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In this study, a review of production performance of four existing horizontal producers equipped with Inflow Control Device (ICD) completions was conducted using 4-D dynamic modelling on a sandstone reservoir with high water mobility. The aim of this study was to investigate the optimum regulation degree across ICD completion i.e. the ratio of pressure drop across ICDs to the reservoir drawdown, suitable to delay water breakthrough, minimize water cut and achieve production balance. A single wellbore model was built by populating rock and fluid properties in 3-D around the wellbore for each of the studied wells. The model was then calibrated to the measured production log flow profile and bottomhole pressure profile for the deployed ICD completion in each well. Thereafter, several ICD simulation cases were run at target rates for a production forecast of 4 years. An optimum ICD case for each well was selected on the basis of water breakthrough delay, water cut reduction and incremental oil gain. The study results showed that there is a correlation between reservoir heterogeneity index, well productivity index (PI) and optimum regulation degree required across ICD to achieve longer water breakthrough delay and better water cut control. In general, high heterogeneity, high PI wells require higher regulation degree across ICD of close to one; medium heterogeneity, low PI require regulation degree across ICD of between 0.3 – 0.45 while low heterogeneity, low PI, require very low regulation degree of between 0.1 – 0.15. Based on study results, a new ICD design framework and correlation chart were developed. This framework was then applied to two newly drilled horizontal producers to test the applicability of the workflow in real time ICD design scenarios and positive results were achieved. Given the significant number of ICD completions deployed yearly, this new ICD design framework would provide guidance on how much pressure drop across ICD is required during real time design for newly drilled or sidetrack wells and would ultimately ensure maximum short and long term benefits are derived from deployment of ICD completions.

The effectiveness of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding was measured for poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coating materials containing carbon nanofibers. Carbon nanofibers produced from the C2H4/NC73 system exhibited higher shielding effectiveness (SE) by relatively large specific surface area and high aspect ratio than those from others. When the thickness of carbon nanofibers filled PVDF coating materials varied from 25 to 50 μm, the electrical conductivity of coating materials increased sharply from 1.34 to 1.91 S/cm. However, the electrical conductivity approached a certain value with further raise of the thickness. This phenomenon denotes that a critical thickness of coating materials exists around 50 μm. The electrical conductivity and SE of coating materials decreased dramatically as the carbon nanofiber fillers were milled. It could be concluded that the decrease of the shielding effectiveness of carbon nanofiber filled composite was due to the decrease of the filler's aspect ratio by ball milling.

Bone marrow stromal cell Ag-1 (BST-1; CD157)-deficient mice were generated to examine the immunologic roles of the molecule in vivo. In BST-1−/− mice, the development of peritoneal B-1 cells was delayed, and CD38low/− B-lineage cells were increased in the bone marrow and spleen. Partial impairment of thymus-independent (TI-2) and thymus-dependent (TD) Ag-specific immune responses was noted in the systemic and mucosal compartments of BST-1−/− mice, respectively. Although serum Ig levels as well as TD and TI-1 Ag-specific systemic immune responses were normal, the TI-2 Ag-induced IgG3 response was selectively impaired. Oral immunization of BST-1−/− mice with cholera toxin, a potent TD Ag for the induction of IgA response, resulted in the poor production of Ag-specific Abs at the intestinal mucosa accompanied by the reduced number of Ag-specific IgA-producing cells in the lamina propria. These results indicate that BST-1 has roles in B cell development and Ab production in vivo.

Generally, premature ejaculation is caused by organic, psychological, interpersonal factors and lay beliefs. It is defined as a lack of adequate voluntary ejaculatory control with the result that a patient climaxes involuntarily. An ejaculatory control may be said to be established when the patient can tolerate high levels of excitement which characterise the plateau stage of the sexual response cycle without ejaculating reflexly. The most effective treatment for premature ejaculation so far is the stop-start exercises that aim to help patients tolerate a prolonged period of intense pleasurable arousal and to enjoy sexual sensation before ejaculation. However, the stop-start exercises would be more effective if they are employed in a multi-modal therapeutic framework. This is because cases of premature ejaculation differ in terms of the aetiology, pathological patterns, and the patients' personal characteristics and background. A case is presented to illustrate how the conventional stop-start exercises are prescribed in this multi-modal framework.