bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overcoming Differences between Log and Test Results: A Case-Study of Three Appraisal Wells Drilled into Low Contrast Low Resistivity Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: Daungkaew Saifon , Karpekin Yevgeniy , Pokhriyal Krishna , Herianto Bambang , Duangprasert Tanabordee , Thanh Tung Huynh , Rahman Rasheed , Yogapurana Erik , Nasifi Wahyudin Bahri , Bt. M. Razman Nur Faradilla , Bin M Fadhil M Imran
Published: March 2015

In three appraisal wells that targeted carbonate reservoirs, formation evaluation was performed with conventional triple combo, borehole image, nuclear magnetic resonance logs, and Wireline Formation Tester (WFT). Several zones with hydrocarbon shows were identified, but the level of saturation was found too low to promise oil flow. Downhole testing tool was used as a primary mean to confirm hydrocarbon presence by evaluating pressure gradients and direct interval testing. In the second well, downhole fluid scanning confirmed water flow in most of the permeable intervals, but in several intervals low permeability limited extended testing time where fluid ID was not conclusive in differentiating mud filtrate from formation water. Subsequently DST was conducted in three intervals of well-2 based on identified potential oil zones from the logs and information gathered in the first well. Testing confirmed water in two zones, however the third, relatively thin zone tested oil. Standard quick-look saturation interpretation gave low oil saturation and significant volume of free water in the oil-tested zone what contradicted the DST result. As the field goes into the development stage, the need to overcome limitations of the conventional evaluation methods demanded further refinement of evaluation program and log interpretation techniques for Low Contrast carbonate formation. Further analysis of image and magnetic-resonance logs indicated different rock fabric across the three tested zones, with pore geometry ranging from vugular to interparticle type. The oil-tested zone was found to have higher irreducible water saturation and higher clay content than other two zones. A non-conventional saturation equation based on the connectivity theory was applied with in-situ clay conductivity calibration. The new saturation matched better NMR irreducible water saturation, and the overall evaluation became conformant to the DST results in all three zones. In the last well, anticipating presence of thin reservoirs with low permeability, the evaluation program was modified to include downhole testing tool with a new probe type that suits better tight formations and that permits faster clean-out and sampling of formation fluid. With its help, a thin rim of oil was discovered below the gas cap, fluid contacts were accurately delineated with in-situ fluid density measurements.

This paper aims to show the learning curve in data acquisition and interpretation during the exploration drilling campaign, where measurements and evaluation methods were optimized to overcome formation evaluation challenges, to identify all hydrocarbon accumulations, and to provide accurate assessment of the reserves.
Optimizing Horizontal Well Placement with Reservoir Characterized Modeling and Advanced Logging While Drilling Technologies
Authors: Li Qiang , Ge Quan Sheng , Xia Feng Guo , Zhang Wang Xing , Kang Peng , Liu Yuan Zhong , Yu Gang , Yin Peng Zhi , Wang Fei , Wang Yong , Kok Jeffrey
Published: March 2015

Successful placement of a horizontal well requires accurate landing of the well in the right position and keep the trajectory in good pay zone to maximize the reservoir exposure. Operators face operational and economic challenges in achieving accurate geosteering due to limited seismic resolution, measure depth error (reservoir depth that is more than 5000 meters), in addition to the uncertainty in reservoir depth from time to depth conversions, lateral reservoir variability further increase the challenges. Consequently, to optimize well planning and placement for optimized productivity, it is important to minimize uncertainties in the reservoir structure and delineate lateral distribution of the sand body.

The paper provides a method used to optimize horizontal well positioning that uses three-dimensional (3D) geological model to reduce structural and lateral reservoir uncertainty based on reservoir characterization. These models are used as reference during proactive trajectory adjustments and model update when landing in alignment with advance distance-to-boundary well placement technique that utlilizes azimuthal deep directional electromagnetic logging-while-drilling (LWD) technology. To improve drilling efficiency while delivering smooth trajectory control, hybrid rotary steerable drilling system (RSS) with near bit Gamma ray measurement was engaged for this project.

This paper also presents the results from field tests executed in Hadexun oilfield of Tarim basin of China that demonstrates the integration of technologies to spare pilot-holes, increase the drilling penetration rate while avoiding excessive adjustments to mitigate reservoir exits. The examples describe:1. Accurately placed wells with significantly reduced probability of erroneous lateral placement along thin target layers2. Avoiding water zone in a low resistivity pay reservoir.3. Preventing sidetracks and deliver high Net to Gross (NTG).4. An average production test of almost 50% incremental above the target projection5. A 75% improvement to drilling efficiency from an average ROP in the 8 ½-in sections of 2.65 m/hr in previous wells to 4.65 m/hr.6. Securing the economics to continue developing this deep oil bearing reservoir.
My Meeting with Paul Tillich: “Estranged and Re-United”
Authors: Dole Robert
Published: March 2015

Abstract:

Forty-nine years ago, an eighteen-year-old Harvard undergraduate asked Paul Tillich whether his recent vision was religious ecstasy, a conversion experience, or an enlightenment. The student had handed his essay, “The Phenomenological Proof of God,” to Tillich. Two days later the young man was hospitalized as a schizophrenic. Ever since, the author has attempted to understand the relationships between religious revelation, mystical ecstasy, and psychosis. If his beatific vision was a hallucination, then should not all similar experiences also be diagnosed as psychopathological? His meeting with Tillich will always remain “the still point of the turning world,” since it confirms the healing power of religious faith, “the Son of Man in our presence,” and kairos as defining concepts of Tillich's theology.
“A matter of bones and feathers, and wishful thinking”: Science and the Marginalization of Religion
Authors: Wesselius Janet
Published: March 2015

Abstract:

When the American novelist Marilynne Robinson delivered the Terry Lectures in 2010, she described how religion is caricatured by some eminent scholars in the alleged conflict between science and religion: religion was just a matter of bones and feathers and wishful thinking. The widespread and popular view of science is that it renders traditions and practices such as religion obsolete. In this article, I explore the discourse used by science popularizers in their polemic against religion in their attempt to foreclose any alternative narrative to the narrative about science, in which religion is not the only villain; aboriginals and women are also enlisted as unwitting and naive “primitives.” By drawing on conversations in aboriginal thought—who are “naively” concerned with bones and feathers—and on conversations in feminist philosophy—who are all too familiar with being dismissed as engaged in wishful thinking—I consider their efforts to generate alternative narratives. My concern is how this discourse about science enables dehumanizing effects while precluding liberatory possibilities for human flourishing. It is here that I think philosophy of religion can make a significant contribution: to provide an alternative narrative to science's fiction about human beings as nothing more than “meaty machines” engaged in a competition to ensure the survival of their genes.
The Changed (and Changing) Face of Church History
Authors: Macdonald Stuart
Published: March 2015

Abstract:

This article explores some of the ways church history has changed over the last two generations. Church history has become more global in its orientation, has re-emphasized important developments in time periods sometimes neglected, and has challenged the dominant narrative of secularization. The reformation period in particular has seen notable changes. The reformation is now seen to be less of a break with the previous medieval period and not simply an inevitable response to what was deemed a moribund or corrupt church. The vibrancy of late medieval spirituality and piety is now an area that students have to actively consider. While in the past the reformation was often told as the story of what a few great men accomplished, the number of personalities, the differences between many of these individuals, the geographic areas involved, and the time in which these issues developed have all dramatically altered our understanding of this historical period. The article discusses all of these areas and ends by exploring the challenge of teaching this historical period and of understanding the meaning of the reformation.
The Rationality of Early Christian Discourse
Authors: McLean Bradley H.
Published: March 2015

Abstract:

Whereas Richard Swinburne has tried to make a case for the rationality of Christian revelation, this article argues for the rationality of early Christian discourse. Early Christian texts display a type of “formal” rationality that is not an attribute of Christian revelation, intending authors, or historical contexts, but rather is a property of the discursive series to which they belong. Early Christian texts could come into existence only by achieving a relational coexistence with other, previously existing, non-Christian texts within a shared associative discursive series. Such an addition of a Christian text to a discursive series was always governed by the shared “rules” of coherence of the series itself. As a starting point for elucidating these “rules” of coherence, this article examines the structures of social grouping, social interaction, and social values as they were reproduced in the linguistic categories of Hellenistic Greek. This article further argues that the emergence of biblical texts within their respective discursive series occurred according to two strategies, synchronic and diachronic emergence. Synchronic emergence involves the addition of texts to a discursive series in such a way that the “rules” of the series are instantiated without significant alteration. In contrast, the term diachronic emergence designates the addition of texts to a series whereby the “rules” are instantiated in a novel or unexpected manner. In both cases, the emergence of early Christian texts is a function of formal rational processes.
Supersonic Flow Control Using Combined Energy Deposition
Authors: Azarova O.
Published: March 2015

Drag force control via energy deposition in an oncoming flow is a wide area of interest in aerospace sciences. Recently, investigations on the effect of combining energy sources have been conducted. The possibility of coupling microwave (MW) discharges or MW and laser energy deposition is discussed. In the present work, the flow details accompanying the interaction of a combined energy release and an aerodynamic body in a supersonic flow are considered numerically on the base of the Euler equations. Comparison with non-combined energy deposition is analyzed. The effect of introducing the internal part to the energy release on the drag force reduction is examined. The flows for blunt cylinder, hemisphere-cylinder and pointed body are considered for a wide class of the combined energy source characteristics. Freestream Mach number is varied from 1.89 to 3.45. Complicated unsteady vortex structures caused by the Richtmyer–Meshkov instabilities are shown to be the reason for the reduction in drag. The unsteady double vortex mechanism of the frontal drag force reduction and mechanism of the constantly acting vortices at the steady flow are described. Suppression of shear layer instability and large scaled flow pulsations as the result of the combined energy release effect is established. Complex conservative difference schemes are used in the simulations.
Assessing Food Preferences in Dogs and Cats: A Review of the Current Methods
Authors: Tobie Christelle , Péron Franck , Larose Claire
Published: March 2015

Food is a major aspect of pet care; therefore, ensuring that pet foods are not only healthful but attractive to companion animals and their owners is essential. The petfood market remains active and requires ongoing evaluation of the adaptation and efficiency of the new products. Palatability—foods’ characteristics enticing animals and leading them to consumption—is therefore a key element to look at. Based on the type of information needed, different pet populations (expert or naïve) can be tested to access their preference and acceptance for different food products. Classical techniques are the one-bowl and two-bowl tests, but complementary (i.e., operant conditioning) and novel (i.e., exploratory behavior) approaches are available to gather more information on the evaluation of petfood palatability.
Atmospheric Deposition History of Trace Metals and Metalloids for the Last 200 Years Recorded by Three Peat Cores in Great Hinggan Mountain, Northeast China
Authors: Bao Kunshan , Shen Ji , Wang Guoping , Roux Gaël
Published: March 2015

A large number of studies on trace metals and metalloids (TMs) accumulations in peatlands have been reported in Europe and North America. Comparatively little information is available on peat chronological records of atmospheric TMs flux in China. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine the concentrations and accumulation rates (ARs) of TMs in Motianling peatland from Great Hinggan Mountain, northeast China, and to assess these in relation to establish a historical profile of atmospheric metal emissions from anthropogenic sources. To meet these aims we analyzed 14 TMs (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Sb, Tl, and Zn) and Pb isotopes (206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb) using ICP-AES and ICP-MS, respectively, in three peat sections dated by 210Pb and 137Cs techniques (approximately spanning the last 200 years). There is a general agreement in the elemental concentration profiles which suggests that all investigated elements were conserved in the Motianling bog. Three principal components were discriminated by principal component analysis (PCA) based on Eigen-values >1 and explaining 85% of the total variance of element concentrations: the first component representing Ba, Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, Sr and Tl reflected the lithogenic source; the second component covering As, Cu and Sb, and Cd is associated with an anthropogenic source from ore mining and processing; the third component (Pb isotope, Pb and Zn) is affected by anthropogenic Pb pollution from industrial manufacturing and fossil-fuel combustion. The pre-industrial background of typical pollution elements was estimated as the average concentrations of TMs in peat samples prior to 1830 AD and with a 207Pb/206Pb ratio close to 1.9. ARs and enrichment factors (EFs) of TMs suggested enhanced metal concentrations near the surface of the peatland (in peat layers dated from the 1980s) linked to an increasing trend since the 2000s. This pollution pattern is also fingerprinted by the Pb isotopic composition, even after the ban of leaded gasoline use in China. Emissions from coal and leaded gasoline combustions in northern China are regarded as one of the major sources of anthropogenic Pb input in this region; meanwhile, the long-distance transportation of Pb-bearing aerosols from Mongolia should be also taken into consideration. The reconstructed history of TMs’ pollution over the past ca. 200 years is in agreement with the industrial development in China and clearly illustrates the influence of human activities on local rural environments. This study shows the utility of taking multi-cores to show the heterogeneity in peat accumulation and applying PCA, EF and Pb isotope methods in multi-proxies analyses for establishing a high resolution geochemical metal record from peatland.
Effect of Banana Fibers on the Compressive and Flexural Strength of Compressed Earth Blocks
Authors: Mostafa Marwan , Uddin Nasim
Published: March 2015

Sustainable development of the built environment in developing countries is a major challenge in the 21st century. The use of local materials in construction of buildings is one of the potential ways to support sustainable development in both urban and rural areas. Building with Compressed Earthen Blocks (CEBs) is becoming more popular due to their low cost and relative abundance of materials. The proposed Green-Compressed Earth Block (GCEB) consists of ordinary CEB ingredients plus Banana fibers, which will be the focus of this study. Banana fibers are widely available worldwide as agricultural waste from Banana cultivation. Banana fibers are environmentally friendly and present important attributes, such as low density, light weight, low cost, high tensile strength, as well as being water and fire resistant. This kind of waste has a greater chance of being utilized for different application in construction and building materials. This focused on the use of banana fiber and its effect on the compressive and flexural strength in CEB. The deflection at the mid-span of the blocks studied was calculated using the Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT). The results of this study will highlight general trends in the strength properties of different soil mixes for CEBs. These efforts are necessary to ensure that GCEB technology becomes more widely accepted in the world of building materials and is considered a reliable option for providing low-cost housing.
Effects of Lipids and Emulsifiers on the Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Cosmetic Emulsions Containing Vitamin E
Authors: Montenegro Lucia , Rapisarda Lucia , Ministeri Carmen , Puglisi Giovanni
Published: March 2015

Sensory properties are fundamental in determining the success of a cosmetic product. In this work, we assessed the influence of different oils and emulsifiers on the physicochemical and sensory properties of anti-ageing cosmetic O/W emulsions containing vitamin E acetate as active ingredient. No clear correlation between physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics was evidenced. Sensorial evaluation of these formulations pointed out that the emulsifier systems affected the perceived oiliness and absorbency during application of the product, thus influencing its acceptance. These results suggest the need for more detailed studies on the physicochemical factors involved in determining the consumers’ acceptance.
Hidden State Conditional Random Field for Abnormal Activity Recognition in Smart Homes
Authors: Tong Yu , Chen Rong , Gao Jian
Published: March 2015

As the number of elderly people has increased worldwide, there has been a surge of research into assistive technologies to provide them with better care by recognizing their normal and abnormal activities. However, existing abnormal activity recognition (AAR) algorithms rarely consider sub-activity relations when recognizing abnormal activities. This paper presents an application of the Hidden State Conditional Random Field (HCRF) method to detect and assess abnormal activities that often occur in elderly persons’ homes. Based on HCRF, this paper designs two AAR algorithms, and validates them by comparing them with a feature vector distance based algorithm in two experiments. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms favorably outperform the competitor, especially when abnormal activities have same sensor type and sensor number as normal activities.
Nurse Practitioner Mental Health Care in the Primary Context: A Californian Case Study
Authors: Theophilos Theane , Green Roger , Cashin Andrew
Published: March 2015

In America, mental health needs surpass the availability of specialized providers. This vulnerable population also has other obstacles for comprehensive care including gaps in medical coverage, stigma, economic barriers, and a geographical mal‑distribution of qualified mental health professionals. A wide availability of primary care providers, including primary care and family nurse practitioners, are well-positioned to deliver integrated mental and physical health care. A case study from a Southern California Coachella Valley primary care clinic with integrated services is used to demonstrate the much-needed approach of care to address health disparities that face low‑income immigrants, migrant workers, and others without access to specialized care centers and providers. It is argued that mental health care should be part of all holistic treatment provided by primary care and family nurse practitioners. This has implications for curricula and practice development.
City Dweller Responses to Multiple Stressors Intruding into Their Homes: Noise, Light, Odour, and Vibration
Authors: Pedersen Eja
Published: March 2015

Urban densification increases exposure to noise, light, odour, and vibration in urban dwellings. Exposure from combined environmental stressors intruding into the home could increase the risk of adverse effects on wellbeing, even when the exposure is at a relatively low level. This study assesses the prevalence of annoyance with a combination of potential environmental stressors common in urban areas and the association with wellbeing. A questionnaire was sent by mail to residents in five areas in Halmstad (Sweden) with similar socioeconomic and housing characteristics but different exposure (response rate 56%; n = 385). Of the respondents, 50% were annoyed to some degree by at least one of the suggested stressors, most commonly by noise and vibration from local traffic. Structural equation modelling showed that annoyance led to lowered quality of life via the mediating construct residential satisfaction, which in turn was influenced by place attachment and perceived restoration possibilities in the dwelling. Stress had a negative impact on quality of life, but was not directly correlated to annoyance. Stress was however correlated with sensitivity. The findings suggest that dose-response relationships for environmental stressors should be studied in a broader context of environmental and individual factors. Also relatively low levels of exposure should be mitigated, especially if several stressors are present.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Acylpeptide Hydrolase Bound to Chlorpyrifosmethyl Oxon and Dichlorvos
Authors: Jin Hanyong , Zhou Zhenhuan , Wang Dongmei , Guan Shanshan , Han Weiwei
Published: March 2015

Acylpeptide hydrolases (APHs) catalyze the removal of N-acylated amino acids from blocked peptides. Like other prolyloligopeptidase (POP) family members, APHs are believed to be important targets for drug design. To date, the binding pose of organophosphorus (OP) compounds of APH, as well as the different OP compounds binding and inducing conformational changes in two domains, namely, α/β hydrolase and β-propeller, remain poorly understood. We report a computational study of APH bound to chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon and dichlorvos. In our docking study, Val471 and Gly368 are important residues for chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon and dichlorvos binding. Molecular dynamics simulations were also performed to explore the conformational changes between the chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon and dichlorvos bound to APH, which indicated that the structural feature of chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon binding in APH permitted partial opening of the β-propeller fold and allowed the chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon to easily enter the catalytic site. These results may facilitate the design of APH-targeting drugs with improved efficacy.
Abortive Infection of Snakehead Fish Vesiculovirus in ZF4 Cells Was Associated with the RLRs Pathway Activation by Viral Replicative Intermediates
Authors: Wang Wenwen , Asim Muhammad , Yi Lizhu , Hegazy Abeer , Hu Xianqin , Zhou Yang , Ai Taoshan , Lin Li
Published: March 2015

Snakehead fish vesiculovirus (SHVV) is a negative strand RNA virus which can cause great economic losses in fish culture. To facilitate the study of SHVV-host interactions, the susceptibility of zebrafish embryonic fibroblast cell line (ZF4) to the SHVV was investigated in this report. The results showed that high amount of viral mRNAs and cRNAs were detected at the 3 h post-infection. However, the expressions of the viral mRNAs and cRNA were decreased dramatically after 6 h post-infection. In addition, the expressions of interferon (IFN) and interferon-induced GTP-binding protein Mx were all up regulated significantly at the late stage of the infection. Meanwhile, the expressions of Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) were also all up-regulated significantly during the infection. Two isoforms of DrLGP2 from zebrafish were also cloned and analyzed. Interestingly, the expression of DrLGP2a but not DrLGP2b was significantly up-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels, indicating that the two DrLGP2 isoforms might play different roles during the SHVV infection. Transfection experiment showed that viral replicative intermediates were required for the activation of IFN-α expression. Taken together, the abortive infection of SHVV in ZF4 cells was associated with the activation of RLRs pathway, which was activated by viral replicative intermediates.
DNA Synthesis during Endomitosis Is Stimulated by Insulin via the PI3K/Akt and TOR Signaling Pathways in the Silk Gland Cells of Bombyx mori
Authors: Li Yaofeng , Chen Xiangyun , Tang Xiaofang , Zhang Chundong , Wang La , Chen Peng , Pan Minhui , Lu Cheng
Published: March 2015

Silk gland cells undergo multiple endomitotic cell cycles during silkworm larval ontogeny. Our previous study demonstrated that feeding is required for continued endomitosis in the silk gland cells of silkworm larvae. Furthermore, the insulin signaling pathway is closely related to nutritional signals. To investigate whether the insulin signaling pathway is involved in endomitosis in silk gland cells, in this study, we initially analyzed the effects of bovine insulin on DNA synthesis in endomitotic silk gland cells using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling technology, and found that bovine insulin can stimulate DNA synthesis. Insulin signal transduction is mainly mediated via phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, the target of rapamycin (TOR) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways in vertebrates. We ascertained that these three pathways are involved in DNA synthesis in endomitotic silk gland cells using specific inhibitors against each pathway. Moreover, we investigated whether these three pathways are involved in insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis in endomitotic silk gland cells, and found that the PI3K/Akt and TOR pathways, but not the ERK pathway, are involved in this process. These results provide an important theoretical foundation for the further investigations of the mechanism underlying efficient endomitosis in silk gland cells.
Susceptibility of Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) to Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae)
Authors: Tourtois Joseph , Grieshop Matthew
Published: March 2015

Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) are two soil-dwelling biological control agents used to manage western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and fungus gnats Bradysis spp. (Diptera: Sciaridae) in glasshouses. Growers often use multiple natural enemies to achieve economic control, but knowledge of interactions among natural enemies is lacking. We conducted a laboratory bioassay to test the pathogenicity of four commercially available nematode species—Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhbditidae), Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), S. feltiae (Filipjev), and S. riobrave Cabanillas et al.—to third instar and adult D. coriaria. Third instars were three times more susceptible than the adults to the entomopathogenic nematodes. Mortality for D. coriaria adults and third instars treated with S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora was lower than the mortality for D. coriaria adults and third instars treated with S. carpocapsae and S. riobrave. Neither infective juvenile foraging behavior nor size correlates with D. coriaria mortality. Dalotia coriaria appears to be most likely compatible with applications of S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora.
Influence of Implant Surface Topography on Primary Stability in a Standardized Osteoporosis Rabbit Model Study
Authors: Oue Hiroshi , Doi Kazuya , Oki Yoshifumi , Makihara Yusuke , Kubo Takayasu , Perrotti Vittoria , Piattelli Adriano , Akagawa Yasumasa , Tsuga Kazuhiro
Published: March 2015

Evaluating primary stability is important to predict the prognosis of dental implant treatment. Primary stability is decreased in a low bone density site such as osteoporosis. However, it is difficult to apply in small animal and the effect of the different implant surface topography for the primary stability at low bone density site has not yet fully been investigated. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of implant surface topography on primary stability in a standardized osteoporosis animal model. Six rabbits underwent ovariectomy and administrated glucocorticoid to induce an osteoporosis model. Sham-operations were performed in additional six rabbits. Implants with machined or oxidized-surfaces were inserted into the femur epiphyses and insertion torque (IT) and implant stability quotient (ISQ) were measured. In sham model, the IT and ISQ did not differ significantly between the both implant. However, the IT value of oxidized-surface implant was significantly higher than that of the machined implant in the osteoporosis model. Meanwhile, ISQ did not significantly differ between the machined and oxidized-surfaced implants. In conclusion, the IT of implants is higher with rough than with smooth surfaces but that there are no differences in ISQ value between different surfaces in a standardized osteoporosis bone reduced rabbit model.
Mechanistic Insight into the Elastin Degradation Process by the Metalloprotease Myroilysin from the Deep-Sea Bacterium Myroides profundi D25
Authors: Yang Jie , Zhao Hui-Lin , Tang Bai-Lu , Chen Xiu-Lan , Su Hai-Nan , Zhang Xi-Ying , Song Xiao-Yan , Zhou Bai-Cheng , Xie Bin-Bin , Weiss Anthony , Zhang Yu-Zhong
Published: March 2015

Elastases have been widely studied because of their important uses as medicine and meat tenderizers. However, there are relatively few studies on marine elastases. Myroilysin, secreted by Myroides profundi D25 from deep-sea sediment, is a novel elastase. In this study, we examined the elastin degradation mechanism of myroilysin. When mixed with insoluble bovine elastin, myroilysin bound hydrophobically, suggesting that this elastase may interact with the hydrophobic domains of elastin. Consistent with this, analysis of the cleavage pattern of myroilysin on bovine elastin and recombinant tropoelastin revealed that myroilysin preferentially cleaves peptide bonds with hydrophobic residues at the P1 and/or P1′ positions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of cross-linked recombinant tropoelastin degraded by myroilysin showed preferential damages of spherules over cross-links, as expected for a hydrophobic preference. The degradation process of myroilysin on bovine elastin fibres was followed by light microscopy and SEM, revealing that degradation begins with the formation of crevices and cavities at the fibre surface, with these openings increasing in number and size until the fibre breaks into small pieces, which are subsequently fragmented. Our results are helpful for developing biotechnological applications for myroilysin.
Toxic Picoplanktonic Cyanobacteria—Review
Authors: Jakubowska Natalia , Szeląg-Wasielewska Elżbieta
Published: March 2015

Cyanobacteria of a picoplanktonic cell size (0.2 to 2.0 µm) are common organisms of both freshwater and marine ecosystems. However, due to their small size and relatively short study history, picoplanktonic cyanobacteria, in contrast to the microplanktonic cyanobacteria, still remains a poorly studied fraction of plankton. So far, only little information on picocyanobacteria toxicity has been reported, while the number of reports concerning their presence in ecosystems is increasing. Thus, the issue of picocyanobacteria toxicity needs more researchers’ attention and interest. In this report, we present information on the current knowledge concerning the picocyanobacteria toxicity, as well as their harmfulness and problems they can cause.
Auto-Thermal Reforming Using Mixed Ion-Electronic Conducting Ceramic Membranes for a Small-Scale H2 Production Plant
Authors: Spallina Vincenzo , Melchiori Tommaso , Gallucci Fausto , Van Sint Annaland Martin
Published: March 2015

The integration of mixed ionic electronic conducting (MIEC) membranes for air separation in a small-to-medium scale unit for H2 production (in the range of 650–850 Nm3/h) via auto-thermal reforming of methane has been investigated in the present study. Membranes based on mixed ionic electronic conducting oxides such as Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (BSCF) give sufficiently high oxygen fluxes at temperatures above 800 °C with high purity (higher than 99%). Experimental results of membrane permeation tests are presented and used for the reactor design with a detailed reactor model. The assessment of the H2 plant has been carried out for different operating conditions and reactor geometry and an energy analysis has been carried out with the flowsheeting software Aspen Plus, including also the turbomachines required for a proper thermal integration. A micro-gas turbine is integrated in the system in order to supply part of the electricity required in the system. The analysis of the system shows that the reforming efficiency is in the range of 62%–70% in the case where the temperature at the auto-thermal reforming membrane reactor (ATR-MR) is equal to 900 °C. When the electric consumption and the thermal export are included the efficiency of the plant approaches 74%–78%. The design of the reactor has been carried out using a reactor model linked to the Aspen flowsheet and the results show that with a larger reactor volume the performance of the system can be improved, especially because of the reduced electric consumption. From this analysis it has been found that for a production of about 790 Nm3/h pure H2, a reactor with a diameter of 1 m and length of 1.8 m with about 1500 membranes of 2 cm diameter is required.
Alcohol: A Nutrient with Multiple Salutary Effects
Authors: Pownall Henry , Rosales Corina , Gillard Baiba , Gotto Antonio
Published: March 2015

Numerous studies have shown that cardiovascular disease is lower among alcohol consumers than among nonconsumers. Many of the metabolic effects of alcohol are mediated by its terminal metabolite, acetate, which has reported insulinemic properties. There have been few rational metabolic targets that underly its cardioprotective effects until it was reported that acetate, the terminal product of alcohol metabolism, is the ligand for G-protein coupled receptor 43 (GPCR43), which is highly expressed in adipose tissue. Here, we recast much of some of the major lipid and lipoprotein effects of alcohol in the context of this newly discovered G-protein and develop a mechanistic model connecting the interaction of acetate with adipose tissue-GPCR43 with these effects. According to our model, ingestions of acetate could replace alcohol as a means of improving plasma lipid risk factors, improving glucose disposal, and reducing cardiovascular disease. Future studies should include biochemical, cell, animal, and human tests of acetate on energy metabolism.
The Cutting Edge of Affinity Electrophoresis Technology
Authors: Kinoshita Eiji , Kinoshita-Kikuta Emiko , Koike Tohru
Published: March 2015

Affinity electrophoresis is an important technique that is widely used to separate and analyze biomolecules in the fields of biology and medicine. Both quantitative and qualitative information can be gained through affinity electrophoresis. Affinity electrophoresis can be applied through a variety of strategies, such as mobility shift electrophoresis, charge shift electrophoresis or capillary affinity electrophoresis. These strategies are based on changes in the electrophoretic patterns of biological macromolecules that result from interactions or complex-formation processes that induce changes in the size or total charge of the molecules. Nucleic acid fragments can be characterized through their affinity to other molecules, for example transcriptional factor proteins. Hydrophobic membrane proteins can be identified by means of a shift in the mobility induced by a charged detergent. The various strategies have also been used in the estimation of association/disassociation constants. Some of these strategies have similarities to affinity chromatography, in that they use a probe or ligand immobilized on a supported matrix for electrophoresis. Such methods have recently contributed to profiling of major posttranslational modifications of proteins, such as glycosylation or phosphorylation. Here, we describe advances in analytical techniques involving affinity electrophoresis that have appeared during the last five years.
The Importance of Lake Sediments as a Pathway for Microcystin Dynamics in Shallow Eutrophic Lakes
Authors: Song Haihong , Coggins Liah , Reichwaldt Elke , Ghadouani Anas
Published: March 2015

Microcystins are toxins produced by cyanobacteria. They occur in aquatic systems across the world and their occurrence is expected to increase in frequency and magnitude. As microcystins are hazardous to humans and animals, it is essential to understand their fate in aquatic systems in order to control health risks. While the occurrence of microcystins in sediments has been widely reported, the factors influencing their occurrence, variability, and spatial distribution are not yet well understood. Especially in shallow lakes, which often develop large cyanobacterial blooms, the spatial variability of toxins in the sediments is a complex interplay between the spatial distribution of toxin producing cyanobacteria, local biological, physical and chemical processes, and the re-distribution of toxins in sediments through wind mixing. In this study, microcystin occurrence in lake sediment, and their relationship with biological and physicochemical variables were investigated in a shallow, eutrophic lake over five months. We found no significant difference in cyanobacterial biomass, temperature, pH, and salinity between the surface water and the water directly overlying the sediment (hereafter ‘overlying water’), indicating that the water column was well mixed. Microcystins were detected in all sediment samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.06 to 0.78 µg equivalent microcystin-LR/g sediments (dry mass). Microcystin concentration and cyanobacterial biomass in the sediment was different between sites in three out of five months, indicating that the spatial distribution was a complex interaction between local and mixing processes. A combination of total microcystins in the water, depth integrated cyanobacterial biomass in the water, cyanobacterial biomass in the sediment, and pH explained only 21.1% of the spatial variability of microcystins in the sediments. A more in-depth analysis that included variables representative of processes on smaller vertical or local scales, such as cyanobacterial biomass in the different layers and the two fractions of microcystins, increased the explained variability to 51.7%. This highlights that even in a well-mixed lake, local processes are important drivers of toxin variability. The present study emphasises the role of the interaction between water and sediments in the distribution of microcystins in aquatic systems as an important pathway which deserves further consideration.
A Mutational Analysis of Residues in Cholera Toxin A1 Necessary for Interaction with Its Substrate, the Stimulatory G Protein Gsα
Authors: Jobling Michael , Gotow Lisa , Yang Zhijie , Holmes Randall
Published: March 2015

Pathogenesis of cholera diarrhea requires cholera toxin (CT)-mediated adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation of stimulatory G protein (Gsα) in enterocytes. CT is an AB5 toxin with an inactive CTA1 domain linked via CTA2 to a pentameric receptor-binding B subunit. Allosterically activated CTA1 fragment in complex with NAD+ and GTP-bound ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6-GTP) differs conformationally from the CTA1 domain in holotoxin. A surface-exposed knob and a short α-helix (formed, respectively, by rearranging “active-site” and “activation” loops in inactive CTA1) and an ADP ribosylating turn-turn (ARTT) motif, all located near the CTA1 catalytic site, were evaluated for possible roles in recognizing Gsα. CT variants with one, two or three alanine substitutions at surface-exposed residues within these CTA1 motifs were tested for assembly into holotoxin and ADP-ribosylating activity against Gsα and diethylamino-(benzylidineamino)-guanidine (DEABAG), a small substrate predicted to fit into the CTA1 active site). Variants with single alanine substitutions at H55, R67, L71, S78, or D109 had nearly wild-type activity with DEABAG but significantly decreased activity with Gsα, suggesting that the corresponding residues in native CTA1 participate in recognizing Gsα. As several variants with multiple substitutions at these positions retained partial activity against Gsα, other residues in CTA1 likely also participate in recognizing Gsα.
Firing the Sting: Chemically Induced Discharge of Cnidae Reveals Novel Proteins and Peptides from Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) Venom
Authors: Jouiaei Mahdokht , Casewell Nicholas , Yanagihara Angel , Nouwens Amanda , Cribb Bronwen , Whitehead Darryl , Jackson Timothy , Ali Syed , Wagstaff Simon , Koludarov Ivan , Alewood Paul , Hansen Jay , Fry Bryan
Published: March 2015

Cnidarian venom research has lagged behind other toxinological fields due to technical difficulties in recovery of the complex venom from the microscopic nematocysts. Here we report a newly developed rapid, repeatable and cost effective technique of venom preparation, using ethanol to induce nematocyst discharge and to recover venom contents in one step. Our model species was the Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), which has a notable impact on public health. By utilizing scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy, we examined nematocyst external morphology before and after ethanol treatment and verified nematocyst discharge. Further, to investigate nematocyst content or “venom” recovery, we utilized both top-down and bottom-up transcriptomics–proteomics approaches and compared the proteome profile of this new ethanol recovery based method to a previously reported high activity and recovery protocol, based upon density purified intact cnidae and pressure induced disruption. In addition to recovering previously characterized box jellyfish toxins, including CfTX-A/B and CfTX-1, we recovered putative metalloproteases and novel expression of a small serine protease inhibitor. This study not only reveals a much more complex toxin profile of Australian box jellyfish venom but also suggests that ethanol extraction method could augment future cnidarian venom proteomics research efforts.
Comparison of the Spatio-Temporal Variability of Annual Minimum Daily Extreme Flow Characteristics as a Function of Land Use and Dam Management Mode in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Sylvain Jean-Michel , Assani Ali , Landry Raphaëlle , Quessy Jean-François , Kinnard Christophe
Published: March 2015

This study presents a comparison of the spatio-temporal variability of characteristics (magnitude, duration and timing) of annual minimum daily extreme flows (AMEF) as a function of land use and the mode of management of dams. Streamflow measured at stations not affected by dams at Joliette, along the L’Assomption River (agricultural watershed, 1340 km2), and at Saint-Michel-des-Saints, on the Matawin River (forested watershed, 1390 km2) on one hand, and downstream from the Rawdon dam (regulated natural-type management mode), on the Ouareau River (1260 km2), which is the main tributary of the L’Assomption River, and from the Matawin dam (inverted-type management mode), on the Matawin River (4070 km2), on the other hand, were compared over the period from 1930 to 2010. As far as the spatial variability of natural rivers is concerned, the magnitude and duration of AMEF are higher in the forested watershed than in the agricultural watershed. In regulated rivers, AMEF magnitude is higher downstream from the dam characterized by a natural-type management mode than downstream from the dam characterized by inversion-type management. However, downstream from the latter, AMEF occur much more frequently and very early in the year. As for temporal variability, the Lombard method did not reveal any influence of land use differences on the stationarity of series of AMEF characteristics. In contrast, differences in dam management mode result in occurrences of AMEF downstream from the inversion-type dam progressively earlier in the year. The duration and timing of AMEF are not correlated with the same climate variables, be it in natural rivers or downstream from dams.
Modeling tourists' length of stay: does one Model fit all?
Authors: Yang Yang , Zhang Hong-Lei
Published: March 2015

Examining the individual heterogeneity of tourists is fundamental to providing insights on tourist market segmentation, targeting potential markets and niches, and proposing suitable marketing strategies. However, most past studies failed to incorporate this individual heterogeneity
in an integral way. This study utilizes a latent class duration model to investigate the latent segments of tourists regarding the preference of length of stay (LOS) in a destination. The study unveils a substantial amount of latent heterogeneity across the sample, and our empirical results
identify two latent classes of tourists, namely short-duration and long-duration tourists. These classes share distinct LOS preferences, and information sources and travel partners have no significant influences in predicting the LOS of short-duration tourists. Therefore, the “one-fit-all”
solution from the conventional duration model could be misleading, and this highlighted heterogeneity provides destination marketing organizations (DMOs) with the incentive to segment the tourists and offer specific tourism products and bundles.
Tourism Policy Rhetoric and Practice: A Methodological Approach to Exploring the Cyprus Context
Authors: Liasidou Sotiroula
Published: March 2015

Tourism policy constitutes a complex issue of analysis given the multidimensional nature of the industry. Understanding policy formation in well-established destinations, as in the case of the island of the Republic of Cyprus, can constitute a contextual backdrop to understand the pitfalls
to implementing framed strategy. In particular, this article attempts to shed light on the inability of Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) to enforce successfully the “Tourism Strategic Plan 2003–2010.” The primary research involves 26 semistructured interviews by elite policy
makers of the island. The results suggest that the industry as such struggles with theoretical tensions, and many gaps are created in terms of the implementation.