bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using the Results from Automated Petroleum Engineering Calculations to Accelerate Decision Workflows
Authors: Fair Chris , Flores Ricardo , Hakim Bilal , Nande Soumitra
Published: September 2014

With the advent and common usage of high resolution tree gauges, downhole permanent pressure/temperature gauges, and continuous flow measurement, many of the common petroleum engineering calculations and analysis tools for production systems can and have been automated. These include: a) Well Test Analysis, b) Well Productivity, c) Static and Flowing Material Balances and Energy Balances. In addition, the use of rigorous wellbore thermal and phase behavior models allows the two gauges (wellhead and downhole) to be used as a giant differential pressure meter – making it possible to calculate gas rates and water cuts independently of the flow measurements, as well as mid-completion bottomhole pressure (BHP).

The purpose of this paper is to present the basic physics involved in these calculations/analyses, as well as to discuss the implications that these processes will have on instrumentation selection and on engineering work flows. The crux of the argument for these types of automated systems is that it is much easier for an engineer to check the results than to spend his/her entire day just looking for useful information in the database, then analyzing it (or getting someone else to analyze it). Furthermore, being able to see the “big picture” – seeing what skin, perm, productivity and apparent hydrocarbon reservoir volumes are now and how they have changed with time, allows engineers to make quicker, more accurate decisions. The use of automated analysis also reduces bias – the computer doesn't care what the answer is. This paper will also include several case studies for both oil and gas wells.
Enhanced Oil Recovery through Low Salinity Fines-Assisted Waterflooding: Laboratory and Mathematical Modelling
Authors: Hussain F. , Zeinijahromi A. , Bedrikovetsky P. , Badalyan A. , Carageorgos T. , Cinar Y.
Published: September 2014

The paper presents a systematic laboratory study to investigate the underlying physical mechanisms for improved oil recovery as a consequence of low-salinity water injection. Three sister plugs of Berea sandstone were used in the experiments. All three plugs were initially saturated with high salinity water (4 g/L NaCl). Single phase water flow test was performed in the first plug. The salinity of the injected water was decreased gradually (4 g/L to 0 g/L NaCl). In addition to observe the permeability reduction with reducing salinity, the particle concentration was also measured of the effluents at different stages of the experiment. Higher particle concentration was observed during low salinity injection period. The second plug was subjected to primary oil (Soltrol) drainage to the connate water saturation, followed by high salinity (4 g/L NaCl) water injection. After this connate water saturation was restored by a second oil flood. Finally, low salinity (0 g/L NaCl) injection was carried out. For both high and low salinity floods; oil recovery, pressure drop and effluent particle concentration was noted. Numerical modelling was used to interpret the waterflooding data.

Five to ten times decrease in water relative permeability and some decrease in residual oil saturation were observed during the low-salinity waterflood. Treatment of the low-salinity coreflood data by a numerical model reveals the unusual decrease in water relative permeability with increasing water saturation at high water saturations. This observation is explained by the expansion of rock surface exposed to low-salinity water during the increase of water saturation. A reproducibility test was performed on the third sister plug which confirmed the observations of the second sister plug. The proposed laboratory-based mathematical model can be used to design the injected water concentration which is crucial for a low salinity waterflooding project.
Characterizations of Disproportionate Permeability Reduction of Particle Gels through Fractures
Authors: Imqam Abdulmohsin , Bai Baojun , Xiong Chunming , Wei Mingzhen , Delshad Mojdeh , Sepehrnoori Kamy
Published: September 2014

The primary objective of particle gel treatment is to significantly reduce water flow through high-permeability channels without damaging oil production zones. The ability of gels to reduce permeability to water much more than permeability to oil is a critical aspect of the success of water control in both production wells and in-depth fluid diversion conformance control. This work investigates factors affecting particle gel placement through fractures and determines the extent to which particle gels can reduce water permeability more than oil permeability within a fracture. Experimental models were designed to study the effect of the particle gel size, particle gel strength, fracture width, and oil viscosity on the disproportionate permeability reduction (DPR). Five-foot tubes with two internal diameters were used to represent a fracture with two different widths. PPGs were injected first into the fractures, followed by alternating floods of water and oil. During the gel injection, the resistance factors (Fr) increased as the gel particle size, gel strength, and fracture width increased. Results obtained from the alternating floods show that the DPR increased as the oil viscosity, particle size, gel strength, and fracture width increased. Gel shrinkage, gel strength, and gel dehydration were found to contribute significantly to this phenomenon. The permeability reduction factor to water increased, becoming 100 to 1700 times greater than the permeability reduction factor to oil. The injection pressure for different water cycles increased as more cycles were performed. These increases, however, were not significant when observed for different oil cycles. The experimental results show that when a second water cycle was injected to displace oil, the residual resistance factor for water (Frrw) in the second cycle was significantly less than the preceding Frrw values. This finding indicates that the gel experienced a significant breakdown during the first oil cycles. Additional oil cycles were performed, and the Frrw decreased during each new brine cycle, indicating further gel breakdown.
Improved Understanding of Gas/Liquid Transport in Unconventional Shales of the Eagle Ford USA, Montney Canada, and REM Australia Through Micromorphological and Laboratory Analyses of Rock Fabric and Pore Sizes
Authors: Wüst Raphael A. , Cui Albert , Nassichuk Brent , Brezovski Ron , Letham Eric , Bustin R. Marc
Published: September 2014

Unconventional self-sourced sedimentary rocks of three important but contrasting plays, the USA (Eagle Ford), Canada (Montney) and Australia (Roseneath-Epsilon-Murteree, REM) are investigated for rock fabric, pore size and pore networks to better understand gas/liquid flow potentials. The Eagle Ford Shale contains marine carbonate mudstones, the Montney Formation has marine siliciclastic siltstone/mudstones and the REM has lacustrine siliciclastic siltstone/shales. Microscopic analysis of the different rock types show marked differences in the rock texture which is a key element for both gas/fluid flow as well as rock behavior during and after hydraulic fracturing. The samples in this study show high variability in detrital grains, diagenetic minerals as well as organic matter and clay mineral distribution. It is hypothesized that abundant clay minerals in these rocks reflect diagenetic alteration and neoformation during burial which then influence gas and liquid flow paths. During and after well stimulations, these and other clay-size minerals may contribute to fines migration.

Total mercury and He-porosity data of these contrasting plays vary and comparisons with micrographic investigations show that the amount of pore space is often a function of the rocks diagenetic pathways which is elaborated in this study. Mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) analysis shows that the majority of the pore throats are <20–30 nm in size with few larger pore throats present. However, both Montney and Eagle Ford samples have common large (20 to >400 nm) individual pores observed using Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM). These may be isolated or only connected through narrow pore-throats to the primary pore network and thus mercury access is limited during the MICP tests even under higher pressure conditions. MICP is limited to the detection of pore throats which are >3 nm in diameter and often underestimates the total porosity in tight rocks. Helium however can penetrate through narrow pore throats and yields different, higher porosity data compared to MICP. In this study, we present and compare various porosity methods in order to define the pore structure and connectivity which are important for both storage and transport of gas/liquid hydrocarbons in three endmembers of tight rock plays. Systematic comparisons between the three shale plays highlight the importance of properly characterizing tight rocks with appropriate methods.
The Application of Advanced Wellbore Monitoring in Coal Seam Gas for Continuous Inflow Profiling
Authors: Naldrett Garth , Oguche Iko , Mazumder Saikat , Kubenk David , Scott Michael
Published: September 2014

This paper describes the application of down-hole monitoring technologies to a coal seam gas (CSG) field located in the Bowen Basin in Queensland, Australia. The monitoring technology includes both conventional bottom-hole pressure sensing and the newer, fibre optic-based Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS). As one of the first applications of DTS in a low permeability CSG well we will review the method of installation, data gathered and application of this data for monitoring production from multiple intervals in a single coal seam.

The coals in the Bowen Basin region are characteristically of low permeability, and multi-seam hydraulically fractured wells are commonly deployed as a result. All wells require artificial lift; as a result, water is produced up the tubing string, generally with the assistance of a Progressing Cavity Pump (PCP), whilst gas flows up the annulus. Whilst this is an economic method of evaluating the performance of multiple formations simultaneously, the key limitation of this practice for appraisal purposes is that only total, commingled production for each phase is measured at surface.

Given the requirement for artificial lift, production logging techniques are currently unavailable to assist in this multi-seam production allocation, meaning that typically, a reservoir simulation history-matching process is required to estimate the relative performance of individual formations based upon regional trends derived from core measurements or static well logs, often with little justification to adjust parameters outside certain ranges. Any unexpected changes in these reservoir parameters (gas content, permeability, etc.) or completion properties (perforation / stimulation effectiveness) between layers can give rise to dramatic differences in production contribution, which may impact the assessment of which formations (or collection thereof) are prospective targets for further development.

DTS allows the measurement of a continuous flow profile during desorption and subsequent production. This allows for better understanding of any such heterogeneity between production intervals, and an improved understanding of the reasons for production variation both at start-up and over time.

This paper will present DTS data acquired over the initial stages of the well life and show how the thermal behaviour changes over time with production. We will discuss how the thermal profile is related to the well production rate, and describe some of the complexity involved in the inversion process when converting a thermal profile to a production profile. This inversion is especially complex as a typical CSG well is completed with artificial lift and has flow in both the tubing and annulus. This creates separate, but coupled, thermal responses in the tubing and annulus. The well performance and thermal behaviour also depends on the liquid level in the annulus, which is itself controlled by the rate of the PCP.
Plant Growth Regulator and Soil Surfactants’ Effects on Saline and Deficit Irrigated Warm‐Season Grasses: I. Turf Quality and Soil Moisture
Authors: Schiavon Marco , Leinauer Bernd , Serena Matteo , Maier Bernd , Sallenave Rossana
Published: September 2014

A study was conducted at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, from 2010 to 2012 to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation on bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) cultivar Princess 77 and seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) cultivar Sea Spray treated with either soil surfactants [Revolution (modified methyl capped block copolymer) or Dispatch (alkyl polyglucoside blended with a straight block copolymer)] or a plant growth regulator [Trinexapac‐ethyl (TE); 4‐(cyclopropylhydroxymethylene)‐3,5‐dioxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid]. Irrigation was applied daily at 50% reference evapotranspiration from either a sprinkler or a subsurface drip system with either potable (electrical conductivity [EC] = 0.6 dS m−1) or saline (2.3 dS m−1) water. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and visual ratings were determined monthly to assess stand quality and turf stress. Princess 77 treated with TE showed the highest quality and the highest NDVI (0.655) on 10 out of 15 sampling dates. Positive effects of TE applications were also observed on Sea Spray quality, NDVI, and fall color retention. Subsurface drip irrigation resulted in higher quality and NDVI during the third year of the study when compared with sprinkler irrigation. Salinity buildup in the root zone did not negatively affect visual quality of the tested warm‐season species. Generally, sprinkler irrigation system and turf treated with Revolution promoted higher water distribution uniformity (lower standard deviations) than the other treatments. Further research is needed to investigate if greater drought tolerance of subsurface drip–irrigated turf is the result of increased water‐use efficiency due to altered root morphology.
Novel Germplasm and Screening Methods for Early Cold Tolerance in Sorghum
Authors: Salas Fernandez Maria G. , Schoenbaum Gregory R. , Goggi A. Susana
Published: September 2014

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is well known for its great potential for producing grain, feed, and fuel under stressful conditions such as drought and heat. However, its genetic potential to withstand cold, wet environments at germination has not been extensively exploited because of limited sources of early‐season cold tolerance. The objective of this study was to select novel, not previously characterized, cold‐tolerant sorghum accessions that can germinate in a traditional cold test at 10°C in the laboratory and emerge in the field under a wide range of stressful conditions. Fifty‐six accessions (38 Kaoliangs and 18 non‐Kaoliang of different geographic origin) were screened in the laboratory using a 7‐d and a 14‐d cold test at 10°C with soil, and they were also evaluated under early planting conditions in the field at two locations in the Midwest. The 7‐d cold test was the best predictor of seed emergence in the field (r = 0.50–0.61), while the standard germination test overestimated field performance. Twelve of the top 15 accessions exhibiting cold tolerance in the 7‐d cold test were also ranked within the top 15 under field conditions. Eight novel accessions were identified in this experiment with potential superior alleles for cold tolerance. Breeders could perform preliminary screening of germplasm for cold‐tolerant alleles in the laboratory using the 7‐d, 10°C cold test.
Winter Wheat Eastern European Regional Yield Trial: Identification of Superior Genotypes and Characterization of Environments
Authors: Sharma R. C. , Morgounov A. , Akin B. , Bespalova L. , Lang L. , Litvinenko M. , Mustatea P. , Ozturk I. , Postolatiy A. , Rajaram S. , Braun H. J.
Published: September 2014

The International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP)—a collaboration between the government of Turkey, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)—develops and globally distributes improved winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm. The Winter Wheat Eastern European Regional Yield Trial was conducted by IWWIP during 1998–2005 using elite lines and varieties from IWWIP, Eastern Europe (EE), the United States, and Central and West Asia (CWA). This study analyzed data to identify superior genotypes and key locations that could be useful for future international collaboration on winter wheat. Grain yield and agronomic traits of 422 elite breeding lines and new varieties from 17 countries were evaluated across 39 locations. Superior genotypes and key environments for grain yield were determined using genotype and genotype × environment biplot analyses. Many superior genotypes were identified for both EE and CWA, and 11 genotypes showed high, stable grain yield across the regions. The most representative and discriminating sites for grain yield were Konya and Eskisehir, Turkey (overall); Edirne, Turkey (CWA); and Dobrich, Bulgaria (EE). These findings represent a comprehensive analysis of yield and stability of a large, globally important set of winter wheat genotypes and growing locations, which may be useful for national and international winter wheat improvement programs.
Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Resistance to Empoasca in Common Bean
Authors: Brisco Elizabeth I. , Porch Timothy G. , Cregan Perry B. , Kelly James D.
Published: September 2014

Empoasca species leafhoppers are a major insect pest of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), that cause significant economic losses in both tropical (E. kraemeri) and temperate (E. fabae) regions of the Americas. The objective of this study was to use Insertion–Deletion (InDel) and single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from the BARCBean6K_3 Beadchip to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with traits related to leafhopper resistance in common bean. Traits for leaf curl and leaf burn damage, as well as Empoasca spp. nymph counts, were evaluated in an inbred backcross line population (Matterhorn*/EMP507) of beans in temperate (Michigan) and tropical (Puerto Rico) climates. Fourteen QTL associated with resistance to E. fabae and E. kraemeri were identified on five chromosomes explaining up to 66.0% of the phenotypic variation for single resistance traits. A major QTL cluster associated with multiple resistance traits and closely linked to the P color gene was detected for both leafhopper species in multiple seasons under both choice and no‐choice treatments on Pv07 (LH7.1, LH7.2, LH7.3), thus validating a similar QTL identified in previous studies. A novel QTL (LH2.2) for E. fabae nymph counts, identified on Pv02 in three seasons, may be associated with antibiosis resistance. Resistance to each leafhopper species appears to be controlled by separate genetic mechanisms in common bean as there was little overlap of QTL regions between species. These QTL could be used to develop beans with leafhopper resistance as an alternative to costly chemical controls while reducing risks to the environment and human health.
Soybean Irrigation Management: Agronomic Impacts of Deferred, Deficit, and Full‐Season Strategies
Authors: Torrion Jessica A. , Setiyono Tri D. , Graef George L. , Cassman Kenneth G. , Irmak Suat , Specht James E.
Published: September 2014

The efficiency of irrigation water use is improved if irrigations are scheduled only when soil water depletion exceeds a chosen crop‐specific threshold percentage of field capacity (FC). Further improvement may be possible by accounting for seasonal variance in yield sensitivity to water stress. In soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], the vegetative and bloom stages are notably less sensitive to water stress than are the pod‐set and seed‐fill stages. A 2‐yr experiment was conducted to determine the yield impact of deferring irrigation until the beginning‐pod stage (R3). Eight soybean cultivars were evaluated in subplots within four main plot irrigation treatments: (i) full‐season control, with a 35% FC soil‐water depletion trigger to schedule irrigation that replenished 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ET) loss since the prior irrigation; (ii) a defer‐irrigation‐to‐R3 strategy with the 35% FC depletion trigger ignored until the onset of stage R3; (iii) a deficit irrigation strategy with irrigation events on the same dates as those in the full‐season control, but limited to two‐thirds of the control amount; and (iv) rainfed control. Below‐normal spring rainfall in each year resulted in soil water depletion greater than 35% FC before irrigation commenced in the R3‐deferred strategy but did not impact yield versus the full‐season control yield. A season‐long deficit irrigation strategy significantly reduced yield below the full‐season control, though it still produced significantly more yield than the rainfed control. These findings suggest that differentials in sensitivity of the crop developmental stage should be incorporated into irrigation scheduling models.
Synthesis of Magnetic Fe3O4‐Chitosan Nanoparticles by Ionic Gelation and Their Dye Removal Ability
Authors: Akın Deniz , Yakar Arzu , Gündüz Ufuk
Published: September 2014

The aim of this study was to synthesize magnetic Fe3O4 chitosan nanoparticles (m‐Fe3O4‐CNs) by ionic gelation method and use them as adsorbent for the removal of Bromothymol Blue (BB) from aqueous solutions. Also, the effect of various parameters on the preparation of m‐Fe3O4‐CNs was investigated in this study. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Adsorption of BB on m‐Fe3O4‐CNs was studied in a batch reactor at different experimental conditions such as adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, initial BB concentration and temperature. Kinetic behaviors, equilibrium isotherms and thermodynamics of the adsorption process were investigated in detail. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model well fitted the adsorption experimental results. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption was a spontaneous, favorable and exothermic process in nature.
Employing Laparoscopic Surgery for Endometriosis
Authors: Afors Karolina , Murtada Rouba , Centini Gabriele , Fernandes Rodrigo , Meza Carolina , Castellano Jesus , Wattiez Arnaud
Published: September 2014

Endometriosis is a chronic, multifactorial disease, which can impact significantly on a women's quality of life. It is associated with pelvic pain, dyspareunia and intestinal disorders, and can lead to infertility. The use of laparoscopic surgery in the management of endometriosis is well documented; however, the optimal management of women with deep infiltrating disease remains controversial. This review describes the different surgical strategies for the treatment of endometriosis.
Fitting traffic traces with discrete canonical phase type distributions and Markov arrival processes
Authors: Meszáros András , Papp János , Telek Miklós
Published: September 2014

Recent developments of matrix analytic methods make phase type distributions (PHs) and Markov Arrival Processes (MAPs) promising stochastic model candidates for capturing traffic trace behaviour and for efficient usage in queueing analysis. After introducing basics of these sets of stochastic models, the paper discusses the following subjects in detail: (i) PHs and MAPs have different representations. For efficient use of these models, sparse (defined by a minimal number of parameters) and unique representations of discrete time PHs and MAPs are needed, which are commonly referred to as canonical representations. The paper presents new results on the canonical representation of discrete PHs and MAPs. (ii) The canonical representation allows a direct mapping between experimental moments and the stochastic models, referred to as moment matching. Explicit procedures are provided for this mapping. (iii) Moment matching is not always the best way to model the behavior of traffic traces. Model fitting based on appropriately chosen distance measures might result in better performing stochastic models. We also demonstrate the efficiency of fitting procedures with experimental results
On truncations for weakly ergodic inhomogeneous birth and death processes
Authors: Zeifman Alexander , Satin Yacov , Korolev Victor , Shorgin Sergey
Published: September 2014

We investigate a class of exponentially weakly ergodic inhomogeneous birth and death processes. We consider special transformations of the reduced intensity matrix of the process and obtain uniform (in time) error bounds of truncations. Our approach also guarantees that we can find limiting characteristics approximately with an arbitrarily fixed error. As an example, we obtain the respective bounds of the truncation error for an Mt/Mt/S queue for any number of servers S. Arbitrary intensity functions instead of periodic ones can be considered in the same manner.
Data mining methods for gene selection on the basis of gene expression arrays
Authors: Muszyński Michał , Osowski Stanisław
Published: September 2014

The paper presents data mining methods applied to gene selection for recognition of a particular type of prostate cancer on the basis of gene expression arrays. Several chosen methods of gene selection, including the Fisher method, correlation of gene with a class, application of the support vector machine and statistical hypotheses, are compared on the basis of clustering measures. The results of applying these individual selection methods are combined together to identify the most often selected genes forming the required pattern, best associated with the cancerous cases. This resulting pattern of selected gene lists is treated as the input data to the classifier, performing the task of the final recognition of the patterns. The numerical results of the recognition of prostate cancer from normal (reference) cases using the selected genes and the support vector machine confirm the good performance of the proposed gene selection approach
Back Pain Beliefs Are Related to the Impact of Low Back Pain in Baby Boomers in the Busselton Healthy Aging Study
Authors: Beales Darren , Smith Anne , O'Sullivan Peter , Hunter Michael , Straker Leon
Published: September 2014

Background

Back pain beliefs (BPBs) are an important modifiable factor related to disability associated with low back pain (LBP). Back pain beliefs have not been characterized in baby boomers, a group at risk for decreased activity levels and reduced productivity.

Objective

The aims of this study were: (1) to identify factors related to BPBs and (2) to evaluate the association between LBP disability and beliefs.

Design

A cross-sectional survey of community-dwelling baby boomers (born 1946–1964) was conducted.

Methods

Nine hundred fifty-eight baby boomers (mean age=56.2 years) participating in the Busselton Healthy Aging Study provided their history of LBP, BPBs, LBP behaviors related to care seeking (taking medication, seeking professional help) and activity modification (missing work, interference with normal activities, interference with recreational activities), LBP-related disability, and additional covariates with known associations with BPBs. Regression analyses were used to: (1) identify factors associated with more positive beliefs and (2) test the association between more positive BPBs and lower LBP disability, independent of other correlates of BPBs.

Results

More positive BPBs were associated with younger age, better mental well-being, and higher income, whereas more negative BPBs were associated with receiving sickness or disability benefits and the experience of LBP in the previous month. In participants who reported experiencing LBP within the previous month, more positive BPBs were associated with lower disability scale scores and a decreased probability of interference with usual activities, independent of pain intensity, age, mental well-being, income, and employment status.

Limitations

Cross-sectional analysis limits assessment of causality.

Conclusions

Poorer BPBs were associated with greater disability. Characterization of the relationships between BPBs and LBP-associated behaviors and disability in baby boomers can assist in developing interventions to improve activity participation and productivity, potentially reducing the burden of LBP in this age group.
Soft-tissue defects after spinal instrumentation in 5 children: risk factors, management strategies, and outcomes
Authors: Sayama Christina , Vadivelu Sudhakar , Livingston Andrew , Ho Allen , Izaddoost Shayan A. , Briceño Valentina , Luerssen Thomas G. , Jea Andrew
Published: September 2014

Object

Wound-related complications following complex posterior spine procedures in children may result in the need for serial debridements and may place spinal instrumentation at risk. In this study, the authors review their experience with the management of soft-tissue defects from spinal instrumentation in 5 high-risk pediatric patients. The use of various rotational and transpositional flaps in the management of these complicated cases is discussed, as well as their outcomes.

Methods

The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 5 patients who returned to the Neuro-Spine service at Texas Children's Hospital for erosion of spinal instrumentation through the skin between September 1, 2007, and October 31, 2012. Patient demographics and clinical and operative data were recorded.

Results

Risk factors such as young age (1 case), poor nutritional status (1 case), multiple previous surgeries (3 cases), severe neurological deficits (2 cases), and history of radiation therapy for malignancy (2 cases) were noted in the 5 patients. The paraspinous flap (4 cases) was the mainstay of the treatment. Follow-up ranged from 7.5 to 17.5 months (mean 11 ± 4.2 months). One of the patients required more than 1 procedure for revision of the wound. Cultures were positive in 2 of the 5 cases. Spinal instrumentation was removed in 3 of the 5 cases; however, in all 3 of the cases there was evidence of delayed instability that developed after the removal of spinal instrumentation.

Conclusions

The use of local tissue flaps is safe and efficacious for treatment of posterior wound complications due to spinal instrumentation in children. Removal of spinal instrumentation should be avoided due to the development of delayed instability. Highly vascularized tissue is used to speed healing, clear bacteria, and eliminate dead space, obviating the need to remove contaminated spinal instrumentation.
Vertebral osteolytic defect due to cellulose particles derived from gauze fibers after posterior lumbar interbody fusion
Authors: Takenaka Shota , Mukai Yoshihiro , Hosono Noboru , Tateishi Kosuke , Fuji Takeshi
Published: September 2014

Vertebral cystic lesions may be observed in pseudarthroses after lumbar fusion surgery. The authors report a rare case of pseudarthrosis after spinal fusion, accompanied by an expanding vertebral osteolytic defect induced by cellulose particles. A male patient originally presented at the age of 69 years with leg and low-back pain caused by a lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis. He underwent a posterior lumbar interbody fusion, and his neurological symptoms and pain resolved within a year but recurred 14 months after surgery. Radiological imaging demonstrated a cystic lesion on the inferior endplate of L-5 and the superior endplate of S-1, which rapidly enlarged into a vertebral osteolytic defect. The patient underwent revision surgery, and his low-back pain resolved. A histopathological examination demonstrated foreign body–type multinucleated giant cells, containing 10-μm particles, in the sample collected just below the defect. Micro–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the foreign particles were cellulosic, presumably originating from cotton gauze fibers that had contaminated the interbody cages used during the initial surgery. Vertebral osteolytic defects that occur after interbody fusion are generally presumed to be the result of infection. This case suggests that some instances of vertebral osteolytic defects may be aseptically induced by foreign particles. Hence, this possibility should be carefully considered in such cases, to help prevent contamination of the morselized bone used for autologous grafts by foreign materials, such as gauze fibers.
Intrathecal morphine analgesia after cervical and thoracic spinal cord tumor surgery
Authors: Poblete Beate , Konrad Christoph , Kothbauer Karl F.
Published: September 2014

Object

The aim of this study was to provide evidence for the effect of intrathecal morphine application after spinal cord tumor resection.

Methods

Twenty patients participated in a prospective open proof-of-concept study. During dural closure, morphine (7 μg/kg) was injected into the subarachnoid space. All patients were monitored in an intensive care setting postoperatively. Pain, additional opioids given, and vital parameters were recorded.

Results

Six patients received a mean morphine dose of 365 μg between C-3 and C-7 and 14 patients received a mean dose of 436 μg between T-2 and T-12. In the cervical and thoracic groups, the mean Numeric Rating Scale score was highest upon intensive care unit admission (1.2 and 2.5, respectively) and declined at 12 hours (0.5 and 0.8, respectively). Minimal extra morphine was required. Minor side effects occurred without consequence.

Conclusions

Intrathecal morphine for postoperative analgesia after resection of cervical and thoracic spinal cord tumors is effective and safe. These preliminary results require confirmation by larger comparative studies and further clinical experience.
Performance Evaluation of Different Masonry Infill Walls with Structural Fuse Elements Based on In-Plane Cyclic Load Testing
Authors: Kauffman Andrew , Memari Ali
Published: September 2014

This paper discusses the performance of a structural fuse concept developed for use as a seismic isolation system in the design and retrofit of masonry infill walls. An experimental program was developed and executed to study the behavior of the structural fuse system under cyclic loads, and to evaluate the performance of the system with various masonry materials. Cyclic tests were performed by applying displacement controlled loads at the first, second, and third stories of a two-bay, three-story steel test frame with brick infill walls; using a quasi-static loading protocol to create a first mode response in the structural system. A parametric study was also completed by replacing the brick infill panels with infill walls constructed of concrete masonry units and autoclaved aerated concrete blocks, and applying monotonically increasing, displacement controlled loads at the top story of the test frame.
Trends and Spatial Patterns of Drought Affected Area in Southern South America
Authors: Rivera Juan , Penalba Olga
Published: September 2014

Based on 56 rainfall stations, which cover the period 1961–2008, we analyzed the presence of trends in the drought-affected area over southern South America (SSA) at different time scales. In order to define drought conditions, we used the standardized precipitation index, which was calculated on time scales of 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The trends were estimated following both a linear and a non-linear approach. The non-linear approach was based on the residual of the empirical mode decomposition, a recently proposed methodology, which is robust in presence of non-stationary data. This assessment indicates the existence of reversals in the trends of the drought affected, area around the 1990s, from decreasing trends during the first period to increasing trends during the recent period. This is indicative of the existence of a low-frequency variability that modulates regional precipitation patterns at different temporal scales, and warns about possible future consequences in the social and economic sectors if trends towards an increase in the drought affected area continue.
Design and Synthesis of C-Terminal Modified Cyclic Peptides as VEGFR1 Antagonists
Authors: Wang Lei , Gagey-Eilstein Nathalie , Broussy Sylvain , Reille-Seroussi Marie , Huguenot Florent , Vidal Michel , Liu Wang-Qing
Published: September 2014

Previously designed cyclic peptide antagonist c[YYDEGLEE]-NH2 disrupts the interaction between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs). It represents a promising tool in the fight against cancer and age-related macular degeneration. We described in this paper the optimization of the lead peptide by C-terminal modification. A new strategy for the synthesis of cyclic peptides is developed, improving the cyclisation efficiency. At 100 µM, several new peptides with an aromatic group flexibly linked at C-terminal end showed significantly increased receptor binding affinities in competition ELISA test. The most active peptide carrying a coumarin group may be a useful tool in anti-angiogenic biological studies.
Statistical Process Control of a Kalman Filter Model
Authors: Gamse Sonja , Nobakht-Ersi Fereydoun , Sharifi Mohammad
Published: September 2014

For the evaluation of measurement data, different functional and stochastic models can be used. In the case of time series, a Kalman filtering (KF) algorithm can be implemented. In this case, a very well-known stochastic model, which includes statistical tests in the domain of measurements and in the system state domain, is used. Because the output results depend strongly on input model parameters and the normal distribution of residuals is not always fulfilled, it is very important to perform all possible tests on output results. In this contribution, we give a detailed description of the evaluation of the Kalman filter model. We describe indicators of inner confidence, such as controllability and observability, the determinant of state transition matrix and observing the properties of the a posteriori system state covariance matrix and the properties of the Kalman gain matrix. The statistical tests include the convergence of standard deviations of the system state components and normal distribution beside standard tests. Especially, computing controllability and observability matrices and controlling the normal distribution of residuals are not the standard procedures in the implementation of KF. Practical implementation is done on geodetic kinematic observations.
La mètis d'Antiloque
Authors: Vernant Jean-Pierre , Détienne Marcel
Published: September 2014

A propos de l'épisode d'Antiloque dans l'Illiade, XXIII, 306 sqq., analyse de la metis comme forme d'intelligence, humaine et divine : ses relations avec la force, ses modes d'action, son horizon temporel, son caractère ondoyant, souple et mobile, son aspect de tromperie.
L'évocation du passé dans Agamemnon d'Eschyle
Authors: Romilly Jacqueline de
Published: September 2014

Eschyle place au centre de presque chaque tragédie un retour en arrière accompagné de prophéties sur l'avenir ; dans l'Agamemnon, ce schéma se vérifie, mais avec une complexité plus grande qu'ailleurs : on essaie de le montrer et d'expliquer pourquoi.
Sur le premier stasimon d'Antigone
Authors: Ronnet Gilberte
Published: September 2014

Le premier stasimon d'Antigone, si on y voit un chant en l'honneur de l'homme et du progrès, apparaît comme étranger à la fois à l'action et à la personnalité du chœur ; on est alors amené à le considérer comme un morceau détaché où le poète exprimerait ses propres sentiments, ce qui est opposé à la manière habituelle de Sophocle. Au contraire, si on donne à δεινός le sens défavorable de « terrible », le chant apparaît comme une mise en accusation de l'audace sacrilège de l'homme ; il est alors parfaitement en accord avec la piété timorée du chœur, qui vient précisément d'apprendre qu'un inconnu a osé braver l'édit de Créon. Le chœur s'exprime selon son caractère, en fonction de la situation, et pas plus ici qu'ailleurs n'est le porte-parole de l'auteur. Mais, étant donné que ce chœur, hostile à l'héroïne et servilement soumis au pouvoir, est antipathique, on peut penser que le poète lui fait blâmer ce que lui-même approuve : en ce sens, la condamnation de l'audace de l'homme peut paraître un hommage à son génie.
Remarques sur Sophocle, Trachiniennes, 497-530
Authors: Van der Valk Marchinus H. A. L. H.
Published: September 2014

Étude détaillée du passage. On y cherche surtout à déterminer les caractéris tiques du style de Sophocle dans la première étape de sa carrière. Puis on étudie la tendance de ce chant du chœur ; il révèle surtout, à ce qu'il semble, les deux côtés contrastants de l'amour (doux et dévastateur). On discute enfin les rapports du passage avec Antigone 781-800 et avec Euripide, Hippolyte 425-544 et 1268-81, qui traitent également de la puissance de l'amour.
Les grimaces de Clisthène (Aristophane, Grenouilles v. 422-430)
Authors: Roux Georges
Published: September 2014

Vers 422, il faut lire Κλεισθένη, et non Κλεισθένους. Explication des plaisanteries scabreuses de ce passage. Clisthène est ici considéré comme le symbole des citoyens qui ont monté une sinistre comédie (Xénophon, Hell. I, 7, 8) lors du procès des généraux vainqueurs aux Arginuses, utilisant à des fins politiques les ressorts du pathétique cher à Euripide.
Hérodote et la jeune Péonienne
Authors: Will Ernest
Published: September 2014

Le récit d'Hérodote (V, 12-13) concernant la transplantation passagère des Péoniens en Asie connaît un double dans Nicolas de Damas, où les mêmes faits sont rapportés à l'installation définitive des Mysiens. Or les noms des deux protagonistes péoniens chez Hérodote (Pigrès et Mantyès ou Mastyès) sont, sinon strictement cariens, du moins sûrement anatoliens. On a donc quelques bonnes raisons de penser qu'Hérodote a attribué aux Péoniens ce qu'une tradition plus courante attribuait à d'autres.
Le rempart des Péloponnésiens à Platée
Authors: Weil Raymond
Published: September 2014

Le texte de Thucydide (III, 21) souligne le caractère exceptionnel de ce rempart, qui est double ; compte tenu de ce caractère, les données de l'archéologie et le texte s'accordent bien.
Une collection méconnue de « symboles » pythagoriciens
Authors: Saffrey Henri-Dominique
Published: September 2014

Deux passages de philosophes néoplatoniciens, Philopon, In De an. p. 116. 29-117. 3, et Olympiodore, In Phaed., p. 8. 22- 9. 9, nous fournissent une collection de six symboles pythagoriciens avec leur interprétation allégorique. Trois d'entre eux servaient d'autorités dans la question de la légitimité du suicide.
Le κενόν de Platon et le πάντα ὁμοῦ d'Anaxagore
Authors: Mugler Charles
Published: September 2014

En analysant les pages du Timée consacrées à la χώρα, l'Α. compare le « vide » de Platon à l'ἄπειρον d'Anaximandre, au κενόν des atomistes, à la ὕλη d'Aristote et, surtout, à l'homéomérie suprême, au πάντα ὁμοῦ d'Anaxagore. Ce qui distingue la cosmologie du Clazoménien de celle du Timée, c'est la fonction qu'y exerce la limite. Alors que chez le premier les πέρατα naissent avec, et par, la différenciation qualitative, chez Platon les πέρατα préexistent à toute différenciation et en sont la cause.
Apollonios de Rhodes, Argonautiques, I, 705, 1012. Deux notes critiques
Authors: Vian Francis
Published: September 2014

Deux passages des Argonauliques sont étudiés à la lumière des parallèles fournis par Quintus de Smyrne. En I, 705, il faut, avec II. Frànkel, lire θυμηδές, malgré A. Ardizzoni ; en I, 1012, on peut conjecturer άπλετο θυμός.
L'epigramma Anth. Pal. XII 129 di Arato
Authors: Cataudella Quintino
Published: September 2014

L'auteur se propose de démontrer la faiblesse de la thèse de Wilamowitz, selon laquelle l'Aratos des Thalysies de Théocrite n'est pas le poète. Partant de la thèse traditionnelle qui les identifie, l'auteur apporte quelques arguments pour soutenir cette thèse ; ce nouveau point étant acquis au problème, il s'en sert pour interpréter l'épigramme d'Aratos A. P. XII, 129 ; partant encore du passage des Thalysies où Philinos est l'éromène d'Aratos, il voit dans τωδε de l'épigramme ce Philinos, qu'il propose d'identifier au Leptinès de l'épigramme de Rhianos A. P. XII, 93.
Inscriptions de Corinthe
Authors: Bousquet Jean
Published: September 2014

Remarques sur le dernier volume d'inscriptions de Corinthe, publié en 1966 (Corinth, VIII, 3, par J. H. Kent). Raccord matériel des nos 28 et 31 ; identification du proxène nommé dans le n° 37 comme un Étolien de Calydon ; le n° 44 n'est pas une signature de sculpteur.
L'édition princeps d'Athénée et ses sources
Authors: Irigoin Jean
Published: September 2014

Pour préparer l'édition aldine d'Athénée, parue à Venise en 1514, Marc Mousouros doit avoir utilisé un manuscrit composite, dont la première partie était une copie de l'Épilomé du XIIe siècle, alors que la suite était une transcription, probablement indirecte, du Marcianus gr. 447 (coll. 620), source unique du texte des Deipnosophistes. L'exemplaire de Mousouros présentait dans le livre XV une importante lacune, qui apparaît comme telle dans l'édition princeps ; les pages manquant dans le manuscrit semblent conservées partiellement dans les six folios du Leidensis Vossianus miscell. 32.
Nouveaux outils en entreprise, nouvelles compétences
Authors: Reyre Isabelle
Published: September 2014

[Observatoire] Le déploiement continu des nouvelles technologies dans les organisations du travail a désormais un impact durable dans le fonctionnement des entreprises. La transformation du dispositif intranet avec ses dimensions d’information, de communication, de collaboration, de gestion des connaissances et d’innovation en est une illustration flagrante, confirmée par les derniers résultats de l’Observatoire 2014 de l’intranet et de la stratégie numérique.
L'Abes au-delà des bibliothèques
Authors: Kalfon Jérôme
Published: September 2014

[Institution] Par ses projets, ses actions, ses services et ses outils, l’Agence bibliographique de l’enseignement supérieur (Abes) est un acteur important de la chaîne éditoriale voire, bien plus, un acteur essentiel dans la production de la valeur.
Liberté d'expression sur les réseaux sociaux
Authors: Weiss Marie-Andrée
Published: September 2014

[Délit de presse] La liberté d’expression est un principe essentiel mais qu’il a fallu border par des garde-fous. Alors que cette liberté est perçue différemment, même dans des régions comme l’Amérique du Nord et l’Europe économiquement et politiquement proches, comment le contrôle des abus est-il exercé sur les réseaux sociaux ?
Transformer les risques en opportunités : le pouvoir de l'information
Authors: Junghans Pascal
Published: September 2014

Les professionnels de l’information font face à un bouleversement global de leur domaine d’action avec l’arrivée d’une économie fondée sur la « data ». Ce changement impacte très profondément le volet « risques » de la profession. Nous consacrons ce dossier à un état des lieux du risque informationnel dans sa diversité, puisqu’il touche aussi bien le droit que les ressources humaines. Nous verrons également comment différentes professions, très consommatrices d’informations, développent des stratégies de sécurité adaptées. Enfin, nous présenterons les solutions mises en place par les professionnels de l’information.
Protéger les entreprises : une affaire de gestion de l'information par des professionnels du risque
Authors: Juillet Alain
Published: September 2014

[Stratégie] Les changements de l’entreprise, beaucoup plus souple, et de son environnement, avec l’explosion du Big data, mettent au premier rang les risques informationnels. Seuls des généralistes, connaissant bien également le fonctionnement de la firme étendue, peuvent la protéger.
Les risques informationnels, d'une vision statique à une conception dynamique
Authors: Moinet Nicolas
Published: September 2014

[Analyse] Établir une liste de risques informationnels reste un exercice statique et présente un intérêt pratique limité. Pour répondre à la réalité, il convient d’y substituer une analyse dynamique, un processus de création/destruction d’images informationnelles.