bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A prospective study to compare the efficacy of tacrolimus vs cyclosporine in vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children in India
Authors: Choudhary Priya , Singh Satya Prakash , Chaurasia Rakesh Chandra , Jindal Meenakshi
Published: May 2019

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic allergic conjunctival disease. Immunomodulatory drugs like cyclosporine is being used for its treatment. Tacrolimus is another immunomodulator drug that can be used in VKC. This study was done to compare the efficacy of tacrolimus and cyclosporine in VKC.Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 60 patients of either sex by dividing them into two groups. The first group was treated with cyclosporine (0.05%) ophthalmic eye drop and second group with tacrolimus (0.03%) ophthalmic ointment. Total five objective signs (hyperaemia, oedema, papillae, corneal involvement and tantra’s dot) and five subjective symptoms (itching, tearing, foreign body sensation, discharge and photophobia) data was collected and tabulated for statistical analysis.Results: Authors found TSSS in both groups decrease significantly (p <0.05 or p <0.01 or p <0.001) at all post periods as compared to respective predecessor periods except 4 weeks to 6 weeks in cyclosporine group and 6 weeks to 8 weeks in tacrolimus group. Similarly, for each period, on comparing the mean TSSS between the groups TSSS between the groups at all periods does not differed statistically though at final evaluation (mean change from baseline to 8 weeks), it improved 5.2% more in tacrolimus group (83.7%) than cyclosporine group (78.5%). Similarly, TOSS also decreased at all post periods except 4 weeks to 6 weeks, and 6 weeks to 8 weeks in cyclosporine group and 6 weeks to 8 weeks in tacrolimus group. Improvement in scores was 11.6% more in tacrolimus (81.6%) than cyclosporine (70.0%). Cyclosporine eye drops are associated with burning sensation and redness of eyes while transient ocular irritation was only observed side effect with tacrolimus.Conclusions: The study found tacrolimus is clinically better drug for treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis than cyclosporine and is also cost effective.
A questionnaire based study on the knowledge, attitude, and the practice of ecopharmacology among the healthcare professionals in a teaching hospital in India
Authors: Advani Manjari , Jadhao Trupti R.
Published: May 2019

Background: Ecopharmacology which deals with the health hazards posed by discarded or used medicinal products in the environment, is a globally emerging issue. There are guidelines for pharmaceutical waste management (Like GMP and FDA guidelines) for the manufacturing units, pharmacists and consumers. However, it is uncertain whether consumers are aware of it. Before beginning the process of creating awareness, it is first necessary to assess the existing knowledge of the issue in the community. This study was planned to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of ecopharmacology in the medical personnel and students in our institute.Methods: It was a questionnaire based cross-sectional observational study. Study population included MBBS students, nursing students and resident doctors. Total 500 consenting participants were enrolled and subjected to a structured KAP questionnaire and data was expressed in percentage. Questionnaire consisted of 20 questions out of which 3 were open ended and remaining closed ended.Results: Present study result showed that 73% respondents had heard of term ecopharmacology and majority (98%) felt that it was their responsibility to protect environment from pharmaceutical waste. Responses from 83% of participants indicated that they were worried about the excess medicines at their homes. 87% of participants threw it in garbage bin, but (58%) were unsure whether their drug disposing method was safe and 25 % knew it was unsafe. Most respondents (94%) felt that there should be guidelines for safe disposal of expired/unused drug and were enthusiastic about participating in campaign for this issue. Medical personnel also suggested some solutions to deal with this problem.Conclusions: Awareness and concern regarding the problem is high however in absence of knowledge of methods of safe disposal of unused drug, it is not transforming into safe disposal practices.
The effect of increased concentration of organic matter on the rock properties
Authors: Yusupova Iskra F. , Fadeeva Natalya P. , Shardanova Tatyana A.
Published: May 2019

Rocks enriched with organic matter (OM) are considered: Baltic combustible shale-kukersites and domanic deposits of the Volga-Ural basin, in which organic matter is one of the rock-forming components. The discrepancy between the volume and weight ratios of organic and mineral matter of rocks is noted. The volume significance of the OM of these rocks in the thickness of shale formations and domanic sediments is shown. The high content of OM determines the reduced strength of such rocks. The variability of OM concentrations and other irregularities of shale formations and Domanic rocks (texture, nodule bodies, etc.) are factors of mosaic distribution of areas with different density-strength properties and, as a result, non-uniform reduction of layers and their deformation in case of loss (full or partial) of organic matter.
Regional modeling of hydrocarbon systems of the Bazhenov formation in the West Siberian basin
Authors: Sannikova Irina A. , Stoupakova Antonina V. , Bolshakova Maria A. , Galushkin Yurii I. , Kalmykov Georgii A. , Sautkin Roman S. , Suslova Anna A. , Kalmykov Anton G. , Kozlova Elena V.
Published: May 2019

The Bazhenov formation is a source of unconventional hydrocarbons and a complex object of study. Oil accumulations in the Bazhenov formation are not controlled by the structural factor. In this article, based on the results of basin modeling, the priority geological and geochemical parameters that affect the distribution of unconventional hydrocarbon accumulations in the sediments of the Bazhenov formation are identified. The article describes the initial geological, lithological, petrophysical, geochemical and thermal parameters necessary for the analysis of the hydrocarbon system of the Bazhenov formation. The paper presents the results of calculating a 2D model of a regional sublatitudinal profile of the West Siberian basin. The calibration of geological and thermal models based on the data on reservoir temperatures and pressures, as well as on the vitrinite reflectance (Ro) and Tmax pyrolysis is illustrated. The analysis of the sensitivity of the model to changes in the kinetic spectrum of kerogen destruction of the Bazhenov formation has been carried out. Criteria for localization of the most promising areas of the Bazhenov shale formation are proposed. On the basis of the work done, it was shown that the basin modeling tool in combination with the results of geological and geochemical studies allows us to distinguish promising areas within bituminous formations. The key parameters are maturity of organic matter, the amount of generation and adsorption of hydrocarbons, as well as overpressure zones.
АНАЛИЗ ДЕФОРМАЦИЙ ПРОЖЕКТОРНОЙ МАЧТЫ ПРИ ПОМОЩИ НАЗЕМНОГО ЛАЗЕРНОГО СКАНИРОВАНИЯ И МЕТОДА КОНЕЧНЫХ ЭЛЕМЕНТОВ
Authors: Епифанова Екатерина Александровна , Строкова Людмила Александровна
Published: May 2019

Актуальность темы обусловлена необходимостью усовершенствования подходов к оценке и прогнозу деформаций высокомачтовых опор. Решение этой задачи сопряжено с многими неопределенностями, такими как недостаточность лабораторных исследований свойств материалов и полевых статических и динамических испытаний подобного рода сооружений, малочисленность аналитических исследований и мониторинговых данных. Представлены первоначальные результаты полевых исследований деформаций прожекторной мачты и численного анализа ее напряженно-деформированного состояния. Целью исследования является оценка напряженно-деформированного состояния грунтового основания сооружения и сравнение результатов численного моделирования с данными по деформациям объекта, полученными в ходе лазерного сканирования. Объект – напряженно-деформированное состояние грунтового основания прожекторной мачты на Ванкорском нефтяном месторождении. Методика. Исходными данными для моделирования поведения сооружения послужили данные рекогносцировочного обследования участка. Для характеристики напряженно-деформированного состояния сооружения использовался программный комплекс на базе МКЭ. Для оценки деформаций и построения точной трехмерной модели объекта  использовалась технология лазерного сканирования. Сканирование объекта проводилось лазерным 3D сканером Leica Scanstation C10, планово-высотное обоснование и привязка пунктов обоснования к местной системе координат с использованием электронного тахеометра LEICA TS15 и GNSS приемника LEICA GS10, обработка массива точек проводилась в программном комплексе Leica Cyclone 8.0, трехмерное моделирование объекта было осуществлено в программном комплексе SolidWorks. Результаты. Оценено напряженно-деформированное состояние грунтового основания. Создана цифровая расчетная модель. Выполнено сравнение результатов моделирования с пространственно-координатным положением конструкций, установленным при лазерном сканировании. Оценен вклад грунтовых условий в деформации сооружения.
ПРОГНОЗИРОВАНИЕ КОЭФФИЦИЕНТА ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ СКВАЖИН С БОКОВЫМ СТВОЛОМ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ УНЬВИНСКОГО МЕСТОРОЖДЕНИЯ)
Authors: Щербаков Александр Анатольевич , Хижняк Григорий Петрович , Галкин Владислав Игнатьевич
Published: May 2019

Актуальность. Многие месторождения Соликамской депрессии Пермского края характеризуются завершающей стадией разработки и имеют высокий коэффициент извлечения нефти, близкий к проектному, высокую обводненность добываемой продукции, ухудшение технико-экономических показателей добычи. Для выполнения проектных показателей на месторождениях применяются различные методы повышения нефтеотдачи. Анализ их применения показывает, что наибольший средний прирост начального дебита скважин по нефти достигается путем зарезки боковых стволов. При обосновании расположения бокового ствола в интервале продуктивного пласта одним из основных показателей дальнейшей эффективности работы скважины является начальный коэффициент продуктивности скважины по нефти. Цель: разработать методику прогнозирования коэффициента продуктивности по нефти скважин с боковым стволом с учетом геолого-технологических характеристик объекта. Объекты: бобриковские терригенные отложения Уньвинского месторождения Соликамской депрессии. Методы: корреляционный и регрессионный анализ, основанный на данных геофизических и гидродинамических исследований скважин, значениях фильтрационно-емкостных свойств пласта, физико-химических свойств нефти, а также геолого-технологических показателях. Результаты. Разработанная методика позволяет оценивать значения коэффициента продуктивности по нефти  скважин с боковым стволом на основе результатов геофизических и гидродинамических исследований скважин, значений фильтрационно-емкостных свойств пласта, физико-химических свойств нефти, а также геолого-технологических показателей с помощью пошагового регрессионного анализа и разделения исходных данных значений коэффициента продуктивности по нефти на классы на основе его зависимости от коэффициента детерминации. Установлено, что при значениях Кпрод.н≥10 основное влияние на коэффициент продуктивности по нефти скважин с боковыми стволами оказывают технологические показатели – зенитный угол α бокового ствола в интервале продуктивного пласта и длина Lст ствола скважины в пласте, что говорит о возможности регулирования процесса довыработки запасов нефти изменением этих параметров.
Comparative analysis on early growth and development of different egg-laying quails
Authors: Bai Jun Yan , Cao Heng , Yang Shuai , Pang You Zhi , Jiang Meng Juan , Fan Hong Deng , Fu Xue Yan , Zhang Ji Yuan , Shi Hui Jie
Published: May 2019

This study was carried out to evaluate growth and development and difference between size and weights of three quail species namely China yellow quail, Beijing white quail and Korea quail. Various parameters in respect of these species like shank length, chest width, chest depth, breastbone length, shank circumference, body length, daily weight gain and weight were recorded under similar feeding conditions. The data so obtained was analysed statistically using SPSS. It was revealed that the body weight, shank length, chest width, chest depth, breastbone length, body length, shank circumference and daily gain of Korea quail are significantly higher (P£0.05) than those of China yellow quail and Beijing white quail. It was concluded the Korea quail grows fastest, followed by China yellow quail and Beijing white quail, successively.
Supplemental Cap-Met in diet to promote growth performance and immune response of nursery pigs
Authors: Jarupan T. , Rakangthong C. , Bunchasak C. , Poeikhamphaa T. , Loongyai W. , Kromkhun P.
Published: May 2019

This study was conducted to compare the effect of Colistin and Cap-Met supplementation in nursery pig diets on growth performance, fecal score, short chain fatty acids in the caecum and gut immunity. Seventy-two crossbred pigs (Duroc x Large White x Landrace; initial weight 6.76 ± 0.22 kg) were divided into 3 groups with 6 replications of 18 piglets each. There were 3 dietary treatments: 1) basal diet, 2) basal diet + Colistin 40 ppm and 3) basal diet + 0.2% Cap-Met. The supplementation of 0.2% Cap-Met improved FCR of piglets during 24-38 days of age. At 66 days of age, supplementing Colistin or Cap-Met increased the concentration of lactic acid in the caecum, while the IL-1 beta level in the jejunum declined. In conclusion, Cap-Met supplementation improved the FCR and showed positive immune and inflammatory responses of piglets.
Immunohistochemical detection of alpha-smooth muscle actin and S-100 in bovine mammary gland with mastitis
Authors: Leishangthem Geeta Devi , Singh Nittin Dev , Singh Amarjit
Published: May 2019

Fibrosis is a common finding in chronic mastitis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a prominent role in fibrogenesis in adult tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate whether EMT occurs in bovine mastitis by assessing the expression or localization of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), S-100 protein and caspase-3. Two normal bovine mammary gland tissue samples and five mastitic samples were used in the study. Antibodies to alpha-SMA, S-100 and caspase-3 were used for immunohistochemical studies. In mastitis there was increased expression of S-100 in the alveolar epithelial cells. Alpha-SMA was highly expressed in the areas where there is fibrosis in chronic mastitis. Further caspase-3 was observed in alveolar cells in mastitic tissue. Overexpression of S-100 and alpha-SMA directly correlates to the severity of mastitis.S-100 and alpha-SMA may serve as biomarkers to know the extent of tissue structural changes in mastitis. EMT could be one of the mechanistic pathways underlying the pathogenesis of fibrosis in mastitis.
Polyamine Modulation by antagonistic bacteria Bacillus subtilis in chickpea during Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri interaction
Authors: Suthar K. P. , Patel R. M. , Singh D.
Published: May 2019

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is pivotal source of protein for vegetarian diet, however, its productivity is adversely affected by wilt disease. Non pathogenic rhizospheric microorganism’s leads to induce resistance and are found to be effective in management of this disease. The polyamines (PAs) content and its metabolism are the key in plant microbial interaction, so the alteration in PAs viz. spermidine (SPD), spermine (SPM) and putresine (PTR) in chickpea by Bacillus substilis isolate K18 (BS-K18) effective antagonist (75%) of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (Foc) and having PGPR traits was analyzed under Foc stress. The higher PAs content was reported in resistant variety (WR-315) compared to susceptible variety (JG-62). The PTR was dominant PA present in chickpea, further overall root tissue reported higher PA content as compared to leaves tissue. The PA content was constitutively improved by B. subtilis seed treatment in resistant and susceptible varieties. The Foc stress leads to induction of PA content in leaves and root tissue, where its content was higher in resistant variety as compared to susceptible variety. The BS-K18 seed treatment under Foc stress leads to induction of PA content as compared to both treatments alone, the SPD and SPM were more induced in leaves and root tissue of susceptible variety whereas PTR was more induces in resistant variety. Overall, polyamines were induced up to 3 DAT then after decline suggest their early role in plant defence mechanism, further PTR was found to be dominating polyamine during chickpea-Foc interaction under BS-K18 treatment. The Bacillus subtilis seed treatment leads to improve wilt tolerance in susceptible var. JG-62 through modulation of PAs, the same mechanism also helped to enhanced effectiveness of resistant var. WR-315.
Cloning and optimizing the expression of the DHDPS gene in the Medicago truncatula
Authors: Kim Hong Hoang Thi , Hong Trang Pham Thi , Long Dang Thanh , Quynh Trang Nguyen Thi
Published: May 2019

Medicago truncatula seeds were cultured and developed in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam, and they were used as materials for cloning a DHDPS gene with the encoding of the isozyme dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) as well as optimizing the culture conditions for having the highest DHDPS gene expression in Escherichia coli BL21 StarTM (DE3) cells. The results revealed that the coding region of the DHDPS gene from M. truncatula was 100% similar with M. truncatula 4-hydroxy-tetrahydrodipicolinate synthase 2 (DHDPS2) submitted in NCBI (accession number: XM_013589555.2), coding for a long polypeptide of 307 amino acid with the molecular mass of about 33495 Da (Protein ID: XP_013445009.1). The DHDPS gene was successfully expressed in the Escherichia coli BL21 StarTM (DE3) cells with a pET200 / D-TOPO vector, and this produced the DHDPS2 protein with molecular masses of approximately 33.87 kDa (»33.5 kDa of DHDPS2 and 3.7 kDa of fusion fragment of pET 200/D-TOPO vector). The effects of the six different culture mediums of LB, SOB, SOC, YJ, HSG and TB, the induction times of 2h, 4h, 6h, 8h, 10h and 12h, and the inducer concentrations of 0.2 mM; 0.5 mM; 0.7 mM; 1.0 mM; 1.2 mM and 1.5 mM IPTG (Isopropyl â-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside) were also investigated for the purpose of optimising the expression of DHDPS2 in E. coli cells, and it was found that strong expression of recombinant DHDPS2 protein in E. coli. BL21 (DE3) cells occurred on the TB, HSG and YJ culture mediums after 8 hours with 0.2 mM inducible IPTG (BioRad).
At the origins of literary onomastics
Authors: Skuridina Svetlana A.
Published: May 2019

We present the history of the emergence and development of literary onomastics, the relevance of which is currently not in doubt due to the involvement of its data for the analysis of the artistic world of different authors as linguists and literary critics. The aim of the study is to acquaint readers with those works in which reflections on the function of the proper noun in fiction can be considered as prerequisites for the emergence of onomastics. An important role in the development of science about the proper noun not only scientists, but also critics, writers and journalists, for example, V.G. Belinsky, N.S. Leskov, O.I. Senkovsky. Despite the initial interest of researchers to the etymological meaning of a literary name, in onomastic works middle of 20th century lighting find such problems, as reflected in the anthroponyms of the essential characteristics of the literary character, stylistic conformity onomastic units, social conditionality of name, etc. We point out the primary importance in the problems development of the new branch of linguistics for the 1950s of the works of such scientists as V.N. Mikhailov, R.P. Shaginyan, E.P. Magazanik, D.S. Likhachev. In conclusion we note the modern Voronezh onomastic school research specificity, founded by G.F. Kovalev, the successor of the already classical traditions of Russian onomastics.
Current neological processes in the contemporary Russian language (on materials of sociolinguistic Internet-projects)
Authors: Melnik Uluia A.
Published: May 2019

We analyze Russian projects “Word of the Year”, “Dictionary of Changes”, “Dictionary of the Year” (2014–2017), which show what lexical units are in the focus for their importance and relevance for society members. We analyze words as a current part of the thematic group for present moment that reflects dominant ideas of the meaning of a year. We pay attention to the fact that many words have a social and political orientation. We identify the subjective principle of formation of projects’ lists and study neological processes marking changes in the contemporary Russian language vocabulary. We classify represented lexical material according to the nature of neological processes, the way of a word entering the language considering the possibility of its further consolidation the language. Mentioned grouping of lexis enable to identify that the following processes are current for contemporary Russian language: activation of certain lexical-thematic groups with extralinguistic factors, a transformation of lexical semantics and co-occurrence, replenishment of vocabulary due to active processes of modern word creation and borrowing, creative usage of language system possibilities. The most frequent language methods used for verbalization of current phenomena, events, facts of objective reality such as the method of paromynic attraction, the method of blending, verb word formation, suffixation, semantic reinterpretation are considered.
ACID-FAST BACILLI CONVERSION OF BEIJING AND NON-BEIJING STRAIN OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN SOUTH SULAWESI
Authors: Mertaniasih Ni Made
Published: May 2019

Beijing strains are a major part of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Asian phylogenetic lineage. Beijing strains represent about 50% of all TB strains in East Asia and at least 13% of strains worldwide. Beijing strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is presumed as the factor of the increase in bacteria virulence and drug resistance, and the contributor in treatment failure. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between acid-fast bacilli conversion with strain genotipe Beijing and non-Beijing of pulmonary tuberculosis in South Sulawesi. The design of research was observational analytic with prospective approach. The sampling technique used consecutive sampling. Data were taken from active pulmonary tuberculosis patients’ medical record in Balai Besar Kesehatan Paru Masyarakat Makassar (Pulmonary Health Center of Makassar) and Community Health Center in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi from March to June 2018. Collected sputum samples were screened for AFB and identified as Beijing strain and non Beijing strains using Multiplex PCR in Tropical Disease Institute of Universitas Airlangga. The results is showed that the characteristics of the respondents consisted of 12 respondents (33.3%) aged 56-65 years, 25 respondents (69.4%) men and 28 respondents (77.8%) had low category gradation of AFB smear. Univariate analysis showed 6 respondents (16.7%) with Beijing strains, 30 respondents (83.3%) with non-Beijing strains, 32 respondents (88.9%) conversion sputum AFB and 4 respondents (11.1%) non conversion sputum AFB. Bivariate analysis with Chi-Square statistical test shows that p value 0.022 < 0,05, that means there was association of Beijing strains with BTA conversion. Microscopic examination of BTA can be used to monitor and evaluate the treatment of new pulmonary TB patients undergoing treatment and the Beijing Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain has a significant correlation with the treatment failure of anti-tuberculosis drugs in South Sulawesi.
Radiodiagnosis of Pneumonodular Fistula as a Rare Complication of Tuberculous Mediastinitis in a Teenager with Generalized Tuberculosis
Authors: Giller D. B. , Lazareva Ya. V. , Martel’ I. I. , Shekhter A. I. , Ots O. N. , Frolova O. P. , Shcherbakova G. V. , Giller B. D.
Published: May 2019

The low incidence of nodular fistulas can create difficulties in diagnosis and timely treatment. This clinical observation describes the diagnosis of pneumonodular fistula in a female patient with tuberculosis at multiple sites as a complication of tuberculous mediastinitis. It describes the surgical treatment received by this patient and its outcome as an example of correct treatment policy for this complication.
Energy, Environment, and Social Development: Circular Economy: A Sustainability Innovation and Solution for Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Industries
Authors: Alnuaim Sami
Published: May 2019

President's column

There is no doubt that the world today consumes materials in all domains more than needed, possibly double or even triple what it needs. As a result, part of our world’s natural resources end up polluting the land and sea with a growing trail of waste. Sustainability requires being more efficient—conserving, recycling, and reusing to minimize the impact of everything we do. The developed world must no longer tolerate the buildup of mountains of waste while other places in the world, especially in underdeveloped countries, lack access to energy, food, clean water, and clean air.  

The world’s population is projected to increase to 9 billion by 2040, adding 1.7 billion people in 20 years (85 million every year). Sustaining current levels of consumption while population grows that fast will be challenging. Most of the population growth will be in underdeveloped countries, with almost half in Africa, a continent with the highest levels of energy poverty and the lowest economic growth. In 2017, the population of Africa was roughly equivalent to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s designated developed countries (each about 17% of the world’s population), but in terms of gross domestic product, the developed countries accounted for 63% of the world, and Africa only 3%. As these countries grow and develop, they will be challenged to overcome the vast disparity and bring energy to their expanding population. 

As the oil and gas industry works to make our operations more sustainable, we can adopt the mindset of a “circular economy.” The circular economy is an alternative to the traditional linear economy (i.e., make, use, and dispose) in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them while in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each product service life. The circular economy keeps goods in use as long as possible through recycling and reuse, thereby decreasing the need for raw materials. This, in turn, reduces carbon intensity and our carbon footprint. 

Recycling used materials and plastics instead of disposing or burning them as waste is one important way to make better use of valuable resources, and create a new economy through new business opportunities. There are opportunities throughout our value chain from upstream to downstream to deploy new models of energy conservation. We are already making significant progress in recycling and reusing produced and flowback water. But where else can we reuse the fluids, materials, and equipment that go into supplying the world with oil and natural gas? Can we reach a certain target (%) for incorporating circular economy concepts across our industry? I believe that there are numerous opportunities for which a positive business case exists.
Shale EOR Delivers, So Why Won’t the Sector Go Big?
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: May 2019

The oil is there. The gas is nearby. The process is proven.

But is there an appetite to put it all together and redefine what it means to be a shale producer? This is the key question looming over the future of enhanced oil recovery for tight shale reservoirs, or simply shale EOR.

To answer it, unconventional oil producers are trying to weigh the options from what amounts to a complicated pros-and-cons list.

Developing a shale EOR program may mean drawing resources away from new exploration projects that have quicker returns, the same conundrum that has stymied the US refracturing market. On the other hand, shale EOR boasts impressive economics for companies willing to reinvest in land and wells already paid for.

This financial tug-of-war has been playing out in the shale sector since the spring of 2016. That was when Houston-based EOG Resources let it be known that its shale EOR program was boosting production from vintage horizontal wells in its Eagle Ford Shale asset in south Texas.

News of the development quickly made the operator synonymous with shale EOR. It is now widely understood that all of these projects rely on the huff-and-puff injection process using natural gas as the special agent that can unlock those additional barrels. Other key details are coming to light as well—such as the expanding scope of success.

In a recent quarterly earnings statement, EOG said it continues to see “strong results” from around 150 EOR wells, more than a third of which were converted in 2018. Analysts and engineering consultants have found about 100 other wells in the Eagle Ford that several other operators have converted into huff-and-puff injectors.

“It’s kind of incredible to see the data,” said John Watson, the senior research analyst who put together a report late last year that highlighted production details of shale EOR projects. After physically combing through filings at the Texas Railroad Commission (since they are not available to download), he found dozens of pad wells that saw a combined 10-fold rise in production above their trough.

Among the standouts, a group of 11 wells that reached a combined peak production rate in December 2011 of about 90,000 bbl a month. By August 2017, these wells were pumping out only 5,000 bbl. After gas injections began, the group produced 40,000 bbl a month—an average increase from about 15 B/D to 117 B/D per well.

Another case involved 14 wells that peaked at 330,000 bbl a month in 2013, then dropped to 10,000 bbl. Post injection, output increased to 170,000 bbl a month.

Watson’s report covers more than two dozen other shale EOR projects, though most lacked production results, revealing only project cost estimates. As opaque as the shale EOR effort has been thus far—at least outside of academic research—operators have shared these eye-openers for one simple reason: they have to. That is, if they want to receive the tax credits eligible for all EOR projects.
Technology Focus: Deepwater Fields (May 2019)
Authors: Iversen Morten
Published: May 2019

Technology Focus

Deepwater capital expenditure has nose-dived since the oil-price crash of 2014 and has not quite recovered because of the high level of breakeven prices required, but some oil companies maintained their interest in the sector and went ahead with big-ticket projects anyway. Most believe the sector has bottomed out.

Brazil’s presalt region is among the areas driving deepwater oil and gas development, while others struggle with costs and technical complexity. So, in a low-oil-price environment, are such deepwater projects viable?

The major players in the deepwater market have made significant efforts to minimize costs and increase efficiency, thus shaping 2019 capital budgets.

That means activity levels in 2019 likely will mimic those of 2017–18, with perhaps some small gains from small operators taking advantages and looking for opportunities in the current low-cost environment.

However, the situation is darkened by global market pessimism. Adding to this, operator project-execution decisions have been delayed and lack of commitment and direction has caused operators to delay deepwater projects and leave the pipeline of future work empty.

Even if operators do make decisions in late 2019 to go forward with these projects, the projects are unlikely to commence until late 2020 or even 2021.

Royal Dutch Shell is considering only the Gulf of Mexico in their strategic deepwater development going forward to 2020 and beyond, and, despite low oil prices, Shell is advancing its Kaikias, Appomattox, and Coulomb Phase 2 projects in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, reducing break-even costs and cycle times.

Through the forecast period, Africa and the Americas will continue to lead the deepwater market, accounting for 79% of forecast expenditure.

Floating production, storage, and offloading vessels will continue to dominate the floating production and storage (FPS) market, with a total of 33 deepwater units (out of 41 FPS units in total) expected to be installed during the 2018–22 period, representing 78% of FPS expenditure.

Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.

OTC 28872 Changing Landscape of Deepwater-Field Developments by Marcel M. Landwehr, Subsea 7, et al.

OTC 29043 The Giant Lula Field: World’s Largest Oil Production in Ultradeep Water Under a Fast-Track Development by Marcelo Becher Rosa, Petrobras, et al.

SPE 191960 Early-Stage Detection of Scales in a Deepwater Field Offshore Ghana Through Remote Monitoring of Multiphase Meter by Mahdi Darab, OneSubsea, et al.
Study Explores Mechanisms of Surface Damage on Coiled Tubing
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: May 2019

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 194254, “Study on Mechanism of Coiled Tubing Surface Damage in Injector Heads,” by Zhihong Zhou, Guofeng Zhang, Fayong Yuan, Tang Wang, Yunwei Gao, and Weijia Wang, Jianghan Shale Gas Development Technical Service Company, prepared for the 2019 SPE/ICoTA Well Intervention Conference and Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 26–27 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Although several kinds of mechanical damage cause coiled tubing (CT) failure, longitudinal plowing marks (LPMs) account for a large portion of such damage. Understanding the mechanisms of LPM damage on CT surfaces will help reduce the occurrence of this type of damage. In this paper, the authors study the stress status of CT string held by gripper blocks, the axial force distribution of gripper blocks, and the longitudinal resonance of CT strings in vertical wells.

Introduction

The overwhelming majority (greater than 80%) of CT failures have been classified into four categories: corrosion, mechanical damage, string-manufacturing issues, and human error. Of these, failures caused by mechanical damage constitute almost 30% of all CT failures. Further study of these types of mechanical damage reached the following two important conclusions:

LPMs, which are injector-related, account for 46% of mechanical damage observed on CT strings from 2006 to 2017.

Recent periods that have seen dramatic increases in mechanical damage coincide with plug milling and higher-grade-CT operations.

The authors propose that the pressure in the CT string plays a role in mechanical damage.

Contact Status Between CT and Gripper Blocks

The gripper blocks carried by chains are used to hold CT strings in place. The gripper blocks are divided into single-pitch and two-pitch categories. The engagements between the CT string and the gripper blocks are sometimes suboptimal. The contact area between the gripper and CT string is only at the end-point of the arc, and the contact stress is much higher there than at the point at which the gripper blocks grip the original CT string. According to the von Mises yield criterion, if the von Mises stress is larger than the yield stress at any point, the material at that point will yield and plastic strain will be produced.

Distribution of Gripper-Block Lifting Forces in the Injector

Commonly, several pairs of gripper blocks engage the CT string to provide the friction forces needed for deployment and retrieval of the tubing into and out of the wellbore. How the axial loads of these pairs of gripper blocks are distributed is essential to safe operation and avoidance of CT damage.

To obtain the axial load distribution of all pairs of gripper blocks, a mechanical model is created by the authors and discussed in the complete paper.
A data review of airway management in patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer: A single-institution experiences
Authors: Zheng Gang , Feng Lei , Lewis Carol M
Published: May 2019

Background: Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer impose significant threat to airway management. Head and neck radiotherapy (HNRT) may further increase the difficulty of tracheal intubation. We hypothesized that a history of HNRT would be associated with a high rate of difficult tracheal intubation.
Methods: Adult patients with a history of HNRT were identified. Non-HNRT controls were case-matched by age, sex and body mass index. The tracheal intubation status between the two patient groups (treated vs. untreated with HNRT) was compared. The t test was used to evaluate differences in continuous variables between the 2 groups. Fisher’s exact test or a chi-square test was used to test for associations between radiation status and patient characteristics that may be associated with difficult tracheal intubation. Odds ratio and its confidence interval were used to assess the effect of radiation status on intubation status.
Results: The final cohort of 472 matched patients in age, sex and body mass index consisted of 236 patients who had HNRT before surgery and 236 who had upfront surgery without HNRT. The percentage of patients who had restricted neck range of motion in the HNRT group was significantly higher than in the control group (22.3% vs. 11.0%; P = 0.001). The proportion of patients with trismus (P = 0.11) or difficult tracheal intubation (p = 0.73) did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. 12.7% patients in the study had difficult tracheal intubation. Patients who had mallampati scores of 3 or 4 had significantly higher rate of difficult tracheal intubation than did patients with mallampati scores of 1 or 2 (17.8% vs. 8.7%; p = 0.004). Multivariate logistic regression model showed no difference between HNRT and intubation status after adjusting neck range of motion and mallampati score (OR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.510 to1.612)
Conclusions: Previous treatment with HNRT was not associated with additional risk of difficult tracheal intubation. Mallampati score may be a sensitive measurement for difficult tracheal intubation in this patient population.
Perioperative anaesthetic management of patients with or at risk of acute distress respiratory syndrome undergoing emergency surgery
Authors: Battaglini Denise , Robba Chiara , Rocco Patricia Rieken Macêdo , De Abreu Marcelo Gama , Pelosi Paolo , Ball Lorenzo
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACT
Patients undergoing emergency surgery may present with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or develop this syndrome postoperatively. The incidence of ARDS in the postoperative period is relatively low, but the impact of ARDS on patient outcomes and healthcare costs is relevant [1].
The development of ARDS as a postoperative pulmonary complication (PPC) is associated with prolonged hospitalisation, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, increased intensive care unit length of stay and high morbidity and mortality [2]. In order to mitigate the risk of ARDS after surgery, the anaesthetic management and protective mechanical ventilation strategies play an important role. In particular, a careful integration of general anaesthesia with neuraxial or locoregional techniques might promote faster recovery and reduce opioid consumption. In addition, the use of low tidal volume, minimising plateau pressure and titrating a low-moderate PEEP level based on the patient’s need can improve outcome and reduce intraoperative adverse events. Moreover, perioperative management of ARDS patients includes specific anaesthesia and ventilator settings, hemodynamic monitoring, moderately restrictive fluid administration and pain control.
The aim of this review is to provide an overview and evidence- and opinion-based recommendations concerning the management of patients at risk of and with ARDS who undergo emergency surgical procedures.
Assessing the clonal expansion strategy of landscape-forming plants
Authors: Reijers Valerie , Hoeks Selwyn
Published: May 2019

Vegetated coastal landscapes are often formed by clonally expanding plants. By developing rhizomes or stolons these plants can spread laterally and distribute themselves in space. In this protocol we describe a method for deriving the clonal expanding strategy of dune grasses from still images. First we will discuss a more labour intensive method that requires the excavation and reconstruction of a clonal network. Second, we will discuss a validated automated approach based on two connecting algorithms that allows for a less time-consuming expansion of a dataset.
Evaluating the Cerebrospinal Fluid ctDNA detection by Next-Generation Sequencing in the diagnosis of Meningeal Carcinomatosis
Authors: Zhao Yue , He Jun-Ying , Zou Yue-Li , Guo Xiao-Su , Cui Jun-Zhao , Guo Li , Bu Hui
Published: May 2019

Background

Meningeal carcinomatosis (MC) is the most severe form of brain metastasis and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, the diagnosis of MC is routinely confirmed on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms, positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology, and/or neuroimaging (contrast-enhanced brain MRI and/or CT) features. However, negative rate of CSF cytology and neuroimaging findings often result in a failure to diagnose MC from the patients who actually have the disease.

Methods

A total of 35 CSF samples were collected from 35 patients with MC for CSF cytology examination, CSF tumor-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) extraction and cancer-associated gene mutations detection by next-generation sequencing (NGS) at the same time.

Results

The most frequent primary tumor in this study was lung cancer (26/35, 74.29%), followed by gastric cancer (2/35, 5.71%), breast cancer (2/35, 5.71%), prostatic cancer (1/35, 2.86%), parotid gland carcinoma (1/35, 2.86%) and lymphoma (1/35, 2.86%) while no primary tumor could be found in the remaining 2 patients in spite of using various inspection methods. Twenty-five CSF samples (25/35; 71.43%) were found neoplastic cells in CSF cytology examination while all of the 35 CSF samples (35/35; 100%) were revealed having detectable ctDNA in which cancer-associated gene mutations were detected. All of 35 patients with MC in the study underwent contrast-enhanced brain MRI and/or CT and 22 neuroimaging features (22/35; 62.86%) were consistent with MC. The sensitivity of the neuroimaging was 88.00% (95% confidence intervals [95% CI], 75.26 to 100) (p=22/25) and 62.86% (95% CI, 46.85 to 78.87) (p=22/35) compared to those of CSF cytology and CSF ctDNA, respectively. The sensitivity of the CSF cytology was 71.43% (95% CI, 56.46 to 86.40) (n=25/35) compared to that of CSF ctDNA.

Conclusions

This study suggests a higher sensitivity of CSF ctDNA than those of CSF cytology and neuroimaging findings. The utilizing CSF ctDNA as liquid biopsy technology for the diagnosis of MC based on the detection of cancer-associated gene mutations in ctDNA from CSF offers an alternative and DNA-based test for the diagnosis of MC, especially for cases with persistently negative CSF cytology and/or negative neuroimaging findings.
Elevated Plasma Interleukin 34 Levels Correlate with Disease Severity-Reflecting Parameters of Patients with Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome
Authors: Tang Kang , Zhang Chunmei , Zhang Yusi , Zhang Yun , Du Hong , Jin Boquan , Ma Ying
Published: May 2019

Background: Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is characterised by an uncontrolled cytokine storm that causes vascular leakage and kidney injury. The cytokine interleukin 34 (IL-34) enhances proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which is involved in the pathogenesis of some inflammatory and infectious diseases. However, to date, the role of IL-34 in patients with HFRS is unclear. This study aims to detect the plasma IL-34 levels of HFRS patients and discuss the possible effects of IL-34 in the pathogenesis of HFRS.
Methods: IL-34 levels in the plasmas from 52 HFRS patients and 20 healthy controls were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Compared with healthy controls, the plasma IL-34 levels in HFRS patients were significantly elevated at acute phase [37.92 (10.58-73.86) pg/ml vs. 7.13 (3.99-11.31) pg/ml, p < 0.0001], and then decreased to the normal levels at convalescent phase. Importantly, IL-34 levels positively correlated with white blood cell count and monocyte count (r = 0.503, p < 0.0001 and r = 0.367, p = 0.0003, respectively), and negatively correlated with platelet count and serum albumin levels (r = -0.614, p < 0.0001 and r = -0.598, p = 0.0003, respectively).
Conclusions: IL-34 levels in plasma of HFRS patients were significantly elevated at acute phase and correlated with disease severity-reflecting parameters, which suggests a potential role of IL-34 in the pathogenesis of HFRS and should be future explore.
Comparison of GeneXpert and Line Probe Assay for Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Rifampicin-Mono resistance at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Kenya
Authors: Aricha S.A. , King'wara Leonard , Mwirigi N.W. , Chaba Linda , Kiptai T. , Wahogo J. , Otwabe J.S , Onyango P.O. , Karanja Muthoni , Ayieko C. , Matu S.W.
Published: May 2019

Introduction

The dual challenge of low diagnostic sensitivity of microscopy test and technical challenge of performing a TB culture test poses a problem for case detection and initiation of Tuberculosis (TB) second-line treatment. There is thus need for a rapid, reliable and easily accessible assay. This comparative analysis was performed to assess diagnostic performance characteristics of GeneXpert MTB/RIF and Line Probe Assay (LPA)

Methods

329 sputum samples of patients across the 47 counties in Kenya suspected to have drug resistant TB were picked and subjected to GeneXpert, LPA and Culture MGIT at the National TB Reference Laboratory. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were then determined to assess the performance characteristics of various assays.

Results

GeneXpert had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 78.5%, 64.9%, 59.4% and 82.2% respectively while LPA had 98.4%, 66.0%, 65.4% and 98.4%. For diagnosis of rifampicin mono-resistance GeneXpert had a moderate agreement (Kappa=0.59, P<0.01) (sensitivity= 62.50%, specificity = 96.50%) while LPA that had almost perfect agreement (Kappa= 0.89, p<0.01) with a (sensitivity= 90.0% and specificity= 99.1%).

Conclusion

LPA has a better performance characteristic to GeneXpert and an alternative to culture with regards to detection of RIF’s mono-resistance.