Novel Approach for Rate Transient Analysis of Fractured Wells from Carbonate Reservoirs with Heterogeneous Natural Fractures.

This paper developed a new methodology for rate transient analysis of fractured wells in carbonate reservoirs. Both the heterogeneity and dual-permeability flow behavior are incorporated into the proposed model, and the fractured carbonate reservoir was simulated with a two-zone composite model. In each zone, a traditional dual-porosity model was applied to describe the characteristics of the natural fractures and matrix. With the Laplace transform, we derived the solution of the mathematical model and plotted new type curves for transient rate decline analysis. Then, the flow regimes were divided and analyzed based on the new type curves. The influences of several critical parameters on transient rate response were also examined. A field case was studied further to demonstrate the precision and application of the proposed method. The results show that the new type curves are mainly composed of eight flow stages. The difference in physical properties (k 2,1, η2,1) between the two zones significantly impacts the transition and boundary-dominated flow regimes. When the values of k 2,1 and η2,1 are smaller, the derivative curve of the transition flow stage will move down, and the duration of this stage on the derivative curve is longer, while the duration of the boundary dominant flow stage will decrease. The dimensionless radial radius of the inner zone (r 1D) can significantly influence the transition flow regime. When r 1D is larger, the production rate and its derivative curve of the transition flow stage will move up, and the duration of this stage will be longer. The results also show that the proposed methodology can effectively fit the field production data. This method can be applied in well productivity evaluation for fractured carbonate reservoirs.

Inhibition of the oxidative stress-induced miR-23a protects the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells from apoptosis through the upregulation of glutaminase and glutamine uptake.

The degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in the sub retinal pigment epithelial space and choroid is an initial pathological characteristic for the age-related macular degeneration which is the leading cause of severe vision loss in old people. Moreover, oxidative stress is implicated as a major inducer of RPE cell death. Here, we assessed the correlation between the H2O2-induced RPE cell death and glutamine metabolism. We found under low glutamine supply (20 %), the ARPE-19 cells were more susceptive to H2O2-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the glutamine uptake and the glutaminase (GLS) were suppressed by H2O2 treatments. Moreover, we observed miR-23a was upregulated by H2O2 treatments and overexpression of miR-23a significantly sensitized ARPE-19 cells to H2O2. Importantly, Western blotting and luciferase assay demonstrated GLS1 is a direct target of miR-23a in RPE cells. Inhibition of the H2O2-induced miR-23a by antagomiR protected the RPE cells from the oxidative stress-induced cell death. In addition, recovery of GLS1 expression in miR-23a overexpressed RPE cells rescued the H2O2-induced cell death. This study illustrated a mechanism for the protection of the oxidative-induced RPE cell death through the recovery of glutamine metabolism by inhibition of miR-23a, contributing to the discovery of novel targets and the developments of therapeutic strategies for the prevention of RPE cells from oxidative stress.

Quantitative analysis of Microdistortions in Bowman's Layer using optical coherence tomography after SMILE among different myopic corrections.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively analyze the characteristics of Bowman's layer microdistortions after femtosecond laser small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) among different myopic corrections, and their correlations with stromal lenticule thickness. METHODS: In this nonrandomized, prospective, controlled study, 63 eyes of 32 consecutive patients undergoing SMILE were divided into three groups according to the preoperative spherical equivalent (SE): greater than -6.00 D (20 eyes), -3.00 to -6.00 D (26 eyes), and -3.00 D or less (17 eyes). Measurement by slit-lamp microscope, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), manifest refraction, and Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) were conducted preoperatively and 1 day and 1 month postoperatively. Index M was calculated according to the OCT images to indicate the quantity of microdistortions in Bowman's layer. RESULTS: Microdistortions in Bowman's layer were observed in 65.0% (13 of 20 eyes) and 30.8% (8 of 26 eyes) in the greater than -6.00 D and -3.00 to -6.00 D groups, respectively, 1 day postoperatively, and in 60% (12 of 20 eyes) and 23.1% (6 of 26 eyes) 1 month later. No Bowman's layer microdistortion was detected in the -3.00 D or less group postoperatively. The quantitative index M of microdistortions was higher in the greater than -6.00 D group than in the -3.00 to -6.00 D group at 1 day and 1 month (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the indexes M on 1 day compared to 1 month. Index M was correlated with the preoperative SE and lenticule thickness (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The incidence and range of microdistortions in Bowman's layer detected after SMILE are positively correlated with the myopic correction. High myopia tends to develop more microdistortions in Bowman's layer after SMILE.