bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacteriological profile and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern in neonatal sepsis: a study from North India
Authors: Dalal Poonam , Gathwala Geeta , Gupta Mohit , Singh Jasbir 
Published: March 2017

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and continues to be a formidable problem for neonatologists and pediatricians world over. Knowledge of microbial flora and their susceptibility will help us to decide empirical treatment for the neonatal sepsis. The objective of this study was to determine the bacteriological flora prevalent in NICU and the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern.Methods: The blood culture reports of all the neonates with culture proven neonatal sepsis during the period July 2010 to September 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. A retrospective review in tertiary care teaching medical college. The data was entered in Excel sheets and percentages of various outcomes were calculated.Results: A total of 28,927 babies were born during the study period and 336 among them had positive blood culture. The incidence of neonatal sepsis was 11.62 per 1,000 live births. Three hundred fifty- six microbes were isolated, out of which 50% presented as early onset sepsis and remaining as late onset sepsis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common organism encountered in both early (43.82%) and late onset sepsis (51.35%). Gram negative bacilli were sensitive to carbapenems (92%) followed by piperacillin-tazobactam (90%) whereas linezolid (90%) was most sensitive antimicrobial for gram positive cocci.Conclusions: Pseudomonas was most commonly isolated in both early and late onset sepsis. Gram negative bacilli were most sensitive to piperacillin-tazobactam and the carbapenems whereas linezolid and vancomycin were most effective against the gram-positive cocci. Resistance to third generation cephalosporins was rampant. Continuous surveillance for microbial flora, their antibiotic susceptibility, rational use of antibiotics and the strategy of antibiotic cycling may be of help to curtail emerging antimicrobial resistance.
Scrotal abscess caused by actinomycosis turicensis: about an observation and literature review
Authors: Abi Rachid , Tagajdid Mohamed Reda , Janvier Frederic , Bousquet Aurore , Larréché Sebastian , Mérens Audrey 
Published: March 2017

Actinomyces turicensis, Gram positive bacillus, immovable and anaerobic, is a saprophytic of the human natural cavities. The scrotal actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces turicensis is a rare location; it was described once in literature by a patient within gangrene infection. Reported here is a case of scrotal abscess and Actinomyces turicensis.The slow growth of the Actinomyces turicensis represents a diagnostic difficulty in which its utility is to extend the culture during five days. The identification based on biochemical character with the APICoryne is not always easy to succeed, in which the interest of the mass spectrometry and/or of the molecular biology.
Effect of indigenous interferon - alpha on Hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid level in hepatitis b e antigen-positive chronic Hepatitis B patients
Authors: Rathi Pravin M. , Jain Samit S. 
Published: March 2017

<p class="ABS"><span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB">Background and Objective:</span> HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients have high serum HBV DNA level showing high viral replication. Goal of treatment of hepatitis B is to prevent cirrhosis, hepatic failure and hepatocellular carcinoma by serum alanine transaminase (ALT) normalization, decrease in serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and loss in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). Interferons (IFNs) have antiviral, anti-proliferative, and immunomodulatory effects. IFN-<span class="Symbol_Bold">α</span> is effective in suppressing HBV replication and in inducing remission of liver disease. <span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB">Materials and Methods:</span> In this prospective, single treatment arm study, HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis patients without decompensated liver disease were enrolled to receive indigenous recombinant IFN-<span class="Symbol_Bold">α</span> 2b in the dose of 5 MU daily for 6 days a week subcutaneously for 16 weeks. Quantitative HBV-DNA, HBeAg, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were assessed at baseline and at the end of treatment. ALT level assessment was done at baseline and during therapy at week 1, week 2, week 8, week 12, and week 16. <span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB">Res</span><span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB">ults:</span> Out of 37 patients enrolled in the study, 8 patients (21.62%) did not complete study due to lost to follow-up (3 patients), discontinuation due to adverse event (3 patients), and consent withdrawal (2 patients). Among 29 patients who completed the study, 10 patients (34.48%) had clearance of HBeAg and 1 patient (3.44%) had lost HBsAg after 16 weeks of therapy. Mean ALT level started decreasing after 4 weeks of therapy but did not come to normal range till 16 weeks of therapy. At least 2 log decreases in HBV DNA was observed in 9 (31.03%) patients and at least 1 log decrease in 18 (62.06%) patients. Overall decline in HBV DNA level was observed in 62% patients after 16 weeks of therapy. <span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB">Conclusion:</span> IFN-<span class="Symbol_Bold">α</span> treatment does result in HBeAg and HBsAg loss and decreases HBV-DNA levels in chronic hepatitis B patients. Most of adverse events were mild to moderate in intensity. So, interferon-<span class="Symbol_Bold">α</span> therapy was well tolerated, safe, and efficacious to treat HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients without decompensated liver disease.</p>
PHENOLIC PROFILE OF Centaurea aegyptiaca L. GROWING IN EGYPT AND ITS CYTOTOXIC AND ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITIES
Authors: Bakr Riham Omar , Mohamed Shaza Abd El Halim , Ayoub Nahla 
Published: March 2017

Background: Centaurea aegyptiaca L (Asteraceae), is one of the most attractive plants growing wildly in Sinai, and is not well
investigated for its phytochemical constituents. This study represents the first in-depth characterization of the phenolic profile of the
aerial parts of C. aegyptiaca methanolic extract utilizing liquid chromatography (LC) combined with electrospray ionization (ESI)
tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).
Material and Methods: Phenolic profile was researched utilizing LC-HRESI-MS-MS. Assessment of cytotoxic activity against four
human cancer cell lines (Hep-G2; hepatocellular carcinoma cells, MCF-7; breast adenocarcinoma cells, and HCT-116; colon
carcinoma and HELA; cervical carcinoma cells) was performed using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
bromide (MTT) assay. Antiviral activity was surveyed utilizing cytopathic effect inhibition assay.
Results: A total of sixty-one compounds were tentatively distinguished (twenty-one phenolic acids and their derivatives, thirty-one
flavonols and nine flavones) in the negative and positive modes. Centaurea aegyptiaca demonstrated outstanding results against
Hep-G2, MCF-7, HCT-116 and HELA cell lines with IC50 of 12.1, 30.9, 11.7 and 19.5 μg/mL respectively compared and
doxorubicin as a reference drug. Weak antiviral activity was seen against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and no impact against herpes
simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1).
Conclusion: This study provides a better understanding of the chemistry of C. aegyptiaca that announces itself as a promising
cytotoxic agent.
NITRIC OXIDE INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF STRYCHNOS SPINOSA (LOGANIACEAE) LEAF EXTRACTS AND FRACTIONS
Authors: Isa AI , Dzoyem JP , Adebayo S.A , Suleiman M.M , Eloff JN. 
Published: March 2017

Background: The study was aimed at determining the anti-inflammatory activity of fractions and extracts obtained from Strychnos
spinosa leaves on a mediator of inflammation nitric oxide (NO).
Materials and Methods: Leaves were extracted with acetone and separated into fractions with different polarities by solventsolvent
fractionation. The Griess assay was used to determine the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity. Cellular toxicity was
determined by "using the MTT reduction assay".
Results: With the exception of the ethyl acetate fraction which had an IC50 >750 μg/mL, all extracts and fractions had significant
nitric oxide-inhibitory activity. The most active being the water fraction, chloroform fraction and the dichloromethane/methanol
extracts with IC50 values of 88.43 μg/mL, 96.72 μg/mL and 115.62 μg/mL, respectively. The extracts and fractions had low
cytotoxicity on macrophage U937 cell lines.
Conclusion: Extracts and fractions of Strychnos spinosa leaves may be promising sources of natural anti-inflammatory agents.
Findings obtained from this study showed that Strychnos spinosa leaves possess promising anti-inflammatory action and could be
used in the treatment of inflammation-related conditions.
Social Responsibility and Petroleum Engineering Education: Lessons from Field-Based Education
Authors: Smith Nicole M. , Smith Jessica M. , Battalora Linda A. , Teschner Benjamin A. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The energy and extractive industries present unique challenges to engineers and geoscientists, who must navigate sometimes competing responsibilities and codes of conduct, such as personal senses of right and wrong, professional ethics codes, and their employers’ social responsibility (SR) policies. However, most engineering curriculums do not include courses specifically focused on SR, and many new hires do not learn about SR until employment begins. Students are familiar with industry phrases such as "social license to operate," "stakeholder engagement," and "be a good neighbor," yet they often lack understanding of the broader context of these goals. By exploring the context of hydrocarbon development projects, through field exercises, students can gain an awareness of the health, safety, security, environment and social responsibility risks. In this paper, we report on research that seeks to understand the relationship between petroleum engineering and SR, the current dominant framework used by industry to conceptualize firms’ responsibilities to their stakeholders. We also share results from a study of pedagogical enhancements in required petroleum engineering field sessions at the Colorado School of Mines (Mines). These enhancements were designed to better prepare undergraduate petroleum engineering students to critically appraise the strengths and limitations of SR as an approach to reconciling the interests of industry and communities. The analysis suggests that SR may be a fruitful arena from which to illustrate the profoundly sociotechnical dimensions of the engineering challenges relevant to students’ future careers.
Characterization of Accidental Spills and Releases Affecting Groundwater in the Greater Wattenberg Area of the Denver-Julesburg Basin in Northeastern Colorado
Authors: Armstrong Katherine J. , Rogers Jessica D. , Burke Troy L. , Ryan Joseph N. , Sherwood Owen A. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Public concern about the potential effects of unconventional oil and gas development on water quality has grown in recent years. In this study, we considered accidental spills and releases that occurred from 2007 to 2014 in the Greater Wattenberg Area (GWA), an area of intensive oil and gas extraction located within the Denver-Julesburg Basin in northeastern Colorado. Our objective was to quantify the occurrence rates of (1) all spills and (2) spills determined by the operator to have caused groundwater impacts. Additionally, for spills affecting groundwater, we analyzed characteristics including facilities and equipment involved, causes, and resolution times in order to identify recommendations for improved regulatory or operational practices.
Spills and releases were identified from publicly-available reports collected by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). Spills were identified as having potentially impacted groundwater based on an operator-reported field present on the reports. Groundwater impacts were verified for this subset of spills by reviewing the narrative description of the incident and the supporting documents (e.g., consultant reports, laboratory data) available in the COGCC database. Additional information collected included the causes of the spills, the facility types, and the time required for resolution of spills. To determine spill occurrence rates, the number of annual spills was compared to several annual indicators of oil and gas development, including the volumes of oil and water produced and the number of active producing wells in the GWA.
The annual spill count remained relatively stable from 2007 to 2011, but increased each year from 2011 to 2014. From 2007 to 2014, spill occurrence rates decreased or remained steady when compared to oil and water production volumes, respectively; however, the occurrence rate increased compared to the number of active producing wells. These trends suggest that fewer spills occurred for a greater volume of fluids produced and handled in the GWA, but that more spills occurred per active well. For all three normalization metrics, we observed that the occurrence rate of groundwater-impacting spills remained steady or decreased. The percentage of spills impacting groundwater compared to total spills decreased by a factor of two from 2010 (54%) to 2014 (27%). Among groundwater-impacting spills, the most common facility types were tank batteries and lines (including flow lines, gathering lines, load lines, and pipelines), and the most common cause was equipment failure. Based on our observations of spills in the GWA from 2007 to 2014, we have suggested several strategies for regulators and operators to improve spill reporting practices and to reduce the likelihood of surface spills that result in persistent impacts to shallow groundwater.
Social Performance SP in Challenging Times: Lessons Learned Regarding Major Projects, Non-Technical Risk, and SP in the Lean Years
Authors: Moore E. , Buchman A. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
In the process of exploring for and bringing new hydrocarbon resources to market, oil and natural gas companies frequently rely on social performance elements as a means to help secure social license to operate. Such elements—including social impact assessment and management, stakeholder engagement, community and ‘flagship’ social investments, et al—are used by operators as a means of establishing themselves as a preferred ‘good neighbor’. The non-technical risks associated with oil and natural gas projects suggest that responding to project timing challenges and down-turn budget reduction pressure is far from a simple calculation. In this paper, the authors consider recent projects and present lessons learned regarding the difficult choices facing project managers.
Managing Non-Technical Risk in Oil and Gas Operations: The Stakeholder Alignment Imperatives
Authors: Adekoya Adebanji 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Non-technical risks (NTR) refer to all risks and opportunities that arise from the interactions of a business with its broad range of external stakeholders (Adekoya & Ekepnyong, 2016). Interactions that could potentially result in stakeholders discontent represent the downside risk dimension while interactions that could potentially result in stakeholders satisfaction represent the upside opportunity dimension. The oil and gas industry is faced with significant NTRs at project and portfolio levels due to the complex operating environment and challenging stakeholder interfaces in regions and geographies where natural resource reserves are found.
This paper discusses stakeholder misalignment as being the root cause of key NTRs that oil industry operations have to contend with. The stakeholder web around oil and gas business has become more complex and closely knit with conflicting/overlapping interests. Added to this is the increased sophistication of external stakeholders in terms of real time access to information and the ease with which they build coalition/alliances to challenge oil companies. This is further accentuated by increased public scrutiny. Dealing with NTRs to prevent value erosion in oil and gas operations will require a strategic retrofit of the way the industry currently views and manages stakeholder issues.
As the frontier of oil & gas exploration move to very challenging geographies including deepwater, the artic, other pristine environments and countries and regions with complex socio-political structures, management of non-technical risk is increasingly defining the ability of oil companies to extract and sustain value in their portfolio. A number of authors, including Ernst & Young (2014) and Goldman Sachs (2008) have tried to quantify the value erosion suffered by the oil and gas industry in recent years due to poor management or inability to anticipate non-technical risks.
Sustainability Aspects of Water Infrastructure
Authors: Dunkel M. R. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
This paper analyzes the benefits of water infrastructure in various onshore regions as it relates to stakeholders and sustainability. Companies’ and stakeholders’ benefits, impediments and other trends are discussed, as well as the sustainability aspects of water infrastructure for specific projects. Business sustainability is often defined as managing the triple bottom line - a process by which companies manage their financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities. These three impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet. (Financial Times. 2017.)
The evaluation process included analyzing public disclosures and interviews with oil and gas companies, regulators, service companies and other stakeholders.
The oil and gas industry continues to move a significant percentage of water by trucks in most U.S. basins. Discussions with leading companies suggest that more infrastructure is being planned by operators and third parties. In many cases, companies are sharing water infrastructure and planning to use infrastructure jointly. The benefits of water infrastructure include lower costs, more flexibility to use multiple sources of water, aggregation of larger volumes of produced water to allow efficient water recycling facilities, reducing community impacts by reducing trucks on the road, reducing air emissions, reducing freshwater use and reducing water disposal due to ability to recycle more effectively. Impediments to building water infrastructure include: up front capital costs, regulatory constraints, obtaining right-of-way and the planning cycle for producing companies. In spite of the impediments, successful infrastructure projects are being planned and developed. In fact, a new trend is showing multi-company projects where several producers may share the infrastructure. Specific projects are highlighted for their sustainability.
What is striking about the different regions of the U.S. is how their water challenges vary. Key limitations and parameters include insufficient source water, limited disposal capacity, regulatory variation, amount of contiguous acreage held by companies, topography, proximity to urban centers and availability of public roads. Additionally, variations in the targeted formation depth, rock properties and formation fluids necessitate different hydraulic fracturing practices which put different constraints on water management plans. Because of these variations, generalized strategies are not practical; rather, customized solutions are best designed and engineered to meet an area's unique and specific needs.
Next Generation Compliance for Organic Liquid Storage Vessels
Authors: McBrayer Mitchell 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
EPA testing has suggested that actual storage tank emissions are higher than reported. As a result, the EPA has proposed the Next Generation Compliance document that has significant impacts on hazardous air pollutant (HAP) storage tanks in a wide range of industries.
The Next Generation Compliance document presents areas in which the EPA will focus their attention to strengthen compliance strategies by means of regulatory overhaul, increased monitoring programs, and innovative enforcement strategies. The EPA's focus on tanks has been spurred by violations resulting from design flaws, inadequate maintenance procedures and emission controls, and deficient monitoring techniques. Recent enforcement settlements have resulted in multi-million dollar fines for these facilities and have required costly equipment modifications. With such high potential settlement costs, it has become more important than ever to have a robust compliance program.
The upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry all include storage tanks containing HAPs. The EPA's Next Generation Compliance plan will scrutinize sites with HAPs storage tanks and will disproportionately affect the oil and gas industry due to its relatively large number of storage tanks. Consequently, it is important for these sites to ensure storage tank emissions are accurately estimated and in compliance. This paper will investigate strategies and present methods for sites with storage tanks to ensure compliance.
Enhancing Offshore Safety Culture Through Continuous Management of Barriers and Success Paths
Authors: Nelson William R. , Ahluwalia Amar I. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Safety culture is a critical factor for reducing risks for offshore drilling and production operations. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued a Safety Culture Policy Statement based on "Nine Characteristics of a Robust Safety Culture" providing guidance for safety culture programs. Similar programs are implemented in other industries including nuclear, commercial aviation, space operations, and maritime. Many of these programs are based on abstract concepts including management leadership, safety attitudes, and personal accountability that can't demonstrate a direct, measurable influence on major accident risk. A complementary approach has been developed based on the premise that the most effective way to reduce major accident risks and enhance safety culture is to provide workers the information and tools they need to make correct decisions and take correct actions to prevent and mitigate major accidents. The critical issue is to provide information to assess safety barrier health and make correct decisions and implement corrective actions when barriers are degraded or failed. The approach uses bow tie diagrams to identify and monitor barriers for preventing and mitigating accidents, success paths to restore degraded barriers, and information requirements analysis to continuously assess barrier and success path health. Decision criteria specify when corrective actions are needed and provide clear guidance for actions that are required for implementing alternative success paths. This approach has been used to develop decision support systems for offshore drilling and production operations, and to assess safety culture and control room management for nuclear power plant and pipeline operations.
This paper summarizes lessons learned from major accidents in the nuclear, aerospace, and offshore industries. The Decision Support for Dynamic Barrier Management approach is described, and experience gained from application of the approach to nuclear power plants, pipeline operations, and offshore drilling and production are described. Finally, the potential benefits of the approach for enhancing safety culture for offshore operations are summarized.