Local Reservoir Research Articles

Pore characterization, acoustic and permeability measurements on core plug triplets, from the Miocene Tótkomlós (Calcareous Marl) Formation of the Pannonian-basin, Hungary

The Totkomlos Calcareous Marl (TCM), a Member of the Late Miocene Endrőd Formation was investigated as a potential cap and source rock and also as a local tight reservoir in the Pannonian Basin. Only a limited dataset is available for petrophysical characterisation of this formation. The study reports on a complex measurement campaign performed on three core triplet samples of the Totkomlos Calcareous Marl, including pore structure and petrophyiscal analysis at various pressure conditions. Direct laboratory measurements of compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocities on oriented rock samples provide information about the anisotropic behaviour of the studied samples. A quantitative description of seismic anisotropy can improve the quality of seismic data processing. Pore structure investigations indicated plate-like materials with a typical pore throat size between 75-110 nm. Gas permeability measurements showed very low permeability values in the order of magnitude between 10 -16 -10 -18 m 2 . Weak acoustic anisotropy is observed both for P- and S- waves. Decreasing anisotropy with increasing confining pressure indicated that the samples become less anisotropic with increasing effective stress.

Modern Freshwater Reservoir Offsets in the Eurasian Steppe: Implications for Archaeology

AbstractThis paper presents the results of the first broad-scale study of modern freshwater reservoir effects (FREs) in various regions of the Eurasian Steppe, associated with archaeological sites. The aim of this work was not only to demonstrate the widespread variability of modern FREs in the region, but also to draw the attention of specialists working in the area to the necessity of taking into account this important and still not fully understood factor involving radiocarbon dating of human and some faunal remains from archaeological sites. To identify modern FREs, modern fish of different species from 10 regions of Siberia and Kazakhstan have been subjected to accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dating and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, and the results are compared with the existing data from previous research. Freshwater reservoir offsets have been detected in all analyzed regions, with the exception of Kharga Lake (Buryatia, Russia) and Kyzylkoi River (central Kazakhstan), varying not only between, but also within regions depending on fish species. The most significant offset in this study has been recorded for the Chuya River basin (Altai Mountains, 1097±40 14C yr), though not as high as observed in previous research for the Caspian lowlands (1477±52 and 1037±52 14C yr) and Upper Lena River basin (Lake Baikal area, 1981±30 14C yr). Both δ13C and δ15N values have been measured with the majority of samples reflecting C3 ecology of local reservoirs and δ15N depending on the diet of particular species, with predatory species such as pike, perch, and burbot demonstrating the highest δ15N. No general relationship has been observed between freshwater reservoir offsets and either δ13C or δ15N values of the samples.

Assessment of climate-driven variations in malaria incidence in Swaziland: toward malaria elimination

BackgroundSwaziland aims to eliminate malaria by 2020. However, imported cases from neighbouring endemic countries continue to sustain local parasite reservoirs and initiate transmission. As certain weather and climatic conditions may trigger or intensify malaria outbreaks, identification of areas prone to these conditions may aid decision-makers in deploying targeted malaria interventions more effectively.MethodsMalaria case-surveillance data for Swaziland were provided by Swaziland’s National Malaria Control Programme. Climate data were derived from local weather stations and remote sensing images. Climate parameters and malaria cases between 2001 and 2015 were then analysed using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models and distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM).ResultsThe incidence of malaria in Swaziland increased between 2005 and 2010, especially in the Lubombo and Hhohho regions. A time-series analysis indicated that warmer temperatures and higher precipitation in the Lubombo and Hhohho administrative regions are conducive to malaria transmission. DLNM showed that the risk of malaria increased in Lubombo when the maximum temperature was above 30 °C or monthly precipitation was above 5 in. In Hhohho, the minimum temperature remaining above 15 °C or precipitation being greater than 10 in. might be associated with malaria transmission.ConclusionsThis study provides a preliminary assessment of the impact of short-term climate variations on malaria transmission in Swaziland. The geographic separation of imported and locally acquired malaria, as well as population behaviour, highlight the varying modes of transmission, part of which may be relevant to climate conditions. Thus, the impact of changing climate conditions should be noted as Swaziland moves toward malaria elimination.

Facies, rock attributes, stratigraphy, and depositional environments: Yanchang Formation, Central Ordos Basin, China

The Late Triassic Yanchang Formation (Fm) is a major target of drilling for hydrocarbons in the Ordos Basin. Although most of the early focus on this thick succession of lacustrine rocks has been the dominant deltaic sandstones and siltstones, which act as local reservoirs of oil and gas, more recent consideration has been given to the organic-rich mudstone source rocks. We used modern chemostratigraphic analysis to define vertical facies successions in two closely spaced cores through the Chang 7 Member, the primary source rock for the Yanchang hydrocarbon system. We used integrated high-resolution X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction measurements to define four dominant facies. Variations in stable carbon isotopes mimic facies stacking patterns, suggesting that terrigenous organic matter (although minor in volume) is associated with the arkoses and sandstones, whereas aquatic organic matter is dominant in the mudstones. Facies stacking patterns define three major depositional cycles and parts of two others, each defined by basal mudstone facies that document basin flooding and deepening (i.e., flooding surfaces). Unconfined compressive strength measurements correlate with clay mineral abundance and organic matter. Comparisons of core attributes with wireline logs indicate that although general variations in clay mineral volumes (i.e., mudstone abundance) can be discerned from gamma-ray logs, organic-matter distribution is best defined with density or resistivity logs. These findings, especially those established between the core and log data, provide a powerful linkage between larger scale facies patterns and smaller scale studies of key reservoir attributes, such as pore systems, mineralogy, diagenesis, rock mechanics, hydrocarbon saturation, porosity and permeability, and flow parameters. This first application of modern chemostratigraphic techniques to the Yanchang Fm reveals the great promise of applying these methods to better understand the complex facies patterns that define this lacustrine basin and the variations in key reservoir properties that each facies displays.

Network analysis of a regional fishery: Implications for management of natural resources, and recruitment and retention of anglers

Angler groups and water-body types interact to create a complex social-ecological system. Network analysis could inform detailed mechanistic models on, and provide managers better information about, basic patterns of fishing activity. Differences in behavior and reservoir selection among angler groups in a regional fishery, the Salt Valley fishery in southeastern Nebraska, USA, were assessed using a combination of cluster and network analyses. The four angler groups assessed ranged from less active, unskilled anglers (group One) to highly active, very skilled anglers (group Four). Reservoir use patterns and the resulting network communities of these four angler groups differed; the number of reservoir communities for these groups ranged from two to three and appeared to be driven by reservoir location (group One), reservoir size and its associated attributes (groups Two and Four), or an interaction between reservoir size and location (group Three). Network analysis is a useful tool to describe differences in participation among angler groups within a regional fishery, and provides new insights about possible recruitment of anglers. For example, group One anglers fished reservoirs closer to home and had a greater probability of dropping out if local reservoir access were restricted.

Room After Everyone Reservoir Project Environmental Assessment

Dahuofang reservoir has become a major water source is of great improtant to the local reservoir province of Liaoning, so the two-way influence of reservoir and environment living and safety. In order to investigate the effect since the completion of Dahuofang Reservoir to the surrounding environment, the paper is based on use of a single factor index method and accumulate index, comprehensive pollution and other methods to inveatight Dahuofang reservoir surrounding environment, mainly dealt with the Dahuofang reservoir surrounding atmosphere, investigation and assessment of water quality and heavy metal pollution. The results showed that Dahuofang Reservoir on the surrounding air and water pollution and heavy metals have different degrees of impact.

A Multi-Platform Optical Sensor for In Vivo and In Vitro Algae Classification.

Differentiation among major algal groups is important for the ecological and biogeochemical characterization of water bodies, and for practical management of water resources. It helps to discern the taxonomic groups that are beneficial to aquatic life from the organisms causing harmful algal blooms. An LED-induced fluorescence (LEDIF) instrument capable of fluorescence, absorbance, and scattering measurements; is used for in vivo and in vitro identification and quantification of four algal groups found in freshwater and marine environments. Aqueous solutions of individual and mixed dissolved biological pigments relevant to different algal groups were measured to demonstrate the LEDIF’s capabilities in measuring extracted pigments. Different genera of algae were cultivated and the cell counts of the samples were quantified with a hemacytometer and/or cellometer. Dry weight of different algae cells was also measured to determine the cell counts-to-dry weight correlations. Finally, in vivo measurements of different genus of algae at different cell concentrations and mixed algal group in the presence of humic acid were performed with the LEDIF. A field sample from a local reservoir was measured with the LEDIF and the results were verified using hemacytometer, cellometer, and microscope. The results demonstrated the LEDIF’s capabilities in classifying and quantifying different groups of live algae.

Controls on Methane Occurrences in Aquifers Overlying the Eagle Ford Shale Play, South Texas.

Assessing natural vs. anthropogenic sources of methane in drinking water aquifers is a critical issue in areas of shale oil and gas production. The objective of this study was to determine controls on methane occurrences in aquifers in the Eagle Ford Shale play footprint. A total of 110 water wells were tested for dissolved light alkanes, isotopes of methane, and major ions, mostly in the eastern section of the play. Multiple aquifers were sampled with approximately 47 samples from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer (250-1200 m depth range) and Queen City-Sparta Aquifer (150-900 m depth range) and 63 samples from other shallow aquifers but mostly from the Catahoula Formation (depth <150 m). Besides three shallow wells with unambiguously microbial methane, only deeper wells show significant dissolved methane (22 samples >1 mg/L, 10 samples >10 mg/L). No dissolved methane samples exhibit thermogenic characteristics that would link them unequivocally to oil and gas sourced from the Eagle Ford Shale. In particular, the well water samples contain very little or no ethane and propane (C1/C2+C3 molar ratio >453), unlike what would be expected in an oil province, but they also display relatively heavier δ13 Cmethane (>-55‰) and δDmethane (>-180‰). Samples from the deeper Carrizo and Queen City aquifers are consistent with microbial methane sourced from syndepositional organic matter mixed with thermogenic methane input, most likely originating from deeper oil reservoirs and migrating through fault zones. Active oxidation of methane pushes δ13 Cmethane and δDmethane toward heavier values, whereas the thermogenic gas component is enriched with methane owing to a long migration path resulting in a higher C1/C2+C3 ratio than in the local reservoirs.

Quantum Fisher Information of Driven Multi-particle Systems in Structured Bosonic Reservoirs**Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11274054, the Creative Project of Graduate in University of Suzhou Science and Technology in No. SKCX16-006, the Innovation Project of Graduate Education of Jiangsu Province No. JGLX15-150

We investigate the dynamics of the precision of the parameter estimation in many driven atoms, each of which interacts with a local structured bosonic reservoir respectively. The evolution of quantum states for single driven atom is described by the time local quantum master equation. The dynamics of the quantum Fisher information for many entangled atoms is obtained by means of the supreoperator mapping. The estimation limit is superior to the standard quantum limit during a characteristic interval. At a given time, the precision of parameter estimation can be improved to a maximal value if the number of entangled atoms is chosen to be an optimal value. The optimal number of entangled atoms is determined by the dynamical property. The decay of quantum Fisher information is accelerated with the increase of the number of entangled atoms.

A Comparison of Flood Control Standards for Reservoir Engineering for Different Countries

Across the globe, flood control standards for reservoir engineering appear different due to various deciding factors such as flood features, society, economy, culture, morality, politics, and technology resources, etc. This study introduces an in-depth comparison of flood control standards for reservoir engineering for different countries. After the comparison and analysis, it is concluded that the determination of flood control standards is related to engineering grade, dam type, dam height, and the hazard to downstream after dam-breaking, etc. Each country should adopt practical flood control standards according to the characteristics of local reservoir engineering. The constitutive flood control standards should retain certain flexibility in the basis of constraint force. This review could offer a reference for developing countries in the enactment of flood control standards for reservoir engineering.

The Influence of Incubation Conditions and Sex on Growth and Dispersal in Hatchling Lizards

AbstractDispersal is a critical process that has profound influence on ecological and evolutionary processes. Many proximate factors influence natal dispersal, but it is currently unclear whether the conditions experienced during incubation play an important role. We manipulated incubation temperature and used mark–recapture of released hatchlings to test this hypothesis. We tested this hypothesis on the prairie lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus) using two experimental islands in a local reservoir. Incubation conditions influenced some aspects of hatchling morphology, but had little influence on the probability of dispersal. As generally predicted for a polygynous species, males were more likely to disperse than females; however, the growth rate of dispersing vs. resident individuals varied depending on sex. Dispersive male lizards did not grow faster than resident males, whereas female dispersers grew significantly slower than resident females. Although our study was not specifically designed to test for differential costs of dispersal for males and females, this pattern is consistent with recent research demonstrating sex‐specific fitness costs of dispersal.

Calculation of the reservoir age from organic and carbonate fractions of sediments in the Gulf of Cariaco (Caribbean Sea)

Abstract A set of 24 AMS 14C measurements were performed on different sediment fractions from short gravity cores taken from the Gulf of Cariaco (northeastern Venezuela) in order to construct a detailed sedimentary archive for recent centuries. A local reservoir effect was expected because of i) strong upwelling from the neighboring Cariaco Trough and anoxia and ii) the specific geomorphological setting related to active faults with seeps and diapirism. Measurements were thus performed on different components: sediment bulk organic fraction (SBOF), pteropods shells (surface water), bivalve shells (bottom), and plant fragments. Based on comparisons of the different results, we discuss different age corrections and calibrations, which lead us to consider a negligible local reservoir correction (ΔR) for the bivalve and pteropod shells, which show no reservoir age for carbonate and an absence of water stratification. However, a local 633 ± 64 yr ΔR appears in the organic fraction of the sediment, and its origin is primary related to the upwelling mechanism.

Chip-scale alignment of long DNA nanofibers on a patterned self-assembled monolayer.

Controlled alignment of long DNA nanofibers is challenging. This communication reports a method to align human genomic DNA with nearly unlimited length using lithographically produced micro-patterns of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with positively charged terminal groups. The micro-patterns act as local DNA reservoirs to supply DNAs for nanofiber formation, and can also stretch and align DNA nanofibers to form an ordered array by controlling the dewetting profile. By reducing the size and inter-patch distance of a micro-patch, a nearly uniform array of long DNA nanofibers can be patterned over a large area. A controlled motion of a DNA containing droplet allows for free patterning of DNA nanofibers and production of complex structures without a transfer process. Bending of DNA nanofibers due to local distortion of the contact line bridges more adjacent micro-patches and increases the chance of producing continuous nanofibers. The interplay between surface tension and electrostatic attraction of positively charged micro-patterns allows the production of long DNA nanofibers in a simple yet powerful way.

Short‐term fluctuations in regional radiocarbon reservoir age recorded in coral skeletons from the Ryukyu Islands in the north‐western Pacific

ABSTRACTRadiocarbon (14C) dating is a widely used and powerful tool for determining the ages of samples in studies of palaeoclimatology, palaeoseismology and archaeology. 14C ages of marine samples often require correction for local reservoir age (ΔR). Although ΔR in the mid‐ to low latitudes has varied through time, few spatiotemporal reconstructions of ΔR have been published for those regions. Here we report on new and previously published ΔR data for the early 1900s to 1950 obtained from coral skeletons from the Kuroshio region off southern Japan. The data presented here show a marked positive‐to‐negative shift of ΔR from the early 1900s to the 1940s, which has important implications for calibration of radiocarbon ages in the region and for understanding the relationship of ΔR in the western Pacific with both the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

Synchronizing policy, practice, and partnership efforts: Improving knowledge and care of noncommunicable diseases in West Africa

Background: The epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type II diabetes and high blood pressure has crept upon an unsuspecting public health community in Africa. The four major problem areas contributing to this epidemic are: (1) lack of enough resources for health care, (2) few medical facilities and personnel to care for a large number of the population, (3) the inability of public health professionals to address or unravel complex causal nets of risk factors that reflect the culture and history of countries, communities, families, and individuals, and (4) medical care curriculum in the region is not tuned to the reality of the people it serves. There is the need to develop educational partnership teams between health experts and local citizens. Methods: This team-based community participatory approach effort will involve tapping into the local reservoir of knowledge by experts and Western medical knowledge by citizens; the resultant effect will aid policymaking and program development while also synthesizing the two. Results: Findings from several studies have shown that the solution to Africa's health-care struggle depends on synchronizing policy, practice, and partnership efforts through proper culturally tailored public health approaches, as well as the development of policies that ensures improving the general public's knowledge about NCDs and its prevention. Discussion and Conclusion: We suggested innovative ideas on areas of concern that will provide a unique opportunity for health educators to advocate for and improve the health literacy of laypersons. We call for the development of more regional research and disease control centers because research and evaluation efforts can guide education and service delivery methods. In addition, we call for appropriate training that provides opportunities for African health professionals to acquire knowledge on cutting-edge knowledge about prevention and treatment. We concluded that an accepted medical practice for Africans is one anchored on efforts whereby people feel like partners when it comes to the issue of their health. Simply put, “people's voices, people's input, and people faces. It is challenging to hold people accountable when they do not understand health care and have little information on how to prevent the onset or spread of diseases.

Non-Markovian Dynamics for a Two-Atom-Coupled System Interacting with Local Reservoir at Finite Temperature

By using the effective non-Markovian measure [H.P. Breuer, E.M. Laine, J. Piilo, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 210401 (2009)], we investigate non-Markovian dynamics of a pair of two-level atoms (TLAs) system, each of which interacting with a local reservoir. We show that subsystem dynamics can be controlled by manipulating the coupling between TLAs, temperature and relaxation rate of the atoms. Moreover, the correlation between non-Markovianity of subsystem and entanglement between the subsystem and the structured bath is investigated, the results show that the emergence of non-Markovianity has a negative effect on the entanglement.

Redesign of EAF Peg Hb As an Oxygen Transfer Catalyst for Improved Tissue Oxygenation of Hypoxic Areas: A Therapeutic for Anemia and Sickle Cell Disease

BackgroundSurface decoration of Hb with PEG chains has been advanced as an approach to attenuate the vasoconstrictive activity of acellular Hb in circulation. PEGylated Hbs with higher oxygen affinities relative to unmodified Hb has an advantage when designing blood substitutes in achieving targeted transport of O2 from lungs to tissues. Extension Arm Facilitated (EAF) PEGylation of Hb with six copies of PEG 5K (EAF P5K6 Hb) was advanced as an optimum level of PEGylation that does not induce weakening of interdimeric interactions in the quaternary structure of Hb. EAF P5K6 Hb at 4 gm % is an O2 carrying colloidal plasma expander. However, a prototype of EAF P5K6 Hb, developed by Sangart as MP4, did not increase microvascular oxygen delivery or improve tissue oxygenation in models of extreme hemodilution,whereas the EAF P5K6 Hb and P5K2 did better than the non-oxygen carrying semisynthetic colloidal plasma expander and EAF P5K6 albumin.Also, P5K2 Hb does a better tissue oxygenation even though its oxygen affinity is comparable to that of EAF P5K6 Hb1.As PEG chains increases from 2 to 10 copies, there is a lesser effect in the oxygen affinity of PEG Hbs in the presence of allosteric effectors like IHP and L-35. This suggests that higher degree of PEGylation preferentially stabilize the oxy conformation of PEG Hb, decreasing the efficacy of O2 release in the circulation. We attributed this decreased efficiency to the larger PEG shell which might lower the diffusion of O2out to the plasma. We reasoned that we could reduce the size of the PEG shell using six copies of PEG 3K and that we could use this new PEG Hb (EAF P3K6 Hb) at 6 gm% to get nearly the same viscosity as 4 gm % EAF P5K6 Hb. We compared tissue oxygenation by EAF P3K6 Hb with EAF P5K6 Hb and P5K2 Hb in an experimentally induced anemia model and tested its therapeutic efficacy in attenuating the experimentally induced acute crisis in a mild murine model of SCD, NY1DD.MethodsEAF P3K6 Hb was prepared with PEG3K and characterized as EAF P5K6 Hb2. Molecular models and the shapes of PEG Hbs have been developed using InsightII program (Accelrys). Tissue oxygenation studies were carried out in the extreme hemodilution hamster model as described previously.1 Acute vaso-occlusion was studied using intravital microscopy in the venules of cremaster muscles of NY1DD SCD mice subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation (18 hrs of hypoxia with 8% O2 and then normoxia).3The efficacy was measured after treatment with 10% top load of 6 gm % solution of EAF P3K6 Hb, given at the transitioning stage from hypoxia to normoxiaResultsPEG 3K chains reduced the molecular radius and volume while increased the packing density of PEG shell of EAF P3K6 Hb as compared to EAF P5K6 Hb (Table 1). The packing of the PEG chains induced a globular shape to the EAF P3K6 Hb vs ellipsoidal shape to EAF P5K6 Hb (Fig 1). Oxygen affinity of EAF P3K6 was comparable to that of EAF P5K6 Hb. In the extreme hemodilution hamster model of anemia, the efficacy of EAF P3K6 Hb to increase tissue oxygenation was comparable to that of P5K2 Hb (Fig 2). From the intravital micrographs of cremaster muscles (Fig 3), P3K6 Hb markedly attenuated the induced vaso-occlusive crisis in NY1DD mice.Discussion and ConclusionsWe have previously shown that EAF P3K6 Hb is effective in normalizing the chronic state of vaso-occlusion in BERK sickle mice. We demonstrate here that EAF P3K6 Hb protects NY1DD sickle mice from developing acute vaso-occlusion. These studies suggest that a smaller compact PEG shell around Hb increases the ability of the PEG Hb to oxygenate the tissues. NY1DD mice are not very anemic (Hb > 10 gm/dl); a 10% top load of 6 gm% high oxygen affinity Hb represents no significant increase in Hb level (≈0.06 gm %). We suggest that the ability of such a miniscule amount of PEG Hb in the plasma to protect the animal from hypoxia is due to its enhanced ability to deliver O2 under anemic and hypoxic conditions. We suggest that EAF P3K6 Hb facilitates improved extraction of O2 from RBC to plasma and to the subsequent diffusion to tissues, i.e. small amount of PEG Hb in plasma acts as a catalyst for O2 transfer while the oxyHb in RBC serves as the local reservoir for O2. This improved O2 extractionmay be effective in anemia in general, and have a unique application in sickle cell disease.

Marine Reservoir Effects Deduced from 14C Dates on Pottery Residues, Bones, and Molluskan Shells from the Hamanaka 2 Archaeological Site, Rebun Island, Hokkaido, Japan

AbstractThis article investigates the marine reservoir effects from apparent age differences among molluskan shells, birds, and sea mammals from the Hamanaka 2 archaeological site, Rebun Island, Japan, which was occupied during the latter half of the Late Jomon period (1300−1200 cal BC). The radiocarbon ages were younger in the order of charred wood&lt;marine molluskan shells&lt;Alcidae&lt;Japanese sea lion≤charred materials on potsherds. According to data from molluskan shells from the site, the local marine reservoir correction (ΔR) for the Soya Warm Current, which flows near Rebun Island, was 172±39 14C yr. ΔR values of bone collagen for Alcidae (a family of seabirds) and Japanese sea lion were 289 and 389 14C yr, respectively. A ΔR value of 447±55 14C yr was obtained on charred material from the inner surfaces of potsherds at Hamanaka 2. The different reservoir effects relate to the differences in the diets or habitats of the shellfish, sea lion, and seabird remains at the site.

Nasolabial and forehead flap reconstruction of contiguous alar–upper lip defects

Defects of the nasal ala and upper lip aesthetic subunits can be challenging to reconstruct when they occur in isolation. When defects incorporate both the subunits, the challenge is compounded as subunit boundaries also require reconstruction, and local soft tissue reservoirs alone may provide inadequate coverage. In such cases, we used nasolabial flaps for upper lip reconstruction and a forehead flap for alar reconstruction. Three men and three women aged 21-79 years (average, 55 years) were treated for defects of the nasal ala and upper lip that resulted from cancer (n=4) and trauma (n=2). Unaffected contralateral subunits dictated the flap design. The upper lip subunit was excised and replaced with a nasolabial flap. The flap, depending on the contralateral reference, determined accurate alar base position. A forehead flap resurfaced or replaced the nasal ala. Autologous cartilage was used in every case to fortify the forehead flap reconstruction. Patients were followed for 25.6 months (range, 1-4 years). All the flaps survived, and there were no complications. Satisfactory aesthetic results were achieved in every case. With the exception of a small vertical cheek scar and a vertical forehead scar, all incisions were concealed within the subunit borders. From preliminary experience, we advocate combining nasolabial flap reconstruction of the upper lip with a forehead flap reconstruction of the ala to preserve normal facial appearance. This combination addresses an important void in the algorithmic approach to central facial reconstruction.

A nonparametric multivariate standardized drought index for characterizing socioeconomic drought: A case study in the Heihe River Basin

Among various drought types, socioeconomic drought is the least investigated type of droughts. Most existing drought indicators ignore the role of local reservoirs and water demand in coping with climatic extremes. In this study, a Multivariate Standardized Reliability and Resilience Index (MSRRI) combining inflow-demand reliability index (IDR) and water storage resilience index (WSR) was applied to examine the evolution characteristics of the socioeconomic droughts in the Heihe River Basin, the second largest inland river basin in northwestern China. Furthermore, the cross wavelet analysis was adopted to explore the associations between annual MSRRI series and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)/Atlantic Oscillation (AO). Results indicated that: (1) the developed MSRRI is more sensitive to the onset and termination of socioeconomic droughts than IDR and WSR, owing to its joint distribution function of IDR and WSR, responding to changes in either or both of the indices; (2) the MSRRI series in the Heihe River Basin shows non-significant trends at both monthly and annual scales; (3) both ENSO and AO contribute to the changes in the socioeconomic droughts in the Heihe River Basin, and the impacts of ENSO on the socioeconomic droughts are stronger than those of AO.