bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nikaitchuq Extended-Reach Drilling: Designing for Success on the North Slope of Alaska
Authors: Abahusayn Mishal , Foster Brandon , Brink Jason , Kuck Marc , Longo Joseph
Published: January 2013

A 52-well heavy-oil field development that targeted shallow—a 3,400- to 4,000-ft true vertical depth (TVD)—sands on the North Slope of Alaska was initiated in 2008. Horizontal wells of 11,000- to 13,000-ft measured depth (MD) were drilled early in the program. These initial wells served as "data-gathering and technology-proving" opportunities leading up to the eventual 23,000-ft-MD wells. Key technical challenges include equivalent-circulating-density (ECD) and drag management.

ECD management became essential in the 8½-in. production-hole section of the longer wells. A relatively narrow (<600 psi) mud-weight (MW) window necessitated changes to casing, drillstring, drilling fluids, and operational parameters. Lighter-weight production casing allowed the drilling of a larger production hole (8¾-in. vs. 8½-in.). A tapered drillstring, reduced mud rheology, and reduced flow rate all became a necessary part of the ECD-management solution.

Advanced drag-management techniques are required to install the 9⅝-in. production casing, 5½-in. production liner, and 4½ × 3½-in. intelligent inner-string completion. The 9⅝-in. casing is installed by use of the "buoyancy assist" method (i.e., "flotation") so it may be "pushed" and reamed in the hole beyond the point of negative weight. The lower completion consists of a 5½-in. slotted liner with swell packers. Centralizers on the liner were changed from nonrotating to fixed, which allowed breaking axial drag while reaming the liners to depth.

Extensive torque-and-drag modeling was used to plan intelligent inner-string completions on the injector wells, which included injection control devices, swell packers, and a fiber-optic distributed temperature sensor (DTS) to monitor injectivity.

This full-length paper discusses the technical challenges, well-design solutions, and operational practices that were trialed and implemented to enable extended-reach wells to be successfully drilled on the edge of the industry-experience envelope, with all wells meeting targeted objectives.
Unified Decline Type-Curve Analysis for Natural Gas Wells in Boundary-Dominated Flow
Authors: Luis F. Ayala H , Ye Peng
Published: January 2013

Rate-time decline-curve analysis is the technique most extensively used by engineers in the evaluation of well performance, production forecasting, and prediction of original fluids in place. Results from this analysis have key implications for economic decisions surrounding asset acquisition and investment planning in hydrocarbon production. State-of-the-art natural gas decline-curve analysis heavily relies on the use of liquid (oil) type curves combined with the concepts of pseudopressure and pseudotime and/or empirical curve fitting of rate-time production data using the Arps hyperbolic decline model. In this study, we present the analytical decline equation that models production from gas wells producing at constant pressure under boundary-dominated flow (BDF) which neither employs empirical concepts from Arps decline models nor necessitates explicit calculations of pseudofunctions. New-generation analytical decline equations for BDF are presented for gas wells producing at (1) full production potential under true wide-open decline and (2) partial production potential under less than wide-open decline. The proposed analytical model enables the generation of type-curves for the analysis of natural gas reservoirs producing at constant pressure and under BDF for both full and partial production potential. A universal, single-line gas type curve is shown to be straightforwardly derived for any gas well producing at its full potential under radial BDF. The resulting type curves can be used to forecast boundary-dominated performance and predict original gas in place without (1) iterative procedures, (2) prior knowledge of reservoir storage properties or geological data, and (3) pseudopressure or pseudotime transformations of production data obtained in the field.
Understanding the Heat-Transfer Mechanism in the Steam-Assisted Gravity-Drainage (SAGD) Process and Comparing the Conduction and Convection Flux in Bitumen Reservoirs
Authors: Irani Mazda , Ghannadi Sahar
Published: January 2013

SAGD is one successful thermal recovery technique applied in the Athabasca and Peace River reservoirs in central and northern Alberta, Canada. In SAGD, steam is injected into a horizontal injection well and is forced outward, losing its latent heat when it comes into contact with the cold bitumen at the edge of a depletion chamber. As a consequence, the viscosity of the bitumen falls several orders of magnitude, its mobility rises several orders of magnitude, and then it flows under gravity toward a horizontal production well located several meters below and parallel to the injection well. Heat-transfer mechanisms are pivotal to the SAGD process. Though heat energy is transferred from steam to reservoir by conduction and convection, heat transfer by convection is not considered in the classic SAGD mathematical models such as Butler's. Researchers such as Butler and Stephens (1981), Reis (1992), Akin (2005), Liang (2005), Nukhaev et al. (2006), and Azad and Chalaturnyk (2010) considered conduction from steam to cold reservoir to be the only heat-transfer component. However, because the heat capacity of water is typically two to five times that of bitumen, convection caused by the mobile condensate flow in the reservoir may contradict these studies. Farouq-Ali (1997) was the first to criticize the assumption that there is only a thermal conduction mechanism in the SAGD process. He pointed out that with so much condensate flowing, convection would be expected to be the dominant heat-transfer mechanism, which can be plausible at high temperatures. In response, Edmunds (1999a) stated that on the basis of the associated change in enthalpy, the heat transfer into a cold reservoir because of convection is probably less than 5% of that because of conduction. Ito (1999) challenged Edmunds (1999a) statement, on the basis of Ito and Suzuki (1996, 1999) and Ito et al. (1998), pointing out that “this number, 5%; i.e., ratio between convection to conduction presented by Edmunds (1999a) is unrealistically low, (and) it should be in the range of 50%.” This study examined the relative roles of convective and conductive heat transfer at the edge of SAGD steam chambers. In summary, the mathematical model developed in this study considered both conduction and convection, and the resultant output from the model is reasonably consistent with published field data. This study supports the idea that although convection can dominate near the chamber edge in high-water-saturation reservoirs, in bitumen-rich reservoirs, its contribution to heat transfer is less than 1% and can be neglected.
New Classification of Carbonate Rocks for Process-Based Pore-Scale Modeling
Authors: Mousavi Maryam , Prodanovic Maša , Jacobi David
Published: January 2013

Carbonate rocks are complex in structure and pore geometry and display heterogeneity on all length scales. In this paper, carbonate rocks are described on the basis of their contents and pore geometry for use in pore-scale modeling. Definitions of grains and porosities are based on other carbonate-rock classifications; we did not invent new concepts. On the basis of carbonate content (grain, mud, and cement), carbonate rocks were divided into three types: muddy, grainy, and mixed. Each type was divided into subtypes on the basis of pore geometries defined by other researchers. Pore-size distribution of Lønøy (2006) was used for each subtype. We review existing carbonate-rock models and suggest approaches, and show preliminary flow-simulation results, for pore-scale modeling of different grains, cement, and pore geometry in these complex rocks.
Evaporite-Distribution Typing From Resistivity Images and Openhole Logs in a Middle Eastern Reservoir
Authors: Hruška Marina , Bachtel Steve , Archuleta Bonny , Skalinski Mark
Published: January 2013

In this integrated study using resistivity images, conventional openhole logs, and core data from a Middle Eastern reservoir, abundance and geometric configuration of bedded and nodular evaporite have been studied to help distinguish which nodular forms of evaporite may be related to a permeability suppression. Several logs have been calculated from the resistivity image log to quantify nodular evaporite and help predict the presence of corresponding core facies well. Compared with thin-section description, most samples of nodular evaporite were exhibiting fine-scale cementation as well, and their permeability was suppressed compared with samples with rare or no fine-scale cementation in thin sections.
Communication and Cultural Change in University Technology Transfer
Authors: Wright David
Published: January 2013

Faculty culture and communication networks are pivotal components of technology transfer on university campuses. Universities are focused upon diffusing technology to external clients and upon building structure and support systems to enhance technology transfer. However, engaging faculty members in technology transfer requires an internal diffusion of new ideas that are largely dependent upon faculty culture. New policies, structures, and support staff help to promote technology transfer ideologically, but are of little use if faculty researchers avoid involvement because of more intangible factors. The current study investigates this internal diffusion on one campus, using interviews with faculty members, administrators, technology transfer office personnel, licensees, and spin-off company administrators. Results show that faculty culture concerning technology transfer is dependent upon informal communication networks, principles of diffusion, history, and social interaction.
A measure of and predictors for veterinarian trust developed with veterinary students in a simulated companion animal practice
Authors: Grand James A. , Lloyd James W. , Ilgen Daniel R. , Abood Sarah , Sonea Ioana M.
Published: January 2013

Objective—To gain a better understanding of the role of interpersonal trust in veterinarian-client interactions during routine health-care visits, develop a measure of trust uniquely suited to the context of veterinary medicine, and interpret the actions, beliefs, and perceptions that capture client trust toward veterinarians.

Design—Correlational study.

Sample—103 veterinary students and 19 standardized clients with pets from a college of veterinary medicine at a large public Midwestern university.

Procedures—A measure of trust specific to veterinarian-client interactions was constructed on the basis of preexisting conceptualizations of the construct and administered to veterinary students and standardized clients following interactions in 2 medical scenarios in a high-fidelity simulated animal health clinic. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques were used to validate the measure of trust, and hierarchic linear modeling was used to explore indicators of standardized client trust perceptions in one of the scenarios.

Results—Factor analysis revealed that the measure captured 2 perceptions indicative of trust in veterinary contexts: professionalism and technical candor. Students who had behaviors reflecting these factors as well as those who were perceived as more technically competent were seen as more trustworthy by standardized clients.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The development of trustworthy relationships between clients and veterinarians is important to the continued growth and success of the profession. By identifying characteristics of veterinarian trustworthiness and developing related measurement tools, proactive approaches to monitoring veterinarian-client relations can be implemented and incorporated into veterinary training and practice programs to identify areas for improvement.
Effect of using triclosan-impregnated suture for incisional closure on surgical site infection and inflammation following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs
Authors: Etter Sean W. , Ragetly Guillaume R. , Bennett R. Avery , Schaeffer David J.
Published: January 2013

Objective—To compare surgical site infection and inflammation rates between the use of nonimpregnated (polydioxanone and poliglecaprone 25) versus triclosan-impregnated (polydioxanone and poliglecaprone 25) suture for incisional closure in dogs undergoing a standardized orthopedic procedure (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy [TPLO]).

Design—Retrospective cohort study.

Animals—283 dogs that underwent TPLO between November 2005 and December 2009.

Procedures—Medical records were reviewed for age; body weight; body condition score; use of propofol; perioperative and postoperative administration of antimicrobials; presence of a preoperative infection; use of a jig; technique of joint exploration; type of suture material (triclosan impregnated vs nonimpregnated) used to close the pes anserinus, subcutaneous layer, and subcuticular layer; use of staples or suture to close the skin; and surgery and anesthesia durations. The outcome variables were surgical site inflammation and infection.

Results—Rates of infection and inflammation did not differ between surgeries for which triclosan-impregnated suture was used (n = 159 [8.8%, and 18.8%, respectively]) and those for which nonimpregnated suture was used (112 [10.7% and 15.2%, respectively]). The use of staples, compared with suture, to close the skin significantly decreased the inflammation rate.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Compared with in vitro conditions, in vivo conditions (where the environment is not controlled and triclosan may elute more quickly from the suture) may decrease the antibacterial effectiveness of triclosan-impregnated suture. On the basis of our findings, triclosan-impregnated sutures did not seem to provide an additional benefit for clinical use and cannot be strongly recommended for elective orthopedic procedures in veterinary medicine.
Clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of diskospondylitis in dogs: 23 cases (1997–2010)
Authors: Harris Jeanene M. , Chen Annie V. , Tucker Russell L. , Mattoon John S.
Published: January 2013

Objective—To describe the signalment, clinical features, and most common MRI characteristics in dogs with diskospondylitis and investigate whether a correlation exists between the degree of spinal cord compression and neurologic status of the patient.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—23 dogs.

Procedures—The medical records and imaging database of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Washington State University were retrospectively cross-referenced for cases of diskospondylitis in dogs from 1997 through 2010. Signalment, clinical signs, MRI characteristics, and results of bacteriologic cultures of urine, blood, CSF, or intervertebral disk material were reviewed.

Results—On T2-weighted sequences, vertebral endplates were most often of mixed signal intensity, whereas the vertebral body was hypointense. The intervertebral disk space was most often hyperintense on T2-weighted and short tau inversion recovery sequences and of mixed signal intensity on T1-weighted sequences. Paravertebral soft tissue hyperintensities were noted commonly on T2-weighted and short tau inversion recovery sequences. Heterogenous contrast enhancement of endplates and intervertebral disk spaces also occurred commonly, whereas contrast enhancement of vertebral bodies and paravertebral soft tissues was uncommon. Intramedullary spinal cord intensity was noted at 10 of 27 sites on T2-weighted sequences. Static spinal cord compression occurred in 17 of 23 dogs, and a significant direct correlation was found between the percentage of spinal cord compression and the patient neurologic score.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that diskospondylitis in dogs has a characteristic MRI appearance, and in some patients, MRI may aid in the identification of severe spinal cord compression, which could warrant surgical intervention.
Use of the vertebral heart scale for differentiation of cardiac and noncardiac causes of respiratory distress in cats: 67 cases (2002–2003)
Authors: Sleeper Meg M. , Roland Risa , Drobatz Kenneth J.
Published: January 2013

Objective—To assess the effectiveness of the vertebral heart scale (VHS) system to differentiate congestive heart failure from other causes of dyspnea in cats.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—67 cats with acute respiratory distress.

Procedures—Medical records of client-owned cats evaluated on an emergency basis because of acute respiratory distress during a 1-year period were reviewed. For study inclusion, cats must have undergone evaluation with echocardiography and thoracic radiography within 12 hours after hospital admission. The VHS was calculated for each cat by 2 investigators. Signalment, physical examination, and echocardiographic findings were reviewed for each patient.

Results—There was 83% agreement overall between the 2 investigators in assessment of cardiomegaly in cats with dyspnea (κ = 0.49). The VHS cutpoints were the same for both observers in terms of optimizing sensitivity and specificity. A VHS of > 8.0 vertebrae was the best cutpoint when screening for heart disease, whereas a VHS of > 9.3 vertebrae was very specific for the presence of heart disease. Measurements between 8.0 and 9.3 vertebrae suggested the cause of dyspnea was equivocal (ie, secondary to congestive heart failure or respiratory disease), in which case echocardiography would be most useful in providing additional diagnostic information.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that the VHS system may be a useful tool to help differentiate cardiac from noncardiac causes of respiratory distress in cats in an emergency situation when an echocardiogram is not available or is not plausible in an unstable patient.
Disseminated mycotic infection caused by Westerdykella species in a German Shepherd Dog
Authors: Armentano Robert A. , Cooke Kirsten L. , Wickes Brian L.
Published: January 2013

Case Description—A 5-year-old 34.3-kg (75.5-lb) neutered male German Shepherd Dog was evaluated because of chronic azotemia that was unresponsive to typical medical management.

Clinical Findings—Urinalysis revealed pyuria and fungal hyphae. Fungal culture of a urine sample grew a sterile mold that was identified as Westerdykella spp via PCR assay.

Treatment and Outcome—The dog was treated empirically with itraconazole orally and amphotericin B IV for 5 weeks. Because of progressive azotemia, treatment was modified to oral administration of posaconazole. The dog improved but then developed progressive azotemia, hyperphosphatemia, and suspected diskospondylitis. Treatment was again modified to oral administration of terbinafine on the basis of results of antifungal susceptibility testing. The dog was euthanized after 5 months of antifungal treatment because of a deteriorating clinical condition and progressive azotemia.

Clinical Relevance—Westerdykella spp are filamentous hyphal organisms from the family Sporomiaceae and had not previously been reported to cause infections in dogs. Fungal PCR assay and antifungal susceptibility testing may be useful for a patient with a suspected fungal infection that does not respond to empirical treatment or when traditional culture methods for fungal identification are unsuccessful. Westerdykella spp should be considered as a possible etiologic agent when systemic mycosis is diagnosed.
RevisitingMarat/Sade: Philosophy in the Asylum, Asylum in the Theatre
Authors: Beggs Anne
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT:

This article stresses the continuing relevance of Peter Weiss’s 1963 drama Marat/Sade to both production and study, reconsidering the work in the light of recent reassessments of the relationship between drama and the practice of philosophy. In her analysis of the play as a philosophical dialogue, the author deprivileges Peter Brook’s directorial choices, which were based on an Anglo-American reading of Antonin Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty, and focuses instead on the dialogic and physical potentials inherent in the text itself as a work of philosophical drama more akin to the works of Nietzsche and the historical de Sade himself. In the play, the effecting of politics on the body is illustrated, then interrupted and discussed, and the resulting performance presents us with the unresolved dialectic of individual agency and democratic sovereignty.
Interaction between Carbon Black and Antioxidants in High-Density Polyethylene Pipe Resin
Authors: Wong Wai-Kuen , Hsuan Y. Grace
Published: January 2013

This paper presents the interaction between carbon black and antioxidants in high-density polyethylene. The 11 formulations prepared for this study were composed of furnace black with particle sizes of 27 and 75 nm at 2% to 5% by weight and different concentrations of antioxidants Irganox 1010 and Irgafos 168. The chemical interactions between the carbon black and the antioxidants were accelerated by elevated temperatures of 85°C in a forced-air oven. The relative amount of antioxidants retained in the samples throughout the incubation was measured using the oxidative induction time (OIT) test. The results showed that the initial OIT value increased with the weight percentage of the carbon black in the sample. A higher initial OIT value was found in the samples that had been blended with the 27-nm carbon black than in those blended with the 75-nm carbon black at the same concentration. Also, faster OIT depletion was detected in the samples that had been blended with the 27-nm carbon black than in those blended with the 75-nm carbon black at greater than 2% by weight. The carbon black–antioxidant interaction was found to be influenced by the carbon black–specific surface area and physical structure. Overall, the OIT decreased substantially faster in the samples with carbon black than in those without it. The reactions between the carbon black and the antioxidants were so strong that only a minor difference in the depletion rate was observed between the two antioxidant formulations.
Documentation of Triglav glacier, Slovenia, using non-metric panoramic images
Authors: Triglav-Čekada Mihaela , Gabrovec Matej
Published: January 2013

Triglav glacier is situated on the northeast side of the highest Slovenian mountain peak, Triglav; it is a glacier remnant of the Little Ice Age. Next to Triglav glacier is the Kredarica mountain hut with a meteorological station. At 2514 ma.s.l., it is the highSest meteorological station in Slovenia, and has been in continuous operation since 1954. In this paper, the acquisition of three-dimensional data from archived, non-metric, panoramic, Horizont images is presented. The annual variations of Triglav glacier’s area are given for the period 1976–2010, together with monthly snow variations for the years 1977 and 1998. Additionally, theoretical and empirical volumes and an empirical thickness reduction are computed. The changes to Triglav glacier are compared with the summarized meteorological data from the Kredarica meteorological station. In 1976 Triglav glacier covered an area of 15 ha; by 1992 this had shrunk to 4.3 ha, and it reached its minimum of 0.6 ha in 2003, as measured from Horizont images. Since then the glacier has been mainly conserved by the snow cover from previous winters.
Encouraging Environmentally Friendlier Cars via Fiscal Measures: General Methodology and Application to Belgium
Authors: Turcksin Laurence , Mairesse Olivier , Macharis Cathy , Mierlo Joeri
Published: January 2013

In this paper, a Belgian tax reform plan is elaborated to respond to the EU proposal that requires member states to restructure passenger car taxation systems, preferentially based on the CO2 emissions of the car. A tax orientation on CO2 emissions alone might however favour diesel vehicles, characterised by a higher fuel efficiency, whereas they release more polluting emissions (PM and NOx) than comparable gasoline vehicles. This paper introduces a methodology, the Ecoscore, as a potential tax assessment basis. The Ecoscore is based on a well-to-wheel framework and enables a comparison of the environmental burden caused by vehicles with different drive trains and using different fuels. A new proposal for a fixed vehicle taxation system, based on the Ecoscore, is launched. In addition, its impact on the life cycle cost of conventional as well as alternative fuelled cars is measured in order to examine its steering effect towards a cleaner vehicle choice. The overall result is that current tax distortions can be corrected by restructuring the vehicle registration tax and annual circulation tax, based on the Ecoscore. To stimulate behavioural changes, such a fiscal policy should however be paired with additional policies that act on the other important aspects that determine the car purchase decision.
Gas Path Health Monitoring for a Turbofan Engine Based on a Nonlinear Filtering Approach
Authors: Lu Feng , Huang Jinquan , Lv Yiqiu
Published: January 2013

Different approaches for gas path performance estimation of dynamic systems are commonly used, the most common being the variants of the Kalman filter. The extended Kalman filter (EKF) method is a popular approach for nonlinear systems which combines the traditional Kalman filtering and linearization techniques to effectively deal with weakly nonlinear and non-Gaussian problems. Its mathematical formulation is based on the assumption that the probability density function (PDF) of the state vector can be approximated to be Gaussian. Recent investigations have focused on the particle filter (PF) based on Monte Carlo sampling algorithms for tackling strong nonlinear and non-Gaussian models. Considering the aircraft engine is a complicated machine, operating under a harsh environment, and polluted by complex noises, the PF might be an available way to monitor gas path health for aircraft engines. Up to this point in time a number of Kalman filtering approaches have been used for aircraft turbofan engine gas path health estimation, but the particle filters have not been used for this purpose and a systematic comparison has not been published. This paper presents gas path health monitoring based on the PF and the constrained extend Kalman particle filter (cEKPF), and then compares the estimation accuracy and computational effort of these filters to the EKF for aircraft engine performance estimation under rapid faults and general deterioration. Finally, the effects of the constraint mechanism and particle number on the cEKPF are discussed. We show in this paper that the cEKPF outperforms the EKF, PF and EKPF, and conclude that the cEKPF is the best choice for turbofan engine health monitoring.
Protective Effect of Ginsenoside Rb1 Against Lung Injury Induced by Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion in Rats
Authors: Wang Jin , Qiao Lifen , Li Shusheng , Yang Guangtian
Published: January 2013

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a critical event in the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS). The lungs are some of the most vulnerable organs that are impacted by intestinal I/R. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ginsenoside Rb1 can ameliorate remote lung injury induced by intestinal I/R. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) a control, sham-operated group (sham group); (2) an intestinal I/R group subjected to 1 h intestinal ischemia and 2 h reperfusion (I/R group); (3) a group treated with 20 mg/kg ginsenoside Rb1 before reperfusion (Rb1-20 group); and (4) a group treated with 40 mg/kg ginsenoside Rb1 before reperfusion (Rb1-40 group). Intestinal and lung histology was observed. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in intestinal tissues were measured. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), TNF-α, MDA levels, wet/dry weight ratio and immunohistochemical expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in lung tissues were assayed. In addition, a western blot of lung NF-kB was performed. Results indicated that intestinal I/R induced intestinal and lung injury, which was characterized by increase of MDA levels and pathological scores in intestinal tissues and MPO, TNF-α , MDA levels, wet/dry weight ratio and ICAM-1, NF-kB expression in the lung tissues. Ginsenoside Rb1 (20, 40 mg/kg) ameliorated intestinal and lung injury, decreased MPO, TNF-α, MDA levels, wet/dry weight ratio, ICAM-1 and NF-kB expression in lung tissues. In conclusion, ginsenoside Rb1 ameliorated the lung injuries by decreasing the NF-kB activation-induced inflammatory response.
Effects of Collagen and Collagen Hydrolysate from Jellyfish Umbrella on Histological and Immunity Changes of Mice Photoaging
Authors: Fan Jian , Zhuang Yongliang , Li Bafang
Published: January 2013

Jellyfish collagen (JC) was extracted from jellyfish umbrella and hydrolyzed to prepare jellyfish collagen hydrolysate (JCH). The effects of JC and JCH on UV-induced skin damage of mice were evaluated by the skin moisture, microscopic analyses of skin and immunity indexes. The skin moisture analyses showed that moisture retention ability of UV-induced mice skin was increased by JC and JCH. Further histological analysis showed that JC and JCH could repair the endogenous collagen and elastin protein fibers, and could maintain the natural ratio of type I to type III collagen. The immunity indexes showed that JC and JCH play a role in enhancing immunity of photoaging mice in vivo. JCH showed much higher protective ability than JC. These results suggest that JCH as a potential novel antiphotoaging agent from natural resources.
Diet-Microbiota Interactions and Their Implications for Healthy Living
Authors: Jeffery Ian , O'Toole Paul
Published: January 2013

It is well established that diet influences the health of an individual and that a diet rich in plant-based foods has many advantages in relation to the health and well-being of an individual. What has been unclear until recently is the large contribution of the gut microbiota to this effect. As well as providing basic nutritional requirements, the long-term diet of an animal modifies its gut microbiota. In adults, diets that have a high proportion of fruit and vegetables and a low consumption of meat are associated with a highly diverse microbiota and are defined by a greater abundance of Prevotella compared to Bacteroides, while the reverse is associated with a diet that contains a low proportion of plant-based foods. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that the effect of the microbial ecology of the gut goes beyond the local gut immune system and is implicated in immune-related disorders, such as IBS, diabetes and inflamm-ageing. In this review, we investigate the evidence that a balanced diet leads to a balanced, diverse microbiota with significant consequences for healthy ageing by focusing on conditions of interest.
Antenna Systems and Electronic Warfare Applications. Edited by Richard A. Poisel, Artech House, 2012; 1036 pages. Price: £129.00, ISBN 978-1-60807-484-6
Authors: Lin Shu-Kun
Published: January 2013

This comprehensive book serves as a one-stop resource for practical EW antenna system know-how. Supported with over 700 illustrations and nearly 1,700 equations, this authoritative reference offers you detailed explanations of all the important foundations and aspects of this technology. Moreover, you get an in-depth treatment of a wide range of antenna system applications.
A Wireless Sensor Network-Based Portable Vehicle Detector Evaluation System
Authors: Yoo Seong-eun
Published: January 2013

In an upcoming smart transportation environment, performance evaluations of existing Vehicle Detection Systems are crucial to maintain their accuracy. The existing evaluation method for Vehicle Detection Systems is based on a wired Vehicle Detection System reference and a video recorder, which must be operated and analyzed by capable traffic experts. However, this conventional evaluation system has many disadvantages. It is inconvenient to deploy, the evaluation takes a long time, and it lacks scalability and objectivity. To improve the evaluation procedure, this paper proposes a Portable Vehicle Detector Evaluation System based on wireless sensor networks. We describe both the architecture and design of a Vehicle Detector Evaluation System and the implementation results, focusing on the wireless sensor networks and methods for traffic information measurement. With the help of wireless sensor networks and automated analysis, our Vehicle Detector Evaluation System can evaluate a Vehicle Detection System conveniently and objectively. The extensive evaluations of our Vehicle Detector Evaluation System show that it can measure the traffic information such as volume counts and speed with over 98% accuracy.
Arenavirus Variations Due to Host-Specific Adaptation
Authors: Zapata Juan , Salvato Maria
Published: January 2013

Arenavirus particles are enveloped and contain two single-strand RNA genomic segments with ambisense coding. Genetic plasticity of the arenaviruses comes from transcription errors, segment reassortment, and permissive genomic packaging, and results in their remarkable ability, as a group, to infect a wide variety of hosts. In this review, we discuss some in vitro studies of virus genetic and phenotypic variation after exposure to selective pressures such as high viral dose, mutagens and antivirals. Additionally, we discuss the variation in vivo of selected isolates of Old World arenaviruses, particularly after infection of different animal species. We also discuss the recent emergence of new arenaviruses in the context of our observations of sequence variations that appear to be host-specific.
ERRATUM
Authors: Kopacz Piotr
Published: January 2013

"Erratum on the article ‘On geometric properties of spherical conics and generalization of π in navigation and mapping’" Geodesy and Cartography.
Una nueva pieza de artilleria de galeras del siglo XVI: el esmeril bastardo «matacapitanes»
Authors: Fondevila Silva Pedro , Sánchez Baena Juan José
Published: January 2013

Trabajo de investigación que presenta y analiza una pieza desconocida de artillería naval de la segunda mitad del siglo XVI, localizada sin inventariar en una de las salas del Archivo-Museo «Don Álvaro de Bazán» del Palacio de El Viso del Marqués en Ciudad Real (España). Se trata de un esmeril bastardo que hemos bautizado como «matacapitanes », por ser un modelo diseñado para optimizar su empleo contra los oficiales enemigos protegidos con armaduras a prueba de balas de arcabuz. Además, se realiza una aproximación al estudio de la tipología y clasificación de la artillería naval del siglo XVI a través de los documentos, tanto manuscritos como impresos, de esa época.
A Chemokine Self-Presentation Mechanism Involving Formation of Endothelial Surface Microstructures
Authors: Whittall Catherine , Kehoe Oksana , King Sophie , Rot Antal , Patterson Angela , Middleton Jim
Published: January 2013

Endothelial surface microstructures have been described previously under inflammatory conditions; however, they remain ill-characterized. In this study, CXCL8, an inflammatory chemokine, was shown to induce the formation of filopodia-like protrusions on endothelial cells; the same effects were observed with CXCL10 and CCL5. Chemokines stimulated filopodia formation by both microvascular (from bone marrow and skin) and macrovascular (from human umbilical vein) endothelial cells. Use of blocking Abs and degradative enzymes demonstrated that CXCL8-stimulated filopodia formation was mediated by CXCR1 and CXCR2, Duffy Ag/receptor for chemokines, heparan sulfate (HS), and syndecans. HS was present on filopodial protrusions appearing as a meshwork on the cell surface, which colocalized with CXCL8, and this glycosaminoglycan was 2,6-O– and 3-O–sulfated. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that CXCL8-stimulated filopodial and microvilli-like protrusions that interacted with leukocytes before transendothelial migration and removal of HS reduced this migration. iTRAQ mass spectrometry showed that changes in the levels of cytoskeletal, signaling, and extracellular matrix proteins were associated with CXCL8-stimulated filopodia/microvilli formation; these included tropomyosin, fascin, and Rab7. This study suggests that chemokines stimulate endothelial filopodia and microvilli formation, leading to their presentation to leukocytes and leukocyte transendothelial migration.
IL-21 and CD40L Synergistically Promote Plasma Cell Differentiation through Upregulation of Blimp-1 in Human B Cells
Authors: Ding B. Belinda , Bi Enguang , Chen Hongshan , Yu J. Jessica , Ye B. Hilda
Published: January 2013

After undergoing Ig somatic hypermutation and Ag selection, germinal center (GC) B cells terminally differentiate into either memory or plasma cells (PCs). It is known that the CD40L and IL-21/STAT3 signaling pathways play critical roles in this process, yet it is unclear how the B cell transcription program interprets and integrates these two types of T cell–derived signals. In this study, we characterized the role of STAT3 in the GC-associated PC differentiation using purified human tonsillar GC B cells and a GC B cell-like cell line. When primary GC B cells were cultured under PC differentiation condition, STAT3 inhibition by AG490 prevented the transition from GC centrocytes to preplasmablast, suggesting that STAT3 is required for the initiation of PC development. In a GC B cell-like human B cell line, although IL-21 alone can induce low-level Blimp-1 expression, maximum Blimp-1 upregulation and optimal PC differentiation required both IL-21 and CD40L. CD40L, although having no effect on Blimp-1 as a single agent, greatly augmented the amplitude and duration of IL-21–triggered Jak-STAT3 signaling. In the human PRDM1 locus, CD40L treatment enhanced the ability of STAT3 to upregulate Blimp-1 by removing BCL6, a potent inhibitor of Blimp-1 expression, from a shared BCL6/STAT3 site in intron 3. Thus, IL-21 and CD40L collaborate through at least two distinct mechanisms to synergistically promote Blimp-1 activation and PC differentiation.
Ozone photochemistry in boreal biomass burning plumes
Authors: Parrington M. , Palmer P. I. , Lewis A. C. , Lee J. D. , Rickard A. R. , Di Carlo P. , Taylor J. W. , Hopkins J. R. , Punjabi S. , Oram D. E. , Forster G. , Aruffo E. , Moller S. J. , Bauguitte S. J.-B. , Allan J. D. , Coe H. , Leigh R. J.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. We present an analysis of ozone photochemistry observed by aircraft measurements of boreal biomass burning plumes over Eastern Canada in the summer of 2011. Measurements of ozone and a number of key chemical species associated with ozone photochemistry, including non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and total nitrogen containing species (NOy), were made from the UK FAAM BAe-146 research aircraft as part of the quantifying the impact of BOReal forest fires on tropospheric oxidants over the Atlantic using Aircraft and Satellites (BORTAS) experiment between 12 July and 3 August 2011. We found that ozone mixing ratios measured in biomass burning plumes were indistinguishable from non-plume measurements, but evaluating them in relationship to measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), total alkyl nitrates (ΣAN) and the surrogate species NOz (=NOy - NOx) revealed that the potential for ozone production increased with plume age. We used NMHC ratios to estimate photochemical ages of the observed biomass burning plumes between 0 and 15 days. Ozone production, calculated from ΔO3/ΔCO enhancement ratios, increased from 0.020 ± 0.008 ppbv ppbv−1 in plumes with photochemical ages less than 2 days to 0.55 ± 0.29 ppbv ppbv−1 in plumes with photochemical ages greater than 5 days. In comparing ozone mixing ratios with components of the NOy budget we observed that plumes with ages between 2 and 4 days were characterised by high aerosol loading, relative humidity greater than 40%, and low ozone production efficiencies of 8 ppbv ppbv−1 relative to ΣAN and 2 ppbv ppbv−1 relative to NOz. In plumes with ages greater than 4 days, ozone production efficiency increased to 473 ppbv ppbv−1 relative to ΣAN and 155 ppbv ppbv−1 relative to NOz. From the BORTAS measurements we estimated that aged plumes with low aerosol loading were close to being in photostationary steady state and ozone production in younger plumes was inhibited by high aerosol loading and greater production of ΣAN relative to ozone. The BORTAS measurements of ozone photochemistry in boreal biomass burning plumes were found to be consistent with previous summertime aircraft measurements made over the same region during the Arctic Research of the Composition of the troposphere (ARCTAS-B) in 2008 and Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE 3B) in 1990.
Large-eddy simulation of organized precipitating trade wind cumulus clouds
Authors: Seifert A. , Heus T.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Trade wind cumulus clouds often organize in along-wind cloud streets and across-wind mesoscale arcs. We present a benchmark large-eddy simulation which resolves the individual clouds as well as the mesoscale organization on scales of O(10 km). Different methods to quantify organization of cloud fields are applied and discussed. Using perturbed physics large-eddy simulations experiments the processes leading to the formation of cloud clusters and the mesoscale arcs are revealed. We find that both cold pools as well as the sub-cloud layer moisture field are crucial to understand the organization of precipitating shallow convection. Further sensitivity studies show that microphysical assumptions can have a pronounced impact on the onset of cloud organization.
Biogenic nitrogen gas production at the oxic–anoxic interface in the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela
Authors: Montes E. , Altabet M. A. , Muller-Karger F. E. , Scranton M. I. , Thunell R. C. , Benitez-Nelson C. , Lorenzoni L. , Astor Y. M.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Excess nitrogen gas (N2xs) was measured in samples collected at six locations in the eastern and western sub-basins of the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela, in September 2008 (non-upwelling conditions) and March 2009 (upwelling conditions). During both sampling periods, N2xs concentrations were below detection in surface waters, increasing to ~ 22 μmol N kg−1 at the oxic–anoxic interface ([O2] < ~ 4 μmol kg−1, ~ 250 m). Below the oxic–anoxic interface (300–400 m), the average concentration of N2xs was 24.7 ± 1.9 μmol N kg−1 in September 2008 and 27.5 ± 2.0 μmol N kg−1 in March 2009, i.e., N2xs concentrations within this depth interval were ~ 3 μmol N kg−1 higher (p < 0.001) during the upwelling season compared to the non-upwelling period. These results suggest that N-loss in the Cariaco Basin may vary seasonally in response to changes in the flux of sinking particulate organic matter. We attribute the increase in N2xs concentrations, or N-loss, observed during upwelling to: (1) higher availability of fixed nitrogen derived from suspended and sinking particles at the oxic–anoxic interface and/or (2) enhanced ventilation at the oxic–anoxic interface during upwelling.
Performance of McRAS-AC in the GEOS-5 AGCM: aerosol-cloud-microphysics, precipitation, cloud radiative effects, and circulation
Authors: Sud Y. C. , Lee D. , Oreopoulos L. , Barahona D. , Nenes A. , Suarez M. J.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. A revised version of the Microphysics of clouds with Relaxed Arakawa-Schubert and Aerosol-Cloud interaction scheme (McRAS-AC) including, among others, a new ice nucleation parameterization, is implemented in the GEOS-5 AGCM. Various fields from a 10-yr-long integration of the AGCM with McRAS-AC are compared with their counterparts from an integration of the baseline GEOS-5 AGCM, as well as satellite observations. Generally McRAS-AC simulations have smaller biases in cloud fields and cloud radiative effects over most of the regions of the Earth than the baseline GEOS-5 AGCM. Two systematic biases are identified in the McRAS-AC runs: one is underestimation of cloud particle numbers around 40° S–60° S, and one is overestimate of cloud water path during the Northern Hemisphere summer over the Gulf Stream and North Pacific. Sensitivity tests show that these biases potentially originate from biases in the aerosol input. The first bias is largely eliminated in a test run using 50% smaller radius of sea-salt aerosol particles, while the second bias is substantially reduced when interactive aerosol chemistry is turned on. The main weakness of McRAS-AC is the dearth of low-level marine stratus clouds, a probable outcome of lack of explicit dry-convection in the cloud scheme. Nevertheless, McRAS-AC largely simulates realistic clouds and their optical properties that can be improved further with better aerosol input. An assessment using the COSP simulator in a 1-yr integration provides additional perspectives for understanding cloud optical property differences between the baseline and McRAS-AC simulations and biases against satellite data. Overall, McRAS-AC physically couples aerosols, the microphysics and macrophysics of clouds, and their radiative effects and thereby has better potential to be a valuable tool for climate modeling research.
Benchmark products for land evapotranspiration: LandFlux-EVAL multi-dataset synthesis
Authors: Mueller B. , Hirschi M. , Jimenez C. , Ciais P. , Dirmeyer P. A. , Dolman A. J. , Fisher J. B. , Jung M. , Ludwig F. , Maignan F. , Miralles D. , McCabe M. F. , Reichstein M. , Sheffield J. , Wang K. C. , Wood E. F. , Zhang Y. , Seneviratne S. I.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Land evapotranspiration (ET) estimates are available from several global datasets. Here, monthly global land ET synthesis products, merged from these individual datasets over the time periods 1989–1995 (7 yr) and 1989–2005 (17 yr), are presented. The merged synthesis products over the shorter period are based on a total of 40 distinct datasets while those over the longer period are based on a total of 14 datasets. In the individual datasets, ET is derived from satellite and/or in-situ observations (diagnostic datasets) or calculated via land-surface models (LSMs) driven with observations-based forcing and atmospheric reanalyses. Statistics for four merged synthesis products are provided, one including all datasets and three including only datasets from one category each (diagnostic, LSMs, and reanalyses). The multi-annual variations of ET in the merged synthesis products display realistic responses. They are also consistent with previous findings of a global increase in ET between 1989 and 1997 (1.15 mm yr−2 in our merged product) followed by a decrease in this trend (−1.40 mm yr−2), although these trends are relatively small compared to the uncertainty of absolute ET values. The global mean ET from the merged synthesis products (based on all datasets) is 1.35 mm per day for both the 1989–1995 and 1989–2005 products, which is relatively low compared to previously published estimates. We estimate global runoff (precipitation minus ET) to 34 406 km3 per year for a total land area of 130 922 km2. Precipitation, being an important driving factor and input to most simulated ET datasets, presents uncertainties between single datasets as large as those in the ET estimates. In order to reduce uncertainties in current ET products, improving the accuracy of the input variables, especially precipitation, as well as the parameterizations of ET are crucial.