bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decreasing mortality and changes in treatment patterns in patients with acromegaly from a nationwide study
Authors: Esposito Daniela , Ragnarsson Oskar , Granfeldt Daniel , Marlow Tom , Johannsson Gudmundur , Olsson Daniel S 
Published: February 2018

Context
New therapeutic strategies have developed for the management of acromegaly over recent decades. Whether this has improved mortality has not been fully elucidated.

Objective
The primary aim was to investigate mortality in a nationwide unselected cohort of patients with acromegaly. Secondary analyses included time trends in mortality and treatment patterns.

Design
A total of 1089 patients with acromegaly were identified in Swedish National Health Registries between 1987 and 2013. To analyse time trends, the cohort was divided into three periods (1987–1995, 1996–2004 and 2005–2013) based on the year of diagnosis.

Main outcome measures
Using the Swedish population as reference, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results
Overall SMR was 2.79 (95% CI: 2.43–3.15) with 232 observed and 83 expected deaths. Mortality was mainly related to circulatory diseases (SMR: 2.95, 95% CI: 2.35–3.55), including ischemic heart disease (2.00, 1.35–2.66) and cerebrovascular disease (3.99, 2.42–5.55) and malignancy (1.76, 1.27–2.26). Mortality decreased over time, with an SMR of 3.45 (2.87–4.02) and 1.86 (1.04–2.67) during the first and last time period, respectively (P = .015). During the same time periods, the frequency of pituitary surgery increased from 58% to 72% (P < 0.001) and the prevalence of hypopituitarism decreased from 41% to 23% (P < 0.001).

Conclusions
Excess mortality was found in this nationwide cohort of patients with acromegaly, mainly related to circulatory and malignant diseases. Although still high, mortality significantly declined over time. This could be explained by the more frequent use of pituitary surgery, decreased prevalence of hypopituitarism and the availability of new medical treatment options.
Female Meiosis: Synapsis, Recombination, and Segregation in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Hughes Stacie E , Miller Danny E , Miller Angela L , Hawley R Scott 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
A century of genetic studies of the meiotic process in Drosophila melanogaster females has been greatly augmented by both modern molecular biology and major advances in cytology. These approaches, and the findings they have allowed, are the subject of this review. Specifically, these efforts have revealed that meiotic pairing in Drosophila females is not an extension of somatic pairing, but rather occurs by a poorly understood process during premeiotic mitoses. This process of meiotic pairing requires the function of several components of the synaptonemal complex (SC). When fully assembled, the SC also plays a critical role in maintaining homolog synapsis and in facilitating the maturation of double-strand breaks (DSBs) into mature crossover (CO) events. Considerable progress has been made in elucidating not only the structure, function, and assembly of the SC, but also the proteins that facilitate the formation and repair of DSBs into both COs and noncrossovers (NCOs). The events that control the decision to mature a DSB as either a CO or an NCO, as well as determining which of the two CO pathways (class I or class II) might be employed, are also being characterized by genetic and genomic approaches. These advances allow a reconsideration of meiotic phenomena such as interference and the centromere effect, which were previously described only by genetic studies. In delineating the mechanisms by which the oocyte controls the number and position of COs, it becomes possible to understand the role of CO position in ensuring the proper orientation of homologs on the first meiotic spindle. Studies of bivalent orientation have occurred in the context of numerous investigations into the assembly, structure, and function of the first meiotic spindle. Additionally, studies have examined the mechanisms ensuring the segregation of chromosomes that have failed to undergo crossing over.
Comparación de sensibilidad y especificidad de dos técnicas de diagnóstico directo: Kato–Katz-Saf y Ritchie–Frick (formol-gasolina) en examen coproparasitológico para la identificación de estadios infectivos de geohelmintos en población infantil en edad preescolar y escolar
Authors: Giraldo Forero Julio César , Guatibonza Carreño Andrea Milena 
Published: February 2018

Introducción: Las parasitosis intestinales causadas por geohelmintos son consideradas un problema de salud pública que afectan principalmente a países en vía de desarrollo y son proclives a presentarse en población infantil. Los métodos diagnósticos para identificar estas entidades parasitarias son el coprológico directo y las técnicas de concentración. El método establecido por la Organización Mundial de la Salud-OMS para identificar y cuantificar geohelmintiasis es el Kato-Katz; sin embargo, este no permite realizarse en trabajos de campo con periodos de tiempo prolongados, debido a que su análisis debe llevarse a cabo en las primeras 48 horas de toma de la muestra de materia fecal.Objetivo: Implementar el uso del fijador SAF (Acetato de sodio – Ácido acético – Formaldehído) en la técnica de Kato-Katz-OMS y evaluar la estabilidad de las estructuras de las entidades parasitarias, después de un periodo de doce meses de toma muestra y realizar comparación con la técnica de concentración Ritchie-Frick modificada (formol-gasolina), para determinar los valores de sensibilidad-S, especificidad-E, valor predictivo positivo-VPP y negativo-VPN y determinar la prevalencia del parasitismo intestinal y sus posibles variables asociadas en la comunidad infantil en edad preescolar y escolar del municipio de Chaguaní Cundinamarca. Materiales y Métodos: Se analizaron 67 muestras correspondientes a toda la población infantil en edad preescolar y escolar del área urbana del municipio de Chaguaní Cundinamarca, las cuales fueron valoradas por los métodos de Kato-Katz-SAF y concentración de Ritchie-Frick modificada (formol-gasolina) y posterior análisis microscópico.Resultados: La prevalencia de geohelmintiasis fue de 46,3%, la técnica de Kato-Katz-SAF presentó valores de S, E, VPP y VPN del 100% y la técnica de concentración de Ritchie-Frick modificada (formol-gasolina) S 60,8%, E y VPP 100% respectivamente y VPN 62,1%; la prevalencia para protozoos por este método fue de 65,7% hallándose agentes etiológicos patógenos y de carácter zoonótico. Se identificó que las variables onicofagia, consumo de agua sin proceso de cloración o hervido, presencia de vectores mecánicos, convivencia con animales domésticos como caninos, hacinamiento en la vivienda y uso poco frecuente de calzado, son variables de posible asociación estadística con la presencia de entidades parasitarias. Se determinó nivel de parasitemia por geohelmintiasis leve para esta población.Conclusión: El estudio reveló que el uso del reactivo de SAF puede implementarse en trabajos de campo prolongados conservando los estadios infectivos de las entidades geohelmínticas como: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura y Uncinarias por un periodo de hasta doce meses.
Material Balance Forecast of Huff-and-Puff Gas Injection in Multiporosity Shale Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Orozco Daniel , Aguilera Roberto , Selvan Karthik 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Primary oil recovery from shales is very low, rarely exceeding 10% of original oil in place (OOIP). The low recovery has aroused a recent and growing interest in the petroleum industry for using Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) methods in shales. This paper presents a new semi-analytical material balance equation (MBE) to forecast the performance of shale oil reservoirs under natural depletion and huff-and-puff gas injection scenarios.
For undersaturated reservoirs, recovery is calculated from the proposed MBE explicitly using a multiporosity effective oil compressibility. For saturated reservoirs, the MBE is solved at each pressure step using a finite differences scheme. For huff-and-puff gas injection, the average reservoir pressure p is calculated after injecting a certain gas volume during the huff period. At each huff-and-puff cycle, the remaining OOIP is considered, and the injected gas volume (which is known) is written in terms of the p following injection (which is unknown). Adding the gas injection term to the MBE generates a nonlinear equation for p, which is solved using a numerical method.
Results indicate that oil recovery from shales can be increased significantly by huff-and-puff gas injection. A case study from the Eagle Ford shale in the United States is used to demonstrate these results, which are presented in tabular form as well as crossplots of oil rates, cumulative oil production, gas-oil ratio and average reservoir pressure vs. time. An important feature of the proposed MBE is the inclusion of hydraulic fractures, as well as inorganic, organic and natural fracture porosities. These porosities are included in a history-matching presented in detail for a well undergoing huff-and-puff gas injection.
The novelty of this work resides on the introduction of a new MBE that considers multiple porosities and enables quick evaluations of primary recovery and huff-and-puff gas injection scenarios in shale oil reservoirs. The new MBE results compare favorably against real data of the Eagle Ford shale. The good comparison allows making reasonable projections of future oil rates and cumulative oil recoveries by huff-and-puff gas injection.
Investigation of Gas Penetration Depth During Gas Huff-N-Puff EOR Process in Unconventional Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Li Lei , Su Yuliang , Sheng James J. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
In recent years, gas huff-n-puff has proven to be a potential EOR method in unconventional reservoirs. The main mechanism is that the injected gas will penetrate the reservoir matrix and diffuse into the oil phase to extract oil. Gas penetration into the reservoir and oil phase is fundamentally important to enhance oil recovery. However, the investigation of gas penetration depth during the huff-n-puff process has been overlooked. The purpose of this study is to improve understanding of the mechanism during gas huff-n-puff process and to investigate the gas penetration depth during the huff period.
In this paper, methane and Wolfcamp cores saturated with Wolfcamp oil were used to conduct huff-n-puff experiments. Then lab scale numerical simulation model was built and validated with the experimental data. The model was employed to quantitatively describe the gas penetration process and measure the penetration depth in the core during the huff period. Diffusion effect was also investigated. As our previous study states that the core size will affect the oil recovery, a history matched field scale model was applied to evaluate the field production performance. The effects of different parameters on gas penetration depth were investigated including reservoir properties such as permeability, natural fracture spacing, and operation properties such as huff-n-puff start time, number of huff-n-puff cycles, injection pressure, and huff and puff time.
The experimental results show that after eight huff-n-puff cycles, the oil recovery of the core is around 48.57%. During one huff-n-puff cycle, gas penetrated fast during the injection time and slowly during the soaking time, which illustrates that longer soaking time is not necessary. With diffusion, injected gas will penetrate deeper area during huff period. For the field scale study, most gas is penetrated to the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). For the reservoir with the hydraulic fracture spacing of 600ft, the CO2 penetration depth is about 105.6 ft at 100 days’ huff time in the first huff-n-puff cycle, covering about 36% of the SRV region. In the gas penetrated region, the oil viscosity decreases by 30% to 70%, and the average injected CO2 mole fraction in oil phase reaches about 40%. A sensitivity study result shows that the most important parameter that can affect penetration depth is natural fracture spacing, followed by injection pressure, gas diffusion rate in oil phase, huff-n-puff time, huff-n-puff start time, and reservoir permeability. Gas diffusion rate in gas phase has little effect on penetration depth.
Horizontal Well Productivity Enhancement through Drawdown Management Approach in Vaca Muerta Shale
Authors: Rojas Daniela , Lerza Alejandro 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Drawdown management optimization in overpressured formations is recognized as challenging by reservoir engineers. Well flowback operational procedures can vary widely and have an impact not only in the first months of production but on the long term performance as well. In this study, the results of choke management in more than a hundred horizontal wells in Loma Campana block, located in Vaca Muerta Shale Oil window, will be evaluated to investigate the potential impact on estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) and net present value (NPV).
Using different flowback strategies, production data of wells in the same interval within Vaca Muerta Fm. have been analyzed using diagnostic plots commonly applied in unconventional reservoirs to identify early flow regimes. The evolution of stress over hydraulic fractures have been evaluated as well, which may contribute to a permanent conductivity loss due to hysteresis effects. Several forecasts have been created using Rate Transient Analysis (RTA) to quantify EUR loss due to aggressive choke management and to establish a relationship between drawdown and productivity degradation.
The study found out that an aggressive choke management may cause a reduction in EUR of up to 20%. This can be attributed to a loss in fracture conductivity as a result of geomechanical-related factors. Therefore, an aggressive drawdown management is prone to minimize value, but understanding the tradeoff between the financial benefit due to production acceleration versus loss in reserves (as a result of fracture degradation) is the key issue that will be investigated in this paper. Furthermore, the proposed methodology used to integrate production performance analysis with the economic evaluation has allowed defining an optimum drawdown management for Vaca Muerta wells. Therefore, a standard procedure based on best practices is proposed for managing new wells put on production.
As summary, this work provides evidence of production dependence on drawdown based on empirical data of horizontal wells in Loma Campana Oilfield. Complementing the study with RTA analysis has allowed quantifying the loss in EUR, estimating the effect of fracture degradation and verifying the economic impact. Finally, a workflow is proposed to accomplish optimum pressure decline with the right choke selection over time to optimize well performance.
RAS in the Central Nervous System: Potential Role in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Authors: Rocha Natalia Pessoa , Simoes e Silva Ana Cristina , Prestes Thiago Ruiz Rodrigues , Feracin Victor , Machado Caroline Amaral , Ferreira Rodrigo Novaes , Teixeira Antonio Lucio , de Miranda Aline Silva 
Published: February 2018

Background:
The Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) is a key regulator of cardiovascular and
renal homeostasis, but also plays important roles in mediating physiological functions in the central nervous
system (CNS). The effects of the RAS were classically described as mediated by angiotensin (Ang) II
via angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptors. However, another arm of the RAS formed by the angiotensin converting
enzyme 2 (ACE2), Ang-(1-7) and the Mas receptor has been a matter of investigation due to its
important physiological roles, usually counterbalancing the classical effects exerted by Ang II.

Objective:
We aim to provide an overview of effects elicited by the RAS, especially Ang-(1-7), in the
brain. We also aim to discuss the therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric disorders for the modulation of
RAS.

Method:
We carried out an extensive literature search in PubMed central.

Results:
Within the brain, Ang-(1-7) contributes to the regulation of blood pressure by acting at regions
that control cardiovascular functions. In contrast with Ang II, Ang-(1-7) improves baroreflex sensitivity
and plays an inhibitory role in hypothalamic noradrenergic neurotransmission. Ang-(1-7) not only exerts
effects related to blood pressure regulation, but also acts as a neuroprotective component of the RAS, for
instance, by reducing cerebral infarct size, inflammation, oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis.

Conclusion:
Pre-clinical evidence supports a relevant role for ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis in several
neuropsychiatric conditions, including stress-related and mood disorders, cerebrovascular ischemic
and hemorrhagic lesions and neurodegenerative diseases. However, very few data are available regarding
the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis in human CNS.
Crise da escola ou na escola? Uma análise da crise de sentido dos sistemas públicos de escolarização obrigatória
Authors: Barroso Geraldo 
Published: February 2018

Este estudo coloca em discussão os significados que são atribuídos à crise da escola pública de frequência obrigatória na literatura educacional crítica produzida desde fins do século XX no Brasil e em Portugal. Elenca as expectativas otimistas que impulsionaram — após a Segunda Guerra Mundial — a massificação da instituição escolar, fazendo um confronto com os impasses com que os sistemas públicos de ensino se defrontam, neste início do século XXI, diante das promessas não cumpridas da modernidade. Aborda, ainda, o impacto das transformações de economias e culturas globalizadas, de sociedades multiculturais, de informatização acelerada e de Estados-Nação esvaziados de suas funções históricas para a configuração dessa crise e os diferentes dispositivos que têm sido elaborados, no Brasil e em Portugal, destinados a superá-la. Palavras-chave: Ensino público; Fracasso escolar; História da educação; Escola pública
A influência das teorias cognitivas na investigação em Tecnologia Educativa. Pressupostos teóricos e metodológicos, expectativas e resultados
Authors: Coutinho Clara Pereira 
Published: February 2018

Neste artigo sistematiza-se um importante corpo de investigação desenvolvido em torno do potencial educativo das tecnologias da informação e comunicação, num período temporal que abarcou mais de duas décadas, e em que o denominador comum foi o facto da pesquisa realizada ter sido norteada pelos referenciais teóricos das Teorias Cognitivas. Nesse sentido, começaremos por apresentar os pressupostos teóricos do cognitivismo, equacionando em que medida sustentaram formas alternativas de encarar o papel dos "meios tecnológicos" na aprendizagem. Numa segunda fase, serão apresentados os resultados da pesquisa desenvolvida no domínio da Tecnologia Educativa (TE) no período em que o cognitivismo dominou o pensamento e a praxis da investigação educativa. A análise incidirá nas problemáticas de investigação, nos quadros conceptuais e metodológicos dos estudos realizados e terminará debatendo de que forma os resultados obtidos foram (ou não) de encontro às enormes expectativas criadas. Na medida em que não é fácil definir, de forma unívoca, o que se entende por Teoria Cognitiva, nem precisar o momento em que os seus pressupostos conceptuais começaram a influenciar a pesquisa em TE, ou sequer precisar o momento em que esses mesmos referenciais teóricos deram espaço a que o novo marco conceptual, o Construtivismo, passasse a dominar o pensamento e a prática da investigação na área, estamos conscientes das limitações que esta síntese necessariamente acarreta. Esperamos, ainda assim, contribuir para caracterizar um período importante na história da TE e, desta forma, consolidar o seu espaço dentro das Ciências da Educação. Palavras-chave: Tecnologia Educativa; Investigação; Teoria cognitiva
Reflexões sobre o não-escolar na escola e para além dela
Authors: Palhares José Augusto 
Published: February 2018

Admitindo-se que a escola pública está em transformação, particularmente no que respeita à (re)definição das suas funções sociais e à sua expressão na estruturação do quotidiano das crianças e dos jovens, partimos para esta reflexão alimentados pela convicção de que é possível compreendê-la pela deambulação crítica entre as suas fronteiras e ao mesmo tempo estabelecer pistas de análise sobre as relações que esta instituição estabelece com outras instâncias educativas. A implementação de medidas políticas como a "escola a tempo inteiro" surge neste texto como a alavanca reflexiva para se pensar as possibilidades educativas que se esboçam entre o escolar e o não-escolar, tanto nos espaços e tempos escolares como para além deles. Não deixaremos também de problematizar a crescente centralidade da cultura escolar na construção e na definição de percursos, estratégias e experiências de educação (não-formais e informais) nos distintos quadros de vida dos alunos. Palavras-chave: Educação escolar e educação não-escolar (não-formal e informal); Percursos educativos; Escola a tempo inteiro; Periferias educativas
Desenvolvimento, educação e direitos humanos
Authors: Lúcio Álvaro Laborinho 
Published: February 2018

Este artigo analisará, ainda que genericamente, o sentido e o valor do desenvolvimento e dos direitos humanos no contexto global atual. Aqui se discutirá o lugar do sujeito, a sua autonomia enquanto pessoa, a sua condição de cidadão e o seu papel nas democracias modernas. Adiantar-se-á, como hipótese, que, na relação ensino-aprendizagem, importará prosseguir um triplo objetivo, centrado no saber pensar, no saber escolher e no saber fazer. Noutro plano, cumpre olhar o conjunto dos temas em diálogo sem esquecer a questão da exclusão social, entendida aqui como negativo dos direitos humanos e do desenvolvimento. Concluir-se-á que a existência dos direitos humanos reclama um compromisso ético, integrando a busca da igualdade, isto é, do reconhecimento do outro, e do ‘outro do outro’, na sua autonomia e diversidade, como sujeitos de direito e de direitos. Daí a necessidade deeducar para os direitos, que significa educar para os direitos do outro. Para os direitos enquanto instrumento de convivência entre sujeitos livres e também para a consciência do valor dos direitos coletivos. Palavras-chaveDireitos Humanos; Educação; Desenvolvimento; Democracia
Currículo e práticas pedagógicas — Uma análise sociológica de textos e contextos da educação em ciências
Authors: Alves Vanda , Morais Ana Maria 
Published: February 2018

O estudo analisa em que medida a mensagem sociológica transmitida pela prática pedagógica de professores de Ciências Naturais representa uma recontextualização do Discurso Pedagógico Oficial veiculado no currículo de Ciências Naturais do 3º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Teoricamente, a investigação baseia-se em teorias das áreas da psicologia, da epistemolo-gia e da sociologia, destacando-se a teoria do discurso pedagógico de Bernstein. No estudo usa-se uma metodologia mista. Os resultados sugerem a existência de processos de transformação da mensagem dentro do Ministério da Educação, quando se passa dos princípios gerais do currículo para os princípios específicos do mesmo, no sentido do decréscimo da qualidade da educação científica. Discutem-se os resultados da análise do currículo quanto a características particulares estudadas: conhecimentos metacientíficos, competências e conhecimentos científicos, intradisciplinaridade e critérios de avaliação. Os resultados também mostram a ocorrência de uma diminuição da qualidade do processo de ensino-aprendizagem quando se passa do currículo para as práticas pedagógicas, evidente naausência, pelas professoras, da posse de regras de reconhecimento e realização passiva e ativa para a maioria das características em estudo. Estes processos de transformação da mensagem são discutidos e exploram-se as suas consequências em termos de aprendizagem científica. Palavras-chaveEducação científica; Currículo; Prática pedagógica; Recontextualização