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Background and AimsThe programmed softening occurring during fruit development requires scission of cell wall polysaccharides, especially pectin. Proposed mechanisms include the action of wall enzymes or hydroxyl radicals. Enzyme activities found in fruit extracts include pectate lyase (PL) and endo-polygalacturonase (EPG), which, in vitro, cleave de-esterified homogalacturonan in mid-chain by β-elimination and hydrolysis, respectively. However, the important biological question of whether PL exhibits action in vivo had not been tested.MethodsWe developed a method for specifically and sensitively detecting in-vivo PL products, based on Driselase digestion of cell wall polysaccharides and detection of the characteristic unsaturated product of PL action.Key ResultsIn model in-vitro experiments, pectic homogalacturonan that had been partially cleaved by commercial PL was digested to completion with Driselase, releasing an unsaturated disaccharide (‘ΔUA–GalA’), taken as diagnostic of PL action. ΔUA–GalA was separated from saturated oligogalacturonides (EPG products) by electrophoresis, then subjected to thin-layer chromatography (TLC), resolving ΔUA–GalA from higher homologues. The ΔUA–GalA was confirmed as 4-deoxy-β-l-threo-hex-4-enopyranuronosyl-(1→4)-d-galacturonic acid by NMR spectroscopy. Driselase digestion of cell walls from ripe fruits of date (Phoenix dactylifera), pear (Pyrus communis), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and apple (Malus pumila) yielded ΔUA–GalA, demonstrating that PL had been acting in vivo in these fruits prior to harvest. Date-derived ΔUA–GalA was verified by negative-mode mass spectrometry, including collision-induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation. The ΔUA–GalA:GalA ratio from ripe dates was roughly 1:20 (mol mol–1), indicating that approx. 5 % of the bonds in endogenous homogalacturonan had been cleaved by in-vivo PL action.ConclusionsThe results provide the first demonstration that PL, previously known from studies of fruit gene expression, proteomic studies and in-vitro enzyme activity, exhibits enzyme action in the walls of soft fruits and may thus be proposed to contribute to fruit softening.

Introduction:The Sultanate of Oman is rich in diversity of the most important crops like wheat, which not only has a global significance but is also regarded as one of the strategic crops in the country. The country has an ancient cultivation history of both bread wheat (Triticum aestivumL.s.l.) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidumsub sp.durum) because of its characteristic location on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. Wheat landraces constitute the prime genetic resources of cultivated wheat not only in Oman but also in several MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) countries. Indigenous landraces have paramount significance for their potential utilization in crop improvement and conservation programs. Hence, the present study was undertaken to subject 17 indigenous durum wheat accessions for analyses of diversity to select parents for hybridization in national crop improvement programs.Materials and Methods:The trial was conducted consecutively for two cropping seasons (2017-2018 and 2018-2019) during winter from November to March on the layouts of a loamy soil site under sprinkler irrigation system in Augmented Design with five check varieties replicated five times randomized and distributed throughout the experimental area under spacing and crop husbandry practices as per national recommendations. The data on 9 quantitative (Plant descriptors) and 6 qualitative traits on the presence (score 1) or absence (score 0) of pigmentation on 6 plant parts were collected. These traits were subjected to both Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) to comprehend the contribution of these characters towards diversity and form prime diverse clusters from 17 indigenous durum wheat landraces to select appropriate parents for crossing.Results:The results indicated that indigenous durum wheat accessions were significantly different (p>0.05) with respect to all the quantitative characters except the number of tillers. Of 36 combinations of associations among 9 agro-morphological characters’ studied, only six correlations involving four charactersviz. tiller no., spikelets/ spike, grains/spike, and grain length were found significant (pConclusion:The indigenous durum wheat landraces / accessions were found to be more diverse and potential for use in the national crop improvement programs for higher productivity.

A 12-year-old girl with right cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma and left Ventricular – Peritoneal (VP) shunt presented with prolonged progressive painful abdominal distention, constipation, significant weight loss and intermittent fever. Laboratory investigations including blood and CerebroSpinal Fluid (CSF) tests revealed a VP shunt infection with Brucella abortus + Brucella melitensis. Abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) scans revealed a large abdominopelvic cyst with enhancing wall suspicious for infected pseudocyst. Ovarian tumor markers including AFP, CA-125, CA 19-9 and CEA were negative. Brucella was detected in cyst fluid by Real Time -Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT -PCR). The patient had her infected shunt removed, with establishment of External Ventricular Drainage (EVD) and treatment with antibiotics. A final diagnosis of neurobrucellosis was made and she responded well to 6 months therapy of oral doxycycline, oral rifampicin and oral cotrimoxazole. This case highlights a rare occurrence of neurobrucella in patients with VP shunts and excellent response to source control and antimicrobial therapy.

One of the main concerns related to closed systems is the potential spread of root pathogens. With the recirculation of nutrient solutions. Ozone treatment was tested for the efficacy against plant pathogen (Pythium), growth and yield of cucumber crop grown in hydroponic closed system during summer season (June-August) 2022. Two nutrient solution feeding tanks were used one with ozone treatment and other without ozone treatment in randomized complete design (RCD) with four replication. The results showed significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed between the treatments in diseases infections with pythium diseases. No significant (p < 0.05) differences were detected in chlorophyll content, as SPAD values and yield between the two treatment of cucumber statistically. Ozone treated plants produced more yield 4.0 ton/gh.

Forage cactus pear has potential in arid areas of the world to be as one of the alternate foddersin the existing forage/fodder production system. Thirty three cactus accessions introducedunder Arabian Peninsula Research Program of International Center for Agriculture Researchin the Dry Areas in Oman in 2005 with an objective to identify suitable species for therehabilitation of degraded rangelands in arid and saline areas were planted in randomizedcomplete block design under plant density of 40,000 ha-1 with three replications on a sandyloam site under drip irrigation on December 2011 at Rumais Livestock Research Center inOman and evaluated annually during three consecutive years (2012 to 2014) followingstandard agronomic practices recommended worldwide for cactus cultivation. The irrigationwater electrical conductivity was 5.37 dSm-1 at the beginning of the experiment while it was6.01 dSm-1, 10.45 dSm-1 and 14.75 dSm-1, for the annual harvests on December 2012, 2013and 2014, respectively. The observations on plant height (cm) at harvest, number of pads/plant,weight/pad (kg) and green matter weight/plot were recorded at each harvest. The dry matterweight was estimated based on dry matter percentage of green samples. Green and dry matteryield/ha were estimated for their respective weights from experimental plots (3m x 3m). Theresults revealed that the cactus accessions were different (p0.05) but with important production were 4321 fromTunisia (197.67 t ha-1), 75018 from Morocco (195.33 t ha-1), 68247 from Algeria (185.78 t ha-1),73049 from Mexico (180.78 t ha-1) and 69241 from Tunisia (173.22 t ha-1). Results indicatedthe potential of cactus for fodder production under saline water in arid conditions (from 5.37 to14.75 dSm-1 during crop growth), with an average green fodder yield of 117.31 t ha-1 yr-1, ascompared with existing perennial Rhodes grass with an average of 80 to 100 t ha-1 yr-1. Hence,these cactus accessions could be included in the existing fodder production system or used for afforestation of degraded rangelands of Oman besides the farms affected by salinity to theextent of over 5.37 dSm-1.

This paper investigates the possibility of constructing multi-microgrids by interlinking the rural area systems in the Al Wusta governorate of the Sultanate of Oman, which are currently being supplied by diesel generators. It is proposed to enhance the rural system under study by switching off small diesel stations and replacing them with wind turbines. The microgrids formed in this way are then interlinked together to create multi-microgrids. The paper studies the interlinked multi-microgrids under different scenarios; in terms of voltage profiles and power flow using the ETAP software package. This study contributes to the feasibility study of retiring some diesel power plants and using renewable energy resources in rural Oman.

Overexpression of the BRE (brain and reproductive organ-expressed) gene defines a distinct pediatric and adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subgroup. Here we identify a promoter enriched for active chromatin marks in BRE intron 4 causing strong biallelic expression of a previously unknown C-terminal BRE transcript. This transcript starts with BRE intron 4 sequences spliced to exon 5 and downstream sequences, and if translated might code for an N terminally truncated BRE protein. Remarkably, the new BRE transcript was highly expressed in over 50% of 11q23/KMT2A (lysine methyl transferase 2A)-rearranged and t(8;16)/KAT6A-CREBBP cases, while it was virtually absent from other AML subsets and normal tissues. In gene reporter assays, the leukemia-specific fusion protein KMT2A-MLLT3 transactivated the intragenic BRE promoter. Further epigenome analyses revealed 97 additional intragenic promoter marks frequently bound by KMT2A in AML with C-terminal BRE expression. The corresponding genes may be part of a context-dependent KMT2A-MLLT3-driven oncogenic program, because they were higher expressed in this AML subtype compared with other groups. C-terminal BRE might be an important contributor to this program because in a case with relapsed AML, we observed an ins(11;2) fusing CHORDC1 to BRE at the region where intragenic transcription starts in KMT2A-rearranged and KAT6A-CREBBP AML.Leukemia advance online publication, 24 October 2017; doi:10.1038/leu.2017.280.

The present research was undertaken to assess genetic diversity of 33 forage cactus pearaccessions introduced from different countries for their suitability in the existing fodderproduction system in Arabian Peninsula countries including Oman. These accessions wereevaluated in randomized complete block design with four replications for two consecutive years2014 and 2015 at Agriculture Research Center, Rumais in Oman. The characters cladodegreen and dry matter yields and their related traits plant height (cm), number of cladodes andcladode weight were considered for study. The results of principal component analysis (PCA)indicated that of the total four components, the first two components PC1 and PC2 accountedfor 97.65 and 2.27%, respectively which in combination contributed to 99.92% of the totalvariation among characters studied in fodder cactus pear accessions whereas remaining twocomponents PC3 (0.06%) and PC4 (0.02 %) contributed a meagre 0.08% to the total variation.The first principal component had high positive loading for only green matter yield with thehighest value of 0.993 whereas second principal component had highest loading for plantheight (0.998) in contributing to the diversity. However, PC3 and PC4 were accounted by higherpositive loading in respect of dry matter yield (0.853) and number of cladodes (0.855). Theresults of correlation analysis indicated that of 10 possible correlations from five charactersstudied, seven correlations which were found significant (p

It is quite challenging to recover heavy crude oil due to its high viscosity and long chain hydrocarbon contents. In this study the isolation of thermophilic bacterial consortia from crude oil contaminated soil samples and their ability to degrade heavy crude oil were investigated. Thermophilic spore forming bacteria were inoculated with heavy oil in minimal salt media. Maximum growth was observed on 21st day of incubation at 40 °C. Samples were analyzed for biosurfactant production, where a substantial decrease in surface tension and interfacial tension was not observed. A well-assay was used to check the potential of bacterial consortia for oil-clearing zones on oil agar plate with bacterial cultures and their cell-free filtrates. 16S rRNA sequencing of 27 isolates from oil contaminated soil showed that isolates belonged to three classes: Alpha-proteobacteria, gamma-proteobacteria and Bacilli. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the oil utilizing bacteria were rod-shaped with rough surface and fimbria. Gas chromatography analysis of treated oil after 21 days showed that bacterial consortia efficiently degraded heavy crude oil to light hydrocarbons ranging from C11–C27, from initial C37+ carbon chain of untreated controls. These bacterial consortia showed potential in heavy crude oil biodegradation by breaking it down to smaller hydrocarbon composition.

Background Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a key regulator of pain and anti-NGF therapy reduces osteoarthritis (OA) associated pain. However, anti-NGF therapy is associated with rapidly progressive OA (RPOA) [1]. In hip OA there is a 5-fold increase in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from MRI bone marrow (BM) lesions, areas associated with OA progression [2]. MSCs in such lesions are uniformly positive for the NGF receptor, p75, which is also linked to chemotaxis and proliferation in other stromal cell compartments [3]. Objectives Evaluate anti-NGF treatment in monoiodoacetate (MIA) induced OA and test whether NGF influences human BM-MSC function. Methods Human tibial plateau (TP) bone was isolated from patients undergoing total knee replacement. OA was induced in male Wistar rats (n=6) by intra-articular injection of 0.3 mg MIA. Each animal was treated with subcutaneous injection of control human IgG or anti-NGF (3 mg/kg) at Days 5, 10 and 15. Human and animal tissues sections were prepared for histological analysis using H&E staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) using anti-p75 and anti-NGF antibodies. BM-MSCs were isolated from iliac crest aspirates and cultured under normal conditions. Expression of p75 was induced following overnight incubation with 400mM ethanol (EtOH) and confirmed by flow cytometry. Proliferation was assessed ± EtOH and 0–1 μg/ml NGF. Results Regions adjacent to cartilage loss in human TP showed abundant stromal proliferation, NGF and p75 immunoreactivity. In MIA model, by Day 18 there was substantial loss of cartilage, bone remodelling and stromal proliferation mimicking human disease. By Week 4 animals demonstrated unequal weight-bearing (p To investigate increased p75 positivity in knee OA, we restored p75 expression loss in expanded cell, to 97% of BM-MSCs (n=3) using EtOH. Increased MSC proliferation was seen at Days 6 and 9 (26%, p=0.03 and 30%, p=0.01 increase respectively, n=7) for 1 μg/ml NGF in the presence of EtOH compared to control (no NGF). In cultures without EtOH induction (absent p75) NGF had no effect. Conclusions TP bone from OA patients and rat MIA-treated subchondral bone contains p75 positive staining in regions of cartilage destruction and associated NGF positivity. Anti-NGF treatment exacerbated MIA-induced OA and reduced NGF and p75 expression. In vitro, NGF increased BM-MSC proliferation, suggesting NGF may be involved in the stromal proliferation seen at sites of OA damage. Thus, NGF may regulate MSC function. Complete blockade represents a novel mechanism for accelerated joint destruction in OA. References Hochberg MC et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2016. Campbell TM et al Arthritis Rheumatol 2016. Jiang Y, et al. Cartilag Arthritis Res Ther 2015. Disclosure of Interest T. Baboolal: None declared, S. Al Hinai: None declared, E. Jones: None declared, J. Reckless Employee of: Rxcelerate Ltd, M. Foster Consultant for: Levicept Ltd, R. Doyle Employee of: Tetrad Discovery Ltd, K. af Forselles Consultant for: Levicept Ltd, S. Westbrook Shareholder of: Levicept Ltd, Employee of: Levicept Ltd, D. McGonagle: None declared

This study determined the rates and correlates of depression among community-dwelling elderly people, based on data from the comprehensive health assessment conducted in Al-Dakhiliyah governorate in Oman in 2008-2010. Data covered sociodemographic characteristics, medical and nutrition status, functional abilities, depression and dementia. The rate of depression was 16.9%, higher among women than men (19.3% versus 14.3%). Depression was independently predicted by the presence of social risk (OR = 3.44), dementia (OR = 3.17), impairment in activities of daily living (OR = 2.19), joint problems (OR = 1.52) and mobility restriction (OR = 1.43). If dementia was excluded from the model, depression was additionally predicted by poor perception of health (OR = 2.09), impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (OR = 1.47) and older ages of 70-< 80 years (OR = 1.63) and ≥ 80 years (OR = 1.75). Although not presenting as a complaint, depression in not uncommon among elderly people.

Cellular immunotherapy has proven to be effective in the treatment of hematological cancers by donor lymphocyte infusion after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and more recently by targeted therapy with chimeric antigen or T-cell receptor-engineered T cells. However, dependent on the tissue distribution of the antigens that are targeted, anti-tumor responses can be accompanied by undesired side effects. Therefore, detailed tissue distribution analysis is essential to estimate potential efficacy and toxicity of candidate targets for immunotherapy of hematological malignancies. We performed microarray gene expression analysis of hematological malignancies of different origins, healthy hematopoietic cells and various non-hematopoietic cell types from organs that are often targeted in detrimental immune responses after allogeneic stem cell transplantation leading to graft-versus-host disease. Non-hematopoietic cells were also cultured in the presence of IFN-γ to analyze gene expression under inflammatory circumstances. Gene expression was investigated by Illumina HT12.0 microarrays and quality control analysis was performed to confirm the cell-type origin and exclude contamination of non-hematopoietic cell samples with peripheral blood cells. Microarray data were validated by quantitative RT-PCR showing strong correlations between both platforms. Detailed gene expression profiles were generated for various minor histocompatibility antigens and B-cell surface antigens to illustrate the value of the microarray dataset to estimate efficacy and toxicity of candidate targets for immunotherapy. In conclusion, our microarray database provides a relevant platform to analyze and select candidate antigens with hematopoietic (lineage)-restricted expression as potential targets for immunotherapy of hematological cancers.

This paper presents a literature review about unbalance in power systems and a case study about unbalance measurements in the Main Interconnected Network (MIS) of Oman. A review of unbalance causes, negative impacts, mitigation techniques, quantification indices and limits are presented. Moreover, voltage and current unbalance measurements at three grid stations that supply the three main industrial areas located in the MIS of Oman are conducted. Measurement results are compared with limits specified by national and international standards.

Results: Among 535 analyzed records, females accounted for 57.3% of prescriptions and the age group between 18 to 39 years constitutes the major (54.7%) utilizer of antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics accounted for 68.8% of prescriptions. Olanzapine was the most common prescribed atypical drug (48.1%) while haloperidol was the most utilized (34.1%) typical agent. Schizophrenia was the main indication for the use of antipsychotics (26.9%) followed by depressive disorders (23.2%) and bipolar affective disorder (11.6%). Monotherapy accounted for the majority (93.0%) of prescriptions. Conclusion: At SQUH atypical antipsychotics accounted for the majority of antipsychotic prescriptions which is in-line with most standard therapeutic guidelines recommendations for the treatment of psychotic disorders. Further research exploring the tolerability and outcome of such treatment is needed.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and polyclonal antibodies (PCs) were produced to antigens of an Australian population of cereal cyst nematode (CCN), Heterodera avenae. MAb IACR CCNj-49.2 recognised an antigen with a molecular weight of approximately 200 kDa, which was immunolocalised apparently in granules in the nematode gut. A procedure to extract CCN antigens from soil samples, under laboratory conditions was devised, and 50 g samples of soil containing 5 CCN cysts were processed by two sets of flotation techniques to recover the nematodes. Milling using Ballotini glass beads was then used to release the antigens from the CCN cysts recovered in the float. A double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) was the better ELISA format used to identify and quantify the CCN population from the processed soil samples containing up to 20% of organic matter. The threshold limit of detection was estimated by serial dilutions of the soil extracts. It was approximately equivalent to 0.5 eggs or 3.6 eggs per g of soil in a DAS-ELISA, when using respectively the PC or the MAb as the trapping antibody. The assay could be made more sensitive in soils with lower contents of organic matter.

This paper presents a case study about the impacts of industrial loads on power quality. A review of harmonics causes, negative impacts, mitigation techniques, quantification indices and limits are presented. Moreover, harmonics measurements at three grid station that supply the three main industrial areas located in the Main Interconnected System (MIS) of Oman are conducted. Measurement results are compared with limits specified by national and international standards.

This study determined the rates and correlates of depression among community-dwelling elderly people, based on data from the comprehensive health assessment conducted in Al-Dakhiliyah governorate in Oman in 2008-2010. Data covered sociodemographic characteristics, medical and nutrition status, functional abilities, depression and dementia. The rate of depression was 16.9%, higher among women than men (19.3% versus 14.3%). Depression was independently predicted by the presence of social risk (OR = 3.44), dementia (OR = 3.17), impairment in activities of daily living (OR = 2.19), joint problems (OR = 1.52) and mobility restriction (OR = 1.43). If dementia was excluded from the model, depression was additionally predicted by poor perception of health (OR = 2.09), impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (OR = 1.47) and older ages of 70-80 years (OR = 1.63) and ≥ 80 years (OR = 1.75). Although not presenting as a complaint, depression in not uncommon among elderly people.سلطانة بنت محمد سيف الصباحي، حمد بن ناصر السناوي، صالح بن سيف محمد الهنائي، رندا محمود يوسفتهدف هذه الدراسة إلى التعرف على معدلات الاكتئاب والعوامل المصاحبة له لدى المسنين في المجتمع استناداً إلى البيانات المستمدّة من تقييم صحي شامل أجري في محافظة الداخلية في سلطنة عُمان في الفترة .2008–2010 وتغطي تلك البيانات السمات الديموغرافية، والأحوال الطبية والتغذوية، والقدرات الوطيفية، والاكتئاب، والخرف. واتضح أن معدل حدوث الاكتئاب 16.9% وهو أعلى لدى النساء (19.3) مما هو لدى الرجال (14.3%) وأنه مما يرجّح حدوث الاكتئاب: وجود عوامل اختطار اجتماعية مستقلة (معدل الأرجحية 3.44)، والخرف (معدل الأرجحية 3.17)، واختلال أنشطة الحياة اليومية (معدل الأرجحية 2.19)، ومشكلات في المفاصل (معدل الأرجحية(1.52 ، وتقييد في الحركة (معدل الأرجحية 1.43). وإذا ما استبعد الباحثون الخرف من النموذج فإن الاكتئاب يمكن توقعه أيضاً من خلال ضعف الإدراك للصحة (معدل الأرجحية 2.09)، وخلل الأنشطة الأساسية للحياة اليومية (معدل الأرجحية (1.47، والأعمار المتقدمة التي تزيد على 70 عاماً وتقل عن 80 عاماً (معدل الأرجحية 1.63)، والأعمار التي تبلغ أو تزيد على ثمانين عاماً (معدل الأرجحية 1.75)، واستنتج الباحثون من الدراسة أن الاكتئاب شائع بين المسنين، رغم أنه ليس من الشكاوى الرئيسية لديهم.La présente étude visait à déterminer les pourcentages et les corrélats de la dépression chez des personnes âgées vivant dans la communauté, à partir des données extraites de l’évaluation de santé globale menée dans la région d’Al-Dakhliyah (Oman) de 2008 à 2010. Les données recueillies couvraient les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, l’état de santé et nutritionnel, les capacités fonctionnelles, la dépression et la démence. Le taux de dépression était de 16,9 % ; il était plus élevé chez les femmes (19,3 %) que chez les hommes (14,3 %). Le risque social (OR = 3,44), la démence (OR = 3,17), des difficultés à accomplir les activités de la vie quotidienne (OR = 2,19), des douleurs articulaires (OR = 1,52) et une restriction de la mobilité (OR = 1,43) étaient les facteurs prédictifs indépendants de la dépression. Si la démence était exclue du modèle, la dépression pouvait aussi être prévisible à partir d’indicateurs tels qu’une mauvaise perception de sa santé (OR = 2,09), les difficultés à accomplir les activités importantes de la vie quotidienne (OR = 1,47) ainsi que les tranches d’âge plus avancées – 70 à moins de 80 ans (OR = 1,63) et 80 ans et plus (OR = 1,75). La dépression n’était pas rare chez les personnes âgées, même si elle ne motivait pas une consultation.

Ergot alkaloids are used for both the control and 02pprevention of uterine hemorrhage during the postpartum period. The drugs directly contract smooth muscle cells, resulting in rapid and prolonged contraction of the uterus. We report a case of atrioventricular block following the administration of the uterotonic methylergometrine hydrogen maleate (Methergine, Sandoz Pharma Ltd, Basel, Switzerland). Mrs. M.S., a 30-year-old Omani female G6P4q 1 was admitted with history of preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes at 18 weeks’ gestation. There was no significant past personal or family history. She was managed conservatively for 9 weeks. Eventually labor was induced with prostaglandin pessary for suspected chorioamnionitis. She had a spontaneous vaginal delivery after 4 h of labor. Evacuation with curettage was necessary for retained products of conception. During the procedure she received 0.2 mg intravenous methylergometrine hydrogen maleate (Methergine, Sandoz), then she was also started on oral methylergometrine oral tablets (0.125 mg), 8 hourly and oral metronidazole 500 mg 8 hourly.

Neurosurgery case review : , Neurosurgery case review : , کتابخانه دیجیتال جندی شاپور اهواز

The basic aim of this paper is to increase the understanding of the fluid flow properties of faults and hence increases our ability to model fluid flow in fault-compartmentalised reservoirs. The paper will assess the importance of accounting for the multiphase fluid flow properties of fault rocks in simulation models. We are then present some new experimental results on the relative permeability and capillary pressure measurements for fault rocks (cataclastic and faults in impure sandstone). Finally, the incorporation of these results into production simulation models suggest that it is vital in some cases to account for the multi-phase fluid flow properties to better achieve history matching and will for future field development plans.

Blockage of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is very common. Here, we describe an unusual case of shunt blockage in an infant. He was shunted for hydrocephalus associated with a Dandy-Walker malformation diagnosed at birth. At surgery, the entire VP shunt was found to have migrated into the subgaleal space, which clinically presented as shunt obstruction. We suggest techniques to avoid this rare, but preventable, complication of shunt surgery.