bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel inositol catabolic pathway in Thermotoga maritima
Authors: Rodionova Irina A. , Leyn Semen A. , Burkart Michael D. , Boucher Nathalie , Noll Kenneth M. , Osterman Andrei L. , Rodionov Dmitry A.
Published: January 2013

myo‐inositol (MI) is a key sugar alcohol component of various metabolites, e.g. phosphatidylinositol‐based phospholipids that are abundant in animal and plant cells. The seven‐step pathway of MI degradation was previously characterized in various soil bacteria including Bacillus subtilis. Through a combination of bioinformatics and experimental techniques we identified a novel variant of the MI catabolic pathway in the marine hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima. By using in vitro biochemical assays with purified recombinant proteins we characterized four inositol catabolic enzymes encoded in the TM0412–TM0416 chromosomal gene cluster. The novel catabolic pathway in T. maritima starts as the conventional route using the myo‐inositol dehydrogenase IolG followed by three novel reactions. The first 2‐keto‐myo‐inositol intermediate is oxidized by another, previously unknown NAD‐dependent dehydrogenase TM0412 (named IolM), and a yet unidentified product of this reaction is further hydrolysed by TM0413 (IolN) to form 5‐keto‐l‐gluconate. The fourth step involves epimerization of 5‐keto‐l‐gluconate to d‐tagaturonate by TM0416 (IolO). T. maritima is unable to grow on myo‐inositol as a single carbon source. The determined in vitro specificity of the InoEFGK (TM0418–TM0421) transporter to myo‐inositol‐phosphate suggests that the novel pathway in Thermotoga utilizes a phosphorylated derivative of inositol.
Detailed analysis of biased histamine H4 receptor signalling by JNJ 7777120 analogues
Authors: Nijmeijer S , Vischer H F , Sirci F , Schultes S , Engelhardt H , de Graaf C , Rosethorne E M , Charlton S J , Leurs R
Published: January 2013

Background and Purpose

The histamine H4 receptor, originally thought to signal merely through Gαi proteins, has recently been shown to also recruit and signal via β‐arrestin2. Following the discovery that the reference antagonist indolecarboxamide JNJ 7777120 appears to be a partial agonist in β‐arrestin2 recruitment, we have identified additional biased hH4R ligands that preferentially couple to Gαi or β‐arrestin2 proteins. In this study, we explored ligand and receptor regions that are important for biased hH4R signalling.

Experimental Approach

We evaluated a series of 48 indolecarboxamides with subtle structural differences for their ability to induce hH4R‐mediated Gαi protein signalling or β‐arrestin2 recruitment. Subsequently, a Fingerprints for Ligands and Proteins three‐dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis correlated intrinsic activity values with structural ligand requirements. Moreover, a hH4R homology model was used to identify receptor regions important for biased hH4R signalling.

Key Results

One indolecarboxamide (75) with a nitro substituent on position R7 of the aromatic ring displayed an equal preference for the Gαi and β‐arrestin2 pathway and was classified as unbiased hH4R ligand. The other 47 indolecarboxamides were β‐arrestin2‐biased agonists. Intrinsic activities of the unbiased as well as β‐arrestin2‐biased indolecarboxamides to induce β‐arrestin2 recruitment could be correlated with different ligand features and hH4R regions.

Conclusion and Implications

Small structural modifications resulted in diverse intrinsic activities for unbiased (75) and β‐arrestin2‐biased indolecarboxamides. Analysis of ligand and receptor features revealed efficacy hotspots responsible for biased‐β‐arrestin2 recruitment. This knowledge is useful for the design of hH4R ligands with biased intrinsic activities and aids our understanding of the mechanism of H4R activation.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed issue on Histamine Pharmacology Update. To view the other articles in this issue visit http://dx.doi.org/
10.1111/bph.2013.170.issue‐1
Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor as a Therapeutic Target in Ewing Sarcoma: Lack of Consistent Upregulation or Recurrent Mutation and a Review of the Clinical Trial Literature
Authors: O'Neill Alison , Shah Nilay , Zitomersky Naamah , Ladanyi Marc , Shukla Neerav , Üren Aykut , Loeb David , Toretsky Jeffrey
Published: January 2013

The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) has been considered an important therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma (ES), generating a need to identify the subset of patients most likely to respond to IGF-1R inhibitors. We assessed IGF-1R expression in ES cell lines and patient tumors to understand the variable clinical responses to anti-IGF-1R therapy. Using ligand-binding displacement, we measured between 13,000 and 40,000 receptors per cell in ES cell lines. We used ELISA to quantify IGF-1R in patient tumors, which expressed 4.8%  ± 3.7 to 20.0%  ± 0.2 of the levels in a positive control cell line overexpressing IGF-1R. Flow cytometry showed markedly reduced IGF-1R expression in ES cell lines compared to a standard positive control cell line. TheIGF1Rgene was sequenced in 47 ES tumor samples and 8 ES cell lines; only one tumor sample showed a nonsynonymous mutation, R1353H, in a region with low functional impact. Finally, we assessed IGF-1R pathway activity in the ES stem cell (ESSC) population, to characterize its potential for resistance to anti-IGF-1R therapy, using Luminex technology. We found no significant differences in IGF-1R pathway activity between ESSCs and the total cell population. Overall, our findings suggest that IGF-1R as a therapeutic target in this sarcoma may require reevaluation.
The West Coast Thermal Trough: Mesoscale Evolution and Sensitivity to Terrain and Surface Fluxes
Authors: Brewer Matthew C. , Mass Clifford F. , Potter Brian E.
Published: January 2013

Despite the significant impacts of the West Coast thermal trough (WCTT) on West Coast weather and climate, questions remain regarding its mesoscale structure, origin, and dynamics. Of particular interest is the relative importance of terrain forcing, advection, and surface heating on WCTT formation and evolution. To explore such questions, the 13–16 May 2007 WCTT event was examined using observations and simulations from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. An analysis of the thermodynamic energy equation for these simulations was completed, as well as sensitivity experiments in which terrain or surface fluxes were removed or modified. For the May 2007 event, vertical advection of potential temperature is the primary driver of local warming and WCTT formation west of the Cascades. The downslope flow that drives this warming is forced by easterly flow associated with high pressure over British Columbia, Canada. When the terrain is removed from the model, the WCTT does not form and high pressure builds over the northwest United States. When the WCTT forms on the east side of the Cascades, diabatic heating dominates over the other terms in the thermodynamic energy equation, with warm advection playing a small role. If surface heat fluxes are neglected, an area of low pressure remains east of the Cascades, though it is substantially attenuated.
General practitioners’ hypertension knowledge and training needs: a survey in Xuhui district, Shanghai
Authors: Chen Qian , Zhang Xiangjie , Gu Jie , Wang Tianhao , Zhang Yuan , Zhu Shanzhu
Published: January 2013

Background

Hypertension prevalence is high in China, while patients’ levels of hypertension awareness, treatment and control are low. General practitioners’ knowledge and training relating to hypertension prevention may be an important related factor. We aimed to investigate general practitioners’ knowledge of hypertension prevention and potential training needs.

Methods

A questionnaire survey was conducted among all general practitioners at five community health service centers selected by convenience sampling. A total of 160 questionnaires were distributed and 147 were returned (response rate 91.9%) The questionnaire included general information; 12 subjective questions on health promotion, education and training needs; and 19 objective questions in 5 domains (epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, referral and community management) measuring knowledge of hypertension prevention and treatment.

Results

The major difficulties in health education practice for general practitioners were poor patient compliance (77.6%) and lack of medical consultation time (49.0%). The average accuracy rate of hypertension prevention knowledge was 49.2%, ranging from 10.5% to 94.7%. The factors associated with accuracy rate were physician’s education level (medical university vs. professional school, β = 13.3, P = 0.003), and type of center (training base vs. community healthcare center, β = 12.3, P < 0.0001). Most physicians (87.8%) reported being willing to attend training courses regularly and the preferred frequency was once every 2 ~ 3 months (53.5%). The preferred course was medical treatment of hypertension (82.3%) and the most favored training approach was expert lectures (80.3%).

Conclusions

The knowledge level of hypertension prevention is low among general practitioners in urban settings. Physicians working in community clinics where they participate in a series of teaching, assessing and evaluating systems for hypertension prevention perform better than those in general healthcare centers who lack specific training. Continuing hypertension education is urgently needed to ensure that physicians in general practice are aware of and adhere to the national hypertension prevention guidelines.
Modeling of Diffusion and Activation of Low Energy Arsenic Implants in Silicon
Authors: Chakravarthi Srinivasan , P.R. Chidambaram , Machala Charles , Jain Amitabh , Zhang Xin
Published: January 2013

In summary, we find it is possible to model the extent of arsenic diffusion during front-end and back-end processes that define the final junction depth. The key features of the model can be summarised as: (a) Interstitials from implant damage play a diminished role as implant energies are scaled; (b) As4V formation and precipitation at high concentrations is critical to accurate modeling of ultra-shallow arsenic junctions. These models when used with device simulations help optimize transistor performance/tradeoffs.

We would like to thank Pavel Fastenko and Scott T. Dunham (University of Washington) for details and discussion regarding their modeling results.
Experimental Study on the Mechanism of Carbon Diffusion in Silicon
Authors: Cowern N.E.B. , Colombeau B. , Roozeboom F. , Hopstaken M. , Snijders H. , Meunier-Beillard P. , Lerch W.
Published: January 2013

CVD-grown lightly C-doped superlattices with peak C concentrations of 2.1018/cm2 and 2.1019/cm2 were annealed in NH3, N2/H2, N2, and O2 ambient gases to investigate the influence of a range of point-defect conditions on C diffusion at the nanometer scale. C profiles were measured by secondary-ion mass spectroscopy. The profiles exhibit exponential-like diffusion consistent with a ‘long hop’ diffusion process with a characteristic migration length λ (=19 ± 3 nm at 850°C). Within experimental errors the value of ë is the same for all the ambient gases used, whereas the migration frequency g increases by two orders of magnitude as the ambient gas is changed from NH3 ambient (interstitial undersaturation) to O2 ambient (interstitial supersaturation), and decreases as a function of C concentration in the as-grown superlattice. The results confirm that C diffuses predominantly by a kick out mechanism under nearequilibrium diffusion conditions. Initial results support the chemical-pump model for suppression of diffusion in C-doped silicon.
Investigation and Modeling of Fluorine Co-Implantation Effects on Dopant Redistribution
Authors: Diebel M. , Chakravarthi S. , Dunham S.T. , Machala C.F. , Ekbote S. , Jain A.
Published: January 2013

A comprehensive model is developed from ab-initio calculations to understand the effects of co-implanted fluorine (F) on boron (B) and phosphorus (P) under sub-amorphizing and amorphizing conditions. The depth of the amorphous-crystalline interface and the implant depth of F are the key parameters to understand the interactions. Under sub-amorphizing conditions, B and P diffusion are enhanced, in contrast to amorphized regions where the model predicts retarded diffusion. This analysis predicts the F effect on B and P to be entirely due to interactions of F with point-defects.
Highly sensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay on chitosan membrane modified paper platform using TiO2 nanoparticles/multiwalled carbon nanotubes as label
Authors: Li Weiping , Ge Shenguang , Wang Shoumei , Yan Mei , Ge Lei , Yu Jinghua
Published: January 2013

A highly sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) immunoassay was incorporated into a low‐cost microfluidic paper‐based analytical device (μ‐PAD) to fabricate a facile paper‐based CL immunodevice (denoted as μ‐PCLI). This μ‐PCLI was constructed by covalently immobilizing capture antibody on a chitosan membrane modified μ‐PADs, which was developed by simple wax printing methodology. TiO2 nanoparticles coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO2/MWCNTs) were synthesized as an amplification catalyst tag to label signal antibody (Ab2). After sandwich‐type immunoreactions, the TiO2/MWCNTs were captured on the surface of μ‐PADs to catalyze the luminol‐p‐iodophenol‐H2O2 CL system, which produced an enhanced CL emission. Using prostate‐specific antigen as a model analyte, the approach provided a good linear response range from 0.001 to 20 ng/mL with a low detection limit of 0.8 pg/mL under optimal conditions. This μ‐PCLI showed good reproducibility, selectivity and stability. The assay results of prostate‐specific antigen in clinical serum samples were in good agreement with that obtained by commercially used electrochemiluminescence methods at the Cancer Research Center of Shandong Tumor Hospital (Jinan, Shandong Province, China). This μ‐PCLI could be very useful to realize highly sensitive, qualitative point‐of‐care testing in developing or developed countries. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient production of transgenic mice by intracytoplasmic injection of streptolysin‐O‐treated spermatozoa
Authors: Sim Bo‐Woong , Cha Jae‐Jin , Song Bong‐Seok , Kim Ji‐Su , Yoon Seung‐Bin , Choi Seon‐A , Jeong Kang‐Jin , Kim Young‐Hyun , Huh Jae‐Won , Lee Sang‐Rae , Kim Sang‐Hyun , Lee Chul‐Sang , Kim Sun‐Uk , Chang Kyu‐Tae
Published: January 2013

Many methods for efficient production of transgenic animals for biomedical research have been developed. Despite great improvements in transgenesis rates resulting from the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), the ICSI‐based sperm‐mediated gene‐transfer (iSMGT) technique is still not optimal in terms of sperm permeabilization efficiency and subsequent development. Here, we demonstrate that streptolysin‐O (SLO) can efficiently permeabilize mouse spermatozoa, leading to improved developmental competence and high transgenesis rates in iSMGT embryos and pups. In particular, the most efficient production of iSMGT‐transgenic embryos resulted from pretreatment with 5 U/ml SLO for 30 min and co‐incubation with 1.0 ng/µl of an EGFP expression vector. By incubating spermatozoa with Cy‐3‐labelled DNA, we found that fluorescence intensity was prominently detected in the head region of SLO‐treated spermatozoa. In addition, blastocyst development rate and blastomere survival were greatly improved by iSMGT using SLO‐treated spermatozoa (iSMGT‐SLO) as compared to freeze‐thawed spermatozoa. Consistent with this, a high proportion of transgenic offspring was obtained by iSMGT‐SLO after transfer into foster mothers, reaching 10.6% of the number of oocytes used (42.3% among pups). Together with successful germline transmission of transgenes in all founders analyzed, our data strongly suggest that SLO makes spermatozoa amenable to exogenous DNA uptake, and that the iSMGT‐SLO technique is an efficient method for production of transgenic animals for biomedical research. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 233–241, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structure–property relationship of hetero‐aromatic‐electron‐donor antennas of polypyridyl Ru (II) complexes for high efficiency dye‐sensitized solar cells
Authors: El‐Shafei Ahmed , Hussain Maqbool , Islam Ashraful , Han Liyuan
Published: January 2013

Three novel heteroleptic amphiphilic polypyridyl Ru‐complexes, coded MH08–10, with hetero‐aromatic electron‐donor ancillary ligands containing N‐benzylcarbazole (MH08), dibenzofurane (MH09) and benzothiophene moieties (MH10) were synthesized to study the influence of different heterocyclic electron donors on the interrelationship of photophysical and electrochemical properties, and device performances for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). MH08 showed a remarkably high molar extinction coefficient of 27,650 M−1cm−1. MH08–TBA was synthesized from MH08 by converted one COOH group into −COO−+N(C4H9)4 to investigate the effect of deprotonating one carboxylic group on the Fermi level and electron injection. When compared under the same experimental device conditions using 0.3M t‐butylpyridine (TBP), the short‐circuit photocurrent density (JSC) and total conversion efficiency (%η) of MH08–10 were MH08>MH09>MH10. The differences in %η and JSC of MH08–10 were ascribed to the conjugation length coupled with the electron donation and hole‐transport strength of the ancillary ligands, which were in the following order N‐benzylcarbazole>dibenzofurane>benzothiophene. Moreover, MH08–TBA showed JSC of 19.56 mAcm−2 and %η of 9.76% compared to 17.16 mAcm−2 and 9.12% of the benchmark dye N719. The superior performance of MH08–TBA was attributed to its better light harvesting and enhanced incident‐photon‐to‐current efficiency (IPCE) conversion. DFT/TD‐DFT calculations utilizing the energy functional B3LYP and the full‐electron basis set DGDZVP were performed to calculate HOMO and LUMO energies, vertical electronic excitations, lowest singlet‐singlet electronic transitions (E0‐0), and excited state oxidation potentials. Excellent agreement was found between the experimental results and calculated data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ontogenic expression of the amino acid transporter b0,+AT in suckling Huanjiang piglets: effect of intra-uterine growth restriction
Authors: Wang Wence , Blachier Francois , Fu Dezhi , Pan Jie , Yang Huansheng , Guo Jieping , Chu Wuying , Kong Xiangfeng , Yin Yulong
Published: January 2013

Intestinal amino acid (AA) transport is critical for the supply of AA to other tissues. Few studies regarding AA intestinal transport systems during the period from postnatal intense development of piglets until weaning are available. In the present study, we measured the intestinal expression of b0,+AT according to developmental stage using the suckling Huanjiang piglet model, and documented the effect of intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) on such expression using real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Suckling piglets that recovered after IUGR and those with normal body weights (NBW) were used after birth or at 7, 14 and 21 d of age. Blood samples were used for the measurement of plasma AA concentrations, and the jejunum was collected for the measurement of b0,+AT expression. In NBW piglets, b0,+AT expression was markedly decreased from days 0 to 21 (P< 0·01) and remained at a low level during all the suckling periods. In IUGR piglets, there was a marked decrease in b0,+AT expression at birth, which remained lower, when compared with NBW piglets, during the suckling period. These results coincided with decreased plasma arginine concentration at birth and decreased lysine concentration in 21-d-old piglets (P< 0·05). It is concluded that the high expression of b0,+AT at birth decreases during the suckling period, and that IUGR is associated with decreased expression of this apical AA transporter. The possible causal relationship between decreased b0,+AT expression and lower body weight of IUGR piglets in the suckling period is discussed.
Addressing the Gaps in Preparation for Quarantine
Authors: Nathawad Rita , Roblin Patricia M. , Pruitt Darrin , Arquilla Bonnie
Published: January 2013

Introduction

In the event of an outbreak of a communicable respiratory illness, quarantine may become necessary. The New York Institute for All Hazard Preparedness (NYIAHP) of the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, in cooperation with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Program, (NYC DOHMH-HEPP) quarantine working group, has developed a series of clinical protocols to help health care facilities respond to such an event.

Problem

Two full-scale exercises (FSEs) were designed and conducted a year apart in the quarantine unit at Kings County Hospital Center (KCHC) to test the efficacy and feasibility of these quarantine protocols. The goal of these exercises was to identify the gaps in preparedness for quarantine and increase hospital readiness for such an event.

Methods

Evaluators monitored for efficient management of critical physical plants, personnel and material resources. Players were expected to integrate and practice emergency response plans and protocols specific to quarantine. In developing the exercise objectives, five activities were selected for evaluation: Activation of the Unit, Staffing, Charting/Admission, Symptom Monitoring and Infection Control, and Client Management.

Results

The results of the initial FSE found that there were incomplete critical tasks within all five protocols: These deficiencies were detailed in an After Action Report and an Improvement Plan was presented to the KCHC Disaster Preparedness Committee a month after the initial FSE. In the second FSE a year later, all critical tasks for Activation of the unit, Staffing and Charting/Admission were achieved. Completion of critical tasks related to Symptom Monitoring and Infection Control and Client Management was improved in the second FSE, but some tasks were still not performed appropriately.

Conclusion

In short, these exercises identified critical needs in disaster preparedness of the KCHC Quarantine Unit. The lessons learned from this logistical exercise enabled the planning group to have a better understanding of leadership needs, communication capabilities, and infection control procedures. Kings County Hospital Center performed well during these exercises. It was clear that performance in the second exercise was improved, and many problems noted in the first exercise were corrected. Staff also felt better prepared the second time. This supports the idea that frequent exercises are vital to maintain disaster readiness.

NathawadR, RoblinPM, PruittD, ArquillaB. Addressing the gaps in preparation for quarantine. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(2):1-7.
The reliability of methodological ratings for speechBITE using the PEDro‐P scale
Authors: Murray Elizabeth , Power Emma , Togher Leanne , McCabe Patricia , Munro Natalie , Smith Katherine
Published: January 2013

Background

speechBITE (http://www.speechbite.com) is an online database established in order to help speech and language therapists gain faster access to relevant research that can used in clinical decision‐making. In addition to containing more than 3000 journal references, the database also provides methodological ratings on the PEDro‐P (an adapted version of the PEDro) scale to assist clinicians in identifying the scientific quality of randomized (RCTs) and non‐randomized control trials (NRCTs). While reliability of the PEDro scale has been established by similar allied health databases, the reliability of the PEDro‐P scale has yet to be reported.

Aims

To examine the reliability of PEDro‐P scale ratings undertaken by raters on the speechBITE database and benchmark these results to the published reliability for the original PEDro scale. Both the total score (out of ten) as well as each of the 11 scale items were included in this analysis.

Methods & Procedures

speechBITE's volunteer rater network of 17 members rated the first 100 RCTs and NRCTs on the website. The criterion and overall scores for these ratings were compared with previously published reliability studies using the PEDro scale. Intra‐class correlations and per cent agreement measures were used to establish and benchmark reliability.

Outcomes & Results

The speechBITE PEDro‐P ratings ranged from fair to excellent for both the total score and for each of the 11 scale items. Furthermore, reliability was equal to that of other databases.

Conclusions & Implications

speechBITE users can be confident of the reliability of ratings published on the website. Further analysis of differences between this study and previous PEDro scale reliability studies are discussed.
Characterization of the SPI‐1 and Rsp type three secretion systems in Pseudomonas fluorescens F113
Authors: Barret Matthieu , Egan Frank , Moynihan Jennifer , Morrissey John P. , Lesouhaitier Olivier , O'Gara Fergal
Published: January 2013

Pseudomonas fluorescens F113 is a plant growth‐promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) isolated from the sugar beet rhizosphere. The recent annotation of the F113 genome sequence has revealed that this strain encodes a wide array of secretion systems, including two complete type three secretion systems (T3SSs) belonging to the Hrp1 and SPI‐1 families. While Hrp1 T3SSs are frequently encoded in other P. fluorescens strains, the presence of a SPI‐1 T3SS in a plant‐beneficial bacterial strain was unexpected. In this work, the genetic organization and expression of these two T3SS loci have been analysed by a combination of transcriptional reporter fusions and transcriptome analyses. Overexpression of two transcriptional activators has shown a number of genes encoding putative T3 effectors. In addition, the influence of these two T3SSs during the interaction of P. fluorescens F113 with some bacterial predators was also assessed. Our data revealed that the transcriptional activator hilA is induced by amoeba and that the SPI‐1 T3SS could potentially be involved in resistance to amoeboid grazing.
THE LISA PATHFINDER MISSION
Authors: McNAMARA PAUL W.
Published: January 2013

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder (formerly known as SMART-2) is a European Space Agency mission designed to pave the way for the joint ESA/NASA LISA mission by testing in flight the critical technologies required for space borne gravitational wave detection; it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This is achieved through technology comprising inertial sensors, high precision laser metrology, drag-free control and an ultra precise micro-Newton propulsion system.

LISA Pathfinder (LPF) essentially mimics one arm of space-borne gravitational wave detectors by shrinking the million kilometer scale armlengths down to a few tens of centimeters, giving up the sensitivity to gravitational waves, but keeping the measurement technology. The scientific objective of the LPF mission consists then of the first in-flight test of low frequency gravitational wave detection metrology.
Interaction of Multiple Hydraulic Fractures in Horizontal Wells
Authors: Wong Sau-Wai , Geilikman Mikhail , Xu Guanshui
Published: January 2013

The use of multi-fracced horizontal well technology in unconventional gas and liquid rich reservoirs is one of the key reasons for the recent success in the exploitation of Unconventional Resources. These multiple fractures are placed in many stages along the horizontal well using diverse completion technologies. Yet, the understanding of fracture growth mechanics and the optimum fracture placement design methodology are still preliminary. Recent advances in computational mechanics and the development of appropriate stimulation modeling technology will further nurture innovation and press forward much needed optimization of the Completion and Stimulation technology in multi-fracced horizontal wells.

This paper contains two key components. Firstly, an analytical model is used to highlight some of the salient features of multiple hydraulic fractures interaction. The advantage of an analytical model is that it provides immediate insights into the controlling parameters and steer further numerical analysis on stimulation optimization. Secondly, an idealized 2D numerical model is employed to illustrate fracture interference and interaction – not just between fractures that are pumped simultaneously, but also multi-stage fractures interaction and even potentially well-to-well interaction. Most of this interaction can be attributed to the fact that we are placing fractures in extremely tight formation (shales) and most fracture stimulation operations are conducted and completed within a time frame that is shorter than the time needed for frac fluid to completely leak-off and the resultant in-situ stress perturbation to dissipate. The understanding of subsurface fractures interaction will impact on surface simultaneous operation planning and execution in full scale development of unconventional gas and oil.
HSE Successes and Challenges in Geophysical Operations
Authors: Hunt Keith , Mahrooqi Said , Yahyai Awadh , Yarubi Saeed , Clow Forbes , Jassasi Mahmood
Published: January 2013

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) Geophysical Data Acquisition Department (the department) has, throughout the past 8 years conducted their operations without incurring a single lost time incident (LTI). Since August 2004, a total of 23.5mln man hours and 42mln km driven, have been accrued in conjunction with their seismic and consultancy contractors.

The departments core business is the acquisition of land seismic data, but other specific geophysical surveys are conducted from time to time, such as surface gravity and electro-magnetic surveys, or down hole VSPs or fracc monitoring surveys or even marine seismic surveys.

As of Q4 2012: at any one time there can be in excess of 500 field based personnel, supported by 100+ light and heavy vehicles operating 24/7 throughout varied terrain types in Oman. The guiding principle governing every task and operation undertaken is safety takes priority. The protection of project personnel, the environment, assets and company reputation is therefore critical to the success of the department, who strive to conduct their high productivity operations to the required quality standards, without incident.

The planning, operational and practical implications of managing such large scale operations, which contribute to and underpin the department's safety record, are discussed in detail throughout this paper. Although the department does celebrate its successful record and despite best made plans for mitigation, the threat of incident is ever present. Challenges inherent not only to the seismic sector, but the E&P industry as a whole, are described, along with five recognized "Themes", attributed as enablers for positive impact: Contract Strategy and Planning; Standards and Systems; Technology; Training, and HSE Culture.

There is of course always plenty of room for improvement; the department is open to suggestions and feedback. Several key areas are recognized and described, whereby applied effort could assist the department in their journey towards Goal Zero operations.
Generalized Specker lattice-ordered groups and two types of distributivity
Authors: Jakubík Ján , Lihová Judita
Published: January 2013

Let A be a lattice-ordered group, B a generalized Boolean algebra. The Boolean extension A
B of A has been investigated in the literature; we will refer to A
B as a generalized Specker lattice-ordered group (namely, if A is the linearly ordered group of all integers, then A
B is a Specker lattice-ordered group). The paper establishes that some distributivity laws extend from A
B to both A and B, and (under certain circumstances) also conversely.
On estimate for the modulus of continuity of the Cauchy-type integral having a Lipschitz-continuous density
Authors: Drobek Jaroslav
Published: January 2013

The Cauchy-type integral having a Lipschitz-continuous density is under investigation. It is considered in a Jordan region that has a piecewise regular boundary without cusps and therefore it can be continuously extended over the closure of the region. Then the boundary values form a function, whose modulus of continuity is to be estimated. One parameter-dependent estimate is obtained and one algorithm for its evaluating is developed. The algorithm is demonstrated on some examples.
Dynamical behavior of endomorphisms on certain invariant sets
Authors: Putan Diana , Stan Diana
Published: January 2013

We study the Hausdorff dimension of the intersection between local stable manifolds and the respective basic sets of a class of hyperbolic polynomial endomorphisms on the complex projective space ℙ2. We consider the perturbation (z
2 +ɛz +bɛw
2, w
2) of (z
2, w
2) and we prove that, for b sufficiently small, it is injective on its basic set Λɛ close to Λ:= {0} × S
1. Moreover we give very precise upper and lower estimates for the Hausdorff dimension of the intersection between local stable manifolds and Λɛ, in the case of these maps.
Research Ethics
Authors: Resnik David B.
Published: January 2013

Research ethics is a type of applied (or professional) ethics that addresses the questions, dilemmas, and issues related to the ethical conduct of scientific research (seeProfessional Ethics; Dilemmas, Moral). Topics that fall within the domain of research ethics range from practical problems, such as assigning authorship, to more abstract questions, such as resolving conflicts between normative principles. Though ethical issues have always arisen in science, research ethics began to emerge as a distinct academic discipline in the mid‐1980s, when scientists, humanists, and policymakers came to terms with well‐publicized scandals in research, such as data fabrication and falsification in federally funded science, abuses of human and animal research subjects, and conflicts of interests in clinical trials. These and other events drew the attention of journalists, who published front‐page articles on scientific fraud and other problems with research; Congressional leaders, who held hearings on misconduct in science; and federal agencies, which issued new ethics regulations and training requirements (Shamoo and Resnik 2009). During the 1990s, governmental and scientific organizations released a number of influential reports on integrity in science, professional associations held conferences and workshops on research ethics, and scholars published textbooks and anthologies on research ethics (National Academy of Sciences 1992; Resnik 1998; Macrina 2005). New scholarly journals, such asScience and Engineering EthicsandAccountability in Research, were founded to address ethical, social, and legal issues in scientific research. By the beginning of the twenty‐first century, social scientists, psychologists, and other empirically oriented researchers had gathered considerable data concerning ethical behavior in research and developed explanatory models (seeExplanations, Moral).
Response‐Dependent Theories
Authors: Gert Joshua
Published: January 2013

We need not doubt the sincerity or linguistic competence of someone in order to think that some of her moral – or other normative or evaluative – views are in error. This seems to support the idea that some evaluative properties are objective. On the other hand, it is hard to understand how there could be evaluative properties “out there,” independent of human sensibilities. There have been many philosophical attempts to account for our thinking and talking about evaluative and moral matters in ways that seem characteristic of objective domains while retaining the link to human sensibility. Some of these attempts do not straightforwardly accept the existence of any objective evaluative properties (seeQuasi‐Realism). However, the strategy of response‐dependent theories takes its point of departure from a comparison between evaluative properties and secondary qualities such as colors. The color of an object is plausibly regarded as an objective matter of fact. However, this need not force us to think of color properties as completely mind‐independent. Rather, we can think of color properties as powers to produce certain visual experiences in a certain class of observers under certain conditions. And it can be an objective matter whether a given object does or does not have such a power.
Codes of Ethics
Authors: Davis Michael
Published: January 2013

The term “moral code” seems to be reserved for rules or other standards (written or not) applying to rational agents simply because they are (more or less) members of some “natural” (i.e., nonvoluntary) society. “Code of ethics,” when having a distinct meaning, applies instead to participants in a legitimate voluntary activity – such as a business, profession, or government. A code of ethics may appear under other names, including “principles of professional responsibility,” “rules of conduct,” and “ethical guidelines” (
see
Business Ethics; Professional Ethics). However denominated, a code of ethics will belong to one of three categories: (1)
professional
, a code applying to all, and only, members of a certain profession (e.g., Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association, which applies to all “physicians”); (2)
organizational
, codes applying only to members (or a certain class of members) of the association formally enacting it (e.g., the Code of Ethics of the American Institute of Architects, which applies only to “members,” or the Motorola Code of Ethics, applying only to employees of Motorola); or (3)
practical
(such as the Computer Ethics Institute's Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics), codes applying to anyone involved in a certain voluntary practice (using a computer).
Ecofeminism
Authors: Gaard Greta
Published: January 2013

Ecofeminist ethics are rooted in feminist activisms against nuclear power, militarism, and species oppression, as well as institutionalized racism, sexism, classism, and heterosexism. Philosophically, ecofeminist ethics emerge from earlier work in feminist ethics – particularly the ethics of care – as well as feminist spiritualities, and feminist and ecofeminist philosophies (
see
Feminist Ethics; Care Ethics). Ecofeminism is variously seen as a branch of feminist theory, a subset of environmental ethics (
see
Environmental Ethics), and a manifestation of environmental politics. Ecofeminist ethics are manifested through movements for gender, species, and environmental justice, water and food democracy, and local economic self‐sufficiency.
Disease Mongering
Authors: Cooper Rachel
Published: January 2013

Disease mongers seek to increase the perceived incidence of diseases so that they can sell drugs or other medical services. Disease mongers can either (1) split current disease categories into multiple categories, or (2) medicalize conditions previously considered normal.
Care Ethics
Authors: Friedman Marilyn
Published: January 2013

Care ethics centers on the morality of caring in interpersonal relationships. It emerged prominently toward the end of the twentieth century as a challenge to the most dominant theories of normative ethics at the time. The foundation from which care ethics emerged was research in feminist ethics (seeFeminist Ethics) and gender issues have continued to be intertwined with work in care ethics. Care ethics also coincided fruitfully with certain other critical trends that were emerging simultaneously in the mainstream of normative ethics, for example an emphasis on the moral importance of personal relationships and character, and challenges to various formal features of the then‐dominant moral theories.
Native American Ethics
Authors: Vecsey Christopher
Published: January 2013

It has not been conventional in philosophical overviews of ethics to include Native American concepts. A century ago, the famousEncyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics(Hastings 1913–27) contained much about the religious ideas and practices of the “Amerinds” (I: 379), including tribes such as the Navajo (IX: 254–6), but little about American Indian ethics. Even in the recentEncyclopedia of Ethics(Becker and Becker 2001), American Indian ethical ideas are absent from discussion.
Well‐Being
Authors: Kraut Richard
Published: January 2013

In ordinary speech, “well‐being” is often used interchangeably with such terms as “health,” “happiness,” and “prosperity” (seeHappiness). To be concerned about someone's well‐being is to care whether he is doing or faring well. The word “well” that appears in these expressions plays an evaluative role – it is the adverbial form of the adjective “good,” and of course “good” is a grade we use to evaluate things. If someone is well‐off, his life is good. Hence, it is not surprising that we commonly move back and forth so easily between “well‐being” and such terms as “health,” “happiness,” and “prosperity”: most people assume that the life of a human being is a good one – that someone living such a life is faring well – only if it has at least some measure of these goods.
Cudworth, Ralph
Authors: Schroeder Mark
Published: January 2013

Ralph Cudworth (1617–88) was a leading member of the Cambridge Platonists, and an early and important influence on the British rationalist moral philosophers of the eighteenth century. In 1645 he became master of Clare Hall in Cambridge and was elected Regius Professor of Hebrew, and in 1654 became master of Christ's College, where he continued until his death in 1688. He was recognized as a leader among the Cambridge Platonists, a group of thinkers including, in addition to Cudworth, Henry More, Benjamin Whichcote, Nathaniel Culverwel, Peter Sterry, John Worthington, and John Smith.
Conservation Biology
Authors: Sagoff Mark
Published: January 2013

In an influential article published in 1985, biologist Michael Soulé announced the emergence of a new biological science, conservation biology (hereafter “CB”), which differed from other applied biological sciences such as forestry, fisheries, and wildlife management. These traditional disciplines address problems associated with individual species and the use of particular natural resources, for example sustainable yields. In contrast, CB “tends to be holistic,” Soulé wrote, and embraces normative postulates “that make up the basis of an ethic of appropriate attitudes toward other forms of life.” These postulates state: (1) “Diversity of organisms is good”; (2) “Ecological complexity is good”; (3) “Evolution is good”; and (4) “Biotic diversity has intrinsic value, irrespective of its instrumental or utilitarian value.” The mission of the Society for Conservation Biology, founded in 1986 and now with over 10,000 members, is “To advance the science and practice of conserving the Earth's biological diversity” (seeEvolution, Ethics and).
Wrong Kind of Reasons Problem
Authors: Jacobson Daniel
Published: January 2013

A reason is said to be “of the wrong kind” when, although it counts as a consideration broadly in favor of (or against) having an attitude such as belief or desire toward some proposition or object, it doesnotbear on whether the proposition is true or the object valuable (seeReasons). To say that something is a wrong kind of reason (WKR), however, is not to say that it is a bad reason. Some WKRs seem to provide excellent reasons to believe or desire – or to have some emotion such as amusement, admiration, fear, and so forth. (Even this claim will prove contentious, as we shall see, but not in a way that calls into question the goodness of certain WKRs, only what they are good reasons for.) The central case in the recent literature concerns what can be called a demonic incentive: A demon credibly threatens to punish you unless you desire or admire something that, quite obviously, is not desirable or admirable. When the incentive is compelling enough, it apparently provides conclusive reason to believep, desirex, or admirey, if you can; but it is not a reason that showspto be true,xgood, oryadmirable. The fact that a demon will punish you unless you desire a cup of mud is thus the quintessential example of a wrong kind of reason to desire the mud, since such an exogenous incentive obviously does not make the mud desirable (Crisp 2000).
Faith
Authors: Roberts Robert C.
Published: January 2013

Not many decades ago, ethics was thought to be about the class of
actions
that are subject to adjudication in terms of
duty
: obligatory, proscribed, or permitted but not obligatory. The 1970s and 1980s began to allow ethics also to be about virtues and vices that might have little to do with obligation: courage and cowardice, generosity, stinginess, and profligacy, and so forth. Today ethics may also treat of personal relationships: friendship, marriage, parenthood, civic bonds (
see
civic friendship
;
family
;
fatherhood
;
filial duties
;
friendship
;
marriage
;
motherhood
). The concepts of such relationships naturally suggest an ethical ideality: the idea of an
excellent
friendship, marriage, and so on – and ethicists explore the lineaments of such idealities. Faith is an excellent personal relationship with God.
Reflective Equilibrium
Authors: DePaul Michael
Published: January 2013

Nelson Goodman (1965: 66–7) introduced the method of reflective equilibrium (RE) into contemporary philosophy as a way to justify principles of induction and deduction. John Rawls (seeRawls, John) brought the approach over to moral and political philosophy, employing it to construct his theory of justice. It is to Rawls (1971: 19–21, 48–51) that we owe the term “reflective equilibrium.” In his early and influential paper on the topic, Norman Daniels described RE as “an attempt to produce coherence in an ordered triple of sets of beliefs held by a particular person, namely (a) a set of considered moral judgments, (b) a set of moral principles, and (c) a set of relevant background theories” (1979: 258). RE has become the default view of how moral inquiry should be conducted even though it is controversial how RE should be understood and RE faces serious objections.
Tragedy of the Commons
Authors: Schmidtz David
Published: January 2013

Today, the word “tragedy” is used to refer generically to anything really bad. The word has an older meaning, though, referring to literary works that depict a protagonist caught up in events inexorably leading to his or her doom. Some of that older meaning is implicit in the logic of what we now call the “tragedy of the commons.” The phrase was invented by Garrett Hardin (1968), who credits the idea to W. F. Lloyd (1833); (see also H. Scott Gordon 1954).
Truth in Ethics
Authors: Lynch Michael P.
Published: January 2013

The topic of truth in ethics can be divided into three main questions: Are moral judgments truth‐apt? Are any moral judgments true? And, if some moral judgments are true, in virtue of what are they true?
Pharmacist Ethics
Authors: Ho Dien
Published: January 2013

The diverse professional roles which modern pharmacists play create an ethical landscape that gives rise to a variety of moral problems. In order to understand the different types of ethical issues in pharmacy ethics, we must examine some of the main professional roles pharmacists undertake. This essay examines three of these roles and outlines the interdependency between the professional roles of pharmacists and ethical issues generated by them.