bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is English a Killer Language or an International Auxiliary? Its Use and Function in a Globalised World
Authors: Ceramella Nick
Published: November 2013

In the Introduction to this article, I deal with the importance of speaking one’s own language as a way to assert one’s identity. Then I pass on to the evolution of the English language from its start as Old English, spoken by only a few thousand Angles and Saxons.

I remark how, at fi rst, it was contaminated by thousands of Latin, French and Scandinavian words, of which contemporary English still bears many clear traces, but nobody has ever thought that English was ever in danger of disappearing. By contrast, in the long run, it became the mother tongue of the speakers in comparatively newly founded countries, such as the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, and owing to the spread of the British Empire, it has dramatically increased its appeal becoming the most spoken and infl uential language in the world. Thus, according to some linguists, it has led several languages virtually to the verge of disappearance. Therefore, I argue whether English has really vampirised them, or has simply contributed to make people understand each other, sometimes even in the same country where lots of diff erent tongues are spoken (e.g. Nigeria).

It is self-evident that English has gradually been taking the role of a common unifying factor in our globalised world. In this view, I envisage a scenario where English may even become the offi cial l anguage o f the E U with the c ontributions & coming, though in varying doses, from all the speakers of the other EU languages.
The English Language in Ireland:An Introduction
Authors: Kallen Jeffrey L.
Published: November 2013

Irish English, as the oldest overseas variety of English, displays a number features which are unique to Ireland or which show characteristic patterns in the use of variation within English more generally. Many of these features reflect the interacting infl uences of settlement from England and Scotland, bringing with it elements from British dialects as well as elements now considered obsolete in British English, and transfer (via intergenerational bilingualism and language shift) of elements from the Irish language. Some features of this mix have continued from early times to the present, others have died out with the increasing homogenisation of Irish English, and still new elements, from internal change and other linguistic infl uences, continue to develop the language.
El turismo desde el pensamiento sistémico
Authors: Vázquez Ramírez Diana , Osorio García Maribel , Arellano Hernández Antonio , Torres Nafarrate Javier
Published: November 2013

Este artículo es una aproximación sobre la contribución que distintos estudios han hecho acerca del fenómeno social denominado turismo desde el pensamiento sistémico, a través de las perspectivas teórico-metodológicas de Bertalanffy, Forrester, García y Luhmann, con la finalidad de entender cómo se han construido diversos modelos, y la forma en que éstos describen y estudian al turismo. Se analizan alcances y limitaciones de las principales ideas que enmarcan teóricamente cada una de esas perspectivas.
Caracterización del potencial turístico del Geoparque Villuercas-Ibores-Jara (Extremadura, España)
Authors: Lagar Timón David , García Marín Ramón , Pulido Fernández Manuel
Published: November 2013

La comarca de Villuercas-Ibores-Jara (Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura, España) posee unos recursos geológicos, naturales y culturales que necesitan ser potenciados y gestionados por su valor patrimonial. En este trabajo se analizan los 15 geositios considerados de mayor potencial para el turismo y se documentaron mediante unas fichas que recogen aspectos como la situación geográfica, el estado de conservación, cualidades o su importancia geológica. Entre ellos pueden ser destacados la Cueva del Castañar de Ibor, el Sinclinal de Santa Lucía o el Nacimiento del Río Almonte. Sobre la base de dichos recursos, se analiza el modelo de gestión del patrimonio geológico y geomorfológico del recién declarado Geoparque Villuercas-Ibores-Jaraque tiene como puntos fuertes la conservación, la revalorización, el estudio y la difusión del patrimonio geológico en el marco de un turismo de naturaleza y sostenible.
TRABAJO DE FIN DE MÁSTER. Desarrollo hotelero en Brasil: panorama de mercado y perspectivas
Authors: Dos Santos Cypriano Pedro
Published: November 2013

El escenario económico internacional es adverso (Fondo Monetario Internacional, 2012; The World Bank, 2012) y perjudicial a los negocios hoteleros en las principales economías del mundo. El volumen de inversiones ha disminuido fuertemente, conseguir financiación ya no es algo tan simple y predomina el clima de incertidumbre debido a la crisis (Ernst & Young, 2012; Horwath, 2012a; Jones Lang LaSalle, 2011a). Ya Brasil, después de haber pasado por profundos cambios socioeconómicos, vive en un entorno más estable y con buenas perspectivas de evolución a mediano plazo (Giambiagi et al., 2011; Brasil, 2012b). Las mejorías son notables también en el turismo (Brasil, 2010a) y actualmente players nacionales e internacionales estudian diversas posibles inversiones hoteleras en el país (Hotel Invest, 2011 y 2012b; JLLS, 2011b y 2012b). No obstante, hay una importante pregunta: ¿Cuál es el panorama actual y las reales perspectivas de desarrollo hotelero en Brasil? Para contestarla, se buscó analizar el panorama de la hotelería brasileña en cuanto a su caracterización, principales empresas presentes y desempeño de la oferta. Además, investigar las barreras, riesgos, oportunidades y perspectivas relacionados a inversiones hoteleras en el país. Entre los principales resultados, se ha concluido que Brasil vive un nuevo ciclo de expansión de la hotelería. Nuevamente con hoteles de bajo y mediano confort, destinados al mercado doméstico corporativo y de eventos, con probable predominio de alianzas estratégicas, modelo de desarrollo por condo-hotel y otras estrategias non-equity. No obstante, ahora de manera más descentralizada, en ciudades de pequeño a gran porte y con perspectivas de participación, aún tímidas pero con potencial de crecimiento, de nuevos players, como fondos de inversión internacionales e inmobiliarios. Además, el país camina hacia condiciones de financiación más favorables (sin embargo aún inadecuadas debido a las exigencias y burocracia para liberación de crédito), con disminución real e intensa de las tasas de interés (SELIC) y menores exigencias de rentabilidad por el inversor. Las perspectivas futuras son optimistas. No obstante, el riesgo de sobreoferta en ciudades puntuales y los GAPs de competitividad turística y hotelera en el país son una señal de alerta y debe ser estudiada con detenimiento por empresas, gobiernos y universidades.
Persistent asymmetric password-based key exchange
Authors: Jiang Shaoquan
Published: November 2013

Asymmetric password based key exchange is a key exchange protocol
where a client and a server share a low entropic password while the
server additionally owns a high entropic secret with respect to a public
key. There are simple solutions for this,
e.g., [ACM Trans. Inf. Syst. Secur. 2 (1999), 230–268]
and its improvement in [Proceedings of CCS 1999, ACM (1999), 63–72].
In the present paper, we consider a new threat to this type of protocol: if
a server's high entropic secret gets compromised (e.g., due
to cryptanalysis or a poor management), the adversary might quickly break lots of passwords and cause uncountable damage.
In this case, one should not expect the protocol to be secure against
an off-line dictionary attack since, otherwise, the protocol is
in fact a secure password-only key exchange by making the server high entropic secret public.
Of course a password-only key exchange does not suffer from this threat as the server does not have a high entropic secret at all. However, known password-only key exchange protocols are not very efficient (note: we only consider protocols without random oracles). This motivates us to study an efficient and secure asymmetric password key exchange that avoids the new threat.
In this paper, we first provide a formal model for the new threat, where essentially we require that the active adversary can break

ℓ

$\ell $

passwords in

α
ℓ
|
𝒟
|

$\alpha \ell |\mathcal {D}|$

steps (for

α
<
1
/
2

$\alpha <1/2$

) only with a probability negligibly close to

exp
(
-
β
ℓ
)

$\exp (-\beta \ell )$

for some

β
>
0

$\beta >0$

, where

𝒟

$\mathcal {D}$

is a password dictionary. Then, we construct a framework of asymmetric password based key exchange.
We prove that our protocol is secure in the regular model where server high entropic key is never compromised and that it prevents the new threat. To do this, we introduce a new technique by
abstracting a probabilistic experiment from the main proof and providing a neat analysis of it.
Reproduction in urban commensal rodents: the case of Mastomys natalensis from Niamey, Niger
Authors: Garba Madougou , Dobigny Gauthier
Published: November 2013

Most wild Sahelian rodents display a seasonal reproduction that is usually related to rainfall, hence resources availability.
An Alternative to the Breeder’s and Lande’s Equations
Authors: Houchmandzadeh Bahram
Published: November 2013

The breeder’s equation is a cornerstone of quantitative genetics, widely used in evolutionary modeling. Noting the mean phenotype in parental, selected parents, and the progeny by E(Z0), E(ZW), and E(Z1), this equation relates response to selection R = E(Z1) − E(Z0) to the selection differential S = E(ZW) − E(Z0) through a simple proportionality relation R = h2S, where the heritability coefficient h2 is a simple function of genotype and environment factors variance. The validity of this relation relies strongly on the normal (Gaussian) distribution of the parent genotype, which is an unobservable quantity and cannot be ascertained. In contrast, we show here that if the fitness (or selection) function is Gaussian with mean μ, an alternative, exact linear equation of the form R′ = j2S′ can be derived, regardless of the parental genotype distribution. Here R′ = E(Z1) − μ and S′ = E(ZW) − μ stand for the mean phenotypic lag with respect to the mean of the fitness function in the offspring and selected populations. The proportionality coefficient j2 is a simple function of selection function and environment factors variance, but does not contain the genotype variance. To demonstrate this, we derive the exact functional relation between the mean phenotype in the selected and the offspring population and deduce all cases that lead to a linear relation between them. These results generalize naturally to the concept of G matrix and the multivariate Lande’s equation Δz¯=GP−1S. The linearity coefficient of the alternative equation are not changed by Gaussian selection.
Impact of attachment to God and religious coping on life satisfaction
Authors: Láng András
Published: November 2013

Introduction: Effects of religiosity on satisfaction with life, mental and physical health are highly favored topics of psychology. At the same time, less attention has been directed to how individual differences in religiosity affect believers’ satisfaction with life. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between attachment to God, religious coping and satisfaction with life. Method: A group of Roman Catholics (n = 94; 49 women and 45 men; age, 30.8±6.2 years) filled in our the survey package. The survey package contained the following measures: Attachment to God Inventory, Brief Religious Coping Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results: Negative religious coping and anxious attachment to God predicted lower satisfaction with life, even if demographic variables were controlled for. Conclusions: These results indicate that negative image of God is an important predictor of low satisfaction with life, which in turn can have negative impact on believers’ mental and physical health. Orv. Hetil., 154(46), 1843–1847.
Colloidal dispersion of metal nanoparticles electrosterically stabilized with Carrageenan type κ and its application as hydrogel.
Authors: Infante-Rivera Jose , Campos Victoria , Guerrero-Salazar C.A. , Ortiz-Méndez Ubaldo , Olivas A. , Sepúlveda-Guzmán Selene
Published: November 2013

In this work Carrageenan type κ was used as electrosteric stabilizer in order to prepare a biocompatible colloidal dispersion of novel metal nanoparticles. Gold and silver nanoparticles were synthesized by reducing the metal precursor using sodium borohydride in presence of Carrageenan type κ. The growth mechanism of metal nanoparticles and stabilization behavior by Carrageenan type κ was analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The morphology and particle size distribution were also studied as a function of reaction parameters and the particle size was dependent of the pH of the reaction media. The Ag nanoparticles with sphere-like morphology and average size of 10 nm were obtained. The morphology of Au nanoparticles was strongly affected by the pH value resulting in particles with snake-like morphology at alkaline conditions. The UV-Vis spectra showed that Ag nanoparticles were highly stable at alkaline conditions and for long period of time. Au nanoparticles dispersion showed a better stability for long period of time at acidic conditions. The nanoparticles dispersion electrosterically stabilized were used to prepare hydrogels by poured into a plastic mold and frozen with liquid nitrogen and then lyophilized. The morphology and thermal stability of resulting composites were analyzed by using scanning electronic microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry respectively. The degradation temperature of Carrageenan type κ was increased due to the presence of metal nanoparticles.
Custo-efetividade de um programa de rastreamento organizado de câncer de mama no Sul do Brasil
Authors: Ribeiro Rodrigo Antonini , Caleffi Maira , Polanczyk Carisi Anne
Published: November 2013

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o custo-efetividade de um programa organizado de rastreamento mamográfico de câncer de mama implementado na cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil (Núcleo Mama Porto Alegre - NMPOA). Foi construído modelo de Markov para estimar a relação de custo-efetividade incremental do NMPOA em comparação à situação atual de atenção ao câncer de mama no SUS, em coorte hipotética de mulheres de 40-69 anos com risco de desenvolver câncer de mama. Os parâmetros foram coletados do NMPOA e da literatura nacional. Na estratégia NMPOA, a efetividade foi modelada levando-se em conta a real adesão da população participante do rastreamento. A efetividade foi medida em anos de vida ajustados para qualidade (QALY). A relação de custoefetividade incremental no caso base foi de R$ 13.426,00 por QALY. Esse resultado foi pouco sensível à variação dos principais parâmetros do modelo nas análises de sensibilidade. Considerando o limiar usualmente sugerido como bastante atrativo do ponto de vista econômico no Brasil, o rastreamento do câncer de mama nos moldes do NMPOA é custo-efetivo em cidades com alta incidência deste tipo de câncer.
Estudo de custo-análise do tratamento da artrite reumatoide grave em um município do Sul do Brasil
Authors: Buendgens Fabíola Bagatini , Blatt Carine Raquel , Marasciulo Antônio Carlos Estima , Leite Silvana Nair , Farias Mareni Rocha
Published: November 2013

O tratamento da artrite reumatoide envolve a utilização de medicamentos, terapias não farmacológicas, consultas médicas, exames complementares, entre outros procedimentos. O artigo apresenta, conforme as fontes pagadoras, os custos diretos médicos relacionados ao tratamento da artrite reumatoide. Trata-se de um estudo de custo-análise envolvendo 103 pacientes com artrite reumatoide grave atendidos por meio do Componente Especializado da Assistência Farmacêutica em Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. O custo direto médico total foi R$ 2.045.596,55/ano, correspondendo a R$ 19.860,16 por paciente/ano. Do custo total, 90,8% foram para despesas com medicamentos, 2,5% às hospitalizações, 2,2% aos exames complementares, 2,1% às consultas médicas e 2,4% à soma dos demais componentes. O setor público foi responsável por 73,6% do custo direto médico total e por 79,3% do custo com a aquisição de medicamentos. A análise dos custos permitiu traçar um perfil de como uma população portadora de doença crônico-degenerativa altamente demandante de recursos transita pela composição público-privada que caracteriza o sistema de saúde brasileiro.
Eficácia e segurança da terapia com idursulfase em pacientes com mucopolissacaridose tipo II, com e sem comparação com placebo: revisão sistemática e metanálise
Authors: Alegra Taciane , Eizerik Dauana Pitano , Cerqueira Caio César Silva de , Pereira Tiago V. , Dornelles Alícia Dorneles , Schwartz Ida Vanessa Doederlein
Published: November 2013

A mucopolissacaridose tipo II (MPS II) é uma doença genética de amplo espectro clínico, caracterizada por deficiência da enzima iduronato-2sulfatase. Revisão sistemática avaliou a eficácia e segurança da terapia de reposição enzimática (TRE) com idursulfase (IDS) na MPS II. As bases de dados PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS e Biblioteca Cochrane foram pesquisados até 30 de novembro de 2012. Apenas cinco estudos preencheram os critérios de inclusão (ensaios clínicos randomizados - ECRs, ECRs abertos ou séries de caso prospectivas, incluindo cinco ou mais pacientes e avaliando desfechos relevantes). Metanálise foi realizada para capacidade vital forçada (CVF; valores absolutos e em %) e para a distância percorrida no teste da caminhada dos seis minutos, com mudanças significativas em ambas as variáveis; também foi encontrado risco aumentado de reações leves relacionadas à infusão e de desenvolvimento de anticorpos IgG à IDS. Em face dos dados apresentados neste estudo, conclui-se que a TRE com IDS é segura e tem benefício potencial em MPS II, mas estudos adicionais são necessários.
Efficacy and safety of biologics in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Correr Cassyano Januário , Rotta Inajara , Teles Thaís de Souza , Godoy Rangel Ray , Riveros Bruno Salgado , Garcia Mariana Martins , Gonçalves Patrícia Rodrigues , Otuki Michel Fleith
Published: November 2013

We conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials in moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with biological agents, with a follow-up of 10-14 weeks. Overall, 41 studies, with mean Jadad score of 4.4, and 15,586 patients were included. For the efficacy outcomes PASI 50, 75 and 90 our findings are not conclusive to point what biological agent has the greatest response in short term follow-up. There were no statistical differences between placebo and biologics for the occurrence of infections and serious adverse events. Ustekinumab 45mg showed lower withdrawal due to adverse events compared with the placebo. Based on data available up to now, it is not possible to determine which biological agent is the best for PASI 50, 75 or 90 after 10-14 weeks of treatment. At the same follow-up, overall safety seems to be the same for all biological agents and Ustekinumab 45mg the most well tolerated drug. To better understand efficacy and safety, indirect meta-analysis comparing drug-to-drug is required since randomized placebo-controlled trials may not be feasible.
Multimillion‐year climatic effects on palm species diversity in Africa
Authors: Blach-Overgaard Anne , Kissling W. Daniel , Dransfield John , Balslev Henrik , Svenning Jens-Christian
Published: November 2013

Past climatic changes have caused extinction, speciation, and range dynamics, but assessing the influence of past multimillion‐year climatic imprints on present‐day biodiversity patterns remains challenging. We analyzed a new continental‐scale data set to examine the importance of paleoclimatic effects on current gradients in African palm richness patterns. Using climate reconstructions from the late Miocene (∼10 mya), the Pliocene (∼3 mya), and the Last Glacial Maximum (0.021 mya), we found that African palm diversity patterns exhibit pronounced historical legacies related to long‐term climate change. Notably, pre‐Pleistocene paleoprecipitation variables differentially affected current diversity patterns of palms grouped by contrasting habitat requirements. Accounting for present‐day environment, rain forest palms exhibit greater species richness in localities where Pliocene precipitation was relatively high, whereas open‐habitat palms show higher species richness in areas of relatively low precipitation during the Miocene Epoch. Our results demonstrate that diversity–climate relationships among African palm species include multimillion‐year lagged dynamics, i.e., with historical legacies persisting across much longer time periods than commonly recognized.
A maladaptive intermediate form: a strong trade‐off revealed by hybrids between two forms of a snail‐feeding beetle
Authors: Konuma Junji , Sota Teiji , Chiba Satoshi
Published: November 2013

Although trade‐off curves between fitness components are essential in theoretical studies of ecological specialization, few empirical studies have actually determined these curves experimentally. Using the snail‐feeding carabid beetleDamaster blaptoides, which is endemic to the Japanese archipelago, we estimated the trade‐off curve for feeding success with alternative foraging behaviors that are linked to varying morphology. First, we crossed a stout‐bodied and a slender‐bodied subspecies and produced their F1and backcross hybrids, which exhibited intermediate body shapes. Then we compared the snail‐feeding success of these beetles. Stout beetles could eat small snails by crushing shells, whereas slender beetles could eat large snails by inserting their heads into shells. Although hybrids with intermediate body shapes attempted to employ both strategies, they frequently failed at both. The relationship between feeding success rate and beetle body shape was represented by an inward bending curve, which implies a strong trade‐off that can cause disruptive selection, leading to ecological specialization. We suggest that the intermediately shaped beetles were maladapted for snail‐feeding and that disruptive selection may have played an important role in the morphological divergence of these beetles.
Top‐down control of soil fungal community composition by a globally distributed keystone consumer
Authors: Crowther Thomas W. , Stanton David W. G. , Thomas Stephen M. , A'Bear A. Donald , Hiscox Jennifer , Jones T. Hefin , Voříšková Jana , Baldrian Petr , Boddy Lynne
Published: November 2013

The relative contribution of top‐down and bottom‐up processes regulating primary decomposers can influence the strength of the link between the soil animal community and ecosystem functioning. Although soil bacterial communities are regulated by bottom‐up and top‐down processes, the latter are considered to be less important in structuring the diversity and functioning of fungal‐dominated ecosystems. Despite the huge diversity of mycophagous (fungal‐feeding) soil fauna, and their potential to reverse the outcomes of competitive fungal interactions, top‐down grazing effects have never been found to translate to community‐level changes. We constructed soil mesocosms to investigate the potential of isopods grazing on cord‐forming basidiomycete fungi to influence the community composition and functioning of a complex woodland soil microbial community. Using metagenomic sequencing we provide conclusive evidence of direct top‐down control at the community scale in fungal‐dominated woodland soil. By suppressing the dominant cord‐forming basidiomycete fungi, isopods prevented the competitive exclusion of surrounding litter fungi, increasing diversity in a community containing several hundred fungal species. This isopod‐induced modification of community composition drove a shift in the soil enzyme profile, and led to a restructuring of the wider mycophagous invertebrate community. We highlight characteristics of different soil ecosystems that will give rise to such top‐down control. Given the ubiquity of isopods and basidiomycete fungi in temperate and boreal woodland ecosystems, such top‐down community control could be of widespread significance for global carbon and nutrient cycling.
A multi‐decade time series of kelp forest community structure at the California Channel Islands
Authors: Kushner David J. , Rassweiler Andrew , McLaughlin John P. , Lafferty Kevin D.
Published: November 2013

Studies of temperate rocky reef communities have added much to our understanding of ecology. However, data on these reef communities can be difficult to obtain; wind, waves, and poor underwater visibility often prevent research diving, and even under the best conditions only a few hours a day can be spent underwater collecting data. Here, we present data on temperate subtidal reef communities at 33 sites, almost half of which the National Park Service has sampled annually since 1982. We present core data sets describing the population dynamics of 16 fish, 37 invertebrate, and 15 algal taxa. We include supplementary data sets documenting the size structure of key species, the relative abundance of all fish, the recruitment of selected invertebrates, and the subtidal water temperature at each site through time. Taken together, these data provide one of the most comprehensive descriptions of nearshore reef community dynamics ever assembled.
Evidence of maternal provisioning of alkaloid‐based chemical defenses in the strawberry poison frog Oophaga pumilio
Authors: Stynoski Jennifer L. , Torres-Mendoza Yaritbel , Sasa-Marin Mahmood , Saporito Ralph A.
Published: November 2013

Many organisms use chemical defenses to reduce predation risk. Aposematic dendrobatid frogs sequester alkaloid‐based chemical defenses from a diet of arthropods, but research on these defenses has been limited to adults. Herein, we investigate chemical defense across development in a dendrobatid frog, Oophaga pumilio. This species displays complex parental care: at hatching, mothers transport tadpoles to phytotelmata, and then return to supply them with an obligate diet of nutritive eggs for about six weeks. We collected eggs, tadpoles, juveniles, and adults of O. pumilio, and detected alkaloids in all life stages. The quantity and number of alkaloids increased with frog and tadpole size. We did not detect alkaloids in the earliest stage of tadpoles, but alkaloids were detected as trace quantities in nutritive eggs and as small quantities in ovarian eggs. Tadpoles hand‐reared with eggs of an alkaloid‐free heterospecific frog did not contain alkaloids. Alkaloids that are sequestered from terrestrial arthropods were detected in both adults and phytotelm‐dwelling tadpoles that feed solely on nutritive eggs, suggesting that this frog may be the first animal known to actively provision post‐hatch offspring with chemical defenses. Finally, we provide experimental evidence that maternally derived alkaloids deter predation of tadpoles by a predatory arthropod.
Use of Dental Pulp Stem Cells/Collagen Sponge Biocomplex in the Treatment of Non‐Contained Intrabony Defects: A Case Series
Authors: Aimetti Mario , Ferrarotti Francesco , Mariani Giulia Maria , Cricenti Luca , Romano Federica
Published: November 2013

Introduction: Because of their accessibility and biologic features, dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) hold great promise for regeneration in clinical applications. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no data are available concerning their regenerative potential in human periodontal intrabony defects. The present case series explores the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of autologous DPSCs/collagen sponge biocomplex in the treatment of non‐contained intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Case Series: Four healthy patients displaying at least one prevalently 1‐ or 2‐wall intrabony defect and one vital third molar requiring extraction were consecutively included in the study. Before surgery, patients were enrolled in a strict periodontal program including oral hygiene instructions and scaling and root planing. The third molar was extracted and used as the autologous DPSC source. The dental pulp was mechanically dissociated and filtered through 50‐μm pores to obtain a cellular suspension enriched in stem cells. The selected intrabony defects, one per patient, were filled with the cellular suspension endorsed onto a collagen sponge. The mean probing depth decreased from 8.0 ± 0.8 mm at baseline to 3.3 ± 1.0 mm at the 12‐month evaluation. The mean clinical attachment level amounted to 11.0 ± 0.8 mm before the surgery and to 6.0 ± 1.4 mm at 12 months. At the end of the observational period, the mean radiographic defect fill was 4.2 ± 1.9 mm.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this case series, it can be concluded that autologous DPSCs may represent a very promising tool for the treatment of angular bone defects with unfavorable architecture.
Tooth Loss Strongly Associates With Malnutrition in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Ioannidou E. , Swede H. , Fares G. , Himmelfarb J.
Published: November 2013

Background: In chronic kidney disease (CKD), inadequate nutritional intake, inflammation, and increased oxidative stress have been the major contributing factors in malnutrition pathogenesis. However, there is still a paucity of evidence assessing the magnitude of the effect of tooth loss on malnutrition in CKD populations. The authors hypothesize that among patients with CKD, tooth loss may affect nutritional status, using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988 to 1994 (NHANES III).

Methods: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated based on cystatin C levels using the relevant equation. Urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (albuminuria) was calculated in milligrams per gram with a cutoff point of 30 mg/g. CKD was defined based on estimated GFR <60 mL/minute/1.73m2 and albuminuria ≥30 mg/g. The cutoff point for serum albumin was set at 3.7 g/dL. Tooth loss categories were based on the number of missing and replaced teeth.

Results: A total of 2,749 patients was included and stratified based on their oral health status. There was a statistically significant correlation between tooth loss and the proportion of patients with low protein and caloric intake (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). Serum albumin reached a frequency peak in the fully edentulous group without dentures (group 4, 19.2%). In the same group, individuals had lower protein (30.1%) and caloric intake (30.2%) (P = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Furthermore, logistic regression analysis confirmed the significant role of tooth loss on serum albumin and protein and energy intake in this population even after adjusting for confounding variables.

Conclusion: Tooth loss independently predicts low energy and protein intake, as well as serum albumin levels, biomarkers of malnutrition in CKD.
Bibliometrics Study on Authorship Trends in Periodontal Literature From 1995 to 2010
Authors: Geminiani Alessandro , Ercoli Carlo , Feng Changyong , Caton Jack G.
Published: November 2013

Background: Biomedical research has grown considerably in the last few decades, and the authorship characteristics of the dental literature as a whole and of its specialty fields has changed significantly. Unfortunately, the bibliometrics of the periodontal literature have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the bibliometrics of periodontal literature, assessing the geographic origin, study design, and topics investigated in periodontal research published from 1995 to 2010.

Methods: Articles published in periodontal journals during 1995 to 2010 were retrieved through hand search. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. The following variables were extrapolated from each article: number of authors, study design, topic investigated, financial support, and geographic origin. The general linear model assessed the influence of independent variables on number of authors per article, and χ2 test assessed the statistical difference of the variables over years 1995 to 2010.

Results: A total of 2,260 articles were reviewed; 2,076 met the inclusion criteria. The number of authors per article increased (P <0.001) from 4.0 (1995) to 5.1 (2010). The proportion of articles published from North America and Europe decreased (P <0.001) from 84.3% (1995) to 58.6% (2010), whereas for Asia and South America the article proportion increased (P <0.001) from 13.8% (1995) to 40% (2010). Research targeting prevention and treatment of periodontal disease is decreasing (P <0.001) in favor of implant‐related research. Governmental research funding is increasing (P <0.001).

Conclusion: Periodontal research significantly changed during the last 15 years.
The Correlation Analysis Method and Its Application in Hydrocarbon-Bearing Formation Identification in Tight Sandstone Reservoirs
Authors: Liang Xiao , Chang-chun Zou , Zhi-qiang Mao , Yu-jiang Shi , Gao-ren Li , Hao-peng Guo , Xiu-hong Xie
Published: November 2013

Hydrocarbon-bearing formation identification with conventional logs faces great challenge in tight sandstone reservoirs due to the low resistivity contrast and complicated oil/water system. The conventional methods, which are applicable in normal reservoirs in oil or gas identification, such as the porosity and resistivity crossplot of the Hingle and Pickett crossplots, lose their roles. In this paper, based on the analysis of the conventional log responses in hydrocarbon-bearing formations in the Chang 8 Formation in Longdong Region of Ordos basin, the positive correlation of porosity and resistivity in oil-bearing formation, and negative correlation in water saturated layers are observed. A correlation analysis method, which can be used to express the correlation of porosity and resistivity in formations with different type of pore fluids occupied, is presented, and the corresponding model which is used to calculate the correlation coefficient is established. For reservoirs with hydrocarbon-saturated, the value of the correlation coefficient ranges from 0.0 to 1.0, in pure water layers, the correlation coefficient ranges from −1.0 to 0.0, and in oil-water bed, the correlation coefficient is salutatory between −1.0 and 1.0. By using this correlation coefficient, hydrocarbon-bearing formations can be identified from pure water layers. This correlation analysis method can also be used in tight gas sands identification by establishing the correlation coefficients of porosity versus resistivity, density and neutron logs. Field examples illustrate that this method has played an important part in hydrocarbon-bearing identification in tight sandstone reservoirs.
Sichuan Basin Longmaxi Shale Gas Stimulation and Completion Case Study
Authors: Lv Zonggang , Wang Lin , Deng Sufen , Chong K. K. , Wang Qiang , Dumesnil Joe
Published: November 2013

The shale gas buzz in China continued in 2012. The Longmaxi Silurian age formation is one of three main target marine shales in China, the others being the Cambrian age Qiongzhusi and Niutitang. The Longmaxi serves as the more likely completion target for attempting to reach the production goals set forth by the government and state owned enterprises (SOEs). The Longmaxi is an interbedded mudstone/siltstone formation with an organic-rich carbonaceous interval at its base. It experienced widespread deposition and is predominantly found in what is currently known as the Sichuan basin in Sichuan province and the Chongqing municipality, with some evidence of its occurrence farther south and east into Guizhou and Hunan provinces. The lower organic-rich interval is the target for completion as it serves to store more hydrocarbon, which also lends itself to effective hydraulic fracture stimulation and flow capacity enhancement.

This paper is a case study of one Longmaxi horizontal well and the efforts that were made to benchmark the formation deliverability from a horizontal wellbore with multiple stages of completion. An analog formation was identified from the vertical pilot well logs to guide the stimulation design. A diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT) was performed and analyzed, as well as some stimulation-related core testing being completed to further refine the proposed hydraulic fracture treatment. A summary of the treatments are presented, followed by conclusions and paths forward for further efforts with completing the Longmaxi.

A previous paper (Lv et al. 2012) cited completion of the first Cambrian age Qiongzhusi horizontal completion. This paper picks up from there, further detailing the shale gas development that is likely to be a major contributor to China's evolving energy mix.
An Assessment of Selected Rate-Decline Models for Horizontal Oil Wells in the Niobrara Formation
Authors: Savimaki Deborah , Seidle John P.
Published: November 2013

Horizontal well development targeting the Niobrara formation in the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin in Colorado and Wyoming is gaining development momentum as the price of gas in the US has fallen and liquid rich plays have come into high demand. The low permeability Cretaceous age Niobrara formation is commonly encountered as three benches of naturally fractured limestones, marls and calcareous shale. The advent of horizontal drilling has allowed exploitation of this previously overlooked target in the DJ Basin.

Thermal maturity varies across the DJ basin, resulting in a variety of reservoir fluids in the Niobrara including dry gas (biogenic and thermogenic), wet gas, condensate, and oil. Two of the main oil fields in the DJ Basin are the Silo field, in Laramie County Wyoming, and the Wattenburg field, which is predominantly in Weld County, Colorado.

Oil has been produced out of the DJ Basin since 1901, however successful horizontal well development is still relatively recent in both fields. With the increased interest in Niobrara development, rate-decline analysis is used extensively by operators to estimate reserves and to evaluate potential locations for future drilling.

Various published models are available for rate-decline analysis. Arps rate-decline relationship has been the most widely used model, however subsequent authors have developed models modifying Arps, or in the case of unconventional and naturally fractured formations, developed completely new models, like Duong, for rate-decline analysis.

This paper will utilize production data for wells in Wattenburg and Silo fields to assess how appropriate different models are for rate-decline analysis in the naturally fractured Niobrara Formation.
A Workflow to Evaluate Mineralogy, Porosity, TOC, and Hydrocarbon Volume in the Eagle Ford Shale
Authors: Quirein John , Praznik Greg , Galford Jim , Chen Songhua , Murphy Eric , Witkowsky Jim
Published: November 2013

The Eagle Ford Shale hydrocarbon-fluid properties depend on the source rock maturity and, within the formation, occur in varying degrees of gas, gas condensate, and oil. Using conventional logs and pyrolysis data, several log-core regressions, such as delta log R, density, and uranium, can be derived to predict total organic carbon (TOC). TOC can be used with geochemical elemental measurements for a more accurate assessment of the formation kerogen and mineralogy, as well as hydrocarbon volumes. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) porosity measures an apparent total porosity in the organic shale plays, measuring only the fluids present and excludes the kerogen. The complex refractive index method (CRIM) with the mineralogy log data can be used to compute accurate dielectric porosities, which exclude both kerogen and hydrocarbon. Integrating the core TOC, predicted TOC, mineral analysis, NMR, and dielectric information, a final verification of the kerogen volume, porosity, hydrocarbon content, and mineral analysis can be assessed.

This paper will describe the integration of conventional logs, a geochemical log, an NMR log, and dielectric to predict TOC, kerogen volume, and hydrocarbon volume, as well as total porosity and mineralogy. The log data is compared to core data from three Eagle Ford wells. Based on the results from these three wells, a comprehensive workflow is developed for unconventional source rock reservoir interpretation. The workflow is then applied to two additional Eagle Ford wells and the results are compared to core data. While the workflow is demonstrated with Eagle Ford data it is believed that it will be applicable in other unconventional source rock reservoirs. It will be demonstrated how the proposed approach will help eliminate some coring operations and can be used to help make decisions on optimum lateral placement.
Integrated Geochemical, Geomechanical and Geological (3G) Study of Lower Baong Shale Formation for Preliminary Shale Gas Prospectivity in the North Sumatra Basin
Authors: Bahesti F.. , Subroto E. A. , Manaf N. A. , Sadirsan W.. , Wahyudin M..
Published: November 2013

The most common fallacy in evaluating shale gas potential in a basin is treated similar to those produced in the United States. In fact, each basin has unique characteristics that influence shale facies type and depositional. Lower Baong shale is responsible for source rock filled up sandstones reservoir in the oil and gas field in the North Sumatra Basin. This study reveals the data and facts from the laboratory, drilling, wireline well logs and seismic through the integrated study of geochemistry, geomechanics and geological synthesis of Lower Baong Formation. An understanding of shale geochemistry, mineralogy and geomechanics is very important to understand how the shale reservoir has the potential to reserve and produce when carried out stimulation. Geochemical laboratory analysis is used to determine the richness, maturity and kerogen type. This information is limited to a certain depth point, so that it is necessary to conduct calibrations in order to estimate the shale productive reservoir interval on a wireline log scale. Limited core data and rock mechanics laboratory analysis represented by mineralogy then also calibrated with brittleness index. Thus, geochemical and geomechanical log model tied to the seismic data, is a very useful tool for formation evaluation and broaden the understanding of shale reservoir facies distribution. Understanding shale facies needed to design fracturing horizontal hole in more detail. This study also classify shale based on organic richness, maturity, type, shale strengthness, shale brittleness and clay content. Shale facies in Lower Baong shale can be divided into 3 facies of sweet spot area. Siliceous calcareous mudstone has high potential for shale gas with 2–3.5% of TOC, II-III of kerogen type, maturity depth from 2300m, 350–425m of sweet spot thickness, 10000–18000psia of UCS, 3000–4000 psia of Young modulus, 0.18–0.22 of Poisson ratio and associated with foreland basin fill deep. Silty-shaly calcareous mudstone has medium potential for shale gas which is associated with foreland basin fill slope. Silty-shaly dolomitic mudstone is associated with foreland basin fill edge that has high potential for shale. The integrated approach for geochemistry and geomechanics is expected to reduce risk in shale gas exploration.
Unconventional Completions - an Operational Comparison
Authors: Burton W. Aaron
Published: November 2013

In the last seven years the oil and gas industry has seen significant changes in the price and supply of hydrocarbons, and new production from low-permeability unconventional reservoirs that require multistage hydraulic fracturing is playing a major role in the additional supply. To effectively produce these reservoirs, reservoir characterization, horizontal drilling, multistage completions, and multistage hydraulic fracturing are requirements in most plays. Most of these technologies have been used in other applications for many years, but combined they provide the key to unlocking these reservoirs that were considered uneconomical in the past. This paper will focus on the wellbore completion technologies that enable hydraulic fracturing of multiple stages.

Three completion techniques have emerged as the most effective and efficient in these types of formations: plug-and-perf, ball-activated frac sleeve completions, and coiled tubing-activated completions. All these wellbore completions serve the same functions of providing annular isolation, through-tubing isolation, and diversion needed to hydraulically fracture multiple stages, but each has different methods and devices of doing so. Recent advances in technology have enabled all three completions to use cement or openhole packers to provide the required annular isolation, so if one method of isolation is proven to be superior in one application, any of the three completion techniques can be used. Now the question is, "How do I choose the right completion for my application?" The deciding factors to answer this question now become operational efficiency, cost, logistics, flexibility, and application. This paper will present several scenarios where one type of completion system could be more beneficial or efficient in certain applications.

The benefits and considerations of each completion must be analyzed to select the most efficient completion for certain applications. The primary purpose of this paper is to discuss these benefits and considerations and how they compare in different applications from an operations point of view.
Critical Comparative Assessment of a Novel Approach for Multi-mineral Modeling in Shale Gas: Results from an Evaluation Study of Marcellus Shale
Authors: Singh Sidharth , Qiu Fuming , Morgan Neal , Nath Gitashree , Pritchard Timothy
Published: November 2013

The highly heterogeneous nature of the micro fabric, and complex gas storage mechanisms, in shale formations can present significant evaluation challenges for unconventional formation evaluation. In this paper we present a new and robust methodology for shale formation characterization, termed "Simultaneous Core Log Multi-mineral Inversion (SCLMI)". This methodology executes a series of iterative processes, and computational logic, to provide an optimum solution for mineral volume, organic content, porosity and fluid saturation from the simultaneous inversion of log and core data utilizing an underlying physically consistent petrophysical model. The SCLMI methodology is flexible enough to accommodate advanced geo-mechanical log outputs, but also has the flexibility to deal with situations where datasets are more limited, and it can significantly reduce the data interpretation processing times required when analyzing complex formations. Critical factors for the successful implementation of the methodology, however, relate to the consistency in analysis and control over input parameters to ensure these outputs are consistent with the underlying petrophysical model. The methodology can also be extended to improve formation evaluation in conventional formations.

The flexibility and robustness of the SCLMI methodology has been demonstrated for a number of different shale gas and liquid rich plays, where it facilitates the development of optimized log interpretation parameters for calibration wells, which can then be readily applied to other geologically similar wells. In this paper, we illustrate the utility of the methodology using examples from the Marcellus Shale. The value of this methodology is further demonstrated by performing a rigorous comparative assessment against standard shale gas formation evaluation techniques – empirical correlations and geochemical logs based multi-mineral interpretations provided by a major service provider. The methodology works particularly well in the challenging lower Marcellus formation, which shows high gamma ray, total organic and heavy mineral content. In comparison, whilst empirical correlations provide reasonable predictive results for organic content and gas-filled porosity they are unable to accurately characterize mineral volumes, and un-calibrated geochemical log based multi-mineral interpretations are show to exhibit a significant and consistent bias in total porosity, water saturation and heavy mineral volume calculations.