MIXED GAS-OIL SUBSEA PIPELINES IN OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY: TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS

The choice of gas separation and transportation mode in offshore applications may significantly affect the project profitability. Main alternatives are separation on board the platform with the utilization of separate subsea pipeline for single-phase gas and oil transportation, and remote separation with multiphase transportation of the gas-oil mixture in a single pipeline. In order to assist the project engineers during the feasibility study phase, the problems relevant technical and economic issues are analysed in this paper after preliminarily describing the two process schemes. In particular a computer model is developed in order to simulate the two-phase flow of the multi-component mixture adopting the Beggs and Brill model, which showed to be the most reliable approach in this application. A cost comparison with reference to a hypothetical but realistic case study is finally carried out to assess the convenience of the multiphase flow solution. This option appears to be especially attractive when multiplewell fields exist which can be developed in an integrated manner by providing a single centralized separation plant. A Allowance for additional mass (t) L Liquid production (m3/day x 1000) STP Standard Temperature and Pressur

Effect of carbocisteine in prevention of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CAPRI study): an observational study

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic and progressive lung disease characterized by irreversible airflow obstruction, airway inflammation , oxidative stress and, often, mucus hypersecretion. The aim of thisstudy is to determine if carbocisteine, a mucolytic and antioxidant agent, administered daily for 12 months, can reduce exacerbation frequency in COPD patients

Analysis of local T lymphocyte subsets upon stimulation with intravesical BCG: A model to study tuberculosis immunity

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MIXED GAS-OIL SUBSEA PIPELINES IN OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY: TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS

The choice of gas separation and transportation mode in offshore applications may significantly affect the project profitability. Main alternatives are separation on board the platform with the utilization of separate subsea pipeline for single-phase gas and oil transportation, and remote separation with multiphase transportation of the gas-oil mixture in a single pipeline. In order to assist the project engineers during the feasibility study phase, the problem's relevant technical and economic issues are analysed in this paper after preliminarily describing the two process schemes. In particular a computer model is developed in order to simulate the two-phase flow of the multi-component mixture adopting the Beggs and Brill model, which showed to be the most reliable approach in this application. A cost comparison with reference to a hypothetical but realistic case study is finally carried out to assess the convenience of the multiphase flow solution. This option appears to be especially attractive when multiplewell fields exist which can be developed in an integrated manner by providing a single centralized separation plant. A Allowance for additional mass (t) L Liquid production (m3/day x 1000) STP Standard Temperature and Pressur

Differentiation potential and GFP labeling of sheep bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

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A community health worker-led program to improve access to gestational diabetes screening in urban slums of Pune, India: Results from a mixed methods study

The World Health Organization recommends all pregnant women receive screening for gestational diabetes (GDM) with a fasting oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). However, very few women receive recommended screening in resource-limited countries like India. We implemented a community health worker (CHW)-delivered program to evaluate if home-based, CHW-delivered OGTT would increase GDM screening in a low-resource setting. We conducted a mixed methods study in two urban slum communities in Pune, India. CHWs were trained to deliver home-based, point-of-care fasting OGTT to women in their third trimester of pregnancy. The primary outcome was uptake of CHW-delivered OGTT. Secondary outcomes included GDM prevalence and linkage to GDM care. Individual interviews were conducted with purposively sampled pregnant women, CHWs, and local clinicians to assess barriers and facilitators of this approach. From October 2021-June 2022, 248 eligible pregnant women were identified. Of these, 223 (90%) accepted CHW-delivered OGTT and 31 (14%) were diagnosed with GDM. Thirty (97%) women diagnosed with GDM subsequently sought GDM care; only 10 (33%) received lifestyle counseling or pharmacologic therapy. Qualitative interviews indicated that CHW-delivered testing was considered highly acceptable as home-based testing saved time and was more convenient than clinic-based testing. Inconsistent clinical management of GDM was attributed to providers’ lack of time to deliver counseling, and perceptions that low-income populations are not at risk for GDM. Convenience and trust in a CHW-delivered GDM screening program resulted in high access to gold-standard OGTT screening and identification of a high GDM prevalence among pregnant women in two urban slum communities. Appropriate linkage to care was limited by clinician time constraints and misperceptions of GDM risk. CHW-delivered GDM screening and counseling may improve health education and access to preventive healthcare, offloading busy public clinics in high-need, low-resource settings

Application of Autologous Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to an Ovine Model of Growth Plate Cartilage Injury

Injury to growth plate cartilage in children can lead to bone bridge formation and result in bone growth deformities, a significant clinical problem currently lacking biological treatment. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) offer a promising therapeutic option for regeneration of damaged cartilage, due to their self renewing and multi-lineage differentiation attributes. Although some small animal model studies highlight the therapeutic potential of MSC for growth plate repair, translational research in large animal models, which more closely resemble the human condition, are lacking. Our laboratory has recently characterised MSCs derived from ovine bone marrow, and demonstrated these cells form cartilage-like tissue when transplanted within the gelatin sponge, Gelfoam, in vivo. In the current study, autologous bone marrow MSC were seeded into Gelfoam scaffold containing TGF-β1, and transplanted into a surgically created defect of the proximal ovine tibial growth plate. Examination of implants at 5 week post-operatively revealed transplanted autologous MSC failed to form new cartilage structure at the defect site, but contributed to an increase in formation of a dense fibrous tissue. Importantly, the extent of osteogenesis was diminished, and bone bridge formation was not accelerated due to transplantation of MSCs or the gelatin scaffold. The current study represents the first work that has utilised this ovine large animal model to investigate whether autologous bone marrow derived MSC can be used to initiate regeneration at the injured growth plate

Preneoplastic lesions of the lung

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. If we can define and detect preneoplastic lesions, we might have a chance of improving survival. The World Health Organization has defined three preneoplastic lesions of the bronchial epithelium: squamous dysplasia/carcinoma in situ; atypical adenomatous hyperplasia; and diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia. These lesions are believed to progress to squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumors, respectively. In this review we summarize the data supporting the preneoplastic nature of these lesions, and delve into some of the genetic changes found in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and squamous dysplasia/carcinoma in situ