bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maximizing Value from Advanced Reservoir Management at Suncor's Firebag SAGD Operation
Authors: Kariznovi Mohammad , Wang Jin , Li Jian
Published: March 2023

Suncor's Firebag Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) project has been in operation since 2004 and a total capacity of 215 mbbls/d of bitumen.1 It is Suncor's largest in situ operation, with approximately 600 wells. Maximizing the value of the capital investment and operating cost requires a focused effort on reservoir management. This study focused on reservoir management and optimization at Firebag. With steam being the energy delivery system to the reservoir, it is imperative that it is distributed in a manner that optimizes usage and results in the lowest feasible Steam to Oil Ratio (SOR). A systematic and repeatable approach to reservoir management and optimization for SAGD thermal operation has been developed with two decades of experience. The primary concepts include chamber pressure optimization/management, mass, and energy balance, steam, and fluid leak-off management among well pads, non-condensable gas (NCG) co-injection, and energy recovery for late-life SAGD.

For the Firebag site, reservoir management translates to determining optimum rates and pressures for over 250 injection wells in various stages of maturity. Since NCG is often added to the steam, it is critical to also determine when and what quantities can result in the best performance. The decision-making process for the operation has been significantly improved and streamlined by using a data-informed approach. A very large data set for analysis along with advanced sector and field scale reservoir simulation have been proven to be very effective in creating optimum parameters for operation. Capitalizing on operational experience and using leading digital tools, a comprehensive software platform has been developed to assist in monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This instrument is being further enhanced to provide and implement real-time operating parameters. With fixed steam generation assets, it is imperative to maintain or lower field SOR to accommodate new pad development while preserving nameplate production volumes and meeting greenhouse gas objectives. While maturing pads generally require less steam over time, incremental initiatives are necessary to offset more challenging reservoir quality. Optimizing pressure and/or introducing NCG in mature pads are examples of two approaches to recovering a significant amount of energy and achieving sustainable operation at a lower steam rate.
Investigation CO2 EOR Types with Constrained CO2 Volume and Impurities for a High-Quality Sandstone, Stratified Offshore Newfoundland Reservoir
Authors: Pham Chau Quynh , Esene Ebeagbor Cleverson , James Anne Lesley
Published: March 2023

The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of CO2 sequestration coupled with oil recovery to lower the carbon intensity of incremental oil recovered considering different CO2 EOR types. A compositional stratified reservoir model (with/without crossflow) is used to investigate the effect of limited CO2 volume on the performance of CO2-WAG, enriched CO2-WAG, and carbonated water injection (CWI). We show that joint optimization of oil recovery and carbon storage can decrease carbon intensity. CO2 flooding, CO2-WAG, enriched CO2-WAG, and CWI are investigated under constrained CO2 volumes on a percentage pore volume basis. A sensitivity analysis using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is carried out within a range of reservoir temperature (50-130°C) and pressure (20-70 MPa) conditions. CO2 volumes that can be captured from offshore power generation are likely insufficient for CO2 flooding but could work for CWI, CO2 WAG or enriched CO2 WAG (CH4-CO2 WAG). Highest incremental oil was found using CWI. However, it did not consider carbon pricing nor look to minimize oil production emissions intensity. Emissions intensity is the new metric during our transition to cleaner energy. CWI can store less than 20% amount of CO2 captured while CO2-WAG, enriched CO2-WAG with 7-10% lower oil recovery, however, can store much larger quantities. The stratified reservoir with crossflow cases had higher recovery factors and later water breakthrough than without crossflow cases. The use of WAG reduced the extent of crossflow and the high WAG ratio (3:1) would lead to a higher oil recovery (additional 3% for enriched CO2 WAG case). Recovery factor increased with decreased temperature and increased pressure, since CO2 is in its supercritical state in the range studied. Proxy models showed good performance with high determination coefficients (R2), between 0.93 - 0.99. EOR studies focus on incremental oil recovery (without carbon pricing). CCUS studies maximize CO2 storage (assuming infinite CO2). We investigate the value of capturing post combustion CO2 from offshore power generation considering constrained CO2 volumes and different EOR methods without reproducing CO2. This study investigates the joint optimization of oil recovery and carbon storage bringing a unique perspective and way to decrease carbon intensity during the oil transition era.
Influence of prey availability on habitat selection during the non-breeding period in a resident bird of prey.
Authors: Bühler Roman , Schalcher Kim , Séchaud Robin , Michler Stephanie , Apolloni Nadine , Roulin Alexandre , Almasi Bettina
Published: March 2023

Background: For resident birds of prey in the temperate zone, the cold non-breeding period can have strong impacts on survival and reproduction with implications for population dynamics. Therefore, the non-breeding period should receive the same attention as other parts of the annual life cycle. Birds of prey in intensively managed agricultural areas are repeatedly confronted with unpredictable, rapid changes in their habitat due to agricultural practices such as mowing, harvesting, and ploughing. Such a dynamic landscape likely affects prey distribution and availability and may even result in changes in habitat selection of the predator throughout the annual cycle.
Methods: In the present study, we 1) quantified barn owl prey availability in different habitats across the annual cycle, 2) quantified the size and location of barn owl breeding and non-breeding home ranges using GPS-data, 3) assessed habitat selection in relation to prey availability during the non-breeding period, and 4) discussed differences in habitat selection during the non-breeding period to habitat selection during the breeding period.
Results: The patchier prey distribution during the non-breeding period compared to the breeding period led to habitat selection towards grassland during the non-breeding period. The size of barn owl home ranges during breeding and non-breeding were similar, but there was a small shift in home range location which was more pronounced in females than males. The changes in prey availability led to a mainly grassland-oriented habitat selection during the non-breeding period. Further, our results showed the importance of biodiversity promotion areas and undisturbed field margins within the intensively managed agricultural landscape.
Conclusions: We showed that different prey availability in habitat categories can lead to changes in habitat preference between the breeding and the non-breeding period. Given these results we show how important it is to maintain and enhance structural diversity in intensive agricultural landscapes, to effectively protect birds of prey specialised on small mammals.
Preliminary Study on Retrograded Recanalization of Radial Artery Occlusion Through Distal Radial Artery Access: A Single-Centre Experience
Authors: Huanhuan Wang , Cui Cheng , Liu Haiming , Zhang Bo , Tian Tao , Ye Shaodong , Yang Weixian , Yuan Jinqing , Xu Bo , Gao Lijian
Published: March 2023

Purpose
Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is an unresolved complication after transradial artery (TRA) puncture. The aim of this observational study was to access the feasibility and safety of retrograded recanalization of RAO through distal transradial access (dTRA).
Methods
from June 2021 to March 2022, 28 consecutive patients with successful puncture and intubation through dTRA in the anatomical snuffbox and RAO was confirmed by angiography were enrolled.
Results
Among 28 patients, 27 (96.4%) patients successfully retrograded recanalization of RAO through dTRA and peformed coronary angiography or coronary intervention successfully. After procedure, only 1 (3.7%) patient developed a forearm haematoma, and there were no other bleeding complications or nerve disorders.
Conclusions
DTRA is a safe and feasible approach for retrograded recanalization of RAO, with a high procedure success rate and low complications.
Chemical composition and anticonvulsant activities of herb pair of Gastrodia elata Blume-Acorus tatarinowii Schott decoction on experimentally induced seizures in mice
Authors: He Xirui , Yang Yan , Yuan Xufang , Sun Yin , Li Yongsheng
Published: March 2023

Epilepsy is a serious public health problem in the world. At present, over 30% of affected patients remain refractory to currently available treatment. Medicinal plants as pharmaceuticals and healthcare treatments have been frequently used in the management of epilepsy in China for many centuries. Gastrodia elata-Acous tatarinowii (GEAT), as a classic and most commonly used herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been employed to control seizures for thousands of years. However, the animal experiment data on its anticonvulsant effect is limited in the literature. Thus, this study aimed to reveal the therapeutic actions of GEAT decoction against seizures in mice. UHPLC-MS/MS was performed to analyze the chemical components of GEAT decoction. The mice were given GEAT decoction for 7 days, and MES, PTZ, and 3-MP injection was given 30 min after the last administration. Video monitoring was performed for comparisons. In addition, the PTZ-induced kindling models were conducted to investigate the seizure severity, anxiety and cognitive profile, inflammation, and oxidative stress parameters in mice. The results showed that GEAT decoction dose-dependently protected mice against MES, 3-MP, and PTZ-induced acute seizures. Furthermore, GEAT decoction significantly ameliorated seizure severity, decreased the accumulation of inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, mitigated oxidative stress, as well as alleviated anxious-like behavior and cognitive deficits in PTZ-kindled mice. These results suggest that GEAT decoction possesses certain anticonvulsant properties, which might be clinically useful as phytotherapy alone or as an adjunct therapy for the prevention and treatment of seizures and epilepsy.
Mapping microstructural features of pathological tissues by pixel clustering of Mueller matrix images
Authors: Ma Hui , Wan Jiachen , Dong Yang , Yao Yue , Xiao Weijin , Huang Ruqi , Xue Jing-Hao , Peng Ran , Pei Haojie , Tian Xuewu , Liao Ran , He Honghui , Zeng Nan , Li Chao
Published: March 2023

In histopathology, doctors identify diseases by characterizing abnormal cells and their spatial organization within tissues. Polarization microscopy and supervised learning have been proved as an effective tool for extracting polarization parameters to highlight pathological features. Here we present an alternative approach based on unsupervised learning to group polarization-pixels into clusters, which correspond to distinct pathological structures. For pathological samples from different patients, it is confirmed that such unsupervised learning technique can decompose the histological structures into a stable basis of characteristic microstructural clusters, some of which correspond to distinctive pathological features for clinical diagnosis. Using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) samples, we demonstrate how the proposed framework can be utilized for segmentation of histological image, visualization of microstructure composition associated with lesion, and identification of polarization-based microstructure markers that correlates with specific pathology variation. This technique is capable of unraveling invisible microstructures in non-polarization images, and turn them into visible polarization features to pathologists and researchers.
Detection and full-genotype characterization of rare and reassortant Rotavirus A strains in Nizhny Novgorod, European part of Russia
Authors: Sashina Tatiana A. , Velikzhanina Elena I. , Morozova Olga V. , Epifanova Natalia V. , Novikova Nadezhda A.
Published: March 2023

Reassortant DS-1-like Rotavirus A strains have been shown to widely circulate in many countries around the world. In Russia, the real contribution of such strains remains unclear due to preferred use of the traditional binary classification only. In this work, we obtained data on partial sequencing of all 11 genome segments and presented the full-genotype constellations of rare and reassortant rotaviruses circulating in Nizhny Novgorod in 2016-2019. DS-1-like G3P[8] and G8P[8] strains were found, and it emphasized the global trend. Most likely, they were introduced into the territory of Russia from other countries, but subsequently underwent further evolutionary changes locally. G3P[8], G9P[8], and G12P[8] Wa-like strains withunusual for the territory of Russia subgenotypic lineages were also identified. Reassortant G2P[8], G4P[4], and G9P[4] strains with one Wa-like gene (VP4 or VP7) on a DS-1-like backbone were found and apparently had alocal origin. Feline-like G3P[9] and G6P[9] strains were phylogenetically close to BA222 isolated from Italian cat but carried some traces of reassortment with human strains from Russia and other countries. Thus, full-genotype investigation of Nizhny Novgorod Rotavirus A strains clarified some questions related to their origin and evolution.
Family Connections in the treatment of relatives of people with eating disorders and personality disorders: Study protocol of a randomized control trial
Authors: Guillén Verónica , Arnal Antonio , Pérez Sandra , García-Alandete Joaquín , Fernandez-Felipe Isabel , Grau Antoni , Botella Cristina , Marco José Heliodoro
Published: March 2023

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are serious disorders that significantly affect not only the lives of patients, but also those of their family members who often experience high levels of burden, suffering and helplessness. If, in addition to ED, the patient has a personality disorder (PD), the psychological distress experienced by family members can be devastating. However, few treatments have been developed for family members of people with ED and PD.
Family Connections (FC) is a programme that has been shown to be effective for family members of people with borderline personality disorder. The overall aims of this work are: (a) to adapt FC for application to family members of patients with BPD-PD (FC: ED-PD); (b) to analyse, in a randomised controlled clinical trial, the efficacy of this programme in a Spanish population, compared to a control condition consisting of treatment as usual optimised treatment (TAU-O); (c) to analyse the feasibility of the intervention protocol; (d) to analyse whether the changes that may occur in relatives are related to improvements in the family climate and/or improvements observed in patients; and (e) to analyse the perceptions and opinions of relatives and patients about the two intervention protocols.
Methods: The study uses a two-arm randomised controlled clinical trial with two experimental conditions: adaptation of FC programme (FC: ED-PD) or Treatment as usual optimised (TAU-O). Participants will be family members of patients who meet DSM-5 criteria for ED and PD or dysfunctional personality traits. Participants will be assessed before and after treatment and at one-year follow-up. The intention-to-treat principle will be used when analysing the data.
Discussion: The results obtained are expected to confirm the effectiveness of the programme and its good acceptance by family members.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05404035. Accepted: May 2022.
A Random Optical Parametric Oscillator
Authors: Tovar Pedro , Weid Jean Pierre von der , Wang Yuan , Chen Liang , Bao Xiaoyi
Published: March 2023

Optical parametric oscillators provide short coherent light pulses at widely tunable wavelengths. Their primary drawback is the requirement of precise cavity control, making such devices specially challenging to develop in long cavities, and with oscillation limited to a fixed repetition rate. Herein, exploiting the inherent disorder of the refractive index in single-mode fibres we developed the first random optical parametric oscillator - the parametric analogous of random lasers. Parametric amplification is provided by modulation instability through the Χ(3) non-linearity and feedback is given by Rayleigh scattering. The system is realised in a pulsed configuration, with extremely small (<0.001%) feedback. To enhance the weak feedback, a novel piecewise distributed random cavity is demonstrated. In contrast to conventional parametric oscillators, the emission is sustained at arbitrary rates and dispensing any kind of cavity control loop, resulting in a far more versatile device, representing an important step toward the development of stable and tunable - both in wavelength and repetition rate - parametric oscillators. The ultra-long cavity used in experiments (~5km) enabled the generation of four-wave mixing products between the pump and the singly-resonant oscillator, giving rise to a train of picosecond-pulses, which would find applications in ultra-fast optics.
Data simulation of optimal model for numerical solution of differential equations based on deep learning and genetic algorithm
Authors: Jing Li
Published: March 2023

Calculus equation is an important tool for mathematical research and plays an important role in most natural science research. Since the beginning of the 18th century, people have gradually used differential and integral equations to solve physical problems. In general, several different aspects of differential equations in the field of mathematics are concerned and studied by most scholars. However, this paper studies and establishes the optimal model for numerical solution of differential equations through deep learning and genetic algorithm. In this paper, the solution of ordinary differential equations is solved through the use of polynomial function space, while the linear combination of simple function x and its product nx can obtain multinomial function space. The space function form of polynomial is very simple, and the operation ability is very strong. Almost all functions can be approximated, and the function space can be transformed by a simple function. Through data simulation test results, it can be found that the oscillation of neural network output is stronger and stronger with the increase of depth, that is to say, the deeper depth endows the neural network with stronger oscillation properties, so for the oscillation function, the depth neural network fitting effect is better than the shallow neural network. Therefore, by combining deep learning and genetic algorithm, this paper studies and establishes the optimal model for numerical solution of differential equations, and finds that the deep neural network can largely complete data simulation.
Treatment of Type Ⅱ Symptomatic Ulnar Styloid Nonunions with the Reinsertion of the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex
Authors: Yu Xiaofei , Yu Yadong , Zhang Xu , Li Jia , Zhou Tong , Chen Huan
Published: March 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this retrospective study was to introduce an alternative technique for the treatment of type II symptomatic ulnar styloid nonunion by the reinsertion of the triangular fibrocartilage complex and the ulnar collateral ligament.
Methods
Between March 2009 and May 2017, 45 patients (34 males and 11 females) suffering from the nonunion of type II ulnar styloid fractures all underwent the subperiosteal resection of the avulsed fragments and the reinsertion of the TFCC and ulnar collateral ligament. Outcome assessments included the ranges of motion of the wrist, grip strength, pain, and Mayo wrist score. The preoperative and postoperative parameters were compared. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Result
The mean follow-up period was 21.66 ± 7.93 months (range, 12 to 26 months). At the final follow-up, the mean preoperative flexion and extension were 79.32 ± 4.52° and 74.40 ± 4.36° respectively. The mean preoperative pain score, grip strength, Mayo wrist score were 32.48 ± 4.00; 23.88 ± 8.38 kg, and 77.72 ± 8.31 respectively. The mean postoperative flexion and extension of the wrist were 80.56 ± 6.32° and 75.43 ± 3.12° respectively. The mean postoperative pain score, grip strength, and Mayo wrist score were 12.41 ± 3.27, 26.31 ± 8.30 kg, and 90.71 ± 7.97 respectively. There were significant differences with respect to pain, grip strength, and Mayo wrist score (P < 0.05), but no significant differences concerning the range of motion of the wrist.
Conclusion
In the treatment of the nonunion of type II ulnar styloid fractures, the resection of the avulsed fragments followed by the reinsertion of the TFCC and the ulnar collateral ligament with an anchor was a reliable alternative technique, bringing the satisfactory function of the wrist.
Reducing Pain and Discomfort Associated with Rubber Dam Clamp Placement in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Effectiveness
Authors: Afshari Elham , Sabbagh Sedigheh , Khorakian Fatemeh , Shirazi Alireza Sarraf , Baghban Alireza Akbarzadeh
Published: March 2023

Background The application of rubber dams is a widely accepted method of tooth isolation in dental practice. Placement of the rubber dam clamp might be associated with levels of pain and discomfort, especially in younger patients. The purpose of the present study is to systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy of the proposed methods for reducing pain and discomfort associated with rubber dam clamp placement in children. Materials and Methods English-language literature from inception until September 6th, 2022 was searched in MEDLINE (via PubMed), SCOPUS, Web of Science, Cochrane, EMBASE, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database Global for articles. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were retrieved and risk of bias assessment was performed. Studies were summarized and pooled estimates of pain intensity scores and incidence of pain were calculated. The meta-analysis was conducted in four comparison groups. Results Initially, 1452 articles were retrieved. Sixteen RCTs were finally included for reviewing and summarizing. Nine articles were included for quantitative meta-analysis. The differences in pain intensity scores were not significant in any comparison groups. Eight studies were judged as having some concern for risk of bias and the remaining studies were considered as low risk for bias. Conclusion Within the limitations of the current study, no significant differences were found between the proposed methods for reducing pain and discomfort associated with rubber dam clamp placement in children. A larger number of more homogenous studies regarding intervention methods and pain assessment tools need to be conducted in order to draw stronger conclusions.
A tale of two hospitals: comparing CAPA infections in two ICUs during the Spanish fourth pandemic wave.
Authors: Castellano Miguel Angel Sanchez , Marcelo Cristina , Marco Javier , Figueira-Iglesias Juan Carlos , García-Rodríguez Julio
Published: March 2023

Purpose: COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a new clinical entity linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection that is causing a rise on the risk of complications and mortality, particularly in critical patients.
Methods: We compared diagnostic and clinical features in two cohorts of patients with severe COVID-19 admitted in the intensive care units (ICU) of two different hospitals in Madrid, Spain, between February and June 2021.
Results: Cultures were positive for Aspergillus spp. in 32 patients. According to 2020 European Confederation of Medical Mycology and the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ECMM/ISHAM) consensus, 11 patients were diagnosed with possible CAPA and 10 patients with probable CAPA. Global incidence for CAPA was 6.3%. Global median days between ICU admission and diagnosis was 12 days. Aspergillus fumigatuscomplex was the main isolated species. Antifungal therapy was used in 75% of patients with CAPA suspicion, with inter-hospital differences in the administered antifungals. Global overall mortality rate was 66.6% (14/21).
Conclusions: There were no significant differences in incidence between the two hospitals, and differences in antifungal therapy did not correlate with differences in mortality, reflecting that both first-line azoles and Amphotericin B could be effective in treating CAPA infections, according to the current guideline indications.
Characterization of non-conventional pollutants (BTEX) in air by means of chemometrics techniques
Authors: Sánchez-Andica Rubén Albeiro , Salas-Chávez Wilson Rafael , Páez-Melo Martha Isabel
Published: March 2023

In this work, chemometric and spatial interpolation methods were used to characterize non-conventional pollutants in the atmosphere of the city of Santiago de Cali (Colombia), The contaminants were monitored using passive diffusion samplers during two (2) periods (January to February and March to April) in two consecutive years before the pandemic (2020). None of the cases exceeded the concentration limits established by the National Air Quality Standard. The Cluster analysis allowed evidencing the existence of groups, which correspond to low, medium and high influence sites of the pollutants. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) led to gathered all the variables in two constituents: the first one (PC1) could be related as an indicator of pollutant mobile sources due to the similar contribution of pollutants, while the second one (PC2) as an indicator for punctual emissions of toluene, as it was the one that contributed the most. The performance of the spatial analysis drove to identify the downtown and north of the city as areas of high-influence of PC1, at the same time, a substantial decrease in its effects to the periphery, particularly towards the south. On the other hand, with the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) it was possible to observe the hot-spots of both PCs, particularly real estate construction areas and the downtown industrial sector of the city. Finally, it was found a cancer risk in downtown and north-eastern areas of the city, related to the exposure to benzene and ethylbenzene; observation that coincide in the area of incidence of PC1.
Escape of a particle from two-dimensional potential well
Authors: Engel Amit , Gendelman Oleg , Fidlin Alexander
Published: March 2023

The paper addresses the escape of a classical particle from a two-dimensional potential well. The main goal is to explore the escape basin and to formulate the analytic prediction of the stability region in the space of initial conditions. To this point, an appropriate modification of the isolated resonance approximation is developed. The approach provides an outer boundary for the stability basin. The mechanism of erosion of the predicted stability boundary via the secondary resonance is explored numerically.
Characterization and Dielectric Properties of Flexible PVDF/LiZnVO 4 nanocomposites for High-Performance Lithium-ion Battery Applications
Authors: Elashmawi I. S. , Ismail A. M. , Abdelghany A. M. , Yassin A.
Published: March 2023

Thin polymeric films of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) containing variable mass fractions of LiZnVO4 nanoparticles (LZV-NPs) were successfully synthesized via the ordinary solution casting route. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy was used to explore the role of LZV-NPs on the structural and optical characteristics of synthesized nanocomposites. In addition, AC conductivity was investigated. The XRD spectral data reveals the crystalline nature of LZV-NPs with rhombohedral structure with an average size of 83 nm calculated using Scherer's equation. The interaction between PVDF and LiZnVO4 was approved through the shift in characteristic FT-IR bands. The decrease in band gap energies with increasing LiZnVO4 is attributed to the change of density in the localized states within the PVDF. The effect of both frequency and temperature on the AC parameters was also investigated. Both ε' and ε" had their maximum values at low frequencies and decreased as the frequency and temperature increased. The XRD and FT-IR findings were correlated with the change in dielectric characteristics at 5 wt. percent LiZnVO4, suggesting their potential use as a basic material for developing cutting-edge energy storage devices and lithium-ion batteries.
Targeting Ferroptosis Promotes Functional Recovery Through Mitigating White Matter Injury Following Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Authors: Wang ShuHong , Xiong Binyuan , Tian Yin , Hu Quan , Jiang Xuheng , Zhang Ji , Chen Lin , Wang Ruilie , Li Mo , Zhou Xin , Zhang Tianxi , Ge Hongfei , Yu Anyong
Published: March 2023

Survivors suffering from acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACMP) are apt to develop white matter injury (WMI). While, the mechanism that ACMP evokes WMI remains unclear. Given that ferroptosis plays an evident role in igniting oligodendrocyte damage to deteriorate WMI, exploring regimens to attenuate ferroptosis is a feasible approach to alleviate WMI post-ACMP. Here, the results indicated that ACMP induced WMI to evoke motor impairment resulting from the surplus iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation after ACMP. And, the administration of ferrostatin-1 reduced iron and ROS deposition to repress ferroptosis, thereafter reducing WMI to promote motor recovery. Furthermore, the result demonstrated that the nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway was involved in attenuating ferroptosis resulting from the application of ferrostatin-1. The present study offers a rationale that targeting ferroptosis to alleviate WMI is a feasible therapeutic strategy for ACMP.
NIR-Hyperspectral camera Analyses for differencing Agroforestry and Forestry Poplar Woods.
Authors: Heim Lucie , Brancheriau Loïc , Marchal Remy , Boutahar Nabila , Denaud Louis , Badel Eric , Meghar Karima , Candelier Kevin
Published: March 2023

Wood characteristics of trees grown in agroforestry systems are still little studied, while their growth conditions are different from conventional stands. This work focused on the impact of the agroforestry system on the lignin/cellulose ratio of hybrid poplar trees. One disk sample was harvested on 6 agroforestry (AF) and 6 forest control (FC) poplar trees, at breast height ground level (1.30m). Every disk was analyzed by NIR-Hyperspectral imaging using a Specim FX17 (Specim, Spectral Imaging Ltd.). Images from hyperspectral camera analyses corresponding to absorbance spectra were collected at the wavelength of 1450 nm, attributed to first overtone O-H stretching vibration of lignin/extractives compounds, in order to clearly observe the chemical difference between AF and FC poplar woods. The results indicated significant difference between the chemical composition, based on estimated lignin content, of AF and FC poplar woods. The lignin content appeared to be lower in AF poplar wood than in FC poplar wood. These results could be explained by the different tree growing conditions between the both systems. AF poplar tended to produce more tension wood and more juvenile wood than FC poplar, which resulted in a lower concentration in lignin.
The diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound to determine PiCCO-derived extravascular lung water in invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS
Authors: Atmowihardjo Leila N. , Schippers Job R. , Haaksma Mark E. , Smit Marry R. , Bogaard Harm J. , Heunks Leo , Juffermans Nicole P. , Schultz Marcus J. , Endeman Henrik , Velzen Patricia van , Tuinman Pieter R. , Aman Jurjan , Bos Lieuwe D. J.
Published: March 2023

Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a non-invasive method to detect and quantify pulmonary edema. However, it remains uncertain how components of the LUS examination should be aggregated into a score for quantifying pulmonary edema. We examined the diagnostic accuracy of various LUS scores with the extravascular lung water index (EVLWi) assessed with PiCCO in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 ARDS.
Methods: In this predefined secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized-controlled trial (InventCOVID), patients were included within 48h after intubation and underwent LUS and EVLWi measurement at two time points (first and fourth study day). EVLWi and ∆EVLWi were used as reference standard. Two 12-region scores (global LUS and LUS-ARDS), an 8-region anterior-lateral score and a 4-region B-line score were used as index tests. Pearson correlation was performed and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROCC) for severe pulmonary edema (EVLWi>15mL/kg) was calculated.
Results: 26 of 30 patients (87%) had complete LUS and EVLWi measurements at time point 1 and 24 of 29 patients (83%) at time point 2. The global LUS (r=0.54), LUS-ARDS (r=0.58) and anterior-lateral score (r=0.54) were significantly correlated with EVLWi, while the B-line score was not (r=0.32). ∆global LUS (r=0.49) and ∆anterior-lateral LUS (r=0.52) were significantly correlated with ∆EVLWi, while correlation of ∆LUS-ARDS (r=0.43) and ∆B-lines (r=0.32) did not reach statistical significance. AUROCC for EVLWi>15ml/kg was 0.73 for the global LUS, 0.79 for the anterior-lateral and 0.85 for the LUS-ARDS score.
Conclusions: The global LUS, LUS-ARDS and antero-lateral score can quantify PiCCO-derived pulmonary edema measurements in COVID-19 ARDS. The LUS-ARDS score showed the highest diagnostic accuracy for severe pulmonary edema.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04794088, registered on 11 March 2021. European Clinical Trials Database number 2020-005447-23.
Alksite – based material to restore endodontically treated teeth: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Bepu Davi , Franco Natalia , Souza-Gabriel Aline , Corona Silmara , Sanchez Luiza
Published: March 2023

Objectives
The aim of this study was evaluated longitudinally evaluate, after a 6-months period, the clinical performance of an alkasit- based material (Cention N, Ivoclar) in molars with root canal treatment.
Methods
The project was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials – REBEC (RBR-97kx5jv) on 19/01/2023. This randomized clinical trial that included 33 patients with an endodontically treated mandibular molar requiring restoration. Patients were randomly assigned according to the restorative treatment: control: restoration with Bulk-fill resin (Ivoclar - n = 17) and restoration with alkasite-based material (Ivoclar - n = 16). A self-etching adhesive was applied. Three calibrated professionals used the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria to evaluate retention, secondary caries, marginal adaptation, restoration color, marginal pigmentation, and anatomical shape at seven days (baseline) and six months. The radiographic analysis assessed the presence of a radiolucent line adjacent to the restoration, the lack or excess of the material, contact point, and caries recurrence in both periods. Data were analyzed by Friedman, Kruskall-Walis, and Wilcoxon tests (α = 0.05).
Results
After 6 months of follow up, the Alksite-based demonstrated greater wear of the anatomical shape (p = 0.022), and a greater color difference compared to natural tooth (p = 0.0332), both with a statistically significant difference. All other criteria did not show significant differences between the materials or the analysis periods.
Conclusion
The use of Alkasite-based material on endodontically treated teeth influenced the color and anatomical shape performance, however did not influence the longevity and success of the composite restorations after six months.
Clinical Relevance
Alkasite Based material may be an alternative for the restoration of endodontically treated teeth
Role of ANXA2, HSP90AA1 and PTK2B in synaptic homeostasis through microglial cells in the human entorhinal cortex in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Astillero-Lopez Veronica , Villar-Conde Sandra , Gonzalez-Rodriguez Melania , Flores-Cuadrado Alicia , Ubeda-Banon Isabel , Saiz-Sanchez Daniel , Martinez-Marcos Alino
Published: March 2023

Background
Alzheimer´s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, is clinically characterized by cognitive deficits. Neuropathologically, AD brains accumulate deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins. Furthermore, these misfolded proteins can propagate cell to cell in a prion-like manner and induce native proteins to become pathological. The entorhinal cortex (EC) is the earliest area affected by tau accumulation along with volume reduction and neurodegeneration. Neuron–glia interactions are now a focus; however, the role of microglia and astroglia in the pathogenesis of AD remains unclear. Proteomic approaches allow the determination of changes in the proteome to better understand the pathology underlying AD and therefore the identification of possible biomarkers.
Methods
Bioinformatic analysis of proteomic data was performed to compare the EC from AD vs. non-AD human brain tissue. To validate proteomic results, western blot, immunofluorescence and confocal studies were carried out.
Results
The findings revealed that the most disturbed signaling pathway was synaptogenesis, with the impairment of the growth and branching function of the dendrites and axons. Due to their involvement in synapse function, relationship with Aβ and tau proteins and interactions in a pathway analysis, three proteins were selected for further study: HSP90AA1, PTK2B and ANXA2. These proteins showed colocalization with neurons and/or astroglia and microglia and with Aβ and tau proteins.
Conclusions
Taken together, HSP90AA1, PTK2B and ANXA2 may play a significant role in synaptic homeostasis through microglial cells in AD.
Inhibition of SRC-3 as a potential therapeutic strategy for aggressive mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Bijou Imani , Liu Yang , Lu Dong , Chen Jianwei , Sloan Shelby , Alinari Lapo , Lonard David M. , O’Malley Bert W. , Wang Michael , Wang Jin
Published: March 2023

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a heterogeneous disease with a poor prognosis. Despite years of research in MCL, relapse occurs in patients with current therapeutic options necessitating the development of novel therapeutic agents. Previous attempts to pharmacologically inhibit SRC-3 show effectiveness in vivo and in vitro in other B cell lymphomas, and previous studies have shown that SRC-3 is highly expressed in the lymph nodes of B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients. This suggests that SRC-3 may play a role in the progression of B cell lymphoma and that the development of selective SRC inhibitors should be investigated. This study aimed to investigate novel SRC-3 inhibitors, SI-10 and SI-12, in mantle cell lymphoma. The cytotoxic effects of SI-10 and SI-12 were evaluated in a panel of MCL cell lines in vitro by resazurin assay. The in vivo efficacy of SI-10 was confirmed in two ibrutinib-resistant models: an immunocompetent disseminated A20 mouse model of B-cell lymphoma and a human PDX model of MCL. SI-10 treatment resulted in dose-dependent cytotoxicity in a panel of MCL cell lines in vitro. Notably, SI-10 treatment also resulted in a significant extension of survival in vivo with low toxicity in both ibrutinib-resistant murine models. We have investigated SI-10 as a novel anti-lymphoma compound via the inhibition of SRC-3 activity. These findings indicate that targeting SRC-3 should be investigated in combination with current clinical therapeutics as a novel strategy to expand the therapeutic index and to improve lymphoma outcomes.
An end-to-end multi-resolution feature fusion defogging network
Authors: Xue Ping , Deng ShiXiong
Published: March 2023

Traditional convolutional neural networks work well on single-image defogging synthetic datasets, but for real-world images with different concentrations, it leads to incomplete defogging or distortion and loss of image detail information. In this paper, the authors propose an end-to-end single image defogging network, which adopts an encoderdecoder structure, obtains a large perceptual field of view of high pixels through a large number of pooling operations in the U-Net network, uses operations such as hopping connections to retain most of the image feature information; To achieve superior quality haze removal, the proposed method utilizes a bilateral grid to capture high frequency information pertaining to the image edges in low-resolution pixels. Additionally, relevant haze-related features are extracted, and a local affine model is fitted within the bilateral space. Finally, the high and low pixel data are integrated with the extracted features to generate clear and vivid images. The authors compare the algorithm qualitatively and quantitatively with several state-of-the-art algorithms and show that the algorithm achieves better defogging results in both the SOTS dataset and real-world images, retains high-frequency image details, achieves higher peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and performs better defogging in haze images with different concentrations.
The Evolutionary Impact of Childhood Cancer on the Human Gene Pool
Authors: Stoltze Ulrik , Foss-Skiftesvik Jon , Hansen Thomas , Rasmussen Simon , Karczewski Konrad , Wadt Karin , Schmiegelow Kjeld
Published: March 2023

Germline pathogenic variants associated with increased childhood mortality must be subject to natural selection. Here, we analyzed publically available germline genetic metadata from 141,456 adults [gnomAD; 125,748 whole exome sequences (WES) and 15,708 whole genome sequences (WGS)] and 4,810 children with cancer [11 studies; 1,319 WES, 1,950 WGS, and 1,541 gene panel]. We found that pediatric cancer predisposition syndrome (pCPS) genes [n = 85] were highly constrained, harboring only a quarter of the loss-of-function (LoF) variants that would be expected. This strong indication of selective mutational pressure on pCPS genes was found across multiple lines of germline genomics data from both pediatric and adult cohorts. For six genes [ELP1, GPR161, VHL & SDHA/B/C], a clear lack of mutational constraint calls the pediatric penetrance and/or severity of associated cancers into question. Conversely, out of 23 known pCPS genes associated with biallelic risk, two [9%, DIS3L2 and MSH2] showed significant constraint, indicating that they monoallelically increase childhood cancer risk. In summary, we show that population genetic data provide novel evidence that heritable childhood cancer leads to natural selection powerful enough to have significantly impacted the present-day gene pool.
Patterns of flavored e-cigarette use among adults vapers in the United States: an online cross-sectional survey of 69,233 participants
Authors: Farsalinos Konstantinos , Russell Christopher , Polosa Riccardo , Poulas Konstantinos , Lagoumintzis George , Barbouni Anastasia
Published: March 2023

Background.
Flavored e-cigarettes remain a controversial topic with regulators planning or already implementing restrictions worldwide. In this study we examined patterns of flavors use in e-cigarettes among a convenience sample of US adult vapers.
Methods.
Participants aged ≥ 18 years who reported ever using an e-cigarette were included in the study (N = 69233) and responded to an online questionnaire. Their smoking status was recorded as well as patterns of flavors use at e-cigarette use initiation, at the time of the survey and at the time of smoking cessation (for former smokers who were using e-cigarettes at the time of quitting).
Results.
The most popular flavors at e-cigarette use initiation were fruit (82.8%), followed by dessert/pastry/bakery (68.6%) and candy/chocolate/sweet (52.2%). Slightly higher prevalence was observed in never compared to current and former smokers for fruit and dessert/pastry/bakery. Tobacco flavors were used by 20.8% of the participants and was by far least prevalent among never smokers. Similar patterns were observed with participants’choices at the time of the survey, but tobacco flavors use was substantially reduced (7.7%). Only 2.1% reported tobacco as the single most often used flavor. The most prevalent flavor at the time of quitting smoking was again fruit (83.3%), followed by dessert/pastry/bakery (68.0%) and candy/chocolate/sweet (44.5%). These flavors were considered the most helpful for quitting smoking. Tobacco flavor use at the time of smoking cessation was reported by 15.0% while 9.3% considered it helpful for quitting smoking.
Conclusion.
Non-tobacco flavors were popular among the US adult vapers who participated to the study, and were popular choices at the time of quitting smoking for former smokers. Tobacco flavors use prevalence was low and was further reduced over time. Regulators should consider the flavors choice of adult consumers, especially those who quit smoking, when preparing legislation on flavored e-cigarettes.
Assessment of peritoneal lavage for preventing operative site infection in elective pancreatic surgery
Authors: Ishihara Mai , Nakamura Akihiro , Takahashi Yuki , Minegishi Yuzo , Matsuo kenichi , Tanaka Kuniya
Published: March 2023

Background.
Although intraoperative peritoneal lavage often is performed routinely with the aim of reducing peritoneal contamination, evidence of lavage benefit in elective pancreatic surgery is limited.
Methods.
We retrospectively classified patients who had undergone pancreatic surgery to groups given or not given peritoneal lavage, then comparing clinical results. This saline lavage was performed at the end of the operation. The primary endpoint was rate of surgical site infection.
Results.
Among all 104 patients in the study, incidence of infectious complications in the lavage group (n = 65) was significantly higher than in the non-lavage group (n = 39; 35% vs. 15%, P = 0.041), while incidences of postoperative complications overall and surgical site infection did not differ between lavage (80% and 26%) and non-lavage groups (67% and 10%, P = 0.162 and 0.076, respectively). Among 63 patients undergoing pancratoduodenectomy, frequencies of positive bacterial cultures of drainage fluids on postoperative days 1 and 3 were greater in the non-lavage group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.012), but surgical site infection was significantly more frequent in the lavage group (P = 0.043). Among patients with pancreatic and biliary cancer, lavage did not affect frequency of peritoneal recurrence.
Conclusions.
Intraoperative lavage did not prevent surgical site infection or peritoneal recurrence of pancreatobiliary cancer.