bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Recovery: Managing Risk, Uncertainty, and Complexity
Authors: Ben-Naceur Kamel
Published: March 2022

I was invited to chair an executive panel related to best practices in oil megaprojects at the 2021 World Petroleum Congress in Houston in December. There were outstanding presentations by Petrobras, Equinor, and Chevron related to developing very complex projects in challenging surface and subsurface environments with the required quality and in line with initial cost estimates. Technological evolutions in our industry have allowed such an achievement, which makes me proud to belong to this industry.

If I were to characterize the skills that differentiate our oil and gas professionals from most other industries, I would highlight our knowledge of subsurface sciences and the ability to manage large-scale projects that are complex and have significant risks associated with them. The latter refers to a significant deviation from the planned/expected performance of the project due to various factors.

SPE has developed over the years several initiatives related to risk management. They span most of the technical disciplines, in particular the Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability, and the Management disciplines. Among the latest resources is the Human Factors Technical Section, which has done an outstanding job to deliver valuable information on how to mitigate risks associated with human factors, especially in the case of complex decisions with short-time response required. With the expanding use of artificial intelligence in our operations, there will be more involvement of the Data Science and Engineering Analytics discipline. Other resources include publications about decision analysis, and in particular, the books Making Good Decisions, Introduction to Petroleum Economics, and the still very useful Decision Analysis in E&P.

A particular type of risk that our industry faces is the challenging economic environment that has resulted in shorter industry cycles associated with an increased impact on activity (hence employment) in the oil and gas sectors. The activity drop in 2014–2016 led to a decrease of more than 25% in upstream investments, followed by another even larger (30%) decline in 2020. In fewer than 5 years, the upstream sector has seen investments nearly halved.

I highlighted in a previous column that the 2022 recovery would depend on the emergence of new variants of COVID-19. The emergence of the Omicron variant and the speed at which it is spreading around the world, with limitations imposed on international travel, has led to new daily cases reaching a (conservative) figure of 3 million daily worldwide. Thankfully, it seems that the severity of the cases is lower than with previous variants such as Delta.
Integrated Hydraulics-Modeling Platform Automates Managed-Pressure Drilling
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: March 2022

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper IPTC 19671, “Integrated Hydraulics Modeling for Managed-Pressure Drilling,” by Sayamik A. Rostami, Jose Brana, and Thomas Koithan, SPE, Weatherford. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2021 International Petroleum Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission.

Technologies aimed at better performance and lower cost are more important to the oil and gas industry than ever. This emphasis drives hardware manufacturers to innovate quickly and create devices with more capabilities so that what was impossible a few short years ago is reality today. In the complete paper, the authors describe a platform that integrates advanced data analytics and hydraulic modeling in real time, coupled with cybersecurity features applied through an open-platform communications unified-architecture protocol directed at automation controllers for managed-pressure-drilling (MPD) applications.

MPD Control System

An intelligent MPD system automatically controls all the components of an MPD system, including a rotating control device, annular isolation device, flow spool, buffer manifold, choke manifold, and pressure-relief valves. Aside from communicating with and controlling this equipment, such a system is able to communicate with the overarching rig-control system. The system uses the control capabilities of a centralized programmable automation controller with an integrated human/machine-interface screen. Another advantage of the intelligent MPD system is the built-in functionality to track the performance of the system in terms of performance and health through component monitoring to enable condition-based maintenance (CBM).
Finite-Volume Method Enables Simulation of Induced Seismicity
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: March 2022

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 203903, “A Collocated Finite-Volume Scheme for High-Performance Simulation of Induced Seismicity in Geoenergy Applications,” by A. Novikov, D.V. Voskov, SPE, and M. Khait, SPE, Delft University of Technology, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

In the complete paper, the authors develop a collocated finite-volume method (FVM) to study induced seismicity as a result of pore-pressure fluctuations. A discrete system is obtained based on a fully implicit coupled description of flow, elastic deformation, and contact mechanics at fault surfaces on a fully unstructured mesh. The cell-centered collocated scheme leads to convenient integration of the different physical equations because the unknowns share the same discrete locations on the mesh. Additionally, a multipoint flux approximation is formulated in a general procedure to treat heterogeneity, anisotropy, and cross-derivative terms for both flow and mechanics equations.

Introduction

The FVM has become an essential tool for flow and transport simulation because of its local conservation property. For mechanical deformation, however, the conservation property does not have the same importance. Nonetheless, the FVM is still an attractive choice because it represents conservation laws in integral form more naturally.

Some authors in the literature use fixed-stress splitting algorithms to decouple mechanics and flow equations. These are a form of sequential implicit solution schemes and often lead to more-efficient simulations than fully implicit (FI) simulation. However, sequential schemes introduce certain restrictions on timestep sizes. On the other hand, FI schemes provide unconditionally convergent solutions and are more-robust and -convenient approaches for investigation of complex multiphysical problems. Although the FI approach does not imply any restriction on timestep size, it requires an efficient linear equation solution strategy for high-resolution models.

In this study, the authors develop a collocated FI multipoint FVM scheme for poromechanics simulation of faulted reservoirs. The scheme can be used to solve poromechanics problems on unstructured polyhedral grids with minimal degrees of freedom per cell. It is also capable of considering material heterogeneity while preserving mass and momentum balances. This scheme is extended to consider discontinuities in displacements at faults.

The developed algorithms have been embedded into the open-source Delft Advanced Research Terra Simulator (DARTS).
Technique Improves Neural Network Training To Quantify Rock Properties From Seismic
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: March 2022

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 202685, “Rock-Physics-Guided Data-Science Technique To Improve Neural Network Training To Accurately Quantify Rock Properties From Seismic Data,” by Shraddha Chatterjee, Tanya Colwell, and Jon Downton, CGG, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The success or failure of neural networks in discerning rock properties through a quantitative approach from seismic data and associated seismic attributes is dependent on the amount of available data. Past researchers developed a hybrid theory-guided-data-science (TGDS) technique that augmented the amount of data used for training. This paper shows the application of this method of TGDS-based synthetic seismic catalog generation followed by the application of a deep feed-forward neural network (DFNN) to a real seismic data set for a commercially oil-producing field in the North Sea.

Introduction

Machine-learning algorithms have been used for several applications in the field of reservoir characterization. Using neural network techniques for supervised learning applications to predict log properties from seismic and seismic attributes is an established technique. However, a known limitation of neural networks is that they depend greatly on the amounts of training data, also called labeled data. Generally, the source of the labeled data during geophysical applications is well-log data. Hence, a need to increase the amount of labeled data was required to increase the accuracy of predictions. The accuracy of neural networks suffers because of the lack of labeled data, especially in exploration study areas where well data are scarce.

The hybrid TGDS model augments the amount of data used to train the neural network. During the process, theory-based generated outputs are used as inputs to the data-science component of this work flow. The theory-based components are generated models of rock physics that help in estimating the elastic parameters of a rock caused by changes in fluid and other petrophysical rock properties; this approach then is used to generate a large set of pseudowells. In the next step, synthetic seismic gathers are generated based on the large set of generated pseudowells that are used for training a DFNN. The parameters that are derived for training the neural network are further applied on a real data set. In the complete paper, the authors show an example of this work flow in which it was applied to a North Sea field that produces commercial volumes of oil. The reservoir of interest is of the Paeocene age and is a remobilized injectite sand that cross-cuts the stratigraphy at high angles. The injectite sands can be excellent pay zones with good porosity and permeability, even though their imaging can be challenging.
Simulation of Scale Inhibitor Squeeze Treatments in a Polymer Flooded Reservoir
Authors: Beteta Alan , Vazquez Oscar , Al Kalbani Mandhr , Eze Faith
Published: March 2022

This study aims to demonstrate the changes to scale inhibitor squeeze lifetimes in a polymer flooded reservoir vs. a waterflooded reservoir. A squeeze campaign was designed for the base waterflood system, then injection was switched to polymer flooding (PF) at early and late field life. The squeeze design strategy was adapted to maintain full scale protection under the new system.

During the field life, the production of water is a constant challenge. Both in terms of water handling, but also the associated risk of mineral scale deposition. Squeeze treatment is a common technique, where a scale inhibitor is injected to prevent the formation of scale. The squeeze lifetime is dictated by the adsorption/desorption properties of the inhibitor chemical, along with the water rate at the production well. The impact on the adsorption properties and changes to water rate on squeeze lifetime during PF are studied using reservoir simulation.

A 2D 5-spot model was used in this study, which is considered a reasonable representation of a field reservoir under waterflooding (WF)/PF. It was observed that when applying polymer (HPAM) flooding, with either a constant viscosity or with polymer degradation. The study concludes that the number of squeeze treatments was significantly reduced as compared to the waterflood case. This is due to the significant delay in water production induced by the polymer flood. When the polymer flood was initiated later in field life, after 0.5 PV (reservoir PVs) water injection, resulting in 70% water cut approximately, the number of squeeze treatments required was still lower than the waterflood base case. However, it was also observed that in all cases, at later stages of field life the positive impact of PF on squeeze lifetime begin to diminish, due in part to the polymer breakthrough, which results in higher water viscosity in the production near-wellbore region. Preventing the overflush to be as effective transporting the scale inhibitor.

This study represents the first coupled reservoir simulation/squeeze treatment design for a polymer flooded reservoir. It has been demonstrated that in over the course of a field lifetime, PF will in fact reduce the number of squeeze treatments required even with a potential reduction in inhibitor adsorption. This highlights an opportunity for further optimization and a key benefit of PF in terms of scale management, aside from the EOR.
Severe Casing Failure in Multistage Hydraulic Fracturing Using Dual-Scale Modeling Approach
Authors: Yu Hao , Dahi Taleghani Arash , Lian Zhanghua , Mou Yisheng
Published: March 2022

Field evidence of production logs after fracturing have documented the existence of abundant natural fractures in Weiyuan shale plays, which is widely acknowledged to have a positive impact on fracture network complexity. On the contrary, cases of severe casing failures have been frequently reported in this field during multistage fracturing practice. Stress interference between two adjacent stages may increase nonuniform loading on the casing string and accommodate failure. To better understand this problem, we establish a coupled 3D reservoir-scale model with complex well trajectory and tie it to a single well-scale model consisting of casing and the surrounding cement sheath. Using this model, we investigate the potential impacts of cement deficiency, clustered perforations, fracture geometry, and spacing strategy on casing integrity. Our simulation results indicate that cement deficiency could intensify the load nonuniformity around the borehole, which poses potential threats to casing failure. When cement deficiency reaches 45° along the minimum horizontal stress, it has the largest influence on the stress level of casing. In addition, perforations could lower the casing strength, but the reduction may not change further when the perforation diameter reaches a certain value. Also, impacts of fracture geometry and spacing on casing deformation are explored. We can conclude that a lower ratio of fracture length to width and reasonable spacing strategy could help reduce the load nonuniformity on casing and thus avoid the casing deformation. The described workflow may be adopted in other areas to predict the possible casing failure problems induced by multistage hydraulic fracturing with cheap computational costs and to anticipate the challenges and address them by revising pumping schedule or spacing strategy.
An Enhanced Ad hoc On-Demand Multipath Distance Vector Routing using Hybrid Bat Algorithm
Authors: Prabha R. , A Senthil G
Published: March 2022

Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) are multi-hop ad hoc networks of mobile battery-charged devices designed for emergency use. There is source preparation with regards to a potential disconnection whilst occurrence of a path breakage. The source will commence with discovery of the path and evade complete disconnection. When there is a decrease in the availability of links, there may be path breakage. Breakages of links because of energy drain and node mobility are managed by reactive MANET routing protocols. Also, multi-hop communication can be more efficient in terms of the routing protocols for large area networks. The Ad hoc On-Demand Multipath Distance Vector protocol (AOMDV) is modified by this study in a way that link availability estimates lead to route handoff. An optimal AOMDV route can be detected by the novel Bat Algorithm hybridization with Harmony Search (BAT-HS) algorithm depending on rate of bit error, velocity, neighbouring node’s queuing delay, and link quality. In this work, the proposed algorithm Hybrid Bat (HBAT) to enhanced the AOMDV with Hybrid Bat is optimizes the routing outperforming the Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), End to End delay reduction and in order to reduce routing control overheads and route discovery that are proved by simulation results.
Earthquake history of the Milas Fault: An active dextral fault in an extensional province (SW Anatolia, Turkey)
Authors: KIRKAN Erdem , Akyüz H. Serdar , Basmenji Mehran , Dikbaş Aynur , Zabcı Cengiz , Yazıcı Müge , Erturaç M. Korhan
Published: March 2022

The Milas Fault (MF) is a poorly known active fault located between the Büyük Menderes Graben to the north and the Gökova Graben to the south within the Anatolia-Aegean Region, SW Turkey. This dextral strike-slip fault has a length of 55 km between the Bafa Lake in the northwest and Çamlıca village in the southeast with a general strike of N60°W as its surface geometry displays two separate segments. We mapped the geomorphological and geological features of the MF by using Google Earth© images, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and field observations. The surface traces and kinematic characteristics of the MF are defined by rarely seen carbonate rocks, morphological lineaments and offsets streams, which all suggests a dominantly horizontal deformation for this peculiar tectonic structure. Moreover, we excavated three paleoseismological trenches in order to expose the signature of paleoearthquakes of the MF and to evaluate its seismic hazard potential. Evidences of three paleoearthquake events were revealed in trenches depending on the stratigraphical and structural relations of the exposed strata of latest Quaternary period. These earthquakes are dated as 1702±260 BC-2963±67 BC, 7152±600 BC-13502±3359 BC, and before 13502±3359 BC by means of combined OSL and 14C dating results from youngest to oldest, respectively. These events are supposed to be around or larger than M 7.0 earthquakes. Even there is no constrained dates to propose recurrence interval, combined data from field observations, morphology, seismic records and paleoseismology indicate that the Milas Fault is an active structure and have a potential to produce a similar magnitude earthquake in the future.
Increased genetic variation of A(H3N2) virus from influenza surveillance at the end of the 2016/17 season for Shanghai port
Authors: Tian zhengan , Zhang zilong , Li shenwei , Zhu xiaolin , Hou jian , Zhang hong , Zhao baihui
Published: March 2022

Influenza A(H3N2) virus exhibited complex seasonal patterns to evade pre-existing antibodies, resulting in changes in the antigenicity of the viron surface protein hemagglutinin. To monitor the current circulating influenza viruses as well as to assess the capacity of health emergencies in Shanghai port, we collected respiratory specimens of passengers from different countries and regions including some of Europe with influenza-like illness in Shanghai port during 2016/17 and examined to amino acid substitutions and calculated the perfect-match vaccine efficacy using the p epitope model. Phylogenetic analysis of HA gene revealed that Influenza A(H3N2) viruses belonging to eight clades were detected, and three amino acid substitutions in subclade 3C.2a.4 were also added. Besides, there were two epidemic influenza virus strains circulating in the 2016/17 winter season and 2016 summer season. The results of lower predicted vaccine effectiveness in summer (0.1864) suggest that A(H3N2) strains circulating in 2016 summer was not a good match for the A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 vaccine strain. So, Shanghai port owns the advantage of grasping the risk of international spread of influenza in the first time, and curbing the entry of A(H3N2) from abroad at the earliest stage of the current influenza pandemic.
Clinical N3 is an independent risk factor of recurrence for breast cancer patients achieving pathological complete response and near-pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Qian Xiaoyan , Zhang Pin , Xiu Meng , Li Qing , Wang Jiayu , Fan Ying , Luo Yang , Cai Ruigang , Li Qiao , Chen Shanshan , Yuan Peng , Ma Fei , Xu Binghe
Published: March 2022

Background: Although achieving pathological complete response (pCR) and near-pathological complete response (near-pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer predicts a better outcome, some patients still experience recurrence. The aim of our study was to analyse the predictive factors of recurrence in the pCR and near-pCR population.Methods: We reviewed 1209 breast cancer patients treated with NAC. A total of 292 patients achieving pCR and near-pCR between January 2010 and April 2021 in the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CHCAMS) were included in our analysis. pCR was defined as ypT0N0/ypTisN0. Near-pCR was defined as ypT1mi/1a/1bN0 or ypT0/isN1mi. The Kaplan-Meier method with the log rank test was used to estimate recurrence analysis.Results: Of the 292 patients,173 were pCR and 119 were near-pCR. The median age was 46 years (range 23-75 years). The predominant tumor subtype was human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) positive (49.0%) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (30.8%). The median duration of follow-up was 53 months (range 9-138 months). A total of 16 (8.9%) patients developed recurrence, with 9 (5.2%) in the pCR group and 16 (13.4%) in the near-pCR group. The vast majority of recurrence occurred within 36 months from onset of NAC. The 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate of patients achieving pCR was significantly higher than that of patients achieving near-pCR (94.6% vs.85.6%, P=0.008). Clinical N3 (cN3) before NAC was an independent factor of higher risk for recurrence in patients who achieved pCR (P=0.003) and near-pCR (P=0.036). Tumor size before NAC, subtype of breast cancer and chemotherapy regimens showed no significant association with RFS both for patients who achieved pCR and near-pCR (P ≥0.05). Conclusions: cN3 before NAC was an independent factor of higher risk for recurrence in patients who achieved pCR and near-pCR. It is worthwhile to monitor closely for patients with cN3, especially in the first 3 years.
Forecast of supply and demand of elderly care institutions in Guangzhou from 2021 to 2030 -- Based on the ARIMA Model
Authors: Shi Yongqiang , Fan Fangfang , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: March 2022

Background: With the continuous growth of the elderly population, the pension burden in Guangzhou has increased in recent years, and the aging problem cannot be ignored. This study predicts the relationship between the number of elderly people over 60 years old in Guangzhou and the supply and demand of beds and nursing workers in elderly care institutions in the next ten years and provides a reference for decision-makers to regulate the supply of elderly care resources and formulate policies.Method: Based on the data of the elderly population in Guangzhou from 1990 to 2014, this paper establishes an ARIMA prediction model, uses the data from 2015 to 2020 to verify the validity of the model, and further predicts the number of elderly people, the demand for elderly care facilities and nursing workers from 2021 to 2030 based on specific calculation formulas. Result: In the future, Guangzhou's aging degree will continue to deepen. It is estimated that by 2030, Guangzhou's elderly population will be over 2.9 million. The increase in the number of elderly people puts forward higher requirements for the facilities and human resource supply of elderly care institutions. The prediction results of this study show that the demand for elderly care beds and nursing workers in Guangzhou will exceed 130,000 and 30,000 respectively by 2030.Conclusion: The difficulties in the construction of institutional facilities and the loss of human resources coexist. In the future, the gap between the supply and demand of elderly care facilities and nursing workers will be further expanded. Guangzhou urgently needs to find more effective ways to deal with the increasingly serious aging problem.
Versatile effect of cytokinin on detached senescing leaves of Arabidopsis in the light
Authors: Danilova Maria N. , Kudryakova Natalia V. , Doroshenko Anastasia S. , Daminova Amina G. , Oelmüller Ralf , Kusnetsov Victor V.
Published: March 2022

The dark-detached leaves are widely used as a model to investigate senescence-delaying mechanisms of cytokinin (СК). The role of CK during senescence of detached Arabidopsis leaves in the light is less examined, although they provide unique opportunities for the study of the interaction of CK and the photosynthetic apparatus. Within the first four days of incubation of the leaves on water photosynthesis activity, chloroplast gene expression and chlorophyll content declined in all genotypes with a functioning CK receptor AHK3, while anthocyanin level and expression of its regulatory and biosynthesis genes increased. Application of exogenous CK visibly retarded the senescence symptoms but decreased photosystem II function, anthocyanin accumulation and promoted ROS production. The hormone stimulated starch accumulation in the chloroplasts and altered the expression of the gene for the extracellular cell wall invertase CWINV1. Although the AHK3 receptor played the most important role in the CK action, we also observed specific effects in loss-of function mutants for phosphortransmitters and type B response regulators. The results suggest that CK action in detached Arabidopsis leaves in the light is superimposed on modified carbon fluxes and starch turnover which results in an intricate combination of stress-related and senescence inhibiting effects.
Changes in the anxiolytic and analgesic effects of virtual reality presentations with different content during impacted mandibular third molar extraction.
Authors: Yamashita Yoshio , Aijima Reona , Danjo Atsushi
Published: March 2022

In many cases, surgical procedures are conducted under local anesthesia despite many patients feeling anxious or afraid of treatment. We have recently reported our use of virtual reality (VR) to alleviate the fear and anxiety experienced during oral surgical procedures conducted under local anesthesia. However, the effectiveness of VR in alleviating anxiety varies greatly between individuals, and it has been suggested that these differences in efficacy may depend on the viewer’s level of concentration. We therefore investigated whether the content of the VR presentation made any difference to its effect in alleviating anxiety, and whether it had any analgesic effect. The study subjects were 172 patients who required impacted mandibular third molar extraction under local anesthesia in our department. They experienced one of two different types of VR presentation and were asked to complete a questionnaire about any changes in their anxiety or fear during the procedure, including a visual analog scale (VAS) score. As an objective evaluation, changes in pain threshold during the VR presentation were investigated using PainVision®. Patients who did not experience a VR presentation (n = 48) reported intensified anxiety during the procedure, with an increased VAS score compared with that preoperatively. The VAS scores for patients who experienced a VR presentation, however, decreased significantly. For those patients who experienced a presentation showing a natural landscape (n = 51), the change in VAS score was −13.3 ± 28.7 mm, whereas for those who experienced a presentation showing a video game (n = 73) the change was −22.2 ± 32.1 mm, an even greater reduction. In a pain questionnaire completed by individuals who had experienced the video game presentations, approximately 70% reported that their pain had diminished. An objective evaluation of pain threshold using PainVision® also showed that the pain threshold of individuals increased by around 3% while experiencing the natural landscape VR presentation, but that while experiencing the video game presentation, it increased significantly by around 15% compared with baseline. These results show that the content of the presentation affected not only the rate of decrease in anxiety and fear, but also the pain threshold. This indicated that experiencing a presentation of a video game or another setting in which thought is required may not only alleviate anxiety during surgical procedures, but also diminish pain.
Influence factors and prediction model of enstrophy dissipation from the tip leakage vortex in a multiphase pump
Authors: Shu Zekui , Shi Guangtai , Yao Xin , Sun Guodong , Tao Sijia
Published: April 2022

In a multiphase pump, tip clearance is the required distance between the blade tip and the pump body wall of the impeller, and can regulate tip leakage vortex (TLV), causing unstable flow and energy dissipation. However, there are few studies on the energy dissipation caused by the TLV. In the present work, the enstrophy dissipation theory is innovatively applied to quantitatively study the energy dissipation of the TLV. The flow rate ( Q) , tip clearance ( Rtc) , and inlet gas void fraction ( IGVF ) play a crucial role in affecting the enstrophy dissipation of the TLV. The results suggest that increasing Q , Rtc , and IGVF significantly exacerbate the TLV pattern and raise the TLV scale, which gradually raises volume enstrophy dissipation and decreases wall enstrophy dissipation. The maximum pressure load in the impeller occurs at the 0.5 chord, where a strong TLV is generated, leading to significant enstrophy dissipation. As the flow rate increases, the separation angle between the primary TLV (PTLV) trajectory and the blade gradually decreases, and widely dispersing the enstrophy dissipation near the shroud. However, as the tip clearance increases, the tipseparated vortex (TSV) scale increases and extends to the suction surface, raising the velocity gradient. Besides, as the IGVF increases, the secondary TLV (STLV) develops from a continuous sheet vortex to a scattered strip vortex, increasing the pressure fluctuation intensity. Considering the flow rate, tip clearance, and IGVF as independent variables, simple and multiple nonlinear regression models for the enstrophy dissipation are established.
Modified laparoscopic uterine-sparing surgery combined with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy for focal uterine adenomyosis
Authors: Wei Wei-wei , zhang shoufeng , Shi Ru-xia , Zheng Hong , Chen Jiming
Published: March 2022

Objectives
To evaluate the outcomes of women with uterine adenomyoma treated with combined modified laparoscopic adenomyomectomy and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists.
Methods
Between 2012 and 2016, 141 women with adenomyoma were admitted to The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University in a retrospective study. All 141 patients were treated with laparoscopic adenomyomectomy combined with GnRH agonists. We used a modified laparoscopic adenomyomectomy technique that involved the insertion of two fingers into the vagina to elevate the uterus, while one finger of the other hand was inserted into the abdomen through a suprapubic 15-mm trocar port for systematic palpation of the uterus. The integrity of the endometrium was preserved for 21 patients who had fertility requirements; for the remaining 120 patients, who did not have fertility requirements, the adenomyosis tissue and the endometrium under the adenomyosis tissue were both resected. We assessed the degree of postoperative clinical improvement, pregnancy outcomes, and possible recurrences. All patients were followed up for at least 24 months.
Results
Combined surgical-medical treatment significantly improved the serum cancer antigen 125 level, hemoglobin level, dysmenorrhea (as indicated by visual analogue scale scores), and menorrhagia (p < 0.05 for all). Of the 23 patients not using contraceptives, 12 (52%) had 14 clinical pregnancies during a 48-month follow-up period. Among the women with fertility requirements, 38.9% of patients had a clinical pregnancy during 48 months of postoperative follow-up. Of the 21 patients with fertility requirements, 4 (19.0%) patients relapsed, and of the 120 patients without fertility requirements, 3 (2.5%) patients relapsed (identified through ultrasound examination).
Conclusion
Laparoscopic adenomyomectomy combined with GnRH agonists can be used to effectively treat adenomyoma. In patients with no fertility requirements, complete resection of the adenomyosis tissue can significantly decrease the relapse risk.
Accreditation as a driver of interprofessional education: The Canadian experience
Authors: Azzam Mohammad B , Girard Marie-Andrée , Andrews Cynthia Lindsay , Bilinski Hope , Connelly Denise , Gilbert John H V , Newton Christie , Grymonpre Ruby E
Published: March 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to (1) explore evidence provided by Canadian health and social care (HASC) academic programs in meeting their profession-specific interprofessional education (IPE)-relevant accreditation standards; (2) share successes, exemplars, and challenges experienced by HASC academic programs in meeting their IPE-relevant accreditation standards; and (3) articulate the impacts of IPE-relevant accreditation standards on enabling interprofessional learning to the global HASC academic community. Methods: Profession-specific (bilingual, if requested) surveys were developed and emailed to the Deans/Academic Program Directors of eligible academic programs with a request to forward to the individual who oversees IPE accreditation. Responses were collated collectively and by profession. Open-ended responses associated with our first objective were deductively categorized to align with the five Accreditation of Interprofessional Health Education (AIPHE) standards domains. Responses to our additional questions associated with our second and third objectives were inductively categorized into themes. Results/Discussion: Of the 270 HASC academic programs surveyed, 30% (n = 24) partially or completely responded to our questions. Of the 106 IPE-relevant standards where evidence was provided, 62% (n = 66) focused on the Educational Program, 88% of which (n = 58) were either met or partially met, and 47% (n = 31) of which focused on practice-based IPE. Respondents cited various exemplars and challenges in meeting IPE-relevant standards. Conclusions: The overall sentiment was that IPE accreditation was a significant driver of the IPE curriculum and its continuous improvement. The array of exemplars described in this paper may be of relevance in advancing IPE implementation and accreditation across Canada and perhaps, more importantly, in countries where these processes are yet emerging.
Microsurgical treatment of lumbar paravertebral tumors via lateral retroperitoneal approach
Authors: Zhang Lei , Chen Shichao , Wang Kai , Wu Hao
Published: March 2022

Objective
To investigate the surgical techniques and post-operative therapeutic effectiveness of microsurgical treatment of lumbar paravertebral tumors via lateral retroperitoneal approach.
Methods
The clinical data of 6 cases with lumbar paravertebral tumors that went through surgical treatment via lateral retroperitoneal approach in the Neurospine Center of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The average operation time, volume of blood loss, incision length, length of hospitalization, and the resection rate of paravertebral tumors were collected, score of The Ability to Perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and incidents of postoperative complications were recorded.
Results
The operation time ranged from 56 to 181 minutes, with an average of (94.8 ± 48.3) minutes. The volume of blood loss was between 5-100ml, with an average of (31.7 ± 37.5) ml. The length of the surgical incision was 6-7cm, with an average of (6.7 ± 0.5) cm. The hospitalization length was between 5–11 days, with an average of (8.7 ± 2.6) days. The resection rate of paravertebral tumors was 100%. Postoperative pathological diagnosis result revealed 4 cases of schwannoma, 1 case of ganglioneuroma, 1 case of malignant small round cell tumor. During the 3-month follow-up, there was no recurrence of tumors, no abdominal cavity infection and no incisional infection, no incisional hernia, no death cases, and there was no significant decrease of the ADL score compared with that score before the operation.
Conclusion
The surgical treatment of lumbar paravertebral tumors via the lateral retroperitoneal approach has the advantages of short operation time, minimally invasive procedures, quick postoperative recovery, and few complications.
Acceptability of Australian prehospital care quality indicators: an explanatory sequential mixed methods study
Authors: Pap Robin , Stephenson Matthew , Simpson Paul , Lockwood Craig
Published: March 2022

Background: Systematically developed quality indicators (QIs) facilitate the measuring and monitoring of quality of care and ultimately meaningful quality improvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of a predetermined suite of 84 scientifically valid prehospital care QIs from the provider perspective. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study design was used. Quantitative data were obtained from 36 participants of an online survey in which they rated the acceptability of the QIs using a 5-point Likert-type numerical rating scale. Qualitative data were gathered by conducting semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of nine survey participants. The successional collection of quantitative and qualitative data facilitated integrated ﻿interpretations and conclusions about the acceptability of the QIs.Results: Generally, the acceptability of all QIs in the suite was rated highly. Data suggested a positive association between acceptability and other key characteristics of QIs. QIs which were seen to be clear, supported by scientific evidence, practical, and meaningful tended to be more acceptable than those which were not. The benefits of outcome type QIs was recognised but participants raised concerns about their sensitivity in the measurement of prehospital quality of care. To be acceptable, QIs which included time intervals needed to be specific about time-critical interventions. Further, the high acceptability of the QIs was explained by a connection to participants’ professional values and qualities. Assessing the QIs’ acceptability from a healthcare provider perspective meant that QIs on patient satisfaction frequently received lower ratings.Conclusion: The findings of this study provide insight into the acceptability to prehospital care providers of a proposed suite of QIs. Future research should evaluate the feasibility and reliability of the QIs. There is also a need to investigate how acceptable the proposed QIs are to patients and communities.
Modulation Technique of Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance of Palladium Nanospheres by Coating with Titanium Dioxide Shell for Application to Photothermal Therapy Agent
Authors: Hayakawa Yutaro , Furuya Masato , Tahara Hironobu , Kosuge Yasuhiro , Kimura Tsuyoshi , Sugawa Kosuke , Otsuki Joe
Published: March 2022

Although plasmonic palladium (Pd) nanospheres are thermodynamically stable and have high photothermal conversion due to the free and bound electron coupling associated with the intrinsic high interband transition, they have not attracted attention as a photothermal conversion material for next-generation photothermal cancer therapy. This is because the Pd nanospheres generate the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) intrinsically in the ultraviolet region, which is far away from the biological transparent window (750–900 nm). In this study, we controlled the LSP wavelength of Pd nanospheres by coating with high refractive index TiO2 shells taking advantage of the Pd LSPR which is highly sensitive to changes in the local refractive index around the nanospheres. Our calculations indicated that the absorption cross-section at 808 nm (corresponding to the wavelength used for photothermal treatment) was increased by 2.8 times by red-shifting the LSPR and increasing the extinction intensity associated with the coating with TiO2 shell. Experiments confirmed the theoretical prediction in that the LSPR of the synthesized Pd nanospheres with a diameter of 81 nm was significantly red-shifted by coating with amorphous TiO2 shell, resulting in significant large extinction intensity at 808 nm. The photothermal conversion efficiency was estimated to be 50%. In vitro cell tests, HeLa cells incubated with 100–300 µg/mL TiO2-coated Pd nanospheres were efficiently killed by irradiating 808 nm laser (1.8 W) even though the nanospheres with the same concentrations showed little cytotoxicity. These results indicate that the Pd nanospheres coated with high refractive index shells can be promising as a photothermal therapy agent.
Survey Response Rates to a Self-Initiated Longitudinal Survey Accessed by QR Code in Six Different Regions of the United States
Authors: Halpern Lloyd M. , Zhang De-An , Velarde Abby
Published: April 2022

OBJECTIVEA quick response (QR) code allows rapid access to an online survey via a smart phone and may improve response rates for web-based surveys. We report the response rates for a QR code based, self-initiated longitudinal survey of opioid use and pain scores following hospital discharge in pediatric surgical patients. MATERIALS AND METHODSAll parents of pediatric patients having surgery at one of six pediatric medical facilities were asked to participate in the study from October 5, 2020 until July 15, 2021. Those who chose to participate accessed the initial Enrollment Survey using a QR code on a handout provided. The next day they received an emailed link to a daily survey until their child was not requiring opioids and had pain scores less than 4 for the previous 48 hours RESULTSA total of 1,759 families were asked to participate in the study. The parents of 44 patients completed the initial Enrollment survey by accessing the QR code (response rate 2.5%) Of those who completed the initial survey, 67% were lost to follow-up during the survey series.DISCUSSIONWe found an extremely low response rate for a self-initiated survey accessed by QR code. We found a drop in response rate with each successive daily email based survey and the loss of the majority of the initial participants by the end of the survey series. CONCLUSIONWe recommend using alternative modalities (informed consent, telephone call, weekly surveys) for initiating and delivering surveys to improve response rates for similarly designed studies.
Global Gravity Field Model from Taiji-1
Authors: Wu Liming , Xu Peng , Zhao Shuhong , Qiang Li-E , Luo Ziren , Wu Yueliang
Published: March 2022

Taiji-1 is the first technology demonstration satellite of the Taiji program of China's space-borne gravitational wave antenna. After the demonstration of the key individual technologies, Taiji-1 continues collecting the data of the precision orbit determinations, the satellite attitudes, and the non-conservative forces exerted on the S/C. Therefore, during its free-fall, Taiji-1 can be viewed as operating in the high-low satellite-to-satellite tracking mode of a gravity recovery mission. In this work, one month data from Taiji-1's observations have been selected and the techniques are developed to resolve the long term interruptions and disturbances in the measurement data due to the scheduled technology demonstration experiments. The first global gravity model TJGM-r1911, that independently derived from China's own satellite mission, is successfully built from Taiji-1's observations. Compared with gravity models from CHAMP and other satellite gravity missions, the accuracy discrepancies exist, which is mainly caused by the data discontinuity problem. As the approved extended free-falling phase with minimal disruptions and disturbances, Taiji-1 will serve as the first gravity mission satellite for China since 2022 and it will provide us the independent measurement of both the static and the monthly time-variable global gravity field.
The annual vitamin D status of world-class British swimmers following a standardised supplementation protocol for three years
Authors: Newbury Josh William , Chessor Richard J. , Evans Guy M. , Allison Richard J. , Gough Lewis A.
Published: April 2022

British swimmers are at a heightened risk of vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D): <50 nmol∙L− 1) as their large indoor training volumes often restrict sunlight exposure, especially during the winter when daylight hours are reduced. Previous research has recommended 4000 IU∙day− 1 vitamin D3 from October to March to offset vitamin D losses. However, no current study has analysed this approach over multiple seasons to assess if this is an appropriate strategy. Twenty-nine world-class British swimmers (aged 16–30 years) provided a 10 mL venous blood sample as part of their routine haematological screening in the September of three consecutive years (2018, 2019, 2020). Serum 25(OH)D was determined by radioimmunoassay and this result determined the length of the standardised vitamin D3 protocol (< 30 nmol∙L− 1: 4000 IU∙day− 1 from September to March, 30–79 nmol∙L− 1: 4000 IU∙day− 1 from October to March, > 75 nmol∙L− 1: no supplementation). Mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations increased each year (2018: 76.4 ± 28.4 nmol∙L− 1, 2019: 91.5 ± 24.8 nmol∙L− 1, 2020: 115.0 ± 36.6 nmol∙L− 1, p < 0.001), which coincided with the eradication of vitamin D deficiency after one season (prevalence, 2018: 10%, 2019: 0%, 2020: 0%). In September 2020, 35% of swimmers had a serum 25(OH)D > 125 nmol∙L− 1, although it is currently debated whether this is a concern or a benefit for athletic populations. Supplementing with 4000 IU∙day− 1 of vitamin D3 throughout the winter can therefore increase the vitamin D status of swimmers. However, more frequent testing may be required to ensure that serum 25(OH)D remains within the sufficient across the season (75–125 nmol∙L− 1).