EXPLORING FOR FAN AND DELTA SANDSTONES IN THE OFFSHORE FALKLANDS BASINS

Four basins surround the Falkland Islands, but only the North Falkland Basin has been drilled; six wells were drilled there in 1998. Although all six wells encountered good quality sandstones, none of them targeted the basin margins, on what are now thought to be the optimum migration pathways associated with the basin's thick lacustrine source rocks. Subsequently, a 3D seismic survey acquired in 2004 was designed to identify potential basin-margin -derived sandstones entering the basin along transfer zones. From this survey, a number of basin-margin -attached fans have been identified; these prograded into lacustrine waters of varying depths. These Early Cretaceous alluvial/fan delta/deep-lacustrine fan systems are interpreted to provide excellent potential reservoir facies as they are intimately associated with thick, mature source rocks. They will provide the focus for the next planned phase of exploration in the North Falkland Basin.
A phase of drilling is also planned for the basins to the south of the Islands, where large deltaic and fan systems, slightly younger than those imaged in the North Falkland Basin, are seen on seismic to prograde from the same Palaeozoic hinterland that produced the older, North Falkland Basin fans.
This paper attempts to show how sedimentary models derived from targeted seismic programmes following initial exploration can be utilised to plan and improve new drilling campaigns in a frontier basin. It presents an analysis of sediment dispersal patterns in basins of marine and lacustrine origin linked to a single hinterland area, and highlights the nature of the relationship between relay ramp/transfer zone development and sediment dispersal patterns in the subsurface.     

Predicting postlaryngectomy voice outcome in an era of primary tracheoesophageal fistulization: a retrospective evaluation

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the absence of elongate spermatids (ES) from the rat seminiferous epithelium on the quantitative secretion and synthesis of the three major Sertoli cell secretory proteins--SGP-1, SGP-2 and CP-2. Seminiferous tubules (ST) were isolated (a) from normal 28-day-old rats, in which the most mature germ cell type is the round spermatid, (b) from normal adult rats at stages IX-XIV of the spermatogenic cycle, i.e. after spermiation, or at stages I-V and VI-VIII, when ES are still attached to the Sertoli cell, and (c) at stages VI-VIII from normal adult rats and from rats treated with methoxyacetic acid (MAA) in order to specifically deplete ES at these stages. Two-dimensional SDS PAGE combined with computerized image analysis was used to analyse 35S-methionine-labelled intracellular and secreted proteins. In the case of SGP-1 and SGP-2, almost all of the protein synthesized by ST was secreted. The total amount of both SGP-1 and CP-2 secreted by unstaged ST from immature rats was significantly lower than that secreted by unstaged ST from adult rats. The total amount of SGP-1 and CP-2 secreted by adult ST at stages IX-XIV of the spermatogenic cycle also declined dramatically compared to ST at earlier stages. The proportion of the total CP-2 synthesized by ST which was secreted also declined in all situations in which ES were absent from the seminiferous epithelium. The synthesis of only SGP-2 was changed by ES depletion from ST at stages VI-VIII, which was almost doubled compared to synthesis of this protein by ST from control rats. Our results suggest strongly that the secretion of SGP-1 and SGP-2 is via the constitutive pathway, and that regulation of these two proteins by ES is at the level of protein synthesis. In contrast, the regulation of CP-2 by ES is predominantly at the level of secretion, suggesting that this protein is secreted via a regulated pathway. Our findings add to the evidence showing that ES play a major role in the regulation of Sertoli cell function.     

Autoimmunity caused by disruption of central T cell tolerance. A murine model of drug-induced lupus

A side effect of therapy with procainamide and numerous other medications is a lupus-like syndrome characterized by autoantibodies directed against denatured DNA and the (H2A-H2B)-DNA subunit of chromatin. We tested the possibility that an effect of lupus-inducing drugs on central T cell tolerance underlies these phenomena. Two intrathymic injections of procainamide-hydroxylamine (PAHA), a reactive metabolite of procainamide, resulted in prompt production of IgM antidenatured DNA antibodies in C57BL/6xDBA/2 F1 mice. Subsequently, IgG antichromatin antibodies began to appear in the serum 3 wk after the second injection and were sustained for several months. Specificity, inhibition and blocking studies demonstrated that the PAHA-induced antibodies showed remarkable specificity to the (H2A-H2B)-DNA complex. No evidence for polyclonal B cell activation could be detected based on enumeration of Ig-secreting B cells and serum Ig levels, suggesting that a clonally restricted autoimmune response was induced by intrathymic PAHA. The IgG isotype of the antichromatin antibodies indicated involvement of T cell help, and proliferative responses of splenocytes to oligonucleosomes increased up to 100-fold. As little as 5 microM PAHA led to a 10-fold T cell proliferative response to chromatin in short term organ culture of neonatal thymi. We suggest that PAHA interferes with self-tolerance mechanisms accompanying T cell maturation in the thymus, resulting in the emergence of chromatin-reactive T cells followed by humoral autoimmunity.     

Longitudinal bone mineral density changes in early rheumatoid arthritis

A prospective longitudinal study of patients with early RA was performed to examine the influence of disease duration, disease activity and physical activity on bone loss. Sixty-seven patients with non-steroid treated RA of less than 5 yr duration, including 16 patients with disease duration less than 6 months, had BMD measurements of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine over a 12-month period using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMD changes were compared with values from 72 control patients and were also correlated with serial measurements of disease activity (measured by the Stoke Index) and disability [measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score], at 3-monthly intervals over the 12-month period. No significant differences in BMD changes were found between RA patients and controls overall. Patients with disease duration of less than 6 months had significantly greater loss of BMD at the femoral neck (-3.9%, S.E.M. 1.5) than the remainder of the cohort (-0.2%, S.E.M. 0.7) (P = 0.02) and controls (-0.8%, S.E.M. 0.6). Lumbar spine BMD changes correlated with the initial Stoke Index (Rs-0.373, P = 0.01) but not mean Stoke Indices. There was no correlation of BMD changes with age or HAQ scores. These findings suggest that significant bone loss occurs within the first few months of disease in patients with RA.     

The use of monoclonal antibodies for detecting the influenza virus

The possibilities of using influenza A (Leningrad) 385/80 (H3N2) virus matrix protein-specific FITC-labeled D8 monoclonal antibodies in immunofluorescence assays were investigated. The virus antigen accumulation was detected in chorioallantoic cells of chick embryos. Exhibiting the type-specific properties, the fluorescent antibodies stain the perinuclear space, cytoplasmic membrane, and granular structures in the cytoplasm of infected cells. The haemagglutination test tires in the corresponding specimens were at least 1:16.     

On-line steam distillation/purge and trap analysis of halogenated, nonpolar, volatile contaminants in foods

An on-line, steam distillation/purge and trap gas chromatographic procedure is described for determination of halogenated analytes in foods and beverages. Recoveries were generally >80% (versus aqueous standards) from vegetable oil, flour, root beer, cream (10% butter fat), and milk spiked at 1-3 micrograms/kg for each of the 32 analytes studied. Analytes ranged in volatility from vinyl chloride to 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene. Repeatabilities from aqueous standards were <10% for most analytes. For a 1 g food sample, method detection limits ranged from 0.02 to 0.2 micrograms/kg for the 32 analytes. Reduced recoveries for less volatile analytes, however, occurred when steam-distillable, nonpolar food components were carried to the sparger. This effect was observed for citrus beverages containing steam-volatile limonene, roasted and ground coffees, and some salad dressings. The method was applied to a variety of foods.