The Development Method of Low-Permeability and Ultra-Low-Permeability Reservoirs by Waterflooding

The article describes a method for developing low-permeability reservoirs using horizontal wells with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. The effectiveness of the new method lies in protecting the horizontal part of the production well by drilling it through a non-reservoir plastic reservoir adjacent directly to the target reservoir. The paper considers various implementations of the technology and estimates the increase in oil recovery factor for each of them based on the results of hydrodynamic modeling. The risks associated with the implementation of the technology are considered. Methods for their reduction are proposed.

Causes of Duodeno-Gastric Reflux as a Surgical Problem

The author points to duodeno-gastric reflux as gastric precancer. In the overwhelming majority of patients, GHD is caused by compression of the lower-horizontal part of the duodenum by the superior mesenteric artery.

Three-dimensional structure of the basal lamella of the middle turbinate

The middle turbinate’s basal lamella (3BL) is a variable landmark which needs to be understood in endoscopic transnasal skull base surgery. It comprises an anterior frontal and a posterior horizontal part and appears in its simplest depiction to be “L”-shaped, when viewed laterally. In this study we analyzed its 3D morphology and variations focusing on a precise and systematic description of the anatomy. CBCTs of 25 adults, 19 cadavers and 6 skulls (total: 100 sides) were investigated with the 3DSlicer software, creating 3D models of the 3BL. We introduced a novel geometrical classification of the 3BL’s shape, based on segments. We analyzed their parameters and relationship to neighboring structures. When viewed laterally, there was no consistent “L”-shaped appearance of the 3BL, as it is frequently quoted. A classification of 9 segment types was used to describe the 3BL. The 3BLs had in average of 2.95 ± 0.70 segments (median: 3), the most frequent was the horizontal plate (23.05% of all segments), next a concave/convex plate (22.71%), then a sigma plate (22.37%). Further types were rare. We identified a horizontal plate in 68% of all lateral views whilst 32% of the 3BLs were vertical. A sigma–concave/convex–horizontal trisegmental 3BL was the most common phenotype (27%). Globally, the sigma–concave/convex pattern was present in 42%. The 3BL adhered the ethmoidal bulla in 87%. The segmenting method is eligible to describe the 3BL’s sophisticated morphology.

Factors Affecting Ultimate Tensile Strength and Impact Toughness of 3D Printed Parts Using Fractional Factorial Design

This paper aims to investigate the mechanical properties of spec- imens printed by 3D open-source printers. It discusses the effect of five fac- tors (part/print orientation, layer height, extrusion width, nozzle diameter, and filament temperature) on the ultimate tensile strength and the impact toughness of the 3D-printed samples. A 2 6-1 resolution V fractional factorial experiment was run with the 16 samples printed on a Prusa I3 MK3S in PLA. Tensile strength and impact toughness were tested using Instron 3367 and Tinius Olsen 66 testers, respectively. In analyzing the data, a normal proba- bility plot complimented with ANOVA (Analysis Of Variance) revealed that only part/print orientation was statistically significant at p = 0.05. Regression equations were used to predict the ultimate tensile strength and the impact toughness as a function of the part/print orientation. Both the toughness re- sponse and the tensile strength response are maximized with horizontal part orientation. Verification experiments have been implemented to validate the adopted regression equations’ predictions under different circumstances and the results of those experiments appear to confirm the model.

Correlations between Low Doses of Zearalenone, Its Carryover Factor and Estrogen Receptor Expression in Different Segments of the Intestines in Pre-Pubertal Gilts—A Study Protocol

Plant materials can be contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins and their derivatives, whose toxic effects on humans and animals may remain subclinical. Zearalenone (ZEN), a low-molecular-weight compound, is produced by molds in crop plants as a secondary metabolite. The objective of this study will be to analyze the in vivo correlations between very low monotonic doses of ZEN (5, 10, and 15 μg ZEN/kg body weight—BW for 42 days) and the carryover of this mycotoxin and its selected metabolites from the intestinal contents to the intestinal walls, the mRNA expression of estrogen receptor alfa (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) genes, and the mRNA expression of genes modulating selected colon enzymes (CYP1A1 and GSTP1) in the intestinal mucosa of pre-pubertal gilts. An in vivo experiment will be performed on 60 clinically healthy animals with initial BW of 14.5 ± 2 kg. The gilts will be randomly divided into a control group (group C, n = 15) and three experimental groups (group ZEN5, group ZEN10, and group ZEN15; n = 15). Group ZEN5 will be administered per os 5 μg ZEN/kg BW (MABEL), group ZEN10—10 μg ZEN/kg BW (NOAEL), and group ZEN15—15 µg ZEN/kg BW (low LOAEL). In each group, five animals will be euthanized on analytical dates 1 (exposure day 7), 2 (exposure day 21), and 3 (exposure day 42). Samples for in vitro analyses will be collected from an intestinal segment resected from the following regions: the third (horizontal) part of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, and descending colon. The experimental material will be collected under special conditions, and it will be transported to specialist laboratories where samples will be obtained for further analyses.

Research on Evaluation Index of Automotive Antenna Testing

Mounted locations and the ground plane structure have remarkable influences on the performance of roof-mounted automotive antennas. To distinguish this influence in radiation, figure of merits (FoMs), including total radiated power (TRP), near-horizontal part radiated power (NHPRP), and cumulative distribution function (CDF), are studied in this paper. It is proved that TRPs are almost the same with different mounting configurations. Because the radiation toward the horizon is a critical performance metric for automotive antennas, NHPRP is analyzed within certain degrees near the horizon. Even though a bigger deviation has been observed in NHPRP, the discrimination between different mounted scenarios is still not enough. Different from TPR and NHPRP, which are efficiency-based FoMs, CDF combines the gain values and the pattern shape together, achieving a comprehensive and intuitive insight into the antenna performance. It is more predictive and distinguishable in terms of the radiation pattern than NHPRP and TRP. Therefore, CDF can be utilized as a good supplement to existing metrics and can better distinguish the radiation performance of different antenna mounting configurations.

First results of endonasal balloon dacryoplasty use in recurrence after dacryocystorhinostomy

Background. In recurrent dacryocystitis after dacryocystorhinostomy, a re-operation is indicated. In recent years, some publications appeared concerning endonasal dacryoplasty using 9 mm-balloon in treatment of patients with recurrent dacryocystitis. Purpose to evaluate the possibility of using endonasal balloon dacryoplasty in recurrence after dacryocystorhinostomy. Materials and methods. Into the study, 6 patients (6 cases) were included who underwent endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy for dacryocystitis 1-3 years before. In all patients, evaluation of Munks scores for epiphora, optical coherence tomography (OCT) based lacrimal meniscometry, dye disappearance test, lacrimal drainage system syringing and probing of its horizontal part, nasal endoscopy, multispiral computed tomography of lacrimal drainage system with contrast enhancement. In all patients, endonasal dacryoplasty using a balloon with 6 mm diameter was carried out. The follow-up period after surgery was 6 months. Results. In 4 patients, recovery was achieved, in 1 patient improvement was obtained, in 1 patient there was dacryostoma cicatrization. Conclusion. Preliminary results received in this study of the balloon dacryoplasty performed in 6 patients afford ground to consider it possible to use this method in patients with dacryocystitis recurrence after dacryocystorhinostomy. The matter of the prospects when using this method may be solved after further research aimed to increase the number of clinical observations to enhance the possibility of adequate statistical processing of obtained results, to extend the postoperative follow-up period, to develop the indications for this procedure, and to investigate the necessity in additional manipulations improving the effectiveness of endonasal balloon dacryoplasty.

Wilkie’s syndrome. Analysis of 150 cases of the Iberian and Ibero-American medical literature

Willkie’s syndrome or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare cause of gastrointestinal obstruction, due to exterior compression of the horizontal part of the duodenum by the SMA. For the study of the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of Wilkie’s syndrome in the Iberian and Ibero-American population, we compiled the reports of 150 cases by Iberican and Ibero-American authors, and we found a predominance of cases in females over males in a ratio of 2.57: 1. Fifty percent of the cases were in patients under 20-years of age, with the highest number of cases in schoolchildren and adolescents. The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain, vomiting and weight loss. The disease had two forms of presentation: acute with signs of high intestinal obstruction (16.47%), and chronic (83.53%). Diagnostic radiographic studies showed in of the upper gastrointestinal tract narrowing of the horizontal portion of the duodenum and delay in the transit of contrast through the gastroduodenal region, with or without gastroduodenal dilation in 85% of cases. In computed tomographic studies it was observed decreased mesenteric-aortic angle and distance. Upper endoscopic studies showed narrowing of the horizontal part of the duodenum, with or without gastroduodenal dilation in 61.90% of cases. Of the 144 patients that received treatment, 94 cases received medical treatment, with a success rate of 62.77%; and 84 cases required surgical treatment, 59.52% of these, upon admission. The most practiced surgical procedure was laterolateral duodenojejunostomy in 70.24% of cases. We concluded that Wilkie’s syndrome is an entity that results from the reduction of the mesenteric-aortic angle and distance, with two forms of presentation: acute and chronic, that required surgical treatment in 58.33% of cases.