bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling the Parent-Child Type Well Construction for Identifying Refracturing Candidate: A Perspective from Reserves Booking
Authors: Liu Junping , Pan Yuewei , Zheng Jing , Wang Junlei , Bi Ran
Published: September 2024

Well interference is commonly observed as fracture-driven-interaction (FDI) in unconventional reservoir developments and has a critical impact on well production performance. This paper presents a simple yet rigorous method to scale the production profile from parent and child analog wells used to construct type wells to common reference conditions, including productivity potential, proppant/frac-fluid intensity, fracture stage spacing, lateral length and well spacing, etc. A scaling technique is proposed to average the available analog wells in an area of interest to the proposed new wells’ locations that may have varying geological and engineering properties. Further from the reserves booking perspective, the proposed new child wells may not be economic in a certain area based on the scaled production profile. The adjacent parent wells could be re-scaled with the refracturing design and determined as the candidates.

In this study, we first establish the representative type well for existing parent and child well groups with P90-P10 interval based on the PNR transformed production data using Arps decline. The flow regime transitions are identified in each type well curve P90-P10. These reference profiles can then be rescaled to design conditions for undrilled wells. Particularly, the production profile of parent-child well pattern for specific uneconomic locations can be identified. Further, the underperforming parent wells with limited drainage pore volume are also selected and rescaled regarding the reference conditions to determine the possibilities of being refracturing candidates. This paper provides a workflow and examples based on actual field data showcasing the applicability and efficacy of analysis, scaling, rescaling, and type well construction.

The successful application in field cases proves the workflow recommended in this paper to be of necessity for field-wise decision-making. The outcomes of this study are threefold: 1) Type well generation for normal and FDI well groups are critical to predict EURs for any undrilled well, uncertainty quantification enables the analyst to maintain the consistency and minimize the discrepancy;2) Scaling and re-scaling ascribed to the potential uplift completion design facilitate the analysts to identify the uneconomic reserve bookings; Thus, 3) the potential refracturing candidate can be determined.
Shaping the Future of PDC Bit Performance – A Superior Approach to Hard Rock Drilling
Authors: Bailey M. J. , Suleiman A. , Roberts S. , Doudou S. , Perez J. , Hinai M. Al , Rashdi A. Al
Published: September 2024

This paper discusses efficiency improvements observed using Faceted, or surface-flanked, polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters in one of the toughest and most challenging hard rock sections in the Arabian Peninsula. Through lab testing and field trials, this work examines the performance of this innovative surface-shaped PDC technology. It presents results, insights, plausible prospects, and upcoming developments.

Two main variants of this Faceted PDC cutter design were lab and field-tested: a V-shaped version, Faceted Point Edge (FPE), and a round version, Faceted Round Shape (FRS). Both tests centered on drilling efficiency and cutting mechanism improvements. Field tests in a hard rock application validated the results. An operator drilled similar sections across six fields. A total of 151 runs were conducted with 29 specific runs, which included both FRS and FPE variants; the results were compared with the company's legacy and competitor PDC bits in the same fields.

Initial lab testing delivered excellent results for the FRS, including a 20% reduction in required vertical force compared to a conventional cylindrical/round planar cutter. This is due to its multi-faceted surface, which improves cuttings removal and rock-failing efficiency. The surface-shaped profile on the FRS also led to a 35% reduction in frictional losses. FPE showed a 30% reduction in vertical force and rate of penetration (ROP) improvements compared to a typical round and planar PDC geometry due to the efficiency of the V-shaped combined with the multi-dimensional surface flanking benefits like the FRS design.

Field results from 151 total runs, including FRS and FPE cutters, correlated with laboratory efficiency observations. On average, there were up to 20% run meterage and up to 56% ROP improvements compared to planar cutter offset bit runs (combining company and competition fixed-cutter bits). These gains were seen as particularly significant in intermediate and deeper portions compared to shallower parts of this hard rock application. At the same time, they exhibited similar dull results to the legacy PDC bits used in these sections. Such positive results are also reflected in drilling economics, with a captured average Cost Per Meter (CPM) reduction between 9% and 16%.

This paper proposes a structured work investigating benefits using Faceted PDCs, showcasing tangible improvements in one of the most challenging sections in the Arabian Peninsula. These findings will improve the industry's understanding of the key advantages of implementing surface-flanked cutters not only in the Middle East but also in hard rock applications globally.
Acid Job Limit in Proppant-Fractured Formations Across Various Formation Types
Authors: Karazincir O. , Li Y. , Zaki K. , Descant F. J. , Williams W. , Rijken P. , Rickards A.
Published: September 2024

HF-based matrix acid treatments are beneficial in removing fines damage in sandstone formations and restoring productivity. In a proppant-fractured formation, fines dissolution/formation stimulation and proppant embedment/conductivity reduction can become competing factors after multi-cycle HF treatments. Consequently, there could exist an "Acid job limit" beyond which the benefit from additional acid treatments is concealed by conductivity loss caused by a weakened formation rock. This study is aimed at establishing an acid job limit for sandstone formations of varying rock strength/fines migration potential. Current study results with high UCS/low- medium porosity sandstone core were compared with those from intermediate UCS/medium porosity core. While a clear acid-job limit was identified in the previous study, high-UCS core tested herein showed permeability increase from fines dissolution and minimum conductivity-loss from embedment. Using a semi-analytical model, skin value was determined as a function of acid cycles and compared to earlier work. The factors causing the different responses for the two formation types were studied so that acid-job limit predictions can be extrapolated to other formations. Various post-test core analysis methods were used to study the effects of acid jobs on proppant-embedded fracture face. Comparison of these results with those from intermediate UCS/intermediate porosity core support that the higher UCS core from the current study experienced minor changes after 8-acid cycles.
Enhancing Extremely High Resistivity Inversion through Electromagnetic Propagation Resistivity Measurements
Authors: Wu Dagang , Wu Hus-Hsiang , Lozinsky Clint , Bittar Michael , Lopez David , Lara Henry , Ferla Giuseppe , Rojas Jaime Morales , Gelvez Carolina
Published: September 2024

Recent advances on the logging-while-drilling (LWD) electromagnetic (EM) propagation resistivity tools, especially designed for deep resistivity boundary detection and azimuthal reading, have enabled proactive drilling applications such as geosteering in many different environments. However, in some rare geological scenarios, for example, an anhydrite cap rock overlaying a carbonate reservoir, even the latest LWD EM tools can struggle and produce inaccurate formation mapping results. Such formations have extremely high resistivity coupled with low resistivity contrast to adjacent layers, leading to significantly reduced EM measurement sensitivity. The reduced sensitivity is further compounded by the presence of minor noise from tool electronics and drilling operations, contaminating the total received signals. Therefore, conventional inversion methods fail to extract correct formation properties under these high-resistive formation conditions.

To address this challenging task, a higher frequency channel at deep transmitter-receiver (TR) spacing is enabled to achieve greater sensitivity to highly resistive formations. Also, a novel inversion scheme is proposed by employing the high-frequency deep azimuthal measurements and pre-existing shallow measurements at relatively short TR spacing. Since shallow measurements often have a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), incorporating them into our inversion process ensures accurate near-wellbore resistivity determination and stabilizes the inversion iterations. Finally, the new inversion includes the so-called geosignals from the deep TR spacing, significantly enhancing SNR and sensitivity to bed boundaries in extremely high-resistivity formations.

The improved inversion scheme, utilizing the modified LWD EM tool, was evaluated using both synthetic and field examples. Results demonstrate great inversion performance, providing more accurate and stable resistivity mapping in formations with high resistivity and low resistivity contrast compared to the existing methods. The innovative approach has been further validated through ongoing field trials and has successfully assisted operations in optimizing the wellbore placements under such demanding formation conditions.
Control Line-Less Casing Valve Installations and Reduction of Drilling Operations Risks in Challenging Well Environments
Authors: Poloni R. , Spagnolo S. , Napoleone L. , Santoro D. , Abdelaziz A. , Cavagnero G. , Leo G. , Racca S. , Brienza A. , Gibilterra V. , Dakhno A. , Maestrami M. , Poletti N. , Beskri W. , Congia E. , Uslenghi A. , Ulhaque M. M. , Sheikh T. A.
Published: September 2024

The pursuit of continuous improvement in overall Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) performance represents a key driver in drilling and completion activities, even more in critical well environments. To minimize risks in subsea well operations, Eni and Weatherford developed an innovative Cable-Less Casing Valve (will be referenced as "Valve" in this paper), with the primary objective of blowout risk reduction, isolating downhole environment from surface when the bottomhole assembly (BHA) is out of the well, enhancing operational efficiency through contactless technologies easier to deploy at greater depths.

This technology is the result of a joint R&D project in which a pre-existing technology (i.e., a surface cable activated casing valve) has been upgraded by introducing a contactless activation, thus unlocking the application in subsea wells, the main candidates for this technology.

Once the technological needs have been identified, the Valve has been engineered, built and pilot tested in land environment in 2018 - 2019, prior to its commercial deployment occurred in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea area for three subsea wells between 2022 and 2024, achieving the expected objectives with no major interference or disruption added to the normal operations. The Valve has been developed in sizes for 13 3/8″ – 13 5/8″ and for 9 5/8″ – 9 7/8″ casings.
Sonic Velocity Based Experimental and Modeling Approach to Determine Fluid Properties of Greenhouse Gases and Mixtures
Authors: Ratnakar R. R. , Hackbarth J. , Bhaskar B. , Dindoruk B.
Published: September 2024

Climate-related concerns from rising CO2 emissions, along with geopolitical pressures, have prompted the chemical, manufacturing, and energy industries to urgently tackle the issue by developing/adopting emission-reduction technologies. To address this, various decarbonization pathways are being explored, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), enhanced geothermal, electrification, and hydrogen. In all these pathways, an accurate estimation of thermodynamic properties of fluids are essential for process design and scaleups. In this work, we focus primary on greenhouse gases (especially CO2, CH4 and their mixtures) for the applications of CCS and enhanced geothermal and develop an equation-of-state (EOS)based modeling approach,coupled with sonic velocity based experimental validation,to estimate several fluid properties (such as heat capacities, enthalpy, entropy, sonic velocity, density, compressibility, and Joule-Thomson coefficient).

A pulse-echo technique was used to measure the sonic velocity in CO2, methane, and their mixtures (containing 5 - 30 mol% CO2) in the pressure range of 1 – 200 bar and in temperaturerange of 300 – 323K. The corresponding density was measured using a PVT cell. The modeling is based on PR78 EOS with Peneloux shift, where the ideal part of the isobaric heat capacity (obtained from correlations available in literature) is used to determine the residual part of all fluid properties fromthe EOS model atextended pressure and temperature conditions.The main results are as follows: Experimentally measured sonic velocity and density data for CO2, methane, and their mixture are aligned with that available in literature.The modeling framework leads to a very good match with the in-house and available literature data, within the relative error of 1 – 3%, which is acceptable for most practical applications.The compressibility of the fluid is derived directly from the sonic velocity, leading to much better estimation as compared to traditional approach (which is based on the derivative of density and leads to significant noise in the estimation)Most importantly, the framework is general and can utilize any other EOS model. Additionally, it can easily be extended to any fluid system as long as the EOS parameters and ideal part of isobaric heat capacity are known a priory.

Novelty of this work includes (i) experimental measurements of sonic velocity and density of a fluid system containing CO2 and methane at high pressures, and (ii) development of a modeling framework to accurately determine the thermodynamic properties (such as density, sonic velocity, heat capacities, enthalpy, entropy, compressibility, and Joule-Thomson coefficient) for any fluid mixtures.
Characterizing Acoustic-Based Reservoir Injectivity Monitoring with Perforation Laboratory Testing
Authors: Ma Joseph H. Y. , Wilson Glenn , Dehart Rory , McGregor Jacob , Grove Brenden , Barlow Darren , Jaaskelainen Mikko
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the application of a laboratory experiment to acoustically characterize and monitor carbon dioxide (CO2) injection at the scale of the perforation interval. We perform a perforating laboratory experiment to replicate the flow of supercritical fluid through a perforated casing into a permeable rock formation at reservoir conditions, mimicking carbon dioxide (CO2) injection typical of carbon capture and storage (CCS) operations. We capture acoustic signals during controlled flow experiments at various injection pressures with a hydrophone. Analysis of the spectral content revealed distinct characteristics in the specific acoustic bands, indicating the potential for passive acoustic monitoring to quantify injection processes. In practice, that permanent monitoring would be achieved via distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). We acknowledge the need for further research and development to subsequently derive an equivalent DAS response for quantifying CO2 injection rates at the individual perforation level to improve understanding of CO2 injectivity.
Fine Particulate Matter Emissions from Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Stations
Authors: Zhu Yifang , Yao Yuan , Niu Muchuan , Chen Haoxuan , Yu Qiao , Wu Qingyang , Li Yuhang , Zhang Yijie , Ozcan Aydogan , Jerrett Michael
Published: September 2024

The global shift to electric transportation necessitates expansion of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations. However, the environmental and public health impacts of this expansion are not yet well understood. Here, we report that the power cabinet at DCFC stations emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which are associated with increased morbidity through the life course and premature death. We collected 24-hr integrated filter samples from 50 DCFC stations across 47 cities in Los Angeles County, California, and found that daily PM2.5concentrations were between 7.3 to 39.0 µg m-3, approximately twice the background levels. To understand the emission mechanism of these particles, we conducted extensive field measurements for real-time PM2.5mass concentration, particle size distribution, and other pollutants, as well as EV charging activities. We found that these particles are mainly in the sub-micrometer size range (0.5-1.0 µm) and are likely due to particle resuspension from the power cabinets. Currently, no emission standards exist for DCFC. Without regulation or interventions, these resuspended particles could expose nearby communities, EV users, and the workforce operating these facilities to high levels of PM2.5, potentially leading to widespread health consequences.
High-topological charge extreme-ultraviolet spatiotemporal vortices via high harmonic generation
Authors: Martin-Hernandez Rodrigo , Gui Guan , Plaja Luis , Kapteyn Henry , Murnane Margaret , Liao Chen-Ting , Porras Miguel , Hernández-García Carlos
Published: September 2024

Spatiotemporal optical vortices (STOV) are structured light pulses with a unique topology that couples the spatial and temporal domains. Up to now, their generation has been limited to low-order topological charges in the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum. During the last decade, it was shown that through the process of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) it is possible to up-convert spatial optical vortices from the near-infrared into the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV), thereby producing vortices with distinct femtosecond and attosecond structure. In this work we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally the generation of highly charged spatiotemporal and spatiospectral EUV vortices using near infrared STOV driving laser pulses. We use analytical expressions for focused STOVs to perform macroscopic calculations of HHG that are directly compared to the experimental results. As STOV beams are not eigenmodes of propagation, we characterize the EUV STOVs both in the near and far fields, to show that they represent conjugated spatiospectral and spatiotemporal vortex pairs. Our work provides light beams topologically coupled at the nanometer/attosecond domains, that are especially suitable to explore electronic dynamics in magnetic materials, chiral media, and nanostructures.
Research on Multimodal Hate Speech Detection Based on Self-Attention Mechanism Feature Fusion
Authors: Mao Junjie , Shi Hanxiao , Li Xiaojun
Published: September 2024

The widespread rise of multimedia social platforms has diversified the ways in which people communicate and the content they share. Hate speech, as a threat to societal harmony, has also shifted its manifestation from a singular textual to a multimodal one. Previously, most methods for detecting hate speech were limited to the text modality, making it difficult to identify and classify newly emerging multimodal hate speech that combines text and images. This paper proposes a novel multi-modal hate speech detection model to respond to the above-mentioned needs for multi-modal hate speech detection. The proposed joint model can use moving windows to extract multi-level visual features and extract text features based on the RoBERTa pre-training model and introduces a multi-head self-attention mechanism in the later fusion process for image and text feature fusion. This article also conducted experiments on the multi-modal benchmark data set Hateful Memes. The model achieved an accuracy of 0.8780, precision of 0.9135, F1-Score of 0.8237, and AUCROC of 0.8532, defeating the SOTA multi-modal hate speech recognition model.
Impact of the uroperitoneum on the development of paralytic ileus: a preclinical study in the pig model
Authors: Asimakopoulos Anastasios D. , Annino Filippo , Colalillo Gaia , Diemunsch Pierre , Dupin Camille , De Roudilhe Gilles , Piechaud Thierry
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The intraperitoneal leak of urine is considered as a major cause of peritoneal inflammatory reaction that could lead to paralytic ileus. Our aim was to document the effect of urine on the peritoneal surface.
Methods: Seven white minipigs (one control-six tests) underwent standardized general anaesthesia. In three test pigs urine was aspirated from the bladder and instilled in the peritoneal cavity. In the remaining three pigs a continuous urine leak was created through section of the ureter. At 4 and 10h laparoscopic harvesting of slices of the parietal peritoneum at the level of the Douglas pouch, lateral pelvic wall and subdiaphragmatic area was performed. Ileum slices were also obtained at 10h. The slices were microscopically evaluated for inflammatory infiltrate (INI) of the peritoneum according to the Sydney system classification.
Results: The presence of urine in the peritoneum induces distention of the ileum. At 4h, a light-moderate INI was observed to two pigs of both test groups but not to the control pig. At 10h a light-moderate INI appeared in the peritoneal slices of the control pig. Moreover, three out of six pigs of both test groups showed some degree of INI of the parietal peritoneum. The histologic evaluation of the slices of the distended ileum did not reveal INI.
Conclusions: The intraperitoneal urine induces distention of the bowel but no inflammation of the visceral peritoneum in the short term (10h). Other than inflammation mechanisms through which the urine induces small ileum distention should be investigated.
Land Cover/use Classification Optimization Model (LC-COM): new fusion model by considering spatial heterogeneity
Authors: Ma Li , Li Xuan , Hou Jianwei
Published: September 2024

The Land use/Cover Classification Optimization Model (LC-COM)
is designed to integrate the strengths of the classification
results from multiple classifiers and existing products. In LC-COM,
the reconciliation index was developed to align the existing LULC
products with the composite approach of Landsat images to be
classified. Training samples were then auto-generated from these LC
products and refined by the spectral indices to further match the
selected Landsat images. Six classifiers provided by the Google
Earth Engine platform were applied to make their classification to
fully explore the detailed and specific information from the
Landsat images. The results of these classifiers with the five LULC
products were then integrated into an accuracy-weighted hybrid map
by using producer accuracy, user accuracy and the especially
designed index of matching accuracy reflecting spatial
heterogeneity. The results show that the optimized land-cover
classification after fusion effectively improved the overall
accuracy by integrating all the strengths from each individual
result, and the classification performance could be significantly
improved when spatial heterogeneity considered.
A Deep Learning Method for Dynamic Workpiece Grasping Detection Under Illumination Interference
Authors: Yunhan Li , Jingjing Lou , Haijun Wu , Chuan Ye , Ruichao Zhao , Yuhang Jiang
Published: September 2024

Achieving accurate and stable detection results is crucial for robotic gripping tasks in environments with uneven lighting. To address this, this paper proposes a target object detection network (YOLO-Net) that integrates feature fusion and attention mechanisms. Firstly, a deep learning-based object detection model is established to mitigate the interference caused by uneven lighting. This model effectively overcomes the disturbances from uneven lighting and accurately extracts the features of the objects to be grasped. Secondly, the pose of the target object in the world coordinate system is obtained through hand-eye calibration transformation. Finally, robot modeling and control are performed within the ROS system to guide the robot in precisely grasping and placing the target object. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively handles the interference caused by uneven lighting, achieving a recognition accuracy of 92.2% and an overall average grasping success rate of 93.75%, confirming the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Regulatory effect of germination on physicochemical, structural, pasting, and thermal properties of Japonica brown rice flour
Authors: wang xiuqi , Zhang Guangchen , Hua Dong , Yu Pengcheng , He Yutang , sun jian , Liu He
Published: September 2024

This study comprehensively investigated the effect of germination on the physicochemical properties and molecular structure of japonica brown rice varieties. During germination, the amylose content of the rice reduced by 1.1–4.27 g/100g, while the amylopectin content reduced by at least 9.52%. Germination increased the reducing sugar content, and α-amylase activity of japonica brown rice and upregulated the expression of α-amylase-encoding genes. Furthermore, germination disrupted the short-range ordered structure of brown rice flour and reduced its relative crystallinity. In contrast, it had little effect on the A-type crystal structure of brown rice starch. Notably, germination enhanced thermal stability and reduced retrogradation in japonica brown rice. Principal component analysis revealed that the gene regulation was positively correlated with α-amylase activity, which in turn influenced the hardness, thermal stability, and retrogradation properties of brown rice. This study provides data supporting the optimization of japonica and the development of germinated grain foods.
Ultra-short-term Single-step Photovoltaic Power Prediction based on VMD-Attention-BiLSTM Combined Model
Authors: Yu Haisheng , Song Shenhui
Published: September 2024

Research on photovoltaic systems (PV) power prediction contributes to optimizing configurations, responding promptly to emergencies, reducing costs, and maintaining long-term system stability. This study proposes a VMD-Attention-BiLSTM model for predicting ultra-short-term photovoltaic power to further enhance prediction performance. Firstly, VMD decomposes historical photovoltaic power data into multiple sub-sequences with different frequencies, treating each sub-sequence as a separate input variable for data expansion. Secondly, the Attention mechanism calculates the correlation coefficients between variables and assigns corresponding weights based on the magnitude of the correlation coefficients between each input variable and the output variable. Finally, the BiLSTM model adopts a dual-layer LSTM structure to more accurately extract features. Experimental results show that compared to various advanced deep learning methods, the MAE of the VMD-Attention-BiLSTM combined model improves by at least 29%.
Achieving Sustainability Development Goals of Quality Education through “VIDGRATION” Method
Authors: Harith Siti Hawa , Zabidi Norsharina , Zulkifly Syazwan Syah , Mohammad Nur’Jila
Published: September 2024

Flexible teaching through the application of “VIDGRATION” method, a video-based teaching tool that specifically been used for the non-law students is one of the efforts to support the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 of Quality Education. This study investigates the effectiveness of “VIDGRATION” method toward improving the non-law students understanding on law related subject. The non-law students mostly face difficulty with the law related subject due to their unfamiliarity with the law terms and wording. Therefore, these students unable to understand the lesson and score poorly during examination. “VIDGRATION” method is being introduce to facilitate the non-law students’ learning process. This qualitative study undertaken toward 99 non-law students who enrolled for the Human Resource Management subject. This intervention study was undertaken in three stages of problem identification, intervention and evaluation. All data were triangulated from instructor’s and students’ reflection, focus group interview and comparison between the pre-quiz and post-quiz result. The results show that “VIDGRATION” method has successfully improve the non-law students understanding toward the law related subject. In addition, the non-law students also manage to improve their time management skill, readiness to study and develop critical thinking on the application of real working scenario.
Identification of Novel Genes Implicated in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Progression using Bioinformatics Analysis of Microarray Data
Authors: Al-Sayegh Hassan Aboudi Hassan , Safaralizadeh Reza
Published: September 2024

Background
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of blood cells. Nowadays the incidence and prevalence of AML is growing rapidly, making more precise diagnostic tools and novel treatments open to urgent exploration. Genetic abnormalities and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis of AML and thereby, Microarray analysis have been applied to explore underlying pathways and genetic function. In this study we aimed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and assess protein–protein interaction (PPI) to investigate the underpinned molecular and genetic mechanisms of AML.
Methods
The present study applied comprehensive statistical analysis in order to examine gene expression profiles in datasets GSE9476, GSE48558, and GSE63270 from the GEO database. The datasets were selected to provide a broad representation of gene expression changes associated with AML. Through this rigorous analysis, DEGs were identified across three databases. The identified DEGs were then subjected to further scrutiny, and genes such as TRIB2, LGALS1, FLT3, HOMER3, LMNA, CFD, and ABLIM1 were singled out for additional investigation. The mentioned genes were selected based on their potential significance in AML and were further analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) analysis to understand their biological roles, functions, and the pathways they might be involved in AML.
Results
Our bioinformatics analysis revealed that among the explored genes, CFD and ABLIM1 were linked to AML.
Conclusion
It is concluded that ABLIM1 and CFD genes are associated with the presence and progression of AML, even in different subtypes of the disease.
A C2H2-type zinc finger protein from Mentha canadensis, McZFP1, negatively regulates epidermal cell patterning and salt tolerance
Authors: Bai Yang , Zheng Xiaowei , Xu Yichuan , Li Li , Qi Xiwu , Yu Xu , Qin Chun , Liu Dongmei , Chen Zequn , Liang Chengyuan
Published: September 2024

C2H2-type zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) transcription factors play evident roles in regulating plant growth and development and abiotic stress responses. However, the role of C2H2-ZFP from Mentha canadensis remains uncertain. Here, we identified the multifunctional C2H2-ZFP gene McZFP1 from M. canadensis based on phylogenetic analysis. The McZFP1 gene was highly expressed in stems, responding to abiotic stress and phytohormone treatments. McZFP1 localized in the nucleus and showed no transcriptional self-activation activity. McZFP1 overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly reduced the number of trichomes and root hairs, root hair length, and salt stress tolerance. Further study revealed that McZFP1 overexpression increased the expression of negative regulator genes and decreased that of positive regulator genes to inhibit plant trichome and root hair development. Malondialdehyde accumulation was promoted, but the proline content and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activities were reduced and the expression of stress-response genes was inhibited in McZFP1 overexpression lines under salt treatment, thereby compromising plant salt tolerance. Overall, these results indicate that McZFP1 is a novel C2H2-ZFP transcription factor that plays negative roles in trichome and root hair development and salt stress tolerance.
A Fragment-Based Screen for Inhibitors of Escherichia coli N5-CAIR Mutase
Authors: Sharma Marcella F. , Firestine Steven
Published: September 2024

Although purine biosynthesis is a primary metabolic pathway, there are fundamental differences between how purines are synthesized in microbes versus humans. In humans, the purine intermediate, 4-carboxy-5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (CAIR) is directly synthesized from 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) and carbon dioxide by the enzyme AIR carboxylase. In bacteria, yeast and fungi, CAIR is synthesized from AIR via an intermediate N5-carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide (N5-CAIR) by the enzyme N5-CAIR mutase. The difference in pathways between humans and microbes indicate that N5-CAIR mutase is a potential antimicrobial drug target. To identify inhibitors of E. coli N5-CAIR mutase, a fragment-based screening campaign was conducted using a thermal shift assay and a library of 4,500 fragments. Twenty-eight fragments were initially identified that displayed dose-dependent binding to N5-CAIR mutase with Kd values ranging from 9-309 µM. Of the 28, 14 were obtained from commercial sources for retesting; however, only 5 showed dose-dependent binding to N5-CAIR mutase. The five fragments were assessed for their ability to inhibit enzyme activity. Four out of the 5 showed inhibition with Ki values of 4.8 to 159 µM. All fragments contained nitrogen heterocycles with 3 out of the 4 containing 5-membered heterocycles like those found in the substrate of the enzyme. The identified fragments show similarities to compounds identified from studies on B. anthracis N5-CAIR synthetase and human AIR carboxylase suggesting a common pharmacophore.
Differences in oral hypofunction prevalence and category measures across age groups and sex in Japan: a pilot study
Authors: Hidaka Rena , Matsuo Koichiro , Tanaka Misaki , Sriniva Murali , Kanazawa Manabu
Published: September 2024

Objectives
The deterioration of oral function to a state of oral hypofunction (OHF) has been associated with malnutrition and frailty. This cross-sectional pilot study investigated for differences in OHF prevalence and its category measures across age groups and sex, as well as their associations with physical function.
Methods
A total of 155 healthy adults (median age: 55 years, range: 22–89 years) participated in this study after providing informed consent. The cohort was age and sex matched. Seven oral function measures based on the concept of OHF were assessed: oral hygiene (Hygiene), oral dryness, maximum occlusal force (MOF), lip-tongue motor function (LTMF), maximum tongue pressure (MTP), masticatory function, and swallowing function. Hand grip strength (HGS) was also measured. The participants were divided into the young (20–39 years), middle (40–64 years), and old (≥ 65 years) age groups for linear regression analysis of differences in oral and physical function. Differences in OHF prevalence were tested by the chi-square test.
Results
The prevalence of OHF was significantly higher in the old group than in the young and middle groups. Such OHF measures as Hygiene, MTP, LTMF, and MOF were significantly worse in the old group as well. The measures of Hygiene and LTMF showed a moderate correlation with age in the multiple regression model (standardized partial regression coefficient, β = 0.24 and − 0.19, respectively). HGS was significantly associated with MTP (β = 0.58, p < 0.001) and LTMF (β = 0.38, p = 0.002) in both male and female participants.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that OHF prevalence increases with age, especially after 65 years old. However, the pathological route may vary among OHF categories.
What competencies does an orthodontic postgraduate need?
Authors: Mahdavifard Hamid , Noorollahian Saeed , Omid Athar , Yamani Nikoo
Published: September 2024

Introduction:
Competency frameworks are used to guide professional education and assessment. An orthodontic graduate needs various competencies. This study aimed to determine competencies and create a basic competency framework for orthodontic graduates.
Methods
This descriptive cross-sectional study used the Delphi method. A comprehensive literature review was conducted in the ISI, Scopus, PubMed, Eric and Google scholar; the orthodontic curriculum in Iran; and the orthodontic curricula that were available. The skills necessary for an orthodontic graduate were extracted. The list of competencies was designed in the form of an electronic questionnaire as the first round of Delphi. Fifty-two orthodontic specialists (university staffs) were asked to determine the degree of necessity of competencies for an orthodontic graduate using a five-point Likert scale. In the second round, nine competencies were transferred from the first round Delphi, and four competencies were extracted from the experts' opinions and were included in the questionnaire.
Results
A total of 85 articles and 4 curricula were reviewed and 77 competencies were identified in 11 domains. In the first round of the Delphi, 68 competencies were accepted, for a quota of 70%, and nine were transferred to the second round of the Delphi. At this round, most of the competencies in the field of “data collection and recording”, “treatment procedures”, “patient-centered treatment”, “dental knowledge, “clinical reasoning and moral judgment”, “communication skills”, “Health Promotion”, “Attitude, legal responsibilities and ethical issues (professionalism)”, “information management”, and “Self-development” through participation were accepted. Finally, the domain of competence “the dentist's role in the health system” was removed, and ten domains (73 competencies) were accepted.
Conclusions
The competencies identified in this study can be used in the design of competency-based curricula, education and assessment in post-graduate orthodontic program.
Bioactive compounds from fermented Vernonia amygdalina leaf: Potent antibiotics against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi
Authors: Kazeem Atunnise Adeleke , Sossou Ibukun Temitope , Peters Peace Sekani , Ajayi Solomon Damilare , Elechukwu Dumebi Anthony , Salau TiOluwani Bamdele , Adebayo Olusegun Lateef , Salau Bamidele Adewale
Published: September 2024

Antibiotic resistance microorganisms (ARMs), especially gram-negative bacteria, are a global health threat. The impact of fermentation on phytochemicals is numerous, and exploring this potential is the front line of drug development. The study investigates the role of fermentation in modifying V. amygdalina leaf secondary metabolites as a potent antibiotic against Escherichia. coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhi. The results of this work showed that the fermentation process increased the content of lycopene, flavonoid, and carotenoid compounds but decreased chlorophyll, soluble protein, and phenol. Pearson's correlation heatmap showed a strong correlation between microbial activities and secondary metabolic changes. The methanolic extract of fermented V. amygdalina leaf pulp (VALP) showed significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The GCMS and FTIR outputs showed unique compounds and structural modifications at different intervals of the fermentation period. In-silico analyses showed that 4,6-Cholestadien-3β-ol – a compound that is unique to the 9th day of fermentation was responsible for the inhibition of the gram-negative bacteria via multiple non-ionic interactions with key catalytic site residues and higher binding affinity to OmpC, OmpF, and RNase P than ampicillin. Therefore, this steroid-derived compound may open a new pipeline into the development of multi-target antibiotics against a broad-spectrum multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial.
Quantitative Evaluation of China's Commercial Health Insurance Policies Based on the PMC-Index Model
Authors: Zhang Liujin , Ma Wenwen , Zheng Chao , Song Jiling , Sun Qiang , Yin Jia
Published: September 2024

Objective This study aims to quantitatively evaluate China's commercial health insurance (CHI) policies and provide a reference for improving the policy.Methods By means of the text mining and literature research method, the Policy Modeling Consistency Index (PMC-index) model of CHI policies is constructed. Then, the 22 included policies are analyzed one by one, and the PMC surface chart of the overall policies is constructed to reflect the current status of CHI policies in China macroscopically.Results The PMC-index model consisted of 10 primary variables and 41 secondary variables. This study found that the average PMC index of the 22 policies included is 7.47, suggesting that existing policies are generally of high quality. Among them, good policies accounted for 18.18%, and excellent policies accounted for 81.82%. Among the primary variables, X10 (policy disclosure) had the highest score, and the scores of other primary variables were ranked as X3 (policy recipients) > X5 (policy content) > X6 (policy tools) > X8 (cooperation and connection) > X7 (content evaluation) > X1 (policy nature) > X9 (policy goals) > X4 (policy incentives) > X2 (policy timeliness).Conclusions At present, China's CHI policies are generally at an excellent level. However, there is still room for improvement with regard to “policy incentives, policy goals, content evaluation, policy tools and policy content”. We recommend that policymakers optimize China's CHI policies by improving the policy incentive mechanism; balancing policy goals; clarifying task distribution; optimizing policy tool structure; and developing inclusive health insurance.
Analysis on vibration screening by Rayleigh wave propagation through open and in-filled trench
Authors: Barman Rahul
Published: September 2024

This research tackles the important problem of ground vibrations brought on by pile driving, machine foundation, blasting load, and train-induced load, as well as their possible effects on adjacent structures and delicate equipments. Numerous investigations using experimental and computational methods have been conducted on vibration isolation. Rayleigh waves are the primary carrier of vibrational energy. The phenomenon of Rayleigh wave propagation through various elastic media, such as an in-filled trench, is highly intriguing, yet there is a dearth of literature on it. It has explored an innovative solution using Geofoam, crumb rubber, a non-biodegradable waste and concrete. This research discusses how the reflected and transmitted Rayleigh wave has altered the displacement before and after the trench. The whole vibration screening investigation was conducted with the transmission, reflection, and propagation of Rayleigh waves in mind. A standard numerical analysis has also been conducted to determine the differences between the two approaches. The displacement of soil particles in both vertical and horizontal directions has been observed. Numerous parametric study variations, such as trench depth, width, location, and operation frequency, have been investigated in this study. There is a favourable result when the finite element and analytical findings are compared.
Understanding Depression in Autism: The Role of Subjective Perception and Anterior Cingulate Cortex Volume
Authors: Hao Yu , Banker Sarah , Trayvick Jadyn , Barkley Sarah , Peters Arabella , Thinakaran Abigael , McLaughlin Christopher , Gu Xiaosi , Foss-Feig Jennifer , Schiller Daniela
Published: September 2024

Background
The prevalence of depression is elevated in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to the general population, yet the reasons for this disparity remain unclear. While social deficits central to ASD may contribute to depression, it is uncertain whether social interaction behavior themselves or individuals' introspection about their social behaviors are more impactful. Although the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and amygdala are frequently implicated in ASD, depression, and social functioning, it is unknown if these regions explain differences between ASD adults with and without co-occurring depression.
Methods
The present study contrasted observed vs. subjective perception of autism symptoms and social performances assessed with both standardized measures and a lab task, in 65 sex-balanced (52.24% male) autistic young adults. We also quantified ACC and amygdala volume with 7-Tesla structural neuroimaging to examine correlations with depression and social functioning.
Results
We found that ASD individuals with depression exhibited differences in subjective evaluations including heightened self-awareness of ASD symptoms, lower subjective satisfaction with social relations, and less perceived affiliation during the social interaction task, yet no differences in corresponding observed measures, compared to those without depression. Larger ACC volume was related to depression, greater self-awareness of ASD symptoms, and worse subjective satisfaction with social interactions. In contrast, amygdala volume, despite its association with clinician-rated ASD symptoms, was not related to depression.
Limitations
: Due to the cross-sectional nature of our study, we cannot determine the directionality of the observed relationships. Additionally, we included only individuals with an IQ over 60 to ensure participants could complete the social task, which excluded many on the autism spectrum. We also utilized self-reported depression indices instead of clinically diagnosed depression, which may limit the comprehensiveness of the findings.
Conclusions
Our approach highlights the unique role of subjective perception of autism symptoms and social interactions, beyond the observable manifestation of social interaction in ASD, in contributing to depression, with the ACC playing a crucial role. These findings imply possible heterogeneity of ASD concerning co-occurring depression. Using neuroimaging, we were able to demarcate depressive phenotypes co-occurring alongside autistic phenotypes.
Renal Function Tests and Lipid Profiles among Apparently Healthy Adult Male Khat-Chewers and Non-Khat Chewers in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Degiye Abush Getaneh , Alem Mekdes , Dedefo Gobena , Baye Amanuel , Abreham Abera , Bayih Andualem , Fikru Tomas , Jabesa Chimdo , Temesgen Etetu , Gashaw Birku , Abay Yazal , Tsegaye Melaku , Worade Woshke , Gemechu Geleta , Negesso Abebe Edao , Wolde Mistire , Kinde Samuel
Published: September 2024

Background: Chewing khat, ‘Catha edulis’ is becoming more common in our society with increased harmful health repercussions, such as lipid metabolism disorder and impaired renal function. There is a scarcity of data and contradictory findings on this topic. Therefore, this study aimed to compare renal function tests and lipid profile levels among apparently healthy adult male khat chewers and non-khat chewers, and to assess the associated risk factors.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dilla Town using convenient sampling techniques. The levels of lipid and renal function tests were analyzed on apparently healthy adult male khat-chewers (n = 100) and non-khat chewers (n = 100) using the Siemens Dimension EXL 200 integrated system. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman correlation statistical methods were applied using SPSS Version 26. A P-value < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.
Result: Among khat chewers, the levels of HDL-C (median ± IQR) were significantly lower (34.0 ± 17 mg/dl) compared with non-khat chewers (39.5 ± 25 mg/dl) (P = 0.007). Additionally, khat chewers displayed significantly higher levels of TC/HDL ratio (3.81 ± 2.05 vs. 3.17 ± 1.29, P<0.001) and TG (95.5 ± 56 mg/dl vs. 80.5 ± 45 mg/dl, P = 0.005) than non-khat chewers (p<0.05). Long-term chewing, lasting more than 10 years, has been associated with a significant increase in creatinine and decreased eGFR levels compared with shorter durations, less than 10 years.
Conclusion: Khat chewing has a deleterious effect on HDL, triglyceride, and TC/HDL ratio levels and may be associated with chewing duration, frequency, bundle of khat, and time spent on chewing. Long-term chewing has been associated with kidney damage.
Recommendation: Concerned bodies should create awareness about Khat’s effect, and more longitudinal studies should be conducted to investigate cause-and-effect relationships.