July 2013

This work, constituting the second part of acid leaching of total Lead studied the extraction efficiency of Pb (II) by solvent extraction techniques by Dithizone in chloroform. The development of simple hydrometallurgical route for possible recovery of total lead from spent motorcycle battery ash leach liquor in hydrochloric acid solution has been investigated using combination of leaching, cementation, precipitation, solvent extraction and stripping techniques. The influence of extractant concentration on lead extraction and the extraction temperature on the total Lead extraction efficiency were examined. An extraction efficiency of 98% total Pb(II)was obtained by 0.01 mol/L Dithizone in chloroform at pH 8.3 from the initial 10g/L motorcycle ash leach liquor containing mainly 763.1 mg/L Pb, 4.3 mg/L Zn (10.7 mg/L after cementation) and 28.8mg/L Fe. Other constituents such as Cu, Mn, Ca and As whose concentrations in each case are less than 2mg/L after leaching, were first separated by cementation with zinc granules, followed by the total Iron removal by precipitating with 4mol/L ammoniacal solution to a pH 3.5 at 25±2 0C. Stripping of 98% total Pb(II) from dithizone extract by 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid solution was achieved. The values of thermodynamic data obtained on total Pb(II) extraction showed that the extraction by 0.01 mol/L Dithizone in chloroform is thermodynamicallyfavourable. Finally, a simple hydrometallurgical scheme for the operational procedures for the extraction of total Pb(II) from the spent motorcycle ash liquor was presented.
SYSTEM FOR INDIRECT MEASUREMENT OF THE HEAT FLOWS AT ANNEALING OF THE STEEL COILS
Authors: Durdán Milan , Kačur Ján
Published: July 2013

The temperature of the thermal processed products is the main variable which designates their quality and energy consumption. In aspect of the steel coils annealing quality is necessary to known temperature inside the object. It is the place with the lowest temperature during annealing process. This paper deals about proposal of the “System of indirect measurement of the heat flows” in the steel coil. This system provides in the real time information about behaviours of the inner temperatures in the coil during annealing process based on indirect measurement of the heat flows. Indirect measurement of the heat flows is based on direct measurement of the temperatures on protective hood, atmosphere temperature and direct or indirect measurement of coil’s surface temperatures. This system was verified in laboratory conditions. Proposed system for indirect measurement of the heat flows is extension of the system for indirect measurement of the inner temperatures based on direct measured atmosphere temperature.
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EXTRUSION PROCESS OF TWIST DRILLS
Authors: Bulzak Tomasz , Pater Zbigniew
Published: July 2013

The paper presents numerical analysis results of hot forward extrusion of twist drills. The calculations were made using DEFORM-3D v10.0, the simulation programme based on the finite element method (FEM). The numerical analysis of the process was performed in a threedimensional state of strain which took thermal phenomena into account. A geometric model employed in the conducted numerical simulation is presented. As a result of the conducted research, force parameters of the process, distributions of effective strain, reduced stress, and temperature could be determined. In effect, it has been proven that twist drills can be formed by extrusion. The obtained results constitute an introduction to a complex analysis of metal forming processes for drills.
PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE REFERENCE FEATURES IN TEXTURAL FRACTOGRAPHY OF FATIGUE FRACTURES
Authors: Lauschmann Hynek , Šiška Filip
Published: July 2013

Reference features of a fatigue fracture surface are the reference texture and reference crack growth rate which are unambiguously mutually related. The reference texture is a subset of the image texture in SEM fractographs. It is expected to be common to all fractures caused by loadings in which significant events occur sufficiently regularly and frequently. The ratio of the reference and the conventional crack growth rate called reference factor is a characteristic of a particular loading. Its value may be related to the sequence of successive sizes of the cyclic plastic zone, while the mechanism of the effect of overloads follows the models of Wheeler and Willenborg. Application to a set of nine test specimens from aluminium alloy loaded by three different loading regimes is shown.
Gastric tube necrosis following minimally invasive oesophagectomy is a learning curve issue
Authors: Ramage L , Deguara J , Davies A , Hamouda A , Tsigritis K , Forshaw M , Botha AJ
Published: July 2013

Introduction

Gastric tube necrosis following oesophagectomy is thought to have an increased association with a minimally invasive technique. Some suggest gastric ischaemic preconditioning may reduce ischaemic complications. We discuss our series of 155 consecutive minimally invasive oesophagectomies (MIOs), including a number of cases of gastric tube ischaemia, of which 4 (2.6%) developed conduit necrosis.

Methods

Data were collected prospectively of MIOs carried out by a single surgeon between 2005 and 2011. Cases of gastric tube necrosis were identified.

Results

Overall, 155 patients were identified. The inpatient mortality rate was 2.6%. Gastric tube necrosis occurred in four patients (2.6%). An ultrasonic dissector injury to the gastroepiploic arcade had occurred in two cases. In another case, the gastric tube was strangulated in the hiatus. In the remaining case, no clear mechanical cause was identified. All 4 cases occurred within the first 73 cases. The gastric tube necrosis rate of the first 50 cases versus cases 51–155 was 4% and 2% respectively (p=0.5948). The anastomotic leak rate in these two cohorts was 18% and 7% respectively (p=0.0457). There was a significant reduction in overall gastric tube complications from 22% to 10% following the learning curve of the initial 50 cases (p=0.0447).

Conclusions

In our series, gastric tube necrosis appears to be a learning curve issue. Prophylactic measures such as ischaemic preconditioning become less relevant as the operating surgeon’s experience increases. Instead, meticulous attention to preserving the gastroepiploic arcade, avoidance of tension in the tube and careful positioning of the gastric conduit through an adequately sized hiatus are key factors.
A UK national survey of breast surgeons on primary endocrine therapy of early operable breast cancer
Authors: Wylie S , Ravichandran D
Published: July 2013

Introduction

A significant proportion of elderly breast cancer patients in the UK have no surgical treatment recorded and appear to be treated with primary endocrine therapy (PET) only. Despite this, PET remains one of the poorly studied areas in breast cancer therapy and very little is known about the practice of PET in the UK.

Methods

A questionnaire comprising 14 questions relevant to PET was sent to 489 breast surgeons who were members of the UK Association of Breast Surgery and returned questionnaires were analysed.

Results

Overall, 228 questionnaires (47%) were returned. The vast majority (93%) of surgeons who responded use PET in early operable breast cancer in elderly women unfit for surgery or owing to patient preference but 7% would recommend PET to fit elderly patients. Most (76%) use letrozole. The percentage of elderly patients treated with PET varied from <10% to 70% between surgeons. The majority (77%) of respondents had not formally audited the outcome of their PET patients and over 70% underestimated the expected survival of an 80-year-old woman.

Conclusions

Most UK breast surgeons use PET in elderly patients with surgically resectable breast cancer. While most use it in unfit, frail patients, a minority would treat even fit elderly women with PET. Most surgeons have not formally audited the outcome of their patients treated with PET and underestimate the expected survival of elderly patients, which might have an impact on their decision to offer PET rather than surgery.
A selective antibiotic prophylaxis policy for laparoscopic cholecystectomy is effective in minimising infective complications
Authors: Yanni F , Mekhail P , Morris-Stiff G
Published: July 2013

Introduction

It has been demonstrated previously that the identification of bactibilia during cholecystectomy is associated with the presence of one or more risk factors: acute cholecystitis, common duct stones, emergency surgery, intraoperative findings and age >70 years. Current evidence-based guidance on antibiotic prophylaxis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is based on elective procedures and does not take into account these factors. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a selective antibiotic prophylaxis policy limited to high risk patients undergoing LC with the development of port site infections as the primary endpoint.

Methods

One hundred consecutive patients undergoing LC under the care of a single consultant surgeon during a one-year period were studied prospectively. Data collected included patient demographics (age, sex) as well as details of the history of gallstone disease to determine those with complex disease and risk factors for bactibilia. A single dose of antibiotics (second generation cephalosporin and metronidazole) was administered on induction to patients with a risk factor present. Information relating to all radiologically or microbiologically confirmed infections was documented.

Results

Eighty-four of the patients were female and the mean age was 47.7 ±16.0 years. Nineteen LCs were performed as emergencies and the remainder were elective procedures. A risk factor for bactibilia was present in 35 patients. A wound infection was identified in four cases, two of which were Staphylococcus aureus (one methicillin resistant), one was a coagulase negative Staphylococcus and one wound cultured a mixed anaerobic growth. Three of the infections occurred in patients receiving prophylaxis (2 staphylococcal and 1 anaerobic) at intervals of 7, 14 and 19 days respectively. One patient with a body mass index of 32kg/m2 in the ‘no prophylaxis’ group developed a coagulase negative staphylococcal infection at 10 days. No intra or extra-abdominal abdominal infections were identified.

Conclusions

This study has demonstrated that restricting antibiotic prophylaxis to high risk patients has no detrimental effects in terms of increasing the rate of infections in those with no risk factors. Furthermore, the act of not prescribing to low risk patients will limit costs and the risk of adverse events. It will also reduce the risk of resistance and clostridial infections in this cohort.
Visit Spain: The image of Spain in the state’s tourist poster (1928–1975)
Authors: Pelta Raquel
Published: July 2013

Throughout the twentieth century, tourist posters have played a key role in the transmission of the image of Spain abroad. This article focuses on two periods in which they had a greater role: the end of the reign of Alfonso XIII with the founding of the National Tourist Board and the Franco dictatorship. These two periods are two different ways to show the country’s image. The first was an attempt to spread the wealth and diversity of Spain, in an effort to break stereotypes that travellers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries had created. The second used many of these clichés in order to gain acceptance of the regime at a time of international isolation.
Notes on the politics of configuration (Part II): A Berlin event
Authors: Dilnot Clive
Published: July 2013

The political in representation, as active dissent, has no meaning if it is denied that the visual can mean – propose, argue, reason, contend – in ways comparable to that achieved in language. In the first part of this article, working through the analysis of a number of political posters (above all the Obama Hope poster from 2008) the case was made for seeing the visual configuration of the work (its design or disegno) as structuring the work in potentially the same way as arguments and propositions are structured in language. Working from the comparison between a moment from Hamlet and Margaret Bourke-White’s famous photograph from Louisville 1937 (which shows a line of people standing queuing for flood relief below a poster boosting the American Way) part two takes much further the analysis of the Bourke-White photograph opened in part one but it balances this with an exploration of a remarkable, but little known, 1993 Holocaust memorial in Berlin by the artist and art historian couple Renata Stih and Frieder Schnock. As the only Holocaust memorial centred on a distributed series of printed, poster-like images, the memorial is analysed both in its economy and in the force of its political gestures. Taken together the two analyses offer the embryo of a theory of the politics of visual dissent.
Reviews
Authors: Yagou Artemis , Matthiessen Neil
Published: July 2013

Exhibition: ‘Typographie Des Terrors – Plakate in München 1933 Bis 1945’/‘Typography of Terror – Posters in Munich 1933–1945’, Munich Stadtmuseum, 11 May–11 November 2012

Exhibition: ‘Posters of Discontent II’, University Gallery, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 3 October–7 November 2012
The Economics of Personalization in Prevention and Public Health
Authors: Kenkel Don S. , Wang Hua
Published: July 2013

Personalized prevention uses family history and predictive genetic testing to identify people at high risk of serious diseases. The availability of predictive genetic tests is a newer and still-developing phenomenon. Many observers see tremendous potential for personalized prevention to improve public health. At the same time, the emergence of these new markets raises familiar health policy concerns about costs, cost-effectiveness, and health disparities. This paper first discusses an economic framework for the analysis of personalized prevention. On the demand side, consumers use personalized prevention as a form of information that allows them to make better choices about prevention, including medical care and health behaviors like diet and exercise. On the supply side, an interplay of complex market forces and regulations will determine the prices, advertising, and insurance coverage of predictive genetic tests. Beyond the question of whether health insurance will cover the costs of predictive genetic tests, there is a great deal of concern about whether consumers’ use of genetic tests might place them at risk of genetic discrimination or might lead to adverse selection. The paper also reports descriptive analysis of data from the 2000, 2005, and 2010 National Health Interview Surveys on the use of predictive genetic tests. The empirical analysis documents large socioeconomic status-related disparities in consumers having heard of genetic tests: for example, consumers with less schooling, Blacks, and Hispanics were substantially less likely to have heard of genetic tests. Evidence from other empirical studies provides little evidence that genetic testing leads to genetic discrimination in insurance markets. There is more evidence suggesting adverse selection, where genetic testing leads consumers to purchase long-term care insurance. The paper concludes with some preliminary thoughts about important directions for future research. The goal of the paper is to review relevant research to help develop an economic approach and social science research agenda into the determinants and consequences of genetic tests for prevention.
Pre-conditions for Inflation Targeting in an Emerging Economy: The Case of India
Authors: Mishra Ankita
Published: July 2013

This article looks at the preconditions that an emerging economy needs to fulfill, before it can adopt inflation targeting as a monetary policy regime. The study is conducted using the Indian economy as a case study. We conduct sector-wise analysis of the Indian economy to evaluate the independence of India’s monetary policy from fiscal, external, structural and financial perspectives. Dominance from any of these sectors may divert monetary policy from the objective of maintaining price stability in the economy. Our analysis suggests that among the four dominance issues, the issue of “structural dominance” is the most acute for India. Supply shocks, hitting the economy due to structural bottlenecks, pose a major threat to the independent conduct of monetary policy. This study concludes that inflation band targeting with a wide target range would be a feasible monetary policy option for India.
Mechanical Property Performance of Polymer-Modified Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement Mortar Systems
Authors: Brien Joshua V. , Mahboub Kamyar C. , Robl Thomas L.
Published: July 2013

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of polymer glass-transition temperature (Tg) on the mechanical property performance of mortars containing calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement and vinyl acetate/ethylene dispersible polymer powder (VAE DPP). Competitive products were acquired from companies A, B, and C. Company A supplied VAE DPP with glass-transition temperatures of 64°F (18°C) and 19°F (−7°C). Company B supplied VAE DPP with glass-transition temperatures of 59°F (15°C) and 5°F (−15°C). Company C provided VAE DPP with glass-transition temperatures of 68°F (20°C) and −8°F (−22°C). It is important to note that differences in glass-transition temperature result from differences in the ratio of monomers utilized for production of the liquid polymeric dispersion during reaction polymerization, where the pertinent ratio is that of ethylene to vinyl acetate for materials germane to this study. Additionally, each utilized polymer powder may also differ in constituent components comprising the polymer powder as a result of the drying process, where constituent materials should not be limited to products typically utilized for forming protective colloids or products utilized as anti-caking agents. Each polymer was tested in a standard mortar formulation with polymer/cement ratio of 2/5 and water/cement ratio of 0.48. Experimental results show that polymer modification improves the ductile performance of CSA cement mortars. Additionally, experimental results show that the glass-transition temperature of vendor-specific products influences the mechanical property performance of polymer-modified CSA cement mortars.
Central Asia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and American Foreign Policy
Authors: Ziegler Charles E.
Published: July 2013

This paper examines U.S. engagement in Central Asia over the past two decades, with specific reference to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. While alarmist voices occasionally warn of the threat to American interests from China and Russia through the SCO, the organization’s influence appears limited. Washington has engaged it only sporadically, preferring to conduct relations bilaterally with the Central Asian states.
Common gene pathways and families altered by DNA methylation in breast and prostate cancers
Authors: Day Tanya K , Bianco-Miotto Tina
Published: July 2013

Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, are widely studied in cancer as they are stable and easy to measure genome wide. DNA methylation changes have been used to differentiate benign from malignant tissue and to predict tumor recurrence or patient outcome. Multiple genome wide DNA methylation studies in breast and prostate cancers have identified genes that are differentially methylated in malignant tissue compared with non-malignant tissue or in association with hormone receptor status or tumor recurrence. Although this has identified potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, what is highlighted by reviewing these studies is the similarities between breast and prostate cancers. In particular, the gene families/pathways targeted by DNA methylation in breast and prostate cancers have significant overlap and include homeobox genes, zinc finger transcription factors, S100 calcium binding proteins, and potassium voltage-gated family members. Many of the gene pathways targeted by aberrant methylation in breast and prostate cancers are not targeted in other cancers, suggesting that some of these targets may be specific to hormonal cancers. Genome wide DNA methylation profiles in breast and prostate cancers will not only define more specific and sensitive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis but also identify novel therapeutic targets, which may be direct targets of agents that reverse DNA methylation or which may target novel gene families that are themselves DNA methylation targets.
Successful Treatment of Refractory Autoimmune Hepatitis With Rituximab
Authors: D’Agostino Daniel , Costaguta Alejandro , Álvarez Fernando
Published: July 2013

Autoimmune hepatitis is a severe liver disease in which ∼10% of patients do not respond to standard treatment. We describe a new rescue therapy using anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (rituximab). Complete remission was obtained and maintained by using low doses of immunosuppressive drugs with repeated anti-CD20 infusions.
Cost-Effectiveness of Using 2 vs 3 Primary Doses of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
Authors: Stoecker Charles , Hampton Lee M. , Link-Gelles Ruth , Messonnier Mark L. , Zhou Fangjun , Moore Matthew R.
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Although effective in preventing pneumococcal disease, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is the most expensive vaccine on the routinely recommended pediatric schedule in the United States. We examined the cost-effectiveness of switching from 4 total doses to 3 total doses by removing the third dose in the primary series in the United States.

METHODS:

We used a probabilistic model following a single birth cohort of 4.3 million to calculate societal cost savings and increased disease burden from removing the 6-month dose of PCV13. Based on modified estimates of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine from randomized trials and observational studies, we assumed that vaccine effectiveness under the 2 schedules is identical for the first 6 months of life and largely similar after administration of the 12- to 15-month booster dose.

RESULTS:

Removing the third dose of PCV13 would annually save $500 million (in 2011$) but would also result in an estimated 2.5 additional deaths among inpatients with pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease. Such dose removal would also result in 261 000 estimated otitis media and 12 000 estimated pneumonia cases annually. These additional illnesses could be prevented through modest increases in coverage. Overall, societal savings per additional life-year lost would be ∼$6 million. When nonfatal outcomes are also considered, savings would range from $143 000 to $4 million per additional quality adjusted life-year lost, depending on the assumptions used for otitis media.

CONCLUSIONS:

Sizable societal cost savings and a moderate pneumococcal disease increase could be expected from removing the PCV13 primary series’ third dose.
Hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation in Hungary. Trends over the past 10 years
Authors: Gelley Fanni , Gámán György , Gerlei Zsuzsanna , Zádori Gergely , Görög Dénes , Kóbori László , Fehérvári Imre , Schuller János , Szőnyi László , Nagy Péter , Doros Attila , Fazakas János , Lengyel Gabriella , Schaff Zsuzsa , Kiss András , Sárváry Enikő , Nemes Balázs
Published: July 2013

Introduction: Management of hepatitis C virus recurrence is a challenge after liver transplantation. Aim: The aim of the authors was to analyse the outcome of liver transplantation performed in hepatitis C virus positive patients during the past ten years and to compare recent data with a previous report of the authors. Method: The authors retrospectively evaluated the data (donors, recipients, perioperative characteristics, patient and graft survival, serum titer of hepatitis C virus RNA, histology) of 409 patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2003 and 2012. Results: 156 patients were transplanted due to hepatitis C virus associated liver cirrhosis (38%). Worse outcome was observed in these patients in comparison to hepatitis C virus negative recipients. The cumulative patient survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 year were 80%, 61%, 51% in the hepatitis C virus positive group and 92%, 85%, 79% in the hepatitis C virus negative group, respectively (p<0.001). The cumulative graft survival rates at 1, 5 and 10 year were 79%, 59% and 50% in hepatitis C virus positive and 89%, 80% and 70% in hepatitis C virus negative patients (p<0.001). Hepatitis C virus recurrence was observed in the majority of the patients (132 patients, 85%), mainly within the first year (83%). The authors observed recurrence within 6 months in 71 patients (56%), and within 3 months in 26 patients (20%). The mean hepatitis C virus recurrence free survival was 243 days. Higher rate of de novo diabetes was detected in case of early recurrence. The cumulative patient survival rates at 1, 3, 5, 10 years were 98%, 89.5%, 81% and 65% when hepatitis C virus recurrence exceeded 3 months and 64%, 53%, 30.5% and 30.5% in patients with early recurrence (p<0.001). Conclusions: Poor outcome of liver transplantation in hepatitis C virus positive patients is still a challenge. Hepatitis C virus recurrence is observed earlier after liver transplantation in comparison with a previous report of the authors. De novo diabetes occurs more frequently in case of early recurrence. Despite an immediate start of antiviral treatment, early recurrence has a significant negative impact on the outcome of transplantation. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 1058–1066.
Role of continuous subcutaneous glucose monitoring in intensive care
Authors: Marics Gábor , Koncz Levente , Körner Anna , Mikos Borbála , Tóth-Heyn Péter
Published: July 2013

Critical care associated with stress hyperglycaemia has gained a new view in the last decade since the demonstration of the beneficial effects of strong glycaemic control on the mortality in intensive care units. Strong glycaemic control may, however, induce hypoglycaemia, resulting in increased mortality, too. Pediatric population has an increased risk of hypoglycaemia because of the developing central nervous system. In this view there is a strong need for close monitoring of glucose levels in intensive care units. The subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring developed for diabetes care is an alternative for this purpose instead of regular blood glucose measurements. It is important to know the limitations of subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring in intensive care. Decreased tissue perfusion may disturb the results of subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring, because the measurement occurs in interstitial fluid. The routine use of subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring in intensive care units is not recommended yet until sufficient data on the reliability of the system are available. The Medtronic subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring system is evaluated in the review partly based on the authors own results. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 1043–1048.
Estudo da susceptibilidade de roedores provenientes do foco pestoso de Teresópolis: Nova Friburgo, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Authors: Mello Dalva A.
Published: July 2013

Neste trabalho foram realizados estudos sôbre a susceptibilidade de 13 espécies de roedores provenientes do foco pestoso Teresópolis-Nova Friburgo (Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil) a uma cêpa de Pasteurella pestis. As doses inoculadas variaram de 104.10(8) a 0,104 germes/ml. Os resultados obtidos mostraram extrema variabilidade no comportamento de cada espécie de roedor inoculada.
Physical Activity Interventions Among Older Adults: A Literature Review
Authors: Chase Jo-Ana D.
Published: July 2013

Physical activity (PA) is important in the management of chronic illness among older adults worldwide. Researchers have conducted several intervention studies to increase PA behavior in this population. This review of the past 12 years of relevant PA intervention research among adults aged 60 years and older systematically summarized research findings, identified characteristics of successful interventions, and proposed areas of future research. There were 20 studies reviewed for this article, most employing a combination of cognitive-behavioral intervention design. Cognitive-based only and combination interventions were more successful in changing PA behavior; however, behavioral-based interventions demonstrated more long-term changes in PA behavior. Among theory-based interventions, self-efficacy was the most commonly operationalized construct. Findings from this review may inform future primary research to promote PA behavior among older adults, as well as gerontological clinical practice.
Recent Progress and Effects Analysis of Surfactant-Polymer Flooding Field Tests in China
Authors: Zhu Youyi , Jian Guoqing , Liu Weidong , Cheng Lijing , Hou Qingfeng , Li Jianguo
Published: July 2013

Surfactant-Polymer (SP) flooding has attracted lots of attention among chemical combination flooding researchers in recent years. Pilot tests of SP flooding in China were introduced and key factors influencing the performance of pilot tests were analyzed in this paper. Main technological problems occurred in pilot tests were indicated. Suggestions concerning technology improvement and development were given.

About ten SP flooding pilot tests were carried out in China since 2003. These target reservoirs were characterized with high permeability and low permeability sandstone, conglomerate, and high temperature and high salinity ones respectively. At present, the performance of SP flooding pilot tests in Gudong Block 6 and Gudong Block 7 of Shengli oilfield have shown good enhanced oil recovery (EOR) effect. It confirmed SP flooding could improve both of oil displacing efficiency and sweep efficiency and EOR ability for SP flooding is better than that of polymer flooding. EOR effect of SP flooding can be reflected from the following two aspects. Firstly, with SP slug injecting, the pressure of injection well increased and fluid entry profile was adjusted. The performance of profile control was favorable. Secondly, ultralow interfacial tension could be achieved and residual oil was displaced significantly. SP flooding showed stronger ability in decreasing water cut and increasing oil production than polymer flooding. The production history data showed that main factors influencing EOR were the corresponding relationship between injection wells and production wells, the chemical formula properties and the injection amount of SP system. The favorable oil production was obtained when the corresponding relationship between injection wells and production wells was good. The quality stability of SP formula could influence the flooding EOR performance greatly. Small injection slug size of chemical system would lead low EOR level.

The key technologies which should be improved and optimized for SP flooding are displacing agent quality, formula system stability, slug design, well pattern and so on.
A New Screening Model for Gas and Water Based EOR Processes
Authors: Bang Vishal
Published: July 2013

Screening for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) processes is a critical step in evaluating future development strategies for depleted reservoirs under primary and secondary recovery. However, selecting the optimum EOR process for a given reservoir is challenging because it requires evaluating and comparing performance for various EOR processes, which is complex and time consuming.

This paper presents a new EOR screening model that can predict the performance of various gas- and water-based EOR processes based on simple reservoir properties. The model estimates the oil recovery from miscible and immiscible gas/solvent injection (CO2, N2, and hydrocarbons), low salinity water flood, polymer, surfactant-polymer, alkaline-polymer and alkaline-surfactant-polymer floods. The screening model is based on a set of correlations that were developed using the response surface methodology, which correlates the oil recovery at dimensionless times to the important reservoir and fluid properties and EOR process variables identified for each process. The results of the model have been validated against a number of field test and numerical simulation results.

The screening model provides the capability to screen a large set of reservoirs for a wide spectrum of EOR processes, to identify the good EOR targets and the optimum EOR process for the target reservoirs. In addition, this model easily performs sensitivity analysis without the need for numerical simulations, allowing teams to account for uncertainty in reservoir properties and optimization of flood design. Finally, the methodology can be applied for developing screening models for other oil recovery mechanisms such as thermal (steam injection, SAGD), microbial EOR and other methods.
A New Paradigm for History-Matching Saturation Logs to Quantify EOR Targets
Authors: Wei Lingli
Published: July 2013

Prior to any EOR application, quantifying the remaining oil saturation (ROS) after water flood is critical in order to establish the target oil for a potential EOR scheme. The most widely available datasets for quantifying ROS are from the saturation logs such as resistivity logs from infill wells and pulsed neutron capture (PNC) logs from cased wells. However, the interpretation of these logs generally requires prior knowledge of water salinity. In most water flood projects, the injected water is different from the formation water, and the salinity is unknown in the water flooded zones. Logging tools for saturations without prior knowledge of salinity, such as the C/O log, also have limitations.

The current practice to overcome this problem is to apply one or more of the following techniques:

• Log-injection-log

• Chemical tracer

• Sponge coring, pressurized coring, etc.

However, these techniques are relatively expensive and time-consuming. They cannot be used routinely field wide as a reservoir surveillance tool.

In this paper, we present a methodology to reduce the uncertainties in saturation logs within the context of reservoir model history-matching. In addition to matching pressure and water cut, the new methodology seeks to match the produced water chemistry too (with formation water and injection water chemistry as inputs). This is due to the recent advance of reservoir simulations that can model reservoir water composition changes by considering geochemical reactions of injection waters, formation brine, and reservoir minerals. With this new simulation capability, resistivity and sigma values per grid block are computed as part of the simulation, thus pseudo-logs of total resistivity and neutron capture cross section (S) can be generated as part of the simulation. This enables direct history-matching of the measured log signals.

For an EOR project, the implication of this new simulation methodology is to encourage the frequent sampling and analysis of injection and produced water as part of the reservoir surveillance, and run resistivity and/or S logs to monitor saturation changes even when injection water is significantly different from formation water.
Miscible Water Alternating Gas in Black Oil and Near-Critical Reservoirs with Gravity and Thermal Compositional Gradients
Authors: Hendraningrat Luky
Published: July 2013

The paper presents compositional simulation studies of miscible water-alternating-gas (WAG) flooding in stratified reservoirs with respect to compositional variation with vertical depth and temperature. Two series of fluid system were selected from fifth and third SPE comparative study for Reservoir-A and Reservoir-B respectively. The Reservoir-A is an undersaturated black oil reservoir and has initial gas-oil ratio (GOR) of 557 scf/stb. Meanwhile Reservoir-B is near-critical oil reservoir with initial GOR of 3519 scf/stb. The minimum miscible pressure (MMP) variation with depth was calculated using equation of state in both reservoirs. In this study, temperature gradient sensitivity is ranging from 10 to 30°F per 1000 ft for both active and passive thermal gradient.

The existence of thermal diffusion in WAG process is also discussed. It is investigated that active and passive thermal gradient will give opposite composition variation trend. In active temperature gradient, the amount of light components will increase and heavy components will opposite with respect to depth. Unlike active thermal gradient, the gravity isothermal and passive thermal gradients segregate the heavy components toward the bottom.

The initial oil in place (IOIP) varies due to compositional variation which is again due to gravity and thermal gradients. These issues should be even more obvious when we have oil reservoir with higher GOR or near-critical reservoir. In these particular reservoirs, the presence of gravity and passive thermal gradients will decrease IOIP calculation whereas both reservoirs will have less C7+ components than in basecase. Otherwise, considering thermal diffusion effect by applying active thermal gradients will increase IOIP.

Several parameters were also evaluated during WAG process in both reservoirs such as: various hydrocarbon injection gases, cyclic injection scheme, WAG cycle and ratio, and reservoir heterogeneities. Therefore the effect of compositional variation due to gravity and thermal gradients can be conclusively evaluated.
Chemical EOR Evaluation for GNPOC and PDOC Fields in Sudan
Authors: Qiang Wang , Ming Gao , Zhaoxia Liu , Bakar Mohamad Abu , Chong Yeap Yeow , Adnan Izwan B.
Published: July 2013

The objective of this paper is to scope the Chemical EOR potential in both GNPOC and PDOC fields in Sudan. From the initial EOR screening, the most amenable EOR processes identified for both GNPOC and PDOC are mainly chemical and thermal EOR. Chemical EOR is the leading EOR process in GNPOC fields while thermal EOR is the leading EOR process in PDOC fields.

Chemical EOR evaluation was performed using Eclipse EOR black oil simulator. Simulations were performed on sector models constructed or extracted from full field models which have been conditioned to the current reservoir condition. The chemical input data was referenced mainly from Qing Hai oil field lab data which oil properties are similar to that of Sudan's. The chemical EOR evaluation encompass 3 different types of chemical processes; polymer flooding, surfactant-polymer (SP) flooding and alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding. Chemical EOR can potentially improve field recovery factor between 4-18% depending on the type of chemical EOR process. ASP flooding possess the highest potential with incremental oil recovery over waterflood ranging between 12%-18% followed by SP flooding and polymer flooding. ASP flooding is taken as the reference chemical process in this study as it as it represent the highest chemical potential.

The outcome of this study is believe to be helpful to successful planning of Chemical EOR applications in sudan.
Performance Review of Polymer Flooding in a Major Brown Oil Field of Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Thakuria Chandan , Al-Amri Mohsin Saud , Al-Saqri Kawthar Ahmed , Jaspers Henri F , Al-Hashmi Khalid Hamad , Zuhaimi Khalid
Published: July 2013

The first field scale Polymer flood project in the Middle East region is being implemented in an oil field of Sultanate of Oman from early 2010. The oil field discussed here containing viscous oil (90 cp) was discovered in 1956 and is located in eastern part of South Oman Salt basin. First commercial production started in 1980 from this field. The field has gone through different development phases in its 30 years of history prior starting tertiary recovery phase by polymer flooding.

This field scales Polymer flood project comprising 27 patterns as Phase-1 covers about one third of the total field IOIP (initial oil in place). It is worth mentioning that whole field is under water flooding and water injection was going on prior to initiation of Polymer flood in all these 27 injectors. Further extension in phases to full field polymer flooding is under evaluation.

Till now this Polymer flood project has successfully completed 3 years of good performance contributing to significant oil gain. This paper describes briefly about the principles involved in polymer flooding, planning of this polymer flood project, field implementation and field examples of polymer response. In addition, a few practical aspects of managing key issues in polymer flooding like- fracture growth in injectors, shear degradation of polymer solution, pattern conformance and back produced polymer has been covered in this paper.
Electrostatic Dehydration of Heavy Oil from Polymer Flood with Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide
Authors: Zheng Frank , Quiroga Pilar , Zaouk Moshen , Blackman Nick , Mandewalkar Pavan , Sams Gary W. , Sellman Erik , Gopeesingh Cameron Horace , Morgan Justin
Published: July 2013

Polymer flood using partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) has been proven to be an effective method to increase oil recovery. However, when HPAM breaks through the reservoir and shows up in the produced fluids, it brings unique emulsion characteristics and challenges to the separation processes. Operators have experienced frequent equipment failures on heat exchangers and heating elements. Traditional oil dehydration uses mechanical heater treaters which rely on elevated temperature to improve the settling of the dispersed water phase. In HPAM flood, the fire tubes in these mechanical heater treaters have become problematic and experienced repetitive failures. Electrostatic technology uses the response to the electrostatic field by the polar dispersed water phase to enhance the water settling. Electrostatic technology has been a proven technology for oil dehydration and desalting for water flood and other recovery methods such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), but not widely used in HPAM flood. A joint study was conducted between Cameron and Cenovus to evaluate the electrostatic dehydration of the heavy oil from HPAM flood. The results of the study indicate that, due to the presence of HPAM in water, the electrostatic dehydration of the wet oil from HPAM flood demonstrates some unique characteristics. Electrostatic dehydrators can achieve about 300% of the capacity of mechanical heater treaters. Proper equipment and process designs are important to reduce the equipment failures. The results of the study offer a more effective oil dehydration technology to the HPAM flood producers. The benefits of electrostatic dehydration can be especially valuable for the offshore implementation of HPAM flood due to the space and weight savings.