bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aerosolized avian influenza virus by laboratory manipulations
Authors: Li Zhiping , Li Jinsong , Zhang Yandong , Li Lin , Ma Limin , Li Dan , Gao Feng , Xia Zhiping 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
Avian H5N1 influenza viruses present a challenge in the laboratory environment, as they are difficult to collect from the air due to their small size and relatively low concentration. In an effort to generate effective methods of H5N1 air removal and ensure the safety of laboratory personnel, this study was designed to investigate the characteristics of aerosolized H5N1 produced by laboratory manipulations during research studies.

Results
Normal laboratory procedures used to process the influenza virus were carried out independently and the amount of virus polluting the on-site atmosphere was measured. In particular, zootomy, grinding, centrifugation, pipetting, magnetic stirring, egg inoculation, and experimental zoogenetic infection were performed. In addition, common accidents associated with each process were simulated, including breaking glass containers, syringe injection of influenza virus solution, and rupturing of centrifuge tubes. A micro-cluster sampling ambient air pollution collection device was used to collect air samples. The collected viruses were tested for activity by measuring their ability to induce hemagglutination with chicken red blood cells and to propagate in chicken embryos after direct inoculation, the latter being detected by reverse-transcription PCR and HA test. The results showed that the air samples from the normal centrifugal group and the negative-control group were negative, while all other groups were positive for H5N1.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that there are numerous sources of aerosols in laboratory operations involving H5N1. Thus, laboratory personnel should be aware of the exposure risk that accompanies routine procedures involved in H5N1 processing and take proactive measures to prevent accidental infection and decrease the risk of virus aerosol leakage beyond the laboratory.
Engaging with research ethics in central Francophone Africa: reflections on a workshop about ancillary care
Authors: Tshikala Tomi , Mupenda Bavon , Dimany Pierre , Malonga Aime , Ilunga Vicky , Rennie Stuart 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Research ethics is predominantly taught and practiced in Anglophone countries, particularly those in North America and Western Europe. Initiatives to build research ethics capacity in developing countries must attempt to avoid imposing foreign frameworks and engage with ethical issues in research that are locally relevant. This article describes the process and outcomes of a capacity-building workshop that took place in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in the summer of 2011. Although the workshop focused on a specific ethical theme – the responsibilities of researchers to provide health-related care to their research participants – we argue that the structure of the workshop offers a useful method for engaging with research ethics in general, and the theme of ancillary care encourages a broad perspective on research ethics that is highly pertinent in low-income countries. The workshop follows an interactive, locally driven model that could be fruitfully replicated in similar settings.
Vaccination with a non-human random sequence amyloid oligomer mimic results in improved cognitive function and reduced plaque deposition and micro hemorrhage in Tg2576 mice
Authors: Rasool Suhail , Albay Ricardo , Martinez-Coria Hilda , Breydo Leonid , Wu Jessica , Milton Saskia , Misra Sunit , Tran Andy , Pensalfini Anna , Laferla Frank , Kayed Rakez , Glabe Charles G 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
It is well established that vaccination of humans and transgenic animals against fibrillar Aβ prevents amyloid accumulation in plaques and preserves cognitive function in transgenic mouse models. However, autoimmune side effects have halted the development of vaccines based on full length human Aβ. Further development of an effective vaccine depends on overcoming these side effects while maintaining an effective immune response.

Results
We have previously reported that the immune response to amyloid oligomers is largely directed against generic epitopes that are common to amyloid oligomers of many different proteins and independent of a specific amino acid sequence. Here we have examined whether we can exploit this generic immune response to develop a vaccine that targets amyloid oligomers using a non-human random sequence amyloid oligomer. In order to study the effect of vaccination against generic oligomer epitopes, a random sequence oligomer (3A) was selected as it forms oligomers that react with the oligomer specific A11 antibody. Oligomer mimics from 3A peptide, Aβ, islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), and Aβ fibrils were used to vaccinate Tg2576 mice, which develop a progressive accumulation of plaques and cognitive impairment. Vaccination with the 3A random sequence antigen was just as effective as vaccination with the other antigens in improving cognitive function and reducing total plaque load (Aβ burden) in the Tg2576 mouse brains, but was associated with a much lower incidence of micro hemorrhage than Aβ antigens.

Conclusion
These results shows that the amyloid Aβ sequence is not necessary to produce a protective immune response that specifically targets generic amyloid oligomers. Using a non-human, random sequence antigen may facilitate the development of a vaccine that avoids autoimmune side effects.
Evaluation of a surgical service in the chronic phase of a refugee camp: an example from the Thai-Myanmar border
Authors: Weerasuriya Chathika K , Tan Saw Oo , Alexakis Lykourgos Christos , Set Aung Kaung , Rijken Marcus J , Martyn Paul , Nosten François , McGready Rose 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
Published literature on surgical care in refugees tends to focus on the acute (‘emergent’) phase of crisis situations. Here we posit that there is a substantial burden of non-acute morbidity amenable to surgical intervention among refugees in the ‘chronic’ phase of crisis situations. We describe surgery for non-acute conditions undertaken at Mae La Refugee Camp, Thailand over a two year period.

Methods
Surgery was performed by a general surgeon in a dedicated room of Mae La Refugee Camp over May 2005 to April 2007 with minimal instruments and staff. We obtained the equivalent costs for these procedures if they were done at the local Thai District General Hospital. We also acquired the list (and costs) of acute surgical referrals to the District General Hospital over September 2006 to December 2007.

Results
855 operations were performed on 847 patients in Mae La Refugee Camp (60.1% sterilizations, 13.3% ‘general surgery’, 5.6% ‘gynaecological surgery’, 17.4% ‘mass excisions’, 3.5% ‘other’). These procedures were worth 2,207,500 THB (75,683.33 USD) at costs quoted by the District General Hospital. Total cost encountered for these operations (including staff costs, consumables, anaesthesia and capital costs such as construction) equaled 1,280,000 THB (42,666 USD). Pertaining to acute surgical referrals to District General hospital: we estimate that 356,411.96 THB (11,880.40 USD) worth of operations over 14 months were potentially preventable if these cases had been operated at an earlier, non-acute state in Mae La Refugee Camp.

Conclusions
A considerable burden of non-acute surgical morbidity exists in ‘chronic’ refugee situations. An in-house general surgical service is found to be cost-effective in relieving some of this burden and should be considered by policy makers as a viable intervention.
Hemofiltration compared to hemodialysis for acute kidney injury: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Friedrich Jan O , Wald Ron , Bagshaw Sean M , Burns Karen EA , Adhikari Neill KJ 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Introduction
The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of renal replacement therapy (RRT), delivered as hemofiltration vs. hemodialysis, on clinical outcomes in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods
MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases and conference abstracts were searched to June 2012 for parallel-group or crossover randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating hemofiltration vs. hemodialysis in patients with AKI. Two authors independently selected studies and abstracted data on study quality and outcomes. Additional information was obtained from trial authors. We pooled data using random-effects models.

Results
Of 6,657 citations, 19 RCTs (10 parallel-group and 9 crossover) met inclusion criteria. Sixteen trials used continuous RRT. Study quality was variable. The primary analysis included three parallel-group trials comparing similar doses of hemofiltration and hemodialysis; sensitivity analyses included trials comparing combined hemofiltration-hemodialysis or dissimilar doses. We found no effect of hemofiltration on mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73 to 1.25, P = 0.76; three trials, n = 121 (primary analysis); RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.38, P = 0.38; eight trials, n = 540 (sensitivity analysis)) or other clinical outcomes (RRT dependence in survivors, vasopressor use, organ dysfunction) compared to hemodialysis. Hemofiltration appeared to shorten time to filter failure (mean difference (MD) -7 hours, 95% CI (-19,+5), P = 0.24; two trials, n = 50 (primary analysis); MD -5 hours, 95% CI (-10, -1), P = 0.01; three trials, n = 113 (including combined hemofiltration-hemodialysis trials comparing similar doses); MD -6 hours, 95% CI (-10, -1), P = 0.02; five trials, n = 383 (sensitivity analysis)). Data primarily from crossover RCTs suggested that hemofiltration increased clearance of medium to larger molecules, including inflammatory cytokines, compared to hemodialysis, although almost no studies measured changes in serum concentrations. Meta-analyses were based on very limited data.

Conclusions
Data from small RCTs do not suggest beneficial clinical outcomes from hemofiltration, but confidence intervals were wide. Hemofiltration may increase clearance of medium to larger molecules. Larger trials are required to evaluate effects on clinical outcomes.
Alignment of the Goals of Host Communities and Energy Companies in Nigeria: The Strategic Place of Community Development and Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable Stakeholders Participation
Authors: Ogedengbe Kunle 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The paper started with conceptual analyses of the concepts in the topic with a view of ensuring same understanding of the concepts and the topic among the people involved and the participants. Causes of poor balance with the environment, host communities and other stakeholders in the oil and gas (energy) industry in Nigeria are highlighted.
Strategies of aligning the goals of the host communities and the oil and gas companies toward ensuring a better environment/community and future for the industry are underlined. Strategies advocated include community development without disregard for the corporate policies of the oil and gas companies; as well as corporate social responsibility.
The advocated strategies are sine qua non for the attainment of sustainable stakeholder participation and management. Behavioral change management is also put forward as a way of cementing stakeholder participation in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
Above all, a novel model for effective corporate social responsibility is underlined for a win-win situation between the oil and gas companies in Nigeria and other stakeholders. This will lead to development of the host communities for the growth and development of the oil and gas companies directly and indirectly ensures sustainance of a global peace and economic equilibrium which will check the incidence of shock and turbulence in the global price of energy and its derivative products for an equitable world.
3D Extended Reach Drilling in Soft Sediments with Precise Wellbore Placement for Optimum Recovery
Authors: Abhurimen ThankGod , Homburg Heiko , Foekema Nico , Ibrahim Charles , Ogwumike John , Olare Jemine 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The Adanga Field was discovered in 1974 and is located offshore Calabar in the central part of OML-123 in Nigeria territorial waters. Addax Petroleum took over operatorship of the fields in 1998, when the production from Adanga was just 2,000 BOE per day. Through introduction of new technology, field production increased to over 20,000 BOE per day by 2009. Poor productivity and increasing water cut is an issue in Adanga. Re-interpretation of 3-D seismic data and incorporating additional information from new wells 3-D reservoir modeling confirmed an economic hydrocarbon pool to the west of Adanga (ADW).
Additional reservoir targets were identified in the Adanga South field. The plan was to develop these reservoirs from existing infrastructure. Unfortunately, the existing Adanga South platform had no remaining slot capacity to drill new wells without additional infrastructure investment. Upgrading the platform with additional drilling slots was deemed uneconomical, unsafe and will increase collision risk. The platform on adjacent field, Adanga South West, did have drilling slots available, so it was decided to investigate the feasibility of drilling extended reach wells from the Adanga South West platform to access these otherwise stranded reserves in the Adanga South field
Challenges in drilling these wells include the weak nature of the formation which can pose difficulties to conventional directional drilling techniques, wellbore quality and ECD management.
This paper describes the planning, engineering and execution of constructing two; complex, 3D, horizontal, extended reach wells drilled on the Adanga Field in 2010 to access locked-out reservoir in adjacent field. Using the experience from these two wells, the challenges of drilling complex, high angle wells in the weak sediments of the Niger Delta will be discussed along with how these wells were ultimately drilled and geologically positioned for optimum recovery.
A CFD Approach for Predicting Paraffin Deposition in Oilfield Installations
Authors: Otung D. A , Osokogwu U. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
As the high demand for fossil fuel pushes the frontiers of oil exploration and production into more hostile environments, issues associated with flow assurance have become increasingly important. This is especially true of paraffin wax precipitation and deposition in areas of reduced temperatures, such as the Polar Regions and in deep sea environments. In order to reduce costly remedial operations aimed at removing pipe/tubing blockages resulting from wax deposition, it is essential to predict when, where and how much paraffin wax is deposited during the working life of oilfield installations. In this study, a computer application model capable of predicting wax precipitation and deposition in oilfield installations under various conditions of flow was developed. Thus, a computational flow dynamics (CFD) program named "WD-Predictor" using C++ language was designed and developed with mathematical models that approximate the physical behavior of wax crystallization and deposition systems such as; Property Transport Models (Energy, Momentum and Mass), Thermodynamic Equilibrium Model and Wax Deposition & Erosion Model. The mathematical models developed were discretized while numerical solutions to the discretized models were then developed using appropriate algorithms and pseudo-codes. The "WD-Predictor" was used to estimate the Wax Appearance Temperature (WAT) of three crude samples. The results obtained were compared to an experimental results published; Exp.WAT for oil sample 1 was 87.800°F and Predicted was 89.888°F, for oil sample 2- the Exp. WAT was 114.35°F and predicted was 115.76°F and for oil sample 3, Exp. WAT was 72.950°F while Predicted was 70.620°F. Again, WD-Predictor results were compared with the experimental data extracted from Cordoba and Schall (2001). Above all, WD-Predictor output on wax deposition thickness was also compared with the enthalpy-porosity model proposed by Banki et al. (2008) and in all the WD-Predictor showed consistence in results, in line with these published experimental results. Finally, WD-Predictor was validated with a well-tested simulator PROSPER™ on pressure and temperature profiles using Beggs & Brill Correlations.
Furui's IPR Model Correction and its Application in Horizontal Well Cresting Control & Inflow Control Device Installation
Authors: Kareem Lateef A. , Emeka Omeke James 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The problem of reservoir heterogeneity has made the continued use of Inflow Performance Relation (IPR) models developed on the assumption of homogeneity impractical. Furui in 2003 (and previously Butler in 1994) solved the problem using fully penetrating well idea so that the model can be applied to different sections of the reservoir.
This paper corrects two errors in Furui's model. The first error is the use of arithmetic mean of radii to evaluate the elliptic surface area of the well when an anisotropic reservoir is converted into an isotropic equivalent. This was corrected using an equivalent cylindrical surface area. The second error is the use of a planar isobaric surface at the end of the radial flow region instead of a circular one. These corrections gave the model a better performance-average of 99% against 96% by the original version, when compared with line source solution obtained by using Green function.
Equating the hydrostatic and viscous pressure differences between the well and the water oil contact (WOC), a cresting equation that predicts the critical production rate and pressure drawdown for each zone needed to prevent water (or gas) encroachment was developed.
Based the IPR and cresting equation, this work presents a mathematical concept on installation of Inflow Control Device (ICD) so that production from each zone is designed according to its requirements.
Sanding Prediction using Rock Mechanical Properties (A Parametric Study)
Authors: Joseph A. , Akubue L. C , Ajienka J. A , Oriji A. B 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT
Sand production is described as the production of load bearing sand grains along with the produced reservoir fluids. Problems associated with it include: blockage of tubular, formation damage, casing collapse, erosion of facilities, leakages and spills, environmental issues and disposal problems. Predicting the potential of sand incidence is an important decision that petroleum engineers must make, at the time of well completion to avoid unnecessary sand control expenses. In this work, a parametric study was made to investigate the impact of various mechanical rock properties using Omar Abdulaziz Almisned's prediction model. Different diagnostic plots were made to establish unique trends for five cases using five different rock parameters and compared with the critical pressure at various depths. It was observed that the critical pressure increases with the increase in Shear modulus, Young's modulus and bulk compressibility, but decreases with the increase in poisson's ratio and bulk modulus. In addition, it was observed that the plot, (1/k)/(ts/tc)x1010, gave a close and consistent trend. This parametric combination has the same dimension as rock compressibility. This model will serve as a useful tool to estimate critical well pressure causing sand prediction, predict sand production and can also be used to perform parametric comparison of different mechanical rock properties.
Real Time Flow Estimation Using Virtual Flow Measurement Techniques: A Field Application in Intelligent Well Completion
Authors: Ajayi Arashi , Fasasi Toyin , Okuns Godwin 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Intelligent well completion has been used in various applications including but not limited to fields with multiple reservoirs. In such applications, estimation and allocation of downhole flow rates at each reservoir are critical for efficient reservoir management. One way of estimating downhole flow rates is the deployment of dedicated physical zonal flowmeters, using virtual flowmeter techniques based on the architecture of the intelligent well completion or combination of both options.
This paper describes the methodology and field wide application of using real time data from an intelligent well to estimate flow rates without the need for a physical flow meter. The real time data are from the installed downhole gauges in the well. This is combined with interval control valves, static and dynamic well information to provide reliable estimate of well production rate.
Since downhole pressure, temperature and ICV information is already available in an intelligent well, this technique provides a lower cost option of obtaining zonal and total well production and injection rates. The methodology used incorporates analytical choke equations, tubing performances, and nodal analysis (inflow performance relationship) with other reservoir parameters to build a flow estimation algorithm and model. Various downhole equipment (interval control valves, packers, pressure and temperature sensors etc) and related well information are captured into the system to set initial and final boundary conditions. Well test data can be used to calibrate the system and improve the accuracy of the model.
In the field application described, results vary from well to well with field average estimates within +/−10% when compared to measurements from normal surface metering systems. Well tests from the surface measurements were used to calibrate and improve accuracy. The result shows an operating envelope that covers a range of pressure drop across the ICV.
The method is capable of handling single and two phase system. Further enhancements are been made to handle multiphase and systems outside the steady state regime. In addition, enhanced data filtering techniques implemented in the system help managed noisy data.
The analytical techniques described enhance digital oilfield capability in optimizing production through affordable flow rate estimation for intelligent wells. The technique presented can also be used to increase the reliability of applicable wells since no additional physical hardware is required.