A geo-cellular model of a multiphase hydrocarbon field incorporating fault-seal analysis : Bredasdorp Basin, South Africa

Geological 3D static modelling has become an integral tool during the appraisal and developmental stages of a hydrocarbon field lifecycle. The 3D model becomes the basis upon which reservoir heterogeneity and characterisation are understood, hydrocarbon volumetrics are calculated and field development plans are designed. Reservoir compartmentalisation and fault-seal analysis is also an industry topic which has drawn much interest. Having a 3D model allows for fault-seal analyses to be carried out and evaluated using the statistically distributed reservoir properties. This study incorporates the building of a 3D geo-cellular reservoir model with a fault seal analysis of the E-S field, which is located on the north flank of the Bredasdorp Basin. The reservoir model was built using geostatistical methods to populate the several reservoir parameters into the model to calculate a hydrocarbon volume. In addition, a fault-seal analysis was carried out in order to investigate the phenomenon of having an oil accumulation separated from a gas accumulation either side of a fault. The facies modelling was carried out using the object modelling technique, in order to produce a model which is geologically plausible. Most of the remaining reservoir parameters were modelled using a variogram except in the case of water saturation, which was modelled using a J function equation. The volumetrics were assigned per fault block. Using a recovery factor of 75% for gas and 11% for oil, the calculated total recoverable hydrocarbons were 12.6 Bscf and 1.3 MMbbl respectively. The fault-seal analysis showed that the faults separating two of the fault blocks are not completely sealing. All the calculated fault properties supported this view, with the Shale Gouge Ratio (SGR) and threshold pressure relationship indicating a high likelihood for leakage across parts the faults. Pressure data from Repeat Formation Tests (RFT) however, indicates that the hydrocarbon accumulations in both blocks are isolated from each other. This contradiction has informed the recommendation to drill a highly deviated or short horizontal well which will cross the fault and intersect both blocks, and to complete the well using a sliding sleeve, thus providing the flexibility needed in order to manage multi-phase flow

Graphical User Authentication Algorithms Based on Recognition: A survey

In cyber security, the most crucial subject in information security is user authentication. Robust text-based password methods may offer a certain level of protection. Strong passwords are hard to remember, though, so people who use them frequently write them on paper or store them in file for computer .Numerous of computer systems, networks, and Internet-based environments have experimented with using graphical authentication techniques for user authentication in recent years. The two main characteristics of all graphical passwords are their security and usability. Regretfully, none of these methods could adequately address both of these factors concurrently. The ISO usability standards and associated characteristics for graphical user authentication and possible attacks on nineteen recognition-based authentication systems were discussed. In this study, differentiation table of attack patterns for all recognition-based techniques is shown. Finally, the positive and negative aspects of nineteen methods were explained in the form of a detailed table

Heparin modulates the expression of genes encoding pro and anti-apoptotic proteins in endothelial cells exposed to intestinal ischemia and reperfusion in rats

PURPOSE: To investigate if expression of genes encoding pro and anti-apoptotic proteins in the rat enteric endothelial cells stimulated by intestinal ischemia followed by reperfusion (IR) can be modified by treatment with heparin (HP).METHODS: Eighteen adult Wistar rats were divided in three groups: sham group submitted to laparotomy only (SG), ischemia followed by reperfusion group (IRG); ischemia followed by reperfusion plus pretreatment with HP 100 mg.kg-1 (IRG+HP). Ischemia was performed by clamping of the superior mesenteric artery. After 60 min of ischemia, metal clamps were removed for reperfusion for 120 min. Gene expression of encoding pro (Casp1, Casp6, Casp3, Cflar, Fas and Pgl) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl2, Bcl2l1 and Naip2) proteins in rat enteric endothelial cells was evaluated by PCR microarray method.RESULTS: Compared to rat endothelial cells of SG, the expression of pro-apoptotic genes was up-regulated in IRG while anti-apoptotic genes were down-regulated. In contrast, the expression of anti-apoptotic genes in IRG+HP was up-regulated while pro-apoptotic genes was down-regulated compared to SG.CONCLUSION: The attenuation by heparin of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion previously demonstrated in rodents could be related with ability of this drug to stimulate and reduce gene expression of encoding anti and pro-apoptotic proteins, respectively.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Federal University of São Paulo Department of SurgeryUNIFESP Pharmacology DepartmentUNIFESP Gynecology DepartmentUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of BiochemistryUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of SurgeryUNIFESP, Department of SurgeryUNIFESP, Pharmacology DepartmentUNIFESP, Gynecology DepartmentUNIFESP, Department of BiochemistryUNIFESP, Department of SurgerySciEL

Ischemic preconditioning and the gene expression of enteric endothelial cell biology of rats submitted to intestinal ischemia and reperfusion

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on the expression of pro and anti-apoptotic genes in rat endothelial cells undergoing enteric ischemia (I) and reperfusion (R). METHODS: Thirty rats underwent clamping of the superior mesenteric vessels. Sham group (GS) laparotomy only; Ischemia (GI): intestinal ischemia (60 min); Ischemia and Reperfusion (GIR): ischemia (60 min) and reperfusion (120 min); Ischemia and intestinal ischemic preconditioning (GI + IPC) : 5 minutes of ischemia followed by 10 min of reperfusion before sustained ischemia (60 min) ischemia and reperfusion and IPC (GIR + IPC): 5 min ischemia followed by 10 min of reperfusion before sustained ischemia (60min) and reperfusion (120 min). Rat Endothelial Cell Biology (PCR array) to determine the expression of genes related to endothelial cell biology. RESULTS: Gene expression of pro-apoptotic markers (Casp1, Casp6, Cflar, Fas, and Pgl) was down regulated in GI+IPC and in GIR + IPC. In contrast, the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl2 and Naip2), was up-regulated in GI + IPC and in GIR + IPC. CONCLUSION: Ischemic preconditioning may protect against cell death caused by ischemia and reperfusion.UNIFESPUNIFESPSciEL

Does the cytomegalovirus infection cause kidney transplant rejection in Erbil city patients, Kurdistan region of Iraq?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), the most significant infectious agent, belongs to the family of Herpesviridae. There is a high risk of severe viral reactivation among patients with kidney transplantation, particularly in the first three months after transplantation (where patients are at the peak for immune suppression), The infection has a high morbidity rate. Hence, this study was designed to assess the association of CMV infection with kidney transplantation and recognize the symptoms that are more related to kidney transplantation (KT) in the Erbil city, Kurdistan region of Iraq. The study enrolled 72 patients who received renal allograft from March 2018 to December 2019, and this population has been characterized as Middle Eastern descent and ethnic miscegenation. Data included age and gender of the recipient, type of donor, symptomatic and asymptomatic CMV patients. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was used to detect and amplify the extracted virus DNA from blood samples. The CMV was found in 43 patients infected with CMV with graft rejection of about 37.21%. While, it was observed in low rate 13.79% in 20 other patients with graft rejection which had free from CMV. The graft rejection rates were significantly higher among the CMV positive group than controls (P= 0.029). In the light of the results of this study, it has been concluded that the CMV infection in patients after kidney transplantation surgery was deemed an important predisposing factor for acute allograft rejection. The study revealed that the screening of CMV among donor could decrease the possibility of kidney graft rejection among recipients

Effect of Geotextile Reinforcement on Flexible Pavement Roads

A field full scale flexible road is constructed and the effects of geotextile reinforcement in paved road are tested by measuring the occurred rutting. The effect of different numbers and positions of geotextile reinforcement using seven road sections are evaluated and compared with unreinforced pavement section. It is found that a maximum reduction of rut depth is 96% when using three reinforcement layers at three different road layers interfaces, and a minimum reduction is 52% when using one reinforcement layer at interface I ( between wearing and binder layers) under the effect of maximum load cycles of 10000. The minimum Traffic Benefit Ratio (TBR= ratio between load cycles on a reinforced section to that of unreinforced section for the same rut depth) is found to be 4 when using one reinforcement layer in the interfaces I , and extremely large values for other reinforcement cases. Once, the above values appear how the service life of the paved road is increased by using geotextile reinforcement.The cost-benefit analysis is also adopted in this research and found that by using one reinforcement layer the road cost is increased by only 14% resulting in increment value of TBR to 4 (this means that the road life is doubled 4 times if all other circumstances are fixed). This is a minimum case benefit when comparing it with all other cases; it is found that TBR values are exaggerated when different numbers and positions of geotextile reinforcement layers are used

Study of Heparin in Intestinal Ischemia and Reperfusion in Rats: Morphologic and Functional Evaluation

To study whether treatment with heparin (HEP) attenuates intestinal dysfunction caused by ischemia (I) and reperfusion (R), rats were treated with HEP (100 U/kg intravenously) or saline solution (SS) before I (60 min), which was produced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, and R (120 min). After I or I/R, we mounted 2-cm jejunal segment in an organ bath to study neurogenic contractions stimulated by electrical pulses or KCl, using a digital recording system. Thin jejunal slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for optical microscopy. Compared with the sham group, jejunal contractions were similar in the I + HEP and the I/R + HEP groups, but reduced in the I + SS and the I/R + SS groups. the jejunal enteric nerves were damaged in the I + SS and the I/R + SS, but not in the I + HEP and the I/R + HEP cohorts. These results suggested that HEP attenuated intestinal dysfunction caused by I and I/R.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Surg, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ Great Dourados, Sch Med, Dourados, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Surg, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc