bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phased Heating and Solvent Injection to Enhance Recovery of Heavy Oil and Bitumen
Authors: Zhu Da , Bunio Gary , Gates Ian D.
Published: March 2016

The main challenges faced by oil sands operators are the cost of operations and the environmental intensity of the recovery processes. The Athabasca oil sands deposit contains bitumen with viscosity typically over 1 million cP. To lower the viscosity of the bitumen so that it can be drained from these reservoirs, it is heated with injected steam by using Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD). This process is effective and enables recovery factors over 60%. The major cost in the recovery process is steam generation and associated water treatment and handling. The combustion of natural gas to generate steam is the main origin of the carbon dioxide emissions associated with SAGD. An alternative to steam injection is the use of solvents co-injected with steam. Solvents dilute bitumen leading to an oil phase with reduced viscosity. Also, there is potential to recycle solvent for re-injection. Thus, solvent added to steam can improve the steam-to-oil ratio and as a consequence can lower the carbon dioxide emissions per unit volume oil produced. In this extended abstract, we describe a phased solvent and heat process that yields improved performance beyond that of SAGD and current solvent-aided SAGD processes.
Experiences of Conversion from Cyclic Steam Strategy to Continuous Steam Strategy in Issaran Egypt Field
Authors: Basta George Soliman , Korany Salah Kamal , Kortam Waleed Tarek , Shaker Saad
Published: March 2016

Heavy oil reservoir management using thermal methods is different than conventional reservoir management, especially if the reservoir is highly heterogeneous with limited availability of data. This raises a lot challenges to deal with.

One of these important challenges is timing the conversion of the project from the cyclic steam injection phase to the continuous steam flooding strategy, which allows the steam to contact a larger area of the reservoir, and thus enhancing oil recovery, while optimizing voidage replacement ratio (VRR.) This on the long run increases the project lifetime economically.

Issaran is one of those challenging heavy oil shallow fields in the Middle East, containing reservoirs with heterogeneous properties. Its different reservoirs are managed with different steam strategies. Cyclic steam injection started in 2004 in one of the reservoirs, after that the strategy was converted to continuous steam injection in addition to small cycles in some of the producers to improve communication. Different selected time scenarios of conversion were implemented for each area to enhance sweep efficiency and heat distribution and overcome any undesirable reservoir response such as water encroachment, and deal with highly fractured, highly heterogeneous or low pressure zones.

In this paper, actual field performances will be presented for each formation showing the cyclic steam injection stage and the timing of conversion to continuous steam strategy. A lot of factors will be presented for the steam cycle stage including: voidage replacement ratio (VRR), steam to oil ration (SOR), and the injectivity index performance from cycle to cycle. Then the conversion time from cyclic to continuous steam flooding will be discussed per each area. The relationship between this time with total VRR and the total steam injected in the cyclic stage will be introduced. Spacing between the wells will be mentioned and its effect on the conversion time identified.

Generally the main factors that affect directly on the selected conversion time: communication between the wells, injectivity index and economic factors. The paper will focus on the first 2 factors.
High Concentration Polymer Flooding Field Test With Well Infilling to Change Fluid Flowing Direction After Polymer Flooding
Authors: Gao Shuling , Jiang Zhenhai , Zhang Kaiyu , Liu Haibo , Fu Qingchun , Yan Wei , Fu Baizhou
Published: March 2016

There are about half reserves remaining underground after polymer flooding, which are huge reserves for further tapping. So how to enhance oil recovery greatly after polymer flooding has been a major technical challenge in china or abroad. According to the data of 20 pressure coring wells after polymer flooding, the places where remaining oil locate are precisely described in this paper and on the basis of laboratory research and numerical simulation and geological study, a new method has been developed that combines well pattern restructuring for changing fluid flowing direction and high concentration polymer flooding so as to tap remaining oil which scatters highly and enriches relatively in distributary streamline after polymer flooding. Field test which used this new method has been carried out at B2D block in Daqing oilfield after polymer flooding. In order to get optimum mobility control, a reasonable formula of high concentration polymer system is optimized and the molecular weight and concentration of polymer are respectively 25 million and 2500 mg/L. Some good responses have been obtained in this field test. The injection pressure has increased by 4.3 MPa and the fluid absorption thickness ratio has increased by 26.3% and water cut drop maximum of central well has reached 16% and its incremental oil recovery is 5%. Based on this field test, it can be concluded that whether a field test after polymer flooding can get a good development effect, well pattern infilling is a premise and remaining oil distribution is a major influential factor and reasonable mobility ratio and injection-production ratio are important safeguards. High concentration polymer flooding with well infilling to change fluid flowing direction is a very effective technology to enhance oil recovery after polymer flooding. This technology has gain very good technological and economic effect, its final incremental oil recovery is 6.77% predicted by numerical simulation and its internal rate of return is 21.9%. This technology has wide application prospects and can be widely applied in blocks of Daqing oilfield after polymer flooding.
Field-Scale Modelling and Sensitivity Analysis of DME Enhanced Waterflooding
Authors: Groot J. A. , Eikmans D. , Fadili A. , Romate J. E.
Published: March 2016

Di-methyl-ether (DME) is a solvent with clear potential for EOR through its novel use in DME enhanced water flooding (DEW). Fundamentally, this phase behaviour driven EOR process is based on an immiscible displacement of the oil phase by the water phase, enhanced by DME mass transfer between the two phases. Modelling such a process is far from trivial and requires a tailored modelling approach.

In previous work (Chernetsky, et al., 2015) a dynamic model for DEW was successfully employed to history match core-flood experiments. This paper builds on this work by analyzing the driving mechanisms and sensitivities at different stages of the DEW process and describing the process of efficient upscaling of the model to field scale.

The first part of this paper presents the basic modelling workflow for DEW for light to medium oils and typical concentration and saturation profiles and ternary diagrams. The objective is to determine the main driving mechanisms and their impact on the incremental oil recovery and DME utilization. The second part of the paper focusses on the upscaling of the DEW model to field scale. In particular, sensitivities to reservoir heterogeneity, relative permeability data and grid size are discussed through examples of sector and field models.

The one-dimensional sensitivity studies provide valuable insight into the efficiency and dependencies of the fundamental recovery mechanism. The sensitivities focus on incremental oil recovery and DME efficiency and cover design parameters relevant to the DEW process, such as DME slug size and brine salinity, oil properties, remaining oil saturation and parameters used in simulation studies, such as grid size.

Results for field scale modelling give guidance on how the DEW models can be effectively upscaled and what sensitivities can be expected at reservoir scale, and show the value of the model in supporting decision making and implementation of DEW in the field. Recommendations for field scale modelling are given, based on sensitivity analyses for various DEW scenarios. Computational techniques, such as adaptive gridding and parallel computing, are proposed to overcome limitations due to grid size sensitivity.
ASP as a Brown Field Re-development Opportunity - Based on a Case Study: Part 2
Authors: Anand Adi , Eikmans Dick , Boersma Diederik
Published: March 2016

This paper extends the subject of the ASP fullfield (re-) development and optimization discussed in the paper SPE-174680-MS to an ASP pilot in the same field using more detailed ASP simulation studies with a finer geological model. The study was targeted to investigate the roles of various static (e.g., geology), dynamic (e.g., fluid properties), ASP process (e.g., chemical adsorption) and numerical (e.g., grid size) parameters on the ASP performance prediction.

The paper focusses on three key subjects: firstly, understanding the ASP pilot performance under different realizations. Thereafter, we identify the key aspects of an ASP flood and break the problem statement into elements that are further investigated with the help of customized scenarios. We will share the results with regards to key sub-surface design elements for an ASP pilot, particularly highlighting what works and what does not, and how to improve the pilot response for a field with high degree of vertical heterogeneity.
Challenges and Learnings from Thermal Development of Thick Heavy Oil Reservoirs in Southern Oman
Authors: Belghache Abdesslam , Al-Hinai Suleiman , Rabaani Abdulsalaam , Manhali Mohammed , Tromp JP , Holyak Steve , D'Amours Kevin , Afifi Sameh , Ajmi Ahmed
Published: March 2016

The "A" Steam Project in Southern Oman is a large scale Thermal EOR project currently being executed by PDO. It comprises the re-development of the "A" West Field, which has a significant cold oil development history, and the new development of the nearby "A" East Field.

The heavy viscous oil is contained in high net-to-gross braided river, aeolian and alluvial fan sandstones of the Cambrian Haima Group. Both fields were discovered in the 1970"s. The "A" West Field has lower oil viscosity and was first produced in 1976. "A" East oil is significantly more viscous than "A" West oil and was historically assessed to be too viscous for cold production. For this reason "A" East Field was not initially developed. In contrast, by 2008, after some 30 years of cold oil production, an estimated 18% of the STOIIP had been recovered from "A" West and the water cut had steadily increased to 90%.

A field study was initiated in 2008 to evaluate re-development options based on EOR technologies. For "A" West the selected Phase I (re-) development concept comprised a steam flood with inverted 7-spot patterns. For "A" East the plan was for initial cyclic steam soak (CSS) on a regularly spaced 92 × 92 m grid, with later conversion to a 8 acre / 9 spot steam flood. The two sub-surface developments were to be managed as an integrated project with shared surface facilities and operations. The project received Final Investment Decision for Phase I in 2009 and came on stream in 2013.

The paper will provide an overview of the project development phases & its execution strategy, current status of field performance, and specifically the innovative way the development challenges are addressed.
Fiber Optic Based Reservoir Surveillance for Injection Conformance Monitoring and Production Profiling in EOR Fields
Authors: Hemink Gijs , Groen Lex , Deitrick Greg , Horst Juun van , Kechichian Jackie , Bakker Goos
Published: March 2016

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is increasingly relying on Enhanced Oil Recovery Technologies to optimize production. Successful implementation and operation of polymer flood field developments in Oman involves dealing with a variety of risks that can impact injection conformance, sweep efficiency, production, and surface facilities. The subsurface risks predominantly relate to Fracture propagation, Vertical Conformance and Areal Conformance. Mitigation of these risks is key to enabling economical field developments and requires implementation of adequate surveillance and control measures.

Conventional technologies that may be able to acquire the required surveillance data, like production logging, can be costly and/or give unreliable results. In addition, the extreme high well density makes well entries difficult and complicates conventional surveillance. Fiber Optic Surveillance Technologies are most favorable as an alternative because of their potential applicability in water and polymer injectors as well as oil producers; their non-intrusive nature reduces HSSE exposure; and their low cost and automated on-demand time-lapse surveillance potential.

Shell and PDO have collaborated on the development of robust interpretation workflows for Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) warm back surveys in mature injector wells, and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for injection profiling in polymer injector wells and production profiling in oil producers. Data were gathered during various field campaigns as well as in controlled polymer flow loop experiments.

This paper presents one successful and one less successful DTS warmback survey conducted in a water and a polymer injector well, and also the recommendations to improve the quality of warmback surveys. Three other datasets are presented, the first two relate to DAS injection conformance monitoring where DAS was acquired in a polymer injector well and used, together with a PLT survey during the water injection periods, to assess the change in injection conformance. The last test relates to a DAS acquisition in an oil producer well equipped with a Progressive Cavity Pump.
Low Tension Gas Process in High Salinity and Low Permeability Reservoirs
Authors: Das Alolika , Nguyen Nhut , Alkindi Abdullah , Farajzadeh Rouhi , Azri Nasser , Southwick Jeffrey , Vincent-Bonnieu Sebastien , Nguyen Quoc P.
Published: March 2016

Chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in carbonate reservoirs has always been technically and economically challenging. Conventional Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) flooding has limited application in low permeability (2-20 mD) and high salinity formations (~200,000 ppm TDS) with a large concentration of divalent cations. Also injectivity into such low permeability reservoirs can be a significant problem with polymer solutions.

The process of low tension gas (LTG) in tight carbonates has exhibited good microscopic displacement and mobility control. It combines interfacial tension (IFT) reduction with improved mobility control by in-situ generation of foam in low-permeable heterogeneous formations. This process has been tested in the lab for a Middle Eastern carbonate reservoir, which is the subject of this paper. This strategy has been tested through either co-injection or alternating injection of slug/drive surfactant solution and gas (CO2, N2, or hydrocarbon) at low foam quality (high water content). A successful surfactant screening was performed to select the optimum surfactant formula that exhibits ultra-low IFT, good aqueous stability, and low microemulsion viscosity. The formulation allows tailoring of optimal salinity for ultra-low oil-water IFT to the variation of formation and produced water salinity. Core flood experiments have been performed, which demonstrated favorable mobilization and displacement of residual oil. Tertiary recoveries of up to 85% on remaining oil were achieved for cores with permeability less than 10 mD. An innovative experimental method was also developed to achieve high initial oil saturation in tight rocks.
Life buoy to a Dying Oil Field in Hungary
Authors: Szelényi János
Published: March 2016

MOL has more than 40-year experience in EOR applications in Hungary. As most of the fields approach to the end of their lifecycle more and more ideas were born to help these fields to survive.

Demjen is one of these old fields very close to its total depletion. During the 62 years production history number of EOR/IOR experiments were applied with various results. Contrary to the long production history the recovery factor of the field is only 15%. The main reasons of this poor recovery are the complex geological environment, the low pressure and temperature of the reservoirs and the oil quality.

In 2012 a new 3D geological model has been finished for Demjén field what tripled OIIP 3P resource. This increased potential has encouraged experts to review again the EOR/IOR project possibilities for the field.

Parallel to recently applied MEOR technology a cyclic steaming stimulation (CSS) pilot project is planned in Demjén West field for the next few years. The equipment intended to be used for steaming wells of the field is a revolutionary new technology that can easily move from well to well and it does not require high capex surface constructions. The well completion and some of the elements of the well structure is also designed especially for cyclic steaming of such old well.

The aim of this CSS pilot is to monitor the behavior of the reservoir as in-situ the oil has relatively high viscosity due to the low temperature and the high paraffin content also worsen oil flowing properties at that reservoir condition. Good results could give solid base to extend application of the technology to other areas and reservoirs of the field and for other EOR/IOR applications.

This article is copyrighted by SPE.
Implementing a Water Soluble Solvent Based Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology - Aspects of Field Development Planning
Authors: Riele P. te , Parsons C. , Boerrigter P. , Plantenberg J. , Suijkerbuijk B. , Burggraaf J. , Chernetsky A. , Boersma D. , Broos R.
Published: March 2016

In this paper we present a Shell developed, chemical EOR technique in which dimethyl ether (DME), a widely-used industrial compound, is utilised as a miscible solvent in conjunction with conventional waterflooding. The technology, laboratory results, PVT workflows and numerical aspects of DME enhanced waterflooding have been reported recently. This paper describes various aspects of upscaling from pattern scale production to field scale while conforming to various development constraints.

In a DME enhanced waterflood, advantage is taken of DME's solubility in water and miscibility with hydrocarbons: water is used as a carrier for DME during injection and upon contact with reservoir fluids, DME preferentially partitions into the hydrocarbon phase thereby swelling and mobilising the oil phase. This is followed by a DME-free water chase to recover the remaining mobile oil and DME. Residual oil saturation after sweep is reduced, significantly below that typically achieved by waterflood alone. Furthermore, the DME can be extracted from the produced wellstream fluids by partly non-standard operations such as stripping, distillation and/or absorption processes, and re-used for injection.

The DME Enhanced Waterflooding (DEW) technique takes advantage of the unique solubility properties of dimethyl ether to improve oil mobility and reduce residual oil saturations. Significant research into the pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) behaviour of DME and DME/crude oil mixtures has been carried out in recent years of which a summary is reported by Groot et al. (2016); in particular the partitioning behaviour of the solvent and mixing rules for the various mass transfer properties affecting mobility. The PVT-driven behaviour and the overall displacement efficiency of the DEW technique have been observed in core flood experiments using both carbonate and clastic core plugs.

Considering the application of the DEW technique to a tertiary field development, the practical realities of solvent flooding become more apparent. In field developments that involve the injection of DME and solvents in general, solvent recycling and reinjection is mostly required. This is a result of the inherently high value of the solvents and is needed to increase the utilization of the solvents manufactured locally or imported. This paper describes the requirements from both subsurface as well as surface point of view to make a successful field solvent EOR development possible.
Soil Erosion and Nutrient Runoff in Corn Silage Production with Kura Clover Living Mulch and Winter Rye
Authors: Siller Arthur R. S. , Albrecht Kenneth A. , Jokela William E.
Published: March 2016

Corn (Zea mays L.) silage is a productive and popular forage crop that can exacerbate soil loss, surface water runoff, and nonpoint source nutrient pollution from agricultural fields. The objective of this research was to compare soil loss, nutrient runoff, and soil physical properties in conventional monocrop corn silage production to production in Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) living mulch or with a winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop. Five runoff events from simulated rainfall were conducted over a 1‐yr period on loess soils with 8 to 15% slope. Based on weighted averages across all simulations, Kura clover living mulch reduced runoff by 50%, soil loss by 77%, and P and N losses by 80% relative to monocrop corn. Rye planted after corn silage harvest reduced runoff by 67%, soil loss by 81%, P loss by 94%, and N loss by 83%. When rye was planted following corn silage in Kura clover living mulch, runoff was reduced by 68%, soil loss by 77%, P loss by 94%, and N loss by 84% relative to monocrop corn. Greater groundcover in the Kura clover and rye treatments was the primary factor in reducing soil and nutrient losses, but soil aggregate stability and soil disturbance from rye planting were also associated with improved infiltration and reduced runnoff. When grown in Kura clover living mulch, both corn and rye had lower forage yields, a trade‐off with the environmental benefits; but that economic loss would be partially offset by lower fertilizer requirements.

Core Ideas

Corn silage intercropped with Kura clover reduces soil erosion

Winter rye cover crop reduces soil erosion

Kura clover increases soil aggregate stability
New Alleles of FATB1A to Reduce Palmitic Acid Levels in Soybean
Authors: Thapa Rima , Carrero‐Colón Militza , Hudson Karen A.
Published: March 2016

In conventional elite soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] varieties palmitic acid typically constitutes 10% of the total seed oil. Palmitic acid is a saturated fat linked to increased cholesterol levels, and reducing levels of saturated fats in soybean oil is a target for soybean improvement. To identify novel and useful variation that could help in reducing palmitic acid levels in soybean, we screened a chemically mutagenized population. Two lines with reduced levels of seed palmitic acid were identified, and each line had a 30% reduction in palmitic acid. Both lines carried distinct mutations in the FATB1A (Glyma.05G012300) gene that co‐segregated with the reduced palmitic acid phenotype. One line carried a single base change that disrupted the splicing of the FATB1A mRNA, and the second contained a missense mutation (aspartic acid substituted for glycine) in a conserved domain of the FATB1 enzyme. Molecular markers were designed that will enable breeders to follow these new FATB1A mutant alleles in plant populations to facilitate gene stacking for oil improvement.
Major Leaf Shape Genes, Laciniate in Diploid Cotton and Okra in Polyploid Upland Cotton, Map to an Orthologous Genomic Region
Authors: Kaur Baljinder , Andres Ryan , Kuraparthy Vasu
Published: March 2016

Gossypium arboreum L, which produces spinnable cotton fibers, is an A‐genome diploid progenitor species of tetraploid cotton. With its diploid genome, publicly available genome sequence, adapted growth, and developmental and agronomic attributes, G. arboreum could make an ideal cotton species to study the genetic basis of biological traits that are controlled by orthologous loci in diploid and polyploid species. Leaf shape is an important agronomic trait in cotton. Normal, subokra, okra, and laciniate are the predominant leaf shapes in cotton cultivars. Laciniate in diploids is phenotypically similar to okra leaf shape in tetraploid. In the present study, a population of 135 F2 plants derived from accessions NC 501 and NC 505 was used for genetic and molecular mapping of laciniate leaf shape in diploid cotton (G. arboreum). An inheritance study showed that laciniate leaf shape was controlled by a single incompletely dominant gene (LL–A2). Molecular genetic mapping using simple‐sequence repeat (SSR) markers placed the leaf shape locus L‐A2 on chromosome 2. Targeted mapping using putative genes from the delineated region established that laciniate leaf shape in G. arboreum and okra leaf shape in Gossypium hirsutum L. were controlled by genes at orthologous loci. Collinearity was well conserved between the diploid A‐ (G. arboreum) and D‐ (G. raimondii Ulbr.) genomes in the targeted genomic region narrowing the candidate region for the leaf shape locus (L‐A2) to nine putative genes. Establishing the orthologous genomic region for the L loci could help use the diploid cotton resources toward map‐based cloning of leaf shape genes in Gossypium.
Private rights, public interests and water use conflicts: evolving water law and policy in Michigan
Authors: Lautenberger Mathew C. , Norris Patricia E.
Published: March 2016

Water conflicts are rare across Michigan's history. As a result, water rights have received little attention by courts or the legislature. Traditionally, the common law of water rights in Michigan embraces the riparian doctrine for surface water and provides landowners with the right to use groundwater. However, two recent changes in common and statutory law significantly modify the legal relations among water users and others with a stake in water use decisions. A 2005 Michigan Court of Appeals decision created a new legal relation among riparian and groundwater rights holders. In 2008, Michigan's legislature passed laws aimed at regulating surface water and groundwater withdrawals. As an exercise of police power intended to protect public rights in water and associated environmental quality, the 2008 laws cap total water withdrawals. This program of restricting water withdrawals coexists with the state's common law which provides for reasonable use of surface water by riparian landowners and groundwater by owners of the overlying land. The result is a new set of legal relations, an uncertain legal environment, and a growing likelihood of water use conflicts. Because Michigan's body of water law is unique, neither courts nor legislature can rely on solutions used in other states.
Another emerging pathogen - Zika virus
Authors: Lazic Srdjan
Published: March 2016

nema
Metabolic Syndrome Components Are Associated With Symptomatic Polyneuropathy Independent of Glycemic Status
Authors: Callaghan Brian C. , Xia Rong , Banerjee Mousumi , de Rekeneire Nathalie , Harris Tamara B. , Newman Anne B. , Satterfield Suzanne , Schwartz Ann V. , Vinik Aaron I. , Feldman Eva L. , Strotmeyer Elsa S.
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies demonstrate that the metabolic syndrome is associated with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP). We aimed to determine the magnitude of this effect and the precise components involved.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We determined the symptomatic DSP prevalence in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study (prospective cohort study, with subjects aged 70–79 years at baseline), stratified by glycemic status (glucose tolerance test) and the number of additional metabolic syndrome components (updated National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III definition). DSP was defined as neuropathic symptoms (questionnaire) plus at least one of three confirmatory tests (heavy monofilament, peroneal conduction velocity, and vibration threshold). Multivariable logistic and linear regression evaluated the association of metabolic syndrome components with DSP in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

RESULTS

Of 2,382 participants with neuropathy measures (mean age 73.5 ± 2.9 years, 38.2% black, 51.7% women), 21.0% had diabetes, 29.9% prediabetes, 52.8% metabolic syndrome, and 11.1% DSP. Stratified by glycemic status, DSP prevalence increased as the number of metabolic syndrome components increased (P = 0.03). Diabetes (cross-sectional model, odds ratio [OR] 1.65 [95% CI 1.18–2.31]) and baseline hemoglobin A1C (longitudinal model, OR 1.42 [95% CI 1.15–1.75]) were the only metabolic syndrome measures significantly associated with DSP. Waist circumference and HDL were significantly associated with multiple secondary neuropathy outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Independent of glycemic status, symptomatic DSP is more common in those with additional metabolic syndrome components. However, the issue of which metabolic syndrome components drive this association, in addition to hyperglycemia, remains unclear. Larger waist circumference and low HDL may be associated with DSP, but larger studies with more precise metabolic measures are needed.
Development of a Simulink-CarSim Interaction Package for ABS Simulation of Discrete Tire Models
Authors: Khanse Karan R. , Siramdasu Yaswanth , Taheri Saied
Published: March 2016

Automotive and tire companies have to spend extensive amounts of time and money to tune their products through prototype testing at dedicated test facilities. This is mainly because of the limitations in the simulation capabilities that exist today. With greater competence in simulation comes more control over designs in the initial stages, which in turn lowers the demand for the expensive stage of tuning. This article aims at taking today's simulation capabilities a step forward by integrating models that are best developed in different software interfaces. An in-plane rigid ring tire model has been developed to understand the transient response of tires to various high-frequency events such as antilock braking and short-wavelength road disturbances. A rule-based antilock braking systems (ABS) model performed the high-frequency braking operation. The tire and ABS models were created in the Matlab-Simulink environment. A vehicle model was developed in CarSim. The models developed in Simulink were integrated with the vehicle model in CarSim, in the form of a design tool that can be used by tire as well as car designers for further tuning of the vehicle functional performances, as they relate to handling and braking maneuvers. The straight-line ABS performance was predicted using these models for a sample vehicle, and the results were substantiated through physical outdoor tests on the same vehicle to validate the developed integration package. The tool development, simulation results, and the objective test will be discussed.
Urban Renewal Revisited: Toronto, 1950 to 1970
Authors: White Richard
Published: March 2016

Postwar programs of urban renewal in Canadian cities have long been considered failures in the sense that their objectives were faulty and their impacts generally harmful. However, so complete is the consensus around this interpretation that historians have not made as much effort as they might have to understand the goals and mechanisms of renewal programs. This close study of postwar urban renewal in Toronto identifies several significant aspects, largely unrecognized, of one city's renewal program. It clarifies that urban renewal and public housing, though often conflated, were actually two discrete things. It finds that renewal advocates carefully inventoried the communities they sought to renew – their plans were by no means based on James C. Scott's now paradigmatic “synoptic” view – but it confirms that many did indeed have insufficient understanding of those communities. It also finds that much less urban renewal was done in Toronto than is generally assumed, suggesting that urban renewal's failure resulted more from inaction than from action. In conclusion, it notes that physical renewal of the city was ultimately accomplished not by urban renewal programs but, rather, by the actions of private property owners and entrepreneurs, raising questions about public endeavour as a means of urban improvement.
Contesting Civilization: Louis Riel's Defence of Culture at the Collège de Montréal
Authors: Hamon Max
Published: March 2016

A newly discovered manuscript of a debate between two college students sheds new light on Louis Riel's experience in Montreal. By the time the young Métis left Montreal, he was an accomplished public speaker with a sophisticated understanding of Canadian society and culture. This article argues that Riel's education was not isolating and frustrating but, rather, encouraged him to engage with public issues and moral reform. It demonstrates that Riel, in responding to the debate sparked by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, could engage meaningfully with Western theories of civilization. This debate is examined in the light of mid-nineteenth-century elite Catholic education, missionary and colonial thought, the nature of the civilizing mission, and Riel's theories of political sovereignty. Tracing Riel's unique intellectual genealogy provides insight into the diverse and dynamic ways Indigenous people experienced colonialism. Finally, it offers a critique of the “colonial archive,” particularly when it comes to Indigenous identities. Ultimately, Riel was a successful student who could act as an exemplar of “Western civilization” while confidently maintaining his own identity as an Indigenous person.
Teaching Tip: Developing an Intercollegiate Twitter Forum to Improve Student Exam Study and Digital Professionalism
Authors: Whiting Martin , Kinnison Tierney , Mossop Liz
Published: March 2016

#VetFinals has been developed as a novel online Twitter teaching event designed to support intercollegiate veterinary teaching using social media. Previous studies in other fields have suggested that Twitter use within universities may have benefits for undergraduate education. This “teaching tip” paper describes a project using Twitter to host online exam study sessions. The project has been a highly successful collaborative effort between the Royal Veterinary College and Nottingham Veterinary School in the UK. Over 4 years, the #VetFinals project has developed into a long-term, self-sustaining enterprise. This initiative provides a semi-structured means for student exam preparation with direct real-time input from a faculty member. It also creates a network of peers both horizontally across institutions and vertically throughout year groups. Based on similar initiatives in other disciplines, an anticipated outcome of this project was to contribute to student online professionalism. This could help address the veterinary community's recently highlighted problems with professional conduct and appropriate use of social media. Analysis of the success of this endeavor will be available in a future publication.
A method for improving the mechanical properties of a hypereutectic Al–Si alloy by introducing the α-Al phase
Authors: Luo Song , Wei Xiaowei
Published: March 2016

The low ductility of hypereutectic Al–Si alloys, which is attributed to the coarse primary silicon particles in the microstructure, limits their application potential. The mechanical properties of hypereutectic Al–Si alloys strongly depend on the size and morphology of the primary Si. This study focused not only on the effect of the primary Si content, but also on the ductile α-Al phase, which does not occur in the microstructure of hypereutectic Al–Si alloys when using traditional alloying methods. We propose a novel method which allows introducing the α-Al phase in order to improve the mechanical properties of hypereutectic Al–Si alloys, e.g., the hardness, tensile strength, and ductility. The formation of the α-Al phase and a refinement of the primary Si were simultaneously achieved via an unconventional method, which is based on mixing a high-temperature molten Al–Si alloy with low Si content into a low-temperature semi-solid Al–Si alloy with high Si content. The resulting alloy showed an improved ductility, hardness and tensile strength compared to a traditionally-cast Al–Si alloy with the same nominal Si content.
Snare technique for the remodeling of the redundant arachnoid pouch to prevent cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and hematoma collection during transsphenoidal surgery for suprasellar-extended pituitary tumors
Authors: Moon Ju Hyung , Kim Eui Hyun , Kim Sun Ho
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is considered a most effective treatment for pituitary tumors with huge suprasellar extension. However, the chance of developing CSF leakage is relatively high, because tearing of the arachnoid membrane is common and there could be multiple tear points during the dissection of suprasellar tumors from the overlying arachnoid membrane. If there are multiple leaking points in the arachnoid membrane packing methods such as using fat or multilayered fascia graft may not be sufficient to seal off the leaking points. Moreover, the packing material may not provide sufficient tamponade to stop bleeding, and thus generates postoperative hematoma formation in the tumor resection cavity. To prevent these complications, the authors have developed a new technique for remodeling the redundant arachnoid pouch (the so-called snare technique) to reconstruct the diaphragm, seal off the CSF leak points completely, and reduce the dead space in the tumor resection cavity.

METHODS

In 9 patients with huge macroadenomas (> 2.5 cm in diameter) with suprasellar extension, the snare technique was used to remodel the arachnoid pouch after tumor removal via standard TSS between July 2009 and August 2014. Complications were investigated, including postoperative CSF rhinorrhea, postoperative hematoma collection, and visual compromise.

RESULTS

During the resection of the tumor, CSF leakage was encountered in 8 cases, all of which were sealed off using the snare technique. In 1 case without intraoperative CSF leakage, the snare technique was also applied after intentional puncturing of the arachnoid membrane to reduce the volume and tension of the arachnoid pouch. None of the 9 patients experienced postoperative CSF rhinorrhea. Lumbar CSF drainage was not required in any case. Magnetic resonance imaging studies performed 24 hours after surgery revealed a remarkable reduction in the height of the diaphragm in all cases. Visual deficits improved in all patients immediately after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Remodeling of the arachnoid pouch using the snare technique is simple and effective for completely sealing off the CSF leak point and preventing hematoma collection in the tumor resection cavity after TSS for huge pituitary tumors with suprasellar extension.
Motor areas of the frontal cortex in patients with motor eloquent brain lesions
Authors: Bulubas Lucia , Sabih Jamil , Wohlschlaeger Afra , Sollmann Nico , Hauck Theresa , Ille Sebastian , Ringel Florian , Meyer Bernhard , Krieg Sandro M.
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

Because of its huge clinical potential, the importance of premotor areas for motor function itself and plastic reshaping due to tumors or ischemic brain lesions has received increased attention. Thus, in this study the authors used navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) to investigate whether tumorous brain lesions induce a change in motor cortex localization in the human brain.

METHODS

Between 2010 and 2013, nTMS motor mapping was performed in a prospective cohort of 100 patients with brain tumors in or adjacent to the rolandic cortex. Spatial data analysis was performed by normalization of the individual motor maps and creation of overlays according to tumor location. Analysis of motor evoked potential (MEP) latencies was performed regarding mean overall latencies and potentially polysynaptic latencies, defined as latencies longer than 1 SD above the mean value. Hemispheric dominance, lesion location, and motor-function deficits were also considered.

RESULTS

Graphical analysis showed that motor areas were not restricted to the precentral gyrus. Instead, they spread widely in the anterior-posterior direction. An analysis of MEP latency showed that mean MEP latencies were shortest in the precentral gyrus and longest in the superior and middle frontal gyri. The percentage of latencies longer than 1 SD differed widely across gyri. The dominant hemisphere showed a greater number of longer latencies than the nondominant hemisphere (p < 0.0001). Moreover, tumor location–dependent changes in distribution of polysynaptic latencies were observed (p = 0.0002). Motor-function deficit did not show any statistically significant effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The distribution of primary and polysynaptic motor areas changes in patients with brain tumors and highly depends on tumor location. Thus, these data should be considered for resection planning.
En bloc resection of a C-1 lateral mass osteosarcoma: technical note
Authors: Clarke Michelle J. , Price Daniel L. , Cloft Harry J. , Segura Leal G. , Hill Cindy A. , Browning Meghen B. , Brandt Jon M. , Lew Sean M. , Foy Andrew B.
Published: March 2016

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive primary bone tumor. It is currently treated with multimodality therapy including en bloc resection, which has been demonstrated to confer a survival benefit over intralesional resection. The authors present the case of an 8-year-old girl with a C-1 lateral mass osteosarcoma, which was treated with a 4-stage en bloc resection and spinal reconstruction. While technically complex, the feasibility of en bloc resection for spinal osteosarcoma should be explored in the pediatric population.
Plasticity in Nest Composition in Relation to Nest-Site Characteristics in the Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Authors: Mitrus Cezary , Drężek Anna
Published: March 2016

The nest is an important part of reproduction of many altricial bird species and nest construction is varied, for example in site selection, shape and construction material. We studied nest composition in the Red-breasted Flycatcher ( Ficedula parva), breeding in natural holes in primeval stands of the Białtowieża Forest. The nests were constructed of three main elements: moss, which was detected in all nests, dry leaves and hair. Moss was found in all nests and comprised on average more than 84% of nest mass. The proportion of moss was dependent on the living/dead status of the tree but not on the depth of the nest cavity or its height above the ground. In cavities located in live trees the proportion of moss in the nest was, on average, higher than in dead trees. The moss in the nests of the Red-breasted Flycatcher can regulate moisture (humidity), provide protection from rain and water from the tree, i.e. from the inner walls of the nest cavity, and can play a role as camouflage in passive protection against predators. Variation in nest construction suggests plasticity in the behaviour of the female Red-breasted Flycatcher in using nest components in relation to nest site characteristics and environmental conditions.
Registration of ‘Northern’ Hard Red Winter Wheat
Authors: Berg J. E. , Lamb P. F. , Miller J. H. , Wichman D. M. , Kephart K. D. , Stougaard R. N. , Pradhan G. P. , Nash D. L. , Grey W. E. , Gettel D. , Gale S. , Jin Y. , Kolmer J. A. , Chen X. , Bai G. , Murray T. D. , Bruckner P. L.
Published: March 2016

‘Northern’ (Reg. No. CV‐1114, PI 676026) hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station in 2015. Northern was derived from a composite of two crosses, MT9982//MTW0072/NW97151 and MTW0047//MTW0072/NW97151. Northern was developed using a modified bulk breeding method and selected as an F5:7 headrow. Northern was tested under the experimental number MT0978 in Montana yield trials from 2009 to 2015. Like predominant cultivar Yellowstone, Northern is a high‐yielding, winter‐hardy hard red winter wheat cultivar with medium to late maturity, medium to high grain protein, and acceptable milling and baking quality. Northern was released for its excellent performance in winter wheat production environments of north‐central Montana, reduced plant height, and improved grain volume weight and resistance to stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn.) relative to Yellowstone.
A novel approach for locating mice brain regions of Cryptococcus neoformans CNS invasion
Authors: He Chunting , Chen Qingfen , Zhu Longkun
Published: March 2016

Aim of this study was to locate the brain regions where Cryptococcus interact with brain cells and invade into brain. After 7 days of intratracheal inocula-tion of GFP-tagged Cryptococcus neoformans strains H99, serial cryosections (10 ?m) from 3 C57 BL/6 J mice brains were imaged with immunofluorescence microscopy. GFP-tagged H99 were found in some brain regions such as primary motor cortex-secondary motor cortex, caudate putamen, stratum lucidum of hippocampus, field CA1 of hippocampus, dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, lateral posterior thalamic nucleus, laterorostral part, lateral posterior thalamic nucleus, mediorostral part, retrosplenial agranular cortex, lateral area of secondary visual cortex, and lacunosum molecular layer of the hippocampus. The results will be very useful for further exploring the mechanism of C. neoformans infection of brain.
Anti-aging activity of Radix polygoni multiflori preparata in aging mice model induced by D-galactose by bioassay method
Authors: Huo Jiang Yan , Shen Hong Chao , Wang Shu Mei , Chen Zhan Ke , Liang Sheng Wang
Published: March 2016

Anti-aging effect of Radix polygoni multiflori preparata in aging mice model was examined by bioassay method and explore new model of quality control of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Model of aging mice induced by D-galactose were used. The activity of senescence associated molecular markers such as superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase in serum or homogenate were determined to evaluate the anti-aging activity. The results showed that the polysaccharide content in the 0.4, 0.8 g/mL decoction were 80.1, 160.2 mg/mL respectively. The HPLC results showed that stibene glucoside content in the 0.4 and 0.8 g/mL decoction were 404 and 808 mg/mL respectively. Experimental results showed that 10 week-old mice were the most sensitive to SOD activity in homogenate. In conclusion, Radix polygoni multiflori preparata has anti-aging effect probably by removing ROS.
The Iterative Solution to Discrete-Time H∞ Control Problems for Periodic Systems
Authors: Ivanov Ivan , Bogdanova Boryana
Published: March 2016

This paper addresses the problem of solving discrete-time H ∞ control problems for periodic systems. The approach for solving such a type of equations is well known in the literature. However, the focus of our research is set on the numerical computation of the stabilizing solution. In particular, two effective methods for practical realization of the known iterative processes are described. Furthermore, a new iterative approach is investigated and applied. On the basis of numerical experiments, we compare the presented methods. A major conclusion is that the new iterative approach is faster than rest of the methods and it uses less RAM memory than other methods.
A Novel Weak Fuzzy Solution for Fuzzy Linear System
Authors: Salahshour Soheil , Ahmadian Ali , Ismail Fudziah , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: March 2016

This article proposes a novel weak fuzzy solution for the fuzzy linear system. As a matter of fact, we define the right-hand side column of the fuzzy linear system as a piecewise fuzzy function to overcome the related shortcoming, which exists in the previous findings. The strong point of this proposal is that the weak fuzzy solution is always a fuzzy number vector. Two complex and non-complex linear systems under uncertainty are tested to validate the effectiveness and correctness of the presented method.