bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DAS VSP Using Hybrid Wireline Logging Cable in Deepwater Wells
Authors: Rossi T. B. , Martinez A. , Useche M. A.
Published: October 2023

This work reports the results of two Vertical Seismic Profiles (VSP) in deep-water deviated wells in Brazil, acquired using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) as part of a hybrid wireline cable.

DAS is an efficient alternative to acquire VSP surveys, especially in costly offshore environments (Hartog, 2017; Martinez et al., 2018). DAS embedded in hybrid optical-electrical cables, which utilizes the wireline as seismic recording element and so it leverages any logging intervention in a well to become a seismic run. A Zero-offset or rig-source VSP survey acquired with this technology can be recorded in matter of minutes, as opposed to it taking over 24hrs to record similar data with conventional tools (i.e., geophones). DAS seismic profiles are acquired while maintaining the logging cable stationary, so that a number of shots of the seismic source are taken to form a stack.

Two DAS VSP jobs are described herein. One was acquired while lowering a sonic-caliper logging tool, while another job was acquired during a sidewall coring tool. Both jobs were acquired in less than 30 minutes and 50 shots to produce a stack. Excellent quality DAS data was recorded in both wells. In one of the wells, a conventional checkshot with sparse spatial sampling was recorded to compare velocity profiles against DAS. In both cases traditional well seismic products such as time-depth pairs, interval velocities, sonic calibration, corridor stack and migrated image and Q factor when applicable were obtained. For this reason, DAS can be an effective replacement of VSP acquired with traditional geophone methods in certain situations.

The jobs here were the first deep-water, deep-target wells acquired successfully in the world with the technology of DAS in hybrid wireline cable.

There were significant cost savings associated to the VSP operations using DAS, that came from reducing the rig time needed for their acquisition. A direct benefit of this technology is the reduction of the environmental footprint by both lowering noise emissions that disrupt marine ecosystems and, also carbon emissions that can be cut more than 90% over traditional VSP acquisition methods.
Offshore Wind Power: Using Existing Geo-Data to Derisk Offshore Wind Energy Development and Infrastructure Investment Decisions
Authors: Smith Jason , Rovang Kathryn , Signorelli Natalia , Chatten John
Published: October 2023

Offshore desk studies play an important role in providing early insights into site conditions and engineering constraints within an offshore area of interest. However, traditional approaches to producing reports with supporting interpretation through static images and charts have limitations that hinder stakeholders from extracting new information through digital tools and data analytics. In the early stages of development considerations, asset concepts, and business requirements often evolve and change rapidly, necessitating a more dynamic and modern approach to data analysis.

As the demand for renewable energy sources, including wind power in Brazil, continues to rise, effective planning strategies are required to optimize the placement and installation of offshore wind farms. Integrating diverse datasets, such as wind resource output, geological conditions, engineering constraints, and anthropogenic features, is essential to gain early insights and make informed decisions. In this context, utilizing a modern cloud-based data platform and harnessing the power of data analytics can significantly enhance the planning process.

This paper emphasizes the importance of using a modern, cloud-based data platform to integrate existing (e.g., publicly available, or previously collected) and historical (e.g., initial or multi-year) datasets for early offshore infrastructure planning. Understanding wind resource output is a critical parameter in offshore wind development because it determines project economics; however, these early wind analyses are often decoupled from the ground-related conditions, resulting in inefficiencies in planning due to a lack of understanding of how these variations affect the development (i.e., seasonality). By leveraging a modern cloud-based data platform, all these disparate datasets can be efficiently integrated, stored, processed, and analyzed. Cloud-based solutions offer scalability and flexibility, enhancing the usefulness of data integrated from various sources. Furthermore, cloud platforms increase planning efficiency by providing a collaborative environment that facilitates interdisciplinary cooperation among stakeholders, including geoscientists, engineers, environmental experts, and regulators.

The integration of data analytics techniques within the cloud-based platform brings added value to offshore infrastructure planning even at the earliest stages. Analytical algorithms, temporal modeling, and advanced tooling can uncover hidden patterns, correlations, and trends within the integrated datasets. The resulting information helps project owners identify potential infrastructure-related challenges. Several examples of advanced analytics from offshore Brazil are provided within the paper, showing how additional insights can be gleaned and concept planning can be expedited by utilizing a modern integrated approach to early site assessments.
Evaluating the Potential of Smart Water Flooding in Pre-Salt: From Lab Results to Field Scale Evaluation Through a Simulation Study
Authors: Almeida R. V. de , Nudelman G. , Yasuda E. , Ruidiaz E. , Ninci B. , Real T. , Barroso J. B.
Published: October 2023

The effectiveness of injecting CuCl2 enriched seawater, a smart-water EOR method also known as metallic-tuned water injection, was evaluated in a pre-salt field. This was achieved through the implementation of laboratory results on reservoir simulation, which was used to assess the performance of such EOR technique in terms of oil recovery and water injection efficiency. The study aims to provide insights into the potential benefits and limitations of smart waterflooding in pre-salt at field scale. Core flooding experiments were conducted to estimate the incremental recovery through the injection of metallic tuned water (MTW). Relative permeability curves were obtained for both seawater/oil and MTW/oil under reservoir conditions. To evaluate the effects of tertiary recovery injection with metallic (copper) tuned water at field scale, it was simulated using EclipseTM300. First, the history match and forecast were simulated up to the start of the MTW injection. Once the pressure and saturation conditions were estimated, the relative permeability curves obtained in the core analysis were modified and the effects of the MTW injection were simulated. Three core flooding experiments under reservoir condition with reservoir rocks and reservoir oil samples from pre-salt presented incremental oil recovery in all the cases. Experiment 1 presented a typical recovery factor for pre-salt fields of 23.4% with conventional method of desulphated seawater (seawater with reduced sulfate - 100 ppm) and 28.8% of incremental RF with copper solution, reaching a final RF of 52.2%. Experiments 2 and 3 presented 24.9% and 20.0% of RF with desulphated seawater and incremental recoveries of 6% and 30% with MTW, respectively. Relative permeabilities of both desulphated sweater/oil and MTW/oil were obtained to be used into the reservoir model. Corroborating the laboratory data, the simulation study showed evidence of increased oil recovery. Consequently, it becomes essential to bridge the gap between lab-scale results and field-scale implementation.
An Analysis of H-Infinity Control for Offshore Wind Turbines
Authors: Menezes Eduardo J. N.
Published: October 2023

Conventional wind turbine (WT) pitch control is executed using traditional methods, generally based on proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. Although reaching satisfactory power regulation and robust behavior, this approach does not explicitly consider the reduction of mechanical loads on the WT structure. In fact, the active pitch control can be used to influence the WT structural response as an auxiliary objective for mitigating loads and increasing the WT reliability, diminishing O&M costs. This is even more relevant for offshore WTs, where difficulties of maintenance impose the need for technologies that enable longer useful life of components. In this paper, we present the application of an advanced control method, the H-infinity, to change the conventional pitch control and include loading reductions as an explicit control objective.
Cementing Bullheading Simulator for Well Plugging and Abandonment with Coupled Well-Reservoir Modeling
Authors: da Silva I. E. , Rylo E. , Forti T. L. , Longhin G. C. , Moreira R. P. , Piedade T. S. , Rocha J. S. , Oliveira A. G. , Lucchesi R. D. , Carvalho C. P. , Cid K. F. , Santos F. G.
Published: October 2023

Oil & Gas E&P operations are known for its financial and operational risks. In regard to environmental regulations, an O&G well must comply not only with the restrictions for its operational life, but also to those conceived for its decommissioned life. One such restriction involves guaranteeing that different Oil and Gas zones are kept isolated from each other after the well is decommissioned, i.e., abandoned. One of the various techniques deployed in these cases is Cement Bullheading, consisting of pumping cement down the well, so that cement plugs the porous media making it impermeable, and therefore, isolated.

A cement bullheading well abandonment simulator equipped with a coupled well and reservoir model was developed to assist in the decision-making of well decommissioning processes. The numerical model covers the whole cement path, starting at the Oilrig tank, down to the reservoir, modeled through hoses, risers, tubulars, completions and rock formation. Different models of fluids are considered, such as biphasic fluids, cement paste and cement/foamed fluid.

Changes in Well Injectivity are computed based on the pressure reservoir response (3D FEM Simulator) along with cake formation, which depends on the adopted filter cake model. Thermodynamic effects are also addressed during the operation, considering heat exchange between well components and reservoir, including fluids, casings, and rock formation.

The main simulator output are time dependent curves, along the whole cement path, for pressure (casing and rock stress operational limits), temperature, fluid position, flowrate and when using foam fluids, the nitrogen injection rate. Results are checked against field data and so far are very promising.
The Next-Generation All-Electric SPS - A Major Improvement on Safety, Security, and Environmental Impact
Authors: MacKenzie Rory
Published: October 2023

The Subsea All-Electric Joint Industry Project led by TotalEnergies together with industry partners have expended extensive efforts and resources over the past 5-6 years, together with several other Energy Providers and strong industrial support from Suppliers, to develop a fully qualified All-Electric subsea system. This next-generation system leverages existing subsea infrastructure to minimize the need for new equipment and materials, reducing its carbon footprint. The all-electric design not only enhances well control and monitoring, but also improves the safety and environmental impact of subsea operations.

The establishment of a standardized approach for subsea all electric equipment has made a major impact on safety, security, and environmental responsibility in the subsea industry. The standard ensures the safety and security of subsea operations by reducing the risk of accidents, failures and provides clear design and usage guidelines for subsea All-Electric systems. The implementation of this standard will result in the removal of hydraulic emissions, reduction of chemical handling on support vessels and facilities, fumes, and high-pressure containment.

In conclusion, the All Electric SPS Initiative is a significant step forward in improving the efficiency, reliability, and integrity management of subsea production systems. When coupled with e-Intelligent well completion, the All-electric system will further optimize reservoir management. The collaboration between TotalEnergies and other industry partners is an essential element to further develop the technology and achieve standardization across the industry.
Regulating Human Factors in Brazilian Oil & Gas Offshore Installations
Authors: Morais C. P. M. , Almeida D. P. S. , Alves V. F. B.
Published: October 2023

The regulatory framework for oil & gas installations offshore in Brazil has been available since 2007. The regulation is known as SGSO (short name for management system of operational safety), Resolution ANP 43/2007, and is part of the Brazilian Oil & Gas Regulator ANP framework. It is composed of 17 management practices, all of them enforced during audits. However, the level of enforcement of each of those practices have changed through time. This is evidenced by the analysis on data regarding non-conformities written by the auditors, e.g from focus on mechanical integrity in the first few years, to risk analysis implementation on the next years. Now, that the human factors management practice enforcement has increased, it is pushing the local market to discuss the causes and find new solutions - which sometimes do not reflect the best available practices and the regulator expectations.

This paper intends to show the data trends and explain through those results the indicator made available to the regulators to intensify the human factors efforts, and how this seems to follow a global trend.

This paper discusses the results regarding how Brazil offshore installations are in conformance within the good practices recommended by the international association of oil & gas producers (IOGP). The paper also points for the challenges and indicates the ongoing efforts made by regulators and operators.
Perturbative-Integro-Differential Solution for the Nonlinear Hydraulic Diffusivity Equation for Compaction Damage Management in Poroelastic Stress-Sensitive Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Fernandes Fernando Bastos , Braga Arthur M. B. , Soares Antônio C. , Rezende Fernando H. G.
Published: October 2023

Considering the effects of poroelasticity in oil flow models becomes the modeling regarding formation evaluation and reservoir engineering more realistic. It occurs because poroelastic parameters, e.g., in situ overburden stress, σob, Young's modulus, E and Biot's coefficient, α have a fundamental role in reservoir depletion response. This paper develops a new perturbative solution for the nonlinear hydraulic diffusivity equation (NHDE) in Biot's effective stress-sensitive infinite-acting-oil reservoirs. For this modeling, the NHDE is perturbed until the first-order using the dimensionless inverse Biot effective stress-dependent permeability, 1/kD (σ′) as a perturbation parameter, ∈. A new stress-sensitive function, m(σ′), that couples geomechanics to the transient permeability change is presented, and the mathematical formulation is developed in terms of this function. The solution shows that the phenomenon of permeability loss over the production curve is composed of the linear solution pD(tD) = − (α/2)Ei(−1/4tD) plus a nonlinear term that results in permeability change caused by pressure drop inside the reservoir pores. In addition, the pseudo-pressure derivative is used to compute the instantaneous permeability loss using the fact that ∂mD/∂tD = kD(σ′)∂pD/∂tD. The findings of this study allowed us to notice the role of the aforementioned poroelastic parameters in permeability change during oil production.
Conceptual Design for Carbon-Neutral Oil Production System in Brazilian Pre-Salt Fields
Authors: Erdtmann M. J. K. , Pappen G. G. , dos Santos E. S. B.
Published: October 2023

Brazilian pre-salt oil fields usually have an original CO2 content. In current production systems, it is already commonplace to consider the separation and reinjection of this original CO2, reducing emissions and, simultaneously, supplying Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). However, the design of a carbon-neutral offshore production system (assumed a FPSO unit - Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading) requires added infrastructure to capture, compress, transport and reinject CO2 from third party sources. On this scenario, onshore dry CO2 sources shall be connected to the FPSO by a dedicated pipeline, to offset CO2-intensive production activities. The onshore CO2 stream is directed to the reinjection gas stream, enhancing the well-known capture and utilization (EOR) process that is already in course. As a proof-of-concept, the UNISIM-III model representing a fractured karst pre-salt carbonate reservoir was used for flows simulations and economic evaluations with additional assumptions regarding the added CO2 volumes. There are two main sources of economic gains, the first being the incremental oil production from Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and the second the carbon credits for the captured volumes. On the other hand, the added CAPEX challenges the feasibility of this enterprise, leading to economic loss in the deterministic economic scenario for an average case of carbon pricing. Finally, it is possible to define the minimum carbon price scenario that delivers a carbon-neutral oil production that is economically interesting in Brazilian offshore context.
A Study of E-cadherin Expression in Esophageal Carcinoma
Authors: Manjula C. P. , Meghana B.
Published: October 2023

Background and Aim:

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract. E-cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein and its expression is associated with tumor invasiveness, metastasis, survival, and prognosis. The present study aims to compare the pattern of E-cadherin expression in esophageal carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective study conducted over a period of 5 years. Expression of E-cadherin was evaluated on paraffin-embedded sections of esophageal carcinoma. The immunoreactive scores (IRSs) were calculated and compared with tumor differentiation.

Results:

The present study included 45 esophageal biopsies, of which 40 cases were neoplastic and 5 were nonneoplastic. The most common histological type is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), of which well-differentiated SCC (WDSCC) was 12.5%, moderately differentiated SCC 57.5%, and poorly differentiated SCC (PDSCC) 17.5%. The IRS was highest in WDSCC and least in PDSCC, with a mean score of 7.20 and 1.57, respectively. This difference was statistically significant with P = 0.001.

Conclusion:

E-cadherin is an important prognostic marker in esophageal SCC. Its expression is inversely correlated with tumor differentiation. WDSCC and AC exhibit strong E-cadherin expression. Reduced expression of E-cadherin is more likely to be associated with PDSCC of the esophagus.
Barriers and Promotion of Integrated Care in Dentistry: A Brief Communication
Authors: Boloor Vinita A , Hosadurga Rajesh Ramesh , Jenifer Haziel Diana , Bhat Sneha
Published: October 2023

Health-care delivery system in the modern world is facing major challenges as oral health burden and noncommunicable diseases along with aging population are on the steep rise. Interdisciplinary and Integrated care are now an important component of managing patients with complex and chronic conditions. However, there are several barriers that can impede smooth implementation of this concept. Identifying these barriers is an important step toward resolving the potential problems with delivery of inter disciplinary and integrated care. Personalized care is becoming the norm in current era. This approach requires co-operation among various disciplines and foster a common ground to achieve a holistic approach in the patient-centered treatment approach. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the existing problems. It has united the entire health-care fraternity in the fight against this disease. Governments have utilized the services of practitioners from diverse discipline to tackle this pandemic. The interdisciplinary and integrated approach has the potential to redefine the role of dentists in managing global pandemics like COVID-19. The specific objectives of this paper are (1) to understand the barriers for various approaches at the level of education; (2) identify the barriers to the scholarship and grant-related activities to research activities of clinicians across various disciplines; (3) discuss possible solutions that would enable, students, academicians, and clinicians to formulate a collaborative approach; and (4) try and understand the possible role of dentists in managing pandemics like COVID-19.
Ovarian Endometriosis with Borderline Serous Tumor: A Rare Occurrence
Authors: Rana Safia , Gupta Arushi , Khetrapal Shaan , Jairajpuri Zeeba Shamim , Jetley Sujata , Nigam Aruna
Published: October 2023

Endometriosis is a prevalent benign condition arising from the female reproductive system and affects about 7%–10% of females. The association of endometriosis with serous borderline ovarian tumors has been a matter of interest in gynecology. Sampson first described the association between endometriosis and carcinoma. The endometriosis-associated ovarian malignancies are clear cell adenocarcinoma and endometrioid adenocarcinoma, whereas serous and mucinous are rare malignancies associated with endometriosis. Here, we present the case report of a 45-year-old female in which endometriosis was associated with borderline serous tumor, since there is a lack of enough confident criteria for diagnosing endometriosis-associated ovarian tumors.
Normative Values of Two-Point Discrimination for Lower Limb Dermatomes in Healthy Young Adults and Its Correlation with Gender and Body Mass Index
Authors: Kumar Sanjiv , Shetty Ankita , Nale Apoorva , George Christina Mary , Yadav Neha
Published: October 2023

Background and Aim:

Two-point discrimination (TPD) is a useful test for assessing cutaneous sensation. Sensory testing devices for testing TPD values have shown to be valid and reliable in the measurement of the functional sensitivity of the hand and its relativity to touch perception. Evaluation of TPD in the lower extremities is debatable because of dearth of information available in the literature about normative values. The aim of this study is to identify the normative values of TPD of lower limb dermatomes in young, healthy individuals and analyze its relationship with body mass index (BMI) and gender.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 150 participants of the age group 18–25 undergoing graduation program were included in this study. They underwent TPD test for lower limb (L1 to S2) dermatomes, using a baseline esthesiometer. The Spearman’s ratio test was used to find the relationship between BMI and TPD values. The Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare TPD values according to gender.

Results:

The normative value ranged from 1.46 ± 1.27 to 2.61 ± 1.45 in lower limb dermatomes. The minimum value noted was at the S1 dermatome (left) and the maximum at the L2 dermatome (left). In the sidewise analysis of TPD, the median values of both sides were approximately the same. There was a definite correlation (P < 0.05) between female gender and TPD; however, there was no significant correlation between BMI and TPD.

Conclusion:

This study suggested that women are more perceptive in appreciating TPD values than men. Moreover, TPD values do not vary according to BMI or right and left sides.
“VELscope as an Adjuvant Chairside Diagnostic Tool” – A Clinical Case Series
Authors: Singh Simran Sunil , Hebbale Manjula , Mhapuskar Amit , Mahapatra Subharina , Kaur Avneet
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of visually-enhanced lesion scope (VELscope) as an adjuvant diagnostic tool along with clinical examination. VELscope device which works on the principle of tissue fluorescence and helps in diagnosis or identification of suspected dysplastic lesions. The use of VELscope in dentistry is contributory as it aids in the detection of dysplastic changes in oral potentially malignant disorders and appropriate surgical margins for resection, VELscope-guided biopsy procedures, indicative of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, and also inflammatory lesions. The cases discussed in the report are clinical cases where VELscope has been used as an accessory tool to enhance the clinical efficacy of diagnosis. There are different domains of cases where the use of VELscope has been assessed, also cases where VELscope can be beneficial to identify most preferred site of biopsy, aiding in the identification of fungal, bacterial presence, and evaluation of premalignant lesions and different oral carcinomas. Both the advantages, limitations, and significance of the device in each clinical condition have been discussed. VELscope is a handheld, noninvasive adjuvant device which can be used along with conventional clinical conditions for enhanced diagnostic accuracy. It can also be used as a screening tool for the early detection of oral carcinoma and dysplastic lesions in mass screening and tertiary centers. Further studies are required to establish the efficacy of VELscope in the clinical practice of oral medicine and radiology. Increasing incidence of oral carcinoma is a worrying scenario. Early detection of these conditions can be assessed by various diagnostic methods which broadly includes conventional staining dyes such as Lugol’s iodine, methylene blue, toluidine blue, or light-based detection such as chemiluminescence, VELscope, Vizilite, or optical-based system such as colposcopy and optical coherence tomography. VELscope can be one of the tool for assessing dysplastic lesions at an early stage. Due to its portability, cost-effectiveness, and noninvasive advantages, it can be a promising tool for screening mass population for oral carcinomas.
An Update on Carbapenem Resistance in Nonfermenting Gram-negative Bacteria
Authors: Sreejith K. V. , Arun B. , Anjana V. K. , Sumesh K. , Mohan Mohind C.
Published: October 2023

Antimicrobial resistance is considered one of the most important and severe global public health threats. Carbapenems are the drug of choice that can be employed in treating severe bacterial infections and emergency scenarios caused by multidrug-resistant infections. In the present situation, resistance to carbapenem has emerged as a significant global public health problem due to its complications in hospitalized settings. Carbapenems were once considered the backbone of treating life-threatening infections, but with the emergence of resistance, their utility as a life-saving drug has been compromised. The nonfermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) are a group of organisms with the potential to cause difficulties in treating life-threatening infections, often in the cases of immunocompromised patients with multiple preexisting comorbidities. Most of the members in this group are intrinsically resistant to multiple antibiotics and carbapenems are the drug of choice for such infections. However, the rate of carbapenem resistance in NFGNB is gradually increasing worldwide and the need to study the mechanism of carbapenem resistance in nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli is very important in the combat against multidrug-resistant infections. This review emphasizes the characteristics of the NFGNB, their clinical impact, detection of resistance, and the other applicable treatment strategies.
Histopathological Gamut of Fallopian Tube Lesions: A 5-Year Retrospective Descriptive Study in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South India
Authors: Katta Ramya , Padma Madana , Abhishek Velpuri Sai , Teendra Bharath
Published: October 2023

Background and Aim:

Even though the fallopian tubes are commonly encountered surgical specimens in histopathology, there exists a paucity of data that describe the incidence and types of pathologies that can be encountered in the fallopian tubes. The present study was taken up as a small attempt to bridge this gap and describe the various fallopian tube lesions which can be encountered in routine practice.

Materials and Methods:

The fallopian tubes that were received, either separately or as a part of other gynecological specimens, during the 5-year study were included. Specimens were routinely fixed, processed and sectioned. The Sectioning and Extensively Examining the Fimbriated End of the fallopian tube protocol for grossing was used in cases associated with malignancies.

Results:

A total of 5256 fallopian tubes were received from 3258 patients during the study. The age ranged between 12 and 70 years. The most common clinical indication for salpingectomy in the present study was uterus related (51.9%). Of the total 5256 fallopian tubes examined, 29.8% tubes showed some pathology. The most common clinically diagnosed tubal pathology, in the present study, was tubal ectopic gestation. The most common clinically undiagnosed finding was hydrosalpinx.

Conclusion:

It is essential to extensively gross and microscopically examine all fallopian tube specimens to identify precursor lesions and help in patient workup and treatment.
Verbal autopsy to assess causes of mortality among the economically productive age group in the tribal region of Melghat, central India
Authors: Satav Ashish Rambhau , Satav Kavita Ashish , Kelkar Abhay Suresh , Sahasrabhojaney Vrinda S. , Dani Vibhawari Sharad , Raje Dhananjay V. , Simoes Eric A. F.
Published: October 2023

Background & Objectives:

Verbal autopsy (VA) is the systematic and retrospective inquiry (from relatives) about the symptoms of an illness prior to death. In tribal India, 67-75 per cent of deaths occur at home with an unknown cause of death (CoD). Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the CoD in the 16-60 yr age group utilizing VA.

Methods:

A prospective, community based longitudinal study was conducted in 32 tribal villages in the Melghat region of Maharashtra, between 2004 and 2020. Number of deaths and VAs in 16-60 yr age group were collected by village health workers (VHWs) and supervisors, verified by five different persons (internal-external) and cross-checked by three VA interpretation trained physicians. A modified version of WHO VA was used. Cause-specific mortality fractions were calculated.

Results:

Of the 1011 deaths recorded, mortality in males was significantly higher than females (P<0.001). A total of 763 VAs were conducted which revealed that tuberculosis was the leading CoD, followed by jaundice, heart diseases, diarrhoea, central nervous system infections and suicide. Suicides were significantly more common among males than in females (P=0.046). Significantly, more deaths occurred during the monsoon (P=0.002), especially diarrhoeal deaths (P=0.024).

Interpretation & conclusions:

The findings of this study suggest that, in Indian tribal areas, infectious diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and one of the major causes of deaths in economically productive age group. Intensified VHW-mediated interventions are required to reduce the premature deaths.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of sucrose versus xylitol application in minimizing pain related to dental injection in 5–7-year-old children – A randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Winnier J. Jasmin , Ratnaparkhi Ishani , Joshi Amil , Haradwala Zaineb , Manoj Reema , Naik Shilpa S.
Published: October 2023

Background:

Oral application of sweet-tasting solutions has found to be effective in minimizing pain on dental injection in children. Xylitol has never been tested in this regard.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of prior application of sucrose versus xylitol solution in minimizing pain on dental injection in 5–7-year-old children.

Settings and Design:

This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Materials and Methods:

Informed consent was taken. A total of 30 children who required maxillary buccal infiltration injection were selected. The children were randomly allocated into the sucrose group, xylitol group, or control group by lottery method. In the sucrose and xylitol groups, 30% sucrose or 30% xylitol solution was applied on the lateral surface of the tongue for 2 min. In the control group, distilled water was applied. In all the groups, the topical anesthetic was applied at the site of injection followed by buccal infiltration. A video was taken during injection, and the sound eye-motor (SEM) scale was recorded by a blinded examiner. Patients were asked to self-evaluate using the Wong–Baker Faces Pain Scale (WBFPS).

Statistical Analysis:

Mann–Whitney test was used to analyze the data.

Results:

There was a statistically significant difference in the WBFPS and the SEM score between the sucrose and the control group (P < 0.05) and the xylitol and control group (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the sucrose and xylitol group.

Conclusion:

The application of xylitol solution before dental injection was as effective as sucrose solution in minimizing pain during the injection.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy as an alternative method to local anesthesia injection in pediatric dentistry
Authors: Diab Hajar Mahmoud , El-Malt Magda A. , Mourad Yomna Osama
Published: October 2023

Background:

The idea of receiving local anesthesia (LA) via an injection is a major source of dental fear and anxiety. In children, dental anxiety is considered the main reason for avoiding dental treatments. Moreover, there are potential complications during/after LA administration. Thus, it is necessary to search for painless, low-risk, and nonpharmacological anesthetic approaches.

Aim:

This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy as an alternative method to LA injection for conventional restorative treatments in pediatric patients.

Settings and Design:

This was a split-mouth randomized clinical study.

Materials and Methods:

The study included 15 children between 6 and 12 years old. Each child had 2 similar contralateral caries lesions in the first permanent molars in the same jaw, total (30) teeth. For each child, one tooth was treated under conventional LA injection and the other was treated under PBM-based anesthesia. The Wong–Baker’s Faces Pain Scale was used for reporting the pain and discomfort levels at the end of the treatments.

Statistical Analysis:

Data statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare between the groups.

Results:

The PBM-based anesthesia group recorded a mean pain score of 2.27 ± 1.28. The conventional LA group recorded a mean pain score of 1.73 ± 0.7. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.168).

Conclusions:

PBM-based anesthesia may be an optional alternative to LA injection for conventional restorative treatments in children with dental anxiety, needle phobia, or special needs, and it deserves further studies and improvement.
Salivary biomarker C-reactive protein levels in children with sleep problems and Class II malocclusion before and after twin-block therapy
Authors: Bhosale Trupti B. , Shetty Vabitha , Bhandary Meghna , Nayak Prajna P.
Published: October 2023

Context:

Disturbances in sleep affects the overall quality of a child’s life, with several short- and long-lasting consequences. Hence, early diagnosis and monitoring is crucial in the management of sleep disorders in children.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in a group of children with Class II malocclusion and sleep problems before and after twin-block appliance therapy.

Settings and Design:

The study was a prospective clinical study with a 9-month follow-up period.

Subjects and Methods:

Eleven children aged 8–12 years with skeletal Class II malocclusion and at least one sleep disorder were enrolled in the study. All children were subjected to a recording of their sleep history and a clinical as well as radiographic examination. Pretreatment levels of salivary CRP were recorded. A twin-block appliance was custom made and delivered to every child. At the end of 9-month follow-up, all children were recalled for a re-evaluation of salivary biomarker levels.

Statistical Analysis:

Pretreatment and posttreatment changes in biomarker levels were assessed statistically using the students paired t-test.

Results:

Levels of salivary biomarker CRP were significantly decreased in children following myofunctional therapy using a twin-block appliance (P < 0.001). There was a considerable improvement in the clinical symptoms such as a decrease in snoring and noisy breathing in most children post-twin-block therapy.

Conclusion:

The measurement of salivary biomarker CRP could be used as an alternative and noninvasive method to evaluate prognosis of oral myofunctional therapy for children with sleep disordered breathing.
Pattern of Recurrent Pediatric Headache
Authors: Bhardwaj Naveen Kumar , Chaudhary Sanjeev , Bhardwaj Amit , Gupta Neeraj , Gowda Vykuntaraju K. , Sardesai Ashwin Vivek
Published: October 2023

Introduction:

This study was conducted to provide detailed information about clinical characteristics and short-term treatment outcome of childhood headache.

Materials and Methods:

This prospective observational study was done over a period of 15 months (January 2013 to March 2014) at a rural tertiary care center in North India. Detailed history, clinical examination, specialty review, and follow-up details were maintained on pretested structured proforma. Final diagnosis of headache type was made as per International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition.

Results:

Out of 100 (45 boys) children aged 8–18 years, 52% were diagnosed with migraine, 23% with tension-type headache, and 25% with secondary headache. Diffuse headache was the commonest (41%), and photophobia, phonophobia, and dizziness were the commonest symptoms in all headache subtypes. Sixty-five percentage of migraine headache were triggered by exertion. Lack of sleep and anxiety were triggers in most (65%) of tension type headache. Of 52 migraine children, 21 were started on prophylaxis for migraine and 14 of them reported significant improvement. Secondary causes for headache were found in 25% of children and half of them were having refractive errors.

Conclusions:

Results of the study show migraine being the commonest type of headache in children followed by secondary headache. This study also highlights the need for long-term follow-up of childhood headache.
Pengaruh Pupuk Organik Dari Cangkang Telur Ayam terhadap Pertumbuhan Tanaman Pala (Miristica fragrans Houtt) di Kota Ternate
Authors: Tabaika Rosita
Published: October 2023

Chicken egg shell is one of the wastes that can be recycled and is very easy to find in everyday life because it is the basic ingredient of various foods and cakes that can be used as a product so that it can reduce and protect the environment from waste. Dried egg shells contain about 95% calcium carbonate with a weight of 5.5 grams. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in agriculture is used to accelerate the growth process in plants and as a plant pest control. The high calcium carbonate content of chicken egg shells can be used as a source of nutrients for plants, one of which is the Myristica fragrans Houtt plant. The objectives are 1). Analyzing the effect of organic fertilizer from chicken egg shells on the growth of Miristica fragrans Houtt. 2). Analyzing the levels of organic fertilizer from chicken egg shells that have the most effect in accelerating the growth of Miristica fragrans Houtt plants. The type in this research is quantitative research with experimental methods. This study used a randomized block design (RAK) consisting of 8 treatments and 5 replications. The research results are 1). There was a significant effect of organic fertilizer from chicken egg shells on the growth of Miristica fragrans Houtt plants for plant height, while the number of leaves, leaf length and leaf width had no significant effect. 2). The level of organic fertilizer from chicken egg shells that had the most effect on plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and leaf width of the Myristica fragrans Houtt plant was 25 grams.
Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran Inkuiri Terbimbing Berbantuan Media Video Terhadap Pemahaman Konsep Siswa Pada Materi Jamur (Fungi)
Authors: Nurjannah Nurjannah , Khaerati Khaerati , Anshori Fitrah Al
Published: October 2023

Based on the results of observations and interviews with biology teachers at SMA Negeri 5 Palopo, it was found that problems that often occur in the teaching and learning process are students who are less active in learning, so a model and learning media are needed. The guided inquiry learning model assisted by video media is an alternative in increasing students' conceptual understanding of mushrooms (fungi). The type in this study used a Quasi Experiment with a Non-equivalent control group design research design. The population in this study were students of Class X SMA Negeri 5 Palopo. The group that was used as a sample was class XMia1 as the experimental class and class XMia2 as the control class. The instrument in this study used a learning achievement test. Data analysis used descriptive and inferential analysis. Inferential analysis using normality test, homogeneity, and hypothesis test. The results showed that the average pretest score for the experimental class was 40.42, while the posttest average score for the experimental class was 84.00. The average value of the control class pretest was 41.52, while the posttest average value of the control class was 80.39. The hypothesis test shows that (2.37 <0.05), it can be concluded that the use of video-assisted inquiry learning models has an effect on students' understanding of concepts in the Fungi subject.Keywords: Guided Inquiry, Videos, Understanding Concepts
Penerapan Model Problem Based Learning Untuk Meningkatkan Literasi Lingkungan Siswa SMA Negeri 2 Halmahera Barat
Authors: Anwar Adrian Hi. , Amin Astuti Muh. , Muna Lintal
Published: October 2023

Problem Based Learning model teached students to increase environmental literacy and formulate solutions to environmental problems. Environmental literacy is a conscious attitude to pay attention and maintain the environment so that it was always maintained, sustainable, and maintained in balance. The conscious attitude in question was a sensitive attitude towards the environment and knowing the problems that occured. Someone who has knowledge about the environment, is not only limited to theory, but also able to be responsive and agile in overcoming various problems that occur in the surrounding environment. This study aims to analyze the effect of Problem Based Learning on environmental literacy in class X students of SMA Negeri 2 West Halmahera and to analyze the increase in environmental literacy of class X students of SMA Negeri 2 West Halmahera with the application of Problem Based Learning. This type of research is quantitative research using quasi-experiments (Quasi Experiments). The research was conducted at SMA Negeri 2 West Halmahera, Gam Ici street, Central Ibu district. The population used in this study were students of SMA Negeri 2 West Halmahera, with samples from class X C and class X D. The data and data sources in this study were pretest and posttest questions, teacher and student observation sheets, and environmental care attitude questionnaires. Data collection techniques in research using observation and tests. The data collected, then analyzed by prerequisite test (normality and homogeneity test), hypothesis test and N-Gain test.Keywords: Development of LKS, Tridacna, Widi Island
Mathematics Teachers’ Levels of ICT Expertise and Use and Their Beliefs about ICT Integration and Students’ Problem-Solving Skills
Authors: Pastor Mark Joseph Deblois , Pedro Lily Ann Cabanilla
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the secondary Mathematics teachers’ level of ICT expertise, level of ICT use and students’ problem-solving skills. It employed two data collection tools: the Mathematics Teachers' Survey Questionnaire (MTSQ) and the Mathematics Assessment on Problem Solving (MAPS). The samples encompassed 40 Grade 7 Mathematics teachers and 2,439 Grade 7 students from three school divisions in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The results demonstrated that teachers are highly competent in basic ICT skills and applications, and they have positive beliefs about the use of ICT in teaching. However, because preparing ICT-enriched instruction takes more time, they only use ICT in teaching once or twice a week on average. According to the study's findings, teachers who are younger and have attended more ICT-related training are better equipped with ICT skills, use ICT in classroom instruction more frequently, and have a better disposition towards ICT integration in teaching. The study further discovered that when teachers believe they have a high level of ICT expertise, they are more likely to use ICT in their classrooms. Similarly, when teachers are more knowledgeable about using ICT, they are more inclined to support ICT integration in the classroom. Notably, the study reveals that students' problem-solving skills are significantly related to teachers' level of expertise, level of ICT use, and their beliefs about ICT integration.
Integrating STEAM Education and Computational Thinking: Analysis of Students’ Critical and Creative Thinking Skills in an Innovative Teaching and Learning
Authors: Mariana Epifani Putri , Kristanto Yosep Dwi
Published: October 2023

Teaching and learning in the 21st century should equip students with critical and creative thinking skills to be ready to live and contribute productively to society. One suitable learning approach is integrating STEAM education and computational thinking—the STEAM-CT approach. The present study aims to describe students' critical and creative thinking skills in STEAM-CT integrative learning. The descriptive qualitative method was employed in this study. The current study included 26 eighth-grade students from a private middle school in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. According to the analysis, the students demonstrated critical and creative thinking skills during the integrative STEAM-CT learning process, particularly in planning problem solving, flexibility in providing problem solutions, and the aesthetics of their product designs. However, students must still be encouraged to conduct in-depth evaluations and use the results for improvement. For recommendation, to promote students' critical and creative thinking skills, feedback practices could be embedded in teaching and learning.