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The advent of laparoscopic and robotic surgery has revolutionized many operations throughout the surgical world, leading to smaller incisions, reduced post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays, and accelerated post-surgical recovery. However, these advancements come with drawbacks such as limited accessibility, high costs, and sometimes the requirement of multiple incisions. We present an alternative approach for an open “incisionless” colostomy, using an intra-rectal Foley catheter to help identify the descending colon.

Numerical modelling is likely the only available tool to evaluate and predict the fate of CO2injected in deep geological reservoirs, and particularly in depleted hydrocarbon fields. Here we present a methodology which aims at evaluating the geological leaking risk of an underground storage using a depleted oil field as the host reservoir. The methodology combines basin and reservoir scale simulations to determine the efficiency of the storage. The approach was designed for the study of the reservoir after the injection of CO2and then does not take into account any CO2injection period. The approach was applied to the Forties field (North Sea) for which CO2behaviour was simulated for a 1000 y time period. Our findings suggest that local geological conditions are quite favourable for CO2sequestration. Possible residence time of CO2will be in the order of thousands of years and, thus such geological depleted hydrocarbon fields storage is probably a good alternative for a long term CO2sequestration. Additionally, results of this work can help to establish criteria to identify other mature hydrocarbon fields aimed for CO2sequestration.

Diagenesis exerts a strong control on the quality and heterogeneity of most clastic reservoirs. Variations in the distribution of diagenetic alterations usually accentuate the variations in depositional porosity and permeability. Linking the types and distribution of diagenetic processes to the depositional facies and sequence-stratigraphic framework of clastic successions provides a powerful tool to predict the distribution of diagenetic alterations controlling quality and heterogeneity. The heterogeneity patterns of sandstone reservoirs, which determine the volumes, flow rates, and recovery of hydrocarbons, are controlled by geometry and internal structures of sand bodies, grain size, sorting, degree of bioturbation, provenance, and by the types, volumes, and distribution of diagenetic alterations. Variations in the pathways of diagenetic evolution are linked to (1) depositional facies, hence pore-water chemistry, depositional porosity and permeability, types and amounts of intrabasinal grains, and extent ofbioturbation; (2) detrital sand composition; (3) rate of deposition (controlling residence time of sediments at specific near-surface, geochemical conditions); and (4) burial thermal history of the basin. The amounts and types of intrabasinal grains are also controlled by changes in the relative sea level and, therefore, can be predicted in the context of sequence stratigraphy, particularly in paralic and shallow marine environments. Changes in the relative sea level exert significant control on the types and extent of near-surface shallow burial diagenetic alterations, which in turn influence the pathways of burial diagenetic and reservoir quality evolution of clastic reservoirs. Carbonate cementation is more extensive in transgressive systems tract (TST) sandstones, particularly below parasequence boundaries, transgressive surface, and maximum flooding surface because of the abundance of carbonate bioclasts and organic matter, bioturbation, and prolonged residence time of the sediments at and immediately below the sea floor caused by low sedimentation rates, which also enhance the formation of glaucony. Eogenetic grain-coating berthierine, odinite, and smectite, formed mostly in TST and early highstand systems tract deltaic and estuarine sandstones, are transformed into ferrous chlorite during mesodiagenesis, helping preserve reservoir quality through the inhibition of quartz cementation. The infiltration of grain-coating smectitic clays is more extensive in braided than in meandering fluvial sandstones, forming flow barriers in braided amalgamated reservoirs, and may either help preserve porosity during burial because of quartz overgrowth inhibition or reduce it by enhancing intergranular pressure dissolution. Diagenetic modifications along sequence boundaries are characterized by considerable dissolution and kaolinization of feldspars, micas, and mud intraclasts under wet and warm climates, whereas a semiarid climate may lead to the formation of calcrete dolocrete cemented layers. Turbidite sandstones are typically cemented by carbonate along the contacts with interbedded mudrocks or carbonate mudstones and marls, as well as along layers of concentration of carbonate bioclasts and intraclasts. Commonly, hybrid carbonate turbidite arenites are pervasively cemented. Proximal, massive turbidites normally show only scattered spherical or ovoid carbonate concretions. Improved geologic models based on the connections among diagenesis, depositional facies, and sequence-stratigraphic surfaces and intervals may not only contribute to optimized production through the design of appropriate simulation models for improved or enhanced oil recovery strategies, as well as for CO2 geologic sequestration, but also support more effective hydrocarbon exploration through reservoir quality prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1978 the National Institute for Curriculum Development (SLO) and the National Institute for Support of Arts Education (LOKV) have been working together with two schools in Zaandam on audio-visual education in primary schools. The project made its object to work out of the aims of audio-visual education (or 'media education') in the primary school (children aged 4-12 years), to explore the nature of audio-visual education, and to establish a curriculum. 'Audio-visual education' aims to increase audio-visual literacy, helping pupils acquire information and an insight into the meaning of mass media in order to learn how they are used for communication. It also entails using audio-visual means as a method of expression and using audio-visual equipment in education. The teachers in the project schools have designed and implemented lessons in audio-visual education. After these lessons were given they were discussed and analysed by the advisors, project leaders and colleagues. This developmental approach led to a total curriculum, which is described