bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Botolinum toxin in rhinitis: Literature review and posterior nasal injection in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Zhang Edward Zhiyong , Tan Sophocles , Loh Ian
Published: July 2017

Background

Current pharmacological management of allergic rhinitis (AR) varies in onset, duration, symptom control, and requires frequent administration. Single‐dose botulinum toxin (BTX) has been documented in various trials as a treatment option in rhinitis.

Objective

We review the current literature on the use of BTX in rhinitis and investigate the efficacy and safety profile of a novel intranasal injection site for AR control.

Study Design

Single‐arm pilot study.

Methods

Ten adult patients having moderate to severe AR with proven house dust‐mite allergy were recruited. Each patient received 12.5 units of Botox injected to the posterior lateral wall of each side of the nose under endoscopic guidance. Immediate postprocedural discomfort and Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) at 2 and 4 weeks were used as primary outcome measures. Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was used as secondary outcome measure.

Results

Overall TNSS (minimum = 0; maximum = 20) showed an improvement from a mean of 15.1 (preinjection) to 7.6 (2 weeks) and 7.7 (4 weeks). Greatest effect was seen in subscales of rhinorrhea (4.0–1.7) followed by sneeze, nasal congestion, and itch. Mean discomfort of the procedure was scored 5.7 over 10. RQLQ scores similarly showed an improvement in all domains of quality of life. Two subjects complained of mild headache not requiring any medical intervention.

Conclusion

Based on our review of current literature, BTX shows clear efficacy on symptoms of both intrinsic and allergic rhinitis, with a good safety profile. Single‐dose posterior nasal injection demonstrates good efficacy and duration of action, with moderate discomfort.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 127:2447–2454, 2017
Metabolomic Studies of Indonesian Jamu Medicines: Prediction of Jamu Efficacy and Identification of Important Metabolites
Authors: Wijaya Sony Hartono , Batubara Irmanida , Nishioka Takaaki , Altaf‐Ul‐Amin Md. , Kanaya Shigehiko
Published: July 2017

In order to obtain a better understanding why some Jamu formulas can be used to treat a specific disease, we performed metabolomic studies of Jamu by taking into consideration the biologically active compounds existing in plants used as Jamu ingredients. A thorough integration of information from omics is expected to provide solid evidence‐based scientific rationales for the development of modern phytomedicines. This study focused on prediction of Jamu efficacy based on its component metabolites and also identification of important metabolites related to each efficacy group. Initially, we compared the performance of Support Vector Machines and Random Forest to predict the Jamu efficacy with three different data pre‐processing approaches, such as no filtering, Single Filtering algorithm, and a combination of Single Filtering algorithm and feature selection using Regularized Random Forest. Both classifiers performed very well and according to 5‐fold cross‐validation results, the mean accuracy of Support Vector Machine with linear kernel was slightly better than Random Forest. It can be concluded that machine learning methods can successfully relate Jamu efficacy with metabolites. In addition, we extended our analysis by identifying important metabolites from the Random Forest model. The inTrees framework was used to extract the rules and to select important metabolites for each efficacy group. Overall, we identified 94 significant metabolites associated to 12 efficacy groups and many of them were validated by published literature and KNApSAcK Metabolite Activity database.
Control and exponential stabilization for the equation of an axially moving viscoelastic strip
Authors: Kelleche Abdelkarim , Tatar Nasser‐eddine
Published: July 2017

The aim through this work is to suppress the transverse vibrations of an axially moving viscoelastic strip. A controller mechanism (dynamic actuator) is attached at the right boundary to control the undesirable vibrations. The moving strip is modeled as a moving beam pulled at a constant speed through 2 eyelets. The left eyelet is fixed in the sense that there is no transverse displacement (see Figure ). The mathematical model of this system consists of an integro‐partial differential equation describing the dynamic of the strip and an integro‐differential equation describing the dynamic of the actuator. The multiplier method is used to design a boundary control law ensuring an exponential stabilization result.
Modeling of thermomechanical properties of polymeric hybrid nanocomposites
Authors: Kothari Rohit , Kundalwal Shailesh I. , Sahu Santosh K. , Ray M.C.
Published: July 2017

This article reports modeling of effective thermomechanical properties of multifunctional carbon nanotube (CNT)‐reinforced hybrid polymeric composites (hereafter, it is referred as “fuzzy fiber composite”). The novel constructional feature of fuzzy fiber composite (FFC) is that nanoscale CNTs are radially grown on the circumferential surfaces of microscale carbon fibers. Several micromechanical models were developed to predict the effective thermomechanical properties of FFC. The waviness of CNTs is intrinsic to many manufacturing processes and it influences thermomechanical behavior of two‐phase CNT‐reinforced composites. Therefore, an endeavor was also made to investigate the effect of wavy CNTs on the effective thermomechanical properties of FFC. The proposed modeling approach was applied to a heat exchanger made of FFC to determine its effective thermal conductivities. The findings of our study suggest that FFC containing nano‐ and micro‐scale fillers show improved thermomechanical properties and are promising next‐generation polymeric composites for advanced structural applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:4148–4164, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Tunable wettability and pH‐responsiveness of plasma copolymers of acrylic acid and octafluorocyclobutane
Authors: Muzammil Iqbal , Li Yupeng , Lei Mingkai
Published: July 2017

Novel and intelligent plasma copolymers based on hydrophilic/hydrophobic monomers with tunable wettability and pH‐responsiveness are demonstrated. A series of plasma copolymer coatings with various carboxylic acid and fluorocarbon group ratio are prepared on the low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) surfaces via capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma (CCP). The static water contact angles (SWCA) of C4F8‐co‐AA plasma polymer coatings on nanotextured LDPE surfaces tuned from 163 to 4°. These C4F8‐co‐AA plasma polymer coatings showed different pH‐responsiveness by the combined effect of the carboxylic acid to fluorocarbon group ratios and surface nanotexture. The increase of carboxylic acid groups of C4F8‐co‐AA plasma polymers shifted the reversibly switchable wettability of pH‐responsiveness towards low SWCA range. The magnifying effect of surface nanotexture on pH‐responsiveness was also observed.
Study on the correlation of serum amyloid A level with overall survival and radiation pneumonitis in non‐small cell lung cancer patients receiving thoracic radiotherapy
Authors: Zhao Jing , Li Xiaoyu , Zhao Xueqi , Wang Jianhua , Xi Qingsong , Hu Guangyuan
Published: July 2017

Objective

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a non‐specific acute phase reaction protein that shows much higher levels in patients with cancer than in healthy individuals. The present study was designed to investigate the correlation of SAA level with overall survival (OS) and radiation pneumonitis (RP) in non‐small cell lung cancer patients receiving thoracic radiotherapy.

Methods

Patients with locally advanced non‐small cell lung cancer receiving thoracic radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy were eligible for the study. Plasma samples were collected before radiotherapy (baseline), 2 and 4 weeks during radiotherapy, and at 3 months after the end of radiotherapy. The incidence of RP was recorded 1 year after radiotherapy. OS was defined as the interval between the date of treatment initiation and the date of death or last follow up if the patients were still alive. spss 18.0 and GraphPad Prism 5.0 software were used for statistical analyses, and P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

In total, data from 114 patients were used for the final analyses. The median baseline SAA level was 101.4 μg/mL; patients with lower baseline SAA levels had a longer OS than those with a higher SAA level (25.8 vs 14.3 months, χ2 = 5.519, P = 0.019). In multivariate analysis, sex, radiation dose, and baseline SAA level were independent prognostic factors. The SAA level after radiotherapy was significantly lower than that at baseline (142.6 vs 420.1 μg/mL, t = 3.50, P = 0.001). The average SAA level in patients with grade 2 or higher and less than grade 2 RP after radiotherapy was 476.7 μg/mL and 113.0 μg/mL, respectively, t = 2.72, P = 0.009.

Conclusions

SAA level might be a predictive biomarker for RP and OS in patients with locally advanced non‐small cell lung cancer receiving thoracic radiotherapy.
Evaluation of relative electron ionization cross‐sections for some oxides and oxyacid salts
Authors: Lopatin Sergey I. , Shugurov Sergey M. , Panin Andrej I. , Vasil'eva Evgenia A.
Published: July 2017

Rationale

The total or relative cross‐sections for the ionization of polyatomic molecules by electron ionization are essential data in a wide range of applications. In addition to the total ionization cross‐sections, relative ionization cross‐sections are sometimes also required. Accurate values of electron ionization cross‐sections of high‐temperature vapor species are of importance in mass spectrometric investigations. So the need for experimental ionization cross‐section data for high‐temperature vapor species is vital.

Methods

Measurements were performed by high‐temperature Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry with a MS‐1301 mass spectrometer. Vaporization was carried out using molybdenum or tungsten effusion cells containing samples of pure Au and CeO2. The vapor compositions over the CeO2‐Mo and CeO2‐W systems were determined by Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry. The method of ion currents comparison was used to measure partial pressures. The enthalpies of the reactions under study were calculated using the third law procedure.

Results

The standard formation enthalpies of cerium molybdates and tungstates were determined from the relative ionization cross‐sections of molybdenum, tungstate, cerium, and cerium salts. Cross‐sections were calculated by different methods: simple adding atomic cross‐sections with correction factor, using known ratios of complex ions, adding oxide cross sections. The traditional approach to determination of ionization cross‐sections exploiting the values of atomic cross‐sections and the additivity rules as well as literature experimental data was used.

Conclusions

The enthalpies of formation of gaseous cerium molybdates and tungstates were evaluated by measurements of the reaction enthalpies for several independent reactions. The best agreement was obtained with the data from the analysis of experimentally determined relative ionization cross‐sections, and using ionization cross‐sections of polyatomic molecules recommended by Drowart et al. The widely used additivity method, in spite of the additional corrections introduced, gives the worst convergence of the values under consideration.
Robust adaptive fault‐tolerant control of dynamic positioning vessel with position reference system faults using backstepping design
Authors: Yu Wen‐Zhao , Xu Hai‐Xiang , Feng Hui
Published: July 2017

This paper presents a solution to guarantee a fault‐tolerant control (FTC) of dynamic positioning (DP) vessel in the presence of the position reference system (PRS) faults by using the backstepping technique. The faults modes of PRS are modeled as an additive uncertainty in the feedback loop of the DP control system, and the bounds of the additive uncertainty are unknown. Through estimating online the unknown bounds on the basis of the designed adaptive mechanism, the robust adaptive fault‐tolerant controller (RAFTC), which takes the faulty PRS measurements as the inputs, is proposed rather than detecting and isolating them. Moreover, the developed RAFTC is proved by applying Lyapunov stability theory that the closed‐loop DP control system is uniformly bounded and the tracking error can be converged to zero asymptotically despite of the PRS failures. A simulation scenario on an offshore supply vessel model is provided to validate the effectiveness of the designed RAFTC, and the results show that the RAFTC has better performance and robustness compared with the ordinary fine‐tuned adaptive backstepping controller.
Nitrogen‐Plasma‐Activated Hierarchical Nickel Nitride Nanocorals for Energy Applications
Authors: Ouyang Bo , Zhang Yongqi , Zhang Zheng , Fan Hong Jin , Rawat Rajdeep Singh
Published: July 2017

Developing transition metal nitrides with unique nanomorphology is important for many energy storage and conversion processes. Here, a facile and novel one‐step approach of growing 3D hierarchical nickel nitride (hNi3N) on Ni foam via nitrogen plasma is reported. Different from most conventional chemical synthesis, the hNi3N is obtained in much shorter growth duration (≤15 min) without any hazardous or reactive sources and oxide precursors at a moderate reaction zone temperature of ≤450 °C. Among possible multifunctionalities of the obtained nanocoral hNi3N, herein the performance in reversible lithium ion storage and electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is demonstrated. The as‐obtained hNi3N delivers a considerable cycling performance and rate stability as a lithium ion battery anode, and its property can be further enhanced by coating the hNi3N surface with graphene quantum dots. The hNi3N also serves as an active OER catalyst with high activity and stability. Additionally, on the basis of controlled growth under different nitrogen plasma treatment time, the formation mechanism of the nanocoralline hNi3N is outlined for further extension to other materials. The results on time‐ and energy‐efficient nitrogen‐plasma‐based preparation of hNi3N pave the way for the development of high‐performance metal nitride electrodes for energy storage and conversion.
Pedagogical content knowledge of experts and novices—what knowledge do they activate when analyzing science lessons?
Authors: Krepf Matthias , Plöger Wilfried , Scholl Daniel , Seifert Andreas
Published: July 2017

In the current debate on pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), the term is used to refer to the context‐specific knowledge that teachers activate when reflecting on practice. Against the background of this debate, we conducted an empirical study and sought to answer the question of which knowledge experts and novices activated in assessing a videotaped lesson in relation to its effectiveness for learning. Our assumption was that the participants activate their PCK as a blending of content knowledge (CK) and pedagogical knowledge (PK) as suggested by Shulman's amalgam thesis. The participants (9 experts and 9 novices) were shown a lesson on optics, in which the law of refraction (Snell's law) was being studied. In a subsequent interview, the participants were asked to analyze the observed lesson. A qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the interviews showed that experts activated both CK and PK intensively and in this respect they differed significantly from novices. Further analysis of the expert statements also proved that they do not activate their CK and PK in isolation, but instead combine both kinds of knowledge together, in line with Shulman's amalgam thesis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 55: 44–67, 2018
Accuracy of saline contrast sonohysterography in detection of endometrial polyps and submucosal leiomyomas in women of reproductive age with abnormal uterine bleeding: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bittencourt C. A. , dos Santos Simões R. , Bernardo W. M. , Fuchs L. F. P. , Soares Júnior J. M. , Pastore A. R. , Baracat E. C.
Published: July 2017

Objective

To analyze the diagnostic accuracy of two‐ (2D) and three‐ (3D) dimensional saline contrast sonohysterography (SCSH) in the detection of endometrial polyps and submucosal uterine leiomyomas in women of reproductive age with abnormal uterine bleeding compared with gold standard hysteroscopy.

Methods

A systematic review of diagnostic studies that compared 2D‐ and/or 3D‐SCSH with hysteroscopy and anatomopathology was conducted according to PRISMA and SEDATE recommendations. The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library were searched electronically using specific terms with no restriction on language or publication year. Quality assessment of included studies was performed using the QUADAS‐2 tool. Meta‐analysis was performed with the Meta‐DiSk program and data presented as forest plots and summary receiver–operating characteristics (SROC) curves. Pooled sensitivity, specificity and positive (LR+) and negative (LR–) likelihood ratios of SCSH in the detection of uterine cavity abnormalities were calculated.

Results

A total of 1398 citations were identified and five studies were included in the systematic review and meta‐analysis. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of 2D‐SCSH in detecting endometrial polyps were 93% (95% CI, 89–96%) and 81% (95% CI, 76–86%), respectively, with pooled LR+ of 5.41 (95% CI, 2.60–11.28) and LR– of 0.10 (95% CI, 0.06–0.17). In the detection of submucosal uterine leiomyomas, pooled sensitivity and specificity were 94% (95% CI, 89–97%) and 81% (95% CI, 76–86%), respectively, with pooled LR+ of 4.25 (95% CI, 2.20–8.21) and LR– of 0.11 (95% CI, 0.05–0.22). 2D‐SCSH had good accuracy in detecting endometrial polyps and submucosal uterine leiomyomas, with areas under the SROC curves of 0.97 ± 0.02 and 0.97 ± 0.03, respectively. Studies that analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of 3D‐SCSH could not be compared due to high heterogeneity related to menopausal status, type of technique used and primary outcome being investigation of infertility.

Conclusions

2D‐SCSH proved to be a highly sensitive method for detection of endometrial polyps and submucosal uterine leiomyomas, making it a potential first‐line diagnostic method in the work‐up for women with abnormal uterine bleeding. More studies are needed on 3D‐SCSH in women of reproductive age. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
NNLO QCD corrections to jet production in deep inelastic scattering
Authors: Currie James , Gehrmann Thomas , Huss Alexander , Niehues Jan
Published: July 2017

Abstract

Hadronic jets in deeply inelastic electron-proton collisions are produced by the scattering of a parton from the proton with the virtual gauge boson mediating the interaction. The HERA experiments have performed precision measurements of inclusive single jet production and di-jet production in the Breit frame, which provide important constraints on the strong coupling constant and on parton distributions in the proton. We describe the calculation of the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD corrections to these processes, and assess their size and impact. A detailed comparison with data from the H1 and ZEUS experiments highlights that inclusive single jet production displays a better perturbative convergence than di-jet production. We also observe that the event selection cuts in some of the di-jet measurements of both H1 and ZEUS induce an infrared sensitivity that destabilises the perturbative stability of the predictions. Our results open up new opportunities for QCD precision studies with jet production observables in deep inelastic scattering.
Transcriptomic responses involved in enhanced production of hypocrellin A by addition of Triton X-100 in submerged cultures of Shiraia bambusicola
Authors: Lei Xiu Yun , Zhang Ming Ye , Ma Yan Jun , Wang Jian Wen
Published: July 2017

The addition of surfactant is a useful strategy to enhance the product yield in submerged fermentation process. In this study, we sought to explore the mechanism for the elicitation of Triton X-100 on production of hypocrellin A (HA) in cultures of Shiraia bambusicola through transcriptomic analysis. Triton X-100 at 2.5% (w/v) not only induced HA biosynthesis in mycelia, but also stimulated the release of HA into the medium. We found 23 of 2463 transcripts, possible candidate genes for HA biosynthesis under Triton X-100 induction. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed Triton X-100 treatment changed expression of genes involved in transmembrane transport and oxidation–reduction process, indicating that enhanced HA production was mainly due to both elicited biosynthesis in mycelium and the increased membrane permeability for HA release. These data provided new insights into elicitation of surfactants in submerged cultures of fungi.
Morphology of Upper and Lower Bainite with 0.7 Mass Pct C
Authors: Yin Jiaqing , Hillert Mats , Borgenstam Annika
Published: July 2017

There has been an on-going discussion on the difference in formation mechanisms of upper and lower bainite. Various suggestions have been supported by reference to observed morphologies and illustrated with idealized sketches of morphologies. In order to obtain a better basis for discussions about the difference in mechanism, the morphology of bainite in an Fe-C alloy with 0.7 mass pct carbon was now studied in some detail from 823 K to 548 K (550 °C to 275 °C) at temperature intervals of 50 K or less. The work focused on bainite seen to start from a grain boundary in the plane of polish and showing an advancing tip in the remaining austenite. The results indicate that there is no essential difference with temperature regarding the ferritic skeleton of feathery bainite. The second stage of bainite formation, which involves the formation of both ferrite and cementite, was regarded as a eutectoid transformation and the resulting morphologies were analyzed in terms of two modes, degenerate and cooperative eutectoid transformation. There was no sharp difference between upper and lower bainite. Ways to define the difference were discussed.
Modeling of Source Parameters and Moment Tensors of Local Earthquakes Occurring in the Eastern Indian Shield
Authors: Biswas Koushik , Mandal Prantik
Published: July 2017

Earthquake source parameters and crustal Q are being estimated simultaneously through the inversion of S-wave displacement spectra from three-component recordings of ten local cratonic intraplate earthquakes from 3-6 broadband stations in the eastern Indian shield, wherein, an iterative Levenberg-Marquardt inversion technique is used. The estimated seismic moment (Mo) and source radii (r) vary from 7.4 x 1012 to 7.1 x 1014 N-m and 144.2 to 211.3 m, respectively, while estimated stress drops (Δσ) and multiplicative factor (Emo) values range from 0.11 to 4.13 MPa and 1.33 to 2.16, respectively. The corner frequencies range from 6.23 to 8.62 Hz while moment magnitudes vary from 2.44 to 3.57. The radiated seismic energy and apparent stresses range from 8.3 x 106 to 2.0 x 1010 Joules and 0.06 to 0.94 MPa, respectively, wherein the estimated corner frequencies and seismic moment satisfy the relation Mo ∞ fc−(3+ε) for ε = 12.7. Thus, the source scaling of these events clearly deviates from the self-similarity i.e. f−3. Estimated Zuniga parameters reveal that all selected events satisfy the partial stress drop model, which is in good agreement with the global observations. Our estimated crustal S-wave quality factors vary from 1091 to 4926 with an average of 3006, suggesting a less heterogeneous crustal structure underlying the study region. We also perform moment tensor inversion of five selected local events using ISOLA software, which reveals that the dominant deformation mode for the eastern Indian shield is left-lateral strike slip motion with minor normal dip-slip component on an almost vertical plane. This observation suggests that neotectonic vertical movements might have played a key role in generating these earthquakes. Our modeling also depicts that the seismically mildly active Singhbhum shear zone and Eastern Ghats mobile belt are characterized by the left-lateral strike motion while two events in the Chotanagpur half graben belt suggest a normal dip-slip motion along a south dipping plane. A north-south orientation of P-axis is found to be dominant in the area, which is consistent with the prevailing north–south compression over the Indian plate.
Petrological Considerations for the Demineralization of Rajmahal Coals with Pseudomonas mendocina B6-1
Authors: Singh Prakash K. , Singh Asha Lata , Kumar Aniruddha , Singh Mahendra P.
Published: July 2017

The present study entails the results of the petrological coniderations for demineralization of Rajmahal Gondwana coals with Psudomonas mendocina B6-1. Inertinite group macerals are the dominant constituents of these coals, followed by vitrinite group, while liptinite occurs in low concentration. The amount of Mineral matter is moderately high. The concentration of major, minor and trace elements is high when compared with Clarke values. After the treatment of these coals with Pseudomonas mendocina strain B6-1, a significant reduction in the elemental content of oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur was observed. A gradual reduction of pyrite phase due to bioleaching was identified and its signatures were reflected in the XRD spectra and FTIR absorption bands. Over 5 % reduction in the ash content and decrease of major, minor and trace element to variable degrees were also noticed. Fe, As, and Ca positively correlate with the ash removal percentage indicating that the samples with high concentration of these elements were prone to demineralization with Pseudomonas mendocina strain B6-1 whereas Ni, Zn, Cr and Cu, negatively correlate with the ash removal percentage and shows that their enrichment impeded the process of demineralization. With increasing concentration of vitrinite the removal of major/minor/trace elements also increased which is attributed to the possible association of these elements with the mineral matter occurring as superficial mounting and superficial blanketing over the vitrinite macerals. This could facilitate the bacterial access to the elements to act upon and remove it to the variable extent. Some minerals occur intergrown with inertinites causing restricted bacterial action owing to the non-exposure of the mineral particles and less surface area available to the bacteria for bioleaching. Sulfur removal strongly relates with increase in inertinite content and decrease in liptinite content. This appears that sulfur associated with liptinites have shown difficult removal condition. The maximum removal of the trace elements like Cd, Cu, Co, Zn and Pb was observed from the ‘banded dull coal’ samples of the Rajmahal basin while maximum removal of major/minor elements like Fe, Ca and Mg was noticed from the ‘banded bright coal’ samples. However, maximum removal of Mn and As was also observed in the samples of ‘banded coal’.
Groundwater Management Scenarios for the Biyadh-Wasia Aquifer Systems in the Eastern Part of Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alfaifi Hussain J. , Abdelfatah Mohammed S. , Abdelrahman Kamal , Zaidi Faisal K. , Ibrahim Elkhedr , Alarifi Nassir S.
Published: July 2017

Groundwater stored in the deep seated sedimentary aquifers is the most important source of water supply. The lack of sufficient groundwater recharge and the overdependence on groundwater might lead to unavailability of this precious natural resource if proper management practices are not adopted. Finite difference modelling using the MODFLOW program was carried out in the east of Riyadh city to simulate the groundwater level conditions under different abstraction scenarios. The simulated aquifer system combines the Wasia and Biyadh aquifer (composed of sandstone) and Aruma aquifer (limestone) which lies between 24°30’00”-25°30’00” N and longitudes 47°00’00”-48°00’00”E. The transmissivity and storage coefficient values of Biyadh aquifer are 7.0x10−3 to 7.0x10−2 m2/day and 3.7x10−4 to 9.4x10−4 respectively. The transmissivity and storage coefficient values of Wasia aquifer ranges from 6.7x10-3 to 8.5x10-2 m2/day and 2x10−4 to 2.3x10−4 respectively. The model calibration involved altering the values of model input parameters to match field conditions within certain acceptable limits to forecast the aquifer response over a period of 35 years (2015-2050). The modelling grid consisted of 20 and 24 columns with the grids spacing of 4 km for the small grids and 6 km for large grids. The results showed that though the Wasia aquifer was productive, it showed a large decline in water levels if water abstraction continued at the present rate. If the existing trends of groundwater withdraw continues; the piezometric heads in Wasia and Biyadh aquifers will decline by the year 2050. A reduction in 25% of the existing groundwater pumping rate in the well field will minimize the rate of groundwater decline in the aquifer to a considerable extent.
NORM Analysis of the Reservoir Sand Section in the Dorado Natural Gas Discovery, Mannar Basin Offshore Sri Lanka
Authors: Ratnayake R. M. T. S. , Gamage Shantha S. N. , Senadhira A. M. A. D. M. , Weerasinghe D. A. , Waduge V. A.
Published: July 2017

Oil and Gas production always ties with drawing out of naturally-occurring radionuclides deposited beneath the earth, which are referred to as “NORM”. Understanding the prevailing background levels of these elements in the sub-surface reservoir rock formations will be beneficial to all stakeholders, more importantly to regulatory authorities of the country.

The drill cutting samples from 5 m sampling intervals of natural gas reservoir sand section in the depth range 3025m to 3095m from deep water exploratory well “CLPL-Dorado 91 H/1z” drilled in the Mannar basin offshore Sri Lanka were tested in the laboratory using high-resolution Gamma-ray detectors.

Test results revealed that the activity concentration of 40K, 210Pb,226Ra and 232Th levels and the calculated outdoor annual effective dose rate varies between considerably lower range when compared with the global standard limits.

NORM concentration ranges of the sedimentary rocks within the tested section were recorded on the lower side, when the test results compared with the International Atomic Energy Agency published data on NORM concentration ranges of the sedimentary rocks found elsewhere in the world. Study results proved that there is no harmful public exposure of NORM by disposing these drill cuttings to environment or storing at any site location as it is. Also, it can be predicted that there will be very low level of NORM contaminations occur, if Dorado reservoir taken in to the production stage and well operations conducted with proper solid control mechanisms in future.
Stability Analysis and Remedial Measures of a Landslip at Keifang, Mizoram – A Case Study
Authors: Sarkar Shantanu , Samanta Manojit
Published: July 2017

Landslips are often triggered due to non-engineered excavation of potential unstable slopes. Such slips can be stabilized by implementing suitable remedial measures. A landslip occurred at a drilling site of Oil India Limited in Mizoram State due to slope excavation. There was an immediate concern to protect the slope as the drilling platform and the highway at the top of the slope are at risk if further landslide occurs in future. Slope stability analysis of the failed slope was carried out to design suitable control measures for the protection of the slope from further sliding. Slope stability using various methods indicated that the slope is marginally stable. To improve the stability of the slope, suitable retaining structure at the toe of the slope was suggested and designed. Stability analysis performed with inclusion of retaining wall showed a significant increase in factor of safety of the slope. The suggested remedial measure has been implemented at the site and there is no landslip reported since then. The paper presents the results of the slope stability analysis and the design details of the retaining structure prescribed as the protection measure.
Magnetic and Radiometric Signatures over a Proterozoic Massive Sulfide Setting of Northern Fringe of Dalma Volcanics, Eastern India: An implication to Metallogeny
Authors: Yadav Pramod Kumar , Adhikari P. K. , Shalivahan  , Tripathi Anurag , Singh Shailendra , Singh Roshan K. , Bage Ashish K.
Published: July 2017

Magnetic and radiometric surveys were carried out over a felsic dominated rifted margin of Proterozoic volcanic terrain of a mobile belt in the eastern India. The studies were made in blocks I and II of 0.65 sq km and 0.70 sq km respectively over a previously identified conductor in the northern fringe of Dalma Volcanics (DVs). In general, both the blocks show high magnetic signature associated with sulfide mineralisation. The interpretation of magnetic data suggests that nature of the causative source is mainly horizontal cylinder in both the blocks. The depth to the top of the causative source is about 25 m in both the blocks and extends upto 60 m in block I and 40m in block II. Gamma count rate exhibits about a factor of two to three enhancements above the field background for both the blocks. The obtained iso-rad maps are similar to uranium and copper belt in the Singhbhum shear zone south of the study area. The anomalous radiometric signature of the residual soil/rock of the area indicates towards hydrothermal alteration. The detailed magnetic surveys and preliminary iso-rads results seems quite encouraging and may be attributed to VMS setting in the area and potential sulfide mineralisation with uranium mineral association in the DVs province.
Asymptotic analysis of the evaporation dynamics of partially wetting droplets
Authors: Savva Nikos , Rednikov Alexey , Colinet Pierre
Published: July 2017

We consider the dynamics of an axisymmetric, partially wetting droplet of a one-component volatile liquid. The droplet is supported on a smooth superheated substrate and evaporates into a pure vapour atmosphere. In this process, we take the liquid properties to be constant and assume that the vapour phase has poor thermal conductivity and small dynamic viscosity so that we may decouple its dynamics from the dynamics of the liquid phase. This leads to a so-called ‘one-sided’ lubrication-type model for the evolution of the droplet thickness, which accounts for the effects of evaporation, capillarity, gravity, slip and kinetic resistance to evaporation. By asymptotically matching the flow near the contact line region and the bulk of the droplet in the limit of a small slip length and commensurably small evaporation and kinetic resistance effects, we obtain coupled evolution equations for the droplet radius and volume. The predictions of our asymptotic analysis, which also include an estimate of the evaporation time, are found to be in excellent agreement with numerical simulations of the governing lubrication model for a broad range of parameter regimes.
Numerical study of convective sedimentation through a sharp density interface
Authors: Shao Yun-Chuan , Hung Chen-Yen , Chou Yi-Ju
Published: July 2017

We conduct numerical simulations using the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach to investigate the formation of the leaking, finger, and stable-settling modes in convective sedimentation when a sediment-laden fluid layer descends through a sharply stratified ambient flow. We show that the temporal evolution of the sedimentation process for the leaking mode can be divided into three stages, including (in temporal order) Rayleigh–Taylor instability, convection, and leaking stages. The presence of sheet-like descending plumes of suspended particles is an important characteristic of the leaking mode, which marks the existence of the leaking stage. For larger particles, the motion is more dominated by gravitational settling and less affected by buoyancy-induced flow motion. The resulting lack of the leaking stage for the larger-particle case leads to persistent finger-like plumes of suspended particles, known as the finger mode. The stable-settling mode occurs when the particles are large and the concentration is dilute such that flow motion due to Rayleigh–Taylor instability has no effect on the particle motion, and the convective motion of suspended particles is insignificant. For the third stage of the leaking mode, which is also the final stationary state, we derive the criterion for the occurrence of the leaking pattern from a scaling argument of the viscous boundary layer. The criterion is further confirmed by the present simulation results and previous laboratory experiments. Through analysis of the energy budget and the vertical flux, we show that although the settling of individual particles is accelerated, the presence of the sheet-like descending plumes in the leaking mode does not contribute to an efficient settling enhancement compared with the finger mode and the Rayleigh–Taylor instability, i.e., the cases with no background stratification. This implies a negative effect on the settling enhancement for small suspended particles when a stable background density stratification exists. In addition, simulations using the equilibrium Eulerian description for the suspended particles are also conducted to examine the difference between the present Lagrangian particle approach and the conventional Eulerian model.
Generalized rapid-distortion theory on transversely sheared mean flows with physically realizable upstream boundary conditions: application to trailing-edge problem
Authors: Goldstein M. E. , Leib S. J. , Afsar M. Z.
Published: July 2017

This paper is concerned with rapid-distortion theory on transversely sheared mean flows which (among other things) can be used to analyse the unsteady motion resulting from the interaction of a turbulent shear flow with a solid surface. It extends previous analyses of Goldsteinet al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 736, 2013a, pp. 532–569;NASA/TM-2013-217862, 2013b) which showed that the unsteady motion is completely determined by specifying two arbitrary convected quantities. The present paper uses a pair of previously derived conservation laws to derive upstream boundary conditions that relate these quantities to experimentally measurable flow variables. The result is dependent on the imposition of causality on an intermediate variable that appears in the conservation laws. Goldsteinet al.(2013a) related the convected quantities to the physical flow variables at the location of the interaction, but the results were not generic and hard to reconcile with experiment. That problem does not occur in the present formulation, which leads to a much simpler and more natural result than the one given in Goldsteinet al.(2013a). We also show that the present formalism yields better predictions of the sound radiation produced by the interaction of a two-dimensional jet with the downstream edge of a flat plate than the Goldsteinet al.(2013a) result. The role of causality is also discussed.
Linear and weakly nonlinear analyses of cylindrical Couette flow with axial and radial flows
Authors: Martinand Denis , Serre Eric , Lueptow Richard M.
Published: July 2017

Extending previous linear stability analyses of the instabilities developing in permeable Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille flows where axial and radial throughflows are superimposed on the usual Taylor–Couette flow, we further examine the linear behaviour and expand the analysis to consider the weakly nonlinear behaviour of convective-type instabilities by means of the derivation of the fifth-order amplitude equation together with direct numerical simulations. Special attention is paid to the influence of the radius ratio $\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}=r_{in}/r_{out}$, and particularly to wide gaps (small $\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$) and how they magnify the effects of the radial flow. The instabilities take the form of pairs of counter-rotating toroidal vortices superseded by helical ones as the axial flow is increased. Increasing the radial inflow draws these vortices near the inner cylinder, where they shrink relative to the annular gap, when this gap is wide. Strong axial and radial flows in a narrow annular gap lead to a very large azimuthal wavenumber with steeply sloped helical vortices. Strong radial outflow in a wide annular gap results in very large helical vortices. The analytical and numerical saturated vortices match quite well. In addition, radial inflows or outflows can turn the usually supercritical bifurcation from laminar to vortical flow into a subcritical one. The radial flow above which this change occurs decreases as the radius ratio $\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$ decreases. A practical motivation for this weakly nonlinear analysis is found in modelling dynamic filtration devices, which rely on vortical instabilities to reduce the processes of accumulation on their membranes.
Interaction of instability waves and a three-dimensional roughness element in a boundary layer
Authors: de Paula I. B. , Würz W. , Mendonça M. T. , Medeiros M. A. F.
Published: July 2017

The influence of a single roughness element on the evolution of two-dimensional (2-D) Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) waves is investigated experimentally. Experiments are carried out in a region of zero pressure gradient of an airfoil section. Downstream from the disturbance source, TS waves interact with a cylindrical roughness element with a slowly oscillating height. The oscillation frequency of the roughness was approximately 1500 times lower than the wave frequency and approximately 250 times slower than the characteristic time of flow passing the region of transition development. Therefore, the roughness behaved as a quasi-steady disturbance. The set-up enabled us to perform hot-wire measurements phase locked to the waves and to the roughness movement. Experimental results show a scattering of the 2-D waves into oblique ones and a relatively weak distortion of the mean flow for roughness heights as large as 0.2 times the boundary layer displacement thickness ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{\ast }$). Transfer functions for TS wave scattering at the roughness are obtained. Results show an unexpected coincidence in shape with acoustic receptivity functions found in Würz et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 478, 2003, pp. 135–163) for the problem of excitation of TS waves by scattering of acoustic waves at surface roughness. In the present work, the ratio between the incoming 2-D wave amplitude to the amplitude of the scattered oblique waves scaled linearly with the roughness height only for very shallow roughness. For roughness elements higher than $0.08\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{\ast }$ and below $0.2\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{\ast }$, the wave scattering exhibited a quadratic variation with respect to the roughness height. In addition, this feature did not vary significantly with respect to TS wave frequency. An analysis of the weakly nonlinear interactions triggered by the roughness element is also carried out, assisted by numerical solution of nonlinear parabolized stability equations, performed for a two-dimensional Blasius boundary layer. A comparison between experiments and simulations reveals that the weakly nonlinear interactions observed are not substantially affected by mean flow distortions that could be produced in the wake of the small and medium sized roughness elements ($h<0.2\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{\ast }$). From a practical perspective, results suggest that scattering coefficients might be employed to include the effect of isolated and medium sized roughness elements in transition prediction tools developed for smooth surfaces.
Pore-filling events in single junction micro-models with corresponding lattice Boltzmann simulations
Authors: Zacharoudiou Ioannis , Chapman Emily M. , Boek Edo S. , Crawshaw John P.
Published: July 2017

The aim of this work is to better understand fluid displacement mechanisms at the pore scale in relation to capillary-filling rules. Using specifically designed micro-models we investigate the role of pore body shape on fluid displacement during drainage and imbibition via quasi-static and spontaneous experiments at ambient conditions. The experimental results are directly compared to lattice Boltzmann (LB) simulations. The critical pore-filling pressures for the quasi-static experiments agree well with those predicted by the Young–Laplace equation and follow the expected filling events. However, the spontaneous imbibition experimental results differ from those predicted by the Young–Laplace equation; instead of entering the narrowest available downstream throat the wetting phase enters an adjacent throat first. Thus, pore geometry plays a vital role as it becomes the main deciding factor in the displacement pathways. Current pore network models used to predict displacement at the field scale may need to be revised as they currently use the filling rules proposed by Lenormandet al.(J. Fluid Mech., vol. 135, 1983, pp. 337–353). Energy balance arguments are particularly insightful in understanding the aspects affecting capillary-filling rules. Moreover, simulation results on spontaneous imbibition, in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, reveal that the capillary number itself is not sufficient to characterise the two phase flow. The Ohnesorge number, which gives the relative importance of viscous forces over inertial and capillary forces, is required to fully describe the fluid flow, along with the viscosity ratio.
Afterword: Genre Queries, African Studies
Authors: Adejunmobi Moradewun
Published: July 2017

This essay on genres acknowledges the constructed nature of the fluid classifications that form around recognized and recognizable types of creative work. Some systems of classification owe their recognition to powerful cultural intermediaries. Others, often located in the realm of popular culture, emerge without input from cultural intermediaries. As constructed groupings of works, genres matter for their ability to generate distinct circuits of transmission that allow for a specific type of encounter with the work and a type of response to the work.
New parasitological findings for pre-Hispanic camelids
Authors: TAGLIORETTI V. , FUGASSA M. H. , RINDEL D. , SARDELLA N. H.
Published: July 2017

Paleoparasitological examination provides information of parasite–host associations in the past, shedding light on the geographical origin of some parasites, on the possible dispersal routes and on some of the processes that modelled the parasitic communities. The aim of the present study was to examine parasite remains present in camelid coprolites collected from the archaeological site Alero Destacamento Guardaparque, Patagonia and to discuss the paleoparasitological findings in a biogeographical and paleoecological context. Coprolites were collected from different stratified layers dating from middle to late Holocene, a period covering approximately 7000 years. Paleoparasitological examination revealed the presence of eggs attributed to Lamanema chavezi or Nematodirus lamae, Nematodirus spathiger, Dictyocaulus sp., eggs of two unidentified capillariids, Strongylus-type eggs and oocysts of Eimeria macusaniensis. Enteric parasites of camelids had not changed significantly during the Holocene up to the entry of introduced livestock, although environmental conditions fluctuated greatly throughout this period, indicating the stability of these associations over time. This is the first finding of N. spathiger and Dictyocaulus sp. in paleoparasitological record and their presence are associated with the interaction of camelids with introduced livestock, which likely allowed parasite host switching. In the present study, the zoonotic importance of parasites of camelids is also discussed.