bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Integrated Full-Field Development of a Giant Mature Field using CO2 EOR
Authors: Jia Liping , Kumar Navanit , Kumar Kamlesh , Nicolo Micah , Dexcote Yann , Peyret Aymeric
Published: December 2015

The giant field is a geologically complex, faulted anticlinal structure trending east-west, with dips ranging from 0 to 60 degrees. After the current waterflood operations are completed, it is estimated that about 2/3 of oil originally in place will be left behind unrecovered. The combination of light oil gravity and relatively high reservoir pressures makes these reservoirs good candidates for miscible CO2 EOR. There are separate waterflood developments that have been identified as candidates for CO2 EOR. Results of the CO2 pilot provide further encouraging results that show better than expected CO2 injectivity and vertical sweep than waterflood and good displacement of the remaining oil saturation.

The subsurface team successfully used design of experiments to manage uncertainties in history matching and production forecast. Multiple static realizations honoring the key geological uncertainties were built. Based on ranking criteria developed, there were three static realizations chosen for history matching; that resulted in good history matches obtained for five different realizations. The history match model includes all the 500 wells, 70 years of historical production and water injection. All the history matches were within uncertainty ranges and were technically assured for use in CO2 EOR forecasting. Sector modeling was used to identify and rank different subsurface uncertainties and decisions. Experimental design was used to manage the uncertainties remaining after history match. Hundreds of realizations were simulated that incorporated several integrated development decisions such as injection scheme, development sequence, well spacing, completion strategy and well orientation. Simulation results for all the realizations (with different levels of heterogeneity) indicate that the range of recovery factors varies from 10% (P10) to 24% (P90). The simulated forecasts were also benchmarked against limited analog fields. The production curves are then upscaled to the whole field using a dimensionless curves approach in WellSpring. A methodology to integrate inputs from multiple disciplines (surface, subsurface, wells and CO2 source) was developed to different integrated filed development options.

The complexity, depth, and compartmentalization of the field create challenges that affect all aspects of the CO2 EOR field development including: scope for CO2 recovery, flood design options, data gathering needs, integration with existing waterflood, utilization of existing comingled wells, surface facilities and subsurface modeling for realistic production forecasting. Our work focuses on the selection of field development concepts and determining the economic viability whilst incorporating the best practices and lessons learned from the CO2 EOR industry to ensure top quartile performance.
Fracture Characterization by Integrating Seismic-Derived Attributes including Anisotropy and Diffraction Imaging with Borehole Fracture Data in an Offshore Carbonate Field, United Arab Emirates
Authors: Liu Enru , Johns Mary , Zelewski Gregg , Burnett William A. , Wu Xianyun , Zhang Jie , Molyneux Joe , Skeith Gene , Obara Tomohiro , El-Awawdeh Raed , Sultan Akmal , Al Messabi Abdulrahman
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we present a case study of fracture characterization by integrating borehole data with a variety of seismic attributes in a carbonate reservoir from a giant offshore field, United Arab Emirates. The objectives are to determine to what extent seismic data may be confidently used for mapping spatial distributions of subtle faults and fracture corridors in the reservoirs and to better understand the distribution of overburden anomalies (karsts, high impedance channels) for field development planning. Borehole data used in our study include information from core descriptions (fracture density and orientations), image logs, cross-dipole shear-wave anisotropy analysis, and dynamic data (well testing, PLT, tracer, and mud-loss). The seismic attributes include standard and advanced post-stack geometrical attributes; pre-stack seismic azimuthal AVO attributes, and recently developed pre-stack diffraction imaging. We find that there are common features that can be identified in different attributes, and the differences may indicate different scales of fractures. We also observe a qualitative correlation in the area of history match challenges and high anisotropy magnitude, where seismic anisotropy can identify relatively high fracture intensity regions/zones instead of pinpointing individual fractures and complements other attributes as differences do exist between seismically identified fracture zones and well data due to overburden anisotropy, resolution and sampling issues (which are addressed using the synthetic modeling approach). Diffraction attributes have revealed more detailed geological features in overburden (e.g. karsts) and reservoirs (e.g. lineaments) than in reflection data and a comparison with mud loss data in the shallow zones looks promising with a good correlation between mud loss and collapsed features. This work has provided an improved understanding of the applicability of the using multi-seismic attributes for fracture characterizations in carbonate reservoirs.
LIDAR Technology Application for Outcrop to Subsurface Reservoir Study of Oman Interior
Authors: Shahar Suhaileen , Dawing Sudirman , Jones R.
Published: December 2015

The Amin sandstone is a primary reservoir target of the Haima Supergroup (Vendian -Cambrian) for a Tight Gas Play for the Non-Associated Gas exploration in the Fahud Salt Basin, onshore Oman. Recent development in Tight Gas exploration in Oman have focused on possible fractured reservoirs of the Haima Supergroup. However, uncertainty remains in mapping and modeling of deformation styles of the various Haima lithologies, under the influence of regional and localised tectonic evolution. Quantification of the late structural evolution of the Oman Mountain orogeny in the Late Cretaceous were taken into consideration, which may introduce fracturing or possibly reactivates earlier structures of these Vedinian-Cambrian rocks.

Multi-disciplinary fieldwork was carried out, with the following overall aims: (1) to understand the effect of mechanical rock properties on deformation styles of the Amin Fm. (Haima Supergroup) and the Buah Fm. (Huqf Supergroup) and (2) to develop understanding of potential fractured plays in the Fahud Salt Basin area. Due to limitation of number of available days for fieldwork, surface LIDAR acquisition was utilised to expedite fracture measurements on selected outcrops. We focused upon the Haushi-Huqf Uplift 300km south of Muscat due to presence of good quality outcrops of Amin and Buah formations. LIDAR acquisition was carried out over three major localities: a) Locality 1: Wadi Sumayinah, b) Locality 2: 5km SE of Wadi Sumaynah and c) Locality 3: the Buah Anticline.

In parallel to surface geology studies, a much wider regional geophysical interpretation was carried out to investigate possible correlation of structural styles seen at the outcrops to our area of interest which lies approximately 200km northwest of the Huashi-Huqf Uplift. For this regional evaluation we have utilised gravity data and satellite imagery, proprietary regional 2D seismic and 3D seismic to improve our interpretation of major structural lineaments in the subsurface and possible correlation to measured surface geology.

Several relevant, nearby published discoveries were used as analogues of fractured reservoirs in the subsurface as calibration of our observations and interpretations.

We observed over a wide area of ~ 200-300km radius, that the main structural orientations seen in outcrop can be correlated to the area of exploration interests. Similar fracture orientations can be observed and compared to the analogue discoveries of the fractured Aptian limestone; these observations further support the likelihood of reactivation of older reservoir structions in response to later tectonic events.

From this exercise we found many possibilities to improve surface geological data in supporting subsurface E&P activities. Although we acknowledge that issues of scale still remain, the effort to find better methods to integrate and exploit the value of surface geological analogues as an effective hydrocarbon prospecting tool should be fully harnessed.
Integrating Complementary Information in Full Waveform Inversion: Insights and a Practical Case Study
Authors: Silva Nuno V. da , Privitera Antonio , Ratcliffe Andrew , Conroy Graham
Published: December 2015

Full waveform inversion (FWI) now plays an increasingly relevant role in oil and gas exploration to determine high-resolution velocity models for improved seismic imaging and interpretation. This is especially true in regions of the Earth that are probed by diving waves. These realistic velocity models are important in areas where the subsurface is characterized by complex structures. This work discusses strategies for constraining these models with a priori information from sonic logs. We show an application of multi-parameter FWI on a Central North Sea dataset, where we compare results with and without including sonic log constraints in the inversion.
Recent Advances in Fiber Optic Technology for In-Well Production and Injection Profiling
Authors: van der Horst Juun
Published: December 2015

In the past decade, Fiber-Optic (FO) based sensing has opened up opportunities for in-well reservoir surveillance in the oil and gas industry. Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) has been used in applications such as steam front monitoring in thermal development projects and injection conformance monitoring in waterflood development projects using warmback analysis and FO-based pressure gauges are deployed commonly. In recent years significant progress has also been made to mature other, new FO-based surveillance methods such as the application of Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS) for monitoring reservoir compaction and well deformation, multidrop Distributed Pressure Sensing (DPS) for fluid level determination, and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for geophysical and production/injection profiling. For the latter application, numerous field surveys were conducted to develop evaluation algorithms to convert the DAS noise recordings into flow rates from individual zones.

In this paper we present an overview of recent advances in FO-based methods such as DAS, DTS, and DSS for the application of production and injection surveillance. From field examples acquired by Shell and its affiliates it is clear that FO-based flow monitoring provides a powerful addition to the standard surveillance toolkit and in some cases is even the preferred way of surveillance because of its unique advantages.
Bioabsorbable Screw Fixation of the Syndesmosis in Unstable Ankle Injuries
Authors: Ahmad Jamal , Raikin Steven M. , Pour Aidin E. , Haytmanek Craig
Published: December 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the medium and long-term results of Bionx bioabsorbable screw fixation of the ankle syndesmosis in unstable ankle injuries. Materials and Materials: Between May 2001 and July 2006, 75 patients underwent syndesmotic fixation with a bioabsorbable screw. All patients had closed primary ankle fractures or dislocations with syndesmotic instability. Open reduction and internal fixation of the ankle fracture was performed using current standard orthopaedic technique. Patients were followed clinically and radiographically from 12 to 74 months with the mean being 32.5 months. Results: Seventy of 75 patients (93%) returned for the final evaluation. Mean AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot score was 90 of 100 and mean VAS for pain was 1.8 out of 10 at the time of final followup. No patients in this population showed radiographic syndesmotic instability, loss of mortise congruency, or post-traumatic arthritis in the sigmoid notch area at final followup. No patients required revision surgical fixation of the syndesmosis. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the use of bioabsorbable screw for syndesmotic fixation is associated with satisfactory restoration of ankle function and syndesmotic stability.
Outcome of Unilateral Versus Simultaneous Correction for Hallux Valgus
Authors: Lee Keun-Bae , Hur Chang-Ich , Chung Jae-Yoon , Jung Sung-Taek
Published: December 2015

Background: Hallux valgus surgery has been performed on only one side, even though patients may have bilateral hallux valgus. This study evaluated the results of simultaneous surgical correction for bilateral hallux valgus compared with unilateral correction. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 52 patients (69 feet) that underwent proximal metatarsal chevron osteotomy and distal soft tissue procedure for moderate to severe hallux valgus was conducted. Minimum followup was at least 12 months. Patients were divided into two groups, simultaneous bilateral surgical group (Group A) and a unilateral surgical group (Group B). Group A comprised 34 feet in 17 women and Group B comprised 35 feet in 35 women. Results: Average AOFAS scores were 57.0 points in group A and 52.8 points in group B preoperatively and at the last followup improved to 93.4 points and 92.2 points, respectively. Very satisfied or satisfied levels of patient satisfaction were 94.1% in Group A and 91.4% in Group B. Average hallux valgus angles in Groups A and B changed from 34.8 degrees and 37.9 degrees preoperatively to 12.5 degrees and 12.4 degrees postoperatively, respectively. Intermetatarsal 1-2 angles in Groups A and B changed from an average of 15.7 degrees and 18.4 degrees preoperatively to 7.4 degrees and 7.1 degrees postoperatively, respectively. No significant inter-group differences were observed in clinical and radiographic outcomes. Conclusions: Based on our results, the results of simultaneous bilateral correction for hallux valgus deformity was not worse than a unilateral correction. We advocate simultaneous correction for bilateral hallux valgus requiring surgical correction.
Ultrasound-Guided Minimally Invasive Surgery for Achilles Tendon Rupture: Preliminary Results
Authors: Wang Chen-Chie , Chen Pei-Yu , Wang Ting-Ming , Wang Chung-Li
Published: December 2015

Background: Many surgeons prefer surgical repair for Achilles tendon ruptures in an attempt to reduce the risk of rerupture. To minimize wound complications, the use of minimally invasive surgery has become more popular recently. In line with this, the use of ultrasound to guide Achilles tendon repair is reported in this study. Methods: From March 2005 to January 2008, 23 patients with Achilles tendon rupture were repaired by the same surgeon. The ages of the patients ranged from 19 to 67 years old, with an average of 43 years old. The repair of the Achilles tendon was achieved through a stab wound under the guidance of ultrasonography. A control group consisted of 25 patients who received traditional open Achilles tendon repair. Results: The average operation time was 52 minutes, and the average wound size was 1.1 cm. The short leg cast was removed 4 weeks after the surgery, and serial casting was used for another 3 to 4 weeks. The postoperative AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores were 98.7 in the experimental group, 96.5 in the control group with no significant difference. The rates of local infection, stiffness of the ankle, pain of the scar and sural nerve injury were better in the experimental group than in the control group with significant difference. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided surgery was a good choice due to its availability and real-time soft tissue visualization. It can further minimize the size of the surgical wound. Our method has the potential to achieve reliable results.

Level of Evidence: III, Comparative Case Series III
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
Authors: Hembree Walter C. , Wittstein Jocelyn R. , Vinson Emily N. , Queen Robin M. , LaRose Connor R. , Singh Kush , Easley Mark E.
Published: December 2015

Background: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) traditionally have been thought to occur anterolaterally or posteromedially. Recent studies utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have questioned this teaching. The purpose of this study was to use MRI to describe the location, frequency, and morphology of OLT and determine if any correlations exist between lesion location and other data points. Methods: The location, frequency, and size of OLT based on a nine-zone grid were recorded on 77 MRI examinations. Lateral ligaments were inspected for evidence of injury. Stability of the lesions was assessed based on four MRI criteria: presence or absence of cartilage defects, edema-like signal abnormality, T2 bright rim, and/or subchondral cysts. Demographic data including patient age, injury mechanism, and chronicity were recorded. An ANOVA model was used to determine if statistical differences existed between lesion size and location. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine any association between lesion location and demographic data. Results: Most of the lesions were located medially and centrally on the talar dome (54.5%), with the second highest frequency found laterally and centrally (31.2%). With the numbers available there was no statistical difference between the size of the lesions based on location. No strong correlations were found between lesion location and demographic data. Conclusion: This study refutes traditional teachings regarding the location of OLT and supports recent studies showing that most lesions are located medially and centrally on the talar dome.

Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series
Metatarsal Lengthening by Callotasis in Adults with First Brachymetatarsia
Authors: Hwang So-Min , Song Jennifer Kim , Kim Hui-Taek
Published: December 2015

Background:

Brachymetatarsia is a rare clinical entity that presents a challenging problem for surgeons. One-stage lengthening with an autologous bone graft has been preferred for metatarsals that require a limited lengthening. With a gradual lengthening of metatarsals, callus distraction (callotasis) can achieve a greater length gain and a concomitant lengthening of the soft tissue. This article presents results of callotasis for adults with first brachymetatarsia.

Methods:

The outcomes of nine cases of first brachymetatarsia in five adult patients who underwent metatarsal lengthening by callotasis between March 1999 and February 2005 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

Results:

The average length gain was 16.4 mm and the average lengthening percentage was 43.7%. In addition, the average healing index was calculated as 3.8 months/cm, which was higher than that reported previously in the fourth brachymetatarsia.

Conclusion:

It was concluded that the period of bony consolidation following callotasis is longer in the first brachymetatarsia than in the fourth brachymetatarsia. Presumably, this might be because of the anatomically larger osteotomized cut surface and its weight-bearing function. Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series
Flexor Hallucis Longus Shortening for Interphalangeal Joint Hyperextension Deformity of the Hallux: Technique Tip
Authors: Tan Ken-Jin , Myerson Mark S.
Published: December 2015

Level of Evidence: V, Case Report
Synergistic antitumor effect with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibition and temozolomide in a murine glioma model
Authors: Hanihara Mitsuto , Kawataki Tomoyuki , Oh-Oka Kyoko , Mitsuka Kentaro , Nakao Atsuhito , Kinouchi Hiroyuki
Published: December 2015

OBJECT

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a key enzyme of tryptophan (Trp) metabolism, is involved in tumor-derived immune suppression through depletion of Trp and accumulation of the metabolite kynurenine, resulting in inactivation of natural killer cells and generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs). It has been reported that high expression of IDO in cancer cells is associated with suppression of the antitumor immune response and is consistent with a poor prognosis. Thus, IDO may be a therapeutic target for malignant cancer. The authors have recently shown that IDO expression is markedly increased in human glioblastoma and secondary glioblastoma with malignant change, suggesting that IDO targeting may also have therapeutic potential for patients with glioma. The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effect of IDO inhibition and to examine the synergistic function of IDO inhibitor and temozolomide (TMZ) in a murine glioma model.

METHODS

Murine glioma GL261 cells and human glioma U87 cells were included in this study. The authors used 3 mouse models to study glioma cell growth: 1) a subcutaneous ectopic model, 2) a syngeneic intracranial orthotopic model, and 3) an allogenic intracranial orthotopic model. IDO inhibition was achieved via knockdown of IDO in GL261 cells using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and through oral administration of the IDO inhibitor, 1-methyl-l-tryptophan (1-MT). Tumor volume in the subcutaneous model and survival time in the intracranial model were evaluated.

RESULTS

In the subcutaneous model, oral administration of 1-MT significantly suppressed tumor growth, and synergistic antitumor effects of 1-MT and TMZ were observed (p < 0.01). Mice containing intracranially inoculated IDO knockdown cells had a significantly longer survival period as compared with control mice (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that IDO expression is implicated in immunosuppression and tumor progression in glioma cells. Therefore, combining IDO inhibition with standard TMZ treatment could be an encouraging therapeutic strategy for patients with malignant glioma.
Metabolic approach for tumor delineation in glioma surgery: 3D MR spectroscopy image–guided resection
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhuang Dong-Xiao , Yao Cheng-Jun , Lin Ching-Po , Wang Tian-Liang , Qin Zhi-Yong , Wu Jin-Song
Published: December 2015

OBJECT

The extent of resection is one of the most essential factors that influence the outcomes of glioma resection. However, conventional structural imaging has failed to accurately delineate glioma margins because of tumor cell infiltration. Three-dimensional proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) can provide metabolic information and has been used in preoperative tumor differentiation, grading, and radiotherapy planning. Resection based on glioma metabolism information may provide for a more extensive resection and yield better outcomes for glioma patients. In this study, the authors attempt to integrate 3D 1H-MRS into neuronavigation and assess the feasibility and validity of metabolically based glioma resection.

METHODS

Choline (Cho)–N-acetylaspartate (NAA) index (CNI) maps were calculated and integrated into neuronavigation. The CNI thresholds were quantitatively analyzed and compared with structural MRI studies. Glioma resections were performed under 3D 1H-MRS guidance. Volumetric analyses were performed for metabolic and structural images from a low-grade glioma (LGG) group and high-grade glioma (HGG) group. Magnetic resonance imaging and neurological assessments were performed immediately after surgery and 1 year after tumor resection.

RESULTS

Fifteen eligible patients with primary cerebral gliomas were included in this study. Three-dimensional 1H-MRS maps were successfully coregistered with structural images and integrated into navigational system. Volumetric analyses showed that the differences between the metabolic volumes with different CNI thresholds were statistically significant (p < 0.05). For the LGG group, the differences between the structural and the metabolic volumes with CNI thresholds of 0.5 and 1.5 were statistically significant (p = 0.0005 and 0.0129, respectively). For the HGG group, the differences between the structural and metabolic volumes with CNI thresholds of 0.5 and 1.0 were statistically significant (p = 0.0027 and 0.0497, respectively). All patients showed no tumor progression at the 1-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

This study integrated 3D MRS maps and intraoperative navigation for glioma margin delineation. Optimum CNI thresholds were applied for both LGGs and HGGs to achieve resection. The results indicated that 3D 1H-MRS can be integrated with structural imaging to provide better outcomes for glioma resection.
Effects of intracranial meningioma location, size, and surgery on neurocognitive functions: a 3-year prospective study
Authors: Liouta Evangelia , Koutsarnakis Christos , Liakos Faidon , Stranjalis George
Published: December 2015

OBJECT

Current recommendations stress the need for cognitive parameters to be integrated in the evaluation of outcomes for intracranial meningioma surgery. The aim of this prospective study was to examine neurocognitive function in meningioma patients pre- and postoperatively.

METHODS

Patients with skull base (anterior and middle fossa) and convexity (anterior and posterior) meningiomas (n = 54) underwent neuropsychological examination prior to and 1 year after surgery. A control group (n = 52) of healthy volunteers matched for age, sex, and education underwent the same examination. Assessments included executive, memory, and motor functions with standardized testing. Patients with convexity meningiomas were clinically assessed for parietal association cortex functions.

RESULTS

All patients performed significantly worse (p < 0.05) in most neurocognitive domains than controls. The skull base group showed more disturbances in memory than the convexity group (p < 0.05). The anterior convexity group showed more deficits in executive function than the posterior convexity group, which presented with parietal association cortex deficits. Verbal deficits were more pronounced in the left hemisphere than in the right hemisphere. Patients with a large tumor (> 4 cm) had more severe neurocognitive deficits than those with a small tumor (< 4 cm). Postoperatively, patients showed no deterioration in neurocognitive function. Instead, significant improvement (p < 0.05) was observed in some executive, motor, and parietal association cortex functions.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the authors’ findings, intracranial meningiomas may cause neurocognitive deficits in patients. Surgery does not cause a deterioration in cognitive function; instead, it may lead to improvements in some functions. Permanent neuropsychological postoperative deficits should be interpreted as tumor-induced rather than due to surgery.
Inferior vena cava injury caused by an anteriorly migrated cage resulting in ligation: case report
Authors: Ariyoshi Dai , Sano Shigeo , Kawamura Naohiro
Published: December 2015

Anterior dislodgement of the transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) cage is one of the severe complications seen in this procedure, which may cause an intraoperative major vessel injury. The objective of this report is to present a rare case of inferior vena cava (IVC) injury during revision surgery for removal of the anteriorly migrated cage.

The authors describe a case of 74-year-old woman with lumbar spinal canal stenosis and degenerative scoliosis. During the TLIF surgery, an inserted titanium cage at the L4–5 level dislodged anteriorly to the retroperitoneal space without massive bleeding from the disc space. In the second surgery, which was performed via an anterior retroperitoneal approach to remove the migrated cage, massive torrential bleeding occurred because of IVC injury. The laceration in the posterior wall of the IVC necessitated ligation of this vessel and both common iliac veins by a vascular surgeon. Postoperative edema of the lower extremities after ligation of the vessels was well tolerated, and the patient showed almost full recovery.

For removal surgery of an anteriorly migrated cage, the surgeon should be well prepared for the risk of IVC injury, including requesting the attendance of a vascular surgeon. Ligation of the infrarenal IVC is an acceptable solution in irreparable IVC injury.
Efficiency Intra-Cluster Device-to-Device Relay Selection for Multicast Services Based on Combinatorial Auction
Authors: Zhang Yong , Li Fangmin
Published: December 2015

In Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) networks, Device-to-device (D2D) communications can be utilized to enhance the performance of multicast services by leveraging D2D relays to serve nodes with worse channel conditions within a cluster. For traditional D2D relay schemes, D2D links with poor channel condition may be the bottleneck of system sum data rate. In this paper, to optimize the throughput of D2D communications, we introduce an iterative combinatorial auction algorithm for efficient D2D relay selection. In combinatorial auctions, the User Equipments (UEs) that fails to correctly receive multicast data from eNodeB (eNB) are viewed as bidders that compete for D2D relays, while the eNB is treated as the auctioneer. We also give properties of convergency and low-complexity and present numerical simulations to verify the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
Induced Pluripotency and Gene Editing in Disease Modelling: Perspectives and Challenges
Authors: Seah Yu , EL Farran Chadi , Warrier Tushar , Xu Jian , Loh Yuin-Han
Published: December 2015

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are chiefly characterized by their ability to self-renew and to differentiate into any cell type derived from the three main germ layers. It was demonstrated that somatic cells could be reprogrammed to form induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) via various strategies. Gene editing is a technique that can be used to make targeted changes in the genome, and the efficiency of this process has been significantly enhanced by recent advancements. The use of engineered endonucleases, such as homing endonucleases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and Cas9 of the CRISPR system, has significantly enhanced the efficiency of gene editing. The combination of somatic cell reprogramming with gene editing enables us to model human diseases in vitro, in a manner considered superior to animal disease models. In this review, we discuss the various strategies of reprogramming and gene targeting with an emphasis on the current advancements and challenges of using these techniques to model human diseases.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effects of a Special Extract of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on Hyperactivity and Inattention in Male Children and Adolescents: BACHI Study Protocol (ANZCTRN12612000827831)
Authors: Kean James , Kaufman Jordy , Lomas Justine , Goh Antionette , White David , Simpson David , Scholey Andrew , Singh Hemant , Sarris Jerome , Zangara Andrea , Stough Con
Published: December 2015

Clinical diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the use of prescription medications for its treatment have increased in recent years. Current treatments may involve the administration of amphetamine-type substances, a treatment path many parents are apprehensive to take. Therefore, alternative pharmacological treatments are required. Few nutritional or pharmacological alternatives that reduce ADHD associated symptoms (hyperactivity and inattention) have been subjected to rigorous clinical trials. Bacopa monnieri is a perennial creeping herb. CDRI 08 is a special extract of Bacopa monnieri which has been subjected to hundreds of scientific studies and has been shown in human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to improve memory, attention, and mood. It is hypothesised that chronic administration of CDRI 08 will improve attention, concentration and behaviour in children with high levels of hyperactivity and/or inattention. This paper reports the protocol for the first 16-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel groups trial examining the efficacy and safety of CDRI 08 in male children aged 6–14 years with high levels of inattention and hyperactivity. The primary outcome variable will be the level of hyperactivity and inattention measured by the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS). Secondary outcome variables include cognition, mood, sleep, and EEG. Trial registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12612000827831.
Anti-Diabetic Effects of Madecassic Acid and Rotundic Acid
Authors: Hsu Yuan-Man , Hung Yi-chih , Hu Lihong , Lee Yi-ju , Yin Mei-chin
Published: December 2015

Anti-diabetic effects of madecassic acid (MEA) and rotundic acid (RA) were examined. MEA or RA at 0.05% or 0.1% was supplied to diabetic mice for six weeks. The intake of MEA, not RA, dose-dependently lowered plasma glucose level and increased plasma insulin level. MEA, not RA, intake dose-dependently reduced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity and fibrinogen level; as well as restored antithrombin-III and protein C activities in plasma of diabetic mice. MEA or RA intake decreased triglyceride and cholesterol levels in plasma and liver. Histological data agreed that MEA or RA intake lowered hepatic lipid droplets, determined by ORO stain. MEA intake dose-dependently declined reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized glutathione levels, increased glutathione content and maintained the activity of glutathione reductase and catalase in the heart and kidneys of diabetic mice. MEA intake dose-dependently reduced interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels in the heart and kidneys of diabetic mice. RA intake at 0.1% declined cardiac and renal levels of these inflammatory factors. These data indicated that MEA improved glycemic control and hemostatic imbalance, lowered lipid accumulation, and attenuated oxidative and inflammatory stress in diabetic mice. Thus, madecassic acid could be considered as an anti-diabetic agent.
Low Complexity HEVC Encoder for Visual Sensor Networks
Authors: Pan Zhaoqing , Chen Liming , Sun Xingming
Published: December 2015

Visual sensor networks (VSNs) can be widely applied in security surveillance, environmental monitoring, smart rooms, etc. However, with the increased number of camera nodes in VSNs, the volume of the visual information data increases significantly, which becomes a challenge for storage, processing and transmitting the visual data. The state-of-the-art video compression standard, high efficiency video coding (HEVC), can effectively compress the raw visual data, while the higher compression rate comes at the cost of heavy computational complexity. Hence, reducing the encoding complexity becomes vital for the HEVC encoder to be used in VSNs. In this paper, we propose a fast coding unit (CU) depth decision method to reduce the encoding complexity of the HEVC encoder for VSNs. Firstly, the content property of the CU is analyzed. Then, an early CU depth decision method and a low complexity distortion calculation method are proposed for the CUs with homogenous content. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves 71.91% on average encoding time savings for the HEVC encoder for VSNs.
A Novel Hybrid Intelligent Indoor Location Method for Mobile Devices by Zones Using Wi-Fi Signals
Authors: Castañón–Puga Manuel , Salazar Abby , Aguilar Leocundo , Gaxiola-Pacheco Carelia , Licea Guillermo
Published: December 2015

The increasing use of mobile devices in indoor spaces brings challenges to location methods. This work presents a hybrid intelligent method based on data mining and Type-2 fuzzy logic to locate mobile devices in an indoor space by zones using Wi-Fi signals from selected access points (APs). This approach takes advantage of wireless local area networks (WLANs) over other types of architectures and implements the complete method in a mobile application using the developed tools. Besides, the proposed approach is validated by experimental data obtained from case studies and the cross-validation technique. For the purpose of generating the fuzzy rules that conform to the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy system structure, a semi-supervised data mining technique called subtractive clustering is used. This algorithm finds centers of clusters from the radius map given by the collected signals from APs. Measurements of Wi-Fi signals can be noisy due to several factors mentioned in this work, so this method proposed the use of Type-2 fuzzy logic for modeling and dealing with such uncertain information.
Weak and Strong Compensation for the Prioritization of Public Investments: Multidimensional Analysis for Pools
Authors: De Mare Gianluigi , Granata Maria , Nesticò Antonio
Published: December 2015

Despite the economic crisis still heavily affecting most of Europe, a possible resumption can be found in the revitalization of public and private investments. These investments should be directed not only towards the strategic areas of infrastructures and production, but also to those which allow for a higher level of the quality of life (sports facilities, parks, etc.). In such cases, the need to balance the reasons of financial sustainability with environmental and social profiles is even more evident. Thus, multicriteria techniques, supporting complex assessments, should be implemented together with a monetary feasibility study (cost-benefit analysis). Multidimensional methods allow for the aggregation of different profiles into overall indicators. This study gives an account of how the application and comparison of multi-criteria approaches based on tools characterized by a higher or lower level of compensation between criteria can broaden the spectrum of analysis of the problems and lead to a more subtle logic of funding for public works and works of public utility, with a more current and mature sharing of profitability between private investors and users of community infrastructures.
Alphacoronaviruses Detected in French Bats Are Phylogeographically Linked to Coronaviruses of European Bats
Authors: Goffard Anne , Demanche Christine , Arthur Laurent , Pinçon Claire , Michaux Johan , Dubuisson Jean
Published: December 2015

Bats are a reservoir for a diverse range of viruses, including coronaviruses (CoVs). To determine the presence of CoVs in French bats, fecal samples were collected between July and August of 2014 from four bat species in seven different locations around the city of Bourges in France. We present for the first time the presence of alpha-CoVs in French Pipistrellus pipistrellus bat species with an estimated prevalence of 4.2%. Based on the analysis of a fragment of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene, phylogenetic analyses show that alpha-CoVs sequences detected in French bats are closely related to other European bat alpha-CoVs. Phylogeographic analyses of RdRp sequences show that several CoVs strains circulate in European bats: (i) old strains detected that have probably diverged a long time ago and are detected in different bat subspecies; (ii) strains detected in Myotis and Pipistrellus bat species that have more recently diverged. Our findings support previous observations describing the complexity of the detected CoVs in bats worldwide.
GATA3 in Breast Cancer: Tumor Suppressor or Oncogene?
Authors: Takaku Motoki , Grimm Sara A. , Wade Paul A.
Published: December 2015

GATA3 is a highly conserved, essential transcription factor expressed in a number of tissues, including the mammary gland. GATA3 expression is required for normal development of the mammary gland where it is estimated to be the most abundant transcription factor in luminal epithelial
cells. In breast cancer, GATA3 expression is highly correlated with the luminal transcriptional program. Recent genomic analysis of human breast cancers has revealed high-frequency mutation in GATA3 in luminal tumors, suggesting “driver” function(s). Here we discuss mutation of
GATA3 in breast cancer and the potential mechanism(s) by which mutation may lead to a growth advantage in cancer.
The Histone Acetyltransferase GCN5 Expression Is Elevated and Regulated by c-Myc and E2F1 Transcription Factors in Human Colon Cancer
Authors: Yin Yan-Wei , Jin Hong-Jian , Zhao Wenjing , Gao Beixue , Fang Jiangao , Wei Junmin , Zhang Donna D. , Zhang Jianing , Fang Deyu
Published: December 2015

The histone acetyltransferase GCN5 has been suggested to be involved in promoting cancer cell growth. But its role in human colon cancer development remains unknown. Herein we discovered that GCN5 expression is significantly upregulated in human colon adenocarcinoma tissues. We further
demonstrate that GCN5 is upregulated in human colon cancer at the mRNA level. Surprisingly, two transcription factors, the oncogenic c-Myc and the proapoptotic E2F1, are responsible for GCN5 mRNA transcription. Knockdown of c-Myc inhibited colon cancer cell proliferation largely through downregulating
GCN5 transcription, which can be fully rescued by the ectopic GCN5 expression. In contrast, E2F1 expression induced human colon cancer cell death, and suppression of GCN5 expression in cells with E2F1 overexpression further facilitated cell apoptosis, suggesting that GCN5 expression is induced
by E2F1 as a possible negative feedback in suppressing E2F1-mediated cell apoptosis. In addition, suppression of GCN5 with its specific inhibitor CPTH2 inhibited human colon cancer cell growth. Our studies reveal that GCN5 plays a positive role in human colon cancer development, and its suppression holds a great therapeutic potential in antitumor therapy.
Participant Perceptions of a Sport Event, Destination Competitiveness, and Intended Future Behavior: The Case of the Thunder Road Marathon in North Carolina
Authors: Kim Kakyom , Jogaratnam Giri
Published: December 2015

The current study analyzes responses from 1,393 runners who participated in a marathon event to assess how both their perceptions of the sport event and destination competitiveness are linked with satisfaction and intended future behavior. Analysis found that the perception of the sport
event and two of the destination competitiveness factors (parking/traffic and hospitality) appeared to be significantly linked with satisfaction. Satisfaction in turn appeared to be strongly linked with intended future behavior. Based on the findings, several implications for sports event
organizers and destination marketers are discussed.
Development of EST‐SSR markers in Barringtonia racemosa (Lecythidaceae) and cross‐amplification in related species
Authors: Xie Hongxian , Yuan Yang , Fang Xiaoting , Liu Ying , Yang Chao , Jin Jianhua , Tan Fengxiao , Huang Yelin
Published: December 2015

Premise of the study:

Microsatellite markers were identified and characterized to study the genetic diversity and structure of Barringtonia racemosa (Lecythidaceae).

Methods and Results:

Based on the transcriptome data of B. racemosa, 30 primer pairs were initially designed and tested, of which 15 were successfully amplified and displayed clear polymorphisms across the 43 individuals from three distant populations tested in the study. The results showed that the number of alleles per locus ranged from two to seven and the expected heterozygosity and observed heterozygosity per locus varied from 0 to 0.772 and from 0 to 0.933, respectively.

Conclusions:

The expressed sequence tag–simple sequence repeat (EST‐SSR) markers described here will be useful for studying genetic diversity and structure of B. racemosa. Furthermore, all loci were successfully cross‐amplified in B. asiatica and B. acutangula and will be of great value for genetic studies across this genus.
Friedel–Crafts-type reaction of pyrene with diethyl 1-(isothiocyanato)alkylphosphonates. Efficient synthesis of highly fluorescent diethyl 1-(pyrene-1-carboxamido)alkylphosphonates and 1-(pyrene-1-carboxamido)methylphosphonic acid
Authors: Wrona-Piotrowicz Anna , Zakrzewski Janusz , Gajda Anna , Gajda Tadeusz , Makal Anna , Brosseau Arnaud , Métivier Rémi
Published: December 2015

Friedel–Crafts-type reaction of pyrene with diethyl 1-(isothiocyanato)alkylphosphonates promoted by trifluoromethanosulfonic acid afforded diethyl 1-(pyrene-1-carbothioamido)alkylphosphonates in 83–94% yield. These compounds were transformed, in 87–94% yield, into the corresponding diethyl 1-(pyrene-1-carboxamido)alkylphosphonates by treatment with Oxone®. 1-(Pyrene-1-carboxamido)methylphosphonic acid was obtained in a 87% yield by treating the corresponding diethyl phosphonate with Me3Si-Br in methanol. All of the synthesized amidophosphonates were emissive in solution and in the solid state. The presence of a phosphonato group brought about an approximately two-fold increase in solution fluorescence quantum yield in comparison with that of a model N-alkyl pyrene-1-carboxamide. This effect was tentatively explained by stiffening of the amidophosphonate lateral chain which was caused by the interaction (intramolecular hydrogen bond) of phosphonate and amide groups. The synthesized phosphonic acid was soluble in a biological aqueous buffer (PBS, 0.01 M, pH 7.35) and was strongly emissive under these conditions (λem = 383, 400 nm, τ = 18.7 ns, ΦF > 0.98). Solid-state emission of diethyl 1-(pyrene-1-carboxamido)methylphosphonate (λmax = 485 nm; ΦF = 0.25) was assigned to π–π aggregates, the presence of which was revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.
Basic Elements of Modular Force Structures
Authors: Dubec Radek , Spišák Ján
Published: December 2015

Článek je shrnutím výsledků řešení projektu obranného výzkumu STRUKTURA: Tvorba modulárních struktur úkolových uskupení pro celé spektrum operací a jejich ověřování s využitím tvorby koncepcí a experimentování - CD&E. Je zaměřen na objasnění problematiky definování modulů jako základního prvku modularity a možné přístupy k výběru hodnocení a formování modulárních úkolových uskupení. Cílem článku je pojednat o možnostech tvorby úkolových uskupení a generování sil v podmínkách definovaných a popsaných scénářů. Hlavní části článku vymezují determinanty organizace modulárních struktur a jejich popis.
Compilation and Distribution Mode of Meteorological Messages in ACR Artillery
Authors: Potužák Ladislav , Šilinger Karel
Published: December 2015

This article suggests to introduce a new method of compilation and distribution of meteorological messages in the ACR artillery. The proposed realization mode of is based on the expected course of air temperature during the day. It is compared with the existing regular two-hour intervals that affect effectively the fluctuations of air temperature during the day, especially at sunrise and sunset. Consequently, the study also recommends to adjust the time and space validity of individual types of meteorological messages in the connection with this proposed realization mode of compilation and distribution of meteorological messages.
Reflections over Syrian Conflict in the Czech Republic
Authors: Mareš Miroslav
Published: December 2015

This study deals with the responses to recent Syrian conflict in the Czech Republic. The authors introduce particularly activities inside Syrian diaspora, actually formed during the time of communism. Syrians citizens living in the Czech Republic are not homogeneous, which is similar to the situation in Syria. In our country we can find both people loyal to the regime of Ba'ath Party and Bashar al-Assad, and also members of opposition that in fact has divided into two groups, since the mid-2012. The authors introduce reactions of various subjects from the Czech Republic.
Public Strategies Preparation in Defence: Forces Development Concept
Authors: Žižka Miroslav , Zůna Pavel
Published: December 2015

Today, the word Concept is one of most used terms in the framework of long and medium term of defence management. Concept development as a process is mentioned in significant number of departmental regulations and descriptions of activities of organizational bodies of the Ministry of Defence and General Staff. Concept development and Experimentation is a kind of incantation used when we speak about the development of long and medium term strategic documents. This article comprises the analysis of the legal regulations concerning the development of strategic documents. It analyses the implications of the governmental Methodology of mid-term concepts and Methodology of preparation of public strategies for departmental strategic documents.