bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causation of problematic behaviour in people with learning disabilities: 1
Authors: Slevin Eamonn
Published: August 2014

This article, the first of two parts, examines the need for learning disability nurses to explicate the specific behaviours which are often grouped under the umbrella term ‘challenging/problematic behaviours’. The prevalence of such behaviours in people who have learning disabilities is discussed. In addition, a review of the main theories of causation of problematic behaviour is presented, with a particular emphasis on the issues of violence and aggression in clients. The second article will offer suggestions on interpreting challenging behaviours in people who have learning disabilities.
The basic experimental design
Authors: Behi Ruhi , Nolan Mike
Published: August 2014

This article considers the three essential characteristics of the basic experiment (random assignment of subjects, manipulation of relevant variables and control of irrelevant variables) and describes the two most common experimental designs: the pre-test/post-test design and the post-test only design. The necessity of controlling for subject and situational variables is highlighted and the challenge researchers face when using experimental approaches in other than laboratory situations are addressed briefly.
The Modular Propad and the Softform mattress
Authors: Lowthian Peter
Published: August 2014

Constant low-pressure supports such as soft mattresses can feel comfortable because they conform well to the shape of the body. When such mattresses are provided with a highly convoluted surface made up of contiguous foam pillars, their efficacy is improved. The Modular Propad is a highly convoluted, but shallow, foam mattress. It is used as an overlay for an ordinary mattress and seems to be superior to earlier forms of convoluted foam overlay. The Softform is a new mattress which has replaceable sections. The outermost sections of the Softform are convoluted foam sheets similar to the Modular Propad. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these products and some potential problems with their covers. It also suggests that the use of a pressure sore risk assessment tool can facilitate the allocation of patients to these special supports.
Post burn Marjolin's ulcer in the natal cleft mimicking anal canal carcinoma: a rare site
Authors: Jain S.K. , Tanwar R. , Kaza R.C.M. , Ghuliani D.
Published: August 2014

Marjolin's ulcer is a recognised complication of burn scars, chronic sinuses, and at sites of chronic irritation. The majority of these wounds occur at either venous ulcer or burn sites, usually in the extremities or the trunk. The only current method for confirming diagnosis is biopsy, which if positive will be followed by wide local excision and skin coverage. This paper reports an unusual case, in which a Marjolin's ulcer presented in the natal cleft 45 years after the initial burn injury. Its presentation mimicked that of an anal canal carcinoma, although detailed workup, which included computed tomography (CT) scan revealed this growth to be separate from the anal canal, albeit in close association. This is an extremely rare site and the study illustrates that squamous cell carcinoma can mimic anal carcinoma unless carefully examined.
Clinical and cost effectiveness evaluation of low friction and shear garments
Authors: Smith G. , Ingram A.
Published: August 2014

Objective:

To determine the effectiveness of Parafricta low-friction garments in reducing the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulceration and to evaluate the curative aspects of these products on pre-existing skin breakdown within a hospital setting.

Method:

Patients with a Waterlow score of ≥15 and who were unable to reposition independently were offered the low-friction undergarments and bootees. A total of 650 patient cases were initially reviewed. Of these, 204 met the criteria for use of the products in the 3 months prior to the start of the evaluation (cohort 1) and 165 patients met the criteria during the period when the garments were used (cohort 2). Data collected included pressure ulcer incidence, location, grading, and outcome of ulcer on discharge. Locally derived costs for length of stay, wound dressings, pressure-redistributing mattresses and additional cost of the low-friction garments were applied to build a cost-effectiveness model.

Results:

In patients at risk of skin breakdown there was a statistically significant reduction in the number of patients who developed pressure ulcers following use of the low-friction garments in cohort 2 when compared with cohort 1 (16% reduction; p=0.0286). In addition, the number of patients who were ulcer free on admission but who developed ulcers and then improved or completely healed before discharge was also statistically significant (41% increase; p=0.0065) when cohort 2 was compared with cohort 1. Fewer patients admitted with ulcers deteriorated when using the low-friction garments (21% reduction; p=0.0012). The costs, which were calculated by comparing patient throughput for these patients, suggest that the savings associated with preventing skin breakdown outweighed the cost of the products used (base case model indicated a saving of over £63,000 per 100 at risk patients).

Conclusion:

The results support the conclusion that low-friction garment products have a role to play in the prevention of skin breakdown, and appear to be both clinically effective and cost effective.
Reconstruction of a chronic late post-nephrectomy wound with an extended free latissimus dorsi flap
Authors: Hussain S. , Malata C.M.
Published: August 2014

This report describes the case of a 74-year-old man who spontaneously developed a chronic loin and posterior thoracic wound 28 years after a nephrectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy for renal cell carcinoma. His wound was successfully managed surgically, with an ipsilateral free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, the vascular pedicle of which was extended using 15cm saphenous vein grafts.
Hunting for dinosaurs
Authors: de Bruin Eleanor
Published: August 2014

Dinosaurs is a popular theme for children which can offer many learning opportunities. This month, Eleanor de Bruin presents activities which involve science, natural history and art.
All about fair play
Authors: Hampshire Viv
Published: August 2014

Fair play can be used outside sporting contexts to help children understand the value of teamwork and respect. These activities encourage children to co-operate and to resolve issues in non-aggressive ways.
Exploring different tastes and textures
Authors: Hampshire Viv
Published: August 2014

Trying out the different tastes and textures of a range of foods encourages experimentation, shows how we can change its appearance and texture, and helps children learn about healthy eating and staying safe.
Temperature Measurement of Laser-Induced Plasmas from the Intensity Ratio of Two Lines Emitted from Different Elements with the Same Ionization Degree
Authors: Hou Huaming , Tian Ye , Lu Yuan , Li Ying , Zheng Ronger
Published: August 2014

A new laser induced plasma temperature measuring method with two lines emitted from different elements with the same ionization degree is proposed, assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium condition of the plasma. The influence of measurement error on deduced temperature accuracy was simulated in theory. A solution containing Cu, K, and Cr elements was used as the sample. Plasma was generated at the surface of the solution, and time-resolved spectra were recorded. Two atomic lines, Cu I 324 nm and K I 766 nm, were used to determine the plasma temperature with the proposed method. Four atomic lines and two ionic lines of Cr were selected to deduce plasma temperature with the Saha–Boltzmann plot method for comparison. The temperatures deduced from the two different methods showed similar behavior as a function of time. The results suggested that this method can be useful in cases where only very few lines from a single element are available in the spectrum and Boltzmann or Saha–Boltzmann plots cannot be built.
The Effect of Silicone Softener Particle Size on Color Assessment of Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Taşkιn Merve , Güneşoğlu Cem
Published: August 2014

Softeners are widely applied textile treatments that affect many textile properties. Color change is an important side effect of textile treatment to consider. This paper evaluates the effect of commercially-available silicone softener particle size on color assessment of knitted cotton fabrics after treatment and repeated laundering using instrumental analyses. The results were also statistically evaluated, showing that silicone softener particle size had a significant effect on color difference after treatment; the larger the softener particle size, the greater the color difference and the darker the appearance. However, the contribution of particle size was insignificant after repeated laundering and ironing.
Tensile Behavior of Long-term Aged Nickel-base Superalloy
Authors: Xia P. C. , Chen F. W. , Xie K. , Yu J. J.
Published: August 2014

The microstructural change of directionally solidified nickel-base superalloy which was aged at 900 °C for 1500 hours and tensile behavior at different temperatures were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). γ′ phase of the alloy coarsens and rafts in the course of aged treatment. The driving force of rafting is the decrease of interface energy and elastic strain energy. The stress of aged alloy increases slightly with the testing temperature. This arises from a few dislocations shearing the γ′ precipitates. There is a peak stress value at 760 °C, which is attributed to the high strength of the γ′ phase, the homogeneous deformation structure, and dislocation-γ′ precipitate and dislocation–dislocation interactions. The stress then decreases rapidly with increased temperature. The low stress of the γ′ phase and γ′ rafting at high temperature contribute to the drop of alloy strength. The change of elongation is inverse to that of the stress.
Retrieval of Endobronchial Foreign Bodies in Children: Involving the Cardiac Catheterization Lab
Authors: Thatte Nikhil M. , Guglani Lokesh , Turner Daniel R. , Forbes Thomas J. , Gowda Srinath T.
Published: August 2014

Endobronchial foreign body impaction is a common occurrence, especially in the pediatric population. Bronchoscopic techniques are the standard of care for their retrieval. However, the most distally located foreign bodies are often difficult to retrieve using these techniques. A novel approach using biplane fluoroscopy, with tools usually used for intravascular foreign body retrieval, has been recently described in adults by interventional radiologists. We are the first to report 2 cases in children using this approach for distally impacted endobronchial foreign body retrieval in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We used a collaborative approach, using flexible bronchoscopy and fluoroscopically guided catheters to reach the foreign body. The first case involved a 16-year-old girl who presented with a 4-day history of aspiration of a staple pin, which we successfully retrieved. The second case involved a 10-year-old boy who presented with a 2-month history of aspiration of the plastic eraser cap of a mechanical pencil. We were successful in reaching the distal lobule where it was lodged. However, we were unable to grasp the foreign body because of the presence of a chronic inflammatory exudate around it owing to the subacute to chronic presentation. There were no complications in either case. Thus, a collaboration of the pulmonology and interventional cardiology teams in the cardiac catheterization laboratory represents a safe and effective alternative to bronchoscopy in the management of distally placed endobronchial foreign bodies in children. Early recognition and intervention is imperative for the successful retrieval of an endobronchial foreign body.
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Child With Intellectual Disability or Global Developmental Delays
Authors: Moeschler John B. , Shevell Michael ,   COMMITTEE ON GENETICS, Moeschler John B. , Shevell Michael , Saul Robert A. , Chen Emily , Freedenberg Debra L. , Hamid Rizwan , Jones Marilyn C. , Stoler Joan M. , Tarini Beth Anne
Published: August 2014

This Clinical Report was reaffirmed October 2019.

Global developmental delay and intellectual disability are relatively common pediatric conditions. This report describes the recommended clinical genetics diagnostic approach. The report is based on a review of published reports, most consisting of medium to large case series of diagnostic tests used, and the proportion of those that led to a diagnosis in such patients. Chromosome microarray is designated as a first-line test and replaces the standard karyotype and fluorescent in situ hybridization subtelomere tests for the child with intellectual disability of unknown etiology. Fragile X testing remains an important first-line test. The importance of considering testing for inborn errors of metabolism in this population is supported by a recent systematic review of the literature and several case series recently published. The role of brain MRI remains important in certain patients. There is also a discussion of the emerging literature on the use of whole-exome sequencing as a diagnostic test in this population. Finally, the importance of intentional comanagement among families, the medical home, and the clinical genetics specialty clinic is discussed.
Forming a health culture of future teachers in Polish educational establishments
Authors: IERMAKOVA T.S.
Published: August 2014

Aim: to study the experience of the structure and system of training of future teachers in Polish schools. Material: content analysis of domestic and foreign authors. Used data from the survey of students of Polish universities. Also were used survey results through polish service ANKIETKA. For comparison, a questionnaire survey 35 students of the Faculty of Physical Education (future teachers of physical training) and 30 students - the future teachers of elementary school of Ukrainian university. Results: the study of Polish teachers consider health culture of a person as the ability to assess individual and community health needs using in everyday life hygiene and health regulations. There have been some differences among Ukrainian and Polish students in their health and health culture. Among the respondents, Polish students - the future teachers of physical culture, is dominated motives such as the improvement of the physical condition, strengthen self-esteem, as well as improved health. Polish students from other disciplines believe that the most important motive for the adoption of physical activity is a concern for the physical well-being and mental health. The majority of Ukrainian students (future teachers of physical culture) believe an important part of building health culture of their direct participation in various sports clubs, as well as the ability to organize physical culture, sports and educational work with students outside the classroom. Ukrainian students (other specialty) noted the need to improve health, enhance knowledge in specific subjects humanities and promoting healthy lifestyles. Conclusions: It is recommended to use the experience of preparing students of Polish schools in modern Ukrainian higher education.
Physical development, the level of physical and technical preparedness of 14 - 15 year old young weightlifters of different weight categories groups
Authors: Lutovinov Iu.A. , Martin V.D. , Oleshko V.G. , Lisenko V.N. , Tkachenko K.V.
Published: August 2014

Purpose : explore physical development, the level of physical and technical preparedness of young weightlifters of different weight categories groups. Material : the study involved 36 athletes. Athletes age 14-15 years. Results : present physical development, the level of physical and technical preparedness of athletes who are preparing for the championship of Ukraine. Found that indicators body length athletes tend to increase with increasing weight category groups - by 15,0% (p
The preparation for the year main competition teams in basketball with hearing impairments with innovative technologies
Authors: Sobko I.N.
Published: August 2014

Purpose : develop and prove experimentally comprehensive training program on the Ukrainian national team basketball with hearing impairment in the annual cycle for the major competitions. Material : The study involved 12 basketball hearing impaired 20-25 years old - female players team of Ukraine on basketball. Also analyzed the test results and competitive activity 12 basketball players with hearing impairments - Lithuanian team players. Results : We showed the need for a qualitative change in the training process through the development and application of innovative technologies. This allows a greater level of communication between the coach and athletes to intensify training process. Developed and experimentally substantiated comprehensive training program for the Ukrainian national team. In technical training device used light. This increased mobility, agility, activity and intensity workouts. In tactical training improved situational and planned change tactical drawing game using copyright protection of video tutorials with animated illustrations. Conclusions : A positive impact of the developed system for basketball training result in major competitions.
Sale leisure activities of children and youth in out of school educational establishments of physical culture and sports destinations
Authors: Tikhonova N.V.
Published: August 2014

Purpose : To determine the role of extracurricular educational establishments of physical culture sports direction in providing leisure activities for children and youth. Material : The results of the analysis of the scientific and methodological literature, statistical reports of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, authorities of Physical Culture and Sport, authorities the Department of Education and Science. Results : Based on the analysis of statistical reports determined satisfactory condition and leisure activities in non-school educational establishments physical culture sports direction. This is confirmed by an increase in the number of pupils and students dealing all kinds of physical culture health improvement work. Also, the decline in the number of pupils and students classified for health reasons for the special medical group. Conclusions : Our data showed that extracurricular educational institutions physical culture sports direction have a place in leisure activities. They play an important role in motor activity, substantial leisure and healthy lifestyles for children and young people of our country.
Self-appraisal adequacy of students’ physical abilities of pedagogical specialties involved in various forms of education
Authors: TSYBUL’SKA V.V.
Published: August 2014

Purpose : considered self-appraisal adequacy of students’ physical abilities of students of pedagogical specialties involved in various forms of education. Material : the study was conducted with students of II and IV courses of the Faculty of Primary Education stationary and correspondence courses (total 120 people.). Used a technique of self-appraisal of physical development, technique of rapid assessment of physical health, motor tests. Results : set the direction for the development of the values of physical culture and self-improvement of physical abilities that depend on the adequacy of the self-assessment of their physical development and physical fitness. The comparison of subjective and objective indicators for assessing physical health and physical fitness of students. Highlighted significant differences in the direction of re-evaluation of their physical abilities in students of correspondence courses. Conclusions : It is recommended to use the self-appraisal methodology of physical development to determine the degree of objectivity of self-confidence, which determines the motivation for self-improvement.
EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES OF THE FORTHCOMING PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS
Authors: Romanowska-Tolloczko Anna
Published: August 2014

Purpose. Defining the level of emotional intelligence of students - prospective physiotherapists and physical education teachers. Material and method. The study was conducted amongst students of University School of Physical Education in Wrocław: There were 134 students from Physiotherapy Department and 254 students of Physical Education Department tested. In the research the tool to diagnose emotional intelligence was used: Emotional Intelligence Scale by Matczak et al. Results. In assessing the level of emotional intelligence the differences between students groups were pointed out due to their field of study and gender. Average emotional intelligence for all groups was at the moderate level although prospective teachers reached higher scores. Students of Physiotherapy and subjects constituting the control group showed lower level of studies parameter and the results were similar. Different levels of emotional intelligence are also visible in the results obtained by women and men. Women in each group receive higher scores than men. Conclusions. Emotional competencies of the subjects are at the moderate and low level, which is not a satisfactory result. Higher predispositions should be expected of people who choose teaching or physiotherapist professions, because it is required by specificity of the work they intend to carry on. Therefore, it seems necessary to pay special attention to the development of these competencies in the course of the study.
Do microorganism stoichiometric alterations affect carbon sequestration in paddy soil subjected to phosphorus input?
Authors: Zhang ZhiJian , Li HongYi , Hu Jiao , Li Xia , He Qiang , Tian GuangMing , Wang Hang , Wang ShunYao , Wang Bei
Published: August 2014

Ecological stoichiometry provides a powerful tool for integrating microbial biomass stoichiometry with ecosystem processes, opening far‐reaching possibilities for linking microbial dynamics to soil carbon (C) metabolism in response to agricultural nutrient management. Despite its importance to crop yield, the role of phosphorus (P) with respect to ecological stoichiometry and soil C sequestration in paddy fields remains poorly understood, which limits our ability to predict nutrient‐related soil C cycling. Here, we collected soil samples from a paddy field experiment after seven years of superphosphate application along a gradient of 0, 30, 60, and 90 (P‐0 through P‐90, respectively) kg P·ha−1·yr−1 in order to evaluate the role of exogenous P on soil C sequestration through regulating microbial stoichiometry. P fertilization increased soil total organic C and labile organic C by 1–14% and 4–96%, respectively, while rice yield is a function of the activities of soil β‐1,4‐glucosidase (BG), acid phosphatase (AP), and the level of available soil P through a stepwise linear regression model. P input induced C limitation, as reflected by decreases in the ratios of C:P in soil and microbial biomass. An eco‐enzymatic ratio indicating microbial investment in C vs. P acquisition, i.e., ln(BG) : ln(AP), changed the ecological function of microbial C acquisition, and was stoichiometrically related to P input. This mechanism drove a shift in soil resource availability by increasing bacterial community richness and diversity, and stimulated soil C sequestration in the paddy field by enhancing C‐degradation‐related bacteria for the breakdown of plant‐derived carbon sources. Therefore, the decline in the C:P stoichiometric ratio of soil microorganism biomass under P input was beneficial for soil C sequestration, which offered a “win‐win” relationship for the maximum balance point between C sequestration and P availability for rice production in the face of climate change.
Combining Aggregation and Classical Algebraic Multigrid in the CPR-AMG Linear Solver
Authors: Gratton S.. , Jiránek P.. , Vasseur X.. , Hénon P..
Published: August 2014

Algebraic multigrid (AMG) represents a class of efficient preconditioners for large and sparse linear systems arising in particular from discretized elliptic partial differential equations. In the context of reservoir simulation, a standard preconditioner for the linear solver is the so-called CPR-AMG in which AMG is applied to an approximated pressure subsystem. In this method, AMG is the bottleneck for scalability because it involves a lot of communications across processors in particular for the setup phase, which constructs the coarse levels according to the coefficients of the Jacobian matrix. The goal of this work is to decrease the overall cost of the CPR-AMG in parallel by combining two different coarsening strategies: the first levels are computed using an aggregation scheme whereas the coarsest levels are treated using a classical point-wise Ruge-Stüben (RS) scheme. AMG preconditioners constructed using classical coarsening schemes are able to achieve good convergence rates of the preconditioned iterative method. The complexities of the multigrid hierarchies can be quite high and thus the classical AMG may be expensive in terms of memory requirements and computational times. Aggregation AMG methods, on the other hand, provide better means of complexity control and consequently the setup time required to construct the preconditioner can be considerably lower. The efficiency of the aggregation AMG methods, however, deteriorates with the increasing problem size although the two-level convergence rates can be very good. To take advantage of both the aggregation and classical AMG, we consider combining both approaches within one hierarchy in order to decrease the setup time of the AMG preconditioner while retaining the convergence properties of the two-level aggregation method.
A Multilevel Preconditioner and Its Shared Memory Implementation for New Generation Reservoir Simulator
Authors: Wang Baohua , Wu Shuhong , Li Qiaoyun , Li Xiaobo , Li Hua , Zhang Chensong , Xu Jinchao
Published: August 2014

The mathematical models in reservoir simulation are usually discretized into large linear equations, and solving them needs lots of time. Taking into account the mathematical characteristics of the black oil model, a multilevel preconditioning solution method is designed to deal with the algebraic equations in reservoir numerical simulation. Takes into account some of the properties of pressure, saturation, and implicit well variables in flow model, the multilevel preconditioner is comprised of several different iterative methods, such as algebraic multigrid method, Incomplete LU factorization, Gauss-Seidel iteration with downwind ordering and crosswind blocks and et al. The efficiency and robustness of multilevel preconditioner is proved by a million-cell benchmark problem and a real-world matured reservoir with high heterogeneity, high water-cut, geological faults, and complex well scheduling. The numerical results indicate that the proposed method is not only robust with respect to the heterogeneity, anisotropy, and number of wells but also efficient method that can solve large Jacobian system in reservoir simulation quickly and precisely.
A Multiscale Mortar Method And Two-Stage Preconditioner For Multiphase Flow Using A Global Jacobian Approach
Authors: Ganis Benjamin , Kumar Kundan , Pencheva Gergina , Wheeler Mary F. , Yotov Ivan
Published: August 2014

We consider a fully-implicit formulation for two-phase flow in a porous medium with capillarity, gravity, and compressibility in three dimensions. The method is implicit in time and uses the multiscale mortar mixed finite element method for spatial discretization in a non-overlapping domain decomposition context. The interface conditions between subdomains are enforced in terms of Lagrange multiplier variables defined on a mortar space. There are two novelties in our approach: first, we linearize the coupled system of subdomain and mortar variables simultaneously to form a global Jacobian and eliminate variables by taking Schur complements; and second, we adapt a two-stage preconditioning strategy to solve the resulting formulation. The new formulation exploits the local invertibility of mortar block matrices to obtain a system with subdomain variables as unknowns. The two-stage preconditioner uses the Householder transformation to decouple the pressure and saturation variables for each grid block. This allows the elliptic equation for the pressure and hyperbolic equation for the saturation to be solved in a decoupled manner. The algorithm is fully parallel and numerical tests show the low computational costs of eliminating the mortar variables to obtain the final Jacobian matrices. We have demonstrated parallel scalability using our two-stage preconditioner on large-scale heterogeneous two-phase reservoir simulation problems with over 10 million elements and over 1000 processors.
Robust Fully-Coupled Multiphase Flow and Geomechanics Simulation
Authors: Alpak Faruk O.
Published: August 2014

Material nonlinearity; boundary and arching constraints; non-uniform reservoir flows; sliding along material interfaces or faults are among the causes of shear deformation or changes in the total stresses, and the resulting stress redistribution in hydrocarbon reservoirs. Previous studies have demonstrated that shear or non-uniform deformation and stress re-distribution in subsurface formations may have significant effects on reservoir fluid flows. Thus, a two-way coupled analysis is the required approach under circumstances where the shear deformation or changes in total stresses in the reservoir cannot be neglected.

A novel coupled multiphysics simulator is developed for the dynamic modeling of multiphase thermal-compositional flow, and elastoplastic geomechanical deformation. The equations that govern multiphase flow in permeable media, heat transport, and elastoplastic geomechanics altogether lead to a highly nonlinear system. Finite-volume and Galerkin finite-element methods are respectively used for the numerical solution of thermal-compositional multiphase fluid-flow and geomechanics equations on general hexahedral (cornerpoint) grids. Due its improved stability and rapid convergence characteristics, the resulting multiphysics system of equations is solved via a fully-implicit formulation using an effective implementation of the Newton-Raphson method in the default mode.

The coupled simulator is by-design maximally modular: The flow simulation and elastoplastic geomechanics modules can be run independently in the single-physics mode. Alternatively, these two fundamental modules can be operated in a two-way coupled mode with explicit, iterative, and fully-implicit coupling options. The coupled modeling system lends itself naturally not only to near-wellbore coupled flow and geomechanical deformation problems where poroplasticity may play a more prominent role but also to reservoir-scale simulations where both poroelasticity and poroplasticity are of relevance. The coupled simulator is validated against analytical solutions for simple cases, and using published data in the open literature. Validation results demonstrate the robust, fast, and accurate predictive capabilities of the multiphysics modeling protocol.
Automated History Matching Using Combination of Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy System (ANFIS) and Differential Evolution Algorithm
Authors: Rammay Muzammil Hussain , Abdulraheem Abdulazeez
Published: August 2014

History Matching is one of the most important steps to calibrate the Reservoir Simulation models. There are hundreds of thousands of grid blocks in reservoir simulation model, therefore manual History matching is not feasible for these cases. Automatic history matching uses mathematical algorithm and techniques to adjust reservoir engineering data rather than direct engineering judgment. History matching problem is highly non-unique and in order to assess the Non-Uniqueness of the problem, Multiple Models History Matched Models are required.

The History Matching with Multiple Models requires a very large number of reservoir simulations which can yield slow Field developments and large computational effort, which are very costly to make effective decision in terms of time and money. Often due to the lack of availability of multiple history matched models, there would be a lack in proper assessment of non-uniqueness, and it costs the wrong decision in terms of dry well or low productivity well. To minimize this problem some techniques such as Spline, Neural Networks, Kriging and Experimental Design, have been presented in the literature to be used as proxies to reservoir simulator. But all proxies can deliver only one history matched model, which can be highly non unique.

In this paper combination of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy System (ANFIS) and Differential Evolution algorithm is proposed, which can minimize the above problems, by obtaining various history matched models with minimum number of simulation runs and by this way non unique problem can be minimized and accurately assessed in less time. Inputs for ANFIS model are the reservoir simulation model parameters like porosity and permeabilities of three layers and output would be differences between observed and simulated field pressure and oil production rates, water production rates of wells, which are merged together to form an objective function of error or misfit. Differential Evolution obtains Global optimum results through ANFIS, so it cuts down the expensive simulation time. The results showed the large potential of application of the technique introduced.
Advanced Solution for Unit Data System Management
Authors: Panda Rajeev , Harne Vishal
Published: August 2014

Within the oil and gas exploration and production industry, larger engineering applications use various unit systems to help maintain data storage according to geographical preferences. This large amount of data requires significant manual effort to manage, which can cause potential human errors during data input and validation. Currently, the industry lacks such a system or tool to help design and validate the unit system preferred for any engineering application.

The solution this paper proposes for advanced unit system data management helps provide data entry and validation through a grid-like structure. The solution is provided in the form of executable/desktop application and web services for interoperability between multiple clients by means of a server system. This tool is intended to provide multiple data entries where the user can import Microsoft® Excel formats and save them directly into the relational database management system (RDBMS) (SQL Server E-Book 2011). The user should be able to copy and paste from Microsoft Excel into the tool user interface (UI) grid (fixed schema being the only limitation). However, it can also provide the flexibility to add single data entries where the user can add/update a field into RDBMS with the necessary information. During multiple or single data entry, the user can save them directly into RDBMS or generate XML or SQL scripts or XML data for interoperability (Bosworth et al. 2003). This solution contains another capability of performing the data validation around the existing data.

This paper discusses the solution for unit data system management. Additionally, discussed are the application, merits, and limitations of this solution. This solution can significantly help improve the efficiency of validating the complex data structure of the unit system metadata information, thus potentially saving a significant amount of manual effort, thereby saving man-hours and eventually associated costs.
Exploring Efficient Alternatives for High Performance Computing Requirements in Coupled Fluid-Flow and Stress Simulations for the Oil & Gas Industry
Authors: Rodrigues E.. , Serra Segura J. M. , Vargas Mendoza P.. , Ausas R.. , Das K.. , Mello U.. , Lakshmikantha M. R.
Published: August 2014

Numerical simulation is becoming an indispensable tool for the Oil & Gas industry. In order to simulate large numerical models, common practice is to rely on parallel computing. Here, we present key concepts for the development of numerical application intended to be parallel from start. Design and implementation of numerical simulators require many decisions. However, engineers do not consider parallelization priority. This is not a good decision and we present three factors that affect the implementation and performance of a numerical tool. Memory usage: workstations have very large amounts of memory. It is tempting to "splurge" on that resource. However, parallel machines have less memory per processor (e.g. BlueGene and GPU). Reducing the memory footprint in order to parallelize an existing numerical tool is time-consuming and error prone. Conversely, developing numerical code in such environment means that they can run with fine-grained parallelism when needed, but still run in fatter nodes. I/O: Usually the numerical core is the focus of parallelization. Nonetheless, as applications scale to large processor counts, I/O becomes a bottleneck. As an efficient alternative, I/O routines can be implemented in HDF5. This has two main advantages: (1) it is parallel and relies on the underlying parallel I/O system (e.g. GPFS); (2) and it is an open standard. Adopting it at a later stage would mean a different file format in the workflow that would require converters that can become a bottleneck. Solvers: Discretization of the governing equations leads to large systems that need to be assembled and solved several times during the computation. This requires efficient iterative solvers. Interchangeable interfaces for standardized libraries add flexibility. This is fundamental for ill-conditioned problems found in coupled fluid flow and stress phenomenon.
Private and social enterprise roles in water, sanitation and hygiene for the poor: a systematic review
Authors: Gero Anna , Carrard Naomi , Murta Janina , Willetts Juliet
Published: August 2014

Micro, small and medium private and social enterprises are emerging as important players in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector. This paper provides a systematic review of literature on this topic. It assesses the current evidence base in three areas: factors affecting success of enterprise engagement; outcomes for the poor as a result of enterprise engagement; and lastly, how civil society organisations are engaging to support enterprise development. The review revealed significant variation in the level of rigour of available evidence on this topic, and reflected limited availability of highly rigorous studies. Across the literature, similar success factors were reported across the water and sanitation sub-sectors. These included constraints to business viability due to limitations in demand, lack of business and technical skills and financial challenges (e.g., access to credit). Policy, governance and institutional frameworks could either support or constrain businesses depending on the context. While some evidence was reported on the positive outcomes for the poor resulting from enterprise engagement, in general, businesses preferred servicing non-poor customers. Lastly, evidence on civil society organisation engagement was limited, and where reported, consisted dominantly of capacity building support to enterprises rather than a wider variety of roles which might be envisaged.
Circuit Rider post-construction support: improvements in domestic water quality and system sustainability in El Salvador
Authors: Kayser Georgia L. , Moomaw William , Orellana Portillo Jose Miguel , Griffiths Jeffrey K.
Published: August 2014

Small piped water supply systems are often unable to provide reliable, microbiologically safe, and sustainable service over time, and this has direct impacts on public health. Circuit Rider (CR) post-construction support (PCS) addresses this through the provision of technical, financial, and operational assistance to these systems. CRPCS operates in low and high-income countries; yet, no rigorous studies of CRPCS exist. We measured the impact of CRPCS on ‘water quality’ and ‘sustainability’ indicators (technical and administrative capacity, and water supply protection) in El Salvador. In this field-based study, a case-control design was utilized in 60 randomly selected case (28 CR) and comparable control (32 noCR) communities. Microbiological water quality tests and pre-tested structured key-informant interviews were conducted. The operational costs of CRPCS were also assessed. Data were compared using parametric and non-parametric statistical methods. We found communities with CRPCS had significantly lower microbiological water contamination, better disinfection rates, higher water fee payment rates, greater transparency (measured by auditable banking records), greater rates of household metering, and higher spending for repairs and water treatment than comparable control communities. CRPCS is also a low-cost (<$1 per household/year in El Salvador) drinking water intervention.
Using baseline surveys to inform interventions and follow-up surveys: a case-study using the Nampula Province Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program
Authors: Admiraal Ryan , Doepel David
Published: August 2014

The Nampula Province Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program is a partnership among the Government of Mozambique, UNICEF, and the Australian Government focused on achieving the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals for water and sanitation in Mozambique and concentrated on five small towns in Nampula Province. Before implementation of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions in these towns, a baseline survey was carried out in 2012. We show how such a survey can be used to characterize the state of the three WASH sub-themes (water, sanitation, hygiene) pre-intervention, suggest possible new emphases of or modifications to proposed interventions, and inform the design of follow-up surveys to best gauge the impact of the interventions.
Monitoring microbiological and physicochemical quality of bottled mineral water sold in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Gomes F. C. O. , Silveira D. M. S. , Silva A. L. D. , de Souza P. P. , Badotti F.
Published: August 2014

Bottled mineral water is the beverage with the fastest growing consumption today. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological and physicochemical quality of major mineral water brands sold in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The physicochemical parameters analyzed were pH, conductivity, and ionic concentration. Microbiological analyses were undertaken for the presence of coliforms, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp., heterotrophic bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. The results were compared with the limits recommended by Brazilian legislation. Our results show that there is substantial variation among the chemical compound concentrations printed on the labels and those found by the analysis. For the microbiological analyses, 52% of the samples evaluated showed one or more groups of microorganisms above the permissible limits. These results indicate the sanitary inspection of the establishments responsible for bottling and marketing mineral water should be intensified.
The Influence of Sexual Attitudes on Mid-to Late-Life Sexual Well-Being: Age, Not Gender, as a Salient Factor
Authors: Graf Allyson S. , Patrick Julie Hicks
Published: August 2014

The influence of sexual attitudes on sexual activity and expression has been relatively understudied in older populations. In the current study, we sought to understand the role sexual attitudes have on sexual well-being among middle-aged and young-old adults. Using a diverse sample of participants over the age of 45 ( N = 384), a path model was analyzed to determine whether sexual attitudes contributed to sexual well-being. The model was then compared by gender. Results indicated: a) only age-relative sexual attitudes significantly contributed to sexual well-being; and b) the model was equally robust for both men and women, even though women held slightly more positive age-relative sexual attitudes than men. Therefore, among middle-aged and young-old adults, sexual well-being may be reduced by harboring negative ageist sexual attitudes. Efforts should be made to reduce stigma surrounding continued sexual activity and expression among the aged.
Parents' Views of Their Child's Death by Suicide
Authors: Barnes Donna Holland , Pazur Denise , Lester David
Published: August 2014

Families who have lost someone to suicide may have missed some significant clues. This is an exploratory study examining 53 parents who have lost a child to suicide. Only 15% were aware that their child was at risk for suicide and were alerted to the risk by their clinician. Forty-four percent had no clue at the time of their child's impending suicide and, in retrospect, were in denial, while the others had only a gut feeling or suspicion. A qualitative analysis of the parents' responses to an open-ended questionnaire suggests that parents need more knowledge about suicide, especially the cues and warning signs to look for in their children, and to be more open to warnings given to them by others.
Optimality test in fuzzy inventory model for restricted budget and space: Move forward to a non-linear programming approach
Authors: Pattnaik Monalisha
Published: August 2014

In this paper, the concept of fuzzy Non-Linear Programming Technique is
applied to solve an economic order quantity (EOQ) model for restricted
budget and space. Since various types of uncertainties and imprecision are
inherent in real inventory problems, they are classically modeled using the
approaches from the probability theory. However, there are uncertainties
that cannot be appropriately treated by the usual probabilistic models. The
questions are how to define inventory optimization tasks in such environment
and how to interpret the optimal solutions. This paper allow the
modification of the Single item EOQ model in presence of fuzzy decision
making process where demand is related to the unit price, and the setup cost
varies with the quantity produced/Purchased. The modification of objective
function, budget, and storage area in the presence of imprecisely estimated
parameters are considered. The model is developed by employing different
approaches over an infinite planning horizon. It incorporates all the
concepts of a fuzzy arithmetic approach and comparative analysis with other
non linear models. Investigation of the properties of an optimal solution
allows developing an algorithm whose validity is illustrated by an example
problem, and two and three dimensional diagrams are represented to this
application through MATL(R2009a) software. Sensitivity analysis of the
optimal solution is studied with respect to the changes of different
parameter values for obtaining managerial insights of the decision problem.