bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SARS-Corona Virus-2 May Initially Infect Brainstem through Trigeminal Ganglion-Latency May Be Present-A New Perspective
Authors: Mehboob Riffat , Ahmad Fridoon Jawad
Published: July 2020

Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (SARS-Cov-2) is an acute respiratory and infectious disease. This perspective aims to provide the basic understanding of the inflammation caused by SARS-Cov-2 and relation to trigeminal ganglion (TG). Virus enters through the mucous membranes of orofacial region and reach the TG where it resides and take control of its peptides including Substance P (SP).SP is the main neuropeptide, neuromodulator and neuro-hormone of TG, associated with nociception and inflammation under noxious stimulus. SP release is triggered and consequently, it affects the immune cells, blood vessels to release the mediators for inflammation. Cytokine storming is initiated and cause respiratory distress, bronchoconstriction and death in complicated cases. Neurokinin-1 Receptor (NK-1R) antagonist and glucocorticoids may be used to alleviate the symptoms and treat this infection. SP is the main culprit seem to be involved in the triggering of inflammatory pathways in SARS-Cov-2 infection. It has direct association with cardiorespiratory rhythm, sleep-wake cycle, nociception, ventilator responses and regulates many important physiological and pathological roles. Its over-secretion should be blocked by NK-1R antagonist. However, experimental work leading to clinical trials are mandatory for further confirmation.
Heterogeneity Aspects of Breast for Breast Cancer Patients Change due to COVID-19
Authors: Dutta Shawni , Bandyopadhyay Samir Kumar
Published: July 2020

Breast cancer develops from cells lining the milk ducts and slowly grows into a lump or a tumour. Breast cancer may be invasive or non-invasive. Invasive cancer spreads from the milk duct or lobule to other tissues in the breast, whereas, non-invasive ones lack the ability to invade other breast tissues. Non-invasive breast cancer is called in situ and may remain inactive for entire lifetime. Due to heterogeneity nature of breast, density as well as masses is variable in size and shape. A dataset of 18056 patients are collected from 20 Government Hospitals and 50 Private Hospitals in West Bengal before COVID-19 and after COVID-19. The classification of patients are made on three classes- Normal, Sign of Abnormality and Abnormality. The reports of MRIs of patients in January 2020 and February 2020 are collected from different hospitals. It is treated as dataset before COVID-19 . MRIS of patients in April 2020 and May 2020 are dataset during COVID-19. The entire datasets are accumulated for testing of any change in patients MRIS after the official announcement of new virus COVID-19 in March 2020. The aim of the paper is to make a comparison of any change in size and shape of masses of MRIs of patients before and after COVId-19. All collected MRIs reports are diagnosed by radiologists of hospitals.
Rodent Somatosensory Thalamocortical Circuitry: Neurons, Synapses, and Connectivity
Authors: O'Reilly Christian , Iavarone Elisabetta , Yi Jane , Hill Sean L.
Published: July 2020

As our understanding of the thalamocortical system deepens, the questions we face become more complex. Their investigation requires the adoption of novel experimental approaches complemented with increasingly sophisticated computational modeling. In this review, we take stock of current data and knowledge about the circuitry of the somatosensory thalamocortical loop in rodents, discussing common principles across modalities and species whenever appropriate. We review the different levels of organization, including the cells, synapses, neuroanatomy, and network connectivity. We provide a complete overview of this system that should be accessible for newcomers to this field while nevertheless being comprehensive enough to serve as a reference for seasoned neuroscientists and computational modelers studying the thalamocortical system. We further highlight key gaps in data and knowledge that constitute pressing targets for future experimental work. Filling these gaps would provide invaluable information for systematically unveiling how this system supports behavioral and cognitive processes.
The Fast and Accurate Calculation of the Self Inductance for the Circular Coils of the Rectangular Cross Section with the Radial and the Azimuthal Current Densities
Authors: Babic Slobodan , Akyel Cevdet
Published: July 2020

In this paper we give the new formulas for calculating the self-inductance for the circular coils of the rectangular cross sections with the radial and the azimuthal current densities. These formulas are given by the single integration of the elementary functions which are integrable on the interval of the integration. From these new expressions we can obtain the special cases for the self-inductance of the thin disk pancake and the thin wall solenoid that confirm the validity of this approach. For the asymptotic cases, the new formula for the self-inductance of the thin wall solenoid is obtained for the first time in the literature. In this paper we do not use special functions such as the elliptical integrals of the first, second and third kind, Struve, and Bessel functions because that is very tedious work. The results of this work are compared with already different known methods and all results are in the excellent agreement. This is way we consider this approach as the novelty because of its simplicity in the self -inductance calculation of the previously mentioned configurations.
Better to Be Alone Than in Bad Company: Cognate Synonyms Impair Word Learning
Authors: Antón Eneko , Duñabeitia Jon Andoni
Published: July 2020

The effects of cognate synonymy in L2 word learning are explored. Participants learned the names of well-known concrete concepts in a new fictional language following a picture-word association paradigm. Half of the concepts (set A) had two possible translations in the new language (i.e., both words were synonyms): one was a cognate in participants’ L1 and the other one was not. The other half of the concepts (set B) had only one possible translation in the new language, a non-cognate word. After learning the new words, participants’ memory was tested in a picture-word matching task and a translation recognition task. In line with previous findings, our results clearly indicate that cognates are much easier to learn, as we found that the cognate translation was remembered much better than both its non-cognate synonym and the non-cognate from set B. Our results also seem to suggest that non-cognates without cognate synonyms (set B) are better learned than non-cognates with cognate synonyms (set A). This suggests that, at early stages of L2 acquisition, learning a cognate would produce a poorer acquisition of its non-cognate synonym, as compared to a solely learned non-cognate. These results are discussed under the light of different theories and models of bilingual mental lexicon.
Modeling, Analysis, and Comparison of Nanotechnology System: A Graph-Theoretic Approach
Authors: Singh Tanvir , Agrawal V.P.
Published: July 2020

Nanotechnology can create many new nanomaterials and nanodevices with a vast range of applications, such as in medicine, electronics, biomaterials, and energy production, etc. An attempt is made to develop an integrated systems model for the structure of the nanotechnology system in terms of its constituents and interactions between the constituents and processes, etc. using graph theory and matrix algebra. The nanotechnology system is first modeled with the help of graph theory, secondly by variable adjacency matrix and thirdly by multinomial (which is known as a permanent function). The permanent function provides an opportunity to carry out a structural analysis of nanotechnology system in terms of its strength, weakness, improvement, and optimization, by correlating the different systems with its structure. The physical meaning has been associated with each term of the permanent function. Different structural attributes of the nanotechnology system are identified concurrently to reduce cost, time for design and development, and also to develop a graph-theoretic model, matrix model, and multinomial permanent model of nanotechnology system. The top-down approach for a complete analysis of any nanotechnology systems is given. The general methodology is presented for the characterization and comparison of two nanotechnology systems.
The Role of E-Tourism Mediation in the Relationship between Climate Change and the Amount of Income from Tourism Industry in Iran
Authors: Zabihi Seyyed Mohammad Ghaem , Safarzaei Khashayar
Published: July 2020

In the recent century, the tourism industry and within it the tourism economy are one of the most important and fundamental sectors of engaged business. E-tourism can be used as a dynamic tool in up to date areas of informative information and tourism marketing will be considered as a suitable field for the tourism industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between climate change and the amount of revenues from the tourism industry relying on a tool called e-tourism, and informing and providing services through this way so that Iran can achieve a greater share of export of a single-product oil economy combined with economic growth and sustainable development goals. The method of this research is descriptive-analytical.
Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 on the Italian Agri-food Sector: An Analysis of the Quarter of Pandemic Lockdown and Clues for a Socio-Economic and Territorial Restart
Authors: Barcaccia Gianni , D'Agostino Vincenzo , Zotti Alessandro , Cozzi Bruno
Published: July 2020

The recent outbreak of a new Coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic with about 10,5 million reported cases and over 500,000 deaths worldwide. Our prospective paper reports an updated analysis of the impact that this pandemic had on the Italian agri-food sector during the national lockdown and discusses why and how this unprecedented economic crisis could be a turning point to deal with the overall sustainability of food and agricultural systems in the frame of the forthcoming European Green Deal. Its introductory part includes a wide-ranging examination of the first quarter of pandemic emergency, with a specific focus on the primary production, to be understood as agriculture (i.e. crops and livestock, and their food products), fisheries and forestry. The effect on the typical food and wine exports, and the local environment tourism segments is also taken into account in this analysis, because of their old and deep roots into the cultural and historical heritage of the country. The subsequent part of the paper is centered on strategic lines and research networks for an efficient socio-economic and territorial restart, and a faster transition to sustainability in the frame of a circular bio-economy. Particular emphasis is given to the urgent need of investments in research and development concerning agriculture, in terms of not only a fruitful penetration of the agro-tech for a next-generation agri-food era, but also a deeper attention to the natural and environmental resources, including forestry. As for the rest of Europe, Italy demands actions to expand knowledge and strengthen research applied to technology transfer for innovation activities aimed at providing solutions for a climate neutral and resilient society, in reference to primary production to ensure food security and nutrition quality. Our expectation is that science and culture return to play a central role in national society, as their main actors are capable of making a pivotal contribution to renew and restart the whole primary sector and agri-food industry, addressing also social and environmental issues, and so accelerating the transition to sustainability.
STRATEGI PEMANFAATAN PROGRAM BRIGADE ALAT DAN MESIN PERTANIAN (BAST)
Authors: Riska Nila , Rukmana Didi , Rukka Rusli M.
Published: July 2020

The tool and agricultural machinery brigade (BAST), a movement formed between elements of the government, regional government, the ranks of the TNI, farmer institutions and the driving force of agricultural modernization is expected to optimize Alsintan's distribution to farmers. The agricultural machinery and machinery brigade (BAST) program provides another alternative to the lack of use of tools available at the farmer. This research was conducted in Mukti Sari Village, North Luwu Regency.  All data and information obtained using the APPAS method (Development Planning Analysis). The results of this analysis indicate that the main problem is that the needs of Alsintan users have not been fulfilled. The main problem is due to a short loan period, there has been no effort in the approach to BAST, and the tool operator is out of focus. This main problem causes the investment of Gapoktan in procuring its own equipment to be low. To solve this problem, we need to fulfill the main objectives, namely the needs of Alsintan users by farmers. This main objective is achieved if the loan lending period increases, there are efforts in the approach to BAST, and the workforce of the operator focuses on work. The main target is to raise Gapoktan investment in the procurement of its own high equipment. The actions needed to achieve the main goal, namely to submit an application for the addition of a loan period, appoint workforce to coordinate with BAST and supervise operator performance. Keywords: Planning, Development, Case.The tool and agricultural machinery brigade (BAST), a movement formed between elements of the government, regional government, the ranks of the TNI, farmer institutions and the driving force of agricultural modernization is expected to optimize Alsintan's distribution to farmers. The agricultural machinery and machinery brigade (BAST) program provides another alternative to the lack of use of tools available at the farmer. This research was conducted in Mukti Sari Village, North Luwu Regency.  All data and information obtained using the APPAS method (Development Planning Analysis). The results of this analysis indicate that the main problem is that the needs of Alsintan users have not been fulfilled. The main problem is due to a short loan period, there has been no effort in the approach to BAST, and the tool operator is out of focus.
ANALISIS RISIKO PRODUKSI USAHATANI PADI DI PESISIR DANAU TEMPE
Authors: Mita Ros , Darma Rahim , Rahmadani Rahmadani , Salam Muslim , Amrullah A.
Published: July 2020

Production risk is an occurrence of uncertainty in the agriculture sector and potentially potential loss and as a deviation from the agricultural production result obtained with the expected. This study aims to (1) To know the risk farming production at the shore of Lake Tempe in Mallusesalo Village, Sabbangparu District, Wajo Regency; and (2) To identify the efforts that need to be made by farmers in mitigating the risk of production of Lake Tempe coastal rice farming in Mallusesalo Village, Sabbangparu District, Wajo Regency. Data analysis techniques used are farm income analysis, coefficient of variation (CV) analysis, and descriptive analysis. The results of this study show that the average income of farmers is in Mallusesalo village of Rp. 17,243,261 / ha per season. Production risk obtained coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.046 can be interpreted as rice farming in Mallusesalo village has a low production risk. Efforts that need to be done by farmers in mitigating production risk are farmers observing weather conditions by referring to the planting calendar by taking into account the time of planting based on climate conditions. If there are signs of pest and disease attacks, farmers should prepare medicines (pesticides) accordingly. In addition, farmers can choose superior rice seed varieties, and farmers can also carry out biological biological control by utilizing natural enemies to reduce pest population.Keyword : Production; Risk;  Mitigate; Rice; Lake Tempe
ANALISIS KARAKTERISTIK KEWIRAUSAHAAN DALAM MENGHADAPI PERSAINGAN BISNIS ONLINE DI BALE HIDROPONIK SALATIGA
Authors: Bangun Dalmasius Apen , Sunaryanto Lasmono Tri
Published: July 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk 1) Menganalisis karakteristik kewirausahaan yang dimiliki usaha Bale Hidroponik Salatiga 2) Mengetahui peranan kepemilikan karakteristik kewirausahaan dalam menghadapi persaingan bisnis online di Bale Hidroponik Salatiga. Pemilihan lokasi dilakukan secara sengaja (purposive) dengan pertimbangan usaha yang dikelola secara perorangan yang menerapkan karakteristik kewirausahaan tersebut. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif. Variabel yang diamati adalah dimensi hasrat atas tanggung jawab, dimensi lebih menyukai risiko menengah, dimensi meyakini kemampuannya untuk sukses, dimensi hasrat untuk mendapatkan umpan balik yang sifatnya segera, dimensi tingkat energi yang tinggi, dimensi orientasi masa depan, dimensi keterampilan mengorganisasi, dan dimensi menilai prestasi lebih tinggi dari pada uang. Kemudian karakteristik kewirausahaan tersebut dianalisis untuk mengetahui peranannya dalam menghadapi persaingan bisnis online di Bale Hidroponik Salatiga. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan pemilik Bale Hidroponik memiliki kedelapan variabel karakteristik wirausaha tersebut dalam menjalankan usahanya. Peranan karakteristik kewirausahaan tersebut dalam menghadapi persaingan bisnis online mampu membuat produk, harga, marketing, jaringan dan pelayanan Bale Hidroponik dapat bersaing.
The legal paradox in the work of Eça de Queiroz: thoughts on the novels “O crime do padre Amaro” and “O primo Basílio”
Authors: Rêgo Eduardo de Carvalho
Published: July 2020

This paper searches for one possible way of understanding the Law based on the novels "O crime do padre Amaro" and "O primo Basílio", by Portuguese writer Eça de Queiroz. In both novels, the deaths of the female characters (Amélia and Luísa) are consequences of their lovers’ conducts (Amaro’s and Basílio’s), with no legal punishments for any of them. After reading these novels, there might be a feeling of injustice to the women, even if the male characters had not formally done any criminal actions. Precisely, this lack of action of the Law creates a paradox: even though the search for Justice is its main objective, by attempting to accomplish that purpose, sometimes severe injustice is brought by it, such as what happens to Amélia and Luísa. This research used the inductive scientific method, so the analysis of specific phenomena serves to generate generic conclusions. In this case, the main conclusion is the paradoxical trait of the Law, which is the main instrument for Justice, but is, at the same time, strongly capable of generating injustice because of its correct application.
Verbal realism in a magic world: Carlos Santiago Nino vs. Jorge Luis Borges
Authors: Kozicki Katya , Cardoso Luis Gustavo
Published: July 2020

This paper is an investigation of the reference made by Carlos Santiago Nino about Jorge Luis Borges, in the fifth chapter of his “Introduction to Legal Analysis”, in which he introduces the concept of verbal realism. The production by Borges mentioned by Nino is the poem “The Golem”, which tells the story of rabbi Judah Loew, who attempted to create another human being in his rituals. Thus, this study develops new considerations on the power of words to evoke things, and the common belief that words intrinsically relate to what they represent. In order to do that, the first objective of analysis is the immediate reference of Borges, the dialogue “Cratylus”, by Plato, together with other references, such as Goethe’s Faust, which has a similar narrative to the analyzed poem. The question raised is whether verbal realism offers definitions to constitute the universe built up by Borges. Hence, this article concludes that words, in normative contexts, are useful for summoning certain phenomena towards the events, and that verbal realism, then, has a dimension that Carlos Santiago Nino did not explore.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Continuous Gas Displacement for EOR in Hydraulically Fractured Shale Reservoirs
Authors: Moridis George , Reagan Matthew
Published: July 2020

The main objective of this study is to analyze and describe quantitatively the effectiveness of continuous gas displacement as an EOR process to increase production from multi-fractured shale oil reservoirs. The study uses CH4 continuously injected through horizontal wells parallel to the production wells as the displacement agent, and investigates the effects of various attributes of the matrix and of the induced and natural fracture systems.

This numerical simulation study focuses on the analysis of the 3D minimum repeatable element (stencil/domain) that can describe a hydraulically-fractured shale reservoir under production. The stencil is discretized using a very fine (mm-scale) grid. We compare the solutions to a reference case that involves simple depressurization-induced production (i.e., without a gas drive). We monitor continuously (a) the rate and composition of the production stream and (b) the spatial distributions of pressure, temperature, phase saturations, and relative permeabilities.

The results of the study indicate that a continuous CH4-based displacement does not appear to be an effective EOR method for hydraulically fractured reservoirs. In the absence of a natural fracture network or a Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV), continuous CH4 injection in a system with typical Bakken or Eagle Ford matrix and fracture attributes causes a reduction in water production and an (expected) increase in gas production, but does not lead to any significant increase in oil production. This is attributed to the injected gas dissolution into the oil and its early arrival at the hydraulic fracture, thus short-circuiting the EOR process by bypassing the bulk of the matrix. The effectiveness of the CH4-based gas drive is enhanced in the presence of a natural or induced fracture network because of deeper penetration into the matrix, but the increase in production is minimal.

The evaluation of a continuous CH4 gas drive provides important information for the management of EOR processes in shale oil reservoirs, including support for the exclusion of specific EOR strategies. Novel components of this study are the simultaneous consideration of all processes (flow, thermal, physical-chemical) associated with gas-drive EOR operations and production of fluids from shale oil reservoirs using high-resolution 3D grids, capturing in detail phenomena that are attenuated in coarser grids.
Enhancing the Recovery of an Extra Heavy Oil Reservoir by Using Low Salinity Polymer Flooding
Authors: Hernández Edgar , Valero Emil , Rodríguez Inti , Guerra Elio , Espinoza Javier , Briceño Rigoberto , Veliz Alida
Published: July 2020

This paper presents the design of a polymer flooding pilot test for an extra heavy oil reservoir located in the Orinoco Oil Belt, Venezuela. We describe a workflow consisting of extensive experimental work, numerical simulation and upscaling that led to an optimized polymer flooding. Experimental results show both oil recovery and polymer consumption can be further improved when using low salinity water for polymer mixing. In addition to this, the design of the pilot project forecasts the economic viability of the process.

We studied the impact of salinity in polymer rheology and oil recovery. Recovery factors were measured in core-flooding experiments performed using live extra heavy oil (API 8.7, Rs of 95 scf/bbl and viscosity of 2 000 cP at reservoir conditions) with high content of basic and acidic compounds (6.27 and 2.3 mg potassium hydroxide/g of oil, respectively). Rheology data showed that 50% less polymer is required to achieve the desired mobility ratio when polymer solution was prepared using low salinity water. Polymer flooding with a salinity of 1000 ppm resulted in a residual oil saturation (Sor) of 25%. This was further reduced to 17.4% when low-salinity polymer flooding was implemented. Numerical simulation of the pilot area indicated that using the optimal injection rate of 4 000 BWPD per well and a polymer solution-oil mobility ratio of approximately 10, lead to an optimum and attractive technical-economical injection scheme when using horizontal injector and producer wells pattern.

We attribute the incremental oil recovery to wettability alterations and ion exchange taking place between low salinity polymer flooding and the rock surface. The basic and acidic components of the crude oil of the Orinoco Oil Belt have a tendency to wet reservoir rocks when clays are present. We believe these compounds are detached from the rock during low salinity floods altering wettability into a more water-wet condition, therefore reducing Sor.

Low salinity polymer flooding is an attractive choice for EOR in heavy and extra-heavy oil reservoirs additional to thermal methods. The lower polymer requirements and the higher incremental recovery achieved by low salinity polymer flooding improves economic performance making its application attractive in reservoirs where primary recovery is normally below 10% of OOIP.
Optimization of Recovery by Huff and Puff Gas Injection in Shale Oil Reservoirs Using the Climbing Swarm Derivative Free Algorithm
Authors: Olusola Bukola Korede , Orozco Daniel , Aguilera Roberto
Published: July 2020

Recent improved and enhanced oil recovery (IOR and EOR) methods in shale reservoirs use huff and puff gas injection (H&P). Investigating the technical and economic impact of this technology for one well is challenging and time consuming. Even more so when the petroleum company is planning H&P and refracturing (RF) jobs in multiple wells. Thus, in this paper we present an original methodology to learn how to perform these tasks faster and at lower cost to improve oil recovery.

The procedure is explained with the use of an actual H&P gas injection pilot horizontal well in the Eagle Ford shale whose performance is matched using the methodology developed in this paper. The methodology includes use of an original Climbing Swarm (CS) derivative-free algorithm that drives, without human intervention, computer or laptop material balance (MatBal) and net present value (NPV) calculations. The code was written in Python. Following history match, the methodology demonstrates that significant improvements in oil recovery can be obtained by injecting gas at larger rates during shorter periods of time (as opposed to injecting gas at smaller rates during longer periods of time).

Once oil recovery improvement in a pilot horizontal well is demonstrated, the methodology is extended to the analysis of H&P gas injection and refracturing in horizontal wells and shale reservoirs that have not yet been developed or are in initial stages of development; this provides a preliminary assessment of H&P and refracturing potential.

Results indicate that oil recovery and NPV from multiple wells can be improved significantly by a strategic combination of H&P gas injection and refracturing. Combination of derivative-free optimization algorithms, MatBal calculations and net present value permits optimizing when to start the H&P gas injection project, the optimum gas injection rates and time-span of injection, reservoir pressure at which gas injection should be initiated in each cycle, and the time-span during which the well should produce oil, previous to starting a new cycle of gas injection. The development strategy of shale oil reservoirs could be improved significantly if the possibility of H&P gas injection is considered previous to field development. This could be the case of the Eagle Ford shale in Mexico, La Luna shale in Colombia and Venezuela, Vaca Muerta shale in Argentina and other shale oil reservoirs worldwide.

The paper contributes the development of an original methodology, which includes use of a derivative free algorithm we call "Climbing Swarm (CS)." CS drives the computer or laptop to perform MatBal and NPV calculations, without human intervention, once the optimization process is started. The methodology improves oil recovery and NPV from a single horizontal well or from multiple horizontal wells operating under H&P gas injection.
Assessment of Oil and Gas Resources in the Vaca Muerta Shale, Neuquén Basin, Argentina
Authors: Mayol Juan Cruz , Moridis Nefeli , McVay Duane A. , Lee W. John
Published: July 2020

According to the 2015 Energy Information Administration (EIA) global assessment (EIA 2015), Argentina ranks third among countries in shale-gas resources and fourth in shale-oil resources. The Vaca Muerta formation in the Neuquén basin holds most of these resources. After the first EIA assessment of these resources in 2011, there has been a huge increase in investment, given the interest of the Argentine government to recover the energy autonomy it lost in the 1990s. The objectives of this study were to update estimates of oil and gas reserves and resources with the four years of production data available, and to quantify the uncertainty in these estimates.

The Vaca Muerta formation was subdivided into sub-areas based on the fluid type. The most appropriate production decline model was determined for each sub-area and coupled with Markov-Chain-Monte-Carlo (MCMC) methodology to analyze and forecast production of existing wells to calculate reserves. The analyses of individual wells in each sub-area were used to create probabilistic type-decline curves. These curves were combined with the estimated acreage-per-well distributions and the remaining drillable areas per sub-area to estimate contingent and prospective resources. The difference between contingent and prospective resources was based on the distance from existing wells.

As of January 2018, the total reserves (P90–P50–P10) for the Vaca Muerta shale in Argentina associated with existing wells are estimated to be 8.5–17.5–38.4 MMm3 of oil and 9.5–27.2–74.6 Bm3 of gas. Estimated contingent resources are 8.8–50.6–181.1 MMm3 of oil and 2.6–16.4–51.5 Bm3 of gas. Estimated prospective resources are 424–2,464–8,771 MMm3 of oil and 211–1,279–3,483 Bm3 of gas. Resources and reserves estimates were combined to estimate technically recoverable resources (TRR). The estimated TRR are 443–2533–8992 MMm3 of oil and 223–1223–3609 Bm3 of gas.

The results of this work should provide a more reliable assessment of the reserves and resources in the Argentine Vaca Muerta shale than previous estimates based on volumetric methodologies and analogies.
Chemical Selection and Simulation for SP Flooding in Puesto Hernandez Field
Authors: Georgiades Diana , Arguello Scotti Agustín , Villarroel Gisela , Martino Luis , Thomann Milagros , Gandi Silvana
Published: July 2020

Potential for EOR development at the historically prolific aeolian Avilé Member in Puesto Hernandez (PH) field led to the simulation of chemical processes in a 3D field-scale static-dynamic sector model; said model is presented to provide a business case for SP flooding. Recovery factor results are compared with the expected final recovery after more than 30 years of waterflooding.

Laboratory core flood experiments and phase behavior tests were conducted to determine the optimum polymer and the optimized surfactant formulation. The modeling of these experiments, allowed the estimation of input parameters for reservoir simulation. A sector model taken from a 3D full field static-dynamic model was used to simulate the effect of surfactant-polymer (SP) flooding over the residual oil saturation, which has almost already been reached in Puesto Hernandez field.

The SP formulation obtained from laboratory experiments, used in the simulation with specific software, gave way to the identification of significant volumes of oil in the PH field which could be recovered with chemical processes by reducing the residual oil saturation. The results from the evaluation of two pilot zones showed promising outcomes: the residual oil saturation would be reduced to around half its original value. A surfactant-polymer pilot is currently being designed to be implemented during the year 2020. This pilot can lead to the extension of this methodology to other mature fields expanding the YPF portfolio.

This paper provides valuable insight into SP flooding simulation to assist engineers in analogous mature fields evaluating this recovery methodology. Key parameters for forecasts, business case definition and estimation of the total resources of the Puesto Hernandez field are identified.
Minimum Economic Field Size and Probability of Success of Conventional Hydrocarbon Discoveries, in the Light of the New Open Uruguay Round Framework
Authors: Ferro Santiago , Rodríguez Pablo , Tomasini Juan , Gristo Pablo , Blánquez Natalia , Conti Bruno , Romeu Cecilia , Marmisolle Josefina
Published: July 2020

Recently, it was announced the first oil recovered in surface onshore Uruguay, in Norte Basin. Additionally, operators and Uruguayan National Oil Company (ANCAP) have identified many prospects, which are almost ready to be drilled, at different water depths offshore Uruguay. Therefore, it is relevant to know the minimum volume of hydrocarbons contained in hypothetical conventional discoveries, necessary to make the projects economically feasible in the light of the new Open Uruguay Round fiscal regime, both onshore and offshore.

The prospective resources distribution was calculated for several prospects, which were identified with 2D and/or 3D seismic, and are located onshore and offshore at various water depths. The probabilistic cash flow analysis including forecasts for production, capital and operating costs, product prices and the new fiscal regime was conducted in all cases to define the breakeven oil prices and the Minimum Economic Field Size (MEFS). Finally, the Net Present Value, the probability of geological success and the probability of development were considered to complete the expected monetary value and the probability of commercial success calculations.

Many aspects can be taken away from this work. Firstly, as a general trend, the MEFS and the breakeven oil price required for the prospects increase with water depth, reflecting the rise in expenditures. However, specific prospect parameters may cause a separation from this clear trend. Likewise, the decision to sell or reinject natural gas has a significant influence on project profitability. Additionally, the probabilities of geological success, in the abscense of productive analogues in the south Atlantic, are still low in all cases, reinforcing the status of frontier exploration of the Uruguayan sedimentary basins. Hence, with the objective to overcome this weakness and encourage exploration, the minimum government take established in the new Open Uruguay Round regime is fairly low. In conclusion, projects onshore and offshore could be equally profitable and successful, requiring higher size of discoveries and price of products as water depth increases. However, because of the remarkable difference in investment and costs, onshore opportunities fit for smaller companies’ portfolios and ultradeepwater prospects are almost exclusive for the majors.

This paper presents new and useful information to geoscientists, engineers and managers of International Oil Companies (IOCs) evaluating exploratory projects in Uruguay, as it includes the novel fiscal regime in force. Finally, it proposes an innovative methodology to calculate the MEFS, breakeven oil prices and the probability of commercial success from the stochastic model.
A Subsea Capping Operation is Not Rocket Science… or is it?
Authors: Cuthbert Andy
Published: July 2020

Technologies addressing subsea source control incidents have advanced over the years, but certain assumptions regarding the capabilities necessary to land a capping stack on a blowing well have not changed. Further research into the forces that must be overcome and the methodology to address those forces during deployment of a capping stack have revealed some startling aspects previously unrecognized.

During a subsea blowout when buoyant, multiphase fluid is released into the environment, accurate prediction of flow dynamics is necessary to evaluate capping stack intervention. To understand the capability necessary to land a capping stack onto a blowing well, the incorporation of flow rate, gas/oil ratio, exit geometry, and metocean conditions are required to create a high-fidelity analysis.

Landing dynamics assessments must incorporate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for multiphase simulations of release and jet interaction. Years of refining the predictive methodology and simulation have been evaluated against full-scale field experiences. Conventional methodology to deploy and land a capping stack, using vertical or offset deployment, assumes a number of factors except the effects of the flowfield velocities, turbulence, and mixing produced by a blowing well.

The adoption of ongoing research principles into plume-force dynamics, using methodology developed by NASA, has produced a cutting edge approach to analyzing the hydrodynamic flowfield produced by a subsea blowout, adding vital information to the process and successful execution of a subsea capping operation.

This paper offers insight into the high-resolution, high-fidelity plume-force modeling that provides vital information necessary to successfully land a capping stack in shallow or deep water environments.
Leveraging Phylogenetic Trees to Assess Variability of Reservoir Models
Authors: Soriano-Vargas Aurea , Rollmann Klaus , La Rosa Almeida Forlan , Davolio Alessandra , Hamann Bernd , José Schiozer Denis , Rocha Anderson
Published: July 2020

Numerical simulations use past reservoir behavior to calibrate models used to predict future performance. Traditionally, this process is carried out deterministically through history matching and most current approaches focus on developing probabilistic procedures, called data assimilation, whereby reservoir simulation models are calibrated to reproduce plausible performance under different operating conditions.

The output of different data-assimilation strategies can over-reduce the variability by having several highly-similar scenarios. Consequently, the need to ensure the variability of simulation models arises, to consider multiple possible solutions. In this vein, we introduce a visual analytics approach, based on phylogenetic trees, as a means to evaluate the variability of numerical reservoir simulation models throughout the probabilistic data assimilation process. Phylogenetic trees arrange simulation results based on similarity and visually convey match quality through color encoding.

We applied our methodology to two scenarios: (i) a synthetic scenario to exemplify the properties of the phylogenetic tree for the analysis of simulation models; and (ii) two different ensembles of simulation models, each representing a data-assimilation iteration, from the UNISIM-I-H benchmark case based on the Namorado Field, Campos Basin, Brazil.

Our strategy is intuitive and easy-to-use, allowing the user to assess the similarity of the numerical reservoir scenarios, ensemble variability, and match improvement during data assimilation iterations.
Probabilistic Analysis of Loss of Primary Safety Barrier During Drilling Operations
Authors: Sansoni Umberto , Silva Hiago , Gabardo Tainan , Negrão Cezar , Guinho Barbosa Agremis , Wohlers Diego , Waldmann Alex , Colombo Danilo , Leibsohn Martins André
Published: July 2020

The present study aims to propose a methodology to treat probabilistically the prediction of well bottom pressures during drilling, circulation and tripping operations. The pressure generated by the fluid is the primary safety barrier and its failure can immediately initiate gains and losses events in the well, with a direct impact on the safety of the process.

Two models were considered in the study: a two-phase flow model commonly used to predict hole cleaning and downhole pressures while drilling and a pressure propagation single flow transient model (which considers fluid compressibility and gelation) to account for peaks in tripping and pump restarts. A Monte Carlo method coupled with a latin hypercube strategy was implemented to propagate the uncertainties in the input variables to the resulting pressure.

The probabilistic approach aims to consider the uncertainties in the input variables (weight, rheology, penetration rate, drillstring velocity and acceleration, pump flow, particle diameter, well trajectory, etc.). Monte Carlo Simulation was conducted to generate the pressure distribution curves in each of the operations: drilling, circulation, tripping and pump restarts. Probabilistic pressures are fit into probabilistic operational windows allowing the quantification of the risk of losing the barrier. The paper also details the critical aspects associated with typical pre-salt well drilling project conditions in offshore Brazil where narrow operational widows are a reality. The analysis directly impacts the choice of drilling strategy (conventional or MPD) and, consequently, rig selection.

Innovative strategy to enable risk assessment strategies in the analysis of safety barriers. Pilot to a major integrated approach which will include other barriers such as cement, rock and equipment.
JUNTS framework for creating web apps to bridge the gap in doctor-patient communication: the case of COMjuntos application in the field of rare diseases
Authors: Bagò Rosa Estopà i , Ruiz Manuel Armayones
Published: July 2020

Background. The diagnosis or even the suspicion of a disease on their children has an emotional impact on their parents and generates a need to acquire relevant knowledge and skills in a short period of time. For a range of motives, these parents will sometimes face communicative and cognitive barriers in their communication with the professionals that care for their children. These barriers can have a negative effect on knowledge acquisition, treatment adherence and, more generally, affect their relationship with clinicians. To overcome these barriers, we developed JUNTS framework following three steps: carrying out 10 semi-structured interviews with parents of child’s affected by a rare disease. Secondly, we carried out interviews with health professionals and patient’s organization staff. The third and last steep was to organize a meeting of the whole research team and patient’s association staff of Spanish Federation of Rare Disease and list a set of design trends that could help parents to solve the main communicational and linguistic barriers.Results. The JUNTS Framework presented here helps parents manage the communicative situations they find themselves in the relationship with health professionals, by exploiting a polyphonic design that includes different levels of involvement. One of the characteristics that makes this approach particularly unique is that parents and representatives of patient-support associations work jointly with health professionals, psychologists and language experts in designing the contents of a parents-support application. The Framework exploits a modular structure centred around a series of short challenges with different types of user involvement (visual, textual and hypertextual). For optimal adherence and to ensure patients complete the whole route through the support material, elements of persuasive design have been integrated.Conclusions. In this paper, we outline how the JUNTS framework has been designed and used to develop the web app COMjuntos based in JUNTS framework. This web app facilitates medical communication and has been specifically designed to help parents who have a child with a rare disease empower themselves in the main communicative situations with health professionals. The JUNTS framework can be adapted to any other type of chronic disease or condition.
Metaphase spreads of human oocytes
Authors: Gruhn Jennifer R. , Newnham Louise J. , Hoffmann Eva R.
Published: July 2020

This protocol outlines the generation of metaphase spreads of a single oocyte at either the immature metaphase I (MI) or mature metaphase II (MII) stage. This protocol utilizes formaldehyde fixation and therefore allows for further immunofluorescence analysis. These spreads can also be used to identify aneuploidy and other large-scale structural chromosomal abnormalities. However, this assay is prone to false positives for whole chromosome aneuploidy losses, due to either fixation failure or excessive spreading leading to an inability to find all the chromosomes. Additionally, success rates can be low using human oocytes compared to similar protocols for mouse oocytes due to difficulty bursting the oocyte membrane and providing sufficient dispersion of the chromosomes for individual analysis. The protocol duration is two days, however, immunofluorescence staining will add to the total time before final analysis.
Determinants and impact of role-related time use allocation on self-reported health among married men and women: a cross-national comparative study
Authors: Jonsson Kenisha Russell , Oberg Gustav , Samkange-Zeeb Florence , Adjei Nicholas Kofi
Published: July 2020

Background: Research on the effects of marriage on health maintains that there is a gender-specific gradient, with men deriving far greater benefits than women. One reason provided for this difference is the disproportionate amount of time spent by women on housework and childcare. However, this hypothesis has yet to be explicitly tested for these role-related time use activities. This study provides empirical evidence on the association between role-related time use activities (i.e. housework, childcare and paid work) and self-reported health among married men and women. Methods: Data from the Multinational Time Use Study (MTUS) on 32,881 men and 26,915 women from Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US were analyzed. Seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) models and multivariable logistic regression were used to estimate the association between role-related time use activities and self-reported health among married men and women. Results: The findings showed that education, occupation and number of children in the household under 18 years old were the most consistent predictors of time allocation among married men and women. Significant gender differences were also found in time allocation, with women sacrificing paid working time or reducing time devoted to housework for childcare. Men, in contrast, were less likely to reduce paid working hours to increase time spent on childcare, but instead reduced time allocation to housework. Allocating more time to paid work and childcare was associated with good health, whereas time spent on housework was associated with poor health, especially among women. Conclusions: Time allocation to role-related activities have differential associations on health, and the effects vary by gender and across countries. To reduce the gender health gap among married men and women, public policies need to take social and gender roles into account.