Three-dimensional ultrasound assessment of endometrial receptivity: a review

Three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) is a new imaging modality, which is being introduced into clinical practice. Although this technique will not probably replace two-dimensional ultrasound, it is being increasingly used. It has been reported that 3D US is a very high reproducible technique. The endometrium has been paid special attention when using this technique. The aim of this paper is to address some technical aspects of 3D US and to review critically its current status in evaluating endometrial function with special focus in its role in predicting pregnancy in assisted reproductive techniques. In spontaneous cycles endometrial volume grows during follicular phase remaining constant through the luteal phase. Endometrial vascularization increases during follicular phase peaking 2–3 days before ovulation, decreasing thereafter and increasing again during mid and late luteal phase. Data from studies analysing the role of 3D US for predicting IVF outcome are controversial. An explanation for these controversial findings might be different design of reported studies, specially the timing of ultrasound evaluation

En torno al tipo Melpómene Farnesio en esculturas romanas de Hispania

In this communication we talke about the subject of dressed feminine type known as Melpomene Farnese, which was born during hellenistic age and was diffused al1 over romans world for representing divinities, specially muses and personifications. We also talk, in this study, about the question of others hellenistic divinity figurations, which are difficult to define its clothing.En esta comunicación se aborda la problemática del tipo femenino vestido conocido como Melpómene Farnesio, el cual fue creado durante la época helenística y se difundió en el mundo romano para las representaciones de divinidades, singularmente musas y personificaciones. Se aborda también, en este estudio, el caso de otras figuraciones de divinidades de corte helenístico, que presentan problemas de diversa índole en su indumentaria

La frontera enquistada: el reino de Murcia a fines de la Edad Media

Con el final de las grandes conquistas del siglo XIII, la frontera con el recién creado reino de Granada quedó prácticamente estancada. El presente artículo estudia la situación del territorio murciano y el efecto que la presencia de la cercana frontera ejerció sobre él. Se hace referencia a organización del territorio, a la concentración de la población en grandes núcleos como Lorca, Caravaca, Cehegín y otros. Se alude también a la función que la frontera murciana ejerció, como lugar de refugio político, en el contexto de las luchas internas de la región entabladas en el siglo XV. Todo ello permite a los autores trazar un amplio parorama sobre la realidad de la región murciana durante el último siglo de la Edad Media e, incluso, analizar las repercusiones que tuvo para el territorio murciano la desaparición del reino nazarí de Granada tras su capitulación en 1492.With the end of the great conquest of the 13th century, the frontier with the recentIy founded Kingdom of Granada remained practically stagnant. The present article studies the situation in the Murcia territory and the effect the presence of this neigthboring border had in the area. A reference is made to the organization of the territory and to the concentration of populations in large centers like Lorca, Caravaca, and Cehegín among others. It al so alludes to the function the Murcian border served as a place of polítical refuge in relation to the internal disputes that defined the region during the 15th century. All of this allows the author to present a panorama of the reality of the Murcian region during the last century of the Middle Ages, and to analyze the repercussions that the disappearance of the Nazarí Kingdom of Granada had on the Murcian territory afier its surrender in 1492

Application of Multifunctional Agents During Enhanced Oil Recovery

During the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes, complex operational issues, such as the deposition of organic compounds (i.e., wax, resins, and asphaltenes, among others), reservoir formation damage, rock wettability alteration, and high fluids viscosity negatively affect oil recovery. This chapter presents the experimental evaluation of the multifunctional properties of two novel chemical agents recently developed: a zwitterionic surfactant (ZS) and a supramolecular complex (named here as AMESUS) for chemical EOR applications. The performance of the new multifunctional agents and the mechanisms in play on the removal/control of organic compounds deposition oil recovery, asphaltenes inhibition-dispersion activity, reduction in heavy crude oil viscosity, rock wettability modification, and relative permeability are discussed in this chapter

Drilling Fluids for Deepwater Fields: An Overview

The increasing oil demand around the world along with the depletion of onshore and shallow water oil reserves have forced the oil companies moving into the development of deepwater subsea hydrocarbon reservoirs. Drilling fluids play a key role in all drilling operations, but they get a greater relevance in deepwater environments where the technological challenges of drilling at these extreme conditions generate significant operational risks as well as very high costs during the development of this kind of fields. The operational issues and concerns related to the drilling fluid design and application for deepwater fields are generally well known: narrow pore/fracture pressure gradient margins, wellbore stability, clay swelling, gas hydrates formation, formation damage, salt formations, lost circulation, stuck pipe, cuttings transport and environmental and safety aspects. Therefore, the present chapter aims to give an overview on the main challenges and research related to drilling fluid design and application for deepwater fields through the revision of the state of the art of the current and innovative technological solutions reported in literature