bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualifying Bismuth Plug Technology in Mozambique
Authors: Talapatra Didhiti
Published: November 2023

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Over the past 10 years, bismuth plugs have been used more often to solve complex downhole integrity issues and to permanently abandon wells, both on and offshore. As bismuth technology is relatively new to the market, it often needs to be qualified in-country before use on a larger scale. This is a significant barrier to the adoption of new technologies in general within the industry and not unique to the use of bismuth as a permanent sealing barrier.

Bismuth and bismuth-based alloys have unique properties that allow them to be used as a sealing material that has the potential to change the industry. It has a specific gravity of 10 which means it is 10 times denser than water. In molten form it can displace any fluid in the wellbore. Not only is it dense but in its molten form it also has a viscosity like water, which means it can flow easily and through perforations, cracks, crevices, or any micro annuli without the need of any pumping equipment.

The most interesting property however is its ability to expand on solidification. BiSN uses proprietary thermite heaters to melt bismuth-based alloys downhole, which then flow into the annulus through perforations or section milled windows taking the shape of volume they are filling up. The alloy on solidification then expands (like ice) which creates the gas-tight seal against the surface it is expanding. These alloys not only create a solid mechanical barrier but are also highly corrosion resistant to H2S, CO2, acids, and other wellbore fluid that might be present, thereby creating a barrier that can last forever or be classified as “eternal.”

Compared to existing traditional sealing technologies, a bismuth plug requires a significantly shorter seal, resulting in less materials, section milling, and time needed for deployment. For example, a traditional cement plug might need to be hundreds of feet in length where a bismuth plug can be set at as little as 6 ft.

Field Test—Context, Challenges, and Methodology

In May 2023, BiSN was contracted to fulfill a rigless plug and abandonment (P&A) campaign for Sasol in Mozambique. Before proceeding, BiSN and Sasol worked together on a well in Mozambique to qualify BiSN bismuth technology as a permanent abandonment solution in the country.

The well chosen for the seal test had several complicating factors including the need to set the seal in open hole through perforations and the thin caprocks located in the region.

The overall goal of the field test was to isolate gas-bearing silt from shallower formations by forming an effective seal. To accomplish this, the bismuth plug was required to be set with a 10-m shale window identified by Sasol as a suitable location to set a regional seal to essentially restore the caprock. Previous explorations had revealed areas of patchy cement from earlier P&A attempts.
Study Reviews Largest ASP Project From Laboratory to Pilots and Field Application
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: November 2023

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This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 215058, “A Systematic Review of the Largest ASP Flood Project in the World: From Laboratory to Pilots and Field Application,” by Yunan Wei, SPE, Xiaoguang Lu, SPE, and Jianhong Xu, SPE, C&C Reservoirs, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

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The complete paper presents a systematic review of the largest alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flood project in the world, applied in the largest oil field in China. First, reservoir and fluid characteristics are highlighted to understand heterogeneity of the reservoir. Next, project history is summarized, including laboratory studies, pilot tests, industrial-scale tests, and fieldwide application. Finally, typical ASP flood performance and reservoir management measures from over 30 years of experience are presented. Performances of ASP flood and polymer floods in the same field also are compared.​​​​

Introduction

In the La-Sa-Xing Field, ASP flooding was studied in the laboratory from 1987 to 1993 and followed by five small-scale pilots from 1994 to 1999, all successfully achieving incremental recoveries of approximately 20% stock-tank oil initially in place (STOIIP). As a result, industrial-scale pilots were conducted from 2000 to 2007, resulting in increased production by ASP flooding from 3,887 to greater than 19,000 BOPD in 2007. Fieldwide ASP expansion was launched in December 2007. By 2021, the ASP-flooded blocks registered a STOIIP of 1.9823 billion bbl. Daily production was approximately 96,000 BOPD through approximately 9,650 wells. Average incremental recovery factor was 20% STOIIP with waterflooding and 8% with polymer flooding, providing an ultimate recovery factor of 60%. Cumulative oil production by ASP flooding had reached 316 million bbl by 2021, making it the largest ASP flooding project in the world.

Geological Background and Reservoir Characteristics

The La-Sa-Xing Field is in the north of the Songliao Basin of northeast China, comprising the majority of the Daqing field complex. The field was placed onstream in 1960. The hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir has a gross thickness of 1,377 ft and a net thickness of 394 ft. Net pay averages 150 ft.

Initial reservoir pressure ranges from 1,523 to 2,585 psi. Reservoir temperature varies from 113 to 122°F. Crude oil has an API gravity of 33°, a viscosity of 8.5–10.3 cp at reservoir conditions, an initial gas/oil ratio of 258 scf/STB, and a bubblepoint pressure of 1,291 psi. Formation water salinity is 7000 mg/L. Reservoir rock initially shows water or weak oil wettability.

Depending on permeability, three types of reservoir sand (Type I, Type II, and Type III) have been identified. Currently, ASP flooding is mainly applied to Type I sand, with partial application to Type II Sand.
3D Integrated Model-Driven Work Flow Developed for Shale Hydraulic Fracturing
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: November 2023

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This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 212406, “3D Integrated G&G Model-Driven Mitigation Work Flow on Screenout, Frac Hits, and Casing Deformation in Ultradeep Shale Hydraulic Fracturing,” by Jianfa Wu and Bo Zeng, PetroChina, and Lipeng Wang, SLB, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

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The Longmaxi shale gas play in China is unique because of multiple tectonic deformations in its geological history. While its hydraulic fracturing design has matured after a decade-long evolution, the success of every well cannot be ensured without considering heterogeneity. To address these challenges, a multidisciplinary team was formed to work on a pad; through the team’s efforts, designed proppant volume achieved zero casing deformations, fewer screenouts, and weaker fracture hits. The key to effective mitigation was continuous 3D geological and geomechanical (G&G) modeling through ongoing iterations with field data.

Background

The Longmaxi shale play in the Sichuan Basin is approximately 20 000 km2 and is buried between 2000 and 4500 m. This play has more than 10 trillion m3 of gas reserves and is made up of shallow and deep reservoirs.

Currently, the operator has moved to the deeper Luzhou and Chongqing blocks buried at a depth greater than 3500 m. Nearly 200 horizontal wells per year are planned in the next 5 years. A fracture hit with tens of MPa increase was observed. Four casing failures were observed on 32 of the wells in this block, which made the unstimulated length more than 200 m and cost an extra $300,000 for interventions in each problematic well.

While the risk of screenout, fracture hit, and casing deformation is common, risk levels vary for different reservoirs. No work flow is available that could be developed to identify and reduce these hazards. In this study, ultradeep shale gas at Pad X, buried almost 3900 m in the Luzhou Block, was selected to recognize and mitigate these risks (Fig. 1), where four wells were positioned 300 m apart. The lateral length of X-1 is roughly 1000 m, while the rest of the wells are roughly 1900 m in length.

3D G&G Modeling

By combining seismic interpretation, seismic inversion, petrophysical analysis, and 1D geomechanical modeling while adhering to the Longmaxi-Wufeng Shale modeling technique used in neighboring blocks, the authors established a G&G model with dimensions of 40×40×0.5 m for the Luzhou Block. The pad model was refined to 8×8×0.5 m by using well logs to better characterize the variations in stage level.

Natural Fractures. 3D surface seismic data was the only reliable source available to predict natural fractures in the shale and design the fracturing job, though the uncertainty was unavoidable. To display fault-/fracture-system characteristics, seismic attributes, including variance, ant tracking, and curvature were examined.
Investigation of the Effect of Residual Oil and Wettability on Sulfonated Polymer Retention in Carbonate under High-Salinity Conditions
Authors: Alfazazi Umar , Thomas Nithin Chacko , Al-Shalabi Emad Walid , AlAmeri Waleed
Published: November 2023

Polymer flooding in carbonate reservoirs is greatly affected by polymer retention, which is mainly due to adsorption by polymer-rock surface interactions. Consequently, this leads to a delay in polymer front propagation and related oil recovery response. This work investigates the effects of residual oil (Sor) and wettability on sulfonated-based (ATBS) polymer retention under the conditions of high salinity and moderate temperature. Polymer single- and two-phase dynamic adsorption tests as well as bulk and in-situ rheological experiments were conducted on outcrop carbonate cores in the presence of a high-salinity brine of 243,000 ppm at a temperature of 50°C. A total of four corefloods were conducted on Indiana limestone core samples with similar petrophysical properties.

Overall, polymer adsorption was found to be low and within the acceptable range for application in carbonate reservoirs in the absence and presence of Sor. Furthermore, the polymer adsorption and in-situ rheology tests highlighted the significance of oil presence in the core samples, where retention was found to be around 40–50 µg/g-rock and 25–30 µg/g-rock in the absence and at Sor, respectively. An additional 50% reduction in retention was observed on the aged core sample that is more oil-wet. Polymer retention/adsorption was measured by double slug and mass balance techniques, and the results from both methods were in agreement with less than 7% difference. Inaccessible pore volume (IPV) was also calculated based on the double slug method and was found to be in the range of 23% to 28%, which was qualitatively supported by in-situ saturation monitoring obtained from an X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner. The ATBS-based polymer showed excellent results for applications in carbonate without considerable polymer loss or plugging. This paper provides valuable insights into the impacts of residual oil and wettability on polymer adsorption, supported by CT in-situ saturation monitoring, which is necessary to avoid unrepresentative and inflated polymer retentions in oil reservoirs.
Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from three fruit and vegetable waste management technologies using the static chamber
Authors: Komakech Allan John , Rubagumya Isaac , Kizito Simon Savio , Zziwa Ahamada , Kabenge Isa , Menya Emmanuel
Published: November 2023

Primary activity data for the type and emission rate of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from waste treatment technologies is inadequate in many developing countries. However, these data are key inputs to designing and outlining the best approaches for GHG emissions reduction from different source sectors of the economy. In this study, greenhouse gas emissions from three fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) management technologies namely, aerobic composting (AC), anaerobic digestion (AD), and Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) composting, were investigated. The static chamber method was used to assess the carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions from these technologies. The total CO2 emissions for the different FVW treatment methods investigated were 108.0, 87.5, and 61.21 g CO2 kg− 1 of FV waste initial FV for BSFL, AC, and AD respectively. When CO2 emissions were excluded from the accounting because they are considered carbon neutral or assumed to be part of the small carbon cycle, the three waste treatment technologies' emissions ranged from 1.82 to 47.48 kg CO2 -eq ton− 1 of FVW treated, largely attributable to CH4 emissions. On account of Methane and Nitrous oxide GHG mitigation, the results indicate that anaerobic digestion provides a reduction 26 times greater than BSFL and three times more than aerobic composting. To make the national GHG emission estimates for the waste sector more robust, such local area-based studies focusing on primary activity data are beneficial to reduce uncertainties in national emission approximations.
Stakeholders’ Identification and Understanding of the Multisectoral Governance for Child and Maternal Nutrition During the MDGs Period – A Stakeholders’ Network Analysis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan
Authors: Jan Attaullah , Shah Syed Saleem , Almajwal Ali Madi , Alam Iftikhar
Published: November 2023

Background
Interest in multisectoral policies has increased, particularly in the context of low-income and middle-income countries and efforts towards Sustainable Development Goals, with greater attention to understand effective strategies for implementation and governance. The study had two objectives: 1) to identify the main stakeholders who were responsible for child and nutrition mother nutrition in the MDGs period in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, 2) to explore and map the composition and structure of the nutrition component of MDGs, identifying key factors engaged in nutrition policy implementation and their patterns of relationships in provincial-level in the KP.
Methods
Stakeholders identification was furnished using the participatory NetMap tool. Social network analysis (SNA) was used to examine the structure of the actors’ network in compliance with child and maternal nutrition MDGs. The survey was administered producing three distinct network maps about interaction, information-seeking and decision-making patterns. The network measures of centrality, density, reciprocity, centralization was used to understand the network across the province.
Results
a total of 16 stakeholders were identified. The results on network analysis showed MoH, P&D, NGOs, and provincial government were the most frequently consulted actors for interaction, information-seeking and decision-making. The three networks as a whole displayed high centralization with a P&D and MoH having a central role with the highest in-degree centrality. The network as whole also exhibited greater density and reciprocity.
Conclusion
As a whole, 16 stakeholders were identified by NetMap and SNA analysis with MoH, P&D, NGOs, and provincial government as the most frequently consulted actors for interaction, information-seeking and decision-making.
Association between ABO blood group and preeclampsia in pregnant women
Authors: jiang lingling , shen zhiyong , yang Tingting , Lin Zhi , Pan Mian , Yan jianying
Published: November 2023

Objective: To explore the correlation between maternal ABO blood group and preeclampsia. The results maybe used as the basis for the clinical prevention and treatment of preeclampsia.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted, and 248 pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE group) and 248 normal pregnant women (control group) were included from October 1, 2016 to October 1, 2017. Compare the general condition of pregnant women in both groups. Compare the differences in the occurrence of preeclampsia in pregnant women with different blood groups. Compare the differences in triglycerides and cholesterol with different blood groups in the preeclampsia group.
Results: There were statistically significant differences in age, pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational week, cholesterol and triglycerides between the PE group and the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the height of the two groups. Non-O blood groups were significantly more common than the O blood group in the PE group (59.1% V 28.9%). In contrast, in the control group, O blood group was significantly more common than the non-O blood groups (71.1% V 40.9%). In the PE group, non-O blood pregnant women had significantly higher triglyceride and cholesterol level than O blood pregnant women.
Conclusion: Pregnant women with non-O blood groups have an increased risk of preeclampsia. Elevated blood lipids may contribute to the increased risk of preeclampsia in non-O blood group pregnant women.
Gamification as a methodology to enhance analytical and sustainable engagement on Social Media
Authors: Ruiz Paula Gil
Published: November 2023

This study aims to determine whether positioning students as developers of educational software enhances their digital literacy, presenting an avenue to cultivate critical online content consumption and, in turn, combat misinformation. A total of 107 students, prospective educators in early childhood, primary, and social education contexts, participated in the research. Our initial hypothesis posited that introducing a technology training program would significantly bolster the ability to discern hoaxes and falsehoods online. However, a chi-square test significance result of 0.607 suggests acceptance of the null hypothesis. The findings underscore a notable deficiency in students' ability to solve practical problems, evident from the lack of responses to items categorized under intuition and practical reasoning. Nonetheless, according to the standards set by DigiComp, students can achieve a commendable proficiency in digital competency, particularly in evaluating digital data and information, as well as in creating digital content.
Risk Pregnancy Early Detection Program in the Working Area of the Health Department of Paser District: a Multiperspective Exploration
Authors: Tinaningsih Morita Dwi , Sulistyowati Sri , Wijaya Mahendra , Sugihardjo Sugihardjo , Fithri An Nisa
Published: November 2023

Early access to standardized services is crucial for preventing the majority of maternal deaths. Early detection of at-risk pregnancies involves identifying pregnant women who have obstetric risk factors and complications in order to prevent adverse outcomes. Identifying risk factors in mothers, through the collaboration of healthcare professionals and the community, plays a crucial role in preventing maternal morbidity and mortality. This research is a phenomenological study that includes professionals in health service promotion, obstetrician-gynecologists, as well as cadres and pregnant women who receive these services. The participants were chosen using purposive sampling based on predetermined criteria for inclusion. Data was collected through in-depth interviews lasting between 30 to 60 minutes. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. The analysis revealed that four program policies aimed at early detection of at-risk pregnancies have not been enforced. Additionally, obstacles were identified in the implementation of the program, specifically related to funding and inadequate human resources support. There is a lack of sufficient knowledge and training among cadres regarding the early detection of at-risk pregnancies. Additionally, the available information on this topic is limited. The findings indicate the necessity of enhancing special program policies for early identification of high-risk pregnancies, which should be accompanied by sufficient human resources, particularly trained personnel, as well as financial support and infrastructure from the government. The authors aim to enhance early detection of at-risk pregnancies by empowering cadres and utilizing information technology, specifically the "KABARI" model, recognized as a digital health promotion approach.
Deepurify: a multi-modal deep language model to remove contamination from metagenome-assembled genomes
Authors: Zhang Lu , Zou Bohao , Wang Jingjing , Ding Yi , Zhang Zhenmiao , Huang Yufen , Fang Xiaodong , Cheung Ka Chun , See Simon
Published: November 2023

Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) offer valuable insights into the exploration of microbial dark matter using metagenomic sequencing data. However, there is a growing concern that contamination in MAGs may significantly impact the downstream analysis results. Existing MAG decontamination methods heavily rely on marker genes but do not fully leverage genomic sequences.
To address the limitations, we have introduced a novel decontamination approach named Deepurify, which utilizes a multi-modal deep language model employing contrastive learning to learn taxonomic similarities of genomic sequences. Deepurify utilizes inferred taxonomic lineages to guide the allocation of contigs into a MAG-separated tree and employs a tree traversal strategy for maximizing the total number of medium- and high-quality MAGs.
Extensive experiments were conducted on two simulated datasets, CAMI I, and human gut metagenomic sequencing data. These results demonstrate that Deepurify significantly outperforms other decontamination methods.
Drought risk assessment by applying drought hazard and vulnerability indices for irrigated wheat (Case study: Khorasan provinces, Iran)
Authors: Latifi Hoda , Khorramdel Soroor , Koocheki Alireza , Bannayan Mohammad , Farzaneh Mahmood-Reza
Published: November 2023

This study investigated drought risk, drought vulnerability, and drought hazard in Northeast Iran (North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and South Khorasan provinces) during 2009-2018. Exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity together determine the agricultural drought vulnerability. Three parameters of soil water holding capacity, level of mechanization and the amount of water consumption of agricultural wells were considered effective adaptive capacity factors to reduce the negative effects of drought on irrigated wheat production by having an auxiliary role. Results showed that among 51 counties in Khorasan provinces, 12 counties are exposed to the low drought Vulnerability, 11 counties to the moderate drought Vulnerability and 28 counties to the high drought Vulnerability. Counties with less drought vulnerability have a high score in terms of the adaptive capacity index. This high score is due to the high water holding capacity of the soil in these areas. Regions in the high and very high drought hazard classes are mostly in the center and south of the studied region and the amount of precipitation is low. In general, irrigated wheat is produced with medium and high risk in half of the counties of North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan and South Khorasan provinces. Water scarcity, lack of reliable surface sources, improper distribution of rainfall, high temperature and poor vegetation cover in these areas have caused many problems in agriculture. Risk management needs to be revised in these regions due to the undeniable effects of climate change and the strategic nature of this product.
Impact of Bisphenol A on the levels of vascular calcification biomarkers in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with vascular complications: A Case-control Study
Authors: Nehru Mohanraj , S Jancy M , Durairaj Prabhu , S Kumar J , Janardhanan Rajiv , Prabhu Venkataraman
Published: November 2023

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that disrupts the endocrine system and is found in various plastic products that are routinely used. Recent research suggests that BPA develops insulin resistance, which results in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which also causes vascular complications. Vascular calcification (VC) is the primary concern in T2DM and diabetic vascular complications. Fetuin-A (FTA) and Osteoprotegerin (OPG) are the VC biomarkers in T2DM. The association of BPA with T2DM and its associated vascular complications are limited in human studies. Our study aims to associate systemic BPA levels with FTA and OPG in T2DM and diabetic vascular complications. Diabetic vascular complications such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) were confirmed by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and urine microalbuminuria (UMA), respectively. Serum and urinary FTA, OPG and BPA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The biochemical parameters were performed using standard protocols. We found increased levels of serum (p < 0.001) and urinary BPA (p < 0.001) in T2DM, along with lower levels of serum and urinary FTA (p < 0.001) and enhanced levels of OPG (p < 0.001) in the study groups. Serum and urinary BPA levels were highly associated with serum FTA (p < 0.001), urinary FTA (p < 0.01), serum OPG (p < 0.001) and urinary OPG (p < 0.001) in our study groups. Our study demonstrates an association between increased serum and urinary BPA levels, poor diabetic and lipid profile, and insulin resistance. It is especially significant with lower FTA and enhanced OPG in patients with T2DM and its associated vascular complications.
BCMA-targeted CAR-T Therapy Associated Adverse Events in Multiple Myeloma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Jian Hou , Fu Xuehang , Yang Jingwen , Yu Dandan , Jin Shikai , Zhang Liwen , Chen Zhenwei , Du Jun
Published: November 2023

B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor modified (CAR)-T therapy is an emerging treatment option for multiple myeloma (MM) but many severe adverse events (AEs) remain in clinical practice, raising safety concerns regarding this promising therapy. In this systematic review, we searched 4 databases and selected 45 reports from 32 different studies involving a total of 927 patients with MM. Data were extracted and analyzed to assess the efficacy and safety of the therapy. Complete responses (CR) and stringent complete responses (sCR) were achieved in 48% (95% CI, 39%-59%) patients, with partial responses and very good partial responses (VGPR) were achieved in 36% (95% CI, 30%-43%) patients. Of the patients who had MM evaluable for minimal residual disease (MRD), 71% (95% CI: 56%-89%) achieved negative status for bone marrow MRD. Regarding safety, the AE with the highest incidence was cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which occurred in 76% (95% CI, 65%-86%) patients, while severe CRS was observed in 10% (95% CI, 5%-14%) patients. The AE with the second highest incidence was neurotoxicity reported in 9% (95% CI, 5%-14%) patients, with the proportion of severe neurotoxicity being 2% (95% CI, 1%-4%). Notably, hematological toxicities, often manifesting as cytopenia, were a prominent severe AE. Furthermore, 68 (7.34%) of the 927 enrolled patients had died. This study shws that, despite the promising results of BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy in MM patients, significant and sometimes severe toxicities were observed frequently during treatment. There is an urgent need to place more emphasis on these AEs and solutions. The study was registered in PROSPERO, number CRD42022295858.
Postoperative pain of minimally invasive root canal treatment:A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Kim Do-hyun , Choi Yoon-woo , Kang Sumi , Shin Su-Jung , Jung Il-Young
Published: November 2023

Background
This randomized clinical trial compared postoperative pain between a minimally invasive (MP) and conventional root canal treatment protocol (CP).
Methods
A total of 170 mature permanent teeth (either with vital or necrotic pulp), were randomly assigned into two groups. In the CP group, ProTaper Gold (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and a continuous wave of condensation technique were used, whereas, in the MP group, TruNatomy (Dentsply Sirona), ultrasonic-assisted irrigation (UI), calcium hydroxide (CH), and a sealer-based obturation technique were used. Patients recorded preoperative and postoperative pain using a 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS) at 4 h, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days after instrumentation and 1 day after canal obturation, respectively.
Results
There were no significant differences in pain intensity at any time points assessed between the two groups (p > 0.05). The occurrence of moderate/intense pain after instrumentation was significantly associated with preoperative periapical index (PAI) (p = 0.017) and NRS scores (p< 0.001). Preoperative pulp status (p = 0.009) and NRS score (p = 0.006) were identified as significant factors in the occurrence of moderate/intense pain after obturation.
Conclusions
Instrumentation unequivocally reduced pain severity for both groups. The post-endodontic pain associated with the use of MP, combined with UI, CH, and calcium-silicate cement, did not differ from that of CP. Preoperative pain score, PAI, and preoperative pulp status were determined to be prognostic factors for postoperative pain.
Trial registration:
The study was registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS, no. KCT0005351: 25/08/2020).
Molecular Set Representation Learning
Authors: Probst Daniel , Boulougouri Maria , Vandergheynst Pierre
Published: November 2023

Computational representation of molecules can take many forms, including graphs, string-encodings of graphs, binary vectors, or learned embeddings in the form of real-valued vectors. These representations are then used in downstream classification and regression tasks using a wide range of machine-learning models. However, existing models come with limitations, such as the requirement for clearly defined chemical bonds, which often do not represent the true underlying nature of a molecule. Here, we propose a framework for molecular machine learning tasks based on set representation learning. We show that learning on sets of atomic invariants alone reaches the performance of state-of-the-art graph-based models on the most-used chemical benchmark data sets and that introducing a set representation layer into graph neural networks can surpass the performance of established methods in the domains of chemistry, biology, and material science. We introduce specialised set representation-based neural network architectures for reaction yield and protein-ligand binding affinity prediction. Overall, we show that the technique we denote molecular set representation learning is both an alternative and an extension to graph neural network architectures for machine learning tasks on molecules, molecule complexes, and chemical reactions.
Protective effect of conditioned medium from brain pericytes overexpressing telomerase reverse transcriptase on hypoxic-ischemic neurons
Authors: Liu Shixi , Huang Lingyi , Zheng Zizhuo , Zhang Mingfu , Li Hui , Zhao Fengyan , Wang Shaopu , Su Xiaojuan , Li Shiping , Ying Junjie , Liu Qian , Qu Yi
Published: November 2023

Aims: Cerebral microvascular pericytes can secrete both neurotrophic factors and neurotoxic molecules, which together construct the microenvironment for nerve growth and repair. The aim of this study is to detect the effect of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) overexpression on the change of secretory spectrum of brain pericytes, and to examine the protective effect and mechanism of conditioned medium from brain pericytes overexpressing TERTon hypoxic-ischemic neurons.
Methods:TERT overexpressing pericytes were constructedand the conditioned medium was collected. Cortical neurons weresubjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and cultured in neurobasal/B27 or conditioned medium from pericytes, andtheir survival and apoptosis were detected.Furthermore, conditioned medium was analyzed using Tandem Mass Tagstechnology to examine the differentially expressed proteins. Then these proteins were analyzedand the key proteins related to neuronal protectionwere selected and verified.
Results: Conditioned medium from pericytes increased survival and decreased apoptosis of OGD neurons, and TERT over-expression enhanced this effect. The quantitative proteomics of conditioned mediumselected 12 differentially expressedproteins which were related to neuronal protection, among them FGF2 and apoE4 were determined as the possible effectors to regulate neuronal survival inconditioned medium from brain pericytes overexpressing TERT through verification experiments. Mechanistically, TERT regulated the expression of FGF2 and ApoE4 through activating Akt signaling.
Conclusion: TERT overexpression enhanced the neuroprotective effect of conditioned mediumthrough improving the secretion profile of pericytes. Conditioned medium from brain pericytes overexpressing TERT has the potential to be developed as an effective neuroprotective agent.
Adapting Strengthening Families Program into Brazilian online version: Formative evaluation of family-based prevention
Authors: Pietrobon Tania Vilela , Garcia-Cerde Rodrigo , Valente Juliana Yurgel , Sanchez Zila van der Meer
Published: November 2023

Online family drug prevention programs have been shown to affect the behavior of children and adolescents. This study presents the formative evaluation results of the online implementation of Familias Fortes, a Brazilian-adapted version of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP 10–14). A total of 31 families participated in the evaluation, and data were collected from 74 observations, 64 fidelity forms, 20 focus groups, and 16 semi-structured interviews in groups located in five cities with a total of 113 participants. The evaluation focused on three outcomes: fidelity, appropriateness, and feasibility. Low fidelity was observed, with videos and audio content not consistently sent as planned, although most core elements were maintained. The program's appropriateness showed good accessibility and utilization of video content by participants, but confidentiality was lacking in adolescent meetings. Feasibility analysis revealed challenges related to poor internet access, malfunctioning of facilitator cameras, issues with time management and internal organization of institutions, and insufficient facilitator training. Specific problematic activities were identified, and recommendations for improvement were made. These included enhancing internet connectivity, developing a new manual specific to the online format, improving time management for facilitators, providing more interactive facilitator training, and considering a hybrid format. By implementing these adaptations and conducting a pilot evaluation, an online version of Familias Fortes could be disseminated in Brazil as a pilot model until its effectiveness is evaluated.
Influence of Biomechanical Stimulus on 3D Bioprinted Respiratory Tissue Scaffolds
Authors: Zimmerling Amanda , Boire Jim , Zhou Yan , Chen Xiongbiao
Published: November 2023

In respiratory tissue engineering, the development of respiratory tissue models or constructs is been challenging due to the complex structure of native respiratory tissue and the unique biomechanical conditions induced by breathing. While studies have shown that the inclusion of biomechanical stimulus that mimics physiological conditions greatly benefits the development of engineered tissues, to our knowledge no studies investigating the influence of biomechanical stimulus on the development of respiratory tissue models engineered by three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting have been reported. This paper presents a study on the inclusion of biomechanical stimulus during the culture of 3D bioprinted constructs for the development of respiratory tissue models with further investigation into the influence of biomechanical stimulus on the tissue constructs in terms of mechanical and biological properties. Constructs were bioprinted using an alginate/collagen hydrogel containing human primary pulmonary fibroblasts with further seeding of human primary bronchial epithelial cells. Biomechanical stimulus was then applied via a novel ventilated incubator developed for our study. Constructs were subject to four different pressure change and airflow conditions: standard incubation, shallow breathing, normal breathing and heavy breathing, over a two-week time period. At time points of 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days, constructs were examined and characterized in terms of tensile mechanical properties, cell proliferation and cell morphology. The results illustrated that conditions mimicking normal and heavy breathing led to greater and more continuous cell proliferation, and greater production of vimentin, a structural protein produced by fibroblasts. Inclusion of biomechanical stimulus during culture of 3D bioprinted respiratory constructs promotes cellular growth and proliferation, indicating a more physiologically relevant respiratory tissue model.
Instant Gaze (IG): An Interaction Driven Adaptive Gaze Control Interface
Authors: Qian Kun , Arichi Tomoki , Edwards A. David , Hajnal Joseph V
Published: November 2023

Gaze estimation is long been recognised as having potential as the basis for human-computer interaction (HCI) systems, but usability and robustness of performance remain challenging . This work focuses on systems in which there is a live video stream showing enough of the subjects face to track eye movements and some means to infer gaze location from detected eye features. Currently, systems generally require some form of calibration or set-up procedure at the start of each user session. Here we explore some simple strategies for enabling gaze based HCI to operate immediately and robustly without any explicit set-up tasks. We explore different choices of coordinate origin for combining extracted features from multiple subjects and the replacement of subject specific calibration by system initiation based on prior models. Results show that referencing all extracted features to local coordinate origins determined by subject start position enables robust immediate operation. Combining this approach with an adaptive gaze estimation model using an interactive user interface enables continuous operation with the 75th percentile gaze errors of 0.7 degrees, and maximum gaze errors of 1.7 degrees during prospective testing. There constitute state-of-the-art results and have the potential to enable a new generation of reliable gaze based HCI systems.
Simultaneous fault detection and control for a class of nonlinear uncertain systems with limited communication
Authors: Cao Hongyan , Zhang Juanmei , Wang Guoyong , Ji Zhihang
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the simultaneous fault detection and control(SFDC) problem for a class of uncertain nonlinear networked control systems with limited communication.
In order to improve the utilization of network resources, a novel dynamic event-triggered mechanism is employed affected by the Bernoulli package dropouts phenomenon, which is usually appearing in practical systems. Then, a fault detection filter and dynamic output feedback controller module is applied to achieve the required fault detection and control objectives simultaneously.
The linear matrix inequality-based approach is provided to obtain the designed filter and controller parameters so that the closed-loop system is robustly stochastically stable and meets the required performance.
Finally, two practical examples are adopted to show the effectiveness of the developed scheme.
Antiaging Synergistic Effect in Noninvasive Transdermal Delivery of Peptide Loaded Liposomes by Low Energy/Frequency Radiofrequency
Authors: Xiang Nanxi , Huang Zeting , Zhang Chunqiao , Huang Jiahong , Wang Zhenyuan , Zhang Jichuan , Wu Chengyu , Zhang Jiaheng , Peng Weihua
Published: November 2023

Low energy/frequency radiofrequency (LRF) combined with the transdermal delivery of liposome (L) encapsulated antiaging peptides technology is a remarkable, newly developed physical noninvasive transdermal penetration technique; it is considered a highly efficient, comprehensive and safe technology. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the physical and chemical mechanisms underlying the efficacy of this innovative technique involving a combination of LRF and L, termed LLRF, that exerts a synergistic anti-aging effect on human skin, via an animal experiment. Physical and chemical analyses indicated that a relatively stable liposome with a uniform nano-size, which was formed, possessed good transdermal permeability that was 2.74 folds higher than that of the free peptide (F). LLRF exhibited a higher transdermal permeation performance that was of 3.65 folds higher than that of the free one, which was substantiated via confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. The mouse UVB photoaging model trial confirmed that the LLRF technology exerted a significant synergistic effect compared to liposome technology, or free peptide, by downregulating inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α), inhibiting the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP1, MMP3), promoting the mRNA and protein expression of related collagens (Procollagen, Col1α1 and Col3α1), and repairing the stratum corneum barrier function, as evidenced by trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), skin cuticle hydration (SCH), and decreased expression of β-gal, an aging marker. These findings indicated that photoaging skin can be effectively and comprehensively rejuvenated, and that even photodamage can be reversed, thereby restoring the original physiological characteristics of healthy skin. Clinical tests have confirmed that although liposome technology is an effective antiaging method which helps exert tightening and anti-wrinkle effects on human skin, LLRF is an even more effective anti-aging technique. This study reveals a highly effective technique involving a combination physical and chemical therapy that may be utilized for antiaging purposes as well as repairing lightly damaged skin, and can be made readily available in the future.
Examining factors associated with vaccine hesitancy against Covid-19 among adults in Europe: a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data
Authors: Nagase Megumi
Published: November 2023

Objective
This study aimed to explore the factors associated with Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in Europe among adults by using the Socio-Ecological Model.
Results
This cross-sectional study used secondary data collected from respondents residing in 27 EU countries at the time of May 2021. The outcome was vaccine hesitancy against Covid-19, and the total sample size of 23,606 was analysed by binary logistic regression, as well as McKelvey and Zavonoia’s R2. After adding each level of variables, the model found the significant and increased association with vaccine hesitancy in younger age groups (21-39 years and 40-60 years vs 65 years+), who left full-time education at a young age (16-19 years), those with manual jobs, those with children at home, individuals residing in small towns, and norms related to the vaccine. Together, the levels explained 49.4% of the variance associated with vaccine hesitancy, and the addition to each variable layer increased the variance. This highlights the need to consider broad factors at multiple levels to enhance vaccine acceptance and uptake.
Genetic and microbial determinants of azoxymethane-induced colorectal tumor susceptibility in Collaborative Cross mice and their implication in human cancer
Authors: Li Dan , Zhong Chenhan , Yang Mengyuan , He Li , Chang Hang , Zhu Ning , Celniker Susan E , Threadgill David W , Snijders Antoine M , Mao Jian-Hua , Yuan Ying
Published: November 2023

Background
The insights into interactions between host genetics and gut microbiome (GM) in colorectal tumor susceptibility (CTS) remains lacking. We used Collaborative Cross mouse population model to identify genetic and microbial determinants of Azoxymethane-induced CTS.
Results
We identified 4417 CTS-associated SNPs containing 936 known human genes, 334 of which were found to be transcriptionally altered in human CRCs. Transcriptional expression of 334 CTS genes clustered human CRCs into two subgroups with prognostic impact in independent cohorts. We discovered a set of genera in early-life associated with CTS and defined a 16-genus signature that predicted CTS, the majority of which were correlated with human CRCs. We identified 547 SNPs significantly associated with the abundances of at least 5 of 16 genera. Mediation analysis revealed GM as mediators exerting genetic effects on CTS, whereby Ruminococcus, Akkermansia, Allobaculum, Bacteroides, Sutterella, and Bifidobacterium mediate the effect of UNC3869242 within Duox2 on CTS. Intestine cell-specific depletion of Duox2 altered GM composition and contribution of Duox2 depletion to CTS was significantly influenced by GM.
Conclusions
This study identifies genetic and microbial determinants of azoxymethane-induced CTS, shows critical importance of interaction between genetics and microbiome in CTS, and provides potential novel targets for personalized CRC prevention and treatment.
Postoperative Adjuvant Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Immunotherapy for Solitary Huge Hepatocellular Carcinoma without Macrovascular Invasion
Authors: Huang Hongwei , Liao Wei , Zhang Kaiyue , Wang Hao , Mei Bin , Cheng Qi
Published: November 2023

Background and purpose
The prognosis of patients with huge hepatocellular carcinoma (huge HCC, diameter ≥ 10 cm) is poor owing to the high early recurrence rate. This study aimed to explore the clinical value of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (PA-TACE) plus programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors for solitary huge HCC without macrovascular invasion.
Patients and methods
Data from consecutive solitary huge HCC patients without macrovascular invasion treated with hepatectomy during June 2017 and July 2022 were retrospectively collected. Baseline differences were balanced between huge HCC patients who underwent PA-TACE with (AIT group) or without PD-1 inhibitors (AT group) by propensity-score matching (PSM). We compared recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS) and recurrence patterns between the two groups. Independent risk factors for RFS and OS were confirmed by Cox regression analysis.
Results
A total of 202 patients were enrolled and 46 pairs of patients in the AIT and AT groups were matched by PSM. The 1-year RFS in the AIT group was superior to that in the AT group (58.7% vs 32.6%, p = 0.016). The 1-year OS was 84.8% in the AIT group compared to 76.1% in the AT group (p = 0.25). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that combined therapy of PA-TACE plus PD-1 inhibitors was a protective factor related to 1-year RFS but not OS. There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence patterns between the two groups.
Conclusions
PA-TACE plus PD-1 inhibitors could improve short-term outcomes for huge HCC patients.
Prediction of Pollution Characteristics of Ceramic Double-Shed Insulators Based on Dimensionless Analysis
Authors: Lv Yukun , Chen Zeze , Wang Qian , Li Xiaojing , Wang Yuechi
Published: November 2023

Evaluating the accumulation of contamination on insulator surfaces plays a pivotal role in mitigating the occurrence of pollution flashover incidents. This paper takes the XWP2-160 porcelain double-shed insulator as the subject of study, and utilizes the COMSOL software to perform numerical simulations of the contamination accumulation characteristics. It investigates the influence of voltage, particle density, and spatial pollution concentration on contamination accumulation. Additionally, drawing upon the principles of dimensionless analysis, seven dimensionless parameters are established to comprehensively assess the contamination accumulation characteristics, and using the 1stOpt software, a functional expression representing the relationship between environmental variables and insulator contamination accumulation was obtained by fitting. The results reveal that: 1) with the voltage, particle density, and pollution concentration increase, the insulator's surface contamination level shows an increasing trend; 2) insulator contamination can be effectively characterized and predicted using seven dimensionless criteria, namely Lv, Re, Fr, NEHD, Cl, Cρ, and Cn; 3) the contamination criteria correlation, fitted using power functions, achieves a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.98, with an average error of 4.1% between the prediction and validation data sets.