bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Capital Prices, Productivity, and Growth
Authors: Bowlus Audra J , Robinson Chris
Published: December 2012

Separate identification of the price and quantity of human capital has important implications for understanding key issues in economics. Price and quantity series are derived for four education levels. The price series are highly correlated and they exhibit a strong secular trend. Three resulting implications are explored: the rising college premium is found to be driven more by relative quantity than relative price changes, life-cycle wage profiles are readily interpretable as reflecting optimal human capital investment paths using the estimated price series, and adjusting the labor input for quality increases dramatically reduces the contribution of MFP to growth. (JEL D91, I20, J24, J31, O47)
The 11–20 Money Request Game: A Level-k Reasoning Study
Authors: Arad Ayala , Rubinstein Ariel
Published: December 2012

We study experimentally a new two-player game: each player requests an amount between 11 and 20 shekels. He receives the requested amount and if he requests exactly one shekel less than the other player, he receives an additional 20 shekels. Level-k reasoning is appealing due to the natural starting point (requesting 20) and the straightforward best-response operation. Nevertheless, almost all subjects exhibit at most three levels of reasoning. Two variants of the game demonstrate that the depth of reasoning is not increased by enhancing the attractiveness of the level-0 strategy or by reducing the cost of undercutting the other player.
Life Insurance and Household Consumption
Authors: Hong Jay H , Ríos-Rull José-Víctor
Published: December 2012

Using life insurance holdings by age, sex, and marital status, we infer how individuals value consumption in different demographic stages. We estimate equivalence scales and bequest motives simultaneously within a fully specified model where agents face US demographics and save and purchase life insurance. Our findings indicate that individuals are very caring for dependents, that economies of scale are large, that children are very costly (or yield very high marginal utility), that wives with children produce lots of home goods, and that females display habits from marriage, while men do not. These findings contrast sharply with standard equivalence scales.
Revolving Door Lobbyists
Authors: Blanes i Vidal Jordi , Draca Mirko , Fons-Rosen Christian
Published: December 2012

Washington's “revolving door”––the movement from government service into the lobbying industry––is regarded as a major concern for policy-making. We study how ex-government staffers benefit from the personal connections acquired during their public service. Lobbyists with experience in the office of a US Senator suffer a 24 percent drop in generated revenue when that Senator leaves office. The effect is immediate, discontinuous around the exit period, and long-lasting. Consistent with the notion that lobbyists sell access to powerful politicians, the drop in revenue is increasing in the seniority of and committee assignments power held by the exiting politician.
Growth Dynamics: The Myth of Economic Recovery: Comment
Authors: Mueller Hannes
Published: December 2012

This comment highlights different ways of coding crisis episodes in Cerra and Saxena (2008) (CS). The comment shows that the coding used for civil war implies a misrepresentation of its impact. A correct coding of civil war reveals that the average civil war leads to a loss in output of 18 percent. This makes civil wars more devastating than all other crisis studied by CS.
Physiological interpretations of radiographic findings on malformations of small veins: seriality of cisterns, communications to systemic veins and relationship to muscles
Authors: Kishi Kazushi , Morita Nobuo , Terada Tomoaki , Sato Morio , Sonomura Tetsuo
Published: December 2012

Objectives

To re-evaluate the fluoroscopic findings of venous malformation by cine mode cisternography.

Methods

Using direct injection cine-cisternography, we studied 49 venous malformation lesions in the head and neck of 30 patients who were scheduled to undergo ethanol sclerotherapy. The diameter of definitively measurable 46 lesions was 21.7 ± 10.5 mm (mean ± SD, range: 6.0–48.0 mm). The injection was continued until the draining veins were clearly observed. Outflow communications between cisterns and systemic veins were classified into Type 1, no visible drainage; Type 2, draining into a normal venous system; and Type 3, with abnormally ectatic draining veins. The topological relationships of the lesions to surrounding structures were addressed using computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonogram. Treatment results were evaluated.

Results

The direct injection cine-cisternography showed the typical ‘bunch of grapes’ pattern, and revealed serial cisternal, followed by the appearance of outflow/draining veins in all lesions. There were no Type 1, 47 Type 2 and two Type 2 outflow pattern. Satellite lesions emerged via the communicating veins in six lesions. Of the all 49 lesions, 48 were located in or on the muscle fascia. Sclerotherapy was safely completed in all Type 2 lesions with satisfactory results, but for the Type 3 lesions treatment was limited to be partial to avoid complications.

Conclusions

The present study suggested that communications from venous malformation to the systemic vein are fluoroscopically confirmable. These radiographic findings were thought explainable in relation to developmental nature or facilitating process of venous malformation.
Highly selective introduction of heteroatom groups to isocyanides and its application to electrocyclic reactions
Authors: Ogawa Akiya , Tamai Taichi , Mitamura Takenori , Nomoto Akihiro
Published: December 2012

Photoinduced cyclization of o-alkenylaryl isocyanides with (PhS)2 in the presence of (PhTe)2 affords the corresponding bisthiolated indene derivatives in good yields via radical cyclization process by thio radical. The procedure can be applied to the construction of tetracyclic systems by using bis(o-aminophenyl) disulfides in place of (PhS)2. In sharp contrast, when o-alkynylaryl isocyanides are employed as the substrates, novel electrocyclic reactions take place upon photoirradiation or heating at 40~80 °C to generate quinoline 2,4-biradical species, which are trapped with organic diselenides, ditellurides, and molecular iodine to give the corresponding 2,4-diseleno-, ditelluro-, and diiodo-quinoline derivatives, respectively, in good yields. The obtained quinoline derivatives are useful synthetic intermediates; for example, cross-coupling reactions using 2,4-diiodoquinolines lead to the preparation of functionalized quinoline derivatives.
Toxicity in tumor cells, DNA binding mode, and resistance to decomposition by sulfur nucleophiles of new dinuclear bifunctional trans-PtII complexes containing long alkane linkers
Authors: Prachařová Jitka , Nováková Olga , Kašpárková Jana , Gibson Dan , Brabec Viktor
Published: December 2012

In an effort to design dinuclear PtII compounds that maintain the target (DNA) binding profile of the trans-oriented dinuclear bifunctional PtII complexes containing aliphatic linker chains but are less susceptible to metabolic decomposition, the new, long-chain dinuclear PtII complexes—[{trans-PtCl(dien)}2-μ-(CH2)
n
]2+ (n = 7,10,12, dien = diethylenetriamine)—were synthesized. The toxicity of these metallodrugs was examined in ovarian tumor cell lines. The results showed that the activity of these complexes increased with growing length of the linker; the activity of complex containing the longest linker (n = 12) was comparable with that of cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum(II) (cisplatin). This observation correlated with the results of DNA binding studies performed in cell-free media. The results of these studies demonstrated that the growing length of the aliphatic bridge promoted more distorting conformational alterations induced in DNA. Attention was also paid to the reactivity of {[Pt(dien)Cl]2-alkane} compounds with glutathione (GSH). The results of these experiments support the thesis that the dinuclear structure of {[Pt(dien)Cl]2-alkane} complexes remains stable in the presence of S-containing compounds without undergoing chemical degradation as previously observed for some di/trinuclear bifunctional PtII complexes. This enhanced stability represents a favorable property which may contribute to reduce side effects and increase therapeutic efficacy of the dinuclear {[Pt(dien)Cl]2-alkane} compounds.
Cell Plasticity and Heterogeneity in Cancer
Authors: Marjanovic Nemanja D , Weinberg Robert A , Chaffer Christine L
Published: December 2012

BACKGROUND

Heterogeneity within a given cancer arises from diverse cell types recruited to the tumor and from genetic and/or epigenetic differences amongst the cancer cells themselves. These factors conspire to create a disease with various phenotypes. There are 2 established models of cancer development and progression to metastatic disease. These are the clonal evolution and cancer stem cell models.

CONTENT

The clonal evolution theory suggests that successive mutations accumulating in a given cell generate clonal outgrowths that thrive in response to microenvironmental selection pressures, dictating the phenotype of the tumor. The alternative cancer stem cell (CSC) model suggests that cancer cells with similar genetic BACKGROUNDs can be hierarchically organized according to their tumorigenic potential. Accordingly, CSCs reside at the apex of the hierarchy and are thought to possess the majority of a cancer's tumor-initiating and metastatic ability. A defining feature of this model is its apparent unidirectional nature, whereby CSCs undergo symmetric division to replenish the CSC pool and irreversible asymmetric division to generate daughter cells (non-CSCs) with low tumorigenic potential. However, evolving evidence supports a new model of tumorigenicity, in which considerable plasticity exists between the non-CSC and CSC compartments, such that non-CSCs can reacquire a CSC phenotype. These findings suggest that some tumors may adhere to a plastic CSC model, in which bidirectional conversions are common and essential components of tumorigenicity.

Accumulating evidence surrounding the plasticity of cancer cells, in particular, suggests that aggressive CSCs can be created de novo within a tumor. Given the current focus on therapeutic targeting of CSCs, we discuss the implications of non-CSC-to-CSC conversions on the development of future therapies.
Zwischenstufen. Überlegungen zur Transzendenzproblematik in geistlichen Spielen
Authors: Koch Elke
Published: December 2012

The article uses as its starting point the consideration that in religious communication there is either deparadoxation (whereby the understanding of ‘God’ is made more closely determinable and more capable of being connected to an immanent perspective) or a situation whereby paradoxes are developed (to such an extent that they lead to the Unverfügbarkeit of holiness). Furthermore, the question is posed on the strategies used in the liturgical dramas of the Late Middle Ages which create Verfügbarkeit through the debordering of holiness and by making it a daily commonplace. The main hypothesis is that holiness is not represented as being directly verfügbar, but appears rather in ‘intermediate stages’ as organised and staggered intermediaries.
Sprachliche Strategien zur Aktivierung und Deaktivierung von Diskursreferenten in deutschsprachigen Texten
Authors: Donhauser Karin , Petrova Svetlana
Published: December 2012

Using as a starting point the finding that in linguistics Verfügbarkeit and Unverfügbarkeit have not yet been recognised as categories, the authors point out that strategies have, nevertheless, been investigated in a highly intensive way: these are aimed at the activiation of a certain knowledge in the recepient – thereby making this knowledge verfügbar (or not, as the case may be). In this process an important role is played by agents, which in linguistics are called ‘discourse referents’: the authors follow up the communicative potential of these discourse referents from a language historical-systematic perspective.
Playing with Gender: Girls, Dolls, and Adult Ideals in the Roman World
Authors: Dolansky Fanny
Published: December 2012

This study examines the socio-cultural significance of dolls as Roman girls' toys. It focuses on a sample of ivory, bone, and cloth dolls, many of which have ornate hairstyles, molded breasts and, in some cases, delineated genitalia. As the only explicitly gendered toys from the Roman world, these constitute unique bodies of evidence for exploring questions of socialization and identity formation, and assessing ancient ideals. Often treated as relatively straightforward objects that prepared girls for futures as wives and mothers, this study argues instead that they were more complex and conveyed mixed messages to their young owners. By isolating three specific features of the dolls (an emphasis on adornment, capacity for movement, and resemblance to imperial figures), situating these in their historical and ideological milieux, and linking them with expectations for girls known from literary sources, the dolls' multivalence as artifacts of gender and status is revealed.
Law, Politics, and the Question of Relevance in the Case On the Crown
Authors: Gagarin M.
Published: December 2012

This paper seeks to give a more precise grounding to the question of relevance in Athenian forensic argument with a specific focus on the speeches delivered by Aeschines and Demosthenes in the case On the Crown. I argue that in Athenian litigation relevance can be determined quite precisely by the specific terms of the accusation, and that the litigants are well aware of this standard and take care to make their arguments relevant or to justify them if they may appear to be “outside the issue.” Because all the issues specified in the accusation are legally relevant, the distinction commonly drawn between legal and political arguments has no place in a discussion of relevance. The effect of this rule of relevance, I argue, is not to promote fairness but to increase the advantage enjoyed by the plaintiff. I conclude with a few observations on the Athenian view of law which, I suggest, was considerably broader than ours.
The Emperor's No Clothes: Suetonius and the Dynamics of Corporeal Ecphrasis
Authors: Gladhill Bill
Published: December 2012

This paper studies Suetonius's depiction of the appearance of Emperors through what I call Bodily or Corporeal Ecphrasis. Suetonius's ecphrasis of the Emperor's body directs the readers' gaze over the corpus principis in a way that deconstructs the ontology of the princeps. I will show that Suetonius's construction of emperors' corpora includes an amalgamation of referents to heavenly and animal bodies that upsets a reader's ability to interpret these radically unique images through a purely human criterion.
Strategies of Detection: Interpretive Methods in Experimental Particle Physics, 1930–1950
Authors: Thomas William
Published: December 2012

Between 1930 and 1950 experimental physicists used cloud chambers, coincidence counters, and nuclear emulsions to study both cosmic rays and radioactive processes. In order to identify what particles they were detecting and to measure their properties, these physicists employed a variety of interpretive strategies. Their choice of strategies depended upon what task they were trying to perform, and what instrument they were using. It is argued that different strategies could be employed using the same instrument, that the same strategy could be used with different instruments, and that different strategies could be used in combination with each other. Analyzing the history of the use of these strategies permits a deeper understanding of how physicists designed experiments and used evidence in drawing conclusions. Attending to the patterns of strategy use also permits new periodizations to be developed in the history of particle physics. In the timeframe considered, it is argued that inferential strategies were used to interpret single images of particle tracks, that evidence aggregation was crucial using all kinds of detectors, and that it was also common to use nuclear physics knowledge to narrow the range of possible interpretations. Beginning in the late 1940s, precision measurement, precision experiment design, and decay mode analysis became prominent strategies in the systematic search for new particles. This history builds on and revises Peter Galison’s history of particle detection practices, which is based on the distinct epistemological ideals he supposes drove experimentation in the “image” and “logic” traditions of detector instrumentation.
The Enigmatic Conservation of a Rap1 Binding Site in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HMR-E Silencer
Authors: Teytelman Leonid , Nishimura Erin A Osborne , Özaydin Bilge , Eisen Michael B , Rine Jasper
Published: December 2012

Silencing at the HMR and HML loci in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires recruitment of Sir proteins to the HML and HMR silencers. The silencers are regulatory sites flanking both loci and consisting of binding sites for the Rap1, Abf1, and ORC proteins, each of which also functions at hundreds of sites throughout the genome in processes unrelated to silencing. Interestingly, the sequence of the binding site for Rap1 at the silencers is distinct from the genome-wide binding profile of Rap1, being a weaker match to the consensus, and indeed is bound with low affinity relative to the consensus sequence. Remarkably, this low-affinity Rap1 binding site variant was conserved among silencers of the sensu stricto Saccharomyces species, maintained as a poor match to the Rap1 genome-wide consensus sequence in all of them. We tested multiple predictions about the possible role of this binding-site variant in silencing by substituting the native Rap1 binding site at the HMR-E silencer with the genome-wide consensus sequence for Rap1. Contrary to the predictions from the current models of Rap1, we found no influence of the Rap1 binding site version on the kinetics of establishing silencing, nor on the maintenance of silencing, nor the extent of silencing. We further explored implications of these findings with regard to prevention of ectopic silencing, and deduced that the selective pressure for the unprecedented conservation of this binding site variant may not be related to silencing.
Population Dynamics ofPhytophthora infestansin the Netherlands Reveals Expansion and Spread of Dominant Clonal Lineages and Virulence in Sexual Offspring
Authors: Li Y , van der Lee T A J , Evenhuis A , van den Bosch G B M , van Bekkum P J , Förch M G , van Gent-Pelzer M P E , van Raaij H M G , Jacobsen E , Huang S W , Govers F , Vleeshouwers V G A A , Kessel G J T
Published: December 2012

For a comprehensive survey of the structure and dynamics of the Dutch Phytophthora infestans population, 652 P. infestans isolates were collected from commercial potato fields in the Netherlands during the 10-year period 2000–2009. Genotyping was performed using 12 highly informative microsatellite markers and mitochondrial haplotypes. In addition, for each isolate, the mating type was determined. STRUCTURE analysis grouped the 322 identified genotypes in three clusters. Cluster 1 consists of a single clonal lineage NL-001, known as “Blue_13”; all isolates in this cluster have the A2 mating type and the Ia mitochondrial haplotype. Clusters 2 and 3 display a more elaborate substructure containing many unique genotypes. In Cluster 3, several distinct clonal lineages were also identified. This survey witnesses that the Dutch population underwent dramatic changes in the 10 years under study. The most notable change was the emergence and spread of A2 mating type strain NL-001 (or “Blue_13”). The results emphasize the importance of the sexual cycle in generating genetic diversity and the importance of the asexual cycle as the propagation and dispersal mechanism for successful genotypes. Isolates were also screened for absence of the Avrblb1/ipiO class I gene, which is indicative for virulence on Rpi-blb1. This is also the first report of Rpi-blb1 breakers in the Netherlands. Superimposing the virulence screening on the SSR genetic backbone indicates that lack the Avrblb1/ipiO class I gene only occurred in sexual progeny. So far, the asexual spread of the virulent isolates identified has been limited.
Genetic Interactions Between Brassinosteroid-Inactivating P450s and Photomorphogenic Photoreceptors in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sandhu Kulbir Singh , Hagely Katherine , Neff Michael M
Published: December 2012

Plants use light as a source of information via a suite of photomorphogenic photoreceptors to optimize growth in response to their light environment. Growth-promoting hormones such as brassinosteroids also can modulate many of these responses. BAS1 and SOB7 are brassinosteroid-catabolizing P450s in Arabidopsis thaliana that synergistically/redundantly modulate photomorphogenic traits such as flowering time. The role of BAS1 and SOB7 in photomorphogenesis has been investigated by studying null-mutant genetic interactions with the photoreceptors phyA, phyB, and cry1 with regard to seed germination and flowering time. The removal of BAS1 and/or SOB7 rescued the low germination rate of the phyA-211 phyB-9 double-null mutant. With regard to floral induction, bas1-2 and sob7-1 showed a complex set of genetic interactions with photoreceptor-null mutants. Histochemical analysis of transgenic plants harboring BAS1:BAS1-GUS and SOB7:SOB7-GUS translational fusions under the control of their endogenous promoters revealed overlapping and distinct expression patterns. BAS1’s expression in the shoot apex increases during the phase transition from short-to-long-day growth conditions and requires phyB in red light. In summary, BAS1 and SOB7 displayed both simple and complex genetic interactions with the phytochromes in a plant-stage specific manner.
Characterisation of avian Pasteurella multocida strains with PCR-RFLP analysis of the ompH gene
Authors: Sellyei Boglárka , Ivanics Éva , Magyar Tibor
Published: December 2012

The 16 somatic serotype type strains and 60 field isolates of Pasteurella multocida, representing various avian species and geographic regions in Hungary, were characterised by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the ompH gene with DraI restriction endonuclease. The type strains yielded eight different (I-VIII) profiles. Strains whose PCR fragment was uncut by DraI (profile IV) could be differentiated with HindIII and PvuII restriction endonucleases. Five of the eight PCR-RFLP profiles (I, III, V, VI and VII) were detected among the field strains. Only a correlation of limited strength was found between the classical somatic serotypes and the PCR-RFLP profiles. However, the results confirmed that molecular methods could confidently distinguish serotype A:1 strains from the other serotypes. Moreover, the specific relationship between somatic serotypes and PCR-RFLP types among isolates from turkey raises the possibility of the existence of host-specific clones within the P. multocida population.
Characterizations of the Amoroso distribution
Authors: Hamedani G.
Published: December 2012

Characterizations of the Amoroso distribution based on a simple relationship between two truncated moments are presented. A remark regarding the characterization of certain special cases of the Amoroso distribution based on hazard function is given. We will also point out that a sub-family of the Amoroso family is a member of the generalized Pearson system.
Parameterized affine codes
Authors: López Hiram , Sarmiento Eliseo , Pinto Maria , Villarreal Rafael
Published: December 2012

Let K be a finite field and let X* be an affine algebraic toric set parameterized by monomials. We give an algebraic method, using Gröbner bases, to compute the length and the dimension of CX* (d), the parameterized affine code of degree d on the set X*. If Y is the projective closure of X*, it is shown that CX* (d) has the same basic parameters that CY (d), the parameterized projective code on the set Y. If X* is an affine torus, we compute the basic parameters of CX* (d). We show how to compute the vanishing ideals of X* and Y.
Key Initiatives towards HSE Excellence
Authors: Shaikh Mastan
Published: December 2012

Description

This paper describes key initiatives of the HSE management system that has been developed, and implementation at KOC West Kuwait (WK) fields which resulted in 26 Million Man-Hours worked without any lost time injury till 31st March 2012.

Application

The multi-cultural composition of the workforce imposes specific difficulties in execution of HSE initiatives and application of the HSE Management System. Significant efforts have been made by HSE (WK) Team to address these areas using approaches such as communication & awareness on HSE Management System with all levels of Business partners and Company’s employees.

The initiatives and achievement that HSE West Kuwait has adopted resulted in minimizing the industrial incidents and Motor Vehicles Accidents. This paper also focuses on the process of implementation of various initiatives taken by the HSE (WK) to achieve a substantial lowering of HSE risks, reduction of disabling injuries and frequency rates, and employee HSE behavior, enhanced Contractor’s HSE performance and many more indirect positive results.

Significance of Subject Matter

All of the company’s activities have the potential to affect the health, safety and environment of its stakeholders and nearby communities in a positive or negative way. KOC is committed to managing these effects and the risks associated with its activities and products. To fulfill the commitment, HSE (WK) initiated following activities for the implementation of a HSE Management System at the field. Setting up of HSE (West Kuwait) Team and streamlining of responsibilities / functions.Clearance of Explosive Ordinance Disposal from West Kuwait key areas.HSE Compliance at Site by Leadership HSE visits.Communication with KOC Employees and Business Partners (Contractors).Road Safety Measures.Initiating and ensuring the presence of a Physician in WK Clinic.Active Participation in International Conferences.British Safety Council Award-International Safety Award for 2011 for WK Fields.Certification for the "Campaign of the Year" award by SHP-IOSH.Results and Conclusion.
Developing High H2S Facility Design Requirements in Conceptual Stage
Authors: Majeed M.. , Al-Khaledi S. M.
Published: December 2012

In order to develop the design requirement with current regulatory and contemporary HSE practices, for a typical sour oil/gas production facility, a hypothetical case of about 3 mol % v/v H2S in gas and 300 ppm w/w H2S in oil, of multiphase feed stream, has been studied through the dispersion modeling for the conceptual stage. The findings indicated credible downwind lethal / semi lethal threat distance up to 300 meters. The conclusions of the H2S toxic risk assessment combined with the inherent safe design guidelines have yielded an entirely new set of requirement for the risk reduction. To start with it was realized that safe distance control room should be constructed and facilities should be designed for the remote operation, utilizing the new trends of foundation field bus, electronic marshaling and SIL-3 fiber optic sensors. The facility should be access controlled with mandatory PPE requirement of personal H2S monitors and personal quick donning (5 sec) escape SCABA (15 minutes capacity). The centrifugal compressors should be new generation design of enclosed and hermetically sealed type, levitated with magnetic bearing, without dry gas seals and oil lubrication. The vessels should be ASME Section VIII"lethal service" design and plant piping should be as per fluid category"M" of ASME B31.3 chapter VIII. Furthermore, stress relieving for thicknesses as low as 10 mm, rather than ASME B31.3 code specified >19 mm would be required. Small valves <4" sizes should be of forged steel instead of cast steel. The export oil/gas pipelines and flow lines should be designed for =< 50~60 % of SMYS. Plate instead of Shell and Tube Exchangers. Adequate margins between vessels design and operating pressures to avoid PSV chattering. The PSV’s to have acoustic monitoring. The facilities should be designed free of valve pits and internal corrosion monitoring pits.
Elemental Chemostratigraphy Provides Improved Understanding of Reservoir Stratigraphy and Rock Properties for the Complex Najmah-Sargelu Reservoir of Umm Gudair Field, Kuwait
Authors: Al-Muraikhi Rasha , SinghaRay Dipak , Al-Khamees Waleed
Published: December 2012

Najmah-Sargelu Formations of Kuwait show considerable potential as a new unconventional hydrocarbon play and produces mainly from fractures. The key uncertainties which affect the productivity are the nature and distribution of permeable fracture networks, and the limits of oil accumulation.

This paper presents the results from whole-rock elemental analysis of three cored wells in UG field. The main objectives of this study are to use high-resolution elemental chemostratigraphy to gain a better understanding of the detailed stratigraphy and correlation of the Najmah-Sargelu Formations, to assess the chemo-sedimentology for determining the intervals of high organic content, to estimate the mineralogy of the sequence using an algorithm developed for an analog formation in North America; and to determine the most likely intervals to contain fractures, using a brittleness algorithm.

A clear chemo stratigraphic zonation is recognized within the Najmah-Sargelu Formation. The larger divisions are driven mainly by inherent lithological variation. The finer divisions are delineated by more subtle chemo stratigraphic signals (K2O/Th and Rb/Al2O3 ratios) and preservation of organic matter (high V, Ni, Mo, and U abundances). Zones of alternating brittleness and ductility are clearly identified within the interbedded limestones and marlstones of Najmah-Sargelu Formation.

Two unexpected but important features of the Najmah-Sargelu limestones were elucidated by the elemental data. Brittle, high-silica spiculites, with virtually no clay or silt, are more common than previously recognized from petrophysical logs and core descriptions in the upper Najmah limestones. In addition, the limestones adjacent to the spiculites tend to contain bitumen as pore-filling are recognized by the trace metal proxies. Ternary plots of V, Ni, and Mo differentiate the combinations of kerogen and bitumen present in the Najmah-Sargelu Formations.

The clarity and sensitivity of the chemostratigraphic signals are sufficient to enhance formation evaluation, and can also assist borehole positioning using the RockWiseSM ED-XRF instrument at wellsite.
Thermal Recovery Potential of Shallow Sandstone Reservoir for Optimized Unconventional Development Strategy in Kuwait
Authors: Ferdous H.. , Choudhary P.. , Ahmad F.. , Abbas F.. , Ahmad K.. , Llerena J.. , Sammak I..
Published: December 2012

One pilot study presently being conducted through CSS thermal recovery technology to explore a shallow poorly-consolidated viscous oil bearing sandstone reservoir in Kuwait with extensive integrated reservoir evaluation efforts to optimize the future development strategy.

The reservoir largely consists of two separate deltaic sand packages representing multi-stacked channel facies resulting to stratified reservoir intervals with variable degree of fluid saturations. Reservoir characterization uncovers high matrix contents along with calcite, dolomite, and clays as cements which essentially control uneven pore-geometry that fabricate the petrofacies types into multiple thin stratified-pay intervals, each being < 30’ thick with variable fluid saturations resulting from long transitional thief zones posing high risk for thermal recovery. Thus, a seemingly simple channel-based reservoir interval has been greatly altered by diagenetic episodes that need evaluation towards an arduous perforation, completion and production strategy to pursuit the well-defined individual thin pay-interval.

Single-well thermal recovery scheme under"injection-soak-production" sequence being conducted presently in three vertical wells, each subjected to first cycle injection of moderate quality steam (~75% at 4200 F) at rates 400 to 600 barrels EW/d at about 450 psig injection pressure for 26 to 71 days, followed by a soak period of 10 to 60 days. Subsequent total production estimates SOR between 0.2 and 0.9. In two wells, cumulative oil/water productions and 15% to 34% water cut indicate an excellent response to thermal stimulation. The encouraging injection parameters of steam slug size, high injection rates at low pressures, and subsequent productions provide valuable information towards upcoming second cycle injection and future steam flood strategy.

The ongoing CSS pilot is providing some critical information for the future commercial development phase. As such, all pertinent data are closely evaluated to ensuring the optimal strategy to meet the long-term development plan for this viscous oil asset.
Well Integrity Management In KOC's North Kuwait Jurassic Gas Asset
Authors: Clayton Francis , Al-Awadhi Mansour
Published: December 2012

The North Kuwait Jurassic Gas (NKJG) reservoirs are currently under development by KOC with assistance from Shell under an Enhanced Technical Services Agreement (ETSA). The fractured carbonate reservoirs contain gas condensate and volatile oil at pressures up to 11,500 psi with 2.5% H2S and 1.5% CO2. This paper describes the planning and implementation of a Well Integrity Management System (WIMS) that allows the safe management of the wells that are being drilled in this hazardous environment.

The wells are designed and constructed in accordance with KOC standards and on transfer of ownership from Deep Drilling Group to Production Services Group have their integrity managed under WIMS. The system is a structured process, relating the frequency and extent of routine monitoring and testing to the particular risks associated with the wells. Compliance with WIMS requirements are routinely reported so that all are aware of the current state of well integrity. WIMS is initially managed through simple spreadsheets and during 2012 is being integrated into KOC's Digital Field infrastructure.

Initially, WIMS has been applied to the range of wells ‘owned’ by Production Services Group and tests currently carried out by Well Surveillance Group under PSG's direction. In order to realise the full assurance of safe operation the scope of WIMS application is being extended to the full well population, including suspended wells, and the full range of tests required.

Implementation of WIMS will allow KOC (NKJG) to be able to state that ‘our wells are safe and we know it’.
Association of Histologic Variants in FSGS Clinical Trial with Presenting Features and Outcomes
Authors: D’Agati Vivette D. , Alster Joan M. , Jennette J. Charles , Thomas David B. , Pullman James , Savino Daniel A. , Cohen Arthur H. , Gipson Debbie S. , Gassman Jennifer J. , Radeva Milena K. , Moxey-Mims Marva M. , Friedman Aaron L. , Kaskel Frederick J. , Trachtman Howard , Alpers Charles E. , Fogo Agnes B. , Greene Tom H. , Nast Cynthia C.
Published: December 2012

Background and objectives

FSGS histologic variants have correlated with outcomes in retrospective studies. The FSGS Clinical Trial provided a unique opportunity to study the clinical impact of histologic variants in a well defined prospective cohort with steroid-resistant primary FSGS.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Renal biopsies of 138 FSGS Clinical Trial participants aged 2–38 years enrolled from 2004 to 2008 were analyzed using the Columbia classification by core pathologists. This study assessed the distribution of histologic variants and examined their clinical and biopsy characteristics and relationships to patient outcomes.

Results

The distribution of histologic variants was 68% (n=94) FSGS not otherwise specified, 12% (n=16) collapsing, 10% (n=14) tip, 7% (n=10) perihilar, and 3% (n=4) cellular. Individuals with not otherwise specified FSGS were more likely to have subnephrotic proteinuria (P=0.01); 33% of teenagers and adults had tip or collapsing variants compared with 10% of children, and subjects with these variants had greater proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia than not otherwise specified patients. Tip variant had the strongest association with white race (86%) and the lowest pathologic injury scores, baseline creatinine, and rate of progression. Collapsing variant had the strongest association with black race (63%, P=0.03) and the highest pathologic injury scores (P=0.003), baseline serum creatinine (P=0.003), and rate of progression. At 3 years, 47% of collapsing, 20% of not otherwise specified, and 7% of tip variant patients reached ESRD (P=0.005).

Conclusions

This is the first prospective study with protocol-defined immunomodulating therapies confirming poor renal survival in collapsing variant and showing better renal survival in tip variant among steroid-resistant patients.
Assessing Physical Function and Physical Activity in Patients with CKD
Authors: Painter Patricia , Marcus Robin L.
Published: December 2012

Patients with CKD are characterized by low levels of physical functioning, which, along with low physical activity, predict poor outcomes in those treated with dialysis. The hallmark of clinical care in geriatric practice and geriatric research is the orientation to and assessment of physical function and functional limitations. Although there is increasing interest in physical function and physical activity in patients with CKD, the nephrology field has not focused on this aspect of care. This paper provides an in-depth review of the measurement of physical function and physical activity. It focuses on physiologic impairments and physical performance limitations (impaired mobility and functional limitations). The review is based on established frameworks of physical impairment and functional limitations that have guided research in physical function in the aging population. Definitions and measures for physiologic impairments, physical performance limitations, self-reported function, and physical activity are presented. On the basis of the information presented, recommendations for incorporating routine assessment of physical function and encouragement for physical activity in clinical care are provided.
Lymphopenia and Treatment-Related Infectious Complications in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
Authors: Goupil Rémi , Brachemi Soumeya , Nadeau-Fredette Annie-Claire , Déziel Clément , Troyanov Yves , Lavergne Valery , Troyanov Stéphan
Published: December 2012

Background and objectives

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is treated with potent immunosuppressive regimens. This study sought to determine risk factors associated with infections during first-intention therapy.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

This retrospective study involved two separate cohorts of consecutive cases of AAV seen from 2004 to 2011 at two university hospitals. The following were assessed: vasculitis severity; therapy; and periods with no, moderate (lymphocyte count, 0.3–1.0× 109/L), or severe (lymphocyte count ≤ 0.3×109/L) lymphopenia and neutropenia (neutrophil count ≤ 1.5×109/L).

Results

One hundred patients had a mean age of 57±15 years and a Birmingham vasculitis activity score of 7.7±3.6. Therapy consisted of pulse methylprednisolone (59%), cyclophosphamide (85%), methotrexate (6%), and plasmapheresis (25%) in addition to oral corticosteroids. During follow-up, 53% of patients experienced infection and 28% were hospitalized for infection (severe infection). Only 18% experienced neutropenia, but 72% and 36% presented moderate and severe lymphopenia for a total duration of <0.1%, 73%, and 8% of the treatment follow-up, respectively. Lower initial estimated GFR, longer duration of corticosteroid use, and presence of lymphopenia were risk factors of infections. The rate was 2.23 events/person-year in the presence of severe lymphopenia compared with 0.41 and 0.19 during periods with moderate or no lymphopenia (P<0.001). Similarly, the rate of severe infections was 1.00 event/person-year with severe lymphopenia and 0.08 and 0.10 with moderate and no lymphopenia (P<0.001). This association remained independent of other risk factors.

Conclusions

Lymphopenia is frequent during the treatment of AAV, and its severity is associated with the risk of infectious complications.
Soil organic carbon storage in moutain grasslands of the Lake Plateau at Mt. Durmitor in Montenegro
Authors: Kadovic Ratko , Belanovic Snezana , Obratov-Petkovic Dragica , Bjedov Ivana , Perovic Veljko , Andjelic Milosav , Knezevic Milan , Rankovic Nenad
Published: December 2012

Soil organic C storage in mountain areas is highly heterogeneous, mainly as a
result of local-scale variability in the soil environment and microclimate.
The aims of the present study were to estimate soil organic carbon density
(SOCD) and stocks in leptosol on morainic deposits of high-altitude
grasslands of the Lake Plateau of Mt. Durmitor National Park in Montenegro,
and determine the soil variables that can be used as factors to determine the
SOCD at 28 soil profiles. Our results indicated that SOC storage in the top
40 cm of the alpine grasslands were estimated at 560 414.86 t C, or 152.66
t?ha-1, with an average density of 15.27 kg?m-2. The soil organic carbon
density increased significantly with soil moisture, clay and silt content,
but only moderately with mean annual temperature. In conjunction, these
variables could explain approximately 51% of the total variation in SOC
density.
Influence of extraction method on protein profile of soybeans
Authors: Pavlicevic Milica , Stanojevic Sladjana , Vucelic-Radovic Biljana
Published: December 2012

Comparison between protein profiles of soybean obtained by commonly used
methods of extraction (Tris buffer and Tris-urea buffer) with methods used
for extraction of plant proteins for 2D PAGE analysis (direct solubilization
in IEF buffer, acetone extraction, phenol extraction, extraction with urea
solubilization buffer and thiourea-urea extraction) was investigated. 2D
profiles of samples extracted directly in IEF buffer, in urea solubilization
buffer and in acetone were characterized with low number of spots. Analysis
of 2D PAGE profiles of Tris buffer and Tris-urea buffer extracts showed high
degree of horizontal and vertical streaking. Thiourea-urea extraction gave
the highest number of less intense protein spots than phenol extraction.
Method of choice, due to a large number of intense spots, would be phenol
extraction.
Some aspects of microstructure and properties of Al-Mg alloys after shear spinning and cold rolling
Authors: Radovic Ljubica , Nikacevic Milutin , Jordovic Branka
Published: December 2012

Three commercial Al-Mg alloys containing 3 wt.% to 6 wt.% of Mg (AlMg3,
AlMg4.5Mn and AlMg6Mn) were subjected to different forming processes: shear
spinning and cold rolling. The effect of Mg content and reduction in
thickness on the tensile properties and microstructure evolution of Al-Mg
alloys were studied. Both optical (OM) and transmission electron microscopy
(TEM) were used for the microstructure characterization. The results show
that the addition of Mg in these alloys increases the yield strength (YS) and
ultimate tensile strength (UTS) in both cold rolled and spun specimens. The
strength of all Al-Mg alloys after shear spinning was lower compared to the
strength after cold rolling for the same strain. This effect was attributed
to the occurrence of dynamic recovery during shear spinning and confirmed by
transmission electron microscopy.
Electrocatalytic properties of Pt-Bi electrodes towards the electrooxidation of formic acid
Authors: Lovic Jelena , Tripkovic Dusan , Popovic Ksenija , Jovanovic Vladislava , Tripkovic Amalija
Published: December 2012

Formic acid oxidation was studied on two Pt-Bi catalysts, Pt2Bi and
polycrystalline Pt modified by irreversible adsorbed Bi (Pt/Biirr) in order
to establish the difference between the effects of Biirr and Bi in alloyed
state. The results were compared to pure Pt. It was found that both
bimetallic catalysts were more active than Pt with the onset potentials
shifted to more negative values and the currents at 0.0 V vs. SCE (under
steady state conditions) improved up to two order of magnitude. The origin of
Pt2Bi high activity and stability is increased selectivity toward formic acid
dehydrogenation caused by the ensemble and electronic effect and suppression
of Bi leaching from the surface during formic acid oxidation. However,
although Pt/Biirr also shows remarkable initial activity compared to pure Pt,
dissolution of Bi is not suppressed and the poisoning of the electrode
surface induced by dehydration path is observed. Comparison of the initial
quasi-steady state and potentiodynamic results obtained for these two Pt-Bi
catalysts revealed that the electronic effect, existing only in the alloy,
contributes earlier start of the reaction, while the maximum current density
is determined by the ensemble effect.
Plasma etching of polystyrene latex particles for the preparation of graphene oxide nanowalls
Authors: Valentini Luca , Bon Bittolo
Published: December 2012

Graphene oxide nanowalls were prepared by casting a water dispersion of
polystyrene latex particles onto a graphene oxide film followed by
tetrafluoromethane plasma etching. Mild plasma etching conditions allow one
to retain the oxygen functional groups on the graphene oxide nanowalls. It
was found that the exposure to a xenon light source of such graphene oxide
nanowalls coated with a gold thin film results in an increase of the
electrical conductivity.
Improving the quality of alumina-containing sinter using water-cooled furnace shell
Authors: Aleksandrov A.V. , Aleksandrov V.V.
Published: December 2012

This article deals with the use of computer modeling to develop technical
solutions to ensure better quality of alumina-containing sinter. The
simulation accounted for the influence of the feed materials on the thermal
processes in the furnace. The energy balance (including thermal conductivity,
heat convection and radiant heat exchange) was solved assuming steady state.
A good correlation was observed for the actual and calculated temperatures of
the solids and gases, with less than 15% discrepancy. Using the model of the
furnace investigated the possibility of lowering the temperature of sintering
by removing heat from the outside of the furnace shell. To reduce the
sintering temperature to 1000 ?C length of the refractory lined steel is 5 m,
the height of the lining should not exceed - 0.06 m, the required rate of
cold water - 54.7 m3/h
Characterization of nanostructured spinel NiFe2O4 obtained by soft mechanochemical synthesis
Authors: Lazarevic Z.Z. , Jovalekic C. , Sekulic D. , Slankamenac M. , Romcevic M. , Milutinovic A. , Romcevic N.Z.
Published: December 2012

Powdery nickel ferrite, NiFe2O4 has been obtained by soft mechanochemical
synthesis in a planetary ball mill. Ni(OH)2 and Fe(OH)3 are used as initial
compounds. This mixture was mechanically activated for 25h, uniaxial pressed
and sintered at 1100?C for 2h. The phase composition of the sintered sample
was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS)
and Raman spectroscopy. Morphologies were examined by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM). The electrical DC/resistivity/conductivity at different
temperatures was measured using a Source Meter Keithley 2410. An
Impedance/Gain-Phase Analyzer (HP-4194) was used to measure the impedance
spectra (100Hz - 10MHz) at different temperatures.