bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF RHAMNAZIN ON LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-INDUCED ACUTE LUNG INJURY AND INFLAMMATION IN RATS
Authors: Wu GuoRong , Dai XiaoPing , Li XiangRong , Jiang HePing 
Published: June 2017

Background: Acute Lung Injury (ALI) results into severe inflammation and oxidative stress to the pulmonary tissue. Rhamnazin is a natural flavonoid and known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Materials and methods: The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties rhamnazin were tested for protection against the acute lung injury. We investigated whether rhamnazin improves the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in an animal model (rat). We also studied the probable molecular mechanism of action of rhamnazin. Rhamnazin was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) two days before intratracheal LPS challenge (5mg/kg). The changes in lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, LDH activity, pulmonary histopathology, BALF protein concentration, MPO activity, oxidative stress, cytokine production were estimated.
Results: The results showed a significant attenuation of all the inflammatory parameters and a marked improvement in the pulmonary histopathology in the animal groups pretreated with rhamnazin. The rhamnazin pretreated group also showed activation of Nrf2 pathway and attenuation of ROS such as H2O2, MDA and hydroxyl ion. These results indicated that rhamnazin could attenuate the symptoms of ALI in rats due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Conclusion: The results strongly demonstrated that rhamnazin provides protection against LPS-induced ALI. The underlying mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory action may include inhibition of Nrf2 mediated antioxidative pathway.
ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF 5, 7-DIMETHOXYFLAVONE AGAINST LIVER CANCER CELL LINE HEPG2 INVOLVES APOPTOSIS, ROS GENERATION AND CELL CYCLE ARREST
Authors: Li Hengping , Zhang Xiaolei , Wang Weixing 
Published: June 2017

Background: Flavonoids are considered potential anticancer agents owing to their properties to interact with a diversity of cellular entities. Among flavonoids, methylated flavones are more efficient anticancer agents due to their higher stability in vivo. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to evaluate the anticancer effect of methylated natural flavonoid 5, 7-dimethoxyflavone (5, 7-DMF)
Materials and methods: MTT assay was used to determine the anticancer activity and IC50 of
5, -DMF). Cell viability, cell cycle distribution, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were carried out by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was studied by DAPI staining.
Results: MTT assay revealed that the molecule reduced the cell viability of HepG2 cancer cells. The IC50 of 5, 7-DMF was found to be 25 µM. Our result indicated that 5, 7-DMF triggered production of ROS and significantly reduced ΔΨm. It also leads to arrest of HepG2 cells in Sub-G1 stage of cell cycle, and ultimately induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, as indicated by DAPI staging. Additionally, 5, 7-DMF also reduced the colony forming potential of the HepG2 cells concentration dependently.
Conclusion: Taken together, we conclude that 5, 7-DMF induces cell death via ROS generation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and, therefore, may prove beneficial in the treatment of liver cancer.
MODULATION OF KEY BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS RELEVANT TO STROKE BY ANTIARIS AFRICANA LEAF EXTRACT FOLLOWING CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION INJURY
Authors: Ilesanmi Omotayo B. , Akinmoladun Afolabi C. , Olayeriju Olanrewaju Sam , Saliu Ibrahim Olabayode , Olaleye M. Tolulope , Akindahunsi Afolabi A. 
Published: June 2017

Background: Oxidative stress plays a significant role in stroke pathogenesis. Hence, plants rich in antioxidant
phytochemicals have been suggested as effective remedies for prevention and treatment of stroke and other neurological
diseases. Antiaris africana Engl. (Moraceae) is traditionally used for the management of brain-related problems but there is
paucity of data on its anti-stroke potential.
Materials and Methods: Ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by a 30 min bilateral common carotid artery occlusion/
2 h reperfusion (BCCAO/R) in the brain of male Wistar rats. A sham-operated group which was not subjected to
BCCAO/R and a group subjected to BCCAO/R without treatment with MEA served as controls. The ameliorative effect of
14 days of pretreatment with 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg A. africana methanol leaf extract (MEA) on BCCAO/R-mediated
alterations to key markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, xanthine oxidase, superoxide
dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and neurochemical disturbances and excitotoxicity (myeloperoxidase,
glutamine synthetase, Na+/K+ ATPase, acetylcholinesterase and tyrosine hydroxylase), was evaluated and compared with
the effect produced by treatment with 20 mg/kg quercetin as a reference standard.
Results: Results show that pretreatment with MEA significantly mitigated or reversed BCCAO/R-induced changes in the
level or activity of the evaluated biochemical markers of oxidative stress, neurochemical dysfunction and excitotoxicity
compared with the BCCAO/R untreated control group (p < 0.05). The effect produced by 100 mg/kg MEA was similar to
that of the reference standard, quercetin.
Conclusion: These results revealed the neuroprotective potential of A. africana in stroke and other ischemia-related
pathologies.
Key words: brain ischemia;
REDUCTION OF INTRA-ARTICULAR ADHESION BY TOPICAL APPLICATION OF DAIDZEIN FOLLOWING KNEE SURGERY IN RABBITS
Authors: Liu Xiangchun , Jia Heng , Xia Hongsheng 
Published: June 2017

Background: Intra-articular adhesion is the commonest complication that is faced by orthopedic surgeons after knee
surgery. Thus, the present investigation evaluates the effect of daidzein on intra-articular adhesion in rabbits.
Material and methods: All the rabbits were separated in to four different groups each group carries ten rabbits. Cancellous
bone was exposed in each rabbit by removing cortical bone from both side of the femoral condyle. Following daidzein (2.5,
5 and 10 mg/ml) was topically applied for the duration of 10 min to the decorticated areas. Thereafter for the period of 4
week surgical limb was fixed. Effect of daidzein on intra articular adhesion was estimated by visual score through
macroscopic examination, histopathology study, hydroxyproline content, fibroblast and collage density.
Results: Data obtained in the study suggest that topical application of daidzein (5 and 10 mg/ml) loose the collagen and
significantly decreases the adhesion at the decorticated areas. Moreover there were significant reduction in the fibroblast
density, hydroxyproline content and optical density of collagen tissue in daidzein (5 and 10 mg/ml) treated group than
control.
Conclusion: Thus present study concludes that topical application of daidzein reduces intra-articular adhesion around the
knee.
CHINESE HERBAL DECOCTION AS A COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY FOR ATROPHIC GASTRITIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Fang Wen-jie , Zhang Xin-ying , Yang Bo , Shu-jing Su , Chen Min , Wei-hua Pan , Wan-qing Liao , Zhong Ming , Wang Qing-cai 
Published: June 2017

Background: Chinese herbal decoction (CHD) has been extensively used in the treatment of atrophic gastritis (AG) in China and other Far Eastern countries. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy and safety of CHD in AG.
Materials and Methods: Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane central register of controlled trials (central), VIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Sinomed, Wanfang data were searched (up to December 2015). Randomized controlled trials recruiting patients with AG comparing CHD (alone or with western medicine (WM)) with WM were eligible. Dichotomous data were pooled to obtain relative risk (RR), with a 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results: Forty-two articles including 3,874 patients were identified. CHD, used alone or with WM, had beneficial effect over WM in the improvement of clinical manifestations (RR=1.28; 95% CI 1.22-1.34) and pathological change (RR=1.42; 95% CI 1.30-1.54) for AG patients. However, the H. pylori eradication effect of CHD was not supported by the existing clinical evidence, because of the significant study heterogeneity (I2>50%) and inconsistency between the primary results and sensitivity analysis.
Conclusions: CHD, if prescribed as a complementary therapy to WM, may improve the clinical manifestations and pathological change for AG patients. But its monotherapy for H. pylori eradication is not supported by enough clinical evidence.
KINETICS OF MODULATORY ROLE OF Cyperus esculentus L. ON THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITY OF KEY CARBOHYDRATE METABOLIZING ENZYMES
Authors: Sabiu Saheed , Ajani Emmanuel Oladipo , Sunmonu Taofik Olatunde , Ashafa Anofi Omotayo Tom 
Published: June 2017

Background: The continuous search for new lead compounds as viable inhibitors of specific enzymes linked to carbohydrate metabolism has intensified. Cyperus esculentus L. is one of the therapeutically implicated botanicals against several degenerative diseases including diabetes mellitus.
Materials and Methods: This study evaluated the antioxidant and mechanism(s) of inhibitory potential of aqueous extract of C. esculentus on α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. The extract was investigated for its radical scavenging and hypoglycaemic potentials using standard experimental procedures. Lineweaver-Burke plot was used to predict the manner in which the enzymes were inhibited.
Results: The data obtained revealed that the extract moderately and potently inhibited the specific activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. The inhibition was concentration-related with respective IC50 values of 5.19 and 0.78 mg/mL relative to that of the control (3.72 and 3.55 mg/mL). The extract also significantly scavenged free radicals and the effects elicited could be ascribed to its phytoconstituents.
Conclusion: The respective competitive and non-competitive mode of action of the extract is due to its inhibitory potentials on the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Going forward, in addition to completely characterize the exact compound(s) responsible for the elicited activity in this study, pertinent attention will be given to the in vivo evaluation of the identified constituents.
Conocimiento sobre el consumo de agua simple en adultos de nivel socioeconómico bajo de la ciudad de Cuernavaca, México
Authors: Espinosa-Montero Juan , Aguilar-Tamayo Manuel Francisco , Monterrubio-Flores Eric Alejandro 
Published: June 2017

Objetivo. Describir los conocimientos cotidianos acerca del consumo de agua simple en adultos “pequeños bebedores” y “grandes bebedores” de agua simple. Material y métodos. Estudio cualitativo realizado entre abril y agosto de 2010 en México. Se conformaron ocho grupos focales con informantes clave adultos de nivel socioeconómico bajo; la mitad de los grupos se conformaron con hombres y la mitad con mujeres. El análisis de datos fue realizado mediante: a) codificación y categorización de acuerdo con literatura revisada acerca de hidratación, y b) mapeo conceptual, reconociendo proposiciones y afirmaciones hechas por los participantes. Resultados. Pequeños y grandes bebedores tienen conocimientos cotidianos similares sobre el agua simple; utilizan los mismos ejes epistemológicos para explicar la ingesta de agua simple en función de lo que “el cuerpo necesite”. Ambos grupos tienen la noción de que el agua simple y el refresco “pueden ser dañinos” si se beben en exceso. Conclusiones. El conocimiento cotidiano sobre el agua se relaciona con el refresco, bebida que sirve para comparación y como sustituto. Los conceptos sobre el agua y el refresco se construyen con base en la experiencia personal y en las nociones sobre el efecto de ambos en el cuerpo y en la mente. Estas representaciones se utilizan para valorar la ingesta de líquidos y pueden constituirse como barreras para el consumo de agua simple.
Guest Editorial: Are You Ready for the Oilfield Recovery?
Authors: Gawick Don 
Published: June 2017

Guest editorial
Through the past 2-plus years, the petroleum industry has experienced its deepest downturn since the late 1980s. It feels like, in the words of baseball legend Yogi Berra, “It’s déja vu all over again.” Like other market cycle downturns, a dramatic drop in the price of oil leading to sharp cuts in investment in exploration and production has affected the entire industry and the people who work in it. Also, as in past downturns, company after company laid off high percentages of their employees across the board and, in many cases, also enacted hiring freezes.
Since the steep drop in oil prices, an estimated 250,000 workers directly involved in the petroleum industry have lost their jobs. From field personnel to executives, the toll has been high. Many of these laid off workers have moved on to find employment in other industries, often with more comfortable and predictable working conditions than is the norm in the oil field. It will be difficult for our industry to attract a large percentage of these workers to return. Add to this scenario “the great crew change” created by the retirement of many senior level people who joined the industry in the boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and it is conceivable that the industry may be headed for an all-time low in the availability of qualified personnel. Midcareer professionals are in short supply, and few qualified candidates are left to replace the retiring senior management. For the industry, this loss of expertise will be difficult to replace when the next boom comes. At the same time, enrollment in petroleum engineering degree programs across the US is falling, making the talent shortage even more acute.
After Bust Comes Recovery
If history is any guide, after every oil bust comes a recovery. Currently, there is rising confidence in the industry that crude oil could strengthen and stabilize at higher levels later this year. While the recovery has been slow, the industry is seeing encouraging signs that the rebound has begun. Two indicators are the increase in oil and natural gas drilling and production activity in Oklahoma and in the Permian Basin of west Texas and southeast New Mexico. With activity picking up, the US oil industry will need to hire tens of thousands of new workers as oil prices recover and drillers stand up rigs.
New Automated Hydraulic Fracturing Tech Cuts Time and Workforce Needs
Authors: Jacobs Trent 
Published: June 2017

Introduced earlier this year by Schlumberger, a trio of hydraulic fracturing systems represents one of the latest steps toward a more automated oil field.
This new hardware is already working in the North American unconventional sector where the world’s largest service company says the growing intensity of horizontal well programs demands that the next wave of fracturing technology come loaded to bear with sensors and real-time data streaming capabilities.
Dubbed an “automated stimulation delivery system,” its three main pieces are a vertical silo system for sand or proppant management, a process trailer for blending and hydration, and a missile manifold that channels pressurized fracturing fluids into the wellhead. Prototypes of each system spent a year in the field before entering commercial service, and during that time, helped send almost a billion pounds of sand down horizontal wells.
This new product line will form part of the recently announced joint venture between Schlumberger and Weatherford that combines their fracturing fleets. And notably, it rolls out just months ahead of the expected launch date of Schlumberger’s first automated land drilling rig.
The large extent to which automation technologies will assist in the operation of these advanced assets means oil and gas producers using them will need fewer people and less time to drill and complete their wells.
By the company’s calculation, the automated features of the missile manifold trim up to 15 minutes from the job times of each fracturing stage. That may not sound like precious time, but because today’s horizontal wells average more than two dozen stages each, the company reports that those minutes could add up to 2 days a month.
Terence Goettsch, an equipment portfolio manager of well services at Schlumberger, explained that such gains exemplify what the company was aiming for when it launched an effort 4 years ago to identify inefficiencies in its field operations.
That work involved examining “every single minute or second that’s spent on location, and understanding why we’re not being productive at any point in time,” he said. “What we found out was that the vast majority of issues that we started seeing in 2012 and 2013 were centered around the backside of the equipment.”
India Asks Big Oil Companies “Where Do You Want To Drill?”
Authors: Rassenfoss Stephen 
Published: June 2017

India is putting its aggressive program to sharply reduce oil and gas imports over the next 5 years to the test with an upcoming bidding round aimed at winning back international oil companies with the skills and money to make major discoveries.
Last year’s discovered small fields auction by state oil firm ONGC attracted strong bidding from smaller Indian players, many new to the business. But “this is much more ambitious,” said Atanu Chakraborty, director general of India’s Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH).
The country is trying to reach the goal set by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reduce oil and gas imports by 10% by 2022.
To increase the odds of getting bids, operators have been asked to choose the blocks they want included in the bid-ding round to be held later this year. The contracts are based on revamped energy policies designed to eliminate the regulation that limited international interest in the past.
“The government is not in the business of trying to micromanage production,” said Dharmendra Pradhan, the minister in charge of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India, during a presentation at the recent IHS Markit CERAWeek conference in Houston. At the conference, the government announced the bidding round at a meeting drawing top executives from international companies.
Indian energy officials need the exploration help as domestic production falls further behind the exploding level of demand. The percentage of imported oil has risen from nearly 77% about 3 years ago to 82% in the current fiscal year, Pradhan said, according to a recent report.
Given the time needed for large exploration and production (E&P) projects, a 10% reduction in 5 years is a stretch. Adding to the difficultly is rapid demand growth due to the 7%-plus annual increase in India’s gross domestic product.
“There is skyrocketing demand in almost every energy sector,” said Charles Ebinger, senior fellow at the global energy center of the Atlantic Council, during a panel session at the conference.
There is oil and gas potential there. DGH estimates it has produced only 3% of its proven natural gas reserves and around 5% of its proven oil reserves. While it is not a big oil and gas producer, the 115 drilling rigs working there in mid-February were just behind the 120 rigs drilling in Saudi Arabia, according to the Baker Hughes rig count.
E&P is dominated by the national oil company ONGC, with other government-owned companies and some local independents working as well. But in a country with more than 3 million km2 of sedimentary basins, where gas discoveries have been more common, it imports 50% of its gas.
SPE Board Announces Nominees 2019 President and 2018 Directors
Authors: Parshall Joel 
Published: June 2017

Sami Al-Neaim is the nominee for 2019 SPE President. He and eight others make up the slate of nominees recommended for positions open on the SPE Board of Directors.
Sami Al-Neaim has been with Saudi Aramco for 30 years, where he has worked in reservoir engineering, production engineering, research and development, and at the upstream computer center. He currently serves as manager, Petroleum Engineering Application Services, where he has full responsibility for providing technical information technology support to all upstream operations, including exploration, drilling, production, reservoir engineering, and facility design. A current area of focus is reservoir simulation of giga cells and giga models using Saudi Aramco’s GigaPOWERS simulator.
Al-Neaim has a long history of service to SPE and is currently a member of the SPE Middle East Board of Directors. He has won several local, regional, and international awards, including the SPE Regional Service Award for the Middle East in 2010 and the SPE Distinguished Service Award and SPE Distinguished Member in 2011. He currently serves on the society’s DeGolyer, Rand, and McConnell Awards Committee and the 2017 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Executive Advisory Committee.
He has published a number of technical papers, holds several patents related to well performance, and teaches petroleum engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). Al-Neaim serves on the petroleum engineering departments’ advisory boards at KFUPM and King Saud University. He is a key figure in the Saudi and Middle Eastern energy and media sectors, having published more than 300 articles on oil and gas and energy in Saudi newspapers.
Al-Neaim obtained BS and MS degrees from KFUPM, and a PhD degree from the University of Texas at Austin, all in petroleum engineering. He completed the Wharton Executive Management program at the University of Pennsylvania and the Advanced Asian Business and Culture Program from the Center for Global Business Studies at Pennsylvania State University.