Development of Self-Healing Cement Slurry through the Incorporation of Dual-Encapsulated Polyacrylamide for the Prevention of Water Ingress in Oil Well

In the present work, a novel cross-linked polymer was synthesized though the anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylate with moisture as an initiator, methylene-bis-acrylamide as a cross-linker, and linseed oil as a spacer. Two layers of the synthesized polymer was coated over polyacrylamide for its homogenous impregnation in Class-G cement slurry for the synthesis of cement core. Fourier Transformation Infrared spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction spectrum of the synthesized polymer and cement core were obtained to investigate the presence of different functional groups and phases. Moreover, the morphologies of the dual-encapsulated polyacrylamide was observed through scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the water-absorption capacity of the synthesized dual-encapsulated polyacrylamide in normal and saline conditions were tested. A cement core impregnated with 16% of dosage of dual-encapsulated polyacrylamide possesses an effective self-healing capability during the water-flow test. Moreover, the maximum linear expansion of the cement core was observed to be 26%. Thus, the impregnation of dual-encapsulated polyacrylamide in cement slurry can exhibit a superior self-healing behavior upon water absorption in an oil well

Patient-level costs of major cardiovascular conditions: a review of the international literature

Gina Nicholson,1 Shravanthi R Gandra,2 Ronald J Halbert,1 Akshara Richhariya,2 Robert J Nordyke1 1ICON, El Segundo, 2Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA Objective: Robust cost estimates of cardiovascular (CV) events are required for assessing health care interventions aimed at reducing the economic burden of major adverse CV events. This review synthesizes international cost estimates of CV events.Methods: MEDLINE database was searched electronically for English language studies published during 2007-2012, with cost estimates for CV events of interest – unstable angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and CV revascularization. Included studies provided at least one estimate of patient-level direct costs in adults for any identified country. Information on study characteristics and cost estimates were collected. All costs were adjusted for inflation to 2013 values.Results: Across the 114 studies included, the average cost was US $6,466 for unstable angina,$11,664 for acute myocardial infarction, $11,686 for acute heart failure,$11,635 for acute ischemic stroke, $37,611 for coronary artery bypass graft, and$13,501 for percutaneous coronary intervention. The ranges for cost estimates varied widely across countries with US cost estimate being at least twice as high as European Union costs for some conditions. Few studies were found on populations outside the US and European Union.Conclusion: This review showed wide variation in the cost of CV events within and across countries, while showcasing the continuing economic burden of CV disease. The variability in costs was primarily attributable to differences in study population, costing methodologies, and reporting differences. Reliable cost estimates for assessing economic value of interventions in CV disease are needed. Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, health care costs, hospitalization economics, follow-up studie

Development of Self-Healing Cement Slurry through the Incorporation of Dual-Encapsulated Polyacrylamide for the Prevention of Water Ingress in Oil Well

In the present work, a novel cross-linked polymer was synthesized though the anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylate with moisture as an initiator, methylene-bis-acrylamide as a cross-linker, and linseed oil as a spacer. Two layers of the synthesized polymer was coated over polyacrylamide for its homogenous impregnation in Class-G cement slurry for the synthesis of cement core. Fourier Transformation Infrared spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction spectrum of the synthesized polymer and cement core were obtained to investigate the presence of different functional groups and phases. Moreover, the morphologies of the dual-encapsulated polyacrylamide was observed through scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the water-absorption capacity of the synthesized dual-encapsulated polyacrylamide in normal and saline conditions were tested. A cement core impregnated with 16% of dosage of dual-encapsulated polyacrylamide possesses an effective self-healing capability during the water-flow test. Moreover, the maximum linear expansion of the cement core was observed to be 26%. Thus, the impregnation of dual-encapsulated polyacrylamide in cement slurry can exhibit a superior self-healing behavior upon water absorption in an oil well.</jats:p

Towards true-to-scale 3D reconstruction of the human face using structured light projection and off-the-shelf cameras

In recent years, 3D surface imaging has been adopted in oculofacial surgeries; 3D measurements have facilitated surgical planning and post-operative assessment. Furthermore, life-like 3D visualization has provided a promising alternative as tools of communication and training. However, such surface imaging and visualization technologies remain restricted to the legacy systems. In this paper, we present a 3D surface imaging and reconstruction system made from off-The-shelf components. Our imaging setup consists of custom-made stereo cameras and structured light projection. We demonstrate a true-To-scale 3D reconstruction of the frontal part of the head of a human subject, by capturing its multiple views. We use a non-intrusive auto-calibration method to ensure reconstruction accuracy. The paper also discusses the lighting conditions of such capture procedures, as such parameters may severely affect the performance

Risk of skeletal-related events (SREs) in patients with lung cancer (LC) and newly diagnosed metastases to bone.

e18107 Background: Bone is a common site of metastatic involvement in patients (pts) with LC. Bony metastases (mets) are often associated with SREs (spinal cord compression [SCC], pathologic fracture [PF], surgery to bone [SB], radiotherapy to bone [RT]). Skeletal complications cause significant morbidity and mortality. Current estimates of SRE risk come principally from randomized clinical trials. Information from routine clinical practice is limited. Methods: Using the tumor registry and electronic data stores at a large U.S. Midwest healthcare system that serves approximately 800,000 persons, we retrospectively identified all pts aged ≥18 yrs with primary LC and newly diagnosed bone mets between 1/1/95 and 12/31/09. Electronic medical records were reviewed by trained abstractors for evidence of SREs between date of bone mets diagnosis and death, loss to follow-up, or end of study. Cumulative incidence of SREs was estimated in the presence of competing risk of death. Results: We identified a total of 272 pts with primary LC and newly diagnosed bone mets; 66 pts had evidence of SREs at initial diagnosis of bone mets and were excluded from the analyses. Among the remaining 206 pts, mean (SD) age was 65.7 yrs (10.5 yrs) and 66% were male; 47% were Caucasian and 50% were African-American. Median duration of follow-up after diagnosis of bone mets was 3.0 months (mos). At 6 mos, cumulative incidence of SREs was 45.6% (SCC, 6.9%; PF, 20.6%; SCC and/or PF, 25.0%; SB, 4.1%; RT, 34.7%) (Table). Corresponding figures at 12 mos were 50.8% (SCC, 6.9%; PF, 24.1%; SCC and/or PF, 28.3%; SB, 4.1%; RT, 39.8%). Relatively few pts (17.5%) received intravenous bisphosphonates prior to SRE. Conclusions: Pts with LC in routine clinical practice are at high risk of SREs following initial diagnosis of bone mets. [Table: see text] </jats:p

Risk of skeletal-related events (SREs) in patients with prostate cancer (PC) and newly diagnosed metastases to bone.

e15197 Background: Bone is a common site of metastatic involvement in patients (pts) with PC. Bony metastases (mets) are often associated with SREs (spinal cord compression [SCC], pathologic fracture [PF], surgery to bone [SB], radiotherapy to bone [RT]). Skeletal complications cause significant morbidity and mortality. Current estimates of SRE risk come principally from randomized clinical trials. Information from routine clinical practice is limited. Methods: Using the tumor registry and electronic data stores at a large U.S. Midwest healthcare system that serves approximately 800,000 persons, we retrospectively identified all pts aged ≥18 yrs with primary PC and newly diagnosed bone mets between 1/1/95 and 12/31/09. Electronic medical records were reviewed by trained abstractors for evidence of SREs between date of bone mets diagnosis and death, loss to follow-up, or end of study for evidence of first SRE. Cumulative incidence of SREs was estimated in the presence of competing risk of death. Results: We identified a total of 420 men with primary PC and newly diagnosed bone mets; 42 pts had evidence of SREs at initial diagnosis of bone mets and were excluded from the analyses. Among the remaining 378 pts, mean (SD) age was 72.7 yrs (9.8 yrs); 38% were Caucasian and 58% were African-American. Median duration of follow-up after diagnosis of bone mets was 17.1 months (mos). At 12 mos, cumulative incidence of SREs was 31.6% (SCC, 6.1%; PF, 15.0%; SCC and/or PF, 19.1%; SB, 3.9%; RT, 24.4%) (Table). Corresponding figures at 24 mos were 45.3% (SCC, 12.5%; PF, 22.2%; SCC and/or PF, 30.2%; SB, 6.2%; RT, 34.9%). Relatively few pts (14.6%) received intravenous bisphosphonates prior to SRE. Conclusions: Pts with PC in routine clinical practice are at high risk of SREs following initial diagnosis of bone mets. [Table: see text] </jats:p

Risk of skeletal-related events (SREs) in patients with breast cancer (BC) and newly diagnosed metastases to bone.

e12024 Background: Bone is a common site of metastatic involvement in patients (pts) with BC. Bony metastases (mets) are often associated with SREs (spinal cord compression [SCC], pathologic fracture [PF], surgery to bone [SB], radiotherapy to bone [RT]). Skeletal complications cause significant morbidity and mortality. Current estimates of SRE risk come principally from randomized clinical trials. Information from routine clinical practice is limited. Methods: Using the tumor registry and electronic data stores at a large US Midwest healthcare system that serves approximately 800,000 persons, we retrospectively identified all pts aged ≥18 yrs with primary BC and newly diagnosed bone mets between 1/1/95 and 12/31/09. Electronic medical records were reviewed by trained abstractors for evidence of SREs between date of bone mets diagnosis and death, loss to follow-up, or end of study. Cumulative incidence of SREs was estimated in the presence of competing risk of death. Results: We identified a total of 378 pts with primary BC and newly diagnosed bone mets; 87 pts had evidence of SREs at initial diagnosis of bone mets and were excluded from the analyses. Among the remaining 291 pts, mean (SD) age was 58.2 yrs (14.3 yrs), and 99% were women; 46% were Caucasian and 48% were African-American. Median duration of follow-up after diagnosis of bone mets was 16.1 months (mos). At 12 mos, cumulative incidence of SREs was 44.5% (SCC, 5.2%; PF, 21.0%; SCC and/or PF, 23.3%; SB, 7.6%; RT, 34.3%) (Table). Corresponding figures at 24 mos were 53.8% (SCC, 7.5%; PF, 29.3%; SCC and/or PF, 32.5%; SB, 9.4%; RT, 41.7%). Approximately one-half (45.0%) of study subjects received intravenous bisphosphonates prior to SRE. Conclusions: Pts with BC in routine clinical practice are at high risk of SREs following initial diagnosis of bone mets. [Table: see text] </jats:p