bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Urban Tuberculosis in the United States, 2000–2007
Authors: Oren Eyal , Winston Carla A. , Pratt Robert , Robison Valerie A. , Narita Masahiro 
Published: May 2011

Objectives. We investigated tuberculosis (TB) incidence rates and characteristics of patients with TB in large US cities. Methods. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Tuberculosis Surveillance System data, we categorized 48 cities annually from 2000 to 2007 as reporting decreasing or nondecreasing rates with Joinpoint analysis. We compared demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of patients with TB using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results. We found that 42 448 patients with TB in 48 cities accounted for 36% of all US patients with TB; these cities comprised 15% of the US population. The average TB incidence rate in the 48 cities (12.1 per 100 000) was higher than that in the US excluding the cities (3.8 per 100 000) but decreased at a faster rate. Nineteen cities had decreasing rates; 29 cities had nondecreasing rates. Patient characteristics did not conclusively distinguish decreasing and nondecreasing rate cities. Conclusions. A significant TB burden occurs in large US cities. More than half (60%) of the selected cities did not show decreasing TB incidence rates. Studies of city-level variations in migration, socioeconomic status, and resources are needed to improve urban TB control.
Changing Drug Markets Under New Intellectual Property Regimes: The View From Central America
Authors: Godoy Angelina Snodgrass , Cerón Alejandro 
Published: May 2011

The intellectual property rules inscribed in the Central American Free Trade Agreement have generated concern about access to medicines. We examined the implementation of the new intellectual property regime by tracking the policies and practices in place across 4 Central American countries. Although all 4 were responding to the same requirements under the agreement, their implementation of intellectual property rules differed. Not only were institutional practices different, but the lists of drugs to which intellectual property protection was applied varied in both volume and content. We also found that even without the influence of intellectual property, drug pricing in the region was often unpredictable and that lower cost was not the only motivation driving governments' purchasing decisions.
Associations Between Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 and HCV With HIV Among Injecting Drug Users in New York City: The Current Importance of Sexual Transmission of HIV
Authors: Des Jarlais Don C. , Arasteh Kamyar , McKnight Courtney , Hagan Holly , Perlman David C. , Semaan Salaam 
Published: May 2011

Objectives. We examined relationships between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), a biomarker for sexual risk, and HCV, a biomarker for injecting risk, with HIV among injecting drug users (IDUs) who began injecting after large-scale expansion of syringe exchange programs in New York City. Methods. We recruited 337 heroin and cocaine users who began injecting in 1995 or later from persons entering drug detoxification. We administered a structured interview covering drug use and HIV risk behavior and collected serum samples for HIV, HCV, and HSV-2 testing. Results. HIV prevalence was 8%, HSV-2 39%, and HCV 55%. We found a significant association between HSV-2 and HIV (odds ratio [OR] = 7.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.9, 21.4) and no association between HCV and HIV (OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.5, 2.6). Black IDUs had the highest prevalence of HSV-2 (76%) and HIV (24%) but the lowest prevalence of HCV (34%). Conclusions. Most HIV infections among these IDUs occurred through sexual transmission. The relative importance of injecting versus sexual transmission of HIV may be critical for understanding racial/ethnic disparities in HIV infection.
Impact and Ethics of Excluding Sweetened Beverages From the SNAP Program
Authors: Barnhill Anne 
Published: May 2011

The state of New York recently petitioned the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for permission to conduct a demonstration project in which sweetened beverages would be excluded from the foods eligible to be purchased with Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) benefits (i.e., food stamps) in New York City. The USDA and advocacy groups have raised objections to new SNAP restrictions such as the proposed exclusion of sweetened beverages. Some objections rest on empirical issues best resolved by demonstration projects or pilot studies of new exclusions. Other objections question the equity of excluding sweetened beverages from SNAP; these objections are important but not ethically decisive. The USDA should approve the proposed demonstration project and should encourage other pilot studies to assess the effects of excluding sweetened beverages from SNAP.
Estimation of Equilibrium-Adsorption Behavior at Cryogenic Temperatures of CO2 and N2 Using a Simple Predictive Tool
Authors: Bahadori Alireza 
Published: May 2011

Summary
Conventionally, carbon dioxide (CO2) removal requires the use of a water-based amine solution and large absorber and regeneration towers. The capital and ongoing operational costs for this process are substantial, and the use (regeneration and disposal) of the amine solution can be problematic from the perspectives of both safety and the environment. Nitrogen (N2) can also be a problematic impurity in natural gas. Many researchers have been investigating the use of alternative gas-separation technologies (such as membranes and adsorption) targeted at removing N2 or CO2 from natural gas more efficiently. In this work, a simple-to-use predictive tool that is easier than existing approaches, is less complicated, and requires shorter computational times is applied to accurately predict the CO2 and N2-adsorption isotherms at low temperatures and pressures up to saturation for a commercial carbon molecular sieve as a function of temperature and partial pressure of these components. Accurate prediction of such data is useful in evaluating the feasibility of using pressure-swing adsorption to separate N2 and CO2 from natural gases at cryogenic temperatures. The proposed method showed consistently accurate results across the investigated wide pressure and temperature ranges, with an average absolute deviation of less than 1% for both N2 and CO2 compared to the existing Toth equation, which shows deviations of 3.5 and 1% for N2 and CO2, respectively. This simple-to-use approach can be of immense practical value for engineers and scientists to have a quick check on adsorption capacities of a given adsorbent at various temperatures and pressures without the necessity of any experimental measurements. In particular, natural-gas-process engineers would find the proposed approach to be user friendly, involving transparent calculations with no complex expressions.
Technical Evaluations To Support the Decision To Reinject Produced Water
Authors: Zuluaga E.. , Evans P.. , Nesom P.. , Spratt T.. , Daniels E.. 
Published: May 2011

Summary
The industry is moving away from overboard discharging of produced water and is increasingly selecting produced-water reinjection (PWRI) as the preferred method for waterflooding projects. This does not come without risks because the produced water usually needs to be supplemented by seawater in order to meet injection-volume requirements, increasing the risk of both scaling and souring.
PWRI supplemented by seawater was the selected produced-water-management strategy for Field M located in West Africa. Produced water from the adjacent Field K is also being considered for reinjection into Field M. Field M will be waterflooded from the beginning to maintain reservoir pressure close to the bubblepoint. Recent experiences of PWRI in other assets have created a challenging atmosphere because scaling posed a major risk to production. Field M had to go through very detailed and thorough souring and scaling evaluations to justify the feasibility of this project.
A consistent formation-water chemistry analysis for these evaluations was obtained by incorporating thermodynamic equilibrium constraints on formation-water composition from reservoir mineralogy and using knowledge of basin formation-water contributions from proximal salt formations. The evaluation of scaling potential was performed using ScaleSoftPitzer. The results show a low risk of scaling when the waters are commingled. Periodic formation scale squeezes are recommended to mitigate the scaling potential.
The souring-potential study was conducted using a full-field reservoir-souring simulation model (SourSimRL). SourSimRL superimposes criteria for the generation, partitioning, and transport of H2S. On the basis of the results, the souring potential is predicted to be generally moderate. The souring potential for the field is restricted by the availability of carbon nutrients in the injection waters and the high reservoir temperature of 250°F.
These rigorous technical evaluations were instrumental to obtain the support for PWRI and could be used as guidance for other PWRI projects.
Comparison of Leak-Detection Technologies for Continuous Monitoring of Subsea-Production Templates
Authors: Vrålstad Torbjørn , Melbye Alf G. , Carlsen Inge M. , Llewelyn David 
Published: May 2011

Summary
Subsea leakages from underwater production facilities may have significant environmental and economical consequences. There is a wide range of different technologies available for detection of subsea leakages, depending on the type of application and approach to leak detection. The two most common approaches to direct subsea-leak detection are inspection/surveying, where sensors are attached to mobile units such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and continuous monitoring, where the sensors are permanently installed at the seabed. For the latter case, there are several different types of leak-detection technologies, depending on whether templates or pipelines are to be monitored. While most subsea facilities are monitored by flow-measurement devices that can typically detect leaks that are greater than a few percent of overall flow, this paper addresses direct methods of leak detection suitable for smaller leaks.
The Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) has initiated a series of projects on subsea-leak detection to obtain an overview of the different types of leak-detection systems available and to determine the practical applicability and functionality of these systems. An important issue in this regard is to test the leak-detection systems experimentally with both gas and oil leakages under realistic conditions. This paper presents results from comparative, experimental tests of five different leak-detection systems that are suitable for continuous monitoring of subsea templates with the goal of elucidating the strengths and limitations of the different detection principles.
Analyzing Production Data From Tight Oil Wells
Authors: Kabir Shah , Rasdi Faisal , Igboalisi B. 
Published: May 2011

Summary
Performance prediction of wells producing from tight (microdarcy) formations is a daunting task. Complexities of geology (the presence/absence of naturally occurring fractures and contribution from different lithological layers), completion and fracture geometry complexities (multiple transverse or longitudinal fractures in long horizontal boreholes), and two-phase flow are impediments to simple performance forecasting.
We demonstrate the use of various analytical and numerical tools to learn about both short- and long-term reservoir behaviours. These tools include (a) traditional decline-curve analysis (Arps 1945), (b) Valko's stretched-exponential (SE) method (Valko 2009), (c) the Ilk et al. (2008, 2010) power-law exponential (PLE) method, (d) rate-transient-analysis (RTA) and transient-PI analyses to ascertain the stimulated-reservoir volume (SRV), and (e) numerical-simulation studies to gain insights into observed flow regimes.
The benefits of collective use of analytical modelling tools in history matching and forecasting both short- and long-term production performance of tight oil reservoirs are demonstrated with the use of real and simulated data. Diagnosing natural fractures, quantifying stimulated-reservoir volume, and assessing reliability of future performance predictions all became feasible by using an ensemble of analytical tools.
Pore-Level Investigation of Oil-Mobility Enhancement in Heavy-Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Ortiz-Arango Julian D. , Kantzas Apostolos 
Published: May 2011

Summary
One of the most important properties for understanding multiphase flow in porous media is relative permeability. In two-phase flow, the relative permeability to a given phase is generally assumed only to be a function of its saturation, independent of the properties of fluids involved and/or flow conditions and ranging from zero to unity.
Considering the physical principles of multiphase flow through porous media, the momentum transfer or viscous coupling appears as a hidden driving mechanism that might lead to higher than expected oil-flow rates.
In an effort to provide a better understanding of oil mobility in heavy-oil reservoirs, a capillary model is used to assess the importance of lubrication in two-phase flow and to determine the effect of the viscous coupling on relative permeabilities. Different cross-sectional geometries are analyzed. The problem is addressed analytically even for the unequal-viscosity case by making use of the Galerkin method. The concept of contact angle is used in the determination of the fluid distribution inside a noncircular channel.
The model results show that the viscosity ratio theoretically affects relative permeabilities, especially in systems involving heavy oil.
The Effect of Suspended Solid Concentration and Oil Droplet Size Distribution on Particle Coalesces and Emulsion Stability
Authors: Ali Mohammad A. , Abeer Al-Farhan A. , Ali Al-Haddad A. , Suhaib Al-Kholosy A. 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Reinjection of produced water is of increasing importance in the oil industry as water production continues to increase worldwide. It provides an environmentally acceptable solution to the disposal of produced water, and contributes to pressure maintenance. The performance of the injection wells and the distribution of the injected water are strongly influenced by water quality and the build-up of formation impairment around the wellbore.
Solid particles and small oil droplets present in the injected water can block the reservoir pores and cause rapid and severe permeability decline. Total removal of solids and oil may not be economically feasible or practically possible. Therefore, to minimize or slow the rate of impairment, it is important to understand the relationship between the impairment mechanism and water quality parameters, such as the total suspended solids and oil droplet.
This experimental study highlights the importance of water quality for the purpose of water injection. An online particle size analyzer was used to measure particle size distribution and coalesces in the injected water. Different concentrations of suspended solid, oil droplet, water salinity, and oil viscosity were used in this study. The effect of suspended solids on the stability of oil-in-water emulsion was investigated. Finally, coreflood system was used to measure permeability decline during water injection containing suspended particle.
The results showed that increasing suspended solid concentration did not affect particle coalesce, but increasing oil concentration resulted in an increase of oil droplets coalesces. However, when a combination of solid particles and oil droplets were suspended in water, newly solid-oil attachment particles were formed. Increasing water salinity did not affect solid-solid coalesce, but formed smaller oil droplets. Higher oil viscosity generated relatively in larger oil droplets than lower viscosity oil. Visual observation of emulsion containing suspended solids and oil droplets showed more stabilized emulsion with higher salinity water than at lower salinity water. However, weaker emulsion was seen when high oil viscosity concentration was used. Finally, permeability reduction of core samples caused by oil droplets alone was insignificant, but higher damage was seen by suspended solids, and severe damage was observed with combined solid and oil droplets.
Effect of prophylactic pastes containing active ingredients on the enamel-bracket bond strength of etch-and-rinse and self-etching systems
Authors: Al-Twaijri Sarah , Viana Grace , Bedran-Russo Ana K. 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Objective:
To evaluate the effect of prophylactic pastes containing active ingredients such as amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), fluoride, or a combination of both on the enamel-bracket tensile bond strength.

Materials and Methods:
Human molars were randomly divided into four groups (N  =  40) according to the type of prophylactic pastes: control (no active ingredients), paste containing fluoride, paste containing ACP, and paste containing both fluoride and ACP. After prophylaxis, 20 brackets per group were bonded using an etch-and-rinse bonding technique (37% phosphoric acid and Ortho solo), and the other remaining 20 brackets were bonded using a self-etch bonding technique (Clearfil S3Bond). Samples were tested for tensile strength 24 hours after bonding using a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t-test with significance level at .05.

Results:
The mean tensile bond strength varied between 3.043 (ACP) and 9.232 (control) MPa. The etch-and-rinse bonding technique was significantly affected by pastes containing active ingredients (P &lt; .001). The self-etching system was not significantly affected by different pastes (P &gt; .05).

Conclusions:
Cleaning enamel surfaces with prophylactic pastes that contain ACP and/or fluoride, prior to orthodontic bonding, resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the tensile bond strength of etch-and-rinse bonding technique.
A comparison of resistance to sliding of self-ligating brackets under an increasing applied moment
Authors: Pliska Benjamin T. , Beyer John P. , Larson Brent E. 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Objective:
To test the null hypotheses that at clinically relevant amounts of applied moment, there are no differences in the amount of resistance to sliding (RS) between self-ligating (SL) and conventionally ligated (CL) brackets on both stainless steel (SS) and nickel-titanium (NT) archwire.

Materials and Methods:
Three different SL brackets and one CL bracket, all 0.022″ slot, were tested on a custom-built device to simulate canine retraction mechanics in the second-order dimension. The setup allowed for simultaneous and continuous measurement of RS and applied moment at the bracket-archwire interface. The brackets tested were Damon3, In-Ovation R, Smartclip, and Victory, all of which were tested with 0.019″ × 0.025″ SS and NT archwires. The RS at calculated moments of 2000 g-mm and 4000 g-mm was determined and compared between the various brackets and both archwire types. Descriptive measures, analysis of variance, and Tukey-Kramer post-test comparisons were used to calculate results.

Results:
All brackets displayed a greater amount of RS with NT than with SS archwires. At the higher moment levels (4000 g-mm), no significant reduction in RS was found between CL and SL brackets on both SS and NT archwires. At lower levels of applied moment (2000 g-mm), reductions in RS of 18% (42.7 g) and 18% (38.5 g) were found between the CL bracket and the best performing SL bracket on NT and SS, respectively.

Conclusion:
At low values of applied moment, some statistical differences were found; however, in general, the differences in RS amongst the various SL and CL brackets tested may not be clinically relevant.
On a generalized Stokes problem
Authors: Mácha Václav 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
We deal with a generalization of the Stokes system. Instead of the Laplace operator, we consider a general elliptic operator and a pressure gradient with small perturbations. We investigate the existence and uniqueness of a solution as well its regularity properties. Two types of regularity are provided. Aside from the classical Hilbert regularity, we also prove the Hölder regularity for coefficients in VMO space.
Red cabbage anthocyanins may protect blood plasma proteins and lipids
Authors: Kolodziejczyk Joanna , Saluk-Juszczak Joanna , Posmyk Malgorzata , Janas Krystyna , Wachowicz Barbara 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
The present in vitro study was designed to examine the antioxidative activity of red cabbage anthocyanins (ATH) in the protection of blood plasma proteins and lipids against damage induced by oxidative stress. Fresh leaves of red cabbage were extracted with a mixture of methanol/distilled water/0.01% HCl (MeOH/H2O/HCl, 50/50/1, v/v/w). Total ATH concentration [µM] was determined with cyanidin 3-glucoside as a standard. Phenolic profiles in the crude red cabbage extract were determined using the HPLC method. Plasma samples were exposed to 100 µM peroxynitrite (ONOO−) or 2 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence/absence of ATH extract (5–15 µM); oxidative alterations were then assessed. Pre-incubation of plasma with ATH extract partly reduced oxidative stress in plasma proteins and lipids. Dose-dependent reduction of both ONOO− and H2O2-mediated plasma protein carbonylation was observed. ATH extract partly inhibited the nitrative action of ONOO−, and significantly decreased plasma lipid peroxidation caused by ONOO− or H2O2. Our results demonstrate that anthocyanins present in red cabbage have inhibitory effects on ONOO− and H2O2-induced oxidative stress in blood plasma components. We suggest that red cabbage ATH, as dietary antioxidants, should be considered as potentially usable nutraceuticals in the prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases.
Nonfusion stabilization of the degenerative lumbar spine
Authors: Maleci Alberto , Sambale Rafael Donatus , Schiavone Michele , Lamp Franz , Özer Fahir , von Strempel Archibald 
Published: May 2011

Object
The goal of this study was to assess whether a stable but nonrigid nonfusion implant can stabilize the spine in degenerative diseases and also prevent instability following decompression. Instrumented spondylodesis is a recognized surgical treatment in degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. However, pain can develop at the bone graft donor site and the operative trauma can be very stressful in elderly patients, and it is suspected that there may be increased degenerative changes in the adjacent segments. In 2002, a nonrigid but rotationally stable pedicle screw and rod system was introduced, which could be used without additional fusion (referred to hereafter as the Cosmic system).

Methods
A total of 139 patients with degenerative disease of the lumbar spine underwent spinal stabilization with the Cosmic system without additional spondylodesis. Seventy patients had an additional decompression. The minimum follow-up was 2 years. The perioperative course, the clinical results, and the erect anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were recorded and compared with the preoperative data. The data were obtained from 6 different spine centers in Europe and documented on an Internet platform.

Results
The Oswestry Disability Index score improved from 48.9% to 22.5%, and the visual analog scale score decreased from 7.3 to 2.5. Lumbar lordosis did not change, nor did the adjacent disc height. Eleven patients underwent revision, 4 of them for implant failure. Of the 139 patients, 110 assessed the result as excellent, very good, or good; 24 as fair; and 5 as poor. A total of 122 patients would undergo surgery again. There were no significant differences between patients with or without an additional decompression.

Conclusions
The Cosmic system is a stable but nonrigid posterior nonfusion system. Implant complications are low and the clinical outcome is good. Longer follow-up is necessary to confirm the 2-year results.