bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unleashing the Power of Beneficial Microorganisms for Advancing Crop Improvement: An In-depth Review
Authors: Ntsomboh Ntsefong Godswill , Mahbou Somo Toukam Gabriel , Tabi Mbi Kingsley , Essubalew Getachew Seyum , Yaouba Aoudou , Mohammad Ali Shariati , Kinge Tonjock Rosemary , Ngo Teke Gerald
Published: October 2023

This review article explores the significance of beneficial microorganisms in crop improvement, highlighting their roles in promoting plant growth, enhancing nutrient uptake, and protecting against pathogens. The symbiotic interactions between plants and microorganisms have been extensively studied, revealing the vast potential of these beneficial partnerships in sustainable agriculture. The article discusses various types of beneficial microorganisms, including mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobia, and plant growth-promoting bacteria, elucidating their mechanisms of action and their impact on plant health and productivity. Furthermore, it examines the application of microbial inoculants and biofertilizers in crop production systems, emphasizing their potential to enhance crop yield, nutrient use efficiency, and stress tolerance. The review also explores emerging technologies, such as metagenomics and synthetic biology, in harnessing the full potential of beneficial microorganisms for crop improvement. Overall, we highlight the importance of beneficial microorganisms in sustainable agriculture and provide insights into their promising applications in crop enhancement.
At the cross-road of cGAS-cGAMP-STING pathway and DNA damage response: implications for cancer progression and treatment
Authors: Korneenko Tatyana V. , Pestov Nikolay B. , Nevzorov Ivan A , Daks Alexandra A. , Solopova Olga N. , Trachuk Kirill N. , Barlev Nickolai A.
Published: October 2023

The evolutionary conserved STING-cGAS pathway represents one of the most important cytosolic DNA sensing systems that is activated in response to viral invasion and/or damaged integrity of the nuclear envelope. The key outcome of this pathway is the production of IFN, which subsequently stimulates hundreds of genes. In oncology, the situation is a complex one since this pathway may serve either anti- or pro-oncogenic roles in a context-dependent fashion. The prevailing understanding is that when the innate immune response is activated by sensing cytosolic DNA, such as from ruptured micronuclei, it results in the production of interferon which attracts cytotoxic cells to destroy tumors. However, in tumor cells that have adjusted to significant chromosomal instability, particularly in relapsed, treatment-resistant cancers, the cGAS–STING pathway often supports cancer progression. In these cells, the pathway initiates a non-canonical nuclear factor κB transcriptional response, fostering the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we review this intricate pathway in conjunction with cancer progression and development of new treatment modalities.
Using Ecological Momentary Assessments to Understand How Daily Fluctuations in Psychological States Impact Stress, Well-Being, and Health
Authors: Mengelkoch Summer , Moriarity Daniel P. , Novak Anne Marie , Snyder Michael P. , Slavich George M. , Lev-Ari Shahar
Published: October 2023

Despite great interest in how dynamic fluctuations in psychological states such as mood, social safety, energy, present-focused attention, and burnout impact stress, well-being, and health, most studies examining these constructs use retrospective assessments. Here, we discuss how ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) address methodological issues associated with retrospective reports, able to reveal dynamic associations between psychological states at small timescales that are often missed in stress and health research. In addition to helping researchers characterize daily and within-day fluctuations and temporal dynamics between different health-relevant processes, EMAs can elucidate mechanisms through which interventions reduce stress and enhance well-being. EMAs can also be used to identify changes that precede critical health events, which can in turn be used to inform the delivery of ecological momentary interventions (EMIs of just-in-time interventions) that prevent such events from occurring. To enable this work, this narrative review provides examples of scales and single-item questions used in EMA studies, makes concrete recommendations for researchers seeking to employ EMAs in their research, and discusses limitations of EMA methods. In doing so, we aim to encourage the use of these methods in research given that, when used carefully, EMA methods are well-poised to greatly advance our understanding of how intrapersonal dynamics affect stress levels, well-being, and human health.
Handheld Ultra-Fast duplex PCR assays and Lateral flow detection and identification of Leishmania parasites for cutaneous leishmanisis diagnosis
Authors: Bel Hadj Ali Insaf , Saadi Ben Aoun Yusr , Hammami Zeineb , Rhouma Oumayma , Chakroun Ahmed Sahbi , Guizani Ikram
Published: October 2023

: Early and accurate detection of infectious diseases is a key step for surveillance, epidemiology, and control, notably timely disease diagnosis, patient management and follow-up. In this study, we aimed to develop hand-held ultra-fast duplex PCR assays coupled to amplicon detection by lateral flow (LF) immunoassay to deliver a rapid, and simple molecular diagnostic test for con-comitant detection and identification of the main Leishmania parasites encountered in Tunisia and the Old World. We selected two DNA targets to amplify L. major/L. tropica and L. infantum/L. tropica group of species DNAs, respectively. We optimized the experimental conditions of a du-plex ultra-fast PCR. The amplification is performed by a portable Palm convection PCR machine within 18 min and the products are detected by a LF cassette within 10 minutes. The test allows the identification of the infecting species according to the position and number of test lines re-vealed. Tested on a selection of DNAs of representative Leishmania strains of the three studied species (N=37), the ultra-fast duplex PCR-LF showed consistent, stable, and reproducible results. The analytical limit of detection of the test was 0.4pg for L. major, 4pg for L. infantum and 40pg for L. tropica.
Response of Grassland Vegetation Growth to Drought in Inner Mongolia of China from 2002 to 2020
Authors: Zhao Anzhou , Xu Ruihao , Zou Lidong , Zhu Xiufang
Published: October 2023

Drought poses a significant environmental risk and can deeply affect the growth of grasslands. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the precise impact of varying levels of drought on grassland growth. To address this gap, we utilized several key indicators, including the Nor-malized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), the Global Or-biting Carbon Observatory-2 based Solar-induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (GOSIF), and the Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), in conjunction with drought indices (the Standardized Precip-itation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and the soil moisture (SM). Our study aimed to compre-hensively assess the consistency of spatio-temporal patterns in grassland vegetation and its re-sponsiveness to different drought levels in the Inner Mongolia region from 2002 to 2020. Results indicated that NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP in grassland vegetation across Inner Mongolia exhibited significant increasing trends from 2002 to 2020. Specifically, NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP all dis-played consistent spatial patterns, with 25.83%, 21.18%, 22.65% and 48.13% of the grassland area showing significant increases, respectively. Drought events, as described by SPEI and SM, in June 2007 to September 2007 and June 2017 to July 2017, were selected to evaluated the response of grassland vegetation to drought. The drought events of 2007 and 2017 resulted in reductions in NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP relative to multi-year average (2002-2020). GOSIF exhibited a more intense response to drought, suggesting that GOSIF may reflect the inhibition of water stress on grassland photosynthesis better than NDVI and EVI during drought in 2007 and 2017. The reduc-tions in NDVI, EVI, GOSIF and GPP in grassland increased significantly across different drought-levels, with the sharpest reductions observed during extreme drought. Under the severe and extreme drought events, the most substantial reductions in NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP were observed in the temperate steppe (TS). Moreover, the effects of different drought severity levels within the same grassland type varied, with the most significant reductions in NDVI, EVI, GOSIF and GPP observed during extreme drought. Our results provide new perspectives for developing and implementing effective strategies to address grassland carbon cycling management and climate change in Inner Mongolia.
Transcriptome Analysis and Metabolic Profiling Reveal the Key Regulatory Pathways in Drought Stress Responses and Recovery in Tomato
Authors: Shu Jinshuai , Zhang Lili , Liu Guiming , Wang Xiaoxuan , Liu Fuzhong , Zhang Ying , Chen Yuhui
Published: October 2023

Drought stress is a major abiotic factor affecting tomato production and fruit quality. However, the genes and metabolites associated with tomato responses to water deficiency and rehydration are poorly characterized. To identify the functional genes and key metabolic pathways underlying tomato responses to drought stress and recovery, drought-susceptible and drought-tolerant inbred lines underwent transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. A total of 332 drought-responsive and 491 rehydration-responsive core genes were robustly differentially expressed in both genotypes. The drought-responsive and rehydration-responsive genes were mainly related to photosynthesis–antenna proteins, nitrogen metabolism, plant–pathogen interactions, and the MAPK signaling pathway. Various transcription factors, including homeobox-leucine zipper protein ATHB-12, NAC transcription factor 29, and heat stress transcription factor A-6b-like, may be vital for tomato responses to the water status. Moreover, 24,30-dihydroxy-12(13)-enolupinol, caffeoyl hawthorn acid, adenosine 5′-monophosphate, and guanosine were the key metabolites identified in both genotypes under drought and recovery conditions. The combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis highlighted the importance of 38 genes involved in metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, biosynthesis of amino acids, and ABC transporters for tomato responses to water stress. Our results provide valuable clues regarding the molecular basis of drought tolerance and rehydration. The data presented herein may be relevant for genetically improving tomato to enhance drought tolerance.
Challenges of the Pig Farming Sector
Authors: Galnaitytė Aistė , Kriščiukaitienė Irena , Namiotko Virginia , Dabkienė Vida
Published: October 2023

Scientists, politicians, and practitioners are debating the current structure of pig farms in Lithuania, as medium and small farms have almost disappeared over the past decade. The debated problem is whether the revitalization of medium and small pig farms would sustainably contribute to self-sufficiency in pork? Therefore, this research aims to determine which farms in terms of size could be the most perspective. In order to achieve this aim the multi-criteria evaluation method TOPSIS was used. The economic, production and environmental indicators of Lithuanian pig farms and pig farming sector in Lithuania and selected EU countries: Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, and Denmark were analyzed in this research. The multi-criteria evaluation led to the conclusion that Danish pig farms were the best managed. Germany occupied the second place. The industrial large farms were found as dominated in those countries. Large pig farms (approximately two thousand sows) appeared most perspective in Lithuania: they took the first place in the years examined (2016–2021). The criterion estimate of their assessed indicators was much higher than of the medium (100 sows) and small (20 sows) farms. The main reasons: significantly higher labour productivity, lower cost, lower price, and better production indicators.
Main Carob Pathogens in the Mediterranean Basin: Current Knowledge and Outlook in Italy
Authors: Castello Ivana , Polizzi Giancarlo , Vitale Alessandro
Published: October 2023

Main pathogens affecting carob (Ceratonia siliqua) tree in the Mediterranean basin are described in this overview. The most widespread diseases periodically occurring on carob orchards are powdery mildew (Pseudoidium ceratoniae) and cercospora leaf spot (Pseudocercospora ceratoniae). The causal agents of so-called “black leaf spots” (e.g. Pestaliotiopsis, Phyllosticta and Septoria spp.) are responsible for similar symptoms to above mentioned foliar diseases but are reported on carob orchards with a negligible frequency. Likewise, canker and branch diebacks caused by fungal species belonging to Botryosphaeriaceae are almost never recorded. Among wood diseases that may compromise old or previously damaged carob specimens, “brown cubical heart rot” caused by Laetiporus sulphureus is the most widespread and recurrent issue; this pathogen is also well-known for edible fruit bodies that are also appreciated for pharmaceutical and industrial purposes. On the other hand, “white decays” caused by Fomes and Ganoderma species are less common and reported for the first time in this review. Like-gall protuberances on twigs at uncertain aetiology or tumours on branches associated to Rhyzobium radiobacter are described although these symptoms are seldom detected as it happens also for necrotic leaf spots caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. ciccaronei. A list of worldwide pathogens not yet recorded but at high-risk potential of introduction in Italian carob producing area is also provided. Finally, some concerns are addressed to new phytopathogenic fungi vectored by invasive Xylosandrus compactus ambrosia beetle. Comprehensively, all described pathogens could potentially in near future become limiting factors for carob production, because they could be favoured by high-density orchards, increasing global network of trade exchanges and high frequency through which extreme events of climate changes globally occur. Thus, symptoms and signs, causal agents, epidemiology and whenever applicable recommendations for disease prevention and management are provided in this review.
Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Cotet Camille , Alarcan Hugo , Herault Olivier , Corcia Philippe , Vourc'h Patrick , Andres Christian R , Blasco Hélène , Veyrat-Durebex Charlotte
Published: October 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common neurodegenerative motor neuron disease and remains misunderstood with difficult diagnosis and prognosis. The implication of the immune system is recognized in ALS pathophysiology, hence the interest in leucocytes count as lymphocytes and neutrophils. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has recently been used as a prognosis factor to assess the progression of ALS. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of the NLR during disease evolution in a French cohort of ALS patients and its relation with survival. Clinical parameters and NLR were collected in ALS patients followed at the University Hospital of Tours (France). ALS patients were subdivided into three groups in regard to their NLR value at inclusion: group 1 (NLR < 2); group 2 (NLR: 2-3); group 3 (NLR > 3). Comparison of qualitative and quantitative clinical and biological variables between NLR groups was performed. Then Cox-regressions were carried out to determine the association of NLR with survival. We observed a significant correlation of NLR with ALSFRS-r score (p<0.0001) and with vital forced capacity (p=0.0004) at inclusion. We observed that increased NLR at diagnosis is associated with decreased ALS patients’ survival.
Dynamic and Seasonal Distribution of Enteric Viruses in Surface and Well Water in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
Authors: Abid Islem , Blanco Albert , Al-Otaibi Nawal , Guix Susana , Costadreda Maria Isabel , Pinto Rosa Maria , Bosch Albert
Published: October 2023

Enteric viruses are the major cause of gastroenteritis and enteric hepatitis worldwide, but in some areas like Saudi Arabia little data is known about their presence in water sources. The available information from clinical samples is not enough to figure their actual prevalence. The aim of this study was to gather information for the first time in Saudi Arabia on the presence of Norovirus (NoV) genogroup GI and GII, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in water. For this purpose, thirteen monthly samples were collected in lake Wadi Hanifa and surrounding wells from December 2014 to November 2015. Viruses were detected and quantified by Real-time RT-qPCR. Despite HEV findings were anecdotic, our results highlight interesting behaviors of the other viruses. There was a higher prevalence of noroviruses in Wadi Hanifa samples than in well water samples (46.43% vs12.5% of NoV GI; 66.67% vs8.33% of NoV GII). On the contrary, similar levels of HAV positivity were observed (40.48% in surface water vs 43.06% in well water). Also, a strong influence of flooding events on HAV and NoV GI occurrence was observed in both surface and well water samples, being NoV GII apparently not affected.
Deep Learning-based Prediction of Stress and Strain Maps in Arterial Walls for Improved Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Authors: Shokrollahi Yasin , Dong Pengfei , Li Xianqi , Gu Linxia
Published: October 2023

Conducting computational stress-strain analysis using finite element methods (FEM) is a common approach when dealing with the complex geometries of atherosclerosis, which is a leading cause of global mortality and complex cardiovascular disease. The considerable expense linked to FEM analysis encourages the substitution of FEM with a considerably faster data-driven machine learning (ML) approach. This study investigated the potential of end-to-end deep learning tools as a more effective substitute for FEM in predicting stress-strain fields within 2D cross sections of arterial wall. We first proposed a U-Net based fully convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict the von Mises stress and strain distribution based on the spatial arrangement of calcification within arterial wall cross-sections. Further, we developed a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) to enhance, particularly from the perceptual perspective, the prediction accuracy of stress and strain field maps for arterial walls with various calcification quantities and spatial configurations. On top of U-Net and cGAN, we also proposed their ensemble approaches to further improve the prediction accuracy of field maps. Our dataset, consisting of input and output images, was generated by implementing boundary conditions and extracting stress-strain field maps. The trained U-Net models can accurately predict von Mises stress and strain fields, with structural similarity index scores (SSIM) of 0.854 and 0.830 and mean squared errors of 0.017 and 0.018 for stress and strain, respectively, on a reserved test set. Meanwhile, the cGAN models in a combination of ensemble and transfer learning techniques demonstrate high accuracy in predicting von Mises stress and strain fields, as evidenced by SSIM scores of 0.890 for stress and 0.803 for strain. Additionally, mean squared errors of 0.008 for stress and 0.017 for strain further support the model's performance on a designated test set. Overall, this study developed a surrogate model for finite element analysis, which can accurately and efficiently predict stress-strain fields of arterial walls regardless of complex geometries and boundary conditions.
From Global Warming to Global “Boiling” – UN Secretary General
Authors:   Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Neurospinal & Medical Institute, Karachi, Pakistan., Kamal Shahid
Published: October 2023

The steady increase in average global temperatures, both on land and sea, coupled with an increasing frequency of extreme weather events is not only endangering ecosystems but now even threatening plants and animal species. Shrinking glaciers, dry spells, heat waves and forest fires compounded by ever increasing greenhouse gases synergistically escalate the problem. A 0.1°, 0.5°, 1.5° or 2°C rise in temperature may have profound effects. A half a degree or even a few tenths of a degree change may have a dramatic impact – causing dire water shortages, flooding and heat waves. Polar ice caps and coral reefs may be severely impacted by even a 0.5° C rise [1]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that unparalleled climate changes caused by human activity has increased the planet’s temperature by 1.1°C [1].
The Relationship between the Severity of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Levels of Vitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone
Authors:   Department of Radiology, Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Bolu, Turkey., Cosgun Zeliha , Dagistan Yasar ,   Department of Neurosurgery, Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Bolu, Turkey., Dagistan Emine ,   Department of Radiology, Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Bolu, Turkey., Kalfaoglu Melike Elif ,   Department of Radiology, Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Bolu, Turkey., Cicek Caner ,   Department of Neurosurgery, Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Bolu, Turkey
Published: October 2023

Background: It is known that parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D have a wide variety of effects on bone metabolism. However, the levels of PTH and vitamin D in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) have not been adequately investigated in the literature. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between PTH and vitamin D levels and the severity of stenosis in patients with LSS. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study included consecutive patients who presented to the Neurosurgery outpatient clinic with chronic leg pain and low back pain and were diagnosed with LSS between January 2019 and July 2022. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their vitamin D and parathyroid hormone status. Group 1: High parathyroid hormone and Low vitamin D levels; Group 2: Normal parathyroid hormone and low vitamin D levels; Group 3: Normal parathyroid hormone and vitamin D levels. There were 17 (37%), 10(22%), and 19(41%) subjects in groups I, II, and III, respectively. Results: The mean age of the groups with a total of 46 patients I, II and III were 62.2±11, 58.3±6, and 63.2±6.4 years, respectively (p=0.553). Sex of the study groups was not statistically different, either (p=0.079). Spinal canal AP diameter (p=0.002) and ligamentous interfacet distance (p=0.008) were significantly different in study groups. Vitamin D positively correlated with Spinal canal AP diameter (r=0.56, p<0.001) and ligamentous interfacet distance (r=0.51, p=0.003), while PTH was inversely correlated with them (r=-0.33, p=0.020), ( r=-0.47, p=0.007) . Conclusion: Vitamin D is significantly correlated with the diameters of spinal canal AP and ligamentous interfacet distance. PTH is negatively correlated with the diameters of spinal canal AP and ligamentous interfacet distance. Keywords: Lumbar spinal stenosis, Vitamin D, Parathyroid hormone, Neurogenic claudication, Low back pain, Ligamentous interfacet distance.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Orthodontic Practitioners and their Practice in Pakistan
Authors:   Department of Orthodontics, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Shaukat Yusra , Ayman Um-e- ,   Department of Orthodontics, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Zia Afeef Umar ,   Department of Orthodontics, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Arshad Hafiz Muhammad Talha ,   Department of Orthodontics, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Published: October 2023

Background: The Coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing coronavirus disease epidemic that had a profound effect on the healthcare system. When the epidemic first spread widely in Pakistan in March 2020, many dental offices went on an emergency-only closure schedule. Changes were evident even after they reopened. Objective: Primary objectives were to ascertain the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on Orthodontic practitioners and their practice in Pakistan; how their psychological and financial well-being was affected, and to bring light to the perception of Orthodontists regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on future of Orthodontists. Secondary objectives were to see if there was any difference in impact between male and female participants and Orthodontic Consultants and Orthodontic Residents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the Orthodontic community of Pakistan. It included 183 participants which comprised 41 Orthodontists and 142 Orthodontic Residents. A self-administered online questionnaire (Google forms) was circulated. Chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables. P value less than or equal to 0.05 was considered significant. Results: This study showed that 80% of the participants stopped their Orthodontic practice during the lockdown period. The majority of the practitioners had a negative impact on their psychological well-being. A significant difference was noted between male and female professionals’ responses(p=0.021). Most of the residents reported having a negative impact on their training as well. Conclusion: The need for more training programs for infection control cannot be emphasized enough to prevent all the adverse effects caused by such outbreaks. Keywords: COVID-19, Orthodontists, Impact, Well-being, Practice, Infection.
Managed Pressure Drilling for Highly Depleted HPHT Reservoir with Potential Depletion More Than 600 Bar – Kvitebjørn Field Experience
Authors: Paulus Steven Leonardus , Murray Ross , Molde Dag Ove , Hammer Raymond
Published: October 2023

Kvitebjørn is a gas and condensate field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea which was discovered in 1994. Kvitebjørn produces from Middle Jurassic sandstone in the Brent Group with secondary reservoirs on the Lower Jurassic Cook formation and Upper Triassic Statfjord group. The reservoirs lie at a depth of 4000 mTVD-RKB (meter True Vertical Depth – Rotary Kelly Bushing) with initial HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) conditions.

Due to production, the reservoir pressure has depleted significantly which has resulted in large reduction of formation strength (fracture gradient) in the depleted sands. The subsurface challenge is the pressure uncertainty spanning from full depletion to initial pressure. Depletion and initial pressure existed within the Brent group reservoir, resulting in no drilling window. The use of MPD-RAS-TTRD (Managed Pressure Drilling – Rig Assist Snubbing - Through Tubing Rotary Drilling) with WSM (Wellbore Strengthening Materials) and customized BHA (bottom hole assembly) were used to ensure 2x barriers could be always maintained if losses and crossflow observed (loss of fluid as primary barrier) while drilling and completing Brent reservoir. In this setup, the upper completion and production packer is installed prior to drilling the reservoir section. It allows stripping in and out of the hole with the BHA in a loss / crossflow event.

The MPD-RAS-TTRD experience provided better understanding of risk and consequences when drilling the Kvitebjørn depleted reservoir. The improved understanding was used to evaluate a different drilling strategy to access the deeper Statfjord group reservoir targets by utilizing MPD, WSM and customized BHA, without the RAS-TTRD.

This paper serves as an experience sharing of drilling strategies which enables a stepwise approach in understanding the risk of drilling highly depleted HPHT reservoirs. Showcasing drilling opportunities and risk in mature HPHT fields with complex subsurface and severe depletion challenges with a combination of depleted pressure below 300 bar / 4351 psi and initial pressure of 775 bar / 11240 psi. To date, the highest differential pressure between wellbore and formation that had been documented were 540 bar / 7832 psi, measured with Formation Pressure While Drilling (FPWD) tool; 660 bar / 9572 psi estimated based on nearby well data because the depleted pore pressure is lower than the maximum drawdown of the FPWD tool. Therefore, it can't be measured.
MPD Approach to Completion String Design and Run Enabled Operator to Successfully Complete Wells in Highly-Unstable Formations Offshore West Africa
Authors: Borges S. , Al-Hashmy W.
Published: October 2023

Extending the MPD engineering analysis into lower-completion string designs in addition to the MPD approach during drilling operations has proven critical in mitigating operational challenges in a multi-well campaign offshore Ivory Coast. This location is known for depleted reservoirs and highly unstable formations which result in tripping, casing and completions runs to be very challenging when using a conventional approach.

The use of MPD concepts, techniques and equipment allowed for the prediction of maximum tripping speeds and expected bottomhole pressures by conducting detailed surge analyses before designing and running the lower-completions string. Rigorous hydraulic simulations were run, detailing lower-completions string assemblies with over 200 components as well as incorporating open hole caliper logs to model well pressure outcomes as accurately as possible. These results were critical in facilitating the decision-making of completion string designs and their running parameters. Additionally, the wells were drilled with a combination of a lower mud density and MPD equipment which contributed to a well-defined drilling pressure window.

This novel approach of MPD incorporation into completions design was implemented in four wells successfully, has saved cost and time, and with zero non-productive time compared to wells where an MPD approach was not used to design and run completion strings, and proven key to successfully drill and complete wells in the region.
Benefits of Continuous Circulation Technology Focusing on Non-Productive Time (NPT) Reduction in Offshore Drilling Operations
Authors: Ciuca A. , Pollini E. M. , Gibilterra V. , Poletti N. , Vieira L. Pinto , Orlando L. , Salicante P.
Published: October 2023

Proved advantages of continuous circulation are the improvements on hole cleaning and solids transport. Maintaining constant bottomhole pressure, stuck pipe incidents and ballooning effects are reduced and formation with narrow margin between pore and fracture pressure are drillable.

Focus of the study is the time evaluation and comparison between offshore wells drilled with standard methods and applying continuous circulation technique, to highlight the Non-Productive Time (NPT) reduction.

Starting point are data of NPT and total duration for offshore activities related to intermediate and production phases, performed between 2018 and 2022. The Integrated Drilling Data Discovery (ID3) system is the software used for retrieving the data.

The classes of NPT selected for the analysis are related to the effect of the usage of continuous circulation devices on wellbore conditions and on geological problems, such as fluid influx, sticking, circulation losses.

The additional benefits highlighted by the study are that the wide application of continuous circulation on offshore operations leads to improve safety and wellbore quality, whilst decreases the NPT and improves the results in term of Time and Cost saving.

The considered amount of data regarding several well configurations, from different geographical areas, targeting different geological environments, provides a reliable outcome that suggests investigating potential further applications.
Class II Saltwater Disposal Well Completions in Open and Cased Hole: Which is Better and why?
Authors: Myers R. R. , Jacot R. H.
Published: October 2023

The scope of this paper is to use publicly and privately sourced data to compare openhole versus cased hole completion techniques and injection results in select Ohio Class II saltwater injection wells (SWIW). The vast majority of the SWIWs drilled in Ohio the past 10 years have been completed openhole, typically by drilling to total depth and then carefully selecting a large diameter greater than 7-inch casing shoe depth and cementing casing above the Cambrian-Ordovician age reservoirs. That allows for 1,000 feet plus of openhole and multiple targets for injection. There have been successful cased hole completions. Cased hole completions open the door to an operator’s ability to stimulate multiple injection zones more effectively than in an openhole using a non-selective stimulation of a long interval.

A large public oil & gas well database was used to gather data for an ‘area of interest’. A private company offered greater operational details and testing information to assist in the evaluation of which completion technique is most effective for large volume fluid injection. Hall Plots were generated to compare openhole and cased hole SWIWs, but will not be the focus of this paper. A review of physical reservoir properties and fracture modeling were used to estimate three-dimensional stimulation or frac geometries and to approximate radial or linear saltwater travel over the life of a disposal well.

This paper will attempt to answer several questions. Was the result of the cased hole completion better than previous offset well’s openhole completion. How could results be improved over what procedures were done? What was the pressure response of the openhole and cased hole injections following stimulation? Finally, a comparison of well costs and economics was done to evaluate and make recommendations about improving injectivity, and when to consider remedial treatments.
Characterization and Learnings of Far Field Fracture Propagation in the Marcellus Shale Using Aggregated LF-DAS Datasets
Authors: Roberts N. , Van Buskirk P. , Murphy D. , Byrd D.
Published: October 2023

Economic optimal recovery of hydrocarbons from unconventional reservoirs requires consistent and sufficient stimulation energy across an entire drill spacing unit (DSU), both along laterals and between them. This necessitates an understanding of how and why fractures propagate away from the treatment well. While legacy methods such as Distributed Acoustic and Temperature Surveys (DAS/DTS), pressure responses, logging/imaging has allowed us to investigate the point of stimulation origination, analyzing Low Frequency Distributed Acoustic Sensing (LF-DAS) gives us unique insights into far field fracture behavior. This paper aggregates several existing LF-DAS datasets in the Marcellus as well as the most representative log data available to draw conclusions on the impacts of geology, completion test parameters, stage and well frac order, frac design and materials, lateral placement, and many other influence factors on far field fracture behavior. Both statistical analysis and data visualization of these datasets independently and in aggregate was used to identify numeric as well as engineer-based observations and conclusions. By using these two methods, correlations between influence factors and far field fracture behavior are identified and quantified, and a level of variability is demonstrated for the Marcellus as well as some specific sub-plays. The analysis presented identifies controllable parameters to adjust as well as uncontrollable parameters that must be designed around to achieve stimulation goals. Also included is a description of where additional data collection is required to improve certainty and robustness of the analysis. Aggregated analysis on cross well far field fracture behavior has not previously been performed for Marcellus. This paper displays multi-project trends that were previously unidentified allowing the opportunity to design future tests around and confirm or challenge existing theories and conclusions. Previously non discussed fracture behaviors in the dataset are also described and addressed.
Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Optimization Using Machine Learning Approach: A Case Study of Marcellus Shale
Authors: Johar A. , Fathi E. , Adenan M. F. , Belyadi F.
Published: October 2023

Friction reducer (FR) is a chemical additive utilized in hydraulic fracturing operations to minimize friction between the fracturing fluid and the wellbore walls. Its purpose is to overcome tubular drag during high-flow-rate pumping in stimulation treatments. In recent years, there has been a growing preference in the oil and gas industry for high viscosity friction reducers (HVFRs) in fracturing fluids due to their operational and economic benefits. While slick water fracturing fluids contain low concentrations of friction reducers, the concentration of FR used in shale gas reservoirs typically ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 gallons per thousand gallons (gpt). However, the optimal FR concentration for each stage has not been extensively studied. As a result, many oil and gas companies tend to use higher FR concentrations than necessary as a precautionary measure to achieve the desired injection rate and prevent screen out. Unfortunately, this practice leads to excessive FR usage during stimulation treatments, resulting in significant economic losses.

The primary objective of this study is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the performance of the Hydraulic Fracturing Friction Reducer used in the completion of six horizontal Marcellus Shale wells. To achieve this, the data collected from wells drilled and completed in Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) project (Boggess pad) with over 340 hydraulic fracturing stages will be evaluated using different Machine Learning (ML) techniques. This study was conducted in three phases, employing a range of machine learning techniques to develop the optimal model for predicting surface treating pressure during hydraulic fracturing and use that to optimize the FR concentration. In phase 1, utilizing data from stage 1 of Boggess 1H, XGBoost emerged as the best-performing model, demonstrating high accuracy in predicting surface treating pressure. In phase 2, when deploying the same model on all other stages of Boggess 1H, promising results were observed. However, phase 3 revealed that extending the model to other adjacent wells resulted in unsatisfactory results, highlighting the necessity for new and distinct models tailored to each individual well.
Laboratory Investigation of Regained Rock Permeability Using High Viscosity Friction Reducer in Comparison to Linear Guar Fracture Fluids
Authors: Biheri Ghith , Imqam Abdulmohsin
Published: October 2023

Hydraulic fracturing is a method employed for extracting oil and gas from unconventional reservoirs by pumping a mixture of water, sand, and additives into the reservoirs to fracture oil formations. A high viscosity friction reducer (HVFR) based on polyacrylamide is a popular chemical that has been employed recently during hydraulic fracturing treatments to help transport proppant and to reduce friction. However, the use of HVFRs at high concentrations, especially in regions with high concentration levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), has raised concerns over the possibility of formation damage. In this research, a new type of HVFR was investigated for its capacity to damage a formation utilizing various total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations of Marcellus produced water (i.e., 22.9k [10%], 114.5k [50%] and 229k ppm [100%]) at a reservoir temperature of 65.5°C (150°F). The effect of the HVFR on the formation damage was assessed using various HVFR concentrations (i.e., 2, 4, and 8 gpt). For comparison, linear guar was utilized at different concentrations (i.e., 15, 25, and 35 ppt) under identical conditions. In addition, the study investigated the efficacy of several breaker types (i.e., ammonium persulfate [APS], sodium bromate [SB], and sodium persulfate [SPS]) in eliminating fracture fluid and reducing formation damage. This study aimed to optimize the design of hydraulic fracturing operations by evaluating the potential for formation damage caused by a high viscosity friction reducer (HVFR) and analyzing the ability of different breaker types to remove the HVFR after its use.
The impact of DNA methylation as a factor of Adverse Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes (APBOs): A Systematic review protocol.
Authors: Moagi Innocent , Mabasa Lawrence , Maputle Sonto Maria , Ndwandwe Duduzile , Raliphaswa Ndidzulafhi Selina , Netshikweta Lizzy Mutshinyalo , Malwela Thivhulawi , Samie Amidou
Published: October 2023

Background
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation is one the epigenetic modifications which has gain a lot of interest as a factor influencing fetal programming and as a biomarker for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes (APBOs). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that DNA methylation can result in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes (APBOs) including miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), low birth weight (LBW), sepsis as well as preterm birth (PB), which may later result in diseases in adulthood. However, the mechanism at which DNA methylation influences these APBOs remain unclear. The systematic review will assess the association between global and gene specific DNA methylation with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Method
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocol (PRISMA-P) 2015 checklist will be followed when conducting this systematic review. To develop the search strategy the PECOS (population, exposure, comparator/control, outcome, and study designs) framework will be followed. A systematic search will be conducted on electronic databases such as Cochrane library, PubMed, as well as MEDLINE. For identification of unpublished studies in journals indexed in electronic databases, Google Scholar will be used. Two reviewers will separately extract data from the articles and screen them, if there are any disagreements between reviewer one and two, then the third reviewer will resolve them. The methodological quality and bias risk of the included studies will be evaluated using Critical Appraisal Skill Programme CASP) checklist. \({I}^{2}\) and \({X}^{2}\) alpha = 0.10 statistic will be used for assessing statistical heterogeneity between studies. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to assess and grade the overall quality of extracted data.
Discussion
The systematic review will assess available literature on possible associations between DNA methylation with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes (APBOs) including LBW, IUGR, miscarriage, sepsis and PB. The findings could help guide future research assessing DNA methylation and other APBOs.
PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022370647
Crop yield prediction using deep learning algorithm based on CNN-LSTM with Attention Layer and Skip Connection
Authors: Dharwadkar Nagaraj V , Kalmani Vijay H. , Thapa Vijay
Published: October 2023

Accurate prediction of crop production is of utmost importance in the agricultural sector, as it allows farmers and decision-makers to plan and optimize their resources effectively. Numerous factors, including weather conditions, soil moisture, and temperature, have a direct impact on crop yield. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a hybrid model that combines 1D CNN and LSTMwith an attention layer, aiming to provide precise crop production forecasting. The study targets on the prediction of two frequently cultivated crops in India, namely wheat and rice. These crops were chosen due to their significant contribution to the agricultural landscape of the country. Different modification were donein CNN-LSTM to achieve the higher accuracy and at last CNN-LSTM multi-head attention with multiplication skip connection was modified. The suggested hybrid model was compared to conventional machine learning methods in order to assess its efficiency, including Support Vector Regressor, Decision Tree Regressor, and Random Forest Regressor. The experiments’ findings illustrate how the modified hybrid model outperforms other models and previous studies, achieving impressive performance metrics. The RMSE value of 0.017 indicates the small margin of error in the predicted crop production. The MAE value of 0.09 further emphasizes the accuracy of the model’s predictions. Additionally, the achieved R2 value of 0.967 signifies a high level of correlation between the predicted and actual crop production
Personalized Functional Network Mapping for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Wang Jiaojian , Zhang Jiang , Zhang Zhiwei , Qin Tianwei , Yu Xiaohui , Su Jing , Ma Yingzi , Yang Jia , Chen Kexuan , Zhao Tianyu , Zhang Jingyue , Chu Congying
Published: October 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two typical neurodevelopmental disorders having a long-term impact on physical and mental health. ASD is usually comorbid with ADHD and thus shares highly overlapping clinical symptoms. Delineating the share and distinct neurophysiological profiles is important to uncover the neurobiological mechanisms to guide better therapy. In this study, we aimed to establish the behaviors, functional connectome, and network properties differences between ASD, ADHD-Combined, and ADHD-Inattentive using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We used non-negative matrix fraction method to define personalized large-scale functional networks for each participant. The individual large-scale functional network connectivity (FNC) and graph-theory based complex network analyses were executed and identified shared and disorder-specific differences in FNCs and network attributes. In addition, edge-wise functional connectivity analysis revealed abnormal edge co-fluctuation amplitude and number of transitions among different groups. Taken together, our study revealed disorder-specific and -shared regional and edge-wise functional connectivity and network differences for ASD and ADHD using individual-level functional network mapping approach, which provides new evidence for the brain functional abnormalities in ASD and ADHD and facilitate understanding the neurobiological basis for both disorders.
Topological state transitions in electromagnetic topological defects
Authors: Shi Peng , Gou Xinxin , Zhang Qiang , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: October 2023

The recent emergence of electromagnetic topological defects has attracted wide interest in fields from topological photonics to deep-subwavelength light-mater interactions. Previously, much of the research has focused on constructing specific topological defects but the fundamental theory describing the physical mechanisms underlying their formation and transitions is lacking. Here, we present a spin–orbit coupling based theory describing such mechanisms for various configurations of spin topological defects in confined electromagnetic fields. The results reveal that their formation originates from the conservation of total angular momentum and that their transitions are determined by anisotropic spin–orbit couplings. By engineering the spin–orbit couplings, we observe the formation and transitions of Neél-type, twisted-type, and Bloch-type spin topological defects in confined electromagnetic fields. A stable Block-type spin topological defect is reported for the first time. Our theory can also describe the transitions of field topological defects. The findings enrich the portfolio of electromagnetic topological defects, deepen our understanding of conserved laws, spin–orbit couplings and transitions of topological defects in confined electromagnetic systems, and predict applications in high-density optical data transmissions and chiral quantum optics.