bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances on the Analysis of Critical Failure Modes of Subsea Umbilicals - Excessive Crush Loading
Authors: Batrony Mimi , Doak Ross , Bordner Anna
Published: April 2012

The amount of crush load that steel tube umbilicals can sustain frominstallation tensioners can significantly influence the cost of deployment, particularly in deepwater developments.

As installation vessel selection has to be made, in most cases, well beforephysical testing of umbilical samples, umbilical installation crush limits canbe assessed by engineering analytical methods. It is, therefore, important thatthese crush load limits are defined realistically and derived using verifiablyaccurate methods. This requires fundamental understanding of the failure modesof components inside an umbilical subject to crush loading and analysis toolswhich are calibrated against actual test data.

This paper presents a preliminary study comparing experimental results withUFlex simulations on a sample steel tube umbilical under crush loading. Conclusions are drawn on the influence of test sample length on experimentalresults, and the direction of future work is outlined.

Background

Developing deepwater oil and gas fields brings fresh challenges, particularlywhen installing infrastructure such as subsea umbilicals and other flexiblelines. With the water depth at some well locations now surpassing 3000 m, theweight of suspended umbilical length that must be handled during installationoperations can be substantial.

The conventional means of gripping an umbilical during deployment is by way oftensioner systems that control payout and hold the suspended weight of theumbilical. Typically tensioners feature two or more opposed caterpillar tracks, each fitted with a row of v-shaped pads that come together to grip the outerjacket of the umbilical. The frictional force required to react against thetension resulting from the mass of suspended umbilical is directly proportionalto the level of crush force applied radially to the umbilical by these v-shapedpads. Therefore, it is of interest to both manufacturers and installers todetermine the maximum allowable crushing load that can be applied to anumbilical without damaging the internal components.

Published studies have focused primarily on modeling the umbilical crushloading using FEA methods. Dieumegard and Fellows (2003) describe the designand installation of a deepwater metallic tube umbilical and give reference tothe correlation of crush test results with FEA software. Dixon and Jackson(2003) also consider the FEA modeling of a flexible riser for deepwater use, modeling installation crush through use of the 3D non-linear finite elementsoftware tool, ABAQUS Explicit.

The aim of this work was to study the mechanism governing steel tube failureunder crush, initially through small scale testing of individual samples, followed by further testing within a cabled umbilical. These experimentalresults are then compared against linear and non-linear FEA models generatedusing UFlex.
3D Reservoir Modeling of Depressurization-Induced Gas Production from Gas Hydrate Reservoirs at the Walker Ridge Site, Northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Gaddipati Manohar , Anderson Brian James
Published: April 2012

In 2009, the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Gas Hydrates Joint-Industry-Project (JIP) LegII drilling program confirmed that gas hydrate occurs at high saturationswithin reservoir-quality sands in the GOM. A comprehensivelogging-while-drilling dataset was collected from seven wells at three sites, including two wells (" G" and " H") at the Walker Ridge (WR) 313 site. The gashydrate saturations inferred from seismic inversion analyses were used todelineate the areal extent of the reservoir models. A complex, dipping 3-Dreservoir model was created and subsequently simulated for the Orange and Bluehydrate-bearing sands in the Walker Ridge 313 block by depressurization at aconstant bottom-hole pressure. The 3D modeling potentially provides morerepresentative results when a reservoir description contains a high degree ofvariability in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. A full Monte Carloanalysis of the WR 313 G well is also presented in this paper. All thesimulations were performed in CMG STARS.

Results of these simulations indicate that these hydrate deposits could beproduced due to the high intrinsic reservoir quality and their proximity to thebase of hydrate stability. One of the major challenges faced in the simulatedgas production scenarios was secondary hydrate formation near the wellbore. Toreduce hydrate reformation and maintain high gas production rates, a scenariothat included 50 kW of electric well bore heating was modeled to prevent thehydrate barrier near the wellbore from forming. The elevated in situ reservoirtemperatures (14°C-25°C) in the Walker Ridge hydrate deposit contributed to thehigh (5-65 MMscf/day) predicted production rates. Uncertainty assessment of gasproduction was performed for Walker Ridge 313 G Well. The obtained simulationresults show that production rates are significantly decreased when simulatinga case using impermeable boundaries. The results indicate that heterogeneous, interbedded hydrate systems with thin multi-layer hydrate-bearing sands mightbe better candidates for production than massive hydrate-bearingreservoirs.
A Linear Rock Cutting Test Set-Up for 3 Dimensional Tests under Hyperbaric Pressure
Authors: Alvarez-Grima Mario , Boomsma Wiebe , Hofstra Frits , Lotman Rick
Published: April 2012

The submerged mechanical excavation of rock is required for dredging or miningpurposes and it is usually performed with pick points or cutting teeth. Although the mechanical cutting process is quite well understood on land, in adry situation, questions remain regarding saturated cutting in a shallow watersubmerged application.

Even more unanswered questions remain in a deepsea situation where the processis subjected to the hyperbaric effect, influencing the cutting processstrongly.

Especially for deepsea, the required cutting forces and power will have to bedecreased, in order to realize a technical and economical feasible excavationprocess. Firstly the hyperbaric cutting process must be fully understood andsecondly concepts to decrease the forces and power must be evaluated. Althoughcomputer simulations with Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) have been validatedby experiments and proved to be very helpful in understanding hyperbariccutting, some questions can only be answered by performing physical tests. Therefore IHC Merwede has developed a test set-up.

This test set-up can drive chisels or picks in a linear motion through a blockof rock. During the process, the cutting forces will be measured in all threedirections. Although, linear cutting test set-ups exist in the world, theseset-ups mainly focus on determining the horizontal cutting force. However, especially the vertical forces require attention, because these forces must betransferred by relatively light equipment. We use the test set-up toinvestigate current cutting concepts, and to evaluate new cutting concepts. Inthe future, we will use this setup to evaluate the cutting process as part ofthe design process for specific client driven mining applications: specificrock samples under specific environment conditions (pressure, temperature, water composition etc.).

This paper describes the technical details, capabilities and limitations of thetest set-up.
Teamwork and Leadership in Challenging Times
Authors: Henson Jonathan
Published: April 2012

Back in the fall of 2010, a colleague who manages our reporting systemdatabase, Synergi, asked an interesting question: Do you have any ‘feeling’ onsomething has improved or is going to the wrong direction, in terms of HSEevents during day to day operations for the last 12 months or half ayear?

I will tell you how I answered this great question but first a littlebackground. I am the Health, Safety and Environment Director at Maersk DrillingUSA. Many of you may have seen trucks on the highway with Maersk containers onthe trailer. Maersk Drilling is part of the AP Moller-Maersk Groupheadquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. We operate one drilling rig in the Gulfof Mexico, the Maersk Developer. This is Maersk Drilling's first venture in theGulf of Mexico and commenced drilling in September 2009 for our client:Statoil. From September 2009 to April 2010, we drilled for Statoil. ThenMacondo happened. We continued with the well until completion or June 2010 aspermitted by the NTL.

As you all know, the government imposed a Moratorium on drilling in the Gulf inMay, 2009. From June, when we finished our first well, to March 2011, we didnot drill.

Imagine telling Nick Saben, Head Coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide the 2012season was cancelled in the middle of the season. Or worse, telling Coach Sabenthe season was suspended by the government immediately after the firstLSU-Alabama game in November. Look at the effect the NFL and NBA lockouts hadon its players and fans. Imagine if the lockout happened in the middle of theNFL season. That was the effect that the Moratorium had on Maersk Drilling andfellow drilling contractors.

In the book " Incidents That Define Process Safety" by John Atherton andFrederic Gil, there are 13 chapters that cover incidents from around the worldranging from the Boeing 747 crash in Tenerife on March 1977 to the Exxon Valdezgrounding on Bligh Reef in 1989. The book examines common factors in theincidents provided with process safety.
The Activities and Guidelines of the Well Life Cycle Practices Forum
Authors: Tucker Theodora
Published: April 2012

The Well Life Cycle Practices Forum (WLCPF) was formed following the UKresponse to the Macondo tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010. Inresponse to Macondo, Oil & Gas UK brought together representatives ofoperators, drilling contractors, regulators and trade unions to form the OilSpill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG). In addition todeveloping and building an emergency capping device, assessing and improvingoil spill response capability, and reviewing indemnity and insuranceliabilities, OSPRAG also carried out a review of the UK industry's approach tovarious aspects of well control. OSPRAG published a series of recommendationsin October 2010 which led to the creation of the WLCPF under Oil & Gas UKto help the UK upstream industry implement the recommendations. The WLCPF alsoserves as a forum to discuss pan-industry well-related issues and to interfacewith the UK regulators.

Results, Observations, and Conclusions

The WLCPF has published a series of guidelines to help UK operators comply moreeffectively with regulations and to improve the UK industry's understanding ofwell integrity issues. Six workgroups, with input from over 60 companies andorganisations, have produced guidelines on:BOP issues;relief well planningrequirements;well integrity throughout the well life cycle;competency;behaviours and human factors;well examination and verification.

Significance of Subject Matter

The UK upstream industry has confidence that the UK regulatory environmentdrives the right behaviours to prevent a major well-control incident. Nevertheless, there are areas in which there is scope for improvement. Theguidelines produced by WLCPF, and the WLCPF model itself, could be used byother oil and gas producing provinces to reduce risks in well operations.
Beyond HLA-A*0201: New HLA-Transgenic Nonobese Diabetic Mouse Models of Type 1 Diabetes Identify the Insulin C-Peptide as a Rich Source of CD8+ T Cell Epitopes
Authors: Antal Zoltan , Baker Jason C. , Smith Carla , Jarchum Irene , Babad Jeffrey , Mukherjee Gayatri , Yang Yang , Sidney John , Sette Alessandro , Santamaria Pere , DiLorenzo Teresa P.
Published: April 2012

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by T cell responses to β cell Ags, including insulin. Investigations employing the NOD mouse model of the disease have revealed an essential role for β cell-specific CD8+ T cells in the pathogenic process. As CD8+ T cells specific for β cell Ags are also present in patients, these reactivities have the potential to serve as therapeutic targets or markers for autoimmune activity. NOD mice transgenic for human class I MHC molecules have previously been employed to identify T cell epitopes having important relevance to the human disease. However, most studies have focused exclusively on HLA-A*0201. To broaden the reach of epitope-based monitoring and therapeutic strategies, we have looked beyond this allele and developed NOD mice expressing human β2-microglobulin and HLA-A*1101 or HLA-B*0702, which are representative members of the A3 and B7 HLA supertypes, respectively. We have used islet-infiltrating T cells spontaneously arising in these strains to identify β cell peptides recognized in the context of the transgenic HLA molecules. This work has identified the insulin C-peptide as an abundant source of CD8+ T cell epitopes. Responses to these epitopes should be of considerable utility for immune monitoring, as they cannot reflect an immune reaction to exogenously administered insulin, which lacks the C-peptide. Because the peptides bound by one supertype member were found to bind certain other members also, the epitopes identified in this study have the potential to result in therapeutic and monitoring tools applicable to large numbers of patients and at-risk individuals.
Primary Hyperparathyroidism with Rare Presentation as Multiple Brown Tumours
Authors: Doshi Smit , Vadi Arti , Mahajan Amit , Nagpal Tapan
Published: April 2012

We present a case of primary hyperparathyroidism with an uncommon presentation as multiple brown tumours, which may easily be mistaken for a primary bone neoplasm. A brief literature review and its clinical and surgical management are also discussed here.
Clinical Options for the Reduction of Elevated Intraocular Pressure
Authors: Crawley Laura , Zamir Sohaib M. , Cordeiro Maria F. , Guo Li
Published: April 2012

Elevated IOP in clinical practice is usually seen in glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Glaucoma affects 60 million people worldwide and 8.4 million are bilaterally blind from this chronic disease. 1 Options for reducing IOP rely on pharmacological agents, laser treatments and surgery which may be penetrating or non-penetrating. The last twenty years has seen significant changes in all of these strategies. This review aims to cover these clinical options and introduce some of the new technologies currently in development for the clinical lowering of IOP.
A High-Order Difference Scheme for the Generalized Cattaneo Equation
Authors: Vong Seak-Weng , Pang Hong-Kui , Jin Xiao-Qing
Published: April 2012

A high-order finite difference scheme for the fractional Cattaneo equation is investigated. The L1 approximation is invoked for the time fractional part, and a compact difference scheme is applied to approximate the second-order space derivative. The stability and convergence rate are discussed in the maximum norm by the energy method. Numerical examples are provided to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed difference scheme.
Endometrioma Cyst: To Remove or Not?
Authors: Kumar Pratap , Balasubramanian Anand
Published: April 2012

Endometriomas account for 35% of benign ovarian cyst. Convincing evidence has emerged showing the reduced responsiveness to gonadotropins after ovarian cystectomy. Surgery should be envisaged only in the presence of large cyst or with severe symptoms. For endometriomas less than 3 cm cyst, aggressive removal of same may lead to a poor response during ovulation inductions.

How to cite this article

Kumar P, Balasubramanian A. Endometrioma Cyst: To Remove or Not? Int J Infertility Fetal Med 2012;3(1):26-29.
Comparative Cathodic Behavior of ~9% Cr and Plain Steel Reinforcement in Concrete
Authors: Akhoondan M. , Sagüés A.A.
Published: April 2012

The extent of the oxygen reduction reaction in concrete was evaluated for ~9% Cr rebar approaching the ASTM A1035 specification and compared to that of conventional carbon steel rebar, at ages of up to ~1 year. Cathodic strength was measured by the cathodic current density developed at −0.35 V vs. copper/copper sulfate (Cu/CuSO4 [CSE]) and −0.40 VCSE in cyclic cathodic potentiodynamic polarization tests, both in the as-received condition with mill scale and with scale removed by glass bead surface blasting. In both conditions the ~9% Cr alloy was a substantially weaker cathode, by a factor of several fold, than carbon steel. Within each material, the surface-blasted condition yielded also much lower cathodic current density than the as-received condition. For a small anode-large cathode system with a given anode polarization function, and no important oxygen reduction concentration polarization, the corrosion current was projected to be significantly lower if the cathodic region were ~9% Cr instead of plain steel rebar with comparable surface condition. There was strong correlation between the charge storage capability of the interface and the extent of cathodic reaction of oxygen. The result cannot be ascribed solely to differences in effective surface area between the different materials and conditions.
Total OH reactivity measurements in Paris during the 2010 MEGAPOLI winter campaign
Authors: Dolgorouky C. , Gros V. , Sarda-Esteve R. , Sinha V. , Williams J. , Marchand N. , Sauvage S. , Poulain L. , Sciare J. , Bonsang B.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Hydroxyl radicals play a central role in the troposphere as they control the lifetime of many trace gases. Measurement of OH reactivity (OH loss rate) is important to better constrain the OH budget and also to evaluate the completeness of measured VOC budget. Total atmospheric OH reactivity was measured for the first time in an European Megacity: Paris and its surrounding areas with 12 million inhabitants, during the MEGAPOLI winter campaign 2010. The method deployed was the Comparative Reactivity Method (CRM). The measured dataset contains both measured and calculated OH reactivity from CO, NOx and VOCs measured via PTR-MS, GC-FID and GC-MS instruments. The reactivities observed in Paris covered a range from 10 s−1 to 130 s−1, indicating a large loading of chemical reactants. The present study showed that, when clean marine air masses influenced Paris, the purely local OH reactivity (20 s−1) is well explained by the measured species. Nevertheless, when there is a continental import of air masses, high levels of OH reactivity were obtained (120–130 s−1) and the missing OH reactivity measured in this case jumped to 75%. Using covariations of the missing OH reactivity to secondary inorganic species in fine aerosols, we suggest that the missing OH reactants were most likely highly oxidized compounds issued from photochemically processed air masses of anthropogenic origin.
Evolution of the plasma sheet electron pitch angle distribution by whistler-mode chorus waves in non-dipole magnetic fields
Authors: Ma Q. , Ni B. , Tao X. , Thorne R. M.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. We present a detailed numerical study on the effects of a non-dipole magnetic field on the Earth's plasma sheet electron distribution and its implication for diffuse auroral precipitation. Use of the modified bounce-averaged Fokker-Planck equation developed in the companion paper by Ni et al. (2012) for 2-D non-dipole magnetic fields suggests that we can adopt a numerical scheme similar to that used for a dipole field, but should evaluate bounce-averaged diffusion coefficients and bounce period related terms in non-dipole magnetic fields. Focusing on nightside whistler-mode chorus waves at L = 6, and using various Dungey magnetic models, we calculate and compare of the bounce-averaged diffusion coefficients in each case. Using the Alternative Direction Implicit (ADI) scheme to numerically solve the 2-D Fokker-Planck diffusion equation, we demonstrate that chorus driven resonant scattering causes plasma sheet electrons to be scattered much faster into loss cone in a non-dipole field than a dipole. The electrons subject to such scattering extends to lower energies and higher equatorial pitch angles when the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) increases in the Dungey magnetic model. Furthermore, we find that changes in the diffusion coefficients are the dominant factor responsible for variations in the modeled temporal evolution of plasma sheet electron distribution. Our study demonstrates that the effects of realistic ambient magnetic fields need to be incorporated into both the evaluation of resonant diffusion coefficients and the calculation of Fokker-Planck diffusion equation to understand quantitatively the evolution of plasma sheet electron distribution and the occurrence of diffuse aurora, in particular at L > 5 during geomagnetically disturbed periods when the ambient magnetic field considerably deviates from a magnetic dipole.
Picophytoplankton biomass distribution in the global ocean
Authors: Buitenhuis E. T. , Li W. K. W. , Vaulot D. , Lomas M. W. , Landry M. , Partensky F. , Karl D. M. , Ulloa O. , Campbell L. , Jacquet S. , Lantoine F. , Chavez F. , Macias D. , Gosselin M. , McManus G. B.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. The smallest marine phytoplankton, collectively termed picophytoplankton, have been routinely enumerated by flow cytometry since the late 1980s, during cruises throughout most of the world ocean. We compiled a database of 40 946 data points, with separate abundance entries for Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes. We use average conversion factors for each of the three groups to convert the abundance data to carbon biomass. After gridding with 1° spacing, the database covers 2.4% of the ocean surface area, with the best data coverage in the North Atlantic, the South Pacific and North Indian basins. The average picophytoplankton biomass is 12 ± 22 μg C l−1 or 1.9 g C m−2. We estimate a total global picophytoplankton biomass of 0.53–0.74 Pg C (17–39% Prochlorococcus, 12–15% Synechococcus and 49–69% picoeukaryotes). Future efforts in this area of research should focus on reporting calibrated cell size, and collecting data in undersampled regions.
Understanding the net neutrality debate: Listening to stakeholders
Authors: Ly Alexander , MacDonald Bertrum H , Toze Sandra
Published: April 2012

The Internet is increasingly seen as integral to economic progress and prosperity. Yet how the Internet will be managed as it grows and diversifies remains a hotly contested topic, as the debate on net neutrality demonstrates. Whether the Internet is neutral or not has serious implications for Internet service providers (ISPs), businesses operating online, governments, and civil society. With these stakeholders and varying interests at play, the debate about net neutrality is often characterized in terms of polar positions, and the discussion has seemed intransigent and ongoing with an uncertain end point. To increase understanding about the debate, this paper combines a review of the literature on net neutrality with evidence from interviews with four individuals, each representing the viewpoint of a major stakeholder group in Canada. Analysis of the similarities and differences among key stakeholder positions shows that in fact the positions are more complex and considerably more nuanced than typically depicted. By focussing on components of the issues, and staying away from the politics of contesting net neutrality, progress in the debate can be made. While this paper gives attention to the Canadian context in particular, the findings echo those of international organizations, and adds to the global conversation on the future of the Internet.
Benchmarking Individual Publication Productivity in Logistics
Authors: Coleman B. Jay , Bolumole Yemisi A. , Frankel Robert
Published: April 2012

What constitutes excellence in publication productivity in logistics journals? Several previous studies have examined this question at the institutional level. However, prior literature has not examined in detail the research productivity patterns of the entire distribution of individual logistics authors across a relatively large number of journals within a lengthy time frame. Prior work has also not established the benchmarks or thresholds of individual research productivity, in terms of both quantity and quality, which are necessary to be ranked among the leading contributors in the discipline. To address this void in the literature, we examine 3,312 articles published in seven leading logistics journals from 1990 to 2009, inclusive, to which 3,657 different individual authors contributed at least one authorship or coauthorship. Using the rankings and associated percentiles of individual authors according to six quality and quantity metrics, we identify the aggregate productivity benchmarks necessary for individual authors to be ranked at various positions in the field. We find that the thresholds necessary to be among the leaders in logistics research productivity, or to meet typically posited expectations for performance, are not necessarily reflective of the traditional wisdom.
How Drugs Modify The Micturition Reflex: A Review
Authors: Humphrey Jack
Published: April 2012

Micturition is the process of expelling urine from the body via the bladder and urethra. Disorders of micturition such as Overactive Bladder and Urge Incontinence affect many people and the first-line treatment is drug therapy. In this review the current standard drugs, anti-muscarinics, are critically assessed against newer drugs and drug targets, some of which are still in experimental stages.
Assessing Travel Business Partners Using the Critical Incident Technique and the Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Chen Wen-Yu , Hsu Chia-Yuan
Published: April 2012

This study is concerned with the evaluation of the service quality performance of the business partners of small and medium-sized travel agencies. Assessment dimensions and criteria were collected from 36 senior travel managers using the critical incident technique (CIT) and from 56 general managers at different travel agencies using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to calculate overall weights and priorities for each criterion. The research results indicated that ‘timely information’, ‘the particularity of the scenic spot’ and ‘vehicle quality’ were the three primary evaluation criteria. The results are intended to assist foreign tour operators in improving their service quality and performance and, moreover, to provide small and medium-sized Chinese travel agencies with objective evaluation criteria for choosing the most appropriate business partners.
Cruise Passengers' Expenditure in the Caribbean Port of Call of Cartagena de Indias: A Cross-Section Data Analysis
Authors: Brida Juan Gabriel , Bukstein Daniel , Garrido Nicolás , Tealde Emiliano
Published: April 2012

The cruise industry has become a significant component of the Colombian tourism economy and Cartagena de Indias has become the largest cruise port in the country. This paper provides a better understanding of the cruise industry by considering the expenditures of cruise ship passengers disembarking in Cartagena de Indias as a key variable in the economic analysis of the costs and benefits. The authors estimate two cross-sectional regression models for the cruising expenditure, showing the existence of different tourist profiles related to different expenditure levels. In particular, heavy spenders are distinguishable from the other segments in terms of age, hours spent off the ship, nationality, income levels and spending patterns.
Perceptual Analysis of the Reading of Dermatopathology Virtual Slides by Pathology Residents
Authors: Mello-Thoms Claudia , Mello Carlos AB , Medvedeva Olga , Castine Melissa , Legowski Elizabeth , Gardner Gregory , Tseytlin Eugene , Crowley Rebecca
Published: April 2012

Context.—The process by which pathologists arrive at a given diagnosis—a combination of their slide exploration strategy, perceptual information gathering, and cognitive decision making—has not been thoroughly explored, and many questions remain unanswered.

Objective.—To determine how pathology residents learn to diagnose inflammatory skin dermatoses, we contrasted the slide exploration strategy, perceptual capture of relevant histopathologic findings, and cognitive integration of identified features between 2 groups of residents, those who had and those who had not undergone their dermatopathology rotation.

Design.—Residents read a case set of 20 virtual slides (10 depicting nodular and diffuse dermatitis and 10 depicting subepidermal vesicular dermatitis), using an in-house–developed interface. We recorded residents' reports of diagnostic findings, conjectured diagnostic hypotheses, and final (or differential) diagnosis for each case, and time stamped each interaction with the interface. We created search maps of residents' slide exploration strategy.

Results.—No statistically significant differences were observed between the resident groups in the number of correctly or incorrectly reported diagnostic findings, but residents with dermatopathology training generated significantly more correct hypotheses (mean improvement of 88.5%) and correct diagnoses (70% of all correct diagnoses).

Conclusions.—Two types of slide exploration strategy were identified for both groups: (1) a focused and efficient search, observed when the final diagnosis was correct; and (2) a more dispersed, time-consuming strategy, observed when the final diagnosis was incorrect. This difference was statistically significant, and it suggests that initial interpretation of a slide may bias further slide exploration.
Characterisation of colorectal cancer by hierarchical clustering analyses for five stroma‐related markers
Authors: Ito Sunao , Koshino Akira , Wang Chengbo , Otani Takahiro , Komura Masayuki , Ueki Akane , Kato Shunsuke , Takahashi Hiroki , Ebi Masahide , Ogasawara Naotaka , Tsuzuki Toyonori , Kasai Kenji , Kasugai Kunio , Takiguchi Shuji , Takahashi Satoru , Inaguma Shingo
Published: June 2024

Evidence for the tumour‐supporting capacities of the tumour stroma has accumulated rapidly in colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumour stroma is composed of heterogeneous cells and components including cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs), small vessels, immune cells, and extracellular matrix proteins. The present study examined the characteristics of CAFs and collagen, major components of cancer stroma, by immunohistochemistry and Sirius red staining. The expression status of five independent CAF‐related or stromal markers, decorin (DCN), fibroblast activation protein (FAP), podoplanin (PDPN), alpha‐smooth muscle actin (ACTA2), and collagen, and their association with clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes were analysed. Patients with DCN‐high tumours had a significantly worse 5‐year survival rate (57.3% versus 79.0%; p = 0.044). Furthermore, hierarchical clustering analyses for these five markers identified three groups that showed specific characteristics: a solid group (cancer cell‐rich, DCNLowPDPNLow); a PDPN‐dominant group (DCNMidPDPNHigh); and a DCN‐dominant group (DCNHighPDPNLow), with a significant association with patient survival (p = 0.0085). Cox proportional hazards model identified the PDPN‐dominant group (hazard ratio = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.26–0.96, p = 0.037) as a potential favourable factor compared with the DCN‐dominant group. Of note, DCN‐dominant tumours showed the most advanced pT stage and contained the lowest number of CD8+ and FOXP3+ immune cells. This study has revealed that immunohistochemistry and special staining of five stromal factors with hierarchical clustering analyses could be used for the prognostication of patients with CRC. Cancer stroma‐targeting therapies may be candidate treatments for patients with CRC.
Metformin in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Investigating Cardiovascular Impact and Nephroprotective Effects in Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Gonzalez Moret Yurilu A. , Lo Kevin Bryan , Tan Irene J.
Published: June 2024

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by widespread organ inflammation. Metformin, commonly used for diabetes mellitus type 2, has been explored for its anti‐inflammatory potential in SLE. This study investigates the association of metformin use on renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with SLE.

Methods

This is a retrospective study. We used the multicenter research network (TriNetX) database from 88 health care organizations globally. Patients with SLE aged 18 and above, admitted between January 1, 2014, and April 21, 2024, were included. Propensity score matching compared patients with SLE on metformin with those not on metformin, considering demographics, laboratory results, comorbidities, and baseline medication use. The study assessed outcomes, including lupus nephritis (LN), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) at one and five years after SLE diagnosis.

Results

We identified 9,178 patients with SLE on metformin and 78,983 patients with SLE not on metformin. After propensity score matching, patients with SLE on metformin had higher levels of hemoglobin A1C, whereas patients not on metformin had higher levels of urea nitrogen. When comparing both groups, the risk of developing LN (risk ratio [RR] = 1.70 [1.17–2.41]; P = 0.004), CKD (RR = 1.27 [1.07–1.52]; P = 0.007), and MACEs (RR = 1.21 [1.00–1.46]; P = 0.04) was significantly higher among patients not on metformin at one year after SLE diagnosis. After five years, the risk of LN and CKD was also higher in patients with SLE not on metformin. MACE risk was no longer significant after five years of diagnosis between both groups.

Conclusion

Patients with SLE not on metformin have a higher risk of developing LN, CKD, and MACEs compared with patients treated with metformin. Metformin's anti‐inflammatory potential offers promise as a complementary therapy for SLE. Nonetheless, further research and clinical trials are needed to clarify its mechanisms, optimal dosage, and long‐term effects.
Injectable and Sprayable Fluorescent Nanoprobe for Rapid Real‐Time Detection of Human Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Zhang Bo , Lu Jialiang , Lin Xu , Wang Jinqiang , Li Qi , Jin Tingting , Shi Qiuqiu , Lu Yang , Zhang Jingyu , Deng Jun , Zhang Yinqiong , Guo Yu , Gao Jian , Chen Haifeng , Yan Youyou , Wu Jiahe , Gao Jianqing , Che Jinxin , Dong Xiaowu , Gu Zhen , Lin Nengming
Published: June 2024

The development of minimally invasive surgery has greatly advanced precision tumor surgery, but sometime suffers from restricted visualization of the surgical field, especially during the removal of abdominal tumors. A 3‐D inspection of tumors could be achieved by intravenously injecting tumor‐selective fluorescent probes, whereas most of which are unable to instantly distinguish tumors via in situ spraying, which is urgently needed in the process of surgery in a convenient manner. In this study, this work has designed an injectable and sprayable fluorescent nanoprobe, termed Poly‐g‐BAT, to realize rapid tumor imaging in freshly dissected human colorectal tumors and animal models. Mechanistically, the incorporation of γ‐glutamyl group facilitates the rapid internalization of Poly‐g‐BAT, and these internalized nanoprobes can be subsequently activated by intracellular NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase‐1 to release near‐infrared fluorophores. As a result, Poly‐g‐BAT can achieve a superior tumor‐to‐normal ratio (TNR) up to 12.3 and enable a fast visualization (3 min after in situ spraying) of tumor boundaries in the xenograft tumor models, Apcmin/+ mice models and fresh human tumor tissues. In addition, Poly‐g‐BAT is capable of identifying minimal premalignant lesions via intravenous injection.
Engineering of Aromatic Naphthalene and Solvent Molecules to Optimize Chemical Prelithiation for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Patra Jagabandhu , Lu Shi‐Xian , Kao Jui‐Cheng , Yu Bing‐Ruei , Chen Yu‐Ting , Su Yu‐Sheng , Wu Tzi‐Yi , Bresser Dominic , Hsieh Chien‐Te , Lo Yu‐Chieh , Chang Jeng‐Kuei
Published: June 2024

A cost‐effective chemical prelithiation solution, which consists of Li+, polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and solvent, is developed for a model hard carbon (HC) electrode. Naphthalene and methyl‐substituted naphthalene PAHs, namely 2‐methylnaphthalene and 1‐methylnaphthalene, are first compared. Grafting an electron‐donating methyl group onto the benzene ring can decrease electron affinity and thus reduce the redox potential, which is validated by density functional theory calculations. Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (G1), diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and triethylene glycol dimethyl ether solvents are then compared. The G1 solution has the highest conductivity and least steric hindrance, and thus the 1‐methylnaphthalene/G1 solution shows superior prelithiation capability. In addition, the effects of the interaction time between Li+ and 1‐methylnaphthalene in G1 solvent on the electrochemical properties of a prelithiated HC electrode are investigated. Nuclear magnetic resonance data confirm that 10‐h aging is needed to achieve a stable solution coordination state and thus optimal prelithiation efficacy. It is also found that appropriate prelithiation creates a more Li+‐conducing and robust solid‐electrolyte interphase, improving the rate capability and cycling stability of the HC electrode.
A Multifunctional Tissue‐Engineering Hydrogel Aimed to Regulate Bacterial Ferroptosis‐Like Death and Overcoming Infection Toward Bone Remodeling
Authors: Lu Renjie , Luo Zhiyuan , Zhang Yuanyuan , Chen Jiahao , Zhang Yang , Zhang Chi
Published: June 2024

Infection is the most common complication after orthopedic surgery and can result in prolonged ailments such as chronic wounds, enlarged bone defects, and osteomyelitis. Iron, which is essential for bacterial metabolism and immune cell functions, is extremely important. Bacteria harness iron from nearby cells to promote biofilm formation, ensuring their survival. Iron deficiency within the infection microenvironment (IME) consequently hampers macrophage function, enabling further dissemination of the infection and hindering macrophage polarization to the M2 phenotype. Therefore, a novel approach is proposed to regulate macrophage polarization, aiming to restore the inflammatory immune environment. A composite hydrogel derived from natural polymers is developed to address infections and manage iron metabolism in macrophages. This IME‐responsive hydrogel, named FCL‐ECMH, is synthesized by encapsulating vermiculite functional core layers within a decellularized extracellular matrix hydrogel. It is noteworthy that FCL‐ECMH can produce reactive oxygen species within the IME. Supplementary photothermal treatment enhances bacterial iron uptake, leading to ferroptosis‐like death. This process also rejuvenates the iron‐enriched macrophages around the IME, thereby enhancing their antibacterial and tissue repair functions. In vivo experiments confirmed the antibacterial and repair‐promoting capabilities of FCL‐ECMH, indicating its potential for clinical applications.
Biohybrid Nanorobots Carrying Glycoengineered Extracellular Vesicles Promote Diabetic Wound Repair through Dual‐Enhanced Cell and Tissue Penetration
Authors: Yan Chengqi , Feng Kai , Bao Bingkun , Chen Jing , Xu Xiang , Jiang Guoyong , Wang Yufeng , Guo Jiahe , Jiang Tao , Kang Yu , Wang Cheng , Li Chengcheng , Zhang Chi , Nie Pengjuan , Liu Shuoyuan , Machens Hans‐Günther , Zhu Linyong , Yang Xiaofan , Niu Ran , Chen Zhenbing
Published: June 2024

Considerable progress has been made in the development of drug delivery systems for diabetic wounds. However, underlying drawbacks, such as low delivery efficiency and poor tissue permeability, have rarely been addressed. In this study, a multifunctional biohybrid nanorobot platform comprising an artificial unit and several biological components is constructed. The artificial unit is a magnetically driven nanorobot surface modified with antibacterial 2‐hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan, which enables the entire platform to move and has excellent tissue penetration capacity. The biological components are two‐step engineered extracellular vesicles that are first loaded with mangiferin, a natural polyphenolic compound with antioxidant properties, and then glycoengineered on the surface to enhance cellular uptake efficiency. As expected, the platform is more easily absorbed by endothelial cells and fibroblasts and exhibits outstanding dermal penetration performance and antioxidant properties. Encouraging results are also observed in infected diabetic wound models, showing improved wound re‐epithelialization, collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and accelerated wound healing. Collectively, a biohybrid nanorobot platform that possesses the functionalities of both artificial units and biological components serves as an efficient delivery system to promote diabetic wound repair through dual‐enhanced cell and tissue penetration and multistep interventions.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act and warnings from previous immigration reforms
Authors: Charlton Diane
Published: June 2024

Immigrants are vital to agricultural production in the United States, and nearly half the crop workforce is unauthorized. Previous attempts to reform the immigration system have not successfully legalized the farm workforce or caused substantive rise in farmworker incomes. Current proposed legislation would legalize unauthorized farmworkers, streamline the H‐2A agricultural guest worker program, and provide a pathway to citizenship for H‐2A workers while simultaneously requiring agricultural employers to check the immigration status of workers using E‐Verify. This paper discusses proposed farm labor legislation in the context of current farm labor market conditions, outcomes of historical farm labor and immigration policies, and ongoing immigration trends.
Creation of a resident‐led medical student education committee
Authors: Hess Stephanie , Knopov Anita , Matulis Christina , Ebert Eric , Kerrigan Danielle , Lipner Kaitlin , Savarino Jeffrey , Clyne Brian
Published: June 2024

The Resident‐Student Education Committee (RSEC) is a novel approach to integrate and expand medical student education within an emergency medicine (EM) residency at a large academic center. There is a paucity of literature on such programs and there is no documentation of longitudinal initiatives with residents serving as specialty‐specific advisors to students throughout medical school. The goals of creating the RSEC were to expand and improve the student educational experiences in EM, strengthen the connection between students and EM residents, and foster resident career development through sustainable leadership and teaching opportunities. The RSEC was composed of three divisions: the Preclinical Division aimed to increase student exposure to EM through didactics, skill sessions, simulation, and shadowing; the Clinical Division intended to enhance the student experience during clinical EM rotations through simulation and skill sessions and resident‐student socials; and the Mentoring Division focused on advising students applying into EM through informational panels and one‐on‐one resident mentorship. Outcome measures include students applying into EM residency, which saw an increase from 8.9% prior to the RSEC's creation in 2020 to 12.9% in 2023, despite a national decline in EM applicants. Survey data also indicates favorable student preclinical experiences and improved confidence in clinical skills. The RSEC model, with its structured approach, resident leadership, and clear objectives, presents a sustainable and replicable framework for other residency programs seeking to enhance medical student education and promote resident engagement in teaching. Future directions include expanding shadowing opportunities and procedural skills teaching, introducing career mentorship earlier in the medical education timeline, and tracking outcomes data for continuous assessment and improvement.
Individualized throughput metric reports for emergency medicine residents: Impact on time to disposition and resident perceptions
Authors: Becker Brent A. , Bleinberger Andrew J. , Golden Brandon J. , Billet Amber S.
Published: June 2024

Background

Research suggests that quantitative metric reports can improve the clinical performance of emergency physicians; however, few studies have examined their effects on physicians in training. The primary study objective was to assess the effects of providing emergency medicine (EM) residents with individualized throughput metrics with regard to emergency department (ED) disposition times.

Methods

We performed a single‐center, retrospective, observational study from January 2021 to December 2022 examining ED disposition times before and after providing upper‐level EM residents individualized throughput metrics. Residents received monthly reports of three specific metrics averaged over the preceding 6 months: (1) median time from room to discharge order (Rm2Dc), (2) median time from return of all results to discharge order (Rlts2Dc), and (3) median time from room and to consult order for hospitalization (Rm2Hosp). Overall mean values of the three metrics before and during metric sharing were compared via independent t‐test and stratified by level of training and time of year. Adjusted analysis was performed to control for temporal differences between study periods. Testing was conducted at α = 0.05 level of significance.

Results

A total of 35 unique residents were included in the analysis. Overall, mean disposition times were not significantly different before and during reporting of metrics: Rm2Dc (154.8 min vs. 148.9 min, p = 0.109), Rslt2Dc (46.5 min vs. 45.1 min, p = 0.522), and Rm2Hosp (141.7 min vs. 135.7 min, p = 0.257). Subgroup analysis yielded similar results, aside from a significant decrease in mean Rm2Hosp in the postgraduate year‐3 (PGY‐3) group (145.8 min vs. 124.1 min, p = 0.004). Analysis with adjusted means yielded results similar to those observed with unadjusted data.

Conclusions

Overall, individualized throughput metrics were not correlated with decreased average times to ED disposition for upper‐level EM residents; however, in the subset of hospitalized patients seen by PGY‐3 residents, we observed a mean decrease of 21.7 min to consultation.
Toward Functional Biointerfaces with Origami‐on‐a‐Chip
Authors: Ingar Romero Alonso , Jin Qianru , Parker Kevin Kit , Alexander Joe , Wolfrum Bernhard , Teshima Tetsuhiko F.
Published: June 2024

Studying the behavior of electroactive cells, such as firing dynamics and chemical secretion, is crucial for developing human disease models and therapeutics. Following the recent advances in cell culture technology, traditional monolayers are optimized to resemble more 3D, organ‐like structures. The biological and electrochemical complexity of these structures requires devices with adaptive shapes and novel features, such as precise electrophysiological mapping and stimulation in the case of brain‐ and heart‐derived tissues. However, conventional organ‐on‐chip platforms often fall short, as they do not recreate the native environment of the cells and lack the functional interfaces necessary for long‐term monitoring. Origami‐on‐a‐chip platforms offer a solution for this problem, as they can flexibly adapt to the structure of the desired biological sample and can be integrated with functional components enabled by chosen materials. In this review, the evolution of origami‐on‐a‐chip biointerfaces is discussed, emphasizing folding stimuli, materials, and critical findings. In the prospects, microfluidic integration, functional tissue engineering scaffolds, and multi‐organoid networks are included, allowing patient‐specific diagnoses and therapies through computational and in vitro disease modeling.