bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Novel Agent Effective against Clostridium difficile Infection
Authors: Dvoskin Sofya , Xu Wei-Chu , Brown Neal C. , Yanachkov Ivan B. , Yanachkova Milka , Wright George E. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

N
2
-(3,4-Dichlorobenzyl)-7-(2-[1-morpholinyl]ethyl)guanine (MorE-DCBG, 362E) is a synthetic purine that selectively inhibits the replication-specific DNA polymerase of
Clostridium difficile
. MorE-DCBG and its analogs strongly inhibited the growth of a wide variety of
C. difficile
strains. When administered orally in a hamster model of
C. difficile
-specific colitis, 362E was as effective as oral vancomycin, the current agent of choice for treating severe forms of the human disease.
Sur7 Promotes Plasma Membrane Organization and Is Needed for Resistance to Stressful Conditions and to the Invasive Growth and Virulence of Candida albicans
Authors: Douglas Lois M. , Wang Hong X. , Keppler-Ross Sabine , Dean Neta , Konopka James B. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

The human fungal pathogen
Candida albicans
causes lethal systemic infections because of its ability to grow and disseminate in a host. The
C. albicans
plasma membrane is essential for virulence by acting as a protective barrier and through its key roles in interfacing with the environment, secretion of virulence factors, morphogenesis, and cell wall synthesis. Difficulties in studying hydrophobic membranes have limited the understanding of how plasma membrane organization contributes to its function and to the actions of antifungal drugs. Therefore, the role of the recently discovered plasma membrane subdomains termed the membrane compartment containing Can1 (MCC) was analyzed by assessing the virulence of a
sur7
Δ mutant. Sur7 is an integral membrane protein component of the MCC that is needed for proper localization of actin, morphogenesis, cell wall synthesis, and responding to cell wall stress. MCC domains are stable 300-nm-sized punctate patches that associate with a complex of cytoplasmic proteins known as an eisosome. Analysis of virulence-related properties of a
sur7
Δ mutant revealed defects in intraphagosomal growth in macrophages that correlate with increased sensitivity to oxidation and copper. The
sur7
Δ mutant was also strongly defective in pathogenesis in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. The mutant cells showed a decreased ability to initiate an infection and greatly diminished invasive growth into kidney tissues. These studies on Sur7 demonstrate that the plasma membrane MCC domains are critical for virulence and represent an important new target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

IMPORTANCE
Candida albicans
, the most common human fungal pathogen, causes lethal systemic infections by growing and disseminating in a host. The plasma membrane plays key roles in enabling
C. albicans
to grow
in vivo
, and it is also the target of the most commonly used antifungal drugs. However, plasma membrane organization is poorly understood because of the experimental difficulties in studying hydrophobic components. Interestingly, recent studies have identified a novel type of plasma membrane subdomain in fungi known as the membrane compartment containing Can1 (MCC). Cells lacking the MCC-localized protein Sur7 display broad defects in cellular organization and response to stress
in vitro
. Consistent with this,
C. albicans
cells lacking the
SUR7
gene were more susceptible to attack by macrophages than cells with the gene and showed greatly reduced virulence in a mouse model of systemic infection. Thus, Sur7 and other MCC components represent novel targets for antifungal therapy.
ON THE GENERAL ONE-DIMENSIONAL XY MODEL: POSITIVE AND ZERO TEMPERATURE, SELECTION AND NON-SELECTION
Authors: BARAVIERA A. T. , CIOLETTI L. M. , LOPES A. O. , MOHR JOANA , SOUZA RAFAEL RIGAO 
Published: December 2011

We consider (M, d) a connected and compact manifold and we denote by [Formula: see text] the Bernoulli space Mℤ. The analogous problem on the half-line ℕ is also considered. Let [Formula: see text] be an observable. Given a temperature T, we analyze the main properties of the Gibbs state [Formula: see text]. In order to do our analysis, we consider the Ruelle operator associated to [Formula: see text], and we get in this procedure the main eigenfunction [Formula: see text]. Later, we analyze selection problems when the temperature goes to zero: (a) existence, or not, of the limit [Formula: see text], a question about selection of subactions, and, (b) existence, or not, of the limit [Formula: see text], a question about selection of measures. The existence of subactions and other properties of Ergodic Optimization are also considered. The case where the potential depends just on the coordinates (x0, x1) is carefully analyzed. We show, in this case, and under suitable hypotheses, a Large Deviation Principle, when T → 0, graph properties, etc. Finally, we will present in detail a result due to van Enter and Ruszel, where the authors show, for a particular example of potential A, that the selection of measure [Formula: see text] in this case, does not happen.
Effect of Prostaglandin E1 on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Following Corrective Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Dong Ming-Feng , Ma Zeng-Shan , Ma Sheng-Jun , Chai Shou-Dong , Tang Pei-Zhe , Yao Dao-Kuo , Wang Lexin 
Published: December 2011

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on residual pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) after corrective surgery for congenital heart disease. Methods: Thirty-one patients with postoperational PAH were randomly divided into control group (n = 15) and PGE1 group (n = 16, 6 courses of intravenous PGE1 plus conventional therapy). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by echocardiography before and 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment. Arterial oxygen pressure (Pao2) was monitored. Results: In both groups, MPAP decreased and RVEF, LVEF, and Pao2 increased at 6 and 12 months following surgery. In the PGE1 group, the MPAP (32.2 ± 5.2 vs 40.2 ± 5.1 mm Hg; P = .008) was lower and RVEF (66.6% ± 6.5% vs 54.9% ± 2.1%; P = .019), LVEF (65.9% ± 3.9% vs 53.5% ± 5.1%; P = .031), and Pao2 (94.3% ± 11.2% vs 93.1% ± 11.3%; P = .009) was higher than in the control group 12 months after the surgery. Four patients (26.7%) in the control group died of pulmonary hypertension crisis, but there was no death in the PGE1 group ( P = .029). Cumulative survival rate in the control group were 86.7%, 80%, 73.3%, and 73.3% at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Conclusions: Intravenous PGE1 therapy after corrective surgery for congenital heart disease was associated with a reduction in mean pulmonary arterial pressure and a lower risk of death.
Determinants of patient satisfaction in ambulatory oncology: a cross sectional study based on the OUT-PATSAT35 questionnaire
Authors: Thanh Vân France Nguyen , Bosset Jean-François , Monnier Alain , Fournier Jacqueline , Perrin Valérie , Baumann Cédric , Brédart Anne , Mercier Mariette 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with satisfaction with care in cancer patients undergoing ambulatory treatment. We investigated associations between patients' baseline clinical and socio-demographic characteristics, as well as self-reported quality of life, and satisfaction with care.

Methods
Patients undergoing ambulatory chemotherapy or radiotherapy in 2 centres in France were invited, at the beginning of their treatment, to complete the OUT-PATSAT35, a 35 item and 13 scale questionnaire evaluating perception of doctors, nurses and aspects of care organisation. Additionally, for each patient, socio-demographic variables, clinical characteristics and self-reported quality of life using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire were recorded.

Results
Among 692 patients included between January 2005 and December 2006, only 6 were non-responders. By multivariate analysis, poor perceived global health strongly predicted dissatisfaction with care (p < 0.0001). Patients treated by radiotherapy (vs patients treated by chemotherapy) reported lower levels of satisfaction with doctors' technical and interpersonal skills, information provided by caregivers, and waiting times. Patients with primary head and neck cancer (vs other localisations), and those living alone were less satisfied with information provided by doctors, and younger patients (< 55 years) were less satisfied with doctors' availability.

Conclusions
A number of clinical of socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with different scales of the satisfaction questionnaire. However, the main determinant was the patient's global health status, underlining the importance of measuring and adjusting for self-perceived health status when evaluating satisfaction. Further analyses are currently ongoing to determine the responsiveness of the OUT-PATSAT35 questionnaire to changes over time.
Influence of retinoblastoma-related gene silencing on the initiation of DNA replication by African cassava mosaic virus Rep in cells of mature leaves in Nicotiana benthamiana plants
Authors: Bruce Gareth , Gu Mei , Shi Nongnong , Liu Yule , Hong Yiguo 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Geminiviruses mainly infect terminally differentiated tissues and cells in plants. They need to reprogramme host cellular machinery for DNA replication. This process is thought to be mediated by inactivation of cell-cycle repressor proteins and by induction of host DNA synthesis protein expression through actions of the geminviral replication initiator protein (Rep).

Findings
Exploiting a Nicotiana benthamiana pOri2 line, which is transformed with a transgene consisting of a direct repeat of the African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV)-replication origin (Ori) flanking a non-viral DNA region, and virus-induced RNA silencing (VIGS), the impact of host gene expression on replication of the ACMV-derived replicon was investigated. The ACMV Rep trans-replicated the viral episomal replicon in leaves of young but not older pOri2 plants. Upon VIGS-mediated down-regulation of N. benthamiana NbRBR1, the retinoblastoma-related protein gene coding for a negative cell-cycle suppressor, recovered the ability of ACMV Rep for trans DNA replication, whereas the silencing of NbPCNA coding for the sliding clamp of DNA polymerase had no effect.

Conclusions
These results suggest that the cellular machinery for DNA replication in differentiated tissues of older leaves cannot be reprogrammed by Rep alone but may need other uncharacterised viral and plant factors.
The Alzheimer's β-secretase enzyme BACE1 is required for accurate axon guidance of olfactory sensory neurons and normal glomerulus formation in the olfactory bulb
Authors: Rajapaksha Tharinda W , Eimer William A , Bozza Thomas C , Vassar Robert 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
The β-secretase, β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), is a prime therapeutic target for lowering cerebral β-amyloid (Aβ) levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Clinical development of BACE1 inhibitors is being intensely pursued. However, little is known about the physiological functions of BACE1, and the possibility exists that BACE1 inhibition may cause mechanism-based side effects. Indeed, BACE1-/- mice exhibit a complex neurological phenotype. Interestingly, BACE1 co-localizes with presynaptic neuronal markers, indicating a role in axons and/or terminals. Moreover, recent studies suggest axon guidance molecules are potential BACE1 substrates. Here, we used a genetic approach to investigate the function of BACE1 in axon guidance of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), a well-studied model of axon targeting in vivo.

Results
We bred BACE1-/- mice with gene-targeted mice in which GFP is expressed from the loci of two odorant-receptors (ORs), MOR23 and M72, and olfactory marker protein (OMP) to produce offspring that were heterozygous for MOR23-GFP, M72-GFP, or OMP-GFP and were either BACE1+/+ or BACE1-/-. BACE1-/- mice had olfactory bulbs (OBs) that were smaller and weighed less than OBs of BACE1+/+ mice. In wild-type mice, BACE1 was present in OSN axon terminals in OB glomeruli. In whole-mount preparations and tissue sections, many OB glomeruli from OMP-GFP; BACE1-/- mice were malformed compared to wild-type glomeruli. MOR23-GFP; BACE1-/- mice had an irregular MOR23 glomerulus that was innervated by randomly oriented, poorly fasciculated OSN axons compared to BACE1+/+ mice. Most importantly, M72-GFP; BACE1-/- mice exhibited M72 OSN axons that were mis-targeted to ectopic glomeruli, indicating impaired axon guidance in BACE1-/- mice.

Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that BACE1 is required for the accurate targeting of OSN axons and the proper formation of glomeruli in the OB, suggesting a role for BACE1 in axon guidance. OSNs continually undergo regeneration and hence require ongoing axon guidance. Neurogenesis and the regeneration of neurons and axons occur in other adult populations of peripheral and central neurons that also require axon guidance throughout life. Therefore, BACE1 inhibitors under development for the treatment of AD may potentially cause axon targeting defects in these neuronal populations as well.
Smart E&P Collaboration Centers: Design, Technology Support, and Lessons Learned
Authors: Al-Qahtani Adel A. , Hogg Martin F. , Lau Kenneth K. , Al-Naser Naser A. 
Published: December 2011

Summary
The application and adoption of collaboration centers in the exploration and production (E&P) industry have increased significantly in the past decade. The benefits of collaboration-center use have been clearly identified including the delivery of cost-effective and fully integrated multidiscipline field, reservoir, and well management decisions.
Saudi Aramco has established a number of collaboration centers that directly capitalize on large-scale, multidiscipline, value-added technical and business collaborations. These centers, for instance, cover areas of exploration, geosteering, real-time drilling, field development, and production and intelligent-field management. Tangible economic and technical benefits of such collaboration encompass improved recovery, improved technical workflows, technology innovation, enhanced staff-skill-set development, and significant reduction of critical field-development-study cycle times. This paper outlines Saudi Aramco's experience from 5 years of using multidiscipline collaboration centers with a focus on facility design, technology (software and hardware) support, and lessons learned.
Advances in interactive, high-performance technology solutions (hardware and software) and easy-to-use visual communication technologies present additional opportunities to extend and enhance the value-added impact of collaboration centers, including virtual collaboration. The need for physical, localized centers will be discussed, compared, and evaluated in the context of virtual-collaboration-center potential. The paper presents a "checklist" methodology for collaboration-center design, layout, support, and maintenance incorporating the challenges of continuous technology advancement and multidiscipline project complexity.
Simulation on the Method of Determining Remaining Oil Saturation by Measuring Dual Pulsed Neutron Parameters
Authors: Feng Zhang , Chao Yuan , Juntao Liu , Shuang Hou , Yan Sun 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
The parameters of C/O ratio and Sigma based on pulsed neutron source can be obtained at the same time in one logging, which utilizes a special pulse and measurement timing design to record inelastic, capture gamma ray spectra and gamma ray time spectrum at the far and near detector. By combining dual parameters for determining oil, water and gas saturation, it can resolve the problem no way to distinguish gas and water only using C/O, oil and fresh water only using Sigma, in addition, it can determine saturation under the condition of unknown borehole porosity information. By theoretical analysis and Monte Carlo simulation method, the gamma ray time spectrum after repetitive pulse of neutron emission can still meet the exponential decay law, and repetitive pulse before neutron lifetime measuring can raise gamma count rate of time spectrum 3 to 5 times, therefore, the dual parameters measured simultaneously in one logging are feasible. Through dual parameters of C/O ratio and Sigma, the C/O data is cross plotted against Sigma data and then to determine oil, water and gas saturation. By using Monte Carlo method to set up computation model, inelastic gamma spectrum, capture gamma spectrum and time spectrum under certain borehole and formation conditions can be simulated, and the logging response is given when determining oil, water and gas saturation by using cross plot technique of C/O and Sigma. In addition, the influence of lithology, porosity, shale content, borehole size, formation water salinity and gas density on determining saturation were simulated, and it will provide response relation for determining oil saturation by dual parameters of C/O ratio and Sigma.
Multi-Million Cell SAGD Models - Opportunity For Detailed Field Analysis
Authors: Akram Farrukh 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Canada has the world’s largest deposits of ultraheavy oil and bitumen, estimated at 2.5 trillion barrels. Thermal recovery processes such as CHOPS (cold heavy-oil production with sand), SAGD (steam-assisted gravity drainage), and CSS (cyclic steam stimulation) have been successfully employed and promise good recovery for these oil sands. SAGD, however, is a relatively new technology and most of these projects are struggling to reach their expected production rates.
SAGD recovery shortcomings are mostly related to geological aspects of the reservoirs that were not fully understood initially, and reservoir simulation studies are being conducted to improve the understanding of reservoir response to steam injection. As operators are gaining experience with the SAGD process, it is becoming clear that oil sands are anything but homogenous and have tremendous variations in key geological and reservoir properties.
Building models for thermal simulation is significantly more complex than building them for conventional simulations, requiring more computing power, more iteration, and more memory. To capture the details of heterogeneity in a thermal reservoir simulation model, a very fine-scale grid is required. Also, a full-field model is required to appropriately understand the interplay of steam chambers for adjacent well pairs.
The results gained by combining both full-field and thermal simulation results into a multimillion-cell model more accurately represent the geological heterogeneity and movement of steam along the wellbores. The methodology presented in this paper uses advanced simulator and computing technology for this purpose. The model preserves the extreme detail required for accurate interpretation and prediction, enabling testing of sensitivity for multiple operational parameters such as injection pressures and limiting flow pressures.
A unique well-placement design is chosen that allows for greater sweep efficiency and flexibility in well placement. Advanced computing technology enables the large model to be run in a fraction of the time required by conventional techniques, enforcing greater accuracy in results and preserving the true behavior of the steam flow. To reduce the uncertainty of operational parameters, a sensitivity plot is provided to describe the parameters that have the most impact on the SAGD behavior.
The methodology presented here allows for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis using a multimillion-cell model, bridging the gap between geology and engineering and instilling greater confidence in the results of the reservoir simulation study. The ultimate objective is to acquire more accurate results so that the expected SAGD production rates can be achieved through optimization of technology and processes.
Optimal Soak Time for Cyclic Steam Stimulation of a Horizontal Well in Gravity Drainage Reservoirs
Authors: Wu Z. , Vasantharajan S. 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
In an earlier work, we presented a new, semi-analytical gravity drainage model to predict oil production of a horizontal well under cyclic steam stimulation. In this paper, the model for the horizontal well is extended from the gravity drainage representation to more accurately predict performance during the cyclic steam stimulation. The water–vapor equilibrium in the cylindrical chamber created by injected steam in the vicinity of the well, heat losses to surrounding oil, formation during the steam soaking stage, and oil production are now included in the modified model. The computation procedure consists of solving the transient heat conduction equations to obtain the temperatures in the chamber and surrounding oil during the soak period and determining the temperature decline during the oil production phase. By using the proposed model, one can optimize the soak time to maximize the cumulative oil production. A case stud is presented to illustrate this capability.
Sensitivity studies have also been conducted to better understand the impact of steam quality and steam injection volumes on well performance. The proposed model is employed on an example application to enhance cumulative oil production.
Modeling of a New Field Development Plan for a Giant Offshore Oilfield in the UAE
Authors: Bachar S. , Obara H. , Watanabe M. 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
A modeling study was undertaken to optimize the subsurface development of a giant offshore oil field in the UAE, using the concept of artificial islands. The new development plan capitalized on many advantages of artificial island in terms of surface and subsurface flexibility [Ref.1].
The main objective of this paper is to present the dramatic changes in a field development plan (FDP) which have been achieved by incorporating the concept of Maximum Reservoir Contact (MRC) wells and Geologic Drainage Area (GDA) for development of reservoir G. This revised FDP was the result of evaluating various development options for reservoir G and incorporating learning from sector model through a workflow which was established for this purpose.
In this paper, we describe multiple field development options which have been evaluated for reservoir G through full field modeling and sector model sensitivity studies. Recommendations are made for the optimal development plan. The recommended development plan (referred to as the Island Option) is tailored to the geologic description of the reservoir and uses 3 km maximum reservoir contact (MRC) wells in addition to shorter MRC wells, enabled by drilling wells from islands instead of conventional drilling and production towers ("WHPTs"). Key elements of the island development plan are that it:Is based on a variably spaced, line drive pattern floodHonors the reservoir geology and current oil saturation distributionUses ~3 km MRC wells with closer spacing (~0.5 to 1 km) in place of the current 500 m to 1 km WHPT wells in areas of the reservoir with low permeabilityUses ~1 km MRC wells with larger spacing (~1 to 1.5 km) in areas of the reservoir with high permeabilityPerforms better than the predecessor development plan (referred to as WHPT Option) in terms of plateau duration and ultimate recovery
The recommended plan for reservoir G is the Island Option, which calls for drilling 79 new wells compared to the WHPT Option which would have required 140 new wells. The new wells in the island development plan are a mix of 3 km MRC wells, 1 km horizontal wells and vertical wells. The MRC wells are oriented in a northwest-southeast direction to be aligned with the predominant fault direction in the field, reducing the risk of poor areal sweep because of water breakthrough resulting from wells intersecting faults.