bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating Nutrition, Culinary Medicine, and Agriculture in a Longitudinal, Case-Based Medical Education Curriculum
Authors: Fragomen Fiona Rae , Reigel Connor , Dhaliwal Olivia , Miller Margaret G , Sapola Amy
Published: September 2023

The United States is plagued with the highest rates of preventable metabolic diseases it has ever seen, and while poor nutrition is increasingly recognized as a critical contributing factor, good nutrition has been shown to be a potent factor in prevention and management of these illnesses. Notably, nutrition is inextricably intertwined with farming practices and the stewardship of our environment – particularly its soil. In this proposal, we propose a method to expose medical students to basic agricultural and environmental knowledge regarding the production of food, as well as educate them in practical nutrition education within the interactive, case-based, and longitudinal preclinical curriculum at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRU SOM). We propose a two-part approach; first: integrating relevant topics in nutrition, culinary medicine, and farming practices into the preclinical blocks through Official Learning Objectives, and second: an optional 8-week, zero credit elective for students interested in pursuing a deeper understanding of these topics. Through these interventions, we believe courses like this will support a generation of physicians able to understand health from soil to plate with a consideration for the environment in addition to exemplifying healthful lifestyles themselves. We believe these kinds of future physicians will be the most effective in treating (and ideally reversing) the chronic disease epidemic.
A Scoping Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Nurses towards Nurse-Led Neonatal Sepsis Risk Assessment in Newborns—A Single Center Study
Authors: Nath Sfurti , Alissa Rana , Hudak Mark
Published: September 2023

Successful implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) requires a well-structured approach involving all stakeholders. Despite embracing key responsibilities, nurses’ role remains poorly defined, preventing consistent engagement. We conducted a scoping survey to assess knowledge, attitude and perception of nurses towards nurse-led initial sepsis risk evaluation using the sepsis risk calculator (SRC) of newborns admitted to the mother-baby unit. Single-center, cross-sectional study. Study link was sent to all full-time nurses in mother-baby unit. Survey centered around knowledge of unit’s ASP and attitude and perception towards nurse-led initial sepsis risk evaluation. 89% response rate. 100% agreed that SRC reduced antibiotic use and 66% felt nurse-led sepsis risk evaluation will enhance nurse involvement, but this was offset by extra burden of work (66%) and low confidence in differentiating stable from clinically unstable infants (46%). Other facilitating factors included greater nurse/patient ratio (100%), targeted education (89%) and incorporation of the SRC into EMR (78%). Only 11% were willing to serve as champions for it. There was no significant correlation to age or experience however, greater number of fresh grads were interested in championing this effort. Our study identifies a need for strong foundation of knowledge and greater nurse/patient ratio as two main factors for improving nurse-led use of the SRC. Multi-site studies scoping barriers to nursing involvement for successful implementation of ASPs are necessary.
Adenylosuccinic Acid Is a Non-Toxic Small Molecule In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Timpani Cara A , Rasmussen Lorna , Rybalka Emma
Published: September 2023

Adenylosuccinic acid (ASA) is a small molecule dicarboxylate that could be a strong clinical development candidate for inherited myopathies involving dysregulated purine nucleotide metabo-lism. Currently, there are no published pharmacokinetic/dynamic or toxicology data available, albeit 10-year clinical trial data in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients suggests a chronically safe drug. In this study, we tested the toxicity of ASA to cultured myoblasts in vitro and acute systemic toxicity in mice. ASA is a non-toxic small molecule with an LD50> 5000mg/kg. Some background necrotic foci in the liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract were shown that are likely incidental but warrant follow-up sub-/chronic oral exposure studies.
On the Functions of Marcinkiewicz Integrals along Surfaces of Revolution on Product Domains via Extrapolation
Authors: Al-Qassem Hussain , Ali Mohammed
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we establish certain Lp bounds for several classes of rough Marcinkiewicz integrals over surfaces of revolution on product spaces. By using these bounds and using an extrapolation argument, we obtain the Lp boundedness of these Marcinkiewicz integrals under very weak conditions on the kernel functions. Several previous results on Marcinkiewicz operators are essentially extended or improved. Our results represent natural extensions and improvements of several known results on Marcinkiewicz integrals over symmetric spaces.
Biased Random Process of Randomly Moving Particles with Fixed Mean and Curl
Authors: Guo Tao
Published: September 2023

In this study, we investigate the behavior of randomly moving particles with a defined average energy, focusing on their biased motion around a specific point. These particles' velocity magnitudes follow a Maxwell distribution characterized by certain parameters. Our analysis derives the stochastic rotation rules for these particles and introduces the Ito equation conditions for biased stochastic rotation at a given curl value. We also consider the special relativistic-like effects in this context. The findings are validated through a representative example.
Films Based on Biopolymers Incorporated with Active Compounds Encapsulated in Emulsions: Properties and Potential Applications – a Review
Authors: Reis Camily Aparecida , Gomes Andresa , Sobral Paulo José do Amaral
Published: September 2023

Rising consumer demand for more safety, healthy and fresh-like food has given new concepts for food packaging. Besides, the growing concern with environmental issues has increased the search for materials from non-petroleum sources and biodegradable ones. Thus, active films based on biopolymers loaded with natural active compounds have potential to be used as food packaging. However, there are a lot of lipophilic active compounds that are a problem to incorporate in hydrophilic matrices, such as polysaccharides and proteins. One way to overcome these challenges is adding these compounds encapsulated in O/W emulsions. The incorporation of emulsion in biopolymeric matrix has influence in the film properties, such as mechanical, barrier, optical, among other. In this way, this review aims to point out the main characteristics of the emulsions systems encapsulating active compounds and its influence in the film properties and to present and discus critically the recent advances in the area.
Chemokine CXCL10 and Cytokine GDF15 Associate with Autoimmune Myositis and Serum Levels Support Diagnosis and Subtyping
Authors: Paepe Boel De , Bracke Ken R , De Bleecker Jan L
Published: September 2023

Implementation of novel blood-based biomarkers is desired to reduce diagnostic delay and burden for myositis patients. In this retrospective study, the potential of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was explored in an established patient cohort diagnosed with immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM; n=21), sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM; n=18), polymyositis (PM; n=3), dermatomyositis (DM; n=2), and anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS; n=1), comparing with healthy controls (n=10) and patients with a hereditary neuromuscular disorder (n=14). CXCL10 and GDF15 were quantified in sera with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunolocalized in skeletal muscle tissue. In myositis patients, serum CXCL10 levels were significantly increased 9.6--fold compared to healthy and 4.2-fold compared to disease controls. Mean levels in IBM (929±658 pg/ml) were significantly higher than in IMNM (425±324 pg/ml). With the threshold set to 180pg/ml of CXCL10, myositis patients could be differentiated from healthy and disease controls with a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.71. Incorporating a threshold of 300 pg/ml for GDF15 reduced false negatives to two IMNM patients only. Subsets of muscle-infiltrating immune cells expressed CXCL10, and serum levels correlated with muscle inflammation grade. We propose adding circulating CXCL10 and GDF15 to the blood-based diagnostic toolkit for myositis as a valuable patient-friendly approach.
Size-controlled ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized with Thioacetamide and Formation of ZnS Quantum dots
Authors: Kim Ju-Seong , Choi Jonghyun , Choi Won Kook
Published: September 2023

In this work, we report on the first attempt using size-controlled ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) to analyze role of thioacetamide (TAA) in forming ZnS nanostructures from ZnO. The size-controlled B(blue)_, G(green)_, Y(yellow)_ZnO QDs, and NC (nanocrystalline)_ZnO NPs were synthesized by sol-gel process as well as hydrothermal method, respectively and then reacted with an ethanolic TAA solution as sulfur source. After reacting with TAA, the formation of ZnS QDs was observed over time. The chemical reactions were identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence (PL). All results indicate that ZnS formation is due to direct crystal growth and/or chemical conversion of ZnO to ZnS. Our results enable a broader understanding of the synthetic mechanisms involved in the use of TAA as a sulfur source in forming ZnS nanostructures from ZnO.
Transfer Learning with Deep Neural Network toward the Prediction of Wake Flow Characteristics of Containerships
Authors: Lee Min-Kyung , Lee Inwon
Published: September 2023

In this study, deep neural network (DNN) and transfer learning (TL) techniques were employed to predict the viscous resistance and wake distribution based on the positions of flow control fins (FCFs) applied to containerships of various sizes. Both methods utilized data collected through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The position of the flow control fin (FCF) and hull-form information were utilized as input data, and the output data included viscous resistance coefficients and components of propeller axial velocity. The base DNN model was trained and validated using a source dataset from a 1000 TEU containership. Grid search cross-validation technique was employed to optimize the hyperparameters of the base DNN model. Then, transfer learning was applied to predict the viscous resistance and wake distribution for containerships of varying sizes. To enhance the accuracy of feature prediction with a limited amount of dataset, learning rate optimization was conducted. Transfer learning involves retraining and reconfiguring the base DNN model, and the accuracy was verified based on the fine-tuning method of the learning model. The results of this study can provide hull designers for containerships with performance evaluation information by predicting wake distribution, without relying on CFD analysis.
Optimization of Live Prey Enrichment Media for Rearing Juvenile Short-Snouted Seahorse, Hippocampus hippocampus
Authors: Palma Jorge , Lima Ricardo , Andrade José Pedro , Lança Maria João
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to determine a nutritionally adequate feeding protocol for Hippocampus hippocampus juveniles. In the experimental trial, seahorses were fed copepods from 0-7 days post-parturition (DPP) and, from 8-28 DPP, four dietary treatments: (copepods (control diet), microalgae-enriched Artemia with a DHA/EPA ratio of 2:1, microalgae-enriched Artemia with a DHA/EPA ratio of 2:1 along with 5% copepods, and with 10% copepods) were tested. Results showed that juvenile seahorses fed on copepods attained a significantly higher (P<0.05) growth performance (5.1 mg d-1) than fish-fed diets with 5% and 10% copepod inclusion, (3.09 and 3.07 mg d-1, respectively), and fish-fed enriched Artemia (1.83 mg d-1) which performed poorly. Data suggests that feeding copepods during the first 7 DPP promotes maturation of the digestive tract of juvenile seahorses, and the addition of a limited amount of copepods to the diet improves H. hippocampus juvenile growth performance when compared to the use of Artemia as a single diet due to the improvement of the essential fatty acid profile in the diets.
Low-Grade Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Behaving as a High-Grade Disease: A Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Bangeas Petros , Kyziridis Dimitrios , Kalakonas Apostolos , Tentes Apostolis A
Published: September 2023

Patients with low-grade appendiceal mucinous carcinomas (LAMN) treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have a favorable prognosis. A subgroup presents a clinically aggressive course with disease progress despite any treatment. The purpose of the study is to report the experience with clinically aggressive LAMN patients treated by the same team and review the literature. Four patients with clinically aggressive LAMN were reviewed. Clinical and histopathological characteristics were re-examined. Recurrences and the time of recurrence, as well as the survival time, were recorded. There were 4 men with clinically aggressive LAMN treated with CRS plus HIPEC. One of them underwent CC-0 surgery, two underwent CC-1, and one CC-3 surgery. All received systemic chemotherapy after surgery. Recurrence was recorded in 3 patients in 4-23 months after initial treatment. Two of them underwent secondary CRS. Three patients died of disease recurrence in 13-23 months, and one is alive with disease relapse 49 months after initial surgery. LAMN was identified in both initial specimens and in specimens of reoperation. The prognosis of LAMN patients treated with CRS plus HIPEC is favorable. A small number of them presents clinically aggressive course unresponsive to any treatment. Molecular and genetic studies are required to identify this group of LAMN patients who have an unfavorable prognosis.
Emerging Pollutants in Uganda: A Systematic Review
Authors: Baguma Gabson , Bamanya Gadson , Gonzaga Allan , Onen Patrick , Ampaire Wycliffe
Published: September 2023

Emerging pollutants pose significant threats to Uganda's ecosystems and public health amidst rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and intensified agriculture. This systematic review comprehensively assessed these pollutants by analyzing existing Ugandan literature and research studies, revealing various types in different environmental compartments. These pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, radionuclides, biotoxins, disinfection byproducts, hydrocarbons, and microplastics, originate from urban, industrial, and agricultural regions. Wastewater and improper waste disposal are major contributors. From an initial search of 794 articles across multiple databases such as PubMed, African Journal Online (AJOL), Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, 138 were found relevant. The review underscores potential ecological and health impacts, including antibiotic resistance, endocrine disruption, and carcinogenicity. Existing monitoring and regulation efforts are discussed, alongside the need for specific regulations, improved data collection, and public awareness campaigns. Recommendations include advanced wastewater treatment, sustainable agriculture, and source control measures. Emphasis is placed on further research to address knowledge gaps and develop effective policies and interventions. Uganda can mitigate these risks by implementing comprehensive monitoring, robust regulations, and sustainable practices, safeguarding the environment and public health.
Knowledge and Awareness of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Female Students in Dubai
Authors: Alhatemi Maryam , Haroun Dalia
Published: September 2023

Keywords: iron deficiency anemia; IDA; anemia; knowledge; awareness.
Comparative Analysis of the Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Six Endangered Cycas Species: Genomic Features, Comparative Analysis, and Phylogenetic Implications
Authors: Tang Jianmin , Zou Rong , Chen Taiguo , Pan Lipo , Zhu Shujing , Ding Tao , Chai Shengfeng , Wei Xiao
Published: September 2023

Cycas (family Cycadaceae), spread throughout tropical and subtropical regions, is crucial in con-servation biology. Due to the subtle morphological variations between species, a solid spe-cies-level phylogeny for Cycas is lacking. Because of the rapid progress in high-throughput se-quencing technology, it has become feasible to acquire complete chloroplast (cp) genome se-quences, which provide a molecular foundation for phylogenetic research. In the present study, we employed next-generation sequencing technology to assemble and analyze the chloroplast genomes of six Cycas plants, including their genome structure, GC content, and nucleotide di-versity. The Cycas chloroplast genome spans 162,038 to 162,159 bp and contains 131 genes, in-cluding 86 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Through a comparative analysis, we found that the chloroplast genome of Cycas was highly conserved, as indicated by the contraction and expansion of the inverted repeat (IR) re-gions and sequence polymorphisms. In addition, several non-coding sites (psbK-psbI, petN-psbM, trnE-UUC-psbD, ndhC-trnM-CAU, and rpl32-trnP-GGG) showed significant varia-tion. The utilization of phylogenetic analysis relying on protein-coding genes has substantiated the division of Cycas primarily into four groups. The application of these findings will prove valuable in evaluating genetic diversity and the phylogenetic connections among closely related species. Moreover, it will provide essential support for the advancement of wild germplasm re-sources.
F*, an interpretable transformation of the F measure, equates to the critical success index
Authors: Mbizvo Gashirai K. , Larner Andrew J.
Published: September 2023

Recently a measure termed F* was described, as an interpretable transformation of the F measure, also known as the Dice coefficient. Using elementary mathematical methods, it is shown that F* is in fact identical to a previously described measure, monotonically related to the F measure, and variously termed in previous publications, dating from the late 19th to the late 20th century, as the ratio of verification, the Jaccard similarity measure or index, the threat score, the Tanimoto index, and the critical success index. The origins of these different terms in different disciplines (weather forecasting, ecology, machine learning) may explain the repeated independent redescription of this measure.
Optimization of RT-QuIC Assay Duration for Screening Chronic Wasting Disease in White-Tailed Deer
Authors: Yilmaz Gokhan , Morrill Tamara , Ward Cian , Mitchell Gordon , Soutyrine Andrei , Dan Hanhong , Lin Min , Guan Jiewen
Published: September 2023

Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assays have become common in the detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) and are very sensitive provided the assay duration is sufficient. However, a prolonged assay duration may lead to non-specific signal amplification. The wide range of pre-defined assay durations in current RT-QuIC applications presents a need for optimization of the RT-QuIC assay duration. In this study, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was applied to optimize assay duration for detection of CWD in obex and retropharyngeal lymph node (RLN) tissue specimens. Two different fluorescence thresholds were used: a fixed threshold based on background fluorescence (Tstdev) and a max-point ratio (maximum/background fluorescence) threshold (TMPR) to determine CWD positivity. The optimal assay duration was 27 h for both obex and RLN based on Tstdev, and 27 and 28 h for obex and RLN, respectively, based on TMPR. The optimized assay durations were then evaluated for screening CWD in white-tailed deer from an affected farm. Results by RT-QuIC using optimized duration based on Tstdev and TMPR were in 100% and 92.3 % or higher agreement with those by the widely used screening assay, ELISA. In comparison, when using a 40 h assay duration, the agreement between RT-QuIC and ELISA reduced to 89.2% or higher, and the RT-QuIC results were significantly (p < 0.05) different from those using optimum durations. These findings demonstrated that the application of ROC analysis for the optimization of assay duration could improve the RT-QuIC assay for screening CWD in white-tailed deer.
ANALYSIS OF THE PUBLIC APPEAL HANDLING IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTION AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL
Authors:   South Ural State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Chelyabinsk, Russia, Moskvicheva Marina , Polinov Maxim ,   South Ural State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Chelyabinsk, Russia, Vanin Eugene ,   South Ural State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Chelyabinsk, Russia,   Ministry of Health of the Chelyabinsk Region, Chelyabinsk, Russia
Published: September 2023

Significance. Increasing involvement of patients in quality improvement of health care is a global trend. Appeals of the citizens to the state authorities are the easiest way to protect the rights of the citizens in the field of health care. The increased social activity of the citizens and transparency of the state authorities have determined the increase in the number of complaints and appeals of the citizens to the state authorities and medical organizations regarding provision of medical care. Handling appeals and complaints is a systemic problem of the Russian healthcare. Organization of monitoring over incoming information will make it possible to organize systematic work to protect the rights of the citizens in the field of health care, to improve health care quality and accessibility. The purpose of the study is to analyze organization of activities for handling appeals in public health protection at the regional level in order to develop proposals aimed at improving efficiency of appeals’ handling. Material and Methods. Material: official data of the Ministry of Health of the Chelyabinsk region. Research methods: mathematical and statistical; analytical (quantitative, structural, comparative). Results. A growth trend in the number of public appeals to the health executive authorities both at the federal and regional levels has been identified, including dynamics in the increase in the number of appeals related to the provision of medical care, financing and staff remuneration in medical organizations. Regional features of the structure of public appeals submitted to the Ministry of Health of the Chelyabinsk region have been determined. Results of the analysis of the appeal handling in medical chats in the Telegram messenger in 2022, as part of the “ZdravControl” project implementation have been presented. Conclusion. Results of the analysis of the public appeal handling in the field of public health protection at the regional level substantiate the need for developing a set of organizational measures to improve organization of care delivery in the region, and raising public awareness about their rights in the field of public health protection. Implementation of the “ZdravControl” project will make it possible to reduce the number of appeals submitted by the residents directly to the health executive authorities, as well as distribute the appeals by source and method of receipt.
Nonmetallic Anterior Hemiepiphysiodesis of the Distal Femur with a Low-Profile, Pretensioned Implant
Authors: Weltsch Daniel , Talathi Nakul S. , Thompson Rachel M.
Published: September 2023

Case:

A 14-year-old adolescent boy with left-sided spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy presented with a 14° left knee flexion contracture and resultant gait disturbance in the setting of an open distal femoral physis. He underwent subsequent anterior distal femur hemiepiphysiodesis with a suture anchor–based, nonmetallic implant. He achieved full correction at the 1-year follow-up and underwent uncomplicated implant removal.

Conclusion:

A low-profile, suture-based implant used for pediatric knee flexion deformity may allow surgeons to control growth in a reversible fashion by tensioning the physis while possibly avoiding some of the complications associated with currently used implants.
Spinal Melorheostosis
Authors: Serttas Muhammed Fatih , Saglam Fevzi , Kochai Alauddin , Cakir Aslı , Kantarci Fatih , Dervişoğlu Sergülen
Published: September 2023

Case:

A 22-year-old female patient was referred to the orthopaedic department for further examination after a radiopaque area was observed in the T6 vertebra in her chest radiograph. Computed Tomography (CT) showed a sclerotic mass with smooth borders, involving the entire body of the T6 vertebra, left posterior elements, posterior of the rib past the left zygapophyseal joint, and a “flowing candle wax” image toward the T7 vertebra. Spinal melorheostosis was considered radiologically in the patient, but malignancy could not be completely excluded. Thereupon, open biopsy was performed under general anesthesia.

Conclusion:

Spinal melorheostosis is a rare condition. Histological examination should be considered in cases where the diagnosis remains suspicious after clinical and radiological evaluations.
Evaluating ChatGPT Performance on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination
Authors: Kung Justin E. , Marshall Christopher , Gauthier Chase , Gonzalez Tyler A. , Jackson J. Benjamin
Published: September 2023

Background:

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds potential in improving medical education and healthcare delivery. ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art natural language processing AI model which has shown impressive capabilities, scoring in the top percentiles on numerous standardized examinations, including the Uniform Bar Exam and Scholastic Aptitude Test. The goal of this study was to evaluate ChatGPT performance on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE), an assessment of medical knowledge for orthopedic residents.

Methods:

OITE 2020, 2021, and 2022 questions without images were inputted into ChatGPT version 3.5 and version 4 (GPT-4) with zero prompting. The performance of ChatGPT was evaluated as a percentage of correct responses and compared with the national average of orthopedic surgery residents at each postgraduate year (PGY) level. ChatGPT was asked to provide a source for its answer, which was categorized as being a journal article, book, or website, and if the source could be verified. Impact factor for the journal cited was also recorded.

Results:

ChatGPT answered 196 of 360 answers correctly (54.3%), corresponding to a PGY-1 level. ChatGPT cited a verifiable source in 47.2% of questions, with an average median journal impact factor of 5.4. GPT-4 answered 265 of 360 questions correctly (73.6%), corresponding to the average performance of a PGY-5 and exceeding the corresponding passing score for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part I Examination of 67%. GPT-4 cited a verifiable source in 87.9% of questions, with an average median journal impact factor of 5.2.

Conclusions:

ChatGPT performed above the average PGY-1 level and GPT-4 performed better than the average PGY-5 level, showing major improvement. Further investigation is needed to determine how successive versions of ChatGPT would perform and how to optimize this technology to improve medical education.

Clinical Relevance:

AI has the potential to aid in medical education and healthcare delivery.
A 3-D-printed precision sediment feed
Authors: Fleming Monte
Published: September 2023

Reproducible and regulated sediment feed rates are necessary for many flume experiments. A sediment feed mechanism capable of precisely providing a wide range of feed rates was developed for this purpose. It was constructed using wood, aluminum, and 3-D-printed components. It is powered by a stepper motor and controlled by an Arduino, and is easily programmable. Commercially available sediment feeds use augers or vibrating trays to move sediment; in contrast, this feed employs the novel design of a slotted wheel. While some commercially available sediment feeds can handle a wider variety of grain sizes, the error of their output (vol/t) tends to be slightly higher than the error of this feed's output, and this feed can deliver sediment over a much wider range of delivery rates. The most notable advantage of this sediment feed is that the cost of materials is only about $300 U.S.
Assessing Geological Deformation Across Spatial and Temporal Scales Using Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing
Authors: Busetti S. , Kazei V. , Merry H.
Published: September 2023

This work presents a conceptual framework for assessing geological deformation using distributed fiber-optic sensing (DFOS) that is applicable to several common sources of strain encountered during the reservoir life cycle. Common applications include strain associated with seismic and aseismic fault motion, natural and hydraulic fracture dilation and closure, and poroelastic strain evolution during injection and production. We briefly review common geological sources of strain observed in reservoir settings, then discuss the main fiber-based techniques for recording strain with attention to key deformation characteristics at different spatial and temporal resolutions. The relationships between common acquisition parameters, such as spatial resolution, data sampling rate, ability to measure relative and absolute strain, and a priori knowledge of geological strain including geomechanical models, and the availability of baseline measurements are discussed. Finally, a few examples are shown from experimental studies at the Aramco Research Center in Houston, Texas, USA. The facilities host a shallow vertical well instrumented with fiber as well as a surface fiber network embedded in a cement pad. We highlight several data sets acquired using Brillouin and Rayleigh frequency shift (BFS and RFS), low-frequency distributed acoustic sensing (LF-DAS), and DAS interrogation techniques, with a focus on concepts helpful for interpreting field strain. Using these insights as a conceptual framework for assessing geological deformation leads to more informed decisions when planning DFOS acquisitions and interpreting associated strain data.
Polymer Gel for Water Shutoff in Complex Oil and Gas Reservoirs: Mechanisms, Simulation, and Decision-Making
Authors: Jia Hu , Li Pengwu , Zhang Yufei
Published: September 2023

Gel treatment is often used for water shutoff in high water-cut oil or gas wells. Although the properties and usage methods of gel have been well documented by different investigators, gel treatment performance is not always satisfactory in field application, especially in oil or gas reservoirs with complex conditions, such as strong bottomwater reservoirs, high-permeability-ratio oil reservoirs, and fractured gas reservoirs. In this work, we attempt to improve gel treatment application in complex situations according to the causes of disappointing performance, including unreliable numerical simulation and the misapplication of experiences. We propose a new numerical simulation method of gel treatment mechanisms and verify it by improving the acquiring method of inaccessible pore volume (IAPV), dynamic polymer adsorption (DPA), and the simulation method of disproportionate permeability reduction (DPR). The performance and optimization measures of gel treatment in different types of complex oil and gas reservoirs are discussed extensively. Moreover, the dominant influencing factor of the gel treatment effect is determined by gray relation analysis to provide more direct and effective suggestions for field application.

The results suggest that the improved access methods for IAPV and DPA can help to obtain more precise parameters easily to construct a numerical gel model. In addition, the new DPR simulation method, which considers oil or gas blocking, reduces the overestimation of gel DPR ability obtained with the conventional method. The misapplication of gel treatment experience probably causes a disappointing response, for example, gel treatment time had opposite influences on water shutoff in strong bottomwater reservoirs and high-permeability-ratio oil reservoirs, and the experience of reservoir thickness in oil reservoirs was not suitable for gas reservoirs. Furthermore, the major factors of gel treatment are varied in different oil and gas reservoirs, demonstrating that primary evaluation indicators for candidate wells are not permanent.
Prediction on Filtration Period of Granular Bed Filter Used in Purifying Produced Water in Oil Field
Authors: Wang Ke , Li Changjun , Jia Wenlong , Chen Yong
Published: September 2023

The granular bed filter can purify the water produced in the crude oil production process by adsorbing oil droplets and suspended solids. A regeneration operation is needed to clean the granular media and recover filtration capacity after a certain operation duration. Currently, filtration models are mainly used for one type of particle removal, with few applications in the filtration system of produced water containing oil droplets and suspended solids. However, the different deposition morphologies of oil droplets and suspended solids in the filter bed can affect the prediction of the filtration process. In this work, we develop a transient filtration model based on the multiphase system transport equations coupled with the filtration rate and momentum exchange equations to predict simultaneously the effluent concentration and the pressure drop buildup, which considers the effect of deposition morphologies of oil droplets and suspended solids on filtration behaviors. The model hypothesizes that particle removal occurs through deep bed filtration mechanisms, and initial filtration coefficients are predicted by trajectory analysis without relying on experimental data. After that, we propose a method for predicting the filtration period, and analyze the effect of particle size and water temperature on the filtration process. Results show that the filtration process can be divided into two major stages—the main filtration zone migration, followed by the saturation front migration. With an S-shape increase in the effluent concentration, the pressure drop of the filter bed increases in a parabolic shape. When the diameter median of suspended solids is 5 μm, and the water temperature is 20°C, the filtration period was determined to be 24 hours to meet both water quality and maximum usable pressure drop of 20 kPa. With the increase in non-Brownian suspended solid size, the interception and gravitational forces increase the removal efficiency of suspended solids, which results in a slight decrease in the removal efficiency of oil droplets and an increase in the pressure drop of the filter bed. As the water temperature increases, the viscosity of the produced water decreases, and the oil droplets and suspended solids are more easily removed, but the pressure drop of the filter bed increases. In this work, we provide new ideas and methods to properly design, operate, and manage filters in a sustainable and energy-efficient way.
Tricolored Blackbirds’ Reliance on Insects from Dairies
Authors: Goodward David M. , Diaz Rudy A.
Published: September 2023

The Tricolored Blackbird has been in a severe population decline due to habitat loss and other factors. It is now heavily dependent on agricultural landscapes such as hay fields for foraging and grain fields for nesting. Dairies are known to provide a concentrated food source throughout the year in the form of grain gleaned from cattle feed. For nesting, however, Tricolored Blackbirds require large quantities of insects for their young. A colony of Tricolored Blackbirds in the San Jacinto Valley, Riverside County, in southern California, fed their young large numbers of house flies from nearby dairy-cattle yards, as well as drone fly larvae from dairy-effluent ponds. At this colony, 67% of the nestlings’ food came from the dairy and another 13% from the adjacent hay fields. Most other insects came from irrigated weedy growth adjacent to wetlands. Such an intense reliance on dairies is risky for the blackbirds as urbanization is displacing the dairy industry in the San Jacinto Valley and many other areas of California. Another potential risk to the blackbirds is the use of pesticides at dairies for fly control. Further research is recommended to determine if this utilization of flies from dairies is widespread in California. Research is also needed to quantify the decrease of insects in drought-stricken landscapes and how this may affect the Tricolored Blackbird’s reproductive success.
On Statistical Convergence of Set Sequences in Fuzzy Anti-normed Linear Space
Authors: Pandit Shailendra , Esi Ayhan
Published: September 2023

In this article, we have studied the fuzzy α− anti Wijsman convergence, fuzzy α−anti Wijsman statistical convergence, and fuzzy α−anti Hausdorrf statistical convergence where 0 < α < 1, of set sequences of non-empty closed sets in fuzzy anti-normed linear spaces (M, ψ, ⋄) with regard to the fuzzy anti norm(FAN) ψ. Furthermore, certain important theorems and examples based on the notion were presented.
Design and analysis of rehabilitation hand based on segmented multi-chamber actuator
Authors: Zheng Huadong , Bai Wei , Wang Caidong , Wang Xinjie , Liu Linxiao
Published: September 2023

The soft rehabilitation hand has become a research hotspot in the field of robotics due to its good environmental adaptability and coupling safety. To make the soft rehabilitation hand have a large degree of freedom and strong driving force, as well as being comfortable and lightweight to wear, this paper designs a segmented multi-chamber actuator soft rehabilitation glove based on the principle of bionics. The actuators of different finger types and bone segments, which are also various in shape and size, are assembled in parallel to realize diverse movement forms of fingers. The motion deformation mechanism of the rehabilitation hand is studied, and the driving effect of the soft finger is analyzed with the help of ABAQUS finite element analysis software. 3D printing technology and pouring molding technology were used to make segmented soft rehabilitation finger physical prototype. The accuracy of the simulation model was verified by comparison and analysis of simulation data and experimental data.
The effects of CPET-guided cardiac rehabilitation on exercise tolerance in older persons with CHD after PCI
Authors: Shen Tao , Wang Yuwei , Ren Chuan , Song Yanxin , Gao Wei , Liu Fen , Li Gang , Wei Zhimin , Wang Peng , Zhao Wei
Published: September 2023

Background: Prescribing appropriate exercise is an important means to improve the safety and efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation. Improper exercise may induce an increased cardiovascular risk in older persons with coronary heart disease. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)-guided cardiac rehabilitation could be helpful for providing clinical evidence for cardiac rehabilitation therapy in older persons after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We retrospectively included older persons who underwent PCI and cardiac rehabilitation based on CPET at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center of XXX Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. Patients' baseline and follow-up clinical data were collected. Results: A total of 403 older persons after PCI were included in the study. The mean age was 80.5±4.3. The mean follow-up time was 12±2 months. During the follow-up period, no significant exercise-related adverse events occurred, and the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) increased compared with baseline (15.5±3.8 ml/min/kg vs. 17.3±4.1 ml/min/kg). Among the 90 patients (22.2%) without exercise habits at baseline who started regular exercise during follow-up, the improvement in VO2peak was most significant, at 3.2±0.4 ml/min/kg. Conclusions: Cardiac rehabilitation based on CPET improved exercise habits and exercise tolerance in older persons with coronary heart disease after PCI.
Effect of microplastic particles on viability of the selected ciliated protozoa
Authors: Fyda Janusz , Budziak Martyna
Published: September 2023

Microplastics (MPs) due to their microsize, which overlaps with the typical food size of various aquatic organisms, can be ingested and move up the food chain, accumulating in the bodies of organisms at higher trophic levels. Few studies have focused on the uptake of MPs by ciliates, which are an important element of the microbial cycle. Three different ciliate species were used in the study: Blepharisma japonicum, Euplotes sp. and Spirostomum teres, and two types of polystyrene beads with a diameters of 1 and 2 µm in two concentrations (106 and 107 beads × mL− 1). The results of the experiments showed that microplastics have a variable, species-specific effect on the population growth rate of ciliates, which is directly dependent on their density in the environment (p < 0.01). It was also observed that the number of MPs ingested changed over time, depending on their density and size. On average, the highest number of ingested MPs (883.11 ± 521.47) was recorded after 60 min exposure to a low concentration of smaller beads in B. japonicum. The lowest number of beads was observed after 5 min exposure to a low concentration of larger beads in the same species. The rate of uptake of MPs by ciliate species was significantly dependent on their density, exposure time and size (p < 0.001). The highest clearance rate was observed in ciliates shortly after the start of the experiments in the environment with the lowest density of MPs.
The role of oral microbiota in the development of oral mucositis in pediatric oncology patients treated with antineoplastic drugs: A systematic review
Authors: Filetici Pierfrancesco , Gallottini Sofia Germana , Corvaglia Andrea , Amendolea Martina , Sangiovanni Roberta , Nicoletti Fabrizio , D’Addona Antonio , Dassatti Leonardo
Published: September 2023

Background
Oral mucositis as a consequence of chemotherapy in the pediatric oncology population is a highly prevalent complication and strongly affects both the quality of life and treatment possibilities of the patients. Etiopathological mechanisms carrying to its development are not fully understood. A possible role of oral disbiosis has previously been investigated with unclear conclusions. Aim of this systematic review was to assess the available evidence on the role of microbiota in the development of oral mucositis.
Methods
Systematic literature search was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Three electronic databases were searched up until April 2023. A following manual search included the reference lists of the included studies and reviews. Studies reporting microbiological and clinical data of pediatric patients treated by antineoplastic drugs were included.
Results
Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting an average mucositis prevalence of 55%. Candida albicans infection was frequently observed in studies performing microbiological analysis on oral lesions, in contrast with the low rate detection of Herpes simplex viruses. Bacterial species such as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus viridans were more frequently detected on lesion sites. Studies reporting a quantitative analysis of the general flora did not show comparable results. Risk of bias assessment among studies was generally considered high or very high.
Conclusions
While the specific role of certain microbiological agents, such as Candida albicans, was frequently reported among studies, data regarding the general dynamics of oral microbiota in the development of oral mucositis are lacking in the current literature and more studies are needed to provide the knowledge required in order to improve protocols for the prevention and treatment of this threatening complication.
Automatic Segmentation of Ameloblastoma on CT Images using Deep Learning with Limited Data
Authors: Xu Liang , Qiu Kaixi , Li Kaiwang , Ying Ge , Huang Xiaohong , Zhu Xiaofeng
Published: September 2023

Background
Ameloblastoma, a common benign tumor found in the jaw bone, necessitates accurate localization and segmentation for effective diagnosis and treatment. However, the traditional manual segmentation method is plagued with inefficiencies and drawbacks. Hence, the implementation of an AI-based automatic segmentation approach is crucial to enhance clinical diagnosis and treatment procedures.
Methods
We collected CT images from 79 patients diagnosed with ameloblastoma and employed a deep learning neural network model for training and testing purposes. Specifically, we utilized the Mask RCNN neural network structure and implemented image preprocessing and enhancement techniques. During the testing phase, cross-validation methods were employed for evaluation, and the experimental results were verified using an external validation set. Finally, we obtained an additional dataset comprising 200 CT images of ameloblastoma from a different dental center to evaluate the model's generalization performance.
Results
During extensive testing and evaluation, our model successfully demonstrated the capability to automatically segment ameloblastoma. The DICE index achieved an impressive value of 0.874. Moreover, when the IoU threshold ranged from 0.5 to 0.95, the model's AP was 0.741. For a specific IoU threshold of 0.5, the model achieved an AP of 0.914, and for another IoU threshold of 0.75, the AP was 0.826. Our validation using external data confirms the model's strong generalization performance.
Conclusion
In this study, we successfully developed a neural network model based on deep learning that effectively performs automatic segmentation of ameloblastoma. The proposed method offers notable advantages in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and speed, rendering it a promising tool for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
UCP2 45bp Ins/Del gene polymorphism in association with overweight and obesity: a meta-analysis
Authors: Ni Bin , Zhang Wei , Zhang Xiaoqing , Liang Bo , Shu Yan
Published: September 2023

Uncoupling protein (UCP) is a mitochondrial inner-membrane protein that is involved in energy homeostasis. In human tissues, UCP2 is widely expressed, acts as an uncoupling agent for oxidative phosphorylation, and is involved in the regulation of metabolism and ATP production. The association between UCP2 45bp Ins/Del gene polymorphism and the risk of overweight and obesity remains controversial and requires further evaluation. A meta-analysis of 12,224 subjects in 20 articles from PubMed, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure was performed to assess the association of UCP2 45bp Ins/Del gene polymorphism with the risk of overweight and obesity. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the UCP2 45bp Ins/Del gene polymorphism was significantly associated with genetic susceptibility to overweight and obesity only in the recessive model (odds ratio [OR]=1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.07-1.43, P=0.004), while the rest of the models did not show an association (P﹥0.05). However, the subgroup analysis of ethnicity showed that, in Asian populations, UCP2 45bp Ins/Del gene polymorphism was associated with genetic susceptibility to overweight and obesity in the allelic (OR=1.18, 95%CI=1.02-1.36, P=0.027), dominant (OR=1.20, 95%CI=1.02-1.41, P=0.030), and heterozygote (OR=1.19, 95%CI=1.01-1.41, P=0.043) models, respectively. No significant associations were found in the Caucasian population (P﹥0.05), and there was significant heterogeneity between the studies. UCP2 45bp Ins/Del gene polymorphism, which is significantly associated with genetic susceptibility to overweight and obesity in Asian populations, is not significantly associated with genetic susceptibility to obesity in Caucasian populations.