bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use of Mud-Ladened Water in Drilling Wells
Authors: Knapp I.N.
Published: January 2015

Published in Petroleum Transactions, AIME, Volume 52, 1916, pages 571–586.

Introduction-The special object of these notes is to describe the mixing, testing, and use of mud-ladened water for rotary drilling in such a way as to make them helpful to the driller, the operator, or the engineer in solving his own special drilling problems.

The structures, apparatus and tools used are indicated in a general way. No attempt is made to describe the art of rotary drilling; only such descriptions as are necessary to make plain the use of mud are given.

The information is the result of actual experience in drilling in Coastal Plain formations. The materials encountered in the wells drilled were unconsolidated sands, gravels, and clays, in which thin layers of sandstones, shell conglomerates, and shales began to appear at about 1,200 ft, in depth, although one well was drilled to 3,018 ft. without encountering any cemented or indurated materials.

Unusual Conditions-The general surface of the ground where the drilling was done being hardly a foot above mean tide, and the daily tidal variation being about 15 in., it was found necessary to plank over the sod surface with 3-in. plank to work from. A 30 by 30 ft. planked area was sufficient to carry the derrick with equipment and 2,500 ft. of 4-in. drill pipe stacked in it. The derrick was set up 3 ft. on cribbed blocking arranged to spread the load over the planking. The engine, bailers, and pipe yard were also carried on 3-in. planking.

Drilling Outfit- This consisted of a derrick, 20 by 20 ft. and 84 ft. high, two 35-h.p., "oil country" boilers, one double 8 by 10 in. reversible engine, two 10 by 6 by 12 in. duplex mud pumps, one 15-in. rotary, "hoisting works" with chain drive, hoisting block with line, crown block with pulleys, rotary jetting swivels, hose, complement of tools, pipes and connections, and a mud mixer, with engine.

T.P. 051–38
A Feasible Plan for Gaging Individual Wells
Authors: Johnson Roswell H. , Bernard W.E.
Published: January 2015

Published in Petroleum Transactions, AIME, Volume 57, 1917, pages 1050–1053.

To know the rate of decline of oil wells is very important, yet ordinarily we are prevented from getting this rate because the oil from several wells is put into one or a few tanks as soon as the wells have been connected to the power. The object of doing this is economy of tanks, pipes, labor, and accounting. But we are making a great sacrifice for this small economy. The advantages of the individual records are that we would know better:When the well has ceased to be profitable.When a well has gotten into bad condition.The real record of the yield per acre and the rate of decline of the wells. The lease total is too mixed as to age of the wells for existing records to have much significance. To obtain such individual well records and more accurate logs are the great desiderata of satisfactory management of oil properties.Which wells show the slowest decline-information which is valuable in locating new wells or purchasing adjoining leases.

The truth of this statement is evident, when we reflect upon the large number of purchases of producing property. Intelligent appraisal is of the utmost advantage and it is impossible without individual well-production figures. Such figures are valuable not only for understanding the lease in question, but for making comparisons.

In contemplating the wide variation in the estimation of values, one is impressed with the importance of ascertaining the data that are so fundamental to appraising.

Many who would concede the general argument so far, still consider individual gaging too expensive. To reduce this expense we have devised a plan, whereby an individual gaging is taken of each well in rotation. Each well produces into the special measuring tank one day and then into the general receiving tank until its turn comes in rotation for another individual gage. Such records will be frequent enough to give the advantages listed.

T.P. 057–52
The Evidence of the Oklahoma Oil Fields on the Anticlinal Theory
Authors: Hager Dorsey
Published: January 2015

Published in Petroleum Transactions, AIME, Volume 57, 1917, pages 843–855.

The information given in the accompanying table is submitted as evidence confirming the application of the anticlinal theory and the value of geology in the Kansas and Oklahoma oil fields.

The term anticline has been used to define a particular type of arched fold. The anticlinal theory of oil accumulation should, however, be broadened to include any structural fold of an arched type even if not a distinct anticline. A terrace may very properly come under the heading of the anticlinal theory of accumulation, as the folding is closely related to that of the anticline; in fact, in many cases is an arrested anticline, though not completely closed in all directions. Stratigraphic forms due to lensing or irregular cementation of the sands certainly cannot be considered to fall within the anticlinal theory, though the laws of accumulation may be similar. A dome is similar to an anticline and belongs to the same class. A dome is broader in proportion to its length than an anti- cline. Many anticlines undulate along their axes to form domes. The anticlinal theory in this discussion will then be applied to anticlines, domes and terraces.

In the following list, the writer has tabulated the main oil fields of Oklahoma, and a few recently discovered fields in Kansas. The fields discovered within the past 4 years are listed with the date of their discovery. Under "How found," the writer puts "Wildcat" where a geologist has not been employed, "Geology" where it has been used, and "7" where there is doubt. In some places the geologists have claimed pools that may rightly belong to them, but their claims have been questioned, so that they belong in an unsettled category.

Unless one has mapped all the old pools, it is not possible to say just bow far they are dominated by structure, but from our own work, and from discussions with others, it is safe to venture that nearly all the "shallow-pool" districts, Nowata, Bartlesville, and the Eastern Osage, are controlled by structure; domes, noses, and terraces are the main structural features. The "shallow pools" of Kansas show the same relation.

T.P. 056–44
The Possibility of Deep Sand Oil and Gas in the Appalachian Geo-Syncline of West Virginia
Authors: Reger David B.
Published: January 2015

Introduction

Published in Petroleum Transactions, AIME, Volume 57, 1917, pages 856–875.

The exhaustion of oil and gas in the United States is proceeding at a rapid pace. This is especially true in fields where the light oils that furnish the most fuel for internal-combustion engines arc found, leading to a late estimate by Arnold that the petroleum resources are 36 per cent exhausted. The further remark by Dr. David T. Day at the New York meeting of the Institute, in February, 1916, that the operators of the country are now scarcely able to supply the ever-increasing demand for gasoline, leads the writer to believe that a determined effort will soon be made to secure deeper producing horizons in those regions that now furnish high-grade oil, and in which pump stations and pipe lines offer convenient means for the economical handling of new production. A study of Arnold's table shows further that the States that produce paraffin oil exclusively are 45 per cent exhausted, this figure being much higher than the average of paraffin and asphalt States altogether. The most extensive of all the paraffin-oil-producing areas is the Appalachian Field, extending with the Appalachian Geo-Syncline from western New York southwestward through western Pennsylvania, western West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, where oil of high gravity is always secured. Of these States, Pennsylvania and West Virginia rank highest in the quality of their product. In West Virginia, the oil sands dip to a lower level than in any other locality in the Appalachian Geo-Syncline, the Pittsburgh Coal of the Pennsylvanian being only 50 ft. above sea level along the Nineveh Syncline at Wileyville, Wetzel County.

T.P. 056–45
Geologic Structure in the Cushing Oil and Gas Field, Oklahoma
Authors: Beal Carl H.
Published: January 2015

Published in Petroleum Transactions, AIME, Volume 57, 1917, pages 894–905.

Introduction

During the latter part of 1915 and the first half of 1916, the writer held the position of geologist in connection with the conservation work instituted by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, on oil and gas land belonging to the Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma. The duty of the geologist was to correlate formations containing oil, gas, and water, and to determine the relations of these substances in the different formations so that the conservation agents might carry on their work most intelligently. On account of the rapid development of the Cushing field, which lies in the western part of the Creek Nation, much work was done there by the inspection force.

In the course of the geologic studies a large amount of information was collected, which, on analysis, has disclosed some interesting facts worthy of publication. The report, of which the following remarks are an abstract, has been prepared and submitted to the U. S. Geological Survey for publication. This report is now (June, 1917) in the press and will doubtless be issued in a few weeks.

Methods Used

In addition to the structure maps showing the folding of the Pawhuska limestone, which crops out in several places in the Cushing field, separate structure maps of the three most important productive sands the Layton (Fig. 2) Wheeler, and Bartlesville-have been prepared.

T.P. 057–44
Live Attenuated Influenza H7N3 Vaccine is Safe, Immunogenic and Confers Protection in Animal Models
Authors: Rekstin Andrey , Desheva Yulia , Kiseleva Irina , Ross Ted , Swayne David , Rudenko Larisa
Published: January 2015

Background:

In 2003 the outbreak of highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza occurred in the Netherlands. The avian H7 virus causing the outbreak was also detected in humans; one person died of pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Our paper describes preclinical studies of a H7N3 live attenuated influenza A vaccine (LAIV) candidate in various animal models.

Objectives:

To study safety, immunogenicity and protection of H7N3 LAIV candidate in mice, ferrets and chickens.

Methods:

The vaccine was generated by a classical reassortment between low pathogenicity A/mallard/Netherlands/00 (H7N3) virus and A/Leningrad4/17/57 (H2N2) master donor virus (MDV).

Results:

Immunogenicity was found that H7N3 LAIV was similar to the MDV in terms of replication in the respiratory organs of mice and failed to replicate in mouse brains. One dose of a H7N3 LAIV elicited measurable antibody response and it was further boosted with a second vaccine dose. Immunization of mice with H7N3 LAIV provided protection against infection following a homologous challenge with wild type H7N3 virus. Attenuated phenotype of H7N3 LAIV has been confirmed in ferrets. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of H7N3 LAIV in ferrets were also demonstrated. The vaccine protected animals from subsequent infection with wild type H7N3 virus. The results of histopathology study revealed that inoculation of H7N3 LAIV in ferrets did not cause any inflammation or destructive changes in lungs.

Lack of H7N3 LAIV replication in chicken demonstrated complete safety of this preparation for poultry.

Conclusion:

Results of our study suggest that new H7N3 LAIV candidate is safe, immunogenic and protects from homologues influenza virus infection in mice and ferrets.
Shaming Fathers into Providers: Child Support and Fatherhood in the South African Media
Authors: Chauke Polite , Khunou Grace
Published: January 2015

The media influence society’s understanding of gender and other social phenomena including how we view
fatherhood. Fatherhood is rarely presented positively in both visual and print media. Through an analysis of newspaper
articles from The Sowetan, City Press, The Daily Sun and The Pretoria News, this article shows how shaming is used to
represent fatherhood and child support in the South African print media. These representations, the article argues are
limiting and provide fewer positives for fathers and fail to account for socio-economic challenges experienced in relation
to fatherhood. In conclusion, the article illustrates that the media could play an important role in presenting a balanced
sense of fatherhood, where affirmation of positive fatherhood is used as a more effective way of representing fatherhood
in the media.
Early-Fatherhood in White City, Jabavu, Soweto: A Time-Bound, Contextual Construct
Authors: Selebano Naledi , Khunou Grace
Published: January 2015

While young mothers have enjoyed the interests of researchers and policy makers, young fathers’ experiences
have only been examined recently. Through a thematic content analysis of interviews with six black young fathers from
White City, Jabavu in Soweto, this article argues that early fatherhood should be understood through an examination of
how it is lived in the social, political, cultural and economic contexts of particular communities. The data from this study
indicate that there are strong ties between the young men’s experiences and the overall community values, history and
culture where they experience fatherhood. The article concludes that for appropriate policies and strategies to be
implemented where young fathers are concerned, more context specific research should be conducted.
Patients’ expectation and satisfaction with complete denture before and after the therapy
Authors: Zou Yun , Zhan Desong
Published: January 2015

Background/Aim. Difficulties in the acceptance of dentures are multifactorial
including psychosocial ones. It is questionable whether the patients?
satisfaction depends only on the complete denture therapy characteristics.
The aim of the study was to evaluated patients? expectation and satisfaction
with complete dentures before and after the treatment concerning phonetics,
chewing, comfort of use and aesthetics. Methods. Forty complete edentulous
patients rated their expectation before and satisfaction after the treatment
based on a questionnaire scores. Patient-related variables regarding age,
gender and previous experience (whether worn complete denture or not) were
also recorded. Results. Patients? rating for expectations were higher than
the satisfaction after treatment regarding phonetics, chewing, comfort of use
and aesthetics. A negative significant correlation was shown between the
items before and after the treatment rating for phonetics, chewing, comfort
of use and aesthetics. No statistical correlation was found between all the
evaluated aspects? (i.e. phonetics, chewing, comfort of use and aesthetics)
of expectation and satisfaction, and age, gender, and previous experience
except a weak negative correlation noticed between age and comfort of denture
use. Conclusion. Patients? expectations ratings significantly exceeded their
satisfactions. Expectations and satisfaction ratings were irrespective of
gender and patients previous experience.
The clinical course of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer after transuretral resection of the tumor with or without subsequent intravesical application of bacillus Calmette-Guérin: The influence of patients gender and age
Authors: Milosevic Radovan , Milovic Novak , Aleksic Predrag , Lazic Miodrag , Cerovic Snezana , Prelevic Rade , Spasic Aleksandar , Simic Dejan , Kovacevic Bozidar
Published: January 2015

Bacground/Aim. The therapy with intravesical instillation of bacillus
Calmette-Gu?rin (BCG) after transurethral resection (TUR) of tumor is the
gold standard of treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The
role and importance of BCG intravesical therapy in various shape of tumors,
were confirmed by our previous investigation. The aim of this study was to
examine whether incidence of recurrence and tumor regression differs
depending on sex and age of patients. Methods. This study included a total of
899 patients suffering from NIMBC, treated at our institution from January 1,
2007 to March 1, 2013. Two groups of patients were formed: patients underwent
TUR + BCG therapy (the group I) and the group II with patients in whom TUR
was performed as only therapy. These two groups of patients were divided into
subgroups of respondents male and female, age 60 years or younger and older
than 60 years. Statistical analysis was performed using ?2 test and the
Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results. This research suggests that if the
frequency of recurrence is seen as the only parameter, considering all the
subjects, the lowest recurrence rate was determined in the male subjects,
aged 60 years and younger who had received BCG after TUR. A high statistical
significance was found in the incidence of recurrence in patients younger
than 60 years, depending on the response to the therapy, while in those older
than 60 years, the difference was at the level of statistical significance.
This can be attributed to a certain degree of infravesical obstruction in
older men. Conclusions. Sex and age of patients may have a significant
influence on the course and outcome of NMIBC. The disease has the most
malignant and most aggressive behavior when present in males older than 60
years.
A comparative study on the friction and wear properties of semi-solid cast A356 alloy
Authors: Liu Xubo , Huang Chiwei , Zhao Li , Yang Xiangjie , Wang Ming
Published: January 2015

In this study, the friction and wear properties of A356 alloy processed via semi-solid casting and conventional casting were experimentally investigated. Experimental results indicate that under the same experimental conditions the wear of the semi-solid cast A356 in mass does not exceed 85 % of that of the conventionally cast A356 alloy. The friction coefficient curve of semi-solid cast A356 is smoother than that of the conventionally cast A356. The friction coefficient of the semi-solid cast A356 is around 0.53 for stationary friction, less than the 0.59 for the conventionally cast A356. The improvement in the friction and wear properties is mainly a result of the microstructural change induced by semi-solid processing.
Ultrasonic cavitation erosion of a duplex treated 16MnCr5 steel
Authors: Mitelea Ion , Ghera Cristian , Bordeaşu Ilare , Crăciunescu Corneliu M.
Published: January 2015

Ultrasonic cavitation experiments using a piezoceramic-based apparatus, according to ASTM G32-2010, were performed on heat and thermochemically treated Cr – Mn low alloyed steel samples. The microstructure in annealed, carburized and tempered states as well as following a duplex treatment (carburized, surface induction hardening and tempering) was analyzed before and after the cavitation erosion tests. The results show the advantage of the duplex treatment, with a significant increase of up to 20 times of the cavitation erosion resistance compared to the annealed state and reveal that the main mechanism for surface deterioration is micro-cracking. The observations are important for the improvement of the behaviour for parts used in hydraulic equipment, for which the volume hardening following the carburization can be replaced by cost-efficient surface induction hardening treatments.
Microstructural evolution in a Ti – Ta high-temperature shape memory alloy during creep
Authors: Rynko Ramona , Marquardt Axel , Paulsen Alexander , Frenzel Jan , Somsen Christoph , Eggeler Gunther
Published: January 2015

Alloys based on the titanium–tantalum system are considered for application as high-temperature shape memory alloys due to their martensite start temperatures, which can surpass 200 °C. In the present work we study the evolution of microstructure and the influence of creep on the phase transformation behavior of a Ti70Ta30 (at.%) high-temperature shape memory alloy. Creep tests were performed in a temperature range from 470 to 530 °C at stresses between 90 and 150 MPa. The activation energy for creep was found to be 307 kJ mol−1 and the stress exponent n was determined as 3.7. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy investigations were carried out to characterize the microstructure before and after creep. It was found that the microstructural evolution during creep suppresses subsequent martensitic phase transformations.
Electrochemical characteristics of nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg–Y–Ni-based Mg2Ni-type alloys prepared by mechanical milling
Authors: Zhang Yanghuan , Yuan Zeming , Yang Tai , Hou Zhonghui , Qi Yan
Published: January 2015

Nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg2Ni-type Mg20–x
Y
x
Ni10 (x = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) electrode alloys were prepared by mechanical milling. The structures of the as-cast and milled alloys were determined by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical hydrogen storage performances of the alloys were tested by an automatic galvanostatic system. The electrochemical impedance spectra, Tafel polarization curves and potential-step curves were plotted by an electrochemical workstation. The results indicate that a nanocrystalline structure can successfully be obtained through mechanical milling. The substitution of Y for Mg facilitates glass forming and leads to an obvious change in the phase composition. The substitution of Y for Mg dramatically improves the cycle stability of the as-milled alloys, while the mechanical milling more or less impairs the cycle stability of the alloys. The discharge capacity of the alloys first augments and then declines with increasing Y content and milling time. Furthermore, the high rate discharge ability, charge transfer rate, limiting current density and diffusion coefficient of hydrogen atomic all decrease with Y content and milling time increasing.
Microstructural changes in quasicrystalline Al–Mn–Be–Cu alloy after various heat treatments
Authors: Štrekelj Neva , Naglič Iztok , Klančnik Grega , Nagode Aleš , Markoli Boštjan
Published: January 2015

In this study we investigated the microstructural changes after a variety of heat treatments of the quasicrystalline Al–Mn–Be–Cu alloy. In addition, we report on Vickers microhardness measurements and tensile-test results for the same materials. The samples were produced in a conventional manner, i. e., melting in an electrical resistance furnace in air and a gravitational casting process using a round copper die, which was in the form of a tensile-test specimen with a diameter of 5 mm. After the casting, some of the samples were just solution treated (annealed) and then quenched in water, while others were additionally aged (artificially – T6, or naturally – T4) or directly aged after the casting. In comparison to the as-cast state, the Vickers microhardness values of the aluminum-based matrix and the tensile properties of the samples decreased when just the solution treatment, T4 or T6 treatment was performed. The tensile properties also decreased after the heat treatments. A microstructural inspection revealed that the microstructural changes occurred already during the solution treatment, i. e., the formation of the phases Be4Al(Mn, Cu) and τ1-Al29Mn6Cu4 on the approximant H-Al4Mn and quasicrystalline i-phase particles' edges and the occurrence of precipitates in the αAl matrix. The precipitates that would additionally contribute to the hardening of the alloy did not form. The directly aged samples showed little or no increase in microhardness values in comparison to the as-cast samples, but possibilities of θ″ precipitates being formed from the already saturated matrix after the casting could not be excluded. After all the heat treatments the quasicrystalline i-phase, as a primary and eutectic phase, was preserved.
Treatment of Leptothrix Cells with Ultrapure Water Poses a Threat to Their Viability
Authors: Kunoh Tatsuki , Suzuki Tomoko , Shiraishi Tomonori , Kunoh Hitoshi , Takada Jun
Published: January 2015

The genus Leptothrix, a type of Fe/Mn-oxidizing bacteria, is characterized by its formation of an extracellular and microtubular sheath. Although almost all sheaths harvested from natural aquatic environments are hollow, a few chained bacterial cells are occasionally seen within some sheaths of young stage. We previously reported that sheaths of Leptothrix sp. strain OUMS1 cultured in artificial media became hollow with aging due to spontaneous autolysis within the sheaths. In this study, we investigated environmental conditions that lead the OUMS1 cells to die. Treatment of the cells with ultrapure water or acidic buffers (pH 6.0) caused autolysis of the cells. Under these conditions, the plasma membrane and cytoplasm of cells were drastically damaged, resulting in leakage of intracellular electrolytes and relaxation of genomic DNA. The autolysis was suppressed by the presence of Ca2+. The hydrolysis of peptidoglycan by the lysozyme treatment similarly caused autolysis of the cells and was suppressed also by the presence of Ca2+. However, it remains unclear whether the acidic pH-dependent autolysis is attributable to damage of peptidoglycan. It was observed that L. discophora strain SP-6 cells also underwent autolysis when suspended in ultrapure water; it is however, uncertain whether this phenomenon is common among other members of the genus Leptothrix.
Contamination Grades Recognition of Ceramic Insulators Using Fused Features of Infrared and Ultraviolet Images
Authors: Jin Lijun , Zhang Da
Published: January 2015

In order to realize the non-contact measurement of ceramic insulator contamination severity, a method based on feature level fusion of infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) image information is proposed in this paper. IR and UV images of artificially polluted insulators were obtained from high voltage experiments at 80%, 85% and 90% RH. After the preprocessing of images, IR and UV features were calculated, respectively. Then, feature selection based on Fisher criterion was adopted to gain features, which have the ability to distinguish different contamination grades effectively. In feature level fusion section, kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) was applied to the dimensionality reduction fusion of IR and UV features and obtain three-dimensional fused features. A particle swarm optimized back propagation neural network (PSO-BPNN) classifier was constructed and trained to recognize the contamination grades. Experimental results indicate that the feature level fusion of IR and UV information based on KPCA has capability to characterize the contamination grades comprehensively. Compared with recognition using IR or UV features separately, recognition based on the feature level fusion is more accurate and effective. This study provides a new methodology for the measurement of insulator contamination severity at working condition.
The Effect of Oxygen Supply on the Dual Growth Kinetics of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans under Acidic Conditions for Biogas Desulfurization
Authors: Namgung Hyeong-Kyu , Song JiHyeon
Published: January 2015

In this study, to simulate a biogas desulfurization process, a modified Monod-Gompertz kinetic model incorporating a dissolved oxygen (DO) effect was proposed for a sulfur-oxidizing bacterial (SOB) strain, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, under extremely acidic conditions of pH 2. The kinetic model was calibrated and validated using experimental data obtained from a bubble-column bioreactor. The SOB strain was effective for H2S degradation, but the H2S removal efficiency dropped rapidly at DO concentrations less than 2.0 mg/L. A low H2S loading was effectively treated with oxygen supplied in a range of 2%–6%, but a H2S guideline of 10 ppm could not be met, even with an oxygen supply greater than 6%, when the H2S loading was high at a short gas retention time of 1 min and a H2S inlet concentration of 5000 ppm. The oxygen supply should be increased in the aerobic desulfurization to meet the H2S guideline; however, the excess oxygen above the optimum was not effective because of the decline in oxygen efficiency. The model estimation indicated that the maximum H2S removal rate was approximately 400 ppm/%-O2 at the influent oxygen concentration of 4.9% under the given condition. The kinetic model with a low DO threshold for the interacting substrates was a useful tool to simulate the effect of the oxygen supply on the H2S removal and to determine the optimal oxygen concentration.
The Meanings of Smoking to Women and Their Implications for Cessation
Authors: Greaves Lorraine
Published: January 2015

Smoking cigarettes is a gendered activity with sex- and gender-specific uptake trends and cessation patterns. While global male smoking rates have peaked, female rates are set to escalate in the 21st century, especially in low and middle income countries. Hence, smoking cessation for women will be an ongoing issue and requires refreshed attention. Public health and health promotion messages are being challenged to be increasingly tailored, taking gender into account. Women-centred approaches that include harm-reduction, motivational interviewing and trauma-informed elements are the new frontiers in interventions to encourage smoking cessation for women. Such approaches are linked to the meanings of smoking to women, the adaptive function of, and the overall role of smoking cigarettes in the context of women’s lives. These approaches respect gender and sex-related factors that affect smoking and smoking cessation and respond to these issues, not by reinforcing destructive or negative gender norms, but with insight. This article discusses a women-centred approach to smoking cessation that could underpin initiatives in clinical, community or public health settings and could inform campaigns and messaging.
Combined Toxic Effects of Heavy Metals and Antibiotics on a Pseudomonas fluorescens Strain ZY2 Isolated from Swine Wastewater
Authors: Zhou Yan , Xu Yan-Bin , Xu Jia-Xin , Zhang Xiao-Hua , Xu Shi-Hui , Du Qing-Ping
Published: January 2015

A Pseudomonas fluorescens strain ZY2, isolated from swine wastewater, was used to investigate the synergistic effects of five heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr(VI) and Hg) on bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Results indicate that the combined effects of antibiotic type, heavy metal type and concentration were significant (p < 0.01). Cross-resistance to Hg and antibiotics was the most noticeable. Moreover, the resistance to Hg and cefradine or amoxicillin, and Cr and amoxicillin were synergistic for low heavy metal concentrations, and turned antagonistic with increasing concentrations, while the resistances to Cr or Cu and cefradine, Pb or Cu and amoxicillin, Cu and norfloxacin showed reverse effects. In addition, resistance to Zn and amoxicillin were always synergetic, while resistance to Pb and cefradine or norfloxacin, Cr or Hg and norfloxacin as well as all the heavy metals and tetracycline were antagonistic. These results indicate that bacterial resistance to antibiotics can be affected by the type and concentration of co-exposed heavy metals and may further threaten people’s health and ecological security severely via horizontal gene transfer.
Interleukin-27 in T Cell Immunity
Authors: Iwasaki Yukiko , Fujio Keishi , Okamura Tomohisa , Yamamoto Kazuhiko
Published: January 2015

Interleukin (IL)-27, a member of IL-12/IL-23 heterodimeric family of cytokines, has pleiotropic properties that can enhance or limit immune responses. IL-27 acts on various cell types, including T cells, B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells and non-hematopoietic cells. Intensive studies have been conducted especially on T cells, revealing that various subsets of T cells respond uniquely to IL-27. IL-27 induces expansion of Th1 cells by activating signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1-mediated T-bet signaling pathway. On the other hand, IL-27 suppresses immune responses through inhibition of the development of T helper (Th) 17 cells and induction of IL-10 production in a STAT1- and STAT3-dependent manner. IL-27 is a potentially promising cytokine for therapeutic approaches on various human diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the biology of IL-27 related to T cell subsets, its structure, and production mechanism.
Portrait of a Geothermal Spring, Hunter’s Hot Springs, Oregon
Authors: Castenholz Richard
Published: January 2015

Although alkaline Hunter’s Hot Springs in southeastern Oregon has been studied extensively for over 40 years, most of these studies and the subsequent publications were before the advent of molecular methods. However, there are many field observations and laboratory experiments that reveal the major aspects of the phototrophic species composition within various physical and chemical gradients of these springs. Relatively constant temperature boundaries demark the upper boundary of the unicellular cyanobacterium, Synechococcus at 73–74 °C (the world-wide upper limit for photosynthesis), and 68–70 °C the upper limit for Chloroflexus. The upper limit for the cover of the filamentous cyanobacterium, Geitlerinema (Oscillatoria) is at 54–55 °C, and the in situ lower limit at 47–48 °C for all three of these phototrophs due to the upper temperature limit for the grazing ostracod, Thermopsis. The in situ upper limit for the cyanobacteria Pleurocapsa and Calothrix is at ~47–48 °C, which are more grazer-resistant and grazer dependent. All of these demarcations are easily visible in the field. In addition, there is a biosulfide production in some sections of the springs that have a large impact on the microbiology. Most of the temperature and chemical limits have been explained by field and laboratory experiments.
Distinctive Anthocyanin Accumulation Responses to Temperature and Natural UV Radiation of Two Field-Grown Vitis vinifera L. Cultivars
Authors: Fernandes de Oliveira Ana , Mercenaro Luca , Del Caro Alessandra , Pretti Luca , Nieddu Giovanni
Published: January 2015

The responses of two red grape varieties, Bovale Grande (syn. Carignan) and Cannonau (syn. Grenache), to temperature and natural UV radiation were studied in a three-years field experiment conducted in Sardinia (Italy), under Mediterranean climate conditions. Vines were covered with plastic films with different transmittances to UV radiation and compared to uncovered controls. Light intensity and spectral composition at the fruit zone were monitored and berry skin temperature was recorded from veraison. Total skin anthocyanin content (TSA) and composition indicated positive but inconsistent effects of natural UV light. Elevated temperatures induced alterations to a greater extent, decreasing TSA and increasing the degree of derivatives acylation. In Cannonau total soluble solids increases were not followed by increasing TSA as in Bovale Grande, due to both lower phenolic potential and higher sensitivity to permanence of high temperatures. Multi linear regression analysis tested the effects of different ranges of temperature as source of variation on anthocyanin accumulation patterns. To estimate the thermal time for anthocyanin accumulation, the use of normal heat hours model had benefit from the addition of predictor variables that take into account the permanence of high (>35 °C) and low (<15 °C and <17 °C) temperatures during ripening.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Spectroscopic Properties and Potential Biological Activities of Salicylate‒Neocuproine Ternary Copper(II) Complexes
Authors: Kucková Lenka , Jomová Klaudia , Švorcová Andrea , Valko Marián , Segľa Peter , Moncoľ Ján , Kožíšek Jozef
Published: January 2015

Mixed ligand copper(II) complexes containing derivatives of salicylic acid and heterocyclic ligands with nitrogen donor atoms have been the subject of various studies and reviews. In this paper, synthesis and characterization of the ternary copper(II) complexes of neocuproine (2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, Neo) and salicylate ligands (Sal) are reported. In addition, the crystal structures of ([Cu(H2O)(5-Cl-Sal)(Neo)] (1), [Cu(μ-Sal)(Neo)]2 (2), Cu2(μ-5-Cl-Sal)(5-Cl-HSal)2(Neo)2]·EtOH (3)) were determined. In order to compare structural and biological properties of the prepared complexes, spectroscopic and biological studies were performed. Results of X-ray diffraction show that prepared complexes form three types of crystal structures in a given system: monomeric, dimeric and dinuclear complex. The preliminary study on the DNA cleavage activity has shown that the complexes under study behave as the chemical nucleases in the presence of added hydrogen peroxide with slight differences in the activity (1 > 2 > 3). The complexes 1 and 2 exhibited nuclease activity itself indicating the interaction of complexes with the DNA. It has been proposed that the enhanced destructive effect of the complexes 1 and 2 on the DNA is a result of two possible mechanisms of action: (i) the conversion of closed circular DNA (form I) to the nicked DNA (form II) caused by the copper complex itself and (ii) damage of DNA by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)—products of the interaction of copper with hydrogen peroxide by means of Fenton reaction (hydroxyl radicals). Thus the biological activity of the prepared Cu(II) complexes containing derivatives of salicylic acid and phenanthroline molecules is substantiated by two independent mechanisms. While derivatives of salicylic acids in the coordination sphere of copper complexes are responsible for radical-scavenging activity (predominantly towards superoxide radical anion), the presence of chelating ligand 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline significantly enhances capability of Cu(II) complexes binding to DNA via intercalation.
Alumina Matrix Composites with Non-Oxide Nanoparticle Addition and Enhanced Functionalities
Authors: Galusek Dušan , Galusková Dagmar
Published: January 2015

The addition of SiC or TiC nanoparticles to polycrystalline alumina matrix has long been known as an efficient way of improving the mechanical properties of alumina-based ceramics, especially strength, creep, and wear resistance. Recently, new types of nano-additives, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon nanofibers (CNF), and graphene sheets have been studied in order not only to improve the mechanical properties, but also to prepare materials with added functionalities, such as thermal and electrical conductivity. This paper provides a concise review of several types of alumina-based nanocomposites, evaluating the efficiency of various preparation methods and additives in terms of their influence on the properties of composites.
The Nucleotide Capture Region of Alpha Hemolysin: Insights into Nanopore Design for DNA Sequencing from Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Manara Richard , Tomasio Susana , Khalid Syma
Published: January 2015

Nanopore technology for DNA sequencing is constantly being refined and improved. In strand sequencing a single strand of DNA is fed through a nanopore and subsequent fluctuations in the current are measured. A major hurdle is that the DNA is translocated through the pore at a rate that is too fast for the current measurement systems. An alternative approach is “exonuclease sequencing”, in which an exonuclease is attached to the nanopore that is able to process the strand, cleaving off one base at a time. The bases then flow through the nanopore and the current is measured. This method has the advantage of potentially solving the translocation rate problem, as the speed is controlled by the exonuclease. Here we consider the practical details of exonuclease attachment to the protein alpha hemolysin. We employ molecular dynamics simulations to determine the ideal (a) distance from alpha-hemolysin, and (b) the orientation of the monophosphate nucleotides upon release from the exonuclease such that they will enter the protein. Our results indicate an almost linear decrease in the probability of entry into the protein with increasing distance of nucleotide release. The nucleotide orientation is less significant for entry into the protein.
Recovery Spirituality
Authors: Kurtz Ernest , White William
Published: January 2015

There is growing interest in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and other secular, spiritual, and religious frameworks of long-term addiction recovery. The present paper explores the varieties of spiritual experience within A.A., with particular reference to the growth of a wing of recovery spirituality promoted within A.A. It is suggested that the essence of secular spirituality is reflected in the experience of beyond (horizontal and vertical transcendence) and between (connection and mutuality) and in six facets of spirituality (Release, Gratitude, Humility, Tolerance, Forgiveness, and a Sense of Being-at-home) shared across religious, spiritual, and secular pathways of addiction recovery. The growing varieties of A.A. spirituality (spanning the “Christianizers” and “Seculizers”) reflect A.A.’s adaptation to the larger diversification of religious experience and the growing secularization of spirituality across the cultural contexts within which A.A. is nested.
Validation of MODIS and GEOV1 fPAR Products in a Boreal Forest Site in Finland
Authors: Majasalmi Titta , Rautiainen Miina , Stenberg Pauline , Manninen Terhikki
Published: January 2015

Remote sensing of the fraction of absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fPAR) has become a timely option to monitor forest productivity. However, only a few studies have had ground reference fPAR datasets containing both forest canopy and understory fPAR from boreal forests for the validation of satellite products. The aim of this paper was to assess the performance of two currently available satellite-based fPAR products: MODIS fPAR (MOD15A2, C5) and GEOV1 fPAR (g2_BIOPAR_FAPAR), as well as an NDVI-fPAR relationship applied to the MODIS surface reflectance product and a Landsat 8 image, in a boreal forest site in Finland. Our study area covered 16 km2 and field data were collected from 307 forest plots. For all plots, we obtained both forest canopy fPAR and understory fPAR. The ground reference total fPAR agreed better with GEOV1 fPAR than with MODIS fPAR, which showed much more temporal variation during the peak-season than GEOV1 fPAR. At the chosen intercomparison date in peak growing season, MODIS NDVI based fPAR estimates were similar to GEOV1 fPAR, and produced on average 0.01 fPAR units smaller fPAR estimates than ground reference total fPAR. MODIS fPAR and Landsat 8 NDVI based fPAR estimates were similar to forest canopy fPAR.
Simultaneous Characterization of Instantaneous Young’s Modulus and Specific Membrane Capacitance of Single Cells Using a Microfluidic System
Authors: Zhao Yang , Chen Deyong , Luo Yana , Chen Feng , Zhao Xiaoting , Jiang Mei , Yue Wentao , Long Rong , Wang Junbo , Chen Jian
Published: January 2015

This paper presents a microfluidics-based approach capable of continuously characterizing instantaneous Young’s modulus (Einstantaneous) and specific membrane capacitance (Cspecific membrane) of suspended single cells. In this method, cells were aspirated through a constriction channel while the cellular entry process into the constriction channel was recorded using a high speed camera and the impedance profiles at two frequencies (1 kHz and 100 kHz) were simultaneously measured by a lock-in amplifier. Numerical simulations were conducted to model cellular entry process into the constriction channel, focusing on two key parameters: instantaneous aspiration length (Linstantaneous) and transitional aspiration length (Ltransitional), which was further translated to Einstantaneous. An equivalent distribution circuit model for a cell travelling in the constriction channel was used to determine Cspecific membrane. A non-small-cell lung cancer cell line 95C (n = 354) was used to evaluate this technique, producing Einstantaneous of 2.96 ± 0.40 kPa and Cspecific membrane of 1.59 ± 0.28 μF/cm2. As a platform for continuous and simultaneous characterization of cellular Einstantaneous and Cspecific membrane, this approach can facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of cellular biophysical properties.
Anomaly Detection Based on Sensor Data in Petroleum Industry Applications
Authors: Martí Luis , Sanchez-Pi Nayat , Molina José , Garcia Ana
Published: January 2015

Anomaly detection is the problem of finding patterns in data that do not conform to an a priori expected behavior. This is related to the problem in which some samples are distant, in terms of a given metric, from the rest of the dataset, where these anomalous samples are indicated as outliers. Anomaly detection has recently attracted the attention of the research community, because of its relevance in real-world applications, like intrusion detection, fraud detection, fault detection and system health monitoring, among many others. Anomalies themselves can have a positive or negative nature, depending on their context and interpretation. However, in either case, it is important for decision makers to be able to detect them in order to take appropriate actions. The petroleum industry is one of the application contexts where these problems are present. The correct detection of such types of unusual information empowers the decision maker with the capacity to act on the system in order to correctly avoid, correct or react to the situations associated with them. In that application context, heavy extraction machines for pumping and generation operations, like turbomachines, are intensively monitored by hundreds of sensors each that send measurements with a high frequency for damage prevention. In this paper, we propose a combination of yet another segmentation algorithm (YASA), a novel fast and high quality segmentation algorithm, with a one-class support vector machine approach for efficient anomaly detection in turbomachines. The proposal is meant for dealing with the aforementioned task and to cope with the lack of labeled training data. As a result, we perform a series of empirical studies comparing our approach to other methods applied to benchmark problems and a real-life application related to oil platform turbomachinery anomaly detection.
Sustainable Development Plan for Korea through Expansion of Green IT: Policy Issues for the Effective Utilization of Big Data
Authors: Baek Hyun , Park Sun-Kyoung
Published: January 2015

The South Korean government is providing full support for green IT as one of the growth engines of Korea. The purpose of this study is to derive policy issues needed for the sustainable development of Korea through utilizing Big Data by applying green IT. The analysis is done using a Delphi technique. Results show that the establishment of computing platforms that can easily share data and generate value is prioritized for the effective use of Big Data from the environment. In addition, the government-led publication of genetic information and electronic medical records for research purposes has been derived as an important policy issue for the use of bio-Big Data. Besides, a guideline concerning the standardization of machine to machine and Internet of Things communication and data security is needed to effectively use Big Data from machines/things. Moreover, a review of legislation related to the utilization of Big Data from digital media has been derived as an important policy issue. The results of this study propose the direction in which the Korean government should move for green growth through effective utilization of Big Data. The results can be also useful resources for establishing relevant policies for various countries that are accelerating sustainable development.