bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Semi-automatic analysis of standard uptake values in serial PET/CT studies in patients with lung cancer and lymphoma
Authors: Ly John , Garpered Sabine , Höglund Peter , Jönsson Eskil , Valind Sven , Edenbrandt Lars , Wollmer Per 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
Changes in maximum standardised uptake values (SUVmax) between serial PET/CT studies are used to determine disease progression or regression in oncologic patients. To measure these changes manually can be time consuming in a clinical routine. A semi-automatic method for calculation of SUVmax in serial PET/CT studies was developed and compared to a conventional manual method. The semi-automatic method first aligns the serial PET/CT studies based on the CT images. Thereafter, the reader selects an abnormal lesion in one of the PET studies. After this manual step, the program automatically detects the corresponding lesion in the other PET study, segments the two lesions and calculates the SUVmax in both studies as well as the difference between the SUVmax values. The results of the semi-automatic analysis were compared to that of a manual SUVmax analysis using a Philips PET/CT workstation. Three readers did the SUVmax readings in both methods. Sixteen patients with lung cancer or lymphoma who had undergone two PET/CT studies were included. There were a total of 26 lesions.

Results
Linear regression analysis of changes in SUVmax show that intercepts and slopes are close to the line of identity for all readers (reader 1: intercept = 1.02, R2 = 0.96; reader 2: intercept = 0.97, R2 = 0.98; reader 3: intercept = 0.99, R2 = 0.98). Manual and semi-automatic method agreed in all cases whether SUVmax had increased or decreased between the serial studies. The average time to measure SUVmax changes in two serial PET/CT examinations was four to five times longer for the manual method compared to the semi-automatic method for all readers (reader 1: 53.7 vs. 10.5 s; reader 2: 27.3 vs. 6.9 s; reader 3: 47.5 vs. 9.5 s; p < 0.001 for all).

Conclusions
Good agreement was shown in assessment of SUVmax changes between manual and semi-automatic method. The semi-automatic analysis was four to five times faster to perform than the manual analysis. These findings show the feasibility of using semi-automatic methods for calculation of SUVmax in clinical routine and encourage further development of programs using this type of methods.
Impact of perinatal different intrauterine environments on child growth and development in the first six months of life - IVAPSA birth cohort: rationale, design, and methods
Authors: Bernardi Juliana Rombaldi , Ferreira Charles Francisco , Nunes Marina , da Silva Clécio Homrich , Bosa Vera Lúcia , Silveira Patrícia Pelufo , Goldani Marcelo Zubaran 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundIn the last twenty years, retrospective studies have shown that perinatal events may impact the individual health in the medium and long term. However, only a few prospective studies were designed to address this phenomenon. This study aims to describe the design and methods of the Impact of Perinatal Environmental Variations in the First Six Months of Life - the IVAPSA Birth Cohort.Method/DesignThis is a clinical study and involves the recruitment of a birth cohort from hospitals in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Mothers from different clinical backgrounds (hypertensive, diabetics, smokers, having an intrauterine growth restricted child for idiopathic reasons, and controls) will be invited to join the study twenty-four hours after the birth of their child. Data on economic, social, and maternal health care, feeding practices, anthropometric measures, physical activity, and neuropsychological evaluation will be obtained in interviews at postpartum, 7 and 15 days, 1, 3 and 6 months of life.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first thematic cohort focused on the effects of intrauterine growth restriction to prospectively enroll mothers from different clinical backgrounds. The IVAPSA Birth Cohort is a promising research platform that can contribute to the knowledge on the relationship between perinatal events and their consequences on the children's early life.
A prospective cohort study to evaluate peridomestic infection as a determinant of dengue transmission: Protocol
Authors: Martínez-Vega Ruth Aralí , Danis-Lozano Rogelio , Velasco-Hernández Jorge , Díaz-Quijano Fredi Alexander , González-Fernández Mariana , Santos René , Román Susana , Argáez-Sosa Jorge , Nakamura Miguel , Ramos-Castañeda José 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundVector control programs, which have focused mainly on the patient house and peridomestic areas around dengue cases, have not produced the expected impact on transmission. This project will evaluate the assumption that the endemic/epidemic transmission of dengue begins around peridomestic vicinities of the primary cases. Its objective is to assess the relationship between symptomatic dengue case exposure and peridomestic infection incidence.Methods/DesignA prospective cohort study will be conducted (in Tepalcingo and Axochiapan, in the state of Morelos, Mexico), using the state surveillance system for the detection of incident cases. Paired blood specimens will be collected from both the individuals who live with the incident cases and a sample of subjects residing within a 25-meter radius of such cases (exposed cohort), in order to measure dengue-specific antibodies. Other subjects will be selected from areas which have not presented any incident cases within 200 meters, during the two months preceding the sampling (non-exposed cohort). Symptomatic/asymptomatic incident infection will be considered as the dependent variable, exposure to confirmed dengue cases, as the principal variable, and the socio-demographic, environmental and socio-cultural conditions of the subjects, as additional explanatory variables.DiscussionResults indicating a high infection rate among the exposed subjects would justify the application of peridomestic control measures and call for an evaluation of alternate causes for insufficient program impact. On the other hand, a low incidence of peridomestic-infected subjects would support the hypothesis that infection occurs outside the domicile, and would thus explain why the vector control measures applied in the past have exerted such a limited impact on cases incidence rates. The results of the present study may therefore serve to reassess site selection for interventions of this type.
Successful staged hip replacement in septic hip osteoarthritis in osteopetrosis: a case report
Authors: Manzi Giovanni , Romanò Delia , Moneghini Laura , Romanò Carlo L 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundOsteopetrosis is a rare, inherited, bone disorder, characterized by osteosclerosis, obliteration of the medullary cavity and calcified cartilage. The autosomal dominant form is compatible with a normal life span, although fractures often result from minimal trauma, due to the pathologic nature of bone. Osteomyelitis is common in patients with osteopetrosis because of a reduced resistance to infection, attributed to the lack of marrow vascularity and impairment of white cell function. Only one case of osteomyelitis of the proximal third of the femur has been previously reported, treated with several repeated debridements and finally with femoral head resection. Here we present for the first time a case of a staged implant of a cementless total hip prosthesis for the treatment of a septic hip in femoral neck nonunion in osteopetrosis.Case presentationA 36-years-old woman, affected by autosomal dominant osteopetrosis was referred to our department because of a septic hip arthritis associated with femoral neck septic non-union, with draining fistulas. The infection occurred early after a plate osteosynthesis for a closed perthrocanteric fracture of the femur and persisted in spite of osteosynthesis removal, surgical debridement and external fixation. In our hospital the patient underwent accurate debridement, femoral head and greater trochanter resection, preparation of the diaphyseal intramedullary canal and implant of an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer. The spacer was exchanged after one month, due to infection recurrence and four months later, a cementless total hip arthroplasty was implanted, with no clinical and laboratory signs of infection recurrence at two years follow-up.ConclusionsIn case of hip septic arthritis and proximal femur septic non-union, femoral head resection may not be the only option available and staged total hip arthroplasty can be considered.
Transmissibility of caprine scrapie in ovine transgenic mice
Authors: O’Rourke Katherine I , Schneider David A , Spraker Terry R , Dassanayake Rohana P , Highland Margaret A , Zhuang Dongyue , Truscott Thomas C 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
The United States control program for classical ovine scrapie is based in part on the finding that infection is typically spread through exposure to shed placentas from infected ewes. Transmission from goats to sheep is less well described. A suitable rodent model for examining the effect of caprine scrapie isolates in the ovine host will be useful in the ovine scrapie eradication effort. In this study, we describe the incubation time, brain lesion profile, glycoform pattern and PrPSc distribution patterns in a well characterized transgenic mouse line (Tg338) expressing the ovine VRQ prion allele, following inoculation with brain from scrapie infected goats.

Results
First passage incubation times of caprine tissue in Tg338 ovinized mice varied widely but second passage intervals were shorter and consistent. Vacuolation profiles, glycoform patterns and paraffin-embedded tissue blots from terminally ill second passage mice derived from sheep or goat inocula were similar. Proteinase K digestion products of murine tissue were slightly smaller than the original ruminant inocula, a finding consistent with passage of several ovine strains in previous reports.

Conclusions
These findings demonstrate that Tg338 mice propagate prions of caprine origin and provide a suitable baseline for examination of samples identified in the expanded US caprine scrapie surveillance program.
Over-expression of AtPAP2 in Camelina sativa leads to faster plant growth and higher seed yield
Authors: Zhang Youjun , Yu Laura , Yung Ka-Fu , Leung Dennis YC , Sun Feng , Lim Boon L 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
Lipids extracted from seeds of Camelina sativa have been successfully used as a reliable source of aviation biofuels. This biofuel is environmentally friendly because the drought resistance, frost tolerance and low fertilizer requirement of Camelina sativa allow it to grow on marginal lands. Improving the species growth and seed yield by genetic engineering is therefore a target for the biofuels industry. In Arabidopsis, overexpression of purple acid phosphatase 2 encoded by Arabidopsis (AtPAP2) promotes plant growth by modulating carbon metabolism. Overexpression lines bolt earlier and produce 50% more seeds per plant than wild type. In this study, we explored the effects of overexpressing AtPAP2 in Camelina sativa.

Results
Under controlled environmental conditions, overexpression of AtPAP2 in Camelina sativa resulted in longer hypocotyls, earlier flowering, faster growth rate, higher photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, increased seed yield and seed size in comparison with the wild-type line and null-lines. Similar to transgenic Arabidopsis, activity of sucrose phosphate synthase in leaves of transgenic Camelina was also significantly up-regulated. Sucrose produced in photosynthetic tissues supplies the building blocks for cellulose, starch and lipids for growth and fuel for anabolic metabolism. Changes in carbon flow and sink/source activities in transgenic lines may affect floral, architectural, and reproductive traits of plants.

Conclusions
Lipids extracted from the seeds of Camelina sativa have been used as a major constituent of aviation biofuels. The improved growth rate and seed yield of transgenic Camelina under controlled environmental conditions have the potential to boost oil yield on an area basis in field conditions and thus make Camelina-based biofuels more environmentally friendly and economically attractive.
Interpreting in psychiatry: a clinician's perspective. Commentary on … The need for measurable standards in mental health interpreting
Authors: MacSuibhne Seamus 
Published: April 2012

SummaryCambridgeet aldescribe the neglect into which consideration of the role of the interpreter in the encounter between patient and mental health professional has fallen. Much of what little literature exists on the topic is concerned with adverse events related to interpreting, rather than the interpreter's roleper se. Cambridgeet alare to be commended for a paper which may help bridge the gap between theory and practice of interpretation on the one side and psychiatry on the other.
A Simple and Green Method for Synthesis of Ag and Au Nanoparticles using Biopolymers and Sugars as Reducing Agent
Authors: Ayala Germán , Vercik Luci Cristina de Oliveira , Menezes Thiago Antônio Villa , Vercik Andrés 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTIn this work we study the effect of different reducing agent (chitosan, starch and sugars) on to synthesis of silver (AgNPs) and gold (AuNPs) nanoparticles by reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and chloroauric acid (HAuCl4), respectively. The plasmon absorption peak between 419 - 434 nm, measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer indicates the existence of AgNPs, this reaction was favored by the increase of temperature with optimal results at 90°C. Synthesis of AuNPs was only obtained using chitosan as reducing agent, the use of solutions of starch and sugars allows the reduction of the gold salt present in the chloroauric acid, however the low pH of the solutions creates thermodynamic instabilities for the AuNP synthesis, due to low repulsive force for colloid stability.
Combinatorial Screening of Polymer/Fullerene Blends for Solar Cells by Inkjet Printing
Authors: Teichler Anke , Perelaer Jolke , Schubert Ulrich S. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTInkjet printing is a highly material-efficient solution deposition technique that enables the preparation of thin-film libraries using little amounts of materials. As a reproducible and precise patterning technique inkjet printing can be integrated into a combinatorial screening workflow that allowed the systematic characterization of thin-film properties of newly developed materials as well as the methodical investigation of preparation parameter that influence the performance of the inkjet printed layers.This contribution provides a demonstration of a combinatorial screening workflow that utilizes inkjet printing to evaluate structure-property relationships of polymer/fullerene blends for the application in organic photovoltaics. Using this approach it is shown that optimized blend compositions as well as printing conditions lead to improved performances of organic solar cell devices.
Scale Inhibition using Nano-silica Particles
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Chishti Sadaf S. , Rai Abhishek , Patwardhan Samarth D. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Scale deposition in producing wellbores is a serious problem in the industry. The problem gets worse, when the scale is caused due to barium and strontium salts. These salts are difficult to clean as they are not easily soluble in any kinds of solution or chelating agents. In case of offshore operation, the scaling phenomenon is inevitable, as sea water injection is done.
Formation of scales changes the surface roughness of the production tubing, thereby increasing the frictional pressure drop leading to a decreased production rate. Further deposition clogs the production tubing, creating hindrances for lowering tools into lower sections of the production string. In worst cases tubing replacement needs to be done, which is a capital intensive activity.
Creating a super hydrophobic surface with multi-scale nano structures on the inside of the production tubing can greatly reduce the chances of scale deposition. This surface is created on epoxy paint surfaces using a feasible dip coating process. Microstructures are created on this surface using sandblast. Then nano structures are introduced on to the micro surface by anchoring 50–100 micro-meter SiO2 particles and finally completed by dip coating with nano SiO2/epoxy adhesive solution. The hydrophobicity is further enhanced by another dip coating of a low surface energy polymer, aminopropyl. The super hydrophobic surface shows a contact angle of 167.8 degrees (Cui, Yin, Wang et al. 2009) for water, and has high stability in basic and common organic solvents.
The ions are carried in the water present in the crude. By increasing the contact angle for water, the chances of deposition of the ions that pose scaling can be reduced. This method may provide a long term solution for scale deposition especially in offshore fields where scaling incurs huge losses.
The Revolution of Sustainable Service Quality
Authors: Phillips Randolph , Schmidt Scott 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Over the past two years, Baker Hughes has undergone an extensive reorganization from 7 independent P&L divisions to 9 cross-product line regional P&L centers. During the second year of this transformation, the acquisition of BJ Services was announced, thus adding to the services and products portfolio. Finally, the events in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 have created a new level of standards and oversight from government regulators, third-party industrial groups and customers. In many ways, the requirements for Service Quality and HS&E are now converging for certain "Products & Services". In this presentation, we will cover the consolidation of 7+ divisional Quality systems into one operating and Quality Management System (QMS) and the change management process still underway to drive standardized and consistent execution of products and services worldwide. This includes consolidation of "best practice" processes/procedures over the product lifecycle including design, manufacturing, and operations.
Throughout this transformation, our goal has been to be compliant with all required, existing and new, regulatory, third-party (e.g., ISO, API) and customer-specific requirements. The Baker Hughes Operating System (BHOS) will enable flawless execution to help reduce our customers’ operating costs as well as drive internal productivity. As we enter the third year of our transformation, the benefits of the reorganization are now becoming measurable to Baker Hughes and our customers. This presentation will conclude with a summary of the progress to date, the ongoing changes to compliance standards and oversight for products and services due to the Gulf of Mexico, the growing synergies between Reliability, Quality and HS&E.
Applying Life Cycle Assessment to Evaluate the Sustainability of Completion Fluids
Authors: Grosse-Sommer Anahi , Sava Xavier , Gilbert Ylva 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of chemicals is gaining ground as a practical tool for comparing the overall sustainability of different chemical solutions, but is rarely used for comparing well construction fluid choices. A discussion of the relative merits and insights to be gained from combining LCA and total cost of ownership for identification of the most sustainable well construction fluid solution is presented, using high-density completion brines as case examples. The comparison is made using the Eco-Efficiency Analysis tool, which has a proven track-record from over 450 studies since the 1990's as a means of determining the relative costs and environmental impacts of different industrial chemical solutions. This approach to LCA has not been previously used in the upstream oil and gas industry, but could easily be extended to assess different chemical solutions and products in the future.
The methodology and the merits of the Eco-Efficiency tool in assessing the sustainability of well construction fluid are discussed in relation to a case study comparing two families of high-density completion fluids, viz. bromide and formate brines. The analysis includes emissions, material and energy use, toxicity and risk potentials as well as the overall operational costs of running the fluids. The results from the case study and four different scenarios were subjected to an independent scientific review and were discussed with two major operators. The results show clear differences between the sustainability of the two product families, particularly taking into account the costs of the entire operation. The use of the results for supporting management decisions is discussed and it is argued that using overall LCA and cost comparisons data for decisions can improve well construction economics as well as reducing potential environmental or human health impacts.
Control Loop Performance Management to Improve Business Objectives
Authors: Liu Zhenhai , Al Ali Jasim Josham , Abbas Ahmed 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Production process in LNG plants are often subject to frequent disturbances, typically due to variations in feed conditions, changes in the air ambient and cooling water temperature, outage and deterioration of equipment performance. Therefore, it has been a very challenging task to maintain sound, accurate and stable control performance over a wide range of conditions to ensure all plant units operate reliably and at maximum efficiency, and production losses due to unplanned shutdowns are minimised.
This paper describes how the control loop performance management is implemented at ADGAS LNG plants to continuously monitor and improve control loop performance which has resulted in a significant reduction of flaring and lost production.
Key Elements of a Migrant Worker Health and Welfare Program and Its Impact in a Major Construction Project
Authors: Ahmed Israr , Wirtz Herman , Donnelly Robin Patrick , Fraser Alistair , Castillo Salvador 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Pearl GTL (Gas to Liquids) required the construction of a state of the art hydrocarbon processing facility with at peak 55,000 employed on site. The company created a worker health and welfare program based on a simple stated premise that it was "the right thing to do". The goal was to enhance health and performance by creating a culture of care and concern for the wellbeing of workers throughout construction as well as mitigate projected risks for a project of such magnitude, This programme involved the creation of a living and working environment (Pearl Village) that delivered quality accommodation, excellent dining facilities and high catering standards reflecting national diets and preferences, medical care, recreational facilities and psychological support network (professional psychologists and a system of camp uncles and aunties) for a population that was living away from home for extended periods.
Throughout the entire lifecycle of the project, various metrics were tracked making comparisons possible with other projects of a similar scale. While not solely attributable to the programme, step change results were seen in terms of increase in productivity and performance during peak construction and a decrease in fatality rates, Total Recordable Case Frequencies (TRCFs) and Non-Accidental Death (NAD) cases.
In conclusion, the worker health and welfare program was seen as key by the project to delivering results. Combined with committed leadership across all participating companies, this translated into creating the culture of genuine care, personal development, and purpose within the construction workforce living inside Pearl Village. It proved that worker health and welfare is not only the right thing to do, but has a material impact on the health, safety and productivity of the migrant workforce.