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To deal with gas and sand problems in their conversion and rod pump wells an operator company in south Texas started introducing a combined technology of two-stages filtration with a modified poor boy gas separator obtaining excellent results. This paper explains the technology used and shares the information used to design the tools and the results achieved in the first wells completed. The screening process to choose the best technology started trying different technologies for gas and sand control below the rod pump. Different technologies were revised sharing data like sand particle size, pump design, fluid production expected and wellbore configuration to get the best design from different companies. The technical and economic evaluation determined the combined system with two-stages filtration and gas separation was the best technology among all the installations. After the results, same technology was applied to other wells changing the configuration based on the well conditions but maintaining the same principle of operation. After the installation of this technology in each well, it was clear that there was a substantial increase in production among the wells that was caused for the improvement in the pump cards after the installation. The downhole equipment has been able to handle better gas production and no sand problems have been reported so far. The success of this technology has extended the operational capabilities of the pumps allowing the engineers to operate their wells better. Pump cards before and after the installations are summarized in the presentation to show evidence of the good results obtained. After the wells are converted from ESP to rod pump or when the gas represents an issue in the rod pumped wells, the production engineers are limited in the drawdown and the production they can get out of the wells. We are presenting an alternative for the operators to optimize the production's BHA and overcomsand and gas problems that limit the ability to increase the income of the oil fields.

The bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) successfully evades host innate immune responses to cause tuberculosis (TB) disease. Recent studies showed that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are recruited to the lung after Mtb infection and harbor Mtb. While MDSC-mediated negative regulation of tumor micro-environments in cancer has been extensively studied, in-depth analyses of the phenotype, functions and transcriptional signatures of MDSCs in TB are lacking. In this study we sought to characterize MDSCs in the lungs of Mtb-infected mice and develop tools for depleting MDSCs as a strategy for host-directed therapy. We determined MDSCs in the aerosol mouse model of TB and in human blood using flow cytometry. MDSCs are recruited into the lung as early as 2 weeks post-infection and expresses immunomodulatory mediators associated with immune suppression such as iNOS, IDO and arginase. We recently reported the development of novel synthetic nanoparticle antibodies (SNAbs) that specifically target and deplete MDSCs via antibody-like mechanisms. We used SNAbs to deplete Mtb-induced MDSCs in vitro and in human PBMCs ex vivo. Interestingly, we found that SNAbs efficiently depleted MDSCs in both models. To test the efficacy of SNAb-mediated depletion of MDSCs in mouse lungs in vivo, we first used a murine lung cancer model and found that intra-tracheal delivery of SNAbs successfully depleted MDSCs in vivo. Ongoing studies include evaluating the ability of SNAbs to deplete lung MDSCs following Mtb infection of mice and to assess the impact on lung T cell functions, pathology and Mtb burden. These studies will establish a platform to investigate MDSCs as a target for host-directed therapies that improve TB treatment efficacy. Supported by grant from NIH (1R01AI155023-01A1)

Improving ESP performance has become one of the main challenges in gassy wells. Different methods and new technologies have been developed but most of them have high economic value. A new system has been created to prevent large amounts of gas flowing directly into the pump intake through the breaking of the gas slugs and the resolubilization (dispersion) of the free gas into the production liquid. The system contains an isolation section which allows to break gas slugs and pressurize that section forcing the gas to go in solution to be produced afterwards. The concept of the new technology is to manage the Rs (Gas in solution) with pressure, additionally the technology includes a vortex effect creator which will improve the gas dispersion iton the liquid associated and will separate the sand production. The ESP’s Downhole Regulator was designed based on each well conditions to maximize its efficiency. This paper summarizes the design and application of the new Vortex Regulator in more than 50 gassy wells completed in the Wolfcamp A, Wolfcamp B, Lower Spraberry, and Jo Mill C in the Permian basin. The performance evaluation was carried out by a constant monitoring of the sensor parameters through a certain period. During the evaluation period the ESPs in most of the wells were operating under stable conditions with minor shutdowns, no significant increases in the motor current, motor temperature, and vibration were observed.

This successful application of complementary systems helped to extend the runlife of the wells until the ESP needs to be resized to match the reservoir inflow capacity. The sand and chemical challenges need to be approached by gathering data starting from expected fluid production (Oil, Water, Gas), hydraulic fracturing design (frac sand size), and CWA (Complete Water Analysis). This paper proposes a new method to deal with sand and chemical problems in the ESPs. The solution includes three steps: Isolation method, sand control system, and down-hole chemical treatment. The isolation method primarily isolates the pump intake using cup packers, mechanical packers, or shroud. The sand control system considers static and dynamic principles whose length, open area, and separation efficiency depend on the particle size distribution, well completion, and fluid potential. Finally, the down-hole chemical treatment micro-encapsulates the original chemical components used on the surface and allows their installation and controlled dispersion down-hole below the sand control system. This paper includes the guidelines and simulations required to design the complete solution.

Cardiovascular symptoms remain the most common presenting features and leading causes of death in hyperthyroidism. We report a young female with reported thyroid disease and medication noncompliance presenting with atrial fibrillation, severe atrioventricular regurgitation, severely dilated right heart with reduced function, and moderate pulmonary hypertension (PH), which was further complicated by congestive liver injury with ascites and pancytopenia. Thyroid work-up revealed suppressed TSH, elevated free T4 and T3 along with elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, thyroid peroxidase antibodies, and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin, suggesting Graves’ thyrotoxicosis. Ultrasound of the abdomen was suggestive of liver cirrhosis and ascites, which was thought to be cardiac cirrhosis, after multiple negative work-ups for alternate causes of cirrhosis. Ascitic fluid analysis revealed portal hypertension as the cause. The patient was restarted on antithyroid medication with gradual improvement of thyroid function and in clinical and echocardiogram findings. In contrast to primary PH that carries a poor prognosis and has limited treatment options, PH due to Graves’ disease carries a good prognosis with prior reports of resolution after appropriate treatment, emphasizing the importance of early recognition. Also, unlike cirrhosis caused by alcohol or viral hepatitis, the effect of cardiac cirrhosis on overall prognosis has not been clearly established.

SummaryThe salts present in modified Knudson C (KC) medium (1946), 2% (w/v) sucrose, and a natural banana extract (BE) [1 – 20% (v/v)] were studied singly, or in combination, for their effects on the regeneration of protocorms of the orchid species, Dendrobium lituiflorum and Cymbidium bicolor. The incorporation of KC salts along with higher percentages of BE [10% or 20% (v/v)] promoted protocorm development as well as shoot and root formation. The presence of 2% (w/v) sucrose in the medium further enhanced root lengths and the rooting percentage, irrespective of the presence of KC salts. Incorporation of both KC salts and 2% (w/v) sucrose was found to be obligatory, in conjunction with BE (a cost-effective natural additive) for plantlet regeneration. In vitro-raised plantlets of both orchid species exhibited high rates of survival under greenhouse conditions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed elliptical stomata and epicuticular granular wax deposits on their abaxial leaf surfaces after acclimatisation.

Transverse thin cell layers (tTCLs) of protocorm-like bodies of two stages of PLBs (30 d and 60 d old) of Cymbidium Sleeping Nymph were used as explants to induce PLBs by using coconut water (CW) as a natural additive. 5% (v/v) CW supplemented to KC medium induced an average of 5 PLBs per responding tTCL of 30 d old PLBs with 83% of responding tTCLs. A low percentage of responding tTCLs were observed in 60 d old PLBs’ tTCLs. Anatomical and confocal microscopic studies traced the origin of PLBs to subepidermal layers of the tTCL. A significantly high percentage of shoot regeneration was obtained from PLBs formed on 1–10% (v/v) CW from tTCLs of 30 d old PLBs in comparison to PLBs induced on control after first subculture on KC medium (without CW). The induced PLBs regenerated into plantlets with velamenous roots and these plantlets were transferred to greenhouse conditions on cocopeat:perlite (9:1) with nearly 100% survival. Post-transfer performance of the plantlets was monitored. The results suggest tTCLs as potential explants (with respect to economy of precious hybrid materials) which can overcome the slow growth of hybrid PLBs and coconut water as a single natural additive for the mass multiplication of commercially important orchids.

Effects of banana extract (BE) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) were evaluated on asymbiotic seed germination and an early differentiation of protocorms and plant regeneration of Dendrobium lituiflorum Lindl. High percentage germination was achieved by culturing seeds on modified Knudson C medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) BE. Rapid regeneration was observed within 60 days of culture on 10% (v/v) BE supplemented KC medium where maximum percentage propagules showed development of leaves and root formation. Propagules on BAP supplemented KC medium showed no further development beyond one leaf stage. In another experiment, culture of shoots on 12.5% (v/v) BE supplemented KC medium led to multiplication, shoot elongation as well as vigorous rooting. Shoots cultured on 10 μM BAP supplemented MS medium showed maximum multiplication but these were stunted. Plants with well expanded deep green leaves and elongated roots from BE media were first hardened in vitro followed by ex vitro hardening on cocopeat:perlite (9:1) in the greenhouse conditions and exhibited 90% survival. The study emphasizes the role of BE as a natural additive at different stages of development from seed germination to plant regeneration.