bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Removal of Iron Sulphide/Biomass Via Continual Injection Dissolver/Dispersant, A North Sea Case Study
Authors: Jordan Myles M , Johnston Clare J , Bennett Brian , Cole George
Published: May 2022

An operator within the North Sea had historically been using seawater injection for pressure support, with produced water being discharged to sea. Water injection was via subsea injection wells, with a subsea flowline transporting water from the host platform to these wells. For the last 6 years, this strategy has changed – seawater injection has been halted and the objective has been to reinject all produced water. During this period of time, the field had experienced rising H2S levels within the produced water and increasing oil in produced water, due to problems with separation that were controlled by application of flocculants and monthly cleaning of separation equipment. The solids found within the hydrocyclones were determined to be iron sulphide, reservoir silicates, barium sulphate scale, and biomass. Over time it became clear that the subsea water injection pipeline was also facing challenges with increased pressure drop resulting in lower injection capacity.

Injection line fouling

Cleaning the subsea water injection line was evaluated initially via batch application of chemicals such as hydrocarbon solvents, mutual solvents (hydrocarbon removal and water wetting), dilute acid solutions and THPS solutions (sulphide dissolver), chelants (sulphate dissolvers) and oxidising agents (biomass dissolvers). Evaluation of the volumes of chemical required to treat the flowline, in addition to the aggressive nature of these materials and the logistic issues associated with the application of such large chemical volumes resulted in another cleaning program option being investigated. The laboratory testing of a novel dissolver/dispersant not based on THPS (tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulphate) was carried out leading to a field application of the cleaning chemical at treatment rates between 5 and 40 ppm into the produced water for a trial period of 3 months.

The application of the continual injection cleaning chemical program to remove the fouling in the produced water system using the novel dissolver/dispersant and control of additional biofilm formation with the biocide program applied to the produced water resulted in the following changes to the produced water injection system.

Produced water injection rate increased from 729 m3/h to 777 m3/hour (7% increase). Injection pressure reduction from ∼50 bar to 40 bar (a 20% decrease despite injection rate increasing as above). Increased production as the injection line fouling was reducing reservoir voidage replacement.

This paper outlines the development/deployment of this novel non THPS based iron sulphide cleaning chemical package which is suitable for application within the North Sea.
FeS Scale Control and Prevention in Water Injection Systems
Authors: Lu Haiping , Brooks Johnathon , Margan Swamy , Evans Paul , Shi Wei
Published: May 2022

Iron Sulfide (FeS) scale is known as a troublesome scale during oil and gas production. The prevention of FeS precipitation in the injection water for a sour carbonate reservoir was required with an injection brine of low Fe2+ concentration (10 mg/L) and high Ca2+ concentration (5,000 mg/L). This work was proposed to identify a chemical which is able to effectively chelate Fe2+ in the presence of high calcium to prevent or reduce the formation of FeS.

Anaerobic bottle tests were conducted at 95°C for 24 hours to compare the performance of selected chemicals, i.e., EDDS (Ethylenediamine-N,N’-disuccinic acid), DTPA (Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid), EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), THPS (Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate), and citric acid (CA). Several sets of performance test were conducted: a. with other cation ions and without other cation ions to compare the effects of other cations on chelation; b. with the aged and non-aged product, ie. product aging test at 250°F for 7 days, to understand the effects of temperature on chemical stability; c. with 1.0 g/L and 10 g/L pre-existing calcite solids effects on the FeS chelation performance to simulate the carbonate reservoir conditions; d. with various Fe2+ level of 10 ppm, 50 ppm, and 100 ppm.

Citric acid and THPS showed better chelation performance on Fe2+ than other tested chemicals. The effects of the presence of pre-existing calcite solids on citric acid and THPS were also investigated to simulate the interaction of chemicals with the carbonate formation. The chelation performance of citric acid was affected by the addition of calcite due to the reaction of citric acid with calcite solids. THPS is not affected by the presence of calcite solid at either 1.0 g/L or 10 g/L. From the above testing results, THPS is recommended for the field applications.

This study systematically investigated FeS control and prevention chemical selection and presents the laboratory results to identify the best performance. It provided an insight into the influence of several potential application conditions, e.g., high levels of calcium and other cation ions, pre-existing solids from carbonate reservoir, and long-time exposure to application temperature (250°F), on the selected chelator performance. This work also established a guideline for chelator dosages during field applications to successfully manage FeS scale.
Should a New Well be Equipped with Downhole Chemical Injection Lines?
Authors: Sandengen Kristian , Ramstad Kari , Høiland Sylvi , Henanger Kjell Eirik Irgens
Published: May 2022

The use of downhole continuous chemical injection (DHCI) has become common in Equinor, with around 30-40 % of new wells being equipped with DHCI in the last decade. Scale inhibitor supply accounts for around three quarters of the installations. A rough estimate of present-day situation points to around a third of the installations not being operational, with some form of clogging seemingly the most common cause. Around 1 % of the installations are unavailable due to detrimental fails (leakages likely from corrosion) that either led to, or could have led to, well integrity being compromised.

This underlines that these systems come with a complexity and risk associated with them and should be installed on a per need basis. The purpose of this work is to provide simple guidelines on which wells DHCI should be installed, and which do not need it.

We propose that the base case should be to include downhole scale inhibitor lines for oil wells, but not install in gas/condensate wells unless significant water production is expected. For the former, lower temperature wells (<80 °C) with a low sulphate scale risk are typical cases where lines could potentially be omitted. What expected water rate that should lead to installation of DHCI in gas/condensate wells is system dependent, but generally < 100 m3 water per MSm3 gas should be unproblematic while at magnitude > 1000 m3 water per MSm3 gas, DHCI should be evaluated.
Optimizing the radiation treatment planning of brain tumors by integration of Functional MRI and White Matter Tractography
Authors: Boroun Arman , Montazerabadi Alireza , Molana Seyed Hadi , Gholamhosseinian Hamid , Pashaei Fakhereh
Published: May 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to assess whether the incorporation of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data into the radiation treatment planning process of brain tumors could spare the neurological parts of the brain from high doses of radiation.
Methods
In this study, the fMRI and DTI data were obtained from eight glioma patients and included in the radiation treatment plan‏. This patient-specific fMRI and DTI data were attained based on tumor location, patient's general conditions, and the importance of the functional and fiber tract areas. The functional regions, fiber tracts, anatomical organs at risk, and the tumor were contoured for radiation treatment planning. Finally, the radiation treatment planning with and without fMRI & DTI information was obtained and compared.
Results
On average, the mean dose to the functional areas was reduced by 25.36%, and the maximum dose was reduced by 18.57% on fMRI & DTI plans compared with the anatomical plans In addition, 15.59% and 20.84% reductions in the mean and maximum doses of the fiber tracts were achieved, respectively.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated the feasibility of using fMRI and DTI data in radiation treatment planning to maximize radiation protection of the functional cortex and fiber tracts. We also observed a significant reduction in the mean and maximum doses to these neurologically relevant brain regions. Dose reduction would reduce the neuro-cognitive complications and improve the patient's quality of life.
Multi-hazards modeling using machine learning algorithms in Southwestern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Youssef Ahmed M. , Mahdi Ali M. , Al-Katheri Mohamed M. , Pouyan Soheila , Pourghasemi Hamid Reza
Published: May 2022

The current study aimed at producing a multi-hazard risk map for Hasher-Fayfa Basin. The Basin is part of Jazan region in the southwestern Saudi Arabia and is distinguished by mountainous terrain. Recently, this area has experienced many extreme natural processes that become natural hazard events when it intersects with human activities (urban areas and infrastructures). This work is mapping the probabilities of three main hazards; landslides, floods, and gully erosion using machine learning algorithms named boosted regression tree (BRT), a generalized linear model (GLM), Flexible discriminant analysis (FDA), random forest (RF), and multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA). Several factors obtained from various sources, including topographical, geological, meteorological, hydrological, and human activities were incorporated to produce the final multi-hazard risk model. Area under the curve (AUC) was applied to identify the best predictive model for each natural hazard type. AUC values between 80 and 90% indicated that the model is very good and above 90% indicated that the model is excellent in predictive capability. Based on the accuracy evaluation, it was found that the FDAFDA model is the most accurate for predicting landslides with AUC values of (92.7%, excellent performance), RF model is the most accurate for predicting floods and erosion with AUC values of (97.2%-excellent and 83.3%-very good performance, respectively). Finally, multi-hazard risk map was prepared by coupling of the mentioned three hazards. Results showed that 33.5% of the total area is safe (no-hazard), whereas 66.5% is characterized by at least a single hazard and 2–32 − 3 hazard combination. Machine learning approaches are useful tools as baselines for management and mitigation processes, based on multi-hazard modeling. It could help planners and decision-makers to manage future human activities and expansions.
COVID-19, stigma, and habituation: Evidence from mobility data
Authors: Kurita Kenichi , Katafuchi Yuya
Published: May 2022

Background: The Japanese government has restricted people’s going-out behavior by declaring the non-punitive state of emergency for several times under COVID-19. This study aims to analyze how multiple policy interventions that impose non-legally binding restrictions on behavior affect people’s going-out. Theory: This study models the stigma model of self-restraint behavior under the pandemic with habituation effects. The theoretical result indicates that the state of emergency’s self-restraint effects weaken with the number of times. Methods: The empirical analysis examines the impact of emergency declarations on going-out behavior using a prefecture-level daily panel dataset that includes Google’s going-out behavior data, the Japanese government’s policy interventions based on emergency declarations, and covariates that affect going-out behavior such as precipitation and holidays. Results: First, for multiple emergency declarations from the beginning of the pandemic to 2021, the effect of refraining from going-out was confirmed under emergency declarations in a model that did not distinguish the number of emergency declarations. Second, in the model that considers the number of emergency declarations, the effect of voluntary restraint on going-out was found to decrease with the number of declarations. Conclusion: These empirical analyses are consistent with the results of theoretical analyses, which show that people become more habituated to a policy intervention as the number of the interventions increases.
Academic Leadership in Physician Assistant Medical Education: A cross-sectional analysis of the association with Doctoral Degree, Gender, and Minority Status
Authors: Kibe Lucy W. , Kayingo Gerald , Klein Alicia , Schrode Katrina M.
Published: May 2022

Background: There is a critical need for a diverse pool of academic leaders to increase the number and diversity of the medical workforce. Physician Assistant (PA) is a growing medical profession. Although the master’s degree is the terminal degree for PAs, a growing number of PAs obtain a variety of doctoral degrees. However, there is no standardized training for academic PA leaders. This study characterizes PA academic leaders and examines the impact of doctoral degree credentials, gender, and minority status.Methods: Using the 2019 Physician Assistant Education Association Faculty and Directors survey, we assessed the relationship between academic leadership groups[1]: Program Director (PD); Academic Director (AD); and Clinical Director (CD) and demographic variables (gender, race, ethnicity, underrepresented minority in medicine (URIM) status); time-dependent variables; and doctoral degree. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the odds of being in a leadership role. Results with p< 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: Of the 956 participants, 71% were female; 4%% Hispanic; 86% White; 4% Black, 2% Asian; 1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/American Indian/Alaska Native. Overall, 9% were URIM. Mean age was 45.6 (SD=10.2) years. Average time in PA education was 2.9 (SD=1.4). Approximately 50% (n=472) had a leadership role (PD-24%; AD-10%; CD-16%). Of all leaders, 68% were female, 9% were URIM, and 19% had a doctoral degree. Having a doctoral degree increased the odds of being a PD [AOR 2.38; CI [1.57-3.59]; p=< .0001; AD and CD =non-significant]. More time in PA education increased the odds of being a PD [[AOR [1.10; [1.07 - 1.12]; p=< 0.0001]] and AD [[AOR 1.06 [1.03 - 1.09]; p=< 0.0001]], but not a CD. Gender and URIM status were not significantly associated with leadership roles. URIMs had doctorate degrees at higher rates than non-URIMs.Conclusion: PA academic leaders differ by doctoral degree attainment but not by gender and URIM status. URIM faculty are grossly underrepresented in the PA professorate, but disproportionately have doctoral degrees. Academic training opportunities for all PA academic leaders and strategies to increase URIM faculty are needed.[1] Academic Directors and Clinical Directors may be titled Academic Coordinators and Clinical Coordinators respectively
Current management in the treatment of intramedullary ependymomas in children
Authors: Entenmann Christian Joachim , Mišove Adéla , Holub Miloslav , Zápotocký Michal , Sumerauer David , Tomášek Martin , Bradáč Ondřej ,   Vladimír Beneš 3rd
Published: May 2022

Purpose: Current management of pediatric intramedullary ependymoma is extrapolated from adult series since large studies in children are not available. This has led us to share our experience with this rare tumor and compare it to the literature; in order to review and highlight important aspects of current management and point out inconsistencies.Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with intramedullary ependymoma managed at our institution between 2004 and 2021.Results: During the study period 5 patients were treated for intramedullary ependymoma. Cases of myxopapillary ependymoma were excluded. The mean age of our cohort was 11,2 years. We identified 4 cases of grade II ependymoma and 1 case of grade III ependymoma. Gross tumor removal (GTR) was achieved in two patients (40%) of patients. One patient was treated with radiotherapy for recurrence and two patients received chemotherapy. There were no cases of recurrence among patients treated with GTR, but in all patients treated with STR. 80% of patients either improved or stayed stable neurologically. During follow-up (mean 73 months) 2 patients died of disease.Conclusion: GTR and tumor grade remain the key prognostic factor of long-term tumor-free survival. Many questions prevail with regards to outcomes, correct use of adjuvant therapy, and prognostic factors.
Experimental study of the feasibility of phosphorus-32 as a new energy source to treat difficult tachycardia originating from around the coronary artery
Authors: Chen Qingyong , Yue Wen , Chen Tengda , Yang Bosen , Yang Qing
Published: May 2022

Tachyarrhythmia originating from around the coronary artery remains a great clinical challenge for electrophysiologists. This study explored the feasibility of using phosphorus-32 (P-32) as a new energy source to treat tachyarrhythmia around the coronary artery. Four points of the left ventricle of seven Bama mini-pigs and femoral artery of pig4-7 were selectively radiated in protocol by a self-designed radiation catheter. The voltage mapping showed a significantly lower voltage at the irradiated sites 30 days after the procedure compared with that before the irradiation for pigs2-7（1.77 vs 4.39，p＜0.001）. No obvious stenosis was observed in the coronary artery and femoral artery at the irradiation site. P-32 internal radiotherapy can change the electrical properties of cardiomyocytes, but it has few effects on the coronary and femoral artery. P-32 could be a complementary or alternative treatment for tachyarrhythmia originating from around the coronary artery.
Outcomes and Complications of Cerebral Aneurysms Operated on by Eyebrow Incision According to Aneurysm Type and Location
Authors: Eun Jin , Park Ik Seong
Published: May 2022

OBJECTIVE: Trans-eyebrow supraorbital aneurysmal neck clipping, also known as keyhole surgery, have many advantages of minimal invasive surgery. However, there are few studies on whether there is a difference in keyhole surgery according to the location of the aneurysm, and how the complications after keyhole approach differ from the conventional approach. The authors investigated the surgical outcome of keyhole aneurysmal surgery for clarify the characteristics of keyhole surgeryMETHODS: A retrospective study was performed with review of medical records and images of patients with anterior circulation aneurysm undergoing aneurysmal clipping with keyhole surgery. The patient's clinical condition, imaging, surgical condition, and outcome were investigated.RESULTS: As a result of analysis about the location of the aneurysm, middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm group had a longer operation time than internal carotid artery and anterior cerebral artery aneurysm groups, but there was no significant difference in complication rate. The olfactory dysfunction occurred more than that of conventional surgery and occurred less in MCA aneurysm group than others. Scalp sensory change in the surgical site was more common in patients with unruptured aneurysms.CONCLUSION: By accurately investigating the frequency and severity of complications associated with trans-eyebrow aneurysmal neck clipping surgery, it can help to select a surgical approach considering risk versus benefit. In addition, patient’s satisfaction can be increased by providing information to patients and caregivers in advance about the outcome of this approach and the anticipated complications.
Microalgae as an aquaculture feed produced in short light-path annular column photobioreactor
Authors: Ranglová Karolína , Manoel João Câmara , Lakatos Gergely Ernő , Grivalský Tomáš , Masojídek Jiří
Published: May 2022

In this work, we have selected four microalgae strains (Chlorella vulgaris, Trachydiscus minutus, Monodopsis sp., and Monoraphidium sp.) to study their growth in a 30 L short-light path annular-column photobioreactor (AC-PBR). The aim was to evaluate the potential use of these strains as an alternative fish feed in hatcheries based on the content and composition of fatty acids. All microalgae strains reached a high biomass density between 3.65 and 5.32 g DW L− 1 during a14-day trial when the highest growth rate of 0.30 ± 0.01 d− 1 was found for the Monodopsis culture. The highest total content of fatty acids (TFA) was determined for Monodopsis and Trachydiscus biomass as the concentration reached 74.5 ± 6.3 and 72.4 ± 7.6 mg g− 1 DW, respectively. These two strains contained eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n3), the crucial FA for marine carnivorous fish. The concentration of EPA reached the value of 25.3 ± 0.9% and 31.9 ± 2.0% of TFA for Monodopsis and Trachydiscus, respectively. The highest amount of linoleic acid (LA; C18:2n6), important for carnivorous freshwater fish, was found in Chlorella biomass up to the concentration of 21.9 ± 1.5% of TFA. The present results show the possibility of efficient cultivation of thick microalgae cultures in a larger scale laboratory photobioreactor as a potential sustainable live feed for rotifers and fish larvae in hatcheries.
Biocompatibility and Antioxidant Activity of a Novel Carrageenan Based Injectable Hydrogel Scaffold Incorporated with Cissus Quadrangularis for Facilitating Dentin-Pulp Complex Regeneration – An in vitro Study
Authors: Sairaman Sruthi , S. Nivedhitha M. , Shrivastava Deepti , Onazi Meshal Aber Al , Algarni Hmoud Ali , Mustafa Mohammed , Alqahtani Ali Robaian , AlQahtani Nouf , Teja Kavalipurapu Venkata , Janani Krishnamachari , Eswaramoorthy Rajalakshmanan , M.P. Sudhakar , Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Srivast Kumar Chandan
Published: May 2022

Background: Over the past years, polysaccharide based scaffolds has been the most promising material for tissue engineering. In the present study, carrageenan, an injectable scaffold has been used owing to its advantage and superior property. Cissus quadrangularis, a natural agent was incorporated into the carrageenan scaffold which probably has the potential to make a favourable micro-environment for the dentin-pulp regeneration. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the antioxidant activity and biocompatibility of the material. Methods: The present in vitro study comprised of four study group each constituting a sample of 15 (n=15). The carrageenan hydrogel without addition of Cissus quadrangularis acted as control group (Group-I). Based on the concentration of aqueous extract of Cissus quadrangularis (10% w/v, 20% w/v and 30% w/v) in carrageenan hydrogel, respective study groups namely II, III and IV were considered. Antioxidant activity was assed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and biocompatibility test was performed by using brine shrimp lethality assay. One-way ANOVA with the post hoc tukey test was performed using SPSS software v22. Results: Significant difference (P<0.05) in the antioxidant activity was observed among the study groups with 20% w/v Cissus quadrangularis hydrogel (group III) reported the highest and control group showed the least antioxidant activity. A significant (P<0.01) drop in the antioxidant activity was observed in group IV when compared with group III. A significant (P<0.001) dose-dependent increase in biocompatibility was observed. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed to assess the surface morphology with different concentration of cissus quadrangularis, wherein group III showed even distribution throughout the hydrogel although the particles are close and densely arranged. Reduced antioxidant activity in group IV was probably due to clumping of the particles, thus reducing the active surface area.Conclusion: Keeping the limitations of the in vitro study, it can be assumed that carrageenan based injectable hydrogel scaffold, incorporated with 20% w/v Cissus quadrangularis can provide favourable micro-environment as it is biocompatible and possess better antioxidant property. Hence, this study lays ground for future studies to explore this scaffold incorporated with Cissus quadrangularis for dentin pulp regeneration.
Cuproptosis-related IncRNAs predict prognosis and immune reponse of lung adenocarcinoma IncRNAs predict lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang FangWei , Lin HongSheng , Su QiSheng , Li ChaoQian
Published: May 2022

Background: lung adenocarcinoma（LUAD）accounts for 50% of lung cancers, has a high mortality and a poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNA (IncRNAs) has been suggested to play an important role in the progression of tumors. Cuproptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death that is highly investigated in which excess copper promotes the aggregation of Lipoacylated protein and the destabilisation of Fe-S cluster proteins, leading to proteotoxicity and ultimately to cell death. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the role of cuproptosis-related IncRNA signature in clinical prognosis prediction and immunotherapy, and the relationship with drug sensitivity.Material and Methods: Genomic, clinical, and mutational data for LUAD patients were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), cuproptosis-related genes obtained form cuproptosis-related studies. Prognostic signature was constructed by co-expression analysis and Cox regression analysis. Patients were divided into high and low risk groups and then ROC, survival, risk curves, nomogram, C-Index, independent prognostic analysis, and clinical subgroup model validation were performed to observe the value of the signature in prognosis. Subsequently, IncRNAs were analyzed for Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment and immune-related functions, and tumor mutation burden (TMB). Finally, we analyzed the impact of TIDE scores on immune escape and immunotherapy of IncRNAs, identifying potential drugs for LUAD and the sensitivity of the drugs.Results: A total of 16 cuproptosis-related IncRNAs were obtained (AC016747.2, LINC00205, AC006947.1, LINC00592, AC020634.2, AC026355.2, LINC02848, ZNF571-AS1, CRIM1-DT, SEPSECS-AS1, HIF1A-AS3, AC013267.1, LINC02635, AL162632.3, AC004832.5, AC032011.1.) and developed prognostic signature, we found that high-risk patients had worse overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and higher mortality. Independent prognostic analyses, ROC, C-INDEX and nomogram demonstrate that the cuproptosis-related IncRNAs can accurately predict the prognosis of patients. nomogram and heatmap show a clear distribution of high and low risk of cuproptosis-related IncRNAs. Enrichment analysis demonstrated that the biological functions of IncRNAs are associated with the development of tumors. We also found that immune-related functions such as anti-viruses were suppressed in high-risk patients who had mutations in oncogenes, and OS was poorer in patients with high-TMB. Finally, we used TIDE to conclude that high-risk patients have a greater potential for immune escape and less effective immunotherapy, and also to identify a range of drugs that may be effective in the treatment of LUAD.Conclusion: in conclusion, the 16 cuproptosis-related IncRNAs can accurately predict the prognosis of LUAD patients and may provide new insights into clinical applications and immunotherapy.
Vasorin-abundant small extracellular vesicles retard intervertebral disc degeneration utilizing an injectable thermoresponsive delivery system
Authors: Liao Zhiwei , Ke Wencan , liu Hui , Tong bide , Wang kun , Feng Xiaobo , Hua Wenbin , Wang Bingjin , Song Yu , luo Rongjin , liang huaizhen , zhang weifeng , zhao kangcheng , li shuai , Yang Cao
Published: May 2022

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the pathological reason of back pain and the therapeutic approaches are still unsatisfactory. Recently, mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as the novel regenerative method for IDD. In this study, we intensively investigated the therapeutic mechanism of small EVs, and found that vasorin protein enriched in EVs promoted the proliferation and extracellular matrix anabolism of nucleus pulposus cells via the Notch1 signaling pathway. Then, we fabricated a thermoresponsive gel which composed of Pluronic F127 and decellularized extracellular matrix (FEC) for the delivery and sustained release of EVs. Besides, ex vivo and in vivo results showed that EVs embedded in FEC (EVs@FEC) ameliorate the disc degeneration efficiently and achieve better therapeutic effects than one-off EVs delivery. Collectively, these findings deepen the understanding of EVs mechanism in treating intervertebral disc degeneration, and also illustrate the promising capacity of sustained EVs release system for intervertebral disc regeneration.
Different functional networks underlying human walking with pulling force fields acting in forward or backward directions
Authors: Ogawa Tetsuya , Obata Hiroki , Yokoyama Hikaru , Kawashima Noritaka , Nakazawa Kimitaka
Published: May 2022

Walking with pulling force fields acting at the body center of mass (in the forward or backward directions) is compatible with inclined walking and is used in clinical practice for gait training. From the perspective of known differences in the motor strategies that underlie walking with the respective force fields, the present study elucidated whether the adaptation acquired by walking on a split-belt treadmill with either one of the force fields affects subsequent walking in other directions. Walking with the force field induced an adaptive and de-adaptive behavior of the subjects, with the aspect evident in the anterior breaking and posterior propulsive impulses of the ground reaction force as parameters. In the parameters, the adaptation acquired during walking with a force field acting in one direction was transferred to that in the opposite direction only partially. Furthermore, the adaptation that occurred while walking in a force field in one direction was rarely washed out by subsequent walking in a force field in the opposite direction and thus was maintained independently of the other. These results demonstrated possible independence in the neural functional networks capable of controlling walking in each movement task with an opposing force field.
Biological nitrogen fixation and nifH gene abundance in deadwood of 13 different tree species
Authors: Groß Christina , Hossen Shakhawat , Hartmann Henrik , Noll Matthias , Borken Werner
Published: May 2022

Deadwood is an extremely nitrogen (N) poor plant litter whose decomposition may rely on external N sources. Biological N2 fixation (BNF) by free-living diazotrophs, encoded with the nifH gene, is a potential pathway of N acquisition in deadwood. Still, the control of this process by tree species specific traits is hardly known. Here, we examined (1) BNF rates and nifH gene abundances in deadwood of 13 tree species after 12 years of decomposition and (2) how BNF was related to nutrient concentrations and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Comparing our BNF rates with the literature revealed no difference for angiosperms but gymnosperms. Large variability prevented any significant difference in BNF and nifH gene abundance between tree species identities of deadwood. Still, higher BNF and nifH gene abundances occurred in the group of diffuse-porous angiosperms compared to ring-porous angiosperms and gymnosperms. Positive relationships between BNF rates and molybdenum, phosphor, sulfur, and N suggested co-limitation of BNF by several nutrients in deadwood. Relatively high NSC concentrations indicated no carbon limitation of diazotrophs. Furthermore, structural equation modeling highlighted the importance of water content for BNF and nifH gene abundance, although the overall explanatory power was low. In conclusion, BNF is a ubiquitous microbial process in deadwood of all tree species, contributing to N enrichment during the long-term decay process and possibly reducing N limitation for deadwood degrading fungi.
Correlation of internet search enquiries, incidence of ophthalmological diseases and corneal, cataract and refractive surgical procedures
Authors: Ghaly Mohamed , Jaber Diana , Matthaei Mario , Cursiefen Claus , Händel Alexander , Köberlein-Neu Juliane , Hörster Robert , Siebelmann Sebastian
Published: May 2022

Analysis of internet search queries (ISQ) could be useful to study public interest and medical need for corneal, cataract, and refractive surgery. To date, there are preliminary data on seasonal trends in ophthalmic conditions, but only few studies correlate these data with real data from healthcare systems. The aim of this study is to analyze ISQ and correlate it with real healthcare system data. Data were retrieved from the KBV registry of patients who underwent outpatient ophthalmic surgery in Germany from 2017 to 2019 and from Statista GmbH from 2010 to 2020 for corneal refractive surgery. Time Series analysis of ISQ was analyzed from 2004 to 2020 and correlated with healthcare system data using bivariate correlation analysis. ISQ correlated significantly with the incidence of ophthalmic procedures such as corneal transplantations (r = 0.69, p < 0.05), cataract- (r = 0.59, p < 0.05) and refractive laser surgery (r = 0.83, p < 0.05) in Germany. In addition, specific trends were observed with respect to individual surgical procedures. The correlation between search intensities and surgical procedures varied significantly. Thus, interests in surgical procedures can be tracked by observing changes in ISQ over time. These data correlate with real healthcare data and could be used in the future for now-casting or even forecasting.
Optical absorption of conduction electrons in semiconductor nanowires in the presence of the electron-phonon interaction
Authors: Zorik Anas , Farhoud Maher , Sakr Mohammed R.
Published: May 2022

We calculate the energy states and the optical absorption coefficient for electrons in a nanowire in the presence of the Rashba and the longitudinal-optical phonon interactions. The interplay of those interactions results in a splitting in the electron dispersion relation at zero wavevector that grows linearly for the ground state as the strength of the lateral quantum confinement increases. For higher states, the energy splitting increases more rapidly till the state of resonant polaron is reached, then it increases slowly due to the pinning effect. The frequency separation between the well-resolved absorption peaks and their number are greatly influenced by the state of the polarons.
Perinatal plasma carotenoids and vitamin E concentrations with glycemia and insulin resistance in women during and after pregnancy
Authors: Lai Jun Shi , Godfrey Keith , Ong Choon Nam , Tan Kok Hian  , Yap Fabian , Chong Yap Seng , Chan Jerry , Chan Shiao-Yng , Chong Mary
Published: May 2022

Background: Carotenoids and vitamin E play beneficial roles against insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Objective: To examine the associations of perinatal plasma carotenoids and E vitamers concentrations with glycemia, insulin resistance, gestational and type-2 diabetes mellitus at mid-pregnancy and post-pregnancy in women of the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort. Methods: Plasma concentrations of carotenoids and E vitamers were measured at delivery, and principal component analysis derived patterns of their concentrations. Fasting and 2-hour plasma glucose, and fasting plasma insulin were measured at 26-28 weeks’ gestation and 4-6 years’ post-pregnancy, with derivation of homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Associations were examined using linear or logistic regressions adjusting for key confounders. Results: In 678 women, two patterns of carotenoids (CP1: α-, β-carotene, lutein; CP2: zeaxanthin, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin) and one pattern of E vitamers (VE: γ-, δ-, α-tocopherols) were derived. A higher CP1 score (1-SD) was associated with lower gestational fasting glucose [β (95%CI): -0.06 (-0.10, -0.02) mmol/L], and lower gestational and post-pregnancy HOMA-IR [gestational: -0.17 (-0.82, 0.01), P=0.065; post-pregnancy: -0.11 (-0.15, -0.08) mmol/L]. In contrast, a higher VE score (1-SD) was associated with higher gestational and post-pregnancy fasting and 2-hour glucose [gestational: 0.05 (0.01, 0.08) and 0.08 (0.01, 0.16); post-pregnancy: 0.19 (0.07, 0.31) and 0.24 (0.06, 0.42) mmol/L], but there were no associations with HOMA-IR. Conclusions: Higher α-, β-carotene and lutein may lower gestational fasting glycemia, and gestational and post-pregnancy insulin resistance; but higher vitamin E may increase gestational and post-pregnancy glycemia. Further investigation in cohorts with prospective longitudinal measurements of these vitamins are needed.
In-situ growth of CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity by the incomplete conversion of CeO2 to Ce(OH)CO3
Authors: Wu Xinhao , Tang Jianping , Li Yuan , Chen Yujun , Wang Lei , Zhong Shengliang
Published: May 2022

In this paper, a novel strategy was used to grow CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composite in situ by the incomplete conversion of CeO2 to Ce(OH)CO3 using ethylene glycol (EG) as CO32− source and solvent. And the content of Ce(OH)CO3 in CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composite can be controlled by changing the solvent composition. The CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composite prepared at 200°C for 24 h with a H2O/EG volume ratio of 10:20 exhibited greatly enhanced visible-light activity for methylene blue (MB) degradation compared to the bare CeO2. This work would provide a novel method to fabricate basic rare earth carbonates and their composites.
A Study on the Impact of Different Aging Models on the Health Status of Chinese Older Adults-Evidence from CHARLS national baseline
Authors: Chen Lu , Ma Rui , Ma Fang , Jia TingTing , Ma Guofang
Published: May 2022

Objective: To explore the effects of different aging models on the self-rated health status of Chinese elderly people, with the aim of suggesting ways to save resources, improve the quality of life of elderly people, and formulate policies related to healthy aging. Methods: This paper used the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database to obtain a total of 4443 samples by excluding irrelevant missing variables, and further The Ordered probit regression model and SEM model were constructed to test the effects of different aging patterns on the self-rated health status of the elderly in China. Results：The score of self-rated health status of the elderly in China is (3.084±1.020), which is in the middle to upper level; the linear regression results indicate that the frequency of interaction with children and monthly financial support from children among the family elderly variables have significant effects on the self-rated health status of the elderly.The p-values of old-age insurance and personal income were less than 0.01, which were statistically significant; among the control variables, gender, age, education level and place of residence all had significant effects on the health level of the elderly.Conclusion: There is a significant effect of elderly care model on the self-rated health status of the elderly; family care as the main feature of family care plays an important role in improving the health level of the elderly; there is a gap in community care; the marginal benefit of elderly health management is the largest.
TGFβ-induced changes in membrane curvature influence Ras oncoprotein membrane localization
Authors: Damalas Alexandros , Vonkova Ivana , Tutkus Marijonas , Stamou Dimitrios
Published: May 2022

In the course of cancer progression the tumor cells undergo morphology changes that lead to increased motility and invasiveness promoting formation of metastases. This process called epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is triggered by transforming growth factor (TGFβ) but for gaining the full invasive potential an interplay between signaling of TGFβ and Ras GTPases is required. Ras proteins possess lipidated domain that mediates Ras association with plasma membrane, which is essential for Ras biological functions. Type and number of the lipid anchors are the main difference among three Ras variants – H-ras, N-ras and K-ras. The lipid anchors determine membrane partitioning of lipidated proteins into membrane areas of specific physico-chemical properties and curvature. In this study, we investigated the effect of TGFβ treatment on subcellular localization of H-ras and K-ras. We show that TGFβ induces increase in positive membrane curvature, which is subsequently sensed by activated H-ras, leading to its elevated plasma membrane localization. This observation suggests an existence of positive feedback loop in which increased level of membrane curvature of plasma membrane during TGFβ induced EMT would attract more Ras molecules to plasma membrane resulting in increased Ras activity and subsequent further promotion of EMT and acquisition of invasive potential.
Changing mortality amongst hospitalised children with Severe Acute Malnutrition in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2009 – 2018
Authors: Ndlovu Sibusiso , David-Govender Chantal , Tinarwo Partson , Naidoo Kimesh Loganathan
Published: May 2022

BackgroundThe under-five mortality rates of children in South Africa (SA) remain high despite successful HIV prevention and treatment programs. The in-hospital mortality of children with severe acute malnutrition remains a key obstacle. This study identifies and describes changes in the mortality of under-five children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) following the implementation of HIV and malnutrition prevention and treatment programmes. MethodsThis was a retrospective review of in-hospital mortality records and databases. The study was based at a large referral hospital in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where HIV and malnutrition rates are high, and SAM children are managed with standard WHO guidelines. Records of children under five years old who died from 2009 to 2018 were analysed.ResultsOf the 698 under-five children who died in this period, 285 (40,8% of all under-5 deaths) were classified as having SAM. The number of HIV-infected SAM deaths dropped significantly, especially those below six months of age, mirroring the expansion of HIV treatment and prevention programmes. Despite this and a significant drop in the proportion of SAM admissions identified, there was no change in SAM case fatality rates over the ten years. Septicaemia remained the most common cause of death in children with SAM.ConclusionsDespite significant decreases in HIV-related malnutrition deaths over ten years, the lack of change in SAM case fatality rates is a concern at this referral hospital. Standardised WHO inpatient management protocols, may require review, especially where underlying medical conditions may contribute to SAM deaths in HIV-negative children.
Effects of Treatment with Liraglutide on Health-Related Quality of Life and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in People with Obesity and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Dogan Ayse Dudu Altintas , Hess Søren , Jensen Torben Tranborg , Bladbjerg Else-Marie , Juhl Claus Bogh , Hilberg Ole
Published: May 2022

Purpose The rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obesity are increasing worldwide. Both COPD and obesity are highly associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and all three conditions are associated with reduced quality of life. Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) approved for weight loss and the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, liraglutide has anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the effect of treatment with liraglutide on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and OSA in people with obesity and COPD. MethodsWe designed and performed a double-blinded randomized controlled trial of obese participants with COPD from two outpatient clinics. Forty patients were randomized to a liraglutide group (3.0 mg, subcutaneous) and a placebo group, to receive treatment for 40 weeks. At baseline and the end of the medication period, the participants underwent cardiorespiratory monitoring and completed Short Form-36 version 2 (SF-36v2) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).ResultsWe diagnosed 84% of the participants with some degree of OSA. Compared to placebo, liraglutide resulted in reductions in Apnea–Hypopnea Index (AHI), Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) and a rise in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in certain OSA subgroups and improved several SF-36v2 domains. ConclusionOSA is common among obese people with COPD. 40 weeks of treatment with liraglutide may improve some measures of OSA and HRQoL in obese people with COPD. Trial registrationStudy procedures were in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki after approval by the Scientific Ethics Committee of The Region of Southern Denmark (j. no S-20170147) and Eudract (j. no. 2017-003551-32). The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03466021) and monitored according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) by the GCP Unit of Odense University Hospital (Odense, Denmark).
Can rose odor help to improve memory consolidation during sleep and retrieval? – a real-life study
Authors: Knötzele Jessica , Riemann Dieter , Frase Lukas , Feige Bernd , Elst Ludger Tebartz van , Kornmeier Jürgen
Published: May 2022

Improving our learning abilities is important for numerous aspects of our life. Several studies found beneficial effects of presenting cues (odor or sounds) during learning and during sleep for learning performance. A recent study applying a real-life paradigm indicated that additional odor cueing during a Final Test can further increase this cueing effect. The present online study builds on these findings with the following questions: (1) Can we replicate beneficial memory effects of additional odor cueing during tests? (2) How many odor cueing learning units and odor cueing nights of sleep maximize the learning success? (3) Can odor cueing also reduce the amount of forgetting over time? 160 Participants learned 40 German Japanese word pairs in four groups with separate experimental conditions over three days. group N received no odor during the whole study. Group LS received odor cueing during learning and sleep, group LT during learning and testing and group LST during learning, sleep and testing. Participants performed intermediate tests after each learning unit plus three Final Tests 1, 7 and 28 days after the last learning unit. Results: (1) Group LST learned 8.5% more vocabulary words than the other groups overall. (2) This odor cueing effect increased across the three days of cued learning. (3) We found no clear evidence for effects of odor cueing on the forgetting dynamics. Our findings support the notion of a beneficial effect of odor cueing. They further suggest to use at least 3 days and nights of odor cueing. Overall, this study indicates that there is an easy, efficient and economical way to enhance memory performance in daily life.
Insufficient weight gain under 3 years is associated with short stature in school-aged children
Authors: Koyama Satomi , Naganuma Junko , Arisaka Osamu , Yoshihara Shigemi
Published: May 2022

Purpose: If children show inadequate infant weight gain, their growth velocity will also decrease, especially £3 years of age. We hypothesized that such children may not only lead to being underweight but also short stature during childhood, and this trend will follow them through adolescence. Methods: A total of 271 children were enrolled. The Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationships of the increment of weight gain £3 years, from birth to 1.6 years and from 1.6 years to 3 years of age, with height and weight at 3, 7 years and pubertal age, respectively. Results: The Pearson correlation coefficients between weight gain each of from birth to 1.6 years and from 1.6 years to 3 years of age and weight at pubertal age were 0.34 and 0.37 in boys and 0.47 and 0.48 in girls, and height at pubertal age were 0.34 and 0.24 in boys and 0.65 and 0.40 in girls, respectively. Conclusions: Insufficient weight gain in children £3 years, especially £1.6 years is not only associated being underweight, but also short stature at 3 and 7 years and at the onset of puberty and it is also suspected that adult height and weight may be affected.