bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Challenge of Public Perception
Authors: Rassenfoss Stephen
Published: February 2019

Special Section: The Value and Future of Petroleum Engineering

For petroleum engineers, it is aggravating to hear negative comments about the oil and gas industry, often by people who don’t understand the industry or get the facts wrong.

“I was asked about this whenever I spoke,” said Janeen Judah SPE, 2017 SPE President, recalling how members were unsure how to respond to negative or inaccurate claims. She agreed that it is disappointing to hear the work you are proud of misrepresented, and misconceptions can lead to bad policies. For example, those who assume that a transition from oil and gas to wind and solar will take just a few years rather than decades are also likely to oppose government policies that will allow for the exploration and production required to meet global energy demand.

Adding to the challenge, managing public perception is not something that petroleum engineers learn in college. Engineers are likely to struggle to understand a thought process that seems illogical and subjective.

Understanding how opinions are formed, and changed, requires dealing with the fact that the workings of our brains—including those of engineers—are influenced by logic, but the thought process also brings many other things into the equation to arrive at what may seem like a logical conclusion.

“A few years ago I thought it was 80% facts and reasoning and 20% gut reaction. Now I think we are the other way around,” said Lyn Arscott, SPE president in 1988. He realized that things are not always what they seem after reading about the growing body of psychological research concluding that the way people evaluate facts, or even decide what are the facts, is based on many considerations—strongly held beliefs, a sense of justice and safety, rules of thumb, and group norms. A phrase often used in this discussion: things are complicated.

It is not that the general public is made up of people who are not logical thinkers. But there are also automatic thinking processes in our brain that evolved to help people make quick decisions in a dangerous world.

“Psychology might not be a traditional subject for JPT but it is essential that engineers understand what makes people tick,” Arscott said. That understanding can help explain why “it is not enough to make a case going ‘point one and two and three and four and this is what you do,’” he said.

This realization helped him answer a question that bothered him during his long career in oil and gas: “Why don’t they love us?”

Shifting Expectations

Arscott is proud of how the industry reduced its environmental impact in the decades after he shifted from working in production to working in a health, safety, and environment (HSE) position. He helped drive Chevron’s first push to comply with then-new oil and water pollution regulations.

“Slowly we realized we did not have to sacrifice the environment. We had to literally change the culture. I am so proud we are there. There are pockets of resistance, but we are there,” Arscott said.
Ten Technologies From the 1980s and 1990s That Made Today’s Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Edmundson Henry
Published: February 2019

Special Section: The Value and Future of Petroleum Engineering

Contrary to popular imagination, which favors John Wayne stereotypes heroically rescuing the oil industry with wrench and hammer, the oilfield is a place of exquisite engineering, the match of anything on Earth, a marvel of innovation at the biggest and smallest scales.

The office-block sized blowout preventers on the ocean floor or the minute geopositioning electronics inside a logging while drilling (LWD) tool both are designed to operate perfectly within exacting environmental specifications. Almost every aspect of upstream exploitation is the result of exhaustively leveraging the glorious value chain of math, science, and engineering.

Along this trajectory, failure is met more often than success, as ideas and developments are tried out and eventually fine-tuned until something begins to work reliably. The journey is not for the faint-hearted. Whether it be one obsessive individual or a team with an equal desire to win, both energy and imagination must be sustained at every hurdle, to force progress and eventual success. This is as valid for the glamorous game-changing innovation as it is for a leap-of-faith improvement to existing technological practice.

Since the 1980s, our industry has experienced a technology renaissance all along this innovation spectrum—the oil price volatility in this modern era of our industry certainly focused minds on doing things more efficiently at less cost. As a celebration of these years of technical innovation, we now make so bold as to list perhaps 10 of the most significant contributions.

No doubt it is foolhardy to propose such a list because we all have an opinion on what should be on it. Nevertheless, there is surely enough common ground to guarantee some degree of objectivity. What may be objectionable is limiting the number to 10. Within that constraint, however, just the intellectual and practical bravado displayed surely merits all 10 to be included.

1981: Horizontal Wells Increase Production

The Soviet Union pioneered horizontal wells in the late 1960s only to turn its back on furthering the development of the practice in favor of vertical wells that were easier and faster to drill. But the mantle was picked up by Jacques Bosio, a drilling engineer with French oil company Elf Aquitaine, which needed horizontal drilling to intersect fractures and increase production from a karst reservoir found off the Italian coast, the Rospo Mare field.

In 1981, for twice the cost of a vertical well, horizontal drilling was sanctioned. The first well would bring in 3,000 B/D—more than 20 times its off-set vertical well. By the mid-1980s, horizontal drilling was seeing wider adoption as a way to target thin oil and gas reservoirs in Texas, the Middle East, and the North Sea. Operators had known about these skinny hydrocarbon- bearing layers for years—now they had a way to contact them with enough surface area to make money. Bosio would go on to become the first SPE President from outside the US, in 1993.
Surface-to-Borehole Electromagnetics Hold Promise for 3D Waterflood Monitoring
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2019

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 191544, “Surface-to-Borehole Electromagnetics for 3D Waterflood Monitoring: Results From First Field Deployment,” by Daniele Colombo and Gary McNeice, Saudi Aramco, and Nestor Cuevas and Mauro Pezzoli, Schlumberger, prepared for the 2018 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, 24–26 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Monitoring the waterflooding oil-recovery process is a difficult task for seismic-based methods in hard carbonate reservoirs. The changes in velocity and density caused by water/oil substitution are too small when compared with the errors involved in repeating the measurements. The authors detail the development of a technique based on surface-to-borehole controlled-source electromagnetics (CSEM), which exploits the large contrast in resistivity between injected water and oil to derive 3D resistivity distributions, proportional to saturations, in the reservoir.

Introduction

CSEM techniques for reservoir-fluid characterization and monitoring are applied on a commercial basis for cross-well configurations. The method is based on electromagnetic (EM) induction and, as such, uses magnetic sources and magnetic receivers. While it has been implemented successfully in many field trials, the method is limited to 2D geometries and its sensitivity is biased toward detecting conductors. Modeling has shown that the setup of magnetic sources and magnetic receivers in a 3D surface-to-borehole configuration does not provide a useful signal above the estimated noise floor. For such configurations, an electric source needs to be adopted. Realistic modeling of 3D surface-to-borehole CSEM suggested that the vertical electric field (Ez) is the only component of EM radiation showing a signal above the estimated noise floor for waterfront variation over a period of 2 years. The results of the study led to modifications of the cross-well EM acquisition system where electric field sensors were added to the existing magnetic field sensors. A powerful custom electric-current source was also developed.

Survey Design

Three-dimensional surface-to-borehole CSEM data were acquired in a deep (reservoir-level) research well drilled near the known waterfront position. Surface current dipoles (transmitting antennae) were prepared by drilling shallow boreholes and completing them with a steel pipe coupled to the rock formations using a slurry of carbon backfill (coke breeze) to achieve sufficient electrical contact. The electrode setup was completed by cementing the top. Electrodes forming the dipole antennas were installed at a 200-m separation forming a setup of 48 inline (radial-direction) and 48 cross-line (tangential-direction) dipoles generating Ez and a vertical magnetic field (Hz) at the observation well.
Understanding the Mechanism of Interwell Fracturing Interference With Reservoir/Geomechanics/Fracturing Modeling in Eagle Ford Shale
Authors: Guo X.. , Wu K.. , Killough J.. , Tang J..
Published: February 2019

Tightly spaced horizontal wells are widely used in the development of unconventional resources. The effectiveness of this strategy is largely affected by interwell fracturing interference, indicated by interwell fracture geometry and fracture hits, because interwell interference affects both the parent- and infill-well production. This work proposes a reservoir/geomechanics/fracturing modeling work flow for understanding the interference mechanism and quantifying effects of parent-well fracture geometry, differential stress, and the design of infill-well completion on interwell fracturing interference.

Reservoir models are constructed for the analysis of Eagle Ford scenarios. The numerical work flow involves a finite-element model that fully couples reservoir flow and geomechanics, and a complex multifracture propagation model coupling rock mechanics and fluid flow in wellbore and fractures. The work flow characterizes the temporal-spatial evolution of pressure and stress caused by legacy-parent-well production. The fracture model is used to simulate the complex fracture geometry created by infill-well completion, on the basis of an updated heterogeneous reservoir stress state. The resulting fracture geometry quality is quantified by the occurrence of fracture hits and the relative growth of fractures in longitudinal and transverse directions. Nonuniform fracture geometries lead to more-complex stress changes, induced by depletion, rather than by uniform fracture geometries along parent wells. A smaller in-situ differential stress results in stronger stress reorientation that is caused by parent-well depletion, which induces longitudinal fractures along infill wells, and greatly reduces stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) and initial well performance of infill wells. A larger in-situ differential stress induces less stress reorientation and is more likely to lead the fractures to propagate toward pre-existing fractures, generate fracture hits, and affect the production of parent wells. The quantification study in the sensitivity analysis indicates that differential stress and the infill-well completion design have the most significant influences on interwell interference. This study suggests optimal infill-well completion designs for Eagle Ford scenarios. The study also provides insights for an infill-well completion design in unconventional reservoirs developed by tightly spaced horizontal wells, in terms of how to adjust field operational schedules to avoid fracture hits, and change the complexity of the interwell fracture networks.
Infant critical head injury could be a remote cause of middle-aged cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Authors: Tachiyama Keisuke , Nakamori Masahiro , Hayashi Yuki , Matsushima Hayato , Imamura Eiji , Wakabayashi Shinichi , Urakami Katsuya
Published: February 2019

Background

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a sporadic condition in the elderly and is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The younger cases, however, may have a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) during infancy.

Case Presentation

We present a case of a 37-year-old man who had cerebral lobar hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed several lobar microbleeds, which along with the asymptomatic, lobar hemorrhages increased every year. At the age of 40 years, he developed mild cognitive impairment. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed a markedly decreased level of amyloid β42. Moreover, he had a subdural hematoma during infancy. Thus, we diagnosed him with CAA, which was related to the TBI at infancy.

Conclusion

TBI at infancy can be a remote cause of middle-aged CAA and dementia. This was supported by the low Aβ42 level in the CSF analysis.
Accuracy of Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity Estimated from Numerically Simulated Single‐Ring Infiltrations
Authors: Bagarello Vincenzo , Iovino Massimo , Lai Jianbin
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas

The accuracy of the PI method in estimating soil Ks was tested by numerical simulations.

Estimated Ks using two‐ponding‐depth and multiple‐ponding‐depth infiltration were compared.

Transient and steady‐state infiltration data for six soils were used to estimate Ks.

The PI should yield more accurate Ks estimates in coarse‐ than fine‐textured soils.

The transient method does not solve the Ks inaccuracy problems in fine‐textured soils.

The single‐ring pressure infiltrometer (PI) method is widely used to determine saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, Ks, directly in the field. The original and still most common way to analyze the data makes use of the steady‐state model developed by the Canadian School in the 90s and two (two‐ponding‐depth, TPD, approach) or more (multiple‐ponding‐depth, MPD, approach) depths of ponding. The so‐called Wu method based on a generalized infiltration equation allows analysis of the transient infiltration data collected by establishing a single ponding depth of water on the infiltration surface. This investigation, making use of simulated infiltration runs for initially unsaturated sand to silty clay loam soils, showed that, with a run duration of practical interest (e.g., 2 h), the PI can be expected to yield more accurate estimates of Ks in coarse‐textured soils than in fine‐textured soils even if the transient method is used instead of the steady‐state method. Performing a three‐level experiment and analyzing the estimated steady‐state infiltration rates with both the TPD and MPD approaches is a way to predict the reliability of the estimated Ks value. The Ks accuracy should be acceptable if the two approaches yield similar results. Otherwise, the MPD approach should be expected to yield more accurate Ks estimates than the TPD approach. The transient method does not solve the Ks inaccuracy problems in fine‐textured soils because obtaining accurate Ks data requires that the portion of total infiltration varying linearly with time represent a high percentage of total infiltration, but this percentage is small in fine‐textured soils when the run does not exceed a few hours. This investigation opens some new perspective on the use of infiltration data to make predictions on the expected reliability of the Ks calculations with reference to both steady‐state and transient data analysis procedures.
A Generalized Analytical Solution for Preferential Infiltration and Wetting
Authors: Stewart Ryan D.
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas

New model simulates relative infiltration and wetting depth due to preferential flow.

Solution normalizes parameters to account for soil properties and initial conditions.

Preferential flow estimations match closely with dual‐permeability HYDRUS‐1D results.

Preferential flow wetting depths decrease as volume of macropore domains increase.

Model provides new insight into preferential flow dynamics during rainfall events.

Macropores induce preferential flow in many soils, creating the need for parsimonious solutions to describe nonequilibrium infiltration and wetting processes. This study applied the Green–Ampt infiltration model within a dual‐domain framework to distinguish water movement through the soil matrix vs. through macropores. Using a nondimensional parameter set to generalize the results, the developed equations enabled estimates of infiltration and depth of wetting due to preferential flow during constant‐intensity rain. The analysis revealed that infiltration partitioning varies with time, with flow regimes changing at time of ponding of the matrix and again at time of ponding in the macropores. The results also showed that the fraction of infiltration due to preferential flow increases as a function of rainfall and relative volume of the macropore domain. Conversely, macropore volume has an inverse relationship with wetting depth: all other factors being equal, infiltration due to preferential flow becomes proportionally greater than matrix infiltration as macropore volume decreases. Finally, the proposed infiltration and wetting equations were compared with numerical simulations of the Richards equation for dual‐permeability soils. The analytical solutions closely approximated the numerical results, with root mean square deviation values ≤0.15 and simulated wetting depths within 35% of one another, even as modeled times to ponding varied by 5 to 80%. Altogether, the theoretical framework developed in this study provides new insight into preferential flow dynamics during rainfall events.
Probabilistic Inversion of Multiconfiguration Electromagnetic Induction Data Using Dimensionality Reduction Technique: A Numerical Study
Authors: Moghadas Davood
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas

DCT‐based inversion of EMI data successfully recovers subsurface conductivity images.

Training image‐based parameterization ensures accurate subsurface characterization.

Using ECa data pseudosection as a training image provides an adequate prior.

Low‐frequency loop–loop electromagnetic induction (EMI) offers several key advantages over many other geophysical techniques for proximal soil sensing. Yet, because of problems with the inversion of measured apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) data, application of EMI for geophysical imaging and interpretation is limited. In this study, a Bayesian inference was used to obtain electromagnetic conductivity images (EMCIs) from multiconfiguration ECa data. This approach allows analysis of highly nonlinear problems and renders an ensemble of models obtained from the posterior distribution that can be used to explore parameter uncertainty. In this respect, generalized formal likelihood function was used to more accurately describe the sensitivity of the posterior distribution to residual assumptions. Discrete cosine transform (DCT) was employed as a model compression technique to reduce the number of unknown parameters in the inversion. The DCT parameterization was performed using training image (TI)‐based geostatistical simulations considering the ECa data pseudosection as a TI. The potential of the proposed approach was examined through different theoretical scenarios. The estimated subsurface EMCI shows excellent agreement with the original synthetic models subject to the appropriate choice of prior information. Moreover, DCT parameterization reduces the number of unknown parameters, increasing accuracy of the inversion with the Bayesian procedure. The proposed approach ensures accurate and high‐resolution characterization of subsurface conductivity layering from measured ECa values.
Combination of Memantine and 6-Chlorotacrine as Novel Multi-Target Compound against Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kaniakova Martina , Nepovimova Eugenie , Kleteckova Lenka , Skrenkova Kristyna , Holubova Kristina , Chrienova Zofia , Hepnarova Vendula , Kucera Tomas , Kobrlova Tereza , Vales Karel , Korabecny Jan , Soukup Ondrej , Horak Martin
Published: February 2019

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. It is characterized
as a multi-factorial disorder with a prevalent genetic component. Due to the unknown etiology, current treatment
based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors and N–methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) antagonist is
effective only temporary. It seems that curative treatment will necessarily be complex due to the multifactorial nature
of the disease. In this context, the so-called “multi-targeting" approach has been established.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to develop a multi-target-directed ligand (MTDL) combining the support for
the cholinergic system by inhibition of AChE and at the same time ameliorating the burden caused by glutamate excitotoxicity
mediated by the NMDAR receptors.

Methods:

We have applied common approaches of organic chemistry to prepare a hybrid of 6-chlorotacrine and memantine.
Then, we investigated its blocking ability towards AChE and NMDRS in vitro, as well as its neuroprotective
efficacy in vivo in the model of NMDA-induced lessions. We also studied cytotoxic potential of the compound and
predicted the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Results:

novel molecule formed by combination of 6-chlorotacrine and memantine proved to be a promising multipotent
hybrid capable of blocking the action of AChE as well as NMDARs. The presented hybrid surpassed the
AChE inhibitory activity of the parent compound 6-Cl-THA twofold. According to results it has been revealed that
our novel hybrid blocks NMDARs in the same manner as memantine, potently inhibits AChE and is predicted to
cross the blood-brain barrier via passive diffusion. Finally, the MTDL design strategy was indicated by in vivo results
which showed that the novel 6-Cl-THA-memantine hybrid displayed a quantitatively better neuroprotective effect
than the parent compound memantine.

Conclusion:

We conclude that the combination of two pharmacophores with a synergistic mechanism of action into a
single molecule offers great potential for the treatment of CNS disorders associated with cognitive decline and/or
excitotoxicity mediated by NMDARs.
Synthesis of New Galanthamine-Peptide Derivatives Designed for Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Vezenkov Lyubomir T. , Tsekova Daniela S. , Kostadinova Ivanka , Mihaylova Rositsa , Vassilev Nikolay G. , Danchev Nikolai D.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Although no effective treatment for the Alzheimer’s disease currently exist,
some drugs acting as Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, like galanthamine have positively affected such
patients. β- and/or γ-secretase inhibitors are another type of potential drugs. Here we report synthesis of
new peptide-galanthamine derivatives, with expected inhibitory activity against both Acetylcholinesterase
and β-secretase.

The aim of this work is obtaining new peptide derivatives of galanthamine with decreased

Objectives: toxicity compared to galanthamine.

Methods:

Syntheses were conducted in solution using fragment condensation approach. The new derivatives
were characterized by melting points, angle of optical rotation, NMR and Mass spectra. Acute toxicity
was determined on mice, according to a Standard protocol. All new compounds were tested in vitro
for cytotoxic activity in a panel of human (HEP-G2, BV-173) and murine (Neuro-2a) tumor cell lines
via a standard MTT-based colorimetric method.

Results:

New derivatives of galanthamine containing shortened analogues of β-secretase inhibitor (Boc-
Asn-Leu-Ala-Val-OH) and either nicotinic or isonicotinic residue, both connected with a linker (L-Asp)
to position 11 of galanthamine were obtained. In vivo toxicity of some new compounds was found up to
1000 mg/kg. Cell toxicity screening against the tumor cell lines showed negligible growth-inhibiting
properties of the galanthamine derivatives.

Conclusion:

Synthesis of new galanthamine derivatives comprising peptide moiety and nicotinic acid or
isonicotinic acid is reported. Acute toxicity studies reveal they are about 100 times less toxic than galanthamine.
This effect is due to the peptide fragment. Cytotoxicity studies show good correlation with
low toxicity results. These results are encouraging for the application of this class compounds as medicines.
Calpain-1 and Calpain-2 in the Brain: Dr. Jekill and Mr Hyde?
Authors: Baudry Michel
Published: February 2019

While the calpain system has now been discovered for over 50 years, there is still a paucity of information regarding the organization and functions of the signaling pathways regulated by these proteases, although calpains play critical roles in many cell functions. Moreover, calpain overactivation has been shown to be involved in numerous diseases. Among the 15 calpain isoforms identified, calpain-1 (aka µ-calpain) and calpain-2 (aka m-calpain) are ubiquitously distributed in most tissues and organs, including the brain. We have recently proposed that calpain-1 and calpain- 2 play opposite functions in the brain, with calpain-1 activation being required for triggering synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection (Dr. Jekill), and calpain-2 limiting the extent of plasticity and being neurodegenerative (Mr. Hyde). Calpain-mediated cleavage has been observed in cytoskeleton proteins, membrane-associated proteins, receptors/channels, scaffolding/anchoring proteins, and protein kinases and phosphatases. This review will focus on the signaling pathways related to local protein synthesis, cytoskeleton regulation and neuronal survival/death regulated by calpain-1 and calpain-2, in an attempt to explain the origin of the opposite functions of these 2 calpain isoforms. This will be followed by a discussion of the potential therapeutic applications of selective regulators of these 2 calpain isoforms.
Association between Serum Lipids and Antipsychotic Response in Schizophrenia
Authors: Kim David D. , Barr Alasdair M. , Fredrikson Diane H. , Honer William G. , Procyshyn Ric M.
Published: February 2019

Metabolic abnormalities are serious health problems in individuals with schizophrenia. Paradoxically, studies have noted an association where individuals who gained body weight or who have increased their serum lipids demonstrated a better antipsychotic response. As serum lipids serve as more specific physiological markers than body weight, the objective of this study was to review studies that examined the association between changes in serum lipids and changes in symptoms during antipsychotic treatment in individuals with schizophrenia. A Medline® literature search was performed. Fourteen studies were included and analyzed. Evidence suggests that increases in serum lipids may be associated with decreases in symptoms during antipsychotic treatment. This inverse association may be independent of confounding variables, such as weight gain, and may be most evident during treatment with clozapine. Also, according to recent randomized controlled trials, lipid-lowering agents do not appear to worsen symptoms although this needs to be further investigated in clozapine-treated patients. Future studies should investigate the association in question in a larger population and identify underlying mechanisms.
Conformational Mobility Study in Mono Quinone Derivative of Calix[4]arene by Low Temperature NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Hassibi Elham , Ganjali Saeed Taghvaei , Hashemi Mohamad Mahmoodi , Zadmard Reza , Dehaghi Shahram Moradi
Published: February 2019

:

Calix[4]monoquinone (3) has been synthesized by oxidation of rigid cone conformation of tripropoxy calix[4]arene (2), and conformational characteristics of this molecule have been studied by means of dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance (DNMR) and HH- correlated nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HH-COSY NMR). On the basis of the data that have been obtained, free Gibbs energy of activation (ΔG#) for quinone ring interconversion process of 3 was determined 12.3±0.05 Kcal/mol by coalescence approximation method.
Dysregulated Interleukin -33/ST2 Pathway Perpetuates Chronic Inflammation in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Authors: Wang Xuan , Shao Xiaoqing , Liu Xinhao , Qin Qiu , Xu Jian , Zhang Jin A.
Published: February 2019

Objective:

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by
chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland with unknown etiologies. Recently, interleukin-33/ST2 (IL-
33/ST2) pathway reveals its participation in the process of several autoimmune diseases. In this study,
the role of IL-33/ST2 pathway in the development of HT is investigated.

Methods:

The levels of plasma IL-33, sST2 and the frequency of circulating CD4+ST2L+T cells in 30
HT patients and 20 healthy controls were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
and flow cytometry respectively. The mRNA expressions of related molecules in IL-33/ST2 pathway
in thyroid tissues (12 HT patients and 10 controls) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RTqPCR).
The protein expressions of IL-33 and ST2 were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry
staining.

Results:

The mRNA expressions of plasma IL-33 and sST2 were elevated in HT patients, with an increased
ratio of IL-33/sST2. The number of CD4+ST2L+ T cells in PBMCs of HT group was significantly
increased when compared to the control group (CON) by Flow cytometry assay. MRNA Expression
of IL-33 and ST2 in thyroid tissue and the level of IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly upregulated
in HT patients, while IL-5 was down-regulated in HT patients, compared to CON. The expression
of IL-1β and IL-18 were positively correlated with the expression of IL-33. Results of western
blot and immunohistochemical staining were consistent with qPCR.

Conclusion:

IL-33/ST2 pathway participates in HT via affecting the production of inflammatory cytokines.
Effect of Human Platelet Lysate in Differentiation of Wharton’s Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Vennila Rosy , Sundaram Raja Sundari M. , Selvaraj Sakthivel , Srinivasan Prasanna , Pathak Surajit , Rupert Secunda , Rajagopal Surendran
Published: February 2019

Background:

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are highly preferred in clinical therapy for repair and regeneration of diseased tissues for their multipotent properties. Conventionally, MSCs have been cultured in media supplemented with animal derived serum, however, it is ideal to expand MSCs in media containing supplements of human origin for clinical therapy. Currently, a number of human derived products are being studied as an alternative to animal sources. Amongst these, platelet lysate (PL) has gained interest in the culture of MSCs without affecting their phenotypic property.

Objective:

In this study, we used various concentration of PL (2.5, 5, 7.5 & 10%) in the growth medium of MSCs to identify the least concentration of PL that could be an effective alternative to animal products.

Methods:

MSCs were isolated from Wharton’s Jelly by using explant method and expanded in various concentration of PL supplemented medium against the standard FBS containing medium. WJ-MSCs were characterised as per the minimal criteria proposed by International Society for Cell therapy (ISCT), Proliferation study by BrdU assay, gene expression study by qRT-PCR, sterility test for bacteria, Mycoplasma by PCR and endotoxin detection by LAL assay.

Results:

Whartons jelly derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) cultured using standard medium supplemented with various concentration of PL exhibited enhanced proliferation and differentiation potential, unaltered immunophenotypic property and genetic stability when compared with the commercial medium containing 10% FBS.

Conclusion:

The least concentration of PL for an ideal expansion of MSCs was found to be 2.5% and was comparable to FBS.
Penggunaan Mobile Apps Kesehatan oleh Kader Pada Anjungan Mandiri Posyandu (AMP) Di Kecamatan Pasawahan, Purwakarta
Authors: Susanti Ari Indra , Rinawan Fedri Ruluwedrata , Amelia Indah
Published: February 2019

Background: Government needs community empowerment especially in Posyandu activity to improve health degree in Indonesia. Posyandu is the spearhead in maternal and child health services. Therefore, the cadre is a driver in Posyandu activities so that innovation is needed for an application to assist the task of cadres in reporting and recording of maternal and child health data.Objective: This study aims to determine the linkage of government policy in the use of mobile application apps by cadres on Anjungan Mandiri Posyandu (AMP).Method: The research method used is qualitative with case study approach. This research was conducted on active cadre in Posyandu of Pasawahan Village Kidul Subdistrict of Pasawahan Purwakarta Regency on May to July 2017. The data was collected by Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on 15 cadres. Sampling technique using purposive sampling. Results: The results of this study found that the recording and reporting of data in the form of Posyandu Information System (SIP) by cadres using AMP.Conclusion: It can be concluded in this research that with the application of mobile apps health on AMP can assist duty cadre in recording and reporting data to health center. Therefore, government policies are needed in the use of AMP for Posyandu in Indonesia.Keywords: Anjungan Mandiri Posyandu, Policy, Mobile Apps
The Role of Autonomy and Accountability in Implementing and Assimilating ICT in Elementary Schools in Israel’s Arab Sector
Authors: Soleman Habib Allah
Published: February 2019

This article examines the extent to which the autonomy and accountability of principals, ICT coordinators, and teachers affect the successful implementation and assimilation of ICT in Arab sector elementary schools in Israel. The findings show strong positive correlations between the level of autonomy and accountability of principals (rp=0.763, p<0.001), coordinators (rp=0.588, p<0.001), and teachers (rp=0.770, p<0.001) and successful implementation and assimilation of IT in schools. The conclusions emphasize the leading role of ICT coordinator as an agent of change, the necessity for collaboration between academy and school in order to create an environment for proper assimilating ICT into schools’ vision and reality, as well as the importance of personal empowerment in ICT leaders to foster a new form of ICT leadership.
Применение СнК 1879ВЯ1Я в качестве многоканального амплитудного анализатора цифрового спектрометрического тракта
Authors: Осипов В.
Published: February 2019

Предложен метод построения амплитудного анализатора в канале спектрометрического АЦП (САЦП) на базе конвейерного АЦП СнК 1879ВЯ1Я. Получены характеристики как исходного АЦП, так и амплитудного анализатора. Произведена оценка профиля канала и количества каналов программно реализованного САЦП на 1879ВЯ1Я.
Globalización y ciencias de la comunicación o de la circularidad concéntrica entre Marcase y McLuhan
Authors: López Veneroni Felipe
Published: February 2019

Este ensayo busca cuestionar uno de los argumentos que de manera convencional han venido a ocupar una parte importante del discurso de las ciencias de la comunicación, sobre todo en América Latina: que los medios electrónicos de difusión, en general, y las llamadas nuevas tecnologías, en particular, están configurando una sociedad global. Indudablemente el mundo contemporáneo es cada día más interdependiente, sobre todo en lo tecnológico y en lo financiero; de igual forma, resulta difícil encontrar un punto del planeta al que no lleguen algunas de las tecnologías radiales, televisuales o de telecomunicación. Pero esto no quiere decir que las sociedades modernas efectivamente se estén integrando en una suerte de "aldea global”, ni que las entidades regionales en gran o pequeña escala se estén perdiendo irremediablemente. Por el contrario, no sólo podemos advertir que la tendencia a crear modelos de integración global ha sido una fallida constante histórica sino que en las últimas dos décadas se ha dado un resurgimiento notable de discursos de reivindicación nacionalista, regionalista y étnica que, aun cuando hacen uso de estas tecnologías “globales”, subrayan su propia concepción del mundo muchas veces de carácter fragmentario.
Ser digital
Authors: Maldonado Reynoso Patricia
Published: February 2019

Reseña del libro de Nicholas Negroponte, Ser digital, México, Océano, 1996, 258 pp.
La idea de comunidad en la tradición pragmática norteamericana
Authors: Bernstein Richard
Published: February 2019

El autor hace un recorrido por los principales analistas estadounidenses en lo que se refiere a la idea de comunidad. Examina tanto a liberales como a comunitaristas y los enfrentamientos entre ambos bandos. Después de un recuento de los puntos principales de cada lado, entra de lleno a considerar a los pragmáticos. Su escrito nos ofrece una visión general del pensamiento estadounidense respecto a las características, creación y desarrollo de las comunidades democráticas.
Mesa Directiva y Comisión de Gobierno en la Cámara de Diputados
Authors: Lujambio Alonso
Published: February 2019

En este artículo se realiza un estudio comparativo entre la Cámara de Diputados de México y las de diferentes países latinoamericanos. Iniciando con el propio funcionamiento de la Comisión de Gobierno de la Cámara, el autor quiere explicar la manera como diferentes países conciben su gobernabilidad parlamentaria. Para ello, el articulista ilustra su análisis con ejemplos de algunos congresos latinoamericanos de los cuales concluye proponiendo tres tipos fundamentales: a) congresos en los que la Mesa Directiva asume tareas de gobierno; b) congresos en los que la Mesa Directiva forma parte de la Comisión de Gobierno; y c) congresos en los que la Mesa Directiva y la Comisión de Gobierno son órganos independientes entre sí.
El complejo militar-industrial ruso: crisis y perspectivas
Authors: Rosas María Cristina
Published: February 2019

El objetivo del presente análisis es revisar la evolución que tuvo el llamado complejo militar- burocrático-industrial soviético y el desarrollo que ha tenido, en la posguerra fría, el complejo militar-industrial ruso, así como los desafíos que enfrenta este último de cara al siglo xxi. Existen grandes diferencias entre uno y otro. El primero se comportó conforme a consideraciones estratégicas estrechamente relacionadas con el entorno bipolar y la premisa de la suma- cero. El segundo, en cambio, opera sobre todo a partir de criterios estrictamente comerciales, donde la supervivencia hace a un lado los riesgos que entraña la venta indiscriminada de pertrechos militares a países cuya conducta, en las relaciones internacionales, no es del todo predecible. Con todo, Rusia está recuperando rápidamente una posición preponderante en el comercio internacional de armamento, y su principal rival en esta empresa es Estados Unidos, el beneficiario más importante del colapso soviético en términos del abastecimiento de sistemas de armas a los principales consumidores y clientes de la ex URSS.
Las ideas económicas y el desarrollo económico malogrado: una conversación con Ifigenia Martínez
Authors: Mallorquín Carlos
Published: February 2019

Entrevista realizada a Ifigenia Martínez en la Ciudad de México, 19 de septiembre de 1997.
Presentación
Authors: Nombre Sin
Published: February 2019

Presentación del n. 175 de la RMCPS
Democracia y administración pública en México
Authors: Uvalle Berrones Ricardo
Published: February 2019

El artículo analiza y explica las condiciones que prevalecen en México con base en el proceso de transición democrática y el comportamiento institucional de la administración pública. Ambos fenómenos definen un perfil de gestión pública que tiene como referente el régimen de las instituciones y las prácticas de poder que construyen los actores sociales. Destaca, también, la correlación que debe haber entre la democracia y el servicio público profesionalizado, entendidos como imperativos que coadyuven a la gobernabilidad democrática del país, con base en la cosmovisión de un sistema político abierto, plural y competitivo.
Una nueva gestión pública para América Latina
Authors: Centro-Latinoamericano -Administración-Desarrollo CLAD
Published: February 2019

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Radio y elecciones
Authors: Alva de la Selva Alma Rosa
Published: February 2019

En este trabajo se analiza el comportamiento de la radio en México ante la contienda electoral de julio de 2000. Se examina el papel de la radio como espacio para la discusión política, así como el tratamiento informativo que hizo del tema. Asimismo, se analiza la posible repercusión de factores de reciente surgimiento en el panorama radiofónico para un manejo más autónomo de la información política en la radio.
La investigación de segundo orden en ciencias sociales y su potencial predictivo: el caso del proyecto de Identidad y tolerancia
Authors: Molina y Vedia del Castillo Silvia
Published: February 2019

En ciencias sociales existe el prejuicio de que no existen leyes. En este artículo se desarrolla una metodología apropiada para poner a prueba tal prejuicio. Tal metodología es producto de una perspectiva lógica basada en la cibernética de segundo orden.
 La investigación de segundo orden en ciencias sociales ha sido más definida teóricamente que aplicada. Este artículo trata sobre su aplicación. En él se presentan los elementos básicos de la metodología de segundo orden y luego se muestra de qué manera se la utilizó en el caso concreto de la investigación que sobre Identidad e intolerancia dirige la autora.
La democracia: asignaturas pendientes
Authors: Pérez Correa Fernando
Published: February 2019

En este artículo, el autor acude al repaso histórico para analizar cómo se fueron dando los procesos de reformas electorales del país en los últimos cuarenta años. Se distinguen claramente, a juicio del autor, tres periodos fundamentales en este sentido: el “proteccionismo ilimitado” (López Mateos- Echeverría); la “oposición restringida” (López Portillo-Salinas de Gortari) y la “reforma electoral definitiva” (Zedillo). El artículo analiza también las asignaturas pendientes que aún quedan por resolver en los procesos de democratización de México, como la división de poderes del federalismo; la organización de las precampañas; la ampliación del voto y la reelección legislativa y la ingeniería constitucional.
Corrientes de pensamiento empresarial en México (segunda parte)
Authors: Salas-Porras Alejandra
Published: February 2019

En este artículo se examinan la etapas que recorre el movimiento político empresarial en México, cuyas corrientes ideológicas más importantes se analizaron en un artículo anterior (Salas-Porras, 2001). Durante la primera etapa del movimiento, que se extendió a lo largo de los años setenta y ochenta, ambas, las fuerzas social cristianas y las neoliberales compartían un programa de acción común que se proponía disminuir el papel del Estado en la sociedad y realzar el de los empresarios. Durante la segunda y presente etapa, un nuevo juego de contradicciones emerge entre las fuerzas neoliberales y social cristianas alrededor del objetivo de redefinir la visión de estado y sociedad. Las estrategias y herramientas utilizadas por los empresarios durante estas etapas se discuten con especial atención a los programas educacionales y los vínculos con instituciones que juegan un papel fundamental en la difusión y promoción de los principios de su proyecto.
Democracia digital. Discurso y toma de decisiones en la era de la información
Authors: Apodaca Sánchez Jessica , Fuentes Fernanda
Published: February 2019

Reseña del libro de Barry Hague y Brian D. Loader, Democracia digital. Discurso y toma de decisiones en la era de la información, Londres, Routledge, 1999.
¿De la disciplina hacia la flexibilización? Releyendo a Foucault bajo la sombra de la globalización
Authors: Fraser Nancy
Published: February 2019

En este trabajo se discuten los aportes generados por la obra de Michel Foucault en la comprensión de los modelos fordista y posfordista para la ordenación económica y política de la sociedad. Igualmente, se construye una interpretación metodológica para el estudio de la globalización y el neoliberalismo bajo la dinámica de la gubernamentalidad.
Sema, semántica, semiótica, semiología, cultura
Authors: Goutman Ana
Published: February 2019

En este artículo, la autora analiza el significado, la significación y la semiótica de la cultura. Estos temas forman parte de los cursos de “semiótica de la comunicación y la cultura” que se presentan en un seminario del Posgrado. Reúne posturas diferentes que requiere la investigación y cuya actualidad está señalada por la evidente marca polémica de un trabajo a seguir.
Comunicación mediática y consenso democrático. Una investigación sobre las transformaciones de la obligación política
Authors: Rizzi Lino
Published: February 2019

En este artículo, el autor realiza un análisis filosófico-político de la disociación entre la noción política de ciudadanía y la comunicación mediática, con el propósito de comprender el estatus político del derecho a la expresión pública. En el trabajo se sostiene que la comunicación ya no es más un acto político y por ello ya no conserva la característica imprescindible llamada performabilidad, que abarca la polémica, la visibilidad, la accesibilidad, la posibilidad de preguntar, de replicar y de discutir. En este tenor, el autor destaca que mientras en las constituciones la definición de ciudadanía está anclada a un carácter asociativo y discursivo, los nuevos medios de comunicación hacen posible la desarticulación de la implicación antropológica necesaria en el acto comunicativo; esto porque tal parece que la reunión pública ya no es una necesidad humana para realizar el intercambio de ideas y para formar y conformar las opiniones, pues los medios de comunicación están invadiendo este espacio. Como consecuencia, existe una contradicción entre el sistema democrático y las prácticas de comunicación sin participación pública.
El presente de la derecha y la ultraderecha en el mundo
Authors: Rodríguez Araujo Octavio
Published: February 2019

En este artículo se revisan las características de los gobiernos de cinco continentes en el mundo actual. No es novedad que la derecha gobierne la mayor parte de los países del mundo, pero sí lo es que en los últimos años, sobre todo en Europa, haya triunfado electoralmente con el apoyo de la ultraderecha. Esta corriente, a pesar de que casi no participa en gobiernos, ha crecido en número y en influencia, especialmente entre sectores de clase media y desempleados. La derecha es, en el capitalismo, defensora de las desigualdades y de la dominación y relativamente tolerante hacia la existencia de razas, religiones y diversas culturas, mientras que la ultraderecha del presente suele ser racista, xenófoba, religiosa fundamentalista y particularmente intolerante hacia el multiculturalismo. En los países que no pertenecen al llamado mundo occidental predominan gobiernos que, con los criterios europeos, podrían ser ultraderechistas.
Del libro de Norbert Bilbeny, Por una causa común. Ética para la diversidad
Authors: Olivé León
Published: February 2019

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La producción de noticias un acercamiento a la percepción, conocimiento y visión de la política mexicana de los periodistas y el proceso electoral federal del 2003
Authors: Planter Pérez Karla A.
Published: February 2019

En este artículo, la autora analiza, en el marco del proceso electoral federal de 2003, los criterios, conocimientos, percepciones, filias y/o fobias, a partir de los cuales los periodistas construyen y/o modifican un producto informativo a ser publicado en el medio de comunicación en el que laboran.