bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The inhibitory receptor LILRB1 modulates the differentiation and regulatory potential of human dendritic cells
Authors: Young Neil T. , Waller Edward C. P. , Patel Rashmi , Roghanian Ali , Austyn Jonathan M. , Trowsdale John 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) link innate and adaptive immunity, initiating and regulating effector cell responses. They ubiquitously express members of the LILR (ILT, LIR, CD85) family of molecules, some of which recognize self-HLA molecules, but little is known of their possible functions in DC biology. We demonstrate that the inhibitory receptor LILRB1 (ILT2, LIR1, CD85j) is selectively up-regulated during DC differentiation from monocyte precursors in culture. Continuous ligation of LILRB1 modulated cellular differentiation, conferred a unique phenotype upon the resultant cells, induced a profound resistance to CD95-mediated cell death, and inhibited secretion of cytokines IL-10, IL-12p70, and TGF-β. These features remained stable even after exposure of the cells to bacterial LPS. Ligated DCs exhibited poor stimulatory activity for primary and memory T-cell proliferative responses, but this was substantially reversed by blockade of CD80 or its preferred ligand CTLA-4, or by depleting CD4+ CD25+ CD127lo regulatory T cells. Our findings suggest that ligation of LILRB1 on DCs by self-HLA molecules may play a key role in controlling the balance between the induction and suppression of adaptive immune responses.
Identification of two novel activities of the Wnt signaling regulator Dickkopf 3 and characterization of its expression in the mouse retina
Authors: Nakamura Rei EI , Hunter Dale D , Yi Hyun , Brunken William J , Hackam Abigail S 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

Background
The Wnt signaling pathway is a cellular communication pathway that plays critical roles in development and disease. A major class of Wnt signaling regulators is the Dickkopf (Dkk) family of secreted glycoproteins. Although the biological properties of Dickkopf 1 (Dkk1) and Dickkopf 2 (Dkk2) are well characterized, little is known about the function of the related Dickkopf 3 (Dkk3) protein in vivo or in cell lines. We recently demonstrated that Dkk3 transcripts are upregulated during photoreceptor death in a mouse model of retinal degeneration. In this study, we characterized the activity of Dkk3 in Wnt signaling and cell death.

Results
Dkk3 was localized to Müller glia and retinal ganglion cells in developing and adult mouse retina. Western blotting confirmed that Dkk3 is secreted from Müller glia cells in culture. We demonstrated that Dkk3 potentiated Wnt signaling in Müller glia and HEK293 cells but not in COS7 cells, indicating that it is a cell-type specific regulator of Wnt signaling. This unique Dkk3 activity was blocked by co-expression of Dkk1. Additionally, Dkk3 displayed pro-survival properties by decreasing caspase activation and increasing viability in HEK293 cells exposed to staurosporine and H2O2. In contrast, Dkk3 did not protect COS7 cells from apoptosis.

Conclusion
These data demonstrate that Dkk3 is a positive regulator of Wnt signaling, in contrast to its family member Dkk1. Furthermore, Dkk3 protects against apoptosis by reducing caspase activity, suggesting that Dkk3 may play a cytoprotective role in the retina.
Surface antigens and potential virulence factors from parasites detected by comparative genomics of perfect amino acid repeats
Authors: Fankhauser Niklaus , Nguyen-Ha Tien-Minh , Adler Joël , Mäser Pascal 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

Background
Many parasitic organisms, eukaryotes as well as bacteria, possess surface antigens with amino acid repeats. Making up the interface between host and pathogen such repetitive proteins may be virulence factors involved in immune evasion or cytoadherence. They find immunological applications in serodiagnostics and vaccine development. Here we use proteins which contain perfect repeats as a basis for comparative genomics between parasitic and free-living organisms.

Results
We have developed Reptile http://reptile.unibe.ch, a program for proteome-wide probabilistic description of perfect repeats in proteins. Parasite proteomes exhibited a large variance regarding the proportion of repeat-containing proteins. Interestingly, there was a good correlation between the percentage of highly repetitive proteins and mean protein length in parasite proteomes, but not at all in the proteomes of free-living eukaryotes. Reptile combined with programs for the prediction of transmembrane domains and GPI-anchoring resulted in an effective tool for in silico identification of potential surface antigens and virulence factors from parasites.

Conclusion
Systemic surveys for perfect amino acid repeats allowed basic comparisons between free-living and parasitic organisms that were directly applicable to predict proteins of serological and parasitological importance. An on-line tool is available at http://genomics.unibe.ch/dora.
Inhibition of human μ-calpain by conformationally constrained calpastatin peptides
Authors: Pfizer José , Assfalg-Machleidt Irmgard , Machleidt Werner , Schaschke Norbert 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The 27-mer peptide CP1B-[1–27] derived from exon 1B of calpastatin stands out among the known inhibitors for μ- and m-calpain due to its high potency and selectivity. By systematical truncation, a 20-mer peptide, CP1B-[4–23], was identified as the core sequence required to maintain the affinity/selectivity profile of CP1B-[1–27]. Starting with this peptide, the turn-like region Glu10(i)-Leu11(i+1)-Gly12(i+2)-Lys13(i+3) was investigated. Sequence alignment of subdomains 1B, 2B, 3B and 4B from different mammalians revealed that the amino acid residues in position i+1 and i+2 are almost invariably flanked by oppositely charged residues, pointing towards a turn-like conformation stabilized by salt bridge/H-bond interaction. Accordingly, using different combinations of acidic and basic residues in position i and i+3, a series of conformationally constrained variants of CP1B-[4–23] were synthesized by macrolactamization utilizing the side chain functionalities of these residues. With the combination of Glu(i)/Dab(i+3), the maximum of conformational rigidity without substantial loss in affinity/selectivity was reached. These results clearly demonstrate that the linear peptide chain corresponding to subdomain 1B reverses its direction in the region Glu10-Lys13 upon binding to μ-calpain, and thereby adopts a loop-like rather than a tight turn conformation at this site.
Heparinase selectively sheds heparan sulphate from the endothelial glycocalyx
Authors: Chappell Daniel , Jacob Matthias , Rehm Markus , Stoeckelhuber Mechthild , Welsch Ulrich , Conzen Peter , Becker Bernhard F. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
A healthy vascular endothelium is coated by the endothelial glycocalyx. Its main constituents are transmembrane syndecans and bound heparan sulphates. This structure maintains the physiological endothelial permeability barrier and prevents leukocyte and platelet adhesion, thereby mitigating inflammation and tissue oedema. Heparinase, a bacterial analogue to heparanase, is known to attack the glycocalyx. However, the exact extent and specificity of degradation is unresolved. We show by electron microscopy, immunohistological staining and quantitative measurements of the constituent parts, that heparinase selectively sheds heparan sulphate from the glycocalyx, but not the syndecans.
A counterintuitive approach to treat enzyme deficiencies: use of enzyme inhibitors for restoring mutant enzyme activity
Authors: Fan Jian-Qiang 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Pharmacological chaperone therapy is an emerging counterintuitive approach to treat protein deficiencies resulting from mutations causing misfolded protein conformations. Active-site-specific chaperones (ASSCs) are enzyme active-site directed small molecule pharmacological chaperones that act as a folding template to assist protein folding of mutant proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). As a result, excessive degradation of mutant proteins in the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) machinery can be prevented, thus restoring enzyme activity. Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are suitable candidates for ASSC treatment, as the levels of enzyme activity needed to prevent substrate storage are relatively low. In addition, ASSCs are orally active small molecules and have potential to gain access to most cell types to treat neuronopathic LSDs. Competitive enzyme inhibitors are effective ASSCs when they are used at sub-inhibitory concentrations. This whole new paradigm provides excellent opportunity for identifying specific drugs to treat a broad range of inherited disorders. This review describes protein misfolding as a pathophysiological cause in LSDs and provides an overview of recent advances in the development of pharmacological chaperone therapy for the diseases. In addition, a generalized guidance for the design and screening of ASSCs is also presented.
Offshore Production Facilities Design And Operation
Authors: Dacy J. R. , Holburn J. D. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
This paper has been prepared to present the basic criteria used to ensure that an offshore production facility is as simple as possible to construct as well as being easy and safe to operate. The information presented here is applicable to any offshore design, however, it draws heavily on the authors' experiences in the British sector of the North Sea.
The design of North Sea platforms has been an active effort since the early 1970s. The experience gained to date has resulted in an increasingly greater degree of maximising the work performed onshore, thus minimising the the amount of offshore hook-up. Since these projects are complex and expensive, the success of performing the work on schedule and within budget is determined to a greater extent by the initial decisions taken at the conceptual stage of the project.
It should be noted that this paper is based on the authors' experience with the most complex type of platforms. The harsh environmental conditions with 30 metre high waves require platforms of usual complexity and strength, together with advanced design features to protect operating equipment. Many platforms in other parts of the world do not have to operate under these conditions and therefore tend to be simpler and less expensive installations.
While this paper is written primarily from the stand point of a Consultant/Contractor, the concerns of the owner/operator also are recognised.
The Use of Seismic Data in the Preparation of Wells Prognoses for Wildcat Wells
Authors: Daines Stephen R. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
As exploration continues, the number of areas having hydrocarbon potential that have yet to be tapped by the drill are rapidly decreasing. Concomitant with the rising costs of subsurface evaluation, these areas have diminished to the most inaccessible, requiring the development of new practices and technology. Most of the unexplored areas are offshore, and require evaluation of the geology from increasing water depths. The successful drilling and completion of rank wildcat wells is thus becoming more difficult but also more important. Much of the success of a well is determined in the planning stage, and it is here that careful interpretation of seismic data can provide extremely useful information on potential drilling hazards such as shallow gas, geopressures, and fluctuating fracture pressures, all of which provide information for the casing and mud program.
A good well plan begins with the prospect generation by the geophysicists and geologists, and then involves further analysis for engineering hazards by joint interpretation. Good communication and cooperation at this point is essential. Based on the results of these interpretations, the well plan outline may be drawn up; the final operations being contingent upon the actual conditions encountered by the borehole.
The interpreters must be aware that the limitations of their initial plan are dependent upon the resolution of the available data. Flexibility in the well plan is thus a major requirement. It is to be expected that errors in the prognosis (due to errors in the seismic interpretation) will occur; therefore, extra margins are necessary in materials and emergency contingencies. Errors in the predicted depths of events, magnitudes of geopressures, and the occurrence of unexpected lithologies and phenomena must be within the capabilities of the operation.
The Prudhoe Bay Field: Simulation of a Complex Reservoir
Authors: Killough John Edwin , Pavlas Emmerick J. , Martin Charles , Doughty Roger K. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
The Prudhoe Bay Field-Sadlerochit Reservoir presents many complexities which make reservoir simulation of this large oil accumulation difficult. The presence of major faults, the existence of large shale complexes, the enormous gas cap and associated coning of wells, and the heavy oil/tar mat could cause, even if each existed separately, major problems for a standard reservoir simulation model. This paper describes the techniques which were used by ARCO Oil and Gas to overcome these difficulties in modeling the Prudhoe Bay Field. Because of the large areal extent of the field, a unique grid in radial coordinates was used to reduce the number of grid cells to a manageable number. A new form of velocity-dependence was introduced into the gas/oil relative permeability and capillary pressure pseudo function relationships in order to more accurately model the gravity drainage and coning behavior in the field. A special pressure solution technique was developed to handle the extensive faults throughout the reservoir. Finally, an overall well and facility management routine was added to control the production/injection of the field and to give realism to the complex boundary conditions involved in these controls. Validation of the modeling techniques was carried out in small scale models, larger cross-sectional models, and finally through history matching of the field. These validations gave excellent results.
Consequences of Salting Well Cements
Authors: Beach Horace J. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Salted cement remains active long after hydrating and hardening. In contact with less salted water, it exchanges salt for water through the permeable membrane continuum of the cement. Osmotic stresses in time produce multiple fractures. In Arctic uses, water imbibed from alternately thawed and frozen formations can freeze, expand, and rubble salted cement. Salt misuses can be reduced by balancing ion concentrations in cement with those in formations. Salt addition or any other mechanism of freezing point depression is unnecessary. Inclusion in the slurry of a small amount of hydrophilic material prevents expansion damage from the freeze of free water in hydrated cement.
Perforating Techniques for Maximizing Well Productivity
Authors: Bell W. T. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
A major objective of any well completion is to attain maximum production. The perforating equipment and techniques that are used have a very important bearing on determining the production that results.
According to the nature of the reservoir, wells may be completed either naturally, with sand-control measures, or with formation stimulation by acidization and/or hydraulic fracturing. The well-bore-to-formation pressure relationship at the time of perforating may be overbalanced, balanced, or underbalanced. Perforating guns may be retrievable, semi-expendable, or expendable; designed for operation through tubing or in open casing; run on wireline or on tubing.
This paper describes the various combinations of guns and techniques that are in common use, with the advantages and disadvantages of each. The four basic performance parameters, i.e., shot density, perforation diameter, penetration depth, and gun phasing, are ranked in order of relative importance for natural, sand-control, and stimulated completions. Where justified, the author makes recommendations and draws conclusions.
Massive Hydraulic Fracture Design for the East Texas Cotton Valley Sands
Authors: Schlottman Bernard W. , Miller William K. , Lueders R. Kent 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Since Amoco stimulated its first well in the East Texas Cotton Valley Sands much has been learned about its geology and reservoir properties as well as what type and size stimulations are optimum for the varying geologic and reservoir conditions. Similarly, substantial advances have been made in recent years on how to economically achieve the desired fracture lengths and conductivity. The major geologic and reservoir parameters which affect massive hydraulic fracture (MHF) designs are the presence of marine vs. non marine sands, the existence of natural fractures, and reservoir permeability differences.
The major items which must be established in fracture designs are polymer loading, sand scheduling, pump rate scheduling, and fluid loss control. In addition to these items, quality control and equipment layout must be carefully considered for optimum results. Rather than low pump rates, low polymer concentration gels are being used in MHF stimulations to control viscosity and, therefore, downhole treating pressure and fracture height. Pump rate was determined to have marginal effects on downhole treating pressure. High sand concentrations are needed to enhance fracture conductivity along with certain fluid loss additives to control fluid leak-off. The results have been more efficient MHF stimulations and increased gas recovery per well.
A Forecast Of Domestic Petroleum Demands For The Next Two Decades
Authors: Halbouty Michel T. 
Published: December 2007

Publication Rights Reserved
This paper is to be presented at the California Regional Meeting in Los Angeles, Calif., Nov. 5–6, 1964, and is considered the property of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Permission to publish is hereby restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words, with no illustrations, unless the paper is specifically released to the press by the Editor of the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is granted on request, providing proper credit is given that publication and the original presentation of the paper.
Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines with the paper.
It is always a genuine pleasure for a Texan to visit in California. This is probably the only state we can visit and feel perfectly at ease with things that are bigger and better than they are at home.
Any where a Texan goes outside of California, those who listen to him think he is lying or bragging or exaggerating.
In California, no matter what we say, the natives seem to sympathize with our real modesty and our lack of imagination.
My assignment here today is to make "A Forecast of Domestic Petroleum Demands for the Next Two Decades". In order to do this, I certainly will have to forego any of my modesty and use all of my imagination.
Forecasting demand is, to say the least, an unusual role for an oil finder and explorer. I certainly cannot qualify as a petroleum economist.
With the exception of very short-term forecasts, no one has ever made accurate predictions of domestic petroleum demands in the past. Therefore, it is appropriate to assume that this forecast will not be any more accurate than those made in the past.
In recent years, long-term supply and demand forecasts have broken out like a rash. The fact is that almost any figure one desires is available. The difference in them, if analyzed closely, lies in the specific interest of the experts and their companies or institutions at the particular time the forecasts are made.
Of course, all such long-term forecasts are quite safe because, by the time the end of the period has been reached, people have either forgotten the figures, the forecaster has retired, died, gone broke, or become such a big man in the industry that no one dare recall the error he made 20 years earlier.
There are too many hidden and unknown factors which control forecasts. Who knows what indicators are lurking in the darkness? What kind of government will we have in the future? To what extent will other energy sources move in on conventional energy sources? And about population, is it possible that the trend in population will change? War or disease, or even new pills could change the whole picture in population forecasts.
Gas Resources in Low Permeability Formations and The Effect of Price and Technology
Authors: Baker Ovid 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
I will report on a recent estimate of a 40% increase in our natural gas resources. This gas is in low permeability or tight reservoirs. It has been too expensive to produce in the past. New higher prices for gas make this resource important. Massive fracturing technology allows us to produce it.
I will tell you why unconventional gas is a good energy resource at today's prices. We have measured how the resource has expanded as price has increased and as technology improves. A new major gas province will be developed in the Rocky Mountains. The development of this gas is a profitable business venture now. In the future, today's unconventional gas will become the major gas supply for the United States.
This estimate was made by the National Petroleum Council. The National Petroleum Council is an Advisory Council to the U.S. Government created by Congress about 40 years ago.
The Development and Operation of the Forties Flare System
Authors: Webber N. J. W. , Moir E. R. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
The U.K. North Sea Forties Oilfield has been on production for six years. It was recognised in the design state of the four integrated production, drilling and accommodation platforms that the safe and efficient combustion of residual gas, remaining after the extraction of NGL components, was an important design parameter.
The specification of the Forties flare system was based on a requirement for low noise, low radiation, high combustion efficiency, and robustness for service in a hostile environment.
The resulting flare system has given safe and efficient operation for six years, and provided a test bed for extending the frontiers of flare design and materials science.
This paper details the development of the Forties flare system from its inception to the current state of the art which has generated one new type of flare, and a means of quickly extinguishing oilfield flares so improving the safety of offshore oil production platforms.
Operational Experience with Continuous Density Measurement of Crude Oil
Authors: Smith J. H. O. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Fields producing crude oil into the Brent System pipeline are required to measure and account for production in units of mass, whereas traditionally volumetric units are usually preferred. The measurement of mass is currently done indirectly, by continuously multiplying volume and density measured at line pressure and temperature: the density being measured by continuous on-line transducers of the vibrating element type.
Although the vibrating element density transducer is capable of very high orders of accuracy and has been widely used for clean hydrocarbon liquids and gases, its use for fiscal or custody transfer measurements on crude oil to date has been limited.
In this paper the experience gained since the beginning of 1980 with a twin density transducer system on the Thistle ‘A’ platform is described in order that operators intending to install similar systems may benefit from BNOC's experience.