bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Particulate Matter Concentration Changes before, during, and Post COVID-19 Lockdown: A Case Study from Victoria, Mexico
Authors: Macías-Hernández Bárbara A. , Tello-Leal Edgar
Published: May 2022

The lockdown measures implemented due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to reduce the epidemic curve, in most cases, have had a positive impact on air quality indices. Our study describes the changes in the concentration levels of PM2.5 and PM10 during the lockdown and post-lockdown in Victoria, Mexico, considering the following periods: before the lockdown (BL) from 16 February to 14 March, during the lockdown (DL) from 15 March to 2 May, and in the partial lockdown (PL) from 3 May to 6 June. When comparing the DL period of 2019 and 2020, we document a reduction in the average concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 of −55.56% and −55.17%, respectively. Moreover, we note a decrease of −53.57% for PM2.5 and −51.61% for PM10 in the PL period. When contrasting the average concentration between the DL periods of 2020 and 2021, an increase of 91.67% for PM2.5 and 100.00% for PM10 was identified. Furthermore, in the PL periods of 2020 and 2021, an increase of 38.46% and 31.33% was observed for PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. On the other hand, when comparing the concentrations of PM2.5 in the three periods of 2020, we found a decrease between BL and DL of −50.00%, between BL and PL a decrease of −45.83%, and an increase of 8.33% between DL and PL. In the case of PM10, a decrease of −48.00% between BL and DL, −40.00% between BL and PL, and an increase of 15.38% between the DL and PL periods were observed. In addition, we performed a non-parametric statistical analysis, where a significant statistical difference was found between the DL-2020 and DL-2019 pairs (x2 = 1.204) and between the DL-2021 and DL-2019 pairs (x2 = 0.372), with a p<0.000 for PM2.5, and the contrast between pairs of PM10 (DL) showed a significant difference between all pairs with p<0.01.
Numerical Evaluation of a Novel Vertical Drop Airflow System to Mitigate Droplet Transmission in Trains
Authors: Yun Sungho , Kim Jae-Chul
Published: May 2022

Owing to the outbreak of COVID-19, researchers are exploring methods to prevent contact and non-contact infections that occur via multiple transmission routes. However, studies on preventing infections caused by droplet transmission in public transportation are insufficient. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, a new ventilation system in railway vehicles must be developed. In this study, a novel vertical drop airflow (VDA) system is proposed to mitigate the effect of droplet transmission in a high-speed train cabin. The droplet transmission route and droplet fate are investigated using three-dimensional fluid dynamics simulations, performed employing the Eulerian–Lagrangian model. Additionally, a porous model is adopted to simulate the effect of close-fitting masks. The results indicate that 120 s after coughing, the decrease in the droplet number in the VDA system is 72.1% of that observed in the conventional system. Moreover, the VDA system effectively suppresses droplet transmission because the maximum droplet travel distances of the VDA systems are 49.9% to 67.0% of those of the conventional systems. Furthermore, the effect of reducing droplet transmission by wearing a close-fitting mask is confirmed in all systems. Thus, the decrease in both droplet number and droplet transmission area in train cabins validate that the proposed VDA system has an effective airflow design to prevent droplet infection.
The Applicability of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Soondrum Tamini , Wang Xiang , Gao Feng , Liu Qian , Fan Jie , Zhu Xiongzhao
Published: May 2022

Background: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a third-generation cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), has proved its efficacy amidst various mental disorders. A growing body of studies has shown that ACT can improve obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) severity in recent years. To assess the effect of ACT on OCD, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a basis for therapists to use different psychological dimensions of ACT for OCD. Methods: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, EBSCO Host, and literature references were searched until May 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and other study designs assessing the effect of ACT among adults suffering from OCD were examined. Results: Fourteen studies, including 413 participants, published between 2010 and 2021 were identified. ACT made statistically significant progress in the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) compared with control conditions. Conclusion: After reviewing all the ACT studies, we acknowledge the plausibility of ACT in treating OCD and improving its symptoms for the clinical population. ACT can also be an adjunct therapy for other well-established treatments. It also favors targeting psychological inflexibility. Further well-controlled and high-quality RCTs are required for a better conclusion in further studies.
A Loop That Matters—An Unusual Case of Bow Hunter’s Syndrome
Authors: Gajewski Bartosz , Stefańczyk Ludomir , Rożniecki Jacek J. , Stasiołek Mariusz , Siger Małgorzata
Published: May 2022

Bow Hunter’s syndrome (BHS), also known as rotational vertebral artery occlusion (VAO), is a rare entity in which vertebral artery is reversibly compressed due to rotation or extension of the head, causing vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Because of VAO, BHS should be considered as a possible life-threatening condition. Diverse aetiologies of BHS may trigger a broad spectrum of non-specific symptoms and may result in frequent misdiagnosis of this disorder in daily clinical practice. Herein, we present a case of BHS caused by previously non-described vascular aetiology.
Multi-Phase, Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography-Based Radiomic Prognostic Marker of Non-Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Shin Dong Woo , Park Jaewon , Lee Jong-Chan , Kim Jaihwan , Kim Young Hoon , Hwang Jin-Hyeok
Published: May 2022

Background/Aim: This study investigated the predictive ability of intra-tumor enhancement on computed tomography (CT) for the outcomes of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Methods: Multi-phase, contrast-enhanced CT (including unenhanced, pancreatic parenchymal phase (PPP) and portal venous phase (PVP)) images of patients diagnosed with non-metastatic PDA were analyzed to investigate prognostic factors. Results: Two hundred ninety-eight patients with PDA (159 with resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) and 139 with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC)/locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC)) were included. The attenuation values of PDA during the PPP (94.5 vs. 60.7 HU; p <0.001) and PVP (101.5 vs. 75.5 HU; p <0.001) were higher in patients with RPC than in those with BRPC/LAPC. Well-enhanced PDA during the PPP was associated with longer overall survival in the RPC group (27.9 vs. 15.4 months; p <0.001) and the BRPC/LAPC group (22.7 vs. 13.6 months; p = 0.024). Patients with BRPC/LAPC who underwent neoadjuvant treatment and had well-enhanced PDA during the PPP were more likely to undergo resection. Although tumor size was also an independent prognostic factor, it was not correlated with intra-tumoral enhancement during the PPP. Conclusions: Intra-tumoral contrast enhancement on CT is an independent prognostic factor in patients with non-metastatic PDA.
Predictors of Outcome after (Chemo)Radiotherapy for Node-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer: The Role of Functional MRI
Authors: D’Urso Pasqualina , Farneti Alessia , Marucci Laura , Marzi Simona , Piludu Francesca , Vidiri Antonello , Sanguineti Giuseppe
Published: May 2022

The prognosis of a subset of patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer (LA-OPC) is still poor despite improvements in patient selection and treatment. Identifying specific patient- and tumor-related factors can help to select those patients who need intensified treatment. We aimed to assess the role of historical risk factors and novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers in predicting outcomes in these patients. Patients diagnosed with LA-OPC were studied with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic-contrast enhanced MRI at baseline and at the 10th radiotherapy (RT) fraction. Clinical information was collected as well. The endpoint of the study was the development of disease progression, locally or distantly. Of the 97 patients enrolled, 68 were eligible for analysis. Disease progression was recorded in 21 patients (11 had loco-regional progression, 10 developed distant metastases). We found a correlation between N diameter and disease control (p = 0.02); features such as p16 status and extranodal extension only showed a trend towards statistical significance. Among perfusion MRI features, higher median values of Kep both in primary tumor (T, p = 0.016) and lymph node (N, p = 0.003) and lower median values of ve (p = 0.018 in T, p = 0.004 in N) correlated with better disease control. Kep P90 and N diameter were identified by MRMR algorithm as the best predictors of outcome. In conclusion, the association of non-invasive MRI biomarkers and patients and tumor characteristics may help in predicting disease behavior and patient outcomes in order to ensure a more customized treatment.
The Relationship between Exercise Self-Efficacy, Intention, and Structural Barriers for Physical Activity after a Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Depenbusch Johanna , Haussmann Alexander , Wiskemann Joachim , Tsiouris Angeliki , Schmidt Laura , Sieverding Monika , Ungar Nadine , Steindorf Karen
Published: May 2022

Previous research has shown that structural barriers negatively influence the physical activity (PA) behavior of cancer patients, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. The aim of the current study was to explore the potential mediating role of social-cognitive factors, namely PA self-efficacy and PA intention in this context. A total of 856 cancer patients completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic and medical characteristics, pre- and post-diagnosis PA, PA self-efficacy, PA intention, and PA impediment by structural barriers. A serial mediation model was used to test whether the association between structural barriers and post-diagnosis PA was mediated by PA self-efficacy and/or PA intention, in the overall sample and in subsamples defined by individuals’ pre-diagnosis PA. The results confirmed that structural barriers were not directly (95%CI [−0.45; 0.10]) but indirectly associated with post-diagnosis PA. Higher impediment by structural barriers decreased the likelihood of sufficient post-diagnosis PA via lower PA self-efficacy (95%CI [−0.25; −0.06]) and via the serial pathway of lower PA self-efficacy and lower PA intention (95%CI [−0.19; −0.05]). Investigating differences in these mediations by pre-diagnosis PA yielded significance only among previously active cancer patients. Both structural barriers and PA self-efficacy might hence be relevant target points for interventions aiming to improve PA behavior, especially among pre-diagnosis active cancer patients.
The Role of MiR-181 Family Members in Endothelial Cell Dysfunction and Tumor Angiogenesis
Authors: Yang Chun , Passos Gibson Victor , Hardy Pierre
Published: May 2022

Endothelial dysfunction plays a critical role in many human angiogenesis-related diseases, including cancer and retinopathies. Small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) repress gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. They are critical for endothelial cell gene expression and function and are involved in many pathophysiological processes. The miR-181 family is one of the essential angiogenic regulators. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of the role of miR-181 family members in endothelial cell dysfunction, with emphasis on their pathophysiological roles in aberrant angiogenesis. The actions of miR-181 members are summarized concerning their targets and associated major angiogenic signaling pathways in a cancer-specific context. Elucidating the underlying functional mechanisms of miR-181 family members that are dysregulated in endothelial cells or cancer cells is invaluable for developing miRNA-based therapeutics for angiogenesis-related diseases such as retinopathies, angiogenic tumors, and cancer. Finally, potential clinical applications of miR-181 family members in anti-angiogenic tumor therapy are discussed.
Novel Insights into the Cardioprotective Effects of Calcitriol in Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Yang Simin , Wang Chunmiao , Ruan Chengshao , Chen Meiling , Cao Ran , Sheng Liang , Chang Naiying , Xu Tong , Zhao Peiwen , Liu Xuesheng , Zhu Fengqin , Xiao Qingzhong , Gao Shan
Published: May 2022

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that vitamin D deficiency negatively affects the cardiovascular system. Here we studied the therapeutic effects of calcitriol in myocardial infarction (MI) and investigated its underlying mechanisms. Methods: A MI model of Kun-ming mice induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation was utilized to study the potential therapeutic effects of calcitriol on MI. AC16 human cardiomyocyte-like cells treated with TNF-α were used for exploring the mechanisms that underlie the cardioprotective effects of calcitriol. Results: We observed that calcitriol reversed adverse cardiovascular function and cardiac remodeling in post-MI mice. Mechanistically, calcitriol suppressed MI-induced cardiac inflammation, ameliorated cardiomyocyte death, and promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation. Specifically, calcitriol exerted these cellular effects by upregulating Vitamin D receptor (VDR). Increased VDR directly interacted with p65 and retained p65 in cytoplasm, thereby dampening NF-κB signaling and suppressing inflammation. Moreover, up-regulated VDR was translocated into nuclei where it directly bound to IL-10 gene promoters to activate IL-10 gene transcription, further inhibiting inflammation. Conclusion: We provide new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of calcitriol, and we present comprehensive evidence to support the preventive and therapeutic effects of calcitriol on MI.
Generation of HepG2 Cells with High Expression of Multiple Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes for Drug Discovery Research Using a PITCh System
Authors: Negoro Ryosuke , Tasaka Mitsuki , Deguchi Sayaka , Takayama Kazuo , Fujita Takuya
Published: May 2022

HepG2 cells are an inexpensive hepatocyte model that can be used for repeated experiments, but HepG2 cells do not express major cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1 (UGT1A1). In this study, we established CYP3A4–POR–UGT1A1–CYP1A2–CYP2C19–CYP2C9–CYP2D6 (CYPs–UGT1A1) knock-in (KI)-HepG2 cells using a PITCh system to evaluate whether they could be a new hepatocyte model for pharmaceutical studies. To evaluate whether CYPs–UGT1A1 KI-HepG2 cells express and function with CYPs and UGT1A1, gene expression levels of CYPs and UGT1A1 were analyzed by using real-time PCR, and metabolites of CYPs or UGT1A1 substrates were quantified by HPLC. The expression levels of CYPs and UGT1A1 in the CYPs–UGT1A1 KI-HepG2 cells were comparable to those in primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) cultured for 48 h. The CYPs and UGT1A1 activity levels in the CYPs–UGT1A1 KI-HepG2 cells were much higher than those in the wild-type (WT)-HepG2 cells. These results suggest that the CYPs–UGT1A1 KI-HepG2 cells expressed functional CYPs and UGT1A1. We also confirmed that the CYPs–UGT1A1 KI-HepG2 cells were more sensitive to drug-induced liver toxicity than the WT-HepG2 cells. CYPs–UGT1A1 KI-HepG2 cells could be used to predict drug metabolism and drug-induced liver toxicity, and they promise to be a helpful new hepatocyte model for drug discovery research.
Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Pathologies: A Narrative Review
Authors: Heinisch Paul Philipp , Bello Corina , Emmert Maximilian Y. , Carrel Thierry , Dreßen Martina , Hörer Jürgen , Winkler Bernhard , Luedi Markus M.
Published: May 2022

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may influence the integrity and stability of the vascular endothelium. The association of an altered total EPC number and function with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and risk factors (CVF) was discussed; however, their role and applicability as biomarkers for clinical purposes have not yet been defined. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the key mechanisms in CVD. The assessment of endothelial dysfunction in vivo remains a major challenge, especially for a clinical evaluation of the need for therapeutic interventions or for primary prevention of CVD. One of the main challenges is the heterogeneity of this particular cell population. Endothelial cells (EC) can become senescent, and the majority of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) show evidence of apoptosis or necrosis. There are a few viable CECs that have properties similar to those of an endothelial progenitor cell. To use EPC levels as a biomarker for vascular function and cumulative cardiovascular risk, a correct definition of their phenotype, as well as an update on the clinical application and practicability of current isolation methods, are an urgent priority.
Agroforestry, Livelihood and Biodiversity Nexus: The Case of Madhupur Tract, Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Kazi Kamrul , Fujiwara Takahiro , Hyakumura Kimihiko
Published: May 2022

Agroforestry has long been considered one of the most important land-use practices for conserving species while also meeting the fundamental requirements of millions of poor people in developing countries. Thus, the objective of the study was to determine the impacts of agroforestry practices on the livelihood development of rural farmers and biodiversity conservation potency in the Madhupur tract, Bangladesh. The study was conducted in the Madhupur tract, a famous agroforestry region in Bangladesh, using a mix-method approach to data collection, such as face-to-face interviews of 100 agroforestry farmers for livelihood analysis and using sampling techniques across 50 quadrats (20 m × 20 m) for measuring biodiversity. The results showed that the agroforestry practices significantly increased farm income and provided more benefits to rural farmers. Agroforestry farmers were able to build a social platform while simultaneously increasing their capability through training programs. As a result, the development of agroforestry farmers’ livelihood capital was significant. At the same time, the agroforestry practices introduced 34 plant species into the bare forestland and, therefore, provided higher-quality habitats for biodiversity conservation. The fast-growing tree species, mainly Acacia (diversity index of 0.366), in association with partial shade-loving crops such as pineapple, turmeric, and ginger, were the most dominant species in the agroforestry practices of the Madhupur tract. The study also revealed that agroforestry serves as a wildlife corridor and attracts birds for feeding and breeding. Finally, the agroforestry of the Madhupur tract is a viable land-use practice for biodiversity conservation and livelihood development of rural farmers in Bangladesh, and it is highly suggested that it be strengthened and disseminated.
Cement Compositions Modified with Dispersed Magnesium Silicate Dihydrate- and Carbon-Based Additives
Authors: Saidova Zarina , Yakovlev Grigory , Orbán Zoltán , Grakhov Valery , Urkhanova Larisa , Lkhasaranov Solbon
Published: May 2022

This study is based on the hypothesis that carbon black and chrysotile nanofibers, due to their ability to act as micro-reinforcement of the cement matrix and stimulate the formation of additional amounts of calcium silicate hydrates, can be used together as modifying additives in order to replace the expensive carbon nanotubes in cement-based compositions. The presented paper describes the results of experimental studies on the influence of these additives and their combinations on the physical and mechanical characteristics of the cement matrix. It was experimentally confirmed that the introduction of a complex additive based on chrysotile fibers and carbon black into the composition of the cement matrix leads to an increase in the strength of the material at the age of 28 days by 30.8% in compression and 21.6% in bending compared to the reference composition. The results of infrared spectroscopy, X-ray phase and microstructural analysis of the cement matrix are also presented. Physical and chemical analysis methods revealed a decrease in the content of the crystalline phases and the formation of amorphous hydration products in the structure of the matrix, characteristic of low-basic calcium silicate hydrates, which are responsible for the increased strength of the cement stone.
Evidence of Counterion Size Effect on the Stability of Columnar Phase of Ionic Liquid Crystals Based on Pyridinium Salts Derived from N-3,4,5-Tri(alkyloxy)-benzyl-4-pyridones
Authors: Dumitru Isabela , Chiriac Florentina L. , Ilis Monica , Pasuk Iuliana , Manaila-Maximean Doina , Micutz Marin , Staicu Teodora , Cîrcu Viorel
Published: May 2022

The synthesis and characterization of novel ionic liquid crystals based on pyridinium salts with Br− and PF6− counterions are described in this work. These pyridinium salts were derived from 4-hydroxypyridine, both by N- and O-alkylation. The 3,4,5-tri(alkyloxy)-benzyl mesogenic unit was attached to the nitrogen atom of the pyridinium ring. Alkyl chains with a different number of carbon atoms (6, 8, 10, 12 and 14) were employed in order to show the effect on the stability of mesophase. The POM (polarizing optical microscopy) and XRD (powder X-ray diffraction) studies indicated that bromide salts with shorter chains C6, C8 and C10 do not show mesomorphic properties, while longer chain analogues with C12 and C14 exhibit two enantiotropic columnar phases. Surprisingly, the pyridinium salts with the larger size PF6− counterion do not exhibit liquid crystal properties.
De-Escalation Strategies for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma—Where Are We Now?
Authors: Silver Jennifer A. , Turkdogan Sena , Roy Catherine F. , Subramaniam Thavakumar , Henry Melissa , Sadeghi Nader
Published: May 2022

The prevalence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has been increasing in North America due to human papillomavirus-associated disease. It is molecularly distinct and differs from other head and neck cancers due to the young population and high survival rate. The treatment regimens currently in place cause significant long-term toxicities. Studies have transitioned from mortality-based outcomes to patient-reported outcomes assessing quality of life. There are many completed and ongoing trials investigating alternative therapy regimens or de-escalation strategies to minimize the negative secondary effects while maintaining overall survival and disease-free survival. The goal of this review is to discuss the most recent advancements within the field while summarizing and reviewing the available evidence.
Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 on Skin Wrinkles and Dryness: A Randomized, Triple-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Huuskonen Laura , Lyra Anna , Lee Eunju , Ryu Jahyun , Jeong Hyunjin , Baek Jihwoon , Seo Youngkyoung , Shin Minkyung , Tiihonen Kirsti , Pesonen Tommi , Lauerma Antti , Reimari Jenni , Ibarra Alvin , Anglenius Heli
Published: May 2022

The effects of orally consumed probiotics on skin wrinkles and dryness are not fully known. A randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded study was conducted with 148 healthy Korean female volunteers aged between 33 and 60 years, who were administered 1.75 × 109 colony-forming units (CFUs) of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 (Bl-04) (N = 74) or matching placebo (N = 74) for 12 weeks. Facial wrinkles (with 3-dimensional (3D) imaging), skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), elasticity, and gloss were assessed at baseline and after every 4 weeks of the intervention. Questionnaire-based subjective evaluations of product efficacy and usability were also analyzed. The consumption of Bl-04 was safe and ameliorated significantly facial skin wrinkle parameters (total wrinkle area and volume, average depth of wrinkles, and arithmetic average roughness (Ra)) versus placebo at 4 weeks, but there were no differences at Week 8 or 12 between groups. Skin hydration, TEWL, elasticity, and gloss were similar between treatment groups, as were the subjective evaluation scores. Oral consumption of Bl-04 indicated promising short-term effects on skin appearance from the winter toward the spring. In future study designs, special attention should be paid to environmental conditions as well as to the skin condition and age of the participants.
Reduction of Computational Burden and Accuracy Maximization in Short-Term Load Forecasting
Authors: Candela Esclapez Alfredo , García Miguel López , Valero Verdú Sergio , Senabre Blanes Carolina
Published: May 2022

Electrical energy is consumed at the same time as it is generated, since its storage is unfeasible. Therefore, short-term load forecasting is needed to manage energy operations. Due to better energy management, precise load forecasting indirectly saves money and CO2 emissions. In Europe, owing to directives and new technologies, prediction systems will be on a quarter-hour basis, which will reduce computation time and increase the computational burden. Therefore, a predictive system may not dispose of sufficient time to compute all future forecasts. Prediction systems perform calculations throughout the day, calculating the same forecasts repeatedly as the predicted time approaches. However, there are forecasts that are no more accurate than others that have already been made. If previous forecasts are used preferentially over these, then computational burden will be saved while accuracy increases. In this way, it will be possible to optimize the schedule of future quarter-hour systems and fulfill the execution time limits. This paper offers an algorithm to estimate which forecasts provide greater accuracy than previous ones, and then make a forecasting schedule. The algorithm has been applied to the forecasting system of the Spanish electricity operator, obtaining a calculation schedule that achieves better accuracy and involves less computational burden. This new algorithm could be applied to other forecasting systems in order to speed up computation times and to reduce forecasting errors.
Mathematical Justification for Optimizing Operating Conditions of Gas and Gas Condensate Producing Wells
Authors: Cheremisin Alexander , Usov Eduard , Kolchanov Boris , Krylov Andrey , Valkovich Alexander , Lykhin Pavel , Ulyanov Vladimir , Khogoeva Ekaterina , Podnebesnykh Alexander
Published: May 2022

The paper investigated the problem of selecting/finding the optimal process conditions for gas condensate wells. The well process conditions imply a set of parameters that characterize its operation. The optimization of process conditions provides for the efficient operation of an oil and gas field while meeting the defined boundary and initial conditions, and allows for the process/production goal to be achieved. This paper proposed using the tree-structured Parzen estimator (TPE), which allows for the results from previous iterations to be considered, in order to identify the most promising region of conditions, thereby increasing the optimization efficiency. The movement of multiphase fluid inside the pipeline system (also in the borehole) must be calculated to solve the process optimization problem. The optimization module was integrated into the hydraulic and unsteady state multiphase flow calculations inside the well and the pipeline. The platform created allows for the process conditions at gas condensate fields to be identified via the use of numerical methods. The proposed optimization algorithm was tested in delivering the task of optimizing the process conditions in 13 producing wells in a part of a real gas condensate field in Western Siberia. The engineering problem of optimizing the production of gas and the gas condensate was solved as a consequence of the calculations performed.
Prediction of Charging Demand of Electric City Buses of Helsinki, Finland by Random Forest
Authors: Deb Sanchari , Gao Xiao-Zhi
Published: May 2022

Climate change, global warming, pollution, and energy crisis are the major growing concerns of this era, which have initiated the electrification of transport. The electrification of roadway transport has the potential to drastically reduce pollution and the growing demand for energy and to increase the load demand of the power grid, thereby giving a rise to technological and commercial challenges. Thus, charging load prediction is a crucial and demanding issue for maintaining the security and stability of power systems. During recent years, random forest has gained a lot of popularity as a powerful machine learning technique for classification as well as regression analysis. This work develops a random forest (RF)-based approach for predicting charging demand. The proposed method is validated for the prediction of public e-bus charging demand in the city of Helsinki, Finland. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our scheme.
Experimental Investigation of Failure Mechanisms of Granites with Prefabricated Cracks Induced by Cyclic-Impact Disturbances
Authors: Zhang Jie , Xi Xun , Tan Wenhui , Wu Xu , Wu Xinghui , Guo Qifeng , Cai Meifeng
Published: May 2022

Engineering rock mass is normally subject to cyclic–dynamic disturbances from excavation, blasting, drilling, and earthquakes. Natural fractures in rock masses can be reactivated and propagated under dynamic and static loadings, which affects the stability of rock mass engineering. However, fractured rock mass failure induced by cyclic-impact disturbances is far from clear, especially considering varying angles between the rock mass and the direction of impact loadings. This work investigated rock deformation and failure characteristics through cyclic impact tests on granite samples with cracks of different angles. A Hopkinson bar was employed for uniaxial cyclic impact tests on granite samples with the crack inclination angles of 0–90°. The magnetic resonance imaging technique was used to determine rocks’ porosity after cyclic impacts. The stress–strain curves, porosity, strength, deformation modulus, failure modes, and energy density of samples were obtained and discussed. Results showed that the crack inclination angles significantly affected the damage evolution and crack morphology of rocks. Under the constant cyclic impact, the dynamic deformation modulus and dynamic strength of rock samples first increased and then decreased with the increase in crack inclination angle. The failures of granite samples for inclination angles of 0 and 90° were dominated by tensile cracking, while those for the inclination angles of 30–60° were dominated by shear cracking. The energy density per unit time gradually decreased with the increase in impact cycles. The results can provide references for the stability analysis and cyclic-impact-induced failure prediction of fractured rock masses.
Fluid Inclusion Constrained Multiple Petroleum Chargings in the Lithologic Reservoirs of the Late Eocene Shahejie Formation in the Minfeng Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, East China
Authors: Li Chunquan , Chen Honghan , Liu Huimin
Published: May 2022

The fluid inclusion technique was utilized to reveal the petroleum charging events in the lithologic reservoirs embraced in the Late Eocene Shahejie Formation of the Minfeng sag, Bohai Bay Basin, East China. Petrography, fluorescence microspectrometry, and microthermometry were systematically carried out on 15 double-polished thin sections handled from reservoir core samples of the third Member of the Shahejie Formation. The results show that three generations of petroleum inclusions with fluorescence colors of yellow, yellowish green and bright blue were entrapped along the healed fractures in detrital quartz grains of these samples. The fluorescence features of petroleum inclusions illustrate that inclusion oils have different maturities and were products of source rocks at different stages. In addition, the trapping time of petroleum inclusions was determined by combining the homogenization temperatures of their coeval aqueous inclusions with thermal-burial histories. By integrating the petrographic occurrence, characteristics of petroleum inclusions, and the maturity and the trapping time of the studied inclusion oils, it is jointly constrained that the lithologic reservoirs of the Late Eocene Shahejie Formation in the Minfeng sag underwent three petroleum chargings, which occurred during 37.8~25 Ma, 11.7~3.5 Ma and 1.4~0.1 Ma, respectively. The petroleum from each charging period migrated from the center of the sag to the edge, and the lower the maturity of the migrating petroleum, the longer the migration duration.
Methodology for Generating Synthetic Load Profiles for Different Industry Types
Authors: Sandhaas Anna , Kim Hanhee , Hartmann Niklas
Published: May 2022

To achieve its climate goals, the German industry has to undergo a transformation toward renewable energies. To analyze this transformation in energy system models, the industry’s electricity demands have to be provided in a high temporal and sectoral resolution, which, to date, is not the case due to a lack of open-source data. In this paper, a methodology for the generation of synthetic electricity load profiles is described; it was applied to 11 industry types. The modeling was based on the normalized daily load profiles for eight electrical end-use applications. The profiles were then further refined by using the mechanical processes of different branches. Finally, a fluctuation was applied to the profiles as a stochastic attribute. A quantitative RMSE comparison between real and synthetic load profiles showed that the developed method is especially accurate for the representation of loads from three-shift industrial plants. A procedure of how to apply the synthetic load profiles to a regional distribution of the industry sector completes the methodology.
A Source-Level Estimation and Uncertainty Analysis of Methane Emission in China’s Oil and Natural Gas Sector
Authors: Sun Shuo , Ma Linwei , Li Zheng
Published: May 2022

A high-quality methane emission estimation in China’s oil and gas sector is the basis of an effective mitigation strategy. Currently, the published emission data and studies of China’s oil and gas sector only provide estimations of total emissions, which is not enough for good analysis of the trend and impact factors for the instruction of emission mitigation activities. The main problem is that published data for oil and gas infrastructure in China is incomplete, which makes it difficult to apply the conventional greenhouse gas inventory compiling method and the uncertainty estimation strategy. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a method to estimate infrastructure data using all available data, including partial data for the infrastructure, national production and consumption of oil and gas, and production and production capacity data of oil and gas enterprises, and then uses a Monte Carlo-based method to generate a source-based inventory and uncertainty analysis of methane emission for China’s oil and gas industry from 1995 to 2018. We found that methane emission increased from 208.3 kt in 1995 to 1428.8 kt in 2018. Methane emission in 2018 has an uncertainty of about ±3%. Compared to former studies, our research found that the production stage of natural gas is the main contributor, which is further driven by the growth of natural gas production. The mitigation potential introduced by technology development on methane emission remains large.
Direct Power Control Based on Modified Sliding Mode Controller for a Variable-Speed Multi-Rotor Wind Turbine System Using PWM Strategy
Authors: Benbouhenni Habib , Boudjema Zinelaabidine , Bizon Nicu , Thounthong Phatiphat , Takorabet Noureddine
Published: May 2022

A robust and improved control scheme of a variable speed multi-rotor wind turbine (MRWT) system with a doubly fed asynchronous generator (DFAG) is displayed in this work. In order to improve the performances and effectiveness of the traditional direct power control (DPC) strategy of the DFAG, a new kind of sliding mode controller (SMC) called modified SMC (MSMC) is proposed. The most important advantage of the DPC-MSMC strategy is to reduce the power ripples and improve the quality of the currents provided to the grid. In addition, to control the rotor inverter, a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique is used. The proposed DPC-MSMC strategy was modeled and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink software. The simulation results showed that the ripples in stator currents, active and reactive powers and torque were considerably reduced for the proposed DPC-MSMC strategy compared to the traditional DPC. Additionally, the proposed DPC-MSMC method works excellently to reduce the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the stator current in the case of variable wind speed. On the other hand, a robustness test against parametric variations showed and confirmed the robustness of the proposed technique compared to the classical method.
Impact of Window Frames on Annual Energy Consumption of Residential Buildings and Its Contribution to CO2 Emission Reductions at the City Scale
Authors: Choi Younhee , Ozaki Akihito , Lee Haksung
Published: May 2022

Windows are among building components that have the strongest effect on thermal load. They play a significant role in heat loss in buildings because they usually have a largely higher thermal conductance than other components of the building envelope. Although many studies have highlighted the relevance of heat transfer through frames and aimed to improve their thermal performance, poorly insulated aluminum frames (thermal conductivity of aluminum is 160 W/m·K, while that of polyvinyl chloride [PVC] is 0.17 W/m·K) are still in use in Japan. Therefore, the U-values of different window frames were calculated, and annual thermal loads were calculated according to the window configurations, including the frame, glazing, and cavity. We focused on standard residential buildings in Japan with a total floor area of 120.6 m2 (two-story building), and the number of newly built houses and the application rate of window configurations in 2019 were surveyed to estimate the CO2 emissions by regions. CO2 emissions were reduced by approximately 3.98–6.58% with the application of PVC frames. Furthermore, CO2 emissions were converted into the amount of CO2 gas absorbed by cedar trees, which cover nearly 18% of the total land area of Japan. In conclusion, analogous to the amount of CO2 gas absorbed by cedar trees, the absorption effect was equivalent to 327,743–564,416 cedar trees. Changing the window frame material can facilitate a significant energy-saving effect as a considerable amount of energy is saved, especially at a city scale.
High Activity Earthquake Swarm Event Monitoring and Impact Analysis on Underground High Energy Physics Research Facilities
Authors: Scislo Lukasz
Published: May 2022

A seismic swarm is a series of earthquakes that occur in a small area over a short period of time. A sequence of earthquakes of this magnitude is unusual in Switzerland, and it is impossible to anticipate how it may unfold in the future.The seismic activity of such an event usually fades after a few days or weeks. Significantly greater earthquakes are likely to occur during the next several days, with up to a chance of 5 to 10%. For these reasons, the underground research facilities need tools to provide data on the impact of these events on their experiments. The paper presents the techniques implemented at The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) to allow the tracking and monitoring of these unusual events. Additionally, the real effect of such an unusual event is presented together with the statistical approach to monitoring and effect evaluation. Considering the collision energy of the beams at 14 TeV, the energy stored in the magnets at 10 GJ (2400 kg of TNT), and the energy carried by the two beams at 724 MJ (173 kg of TNT), prolonged exposure to vibration close to or above the set alarm levels may result in serious safety issues. The presented evaluation of earthquake swarm impact on underground facilities together with the approach for data evaluation can be used for the design of future detectors and accelerators. Additionally, it provides tools for facilities users to present the data in an easy to understand way. This includes the Future Circular Collider, whose purpose is to significantly expand the energy and intensity frontiers of planned particle colliders, with the goal of reaching collision energies of 100 TeV in the quest for novel physics. As a result, even greater standards for beam size and stability will be required.
Impact of Gas Liberation Effects on the Performance of Low Permeability Reservoirs
Authors: Andrianov Nikolai , Bech Niels Marinus , Nielsen Carsten Møller , Al-Masri Wael , Shapiro Alexander
Published: May 2022

Production from the North Sea reservoirs often results in a pressure decrease below the bubble point. The gas is liberated from oil, in the form of bubbles or as a continuous flowing phase. In such cases, the two phases, gas and oil, flow in the reservoir simultaneously, and the flow is governed by the values of relative permeabilities. Traditional core flooding in low permeability rocks is challenging, therefore we use a novel experimental approach to determine the oil relative permeabilities below the critical gas saturation. A mathematical model has been created to reconstruct both the gas and the oil relative permeabilities for the whole saturation range. Laboratory observations have shown that in low-permeable rocks the relative permeabilities may strongly decrease, even when the amount of the liberated gas is small. The goal of this work is to verify, on a specific example, whether the designed model for the relative permeabilities may explain the observed production behavior for a low-permeable chalk reservoir in the North Sea. We perform a sensitivity study using the parameters of relative permeabilities and analyze the corresponding differences in well productivities. A reasonably good match of <10% can be obtained to the historical well production data. A few cases where the match was not satisfactory (14% to 65%) are also analyzed, and the difference is attributed to the imprecise fluid model. The developed experimental and modeling methodology may be applied to other reservoirs developed by the solution gas drive mechanism.
Abiotic and Biotic Stress Cascades in the Era of Climate Change Pose a Challenge to Genetic Improvements in Plants
Authors: Xiao Yue , Wang Menglei , Song Yuepeng
Published: May 2022

Forest ecosystems are vast, second in expanse only to marine ecosystems [...]
Computation of Strip Road Networks Based on Harvester Location Data
Authors: Ovaskainen Heikki , Riekki Kirsi
Published: May 2022

The location information of strip roads in thinnings and the numerical variables of strip roads are one aspect of timber harvest quality information. The ideal of automatic quality management for mechanized logging is that the quality of the harvest is calculated and reported based on data collected by forest machines. At present, quality data is collected by means of laborious, manual, field-based, post-harvest measurements. The aim of this study was to develop an automatic method to compute the strip roads of the harvested stands after harvesting, based on the stem-specific location data of the harvester. Subsequently, the strip road variables were computed from the strip road networks. The computed strip road networks were validated with 21 manually recorded field references. The method was also applied to operational stand data, including 544 harvested stands collected from Southern Finland. The results showed that the computation method produces well-located, stand-specific strip road networks from which strip road variables can be accurately determined, covering the whole stand. Thus, the method promotes the automation of quality management and reporting. The computed strip road networks can also support harvester operator work during the harvesting and, later, the automation of harvesting operations.
Identification of Key Prognostic Genes of Triple Negative Breast Cancer by LASSO-Based Machine Learning and Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Chen De-Lun , Cai Jia-Hua , Wang Charles C. N.
Published: May 2022

Improved insight into the molecular mechanisms of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is required to predict prognosis and develop a new therapeutic strategy for targeted genes. The aim of this study is to identify key genes which may affect the prognosis of TNBC patients by bioinformatic analysis. In our study, the RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) expression data of 116 breast cancer lacking ER, PR, and HER2 expression and 113 normal tissues were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We screened out 147 differentially co-expressed genes in TNBC compared to non-cancerous tissue samples by using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential gene expression analysis. Then, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were constructed, revealing that 147 genes were mainly enriched in nuclear division, chromosomal region, ATPase activity, and cell cycle signaling. After using Cytoscape software for protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and LASSO feature selection, a total of fifteen key genes were identified. Among them, BUB1 and CENPF were significantly correlated with the overall survival rate (OS) difference of TNBC patients (p value < 0.05). In addition, BUB1, CCNA2, and PACC1 showed significant poor disease-free survival (DFS) in TNBC patients (p value < 0.05), and may serve as candidate biomarkers in TNBC diagnosis. Thus, our results collectively suggest that BUB1, CCNA2, and PACC1 genes could play important roles in the progression of TNBC and provide attractive therapeutic targets.
Experimental Study on Hydrogen Recombination Characteristics of a Passive Autocatalytic Recombiner during Spray Operation
Authors: Kim Jongtae , Hong Seongho , Park Ki-Han , Kim Jin-Hyeok , Oh Jeong-Yun
Published: May 2022

During an accident, hydrogen distribution in a containment building of a nuclear power plant (NPP) and characteristics of hydrogen depletion by passive autocatalytic recombiners (PARs) differ depending on the thermal-hydraulic behaviors occurring in the containment. A spray system installed in the NPP containment to control the pressure in accident conditions may interact with PAR operations. This study intended to experimentally evaluate the hydrogen removal characteristics of a grid-type PAR when a spray was operating. For the experimental simulation of hydrogen recombination characteristics of the PAR affected by a spray operation, we used the SPARC experimental facility, which was equipped with a pressure vessel capable of controlling the wall temperature with a volume of 82 m3. To measure gas species concentrations, 14 probes each for hydrogen, oxygen, and water vapor were installed. Two tests were designed depending on the spray initiation time. The SSP3 test was an experiment to simulate an accident in which the PAR operated as hydrogen was released after the spray is activated, and the SSP4 test was an experiment to simulate an accident in which the spray began after the operation of the PAR was initiated by the hydrogen release. In the experiment, two contradictory results were obtained, which were an increased start-up delay time of the PAR by early initiation of the spray and a negligible impact on the PAR’s performance by the delayed initiation of the spray.