bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moorings Replacement and Hookup for a Damaged North Sea FPSO
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2015

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 25322, ’Gryphon Alpha FPSO: Experience Gained During Moorings Replacement and Hookup,’ by Fred J. Toal and John G. Martin, Maersk Oil, and Martin G. Brown, Ian M. Lindsay, and Robert Sinclair, GL Noble Denton, prepared for the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 5-8 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

In a North Sea storm during February 2011, the Gryphon Alpha floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit broke four of its 10 mooring lines and moved partially off station, resulting in damage to subsea assets. Following the incident, the FPSO was taken to dry dock for replacement of the damaged subsea infrastructure and moorings. This paper describes the measures put in place so that the mooring system could be replaced and the FPSO reconnected on an efficient schedule.

The FPSO

In September of 1993, the Gryphon Alpha became the first purpose-built longterm- moored FPSO to be installed in the North Sea. The unit is located 175 miles northeast of Aberdeen in a water depth of 112 m. Gryphon has a somewhat unusual layout in that the turret is located forward of midships (Fig. 1). Five fully azimuthing thrusters—two forward and three aft—are used to provide heading control. Each mooring line has its own windlass and azimuth swiveling-gypsy-wheel assemblies provided at the base of the turret. It is therefore relatively easy to adjust mooring-line tensions and lengths compared with other turret designs. A drag chain is provided for fluid transfer from the wells. This means rotation of the FPSO is limited to 270°, either clockwise or counterclockwise from the vessel’s neutral heading of 225°. During the original installation, the FPSO was provided with 10 all-chain mooring lines consisting of 84-mm studded chain attached to 35-t drag-embedment anchors.

Background to the Event

Gryphon sustained damage in a severe storm on 4 February 2011 when one mooring line failed and the vessel lost heading control, causing it to turn partially beam-on to the weather, resulting in failure of a further three mooring lines. The FPSO’s partial movement off station caused considerable damage to the subsea architecture.

Because of the length of time required to reinstate the subsea equipment, it was decided that the FPSO should be removed from the field for shipyard work that would involve inspections; repairs; and upgrades of the structure, vessel equipment, and process equipment.
Upgrade of Spar Topside With Comprehensive Sand-Management System
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2015

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 24705, ’Upgrade of Spar Topside With Comprehensive Facilities Sand- Management System,’ by Y. Loong, Murphy Sabah Oil, and H. Rawlins and D. Goo, eProcess Technologies, prepared for the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference Asia, Kuala Lumpur, 25-28 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

A deepwater field located offshore Sabah, east Malaysia, features a spar dry-tree unit (DTU) and multiple subsea-hub tiebacks to a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO). In early 2011, several of the wells began producing solid fines that affected production. It was decided that a long-term solution would be to recomplete the affected wells with enhanced downhole sand control on the lower completions. The short-term solution consisted of installing a topside sand-management system on the spar and sand-sparging equipment on the FPSO separators.

Project Overview

The Kikeh field is located 120 km northwest of the island of Labuan at approximately 1300-m water depth. The field was developed using a standalone facility, with hydrocarbons being produced from both subsea and dry-tree wells from a spar/DTU facility. The oil is processed, stored, and exported from an FPSO. Fig. 1 shows the layout of the field.

In December 2008, the Kikeh field began to produce solids at varying rates, and by January 2010, after the failure of a sand-screen completion on one of the wells, the process facilities on the FPSO started to receive approximately 1 t/d of sand. Once it became apparent that solids production would be experienced throughout the life of the field, a program had to be developed to address the challenge.
Technology Focus: Well Testing (February 2015)
Authors: Guzman-Garcia Angel G.
Published: February 2015

Technology Focus

With the success of hydraulic fracturing in the US shale-gas plays, why are more operating companies not using energized fluids to minimize the use of water, decrease the amount of proppant required, and (theoretically) enhance long-term productivity? It appears that Canadians have been somewhat more receptive to the idea and are more willing to use energized fluids, with apparently positive results. Perhaps it is too early in the game to convince operators in the US to take another look at this technology with an open mind. Allow me to start a dialogue in this area.

The perception that using energized fluids is more expensive to achieve the same goal could be one hurdle keeping operators from using them. Nonetheless, let us take a step back and think of some of the more obvious, readily understood benefits: minimizing the use of water and decreasing the amount of proppant. Every operator knows the vast quantities of water required in hydraulic fracturing. This is a commodity that appears to be readily available, but it is not. And this problem will only be exacerbated with time. One of the insidious issues is that not all the water used during fracturing is recovered when flowing back the well, and whatever water is recovered cannot be used in subsequent fracturing stages. Hence, there are huge costs associated with water alone. Proppant, the nice, homogeneous sand grains that keep the fractures open and permeable, is also costly. Decreasing the amount required per stage is equivalent to more money in the operator’s pockets. When one realizes that many countries with enormous shale-gas plays do not have vast resources of readily available water, then the game changes. This may even result in an excellent public relations opportunity when the general public realizes that oil companies care about the environment and the precious resources.

For this issue of JPT, it was quite difficult to select three articles because there were so many excellent papers. I have attempted to narrow down the many papers to three that provide a broad perspective and the astute use of well-test data to be insightful to all readers. The interested reader will find many good articles on this subject in the OnePetro library. JPT

Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.

OTC 25207 Innovative Positioning of Downhole Pressure Gauges Close to Perforations in HP/HT Slim Well During a Drillstem Test by AbdulHakim Al-Nahdi, Saudi Aramco, et al.

SPE 171686 Successful DST Methodology Adopted in Highly Deviated Deep, Sour, and HP/HT Exploratory Well: A Case Study by Abdulla Al-Ibrahim, Kuwait Oil Company, et al.

IPTC 16427 Mini-DST To Characterize Formation Deliverability in Unconventional Reservoirs by B. Kurtoglu, Marathon, et al.
Modeling Transient Wellbore Temperature During Diagnostic Fracture Injection Tests
Authors: Wilson Adam
Published: February 2015

This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper SPE 166120, ’Modeling Wellbore Transient Fluid Temperature and Pressure During Diagnostic Fracture Injection Testing in Unconventional Reservoirs,’ by B. Nojabaei, SPE, The Pennsylvania State University, A.R. Hasan, SPE, Texas A&M University, and C.S. Kabir, SPE, Hess, prepared for the 2013 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 30 September-2 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Diagnostic fracture injection tests (DFITs) have gained widespread usage in the evaluation of unconventional reservoirs. In typical field operations, pressure is measured at the wellhead, not at the bottom of the hole. The bottomhole pressure (BHP) is obtained by adding a constant hydrostatic head of the water column to the wellhead pressure (WHP) at each timestep. One can question the soundness of this practice because of significant changes in temperature that occur in the wellbore, leading to changes in density and compressibility throughout the fluid column. This paper offers an analytical model for estimating the transient temperature at a given depth and timestep, for computing the BHP.

Temperature Model During Pressure-Falloff Test

After a well is shut in at the surface, afterflow at the sandface is negligible because of low formation permeability. Upon cessation of injection, the cold injection water begins to gain heat from the surroundings. Heat transfer during flowing and shut-in conditions has been modeled with an energy-balance equation, accounting for various resistances to heat transfer. The resulting differential equations are solved numerically. However, with robust assumptions, an analytical expression can be developed for transient fluid temperature during falloff. The heat flow from the formation into the wellbore raises the internal energy of the fluid and of the composite tubing/casing/ cement material. Please see the complete paper for the quantitative expression.

Field Example

Modeling Temperature Transient During Falloff Test.

The pressure-computation algorithm entails two steps. First, the temperature is evaluated as a function of time at various depths throughout the wellbore. As expected, the temperature at well bottom will exhibit the largest excursion. Second, the fluid properties of density and compressibility are evaluated at each depth step corresponding to the temperature profile, leading to the BHP estimation at a given timestep.
Late‐Season Nitrogen Increases Improver Common and Durum Wheat Quality
Authors: Blandino Massimo , Vaccino Patrizia , Reyneri Amedeo
Published: February 2015

The foliar N application at a low rate is a strategy that could be applied by farmers in substitution to the traditional late soil application when there are restrictions on N distribution. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of late‐season N fertilization strategies on wheat (Triticum spp.) quality. Field experiments were set up in two different soils, in Northwest Italy. The effect of N fertilization was evaluated on two common (T. aestivum L.) and two durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var. durum Desf.) cultivars. Late‐season N was soil‐applied (40 kg N ha−1) as ammonium nitrate at heading, or foliar sprayed (5 kg N ha−1) at flowering, and compared with a control without N fertilization after the vegetative growth stage. Nitrogen soil application increased grain protein content (GPC) (+15%) for both crops. This fertilization strategy led also to higher test weight (+1.4%), kernel hardness (+14%), dough strength (W) (+42%), and lower tenacity/extensibility ratio P/L (–18%) in the common wheat, and to a lower yellowberry percentage in the durum wheat (–29%). The strategy to apply a foliar N fertilizer at anthesis at a lower rate, although it has a greater cost effectiveness, led to a less effective bread‐ or pasta‐making quality enhancement, with an average increase of GPC and W only in the silt loam soil by 5 and 18%, respectively. This strategy could lead to more successful increase of GPC in soils with a probable lower nitrate leaching during the vegetative stages.
Improved Understanding of Climate Change Impact to Pennsylvania Dairy Pasture
Authors: Jiang Mingkai , Felzer Benjamin S. , Hargreaves Bruce , Zhang Jien
Published: February 2015

Pasture can be either a source or a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide, depending primarily on climate and land management. In the absence of specific data on pasture in the northeastern United States, the parameterization of ecosystem models for carbon and energy flux has been based on data from grasslands in the Great Plains (United States), where climate is more arid and less management intensive than in the eastern United States. Models have not been adequately parameterized to simulate carbon dynamics under managed dairy grasslands in the humid eastern United States. This paper aims to provide TEM‐Hydro2—a terrestrial ecosystems model—with region‐specific dairy pasture parameterization in Pennsylvania to more realistically determine humid grassland dynamics under a changing climate. Through this study, we highlight the importance of considering region‐specific calibration data in reporting realistic ecosystem response to climate change through the comparison to a simulation based on a xeric parameterization. Our field observations indicate that Pennsylvania's more humid climate results in higher carbon and nitrogen flux exchanges between grassland and the atmosphere, but the soil carbon pool is significantly lower compared with the semiarid grassland. Moreover, Pennsylvania pasture is simulated to be more sensitive to climate change based on the region‐specific parameterization. Projected to the end of the 21st century, dairy pasture in Pennsylvania will probably experience increased carbon uptake and soil carbon accumulation under continuous grazing management, while hay production would drastically reduce Pennsylvania dairy pasture's capacity to sequester carbon.
Femininity in the field of abjection: The analysis of the position of the female subject in the phallogocentric framework of language and writing
Authors: Stojanovic Dragana
Published: February 2015

Using the platforms of psychoanalysis, theoretical psychoanalysis,
poststructuralist studies and gender studies, this paper gives one possible
aspect of analysis of the specificity of female position in phallogocentric
framework of language and writing, which are the main elements that form and
interpellate the gender positions of the subjects, as well as the
phallogocentric-patriarchal dynamics between them. To understand the way in
which the female subject is formed in this context is in the same time the
first step towards the planning and performing the strategy of overcoming the
borders that phallogocentric imposes on the subjects of language and writing,
which is particularly seen in the case of the female subject and speaking
position. The paper problematizes the terms as phallogocentric and abject,
pointing towards women?s writing as of one of the possible strategies of
resignification and alteration of phallogocentrism and its repressive
mechanisms.
Emergency medicine point-of-care ultrasonography: a national needs assessment of competencies for general and expert practice
Authors: Fischer Lisa M. , Woo Michael Y. , Lee A. Curtis , Wiss Ray , Socransky Steve , Frank Jason R.
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Emergency medicine point-of-care ultrasonography (EM-PoCUS) is a core competency for residents in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and College of Family Physicians of Canada emergency medicine (EM) training programs. Although EM-PoCUS fellowships are currently offered in Canada, there is little consensus regarding what training should be included in a Canadian EM-PoCUS fellowship curriculum or how this contrasts with the training received in an EM residency.

Objectives

To conduct a systematic needs assessment of major stakeholders to define the essential elements necessary for a Canadian EM-PoCUS fellowship training curriculum.

Methods

We carried out a national survey of experts in EM-PoCUS, EM residency program directors, and EM residents. Respondents were asked to identify competencies deemed either nonessential to EM practice, essential for general EM practice, essential for advanced EM practice, or essential for EM-PoCUS fellowship trained (‘‘expert’’) practice.

Results

The response rate was 81% (351 of 435). PoCUS was deemed essential to general EM practice for basic cardiac, aortic, trauma, and procedural imaging. PoCUS was deemed essential to advanced EM practice in undifferentiated symptomatology, advanced chest pathologies, and advanced procedural applications. Expert-level PoCUS competencies were identified for administrative, pediatric, and advanced gynecologic applications. Eighty-seven percent of respondents indicated that there was a need for EM-PoCUS fellowships, with an ideal length of 6 months.

Conclusion

This is the first needs assessment of major stakeholders in Canada to identify competencies for expert training in EM-PoCUS. The competencies should form the basis for EM-PoCUS fellowship programs in Canada.
The Role of Orthographic Syllable Frequency in the Syllable Frequency Effect: Evidence from Korean
Authors: Kwon Youan , Nam Kichun , Lee Yoonhyoung
Published: February 2015

There have been ongoing debates as to whether the syllable frequency effect is dependent purely on phonological representation or is also affected by the orthographic representation of the syllable. In two experiments, the authors investigated the effect of the phonologic and orthographic frequencies on the syllable frequency effect by manipulating the first syllable's phonologic (high vs low) and orthographic (high vs low) frequency. Analyses of variance were performed for the lexical decision latencies and error rates in two experiments. Overall, the results of the current experiments showed effects of phonological syllable frequency on lexical decision latencies. Additionally, the results of the current experiments also showed the influence of the orthographic syllable frequency in the form of an interaction between the phonologic and orthographic frequencies. Longer latencies and higher error rates for higher phonological syllable frequency occurred only when the target word had low orthographic syllable frequency. The current study suggests that phonological syllable frequency is the primary sources of the syllable frequency effect while it also suggests that the orthographic representation of the syllable influences the syllable frequency effect as well.
What Can a String of Letters Possibly Mean When it is Not a Word? Speech Sounds as One Answer to the Search for Meaning in Finnegans Wake
Authors: Whissell Cynthia
Published: February 2015

In his last novel, Finnegans Wake, James Joyce attempted to redirect readers' search for meaning away from traditional paths by using many non-words (combinations, foreign words, neologisms, and onomatopoeic words). Words and non-words in the novel were analyzed in terms of the emotional meanings of their constituent sounds using the model developed by Whissell where motor responses involved in enunciating sounds are associated with their emotional meaning. Significant sound-emotion differences were identified among and within chapters. “Smiling” pleasant long e (as in “tee”) was used at higher rates in successive chapters and “sighing” passive AO (as in “Shaun”) was used at especially high rates in Chapters 8 (“Anna Livia Plurabelle”) and 12 (“Mamalujo”). Sound emotionality is one of the alternative paths to meaning in the novel.
Changes of Micro-RNAs in Asymptomatic Subjects Sensitized to Japanese Cedar Pollen after Prophylactic Sublingual Immunotherapy
Authors: Hou Bo , Murata Mariko , Shah Said Ahmad , Sakaida Hiroshi , Masuda Sawako , Takahashi Taiki , Zhang Zhe , Takeuchi Kazuhiko
Published: February 2015

Japanese cedar pollinosis is the predominant seasonal allergic rhinitis in Japan, and it has increased in prevalence during the past 10 years. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is considered a safe and effective treatment for pollinosis. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short single-stranded RNA molecules that posttranscriptionally silence gene expression and may mediate allergic immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the miRNA alteration in asymptomatic subjects sensitized to Japanese cedar pollen under prophylactic SLIT under part of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-center trial. Analysis was undertaken in 15 asymptomatic subjects sensitized to Japanese cedar pollen–specific IgE (ImmunoCAP class ≥2) who participated in 2013. The SLIT group (n = 6) received standardized Japanese cedar pollen extract and the placebo group (n = 9) received an inactive placebo for 5 months covering the cedar pollen season. Changes in serum miRNAs were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to determine whether SLIT had effects on profiles of circulating miRNA. Seven subjects in the placebo group developed pollinosis symptoms, whereas no subjects in the SLIT group did (p = 0.007). Serum hsa-miR-223 was significantly up-regulated in postseason compared with preseason samples. The hsa-let-7b was significantly more down-regulated in postseason than in preseason samples from the placebo group; however, no significant differences were observed in those from the SLIT group. A significant decrease in circulating let-7b was also observed in the subjects who developed symptoms. Prophylactic SLIT was effective in preventing the development of pollinosis. Alterations in miRNA expression occurred in asymptomatic, sensitized subjects during cedar pollen season.
Timeliness of epidemiological outbreak investigations in peer-reviewed European publications, January 2003 to August 2013
Authors: van de Venter E C , Oliver I , Stuart J M
Published: February 2015

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
Clinical profile and management outcome of Parathyroid Adenoma - A 7 years retrospective study
Authors: Bhuyan Md Arif Hossain , Fakir Abu Yusuf , Nurullah Md , Kafi Md Abdullah Hil , Rumi Sk Nurul Fattah , Hossain Md Sumon
Published: February 2015

The study aims to present the clinical profile and management outcomes of parathyroid adenoma patients in our institutions. This retrospective study included ten patients with parathyroid adenoma presented to Department of Otolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital, Dhaka from January 2004 to January 2011.Out of 10 patients, 8 were female. Average age of presentation was 50 years. 6 patients were symptomatic and 4 were asymptomatic. In 8 patients, serum creatinine level was within normal limits and 2 patients had elevated serum creatinine level. All 10 patients had hypercalcaemia and increase parathormone level, from mild to severe. CT guided fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosed 2 cases preoperatively. 6 patients diagnosed with 99mTc Sestamibi scan and 3 patients diagnosed by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECTCT) dual isotope (I-123/99mTc-MIBI) substraction for imaging parathyroid adenoma. All the patients underwent parathyroidectomy except for 1 patient in whom hemithyroidectomy was done. Postoperative period was not without complications but has been managed with strong monitoring. Long term follow up was done up to 1 year with 100% cure rate. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjo.v20i1.22014 Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol; April 2014; 20(1): 27-34
Melioidosis - A Rare Infectious Disease with Atypical Presentation
Authors: Mahbub Shawhely , Amin Zaheer Al , Biswas Sudhangshu Shekhar , Jamal Mohammad Shah , Halder Soma
Published: February 2015

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by a Gram negative bacterium, Burkholderia Pseudomallei. It is endemic in parts of Southeast Asia, Taiwan & northern Australia. In Bangladesh it is rare. Laboratory identification of B. pseudomallei can be difficult, especially where it is rarely seen. The disease is of public health importance as it is associated with high fatality rate in human being. The disease is known as a remarkable imitator due to the wide & variable clinical spectrum of its manifestations. Septicaemia, sepsis, septic arthritis, lung nodules & pneumonia are well recognized manifestations of Melioidosis. ENT manifestation is rare. Here we reported a case of mallioidosis. The patient was diabetic hailing from Gazipur, presented with cellulitis over the neck and septic arthritis of left shoulder and hip with lung nodules. He responded to prolonged treatment with intravenous ceftazidime. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjo.v20i1.22157 Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol; April 2014; 20(1): 46-49
Thyroid Surgery When General Anesthesia is Not Feasible
Authors: Aich Manilal , Rahman Md Asadur , Mahmud Sharfuddin , Rahman Siddikur , Rahman Md Mizanur , Akaiduzzaman DGM , Alam Md Zahedul
Published: February 2015

Historically, thyroid and parathyroid surgery was done initially under local anesthesia. With the advent of safer general anesthetic techniques, the need for local anesthesia fell dramatically. Recently the use of local anesthesia combined with monitored anesthesia care (MAC) has been reintroduced as an alternative to general anesthesia for some particular thyroidectomy. Newer intravenous anesthetic agents allow for the establishment of effective sedation and analgesia with adjusted level and duration of action. This allows for monitoring of the effectiveness of the anesthesia during the surgical procedure that meet the patients comfortable needs and the surgeons technical needs. This approach allows for rapid recovery of alertness and early assessment of the patients initial postoperative recovery. Additionally, it optimizes the potential for outpatient surgical care. We report a 25 year old male, diagnosed as a case of follicular adenoma of thyroid with emphysematous bullae; who had undergone thyroidectomy under local anaesthesia. Surgery was uneventful and resulted in a decreased length of stay, cost and operating time. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjo.v20i2.22025 Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol; October 2014; 20(2): 93-97
Formulation development and in-vitro/ex-vivo evaluation of novel buccoadhesive films of metoprolol tartrate using 23 factorial design techniques
Authors: Ayyappan T , Bharathiraja D , Vetrichelvan T
Published: February 2015

The aim of present investigation was to develop an optimized buccoadhesive film of metoprolol tartrate, a BCS class I drug, to provide unidirectional sustained drug delivery to the buccal mucosa that has potential to enhance the bioavailability. The films were prepared using HPMC K4M as film former, carbopol 934 P as buccoadhesive polymer and dimethyl sulfoxide as penetration enhancer, by solvent casting technique. The films were characterized for various pharmacotechnical parameters and 23 full factorial design was employed to study the effect of independent variables. The design was validated by extra design checkpoint formulation (BF9). The response of design was employed to study the effect of independent variables. The responses of design were analyzed using Design Expert 8.0.7.1 and the analytical tools of software were used to draw pareto charts. On the basis of software analysis, formulation BF4 with desirability factor of 0.698 was selected as optimized formulation and was evaluated for independent parameters. Optimized formulation showed 12.05 hr, ex-vivo residence time, and good permeation (42.68%) through goat buccal mucosa and 82.19% drug release after 8th hour. The release kinetics of optimized formulation best fitted the higuchi model. Histopathological studies revealed no buccal mucosal damage. Hence BF4 formulation can be concluded as promising drug delivery system to enhance the permeability limited absorption of metoprolol tartrate. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v49i3.22130 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 49(3), 165-172, 2014
Farmers Awareness on Environmental Degradation used by Modern Agricultural Technologies in a Selected Area of Meherpur District
Authors: Islam MT , Hossen MS , Khatun R
Published: February 2015

The main aim of the study was to determine the farmers awareness on environmental degradation used by modern agricultural technologies by exploring the relationships between ten selected characteristics of the farmers and their awareness. Eighty farmers of the selected village Ashrafpur under of Meherpur district constituted the sample of the study. Data were collected by interviewing the farmers using personal interview schedule during the period from August to September, 2013. Among these eighty respondents 37.5% had low, 51.25% respondents had medium and only 11.25% of the respondent had high knowledge about modern agricultural technologies. While 35% respondents had low, 55% respondents had medium and only 10 % had high knowledge about environmental degradation. Among the respondents 25% had poor, 61.25% respondents had medium and only 13.75% had high awareness about environmental degradation caused by the use of modern agricultural technologies. Out of ten independent variables, six of them, that is academic qualification, organizational participation, communication exposure, innovativeness, knowledge about the use of modern agricultural technologies and knowledge about environmental degradation had positive significant relationships with their awareness on environmental degradation caused by the use of modern agricultural technologies . Three independent variable i.e. family size, farm size, and family income had no significant relationship and only age had negative significant relationship with their awareness on environmental degradation used by modern agricultural technologies.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v7i1.22186 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 7(1): 289-294 2014
Maintenance Energy Requirements of Double-Muscled Belgian Blue Beef Cows
Authors: Fiems Leo , De Boever Johan , Vanacker José , De Campeneere Sam
Published: February 2015

Sixty non-pregnant, non-lactating double-muscled Belgian Blue (DMBB) cows were used to estimate the energy required to maintain body weight (BW). They were fed one of three energy levels for 112 or 140 days, corresponding to approximately 100%, 80% or 70% of their total energy requirements. The relationship between daily energy intake and BW and daily BW change was developed using regression analysis. Maintenance energy requirements were estimated from the regression equation by setting BW gain to zero. Metabolizable and net energy for maintenance amounted to 0.569 ± 0.001 and 0.332 ± 0.001 MJ per kg BW0.75/d, respectively. Maintenance energy requirements were not dependent on energy level (p > 0.10). Parity affected maintenance energy requirements (p < 0.001), although the small numerical differences between parities may hardly be nutritionally relevant. Maintenance energy requirements of DMBB beef cows were close to the mean energy requirements of other beef genotypes reported in the literature.
Probabilistic Three-Party Sharing of Operation on a Remote Qubit
Authors: Xie Chuanmei , Liu Yimin , Xing Hang , Zhang Zhanjun
Published: February 2015

A probabilistic tripartite single-qubit operation sharing scheme is put forward by utilizing a two-qubit and a three-qubit non-maximally entangled state as quantum channels. Some specific comparisons between our scheme and another probabilistic scheme are made. It is found that, if the product of the two minimal coefficients characterizing channel entanglements is greater than 3/16, our scheme is more superior than the other one. Nonetheless, the price is that more classical and quantum resources are consumed, and the operation difficulty is rather increased. Moreover, some important features of the scheme, such as its security, probability and sharer symmetry, are revealed through concrete discussions. Additionally, the experimental feasibility of our scheme is analyzed and subsequently confirmed according to the current experimental techniques.
Pressure Relief, Visco-Elastic Foam with Inflated Air? A Pilot Study in a Dutch Nursing Home
Authors: Van Leen Martin , Schols Jos
Published: February 2015

Objective: There is still little evidence regarding the type of mattress that is the best for preventing pressure ulcers (PUs). In a Dutch nursing home, a new type of overlay mattress (air inflated visco-elastic foam) was tested to analyze the opportunity for replacement of the normally used static air overlay mattress in its three-step PU prevention protocol In this small pilot the outcome measures were: healing of a category one pressure ulcer, new development or deterioration of a category one PU and need for repositioning. Methods: We included 20 nursing home residents with a new category one pressure ulcer, existing for no longer than 48 h following a consecutive sampling technic. All residents were staying for more than 30 days in the nursing home and were lying on a visco-elastic foam mattress without repositioning (step one of the 3-step protocol) at the start of the pilot study. They had not suffered from a PU in the month before. The intervention involved use of an air inflated foam overlay instead of a static air overlay (normally step 2 of the 3-step protocol). At the start; the following data were registered: age; gender; main diagnosis and presence of incontinence. Thereafter; all participating residents were checked weekly for PU healing tendency; deterioration of PUs; new PUs and need of repositioning. Only when residents showed still a category one PU after 48 h or deterioration of an existing pressure ulcer or if there was development of a new pressure ulcer, repositioning was put into practice (step 3 of the PU protocol). All residents participated during 8 weeks. Results: Seven residents developed a new pressure ulcer category one and still had a category one pressure ulcer at the end of the study period. One resident developed a pressure ulcer category 2. Fifteen residents needed repositioning from one week after start of the study until the end of the study. Conclusions: Overall 40% of the residents developed a pressure ulcer. Seventy five percent of the residents started with repositioning because there was no healing tendency of their category one PU diagnosed at the start of the pilot. Because this new type of overlay mattress resulted in an increased PU incidence, and almost standard need of repositioning with accompanied high costs, this type of overlay mattress gives no benefit above the traditional visco-elastic foam mattresses in combination with the originally used static air overlay.
Circadian Rhythmicity of Antioxidant Markers in Rats Exposed to 1.8 GHz Radiofrequency Fields
Authors: Cao Honglong , Qin Fenju , Liu Xueguan , Wang Jiajun , Cao Yi , Tong Jian , Zhao Heming
Published: February 2015

Background: The potential health risks of exposure to Radiofrequency Fields (RF) emitted by mobile phones are currently of considerable public interest, such as the adverse effects on the circadian rhythmicities of biological systems. To determine whether circadian rhythms of the plasma antioxidants (Mel, GSH-Px and SOD) are affected by RF, we performed a study on male Sprague Dawley rats exposed to the 1.8 GHz RF. Methods: All animals were divided into seven groups. The animals in six groups were exposed to 1.8 GHz RF (201.7 μW/cm2 power density, 0.05653 W/kg specific absorption rate) at a specific period of the day (3, 7, 11, 15, 19 and 23 h GMT, respectively), for 2 h/day for 32 consecutive days. The rats in the seventh group were used as sham-exposed controls. At the end of last RF exposure, blood samples were collected from each rat every 4 h (total period of 24 h) and also at similar times from sham-exposed animals. The concentrations of three antioxidants (Mel, GSH-Px and SOD) were determined. The data in RF-exposed rats were compared with those in sham-exposed animals. Results: circadian rhythms in the synthesis of Mel and antioxidant enzymes, GSH-Px and SOD, were shifted in RF-exposed rats compared to sham-exposed animals: the Mel, GSH-Px and SOD levels were significantly decreased when RF exposure was given at 23 and 3 h GMT. Conclusion: The overall results indicate that there may be adverse effects of RF exposure on antioxidant function, in terms of both the daily antioxidative levels, as well as the circadian rhythmicity.
Exploring the Care Relationship between Grandparents/Older Carers and Children Infected with HIV in South-Western Uganda: Implications for Care for Both the Children and Their Older Carers
Authors: Rutakumwa Rwamahe , Zalwango Flavia , Richards Esther , Seeley Janet
Published: February 2015

The care of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa is often undertaken by grandparents, yet little is known about the care relationship between grandparent and grandchild. Our aim was to examine this relationship to understand the needs and responsibilities of both the HIV positive child and older carer and the nature of the relationship, and to assess the implications for care for the children and the older carers. A qualitative study was conducted with 40 purposively sampled children (13–17 years) and their older carers (50 years and above). Participants were recruited from two clinics in south-western Uganda. Up to three semi-structured interviews were held with each participant. Data were analysed using a thematic framework approach. We found that the care relationship was mostly reciprocal: HIV positive children depended on carers for basic and health needs and carers counted on the children for performing tedious household tasks. The relationship was also characterised by challenges, sometimes causing tension between child and carer. We conclude that: (1) interventions targeting HIV positive children need to also address the needs of older carers, and (2) carers and children would benefit from psychosocial support and social protection.
Multifunctional Composites of Chiral Valine Derivative Schiff Base Cu(II) Complexes and TiO2
Authors: Takeshita Yuki , Takakura Kazuya , Akitsu Takashiro
Published: February 2015

We have prepared four new Cu(II) complexes containing valine moieties with imidazole ligands at the fourth coordination sites and examined their photo-induced reactions with TiO2 in order of understanding the reaction mechanisms. Under a nitrogen atmosphere, the intermolecular electron transfer reactions (essentially supramolecular interactions) of these systems, which resulted in the reduction of Cu(II) species to Cu(I) ones, occurred after UV light irradiation. In this study, we have investigated the conditions of the redox reactions in view of substituent effects of aldehyde moieties. The results of cyclic voltammetry (CV) on an rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) suggested that the substitution effects and redox potentials were correlated. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations were also performed to simulate the UV–Vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectra; the results revealed a reasonably good correlation between the substituent effects and the highest occupied molecular orbitals and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO) gaps associated with the most intense transition bands. In addition, we summarized the substitution effects of Cu(II) complexes for their corresponding UV light-induced reactions.
The 15q11.2 BP1–BP2 Microdeletion Syndrome: A Review
Authors: Cox Devin , Butler Merlin
Published: February 2015

Patients with the 15q11.2 BP1–BP2 microdeletion can present with developmental and language delay, neurobehavioral disturbances and psychiatric problems. Autism, seizures, schizophrenia and mild dysmorphic features are less commonly seen. The 15q11.2 BP1–BP2 microdeletion involving four genes (i.e., TUBGCP5, CYFIP1, NIPA1, NIPA2) is emerging as a recognized syndrome with a prevalence ranging from 0.57%–1.27% of patients presenting for microarray analysis which is a two to four fold increase compared with controls. Review of clinical features from about 200 individuals were grouped into five categories and included developmental (73%) and speech (67%) delays; dysmorphic ears (46%) and palatal anomalies (46%); writing (60%) and reading (57%) difficulties, memory problems (60%) and verbal IQ scores ≤75 (50%); general behavioral problems, unspecified (55%) and abnormal brain imaging (43%). Other clinical features noted but not considered as common were seizures/epilepsy (26%), autism spectrum disorder (27%), attention deficit disorder (ADD)/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (35%), schizophrenia/paranoid psychosis (20%) and motor delay (42%). Not all individuals with the deletion are clinically affected, yet the collection of findings appear to share biological pathways and presumed genetic mechanisms. Neuropsychiatric and behavior disturbances and mild dysmorphic features are associated with genomic imbalances of the 15q11.2 BP1–BP2 region, including microdeletions, but with an apparent incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity.
What Should General Practice Trainees Learn about Atopic Eczema?
Authors: Munidasa Deepani , Lloyd-Lavery Antonia , Burge Susan , McPherson Tess
Published: February 2015

Effective atopic eczema (AE) control not only improves quality of life but may also prevent the atopic march. The Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) curriculum does not currently provide specific learning outcomes on AE management. We aimed to gain consensus on learning outcomes to inform curriculum development. A modified Delphi method was used with questionnaires distributed to gather the views of a range of health care professionals (HCPs) including general practitioners (GPs), dermatologists, dermatology nurses and parents of children with AE attending a dedicated paediatric dermatology clinic. Ninety-one questionnaires were distributed to 61 HCPs and 30 parents; 81 were returned. All agreed that learning should focus on the common clinical features, complications and management of AE and the need to appreciate its psychosocial impact. Areas of divergence included knowledge of alternative therapies. Parents felt GPs should better understand how to identify, manage and refer severe AD and recognized the value of the specialist eczema nurse. Dermatologists and parents highlighted inconsistencies in advice regarding topical steroids. This study identifies important areas for inclusion as learning outcomes on AE management in the RCGP curriculum and highlights the importance of patients and parents as a valuable resource in the development of medical education.
Properties of Chemically Combusted Calcium Carbide Residue and Its Influence on Cement Properties
Authors: Sun Hongfang , Li Zishanshan , Bai Jing , Memon Shazim , Dong Biqin , Fang Yuan , Xu Weiting , Xing Feng
Published: February 2015

Calcium carbide residue (CCR) is a waste by-product from acetylene gas production. The main component of CCR is Ca(OH)2, which can react with siliceous materials through pozzolanic reactions, resulting in a product similar to those obtained from the cement hydration process. Thus, it is possible to use CCR as a substitute for Portland cement in concrete. In this research, we synthesized CCR and silica fume through a chemical combustion technique to produce a new reactive cementitious powder (RCP). The properties of paste and mortar in fresh and hardened states (setting time, shrinkage, and compressive strength) with 5% cement replacement by RCP were evaluated. The hydration of RCP and OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement) pastes was also examined through SEM (scanning electron microscope). Test results showed that in comparison to control OPC mix, the hydration products for the RCP mix took longer to formulate. The initial and final setting times were prolonged, while the drying shrinkage was significantly reduced. The compressive strength at the age of 45 days for RCP mortar mix was found to be higher than that of OPC mortar and OPC mortar with silica fume mix by 10% and 8%, respectively. Therefore, the synthesized RCP was proved to be a sustainable active cementitious powder for the strength enhanced of building materials, which will result in the diversion of significant quantities of this by-product from landfills.
Selective Blocking Effects of 4,9-Anhydrotetrodotoxin, Purified from a Crude Mixture of Tetrodotoxin Analogues, on NaV1.6 Channels and Its Chemical Aspects
Authors: Teramoto Noriyoshi , Yotsu-Yamashita Mari
Published: February 2015

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin found in a number of marine creatures including the pufferfish, where it is synthesized by bacteria and accumulated through the food chain. It is a potent and selective blocker of some types of voltage-gated Na+ channel (NaV channel). 4,9-Anhydrotetrodotoxin (4,9-anhydroTTX) was purified from a crude mixture of TTX analogues (such as TTX, 4-epiTTX, 6-epiTTX, 11-oxoTTX and 11-deoxyTTX) by the use of liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (LC-FLD) techniques. Recently, it has been reported that 4,9-anhydroTTX selectively blocks the activity of NaV1.6 channels with a blocking efficacy 40–160 times higher than that for other TTX-sensitive NaV1.x channel isoforms. However, little attention has been paid to the molecular properties of the α-subunit in NaV1.6 channels and the characteristics of binding of 4,9-anhydroTTX. From a functional point of view, it is important to determine the relative expression of NaV1.6 channels in a wide variety of tissues. The aim of this review is to discuss briefly current knowledge about the pharmacology of 4,9-anhydroTTX, and provide an analysis of the molecular structure of native NaV1.6 channels. In addition, chemical aspects of 4,9-anhydroTTX are briefly covered.
Screening of Small Molecule Microarrays for Ligands Targeted to the Extracellular Epitopes of Living Cells
Authors: Lee Jeong , Bao Kai , Frangioni John , Choi Hak
Published: February 2015

The screening of living cells using high-throughput microarrays is technically challenging. Great care must be taken in the chemical presentation of potential ligands and the number of collisions that cells make with them. To overcome these issues, we have developed a glass slide-based microarray system to discover small molecule ligands that preferentially bind to one cell type over another, including when the cells differ by only a single receptor. Chemical spots of 300 ± 10 µm in diameter are conjugated covalently to glass slides using an arraying robot, and novel near-infrared fluorophores with peak emission at 700 nm and 800 nm are used to label two different cell types. By carefully optimizing incubation conditions, including cell density, motion, kinetics, detection, etc. we demonstrate that cell-ligand binding occurs, and that the number of cells bound per chemical spot correlates with ligand affinity and specificity. This screening system lays the foundation for high-throughput discovery of novel ligands to the cell surface.
Fumaric Acid and Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water Inactivate Gram Positive and Gram Negative Foodborne Pathogens
Authors: Tango Charles , Mansur Ahmad , Oh Deog-Hwan
Published: February 2015

Sanitizing effectiveness of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and fumaric acid (FA) at different dipping temperatures (25–60 °C), times (1–5 min), and concentrations (5–30 ppm for SAEW and 0.125%–0.5% for FA) on pure cultures of two Gram positive pathogens Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Listeria monocytogenes (LM) and two Gram negative pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EC) and Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) was evaluated. FA (0.25%) showed the strongest sanitizing effect, demonstrating complete inactivation of EC, ST, and LM, while SA was reduced by 3.95–5.76 log CFU/mL at 25–60 °C, respectively, after 1 min of treatment. For SAEW, the complete inactivation was obtained when available chlorine concentration was increased to 20 ppm at 40 °C for 3 and 5 min. Moreover, Gram positive pathogens have been shown to resist to all treatment trends more than Gram negative pathogens throughout this experiment. Regardless of the different dipping temperatures, concentrations, and times, FA treatment was more effective than treatment with SAEW for reduction of foodborne pathogens. This study demonstrated that application of FA in food systems may be useful as a method for inactivation of foodborne pathogens.
New Pregnane Glycosides from Gymnema sylvestre
Authors: Xu Rui , Yang Yu , Zhang Yang , Ren Fengxia , Xu Jinlong , Yu Nengjiang , Zhao Yimin
Published: February 2015

Four new pregnane glycosides 1–4 were isolated from the ethanol extract of the stem of Gymnema sylvestre and named gymsylvestrosides A–D. Hydrolysis of compound 1 under the catalysis of Aspergilus niger β-glucosidase afforded compound 5 (gymsylvestroside E). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods such as HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, as well as HMQC-TOCSY experiment. Compounds 1–4 were screened for Saccharomyces cerevisiae α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.