bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Process Provides More Effective Ultraviolet Light Disinfection of Fracturing Fluids
Authors: Crane B. , Neal G. , Warren W.
Published: March 2011

Water used in fracturing fluids must typically be treated to reduce the concentration of aerobic acid producing bacteria and, more importantly, anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria that can cause a well to go sour. Typically chemical biocides are used to provide the disinfection. However, biocides can interfere with chemical additives in the fracturing fluid and cause equipment damage. Additionally, biocides are toxic chemicals that must be handled carefully and registered with federal and local environmental protection agencies. Some areas strictly regulate which chemicals can be persistent in treatment liquids flowed back from wells. To address the issues associated with the chemical biocides, disinfection via ultraviolet (UV) light has been introduced into hydraulic fracturing operations. The use of UV light can greatly reduce the volume of chemical biocides used and also decreases the biocide concentration in liquids flowed back from a treated well.

Early UV equipment treated water as it was placed into storage tanks on the fracturing location. This allowed for possible recontamination from biofilms present in the storage tanks. A new trailer has been placed into operation that treats the water on the fly as it flows from the storage tanks to the fracturing blender. The performance of the UV light equipment has also been improved. The disinfection effectiveness of the UV light system has been verified on site during fracturing treatments using the serial dilution method to measure aerobic and sulfate-reducing bacteria levels, both before and after the UV treatment. The test results prove that bacteria concentration in the fracturing water can be significantly reduced, sometimes to undetectable levels, by UV treatment.
Occupational and Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology in E&P: An Overview
Authors: Ostraat M. L.
Published: March 2011

As applications for nanotechnology become more common in the oil and gas industry, greater emphasis must be placed upon the occupational and environmental implications of the nanotechnologies being developed and deployed. This paper provides an overview of information regarding several major categories:

Opportunities for nano-enabled products and advances for oil exploration and production; Best practices employed in other industries for handling nanotechnologies and how they might be adapted to the oil and gas industry; Current methods and instrumentation for assessing occupational exposures to nanomaterials as well as workplace controls to reduce exposures; and Current challenges to assessing the environmental and biological implications of nanotechnology.

Additionally, as much is still being discovered about the promise of nanotechnology, there is tremendous opportunity for nanotechnology to mitigate the overall environmental risks across the oil and gas industry if a life cycle approach is considered and if nano-enabled products are designed with occupational and environmental safety in mind.
HIV, TB, and Malaria Prevention and Management in the Oil and Gas Supply Chain
Authors: Melville J. L. , Panse S. , Barden G. K. , Hancock T. , Neumann R.
Published: March 2011

Many oil and gas companies operate in regions where HIV, TB and malaria are highly problematic health issues and can pose a strong risk to worker productivity. In addition to the endemic risk, the typical characteristics of oil project life often serve to exacerbate the risk of contraction of these diseases and/or make treatment provision difficult.

Our report focuses on the industry’s upstream and midstream supply chain where contractors, suppliers and other indirect employees represent a large portion of the workforce. To better understand oil company and oil services contractor responses to HIV, TB and malaria, we examined their level of engagement, drivers behind it, reasons for inaction, areas of high impact and opportunities for progress.

We found that the industry has made inroads in addressing HIV and malaria, but that TB has received little attention by comparison.

There is wide variation in company interaction on these health issues. While oil companies are ahead of the curve in developing targetted programs, the contractor community has not been as active. Contractor action is largely dependent on guidance from oil companies and – in some cases – financial institutions if they are providing funding. Contractual clauses to address these diseases are becoming more prevalent and are generally considered effective, but there is still room for improvement. Contractual language could be clearer and more standardized; monitoring of contractual compliance could increase.

In addition to client requirements, risk perception remains a primary driver of health initiatives but our research showed that the perception of the risk of these diseases as well as their impact was mixed.

Finally, our survey revealed greater interaction between oil companies and oil services contractors than between oil services contractors and their sub-contractors. We found that the sub-contractor community remains the most poorly served in terms of disease prevention and management programs yet it is this community which is the most at risk. Interaction across the industry supply chain needs to be increased in order to ensure that this group is not excluded from health initiatives.
Building Competitive Advantage: The Business Case for Social License to Operate
Authors: Lunsford E. , Haddon M. , Hall T. , Nadel R.
Published: March 2011

Social license to operate and non-technical – or ‘sustainability’ – performance are not simply philanthropy. Rather, they are multi-dimensional and intrinsically linked to the market value of upstream oil and gas projects. Corporations stand to protect billions of dollars of value by gaining a full understanding of the business case underlying the need for comprehensive strategies to manage and build long-term social license to operate.

Although non-technical performance has often been perceived as a sideline to strategic business-planning and capital investment decision making it is typically the root cause of approximately 80% of major capital project delays – in developed and developing countries alike. In the increasingly high stakes ‘new operating environment’ corporations have a significant market opportunity to benefit from making enterprise and project-level decisions based on a more informed and disciplined balancing of social, environmental, and economic dynamics.

This paper examines how to improve non-technical performance by exploring:

The link between a corporation’s social license to operate and real market value in major capital projects; How corporations can garner competitive advantage through building valuable sustainability value – by rediscovering the links between the so-called ‘triple bottom line’ and the real single bottom line; and Decision-making and implementation frameworks that blend organizational design, change management and executive engagement to move beyond the silos of functional approaches towards full business integration.
Operations Management: The Road to Zero-Incident Safety Performance
Authors: Williams J. E. , McCulloch I
Published: March 2011

Developing a zero incident safety performance culture in a remote location with a local multi-cultural workforce requires visible management commitment, robust management systems and continuous workforce engagement. A zero total recordable injury rate has been maintained by ConcoPhillips’ Algeria Business Unit since July 2008. This accomplishment represents over three million hours of ongoing simultaneous activities namely operations, construction and drilling.

The business was acquired in 2006. The Menzel Lejmat North (MLN) operations facility is located in the southern Sahara desert. In addition to MLN, there is a support base in Hassi Messaoud, a government liaison office in Algiers and the BU headquarters in Houston. MLN has a diverse workforce of approximately 125 staff of 12 nationalities; including company employees, contractors and the national oil company (NOC) secondees. Since OSHA-type statistics are not a regulatory requirement, company standards and self-regulation provide the only basis of influence with the NOC and the contracted workforce.

The key points to developing a zero incident safety performance include the following:

Management Commitment

The management team has delivered a consistent message that promotes planning for safe work, visible line management, support of safe work practices, and continuous improvement of personal and process safety. The concept is to instill safety into everything we do.

Management System Implementation

The system provides a common language to communicate procedures and to measure progress in a standard context. Line management is accountable for implementing and maintaining these management systems in alignment with the corporate standards, which facilitates continuous HSE performance improvement and ensures compliance.

Contractor Engagement

All contractors working at our facilities are embraced by a zero incident safety culture that is practiced by management and employees. Safety performance goals and expectations are communicated to everyone to establish one workforce with common objectives.
Identifying Environmental Risk of Sustained Casing Pressure
Authors: Kinik K. , Wojtanowicz A. K.
Published: March 2011

Considerable number of producing and abandoned wells with sustained casing head pressure (SCP) constitutes a potential new source of continuous natural gas emission from failed casing heads due to leaching cement sheath and external gas migration. Present regulations require assessment of SCP severity based upon a testing procedure that involves casing pressure bleed-off followed with pressure buildup. The test analysis, however, is qualitative and risk qualification – arbitrary, with no insight of the gas migration process.

The objective of this work is to consider SCP an environmental hazard and analyze the Bleedoff-Buidup (B-B) tests quantitatively to determine maximum possible emissions and their probabilistic risk. The maximum SCP is directly related to the potential failure of the well’s containment and breaching of the gas outside the well. Probabilistic approach is used to analyze the uncertainty of the maximum casing shoe pressure resulting from SCP and the uncertainty in determination of casing shoe strength determined by Leak-off test (LOT). The study contributes in the area of SCP well testing methodology and the environmental analysis of wells with small SCP that may be of no concern to operator but may have environmental consequences.
Minimum Produced Water from Oil Wells with Water-Coning Control and Water-Loop Installations
Authors: Jin L. , Wojtanowicz A. K.
Published: March 2011

Most common mechanisms of unrecovered oil in reservoirs with bottom water are water coning and cresting. The effects involve a dynamic deformation of OWC, invasion of water to the well’s completion resulting in excessive water production and poor recovery. Coning cannot be controlled by chemical and mechanical water shut-off techniques but the Downhole Water Sink (DWS) method has proven to be effective. Dual-completed DWS wells control coning by draining water from the bottom (sink) completion so the top (oil) completion inflows water-free oil. Despite high productivity and recovery, DWS wells produce large volumes of water that pose environmental compliance problem and cost.

A DWS modification, the Downhole Water Loop (DWL) technique controls water coning without large volumes of produced water (PW). DWL wells are triple-completed so instead of lifting the sink water to the surface, they use downhole pumps to drain and re-inject the water to the same aquifer. DWL wells have environmental advantage of waste volume minimization and productivity advantage of maintaining water drive pressure. Their disadvantage, however, is the need for keeping up with injectivity decline. The objective of this study is to identify economic feasibility of DWL technique for different technical scenarios using reservoir simulator.

Simulation models have been developed to compare economic performance of conventional, DWS, and DWL wells. The Environmental Control Technology (ECT) approach was used to identify productivity and environmental cost benefits for DWS and DWL in relation to conventional well. The results show broad range of conditions where DWS is economically superior to conventional except for high-water-cost areas, where DWL shows best economic performance. However, injectivity decline appears to be the cost-controlling factor for DWL wells.

The comparison of three types of wells, conventional, DWS and DWL reveals benefits of multi-functional wells that improve productivity and reduce pollution. DWL wells could keep water downhole, save energy for water lifting, and control water coning with minimum environmental impact. Also, the case study shows considerable savings in the oil production cost with DWL for oil reservoirs with high-injectivity bottom aquifers in the high water cost areas.
Predicting Oil Slick Migration at a Pipeline River Crossing on the River Niger Using Hydraulic Geometry
Authors: Anifowose B. , Lawler D. , van der Horst D. , Chapman L.
Published: March 2011

Understanding oil slick migration in rivers is important for effective spill response because rivers provide essential services for household purposes e.g. fisheries, water supply, transport, socio-cultural activities and recreation. Rivers constitute the second most important source of household water supply in Nigeria. Yet, rivers are major receptors of oil pollution. This paper focuses specifically on oil Pipeline River crossing upstream of Lokoja (on the Niger River) to demonstrate likely oil slick migration trend, herein referred to as oil travel time (OTT). An OTT describes the average time it takes lead oil plume to arrive at a downstream destination.

The primary objective of this paper is to facilitate timely warning for water and environmental managers through OTT prediction; and, provide valuable information for contingency planning, monitoring and impact assessment. Method applied is the Hydraulic Geometry (HG) model using historic mean daily discharge MDQ (m3 s-1) (1980-2008), hydraulic characteristics: width w (m), mean depth d (d), mean velocity v (m s-1) and 3% ‘differential oil-water velocity’ of wind speed (m s-1) at Lokoja.

Results suggest that any spilled oil at the pipeline river crossing is likely to hit key receptors (e.g. water reservoir ~34km downstream) in 4 hours during high flow and takes ~9 days to reach Onitsha (~240km downstream) during low flow. This prediction is based on at-a-station HG using logarithmic regression (R2 = 0.8447). Power regression was also used but had weaker R2 value of 0.6175; hence the former appears more reliable. The absence of adequate data for other cross-sections downstream of the lower Niger River makes downstream HG less useful in this study. There is urgent need for more data points and systematic survey along the lower Niger to enhance downstream HG OTT prediction.

This study represents the first known attempt to predict OTT in Nigerian Rivers using historic intermediate environmental data, though there have been a number of studies on marine/coastal oil spill incidents. This level of analysis is expected in every EIA where oil transport pipeline crosses rivers/streams. It is hoped that the results and the models used in this study would form useful basis for impact assessment in the ongoing efforts to explore oil at the inland river basins of Nigeria known as Nigerian Frontier Inland Sedimentary Basins (NFISB).
Comparison of Propensity toward Water Treeing in XLPE Insulated Power Cables Produced in Arab Gulf Countries
Authors: Qureshi M. I , Malik N. H , Al-Arainy A. A , Al-saati M. N , Al-Natheer O. A , Anam M. Sadrul
Published: March 2011

Electric power utilities and industrial units in Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries are extensively using XLPE cables produced in the Arabian Gulf region. Due to prevailing high temperatures and high sulphate and chloride contents in the soil coupled with high sub surface water table in some areas, these cables have suffered serious breakdowns in a relatively short time span after their installation. This investigation was undertaken to compare the resistance to water treeing of 15 kV, XLPE insulated cables produced by four regional cable manufacturers. In the first stage, aging was carried out using AEIC protocol under high electric stress and temperature cycling in the presence of deionized water. After 120 days of such aging, the retained dielectric strength of these cables was determined by high voltage time test. The results showed poor performance of one of the cables while the three others exhibited close values. In the second stage, the cables were aged in the presence of aqueous ionic solution of CuSO4 and elevated electric stress for aging periods that lasted in the range of 500 to 1500 hours. Water tree number and lengths were measured and were analyzed using Weibull and log-normal statistical distributions and were found to fit better on log-normal model. Furthermore, water tree density which varied as a function of aging period obeyed a log-linear relation. These data also show that for a fixed aging period, water tree density in these cables as evaluated in the second stage of aging, comparatively varies significantly and leads to a better method of discrimination between different cables in order to select a cable that will serve best in wet local environmental conditions.
Battery Discharging Power Control in a Double-Wound Flywheel System Applied to Electric Vehicles
Authors: Goncalves de Oliveira Janaína , Abrahamsson Johan , Bernhoff Hans
Published: March 2011

Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESS) are a good alternative for power handling and energy storage in hybrid and electric vehicles. The combination of a FESS and a battery has several advantages, such as higher peak power capacity and reduced number of charging/discharging cycles in the battery. Nevertheless, batteries have a significant effect on the performance of the system and the control of the flywheel-battery link should be optimized in order to increase the system efficiency.The FESS investigated in this paper has its novelty in the use of a double wound flywheel machine which divides the system in two different voltage/power levels. High-Voltage/Power (HV) side connects the flywheel machine to the wheel motor and Low-Voltage/Power (LV) side connects the flywheel machine to the battery.The present paper focuses on the converter system and the control logic which regulates battery discharging process and the flywheel rotational speed. Emphasis has been given to the overall power/energy management of the system. Simulations and experimental results show that an ON/OFF battery control allows a highly efficient system, requiring a robust speed control and high energy density for the flywheel machine.
Extractive spectrophotometric determination of Quetiapine fumarate in pharmaceuticals and human urine using calmagite as an ion-pair reagent
Authors: Rajendraprasad Nagaraju , Basavaiahf Kanakapura , Vinay Basavaiah
Published: March 2011

Quetiapine fumarate (QTF) is an antipsychotic drug belonging to the
benzisoxazole derivatives indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. A
sensitive and selective method based on dichloromethane-extractable ion-pair
of QTF with calmagite (CGT), which exhibited an absorption maximum at 490 nm,
is described. At this wavelength, Beer?s law is obeyed over the concentration
range of 3.0 - 30.0 ?g ml-1. The apparent molar absorptivity, limit of
detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) values are 1.32 ? 104 l mol-1 cm-1,
0.27 and 0.81 ?g ml-1 respectively. The reaction is extremely rapid at room
temperature and the absorbance values remain unchanged upto 19 h. The
precision results, expressed as intra-day and inter-day relative standard
deviation values, are satisfactory (RSD ? 2.2%). The accuracy is satisfactory
as well (RE ? 2.44%). The method was successfully applied to the
determination of QTF in pharmaceuticals and spiked human urine with
satisfactory results. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical
adjuvants in tablets. Statistical comparison of the results with official
method showed an excellent agreement and indicated no significant difference
in precision.
Phosphonium iodide as a donor liquid electrolyte for dyesensitized solar cells
Authors: Li Hui , Jiang Hongshi , Yao Chenzhong , Wang Jian
Published: March 2011

An efficient triphenylmethylphosphonium iodide-based liquid electrolyte was
synthesized and used for the first time as an electrolyte in dye-sensitized
solar cells (DSSCs). With the as-synthesized electrolyte, the DSSC yielded an
overall light to electricity conversion efficiency of 5.34 % to 7.10 %, when
the radiant power was tuned from 100 mW cm-2 to 10 mW cm-2. This may be
attributed to the limitation of mass transport in the DSSC. The electronic
and ionic processes in the DSSC were investigated by electrochemical
impedance spectroscopy and linear voltammography, respectively.
Voice analysis before and after vocal tiredness
Authors: Petrovic-Lazic Mirjana , Babac Snezana , Tatovic Milica , Ivankovic Zoran
Published: March 2011

Background?Aim. A school teacher's occupation is one of the most vocal
demanding professions. Vocal tiredness affects acoustic characteristics of
voice, leads to the change in acoustic quality during vocal production. The
aim of this study was to examine the influence of vocal tiredness on voice
acoustic characteristics of school teachers. Methods. The study included 36
school teachers (16 male and 20 female) of 27-58 years of age. Vocal
tiredness was evaluated by analyzing acoustic parameters of voice, using
computerized laboratory ?Kay Elemetrics?. The voices were recorded before the
first class on the beginning of a working week and after the last class at
the end of a working week. Signal, noise and tremor parameters were
processed. In their analysis the methods of descriptive statistics, as well
as the analytical statistics (Student's t-test for paired samples, ?2 test,
Mann Whitney U-test and Pearson?s correlation coefficient) were applied.
Results. The obtained results showed statistically significant differences in
average values of parameters as a consequence of the vocal tiredness (p <
0.01), while gender, age and being smoker or not, did not have a significant
effect on voice acoustic characteristics in this group of examinees (p >
0.05). Conclusion. The results of the study suggest a casual relationship
between vocal tiredness and voice quality in vocal professionals.
Clinical characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus infection in neonates and young infants
Authors: Savic Natasa , Jankovic Borisav , Minic Predrag , Vasiljevic Zorica , Sovtic Aleksandar , Pejic Katarina , Sarajlija Adrijan , Gazikalovic Slobodan
Published: March 2011

Introduction/Aim. Infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) occurs
during the first year of life in 50% of children and 20%-40% of them have
signs of lower respiratory tract infection (bronchiolitis or pneumonia).
There is an increased risk for complicated course and death from RSV
infection in premature infants, especially those with bronchopulmonary
dysplasia (BPD) or congenital heart disease. The aim of our study was to
analyze clinical characteristics of laboratory confirmed RSV infection in
order to evaluate the need for preventive measures in neonates and young
infants. Methods. The prospective study included children under age of 12
months admitted to our hospital in the period November 2008-March 2009 who
were positive for RSV by enzyme immunoassay membrane test. The course of
disease was assessed by clinical score and radiographic findings. Results.
Infection with RSV was confirmed in 91 patients: 21 (23.0%) were under the
age of 30 days, 37 (40.7%) were between 31-60 days, and 33 patients (36.3%)
were older than 60 days (p > 0.05). The highest hospitalization rate was in
January - 33 patients (36.3%; p < 0.01). Disease severity score in these age
groups (AG) were: 8.4 ? 0.4 (AG 0-30 days); 9.0 ? 0.3 (AG 31-60 days) and 8.3
? 0.3 (AG > 60 days), without statistically significant difference among the
groups (p > 0.05). Clinical scores in patients with and without risk factors
were 10.5 ? 0.5 and 8.3 ? 0.2, respectively (p < 0.01). Pathological
radiographic findings were observed in 72 (79.1%) and complications (apnea,
significant atelectasis, encephalopathy) occured in 15 (16.5%) patients. The
average length of hospital stay in complicated and uncomplicated course of
the disease was 9 days and 6 days, respectively (p < 0.01). Therapy in 85
(93.4%) patients included bronchodilators, while systemic glucocorticoids and
oxygen therapy were used in 51 (56.0%) and 44 (48.4%) patients, respectively.
Death occured in 2 (2.2%) patients, both from a high risk group (the patient
with BPD and the other one with congenital heart disease and Down syndrome).
Conclusion. Infection with RSV in our settings showed marked seasonal
characteristics with highest hospitalization rate in January. Although the
course and outcome of the disease were favorable in the majority of our
patients, the need for hospitalization and administration of therapy with
possible side effects warrants that general measures for prevention of
respiratory infections are followed especially in the first year of life.
Severe disease and death are more probable in neonates and infants with risk
factors. In these children passive immunisation with specific monoclonal
antibody (e.g. palivizumab) during RSV season should be considered.
Comparison of primary medicament therapy effects and primary argon laser trabeculoplasty on regulation of intraocular pressure and stability of perimetry findings in open angle glaucoma
Authors: Sreckovic Suncica , Janicijevic-Petrovic Mirjana , Petrovic Nenad , Vukosavljevic Miroslav
Published: March 2011

Introduction/Aim. Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT) is a recognized method
for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma.
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of primary medicament
therapy and primary ALT on IOP regulation and stability of perimetry
findings. Methods. A total of 50 eyes of 35 patients were treated with
primary ALT while 50 eyes of 36 patients were treated with primary medicament
therapy with 0.5% timolol with 20, 0.005% latanoprost 18 and with 2%
dorzolamid 12 eyes. IOP was controled at 3 months, and the visual field at 6
months during a 30-month follow-up period. Results. In the first 24 months of
follow-up there was no statistically significant difference in percentage of
eyes with successfully regulated IOP. At 27th and 30th month, in the group
primarily treated with medicaments a statistically significant higher
percentage of successfully regulated IOP was observed in 98%, and 96% of the
eyes, respectively, while in the group primarily treated with ALT the decline
in the percentage of successfully regulated IOP was observed in 78% and 76%
of the eyes, (?2-test, p = 0.002, p = 0.140). Both therapy groups showed
stability of perimetry findings without statistically significant difference
in the values of mean deviation (MD) index until the end of the monitoring
period. The dynamics of change in MD index value showed a statistically
significant greater decline in this parameter in subjects who had been
primarily treated with medications during the last six months of follow-up,
(two-factor analysis of variance with a repeated measurement, factor of time ?
type of therapy, p = 0.030). Conclusion. Primary ALT equally successfully
regulates IOP and restores stability of perimetry findings in patients with
open angle glaucoma like the primary medicament therapy.
Mechanical ventilation in patients with most severe forms of influenza a H1N1
Authors: Romic Predrag , Nozic Darko , Surbatovic Maja , Veljovic Milic , Stojic Mihajlo , Vukovic Rade
Published: March 2011

Background/Aim. Pandemic of A H1N1 influenza is noted for its rapid spreading
and life-threatening consequences like acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS) which requires mechanical ventilation (MV) and intensive therapy (IT).
The aim of the study was to determine the significance of mechanical
ventilation application in the presence of comorbidities on the outcome of
the disease and patients with severe forms of acute influenza caused by A
H1N1 virus. Methods. Five patients with acute respiratory failure caused by A
H1N1 influenza that required MV were included in the study. Course and
outcome of the treatment were monitored in relation to age and sex of the
patients, concomitant diseases, time of influenza beginning, a time of
admittance in an intensive care unit, a time of an endotracheal intubation
and MV beginning, MV duration and occurrence of secondary infections.
Results. Three patients were on a very prolonged MV (39, 43 and 20 days,
respectively) and they all survived. Two patients with a significantly
shorter duration of MV (14 and 12 days, respectively) died because of a very
severe clinical course and concomitant diseases. Unexpectedly, we found a
positive correlation between duration of MV and survival although two
patients, who were on MV for the longest period of time (43 and 39 days,
respectively), developed, as a complication, secondary bacterial pneumonia.
Conclusion. Intensive therapy of patients with ARDS due to A H1N1 influenza
virus requires MV which should be carried out according to guidelines of
international expert forums. That is in accordance with our unexpected
observation on negative correlation between duration of MV and fatal outcome.
Intensive treatment of these patients, specially MV, can be very prolonged
and, therefore, requires specialized teams of anesthesiologists, separate,
isolated intensive therapy units and high level of medical staff protection,
as was the case in this study, so no member of medical staff was infected.
Neurophysiological evaluation of patients with degenerative diseases of the cervical spine
Authors: Ilic Tihomir , Stankovic Snezana , Ilic Nela , Kostic Sanja , Djajic Vlado , Dominovic-Kovacevic Aleksandra
Published: March 2011

Bacground/Aim. Diagnostic protocol for patients with degenerative diseases of
the cervical spine demands, in parallel with neuroimaging methods, functional
evaluation through neurophysiological methods (somatosensitive and motor
evoked potentials and electromyoneurography) aiming to evaluate possible
subclinical affection of spinal medula resulting in neurological signs of
long tract abnormalities. Considering diversities of clinical outcomes for
these patients, complex diagnostic evaluation provides a prognosis of the
disease progression. Methods. The study included 21 patients (48.24 ? 11.01
years of age) with clinical presentation of cervical spondylarthropathy,
without neuroradiological signs of myelopathy. For each patient, in addition
to conventional neurophysiological tests (somatisensory evoked potentials -
SSEP, motor evoked potentials - MEP, electromyoneurography - EMG, nerve
conduction studies), we calculated central motor conduction time (CMCTF), as
well the same parameter in relation to a different position of the head
(maximal anteflexion and retroflexion), so-called dynamic tests. Results.
Abnormalities of the peripheral motor neurone by conventional EMNeG was
established in 2/3 of the patients, correponding to the findings of root
condution time. Prolonged conventional CVMPF were found in 29% of the
patients, comparing to 43% CVMPF abnormalities found with the dynamic tests.
In addition, the SSEP findings were abnormal in 38% of the patients with
degenerative diseases of the cervical spine. Conclusion. An extended
neurophysiological protocol of testing corticospinal functions, including
dynamic tests of central and periheral motor neurons are relevant for
detection of subclinical forms of cervical spondylothic myelopathy, even at
early stages. In addition to the conventional neurophysiological tests, we
found usefull to include the dynamic motor tests and root conduction time
measurement in diagnostic evaluation.
Injuries of the thoracic aorta and its branches
Authors: Davidovic Lazar , Koncar Igor , Markovic Dejan , Sindjelic Radomir , Colic Momcilo
Published: March 2011

nema
Reconstruction of the columella and the tip of the nose with an island-shaped forehead flap
Authors: Vulovic Dejan , Stepic Nenad , Pavlovic Aleksandar , Milicevic Sasa , Piscevic Branislav
Published: March 2011

Background. Posttraumatic and postoperative defects of columella and the tip
of the nose are difficult to reconstruct. There are several operative methods
described in the literature, and many of them are step-by-step procedures
with long duration. The aim of this study was to present one-step procedure
for reconstruction of the columella and the tip of the nose with
island-shaped arterial forehead flap. Case report. A 45-year old man was
submitted to surgical excision of basocellular skin cancer. After the
excision, a defect of the columella and tip of the nose the remained, 3 ? 2.5
cm in dimensions, with exposed alar cartilages. During the same operation,
the defect was covered with an island-shaped arterial forehead flap.
Postoperative one-year course was uneventful, without signs of tumor
recurrence after one year, and further surgical corrections were unnecessary.
Conclusion. Considering the results of our operative technique, we believe
that middle island-shaped forehead flap is suitable for reconstruction of the
columella and the tip of the nose, due to the following reasons: safe
vascularization of flap, similarity of the transferred tissue with the
excised one, the procedure is completed in one step, simple surgical
technique and uncomplicated healing of a flap-harvesting site.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Embryonic Stem Cell Markers in Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors
Authors: Deisch Jeremy , Raisanen Jack , Rakheja Dinesh
Published: March 2011

Malignant rhabdoid tumor is a highly aggressive pediatric neoplasm molecularly characterized by inactivating mutations of the SMARCB1 gene, a potent tumor suppressor and member of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. It has been suggested that oncogenesis in SMARCB1-deficient cancers, such as malignant rhabdoid tumors, is driven not by the loss of SWI/SNF function but by an aberrant functioning of the BRG1-containing SWI/SNF complex. Since Brg1 is required for self-renewal and pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells, we hypothesized that the human malignant rhabdoid tumors may express pluripotency genes such as SALL4, LIN28, OCT3 and OCT4 (OCT3/4), NANOG, and TCL1. To test this hypothesis, we studied the immunohistochemical expression of SALL4, LIN28, OCT3/4, NANOG, and TCL1 in 11 malignant rhabdoid tumors of the central nervous system (atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors) and 5 malignant rhabdoid tumors of the kidney. Of the 16 malignant rhabdoid tumors, 14 (88%) tumors showed robust SALL4 and/or LIN28 expression. No tumor showed any significant OCT3/4, NANOG, or TCL1 expression. Our results suggest that malignant rhabdoid tumors may arise from and/or share features with embryonic stem cells or germ cells.
Giant Frontal Colliding Meningiomas in a Child: Histopathologic, Cytogenetic, and Ultrastructural Descriptions of a Unique Case
Authors: Jamal aj M. El , Raja Ali , Saad Ali G.
Published: March 2011

Meningiomas in the pediatric population are uncommon primary brain tumors, and rhabdoid meningiomas are exceedingly rare. We describe herein a 16-year-old female who presented with a giant frontal mass with intracranial and extracranial components. Histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural examinations showed the intracranial tumor to be rhabdoid meningioma, and the extracranial tumor was meningothelial meningioma. Cytogenetic study of the intracranial tumor showed monosomy 22, and the extracranial tumor showed allelic losses at 18p11.32. Because of the different cytogenetic findings and the absence of communication between these two tumors, we concluded that these tumors were separate and represent colliding meningiomas. Furthermore, the rhabdoid meningioma lacked obvious histologic evidence of malignancy. The presence of colliding meningiomas with different cytogenetic abnormalities as well as a rhabdoid meningioma showing no conspicuous evidence of malignancy have not been reported in children before.
Nax−yHyTi2−xFexO4·nH2O nanosheets with lepidocrocite-like layered structure synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of ilmenite sand
Authors: Jardim Paula , Mancic Lidija , Marinkovic Bojan , Milosevic Olivera , Rizzo Fernando
Published: March 2011

Nax−yHyTi2−xFexO4·nH2O nanosheets with lepidocrocite-like layered structure were produced through alkaline hydrothermal treatment at very low temperatures (130°C) from ilmenite sand. The crystal structure, morphology and optical properties were investigated by X-Ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The product shows leaf-like nanosheet morphology with thickness <30 nm and lengths <1 µm. Three lepidocrocite-like titanates (Imm2 space group) with similar a and c lattice parameters but different interlayer distances (b/2) were identified. This appears to be the first preparation of lepidocrocite-like layered nanosheets by a simple, energy efficient (low temperature) and low cost (starting from mineral sand) procedure.
Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of iodide-ions in form of ionic associate with brilliant green using electrochemical oxidation
Authors: Drozd Anatoliy , Tishakova Tatyana
Published: March 2011

A combined method involving electrochemical oxidation of iodide to iodate at a platinum electrode followed by extraction in CCl4 of ionic associates of iodine-iodide complexes with brilliant green, formed in excess of iodide, was developed for the spectrophotometric quantification of iodide. The slope of the calibration curve yields a molar extinction coefficient of ɛ = 3·105 L mol−1cm−1. This method can be used for the quantification of iodide in the concentration range of 3·10−7 − 3·10−6 mol L−1 with a detection limit of 5·10−8 mol L−1. The interfering effect of other ions on the determination of the iodide concentration was also investigated. The method was successfully applied for the determination of iodide in real samples of NaCl and spring water. Relative standard deviation is 1–2%.
Development and validation of an ultra-fast liquid chromatographic method for the quality control of famotidine formulations using a short monolithic stationary phase
Authors: Tzanavaras Paraskevas
Published: March 2011

An HPLC method for the quality control of famotidine (FMT) containing formulations has been developed and validated. The combination of a short monolithic column (Chromolith® RP-18e 50 × 4.6 mm i.d.) and an elevated flow rate (3.0 mL min−1) enabled the proposal of a high-throughput analytical scheme capable of reliable operation in a demanding industrial environment. Detection was carried out at 265 nm. Thorough validation of the method included linearity (5–150%), limits of detection (0.13%) and quantification (0.41%), selectivity, precision (within- and day-to-day), accuracy and ruggedness. The new method was applied successfully to the analysis of samples (assay, dissolution, dosage & blending uniformity) during the production of four validation batches of FMT-containing tablets.
Self-assembled hydrogen-bonded coordination networks in two copper(II) carboxylates with 4-pyridylmethanol
Authors: Maroszová Jaroslava , Moncol Jan , Padělková Zdeňka , Sillanpää Reijo , Lis Tadeusz , Koman Marian
Published: March 2011

The crystal and molecular structure of [Cu(nif)2(4-PM)2]·CH3OH (1) and [Cu(2-Clbz)2(4-PM)2(H2O)] (2), (where nif = niflumate anion, 2-Clbz = 2-chlorobenzoate anion and 4-PM is the 4-pyridylmethanol), have been determinated by X-ray crystallography. The Cu2+ cation in (1), is coordinated by two pairs of oxygen atoms from asymmetric bidentate niflumate anions and by a pair of pyridine nitrogen atoms from monodentate 4-pyridylmethanol ligands in trans position forming an extremely elongated bipyramid. The Cu2+ cation in (2), is coordinated by a pair of oxygen atoms from monodentate 2-chlorobenzoate anions, further by a pair of pyridine nitrogen atoms from monodentate 4-pyridylmethanol ligands and finally by a water oxygen atom forming a tetragonal-pyramidal coordination polyhedron. The molecules of both complexes in crystal structures are linked by O-H…O hydrogen bonds, which created a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding networks. The Π-Π stacking interactions are also observed in crystal structures of complex 2. The spectral properties (IR and electronic spectra) of both complexes were also investigated.
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of carboxylic acids: an overview
Authors: Jadhav Sushilkumar
Published: March 2011

The field of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of organic compounds on different substrates is of importance because it provides a suitable and efficient method of surface modification. The formation of robust, stable monolayers from carboxylic acids on two and three dimensional surfaces of different substrates have been reported. Carboxylic acids are promising class of organic compounds for monolayer formations where traditional alkanethiols or alkoxysilanes show limitations.
Aqueous phenol and ethylene glycol solutions in electrohydrodynamic liquid bridging
Authors: Eisenhut Mathias , Guo Xinghua , Paulitsch-Fuchs Astrid , Fuchs Elmar
Published: March 2011

The formation of aqueous bridges containing phenol and ethylene glycol as well as bisphenol-A, hydrochinone and p-cresol under the application of high voltage DC (“liquid bridges”) is reported. Detailed studies were made for phenol and glycol with concentrations from 0.005 to 0.531 mol L−1. Conductivity as well as substance and mass transfers through these aqueous bridges are discussed and compared with pure water bridges. Previously suggested bidirectional mass transport is confirmed for the substances tested. Anodic oxidation happens more efficiently when phenol or glycol are transported from the cathode to the anode since in this case the formation of a passivation layer or electrode poisoning are retarded by the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow. The conductivity in the cathode beaker decreases in all experiments due to electrophoretic transport of naturally dissolved carbonate and bicarbonate to the anode. The observed electrochemical behavior is shortly discussed and compared to known mechanisms.
The trapping of indoor air contaminants
Authors: Strommen Mike , Gesser Hyman
Published: March 2011

The removal of indoor air contaminants by reactivity with air filters coated with reagents has been found to be effective for aldehydes, acidic and basic vapours as well as isocyanates Coatings of polymeric amines were used for formaldehyde trapping as well as for the removal of acidic vapours and for the removal of isocyanates. The addition of glycerol as a plasticizer for the coating can also be an effective reagent.
Epimerization, transacylation and bromination of dihydroquercetin acetates; synthesis of 8-bromodihydroquercetin
Authors: Kiehlmann Eberhard , Szczepina Monica
Published: March 2011

Dihydroquercetin (dhq) and its 3-acetate react with acetic anhydride in the absence of a base catalyst to yield mixtures of partially acetylated products. Three new esters were characterized by NMR spectroscopy as dhq 3,7,3′-triacetate, 3,7,4′-triacetate and 5,7,3′,4′-tetraacetate. At its melting point neat dhq 3,7,3′,4′-tetraacetate is partially converted to dhq 3,3′,4′-triacetate and dhq pentaacetate by intermolecular acetyl transfer. Dhq 7,3′,4′-triacetate yields exclusively dhq 3′,4′-di- and 3,7,3′,4′-tetraacetate under these conditions. The acetylation/deacetylation reactions are accompanied by partial epimerization: 3 new acetates with 2,3-cis stereochemistry (dhq 3-, 3,7,3′,4′-tetra- and penta-) were identified. Dhq and its 3,7,3′,4′-tetraacetate undergo regiospecific dibromination at C-6 and C-8 with excess N-bromosuccinimide in polar solvents, and 6,8-dibromo-dhq can be regioselectively debrominated to 8-bromo-dhq with sodium sulfite.
Unilateral agenesis of lung associated with total anomalous pulmonary venous return and atrial septal defect
Authors: Vesna Pavlović , Vesna Stojanović , Aleksandra Doronjski , Branka Kovačević , Oto Adjić
Published: March 2011

Presented, is the case of a newborn with left-sided lung agenesis associated with total anomalous pulmonary venous return, atrial septal defect, polysplenia and hypospadias was described. Throughout the entire hospitalization period the newborn was in poor general condition, and dependent on mechanical ventilation with high oxygen concentrations. On day 20, the newborn died. According to the available literature, this case is unique in regard to the type and number of malformations.
Clinical and Cognitive Correlates of Psychiatric Comorbidity in Delusional Disorder Outpatients
Authors: de Portugal Enrique , Martínez Covadonga , González Nieves , del Amo Victoria , Haro Josep M. , Cervilla Jorge A.
Published: March 2011

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence, as well as the clinical, cognitive, and functional correlates of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with delusional disorder (DD).

Methods: Eighty-six outpatients with DSM-IV DD were evaluated for psychiatric comorbidity on Axis I disorders using the Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview (MINI). The following instruments were administered: the Standardized Assessment of Personality (SAP), the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), a neuropsychological battery (consisting of measures for attention, verbal and working memory, and executive functions), the Sheehan Disability Inventory (SDI), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. A socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire was also completed.

Results: Forty-six percent of the subjects had at least one additional lifetime psychiatric diagnosis, the most common being depressive disorders (N = 16, 32.6%), followed by anxiety disorders (N = 8, 14%). DD with comorbid Axis I disorders (N = 40, 46.5%) was associated with a specific syndromic constellation (more common cluster C personality psychopathology, somatic delusions, olfactory and gustatory hallucinations, and suicide risk), and greater severity of the psychopathology, particularly as regards emotional dysregulation (total and general PANSS scales, MADRS, and perceived stress SDI scoring). In contrast, DD without psychiatric comorbidity – “pure” DD – (N = 46, 53.5%) was associated with worse overall neurocognitive performance, mainly in working memory. There were no differences in functionality between the two groups (as per the GAF and SDI total, work, social and family life disability scores).

Conclusions: Our findings reveal one type of DD with associated psychiatric comorbidity with greater emotion-related psychopathology and another “pure” DD, without psychiatric comorbidity, related to worse global cognitive functioning. Treatment for DD should address both types of processes.