bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Educação permanente com agentes comunitários de saúde: uma proposta de cuidado com crianças asmáticas
Authors: Coriolano Maria Wanderleya de Lavor , Lima Marinus de Moraes , Queiroga Bianca Arruda Manchester de , Ruiz-Moreno Lídia , Lima Luciane Soares de
Published: March 2012

O uso de metodologias ativas nos processos de formação dos trabalhadores de saúde é uma diretriz recomendada na Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde (PNEPS) para trabalhadores do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Neste estudo, formulou-se uma intervenção educativa para agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS) sobre cuidados dirigidos a crianças/famílias com asma. O objetivo é descrever uma ação educativa com agentes comunitários de saúde sobre conhecimentos relacionados à asma, adotando as diretrizes da PNEPS no contexto da atenção primária. Tratase de estudo 'quantiqualitativo', com avaliação préteste e pósteste autopreenchida pelos agentes comunitários de saúde, além de metodologias ativas em três grupos focais vivenciais, que tiveram sua trajetória gravada e transcrita para posterior análise de dados, com uso da técnica análise de conteúdo na modalidade temática proposta por Bardin. Os conhecimentos dos ACS sobre mitos relacionados à asma apontaram acréscimo após a ação educativa. Dos grupos focais emergiram as temáticas: Educação em saúde para prevenção das doenças respiratórias; Significado atribuído à asma; Bombinhas: desmistificando conceitos; Fatores desencadeantes para asma; Adaptando cuidados preventivos; Avaliando os conhecimentos construídos. A utilização de metodologias ativas favoreceu o desenvolvimento de competências por parte dos ACS, despertando motivação na abordagem educativa junto às crianças/famílias com asma.
Cyclodextrins and ternary complexes: technology to improve solubility of poorly soluble drugs
Authors: Miranda Janisse Crestani de , Martins Tércio Elyan Azevedo , Veiga Francisco , Ferraz Humberto Gomes
Published: March 2012

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides composed of D-glucopyranoside units linked by glycosidic bonds. Their main property is the ability to modify the physicochemical and biological characteristics of low-soluble drugs through the formation of drug:CD inclusion complexes. Inclusion complexation requires that host molecules fit completely or partially within the CD cavity. This adjustment is directly related to the physicochemical properties of the guest and host molecules, easy accommodation of guest molecules within the CD cavity, stoichiometry, therapeutic dose, and toxicity. However, dosage forms may achieve a high volume, depending on the amount of CD required. Thus, it is necessary to increase solubilization efficiency in order to use smaller amounts of CD. This can be achieved by adding small amounts of water-soluble polymers to the system. This review addresses aspects related to drug complexation with CDs using water-soluble polymers to optimize the amount of CD used in the formulation in order to increase drug solubility and reduce dosage form volume.
Evaluation of the use of topic nasal decongestants in university students from health sciences courses
Authors: Lenz Dominik , Cardoso Kézia Santos , Bitti Ana Carla Rangel , Andrade Tadeu Uggere
Published: March 2012

Nasal decongestants in Brazil are available without prescription. They are one of the most requested medications in Brazil. The use of nasal decongestants, however, may lead to serious consequences. For this study, university students majoring in the health field were evaluated in terms of their profile regarding the use of nasal decongestants. Additionally, health sciences seniors were evaluated regarding their level of knowledge concerning the correct and proper use of nasal decongestants. Among the 71.8% of respondents who had already used topic nasal decongestants, 64.3% had used this medication for at least 15 days and 64.6% had started using it due to nasal obstruction. The gathered data indicate that the pharmacist was the main health professional reported as having provided patients with guidance on how to use this medication. A five-point Likert Type intensity scale (3.6 ± 0.08) shows that a regular level of knowledge has been observed among the students. Most of the students polled were concluded to incorrectly use topic nasal decongestants. Furthermore, the results of this study indicate that the future health professionals are not well prepared to promote health education for patients concerning the rational use of nasal decongestants.
Nanoemulsions as vehicles for transdermal delivery of glycyrrhizin
Authors: Harwansh Ranjit Kumar , Patra Kartik Chandra , Pareta Surendra Kumar , Singh Jagadish , Rahman Mohammed Akhlaquer
Published: March 2012

The present investigation aims to evaluate an isotropic and thermodynamically stable nanoemulsion formulation for transdermal delivery of glycyrrhizin (GZ), with minimum surfactant and cosurfactant (Smix) concentrations that could improve its solubility, permeation enhancement, and stability. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were developed and various nanoemulsion formulations were prepared using soyabean oil as oil, Span 80, Brij 35 as a surfactant and isopropyl alcohol as a cosurfactant. Nanoemulsion formulations that passed the thermodynamic stability tests were characterized for pH, viscosity and droplet size using a transmission electron microscopy. The transdermal ability of glycyrrhizin through human cadaver skin was determined using Franz diffusion cells. The in vitro skin permeation profile of the optimized nanoemulsion formulation (NE2) was compared to that of conventional gel. A significant increase in permeability parameters such as steady-state flux (Jss) and permeability coefficient (Kp) was observed in the optimized nanoemulsion formulation (NE2), which consisted of 1% wt/wt of mono ammonium glycyrrhizinate (MAG), 32.4% Span 80, 3.7% Brij 35, 10% isopropyl alcohol, 46.5% soyabean oil and 6.4% distilled water. No obvious skin irritation was observed for the studied nanoemulsion formulation (NE2) or the gel. The results indicated that nanoemulsions are promising vehicles for transdermal delivery of glycyrrhizin through human cadaver skin, without the use of additional permeation enhancers, because excipients of nanoemulsions act as permeation enhancers themselves.
Characterization of mucoadhesive nasal gels containing midazolam hydrochloride prepared from Linum usitatissimum L. mucilage
Authors: Basu Shyamoshree , Bandyopadhyay Amal Kumar
Published: March 2012

Nasal drug delivery systems prepared from natural materials are gaining importance in the field of pharmaceutical technology. Mucilage isolated from Linum usitatissimum L. (LUM) seeds was reported to be an effective natural mucoadhesive agent. The present study deals with a comparison of various characteristics of nasal gels containing midazolam hydrochloride (HCl) prepared from mucoadhesive agent extracted from Linum usitatissimum L. seeds and synthetic polymers like HPMC and Carbopol 934P in terms of texture profile analysis, mucoadhesive strength, and in vivo drug absorption profiles. It was observed that gels formulated with the natural mucilage showed better results than the synthetic gels in all aspects like hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness and mucoadhesive strength. The absolute bioavailability of midazolam hydrochloride from the natural gel was 97.55% whereas that of synthetic gels was 57.33% and 76.81% respectively.
Influence of binder type and process parameters on the compression properties and microbial survival in diclofenac tablet formulations
Authors: Ayorinde John Oluwasogo , Itiola Oludele Adelanwa , Odeku Oluwatoyin Adepeju , Odeniyi Michael Ayodele
Published: March 2012

The influence of binder type and process parameters on the compression properties and microbial survival in diclofenac tablet formulations were studied using a novel gum from Albizia zygia. Tablets were produced from diclofenac formulations containing corn starch, lactose and dicalcium phosphate. Formulations were analyzed using the Heckel and Kawakita plots. Determination of microbial viability in the formulations was done on the compressed tablets of both contaminated and uncontaminated tablets prepared from formulations. Direct compression imparted a higher plasticity on the materials than the wet granulation method. Tablets produced by wet granulation presented with a higher crushing strength than those produced by the direct compression method. Significantly higher microbial survival (p< 0.05) was obtained in formulations prepared by direct compression. The percent survival of Bacillus subtilis spores decreased with increase in binder concentration. The study showed that Albizia gum is capable of imparting higher plasticity on materials and exhibited a higher reduction of microbial contaminant in the formulations. The direct compression method produced tablets of reduced viability of microbial contaminant.
Formulation and evaluation of mucoadhesive buccal patch of acyclovir utilizing inclusion phenomenon
Authors: Saxena Ankita , Tewari Gulab , Saraf Shubhini Awasthi
Published: March 2012

Mucoadhesive buccal patch releasing drug in the oral cavity at a predetermined rate may present distinct advantages over traditional dosage forms, such as tablets, gels and solutions. A buccal patch for systemic administration of acyclovir in the oral cavity was developed using polymers hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (K4M), hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (K15M), sodium carboxy methyl cellulose and poly vinyl pyrolidone (K30), plasticizer poly ethylene glycol (400) and a backing membrane of Eudragit (RL100). The films were evaluated in terms of swelling, residence time, mucoadhesion, release, and organoleptic properties. The optimized films showed lower release as compared to controlled drug delivery systems. Hence, an inclusion complex of acyclovir was prepared with hydrophilic polymer hydroxylpropyl beta-cyclodextrin in the molar ratio of 1:1. The inclusion complex was characterized by optical microscopy, FAB mass spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy. Patches formulated with the acyclovir inclusion complex were evaluated along the same lines as those containing acyclovir alone. The in vitro release data revealed a substantial increase from 64.35% to 88.15% in the case of PS I and PS II batches, respectively, confirming the successful use of inclusion complexes for the formulation of buccal patch of acyclovir.
Development and validation of dissolution method for carvedilol compression-coated tablets
Authors: Shah Ritesh , Patel Sachin , Patel Hetal , Pandey Sonia , Shah Shailesh , Shah Dinesh
Published: March 2012

The present study describes the development and validation of a dissolution method for carvedilol compression-coated tablets. Dissolution test was performed using a TDT-06T dissolution apparatus. Based on the physiological conditions of the body, 0.1N hydrochloric acid was used as dissolution medium and release was monitored for 2 hours to verify the immediate release pattern of the drug in acidic pH, followed by pH 6.8 in citric-phosphate buffer for 22 hours, to simulate a sustained release pattern in the intestine. Influences of rotation speed and surfactant concentration in medium were evaluated. Samples were analysed by validated UV visible spectrophotometric method at 286 nm. 1% sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) was found to be optimum for improving carvedilol solubility in pH 6.8 citric-phosphate buffer. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the results obtained at 50 and 100 rpm. The discriminating dissolution method was successfully developed for carvedilol compression-coated tablets. The conditions that allowed dissolution determination were USP type I apparatus at 100 rpm, containing 1000 ml of 0.1N HCl for 2 hours, followed by pH 6.8 citric-phosphate buffer with 1% SLS for 22 hours at 37.0 ± 0.5 ºC. Samples were analysed by UV spectrophotometric method and validated as per ICH guidelines.
A Bayesian hierarchical model of Antarctic fur seal foraging and pup growth related to sea ice and prey abundance
Authors: Hiruki-Raring Lisa M. , Hoef Jay M. Ver , Boveng Peter L. , Bengtson John L.
Published: March 2012

We created a Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) to investigate ecosystem relationships between the physical ecosystem (sea ice extent), a prey measure (krill density), predator behaviors (diving and foraging effort of female Antarctic fur seals,Arctocephalus gazella, with pups) and predator characteristics (mass of maternal fur seals and pups). We collected data on Antarctic fur seals from 1987/1988 to 1994/1995 at Seal Island, Antarctica. The BHM allowed us to link together predators and prey into a model that uses all the data efficiently and accounts for major sources of uncertainty. Based on the literature, we made hypotheses about the relationships in the model, which we compared with the model outcome after fitting the BHM. For each BHM parameter, we calculated the mean of the posterior density and the 95% credible interval. Our model confirmed others' findings that increased sea ice was related to increased krill density. Higher krill density led to reduced dive intensity of maternal fur seals, as measured by dive depth and duration, and to less time spent foraging by maternal fur seals. Heavier maternal fur seals and lower maternal foraging effort resulted in heavier pups at 22 d. No relationship was found between krill density and maternal mass, or between maternal mass and foraging effort on pup growth rates between 22 and 85 days of age. Maternal mass may have reflected environmental conditions prior to the pup provisioning season, rather than summer prey densities. Maternal mass and foraging effort were not related to pup growth rates between 22 and 85 d, possibly indicating that food was not limiting, food sources other than krill were being used, or differences occurred before pups reached age 22 d.
A comparison of land‐sharing and land‐sparing strategies for plant richness conservation in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Egan J. Franklin , Mortensen David A.
Published: March 2012

Strategies for conserving plant diversity in agroecosystems generally focus on either expanding land area in non‐crop habitat or enhancing diversity within crop fields through changes in within‐field management practices. In this study, we compare effects on landscape‐scale species richness from such land‐sharing or land‐sparing strategies. We collected data in arable field, grassland, pasture, and forest habitat types (1.6 ha sampled per habitat type) across a 100‐km2 region of farmland in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. We fitted species–area relationships (SARs) for each habitat type and then combined extrapolations from the curves with estimates of community overlap to estimate richness in a 314.5‐ha landscape. We then modified these baseline estimates by adjusting parameters in the SAR models to compare potential effects of land‐sharing and land‐sparing conservation practices on landscape richness. We found that species richness of the habitat types showed a strong inverse relationship to the relative land area of each type in the region, with 89 species in arable fields (66.5% of total land area), 153 in pastures (6.7%), 196 in forests (5.2%), and 213 in grasslands (2.9%). Relative to the baseline scenario, major changes in the richness of arable fields produced gains in landscape‐scale richness comparable to a conversion of 3.1% of arable field area into grassland habitat. Sensitivity analysis of our model indicated that relative gains from land sparing would be greatest in landscapes with a low amount of non‐crop habitat in the baseline scenario, but that in more complex landscapes land sharing would provide greater gains. These results indicate that the majority of plant species in agroecosystems are found in small fragments of non‐crop habitat and suggest that, especially in landscapes with little non‐crop habitat, richness can be more readily conserved through land‐sparing approaches.
Implementation of a marine reserve has a rapid but short‐lived effect on recreational angler use
Authors: Fujitani Marie L. , Fenichel Eli P. , Torre Jorge , Gerber Leah R.
Published: March 2012

Changes in human behavior are a precursor to measurable impacts of no‐take marine reserves. We investigated changes in recreational fishing site selection in response to the 2005 announcement of enforcement in a marine reserve in the Gulf of California, Mexico. We used a novel data set of daily self‐reported boating destinations from emergency rescue logbooks for a recreational angling community from 2000 to 2008. Because the reserve system has no experimental control, we modeled the data two ways to test for robustness to model specification. We tested for changes in human fishing behavior with regression and fit a fleet‐level discrete choice model to project a counterfactual scenario. The counterfactual is the statistically constructed ex post expectation of the human behavior we would have observed if the reserve never existed. We included month and year fixed effects in our models to account for seasonal and interannual fluctuations in fishing behavior and catch rates. We detected a decrease in reserve use compared to the counterfactual, indicating that the reserve rapidly experienced a decrease in visitation. However, the reserve's effect to reduce trips diminished with time. These results indicate that the reserve is unlikely to meet its ecological goals without institutional changes that enhance compliance. This illustrates the value of human use data to understanding the processes underlying marine reserve function. We suggest that managers should consider human use with the same frequency, rigor, and tools as they do fishery stocks. Marine reserves directly affect people, and understanding human behavioral responses to marine reserves is an important step in marine reserve management.
Evaluating the performance of methods for estimating the abundance of rapidly declining coastal shark populations
Authors: McCauley Douglas J. , McLean Kevin A. , Bauer John , Young Hillary S. , Micheli Fiorenza
Published: March 2012

Accurately surveying shark populations is critical to monitoring precipitous ongoing declines in shark abundance and interpreting the effects that these reductions are having on ecosystems. To evaluate the effectiveness of existing survey tools, we used field trials and computer simulations to critically examine the operation of four common methods for counting coastal sharks: stationary point counts, belt transects, video surveys, and mark and recapture abundance estimators. Empirical and theoretical results suggest that (1) survey method selection has a strong impact on the estimates of shark density that are produced, (2) standardizations by survey duration are needed to properly interpret and compare survey outputs, (3) increasing survey size does not necessarily increase survey precision, and (4) methods that yield the highest density estimates are not always the most accurate. These findings challenge some of the assumptions traditionally associated with surveying mobile marine animals. Of the methods we trialed, 8 × 50 m belt transects and a 20 m radius point count produced the most accurate estimates of shark density. These findings can help to improve the ways we monitor, manage, and understand the ecology of globally imperiled coastal shark populations.
Intra‐ and interspecific tree growth across a long altitudinal gradient in the Peruvian Andes
Authors: Rapp Joshua M. , Silman Miles R. , Clark James S. , Girardin Cecile A. J. , Galiano Darcy , Tito Richard
Published: March 2012

Tree growth response across environmental gradients is fundamental to understanding species distributional ecology and forest ecosystem ecology and to predict future ecosystem services. Cross‐sectional patterns of ecosystem properties with respect to climatic gradients are often used to predict ecosystem responses to global change. Across sites in the tropics, primary productivity increases with temperature, suggesting that forest ecosystems will become more productive as temperature rises. However, this trend is confounded with a shift in species composition and so may not reflect the response of in situ forests to warming. In this study, we simultaneously studied tree diameter growth across the altitudinal ranges of species within a single genus across a geographically compact temperature gradient, to separate the direct effect of temperature on tree growth from that of species compositional turnover. Using a Bayesian state space modeling framework we combined data from repeated diameter censuses and dendrometer measurements from across a 1700‐m altitudinal gradient collected over six years on over 2400 trees inWeinmannia, a dominant and widespread genus of cloud forest trees in the Andes. Within species, growth showed no consistent trend with altitude, but higher‐elevation species had lower growth rates than lower‐elevation species, suggesting that species turnover is largely responsible for the positive correlation between productivity and temperature in tropical forests. Our results may indicate a significant difference in how low‐ and high‐latitude forests will respond to climate change, since temperate and boreal tree species are consistently observed to have a positive relationship between growth and temperature. If our results hold for other tropical species, a positive response in ecosystem productivity to increasing temperatures in the Andes will depend on the altitudinal migration of tree species. The rapid pace of climate change, and slow observed rates of migration, suggest a slow, or even initially negative response of ecosystem productivity to warming. Finally, this study shows how the observed scale of biological organization can affect conclusions drawn from studies of ecological phenomena across environmental gradients, and calls into question the common practice in tropical ecology of lumping species at higher taxonomic levels.
Temporal variability in California grasslands: Soil type and species functional traits mediate response to precipitation
Authors: Fernandez-Going B. M. , Anacker B. L. , Harrison S. P.
Published: March 2012

Plant communities on infertile soils may be relatively resistant to climatic variation if species in these communities have “stress‐tolerant” functional traits that limit their ability to respond to climate. Alternatively, such communities may be more sensitive to climatic variation if their relatively sparse vegetative cover exposes species to more extreme changes in factors such as temperature or wind. We compared temporal variability in species richness and composition over 10 years between grasslands on infertile serpentine and “normal” sedimentary soils. Variability in species richness and species composition tracked mean annual precipitation on both soils, but variability was lower in serpentine grasslands. Communities on serpentine had lower functional diversity and had species with more “stress‐tolerant” traits than non‐serpentine communities (i.e., shorter stature, lower specific leaf area, and lower leaf area). Within and between soils, variability in species richness and temporal turnover were lower in communities scoring as more stress tolerant on a multivariate index of these traits; however, community variability was unrelated to functional diversity. Within 41 species found commonly on both soils, variability in occurrence and cover were also lower on serpentine soils, even though intraspecific trait differences between soils were minimal; this suggests a direct effect of soil type on species variability in addition to the indirect, trait‐mediated effect. Communities with higher biomass had higher annual variability in species occurrence and cover. Our results suggest that infertile soils reduce compositional variability indirectly by selecting for stress‐tolerant traits and directly by limiting productivity. We conclude that communities on infertile soils may respond more conservatively to predicted changes in precipitation, including increased variability, than communities on soils of normal fertility.
Diverse effects of parasites in ecosystems: linking interdependent processes
Authors: Hatcher Melanie J , Dick Jaimie TA , Dunn Alison M
Published: March 2012

Community ecologists generally recognize the importance of species – such as pollinators – that have clear positive effects within ecosystems. However, parasites – usually regarded in terms of their detrimental effects on the individuals they infect – can also have positive impacts on other species in the community. We now recognize that parasites influence species coexistence and extirpation by altering competition, predation, and herbivory, and that these effects can, in turn, influence ecosystem properties. Parasites and pathogens act as ecosystem engineers, alter energy budgets and nutrient cycling, and influence biodiversity. Equally, because ecosystem properties – such as biodiversity – affect parasite populations, there is the potential for feedback between parasitism and ecosystem states. Using examples from animal and plant systems, we examine this potential bidirectional interdependence and challenge the conventional wisdom that parasites have only negative or inconsequential impacts on ecological communities.
Wellbore Integrity Management: Dealing With Uncertainties
Authors: Savari Sharath , Kumar Arunesh
Published: March 2012

Amongst all issues plaguing drilling operations, wellbore instability and failure is still a leading contributor to drilling non-productive time (NPT). Failure can result from misunderstanding the wellbore conditions, improper drilling practices, unavailability of geomechanical properties or improper interpretation of those values. For maximum long-term production, it is desirable to avoid uncertainties associated with wellbore integrity during drilling. Wellbore integrity deals with identifying the optimal drilling fluid properties and formulations to avoid unwanted surprises while drilling. It is well-documented that near-wellbore stresses can be altered by adopting different approaches to maintain or increase wellbore integrity while staying within the drilling window (pore pressure and fracture gradient).

The results from testing methods for curing wellbore instability using drilling fluids containing products like gilsonite/asphaltene were input into a numerical simulator to understand their stabilizing effect on wellbore. Increase in the near-wellbore stresses was observed for certain drilling fluids; however, a destabilizing effect was observed for a few fluids. The wellbore strengthening technique includes inducing fractures in problematic zones like depleted formations and inter-bedded sand layers. The fractures are then propped open with lost circulation materials (LCM) to sustain the increase in the near-wellbore effective tangential stresses. Different combinations of LCM were tested to indentify the optimal combination. Enhanced performance was observed after the addition of high aspect ratio material in LCM pill.

This paper presents comprehensive information on the different mechanisms employed to improve wellbore integrity. Application of different laboratory methods and materials in combination with numerical simulator analysis are provided to demonstrate different approaches for wellbore integrity management in various scenarios.
A Mechanistic Model to Characterize the Two Phase Drilling Fluid Flow through Inclined Eccentric Annular Geometry
Authors: Osgouei R. E. , Ozbayoglu M. E. , Ozbayoglu A. M.
Published: March 2012

The increased application of multiphase flow in different industrial fields encouraged researchers to model the behaviors of multiphase flow in various ducts. Gasified (aerated) fluids, having 2-phases, are commonly used in drilling operations, especially for achieving underbalanced conditions. Although flow of two-phase fluids is studied in detail for pipes, not much is known for annular geometries.

In this study, extensive experiments have been conducted at Middle East Technical University (METU) Multiphase Flow Loop using air-water mixtures with various in-situ flow velocities of 0-120 ft/s and 0-10 ft/s respectively for wellbore inclinations of 75°, 60°, 45° and 12.5°without inner pipe rotation.

From the comparisons among data for total pressure losses, it is observed that in highly-inclined sections, by increasing the gas velocity in wellbore, the total pressure losses increase. For mid-range inclinations and nearly vertical sections, by increasing gas velocity, the total pressure losses decrease significantly, because the major part of total pressure gradient is the gravitational component. Based on experimental observations, a mechanistic model has been developed for determining the total pressure losses and volumetric distribution of each phase within the wellbore for a particular drilling condition.

It has been concluded that the proposed model is reasonably accurate for estimating the frictional pressure losses when compared with the measured values. In this paper, the experimental observations and the performance of the new mechanistic model have been presented and discussed in detail.
Streamline Simulation for Geological Model Validation and Waterflood Pattern Management in the FM-1 Layer of the Mangala Field, Barmer Basin, Rajasthan, India
Authors: Bhushan Yatindra , Singh Amit Pal , Kumar M Suresh , Shankar Pranay , Jha Manish Kumar
Published: March 2012

The Mangala Field is located in the northern Barmer Basin of Rajasthan state, India. The basin is a Tertiary rift, predominantly consisting of Palaeocene-Eocene sediments. The Mangala Field was discovered in January 2004 and brought on production with hot water flooding in August 2009. The main reservoir units in the Mangala Field are the fluvial sandstones of the Fatehgarh Formation. The Fatehgarh Formation in the Mangala Field is subdivided into 5 reservoir layers termed FM1 (top) to FM5 (base). The lower part of the Fatehgarh Formation (FM3 to FM5) are dominated by well-connected sheet flood and braided channel sands, whilst the Upper Fatehgarh Formation (FM1 and FM2) is dominated by more sinuous, laterally migrating fluvial channel sands. The FM-1 unit hosts approximately half of the oil in place.

A detailed fine layer geological model was built for the Mangala Field incorporating all relevant data from the field generated over the last couple of years. A set of 100 realizations of the geological model were generated. All of the realizations for FM-1 layer were simulated in a commercial streamline simulator using the available historical production data for FM-1 wells.

The paper discusses the results from these multiple realization runs and the inputs given to the geological model which was used to improve the model further. These runs helped in identifying the areas where sand connectivity was low due to presence of some baffles or channel boundaries and needed improvement, to match fluid flow in the reservoir. After incorporating the PLT data into the dynamic model, the well wise water cut resembled the actual w/c and improved the confidence level on the geological model.

The paper also discusses well allocation factor estimates for each producer and injector pair from the streamline simulation model for different injection patterns in FM-1. The well allocation factors helped in understanding the level of support each producer is getting from the nearby injectors
Automatic Detection and Classification of Breast Tumors in Ultrasonic Images Using Texture and Morphological Features
Authors: Su Yanni , Wang Yuanyuan , Jiao Jing , Guo Yi
Published: March 2012

Due to severe presence of speckle noise, poor image contrast and irregular lesion shape, it is challenging to build a fully automatic detection and classification system for breast ultrasonic images. In this paper, a novel and effective computer-aided method including generation of a region of interest (ROI), segmentation and classification of breast tumor is proposed without any manual intervention. By incorporating local features of texture and position, a ROI is firstly detected using a self-organizing map neural network. Then a modified Normalized Cut approach considering the weighted neighborhood gray values is proposed to partition the ROI into clusters and get the initial boundary. In addition, a regional-fitting active contour model is used to adjust the few inaccurate initial boundaries for the final segmentation. Finally, three textures and five morphologic features are extracted from each breast tumor; whereby a highly efficient Affinity Propagation clustering is used to fulfill the malignancy and benign classification for an existing database without any training process. The proposed system is validated by 132 cases (67 benignancies and 65 malignancies) with its performance compared to traditional methods such as level set segmentation, artificial neural network classifiers, and so forth. Experiment results show that the proposed system, which needs no training procedure or manual interference, performs best in detection and classification of ultrasonic breast tumors, while having the lowest computation complexity.
Mass transfer and microbiological profile of pork meat dehydrated in two different osmotic solutions
Authors: Filipovic Vladimir , Curcic Biljana , Nicetin Milica , Plavsic Dragana , Koprivica Gordana , Misljenovic Nevena
Published: March 2012

The effects of osmotic dehydration on mass transfer properties and
microbiological profile were investigated in order to determine the
usefulness of this technique as pre-treatment for further treatment of meat.
Process was studied in two solutions (sugar beet molasses, and aqueous
solution of sodium chloride and sucrose), at two temperatures (4 and 22?C) at
atmospheric pressure. The most significant parameters of mass transfer were
determined after 300 minutes of the dehydration. The water activity (aw)
values of the processed meat were determined, as well as the change of the
microbiological profile between the fresh and dehydrated meat. At the
temperature of 22?C the sugar beet molasses proved to be most suitable as an
osmotic solution, despite the greater viscosity.
Assessment of Patient-Led or Physician-Driven Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Patients With Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes Using Basal-Bolus Insulin Regimens
Authors: Riveline Jean-Pierre , Schaepelynck Pauline , Chaillous Lucy , Renard Eric , Sola-Gazagnes Agnès , Penfornis Alfred , Tubiana-Rufi Nadia , Sulmont Véronique , Catargi Bogdan , Lukas Céline , Radermecker Régis P. , Thivolet Charles , Moreau François , Benhamou Pierre-Yves , Guerci Bruno , Leguerrier Anne-Marie , Millot Luc , Sachon Claude , Charpentier Guillaume , Hanaire Hélène ,   for the EVADIAC Sensor Study Group
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE

The benefits of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) have been demonstrated in patients with type 1 diabetes. Our aim was to compare the effect of two modes of use of CGM, patient led or physician driven, for 1 year in subjects with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients with type 1 diabetes aged 8–60 years with HbA1c ≥8% were randomly assigned to three groups (1:1:1). Outcomes for glucose control were assessed at 1 year for two modes of CGM (group 1: patient led; group 2: physician driven) versus conventional self-monitoring of blood glucose (group 3: control).

RESULTS

A total of 257 subjects with type 1 diabetes underwent screening. Of these, 197 were randomized, with 178 patients completing the study (age: 36 ± 14 years; HbA1c: 8.9 ± 0.9%). HbA1c improved similarly in both CGM groups and was reduced compared with the control group (group 1 vs. group 3: −0.52%, P = 0.0006; group 2 vs. group 3: −0.47%, P = 0.0008; groups 1 + 2 vs. group 3: −0.50%, P < 0.0001). The incidence of hypoglycemia was similar in the three groups. Patient SF-36 questionnaire physical health score improved in both experimental CGM groups (P = 0.004). Sensor consumption was 34% lower in group 2 than in group 1 (median [Q1–Q3] consumption: group 1: 3.42/month [2.20–3.91] vs. group 2: 2.25/month [1.27–2.99], P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Both patient-led and physician-driven CGM provide similar long-term improvement in glucose control in patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes, but the physician-driven CGM mode used fewer sensors.
The Dragonfly (Insecta: Odonata) Collection of Iaşi Museum of Natural History (Romania)
Authors: Manci Cosmin-Ovidiu
Published: March 2012

The Dragonfly (Insecta: Odonata) Collection of Iaşi Museum of Natural History (Romania)

The dragonfly specimens deposited in the Iaşi Museum of Natural History were inventoried and analyzed, resulting a total of 3162 adult specimens from 45 species. The majority of these specimens were collected by Constantin Visarion Mândru in 51 localities of Romania. The material includes important new distribution records of three Natura 2000 species (Coenagrion ornatum, Cordulegaster heros and Gomphus flavipes). Coenagrion scitulum, Somatochlora meridionalis and Sympetrum danae are species rarely reported from Romania.
Catalogue of Cerambycidae, Megalopodidae and Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea) Recently Entered in the Patrimony of "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History (Bucharest). "Igor Ceianu" Collection
Authors: Serafim Rodica , Maican Sanda
Published: March 2012

Catalogue of Cerambycidae, Megalopodidae and Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea) Recently Entered in the Patrimony of "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History (Bucharest). "Igor Ceianu" Collection

The paper presents data on 268 species belonging to the Cerambycidae, Megalopodidae and Chrysomelidae families, preserved in the "Igor Ceianu" Collection, recently entered in the patrimony of "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History (Bucharest). Some Carpathians endemic species are highlighted: Pseudogaurotina excellens Brancsik, 1874, Cryptocephalus carpathicus Weise, 1875, Sclerophaedon carpathicus Weise, 1875, Neocrepidodera transsilvanica Fuss, 1864 and Chrysolina weisei Frivaldszky, 1883. Among the rare species preserved in the "Igor Ceianu" collection, we mention: Nivellia sanguinosa Gyllenhal, 1827, Semanotus russicus russicus Fabricius, 1776, Pronocera angusta Kriechbaum, 1844, Callimoxys gracilis Brullé, 1832, Callimus angulatus angulatus Schrank, 1789, Cornumutila lineata Letzer, 1844, Pedostrangalia revestita Linnaeus, 1767, Pedostrangalia verticalis Germar, 1822, Etorofus pubescens Fabricius, 1787, Cryptocephalus bohemius Drapiez, 1819 and Cheilotoma musciformis Goeze, 1777. In terms of conservation, the following species of community interest are noted: Rosalia alpina Linnaeus, 1758, Morimus asper funereus Mulsant, 1863 and Pseudogaurotina excellens Brancsik, 1874.
Elaeis oleifera Genomic-SSR Markers: Exploitation in Oil Palm Germplasm Diversity and Cross-Amplification in Arecaceae
Authors: Zaki Noorhariza Mohd , Singh Rajinder , Rosli Rozana , Ismail Ismanizan
Published: March 2012

Species-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are favored for genetic studies and marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding for oil palm genetic improvement. This report characterizes 20 SSR markers from an Elaeis oleifera genomic library (gSSR). Characterization of the repeat type in 2000 sequences revealed a high percentage of di-nucleotides (63.6%), followed by tri-nucleotides (24.2%). Primer pairs were successfully designed for 394 of the E. oleifera gSSRs. Subsequent analysis showed the ability of the 20 selected E. oleifera gSSR markers to reveal genetic diversity in the genus Elaeis. The average Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) value for the SSRs was 0.402, with the tri-repeats showing the highest average PIC (0.626). Low values of observed heterozygosity (Ho) (0.164) and highly positive fixation indices (Fis) in the E. oleifera germplasm collection, compared to the E. guineensis, indicated an excess of homozygosity in E. oleifera. The transferability of the markers to closely related palms, Elaeis guineensis, Cocos nucifera and ornamental palms is also reported. Sequencing the amplicons of three selected E. oleifera gSSRs across both species and palm taxa revealed variations in the repeat-units. The study showed the potential of E. oleifera gSSR markers to reveal genetic diversity in the genus Elaeis. The markers are also a valuable genetic resource for studying E. oleifera and other genus in the Arecaceae family.
Mechanical Vibrations of Thermally Actuated Silicon Membranes
Authors: Puchades Ivan , Koz Mustafa , Fuller Lynn
Published: March 2012

A thermally-actuated micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) device based on a vibrating silicon membrane has been proposed as a viscosity sensor by the authors. In this paper we analyze the vibration mode of the sensor as it vibrates freely at its natural frequency. Analytical examination is compared to finite element analysis, electrical measurements and the results obtained through real-time dynamic optical surface profilometry. The vertical movement of the membrane due to the applied heat is characterized statically and dynamically. The natural vibration mode is determined to be the (1,1) mode and good correlation is found between the analytical predictions, the simulation analysis, the observed mechanical displacement and the electrical measurements.
Capacitive Tactile Sensor Based on Dielectric Oil Displacement out of a Parylene Dome into Surrounding Channels
Authors: Takahashi Tomokazu , Suzuki Masto , Iwamoto Shota , Aoyagi Seiji
Published: March 2012

We propose a concept of a flexible sensor array using a novel capacitive force sensor not having a vulnerable electrode on the force applied site. It has a polymer domed structure inside which silicone oil is contained. When the force is applied, the oil is pushed into the surrounding thin channels, where the change in capacitance due to the inflowing dielectric oil is measured between two electrodes on the top and bottom surfaces of the channel. Since the channel does not have a directly applied external force to it, the electrodes do not suffer from damage problems. The change in capacitance was simulated using a simplified flow model. The first trial device of the sensing element has been fabricated. A sensitivity of 0.05 pF/gf was achieved.
Oral Administration of Shark Type II Collagen Suppresses Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Rheumatoid Arthritis in Rats
Authors: Chen Lijuan , Bao Bin , Wang Nanping , Xie Jing , Wu Wenhui
Published: March 2012

Objective: Shark type II collagen (SCII) is extracted as a glycoprotein from the cartilage of blue shark (Prionace glauca). We aim to confirm the effects of oral tolerance of SCII on inflammatory and immune responses to the ankle joint of rheumatoid-arthritis rats induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA). Materials and Methods: The onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was observed 14 ± x days after injection of CFA. Rats in the control group were treated with acetic acid by oral administration (0.05 mmol kg−1d−1, days 14–28), while rats in experimental groups were treated by oral administration with SCII (1 or 3 mg kg−1d−1, days 14–28), Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium (TWP) (10 mg kg−1d−1, days 14–28), and bovine type II collagen from US (US-CII) (1 mg kg−1d−1, days 14–28), respectively. The severity of arthritis was evaluated by the articular swelling. The immunological indexes observed included delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, the level of interleukins 10 (IL-10) in rat blood serum and morphological characterization. Mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) was performed to investigate the relationship between T cell apoptosis and specific immune tolerance induced by SCII. Results: Treatment with SCII for 2 weeks significantly attenuated the acute inflammation. The rats orally administrated with SCII at the level of 3 mg kg−1d−1 (SCII 3) and US-CII had decreased DTH reaction compared with rats in control group. Rats treated with SCII 3 had the highest level of IL-10 with 102 pg/mL. SCII with concentration of 10 μg/L could help to significantly enhance level of Fas/Apo-1 in T cell in vitro. The result of histological staining indicated that the recovery of the articular membranes of ankle joint in SCII 3 group was greatly enhanced. Conclusions: Our results suggest that appropriate dose of SCII can not only ameliorate symptoms but also modify the disease process of Complete-Freunds-Adjuvant-induced arthritis. Oral administration of SCII might be a potential candidate as a novel drug for further investigation.
Electrochemical generation of 2,3-oxazolidinone glycosyl triflates as an intermediate for stereoselective glycosylation
Authors: Nokami Toshiki , Shibuya Akito , Saigusa Yoshihiro , Manabe Shino , Ito Yukishige , Yoshida Jun-ichi
Published: March 2012

Glycosyl triflates with a 2,3-oxazolidinone protecting group were generated from thioglycosides by low-temperature electrochemical oxidation. The glycosyl triflates reacted with alcohols to give the corresponding glycosides β-selectively at low temperatures. However, α-selectivity was observed in the absence of base at elevated reaction temperatures. In situ generated triflic acid promotes the isomerization of β-products to α-products.
Discovery of practical production processes for arylsulfur pentafluorides and their higher homologues, bis- and tris(sulfur pentafluorides): Beginning of a new era of “super-trifluoromethyl” arene chemistry and its industry
Authors: Umemoto Teruo , Garrick Lloyd M , Saito Norimichi
Published: March 2012

Various arylsulfur pentafluorides, ArSF5, have long been desired in both academic and industrial areas, and ArSF5 compounds have attracted considerable interest in many areas such as medicines, agrochemicals, and other new materials, since the highly stable SF5 group is considered a “super-trifluoromethyl group” due to its significantly higher electronegativity and lipophilicity. This article describes the first practical method for the production of various arylsulfur pentafluorides and their higher homologues, bis- and tris(sulfur pentafluorides), from the corresponding diaryl disulfides or aryl thiols. The method consists of two steps: (Step 1) treatment of a diaryl disulfide or an aryl thiol with chlorine in the presence of an alkali metal fluoride, and (step 2) treatment of the resulting arylsulfur chlorotetrafluoride with a fluoride source, such as ZnF2, HF, and Sb(III/V) fluorides. The intermediate arylsulfur chlorotetrafluorides were isolated by distillation or recrystallization and characterized. The aspects of these new reactions are revealed and reaction mechanisms are discussed. As the method offers considerable improvement over previous methods in cost, yield, practicality, applicability, and large-scale production, the new processes described here can be employed as the first practical methods for the economical production of various arylsulfur pentafluorides and their higher homologues, which could then open up a new era of “super-trifluoromethyl” arene chemistry and its applications in many areas.