bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maximizing the Value of Offshore-Setup Hydraulic Workover Unit to Monetize Onshore Gas in Brunei
Authors: Runtuwene Michael , Lopez Mario , Siew Sherry , Mappy Muhammad
Published: October 2023

Since 2019, a 340K type of Hydraulic Workover Unit (HWU) has been contracted by the Operator for production protection in case of ESP failures, primarily for the offshore assets. Due to the nature of contract and scope, there were times when the HWU was in standby mode while waiting for the next ESP replacement scopes and/or for the offshore vessel to be made available. When there was a requirement to recomplete a land gas well ‘S’ to increase gas lift supplies, an opportunity was seized to utilize the HWU to execute the recompletion scope.

Well S was a 4,300m deep exploration well that was drilled and tested in 2019 with a 2,000HP land drilling rig. The well had two zones of open perforation and it was then suspended with a combination of inflatable cement retainer, cement and sand plugs, and another V0 hydraulic plug above it. The first operational scope was to prepare the wellbore by clearing the access for the perforations, and the second scope would be the recompletion operation.

The opportunity was clear, but the solution wasn’t as straightforward. Originally this recompletion was planned to be executed with a land rig, but scheduling conflicts meant that the land rig arrival was delayed by a few years. The team saw the opportunity to maximize the assets at their disposal but there were two main challenges in realizing this opportunity. First, the offshore setup HWU required significant modifications to operate on land environment. This included adding components in the peripheral e.g. a crane, tanks/temporary pipe works and accommodation cabins. The second challenge was to assess and equip the unit that was supposed to perform non-complex hoisting operation, to be able to execute the recompletion scope which included fishing and milling, wellbore clean-up, TCP operation, and installing completions. The other important element of the HWU utilization is that it has a lower carbon footprint as opposed to drilling rig. In average, the fuel consumption of the HWU is nearly half of 1,500HP drilling rig and even though drilling rig operational efficiency is generally higher, the overall emission of HWU would still be lower in this case.

This paper describes the requirements set at the planning stage, to ensure that the minimum technical requirement was defined and that the project was competitively scoped. It outlines the challenges encountered in the preparation stage as well as in the operation stage, and how they were addressed, resulting in a safe and successful campaign and "out-of-plan" gas to support the production. Furthermore, this paper examines the boundary of the Hydraulic Workover unit and illustrates how thorough planning and risk assessment were critical for the non-routine activities.
Implementing Enhanced Reservoir Management to Arrest Natural Decline and Increase Production at Mature Y Field
Authors: Marawi Faizal Al , Avianto Adhi Mahendra , Tjahjono Hendro , Anggreiny Yayu , Rahman Yudi , Moestopo Hendar Suharnoko , Husna Ully Zakyatul , Hidayat Sachrul Wahyu
Published: October 2023

PT. Pertamina Hulu Rokan (PT. PHR) managed lot of oil field assets that categorized as mature fields. Field "Y" is one of the mature primary fields discovered since 1972 and over time has decline in oil production. To arrest the natural decline and efforts to increase production from existing wells, Asset Optimization Primary (AOP) Team implemented an Enhanced Reservoir Management with Well Intervention (WI) job as the key in the company's portfolio activities.

A robust subsurface WI program is generated massively, vigilantly implemented, and closely tracked. The main job recommendations from Enhanced Reservoir Management are well optimization by revisit reservoirs, perforation, water shut off, and stimulation. On the production strategy to ensure optimum production, it is critical to select single high-rate reservoir, comingle low-rate reservoirs, or single low-rate reservoir. Collaboration from various functions i.e., Asset Optimization, Drilling & Completion, and Operations are an important key in contributes to the success of the well execution program.

The result of WI jobs that executed in late 2022 showed positive results with increasing production with additional cumulative oil ~40MBO with other advantage was reducing fluid production. To sustain production from a mature field is important, continuous base business activities and expected to grow in terms of quantity, complexity, requiring new technologies and ideas, as well as new challenges with the aim to arrest the natural decline oil rate.

This paper discusses an Enhanced Reservoir Management which has been implemented in Field "Y" by integrating subsurface and production analysis to gain a deep understanding of how to get good well candidates. Additional data from new wells also provide new information in addition to surveillance data to support this analysis. Some of new innovations from the subsurface aspect are conducted High Resolution Stratigraphy (HiReS) Analysis and implement the Integration Current Isopach Net Pay Map to identify remaining hydrocarbon (bypassed oil) in each prolific reservoir.
Case Study: Utilization of a Hydraulic Workover Unit to Recover Highly Corroded 35 Years Old Dual String Tubing Completion with Dual Tubing and Dual Annulus Valve in Mahakam Offshore
Authors: Sinaga Rahmat , Solagratia Yosafat , Syafrudin Mochamad , Maharanee Miazzy
Published: October 2023

An operator has been significantly performing re-entry well drilling to increase operational efficiency. Therefore, a temporary abandonment campaign is critical to successfully achieving the objective of providing a well slot for the upcoming drilling program. Abandonment work has high uncertainties that require more time to prepare and to solve the possible situation in the work progress itself. Particularly in the old wells where the tubing completion has been installed for 35 years with limited sources of preliminary information or reference. Hence the operator has been utilizing a hydraulic workover unit (HWU) to perform an abandonment campaign in the offshore field.

This paper presented a case study of multiple wells abandonment of which an HWU is operated. The well was completed with dual string production tubing with dual tubing and dual annulus valves in 1987. Highly corroded tubing and difficulties to recover the existing tubing and annulus valves have been the challenges identified before the campaign began. Moreover, the history record of each well was limited has become additional challenge to start the project.

Evaluating the tubing conditions, and preparing HWU with Blow Out Preventer (BOP) and related equipment such as tubing cutters and fishing tools are essential parts of this campaign. Besides, collaboration work with the drilling team for designing the most accurate cutting depth and developing the abandonment program is crucial to abandon the well safely and efficiently.

Finally, the abandonment campaign was successful with zero incidents allowing the drilling team to conduct the operation in the drilling re-entry wells campaign.
The Invention of a Predictor Plot for Evaluating the Response of the Compressive Strength of Geopolymer Cement to Changes in Temperature and Pressure
Authors: Zulkarnain Nurul Nazmin , Ab Hamid Afif Izwan , Sazali Yon Azwa , A Razak Ahmad Amirhilmi , Habarudin Mohd Firdaus
Published: October 2023

The design of cement must consider the potential influence of fluctuations in formation pressure and temperature within the wellbore. The possibility of geopolymer cement as an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is being considered in support of the Paris Agreement. However, previous research on geopolymer has focus on construction industry which the studies were conducted at atmospheric condition, hence limited study available that experimenting both pressure and temperature variation on the cement. Therefore, the current study aims to observe the flexibility of geopolymer cement for well application by conducting compressive strength test for cement that have been simulated at pressure range between 14.7 and 5000 psi and temperature between 60 and 120 °C.

The study involves two geopolymer cement formulations and cured for 24 hours at 15 different condition, which the mixing and curing according to American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice (API RP) 10B-2. The API compressive strength tester is used to perform the destructive compressive strength. The results are recorded and analysed using a 3D surface plot to observe the trend of compressive strength when exposed to various wellbore condition.

The research finding indicates that the compressive strength of the cement is notably influenced by temperatures, while it has been observed that the pressure does not exert any discernible influence on the enhancement of compressive strength in geopolymer cement. The impact of simulated pressure on cement compaction, which leads to densification, may not have a major effect on its strength compared to the influence of temperature, which primarily affects the chemical reactions within the cement structure.

The anticipated outcomes of the study are anticipated to offer novel perspectives that may enhance the efficacy of geopolymer cement within the context of oil and gas. It is recommended to create 3D plots of geopolymer cement at temperatures and pressures below 60°C and 2000 psi to observe the performance of cement in depleted wells, which are one of the focus CCUS well. The strength can be estimated prior to conduct other functional test such as, thickening time and fluid loss. However, the inclusion of other additives into the formulation might alter the trend, which several points need to validate prior to use the plot for the estimation. Further study recommended that the data from the current research to be combined with similar information from the previous analysis to strengthen the plot.
Fracture Gas Reservoir Drilling Campaign - Challenges and Lessons Learnt from Suban Field in Indonesia: Case Study Suban-X
Authors: Rismanda Jeff , Permana Budi R , Widyaningsih Ratih
Published: October 2023

Suban Field was discovered in 1972 and has been abandoned until 1998. The fracture reservoir has a characteristic high permeability compared to the matrix reservoir. This special characteristic is causing losses in drilling at the reservoir section. In the early drilling campaign (1972 – 2006), conventional drilling (loss and cured) was applied to overcome the challenge. However, this method has prolonged drilling time and caused high skin in terms of reservoir productivity. Since 2010 until now, Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) had been applied to optimize drilling time and resulted in less skin to have good reservoir productivity. During this period, there are some challenges in MPD application especially due to depleted reservoir pressure (~6 ppg EMW) forcing the engineering team to optimize the creative design that aligned with project optimization without jeopardizing the operation.

In the early stage of MPD drilling campaign, a downhole valve was installed as a mechanical wellbore isolation tool while tripping in/out when losses occur. The performance of downhole valve has been evaluated from the last 5 wells drilling campaign before drilling Suban-X well with a statistical evaluation showing 6 successful isolations out of 18 total attempts.

Some experiments were performed when the downhole valve was not closing properly on the last 3 wells during the Drilling and Completion campaign. The experiments were successful to suppress the gas by bull heading the well with a sufficient rate of water, periodical high viscosity sweep injection as a precaution for gas migration and having Dual Seal Element Adapter installed on Rotary Control Device (RCD).

Based on the above circumstances, prior to drill Suban-X in 2021, the decision was made to drill Suban-X well with MPD without downhole valve installed. The mitigation to overcome gas migration and suppress the gas was by preparing sufficient water from water pond at wellsite and establishing a water network to keep filling the water pond. As a result, the well was successfully drilled to TD safely without any issues. The innovation to eliminate the utilization of downhole valve provides cost-reduction for material and drilling time savings. This innovation was first implemented in Corridor Block and is currently being used as a basic template for future drilling campaigns.
Extending the Production Lifetime of Oil Well with Paraffin Problems Through Thermal Application of Mobile Steam Injection of Mature Field
Authors: Pratama Satria , Azhim Luthfan Nur , Suwitno Agus , Daniel Sofyan , Saputra Medyansah Eka , Susilo M. Danang , Imansyah Ali Ganjar , Sucipto _ , Kuncoro Anang Arie
Published: October 2023

Oil wells that produce crudes with high paraffin content usually lead to precipitation due to deposits forming near wellbore up to downhole equipment of artificial lift which potentially cause downhole problems resulting loss production opportunities. This paper presents success practical case from PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan Zona 4 in handling paraffin deposition in oil well producers with most widely used sucker rod pump as artificial lift without well services job.

Thermal treatment has been used in a number of paraffin deposition problems, steam injection is the one of method to overcome the deposits in well producers. Mobile Steam Injection (Steamject) is built by steam generator installed on the truck which has capability to produce steam from water which has adequate heat capacity to melt the paraffin deposits and the steam will be injected into annulus with temperature up to 250 oC. Flexibility of Mobile Steamject provides prompt action to remove the deposits from the well during the production phase.

Early detection of downhole problem such as plunger stuck was able to identified from dynacard card analysis. Once the problem is confirmed, Steamject will propagate the heat through annulus into well and downhole equipment to reduce restriction of pump volume displacement. After the steam was completely injected, production will start to continue while observing the production test result and re-run the dynacard analysis. Two promising advantages of Steamject are the deliverability and cost efficiency as implemented in Benakat Barat Operation Area. Based on practical case, Steamject can reduce the operation time up to 116 hours. Then, the faster the deliverability time, the lower operation cost.

Practical case presented in this paper about steam injection to overcome paraffin deposition provides lesson learned for operation excellences. Implementation of Mobile Steamject has opportunity in any mature field that needs flexible and low-cost solution of paraffin problems.
Fluid and Proppant Distribution and Fracture Geometry Calibration Using Permanent Fiber-Optic Sensing DAS/DTS – Oman Case Study
Authors: Shoaibi Sultan , Farsi Shaima , Suchta Bogdan , Persac Stephen , Wakwak Amr , Gorgi Sam
Published: October 2023

Objective/Scope

In the Sultanate of Oman, hydraulic fracturing technology is used to increase oil and gas production from low permeability reservoirs. To improve the efficiency of operations, operating companies aim to optimize the quality of information used for decision-making and therefore reduce cost. One tool to achieve the efficiency is to reduce the number of activities by combining multiple productive layers in a vertical well to be stimulated in a single fracturing treatment. This strategy, in turn, requires information as to what extent those intervals have been stimulated. Fiber-optic sensing technologies were deployed in a well to monitor the fluid/proppant transport through all the perforation clusters across the target reservoirs. The two technologies used were Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). This paper presents the deployment of fiber-optic sensing technologies in the Sultanate of Oman to determine fluid/proppant distribution during fracturing treatment when multiple formations are perforated and fractured. This paper provides the data obtained from fiber-optic sensing with the objective of quantifying clusters fluid and proppant distribution.

Methods/Procedures/Process

The fiber-optic systems deployments were installed outside the cemented casing in targeted well to understand current and to optimize future fracturing treatments in Oman. The acquired DAS/DTS data was processed in real time during fracture propagation and cleanup periods. A stimulation treatment was designed using a 3D hydraulic fracturing simulator, and the resulting fracture geometry was compared to that estimated from optical fiber. The DAS/DTS data was also analyzed in real time during treatment to determine cluster intake efficiency.

Results/Observations/Conclusions

Results of the DAS/DTS monitoring technology during hydraulic fracturing treatment have proven it as a viable technology for fracturing diagnostics. An excellent fluid/proppant distribution match was achieved between the simulator and DAS/DTS results, clearly demonstrating inequality in proppant distribution. Top perforations took approximately 75% of the injected fluid and proppant, leaving other perforated reservoirs unstimulated. This valuable information led to a vital decision that additional fracturing stages must be performed to effectively stimulate all reservoirs.

Novelty/Additive Information

The novel approach of incorporating results from DAS/DTS provided validation of the designed fracturing treatment. The DAS-acquired data indicated non-uniform proppant distribution across targeted reservoirs. A 3D simulator was used to calibrate the geological model based on DAS/DTS response.
Transient Pressure Interference during CO2 Injection in Saline Aquifers
Authors: Zeidouni Mehdi
Published: October 2023

CO2 injection in subsurface geological formations (e.g., deep saline aquifers) causes pressure perturbations over a large area surrounding the injection well. Observation wells are widely considered in geologic CO2 storage (GCS) projects where the pressure perturbation induced by CO2 injection is measured. In this work, we use analytical and numerical modeling tools along with field data to examine the pressure behavior in GCS projects before and after CO2 arrival at an observation well. Before CO2 arrival, a baseline pressure trend is established which corresponds to single-phase brine flow across the observation well (approximated by the Theis solution). Therefore, analysis of early time pressure data is straightforward, provides the single-phase flow characteristics (mobility and storativity), and helps in establishing a baseline pressure change that can be extended beyond the single-phase flow period at the observation well.

Upon CO2 arrival, a departure from this baseline trend is expected. For the pressure to detect the CO2 arrival at an observation well, the departure from baseline pressure behavior must be significant and well above the background noise levels. We use existing analytical models to determine the strength of the expected pressure departure signal from the baseline trend upon CO2 arrival. The strength of the expected pressure departure is found to be directly proportional to the change in the mobility upon CO2 arrival. Larger change in the flow mobility—compared with single-phase brine mobility—results in a stronger pressure departure signal. In addition, the departure is found to be upward (downward) from the baseline pressure trend when the mobility ratio is less (more) than unity. We present a pressure analysis approach through application to synthetic and field data and show the characteristic pressure behavior before and after CO2 arrival. We show that while generally the pressure can be either above or below the expected baseline pressure trend, it would be likely above the baseline upon CO2 arrival. This is because the mobility ratio becomes less than unity after CO2 arrival. We show that depending on the reservoir characteristics, changes in the pressure trend may or may not be sufficient to detect the CO2 arrival.
Multimodal Haptic Interaction with a Carbon Nanotube-based Tactile Oral Pad
Authors: Liu Xiaogang , Hou Bo , Yang Dingzhu , Ren Xiaoyuan , Yi Luying
Published: October 2023

Assistive wearable systems incorporating soft tactile sensors to transmit spatiotemporal touch patterns have become increasingly prevalent, particularly in biomedical robotics. Although these systems have shown promise in tasks such as typing and device operation, their ability to convert pressure patterns into specific control commands has been limited, resulting in less dexterity and intuitiveness than finger-operated electronic devices. Here, we report the fabrication of a tactile oral pad (oPad) equipped with a touch sensor array made of a carbon nanotube silicone composite. The tactile oPad can detect a broad range of strain, while also functioning as an electronic platform that can be manipulated by the tongue and teeth, resembling finger movement on a touchscreen. Combined with a recurrent neural network, we demonstrate the cooperative control of tongue sliding (below 50 kPa pressure) and teeth clicking (above 500 kPa pressure) for efficient typing, gaming, and wheelchair control. The lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective nature of this tactile oPad has potential to advance assistive devices, smart robots, and health monitoring technologies.
Unveiling the Molecular Networks Underlying Cellular Impairment in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Investigating the Effects of Magnesium oxide Nanoparticles on Cell Wall Integrity and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response
Authors: Chauhan Shraddha , Tomar Raghuvir Singh
Published: October 2023

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) are highly versatile and have been extensively utilized in diverse industrial and biomedical applications due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties. However, the potential harms to human health and the environment from their use continue to be of great trepidation. In this study, we delved deep into the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of MgO-NPs on the growth and viability of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our findings demonstrate that as the concentration of MgO-NPs increases, it leads to a dose-dependent reduction in the growth and viability of the yeast cells. We further investigated the underlying mechanisms of MgO-NP toxicity and found that it causes damage to the cell membrane, which in turn triggers an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. The response to ER stress involves an increase in the expression of genes that play a role in protein folding, maintaining protein quality, and removing misfolded proteins via ER-associated degradation (ERAD). In response to treatment with MgO-NPs, we observed the activation of the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway, it caused the activation of chitin production genes and an increase in the amount of chitin in the cells. These findings highlight the multifaceted detrimental nature of MgO-NPs, which involve the interplay of various molecular networks and signaling pathways.
Molecular and Phenotypic Characteristics of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome in Chinese Patients
Authors: shiyang Gao , Zhang Qianwen , Ding Yu , Wang Libo , Li Zhiying , Hu Feihan , Yao Ru-en , Yu Tingting , Chang Guoying , Wang Xiumin
Published: October 2023

Background
Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a type of non-motile ciliopathy. To date, 26 genes have been reported to be associated with BBS. However, BBS is genetically heterogeneous, with significant clinical overlap with other ciliopathies, which complicates diagnosis. Disability and mortality rates are high in BBS patients; therefore, it is urgent to improve our understanding of BBS. Thus, our study aimed to describe the genotypic and phenotypic spectra of BBS in China and to elucidate genotype-phenotype correlations.
Methods
Twenty Chinese patients diagnosed with BBS were enrolled in this study. We compared the phenotypes of Chinese BBS patients in this study with those from other countries to analyze the phenotypic differences across patients worldwide. In addition, genotype-phenotype correlations were described for our cohort. We also summarized all previously reported cases of BBS in Chinese patients (71 patients) and identified common and specific genetic variants in the Chinese population.
Results
Twenty-eight variants, of which 10 are novel, in 5 different BBS-associated genes were identified in 20 Chinese BBS patients.. By comparing the phenotypes of BBSome-coding genes (BBS2,7,9) with those of chaperonin-coding genes (BBS10,12), we found that patients with mutations in BBS10 and 12 had an earlier age of onset (1.10 Vs. 2.20, p < 0.01) and diagnosis (4.64 Vs. 13.17, p < 0.01), whereas patients with mutations in BBS2, 7, and 9 had a higher body mass index (28.35 Vs. 24.21, p < 0.05) and more vision problems (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in 91 Chinese BBS patients, mutations were predominant in BBS2 (28.89%) and BBS7 (15.56%), and the most frequent variants were in BBS2: c.534 + 1G > T (10/182 alleles) and BBS7: c.1002delT (7/182 alleles), marking a difference from the genotypic spectra of BBS reported abroad.
Conclusions
We recruited 20 Chinese patients with BBS for genetic and phenotypic analyses, and identified common clinical manifestations, pathogenic genes, and variants. We also described the phenotypic differences across patients worldwide and among different BBS-associated genes. This study involved the largest cohort of Chinese patients with BBS, and provides new insights into the distinctive clinical features of specific pathogenic variants.
RETRACTED: Sequential RAS mutations evaluation in cell-free DNA of patients with tissue RAS wild- type metastatic colorectal cancer: The PERSEIDA (Cohort 2) Study
Authors: Valladares-Ayerbes Manuel , Safont Maria José , Flores Encarnación González , García-Alfonso Pilar , Aranda Enrique , Muñoz Ana-Maria López , Ferrer Esther Falcó , Nogueras Luís Cirera , Rodríguez-Salas Nuria , Aparicio Jorge , Muñoz Marta Llanos , Cáceres Paola Patricia Pimentel , Trujillo Oscar Alfredo Castillo , Tocino Rosario Vidal , Fernández Mercedes Salgado , Salud-Salvia Antonieta , Sureda Bartomeu Massuti , Garcia-Carbonero Rocio , Conesa Maria Ángeles Vicente , Vila Ariadna Lloansí
Published: October 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Cephalometric and digital model analysis of Dentoskeletal effects of Infrazygomatic miniscrew vs. Essix- anchored Carriere Motion appliance for distalization of maxillary buccal segment: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ghozy Eglal Ahmed , Albelasy Nehal Fouad , Shamaa Marwa Sameh , El-Bialy Ahmed A.
Published: October 2023

Trial design: parallel.
Objective: To compare skeletally anchored Carriere Motion appliance (CMA) for distalization of the maxillary buccal segment vs. Essix anchored CMA.
Methods: Thirty-two class II malocclusion patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups. One group was treated with infrazygomatic (IZC) miniscrew- anchored CMA (IZCG) and the other group treated with Essix retainer- anchored CMA (EXG). Two lateral cephalograms and two digital models for upper and lower arches were taken for each patient: immediately before intervention and after distalization had been completed.
Results: Distalization period was not significantly different between the two groups. In contrast to EXG, IZCG showed insignificant difference in ANB, lower incisor proclination, and mesial movement of the lower first molar. There was significant rotation with distal movement of maxillary canine and first molar in both groups.
Conclusion: IZC anchored CMA could eliminate the side effects of class II elastics regarding lower incisor proclination, mesial movement lower molars with a more significant amount of distalization of the maxillary buccal segment but with significant molar rotation.
Trial registration: The ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System (PRS) has this RCT registered as (NCT05499221) on 12/08/2022.
Three-dimensional radiographic analysis of mandibular homonym premolars using cone beam computed tomography
Authors: Jin Hong , Wang Huiwen , Zhu Tingting , Wang Jingyan , Yang Lianfeng , Gu Peiyu , Leng Diya , Wu Daming
Published: October 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the three-dimensional radiographic characterizations of mandibular homonym premolars (MHPs) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Methods:CBCT images of 124 patients with MHPs were collected. The 3-dimensional radiographic characterizations of the MHPs were evaluated using NNT software, including the number, position, direction of torsion, bilateral symmetry, relationship to adjacent teeth and associated complications. The gender and age differences of these radiographic characterizations were analyzed.
Results:A total of 241 MHPs were found in the mandibular premolar regions. Most of the patients with MHPs were adolescent males (10~20 years). The majority type of MHPs was single (41.94%), and most of the MHPs were located lingually within the mandibular premolar regions. 66.94% of the MHPs were asymmetrically distributed.
Males were primarily asymmetrically distributed, whereas females were more symmetrically distributed, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The MHPs were mainly located on the lingual side of the mandibular basal bone (90.87%), and the torsion angle was predominant >45° (57.26%), the axial angle was dominant (29.84%), and the axial position was usually orthogonal (73.86%). Most of the patients had adjacent teeth affected by the MHPs (57.26%).
Conclusion: There were gender and age differences in the occurrence characteristics of MHPs. MHPs had certain 3-dimensional spatial positional distribution characteristics. CBCT can accurately analyze the radiographic characterizations of MHPs.
‘Perceptions of medical and dental students with regards to an effective medical teacher in the light of the rhetorical relational goal theory- A mixed method study.’
Authors: Masood Amna , Rafi Aisha
Published: October 2023

Background
The qualities of medical teachers in accordance to the Rhetorical and Relational goal theory have been aforementioned in literature several times. However, additional qualities have since evolved due to the ever changing field of medical education, which requires further exploration.
Methods
This was a convergent mixed method study in which the quantitative and qualitative strands were run concurrently at Shifa Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry, Islamabad. Quantitative tool was a pre-validated survey which was adopted after slight modification according to the local context. For the qualitative component, four focus groups were conducted, two each from Shifa colleges of medicine and dentistry respectively. Quantitative study sample included 212 students, while qualitative component included 24 students. Qualitative data was analyzed with the aid of NVivo software while the principles of thematic analysis were followed while quantitative results were analyzed by SPSS software. Once the results were obtained from both the data sets, integration was done by following the non-crossover horizontal mixed analysis as devised by Onwuegbuzie and meta-inferences were drawn accordingly.
Results
Results from the quantitative component concluded that students gave equal preferences to all qualities once given the necessity budget. However, clarity (rhetorical quality) was given the highest priority by the students once they were given the luxury budget while disclosureand assertiveness (relational qualities) were amongst the lowest rated qualities. In the qualitative findings however, there was a mix of opinions and a number of qualities from both the categories (rhetorical and relational) emerged; the students preferred their teachers having relational qualities like being open to communication, encouraging and empathetic. They also emphasized that teachers should be competent, knowledgeable and teach using interactive methods. Integration of results from both the paradigms however, showed convergence in two qualities, clarity and humorous while divergence in disclosure.
Conclusion
Individual findings from both the data sets revealed that the students in this study perceived that a good teacher should have a blend of both, relational and rhetorical qualities. However, after integration and meta-analysis, the students in our study exhibited a slightly greater preference for their teachers having rhetorical qualities as compared to relational ones. To add to the growing corpus of knowledge, further investigation into rhetorical and relational qualities is required by following a mixed method technique similar to this study.
Mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing interleukin-10 prevented allergic airway inflammation
Authors: Kuang Peng-Peng , Liu Xiao‑Qing , Li Chan-Gu , He Bi-Xin , Xie Ying-Chun , Wu Zi-Cong , Li Cheng-Lin , Deng Xiao-Hui , Fu Qing-Ling
Published: October 2023

Backgrounds:
Allergic airway inflammation is widely distributed worldwide and imposes a considerable burden on both society and affected individuals. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic advantages of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) overexpressed interleukin-10 (IL-10) for the treatment of allergic airway inflammation, as both IL-10 and MSCs possess immunosuppressive properties.
Methods
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were engineered to overexpress IL-10 by lentivirus transfection (designated as IL-10-MSCs). The MSCs and IL-10-MSCs were administrated intravenously to the mice induced as allergic inflammation using ovalbumin (OVA), and the features of allergic inflammation, including inflammatory cell infiltration, Th cells in lung and T helper 2 cells (Th2) cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were examined. MSCs and IL-10-MSCs were co-cultured with CD4+ T cells from patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), and the level of Th2 cells and the expression of corresponding type 2 cytokines were studied. RNA-sequence was employed to further probe the potential effects of MSCs and IL-10-MSCs on CD4+ T cells.
Results
Stable IL-10-MSCs were established and characterized as high expression of IL-10. IL-10-MSCs significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial goblet cell numbers in lung tissue of mice with allergic airway inflammation. Inflammatory cells and cytokine levels in BALF were also decreased after the administration of IL-10-MSCs. Moreover, IL-10-MSCs showed stronger capacity to inhibit the levels of Th2 after cocultured with CD4+ T cells from patients of AR. Furthermore, we found the lower levels of IL-5 and IL-13 for IL-10-MSCs treated CD4+ T cells, and the blockade of IL-10 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of IL-10-MSCs. We further reported the mRNA profiles for CD4+ T cells treated with IL-10-MSCs and MSCs, and in which IL-10 exerts an important role.
Conclusion
We identified that IL-10-MSCs showed good effects in the treatment of allergic airway inflammation, providing solid support for genetically engineered MSCs as a potential novel therapy for allergic airway inflammation.
Forces required to dynamize sliding screws in Gamma Nail and Selfdynamizable Internal Fixator
Authors: Mitkovic Milan M , Korunovic Nikola D , Milenkovic Sasa S , Stojiljkovic Predrag M , Manic Miodrag T , Trajanovic Miroslav D
Published: October 2023

Background: Single limb support phase of the gait-cycle in patients who are treated for a pertrochanteric fracture is characterized by transversal loads acting on the lag screw, tending to block its dynamization. If the simultaneous axial force overcomes transversal loads of the sliding screw, the dynamization can still occur.
Methods: Biomechanical investigation was performed for three types of dynamic implants: Gamma Nail, and two types of Selfdynamizable Internal Fixators (SIF) – SIF-7 (containing two 7 mm non-cannulated sliding screws), and SIF-10 (containing one 10 mm cannulated sliding screw). Contact surface between the stem and the sliding screws is larger in SIF implants then in Gamma Nail, as the stem of Gamma Nail is hollow. A special testing device was designed for this study to provide simultaneous application of a controlled sliding screws bending moment and a controlled transversal load on sliding screws (Qt) without using of weights. Using each of the implants, axial forces required to initiate sliding screws dynamization (Qa) were applied and measured using a tensile testing machine, for several values of sliding screws bending moment. Standard least-squares method was used to present the results through the linear regression model.
Results: Positive correlation between Qt and Qa was approved (p<0.05). While performing higher bending moments in all the tested implants, Qa was higher than it could be provided by the body weight. It was the highest in Gamma Nail, and the lowest in SIF-10.
Conclusions: A larger contact surface between a sliding screw and stem results in lower forces required to initiate dynamization of a sliding screw. Patients treated for a pertrochanteric fracture by a sliding screw internal fixation who have longer femoral neck or higher body weight could have different programme of early postoperative rehabilitation than lighter patients or patients with shorter femoral neck.
Phenotypic divergence between broiler and layer chicken lines is regulated at the molecular level during development
Authors: Contriciani Renata Erbert , Grade Carla Vermeulen Carvalho , Buzzatto-Leite Igor , Veiga Fernanda Cristina da , Ledur Mônica Corrêa , Alexandre Pamela Almeida , Reverter Antônio , Cesar Aline Silva Mello , Coutinho Luiz Lehmann , Alvares Lúcia Elvira
Published: October 2023

Background:
Understanding the molecular underpinnings of phenotypic variations is critical for enhancing poultry breeding programs. The Brazilian broiler (TT) and laying hen (CC) lines exhibit striking differences in body weight, growth potential, and muscle mass. Our work aimed to compare the global transcriptome of wing and pectoral tissues during the early development (days 2.5 to 3.5) of these chicken lines, unveiling disparities in gene expression and regulation linked to their postnatal traits.
Results:
Different and bona-fide transcriptomic profiles were identified for the compared lines. A similar number of up- and down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, considering the broiler line as a reference. Notably, a substantial proportion of these DEGs corresponds to LOCs, suggesting their chicken-specific nature. Upregulated DEGs displayed an enrichment of protease-encoding genes, whereas downregulated DEGs exhibited a prevalence of receptors and ligands. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that upregulated DEGs were mainly associated with hormone response, mitotic cell cycle, and metabolism. In contrast, downregulated DEGs were primarily linked to communication, signal transduction, cell differentiation, and nervous system development. Regulatory networks were constructed for the mitotic cell cycle and cell differentiation biological processes, as their contrasting roles may impact the development of distinct postnatal traits. Within the mitotic cell cycle network, key upregulated DEGs included CCND1 and HSP90, with central regulators being NF-κB subunits (RELA and REL) and NFATC2. The cell differentiation network comprises numerous DEGs encoding transcription factors (e.g., HOX genes), receptors, ligands, and histones, while the main regulatory hubs are CREB, AR and epigenetic modifiers. Clustering analyses highlighted PIK3CD as a central player within the differentiation network.
Conclusions:
The extensive genetic selection used to develop the Brazilian broiler and layer lines has profoundly altered their developmental transcriptomes. Specifically, in broilers, this alteration has led to increased cell proliferation and a delayed differentiation process, which may promote the subsequent enlargement of pectoral tissues during foetal and postnatal development. Our findings pave the way for future functional assays and improvement of targeted traits of economic interest in poultry.
Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Oman
Authors: AlAzri Zeinab , Aziza Alsawafi , Sanjay Jaju , Mohammad Al Qadire
Published: October 2023

Aim
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to potentially traumatic childhood events that can lead to long-term health problems. Many studies have explored the negative effects of ACEs on the physical and mental health of children and adults; however, such a study has never been conducted in Oman. The current study aimed to identify the prevalence of ACEs among the Omani population and determine the association between ACE aggregates and sociodemographic variables.
Method
This is a cross-sectional study with consecutive sampling that employs the Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire.
Results
A total of 1648 Omani adults participated in this study. Approximately 38.2% of them had undergone four or more ACEs, and 88% had undergone at least one ACE. The study found no significant association between ACE aggregates and sociodemographic variables.
Conclusion
ACEs are prevalent in Oman. More initiatives are needed to combat these events or reduce their potential negative consequences. Future studies must investigate the causes of the high prevalence of ACEs in Oman. Further interventional studies are advocated to establish the causes of ACEs and provide research-based solutions.
“An obedient wife never says "no" to her virtual god.” High fertility conceptions and barriers to contraceptive use among mothers of Southern Pakistan: a qualitative study
Authors: Ahmed Farooq , Malik Najma Iqbal , Akhtar Shamshad , Ullah Shahid , Ahmed Jam Bilal , Mansoor Taskeen , Shahid Muhammad , Tang Kun
Published: October 2023

Background: In this study, we explore the perceptions and practices of rural mothers about fertility and reproductive health and further examine the lack of preference for contraception and birth spacing in Southern Pakistan.
Methods: The qualitative data are collected from 15 healthcare providers and 20 mothers using semi-structured interviews.
Results: Our findings reveal that economic, religious, and ethnic barriers cause low birth spacing among mothers. The husband and his family control the women’s bodies because sociocultural constructs normalize this exploitation. In mothers' opinion, contraception brings side effects that are dangerous for women’s bodies. Poverty, masculinity, social disapproval of contraception and admiration for more male children are other significant factors behind high fertility. Some mothers state that they experience malnutrition soon after giving birth to their sons because more care from mothers is required. Frequent births and low-quality care cause low breastfeeding and hidden hunger. Engagement in economic activities, serving the husband and his family, domestic chores, and working in agricultural fields are the predominant reasons that overburden the lives of mothers.
Conclusions: The study urges a comprehensive understanding of sociocultural rationales and more natural ways of birth spacing instead of commercial solutions.
The Association of Sedentary Behavior with OSA: A Cross-Sectional Study from NHANES (2007-2008 to 2015-2020)
Authors: Cai song , Li SiYu , Zhou YaShi , Song JuKun , Peng JuXiang
Published: October 2023

Background
Sedentary behavior (SB) may contribute to obesity and lower extremity fluid retention, which may favor the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, linking sedentary behavior to OSA is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is an association between SB and OSA.
Methods
This secondary analysis included National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants (unweighted = 20,727). Weighted sample and multiple logistic regression complex sample analysis techniques were used in this study. Three typical questions for the assessment of OSA have been used in the NHANES questionnaire. A physical activity questionnaire was used to assess SB.
Results
After adjustment for confounders, participants with SB(> 8h/d) had a higher risk of OSA(OR = 1.247,95%CI(1.100-1.414),P = 0.001) compared to SB(0-4h/d). Stratified analysis by gender showed that there was no significant correlation of SB and OSA in men. However, in women, with SB(0-4h/d) as reference, participants with SB(> 8h/d) had a higher risk of OSA (OR = 1.443,95%CI(1.210–1.722),P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Analysis in this study showed a positive correlation between SB and OSA, more pronounced in women. To reduce the risk of OSA, a healthy lifestyle is recommended.
Modelling the risk of Japanese encephalitis virus in Victoria, Australia, using an expert-systems approach.
Authors: Lima Mariel Flores , Cotton Jacqueline , Marais Monique , Faggian Robert
Published: October 2023

Predictive models for vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are instrumental to understanding the potential geographic spread of VBDs and therefore serve as useful tools for public health decision-making. However, predicting the emergence of VBDs at the micro-, local, and regional levels presents challenges, as the importance of risk factors can vary depending on climatic factors and vector and host preferences. We propose an expert-systems-based approach that uses an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) deployed within a geographic information system (GIS), to predict areas susceptible to the risk of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) emergence. This modelling approach produces risk maps, identifying micro-level risk areas with the potential for disease emergence. The results revealed that climatic conditions, especially the minimum temperature and precipitation required for JEV transmission, contributed to high-risk conditions developed during January and March of 2022 in Victora. Compared to historical climate records, the risk of JEV emergence was increased in most parts of the state due to climate. Importantly, the model accurately predicted 7 out of the 8 local government areas that reported JEV-positive cases during the outbreak of 2022 in Victorian piggeries. This underscores the model’s potential as a reliable tool for supporting local risk assessments in the face of evolving climate change.
Structural Optimization Study of Stationary Shoulder Friction Stir Welding Head with Non-Rigid Support
Authors: Jin Taotao , Miao Pei , Qi Chuanyue , Cui Xiuhui
Published: October 2023

In order to improve the quality and efficiency of repairing the aluminum alloy wagon body of the railroad, a stir friction head structure suitable for welding repair of aluminum alloy wagon body is optimized when adopting stir friction welding technology. By analyzing the relationship between the stir welding friction head structure and the heat generation mechanism, an approximate stir friction head structure without moving shoulder is proposed. By analyzing the heat production model of the stir needle with stationary shaft shoulder, the functional relationship between the heat dissipation and the size of the stir needle and process parameters is determined, and the geometry of the stir needle is optimized. Simulation and experimental results show that when welding repair is performed using this optimized stir needle structure, the temperature field of the weld is uniformly distributed along the thickness direction of the weldment, which is conducive to the formation of good welded joints and welds. Practical application in the field shows that the optimized structure can solve the problems of insufficient top forging force and local stress concentration in the process of non-rigid support while ensuring heat production, greatly improving the success rate of welding, and the tensile strength of the weld seam and other indexes have reached a more satisfactory result; the optimization method used has a certain reference value, and it can be used as a reference for similar researches.